Five officers of the Ministry of National Defence left for Syria on Thursday, 17 May, to participate as military observers in the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria - UNSMIS.

The mission was established by United Nations Security Council resolution 2043 of 21 April 2012 to monitor, over a 90-day period, a cessation of armed violence in all its forms by all parties and to monitor and support the full implementation of the Joint Special Envoy`s, Kofi Annan, six-point plan to end the conflict in Syria.

In response to the UN request to member states to participate in organizing UNSMIS, the President of Romania approved the participation of the five officers of the Ministry of Defence in the UN Supervision Mission in Syria. Travel, accomodation and the daily allowance-related expenses for the duration of the mission are covered by the UN.

The Romanian military have 35 military observers in missions under UN aegis, conducted in D.R. Congo, Liberia, Afghanistan, Ivory Coast, Southern Sudan and Kosovo.

MoND Press Office