UN Secretariat Item Scan - Barcode - Record Title Page 32 Date 14/06/2006 Time 9:23:23 AM S-0899-0003-13-00001 Expanded Number S-0899-0003-13-00001 Title |tems-in-Middle East - peacekeeping operations and other missions - UNEF II - [mandate, etc.] Date Created 04/05/1979 Record Type Archival Item Container s-0899-0003: Peacekeeping - Middle East 1945-1981 Print Name of Person Submit Image Signature of Person Submit ly^tjfiriR %S ClIP&•„:» xi S &«vJS S S^ «v.S Departmen3 t ol SG/SM/3208 12 Woveiribsr 1201 SECRET&B Y-GENSRAL ' S ST^TEMFA'T AT RECBPTION MARK IMG TivEi:3;rr~FTFTH AFNIVERS.V.Y •'•'•'- op FIP.v^T UN1T3D NATIONS PEACH-KESPTNG' FOKCS' Following is the text of remarks by Sscretary-Ceneral Kurt Waldhaim at a reception givei- by the International Peace Academy (I?A) at Headquarters this evening to narU the twenty-fifth anniversary of the first United Rations Emergency Force ^UI;iBF) % I am happy to vjelcome the International Peace Academy and itc guests to this twenty-fifth anniversary commemoration of the first United Nations peace-keeping force, DNEF. In particular we are honoured by the pressiics of General Barns, the first Commander of that force and a veteran and pioneer of United Nations peace-keeping, anc] Ruth Bunchep whose husband was the train architect of the original peace-keeping operations. It is also a pleasure to have General Kartola with us •— he was the first Military Adviser to the Secretary-General and later served with great distinction as Commander of U18FICYP. The creation of UNEF I at the height of the Suez crisis in 1S56 was a landmark in the history of the United Nations, It was a key factor in resolving an extremely serious international crisis- It was also a major step forward in the technique • f peace-keeping,, which is one of the original creations of the United I .tions. It provided the model for future peace-keeping operations n various parts of the world. In all, 13 peace-keeping operations .iave been set up by the United Nations to control conflicts and maintain peace in various parts of the world,, Some 340,000 military personnel from over 50 Member States have served with United Nations peace-keeping operations? over 600 of these have died in the service of peace. The blue berets and blue helmets have come to symbolize, in a unique way, the ideals of this Organization and its capability, in practical and impartial ways, to defuse dangerous situations. Indeed, tha task of conflict management is now central to the responsibilities of the United Nations. The peace-keeping operations provide the time, and the opportunity, in which adversaries can work towards the solution of deep underlying disputes. It is important that this time be well used, for peace-keeping by itself provides no fundamental solution, and it For information media — not an official rsccrd - 2 - Press Release SG/SM/3208 12 November 1S81 must never be used as an alibi to avoid the serious decisions that only political will, understanding and courage can bring. In commemorating the twenty-fifth-anniversary of.UNEF, therefore, I would hope that the devotion of our soldiers for peace will be matched by the political resolve to settle, in their essentials, the disputes that have occasioned the peace-keeping operations of the United Nations. I am very glad that the IPA had the excellent idea of holding this important birthday party. Amid so much criticism, we do well to remember the successes of the United Nations and the indispensable role of United Nations peace-keeping operations. I wish to thank General Rikhye for his initiative in arranging this commemoration both of a great international achievement and of those who made it possible. It now gives me great pleasure to present, on behalf of the International Peace Academy, this first Distinguished Peace-keepers award to General Burns in recognition of his outstanding service to the cause of peace. * *** * REMARKS BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AT THE RECEPTION BY THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE ACADEMY TO MARK THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST UNEF General Rikhye, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am happy to welcome the International Peace Academy and its guests to this twenty-fifth anniversary commemoration of the first United Nations peace-keeping force, UNEF. In particular we are honoured by the presence of General Burns, the first Commander of that force and a veteran and pioneer of United Nations peace-keeping, and Ruth Bunche, whose husband was the main architect of the original peace-keeping operations. - 2 - It is also a pleasure to have General Martola with us - he was the first Military Adviser to the Secretary-General and later served with great distinction as Commander of UNFICYP. The creation of UNEF I at the height of the Suez crisis in 