Dear UNTSO and UNSCO colleagues and friends,
Today, we gather in UNTSO Memorial Garden to commemorate two honorable events:
The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers – a day rooted in service and sacrifice and
The 78th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) on 29 May 1948 by the Security Council as the first United Nations peacekeeping mission.
International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
Today, in my capacity as UNTSO Officer-in-Charge, together with all of you, we honor the more than 4,500 peacekeepers who have lost their lives in the service of peace. We honor the memory of all fallen peacekeepers, including UNTSO Military Observers and civilian personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty. Their sacrifice continues to inspire our work. May they rest in peace.
Also, today, I am deeply honored to share with you the following message from the Secretary-General in commemoration of this important day:
“Around the globe, tensions are rising, conflicts are multiplying, and divisions are deepening, placing immense strain on peace and security. While [UN] Peacekeeping continues to be a proven and cost-effective instrument for addressing such challenges, it depends on consistent political backing and reliable, sustained financial resources. This year’s theme, Invest in Peace, is a call for decisive action in this regard – and it must drive our collective efforts towards a more stable, prosperous world for all.”
As we are all aware, the United Nations is at a pivotal moment. Eighty years after its founding, the UN’s belief that peace is possible is now under strain. More civilians are at risk today than at any point in recent history, at the very moment when peacekeeping operations face reduced financial support.
Even under these constraints, UN Peacekeeping remains one of the most efficient and effective tools to respond to conflict.
Every day, more than 50,000 civilian, military, and police peacekeepers serve under the UN flag in some of the world’s most complex environments, where conflicts are increasingly fragmented, protracted, and shaped by new threats, including the misuse of digital tools and the spread of harmful information.
We face real risks in the line of duty. We continue to strengthen protective measures to mitigate threats and carry out our mandates safely.
UNTSO 78th Anniversary
The concept of ‘UN peacekeeping’ was born on this very same day, 78 years ago with the establishment of UNTSO as (a) the first peacekeeping mission and as (b) the first peacekeeping mission of unarmed military observers. To this day, UNTSO is the only UN regional peacekeeping mission spanning five countries, and the only UN peacekeeping mission guided by an open-ended mandate (UNSCR 54 (1948) – “until a peaceful adjustment on the future situation of Palestine is reached”).
The concept of UN mediation, devising negotiation modalities, and developing armistice agreements were also all a ‘first’ for the United Nations. No model existed in 1948 for any of these activities. Concepts, modalities, and actions developed for and by UNTSO are the same ones that have helped shape subsequent UN interventions since 1948.
UNTSO was never designed to resolve the complexities, violence, and tension in the Middle East but rather as a means, with the understanding “that there could be no possibility of a peaceful adjustment of the dispute unless there was at least a moderate willingness on the part of…[the] parties to explore all avenues for a peaceful adjustment, and unless…[they] were prepared at some stage to forego armed force as a means of attaining their objectives. This was written on 12 July 1948 (S/888).
The longevity of UNTSO is attributable to its usefulness. UNTSO provides a platform for international engagement and open communication; it has earned the trust of the Parties and other stakeholders; it is agile, responsive, and adaptive. UNTSO is well regarded for the quality and expertise of its military observers and their training programme (EPON study, 2024).
Overall, after 78 years, UNTSO retains a significant political value in the regional and international community, representing a visible commitment of the United Nations to achieving a comprehensive peace in the region.
Conclusion
At this point, allow me to conclude by commending your continued dedication and professionalism in the service of peace. Despite the evolving regional developments and the many challenges peacekeeping faces today, all of you here today and colleagues in the Outstations have demonstrated immense adaptability and commitment in the pursuit of the same paramount objective – That of peace for all. May the Heavens above us give us the wisdom to know the difference. Thank you.
