Fifty-ninth General Assembly

Fourth Committee

16^th Meeting (AM)

delegates in fourth committee emphasize need to support regional organizations,

 

other alliances in coping with surging demand for United Nations peacekeeping

Organization Cannot Do it Alone, Speakers Say,

Citing Darfur, Haiti, Timor-Leste Operations at Outset of General Debate

Managing the recent surge in United Nations peacekeeping operations was a primary concern of delegates in the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) this morning, when it began its general debate on the comprehensive review of peacekeeping operations.

As many speakers drew attention to the crucial importance of supporting peacekeeping efforts by regional organizations and other alliances, Canada’s representative, speaking on behalf of the CANZ (Canada, Australia and New Zealand) countries, pointed out that the United Nations alone could not manage the sharp increase in existing and planned operations.  The significance of regional organizations and other alliances had been demonstrated by the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET), the Multinational Interim Force (MIF) in Haiti and the African Union’s role in Darfur, among other cases.

Cameroon’s representative emphasized the growing importance of regional organizations in African peacekeeping, particularly the central role of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as well as that of the African Union.  Agreeing with that assessment, the representative of the Netherlands, speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, said that the Union had substantially strengthened its support to African peacekeeping capacities, among other things through the European Union Peace Facility for Africa, which was based on the principle of African ownership and solidarity.  The first mission supported through the Facility was the African Union monitoring mission in Darfur.

But despite such efforts, South Africa’s representative said, the question must be asked whether all Member States were doing their best to meet the increasing challenges and ensure success in peacekeeping missions.  It was widely acknowledged that most of the developing countries were willing to contribute, but lacked the capacity.  On the other hand, the developed world, while having the capacity, lacked the will.  The time had come to bridge that gap through increased partnership.  In that regard, trilateral arrangements involving the United Nations, troop-contributing countries and donor countries should be considered.

Throughout the morning, speakers supported specific mechanisms for more effective deployment to meet the surge in demand for United Nations peacekeeping.  The representative of Morocco, speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), called for a review of the existing level of pre-mandate commitment authority and the replenishment of strategic deployment stocks, which were important tools to ensure the rapid deployment and start-up of new missions.  There was also a need for more specialized civilian police personnel and enhanced cooperation between troop-contributing countries, the Security Council and the Secretariat.

Among other topics discussed this morning were the importance of security for United Nations and associated peacekeeping personnel, the need for zero tolerance of sexual exploitation on the part of those personnel, and the related priority of mainstreaming a gender perspective throughout peacekeeping activities.  Also emphasized was the importance of an integrated, holistic approach to peacekeeping that addressed both the underlying causes of conflicts and post-conflict development.

Other speakers this morning included representatives of Syria, Singapore, Japan, Nigeria, Republic of Korea, Thailand, Mongolia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Norway, Venezuela, Jordan and Switzerland.

The Fourth Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday 27 October, to continue its general debate on the comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects.

Background

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) this morning continued its comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects.  The last time it addressed peacekeeping operations was on 23 June, when it discussed the report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations on its 2004 session (document A/59/19) and approved a draft resolution contained therein.

For a summary of the report, see Press Release GA/SPD/281 of 23 June.  For a summary of yesterday’s briefing to the Committee by Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, see Press Release GA/SPD/297.

SOUAD EL ALAOUI (Morocco), speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), reiterated the Movement’s position that any new peacekeeping operation, or extension of an existing one under Chapter VI of the United Nations Charter should be based on both consent of the parties and the use of force only in self-defence.  Impartiality, clearly defined mandates and secure mandates were all essential to a mission’s success.  Peacekeeping was not, moreover, a substitute for a permanent solution that addressed the underlying causes of a conflict.

Peacekeeping was at a critical juncture with the so-called surge of missions presenting growing challenges, she said.  The NAM called for a review of the existing level of pre-mandate commitment authority and the replenishment of strategic deployment stocks, which were important tolls to ensure the rapid deployment and start-up of new missions.  There was also a need for more specialized civilian police personnel and enhanced cooperation between troop-contributing countries, the Security Council and the Secretariat.

