"HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION", SLOW REIMBURSEMENT RATES ASSAILED AS SPECIAL COMMITTEE REVIEWS PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS

Press Release
GA/SPD/164

‘HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION’, SLOW REIMBURSEMENT RATES ASSAILED AS SPECIAL COMMITTEE REVIEWS PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS

Under Secretary-General Paints Broad Peacekeeping Picture, Denmark Cites Need for Swift and Efficient Early-Warning System

The United Nations had within itself most of the elements necessary to deal with today’s multidimensional conflicts, Under- Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Bernard Miyet told the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) this morning as it started its general debate on all aspects of peacekeeping operations.

He said that because of the breadth and multinational nature of the United Nations system, the Organization had an unparalleled ability to coordinate action in a wide range of disciplines, including political, humanitarian assistance; civilian police; mine action and electoral efforts; and economic rehabilitation and development activities. With Kosovo and East Timor, 16 peacekeeping operations were currently underway, with approximately 14,000 troops, military observers and civilian police serving in the field. Depending on future decisions, that number could double in six months with the deployment of 6,000 peacekeepers in Sierra Leone, and of 9,000 to 10,000 troops and civilian police in East Timor.

The Minister of Defence of Denmark said the United Nations already had a rapid and efficient early warning system, but there was a lack of political will to act until an issue hit the headlines. The Organization could not wait for Security Council decisions before it initiated planning for a potential operation.

Jordan’s representative, speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), stressed the need for the United Nations to maintain a clear distinction between humanitarian operations and all other activities within the United Nations system, including peacekeeping. The Final Communique adopted by last month’s NAM Ministerial meeting had rejected the so-called right of humanitarian intervention, which had no legal basis in the United Nations Charter or in the general principles of international law.

Fourth Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/SPD/164 10th Meeting (AM) 18th October 1999

Speaking on behalf of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the representative of Indonesia urged the Secretary-General to urgently address the matter of reimbursements for peacekeeping operations and called for more transparency in peacekeeping procurement. The United Nations still owed ASEAN countries around $30 million. Troop contributors from developing countries should not be penalized because of the failure of others to pay peacekeeping dues. Stressing the need to provide adequate funding for peacekeeping operations, other speakers agreed that it was important for Member States to pay their assessed contributions on time, in full and without conditions.

The representative of Japan said that it was with good reason that the Secretariat had recently doubled its estimate for the 1999 peacekeeping operation budget to approximately $1.2 to 1.6 billion. All United Nations peacekeeping activities should be financed through assessed, not voluntary, contributions. Phase I of the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) had been financed almost entirely through voluntary contributions from 14 countries and one international organization. Given the importance of the matter, the process of popular consultation should have been financed by the entire United Nations membership.

Several speakers addressed last year’s cut of nearly 20 per cent (287 posts) in the manpower resources of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, saying that the Department had lost valuable expertise in key positions. The representative of Finland, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said that continuing organizational shake-ups at headquarters could hinder the effective planning and deployment of missions, which required experience and professional expertise. Although some rationalization of resources could still be effected by streamlining the Department, that should only be used as a limited remedy.

Also speaking in this morning’s debate were the representatives of Norway, Egypt, Philippines, Kazakhstan and Colombia. The report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations was introduced by the Rapporteur of that body, Hossam Zaki (Egypt).

At the beginning of today’s meeting, the Committee observed a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of the United Nations staff members killed in Burundi and Kosovo last week in the line of duty.

Sotirios Zackheos (Cyrpus), the Committee Chairman, also expressed condolences to the Government and people of the United Republic of Tanzania and to the family of the first President of that country, Julius Nyerere, who died last week.

The Committee will continue its general debate on all aspects of peacekeeping operations when meets again at 3 p.m. tomorrow.

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) met this morning to begin its comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping in all its aspects.

Before the Committee was the report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (document A/54/87) which describes that body's activities during its 1999 session from 24 to 26 March.

In that report, the Special Committee states that efforts aimed at enhancing the peacekeeping capacity of African countries are complementary to the obligations of all United Nations Member States under the Organization's Charter with regard to their contribution in maintaining peace and security in Africa, and are not intended to replace or reduce engagement of non-African countries in peacekeeping operations on the continent.

