May 29 is the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. The theme for this year's International Day of Peacekeepers is “People. World. Progress. The power of partnership”.

 The first UN peacekeeping mission was established on May 29, 1948, when the UN Security Council authorized the deployment of a small number of UN military observers to the Middle East.

Since then, more than 1 million women and men have taken part in 72 UN peacekeeping operations, directly impacting the lives of millions and saving countless lives.

Today, more than 87,000 military, police and civilian personnel are deployed in 12 UN peacekeeping operations.

In honor of this Day at the UN Headquarters in New York on May 26 of this year, Secretary General Antonio Guterres laid a wreath in honor of all the peacekeepers who have given their lives in the service of the UN flag over the past seven decades.

Peacekeepers from Kyrgyzstan also make their invaluable contribution to the cause of peace and security within the framework of the UN peacekeeping operations. Kyrgyzstan was the first of the Central Asian countries to start participating in UN peacekeeping activities and today, in accordance with national legislation, annually sends dozens of officers to various UN missions.

It should be noted that at the beginning of June 2022, UN experts are arriving in Kyrgyzstan, who will take exams for about 100 law enforcement officers of the Kyrgyz Republic for further assignment to UN peacekeeping missions.

Kyrgyzstan, as an active member of the international community, recognizing the importance of the contribution of UN member states to establishing peace on the globe, including through participation in peacekeeping operations, will continue efforts aimed at expanding the presence of Kyrgyz peacekeepers in the UN peacekeeping missions.