She also emphasized the importance of strengthening support for regional peacekeeping, especially in Africa in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter, while reaffirming the primacy of the United Nations in maintaining peace and security.  In addition, the highest priority must be given to security for peacekeeping personnel.  In the matter of reimbursements for the troop-contributing countries, Member States were urged to pay their assessed contributions in full, on time and without conditions.  The gap between developed and developing countries in troop and equipment contributors must also be addressed.  The NAM was proud to have been represented by its members in almost every operation since 1948, and paid tribute to those men and women who had made the supreme sacrifice in those efforts.

FAYSSAL MEKDAD (Syria), associating himself with the NAM, said peacekeeping operations had enabled the United Nations to accomplish many successes and overcome many challenges.  The Organization was able to confirm, thereby, its centrality as the main international institution for the preservation of international peace and security.  Peacekeeping operations played a vital role in alleviating tensions and enabling an environment of peace building, and despite their complex role, they had confirmed their effectiveness.  Peacekeeping operations had managed to accomplish successes in Sierra Leone, Timor-Leste and other areas.  Despite the continued commitment to peacekeeping operations, they should not be regarded as a permanent solution to conflict, which could be found only by addressing the root causes of a conflict.

He said that the United Nations had started peacekeeping operations half a century ago in the Middle East and maintained them because of Israel’s continued challenges to internationally adopted resolutions.  Syria supported rapid deployments and rapid reimbursements to troop-contributing countries, and stressed that peacekeeping operations should abide by their mandates and the principles of the United Nations Charter.  Placing clear and viable mandates without double standards was important, as was the need to strengthen security procedures and measures to preserve the security of peacekeepers.  A trilateral relationship between the Security Council, General Assembly and troop-contributing countries was also important.

LEONG YUE KHEONG (Singapore) said that the surge in peacekeeping required more resources from Member States, a burden that must be shared.  The limit for such contributions might be fast approaching, especially in specialized staff.  There were also a range of challenges, from the enforcement of the rule of law to the reintegration of ex-combatants.  In addition, the complexity of peacekeeping required sound judgment on a case-by-case basis, as well as the extraction of the correct lessons from previous missions.

Among areas that should be given greater urgency was the increasing danger to peacekeeping personnel, he said.  Singapore welcomed efforts to introduce Joint Mission Analysis Cells.  To complement such efforts on the ground, Headquarters must continue to monitor potential threats to coordination with other agencies.  Secondly, there was a need for police personnel and civilian specialists in future missions and their integration into a cohesive effort that continued from peacekeeping through peace-building.  Thirdly, speedy deployment was important, requiring the building of logistics resources, deployment stocks and pools of experts.  The standby capabilities of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) should be enhanced and seen as a possible model.  Finally, the international community must be prepared to support the long-term course for any of its missions, to give them a chance to succeed.

SHINICHI KITAOKA (Japan) said that in addition to its assessed peacekeeping operations, his country had contributed actively by dispatching troops and personnel or providing financial and material support.  The expansion of peacekeeping operations, particularly in Africa, could not be sustained without further cooperation from Member States, including troop-contributing countries and financially contributing countries.  However, the resources each country was able to provide were not unlimited, and the United Nations should explore further the possibility of implementing more flexible allocation of resources among missions deployed in the same region.  It was also important to review periodically the size of a mission.

Noting that not all missions were accomplishing their objectives, he underscored the crucial importance of effective linkage between ownership and partnership.  Japan strongly supported the activities of African countries, in particular the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), through the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD).  It was essential that the governments and the peoples of a region affected by a conflict establish their ownership in the area of peace and security.  Outside assistance should be designed to raise the level of ownership.  The most appropriate approach was to utilize regional and subregional organizations.  Partnership with country teams on the ground, and the Bretton Woods institutions in peace-building activities should also be enhanced.  Greater use should be made of private sector knowledge in promoting industry in post-conflict regions.

AMINU BASHIR WALI (Nigeria), aligning himself with the NAM, said it was encouraging that peacekeeping operations had been transformed beyond the mere separation of antagonistic warring factions and now encompassed the rule of law, gender mainstreaming, rehabilitation of infrastructure and integration of demobilized troops.  Nigeria was committed to the principle of resolving internal tensions through peaceful means before they degenerated into open conflicts and supported the strengthening of early warning systems for conflict prevention.  As poverty was one of the causes of conflict, the Bretton Woods institutions, in cooperation with United Nations agencies, should be involved in conflict prevention, as well as disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes.

