Special Committee on

Peacekeeping Operations

201^st & 202^nd Meetings (AM & PM)

UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL CITES LACK OF SUSTAINED INTERNATIONAL INTEREST AS CRITICAL

TO DIFFICULTIES OF MAINTAINING PEACEKEEPING GAINS MADE IN KEY CONFLICT AREAS

As Special Committee Opens 2008 Session,

Assistant Secretary-General Sees Growing Understanding of Field Support Functions

Despite progress in strengthening United Nations peacekeeping capabilities and management, the international community’s faltering interest and lack of sustained support were making it difficult to maintain peacekeeping gains in key conflict areas, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, told the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations today as it opened its 2008 substantive session.

He said basic capacities for security and order were crucial to lasting peace and social and economic development, but in some countries where international assistance was most needed, the world’s attention was waning.  The efforts of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to support the extension of State authority and political dialogue, as well as security gains in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, would suffer without coherent, strategic engagement.  In Sudan, a lack of key support for the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) -- including critical air and ground transport, diplomatic and political engagement with the parties and cooperation from the host State -– was exacerbating the logistical and operational difficulties the Mission already faced due to the region’s remote and inhospitable terrain.  And the recent temporary relocation of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) from the latter country was seriously challenging the Security Council’s authority.

The Department of Peacekeeping Operations was now managing 20 operations, comprising nearly 130,000 authorized military, police and civilian personnel, he said.  Proposals before the Fifth Committee on peacekeeping reform were extremely important to the success or failure of those operations.  Last month, the Secretary-General had submitted a comprehensive report on United Nations approaches to security sector reform and how the Organization might improve support to national authorities.  Moreover, the Organization had set up a new Office of Military Affairs and upgraded the Military Adviser’s post to the level of Assistant Secretary-General.  It would soon appoint an Under-Secretary-General for the newly created Department of Field Support.

Also addressing the Special Committee, Jane Holl Lute, Assistant Secretary-General for Field Support, shared Mr. Guéhenno’s concerns, saying that, given the growing scope and complexity of the Organization’s peacekeeping operations, as well as the huge challenges faced across the board, it was more important than ever to support peacekeeping mandates.  The peacekeeping budget, which had been less than $2 billion in 2003, could exceed $7 billion in the 2007-2008 period and was more than three times the size of the United Nations annual regular budget.  In addition, there were enormous logistical increases, including those in aircraft fleets, engineering system contracts, deployment of strategic deployment stocks, rations contracts, satellite links and email accounts.  Moreover, some Member States had high expectations that the recently created Department of Field Support would rapidly deploy qualified personnel to the field, as well as provide food, fuel, water, transportation, engineering and medical services.

She said the new Department’s creation reflected the growing realization among Member States that support functions were, in fact, “strategic enablers” and it had led to an increased understanding among Member States of what was required in mounting and supporting peace operations.  As a result, peacekeeping standards and performance had been raised, with the emphasis shifting during the past eight months to focus less on Headquarters and more on meeting field needs, as well as on more effectively incorporating operational requirements into support planning.

Canada’s representative, speaking on behalf of his own country as well as Australia and New Zealand (CANZ), lauded those efforts, saying it was important to develop strategies to ensure that quality police and other personnel were deployed to peacekeeping missions.  The group also supported publication of United Nations Peacekeeping Operations: Principles and Guidelines and the incorporation by all training bodies of United Nations peace operations doctrine into their programmes in order to better protect civilians and peacekeepers.  It also supported the development of policy guidance to bring all military and police officers under the security arrangements of the Department of Safety and Security.

Mexico’s representative, speaking on behalf of the Rio Group, supported the Peacekeeping Department’s realignment and the creation of the Field Support Department as part of the Organization’s peacekeeping reform process, but expressed regret that the reform had not been fully implemented.  There was a need for measures to guarantee unity of command, promote integrated activities and strengthen operational capacity.  However, the Rio Group lauded the comprehensive new strategy to help victims of sexual exploitation at the hands of United Nations staff and related personnel, and stressed the need to impose a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual abuse and to put resolution 61/291 into practice without further delay.

Morocco’s representative, speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, reiterated that peacekeeping operations should strictly observe the principles of the United Nations Charter, as well as those concerning consent of the parties, non-use of force except in self-defence and impartiality.  Peacekeeping operations must also uphold the principles of respect for the sovereign equality, political independence and territorial integrity of States and that of non-intervention in domestic matters.  The Non-Aligned Movement also called for proper representation of the troop-contributing countries in the Peacekeeping and Field Support Departments, including in managerial posts.

Slovenia’s representative, speaking on behalf of the European Union, expressed concern over the persistent threats to United Nations peacekeeping personnel.  Recent incidents were especially disturbing, as they involved new kinds of risks, including targeted attacks against peacekeepers, such as those against UNAMID, and terrorist attacks on staff of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).  The European Union also condemned the tactic by some parties of placing themselves close to United Nations field positions in order to exploit their immunity, thus putting the safety and security of peacekeepers at great risk, as well as attempts to confiscate mission equipment.  Such acts seriously undermined the credibility of United Nations operations.

