Peacekeeping operations department honoured with Fatherland Protection Order

The event saw the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang; Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien, who is also head of the inter-sectoral working group and head of the Ministry’s steering committee for participation in UN peacekeeping operations; various ambassadors of the countries co-operating with Vietnam in this regard; and representatives of international organisations.

The VDPO and Engineering Unit Rotation 1 were honoured with the third-class Fatherland Protection Order. Meanwhile, Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 4 and Col. Mac Duc Trong, head of Engineering Unit Rotation 1, were granted certificates of merit from the PM.

These are the Party, State, and Government’s recognition of their remarkable contributions made to UN peacekeeping operations.

Reviewing the development of the VDPO, whose predecessor was the Vietnam Peacekeeping Centre, Director Col. Pham Manh Thang said that over the last 10 years the country has dispatched more than 800 officers and professional soldiers to UN peacekeeping operations. This includes five detachments of the Level-2 field hospital to the UN Mission in South Sudan, two others of the engineering unit to the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei, and 114 officers deployed as individuals.

The number of Vietnamese peacekeepers excellently fulfilling duties stands much higher than the UN’s average, he noted.

Director Col. Thang also used this occasion to thank leaders of the Party, the State, the Central Military Commission, the Defence Ministry, the inter-sectoral working group, and the Defence Ministry’s steering committee for participation in UN peacekeeping operations, agencies, and units across the army. This is along with international partners and organizations for assisting the VDPO in fulfilling the tasks assigned by the Party, State, and people and successfully carrying out UN peacekeeping duties.

Deputy Minister Chien outlined that the participation in UN peacekeeping operations has left a positive impression of the nation, including the country’s military and public security forces, on the international community. It has also helped to protect the Fatherland early and from afar by peaceful means and to promote the country’s stature and prestige within the international arena.

He expressed his confidence that the VDPO staff will stay united, proactive, and creative while making relentless efforts to overcome every difficulty and excellently fulfill all assigned tasks.