Lasting peace could only be guaranteed within the context of a well-coordinated and executed disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme, and the Secretariat should be given adequate resources in that regard, he said.  The United Nations should enhance the capacity of regional and subregional organizations to enable them to cope effectively with crisis management.  The establishment of the Ad-hoc working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa was an eloquent testimony to the Organization’s determination to strengthen its cooperation with the African Union and other organizations on the continent.  It was encouraging that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had been able to address the complex humanitarian issues in the subregion through the active cooperation and assistance of the United Nations.

The effectiveness of any peacekeeping operation depended largely on the ability of troop-contributing countries to deploy troops rapidly and effectively, he said.  Regrettably, most of those countries were still unable to deploy their troops within recommended periods, as illustrated by the situation in Darfur.  Nigeria urged the DPKO to continue to assist troop contributing countries to accomplish rapid deployment and commended the Department’s efforts to develop an integrated training policy of military, civilian police and civilian components of peacekeeping operations.

LINDA MASO (South Africa) said that peacekeeping continued to be central in the maintenance of international peace and security, but the question must be asked whether all were doing their best to make those efforts succeed.  It was widely acknowledged that most of the developing countries, while willing to contribute, lacked the capacity; the developed world, while having the capacity, lacked the will.  The time had come to bridge that gap through partnerships.  In that regard there was a need to consider trilateral arrangements between the United Nations, troop-contributing countries and donor countries.

He said, moreover, that peacekeeping could not be an end in itself, but a vehicle towards the creation of better conditions for socio-economic development and good governance.  For that reason, an integrated approach was needed that ensured that post-conflict experts and resources were deployed alongside peacekeepers, and that funding was available for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration.

In the interest of mission success, he said his country supported the strengthening of Strategic Deployment Stocks, the review of pre-mandate authorization and integrated mission support, which was particularly important for troop-contributing countries.  Regarding regional organizations, the time might soon come to define in clear terms how such organizations could best be utilized and how they should be supported in such situations as Darfur.

KIM SAM-HOO (Republic of Korea) said the demands for United Nations peacekeeping today exceeded the Organization’s capacity or that of any regional or subregional body.  United Nations peacekeeping operations were rapidly increasing, not only in scale, but also in the complexity of their mandates.  In order to meet those challenges, the Organization’s operational capabilities should be further strengthened through increased resources and improvements in the quality of personnel deployed.  The importance of cooperation between the United Nations and regional arrangements could not be overemphasized.  It was of vital importance in that regard to make the best use of the comparative strengths of the United Nations and regional arrangements in a mutually complementary and reinforcing manner.  The Republic of Korea supported the efforts of the African Union and other subregional arrangements in Africa to enhance their capacity to prevent, manage and resolve conflicts there.

He said that peace-building should be an integral part of peacekeeping mandates.  As the case of Haiti demonstrated, peace could be elusive when not backed by good governance, reconciliation and institutions that ensured the rule of law.  The root causes of conflict should also be addressed.  However, overloading peacekeeping missions with increasingly multidimensional mandates could raise new problems of coordination among diverse actors on the ground.  It would be useful to evaluate how increasingly complex peacekeeping mandates affected operational efficiency.  As the capacity of Member States to provide support for the surging demand for peacekeeping operations was stretched to the limit, the Security Council and the DPKO must engage the major stakeholders in the decision-making process.

KHUNYING LAXANACHANTORN LAOHAPHAN (Thailand) said that the complexity of peacekeeping called for a multidimensional and comprehensive approach that did not end with the resolution of conflict, but also ensured sustainable development and stability.  For that reason there was a need for closer coordination among all the United Nations agencies concerned, as well as with civil society and troop-contributing countries.  Thailand would continue to cooperate closely with the United Nations in humanitarian relief and post-conflict nation-building, and would give due consideration to requests to join future peacekeeping missions that were within its limited resources and capabilities.