At the outset of the meeting, the Special Committee nominated members of its Bureau, electing, by acclamation, Felix Ani Aniokoye (Nigeria) to serve as Chairperson; Diego Limeres (Argentina), Henri-Paul Normandin (Canada), Akio Miyajima (Japan) and Zbigniew Szlek (Poland) as Vice Chairpersons; and Amr El‑Sherbini (Egypt) as Rapporteur.

The Special Committee also adopted its agenda and approved its programme of work for the session.  It also decided to set up an open-ended working group to consider the substance of the mandate entrusted to it by the General Assembly, appointing Mr. Normandin as its Chairperson.

Other speakers today were the representatives of Nigeria, Egypt, Japan, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Switzerland, Jamaica, Algeria, Philippines, Qatar, El Salvador, Brazil, Norway, Republic of Korea, Cuba, Viet Nam and Albania.

The Special Committee will meet again at 10 a.m., Tuesday 11 March, to continue its general debate.

Background

The Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations met this morning to begin its 2008 substantive session.

Statements

JEAN-MARIE GUÉHENNO, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, said his Department was managing 20 peace operations, comprising nearly 130,000 authorized military, police and civilian personnel.  In the past four years, it had deployed or expanded 11 missions, with 2 having started in the past six months alone.  The 2007-2008 budget for Department-led operations was $6.65 billion.  In several missions, the prospects for peace were improving and there was hope for stability.  The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) continued to help the Government maintain stability and security, enabling it to focus on national recovery and reconstruction.  The United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) provided technical support to the National Electoral Commission and the Political Parties Registration Commission, which had played a pivotal role in the successful 11 August 2007 presidential and parliamentary elections.

He said the March 2007 signing of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement had generated momentum for peace, while the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) had played a critical role in ensuring that key processes leading to upcoming elections in that country were conducted transparently, inclusively and in accordance with international standards.  In Timor-Leste, national resilience and the constitutional order had prevailed following the attempted assassination of the President and Prime Minister.  The United Nations continued to work closely with the country’s institutions to strengthen their capacities to implement the rule of law.

Despite such progress, two major risks threatened implementation of peacekeeping mandates, he cautioned.  The first was the lack of clarity as to the existence of the minimum conditions essential to the success of peacekeeping operations.  Those minimum conditions included a peace to keep and a viable peace process; clear, credible and achievable mandates; cohesive political support from Member States, especially Security Council members and neighbouring States; resources and capabilities to undertake mandated tasks; and the consent and cooperation of the host State and key parties to conflict.  In Sudan, the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) was not fully equipped to carry out its mandate due to logistical and operational difficulties inherent in large-scale deployments to remote, inhospitable terrain.  However, a lack of key support for UNAMID, including critical air and ground transport, diplomatic and political engagement with the parties and cooperation from the host State, exacerbated such difficulties.  In addition, the recent temporary relocation of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) from the latter country was a serious challenge to the Security Council’s authority.

He said the second risk was that peacekeeping gains could be lost and conflict could return if peacebuilding efforts floundered.  Basic capacities for security and order were crucial to social and economic development.  However, in some countries where international assistance was needed most, the world’s attention was waning.  In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for example, security gains must be strengthened through sustained international engagement in order to anchor peace and development.  Elsewhere, the efforts of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to support the extension of State authority and political dialogue would suffer without coherent, strategic engagement.  Yet, the support that the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) lent to national authorities had brought security to areas previously off-limits to the State and allowed progress in other areas critical to consolidating peace, such as strategies to strengthen rule-of-law institutions.  The international community must follow through on its commitment to Haiti.

Turning to the restructuring of peacekeeping capacities at Headquarters, he said a decision was expected soon on the selection of the next Under-Secretary-General for the Department of Field Support, adding that it was essential that Headquarters provide integrated support to UNAMID.  The first Integrated Operational Team, focusing on Darfur, had been put in place last October and had since become an effective tool to support the Mission there, resolve operational issues at the working level and give advice to senior management, including in such as areas as budget development.  The Peacekeeping Best Practices Section was conducting a real-time evaluation of the Integrated Operational Team in Darfur, and would continue to incorporate lessons learned from evaluations in the other five teams to be completed by the end of May.  The Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions had also been established and there had been good progress in creating coordinated and balanced strategies and plans to support field missions.

Last month, the Secretary-General had submitted a comprehensive report on United Nations approaches to security-sector reform and how the Organization might improve support to national authorities, he recalled.  The report noted that security was primarily the responsibility of national authorities and that the United Nations engagement would only be at their request or on the basis of Security Council and General Assembly mandates.  It also noted that the Organization’s contribution in real terms was limited to articulating the principles for transparent, accountable and effective security-sector reform.  The United Nations could also support post-conflict efforts, including by helping national actors to restore security, identify needs and chart reform.

