MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UN honors fallen peacekeepers

Lending gripping immediacy to the dangers faced by blue helmets around the world, the United Nations solemnly observed Wednesday the International Day of Peacekeepers in New York amid calls for the release of seven Nepalese soldiers who are being detained following a clash in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) which killed one of their countrymen also serving with the world body's operation there.

Pointing out that more peacekeepers died in 2005 than in any other year in the past decade, Mr. Annan said: "So far this year, a further 33 have had their lives cut tragically short, including eight Guatemalan soldiers in a particularly brutal attack in January in the troubled region of eastern Congo, and a Nepalese soldier just three days ago, also had the same fate in the DRC.

During 2005, 125 peacekeepers from 46 countries lost their lives: 85 soldiers, 13 police officers and 27 civilians.

Among those honoured at today's ceremony were three peacekeepers from Uruguay who lost their lives while serving the cause of peace in 2005.

Cabo1o. Leandro Acosta died while serving in the UN Mission in Haiti on 3 May 2005; Cabo1o. Carlos Ariel Clavijo died while serving in the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 5 September 2005; and Cabo 2o. Tinquer Daniel Trindade with the UN Mission in the DR Congo on 11 June 2005.

"While every fallen hero leaves behind an army of mourners, so too do they put in place a legacy of which their families, friends and fellow nationals and global citizens can remain forever proud," he said, calling on those present to observe a moment of silence in their honour.

Dag Hammarskjöld medals, which are made of crystal to symbolize the strength, purity and fragility of the lives lost, were then awarded to officials representing the countries whose nationals died in the cause of peace to be forwarded on to the next of kin.

"The different events this week in Timor-Leste, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where we lost a Nepalese peacekeeper this weekend, clearly demonstrate the fragility of the peace we are working to serve and secure, and the precarious environments in which we operate," said the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping, Jean-Marie Guéhenno.

"They did not die in vain," Mr. Guéhenno said. "The UN, as well as those nations who have directly benefited from the presence of UN peacekeepers, profoundly understand the contribution made by these peacekeepers towards the securing of a lasting peace. We can do nothing less than be eternally grateful for their services. Their courage, their selflessness and their sacrifice is a lesson to us all."

UN Peacekeepers' Day was established in 2002, when the General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 29 May ? when in 1948 the UN set up its first peacekeeping operation, the UN Truce Supervision Organization in the Middle East ? as the date to pay tribute to all blue helmets.