In progress at UNHQ

GA/PK/154

SECURITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE GUIDED BY NEED RATHER THAN INTERESTS OF POWERFUL MEMBERS, PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS COMMITTEE TOLD

1 April 1998


Press Release
GA/PK/154


SECURITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE GUIDED BY NEED RATHER THAN INTERESTS OF POWERFUL MEMBERS, PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS COMMITTEE TOLD

19980401 The United Nations standby arrangements system could not be effective without a more even-handed Security Council whose response to conflicts depended on need, rather than on the interests of powerful members, the representative of Ghana told the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, as it continued its general debate this afternoon. People in African conflict zones had recently been the victims of the Council's selectivity, he added.

The representative of Zimbabwe said that Security Council decisions should be guided by genuine interest in maintaining international peace and security, rather than by the narrow economic and political interest of a few powerful countries which chose to sacrifice the plight of humanity "on the altar of economic interest".

There was a sense of unease over the Security Council's encroachment on an area which was strictly the domain of the General Assembly, the authority to approve budgets, the representative of India said. It was disconcerting that the Council was delving into the financial aspects of peacekeeping and was regularly provided estimates of peacekeeping operation, which it took into account before deciding on its establishment.

The representative of Norway also noted that it was now accepted that conflict prevention, peacekeeping operations and peace-building must occur simultaneously, requiring improved coordination between the Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and of Political Affairs. Increasing attention to human rights abuses and the need for humanitarian assistance called for close cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Also, the representative of Canada called for closer interaction between the Peacekeeping Department and humanitarian and non-governmental organizations, troop contributors, and the Commission on Human Rights.

Statements were also made by the representatives of Uruguay, Australia, Brazil, Philippines, Nepal, Republic of Korea and Algeria.

The Committee will met again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, 2 April, to continue its general debate.

Special Committee Work Programme

The Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations met this afternoon to continue its general debate. It had before it a report of the Secretary- General on the implementation of the recommendations of the Special Committee (document A/AC.121/42). The five-part report covers such issues as guiding principles, definitions and implementation of mandates; consultations with troop contributors; enhancing the capacity of the United Nations; and cooperation with regional arrangements. (For information on the report, see Press Release GA/PK/150 of 30 March.)

Statements

MICHEL DUVAL (Canada) said a field mission headquarters and several troop contingents for the new United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic would have to be deployed within three weeks. That was a very short deployment deadline and represented a perfect example of why the Organization needed to maintain its capacity to plan, deploy and manage peacekeeping missions. It also demonstrated very clearly the need to establish the rapidly deployable mission headquarters element within the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. Such an office would enable field mission headquarters to deploy within the deadlines established by the Security Council.

Arrangements to replace gratis officers must be in place prior to their departure, so that valuable expertise was not lost during the transition, he said. A revised organizational structure of the Department should be based upon a number of functions that must be carried out regardless of the level of peacekeeping activity. Those were the provision of effective military, police and political advice to the Secretary-General for use by the Security Council and the Organization's agencies and departments; the establishment of rapidly deployable mission headquarters; a response capability to permit communications between the United Nations, Member States and field missions at all times; an administrative and logistics support capacity which would be developed functionally; and a lessons learned and training coordination capability.

An examination of the fundamental mechanisms of the Secretariat in the area of peace and international security should look for answers to certain questions. The questions included those concerning the relationship between the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Political affairs (DPA); and the Peacekeeping Department's interaction with the Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, humanitarian organizations, non- governmental organizations, troop contributors, and the Commission on Human Rights. He noted that since the introduction of the concept of rapidly deployable forces two years ago, very little progress had been made by the Secretariat.

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JORGE PEREZ-OTERMIN (Uruguay) said that for the less developed countries, delays in reimbursing contributions for troops and equipment was unjust. Uruguay supported the Secretary-General's reform programme and believed that it must be implemented to ensure efficiency in peacekeeping operations. The Committee could not remain outside the reform process and had to adapt to new realities.

