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Remarks of Anthony Banbury, Assistant-Secretary-General  Acting Head, Department of Field Support  Introduction of GFSS  Opening session of the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly  Second resumed sixty-sixth session    Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegates,

Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, 1. It is my pleasure to be here today with you as the Council debates once more the important issue of the role of peacekeepers in peacebuilding and the related issue of  transitions. 2. In the last three years, we have come a long way in sharpening our understanding of what building peace entails. There is consensus across the UN and beyond on the broad priorities, in what is inevitably a complex and long-term effort.

  Thank you for welcoming me here. And what a special honour it is to be speaking to you today in the new Ban Ki-moon Auditorium in this training centre. I thank you very much! I understand that, at many institutions, large halls such as this are often called “the multi-purpose room.” That certainly describes my role as UN Secretary-General. And it certainly describes very well the responsibilities placed on you as United Nations peacekeepers.