GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT SAYS UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED AS EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR MAINTAINING PEACE

6 October 1998

Press Release
GA/SM/66
PKO/76

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT SAYS UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED AS EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR MAINTAINING PEACE

19981006 Didier Opertti (Uruguay) Stresses Contribution of Peacekeeping Operations to Respect for Human Rights, in Assembly Commemorative Meeting

Following is the statement by the President of the General Assembly, Didier Opertti (Uruguay), at the meeting commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of United Nations peacekeeping operations:

The expression of the high honour and great satisfaction I feel in presiding over this ceremony in commemoration of peacekeeping operations is much more than a matter of form.

It represents the feeling that inspires us all when we contemplate the important role these operations have played in our quest for international peace and security. Equally important, this occasion should be a time for reflecting on the present and future of this kind of United Nations intervention.

Such operations range from the observation and monitoring of electoral processes to the verification and safeguarding of human rights; effective action to rebuild institutions and restore services affected by war, violence and stability is also important.

When we note that hundreds of thousands of troops have taken part in peacekeeping operations since 1948, that such operations have been deployed on 49 occasions, that more than 1,000 soldiers and civilians have lost their lives in them, that they have been carried out on all continents and that, in 1961, the Secretary-General himself, Dag Hammarskjöld, died in one such operation, it becomes clear that the commemoration of this fiftieth anniversary evokes events which have been milestones in the life of the United Nations.

Much has been said and written about the legal nature of peacekeeping operations, and the debate continues in the light of the new forms these operations have taken.

In the early stages, intervention by military units and civilian observers under the auspices of the Organization, and at the request of the States involved, in order to quell or limit hostile actions, verify compliance with ceasefire agreements or contribute, as an impartial observer, to possible negotiations, was accepted as a legitimate implementation of the letter and spirit of Chapter VI of the Charter; nonetheless, the use of military troops armed with light weapons introduced an aspect not unlike the forms of action provided for in Chapter VII, a situation which inspired Dag Hammarskjöld to say that peacekeeping operations came under "Chapter 6 1/2" of the Charter.

During the cold war, on the basis of the conceptual framework I have described, a number of peacekeeping operations were established which helped to ward off more than a few conflicts that were threatening international peace and security. The universality implicit in the composition of these operations attenuated the sensitive reactions of those who were concerned about the sovereignty of States, while it facilitated dialogue and negotiations between the parties involved.

The end of the bipolar international order created a proliferation of localized armed confrontations of diverse and complex origin, which presented the United Nations with new and difficult challenges. Many of the internal conflicts, which generally had international implications, were accompanied by grave threats to human rights and by catastrophic emergency situations. These conflicts occurred at a time when the United Nations was reaffirming its commitment to safeguard these fundamental values.

It was then, at the end of the 1980s, that the Member States authorized and encouraged the implementation of new forms of peacekeeping operations under the guidelines contained in the Agenda for Peace, including the emphasis on preventive diplomacy and the deployment of troops in anticipation of hostilities.

Thus, 36 of the 49 peacekeeping operations undertaken by the United Nations were established between 1989 and 1998. However, these figures do not, in themselves, illustrate the qualitative element of these operations.

First of all, we were witnessing an extension of the field of application of peacekeeping operations to certain internal conflicts; the requirement of the parties' consent was no longer essential; the mandates for the operations were considerably broadened to include certain political, institutional and administrative aspects of the States involved. In general, the rules prohibiting the opening of fire except in self-defence were made more flexible to deal with the need to protect the displaced civilian population or ensure the delivery of emergency supplies. The strict neutrality with which the "blue helmets" were supposed to act was not applied in cases where the Security Council had imposed sanctions against the belligerent parties.

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Also noteworthy has been the growing intervention of coalitions, acting with the support of the Security Council, and actions undertaken by regional organizations pursuant to the provisions of Chapter VIII of the Charter.

A number of failures in peacekeeping operations have elicited severe criticism. It has been pointed out that there is a need to establish more precise mandates and provide these operations with sufficient means and resources, a premise which makes it essential for Member States to comply fully and punctually with their financial obligations.

On a more general and substantive plane, a considerable number of countries still have reservations about the growing tendency to have recourse to peacekeeping operations and about the expansion of their scope. These countries invoke the fundamental principle, enshrined in Article 2, paragraph 7, prohibiting intervention in the internal affairs of States.

The truth, however, is that beyond the reasonable caution that should govern the administration of peacekeeping operations -- which, after 50 years, could be regarded as an institution of United Nations constitutional law -- there exists a clear consensus that they should be strengthened as an effective tool for maintaining and enforcing peace and effectively contributing to the ideal of a world where human rights are respected and the duty of humanitarian assistance prevails.

The Member States whose representatives are gathered here are the ones that understand that peace and the values I have just mentioned represent the existential principle of the United Nations. They have come here, as I, the President of the General Assembly, have done, to express our recognition to the pioneers of the peacekeeping operations, our homage to all the participants, many of whom are represented here, our satisfaction at the excellent work of the Secretariat and our heartfelt tribute to the memory of the heroic officials, soldiers and civilians who paid with their lives because we, the peoples, were determined to achieve a better world based on peace and justice.

These ideas and feelings are fully reflected in the text of the Declaration. I should like to recommend that it be adopted by acclamation.

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