He said his country believed that the Civilian Police Unit of the United Nations must be strengthened. It therefore congratulated the Department and the Government of Switzerland for having convened a seminar recently on the role of police in peacekeeping. Standardized training for all peacekeepers was of vital importance. The United Nations also had an essential function in landmine clearance everywhere.

PENELOPE ANNE WENSLEY (Australia) said any restructuring of the Department, an important part of peacekeeping reform, be designed, first and foremost, to strengthen its capacity to fulfil its mandate. Decisions on staffing requirements and duties should then be derived from the new structure, not the other way around. For example, in reducing staffing levels the Department's capacity to provide strategic support for field operations must not be diminished to a point where the ongoing viability of missions was jeopardized, and the safety and security of peacekeepers in the field threatened.

Australia agreed that dependence on gratis officers should be reduced, and it understood the sensitivities surrounding that issue, she said. Such reductions, however, must take place in the context of an orderly replacement of personnel. Attrition across the board, without any reference to the impact on the functions of the Department, current operations and contingency planning, was unrealistic and could be damaging. Australia supported the principles behind the reform initiatives, but was concerned that they were being implemented piecemeal rather than as a whole. A holistic approach was vital not only to the success of peacekeeping reform, but to maintaining the capacity and effectiveness of the United Nations in that area.

She said that the integration of the rapidly deployable mission headquarters into the Department must take full account of the structural impact on the Department and on its capacity to fulfil its mandates. Australia was disappointed that there had been no progress in the establishment of the headquarters since last year. Further development of that initiative was linked intrinsically to the restructuring of the Department.

She said there was real prospect for permanent peace in Bougainville, through the efforts of all parties to the dispute -- assisted by Australia, New Zealand and a number of Pacific island countries. Australia attached

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great importance, and accorded top priority in its foreign policy, to the development of a regional security environment which forestalled the use of force in international disputes, prevented the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and encouraged cooperation to enhance security.

HENRIQUE VALLE (Brazil) said Brazil had constantly expressed its clear commitment to peacekeeping operations. While United Nations peacekeeping activities had decreased in the last three years, threats to international peace and security had not decreased by the same proportion. The Department of Peacekeeping Operations must therefore be in a position to plan and manage all of the Organization's undertakings in that field.

Activities linked to the reimbursement of troop-contributing countries should not be adversely affected by the phasing out of gratis military personnel, he said. Participation in peacekeeping activities represented an important effort of developing countries. Constant delays in processing the reimbursement of claims, especially those of developing countries, should be avoided.

The Special Committee should focus on three or four subjects each year, rather than the traditional comprehensive examination of all issues related to peacekeeping operations, he said. The deployment of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA) was a relevant landmark, as it was the first new multi-dimensional peacekeeping operation to be launched in quite a few years. Due consideration should be given in future sessions of the Special Committee to developing needed guidelines for peacekeeping operations, so that both peacekeepers in the field and governments in capitals could benefit from enhanced coordination between delegations and the Secretariat in New York, based on an improved conceptual framework.

FELIPE MABILANGAN (Philippines) said development was the priority concern of the United Nations. Peacekeeping operations, ultimately, were actions necessitated by crises whose roots could only be properly addressed by continuing support in the humanitarian and socio-economic spheres.

He underscored the need for a more equitable system of procurement, and for Member States unconditionally to pay their financial contributions. Non- payment had threatened to damage irreparably the Organization's capacity to mount effective peacekeeping operations, as well as the overall programmes and activities of the United Nations system.

The Philippines was following with keen interest the cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations such as the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in the peacekeeping arena. The members of the Philippines primary regional body, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) had an opportunity to work closely with the United Nations community in the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC). As a member of the ASEAN

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Troika and the intergovernmental Friends of Cambodia, the Philippines requested the world community to provide assistance to the upcoming Cambodian elections, which reinforced the work begun by UNTAC.

