Working for Peace

type: News , Topic: Security , Date: 26 June 2018

Ceremony celebrating the 2018 Day of Peacekeepers

Today, peacekeepers participating in missions of the United Nations, the European Union, NATO and the OSCE were honoured in a special celebration. The event was held in Berlin and was jointly hosted by the State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community, Dr Helmut Teichmann, the State Secretary at the Federal Foreign Office, Andreas Michaelis, and the Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Defence, Dr Peter Tauber.

Tag des Peacekeepers 2018 Tag des Peacekeepers 2018 (Larger version opens in new window) Source: BMI The peacekeepers receiving their decorations

In front of about 200 guests, including members of the German Bundestag, the Federal Foreign Office, the Federal Ministry of Defence and representatives of the federal states, State Secretary Teichmann thanked the civilian experts, members of the military and police officers. "Security and peace around the world can be achieved only with people like you", State Secretary Teichmann said.

Coordinated crisis management

This year's celebrations focus on the coordinated approach of international peacekeeping operations: "Coordinating and pooling various diplomatic, military and police instruments and adding further expertise is the key to success of operations abroad", State Secretary Teichmann continued.

The civilian experts, members of the military and police officers received their decorations at the conference room of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community in Berlin. The three responsible ministries honouring civilian, military and police experts in a joint event is a sign of the Federal Government’s coordinated approach in international crisis management.

Since 2013, Germany's Federal Foreign Office, Federal Ministry of Defence and Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community have taken turns at hosting an annual Day of Peacekeepers with an official ceremony followed by a reception.