26.05.2011.

"Peacekeeping Missions of the Armed Forces 1956-2011" Exhibition Opens

The exhibition "Peacekeeping Missions of the Armed Forces" have been officially opened at the Military Museum in Belgrade today by Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac and Major General Alberto Asarta Cuevas, Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

The exhibition is organized by the Ministry of Defence in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Republic of Serbia, on the occasion of the 29 May – the Day of the United Nations peacekeeping missions.

- The current exhibition is just a part of the history of our peacekeepers, but I believe that this is just a symbolic start and that the next year the exhibition will be supplemented. Since the formation of the United Nations there has been a desire among the peoples and all nations in the world to establish and maintain the peace. Our country, which has been changing for years, has always maintained the same system of values and from the very beginning we have sought to participate in this most difficult part, and that is keeping the peace – to be peacemakers"- said Sutanovac.

The Minister expressed his satisfaction that the Serbian Armed Forces in all fifteen missions in which it participated during the fifty-five years was dignified, and as we wanted it to be.

- Only in the last few years, we opened three missions. Today, when we celebrate the Day of peacekeeping missions, our peacekeepers in Congo, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Cyprus and Lebanon are providing security which was also necessary to us in the past. We often ask ourselves why we participate in peacekeeping missions outside the borders of our country, forgetting that during the nineties, we needed such assistance to establish and maintain peace in our region. Just for the same reasons we wish to show the willingness and respect for the system of values and take the risk and responsibility even far beyond the borders of our country – Sutanovac emphasized.

Minister Sutanovac recalled that Serbia has signed today one of the two necessary agreements to participate in peacekeeping operations of the European Union. Thus we have shown not only declarative, but also essential commitment to Serbia's European path, fulfilling certain obligations that had to be met.

- We have shown that we are ready, both politically and technically to take part in peacekeeping missions and I can announce soon participation in two new missions in Somalia and Uganda. I had the great pleasure to follow our medical teams in both Chad and Congo, with emphasis on Chad, where we had a chance to take care of the Norwegian military, which is also a great honour. I believe that you would never entrust health of your soldiers to someone who is not trained, capable and honest", he emphasized, expressing his desire that the Serbian military be the army of peacekeepers also in the future, joining the forces in those places where it is necessary – Minister Sutanovac said.

Head of Mission and UNIFIL Commander, Spanish Major General Alberto Asarta Cuevas, pointed out at the opening of the exhibition that "the consent of the parties involved, impartiality and non-use of force except for self-defence and defence of the mandate are three basic principles of successful functioning of the UN peacekeeping operations. Soldiers are the instrument of peace and not the instrument of war."

- Today's event gives us opportunity to reflect on the role of peacekeeping missions as one of the most effective instruments in assisting countries to pass the path from conflict to peace and the ability to promote the role which the armed forces, first of Yugoslavia, and now of Serbia played in the peacekeeping missions of the United Nations – Cuevas said, recalling that the United Nations introduced peacekeeping missions for the first time in 1948.

- Since then, a total of sixty-four missions were conducted involving hundreds of thousands soldiers and tens of thousands of members of UN police and civilian forces from one hundred and twenty countries. Increased complexity and scale of peacekeeping operations influenced on the increase of risks and dangers that these missions entail. Serving under the flag of the United Nations almost two thousand and nine hundred peacekeepers lost their lives, and only in the last year the number of deaths was one hundred and seventy-three, which is one of the largest numbers of lives lost in the history of peacekeeping missions – General Cuevas said.

- The Serbian armed forces are a great example of dedication in the service of peace. Since 1956, when it joined the United Nations peacekeeping operations, the JNA, and now the Serbian Armed Forces, has participated in numerous missions – in the Sinai, Congo, Yemen, Cyprus, Lebanon, Iraq and Iran, Namibia, Lebanon, Angola, Liberia, East Timor, Burundi, Ivory Coast, Chad and Central African Republic, and Haiti. Really great success, fifteen missions – pointed out Cuevas.

He stressed that the Serbian peacekeepers in UNIFIL show exemplary professionalism, expertise, courage and devotion thus making important contribution to achieving the objectives of the mission in Lebanon. Such characteristics have gained them not only the friendship of their colleagues, but also the confidence of the citizens in southern Lebanon and the Lebanese armed forces, and both of those things are vital for accomplishing the entrusted objectives of the mission.

At the end of his address, General Cuevas pointed out that it is important to use the presence of UNIFIL to a lasting cessation of hostilities and to achieve sustainable peace in southern Lebanon.

Opening of the exhibition was attended by the State Secretaries in the Ministry of Defence Zoran Jeftic, Igor Jovicic and Tanja Miscevic, Chief of General Staff Miloje Miletic, Deputy Chief of General Staff Major General Milan Bjelica, Chief of the Peacekeeping Operations Centre Colonel Jelesije Radivojevic, Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine, UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia William Infante, numerous representatives of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, as well as foreign military representatives accredited in Belgrade.