United Nations police deployment continued to grow exponentially, he said.  In real terms, the number of authorized police officers had risen from 8,315 in January 2006 to 16,900 in January 2008, with deployments in Darfur and Chad significantly boosting the demand.  The Standing Police Capacity, developed by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, in close cooperation with the Special Committee, had undertaken its first deployment to Chad late last year.  The operational benefits of that rapid deployment capability were clear, with the early development of training programmes for the Police tchadienne pour la protection humanitaire (PTPH), a detailed portfolio of police projects and engagement with donors.  Next week, the Police Adviser would lead an assessment team, including the Standing Police Capacity, to Timor-Leste.  A comprehensive report on initial Standing Police Capacity activities and key organizational issues would be prepared by a panel of experts, including Member States, in mid 2008.  Plans were also under way to redeploy the Standing Police Capacity to the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in early 2009.

He said United Nations policing had increased in size and complexity over the past few years.  The Police Division had grown less than 20 per cent.  In real terms, the Headquarters to field ratio was 1 to 600, and the Organization was increasingly challenged to meet new demands.  It might be necessary to review what was needed to meet the scale of demand.  Other key restructuring elements included the creation of the Office of Military Affairs and the upgrading of the Military Adviser post to Assistant Secretary-General.  The selection of the new Military Adviser would be announced within the coming weeks.  A comprehensive analysis of the Office of Military Affairs, taking into account the experience of the Strategic Military Cell, strongly recommended a strengthened military headquarters in the Secretariat to effectively address the challenges of twenty-first century peacekeeping.  The strengthened Office of Military Affairs would provide strengthened strategic direction and oversight from Headquarters, specialist and crisis response capacities and mission start-up and surge capability.

Turning to progress in implementing the key components of the peacekeeping reform agenda, Peace Operations 2010, he said proposals before the Fifth Committee were extremely important to the success or failure of United Nations peacekeeping.  The Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support had developed, in close consultation with the Departments of Safety and Security and Political Affairs, police guidance outlining the particular arrangements of the United Nations Security Management System specific to military and police officers deployed in the field in an individual capacity, and thus not covered by security arrangements for contingents.  Since January 2007, the Organization had lost 116 peacekeepers, including 10 who had died in a helicopter crash in Nepal a week ago.

The Integrated Training Service had developed a Peacekeeping Training Strategy with four components, he continued.  The Service would operate at the strategic level, setting standards, developing policies and providing oversight and guidance.  It would only address priority needs that cut across functions or affected large areas of peacekeeping.  Substantive or technical training would be decentralized to specialist trainers in the Peacekeeping and Field Support Departments, while peacekeeping training would be linked to doctrine to ensure it was coherent, relevant and linked to lessons learned.  There had also been important strides in improving peacekeepers’ ability to work with humanitarian and development partners providing critical support in consolidating long-term peace.  Within its integrated missions, the Department was working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to clarify roles, develop policies and implement joint programmes in such areas as disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, rule of law and protection of civilians.

In the past few years, the United Nations had also tried to tackle comprehensively and decisively misconduct, with considerable efforts in the last 12 months to prevent and address that issue, he said, noting that incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse had dropped last year.  The Secretariat and Member States must continue to exercise constant vigilance to ensure that troops and police understood fully the behaviour expected of them as United Nations peacekeepers, that commanders ensured good conduct and that appropriate disciplinary or criminal action was taken against perpetrators after repatriation.  In the coming years, the United Nations would focus in particular on addressing gender issues in security-sector reform, in electoral processes and in efforts to support national capacities to address gender-based violence.  In the past year, there had been a 60 per cent increase in the number of women appointed to key peacekeeping leadership functions, among them the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Liberia and the Deputy Special Representatives of the Secretary-General in Burundi and Sudan.

JANE HOLL LUTE, Assistant Secretary-General for Field Support, noted that the peacekeeping budget had been under $2 billion in 2003, but could exceed $7 billion in the coming period.  The Department of Field Support was supporting the establishment and expansion of five new missions in the past one and a half years alone.  Its portfolio involved 27,000 authorized civilian posts and more than $20 billion in missions led by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.  In addition, the Field Support Department currently supported 2,356 posts and $242 million in special political missions led by the Department of Political Affairs.  The annual peacekeeping budget was now more than three times the size of the United Nations annual regular budget.  Logistical increases, including in aircraft fleets, engineering system contracts, deployment of strategic deployment stocks, rations contracts, satellite links and email accounts, were also enormous.

She said that, given the simultaneity and high tempo of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as well as the huge challenges faced across the board, support issues were ever more important for the successful implementation of peacekeeping mandates.  The Department of Field Support had been established with the core tasks of mounting and sustaining peace operations in the field by providing expert and responsive field support capabilities and resources in the areas of personnel, budget and finance, information and communications technology, and logistics.  Some Member States had high expectations of the Department regarding the rapid deployment of qualified personnel to the field, timely provision of food, fuel, water, transportation, engineering and medical services, and the rapid establishment of continuous voice and data connectivity.

