"Holding a roundtable conference on peacekeeping operations in Belgrade is recognition by the United Nations for Serbia's participation so far in keeping the peace worldwide", said First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic at the opening of the event that gathered high officials of the UN, regional countries and more than 20 contributing countries to peace-keeping operations.

"Your Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my distinct honour to be able to welcome you on behalf of Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which co-hosts in cooperation with the UN Office in Belgrade, this important event.

We see the fact that the event is being held in Belgrade as recognition by the United Nations of the past contribution and efforts of the Republic of Serbia aimed at maintaining international peace, especially through the engagement of members of the Serbian Armed Forces, police and medical teams in seven UN peace missions.

I would like to use this opportunity to thank the Under-Secretary General of the United Nations for peacekeeping operations, Hervé Ladsous, for giving the UN's unequivocal support by his visit and attendance of the conference. This is not only the support to Serbia, but to all the countries of the region to continue their active involvement in safeguarding peace throughout the world and in enhancing the partner cooperation among regional countries.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Peace missions are the central activity of the United Nations and an exceptionally important instrument in achieving long-term stability all over the world. The growing importance of peace operations was also highlighted at the Summit on peace missions held in New York as the side-event of the general debate of the 69th UN General Assembly where Serbia took an active part.

Through its engagement in UN peace missions, Serbia wishes to contribute to the promotion of sustainable peace, stability and development as prerequisites for conflict prevention. Serbia remains truly and unequivocally committed to being a partner of all countries of the region, of every UN Member State actively participating and cooperating to contribute to international peace and prosperity.

Unlike the previous period, the mandate of peace operations is now much more diversified and includes both conflict prevention and peacekeeping, as well as post-conflict reconstruction and development. Because of the complexity of the challenge involved, it is necessary to adopt a comprehensive approach: to have a clear vision; to develop partner relations; deepen cooperation but also better coordinate the UN Security Council and other UN bodies. In this context, we find particularly important the initiative launched by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to prepare an Overview of UN Peace Missions to be presented in 2015.

Threats posed to peace and stability throughout the world are becoming increasingly frequent and intensified. The United Nations is currently involved in 16 missions, and the burden borne by the UN Department for Peacekeeping Operations headed by Under-Secretary General Ladsous is ever greater and more complex. It is the obligation of all of us as Member States of the United Nations to make the greatest possible contribution so that the United Nations may effectively carry out its substantial obligation of keeping the peace.

Distinguished guests,

Serbia calls for a proactive multilateralism and sees, as its most important foreign policy segment, regional cooperation and regional initiatives without which, we believe, there is no prosperity and stability in the truest sense of the word.

Economic and social development cannot be achieved if we fail to confront resolutely the security challenges presented to the modern world. There can be no doubt that prospects for progress in the security and development fields greatly depend on the broader global environment and, most of all, on mutual respect and cooperation. In order to be able to respond to these challenges comprehensively and in an appropriate manner, it is necessary to ensure a coordinated and energetic response of all UN Member States. UN peacekeeping operations have been continuously changing and evolving as multi-dimensional undertakings. In addition to the needed political support of all of us, success of each mission is extremely important for he effective utilization of human, financial and logistic resources and new technologies. As a contributing country to peacekeeping forces, the Republic of Serbia upholds and supports a continuing dialogue within the United Nations aspiring to improve the record and effective operation of peace missions in line with the new challenges and requirements of modern times.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Successful peacekeeping is a joint responsibility shared by all of us, and it requires an uninterrupted engagement and commitment by all actors taking part in the preparation and implementation of peacekeeping operations for the purpose of increasing the capacity of the United Nations to produce concrete results in complicated and sensitive situations on the ground.

In order to have the set objectives fully achieved, all the key factors of peacekeeping operations must make their own active contribution and enhance their partner relationship. In this respect, Serbia shares the view on the need for expanding the circle of contributors, including an increased involvement of countries of the region to which the host country of the mission in question belongs, in order to ensure greater efficiency and faster establishment of peace.

Taking account of political commitment to peacekeeping operations and their operability, in financial and other terms, we must see to it to have better cooperation with regional players and improved coordination and prioritization so as to discharge the mandates of peace missions and to protect peacekeepers, in particular in light of the ongoing activities by terrorist organizations.

Distinguished guests,

As you all know, in accordance with UNSC Resolution 1244 (1999), the United Nations Interim Administration Mission (UNMIK) is active in the territory of our Province of Kosovo and Metohija, which, in cooperation with other international actors - KFOR and EULEX, has primary responsibility for security, peace and stability on the ground. UNMIK's status-neutral activity and all other organizations, bodies and programmes of the United Nations present in Kosovo and Metohija under Resolution 1244, is particularly important from the aspect of support for the ongoing dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and for the implementation of agreements reached.

The UN Mission in Kosovo and Metohija is of special significance for the return of internally displaced persons and the maintenance of security for all, especially the non-Albanian population to whom UNMIK is the sole guarantor of survival.

Excellencies,

The Republic of Serbia attaches great importance to UN activity in the promotion and maintenance of peace and security in the world and is committed to continuing its active involvement within the system of collective security. In this way, we are, on our part, making a specific contribution to projecting and creating a more favourable security environment globally and regionally, and we continue to follow in the footsteps of the traditional participation of the former Yugoslavia in UN peacekeeping operations, initiated back in 1956.

Serbia is leader of our region in terms of the scope of its engagement in peace operations and is in eighth place as a contributing state of Europe. Among dozens of thousands of UN peacekeeping troops, more than 200 Serbian peacekeepers serve under the UN flag.

Ever since 2003, Serbia has been continuously working to improve both quantitatively and qualitatively its contribution to peacekeeping operations. We are considering the possibility of increasing considerably our participation in UN-led missions, as also evidenced in the adopted Annual Plan of Use of the Serbian Armed Forces and other Defence Forces in Multinational Operations. A colleague of mine, Defence Minister of the Republic of Serbia Bratislav Gasic will later provide more details to you in this respect.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In view of the fact that the Republic of Serbia is a part of the region which has gone through very difficult and challenging period, we approach the process of peacemaking and peacekeeping very responsibly. In this context, we also promote regional cooperation, mutual reconciliation and understanding, acutely aware that peace and stability have no alternative and that it is very easy to spark old mistrust and much harder to build true understanding. Regional cooperation is the most solid basis and point of departure for building and preserving long-term peace, especially in the context of our region which can now even export peace. We believe that the countries from the region may make an important contribution to the operability and effective functioning of peace missions in other parts of the world as well. We also commend an increased attention being paid to the role of regional organizations in peace missions.

Your Excellencies,

We all share the responsibility for the prosperity, stability and security of our region and we can also contribute significantly through our experience to reconciliation, cooperation and understanding in other regions, too.

The Republic of Serbia will continue to be the partner of all those willing to engage themselves through the United Nations to contribute to the safeguarding of international peace and security.

Thank you for your attention and I wish you successful and productive exchange of views."