UN FACES MAJOR CHALLENGE WITH ‘ALMOST UNPRECEDENTED’ SURGE IN CREATION, EXPANSION OF PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS, SPECIAL COMMITTEE TOLD

Special Committee on                                       

 Peacekeeping Operations                                   

175^th & 176^th Meetings (AM & PM)

UN FACES MAJOR CHALLENGE WITH ‘ALMOST UNPRECEDENTED’ SURGE IN CREATION,

EXPANSION OF PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS, SPECIAL COMMITTEE TOLD

‘Challenge Can Be Met’, but Much Will Be Required

From Member States, Secretariat, Says Under-Secretary-General Guéhenno

Now, with the Security Council creating or expanding missions on an almost unprecedented scale, Member States and the Secretariat must prepare for a major challenge, immediately, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, said this morning, addressing the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, as it opened its 2004 session today.

“If we, collectively, are to avoid setting expectations too high, dare I say setting ourselves up for failure, we must together recognize the immense challenge, the opportunities and risks, and tap into all the available resources -– political, material, financial and human -– to meet the tasks at hand”, he said.  “My view is that the challenge can be met, but that a lot will be required, from the countries which have mandated these missions, from the wider membership, and from the Secretariat.”  For a while, at least, business as usual must be suspended.

Outlining the challenges ahead, Mr. Guéhenno said that, while missions of a similar scale had been deployed in the past, the situation now was more challenging, in many ways.  Several of the world’s most capable militaries were already heavily committed in Iraq and Afghanistan; all of the 10 largest United Nations troop contributors were developing countries; and today missions had to start quickly.

The reforms of the last few years would carry the Organization “only so far”, he said.  The Strategic Deployment Stocks in Brindisi –- the capacity designed to cope annually with a maximum load of one new complex mission and one new traditional mission -- had not served the United Nations well in Liberia, for example.  Similarly, the new posts requested for the Headquarters had been staffed with a view to being able to accommodate a surge, but not necessarily one of the scales that was being experienced now, he said.

The Special Committee was established by the General Assembly in 1965 to conduct a comprehensive review of all issues relating to peacekeeping.  It reports to the Assembly on its work through the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization).  It is comprised of 113 Member States, mostly past or current contributors of peacekeeping operations.  Other Member States participate as observers.

Addressing a report before the Committee on the implementation of last year’s recommendations, the speakers, in a day-long general debate, took up proposals related to improved relationship between troop-contributing countries and the Security Council Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations; an enhanced relationship between United Nations and regional and subregional organizations regarding peacekeeping operations; and assistance to those organizations to enhance their peacekeeping capacities.

Also stressed were, among others:  financing; rapid deployment; timely reimbursement to troop contributors; the importance of demobilization, disarmament and reintegration of ex-combatants; the rule of law; and the safety and security of United Nations and associated personnel in the field.

The representative of Morocco, speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, said, as the Movement was by far the biggest supplier of troops, he opposed participation of countries from the industrialized world in the more difficult operations only, with equipment or senior officers and no troops.  The persistence of a backlog in reimbursements to troop-contributing countries was also of a major concern to the Movement, he said, emphasizing that all Member States must pay their assessed contributions in full, on time and without conditions.

Paying tribute to those who had lost their lives in the service of peace, the representative of Ireland, speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, stressed the need for establishment of a full-time focal point for safety and security in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and for improvement of information sharing.  He recommended that the Department institute contingency arrangements for each individual mission to cater to its extraction from the field.  He also urged that the Department ensure that adequate, customized medical facilities were in place at the commencement stage of a mission.

The representative of Australia, speaking also on behalf of Canada and New Zealand (the “CANZ” Group”), said the importance of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes could not be underestimated, and it was, therefore, essential that the missions’ budgets include funding for the early reintegration of ex-combatants.  The rule of law within mission areas could likewise not be neglected, as it was the basis of the exit strategy for peacekeeping operations.  Missions must be provided with the specific mandates, strategic planning and resources to meet the challenges.

The representative of the United States said his country strongly supported United Nations peacekeeping.  It was the single largest contributor to the costs of United Nations peacekeeping, contributing $790 million for 2004.  New missions were being considered carefully by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and members of the Security Council.  Creation of a mission was sometimes the best action; at other times, it was not the best vehicle for conflict resolution.  He, therefore, valued the Department’s careful assessments concerning need for peacekeeping operations.

At the opening of the session, the Special Committee elected its Bureau and agreed on its programme of work through mid-April.

The representatives of Nigeria, Brazil, Egypt, Japan, Switzerland, Tunisia, Russian Federation, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, China, Croatia, Algeria, Fiji, Namibia, Belarus, Uruguay and Kazakhstan also spoke.

The Special Committee will meet again tomorrow at 10 a.m., Tuesday, to continue its general debate.

Background

The Special Committee report, entitled “Comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects” (document A/57/767), contains sections on:  proposals, recommendations and conclusions; guiding principles, definitions and implementation of mandates; cooperation with troop contributors; enhancing the United Nations capacity in peacekeeping; lessons learned; system-wide information and analysis; operational planning and Integration Mission Task Forces; rapid deployment; recruitment; training; civilian police; gender and peacekeeping; children and peacekeeping; public information; comprehensive strategies for complex peacekeeping operations; quick impact projects; mine action; safety and security of United Nations and associated personnel; cooperation with regional arrangements; financial issues; and conduct and disciplinary issues.

The report finds that, since the end of the cold war, there has been an increase in the number of complex peacekeeping operations.  The Special Committee notes that the Council has recently mandated peacekeeping operations that have included, in addition to the traditional tasks of monitoring and reporting, a number of other activities.  In that regard, the Committee stresses the importance of an effective Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) that is efficiently structured and adequately staffed.

Among its conclusions is the importance of consistently applying principles and standards the Committee has set forth for the establishment and conduct of peacekeeping operations.  It also emphasizes the need to consider those principles, as well as peacekeeping definitions, in a systematic fashion.  New proposals or conditions concerning peacekeeping operations should be discussed in the Committee. 

Under the section on guiding principles, definitions and implementation of mandates, the Committee stresses that peacekeeping operations should strictly observe the purposes and principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter.  Peacekeeping operations should not be used as a substitute for addressing the root causes of conflict.  Those causes should be addressed in a coherent, well planned, coordinated and comprehensive manner, by means of political, social and developmental instruments.  Consideration should also be given to ways in which those efforts can continue without interruption after the departure of a peacekeeping operation, so as to ensure a smooth transition to lasting peace and security.

