Santo Domingo.- Dominican soldiers will begin training to join the United Nations peacekeeping missions, a task charged to a facility in the First Brigade Army base, built at a cost of US$3 million donated by the U.S. Government.

U.S. interim ambassador Christopher Lambert, present in the inaugural said the money is from the State Department and managed by the South Command.

“The initiative’s objective is to support and provide equipment and training to the countries that have shown an interest in conducting of peacekeeping operations, which is the case of the Dominican Armed Forces as member of the Central American Armed Forces Conference,” the diplomat said.

The Dominican military, “receive the tools to prepare officers and soldiers to participate in UN peacekeeping missions, as observers or as an integral part of the operations of this international organism’s forces,” he said.

Lambert said he was satisfied with the response of the senior military commanders. “Beyond any monetary value, these facilities are a symbol of the USA’s integral and continuous commitment with Dominican Republic,” adding that his country’s different agencies contribute on a daily basis, through its Embassy.