The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Mrs Aïchatou Mindaoudou, on Thursday, 19 November 2015, in Bouaké, presided over the United Nations Medal parade ceremony for 263 peacekeepers from the Pakistani Contingent based in the region. She was accompanied by the Deputy Force Commander of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), Brigadier-General M'Bemba Moussa Keïta.



Speaking on the occasion, Mrs Mindaoudou highlighted the remarkable contribution made by the Pakistani Contingent to the consolidation of peace in Côte d'Ivoire. "I would like to thank the contingent for its contribution to the return of peace and stability in Côte d'Ivoire», said the head of UNOCI. In congratulating the medal recipients, she told them: « You have spared no effort in providing humanitarian and material support to the people ». She then urged them to continue to scrupulously respect the United Nations Code of Conduct as they have always done, and continue to work for the implementation of UNOCI's mandate with professionalism and devotion.



In conclusion, the Special Representative thanked representatives of the administrative and military authorities, and Ivorians for the perfect collaboration between them and UNOCI peacekeepers.



The Pakistani Contingent Commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Shahid Hussain Abid, for his part, reaffirmed his contingent's commitment to serve for peace in Côte d'Ivoire. « We will continue our humanitarian efforts for the benefit of the people ». He recalled Pakistan's peacekeeping tradition. « We were one of the first troop contributing countries in the world and our commitment to peace has been in place for more than half a century, » he said.



The Pakistani Contingent is composed of one infantry battalion, a Formed Police Unit, military observers and staff officers.

The ceremony included a military parade and Pakistani traditional dance.