Pakistani peacekeepers awarded UN peacekeeping medal

ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICE


NEW YORK, Mar 27 : Pakistani soldiers, numbering 1023, were decorated with the UN peacekeeping medal at a ceremony in Bouake, the second largest city in Cote d’Ivoire, last week, a UN press release said Wednesday.
The ceremony for the men from the battalion support units and transport engineering as well as nine military observers was held at the Abidjan airfield. It was chaired by the Force Commander of the United Nations Operations in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI), Major-General Fernand Marcel Amoussou.
The Pakistani contingent Commander, Brigadier Tariq Javed, in his address stressed that there has been a Pakistani military presence in Ivory Coast since 2004 serving in perfect harmony with the local population.
For his part, Major-General Fernand Marcel Amoussou, while thanking the people of Bouake for their support for UN units deployed in the city, was keen to mention his appreciation for the work done by the Pakistani contingent, and the outstanding contribution in the implementation of UN mandate.
He also praised the sincere efforts made by the strength of UNOCI for the restoration of peace and stability in Cote d’Ivoire so that the country could regain its greatness.
Pakistan, one of the world’s largest contributor of uniformed personnel to United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, has more than 10,600 military and police personnel serving in 13 missions. Eighty Pakistani soldiers have lost their lives while serving with the United Nations in the service of peace.
In addition to their operational missions in accordance with their mandate, the Pakistani contingent is also recognized for its humanitarian work for the local people, level of medical care, the daily distribution of food and drinking water to people with disabilities, and cleanup actions undertaken in the cities of Bouake and Dabakala.