Defence Secretary pays tribute to UN peacekeepers on international day of recognition

The Defence Secretary has paid tribute to UN peacekeepers on their international day of recognition.

Ben Wallace tweeted to say the International Day of UN Peacekeeping was "a poignant reminder of the sacrifice made by all those who have lost their lives in the name of maintaining peace".

Mr Wallace pointed out how peacekeepers often operate in challenging environments, to keep others safe from conflict and violence.

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This year marks the 75th anniversary of United Nations peacekeeping.

Earlier this year, Forces News was given exclusive access to British peacekeepers patrolling the UN Buffer Zone in Cyprus.

We joined 10 Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment as they carried out peacekeeping patrols, which included trying out something different – expeditionary patrolling.

The British peacekeepers travel light, patrolling the divided city of Nicosia and sleeping overnight in the buffer zone – with the neutral ground separating the Turkish north from the Greek south.

Time stands still in the spot where the conflict ended after a ceasefire in 1974, with objects left behind from when the conflict raged.

The buffer zone was formed after the end of the conflict and, while there hasn't been any violence in decades, emotions still run high in the world's last remaining divided city.

Standing on a UN observation post, it is possible to hear the call to prayer from the Turkish side of the city, while church bells ring out in the Greek half.

Until there is a resolution to what is known as 'the Cyprus problem', the UN personnel have to remain alert and straddle the two halves of a divided city to keep the peace.