King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev has expressed happiness over the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) successfully fulfilling its responsibility and highlighting the image of the RNA through participation as peace keepers in various parts of the world at the call of the United Nations.

The King made this remark in a message on Thursday to the second contingent of Gorakh Bahadur (GB) battalion (peacekeepers) which is headed for peacekeeping duty in Sierra Leone.

King said the RNA has been participating in peace keeping missions at the call of the UN notwithstanding its own difficulties because of our commitment towards the UN Charter based on world peace, a spirit of brotherhood, sovereign independence and the principles of non-alignment. The King also expressed the confidence that the Gorakhnath Baba will bless the battalion, which was founded in the name of Gorakhnathath Baba.

The message of the King was read out by minister for physical planning and works who is also holding the portfolio of the prime minister at the training camp in Panchkhal, on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev granted audience to the second contingent of the Gorakh Bahadur (GB) battalion which will replace the first contingent of Devi Datta battalion peace keeping force now being deployed in peace keeping operations in Sierra Leone at the call of the United Nations at Panchkhal training camp on Thursday. On the occasion HRH Crown Prince Paras inspected the guard of honour and received introduction of the officers of the second contingent of the GB battalion peacekeeping force.

The Crown Prince also viewed with keen interest the peace keeping exercises including disarming, controlling mob and defusing petrol and other explosives demonstrated by the second contingent of the GB battalion. The motto of the GB battation, set up in 2007 BS is 'Jai Gorakh.'