The Special Committee stresses that international efforts to enhance the collective capacity of African countries to participate in peacekeeping operations should focus on enhancing the institutional capacity of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), particularly its Mechanism for the Prevention, Management and Resolution of Conflicts, through the provision of financial and technical assistance. Member States are urged to contribute to the OAU Peace Fund.

According to the report, the Special Committee encourages Member States to contribute to current efforts to enhance the participation of African countries through partnerships between States, and with the OAU and subregional organizations, in training, logistics, equipment and financial support.

The report reiterates the Special Committee's view that the United Nations should play an active role, especially in coordinating all those efforts, and urges Member States to contribute to the Trust Fund established by the Secretary-General for that purpose. Member States are also encouraged to provide financial and other support to current peacekeeping operations conducted by African subregional organizations.

Reaffirming the important contribution made by regional arrangements and agencies to peacekeeping, and bearing in mind the primacy of the United Nations in the maintenance of international peace and security, the Special Committee emphasizes that no enforcement action shall be taken under regional arrangements or by regional agencies without Security Council authorization.

It urges the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations and agencies, and stresses that such cooperation must abide by the letter and spirit of Chapter VIII of the Organization's Charter.

On enhancing United Nations peacekeeping capacity, the Special Committee notes the completion of the phase-out of Type II gratis personnel in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. It expresses concern at the lack of an effective transition plan with respect to staff recruitment to minimize disruption, loss of continuity and expertise.

Stressing the importance of selecting and preparing senior military commanders, police commissioners and other key staff personnel prior to deployment to a peacekeeping operation, the Special Committee recommends a more thorough review of candidates for selected personnel with due regard to geographic distribution and political considerations. The Special Committee reiterates its request to the Secretary-General in its previous report (A/53/127) that the current selection method be improved, and that the Secretary-General consider the feasibility of mandatory interviews. The selection criteria should include professional experience, good judgement, common sense and ability to work in a multinational environment, among other qualities.

According to the report, the Special Committee stresses the importance of timely, efficient, transparent and cost-effective procurement of goods and services in support of peacekeeping operations, and is disappointed at delays in fully implementing the United Nations Common Supplier Database.

Welcoming the Secretariat's proactive efforts to make procurement information available to prospective vendors, the Special Committee encourages further innovative, accessible and user-friendly approaches for the accelerated and timely dissemination of accurate procurement information.

Recognizing the need for shortened procurement times in order to permit swift reaction to conflicts and rapid deployment, the Special Committee requests the Secretary-General to include in his annual report a section addressing field procurement, with particular emphasis on a more flexible and timely contracting mechanism for new missions, including local procurement, where applicable.

The report expresses the Special Committee's regret at the delay of the Secretary-General's report on the first year of implementation of the recommendations of the Phase IV Working Group on Reimbursement of Contingent-owned Equipment (A/C.5/52/39). It calls once again for the timely implementation of those recommendations.

According to the report, the Special Committee emphasizes the need to differentiate between peacekeeping operations and humanitarian assistance. However, if the protection of humanitarian assistance is a mandated task of a United Nations peacekeeping operation, both should be coordinated to ensure they are not working at cross purposes and that the impartiality of humanitarian assistance is ensured. The conduct of peacekeeping operations does not absolve host Governments and parties to the conflict from their responsibility towards the victims of a conflict among populations.

Expressing the Special Committee’s grave concern at the growing number of attacks and acts of violence against United Nations and associated personnel, the report takes note of the progress achieved in the legal protection of the security of those personnel, inter alia, the entry into force of the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel.

The Special Committee requests that, when a crisis affects the safety and security of peacekeeping personnel, the Secretariat make full and immediate information available to the permanent missions concerned. It also urges the continuous review of the safety of flight operations with its field personnel and, in the event of a tragic occurrence, to share without delay the results of any subsequent investigation with all contributors to the mission.

Noting the Special Committee’s strong endorsement of an effective public information role in enhancing personnel safety and security, the report encourages the Secretariat to incorporate that feature into its public information policy for peacekeeping operations. In that regard, it welcomes the results of effective employment of the public information function as an integral part of peacekeeping operations, especially the cooperation between the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Public Information.

Regarding standby arrangements and rapid deployment, the Special Committee stresses the importance of the Organization’s ability to respond and deploy rapidly to a peacekeeping operation upon the adoption of a Security Council mandate. It calls for the full establishment of the Rapidly Deployable Mission Headquarters by adding the requisite military expertise, and encourages the Department of Peacekeeping Operations to identify key staff for temporary field assignment, especially in the case of new operations.

