Inauguration of Photo Exhibition "50 years UNFICYP: In appreciation" was inaugurated by H.R.H. Prince Carl Philip, Armémuseum in Stockholm, 12 November 2014
To mark 50 years presence of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, the photographic exhibition "50 years UNFICYP: In appreciation" was inaugurated by H.R.H. Prince Carl Philip of Sweden, on November 12th, at the Armémuseum in Stockholm. The photographic exhibition, which is under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus and the Press and Information Office of the Republic of Cyprus, was initially inaugurated by the President of the Republic last May in Cyprus, and has since then toured the capitals of a number of countries that contributed to UNFICYP. The exhibition will be displayed at the Armémuseum in Stockholm, which already exhibits displays relating to the Swedish contribution to UNFICYP, from 13 to 26 November.
The opening of the exhibition by H.R.H. Prince Carl Philip was attended by officials of the Swedish Government, Members of the Swedish Parliament, UNFICYP veterans, foreign diplomats and representatives of the civil society, while the event was covered by local media. The event was held at the initiative of the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Stockholm, with the kind support of the Government Offices of Sweden, the Swedish Armed Forces, the Swedish Police, the Folke Bernadotte Academy, the Armémuseum and the Swedish Veterans Federation.
The inauguration of the photographic exhibition was preceded by the laying of a wreath at the UN Veteran Monument to pay tribute to the 17 Swedish peacekeepers who lost their lives whilst serving in Cyprus. Wreaths were laid by H.R.H. Prince Carl Philip in his capacity as Patron of the Swedish Veterans, by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of Sweden, Mr. Jan Salestrand, on behalf of the Swedish Government and the Ambassador of Cyprus in Stockholm, Mr. Andreas S. Kakouris, on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus.
Sweden’s contribution to UNFICYP represents its largest and longest engagement in a UN peacekeeping operation. The Swedish mission lasted from 1964 to 1993 and during period 25,616 military and 2,365 police officers served in UNFICYP, including female peacekeepers, a first for Sweden.