When the US withdrew their troops from Somalia, I recall making a comment that [in] the way the peacekeepers had been withdrawn from Somalia, the impression had been given that the easiest way to unravel a peacekeeping operation is to kill a few soldiers.

In all these cases, part of the reasons for failure perhaps was not analyzing and assessing the true nature of the crisis, the resources that would be required, and exaggerated expectation of what the U.N. troops can do.

Often, we take stability - peace in terms of security and economic activity - to mean a country is doing well. We forget the third and important pillar of rule of law and respect for human rights, because no country can long remain prosperous without that third pillar.

The war on drugs has failed in West Africa and around the world

To go to war without the Security Council will not be in conformity with the Council.

To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there.

Let us all reaffirm our commitment to improving the well- being of families throughout the world.