The Special Committee emphasizes that the critical importance of the contingent-owned equipment concept goes beyond its utility as a financial mechanism for determining cost recovery between the United Nations and Member States. The concept is vital to mission and mission support planning as well as to mission budgeting, on the part of both the Organization and the Member State concerned.

On finances, the Special Committee stresses that all Member States must pay their assessed contributions in full, on time, and without conditions. It expresses its ongoing deep concern at the continued delays in reimbursement to troop contributors which cause hardship to all troop and equipment-contributing countries, especially developing countries.

Also before the General Assembly is a report of the Secretary-General on enhancement of African peacekeeping capacity (document A/54/63). The report notes that 22 African countries are contributing almost 2,500 troops to United Nations peacekeeping operations. Although further progress in the enhancement of African peacekeeping capacity would only be possible with the determination of the African States themselves, support from non-African Member States would continue to play a crucial role in the process.

While acknowledging that "the problems of Africa are immense" the Secretary- General goes on to suggest a number of additional steps through which further progress may be made. Those steps would include: formation of a working group of African and non-African States directly involved in providing training assistance; consideration of deployment of United Nations liaison officers to regional organizations, as suggested by the Security Council; and establishment of a special peacekeeping programme for African police officers. The report adds that recent setbacks in peacekeeping efforts in Africa and the recent emergence of new threats to stability within the continent should not be seen as grounds for discouragement or disengagement, but rather as a call for renewed cooperation by all States Members of the United Nations.

The General Assembly also has before it the text of a draft resolution sponsored by Argentina, Canada, Egypt, Japan, Nigeria and Poland on the comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping in all its aspects (document A/c.4/54/L.2). The draft would have the Second Committee continue its efforts for a comprehensive review.

Statements

SOTIRIOS ZACKHEOS (Cyprus), Chairman, informed the Committee of the death last week of Julius Nyerere, first President of the United Republic of Tanzania. On behalf of the Committee, he requested that country's representative to convey heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of the United Republic of Tanzania.

He also paid tribute to the memory of the United Nations staff members recently killed in Burundi and Kosovo while serving the cause of peace. On the Committee’s behalf, he extended heartfelt and condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families of those staff members who had paid the ultimate sacrifice to help others.

HOSSAM ZAKI (Egypt), Rapporteur of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, then introduced that body’s report. Noting that the Special Committee’s general debate and working group discussions had mirrored changes and developments in the practice of peacekeeping, he presented an overview of the findings contained in the report.

BERNARD MIYET, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, recalled that only two years ago arguments had been heard that United Nations peacekeeping had outlived its usefulness, that it was not adapted to deal with the crises faced by the world today, and that others were better suited to take on those challenges. Recent events had dramatically reaffirmed the central role of United Nations peacekeeping within the international community’s wider efforts to advance peace.

He said that the establishment last year of new operations in Sierra Leone and the Central African Republic had shown the ongoing relevance of United Nations peacekeeping. That trend had accelerated over the past 12 months with a dramatic increase in activity, particularly the creation of two large and unprecedented operations -- that established in Kosovo and the one soon to be established in East Timor -– the possibility of a very significant engagement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the considerable expansion of the operation in Sierra Leone.

That trend, he said, was based upon several recent experiences and reflections within the international community. As the Secretary-General had noted during the opening debate of this year’s General Assembly, “we have become keenly aware of the dilemma of what has been called humanitarian intervention”. On one side was the question of the legitimacy of an action taken by a regional organization without a United Nations mandate; on the other side was the universally recognized imperative of effectively halting gross and systematic violations of human rights with grave humanitarian consequences.

Regional organizations and multinational forces might at times play an important role, he said, but major crises might require the wider political and material support that only the United Nations could provide. A broad-based settlement often required an extensive United Nations operational role under Security Council authority. The Organization had within itself most of the elements necessary to deal with today’s multidimensional conflicts. Because of its breadth and multinational nature, the United Nations system had an unparalleled ability to coordinate action in a wide range of disciplines, including political, humanitarian assistance, civilian police, mine action and electoral efforts; and economic rehabilitation and development activities.

