Press releases

Watch English on webtv.un.org: For nearly 70 years, UN peacekeeping has proven to be one of the international community’s most effective investments in peace, security and prosperity.    Demand for UN peacekeepers has risen steadily over the years, and deployment is now near an all-time high. Peacekeeping has had a positive impact on the lives of millions of people around the world.

Watch the video on webtv.un.org: We are here today to honour the 117 men and woman from 43 countries who lost their lives last year serving under the United Nations flag. The medal we confer at today’s ceremony is named after my predecessor, Dag Hammarskjöld, who lost his life in the cause of peace, like the recipients of this medal.   Those we honour today died while protecting the world’s most vulnerable people and supporting countries in making the difficult transition from conflict to peace. 

[Bilingual, as prepared for delivery] Excellencies,  Ladies and Gentlemen,  We are here today to focus attention on Mali and how we can together best ensure effective support.  I would like to express my particular appreciation to all countries whose troops serve in Mali, and all those who have been supporting Mali and MINUSMA in other ways.  I particularly thank the Member States that announced their intentions to make pledges yesterday, and ask them to do their utmost to ensure swift deployment.

Ladies and gentlemen of the media. Thank you very much for your presence.   I have no doubt that this first conference between the African Union Commission and the United Nations Secretariat represents a landmark in our cooperation.