SECRETARY-GENERAL STRESSES MULTIFACETED NATURE OF PEACE-KEEPING MANDATES IN REMARKS TO NORDIC-UN SEMINAR ON PEACE-KEEPING MANAGEMENT

2 September 1997

Press Release
SG/SM/6312
PKO/60

SECRETARY-GENERAL STRESSES MULTIFACETED NATURE OF PEACE-KEEPING MANDATES IN REMARKS TO NORDIC-UN SEMINAR ON PEACE-KEEPING MANAGEMENT

19970902 Kofi Annan Says Deployment of Stronger Peace-keeping Forces To Deal with Intra-State Threats to Peace and Security Should Be Considered

Following are remarks by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the Nordic- United Nations Senior Peace-keeping Management Seminar, in Copenhagen, today:

I am delighted to be here today and to address our second annual Senior Management Seminar. Last year, in my capacity as Under-Secretary-General for Peace-keeping Operations, I had the pleasure of opening the New York phase of the first annual seminar.

It was a great success. I am very pleased to see the important follow- up that is taking place today.

Earlier this morning, I had a very productive meeting with the SHIRBRIG [Multinational United Nations Stand-by Forces High-Readiness Brigade] Ministers of Defence. We reviewed the progress made, and I emphasized, as I often do, the importance of this visionary idea.

I truly believe that SHIRBRIG is a model arrangement. It will finally provide the instrument for swift and coordinated action that we all recognize is a condition for successful peace-keeping.

I salute the Nordic countries for continuing and building on this management initiative. I welcome the cooperation that we have enjoyed in the planning and realization of this event.

These seminars are especially important in the current era, because of the very nature of conflicts in which peace-keepers must operate. The threats to peace and security today are mainly intra-State.

In these conflicts, there is often a severe weakening or even breakdown of authority, and power devolves to factions and splinter groups. As a result, political and military leaders often exercise very little control over their territory.

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External States, including the great Powers, often have little influence over these parties. They have little leverage with which to support the peace-keeping operation and its mandate.

In these changed circumstances, in order to ensure the fulfilment of the mandate and to protect the troops themselves, we should consider deploying stronger peace-keeping forces.

In addition, peace-keeping mandates today are multifaceted. Containing conflicts is only one of their aims. Increasingly, they also work to resolve the underlying issues; and to help the parties building legitimate, responsive institutions. Only in this way can a lasting peace be achieved.

Besides military personnel, these new missions often include civilian police, human rights monitors, humanitarian providers, electoral experts, political staff and even public administrators.

In such complex operations, peace-keeping management -- and I emphasize the word management -- is in greater demand than ever before.

That is why your gathering here is such an important undertaking. We will follow your progress closely and I look forward to hearing your conclusions. I wish you a stimulating, productive and insightful seminar -- one that leads, in a very direct way, to better peace-keeping.

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