NARENDRA BIKRAM SHAH (Nepal) said the United Nations had the primary role in the maintenance of international peace and security, which peacekeeping would remain an indispensable tool. Peacekeeping forces had come down from their peak of over 70,000 to 13,000 in a period of just three years; however, the demand for peacekeeping was high and would grow rather than diminish. The time-tested principles of impartiality, consent, non-interference and respect for a State's sovereignty and territorial integrity should continue to be the bedrock of the Organization's peacekeeping. Clarity of mandate backed by adequate resources was yet another prerequisite for success.

The rationale behind the standby arrangements system was to enhance the rapid response capacity of the United Nations, he said. Under an agreement signed with the Organization, Nepal had made commitments to deploy up to 2,000 troops, including medical and engineering units, military observers, headquarters staff, and 200 police monitors. It believed that the establishment of the rapidly deployable mission headquarters was vital, if the United Nations was to be able to deploy peacekeeping operations promptly.

PARK SOO GIL (Republic of Korea) said the standby arrangements system should be fully developed as the principal rapid reaction instrument for United Nations peacekeeping at the earliest possible date. His delegation hoped that the launching of the Multinational United Nations Stand-by Forces High Readiness Brigade (SHIRBRIG), at the initiative of Denmark, would be a positive supplement to that system, as well as to the rapidly deployable mission headquarters, under the principle of universality and openness. Delay in establishment of the headquarters was disappointing. Outstanding issues, such as the funding of the trust fund and the geographical distribution of its staff should be resolved as quickly and effectively as possible.

In recent years, peacekeeping operations had become increasingly intertwined with humanitarian assistance operations, particularly in response to conflict situations involving a massive displacement of civilians, he said. The disturbing trend was that refugees and internally displaced persons were not the only targets of violence in such situations. Increasingly, humanitarian workers were being attacked as well, or at the very least, being regarded as antagonists in the conflict. The customary respect for the impartiality of aid workers by all warring parties seemed to be eroding. The United Nations needed to assume a central role in responding to that threat, as it was the principal institution responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security.

ABDALLAH BAALI (Algeria) said the status of forces in peacekeeping operations was a delicate issue, and should be dealt with carefully. Within that context, sovereignty of States and their right to have a say in the

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deployment of troops in their territory were all key factors. It was also the right of the host country to have a say in the framework of peacekeeping activities.

He said preventative diplomacy was an important stage in the handling and solving of crises. In 1995, the OAU had set up its own central management mechanism for conflict prevention and management. However, today, the need for a precise definition of the concept of preventive action could not be avoided. Within that framework, the consent of States was of paramount importance.

Regarding the influence of regional organizations and the scope of the United Nations, he said that the Organization was the primary body responsible for peace and international security. It also did have a say in regional initiatives. Lack of adequate resources had plagued the OAU in settling crises on the African continent.

JACK WILMOT (Ghana) said his country was among the first five to sign the memorandum of understanding with the United Nations to concretize its participation in the standby arrangements system. Ghana's support for the system was based on decades of experience in United Nations peacekeeping. Timely deployment could make a difference to minimize the loss of life and destruction of property. All troop contributors should support and participate in the system.

He the standby arrangements system could hardly be effective without a more even-handed Security Council which responded to conflicts in a timely manner, on the basis need rather than on the strategic interests of powerful individual members of the Council. The people of conflict zones in Africa had, in recent times, been particularly victimized by the selectivity of the Council. Liberia, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Burundi and many others were cases in point.

"We take this opportunity to call on the Security Council to adopt a more positive attitude to the African continent which deserves equally prompt assistance to resolve its conflicts, as do other regions of the world", he said. Africa did its best for global peace and security, and Ghana was currently listed as the fourth largest contributor of troops. The African continent deserved equal treatment if the concept of collective security embodied in the Charter was to survive and thrive.

SATYABRATA PAL (India) said the United Nations needed to think through and spell out the implications of the upsurge in peacekeeping following the cold war. His delegation hoped to hear about structures, concepts, positions and functions identified for periods of low- and high-intensity activity as requested in last year's report of the Special Committee. Since civilian police activities were now a significant aspect of United Nations peacekeeping

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operations, there should be a clear understanding of what they were meant to achieve.