Also, according to the report, the Committee stresses that the Security Council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.  It notes the statements of the Council President on 29 December 1998 (document S/PRST/1998/38) and 20 February 2001 (document S/PRST/2001/5) with regard to the inclusion, as appropriate, of peace-building elements in the mandates of peacekeeping operations, with a view to ensuring a smooth transition to a successful post-conflict phase.  The Committee stresses the importance of those elements being explicitly defined and clearly identified before they are incorporated in the mandates of peacekeeping operations, whenever appropriate.  The Committee emphasizes the role of the General Assembly in the formulation of post-conflict peace-building activities.

The report also stresses the importance of providing peacekeeping operations with clearly defined mandates, objectives and command structures, as well as secure financing, in support of efforts to achieve peaceful solutions to conflicts.  It also highlights the need to ensure, in the formulation and implementation of mandates, congruity between mandates, resources and objectives.  It emphasizes further that, when changes are made to an existing mandate, commensurate changes should be made to the resources available to a peacekeeping operation to carry out its new mandate.  Changes in the mandate of any ongoing mission should be based on a thorough and timely reassessment of the Security Council, including military advice, of the implications on the ground.  Such changes in mandates should occur after thorough discussion between contributing countries and the Security Council. 

The Committee urges the Secretariat to consult with the troop-contributing countries in a timely manner while planning any change in the tasks, mission-specific rules of engagement, operational concepts or command and control structure, which impact on the personnel, equipment, training and logistics requirements, in order to enable troop contributors to give their advice in the planning process and to ensure that their troops have the capacity to meet these new demands.  It also urges the Secretariat to consult with the troop contributors when planning a drawdown of troops.

In terms of enhancing the United Nations capacity for peacekeeping, the Committee stresses the importance of closer cooperation between the Secretariat and MemberStates.  It welcomes the six issues recommended in the Secretary-General’s report (document A/57/711), namely:  integrating lessons learned and best practices into operational planning and coordination; developing and implementing comprehensive strategies for complex peacekeeping operations; enhancing rapid deployment capacity; strengthening training; minimizing disciplinary problems; and strengthening regional peacekeeping capacities, particularly in Africa. 

Regarding rapid deployment, the Committee reiterates the validity of the goal for the United Nations to enhance its capacity to deploy peacekeeping operations within 30 days, or 90 days in the case of complex peacekeeping operations, after the adoption of a mandate.  It reiterates its belief that, in order to meet these time frames, the Secretariat must have the capacity to act in a timely manner on the three critical and interdependent aspects of rapid deployment –- personnel, material readiness and funding -– once it becomes clear that a peacekeeping operation is likely to be established.

Also, the Committee agrees on the need to further improve the rapid deployment capacity of the military, civilian police and civilian components and recommends that consultations with potential troop contributors start once it becomes clear that a peacekeeping operation is likely to be established.  It recognizes the importance of improving pre-deployment training and preparations of the United Nations on-call mechanisms, as well as providing for better cooperation among the field units of the troop contributors, and it urges the Secretariat to focus on those issues.

In the area of training, the Committee supports enhancing the coordination of the DPKO’s military, civilian police and civilian training activities, and requests that the Secretary-General report, at the next session, on ways to further improve this coordination, including the feasibility of establishing a single multidimensional training unit, closely linked to the Peacekeeping Best Practices Unit.  The Committee, therefore, encourage the strengthening of training coordination at United Nations Headquarters.  It also fully endorses the establishment of mission training cells and would welcome more detailed information on how these will function.  It supports the Department’s new focus on providing national and regional peacekeeping training centres with the necessary guidance for training peacekeeping personnel.  Also welcome was the introduction of Standardized Generic Training Modules.

With respect to comprehensive strategies for complex peacekeeping operations, the Committee acknowledges the need for additional research and analysis on the interrelated areas of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, security sector reform and the strengthening of the rule of law in post-conflict environments.  These are among the many challenges faced by complex peace operations, including in the political, social, economic and humanitarian areas.  While the operations themselves may not be responsible for any or all aspects of such efforts, there is a need for conceptual clarity and an appraisal of the expertise and capacities that exist within and outside the United Nations system to ensure operational coherence on the ground.

The report finds that the Committee places the highest priority on the safety and security of the United Nations and associated peacekeeping personnel.  It is gravely concerned about the continuing attacks and other acts of violence against them and stresses the need for host countries and others concerned to take all appropriate steps to ensure their safety and security, including a legal regime that ensures that there is no impunity for the perpetrators of such attacks.  Noting that the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel has been ratified or acceded to by 63 States, the Committee urges those States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the Convention as soon as possible.  Considering that the majority of recent incidents involving the death or injury of peacekeeping personnel are a result of accidents, the Committee welcomes the establishment of a safety council to promote safety awareness.

Given the Committee’s emphasis on the need to ensure respect for the standard of conduct expected of United Nations peacekeepers, the Committee recommends that consideration be given to the development of common principles and guidelines for accountability.  These principles and guidelines should draw on lessons learned from peacekeeping operations and should be incorporated into the training of United Nations personnel deployed in peacekeeping missions.  Bearing in mind the shared responsibility of the United Nations and troop-contributing countries for their personnel, the Committee emphasizes that cases of alleged misconduct should be handled through cooperation between troop contributors and the mission leadership.  It urges the Secretariat to involve the contributing country concerned from the very outset in any investigation and urges it to make the outcome of the investigation, including all related evidence, available to that country, in order to enable its national judicial authorities to take legal steps.

Under other matters, the Committee welcomes the appointment of the DPKO HIV/AIDS Adviser and looks forward to the standardization of awareness and prevention programmes in peacekeeping missions.  It further welcomes the establishment of HIV/AIDS focal points within missions.  Recognizing that HIV/AIDS is a major health concern for both peacekeepers and local residents, and is also a politically sensitive issue, the Committee approves the education and protection efforts developed by the Peacekeeping Department and endorses its proposed research projects to measure the impact of AIDS intervention at the mission level.  The Committee also notes that prospective peacekeepers displaying clinical AIDS symptoms are precluded from deployment and recommends that this policy be continued.

Also in that report, the Committee requested the Secretary-General to report on progress made on implementation of the recommendations, covering those for which specific reports have not been requested.

According to the Secretary-General’s report (document A/58/694, in the past year there had been significant progress in United Nations peacekeeping.  In Kosovo, Georgia, Eritrea and Ethiopia and Afghanistan, United Nations operations continued to facilitate complex and fragile peace processes.  The Missions in Sierra Leone and Timor-Leste have continued to downsize.  In disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR), the mission was expanded.  New missions were launched in Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia.  There had been a notable increase of activities in Africa in 2003, and a new surge was expected in 2004.

The report states that the challenges were threefold:  to find ways to meet the increase in demand for United Nations peacekeeping, particularly in Africa; to find ways to meet that demand by working with the multiplicity of today’s peacekeeping partners; and to enhance the safety and security of all personnel serving in United Nations field missions.  The operational environments of many peacekeeping operations today are particularly threatening.  For missions to succeed, there must be a shared understanding of the need for a robust force, able to use force.

