SECURITY COUNCIL INVITES MEMBER STATES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON ELEMENTS THEY MIGHT MAKE AVAILABLE FOR PEACE-KEEPING STAND-BY ARRANGEMENTS

19 December 1995

Press Release
SC/6146

SECURITY COUNCIL INVITES MEMBER STATES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON ELEMENTS THEY MIGHT MAKE AVAILABLE FOR PEACE-KEEPING STAND-BY ARRANGEMENTS

19951219 Presidential Statement also Welcomes Secretariat Initiative For Creation of Stand-by Headquarters Component in Mission Planning Service

The Security Council this afternoon encouraged Member States to participate in the stand-by arrangements for United Nations peace-keeping operations, if they are not yet doing so. It invited them, together with States already participating in the arrangements, to provide detailed information on elements they are prepared to make available to the United Nations, and to identify components -- such as logistic support elements and sea/airlift resources -- presently underrepresented in the arrangement.

In a statement read out by its President, Sergei Lavrov (Russian Federation), the Council welcomed the initiative undertaken by the United Nations Secretariat for the creation of a stand-by Headquarters component, within the Mission Planning Service of the Department of Peace-keeping Operations (DPKO). Expressing strong support for the Secretary-General's efforts to enhance United Nations capacity for the planning, rapid deployment and effective support of peace-keeping operations, it endorsed his establishment of partnerships between troop-contributing countries needing equipment for units possibly destined for United Nations service and governments ready to provide such equipment.

The meeting, which was called to order at 6 p.m., was adjourned at 6:04 p.m.

The full text of the statement, to be issued as document SPRST/1995/61, reads as follows:

"The Security Council has noted with interest and appreciation the report of the Secretary-General of 10 November 1995 on stand-by arrangements for peace-keeping operations (S/1995/943). It recalls earlier statements by the President of the Security Council on this subject and strongly supports the efforts of the Secretary-General to enhance the capacity of the United Nations for the planning, rapid deployment and reinforcement and logistical support of peace-keeping operations.

Security Council - 2 - Press Release SC/6146 3609th Meeting (Night) 19 December 1995

"The Security Council encourages Member States not yet doing so to participate in the stand-by arrangements. It invites them, and those States already participating in the arrangements, to provide information in as detailed a manner as possible on those elements which they are ready to make available to the United Nations. It also invites them to identify components, such as logistic support elements and sea/airlift resources, presently under- represented in the arrangement. In this context the Security Council welcomes the initiative undertaken by the Secretariat for the creation of a stand-by Headquarters component within the Mission Planning Service of the Department of Peace-keeping Operations. The Security Council also joins with the Secretary-General in the establishment of partnerships between those troop- contributing countries that need equipment for units that may be provided to the United Nations and those governments ready to provide such equipment and other support.

"The Security Council looks forward to further reports from the Secretary-General on the progress of the stand-by arrangements initiative and undertakes to keep the matter under review."

Report of the Secretary-General

Before the Council was the report of the Secretary-General (document S/1995/843) on progress made on stand-by arrangements with Member States concerning their possible contribution to United Nations peace-keeping operations.

The report, which covers developments since 30 June 1994, notes that the purpose of a stand-by arrangement is to have a precise understanding of the forces and other capabilities a Member State will have available at a given state of readiness should it agree to contribute to a peace-keeping operation. (Stand-by arrangements are based on the principle that such contributions are voluntary, and that a stand-by arrangement does not constitute an automatic obligation on the part of the participating Member State to contribute.)

Under a stand-by arrangement, a Member State identifies certain resources -- such as military units, individual civilian and military personnel (e.g. police or military observers), specialized services, and equipment -- for possible use in United Nations peace-keeping operations. Since the start of the stand-by-arrangement initiative in 1993, members of the Secretariat's stand-by-arrangements team have visited 57 countries and established contact with the governments of 80 others. As of 31 October 1995, 47 Member States have confirmed commitments to provide stand-by resources totalling 55,000 personnel, consisting mainly of infantry but some with equipment and logistic support. (The report lists those resources in an annex).

Security Council - 3 - Press Release SC/6146 3609th Meeting (Night) 19 December 1995

On the question of response time, the report recalls the problem of the "often long period" between a Council decision to establish an operation and the arrival of troops and equipment in the mission area. The report notes that the Council expressed the belief that the first priority in improving the capacity for rapid deployment should be the further enhancement of the existing stand-by arrangements, with a key element in that regard being response time.

The report goes on to state that governments were initially given preferred response times -- seven days for individuals, 14 days for elements involved in the reception phase, and 30 days for other units. However, responses received to date indicate that few governments are able to adhere to such preferences. According to the declared individual capacities of Member States, which the Secretariat had begun to register, response times vary from seven days to over 90 days, with many governments needing over 90 days to prepare for deployment. The report adds that such information would, in principle, enable the Secretariat to call on all potential troop contributors, since units with longer response times may be planned for deployment in the later stages of a peace-keeping operation.

In concluding remarks, the report asserts that the current system has proven most useful. The information provided has facilitated the process of identifying possible troop contributors and planning for deployment of troops and equipment. Another improvement has been the development of standards (listed in the report) which have helped achieve a measure of standardization in organization and equipment.

However, the report notes that the United Nations is currently far from having a rapid reaction capability. The Secretary-General therefore welcomes recent initiatives taken by Member States to address that issue, either individually or in partnership with other Member States.

* *** *