I send my warmest greetings to this eighteenth conference of the Heads of United Nations Military Components.
I would like to thank you personally and, through you, the women and men who serve with honour in peacekeeping operations, for their personal sacrifices and for the contributions they make every day to international peace and security.
Today, our peacekeeping operations face the challenging context of the COVID-19 pandemic. I send my deepest condolences to those of you who have lost loved ones and members of your contingents during this crisis.