SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES GENERAL ASSEMBLY’S APPROVAL OF PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS’

 

RESTRUCTURING, ‘CAREFULLY CRAFTED’ TO PROMOTE EFFECTIVENESS AND OVERSIGHT

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General warmly welcomes the General Assembly’s adoption of resolution 61/279, approving the thrust of his proposals aimed at strengthening the capacity of the Organization to manage and sustain peace operations.

The proposals approved by the General Assembly include a restructuring of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations; the establishment of a separate Department of Field Support, headed by an Under-Secretary-General; a major augmentation of working-level resources in both departments and in other parts of the Secretariat; and new capacities as well as integrated structures to match the growing complexity of mandated activities. 

The approved reform package has been carefully crafted to ensure that the two Departments, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Field Support, will work in harmony, so as to provide unity of command, coherence in policy and strategy and operational efficiency, while promoting the overall effectiveness and oversight of peacekeeping operations.

The Secretary-General is grateful that the General Assembly was able to tackle the daunting task of approving such wide-ranging proposals in a short period of time.  Through this resolution, Member States have reaffirmed the importance they attach to United Nations peacekeeping, and demonstrated their willingness to substantially invest in bolstering the Secretariat’s capacity in this key endeavour. 

The Secretary-General is confident that the Secretariat can now move quickly to make appointments and implement the new arrangements.

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For information media • not an official record