The restructuring process was taking place as new missions were starting up, including in Darfur, Chad and the Central African Republic, she said.  Since its establishment on 1 July 2007, the Field Support Department and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations had worked as seamlessly and effectively as possible to support field missions and implement the restructuring.  The establishment of the new Department reflected the growing realization among Member States that support functions were “strategic enablers”.  Indeed, the Department’s creation had elevated the profile of support functions and raised the level of engagement with Member States on the issues, resulting in their increased awareness and understanding of the undertaking required to mount and support peace operations.

In consequence, standards and performance had been raised, she said.  Over the past eight months, the emphasis had changed from a focus on Headquarters to meeting field needs.  As a result, there was already an improved operational integration of support issues and a better incorporation of operational requirements in support planning; for example, expeditious personnel recruitments, timely provision of hard-wall accommodation, timely claim reimbursements and an increase in the number of women performing key leadership functions.  Initiatives had been developed at Headquarters and in the field to ensure that the operational support provided was what missions needed.  Among the challenges were persistently high vacancy and turnover rates, inexperienced staff and poor retention rates, increased competition for international staff and failure to develop career peacekeeping staff, and inflexible and unresponsive United Nations rules and processes hindering rapid deployment requirements.

Several reform proposals had been introduced to counter those and other challenges, she noted, citing a proposal to streamline contractual arrangements under a single series of staff rules that would vary by length of service.  Other personnel improvements involved, among other things, ongoing work on a comprehensive human-resource support concept, which would define the principle guiding decisions on the sources to be used in obtaining services for peace operations and enable a strategic workforce and succession planning.  In the coming months, a working group would take up issues of nationalization of functions, individual contractors, daily paid workers and national professional officers.  Other issues involved welfare and recreation, conduct and discipline, procurement, information and communications technology, financial risk management, and relocation in the context of the Capital Master Plan.

SANJA ŠTIGLIC (Slovenia), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said the regional body was stepping up its long-standing support to tackle many current crises worldwide, the latest example of which was its commitment to achieving peace and security in eastern Chad and north-eastern Central African Republic.  The European Union operation would involve a high degree of coordination with UNAMID and the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT).

Complementary to the military dimension of the European security and defence policy, she said, was the European Union’s current deployment and planning of several civilian and civil-military missions in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Guinea-Bissau.  It was also stepping up its commitment to preventing and resolving crises through the common implementation of a new partnership for peace and security, agreed last December during the European Union-Africa Lisbon Summit.  Instruments such as the European Development Fund and the Instrument for Stability were also enhancing cooperation in such areas as elections and law.

Reviewing important events since the Special Committee’s last session, she said the European Union viewed the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations Principles and Guidelines as a “living document” that all Member States should have the opportunity to update in the future.  In parallel with the need to strengthen the United Nations system’s capacity to react in a timely and effective manner to the outbreak of crises was the need to enhance its ability to deal with tensions and insecurity as early as possible, so as to prevent outbreaks of violence and address the structural causes of conflict.  It was also important to ensure that violent conflicts did not re-emerge in the post-conflict phase.  Peacekeeping operations should go hand in hand with peacebuilding assistance, development aid and conflict prevention as the “modern” United Nations response to global security challenges.

The European Union was deeply concerned over persistent threats to United Nations peacekeeping personnel, she said.  Recent incidents were especially disturbing, as they involved new kinds of risks -– targeted attacks against peacekeepers, such as those against UNAMID, and terrorist attacks on staff of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).  The European Union condemned, in the strongest terms, all terrorist attacks, such as the one in Algiers on 11 December 2007, and stressed that perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of such acts must be brought to justice.  New technologies should be applied; for example, jamming devices could jam, at least partially, improvised explosive devices recently used against peacekeeping personnel.

She also condemned the tactic by some parties of placing themselves close to United Nations field positions in order to exploit their immunity, thus putting the safety and security of peacekeepers at great risk.  Hostage-taking, or any other criminal acts against the Organization’s peacekeepers, was totally unacceptable.  The legal aspects of such acts should be examined in order to determine what legal measures could be taken to prevent them and punish those who committed them.  The European Union also strongly condemned actions aimed at imposing restrictions on the free movement and performance of mandated tasks by peacekeeping personnel.  In particular, any attempt to confiscate a mission’s equipment was totally unacceptable.  The European Union expressed its deepest concern at recent cases whereby peacekeepers had been subjected to humiliating actions by a host Government, not only putting their safety and security at risk, but also seriously undermining the credibility of United Nations peacekeeping operations.