The past year was also one marked by tragedy, and more lives were lost in the service of peace.  To honour their sacrifice and to meet United Nations responsibilities to those who continue to risk their lives in the field, the United Nations, its MemberStates and the Secretariat must do much more to enhance their safety and security.  Meeting those challenges will not be easy and will require the continued collaborative efforts of Member States, the Security Council and the Secretariat to make United Nations peacekeeping the effective instrument it can be in helping to end violent conflict and build peace where it is most needed.

Organizational Matters

At the outset of the meeting, the Special Committee elected the Permanent Representative of Nigeria as its Chair; Alberto Pedro D’Alotto (Argentina), Glyun Berry (Canada), Koji Haneda (Japan), and Beata Peksa-Krawiec (Poland) as the four Vice-Chairpersons; and Alaa Issa (Egypt) as its Rapporteur.  In the absence of Nigeria’s Permanent Representative, the Bureau nominated Mr. Berry to serve as Acting Chair.

The Committee also granted the requests by Belize, Burundi, Costa Rica, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the European Union, Guyana, the Holy See, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Madagascar, Nauru, Paraguay, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, and Viet Nam to participate in the work of the Committee as observers.

The Committee then adopted its programme of work for the session, setting  16 April as a tentative date for the conclusion of its work.  The general debate within the Committee will last through the afternoon of Tuesday, 30 March, and after that the Special Committee will continue its work within an open-ended working Group.

Statements

JEAN-MARIE GUEHENNO, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, recalled that between January 2000 and the last meeting of the Committee, the Council had created one new peacekeeping mission, in Ethiopia and Eritrea.  That relative hiatus had been useful, because the United Nations had been able to focus on the crisis in Sierra Leone, and should be able to leave that country within 12 months.  Timor-Leste had been brought to full independence, and the mission there was downsizing rapidly.  Missions had been closed in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Prevlaka.  Even in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with resources that barely figured against the sheer scale of the country, the Organization had been able to help move things in a positive direction.

Now, with the Council creating or expanding missions on an almost unprecedented scale, MemberStates and the Secretariat must prepare for a major challenge, immediately, he continued.  A new brigade, with a new mandate, had been deployed to eastern Congo; four brigades had been deployed to Liberia; an expanded mission was starting in Côte d’Ivoire; and planning was under way for major operations in Burundi, Cyprus, Haiti and the Sudan.  While numbers of a similar scale had been deployed in the past, the situation now was more challenging, in many ways.  Several of the world’s most capable militaries were already heavily committed in Iraq and Afghanistan.  All of the 10 largest United Nations troop contributors were developing countries, with limited means.  Moreover, when missions started now, they had to start quickly.

The reforms of the last few years would carry the Organization “only so far”, he said.  The Strategic Deployment Stocks in Brindisi, for example, had not served the United Nations well in Liberia.  That capacity had been designed to cope annually with a maximum load of one new complex mission and one new traditional mission.  It was now largely empty of critical items.  Similarly, the new posts requested for the Headquarters had been staffed with a view to being able to accommodate a surge, but not necessarily one of the scales that was being experienced now.  The question that arose was if the Council had asked the Secretariat, and indeed the MemberStates as a whole, to take on a job that could be successfully completed at all.

“If we, collectively, are to avoid setting expectations too high, dare I say setting ourselves up for failure, we must together recognize the immense challenge, the opportunities and risks, and tap into all the available resources -– political, material, financial and human –- to meet the tasks at hand”, he continued.  “My view is that the challenge can be met, but that a lot will be required, from the countries which have mandated these missions, from the wider membership, and from the Secretariat.”  For a while, at least, business as usual must be suspended.

Work was under way to ensure that the United Nations obtained well equipped and properly trained formed units, he said.  With the support of the membership and the Department of Management, the procurement challenge in vehicles, generators and so on would be met.  Among the main challenges, he listed planning, logistics, niche military and civilian police capacities, recruitment of civilians, and safety and security of personnel.  In terms of solutions, it was necessary to reach for innovations.  In some areas, exceptional arrangements needed to be made, and there were partnerships that would allow some burden-sharing.

Regarding overall design and planning of missions, he said that the DPKO today was a stronger, more operational unit, but its capacities needed to be further developed.  It was necessary to be crystal clear about how a new mission would be configured to achieve its mandate.  That clarity needed to continue throughout the life of the mission.  It was necessary to allocate carefully the very limited resources that had been committed to carry out the mandated responsibilities.  The Department would also look carefully at how it used all the resources available at Headquarters to the absolute maximum to backstop the growing number of missions.

The establishment of the Strategic Deployment Stocks had multiplied the Organization’s capacity to provide essential equipment to the field and pre-mandate commitment authority.  However, in view of competing demands and the scale of operations, a reassessment would be needed of the basic assumptions involved.  One of the priorities was getting personnel on the ground, and that involved the challenges of securing the tactical air support, field medical facilities, movement control, vertical engineering and so on.  Meeting the coming wave of peacekeeping demands would depend on Member States.

Among the ongoing efforts, he mentioned a recently announced policy -- in order to facilitate recruitment of civilian police -- to allow Member States to second retired police officers, thus, broadening the pool of available personnel.  The Department was also working to further build its roster of qualified and experienced personnel to complement the Organization’s internal staffing capacity as far as civilian personnel was concerned.  He appealed to Member States’ assistance in that regard.  Over the past year, the Peacekeeping Department had been working closely with the Office of Human Resources Management to review and find ways to improve the conditions of service for field staff.

Turning to safety and security, he said that there was an urgent need for increased capacity at Headquarters to support staff safety.  The Department was closely assessing how the security management system could be improved.  It was also important to enhance the Organization’s capacity to gather information in the field and turn it into useful intelligence about the environments peacekeepers were operating in.  The introduction of Joint Mission Analysis Cells was an important step in that direction.

Also, an effective public information campaign could serve as an important means of managing public perceptions and mitigating the threat.  While field missions had dedicated components to build public awareness of their work, the capacity within the DPKO to deal with the media was limited to one person.  The Peacekeeping Department relied heavily on its colleagues in the Department of Public Information (DPI) in helping backstop the day-to-day public information activities of peace operations, but it was necessary to go further.

Continuing, he stressed the importance of developing partnerships with regional organizations, which could provide support to operations authorized and led by the United Nations.  As the multidisciplinary approach to peacekeeping continued to grow, including in the areas of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR), mine action, child protection, human rights, gender and HIV/AIDS, it became even more compelling to make concerted efforts to make that cooperation more effective.  Recent efforts in Africa and Europe to develop rapid response capabilities in support of United Nations were welcome.  Of particular interest were regional brigades being formed as part of the African Standby Force.

