Excellencies, Secretary-General, Colleagues, Ladies and gentlemen,
I am honoured to be here with you today, and join the Secretary-General as we pay tribute to our peacekeeping colleagues who have shown the last full measure of devotion in the service of peace.
In 2012, 111 UN peacekeepers from 40 countries lost their lives in the cause of peace, serving as UN peacekeepers. Military, police and civilian colleagues. Since January of this year, a further 25 have been taken from us. Many died as a result of acts of violence. Others were victims of accidents or illness.