The United Nations should explore the possibility of increased cooperation with regional organizations in peacekeeping, she said.  In that regard, besides the example of ECOWAS, the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) had envisaged the creation of a security community by the year 2020.  Thailand also emphasized the need for rapid response and welcomed, in that regard, the strengthening of the standby system, the strategic deployment stocks and the inventory management system, for which financial support was crucial.

CHOISUREN BAATAR (Mongolia) said that given the surge in peacekeeping, its increasing complexity and the need to work toward lasting peace, there was a need to consider measures such as increased cooperation with regional organizations.  Mongolia welcomed in that respect United Nations cooperation with ECOWAS, the European Union, the ASEAN and other such organizations.  The cost-effectiveness of operations should also be enhanced, possibly through paying greater attention to the development of local capabilities.  In addition, the use of pre-trained and equipped units under the command of troop-contributing countries should be considered for the enhancement of standby capacity.

Since the mid-1990s, he said, Mongolia had made measurable progress in developing its peacekeeping capacity through international agreements, the support of bilateral partners and DPKO-organized training programmes, he said.  As its contribution to the development of regional peacekeeping capabilities, the country was establishing a regional training centre that had already hosted an international training event.  Mongolia stood ready to participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

REHMAN NASEER (Pakistan), aligning himself with the NAM, said his country was proud to be the largest contributor of troops to United Nations peacekeeping operations.  Its troops had served in 30 missions and to date, 82 soldiers had made the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of peace.  Nowadays, peacekeeping had become more complex as it increasingly involved a more comprehensive approach, embracing the social, economic, judicial and other aspects.  At the same time, the demand on United Nations peacekeeping was ever-increasing.  To address those two issues, Pakistan had, during its Presidency of the Security Council, organized two separate public debates.  There was a need to improve both integrated mission planning, as well as mission supports.  Enhancement of rapid deployment capabilities was important, as were increased requirements for military and police units with specialized skills.

Noting that his country was a big proponent of a comprehensive, integrated approach with increased coordination between the major organs of the Organization and the Secretariat, he proposed the creation of ad-hoc composite committees, drawing upon the membership of the Council, the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly.  Pakistan also advocated triangular cooperation between the troop-contributing countries, the Security Council and the Secretariat, and urged the Council’s Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations to continue to involve troop-contributing countries.  Pakistan was host to one of the oldest peacekeeping operations, the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), and as the diplomatic climate in South Asia improved, the Mission could play a vital role in promoting confidence-building in the region.

GLYN BERRY (Canada), speaking on behalf of the CANZ countries (Canada, Australia and New Zealand), welcomed the advance mission to the Sudan as a sign that the era of ad-hoc approach to United Nations peacekeeping was over.  However, ongoing problems in Darfur, Haiti and Iraq highlighted the remaining difficult challenges, which could not be managed by the United Nations alone.  The significance of regional and other non-United Nations-Peacekeeping had been shown in that regard by the role of the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) in Timor-Leste, Canada’s role in the Multinational Interim Force (MIF) in Haiti, and the African Union’s role in Darfur.  The CANZ countries called for the strengthening of the Multinational Standby High Readiness Brigade for United Nations Operations (SHIRBRIG), and of hiring mechanisms to rapidly expand the DPKO staff, when needed, in a fully accountable manner.  Cooperation between troop-contributing countries and the Security Council must also continue to be enhanced.

Regarding security, he called for the provision of resources to implement the recommendations of the Secretary-General’s recent report on that issue.  There must also be frank dialogue on matters of security, commitment by Member States, especially those hosting missions, and new legal instruments in that area.  At the same time, personnel must be held to the highest standards of conduct and there must be zero tolerance for sexual exploitation.  In that regard, the CANZ countries supported investigative capacity and legal action on the part of Member States and the mainstreaming of gender issues throughout peacekeeping.

He stressed the importance of an integrated and holistic approach to peacekeeping that was concerned with development, governance and poverty eradication.  In coordinating all actors toward that end, there had been much progress, but much remained to be done in the area of melding together the various components of the United Nations system.  The CANZ countries also welcomed standardized training efforts and adjustment of the remuneration gap between staff officers and military observers.