Working better and more effectively with the Organization’s humanitarian, development and other partners within or alongside United Nations peacekeeping was an important goal for the Peacekeeping Department, he said.  A deployed peacekeeping mission often entered an environment where humanitarian and development actors had been present for a while.  Thus, pursuing better coordination of efforts must be a priority.  The United Nations’ constant refrain must be partnership with agencies and non-governmental organizations that were close to affected populations.  Also, what came after a peacekeeping mission was as important as the operation itself, and it was necessary to work closely with the development community to plan clearly the transition to peace-building and ensure the continuity of efforts.

In conclusion, he said that reports of the demise of United Nations peacekeeping had been exaggerated, perhaps more than ever before.  United Nations peacekeeping remained a uniquely powerful expression of the extraordinary vision of international solidarity for peace, which had been enshrined in the United Nations Charter more than half a century ago.  The work of the Committee this year would serve to hone that remarkable instrument for peace to meet the considerable challenges ahead.

NDEJHEDEHE E. NDEJHEDEHE (Nigeria), associating himself with the statement on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, said his country had been a willing partner in United Nations peacekeeping operations.  The Brahimi recommendations had transformed peacekeeping operations beyond the separation of warring factions.  In that regard, he noted efforts of the Secretariat to establish the requisite institutions that would ensure the rule of law in post-conflict peace-building.

He said the safety and security of United Nations and associated personnel was of serious concern to his delegation, and he endorsed in that regard the Secretary-General’s recommendation that the Organization should give priority to the safety and security of its personnel in the field and establishment of a Mission Security Management Unit within the Peacekeeping Department.  Developing countries often had difficulty in meeting the recommended rapid deployment time frame of 30 days.  He, therefore, urged the DPKO to continue to assist troop-contributing countries in deploying their troops.  As training was vital, he also urged the Department to continue to liaise effectively with regional and subregional organizations to ensure that they benefited from the Department’s training resources.

With respect to reimbursement, he urged the Secretariat to consider an appropriate increase in the reimbursement rate that would take into consideration the trend in global inflation.  He was gratified with the establishment of the African Standby Force and the Military Staff Committee, and was delighted with the Secretariat’s involvement in establishing the African Union’s situation room.  He also looked forward to having the Department strengthen the situation room of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

RICHARD RYAN (Ireland), speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, said the European Common Foreign Security Policy landscape had been redefined significantly over recent months.  Last September, the United Nations and the Union had signed a joint declaration on crisis management, with the aim of deepening cooperation and providing reliable mechanisms in the areas of planning, training, communication and best practices.  The European Security Strategy signalled the Union’s movement towards a more strategic approach in the area of external action.  The Union was currently focusing on the development of its rapid reaction capabilities through the creation of a number of battle-group sized forces to undertake operations at short notice.

Paying tribute to those who had lost their lives in the service of peace, he said the Union placed the highest priority on strengthening the safety and security of United Nations and associated personnel, and stressed the need for establishment of a full-time focal point for safety and security in the Peacekeeping Department and for improvement of information sharing.  He recommended the Department institute contingency arrangements for each individual mission to cater for its extraction from the field.  He also urged that the Department ensure that adequate, customized medical facilities, supported by dedicated medical evacuation plans, are in place from the commencement stage of a mission.

As regional organizations had unique and complementary capacities to offer, including establishing rapid response capabilities, he recommended that the DPKO expand and deepen its contacts with regional and subregional partners, especially at the working level.  Although significant progress had been made in the Department’s operational capacity, certain areas required further strengthening, he said, welcoming the integrated task force concept.  He encouraged the Department to seek additional surge planning capacity from external sources.

He said elements of peace-building were integral to the success of a peacekeeping operation.  Enabling measures, such as rule of law, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration and quick-impact projects would be provided for by mission mandates from the outset.  More coordinated and effective planning was required for all aspects of a mission, in order to ensure a smooth transition from conventional peacekeeping operations to peace-building and subsequent development activities.

He called on all Member States to implement Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) to increase the representation of women in peacekeeping operations.  Gender mainstreaming was a priority for the Union.  He reiterated the Union’s request that the Secretariat consider affording the privileges and immunities equivalent to those of armed military personnel to civilian police and corrections personnel who were directly assigned executive tasks requiring enforcement measures.

OMAR KADIRI (Morocco), speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, said the United Nations must give the highest priority to enhancing the safety and security of those in the field, and asked in that regard for more information on what the Secretariat was doing to improve security and safety at Headquarters and in the field.  One of the most important elements for the security of United Nations personnel was enhancement of its capacity to analyse the security environment in a mission, which could be strengthened through timely and efficient intelligence in the field.  That was an area the report had not analysed.

He said troop-contributing countries, through their expertise and experience acquired through decades of participation in peacekeeping missions, could assist the Security Council in all stages of a mission.  For meetings held under the provisions of Security Council resolution 1353 (2001) with troop-contributing countries to be substantive and meaningful, the views and concerns of those countries should be effectively taken into account.  Participation of those countries, through a true collaboration with the Secretariat at the very first stages and during the planning of a mission, was critical.  He asked the Secretariat for information on the template for integrated mission planning.  Regarding rapid deployment, he said rapid and efficient handling of administrative and financial issues and timely and quick reimbursement to troop-contributing countries were key elements.

As the Non-Aligned Movement was by far the biggest supplier of troops, he reiterated that countries from the North should participate with more troops.  He opposed establishment of any practice consisting of the participation of countries from the industrialized world in the more difficult operations only with equipment, or senior officers and no troops.  The Peacekeeping Department should reassess its capacity regarding civilian police on the basis of the increase in peacekeeping operations and the necessity to deploy civilian police officers with specialized skills and expertise.

He stressed that disarmament, demobilization and reintegration was a crucial component of peace processes and peacekeeping operations.  Early planning and coordination, along with timely and sufficient funding, were key elements for such programmes to be effective.  He called on a long-term commitment by the donor community in support of DDR programmes, and requested the Department to identify the additional resources needed to supports its capacity in DDR.

He welcomed the creation of the training advisory group and appreciated the efforts of the Secretariat regarding the standardized generic training modules level 1.  He looked forward for finalization and development of levels 2 and 3 in full consultation with Member States, he said, requesting the Secretariat to provide an update on the revision of available training materials and on the status of translation into the six official languages.

The handling of conduct and disciplinary issues should be done in a clear, transparent and effective manner, and concerned Member States should have complete access to all information related to alleged misconduct, he said.  He further asked the Secretariat to provide clarifications on the basis for immunity differences between civilian police personnel and military personnel.  The persistence of a backlog in reimbursements to troop-contributing countries was of a major concern to the Movement.  He emphasized, in that regard, that all Member States must pay their assessed contributions in full, on time and without conditions.