Those overarching considerations had resulted in a dramatic rise in Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) activity, he said. With Kosovo and East Timor, 16 peacekeeping operations were currently underway, with approximately 14,000 troops, military observers and civilian police serving in the field. They were taking on new, often unprecedented tasks. Depending on the international community’s decisions, the deployment of 6,000 peacekeepers in Sierra Leone, of 9,000 to 10,000 troops and civilian police in East Timor, and hundreds of civilian administrators, could mean a doubling of the total number of peacekeepers in the next six months.

Highlighting specific new demands facing peacekeeping, he said that in East Timor, the international community sought to address immediate needs in the wake of the tragic events that followed the popular consultation there. It was working with the multinational forces to ensure a smooth transition to a United Nations peacekeeping presence. The deployment of the United Nations Transitional Administration for East Timor (UNTAET) would have far-reaching responsibilities.

He said there was also a large presence in Kosovo. With greater availability of human and financial resources, multinational police and civilian staff could better assume their challenging duties with increasing effectiveness. The mission had enjoyed excellent cooperation with the European Union (EU), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and with the international force, (KFOR).

The international community was working to expand its support for the peace process in Sierra Leone, he said. The new United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) would include political and civil components to help implement the Lome Peace Agreement; elements to promote full respect for human rights and protection of children; and a military component to help the Government carry out its disarmament and demobilization programme. In addition, civilian police would advise upon and monitor the reform and restructuring of the Sierra Leone police force. The United Nations would be receiving crucial assistance from the Economic Community of West African States' Monitoring Observer Group (ECOMOG), which would provide a large component of troops to the United Nations operation and continue to play an essential role in providing protection and security.

Further deployments lay ahead, he said. An initial dispatch of liaison officers to the Democratic Republic of the Congo had taken place, and the Organization stood ready to assist with efforts to promote peace along the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

He said two United Nations operations were nearing the successful conclusion of their tasks, and the Secretariat was working to define strategies to support their achievements after their withdrawal. In Haiti, the United Nations Civilian Police Mission in Haiti (MIPONUH) had established a professional police force, while the Organization's peacekeeping presence had permitted the Haitian people to establish foundations for development and progress.

The United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA) had assisted with the organization of legislative elections in 1998 and with presidential elections last month, he said. That operation had broken new ground through its close cooperation with international financial institutions to promote political and financial stability. Throughout its deployment, MINURCA had made a major contribution to both local and regional stability, and had provided space for reconciliation and economic recovery.

He said the DPKO staffing situation had worsened considerably over the past year. The phasing out of gratis personnel had been completed by February 1999. Subsequently, the General Assembly had approved the support account staffing table at 287 posts for the Department -– a net decline in posts. That decision had coincided exactly with the dramatic rise in peacekeeping activity, meaning that what was intended to be a lean and efficient staffing arrangement had become untenable. The Department was preparing to submit a request for supplementary posts. However, that would be a protracted process and the Department's dilemma highlighted a long-term, fundamental problem. The peacekeeping needs of a given moment could not be predicted in advance.

HANS HAEKKERUP, Minister of Defence of Denmark, said that “the provision of adequate resources both in human and financial terms is the Achilles heel of peacekeeping”. Through the cut of nearly 20 per cent in manpower resources, the DPKO had lost valuable expertise and continuity in key positions. That was not a satisfactory situation. The Department needed sufficient personnel for running operations, planning, contingency planning and the “draw down” of finished operations. Unless the international community was willing to commit the needed resources, it would be difficult for the United Nations to live up to its aspirations. He appealed to the countries to translate their political support in the Fourth Committee into the necessary financial decisions in the Fifth Committee.

Adequate resources implied more than finance, he said, and the United Nations needed well-trained and well-equipped peacekeepers. At present, there were only three people in the training unit. There should be much greater focus on that issue. Training was traditionally a national responsibility, but the United Nations Training Assistance Teams (UNTAT) had been of great value. As many nations as possible should participate in peacekeeping operations, for handling crises was the responsibility of all nations.

The stand-by system could be more focused and efficient, he said. On paper, the United Nations had more than 140,000 troops at its disposal, but experience had shown that this was not the reality. The next phase in the establishment of the stand-by system should be taken in cooperation with Member States. As a first step in that direction, the United Nations could start a more active dialogue on individual contributions. The Organization also needed more manpower. The United Nations could look more systematically at improving the police component of the system. Once the Rapidly Deployable Mission Headquarters (RDMHQ) became fully operational, the Organization would no doubt find it a very useful tool. With the increasing number of missions, additional RDMHQ might be needed.