DIRK JAN VAN DEN BERG (Netherlands), speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, said that as the Union expanded, it was also deepening its integration, especially in the field of the European Security and Defence Policy.  To date, it had conducted military and civilian crisis management operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Georgia.  The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the European Union, regional and subregional organizations had become more important and solid progress had been made in strengthening their partnership with the United Nations.  The European Union-United Nations Joint Declaration on cooperation in crisis management, signed last year, was a first step in translating the Union’s commitment to an effective multilateral system with a strong United Nations at its core into a concrete programme.  Currently, the European Union was working on the development of battle groups to support rapid reaction operations.

The European Union attached the highest priority to strengthening the safety and security of United Nations personnel and recognized the need for an enhanced capacity for security assessment and risk and threat analysis, he said.  The Union would support appropriate improvements, including the allocation of the necessary resources.  It was regrettable that the Joint Mission Analysis Cell model had so far not been fully implemented in peacekeeping operations.  In planning and managing the increasing number of peacekeeping operations, suitable support to the DPKO could be made available from existing regional headquarter staffs, national staffs or composite teams of regional experts.  There should be wider use of
pre-existing headquarters in the initial phase of a peacekeeping operation.

He said that the European Union had substantially strengthened its support to African peacekeeping capacities, among other things through the European Union Peace Facility for Africa, which was based on the principle of African ownership and solidarity.  The first mission supported through the Facility was the African Union monitoring mission for Darfur.  Effective financing for peace-building activities were vital.  Too often, financing for crucial activities, such as the reintegration of ex-combatants, was under-funded.  In that regard, the balance of assessed and voluntary contributions should be examined.  He reiterated the importance of adopting a gender-sensitive approach towards peacekeeping.  Implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security still left a lot to be desired, he said.  There was no systematic integration of a gender perspective into monitoring and reporting, and women were still underrepresented in peacekeeping operations, as well as among Special Representatives of the Secretary-General.

SERIK ZHANIBEKOV (Kazakhstan) said that the entire system of international relations was being tested by, among other things, increased international terrorism, organized crime and armed conflict, as well as threats to the environment and the spread of poverty.  In that situation, United Nations peacekeeping remained an effective instrument in maintaining international peace and security.  Preventive measures as well as peace-building were fundamental elements of an integrated United Nations response to emerging crises.  Kazakhstan was in favour of enhancing the role of preventive diplomacy and felt that establishment of a centre for preventive diplomacy in Central Asia was still relevant.

He said his country supported peacekeeping by regional organizations for a more rapid response to emerging threats.  Given the current situation in the world, issues relating to the safety of peacekeeping personnel were important, as there was a growing threat to civilian peacekeeping personnel.  Kazakhstan welcomed measures taken to expand United Nations reserve arrangements and was prepared to provide personnel, equipment and transportation for a peacekeeping battalion.  There was a need to enhance training cooperation between the DPKO and MemberStates.  In addition, there was now a growing understanding of the role of women in keeping and maintaining peace.  Their participation should be an integral part of peacekeeping operations and post-conflict reconstruction.

WEGGER STRØMMEN (Norway) welcomed the strengthened relations between the United Nations, the European Union and NATO.  In addition, the leadership of the African Union in Darfur was the latest example of the growing importance of regional organizations in peace operations.  Much had been done in the area of coordination and coherence in peacekeeping operations, but there was still scope for better inter-agency planning.  It was vital to maintain a certain humanitarian space within any United Nations operation.  The development aspects of operations deserved special attention and security of United Nations, and associated personnel remained a major concern.  At the same time, the Organization could not succumb to a “bunker mentality”.  Intelligence sharing and analysis were vital as a basis for the provision of security.

He said the main foundations of peace were the disarmament and reintegration of militia members and the reformation of the armed forces, police and the justice sector.  More attention must be directed towards controlling the excessive accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons.  As peace-building became an increasingly dominant aspect of operations, there was a growing need for qualified civilian personnel.  For 10 years, Norway had had a Training for Peace programme for southern Africa, and was willing to offer it to West Africa.  Norway had also set up a crisis response pool to offer assistance to judicial systems in post-conflict countries and countries in transition.

