18:17 | New York (U.S.), Sep. 25.
President Martin Vizcarra on Tuesday said he is confident Peru can increase its contribution to United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations so as to protect areas affected by several conflicts.
In his speech at a high-level meeting on
Action for Peacekeeping, Vizcarra paid tribute to the men and women who dedicated their lives to this type of work, as well as to tens of thousands of military officials, police officers, and civilians who protect vulnerable populations.
"We are currently present in five African countries. We have an engineering company deployed in the Central African Republic, and we plan to increase our contribution to (peacekeeping) operations," he stated.
Vizcarra said the UN military personnel, known as "
Blue Helmets," are considered a symbol of hope and one of the most visible manifestations of the organization's efforts to fulfill the aspiration —enshrined in the UN Charter— with the aim of preserving future generations from the scourge of war.
Likewise, he recalled that when former
UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar accepted the Nobel Peace Prize back in 1998 —on behalf of the UN peacekeeping forces— he
said "the essence of peacekeeping is the use of soldiers as a catalyst for peace rather than as the instruments of war."
"Since 1958, when we participated in the UN mission in Lebanon, Peru has been honored to contribute to UN peacekeeping operations. Since then, more than 8,000 Peruvian women and men have served as
Blue Helmets in different countries," the high-ranking official noted.
In this sense, Peru —in its capacity as
UN Security Council member— seeks to provide operations with realistic and flexible mandates, including greater involvement of troop-contributing countries, he added.
(END) JCC/VVS/RMB/MVB
Published: 9/25/2018