REGINALDO DOS SANTOS (Brazil), speaking on behalf of the Rio Group, said that the members of the Group had been contributing actively to the United Nations peacekeeping.  In recent years, peacekeeping operations had become increasingly important, not only as a tool of maintaining international peace and security, but also as means of dealing with post-conflict situations, promoting and ensuring observance of human rights and reconstruction of the countries involved.  The practice of starting consultations with troop contributors in advance of setting a new mission and rapid-reimbursement procedures were among the welcome initiatives intended to facilitate recruitment of personnel for the missions.  The missions were becoming ever-more complex, and coordination between the partners involved was also gaining in importance.

Continuing, he stressed the importance of the proposals aimed at ensuring rapid reimbursement to troop-contributing countries, including study on the possibility of utilizing the Peacekeeping Reserve Fund, which was established under resolution 47/217, for rapid reimbursement to troop contributors.  He also regretted the fact that the issue of reimbursement for closed missions remained outstanding, for some Member States had been awaiting reimbursement for more than a decade.

He went on to welcome the efforts to train personnel and the fact that Peacekeeping Department staff would shortly include a gender adviser.  The Rio Group considered public information an important component of peacekeeping.  In that regard, it was essential to enhance coordination between the DPKO and the DPI as provided in resolution 58/101.  It was also necessary to make the best possible use of the capacity of the United Nations information centres.

In conclusion, he underscored the importance of implementation of measures to protect safety and security of personnel.  It was a priority to complete, as early as possible, a comprehensive review of the United Nations system of safety and security measures.

ALAA ISSA (Egypt) associated himself with the position of the Non-Aligned Movement and said that peacekeeping had witnessed some fundamental changes, including those in the nature of the complexity of missions.  However, a similar situation had been experienced at the beginning of the 1960s, and many of the problems had come up before.  The Organization had proven its ability to deal with the challenges before it, and he was confident that it could do so in the future.  It was important to tackle the issue or peacekeeping from the point of view of international legitimacy.

The safety and security of personnel was at the top of the organization’s priorities, he continued, and he looked forward to seeing the outcome of a comprehensive review of the United Nations safety and security system.  He also wanted to reiterate the political considerations involved in the issue.  The recommendations of the Secretary-General to allocate new posts in the field of security were related to the outcome of the review.  As for the consultations of the Security Council with troop-contributing countries, despite the positive sings, the scope of such consultations was still below the required level.  The Security Council was still dictating to troop contributors, instead of consulting with them.  Therefore, Egypt and several other countries had sent a letter to the Council, in which it had addressed the issues involved.

Continuing, he expressed disappointment that work had not been concluded on raising the rate of reimbursement and stressed the importance of accountability and discipline of United Nations peacekeeping personnel.  It was necessary to ensure maximum discipline in the field, as well as full transparency within the Secretariat.  Among the proposals made by Mr. Guéhenno, he noted those pertaining to enhancing the operational capabilities of the United Nations, which he could support.  Many issues before the Special Committee required the approval of Member States and, in discussing them, it was necessary to maintain the balance between performance and accountability.  He also joined the call for crystal clarity in how a mandate of a mission was to be drafted and adopted.  Funding, participation of Member States, and efficient performance of the Secretariat were among the essential elements required for success.

Colonel STEPHEN WALTER JONES (Australia), speaking also on behalf of Canada and New Zealand, highlighted, among the many improvements made by the DPKO, improved consultations with Member States and information sharing, and looked forward to a continuation of that improved transparency in order to be able to deploy rapidly.  In order to deploy rapidly, the Secretariat needed to provide early warning to potential troop-contributing countries.  He also urged improved relationships between the Security Council Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations and troop-contributing countries.

He said the successful utilization of the Integrated Mission Task Force concept and the deployment of the multidisciplinary assessment mission for Liberia had proved the utility of those concepts.  The Secretariat should brief the Committee as early as possible on the draft template for integrated mission planning.  Noting the difficulties in achieving the 90-day deployment goal, he said the deployment mechanisms needed to be assessed to improve all aspects of pre-mandate operations preparedness, with the goal of truncating preparation time lines.  There was also a need to enhance the peacekeeping capacities of regional organizations, as well as the manner that such operations were financed.

Commending the Secretariat for significant achievements in the area of training, he said pre-deployment training, including for the mission leadership, was of no less importance than integrated mission planning. The importance of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes could not be underestimated, and it was, therefore, essential that the missions’ budgets include funding for the early reintegration of ex-combatants.  The rule of law within mission areas could likewise not be underestimated, as it was the basis of the exit strategy for peacekeeping operations.  He supported, therefore, the need to ensure that missions were provided with the specific mandates, strategic planning and resources to meet the challenges.  Building greater rule of law capacities in the United Nations system also needed to be explored.

He said improving performance must draw on learning from the past and others.  Impressive progress had been made in establishing solid and transparent working relations with Member States using the Best Practices Unit as the point of entry into the Peacekeeping Department.  As that Unit had a formidable workload, the DPKO must ensure that the workload was prioritized appropriately.  He urged the Unit to develop partnerships with other organizations, such as the military and police advisers community, to assist where appropriate.

Welcoming practical steps taken towards reducing the risk of attacks against personnel in peace support operations, he said an adequate legal regime needed to be in place to ensure that there was no impunity for the perpetrators of such attacks.  Incidents over the past few months tragically highlighted the need for improved early warning and better threat analysis, he said, and required closer coordination between DPKO and the Office of the United NationsSecurity Coordinator.  He urged all Committee members to ensure that colleagues in other Committees supported its recommendations.

TOSHIRO OZAWA (Japan) said his Government was concerned about the rapid increase in peacekeeping operations budgets for missions in which it had not participated in the decision-making processes.  A peacekeeping operation was being initiated in Côte d’Ivoire and new missions were expected in Burundi, Haiti and the Sudan.  When creating a new mission, full account of the necessity of the mission, the appropriateness of the plans and the exit strategy for each case must be put forward, and periodic reviews must be made in order to ensure that mission activities were implemented effectively and efficiently.

He said his country was interested in the role of regional and subregional organizations and the United Nations in peacekeeping operations.  Helping regional organizations to strengthen their capacities would prove beneficial in the confidence-building in the region.

Regarding the safety of peacekeeping personnel, he said the United Nations and the MemberStates should seriously consider how the peacekeeping operations of the United Nations ought to be conducted, for those operations to earn the respect of the people in the region that they were assisting.  Such respect would be earned through the demonstration of their universal objectives and their discipline and, in turn, would guard them from attack.

JENO C.A. STAEHELIN (Switzerland) said that, in a period marked by the changing nature of the threats to international peace and security, it was of paramount importance for the United Nations and its international security system to continue providing a suitable framework for collective action.  Switzerland supported the Secretary-General’s efforts to ensure the relevance of that unique collective security system.  At the same time, there had been no decrease in the number of conflicts and crises affecting many Member States.  While the United Nations should be able to respond to the demands, an increased burden posed by those new calls for peacekeeping operations required a debate on the conditions under which the United Nations answered such claims.