The United Nations needed to be up-front in public information when a mission was deployed, he continued. Public information should be an integral part of peacekeeping operations. It was also of great importance for the safety and security of personnel and for the phase of post-conflict peace-building. It was important to fully exploit lessons from past operations. The United Nations already had a rapid and efficient early-warning system, but until an issue hit the headlines there was a lack of political will to act. The United Nations could not wait for decisions in the Security Council before it initiated operations and logistics planning for a potential operation. As peacekeeping was a global responsibility, it should not be farmed out to regional organizations. However, cooperation with regional organization had great potential in conflict prevention and in building peacekeeping capacities.

MARJATTA RASI (Finland), speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated countries, reiterated the EU’s commitment to the primary role of the United Nations in the maintenance of international peace and security and to the core function of United Nations peacekeeping operations. The EU’s contribution to troops, police, other personnel and financing underlined the seriousness of that commitment. The capacity of the United Nations, and in particular of the DPKO, to plan, deploy and manage peacekeeping operations had to be maintained, irrespective of the number or size of such operations at any given time.

During the past year, DPKO’s capabilities had suffered as a result of a 20 per cent decrease in personnel, she continued. At present stuffing levels, it would not be able to meet the new challenges. In the past few years, peacekeeping operations had become increasingly multidimensional. In that context, the Department needed to be adequately structured and staffed. It should also coordinate and cooperate closely from the onset with United Nations agencies, other international organizations and Member States. Such an approach would make it possible to better coordinate human-rights tasks, integrate a gender perspective into peacekeeping operations, and draw attention to the rights of children in armed conflicts.

The DPKO’s military and civilian police expertise had to be enhanced, she said. Mission planning, training assistance, deployment and management of new large-scale, multidimensional operations required experience and professional expertise. Although some rationalization of resources could still be achieved by streamlining the structure of the Department, that could only be seen as a limited remedy. Continuing organizational shake-ups at headquarters could hinder the effective planning and deployment of missions. Addressing the problem of sufficient staffing needs would enhance the safety and security of peacekeeping personnel, the quality and effectiveness of peacekeeping operations, the role of the United Nations, and ultimately the willingness of Member States to contribute to peacekeeping.

Turning to the enhancement of the rapid deployment capacity of the United Nations, she said that standby arrangements system continued to be its central element. The European Union reaffirmed its strong support for those arrangements. Complete staffing of the RDMHQ was a priority. Creative thinking was needed to tackle the problem of the increasing demand for civilian police. She called on Member States and the Secretariat to consider that question, keeping in mind the requirements for high standards in selection, training and performance of United Nations police officers. It was also necessary to consider the question of how to develop rapid civilian police deployment capacities. Moreover, it was imperative that member States fulfil all their financial obligations to the Organization.

While the EU supported the general idea of guidelines for peacekeepers, it regretted the manner in which the Secretariat carried out consultations before publishing the Guidelines, she said. The Union would have appreciated a more consultative approach. It was adamant that the safety and security of peacekeeping personnel were of paramount importance.

ZEID RA’AD ZEID AL-HUSSEIN (Jordan), on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), said that while United Nations peacekeeping was important to the maintenance of international peace and security, it was not, and could never be, a substitute for a permanent solution, or for addressing the underlying causes of a conflict. As a tool in hands of the international community, it could be most useful as a temporary measure, contributing to the maintenance of a ceasefire or to a cessation of hostilities. In those instances, peacekeeping operations could not only reduce the possibility of escalation, but also provide an atmosphere conducive to the pursuit of an end to the conflict through other peaceful means. He said the issue of humanitarian intervention should be addressed in appropriate forums within the General Assembly, and should not be discussed in the Fourth Committee. The Final Communiqué adopted by last month’s NAM Ministerial meeting had rejected the so-called right of humanitarian intervention, which had no legal basis in the United Nations Charter or in the general principles of international law. The NAM also stressed the need for the United Nations to maintain a clear distinction between humanitarian operations and all other activities within the United Nations system, including peacekeeping.