The European Union supported voluntary HIV/AIDS testing and counselling as part of predeployment training, she said.  It also supported the Secretariat’s enhanced rapidly deployable capacities initiative and enhanced practical cooperation in the planning and conduct of operations, including through sustained consultations with troop- and police-contributing countries.  The European Union also sought women’s full participation in conflict prevention and resolution.  In addition, late 2007 had seen the establishment, with strong European Union support, of the Standing Police Capacity, and she looked forward to its further development and early relocation to the United Nations Logistic Base at Brindisi.  The European Union strongly recommended more expeditious senior staff appointments, especially in light of the new demands that multidimensional peacekeeping had placed on the United Nations to provide civilian capabilities.

SAADIA EL ALAOUI (Morocco), speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, reiterated that peacekeeping operations should strictly observe Charter principles, as well as those concerning consent of the parties, non-use of force except in self-defence and impartiality.  Those principles had guided peacekeeping operations for the last five decades without controversy.  It was also necessary to uphold the principles of respect for the sovereign equality, political independence and territorial integrity of States and that of non-intervention in domestic matters.

Regarding safety and security, she said she was critically concerned about difficult deployment zones, reiterating that the best assurance against risk was a well-planned mission.  The Non-Aligned Movement supported a revision of the policy on involvement by Member States in boards of inquiry with access to United Nations staff.  Relying on private companies for headquarters security could jeopardize personnel and there should be an increase in the levels of authorized troops.

While the Non-Aligned Movement supported enhancing cooperation among troop- contributing countries, the Security Council and the Secretariat, the role of regional arrangements should not substitute that of the United Nations, she said.  Troop misconduct was unacceptable and due process must always be observed during investigations.  Morocco had participated in developing the General Assembly resolution on the question of assistance to victims of sexual exploitation.

On the issue of doctrine, she emphasized that consistency in the use of agreed terminology should be restored and maintained.  The Non-Aligned Movement acknowledged the Peacekeeping Department’s efforts to undertake consultations before issuing its internal document on principles and guidelines, and while several of the group’s comments had been taken into account, the document still contained ambiguities.  Regarding security sector reform, she stressed the importance of linkages with disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes.  In addition, the report contained in document A/62/659 raised serious concerns as it focused less on security sector reform than on a general concept of security, and sought to extend the scope of reform beyond peacekeeping.  There was no justification for such a global mandate.

Turning to restructuring, she called for a proper representation of the troop-contributing countries in the Peacekeeping and Field Support Departments, including at the managerial level, and requested that the terms of reference for the Integrated Operational Teams be made available to the Special Committee.  The Non-Aligned Movement had supported the strengthening of the Military and Police Divisions, and remained engaged to review that requirement.  Concerned at the outstanding reimbursements owed to troop-contributing countries, the Non-Aligned Movement reiterated that all States must pay their assessed contributions in full.

CLAUDE HELLER (Mexico), speaking on behalf of the Rio Group, recalled that the General Assembly had adopted resolutions outlining the realignment of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the creation of the Department of Field Support.  While the Rio Group had supported that reform process, it regretted that it had not been fully implemented and reiterated the need for measures to guarantee unity of command, promote integrated activities and strengthen operational capacity.  Hopefully, results would soon be seen.

He said the Rio Group was pleased that a comprehensive strategy on assistance to victims of sexual exploitation by United Nations staff and related personnel had been adopted, which was a significant achievement.  The Rio Group reaffirmed its commitment to the zero-tolerance policy and reiterated the need to put resolution 61/291 into practice without further delay.  The Rio Group also reaffirmed its support for MINUSTAH and called on States to strengthen their commitment to that operation.

Regarding the document on doctrine and principles, he reaffirmed that the General Assembly was the highest-level intergovernmental mechanism for policy formulation.  Security sector reform should be considered part of the Organization’s institutional framework on the rule of law.  Reimbursements to troop-contributing countries should be done quickly, as some countries still had not been reimbursed.  Practical modalities should be found to address that issue.  In addition, the Rio Group supported the formulation of a training strategy to help in the effective preparation of military, police and civilian peacekeeping personnel.  A review of training programmes should be a priority and it should allow for participation by Member States.  There was also a need to translate peacekeeping publications into Spanish and Portuguese.

JOHN ONUOHA ( Nigeria), associating himself with the statement of the Non-Aligned Movement, said his country ranked among the four largest troop and police contributors.  Nigeria had troops, police and civilians deployed in 14 of the 18 peacekeeping operations in Africa, the Caribbean, Asia and Europe.  To sustain a just peace, experience had shown it was important to address the root causes of conflict in a holistic manner.  As peacekeeping operations had become more complex, there was a need for flexible and cost-effective approaches.

The safety of peacekeepers and civilian personnel should be of utmost priority, he stressed.  Along with measures to mitigate risks, reliable intelligence was a sine qua non to stopping potential threats, and Nigeria looked forward to implementing the recommendations on surveillance technologies.  Regarding security sector reform, discussions should concentrate on providing extensive information on lessons learned.  The Office of Military Affairs was central to the management of field missions, and both the upgrading of the Military Adviser to Assistant-Secretary-General and the proposal to restructure the Office by strengthening its leadership were to be commended.

