António Guterres said "the women and men working in the UN peace operations give a heroic contribution, risking their own lives, but that are frequently tasked with peace keeping where there is no peace to keep".

"Greater conceptual clarity and a shared understanding of the objectives of peace keeping should point the way to urgent reforms. We must create a peace continuum from conflict resolution to peace keeping, building peace and development", he said in the UN before beginning his five-year on 1 January next year.