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Secretary-General Statements

Remarks at the China Peacekeeping Military Training Centre

19 Jun 2013 | Beijing, China
I have seen the bravery of Chinese blue helmets helping struggling communities around the world. China provides more peacekeepers to the United Nations than all of the four other permanent members combined. I applaud this solidarity. A total of 14 Chinese have lost their lives in the service of peacekeeping. We will carry on their legacy by pursuing their noble work for peace. Today I would like to discuss three major challenges in peacekeeping:

Remarks at wreath-laying ceremony on the International Day of Peacekeepers

29 May 2013
Please join me in observing a moment of silence in honour of all peacekeeping officers who have lost their lives while serving the United Nations. Thank you. Today we honour the 111 heroes who died last year while serving under the United Nations flag. We also pay tribute to the nearly 3,000 others who have fallen in the line of duty since the first peacekeepers deployed 65 years ago. I offer my deepest sympathies and profoundest condolences to their families.  We are working hard to improve safety for our personnel around the world.

Remarks at Dag Hammarskjöld Medal Ceremony to Honour Fallen Peacekeepers

29 May 2013
I am honoured to award the Dag Hammarskjöld medal to 103 peacekeepers who died while serving the United Nations in 2012. I am deeply saddened to report that this marks the fifth year in a row that more than 100 peacekeepers lost their lives in the line of duty. This International Day is always a sober occasion. This ceremony is a reminder that our decisions can have very painful consequences. The people whose memories we honour today died doing work that we asked them to do.

Remarks to Security Council open debate on United Nations Peacekeeping: A Multidisciplinary Approach

21 Jan 2013
We are honoured to have the Foreign Secretary of Pakistan here to preside over this important debate and we thank you for this initiative. Pakistan is the single largest troop contributor to United Nations peacekeeping. Its personnel are working courageously every day under the UN blue flag to bring peace to troubled areas.

Secretary-General's remarks to Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict

25 Jun 2012
Good morning. This is my ninth report on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. Its essential thrust is clear: Too many people are dying, in too many places. Sometimes they are caught in the crossfire; frequently they are targeted. They are the innocent victims of attacks on their communities and, often, places that rightly should be sanctuaries — hospitals and schools, places of worship.

Remarks at the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal Ceremony to Honour Fallen Peacekeepers

29 May 2012 | UN Headquarters, New York
I am honoured to pay tribute today to the memory of the 112 peacekeepers who died while serving the United Nations in 2011. Sadly, this marks the fourth year in a row that more than 100 peacekeepers lost their lives in the line of duty. I offer my heartfelt condolences to their families, friends and countries. You in this room represent the governments that contribute these forces – and bear the losses. I am deeply grateful to you for engaging in this global partnership.

Remarks at the Malaysia Peacekeeping Training Centre [as delivered]

22 Mar 2012 | Port Dickson, Malaysia
  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.

Address to the Jakarta International Defense Dialogue: "The United Nations and global security: collaboration and partnership

21 Mar 2012 |  Jakarta, Indonesia
    Good morning. Selamat pagi. Let me begin by thanking the organizers for bringing us together. Rarely do I have the opportunity to meet with such a distinguished group of people and prominent group of international security experts. You are important partners of the United Nations, and I welcome this chance to deepen our ties. I think we can all agree: the past year has been remarkable to all of us in the international community.

Lecture at the Indonesia Peace and Security Centre

20 Mar 2012 | Sentul, Indonesia
 

Remarks of the Secretary-General to Security Council's open debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict

9 Nov 2011
Your Excellency Mr. Cavaco Silva, President of Portugal, Distinguished Members of the Council, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank Portugal for convening today's debate on the protection of civilians.   I very much welcome the presence here today of His Excellency President Cavaco Silva –a clear sign of the commitment of Portugal to this very important issue.   All of us share a fundamental responsibility to do more to protect civilians caught up in the horrors of war.