Press release

Message from Mr. Jean-Paul Adam, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Seychelles on the Occassion of the International Day of the United Nations Peacekeepers

May 29, 2013
StateHouse

On the occasion of this year’s International Day of Peacekeepers, Seychelles joins the international community to pay tribute to all the men and women who are currently serving with devotion in UN peacekeeping operations around the world and honour the memory of those who lost their lives in the line of duty.

Today the United Nations has 15 peacekeeping operations and one special political mission comprising of nearly 111,000 peacekeepers working to create conditions for lasting peace in war-torn countries.

The peacekeepers come from 116 countries, a poignant reminder of the global partnership that the United Nations is founded on and which underpins the unified and collective approach needed to meet today’s new challenges.

The contribution of troops and police, the financial and material resources as well as the leadership shown by many members of the United Nations family to ensure that the peacekeeping operations function efficiently deserve special recognition on this important day.

The contributions that regional organizations like the African Union, which has recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, has also undeniably provided the support needed for the United Nations to better address Africa’s peace and security challenges and should be commended.

On this day, Seychelles would also like to underscore its full support to the United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, for his continued efforts to better calibrate UN peacekeeping for it to meet current and future challenges.

As an engaged member of the United Nations family, Seychelles will continue working with its partners to ensure that the peacekeeping forces receive the support needed. Seychelles will also pursue in its international efforts to promote peacebuilding which is a key addition to all efforts aimed at promoting and securing peace around the world. Special emphasis should be placed on the pivotal role of preventive diplomacy and mediation in peacefully settling disputes and preventing the outbreak, escalation or relapse of conflicts.

On this international day, Seychelles pays tribute to all the blue helmets serving around the world in the name of peace.