National Army service members, participants from UN missions, honored at the Ministry of Defense

CHISINAU, May 31, 2021 - The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers was celebrated today at the Ministry of Defense in a ceremony attended by Acting Minister of Defense Victor Gaiciuc, Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Igor Gorgan, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations (UN) in the Republic of Moldova, Simon Springett, the command corps of the National Army, as well as service members participating in missions with international mandate.

Victor Gaiciuc mentioned during the event that it has already become a good tradition for the military of the National Army who wore the blue pacifier beret to maintain world peace and stability to be honored on this day at the Ministry of Defense.

"Peace is the most precious thing in a nation, because only peace can ensure a prosperous future for our children. The Republic of Moldova, for almost two decades now, has been not only a consumer but also a provider of security and sends the message worldwide that ‘We care’ and that we are reliable partners in global peacekeeping efforts. On this day, I want to express my gratitude to the military around the world and to thank them for being in the service of peace, using only the weapon of the word against hostilities in post-conflict areas, "said Minister Gaiciuc.

During the event, a group of military, participating in peacekeeping operations under the auspices of the UN, received distinctions from the National Army.

Also present were a minute of silence in memory of the military, police and civilians who died on duty in international missions.

It should be noted that so far, 146 Moldovan officers have been seconded as military observers to Georgia, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sudan, South Sudan, the Central African Republic and Kosovo.

Currently, 11 UN military personnel are on UN-led peacekeeping missions in South Sudan, the Central African Republic and Kosovo.