Noting that the number of misconduct cases among peacekeeping personnel had fallen minimally, he said the draft model memorandum of understanding negotiated last year was now being used as the basis for status of forces agreements with troop-contributing countries.  The establishment of 16 out of 18 “conduct and discipline” missions was a “happy development”.

On restructuring the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, he said he was impressed with the proposal to deploy full-time Integrated Operational Teams, adding that lessons learned from the Team in Darfur should serve as a guide.  However, the underrepresentation of many developing countries in senior management was of utmost concern and the lopsided staff structure must be reviewed with the goal of recruiting competent people from troop-contributing countries for top positions.  Nigeria welcomed the continuing cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union.

MAGED ABDEL AZIZ ( Egypt) stressed the importance of respecting the principles and objectives of the United Nations Charter and of maintaining the guiding principles governing the Organization in peacekeeping, including consent of the parties before deployment, impartiality and the non-use of force except in self-defence.  Egypt rejected repeated attempts to bypass or change the guiding principles, but stressed the importance of clear Security Council mandates and the need to guarantee adequate financial and logistical support for peacekeeping operations during deployment.

He expressed support for efforts to reform United Nations peacekeeping, including the creation of the Department of Field Support, as well as efforts to strengthen the Military Division so it could better address current needs.  In light of the defective and confused way in which the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Field Support had addressed some recent urgent situations, there was a need for greater coordination, taking into account the safety and security of peacekeeping troops and civilian personnel in the field, given the increasing risks in some areas.

There was a need for more consultations between the Security Council and troop‑contributing countries when new peacekeeping operations were established and when the mandates of existing ones were reviewed, he said.  Egypt called for close cooperation among United Nations agencies involved in finance and development, related Secretariat departments and the Peacebuilding Commission to ensure the smooth transition from peacekeeping to peacebuilding.  It was also important to uphold accountability, discipline and a high degree of commitment in the field, including through zero tolerance towards perpetrators of sexual exploitation and abuse.

Expressing regret that the General Assembly had not yet addressed many procurement issues, he said a comprehensive approach and a high degree of transparency were needed.  Long-term and expensive contracts had been given in recent months without competitive bidding and without following the correct substantive rules and regulations.

He welcomed United Nations efforts to consolidate regional peacekeeping activities in Africa, stressing the importance of reinforcing regional peacekeeping capacities and implementing, in cooperation with the African Union, the 10-year plan for capacity-building in Africa.  Egypt supported ongoing efforts to deploy UNAMID.  Such cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union should be strictly in line with Council resolution 1769 (2007), which called for preserving the African character of the Mission.

JACQUES MORNEAU (Canada), speaking on behalf of his own country as well as Australia and New Zealand (CANZ), said the General Assembly had approved “considerable” new resources for strengthening the Organization’s capacity to manage peace operations and urged the Secretary-General to fill all new posts, notably that of Under-Secretary-General for Field Support.  While waiting to hear more about the Secretary-General’s proposal for strengthening the Office of Military Affairs, CANZ welcomed the publication of UN Peacekeeping Operations: Principles and Guidelines, which would be useful in conducting peace operations, and looked forward to the publication of subordinate doctrines.

Turning to training, he said the development of guidance for protecting civilians and peacekeepers was needed, and he strongly encouraged all training bodies to incorporate United Nations peace operations doctrine into their programmes.  On security sector reform, CANZ supported the establishment of an inter-agency support unit within the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.  As for the responsibility to protect, it was crucial to implement that concept further.  CANZ also welcomed the development of policy guidance to bring all military and police officers under the security arrangements of the Department of Safety and Security.

On strengthening operational capacity, he welcomed efforts to develop strategies to ensure that quality police and other personnel were deployed to United Nations missions.  CANZ was pleased with the establishment of the United Nations Standing Police Capacity and encouraged the formation of an informal working group to investigate options for addressing rule of law start-up capacities, including costs.

He said the lack of a rapid response capacity was a major risk, and CANZ looked forward to the update briefing to the Special Committee.  The group welcomed the establishment of the Integrated Operational Team for UNAMID.  There had been progress in eliminating sexual exploitation and abuse, including the adoption of a victim assistance strategy, and CANZ commended the Secretary-General’s efforts to increase the number of women serving in United Nations peace operations.

TAKAHIRO SHINYO ( Japan), highlighting Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda’s initiative to advance Japan’s role as a peace-fostering nation, said his country was seeking additional ways to enhance its personnel contribution to United Nations peacekeeping operations and renewing its commitment to the evolution of that “noble activity”.  Having been assigned more complex tasks, the Organization had launched, last year alone, UNAMID and MINURCAT, which posed a formidable resource challenge.  One measure taken to cope with that challenge had been the large-scale realignment of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the creation of the Department of Field Support.  A smooth transition to the new configuration was imperative in order to achieve realignment goals.

