Over 100,000 peacekeepers of the United Nations Organization are now involved in 16 missions in the most dangerous places in the world. A ceremony dedicated to the International Day of UN Peacekeepers was held at the Ministry of Defense of Moldova on May 29. Government diplomas for professionalism, conscious attitude towards the functional duties, devotion and courage were conferred in this, IPN reports.

Minister of Defense Eugeniu Sturza said that homage is rendered today to those who work to maintain peace under the UN flag. Nine service members of the National Army serve as peacekeepers as part of missions in South Sudan, Central African Republic, Kosovo and the U.S., under the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

The minister noted he has the same feeling of respect for the other 110 National Army peacekeepers who, starting with 2003 until now, carried the blue berets with dignity, protecting the most vulnerable ones: children and women in countries affected by war. “Today we also commemorate those over 3,500 peacekeepers who were killed while on missions. It is our duty to remember them and to continue their work, bringing stability to the countries devastated by war,” stated Eugeniu Sturza.

UN Resident Coordinator in Moldova Dafina Gercheva said May 29 is a special day and this year it is marked the 70th anniversary of the authorization of the first UN peacekeeping operation. She expressed her gratitude to the about 1 million men and women who served under the UN flag since 1948. “Today, over 100,000 persons from over 125 countries serve as part of peacekeeping missions all over the world. This is an example of multilateral cooperation and solidarity worldwide of the highest level. Moldova plays an important role as a country that has contributed by its troops since it joined the UN in 1992,” stated Dafina Gercheva.

She noted that the peacekeeping operations significantly reduce the risk of conflicts, while the inclusion of women in missions increases the chances of a durable peace, reducing simultaneously the incidence of abuses and sexual exploitation.

The UN was founded in 1945 to maintain international peace and security, to safeguard human rights, to promote international cooperation and to encourage respect for the international law.