The important role of Peru in the world contributing to the United Nations peacekeeping operations was highlighted on Monday during the event marking the 68th Anniversary of the Peacekeeping Soldier held at Defense Ministry’s headquarters.
Defense Minister Jakke Valakivi chaired the ceremony in the presence of Chief of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces of Peru Adm. Jorge Moscoso, General Commander of the Army Luis Ramos and representatives of commanders-in-chief of the Navy and Air Force.
Director of the Peacekeeping Preparation and Training Center, Navy Captain Gaetano Guevara, noted Peru’s involvement on peacekeeping since 1958, when 10 officials served as military observers during the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon under the UN Security Council mandate.
He also stressed Peru’s participation in peacekeeping operations in Lebanon, Israel, the Syrian Golan, Iran-Iraq war, Namibia, Western Sahara, Sierra Leone, East Timor, Burundi, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Eritrean–Ethiopian war, Haiti, among others.
Furthermore, the message by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon was read, in which he stressed the contribution of peacekeepers, whose numbers have increased from 45,000 fifteen years ago to about 125,000 military and civilian personnel from 124 countries.
A minute of silence was observed during the ceremony in honor of three military officers, who died in 1973 when an anti-personnel mine detonated in front of a Peruvian checkpoint near the Suez Channel during the Arab-Israel conflict.
Attendees remembered Deputy Sergeant Javier Espinoza Sanchez, Corporal Rodolfo Neyra Córdova and Soldier Vicencio Rosas Regalado.
(END) ASH/RMB/MVB
Published: 5/31/2016