Since the Special Committee’s last meeting, he said, a number of new peacekeeping operations had been, and were in the process of being established, and United Nations peacekeeping was being rehabilitated. It was important, though, that the Security Council approach all conflicts, irrespective of location, with equal and uniform levels of intensity and commitment.

Recalling requests in recent years for the proper establishment of core and surge requirements -- to which there had been no response -- he said the NAM would now like to know how the Secretariat was handling the present surge in new operations, given the phase-out of Type II gratis personnel. Had it attempted to obtain additional resources? The NAM continued to emphasize the importance of filling all posts in a manner consistent with Articles 100 and 101 of the Charter, on as wide a geographic basis as possible, both within the DPKO and in the field. It had come to the NAM's attention that not one of the senior police appointments in the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) was from a developing State.

He said that the Secretariat's first briefings on police recruitment for the UNMIK a few months ago had been unsatisfactory. Potential troop-contributing countries had been told unequivocally that for lack of time, and due to urgency, Selection Assistance Teams could not be sent to test in-country. They were also told that, for the sake of quickly establishing a United Nations presence in theatre, greater flexibility would be factored into the admission of the first batch of police officers. That information, given to NAM member States by a Secretariat representative, had not squared with what transpired subsequently in the field.

OLE PETER KOLBY (Norway) said that large numbers of small arms and light weapons, a major destabilizing factor in a post-conflict environment, undermined the human security of war-affected populations and threatened the safety of international peacekeepers and humanitarian personnel. It was not possible to establish the rule of law and to begin the process of reconciliation until local warlords pursuing their own agendas were dethroned and the population was guaranteed a minimum of personal security. The demobilization of former combatants and the collection of small arms should, therefore, be included in future United Nations mandates for peace operations.

Norway had taken a leading role in that area, supporting efforts to achieve a moratorium on small arms in West Africa. However, the focus should not be exclusively on arms, nor even exclusively on the demobilized combatants themselves. While still very important, those aspects must be integrated into a broader effort to establish the rule of law.

He said the United Nations should stress the need for capacity-building by Member States, so that they could participate in peace operations with personnel competent in security-sector reform. The United Nations should also promote a common standard and common training for that kind of personnel, so that they could work together in multinational units.

Peace-building increasingly included training or restructuring of local police forces, in cooperation with local governments or power structures. That was an important part of overall security sector reform, and meant taking into account the need to alter the institutional environment in which the police operated. That process required many years: a United Nations police force must consist of officers who were not just good at their jobs, but who were also experts in building institutions, conducting training, and organizing and restructuring police organizations.

SUSANTO SUTOYO (Indonesia), speaking on behalf of the Association of South- East Asian Nations (ASEAN), reaffirmed the guiding principles relevant to peacekeeping operations, stated in the Final Document of the Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Conference in Cairo in 1994 and in the Special Committee’s report before the Assembly. In the post-Cold War era, due to the complexity of the mandate, United Nations participation in the field was often not limited to the mere presence of peacekeepers. At times peacekeeping operations were also responsible for other, non-traditional tasks depending on the mandate, such as operational de-mining and the collection and cantonment of arms.

In view of the increasing complexity of peacekeeping operations, ASEAN stressed that every effort must be exerted to ensure that United Nations and associated personnel were well protected, he continued. It was equally important that personnel adhere to the strictest standards of impartiality.

ASEAN was very concerned about the manner in which United Nations staff were recruited. While steps had been taken to address the need for equitable representation in recruitment for United Nations international staff, the same could not be said for United Nations local staff in mission areas, particularly among the parties involved. In one of the mission areas, for example, virtually all the United Nations mission staff were recruited from one group. That was inconsistent with the impartial character of the United Nations.

Regional organizations could play a role in United Nations peacekeeping operations in accordance with the letter and spirit of the Charter, particularly Chapter VIII, and the mandate of the Security Council, he said. The ASEAN would explore ways to enhance cooperation with the United Nations in order to promote peace and stability in the region. Regional peacekeeping efforts could not replace the United Nations role. ASEAN subscribed to the principle of universal participation in peacekeeping operations. Equitable opportunities should be provided to facilitate the widest possible participation of Member States in peacekeeping operations. If the Secretariat decided not to accept offers of contributions from certain Member States, then the States concerned should be advised of the reasons for such decisions.

