Commander of the Eastern Sector of the UNIFIL peacekeeping forces, Spanish General Rafael Colomir Martinez, visited Saturday Jabal Amel Municipalities' Union Head, Ali el-Zein, at the Union headquarters in the Southern town of Taiba.

The encounter was a chance to praise the good relations between UNIFIL and the people of the region, and to discuss ways to strengthen them.

Talks also touched on laying the foundations for future projects to be implemented in the towns of the Union, in addition to the projects supported by UNIFIL and the Spanish contingent, particularly in the fields of health and education.

El-Zein commended the "relationship between the civil society and UNIFIL forces, especially the Spanish contingent, in serving citizens of the region, as well as the ongoing coordination with the Lebanese army to protect the border."

He also called on the Spanish General to "introduce traffic safety and environmental projects, especially the treatment of waste, to the contingent's priorities within the framework of the UNIFIL projects to be implemented, particularly as the scope of the Municipalities Union of Jabal Amel covers half the area of operations of the Spanish contingent."

El-Zein noted herein that the Union views the contributions made by UNIFIL, especially the Spanish contingent, in the region as being rather little.

In turn, Martinez emphasized "constant cooperation with the Lebanese army, being a strategic and tactical partner," adding that "the relationship is in continuous improvement with the Lebanese military leaderships."

"As for certain tensions in the region, namely between the people and UNIFIL, the peacekeeping forces have been working to minimize as much as possible any of the factors leading to such tension, for instance the movement of large vehicles in neighborhoods and narrow streets," he said.

At the end of the meeting, Martinez presented el-Zein with an honor shield as a token of appreciation.