The 22nd Peacekeeping Battalion Marks 13th Anniversary

CHISINAU, May 11, 2012 — Minister of Defense Vitalie Marinuta attended Friday, May 11, the 13^th anniversary ceremony of the 22^nd Peacekeeping Battalion held in the Military Compound 142, Telecentru sector, Chisinau.

The Defense Minister thanked the servicemen of the 22^nd Battalion for their performance and awarded diplomas of honor for good discipline and exemplary fulfillment of service duties.

During the ceremony, Vitalie Marinuta stated the 22^nd Battalion servicemen are ready for UN-led peacekeeping missions as well as European Union theaters of operation.

“You are well-prepared and professional officers that know very well how it is to be a peacekeeper”, the Minister said. “The success and results recorded by the 22^nd Peacekeeping Battalion throughout years proves the commitment, spirit of initiative and professionalism of each member of the unit”.

The commander of the 22^nd Battalion, LTC Roman Ceban says the mission of the unit focuses on training servicemen for peacekeeping operations held both, inside and outside the country.

“About 50 percent of the battalion servicemen took part in UN-led missions in Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire and Sudan. A good part of them are currently serving in the Security Area of the Republic of Moldova. The staff also takes part in international exercises and applications recording very good performances. The last exercise of this kind was ‘Mission Rehearsal Exercise’, held in February in Germany”, LTC Roman Ceban specified.

The event dedicated to the 13^th anniversary of the 22^nd Peacekeeping Battalion also included a few weapon-handling exercises demonstrated by the 22^nd Battalion servicemen. The event brought together guests of honor, pupils and students from Chisinau, as well as the conscripts’ parents.

The 22^nd Peacekeeping Battalion was established May 11, 1999.