International Day of UN Peacekeepers Marked in CocieriCHISINAU, May 29, 2015 — The International Day of UN peacekeepers was celebrated today in the 1st Independent Infantry Peacekeeping Battalion from Cocieri, Dubasari. The event brought together the leadership of the Ministry of Defense and of the Main Staff, representatives of the local public authorities, servicemembers who participated in UN peacekeeping missions. Chief of Main Staff, National Army Commander, Brigadier Gen. Igor Gorgan, stated during the ceremony that the participation of Moldovan servicemembers in UN peacekeeping and humanitarian missions shows Moldova’s goals in promoting peace, international stability and security. On International Day of UN peacekeepers, the National Army Commander congratulated the 96 Moldovan servicemembers who contributed, for 12 years, to the efforts of peace stabilization in countries affected by conflicts, and appreciated their courage and professionalism. Republic of Moldova has been taking part in UN missions since 2003. So far, 96 National Army servicemembers were deployed as military observers and main staff officers to UN operations and missions in Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sudan, South Sudan, Georgia, and Kosovo. The National Army currently has 13 officers in UN international peacekeeping missions and two officers of the Ministry of Defense of Republic of Moldova are working at the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), in New York, USA. |