1956 was a landmark in the history of the United Nations. It was a key factor in resolving an extremely serious international crisis. It was also a major step forward in the technique of peace-keeping which is one of the original creations of the United Nations. It provided the model for future peace-keeping operations in various parts of the world. In all, 13 peace-keeping operations have been set up by the United Nations to control conflicts and maintain peace in various parts of the world. - 3 - Some 340.000 military personnel from over 50 member states have served with United Nations peace-keeping operations; over 600 of these have died in the service of peace. The blue berets and blue helmets have come to symbolize, in a unique way, the ideals of this Organization and its capability, in practical and impartial ways, to defuse dangerous situations. Indeed, the task of conflict management is now central to the responsibilities of the United Nations. The peace-keeping operations provide the time, and the opportunity, in which adversaries can work towards the solution of deep underlying disputes. It is important that this time be well used, for peace-keeping by itself provides no fundamental solution, and it must never be used as an alibi to avoid the serious decisions that only political will, understanding and courage can bring. In commemorating the twenty-fifth anniversary of UNEF, therefore, I would hope that the devotion of our soldiers for peace will be matched by the political resolve to settle, in their essentials, the disputes that have occasioned the peace-keeping operations of the United Nations. - 5 - r, I am very glad that the IPA had the excellent idea of holding this important birthday party. Amid so much criticism, we do well to remember the successes of the United Nations and the indispensable role of UN peace-keeping operations. I wish to thank General Rikhye for his initiative in arranging this commemoration both of a great international achievement and of those who made it possible. It now gives me great pleasure to present, on behalf of the International Peace Academy, this first Distinguished Peacekeepers award to General Burns in recognition of his outstanding service to the cause of peace. ***** JO: THE SECRETARY-GENERAL DRAFT General Rikhye, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am happy to welcome the International peace Academy and its guests to this twenty-fifth anniversary commemoration of the first United Nations peace-keeping force, UNEF. In particular we are honoured by the presence of General Burns, the first Commander of that force and a veteran and pioneer of United Nations peace-keeping, and Ruth Bunche, whose husband was the main architect of the original peace- keeping operations. It is also a pleasure to have General Martola with us - he was the first Military Adviser to the Secretary- General and later served with great distinction as Commander of UNFICYP. The creation of UNEF I at the height of the Suez crisis in 1956 was a landmark in the history of the United Nations. It was a key factor in resolving an extremely serious international crisis. It was also a major step forward in the technique of peace-keeping which is one of the original creations of the United Nations. It provided the model for future peace-keeping operations in various parts of the world. In all, 13 peace-keeping operations have been set up by the United Nations to control conflicts and maintain peace in various parts of the world. Some 34O,OOO military personnel, from over 50 member states have served with United Nations peace-keeping operations; over 600 of these have died in the service of peace. The blue berets and blue helmets have come to symbolize, in a unique way, the ideals of this Organization and its capability, in practical and impartial ways, to defuse dangerous situations. Indeed, the task of conflict management is now central to the responsibilities of the United Nations. The peace- keeping operations provide the time, and the opportunity, in which adversaries can work towards the solution of deep underlying disputes. It is important that this time be well used, for peace-keeping by itself provides no fundamental solution, and it must never be used as an alibi to avoid the serious decisions that only political will, understanding and courage can bring. In commemorating the twenty-fifth anniversary of UNEF, therefore, I would hope that the devotion of our soldiers for peace will be matched by the political resolve to settle, in their essentials, the disputes that have occasioned the peace-keeping operations of the United Nations. I am very glad that the IPA had the excellent idea of holding this important birthday party. Amid so much criticism, we do well to remember the successes of the United Nations and the indispensable role of UN peace-keeping operations.