In 2004, the United Nations (the Department of Safety and Security) signed a Memorandum with the Protection and Guard Service (PGS) for the purpose of providing protection for the UN officials who work in the theatres of operations in Sudan and Afghanistan.

The first mission of the Protection and Guard Service was in Sudan in 2004, when 11 officers were sent to the theatre of operations. They had the task of providing protection for the UN officials who were performing diplomatic missions in Sudan.

The Protection and Guard Service have deployed 6 protection teams for the UN officials and 59 Romanian officers have carried out missions in Sudan and Afghanistan so far.

Three missions are currently under way, 36 PGS officers being on duty in the aforementioned countries.

The missions performed by the PGS officers in partnership with the UN (2004-2007) are the following:

• Afghanistan:	2005-2006: 12-officer strength;
	2006-2007: 12-officer strength;
	2007: mission under way - 12-officer strength.
• Sudan:	2004-2006: 11-officer strength;
	2006-2007: 12-officer strength;
	2007: mission under way - 12-officer strength (Khartoum);
	2007: mission under way - 12-officer strength (Darfur).

The PGS teams sent on missions have always carried out their tasks successfully. Thus, the officials under their protection were able to work in optimal conditions, even if they were in conflict areas.

On the completion of each mission, the UN officials thanked the PGS leadership for the sense of responsibility and professionalism shown by the officers who had provided protection for them.

Currently, another 12-officer team from the Protection and Guard Service is carrying out protection and guard missions, defending the life and physical integrity of the UN high officials in the volatile conflict area of Darfur.