The report before the Committee rightly pointed out that efforts to reinforce United Nations peacekeeping necessitated ever-closer cooperation among the Security Council, MemberStates and the Secretariat, he said.  His delegation called upon the DPKO to continue working for transparency and dialogue in the preparation and performance of its missions, the conduct of its investigations, and in its information management during crises and accidents.  He also supported regular meetings of the Council, troop contributors and Department officials.  Notice of such meetings should be provided in advance to allow participants to prepare substantive statements.

The 2003 attack on the United Nations mission in Baghdad had demonstrated the need to provide the Organization with strengthened information-gathering and analysis capabilities, he said.  He, therefore, supported the initiative to grant the Organization and its missions reinforced capabilities in the field.  Supporting the proposals for reinforcing the Department’s security-sector management, he added that such initiatives also called for redoubled efforts to instil a sense of discipline among mission personnel.  International law, and particularly international humanitarian law, should be respected in all areas and at each step of operations.

Turning to the training of personnel, he said that Switzerland intended to reinforce its cooperation with the Peacekeeping Department in that area.  It also supported the Department’s efforts to take greater account of the gender issue in peacekeeping operations.  Switzerland would continue its strong commitment to the struggle against illegal trafficking in small arms, and it was pleased to acknowledge the productive collaboration between the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining and the Secretariat.

The report also rightly stressed the importance of including in mission mandates a component aimed at reinforcing the rule of law, he said.  The dialogue in which members of the Council had become involved in that regard should be intensified and extended to non-State actors in the near future.  When filling positions of responsibility in missions, he favoured seeking a satisfactory balance between those contributing personnel, equipment and financial resources.  It went without saying that special attention should be paid to candidates’ qualifications.

ALI HACHANI (Tunisia), aligning himself with the statement on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, said peacekeeping must not be a substitute for searching for definitive resolutions to conflicts or for addressing their root causes.  There was a close link between peace and development.  Peacekeeping was a dynamic concept, responding to changes in the international environment.  Together with dramatic changes in that environment, there had been a substantial increase in complex peacekeeping missions in unstable settings.  Regarding the security and safety of peacekeepers, it was imperative to strengthen the security system, and he supported creation of joint analysis units in order to enhance preventive and threat management capacity.

He said the United Nations had devoted itself more and more to peace-building.  Lasting peace could be achieved only through offering afflicted areas help in the protection of human rights, stability and rule of law in post-conflict situations.  A mission mandate should include activities pertaining to establishing the rule of law, but when administering justice one could not forget the need to promote national reconciliation and institutional stability.  Proper conduct and behaviour by peacekeepers was also important, and he urged the United Nations to focus on prevention of such behaviour.  He regretted that the backlogs in reimbursement for previous missions in Cambodia and Rwanda had not yet been settled.

Cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations in peacekeeping was of major importance for conflict prevention, post-conflict reconstruction and economic development, he said, emphasizing the importance to strengthening cooperation between the European Union and the African Union, as Africa was host to three quarters of all peacekeepers deployed.  Continued commitment by the international community was, therefore, necessary.

PAVEL R. KNYAZEV (Russian Federation) said that modern, multifaceted peacekeeping operations dealt with a broad range of issues.  Some progress had been achieved in strengthening the capabilities of the Organization to carry out peacekeeping operations, but it was important to develop international efforts in conformity with the Charter, the norms and principles of international law, and reasonable “division of labour” with regional and coalition structures.

A recent survey had shown that in 2004-2005, the number of peacekeepers could exceed 46,000, he continued.  The main principles and criteria guiding peacekeeping in the United Nations were very important, including the primary responsibility of the Security Council for maintaining international peace and security, the need to ensure constructive cooperation of the parties of the conflict with peacekeeping missions, and interaction of the United Nations with regional structures under Chapter VIII of the Charter.  It was important to strengthen the legal basis of peacekeeping in compliance with the Charter and decisions of the Security Council.

The report before the Committee reflected tremendous work carried by the Secretariat and Member States in implementation of the recommendations of the Special Committee in the priority areas, but much more remained to be done to satisfy the growing demand for peacekeeping, especially in Africa, ensuring effective cooperation with all partners and finding personnel to man the missions, he said.  What was most important today was to provide safety and security for peacekeeping personnel.  It was also necessary to seriously consider the Secretary-General’s proposal regarding creating a post of coordinator on security issues and a group dealing with security within field missions within the DPKO.  Such measures should not diminish the responsibility of host countries for contingents’ security.

Stressing the importance of the regional aspect of peacekeeping, he went on to say that growing complexity of missions placed the focus on complex planning of the missions, strengthening coordination between various components of the missions and cooperation with regional structures.  Another important aspect was the drawing up of missions and transition from peacekeeping to peace-building.  Proper preparation for deployment was of utmost importance.  The Secretary-General in his report had examined the experience of peacekeeping operations, mentioning that each crisis situation was unique and required a separate set of instruments to deal with it.  It was important not to go outside of authority of the Council and ensure that international response was commensurate with the needs.  It was also necessary to ensure compliance with human rights and bring to justice those guilty of their violations.

Peacekeeping experience in Africa, for example, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone, clearly demonstrated the link between peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction, he said.  He supported the division of labour between the Economic and Social Council and the Security Council in that respect.  The mandates of the missions needed to be crystal clear.  Cooperation between the Security Council and troop contributors should be further improved.  Strong preparation for peacekeeping operations required additional resources.  The lack of personnel, materials and equipment needed to be addressed, particularly in view of the growth in the number of missions.  It was also important to develop the information aspect of peacekeeping, including increasing their visibility.

Colonel RAMLY NIK (Malaysia), associating himself with the statement on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, said in the effort undertaken by the Peacekeeping Department to further strengthen its management culture and improve the quality of United Nations peacekeeping operations, the adoption of the concept of multi-dimensional peacekeeping operations had further enhanced the credibility of peacekeeping missions.  The briefings conducted by the Military Planning Staff on many occasions prior to the launching of new peacekeeping operations, like in Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia, had benefited the Member States tremendously.  That form of consultation would also give a good lead time for troop-contributing countries, as well as the DPKO, to assemble over-the-horizon, rapid response peacekeeping forces.

Regarding increasing threats to military and civilian staff of United Nations missions, he said a well managed intelligence programme was necessary.  The Peacekeeping Department should have a comprehensive intelligence management plan devised in mission areas.  Such a plan should cover, among others, collection efforts, analysis and fusion of information, as well as dissemination and sharing procedures.  Equally important was the need to establish a more flexible funding mechanism related to “fast cash” reimbursement to the troop-contributing countries.  The current mechanism was still not geared towards assisting the developing countries, which provided the majority of the troops in peacekeeping operations.

