MGen Baillaud on UNDOF tour
December 11, 2012 – The acting Deputy Military Advisor for Peacekeeping Operations in New York, MGen Jean Baillaud, visited UNDOF for three days.
He was accompanied by Col Clement Apere, Senior Military Liaison Officer and WgCdr Wendy Horder, Current Military Operations Service Desk Officer.
The visit started on a Tuesday morning with a Guard of Honor at the parade square in Camp Faouar presented by the international Force Headquarters Company under the command of Capt Dhiraj Mungekar.
This was followed by a warm welcome by the Force Commander UNDOF, MGen I. S. Singha, in the FC's office. At this juncture Mr. Bernard Lee, CMS UNDOF, LtCol Robert Glanner, acting COS UNDOF, Mr. Gerard Buckley, CISS UNDOF and Dr. Moustapha Hassouna, PAO UNDOF attended a briefing marathon, which included a detailed operational overview given by the acting Chief of Staff. Furthermore an information brief was presented by the Deputy Chief of Staff UNTSO, Col Patrik Gauchat.
The next day, given sunny weather conditions, was followed by an extensive line tour after the morning update at the conference room in UNDOF Headquarters. The visit program led MGen Baillaud and his entourage to several positions and observation Posts inside the AOS. Driving in a six vehicle convoy and protected by Military Police UNDOF, the delegation first visited UNTSO OP 72, Posn 37 and Posn 27. There a briefing on the position roof was held by the Commanding Officer of 2nd Coy/AB, Maj Alexander Petschnig. After lunch, the party proceeded from the AUSBATT to the PHILBATT area to Posn 60, where LtCol Nolie Anquillano, CO/PhB, gave an introductory briefing. The eight hours line tour ended with visits at Posn 68 and finally OP 56, where the Chief OGG-Damascus, LtCol Bjorn Eidsvag gave explanations regarding the latest incidents in the vicinity of the Observation Post.
On the third day the delegation left Camp Faouar early in the morning in the direction to Damascus armed with a profound mission update. Before heading back to the Lebanese border, MGen Baillaud met with UNTSO Military Observers at the Force Commander's Residence, Damascus.