To mark International Day of UN Peacekeepers, the UN Information Centre (UNIC) in Dhaka and the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies at Dhaka University jointly organized a seminar on 29 May. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University was the guest of honour and the UNIC's National Information Officer gave the keynote speech. A paper on Bangladesh’s participation in UN peacekeeping missions was presented and the Centre's Reference Librarian read the UN Secretary-General's Message for the Day. The programme also featured performances of songs about peace. Approximately 300 students from Dhaka University took part in the seminar.

The UN Information Centre (UNIC) in Zambia commemorated the 60th anniversary of UN peacekeeping with a memorial service at the cathedral of Lusaka. The Chief Security Advisor of the UN in Zambia and other UN representatives, the Deputy Minister of Defence, military representatives and various media houses attended the service to remember those who had died in various peacekeeping missions.

Zambia has actively participated in observer missions in the Iraq-Iran conflict, Liberia, Mozambique, Angola, and Haiti plus a number of other countries around the globe. The Chief Security Advisor of the UN in Zambia read the Secretary-General's message, emphasizing the need to look after the families of those who have selflessly died for the cause of peace. The Deputy Minister stated that peacekeeping was necessary to enhance economic development because disputes displaced people and damaged environments. In his closing statement he thanked the UN for its continuing support in promoting peace on a global level.

To celebrate the International Day of UN Peacekeepers and the 60th anniversary of UN peacekeeping, on 29 May 2008 the Austrian Armed Forces together with the Municipality of Hof am Leithaberge (Lower Austria) solemnly paid farewell to the Austrian contingent on the Golan Heights, which incorporated for the first time a Croatian detachment, of a total of 162 troops.

Speakers included the UNIS Information Officer, who read out the UN Secretary-General’s message on the Day, the Political Director of the Austrian Foreign Ministry and the designated Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations (New York).

The Ambassador to the UN stressed the major role that Austria plays and will play in UN peacekeeping operations. He also acknowledged the success of Austrian troops on the Golan Heights since 1974 and highlighted that the mission had achieved an unbroken truce between Israel and Syria. Sixty thousand Austrian soldiers have been serving the UN in the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) since its beginning.

UNIS Vienna provided a variety of background materials on the International Day of UN Peacekeepers and on 60 years of UN peacekeeping. 2,000 persons, troops and the general public attended the event. Austrian national broadcaster ORF covered the event.

A group of 40 high school students from Yerevan #17 and Yeghvard #3 schools accompanied by their teachers, along with students from various youth non-governmental organizations (NGOs), visited the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) Yerevan office on 29 May to commemorate International Day of United Nations
Peacekeepers.

DPI intern Artak Galyan gave a presentation on UN peacekeeping operations and the UN peace and security mandate.  Ms. Armine Halajyan, Officer-in-Charge, then gave a presentation on the photo exhibit entitled "Honouring 60 Years of United Nations Peacekeeping" prepared by UN Headquarters and translated into Armenian by the Yerevan office.

Participants also watched the webcast of the film entitled "In the Cause of Peace" which was followed by a lively question and answer session. DPI's Yerevan office translated the transcript of the video into Armenian.

In_the_Cause_of_Peace_transcript_armenian.doc (84.00 kb)