01.10.2015.

A breath of Serbian south on the south of Lebanon

From the Nis airport "Constantine the Great", in late May, we saw them off on their way to Lebanon. With blue berets, they also brought plenty of enthusiasm, few concerns, and above all - determination. The flag that fluttered in the hands of Commander Major Goran Dejanovic after whom the door of the plane closed was a sign that from that moment on, during the next six months, the new address for 128 officers and soldiers of the infantry company of the Fourth Army Brigade would be the UNP 9-66 base in the sector "East" of the UNIFIL multinational operation.

We met them again a few months later, but this time at another south, southern Lebanon, where along the demarcation line they take care of the peaceful sleep of residents of the area.

In the manner of a true host Major Dejanovic, already an experienced peacekeeper, presented the base to us, explaining that the tasks the company carries out are in accordance with Resolution 1701 of the Security Council of the United Nations, the basic being the monitoring of cessation of hostilities between the Lebanese Armed Forces LAF on one side of the blue line, and Israeli forces on the other.

- We monitor the cessation of hostilities in daily patrols along the Blue Line, and implement joint activities with members of the LAF. We are also active in assisting the civilian population, with special emphasis on the medical team consisting of a doctor and a medical technician who almost daily realize medical assistance in almost all settlements in the area of responsibility, regardless of religious affiliation - Major Dejanovic explains.

According to him, so far they have successfully conducted 57 medical assistances and examined more than a thousand villagers.

Discussing the security situation in the zone of responsibility of the battalion, Major Dejanovic assessed that it is relatively stable.

- Since our arrival in May, there have not been any developments that affect the deterioration of the security situation; however, given the environment in which we are, as well as the history of war in this region, we approach each task with extreme caution and professionally in accordance with the UN regulations - Major Dejanovic emphasizes.

Life at the UNP 9-66 base passes dynamically: while some of the staff is preparing for patrol, others that have finished their daily tasks spend their free time doing sports activities or in the TV room, where Serbian channels are also broadcasted. As they say, they miss their families and the home-cooked food the most, and the signposts also remind them of their homeland, pointing in the direction of the other south, which they all carry in their hearts.