Monrovia, Liberia – UN Envoy Ellen Margrethe Løj has assured the people of Liberia that the UN’s priority to maintain peace and security in the country will not change although the peacekeeping force will be reduced to around 8,000 troops by April. Ms. Løj made this remark on 19 January when she awarded medals to 3,075 Pakistani peacekeepers for their courage, commitment and service to the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) .

“Our continued presence is a demonstration of our confidence in the Liberian people and their resolve for a safe and democratic society to prevail,” she said, adding that the troop reductions would require peacekeepers to assume additional duties and be responsible for bigger geographic areas. Ms. Løj told the Pakistani peacekeepers she is confident that given their track record in Liberia and in UN peacekeeping overall, they would be “more than up to the task”.

Ms. Løj reminded Liberians that the UN is committed to partnering with the Government and civil society to preserve peace and security and make Liberia a safe place for all of its citizens. “Liberia has a lot to offer the rest of the world and it can demonstrate to other countries emerging from conflict that it is indeed possible to overcome war, sustain peace and democracy, and promote growth and development,” she noted.

The UN Envoy applauded the Pakistanis for their daily contributions to Liberia’s peace and reconstruction process and for making significant contributions on both military and humanitarian fronts. “You have earned the respect and love of the Liberian people, young and old,” she said. “Thanks to you, the Liberian children express their appreciation by saying, ‘Pakistani chop chop’ with a big smile”.

Ms. Løj furthermore paid her respects to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice during the recent earthquake in Haiti. She recalled the role of the Pakistani military in carrying out the largest rescue operation ever in the aftermath of Pakistan’s devastating 2005 earthquake. She expressed hope that “the Haitian people, the international community, including the United Nations and our peacekeepers” would be able to deal with the situation in Haiti as effectively as the Pakistanis did in 2005.

Attending the ceremony were senior UNMIL military and police officials, including: the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Rule of Law, Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu; Force Commander, Lt.-Gen. Sikander Afzal; Deputy Force Commander, Maj.-Gen. Carl Modey; Director of Mission Support, Mr. Stephen Lieberman; and Pakistani Contingent Commander, Col. Omair Nusrat.