Thank you, Mr Chair.

Let me begin by emphasizing Germany is in full agreement with the European Union Statement.

UN peacekeeping operations continue to play a crucial role in creating conditions conducive to peace processes and the protection of civilians. Despite the current challenges, Germany is convinced that UN peacekeeping will remain a very important multilateral instrument.

As in the past, UN peacekeeping will need to evolve, preserving and strengthening what has worked well while identifying and implementing opportunities for improvement. Current challenges require open, dedicated and courageous discussions.

At the C-34 a wide range of peacekeeping stakeholders, including Troop- and Police-contributing Countries, Members of the Security Council, financial contributors to the Peacekeeping Budget, host states and others have the opportunity come together to discuss the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects. We look forward to fruitful discussions in the days and weeks ahead and hope for a report which reflects the interests of all parties involved.

It is our common responsibility to sharpen the existing tools and add new ones to the toolbox of crisis management.

Alongside the important work of this Committee, the SOTF in September can be another milestone in the overall process of further developing peacekeeping.

In just over a year's time, in May 2025, Germany will have the honor of hosting the Peacekeeping Ministerial in BERLIN. This will be another opportunity to show our political commitment to UN peace operations, discuss the future of peacekeeping on a high political level whilst also generating concrete practical pledges to improve peacekeeping in the field.

In this sense, we invite you to join this process and look forward to welcoming your foreign ministers and ministers of defence in Berlin next year.

Distinguished fellow delegates, please be assured that as the host of the next peacekeeping ministerial we will include the input of this Committee into the preparations of the conference.

In closing, the work of the C-34 the SOTF 2024 and the Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 offer opportunities to add additional positive dynamics to further optimize UN peacekeeping and make this more than ever an important tool in our pursuit for sustainable international peace ready for future challenges.

Thank you.