THE UNITED NATIONS MEDAL (UNTSO)

Obverse: The United Nations global projection emblem, above which are the letters "UN".

Reverse: Plain, with the legend "IN THE SERVICE OF PEACE".

Size: 35mm in diameter.

Ribbon: 35mm wide, the ribbon for this medal is blue with two 2.5mm white stripes, each 6mm from the edges. Six months of service in the Mission was necessary to qualify for award of the medal.

Suspension: The ribbon is threaded through a 12mm diameter ring, which passes through a loop fixed to the top of the piece. The ring will move forwards and backwards.

United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation, in Israel, 11 June 1948 to present. Initially used to supervise the truce in Palestine, but were later used to supervise agreements between Israel and Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. Following the 1967 war, UNTSO were involved in cease-fire observation in the Israel-Syria sector and along the Suez Canal. Similar operations were established in southern Lebanon in 1973, the Golan Heights in 1974, and in southern Lebanon in 1978. The maximum strength of UNTSO is 572 personnel, with 28 casualties being suffered to June 1990. New Zealand has had military observers attached with this force since 1954.

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