Despite this progress, Uruguay believes that there is a wide gap between th...

Despite this progress, Uruguay believes that there is a wide gap between the legal developments that have taken place in recent years with regard to the protection of civilians in armed conflicts, and the real situation of civilian populations affected by such conflicts, including in those places where the United Nations is represented by peacekeeping operations. This is why we can only endorse the approach suggested by the Secretary-General that we concentrate on making a tangible difference on the ground and take into particular account the situation as it is experienced before we make critical decisions with regard to the future of the United Nations presence on the ground.