Japan would continue closely to monitor those Departments’ operations and to listen carefully to the rationale for the proposed restructuring of the Military Affairs Office, he said.  The difficult situations surrounding United Nations operations posed serious challenges for the safety of each mission.  In that light, safety standards for the use of commercial contracted aviation should be carefully reviewed.  Japan was also concerned about the imbalance in geographical representation with respect to the recruitment of civilian staff.  That should be improved.

To successfully complete peacekeeping missions, host nations must acquire the capability to sustain peace, he said, stressing also the importance of security sector reform in rebuilding reliable security institutions.  Japan called for the creation of integrated guidelines in support of security sector reform so as to maximize existing capabilities.  Japan also commended efforts to formulate the long needed “Capstone Doctrine”, which should be subject to periodic review, and reiterated the importance of meaningful interaction among troop-contributing countries, other stakeholders and the Security Council.

MÓNICA BOLAÑOS-PÉREZ ( Guatemala) said that, in recent years, peacekeeping operations had increased in scope, complexity and size, acquiring greater relevance in post-conflict situations and peacebuilding.  New and constant difficulties continued to illustrate the need for greater efficiency in peacekeeping.  The restructuring of the Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support, as well as broader reforms, must be immediate.  It was important to designate an Under-Secretary-General for the latter department as soon as possible, and crucial to include an effective integration and coordination approach to peace and security.  Recent incidents showed the insecure situation in which many missions were functioning.  Security on the ground must be made a priority and host Governments must respect the fundamental principles of peacekeeping operations.

She called for greater efforts to review field systems and to develop collection and analysis mechanisms, early warning systems and reliable gathering of data and intelligence in real time.  Guatemala supported capacity-building to strengthen national institutions in the security sector.  Human security was an inherent part of the process.  While national Governments were primarily responsible for keeping the peace, it was important to achieve the greatest possible integration of United Nations system capacities in the field.  The Peacebuilding Commission provided an appropriate environment for reforming the security sector in a broad way and its perspectives must be incorporated into security sector reform.  Guatemala strongly supported United Nations peacekeeping and was contributing troops to the operations in Haiti and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

BYRGANYM AITIMOVA ( Kazakhstan) said her country fully supported the peacekeeping reform agenda and the Secretary-General’s efforts to enhance the effectiveness of the United Nations Secretariat and improve peacekeeping operations.  The recent crises in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the current situations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Darfur, as well as the challenging environments in Kosovo and Lebanon had proven conclusively the imperative need to strengthen the authority of the United Nations and its Security Council.  Kazakhstan fully shared the view that the Organization’s peacekeeping capacity should be further improved, and based strictly on the Charter and other basic conditions of peacekeeping, particularly consent of the parties involved and non-use of force, except in self-defence.  In that context, Kazakhstan commended efforts to develop the “Capstone Doctrine”, which provided important guidance for broader understanding of United Nations peacekeeping activities and their complexity.

Expressing support for closer partnerships between the United Nations and regional arrangements and other intergovernmental organizations, she said it was of great importance to establish closer cooperation with regional organizations possessing real capacity to prevent conflict and maintain peace, and to set up regional centres to train international peacekeepers.  For that reason, the Peacekeeping and Field Support Departments should continue to develop coherent operational strategies and early, integrated mission planning in close cooperation with other relevant actors within and outside the United Nations system.  Due attention should also be paid to the potential of new participants in standby arrangements, in procurement for peacekeeping missions and in creating conditions for their increased involvement in finding and engaging potential troop contributors.

PETER MAURER ( Switzerland) said the need for reciprocal strengthening of competencies among United Nations bodies was at the heart of both the Secretary-General’s report and the Capstone document.  Switzerland commended the establishment of focal points within several bodies for the planning of new peacekeeping missions.  Sustained dialogue between States and the Secretariat must be established for the sake of greater effectiveness in both the predeployment and operational implementation phases.  The Special Committee had a vital role to play in that regard as it was the only intergovernmental forum open to a wider circle of States.  Regarding sexual exploitation by United Nations and affiliated personnel, progress had been made with the 2007 adoption of a global strategy to support victims.

He questioned whether the Special Committee’s present structure was the best way for it to fulfil its mandate.  The same could be asked about the overall structure of future reports and of the way in which recommendations were considered by the General Assembly and implemented by the Secretariat.  Switzerland fully supported the restructuring of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the creation of the Department of Field Support, and particularly welcomed the establishment of Integrated Operational Teams.  In that context, the swift appointment of qualified staff to key posts was crucial for the credibility of efforts being made.  Switzerland also welcomed the recruitment of more women to leadership roles.

RAYMOND WOLFE ( Jamaica) said the international community’s support was central to the success of United Nations peacekeeping missions worldwide, and it was lost when peacekeepers conducted themselves in an unprofessional manner, without care or concern for local laws, norms, customs or traditions.  Such peacekeepers tarnished the Organization’s reputation.  Jamaica had a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation and abuse, and supported ongoing initiatives to eradicate such behaviour, as well as initiatives to combat prostitution and transactional sex in United Nations peacekeeping missions.