On the issue of reimbursement, he noted with appreciation that for the first time in four years, the United Nations was borrowing less from the peacekeeping budget to cover regular budget activities. Nevertheless, it was regrettable that the Organization continued such practices. ASEAN also remained concerned over the slow process of long-overdue reimbursements, and urged the Secretary-General to address that matter urgently. Currently, the United Nations still owed ASEAN countries around $30 million. Troop contributors from developing countries should not be penalized because of the failure of others. ASEAN also called for more transparency in peacekeeping procurement; and urged the Secretary-General to intensify efforts to broaden the geographical base of the supplier roster and to increase peacekeeping procurement from developing countries. Qualified vendors from those countries should be accorded preferential treatment.

HOSSAM ZAKI (Egypt) said that peacekeeping operations were among the most effective means at the disposal of the Organization for the maintenance of international peace and security, even though the Charter contained no direct or clear reference regarding their establishment. His delegation found it important to remind delegations that the first peacekeeping operation had been established by the General Assembly, and not by the Security Council. It had been deployed on the territory of Egypt at the beginning of 1957. That fact reaffirmed the role accorded by the Charter to the General Assembly, as an organ which had an inherent responsibility in the field of international peace and security.

Egypt firmly adhered to the consistent position of the Non-Aligned Movement on the need to differentiate between peacekeeping and humanitarian action, he continued. The General Assembly should undertake the principal role in the discussion of such matters, and his delegation had a specific proposal to offer. However, of the question, did not fall under the agenda item now before the Fourth Committee. It was necessary to further discuss a number of essential issues, including the methods and structure of work of the Secretariat; the stand-by arrangements system; contributions from Member States; and the review of the rules and guidelines governing the role of civilian police in peacekeeping operations.

His delegation was deeply concerned over the delay in reimbursing Egypt for its participation in United Nations operations, he said. Egypt was not responsible for the financial crisis of the Organization, which reflected negatively on its capacity to contribute effectively to the operations. In many instances, the accumulation of delayed amounts resulted in the reluctance of many –- especially developing -- countries to contribute at the required or desired level. His delegation also believed that guidelines for personnel participating in peacekeeping operations had been hastily issued. They should be subject to review and appraisal by Member States, primarily through the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, in consultation and coordination with the Sixth Committee.

ROBERT Z. BARBERS (Philippines), associating himself with the statements of the Non-Aligned Movement and of ASEAN, said the world was not only still besieged by violence and conflicts, but there had also been an ever-growing divide in perspectives on the fundamental concepts and strategy for implementing United Nations peacekeeping missions. The Organization was facing a transition in the basic manner of peacekeeping, as had been described in the Secretary-General’s report to the current General Assembly session. The growing universal awareness of human rights had put a strain on traditional concepts of sovereignty and non- interference in the domestic affairs of States.

He said his country valued the principles of the sovereignty of States and the universality of human rights with passionate commitment. The two principles did not collide, but complemented other core national values to form a resilient and holistic national identity and purpose. The United Nations should be able to find the balance between the upholding of sovereignty and the promotion of human rights. If the international order was to be under the rule of law, the decision of the international community to give exclusive legal right of the use of force to

the Security Council -- aside from the right to the use of force in self-defence -- should be upheld at all times. If unilateral intervention was allowed or tolerated, that would set a dangerous precedent for future generations and cause the demise of the rule of law.

At the same time, he said, governments should not be allowed to hide behind the political and legal veil of State sovereignty and to continue their suppression of the basic human rights of their peoples. The international community should not stand idly by when the political legitimacy of a government was destroyed by its policy of suppressing the human rights of its own people. Too many people and groups of people had died at the hands of their own governments; which had no legitimate claim to power except for the monopoly of State force.

YERZHAN KAZYKHANOV (Kazakhstan) said that in the next century, the world must become multipolar, free from power centres and dividing lines, and from confrontation and clashes. The transformation of potential conflicts into uncontrollable violence could be prevented only by early warning based on an effective preventive strategy under United Nations auspices, and by the necessary political will. That was apparent from the most recent conflicts, in Kosovo and East Timor, which made a convincing case for the need to strengthen United Nations authority and for an increase in the Security Council’s responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. Kazakhstan fully endorsed the need to strengthen the Organization’s potential for the prevention of armed conflicts by strengthening preventive diplomacy, preventive deployment and preventive disarmament.

