Press Releases

On the 14^th of August 1974, four Austrian UN peacekeepers tried to prevent an attack on the village of Goshi by mediating between the Greek Cypriot National Guard and the Cypriot Turks. Our soldiers thus withdrew and continued to observe the situation, as their mandate required. Hours later, an attack by the National Guard on the village of Goshi was followed by an overflight by a Turkish strike aircraft. It dropped its bombs on the vehicle used by the UN soldiers and on the soldiers themselves, who were taking cover.

Three of the four soldiers died in this attack.

Three peacekeepers, three heroes:

First Lieutenant Johann Izay

Master Sergeant Paul Decombe and

Corporal August Isak.

It was they who sought a peaceful solution.

It was they who laid down their lives in the service of peace.

The Republic of Austria's goal has always been and will always be to bring peace to countries riven by conflict.

No one wanted these brave soldiers to give their lives.

The Austrian Armed Forces, however, refused to be intimidated.

Their will, bravery and professionalism ensure that Austrian soldiers will always do their duty in the service of peace.

In the past 62 years, more than 100,000 soldiers and civilian helpers made an indispensable contribution to world peace by serving in more than 100 international peace-support and humanitarian missions.

Despite the pandemic, in which the Austrian Armed Forces have been repeatedly called upon, we must not lose sight of the security situation in and outside of Europe. One thing is certain: the security situation in Europe has become worse.

This is why deployments by Austrian Armed Forces personnel in EU and UN missions are indispensable.

Missions like these prove how important it is for Austria to help and to ensure stability in the event of crises.

I would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank all our soldiers and civilian helpers who actively contribute to world peace in very challenging situations – often by risking their lives.

They uphold Austria's reputation as a reliable peacekeeper in countries riven by disasters, wars or devastation.

They are heroes. 

I would now like all of us to observe a minute's silence, in which we remember the three soldiers and all soldiers who have died in the service of peace.

(NG/SCH)