STORY: UNSOM HOLDS AWARDS

CEREMONY FOR UNIFORMED OFFICERS

SERVING IN SOMALIA
TRT: 3:00
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LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 14/2/2016, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA
SHOT LIST
1. Wide shot, UN military, police and corrections officers
attend a medal and certificate award ceremony
2. Close up shot, senior Somali National Police officers at
the ceremony
3. Med shot, UN military, police and corrections officers at
the event
4. Med shot, DSRSG Peter de Clercq at the event
5. Med shot, UN military, police and corrections officers
attending the medal award ceremony
6. Wide shot, DSRSG Peter de Clercq addressing the
officers
7. SOUNDBITE: (English) DSRSG Peter de Clercq
Most of these officers have served for over one year. They have
displayed
dedication and honesty of purpose in the tasks assigned to them
and continue to
forge ahead to ensure that the Missions mandate is honoured.
8. Close up shot, medals
9. Wide shot, officers waiting to receive medals
10.
Med shot, an officer being decorated with a medal
by the DSRSG
11.
Med shot, officers looking on
12.
Wide shot, officers being decorated with medals
13.
Close up shot, an officer receives a medal from
DSRSG Peter de Clercq
14.
SOUNDBITE: (English) DSRSG Peter de Clercq
Your contribution, and your countrys contribution, to the mission to
move Somalia closer to peace and becoming a viable state is
tremendously appreciated. You have served with commitment, and
we trust that you will return home with a sense of pride for your

service to the United Nations, to Somalia and to its people.

15.
Close up shot, medal
16.
Close up shot, an officer smiling after receiving
her medal
17.
Med shot, officers display their certificates of
recognition
18.
Close up shot, certificate
19.
SOUNDBITE: (English) MITCH DUFRESNE,
Acting Director, UNSOM Rule Of Law and Security
Institutions Group
We are very pleased to have these government provided personnel
from a number of different countries supporting the mandate of the
Security Council here in Somalia, and without them we couldnt
deliver on the mandate. This is one way of showing our appreciation
for their service and to acknowledge how important the support is
from our troop and police contributing countries.
20.
Close up shot, an officer receiving a medal
21.
Wide shot, a military officer being decorated with
a medal
22.
SOUNDBITE: (English) CHRISTOPH BUICK,
UNSOM Police Commissioner
Normally once or twice a year the uniformed personnel will receive
the UN Special Services medal when they attend and are part of this
Mission,
23.
SOUNDBITE: (English) MIA TUOMINEN, UN
Police Advisor from Finland
I feel that in this one year we have already achieved some results
with our Somali
counterparts and therefore this award today means a lot to me. I am
very proud to work for the UN as part of the team and I am also
proud to represent my country since we are the first Finish officers
here in Somalia.
UNSOM HOLDS AWARDS CEREMONY FOR UNIFORMED
OFFICERS SERVING IN SOMALIA

Mogadishu, February 14, 2016 - Uniformed personnel

serving the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia
(UNSOM) were today awarded medals and certificates for
their distinguished service.
A total of 18 uniformed personnel drawn from the military,
police and corrections components of the Mission were
awarded the Special Services Medal by Peter de Clercq,
the Deputy Special Representative of the UN SecretaryGeneral (DSRSG), at a function held in the Somali capital,
Mogadishu. The personnel serve in the Rule of Law and

Security Institutions Group (ROLSIG) of UNSOM.

The ceremony, the first of its kind, was attended by the
Officer-in-Charge of the Director of ROLSIG, Mitch
Dufresne, top UNSOM officials, the UNSOM Police
Commissioner Christoph Buik, police officers attached to
the police component of the African Union Mission in
Somalia (AMISOM) and senior Somali Police Force (SPF)
officials, among others.
Most of these officers have served for over a year. They
have displayed dedication and honesty of purpose in the
tasks assigned to them and continue to forge ahead to
ensure that the Missions mandate is honoured, said Mr.
de Clercq.
The DSRSG lauded the officers, particularly those whose
tour of duty has come to an end, noting that they had
served selflessly to ensure that peace returns to Somalia
and to transform the country into a viable state.
For her part, Ms. Dufresne said they have contributed
enormously towards ensuring the Mission delivers on its
mandate.
We are very pleased to have these government-provided
personnel from a number of different countries supporting
the mandate of the Security Council here in Somalia, she
said. Without them, we couldnt deliver on the mandate.
Mia Tuominen, a UN Police Advisor from Finland, expressed
her joy over receiving the award. In this one year we
have already achieved some results with our Somali
counterparts, and therefore this award today means a lot
to me. I am very proud to work for the UN, and I am also
proud to represent my country since we are the first
Finnish officers here in Somalia, she said.
ENDS.