He said the international community had invested huge resources in peacekeeping during the current decade, but as the Board of Auditors report had indicated, the management and administration of peacekeeping operations left much to be desired. That weakness extended to fiscal planning where there seemed to be a consistent pattern of over-budgeting and underutilization in peacekeeping-related activities.

The forbearance of troop contributors could not indefinitely be the basis on which United Nations peacekeeping activities were continued, he said. The financial burden placed on many which had not been reimbursed for their contribution could gradually and unfortunately wear away support for peacekeeping. The keenness displayed in rapid deployment had not been reflected in liquidating missions which had ended, and priority needed to be given to quick liquidation.

He said that it was with a sense of unease that his delegation had noticed the Security Council's encroachment on an area which was strictly the domain of the General Assembly -- the authority to consider and approve budgets. It was rather disconcerting that the Council was also delving into the financial aspects of peacekeeping. It was regularly provided with financial estimates of a peacekeeping operation, which it took into account before deciding on its establishment. Durable peace was dependent on the elimination of inequities and inequalities. Even a multisectoral peacekeeping framework could not substitute for sustained growth and development.

MACHIVENYIKA TOBIAS MAPURANGA (Zimbabwe) said that Security Council decisions should be guided by genuine interest in maintaining international peace and security, rather than by the narrow economic and political interests of a few powerful countries which chose to sacrifice the plight of humanity "on the altar of economic interest".

He called for a more transparent United Nations procurement system with as wide a geographical basis as possible. The current situation where a handful of developed countries were awarded contracts was unacceptable, as was the information that procurement from developing countries had actually diminished from 17.7 per cent in 1996 to 7.54 per cent in 1997. Expressing concern over the absence of established guidelines on methods of invitations to bid, he said Zimbabwe would welcome a procurement system that would ensure the delivery of high quality goods and services without discriminating in favour of the developed countries, as was currently the case.

He said that the training of United Nations peacekeepers was of vital importance for the efficacy of peacekeeping missions. Although training remained the responsibility of contributing countries, the United Nations

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should assist Member States in carrying out training programmes. Bilateral assistance in the building of regional capacities in peacekeeping was also welcome. In that spirit, Zimbabwe had accepted the assistance of the Government of the United Kingdom in carrying out a joint peacekeeping training exercise dubbed "Blue Hungwe", involving armed forces of members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), civilian police, non- governmental and humanitarian agencies. With the assistance of the Danish Government, Zimbabwe had subsequently established a regional peacekeeping training centre in Harare.

OLE PETER KOLBY (Norway) said a central challenge to peacekeeping operations was the need for improved planning and rapid response, which could be met partially by the rapidly deployable mission headquarters. Norway welcomed the proposal to establish a number of new positions under the Support Account to replace gratis personnel to be phased out. The competence of the Department in vital areas should be preserved while implementing the General Assembly's decision on gratis personnel. That decision had offered an opportunity to undertake a review of the Department's organizational functions, structures and staffing.

He said it was now accepted that conflict prevention, peacekeeping operations and peace-building must occur simultaneously, requiring improved coordination with the Department of Political Affairs. Increasing attention to human rights abuses and the need for humanitarian assistance called for close cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. There should be greater flexibility in the criteria for choosing civilian police officers. The selection process could make sure that such flexibility would not lead to a reduced quality of the selected personnel. He commended the Department for supporting African initiatives to increase peacekeeping capacities on the continent and welcomed its willingness to act as a clearing house for information on Member's Programmes.

He said he shared the concern expressed by several speakers on the safety of United Nations personnel in the field. There seemed to be an increasing security threat facing personnel; a thorough discussion of how that problem could be addressed should be encouraged. The issues of demobilization and the collection of weapons should be addressed. Peacekeeping operations could play an important part in such processes.

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For information media. Not an official record.