First UN Peacekeeping day commemorated

A parade and flag-raising ceremony was held in Accra on Thursday to mark International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.

Wreaths were laid to pay tribute to and honour UN Peacekeepers. May 29 was chosen because on that day in 1948, the first UN Peacekeeping Mission, the UN Truce Supervision Organisation, began operations with a group of military observers.

Lieutenant General Emanuel Erskine, the Reviewing Officer and Mr Alfred Salia Fawundu, UN Representative, hoisted the flags of Ghana and the UN, respectively.

Lt. Gen. Erskine laid the first wreath on behalf of Ghana; Mrs Margaret Novicki of the UN Information Centre in Accra laid the second one on behalf of the Centre while the third was by the Chief of the Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Seth Obeng on behalf of Ghana Armed Forces.

Mr Fawundu delivered the message of UN Secretary General Busumuru Kofi Annan, in which he said peacekeeping itself could not end war but it could prevent a recurrence of fighting.

He said peacekeeping could give time and space for conflict resolution and also give peace a chance.

"I am proud to salute the peacekeepers serving today, and to pay tribute to those, who served in the past; their sacrifice has made the world a safer place."

Busumuru Annan noted that peacekeeping missions today were much more complex while the duties and responsibilities of peacekeepers had grown.

He said there were nearly 37,000 peacekeepers from 89 countries that were deployed in 14 missions on three continents.

Busumuru Annan said no figures could do justice to the ultimate sacrifice that more than 1,800 peacekeepers had made over a period 50 years.

Lt. Gen. Erskine expressed the hope that the government would continue to support the UN's efforts at exercising its primary functions of maintaining international peace and security.

He said Ghana's participation in UN missions had contributed to efficiency, economic and social well being of the individual officer.