Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Military (TNI) Chief Admiral Agus Suhartono paid a visit to his men grouped in the 23th-F mechanical battalion task force of UNIFIL in Adshid Al Qusayr, Southern Lebanon Thursday.

A press release of the TNI Headquarters in Jakarta on Friday said that the visit of the TNI chief to Lebanon for three days is to know from close quarters the tasks of the TNI soldiers grouped in the UN peace mission in Lebanon.

The arrival of the military chief in the company of some of his high-ranking staff was greeted by Indobatt Task Force Commander Lt Col Suharto Sudarsono flanked by his deputy Marines Lt Col FJH. Pardosi and other Indobatt officers.

In his address Admiral Agus Suhartono said he was very impressed by the presence of public and religious leaders in Southern Lebanon who took part in welcoming him.

The TNI Commander hoped for continued maintenance of solidarity, so that their tasks could be performed well.

His address was followed by the distribution of souvenirs first of all from to the deputy commander of the Eastern Sector of UNIFIL Col Marzuki, Indobatt task force commander, and SEMPU commander CPM Lt Col Ida Bagus, and the other way.

Before leaving the Indobatt operational area, the TNI Chief also inspected the military equipment, sign a Taman Garuda plaque and visit the Panorama Point a Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel.

Besides visiting Garuda Contingent in Lebanon, the TNI chief will also make an official stat visit to President of Lebanon General (ret) Michel Suleiman and commander of the Lebanese army in Lebanon General Jean Kahwaji and to Lebanese Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn.

Before visiting Indobatt, the TNI Chief visited UNIFIL commander Maj Gen Paolo Serra and the Garuda Contingent at the UNIFIL Headquarter Naquora.

The TNI chief in the visits were accompanied by Indonesia Ambassador to Lebanon Dimas Samodra Rum, Military Advisor at the UN Admiral Budihardjo Raden, and Defense Attache in Cairo Navy Col R.Teguh Isgunarto and Garuda Contingent Commander Col Darmawan Bakti.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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