He said that in recent years, poor countries were more likely than rich ones to become embroiled in armed conflicts. In some cases, inequality among social groups, ethnic, national or religious enmity, economic decline, and sometimes the struggle to control economic resources, might combine with other factors to become sources of conflict with serious consequences. The international community should do more to encourage policies that enhanced people-centred security in conflict- prone regions, since minimum standards of security were also a precondition for development. Also important was the application by the United Nations of a new integrated concept of security at the local level, covering a broad range of issues -- from human rights and efforts to combat poverty to the promotion of development and democratization.

Kazakhstan commended the efforts of the Secretariat and the DPKO to pay due attention to proposals on participation in peacekeeping operations under standby arrangements, he said. Kazakhstan viewed with understanding any limitations and specific requirements relating to participation in any given peacekeeping operation. As evidence of the potential of standby arrangements, he noted that over the past year, the number of participants in those arrangements, had increased to include more than 80 States, of which more than 60 had already indicated their readiness to provide troops under such arrangements.

ALFONSO VALDIVIESO (Colombia) said that his country believed in the appropriateness of peacekeeping operations as a tool for maintenance of international peace and security. As there was no universal methodology for international actions in response to crisis situation, proper implementation of mandates was important. It was necessary to respond to conflicts in a consistent way. Maintenance of international peace and security should involve a broad range of operations, from conflict prevention to peace-building. It was necessary to detect the causes of conflicts and prepare the Organization to respond before resorting to the use of force.

Maintenance of peace and security was the responsibility of all States, he continued: it could not be left in the hands of a few countries. To complete the mandate for the maintenance of international peace and security, it was important not to deviate from the basic principles and legality, which strengthened common action. The complexity of today’s conflicts obliged the international community to address the whole question of the Organization's role. The system of collective security was one of the cornerstones of multilateralism.

The recent report of the Secretary-General reflected increasing use of force without the authorization of the Security Council to address humanitarian and human rights issues, he said. In that respect, he subscribed to the declaration by Jordan on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, and said that it was necessary to make a clear distinction between humanitarian action and peacekeeping operations of the United Nations. The existing humanitarian assistance system should be used to address humanitarian situations. The multidimensional character of peacekeeping operations called for the clear mandates, which should contribute to the efficiency of operations.

YUKIO SATOH (Japan) said that recent developments had brought to light a number of issues requiring the urgent attention of the international community. Those issues ranged broadly from the effectiveness of the United Nations, particularly that of the Security Council, to the need to set the Organization on a sound financial basis at a time when it was being entrusted with greater responsibilities. The Secretary-General’s statement before the General Assembly on 20 September was important in that context, for it highlighted the question of intervention, of which peacekeeping was an essential element.

The first issue that demanded close attention was the need to provide peacekeeping operations with sound funding, he continued. That was especially important in view of the growing number of tasks entrusted to the Organization. Indeed, it was with good reason that the Secretariat had recently doubled its estimate for the 1999 peacekeeping operations budget, from its original estimate of $700 million to a revised estimate of approximately $1.2 to 1.6 billion. In that context, it was important for Member States to remember the obligation to pay their assessed contributions on time, in full and without conditions. Here, he said, the case of East Timor was not encouraging. The so-called Phase I of the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) had been financed almost entirely through voluntary contributions from 14 countries and one international organization. Given the importance of the matter, the process of popular consultation should have been financed by the entire United Nations membership. All United Nations peacekeeping activities should be financed through assessed, not voluntary, contributions.

Japan had long stressed the need to strengthen efforts to ensure the safety of personnel in the field, he said. So far this year, 13 United Nations staff members had been killed in the line of duty. He, therefore, welcomed the fact that the Convention on the Safety of the United Nations and Associated Personnel had finally entered into force last January. As the second country to have ratified the Convention, Japan called upon those States which had not yet done so to become parties to the Convention as soon as possible. However, the safety of personnel could not be secured through improved legal arrangements alone. It was also necessary to take practical measures to improve security. He underlined the importance of the Trust Fund for the Security of United Nations Personnel and the training activities supported by the Fund.

Turning to the force in East Timor, he said that it was important for it to have a truly multinational character, particularly with participation of Asian countries. It was with that in mind that Japan had decided to contribute about $100 million to the United Nations Trust Fund. He appealed to other nations, particularly the developed nations which did not send troops, to contribute to the fund.

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