Because the knowledge of peacekeeping roles varied greatly among Member States, there was a need to forge a common understanding of peacekeeping roles through standardized training modules, as currently pursued by the Department.  The development of Standardized Training Modules (STM) of levels 2 and 3 had been the most significant achievements in the training of personnel to meet changing security environments, he said.

CHUNG YUNG-WOO (Republic of Korea) said the demand for United Nations peacekeeping was surging, particularly in Africa, while multi-dimensional forces in other parts of the world had taken up available resources.  Meeting the challenges not only required more resources, but also operational effectiveness and efficiency.

He emphasized the need for empowering regional organizations, as they had more direct stakes in peace and security in their respective regions.  Nowhere was the need for capacity-building more dire than Africa, he said.  He welcomed the Joint Africa/Group of 8 plan adopted in June 2003 in Evian to develop African capabilities for peace-support operations. There was room for further improvements in the division of roles and responsibilities between the United Nations and regional actors, to make sure they functioned in a mutually complementary manner.

The United Nations had to be selective in interventions, focusing primarily on situations where it enjoyed comparative strength over other actors and on where it had a reasonable chance of making a difference on the ground, as the Organization remained over-stretched in resources and under-equipped to manage and resolve each and every conflict around the world.  Most of the conflict areas requiring a robust or rapid response had to be farmed out to “coalitions of the willing” or regional organizations.  He also underlined the need for consultations between the Security Council and the major financial contributors on decisions concerning new missions or expanding current ones.  The current practice of “taxation without representation” could erode political support and commitment.

Stressing the importance of strengthening the Department at Headquarters, he said it remained grossly under-staffed and under-resourced to the point of compromising the capacity to provide the necessary support to field operations.  It was vitally important to recruit the most capable and well qualified staff and to give due considerations to applicants from those Member States which were grossly under-represented in the Department.

ZHANG YISHAN (China) said that over the past year peacekeeping had undergone significant changes, having made great strides in several countries.  Enhancement of rapid deployment capacities and other initiatives were advancing steadily.  United Nations peacekeeping operations were experiencing a great surge, and it was important to take stock of lessons learned and face the challenges ahead.  The safety and security of peacekeepers had recently become the focus of attention.  The number of deaths and injuries in the field not only had a negative effect on peacekeeping, in general, but also dampened the enthusiasm of troop-contributing countries.  Effective prevention, information gathering and analysis and coordination of efforts were among the measures that were needed to confront that problem.

He went on to support the actions to increase regional participation in peacekeeping and enhancing cooperation in that respect.  Rapid response capabilities needed to be further developed.  In order to overcome the discrepancy between the needs and availability of troops and civilian personnel, it was necessary to provide additional financial and human resources.  It was also important to accommodate the concerns of troop-contributing countries.  His Government supported increasing the peacekeeping capacity of the United Nations.  It participated in several missions and stood ready to work with other countries to promote peace and ensure security.

VLADIMIR DROBNJAK (Croatia) said that his country had in the past year increased its level of engagement in peacekeeping operations.  It was currently engaged in many areas, including Ethiopia and Eritrea, Western Sahara, Sierra Leone and Timor-Leste.  Croatia had also clearly expressed its intention to increase the level and manner of its contributions to United Nations peacekeeping, not limiting its contribution solely to participation of military personnel.  In line with recommendations to increase the participation of female staff in peacekeeping missions, his country was encouraging female candidates in the framework of its armed and civilian police forces to participate in United Nations-led operations.

As far as the issue of rapid deployment was concerned, Croatia had recently expressed its interest in getting observer status in the steering committee of the high-readiness brigade.  Aware of the importance of training, his country had taken part in the pre-deployment training of Headquarters staff offered in reference to the mission to Liberia.

Turning to the role of regional organizations, he supported the lead role of the United Nations in peacekeeping and peacemaking missions, although he did recognize that sometimes regional organizations or initiatives could be better equipped to handle and diffuse possible crisis situations.  In those cases, though, regional organizations should first take guidance from the Security Council.  The United Nations and its bodies should recognize early on whether a regional organization had a better chance for success in preventive diplomacy, or was in a better position to mobilize forces.  Being able to intervene in a timely manner was often the most crucial part of any peacekeeping exercise.

Regarding safety, he agreed that it needed to be addressed as an utmost priority.  Greater effort should be placed on strengthening capacities to prevent and manage threats by improving mechanisms for gathering information in the field, and the ability to effectively use that information.  Croatia commended recent efforts to improve cooperation and consultation between the Secretariat and troop contributors.  For his country, attending of consultations with troop-contributing countries had significantly facilitated the timely and effective completion of its internal decision-making process.

STUART HOLLIDAY (United States) said many of the Brahimi report recommendations had been implemented and had caused marked improvements in peacekeeping.  The mandates of new missions now authorized for the first time a civilian police force in order to establish the rule of law.  However, regarding safety and security of United Nations and associated personnel in the field, improvement was needed in a system for collecting and assessing information.  Enhancing the safety and security of United Nations personnel was one of the greatest challenges in United Nations peacekeeping.  Improvement was also possible in addressing the HIV/AIDS scourge during peacekeeping operations.

His country strongly supported United Nations peacekeeping and was the single largest contributor to the costs of United States peacekeeping, contributing $790 million for 2004, he said.  It was also taking strong measures to ensure the United Nations had a dependable income stream.  It also coordinated closely with other nations heavily involved in peacekeeping, such as Canada and India.  Moreover, the United States provided capacity-building in peacekeeping for other countries.

He said new missions were being considered carefully by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and Security Council members.  Creation of a mission was sometimes the best action, at other times it was not the best vehicle for conflict resolution, he said.  He, therefore, valued the careful DPKO assessments and the need for peacekeeping operations.  With increasing demand in peacekeeping, there was a need to ensure that the Department carried out its responsibilities efficiently and effectively.  Running a multinational peacekeeping mission was a complex task.  It was, therefore, to the credit of the Department it was able to get the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNAMIL) up and running in what was now the world’s largest United Nations peacekeeping operation.

NADJEH BAAZIZ (Algeria) said that her delegation subscribed to the statement by Morocco on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and added that results achieved in the reform of peacekeeping had given an additional impetus to the work of the Committee.  Peacekeeping was a commitment to an ideal of achieving peace and security all over the world.  The United Nations should be able to deal with the challenges efficiently, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.  It was important to stress the role of the Security Council in that regard.

In planning a mission, it was necessary to take into account all the aspects needed for its success, paying special attention to the role of troop-contributing countries.  It was important to address the legitimate concerns of those nations.  She supported increased consultations between the Security Council and troop contributors in accordance with resolution 1353 and proposed involving regional organizations in them.  Rapid deployment depended to a large extent on the political will of Member States, and she believed that developed countries should cooperate with their developing partners, since they had greater capabilities in that regard.

