This medal marks the first time an Indonesian warship has received such an accolade from the German government.
The head of the Indonesian Navy's Information Office, Commodore I Made Arsanta, stated on Thursday that the German Medal recognizes the vessel's collaboration with German peacekeeping forces.
He noted that over the past year, the warship and its crew had been working with their German allies to maintain security and stability in the Mediterranean Sea, particularly in Lebanon's territorial waters.
The medal was presented during a ceremony at the Port of Beirut, Lebanon, on December 30, where Germany's representative, Rear Admiral Richard Kesten, awarded the German Medal to Lieutenant Colonel Wirastyo Haprabu, the commander of KRI Diponegoro-365.
In a statement from the Indonesian Navy's Information Office, Haprabu noted that the award reflects the German government's appreciation for the cooperation between Indonesian and German soldiers under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
"This award also serves as concrete proof of the role and commitment of the Indonesian Armed Forces to implementing the Constitution and carrying out duties that align with UN Security Council Resolution No. 1701," the warship commander stated.
Since January 2024, KRI Diponegoro-365 has been part of the Maritime Task Force (MTF) of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), under UNIFIL.
Soldiers in the MTF are tasked with conducting maritime patrols, monitoring borders, thwarting weapons smuggling attempts, and training personnel of the Lebanese Navy.
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Translator: Genta T, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Anton Santoso
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