"The Indonesian contingent had been chosen as part of the MCOU (Military Community Outreach Unit) task force for the first time, replacing Italy military contingent for the past seven months doing the same tasks, an Indonesian military in charge of the mission, First Lieutenant Santoso, said here Thursday.
To support the familiarization of the UN peace mission in Lebanon, the TNI MCOU task force has conducted a field orientation in the Harris village, along with the Italian contingent led by Major Stefano Baleani.
"To facilitate the work, MCOU Task Force office was set up at two locations, one in the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) Headquarters and the other in Harris village, "Santoso said.
He added that the familiarization of the UN peacekeeping mission to local communities is very important for the success of the UN in developing peace in Lebanon.
The MCOU Task Force consists of 18 military personnel from TNI information units.
"According to plan, Italian MCOOU personnel task force MCOU would end its task in UNIFIL in September. It is not known whether some French military personnel will also be withdrawn from the country or continue with Indonesian personnel," he said.
Italian military personnel have carried out rotating tasks in MCOU UNIFIL every six months. "Task Force is currently assigned in the seventh rotation," said Santoso.
"Meanwhile, this assignment is the first for the Task Force MCOU of TNI as `key-communicator`, they will convey peace messages to outposts of South Lebanon, according to the UN Security Council Resolution 1701, " said Santoso.
(Uu.A050/H-NG/O001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