Continuing, she said that emphasis should be placed on training, humanitarian aspects of the missions and political training according to a specific situation within each mission.  Cooperation between the United Nations and regional organs was of major importance, for it could strengthen the efforts to promote peace.  Special attention needed to be paid to Africa.  African countries had clearly shown their commitment to peacekeeping, including through their participation in missions and preventive efforts within the framework of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).  In conclusion, she reiterated her country’s commitment to United Nations peacekeeping.

ISIKIA SAVUA (Fiji) said the question of intervention had been addressed in various forums, but the question of its application and implementation remained to be sorted out.  A critical issue was sovereignty, and sovereignty of States had to be the prime consideration that ought to guide the decision to intervene.  Intervention could be better achieved through the efficient and effective coordination of efforts by all organs of the United Nations tasked with the responsibility of peacekeeping.  A robust intelligence gathering capability must be available to the principal decision-makers.

He said his country had withdrawn an infantry battalion from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) due to its inability to provide the full complement of a battalion’s table of equipment.  He requested the Organization to facilitate the forming of suitable partnerships that could help provide a fully equipped infantry battalion, as required under the standby battalion arrangements.  As an island developing nation, Fiji was acutely aware of the competitive financial demands of peacekeeping and sustainable development.  A balance must be maintained.

He shared the concern on the need for sound pre-planning for peacekeeping operations, particularly regarding the entry and exit strategies.  However, extensions appeared to be happening on a regular basis, and one had to wonder whether exit strategies were formulated at all.  Those extensions provided an additional burden on peacekeeping budgets.

MARTIN ANDJABA (Namibia), aligning himself with the statement on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, said the security and safety of the United Nations peacekeepers and associated personnel should be enhanced.  Those responsible for killing military observers and peacekeepers should be brought to justice.  He supported the Secretary-General’s recommendation to establish a full-time security and safety focal point and a mission security management unit within the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.  Continuous capacity-building and pre-deployment training at the cost of the United Nations would alleviate the possibility of the troop-contributing countries deploying troops that were below the expected high standard of the Organization.

The importance of rapid deployment could not be over-emphasized he said, and the role of regional forces in that context was of particular importance.  Supporting regional, rapid peacekeeping arrangements required effective training of troops and adequate resources to sustain those efforts.  The United Nations Standby Arrangements System needed a commitment from developed countries to support developing countries in their efforts aimed at enhancing their peacekeeping capacity.

He said areas affected by armed conflict risked a high level of HIV/AIDS prevalence.  He welcomed, therefore, placement of HIV/AIDS policy advisers in the Peacekeeping Department.  In the same vein, he said the concept of gender-mainstreaming was vital for the success of a peacekeeping mission.  The fundamental rights of women and children in the areas of armed conflicts, most particularly in Africa, were in jeopardy.  The protection of women, children and the elderly should be the primary responsibility not only of the international community, but also of the parties to a conflict.

ALEG IVANOU (Belarus) said that the report before the Committee set out the strategic aims for further peacekeeping efforts, calling on the recommendations of the Brahimi report and the Special Committee itself.  To tackle the present-day needs, it was necessary to further strengthen a constructive interaction among the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Secretariat in order to improve the mechanisms needed to plan, deploy and manage individual missions.Belarus also emphasized the importance of developing peacekeeping mandates that could be supported by all, which should be based on the principles of impartiality in use of force for self-defence only.

Continuing, he welcomed increased consultations between the Security Council and troop-contributing countries and supported the position of the Non-Aligned Movement on the need for a substantive dialogue in that respect.  He also stressed that the safety and security of personnel must be given priority and supported the Secretary-General’s recommendations in that regard.  It was necessary to further develop the rapid deployment capabilities of the United Nations, and he commended the DPKO for its measures to develop reserve agreements and establish rosters of officers and civilian personnel.  In addition to a strong material base for the missions, it was necessary to develop optimum budget proposals for ensuring the rapid deployment of missions, as well as measures to streamline procurement procedures. 

It was also necessary to take into account the special needs of countries with economies in transition, he said.  His country was taking part in United Nations peacekeeping, in particular, providing civilian police and providing training for peacekeepers.  The country had created a legislative basis for participation in peacekeeping operations.  In particular, a law on secondment of personnel had been adopted last November.

ENRIQUE LOEDEL (Uruguay) reiterated his country’s commitment to the cause of peace and said that over the years Uruguay had participated in many missions and, at present, was taking part in about two thirds of the operations.  Among the main issues that needed to be addressed, he listed the questions of peacekeeping financing, as well as who was to lead the missions, send troops and provide equipment and technology.

Coordination among the main organs of the Organization and transparency in the preparation and implementation of an operation had direct impact on improving mission performance, he said.  From an early stage, it was possible to identify the difficulties, which needed to be overcome.  Issues of financial resources were of great concern for rapid deployment, and delays in reimbursement to Member States were among the main problems, in that respect.  Uruguay had been waiting for more than a decade for payments for Cambodia and it regretted the irregularities under which a group of countries had been reimbursed, and another group was not.  He was still waiting to be informed on the criteria followed for the selection of countries and the assignment of reimbursements.

While some progress had been achieved as far as safety and security of personnel were concerned, the report did not provide a clear indication about the state of the overall evaluation of the security management system within the United Nations.  To make peacekeeping more robust, it was necessary to ensure a more effective and more engaged presence, which should include more and better trained troops, more sophisticated equipment, as well as mandates in different terms than the traditional ones, be it in time, duration, intensity or involvement.  It also made no sense to elaborate large plans if there was no agreement on fairly secured financing sources. 

YERZHAN KAZYKHANOV (Kazakhstan) said that in light of the numerous conflicts and the growing demand for United Nations peacekeeping, it was necessary to further improve the credibility of the United Nations and to increase the responsibility of its Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security.  He fully supported efforts to reinforce the Organization’s capacity to conduct peacekeeping operations in precarious security environments, including the provision by Member States of direct and over-the-horizon rapid response capability.  He also supported developing close cooperation among the Security Council, MemberStates and regional organizations for an effective response to emerging, complex conflict situations when measures to keep peace and promote development often had to be taken simultaneously.

He said his country had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations on contributions to United Nations preparatory activities and was ready to provide the personnel, armoured vehicles and transportation assets of KAZBAT, Kazakhstan’s battalion.  His country would like to participate more actively in the United Nations system of procurement for peacekeeping missions.

Peace agreements by themselves marked only the first step in bringing lasting peace and prosperity to war-torn societies.  For such States, creating or rebuilding civil society was a crucial long-term commitment, and it was essential to establish and consolidate democracy.  Democratic institutions and principles should be embedded within a self-sustaining civil society.  He underscored the important role of a security concept encompassing a broad range of issues, starting with human rights and the eradication of poverty, and ending with development promotion and democratization.

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