MARTIN CHUNGONG AYAFOR (Cameroon), aligning himself with the NAM, said that given the increasing needs of peacekeeping, Member States must show steady political will and international solidarity.  Developed countries must contribute their share of resources and troops, and troop-contributing countries, the Secretariat and the Security Council must work together on a regular basis to plan, manage and review all operations.  In addition, an integrated approach must be taken in the planning of all operations, encompassing all sectors.

He stressed the importance of training for peacekeeping operations and welcomed the advisory group on training.  Also, rapid deployment was essential in preventing the spread of conflicts; the lessons learned in Liberia must be applied.  Cameroon encouraged the Secretariat to find a solution through bilateral arrangements.  In matters of security, the importance of intelligence and better management of security within the DPKO must be emphasized.  Underscoring the growing importance of regional organizations, such as ECOWAS, in peacekeeping, especially in Africa, he said that they should be supported, and expressed gratitude to the European Union for its efforts in that regard.  Cameroon had provided civilian police, military observers and other personnel, and intended to strengthen its capacity in peacekeeping with the training of francophone police officers and other efforts.

MARCOS FUENMAYOR-CONTRERAS (Venezuela) said that United Nations peacekeeping operations must be an effective tool to implement the provisions of the Charter.  However, they must be strictly in accordance with the principles of consent of the parties, impartiality and the non-use of violence except in self-defence.  Peacekeeping operations must not replace a solution that addressed the root causes of a conflict, which were often related to serious socio-economic problems.  Peace without development would therefore not last.  All peacekeeping operations, including humanitarian interventions, must be in keeping with the principles of international law, including non-interference in internal affairs.  Venezuela favoured humanitarian assistance to Haiti, channelled without political interference.

The Security Council had special responsibility in determining peacekeeping operations, he said, adding that while the right of veto existed, there would be suspicion about whether interventions were undertaken solely in the interest of some nations, or whether those interventions were directed solely at weaker countries.  Until the international community achieved genuine democratization in its decision-making bodies, peacekeeping operations would have problems.

HARON HASSAN (Jordan), aligning himself with the NAM, said that much more could and should be done regarding the rule of law.  Jordan had joined Germany and Finland in elaborating a non-paper with a number of options for the Secretariat to consider.  Ultimately, only a field-oriented rule of law department would prove to be most effective.  Regarding rapid deployment, moving troops and equipment from A to B was often less a function of mere operations than of will and determination.  Too few Member States were doing the heavy lifting, particularly where the United Nations was concerned, and particularly in dangerous missions.  Members of the Security Council should also participate more in peacekeeping operations where personnel were concerned.

He said it was imperative that the United Nations pay careful attention to balancing the need for information, drawn from volatile and dangerous conditions, with the safety concerns of the peacekeepers on the ground providing that information.  Jordan also appealed to all Member States to pay their assessed contributions in full, on time and without conditions, bearing in mind the special responsibility of the permanent members of the Council.  For years, Jordan had been active in demining, and it was now one step away from being mine-free. 

In that regard, there was a continuing need for technical and financial support from donor countries and relevant organizations to achieve that goal.

MARC-ALAIN STRITT (Switzerland) said that in view of the increase in peacekeeping operations, decisions to undertake new missions must be based on serious guarantees that they could be carried out effectively, with well-trained personnel possessing the necessary equipment to fulfil their mandates.  Switzerland was active in the Kosovo multinational force (KFOR), providing military observers, civilian police and experts to several United Nations missions, in addition to being a leading contributor.

He said it was essential to pursue a long-term, integrated strategy in peacekeeping that would include the reconstruction of institutions; the promotion of human rights, justice and the rule of law; mine clearance; disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, and the return of displaced persons; and efforts toward economic recovery.  Such a strategy required close cooperation among all actors, commitment to humanitarian law and intolerance of sexual exploitation.

Recent events in Kosovo, Cote d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo demonstrated the need for further progress in early warning mechanisms involving close cooperation with other international organizations on the ground, he said.  Those events also showed that the local populations were not always well informed about the mission mandates and efforts to improve the dissemination of information were therefore welcome.  Radio Okapi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was co-financed by Switzerland, which was also committed to training and the provision of expertise that would contribute to the increased deployment of military units and observers.

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