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Liberia: Unmil Chinese Peacekeeping Role Crucial in Liberia's Recovery
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The Inquirer (Monrovia)
31 March 2008
Posted to the web 31 March 2008
Says UN Envoy
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG), Ms. Ellen Margrethe Løj has commended the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) Chinese Contingent for their contribution to the maintenance of peace and security in Liberia.
Ms. Løj made this statement when she awarded UN peacekeeping medals to 137 UNMIL Chinese soldiers at a colourful ceremony in the Monrovia suburb of Bushrod Island.
SRSG Løj decorates an UNMIL Chinese peacekeeper with UN medal
The UN Envoy recounted the valuable work of the Chinese contingent, comprising the Transport and Engineering Companies, and the Medical Unit. She highlighted the Contingent's recent logistical support to the 2008 National Population and Housing Census, rehabilitation of a major road linking the southeastern region to the rest of the country, and provision of health services to vulnerable Liberians.
In the current drawdown phase of UNMIL, Ms. Løj reminded the Chinese peacekeepers that the work of the Mission in Liberia is not finished. "We still have very important work to do; there is a lot of peace building work to be done to ensure that Liberia does not slide back into conflict and chaos.
Members of the Chinese Contingent, will have important contributions to make in this regard," she pointed out. The SRSG then urged the Chinese peacekeepers and all UN staff to continue working hard to help Liberia get back on the path of freedom and prosperity, while at the same time maintaining the highest ethical and professional standards of conduct.
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Contingent Commander Lt.-Col. Zheng Jianqing thanked the UNMIL leadership for the support provided to his contingent in the discharge of their tasks and pledged that they will continue to be ambassadors of peace and will write a new chapter in Chinese peacekeeping history.
Attending the medal award ceremony were the Chinese Ambassador accredited to Liberia, Mr. Zhou Yuxiao, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Rule of Law, Ms. Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, UNMIL Force Commander, Lt.-Gen. Chikadibia Isaac Obiakor, UNMIL Military Chief of Staff, Brig.-Gen. Emmanuel Quist, Director of Mission Support, Mr. Stephen Lieberman and other senior military and civilian officials of UNMIL.
Currently, the 558-member Chinese peacekeeping contingent in UNMIL is the largest in all UN peacekeeping operations worldwide. They provide logistic support to UNMIL deployments all around the country, including support with the rotation of troops, the transportation of water, fuel and other materials which ensures the Mission's operations and for the reconstruction of Liberia. Additionally, the Chinese support other UNMIL personnel and troops, including the maintenance, repair and construction of main supply routes, airfields, helipads, and bridges, and providing medical care to staff members.
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