Ceremony to mark the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers

Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen
Dear Colleagues and Friends:

Every year, we come together here, with our friends from the Soldiers of Peace International Association, to salute the sacrifice and the selflessness of our United Nations peacekeepers.

We thank them for their contributions and commitment to the cause of peace. We pay our respects to those who paid the ultimate price in the quest for a better world for us all. We remember them as colleagues and friends, and as the embodiment of the very principles and values of the Organization we all serve. Today, we pledge to take forward their work as the only true way to pay tribute to their memory.

Please join me in a minute of silence in their honour. Thank you.

Sadly, the past years have given us many more sacrifices by United Nations peacekeepers to mourn. Over 2009 and 2010, 218 have been killed. Only a few months ago, we came together at this Memorial to pay tribute to the 96 peacekeeping colleagues who perished in the earthquake in Haiti on 12 January. The tragedy was all the greater, as it came at a time when Haiti was making progress – also thanks to the tireless efforts of the peacekeepers deployed there. Today, we vow to continue to work with the people of Haiti to bring them long-term stability and progress.

With more than 122,000 military, police and civilian personnel of 115 countries, serving across four continents, the demand for United Nations peacekeeping is at an all-time high. Of these, 89,000 are troops. This reflects a conscious choice by countries of peace over conflict, and it is an illustration of the trust that is placed in United Nations peacekeeping.

The scale and complexity of peacekeeping today are not matched by existing capabilities. We need a new partnership among all stakeholders, with a shared vision that can be translated into effective action on the ground. We also need to strengthen political efforts for conflict management and resolution. Peacekeeping needs to be part of a political solution and not an alternative.

Today is an opportunity to reflect on how to take forward peacekeeping in this new reality so that it can continue to live up to the expectations of those we serve. When expectations cannot be met, the legitimacy of peacekeeping suffers.

Dear Colleagues and Friends:
Our peacekeepers serve the blue flag and the mission of the United Nations with pride and distinction. Today, we express our pride in their achievements in the service of our common humanity.

Each and every one of them makes a difference to the lives of our most vulnerable fellow human beings. We pledge to give them the support they need to accomplish the tasks we entrust to them on behalf of the international community.

We are inspired by their determination and dedication. We are humbled by their spirit of service to others and their deep sense of duty.

Let their courage and compassion continue to guide our work for peace everywhere.

Thank you very much.