The complex nature of the two new peacekeeping missions in Darfur and in Chad/Central African Republic illustrated that a joint, coordinated effort was needed to achieve success, he said.  It was crucial to provide the necessary equipment, housing and other facilities necessary for day-to-day activities.  The support and full cooperation of the host countries was also necessary.

Peacekeeping should not be a substitute for addressing the root causes of conflict, he stressed.  Further assistance was needed from other United Nations entities, such as the Peacebuilding Commission, to ensure sustained and lasting peace in countries emerging from conflict.  Jamaica commended United Nations initiatives to increase the number of women serving in peacekeeping operations, who must be supported by all troop- and police-contributing countries.  The Secretariat should ensure timely implementation of the zero-tolerance strategy to end sexual abuse and exploitation suffered at the hands of peacekeepers, and Member States should fully support early implementation of that strategy.

MOHAMED SOFIANE BERRAH (Algeria), associating himself with the statement of the Non-Aligned Movement, said the Special Committee’s work was taking place in the context of reform, which entailed a reworking of its normative texts.  In the rewriting of norms, it was important that the Secretariat not impose a certain “technocracy” on States.

Turning to the Secretariat’s strategy for security sector reform, he said document A/62/659 presented a global approach, but the main task was to show various approaches by United Nations entities, whereas the document deviated considerably from that path.  It was, perhaps, too ambitious.  The range of needs and strategy it tried to cover was striking, and such an approach was not realistic.  It was in that context that the Capstone Doctrine had been applied.  It was important to strengthen peacekeeping missions, notably by giving them clear mandates and ensuring coordinated action.

He emphasized that the three fundamental principles of preliminary agreement of the parties, non-use of force except in self-defence and impartiality must not be redefined, while the emerging doctrine should be updated consistently.  To prevent sexual abuse and exploitation, the Secretariat had established measures based on prevention, sanction and intervention.  In December, the General Assembly had adopted a global strategy to assist victims.  That “happy development” was the fruit of efforts initiated by the Working Group for the Aid and Support of Victims of Exploitation and Sexual abuse, and Algeria congratulated the Permanent Representative of Costa Rica for his laudable efforts in that regard.

On restructuring the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, he said such an exercise offered the Secretariat serious possibilities for reinforcing its activities, particularly in maintaining unity of command.  However, the peacekeeping structure did not reflect teamwork or consistency in its analysis of and approach to its work.  It was important to surmount such questions, as the security of peacekeepers depended on it.

HILARIO G. DAVIDE, JR. (Philippines), associating himself with the statement of the Non-Aligned Movement, called upon the Secretariat to give consideration to troop-contributing countries in recruitment and selection, particularly in cases of military officers who would be seconded to the Secretariat.  Officers from the Philippines had never had the opportunity to serve at United Nations Headquarters, particularly with the Office of Military Affairs.

Noting the extensive experience of the United Nations in supporting security sector reform, he said the process should respect the ways in which its goals and objectives were addressed by national actors.  The Organization should continue to support national actors, particularly in post-conflict scenarios, so they could make informed security choices favourable to long-term development, sustainable peace and democratic governance.  The Philippines looked forward to the continued successful implementation of the Peacekeeping Department’s new evaluation capacity, which would provide a much-needed mechanism for assessing the relevance of guidance materials in their daily application.  In addition, the Department’s training division should strengthen the linkages between best practices and guidance systems, on the one hand, and evaluation and training, on the other.

He underscored, once again, the serious importance his country placed on the issue of sexual exploitation and abuse and, at home, would continue taking steps to reinforce the zero tolerance policy, including through a more rigid pre-screening and predeployment process for Filipino peacekeepers.  The Philippines also underlined the importance of the safety and security.  More than four months after the death of Lieutenant Colonel Renerio Batalla of the Philippines, minutes after his helicopter evacuation from Rumbek, Sudan, unanswered questions remained.

NASSIR ABDULAZIZ AL-NASSER (Qatar), associating himself with the statement of the Non-Alignment Movement, said the guidelines of United Nations peacekeeping operations promoted the principle of collective security through multilateralism.  It was crucial for peacekeeping operations to take into account Charter principles, as well as those concerning the sovereignty of States, non-interference in internal affairs and the non-distortion of mandates.

Peacekeeping operations could not be substitute for addressing the root causes of conflict, he said, adding that it was imperative to take into account the importance of consulting the host country.  There was also a need to shore up the readiness of the United Nations to meet the security challenges facing its missions.  Rebel attacks against peacekeepers were among the most significant risks, as highlighted by an attack carried out by rebels in Haskanita, Sudan, last year.  Security Council resolution 1353 (2001) must be implemented effectively with a view to enhancing coordination between the Council and troop-contributing countries.

He said there was a shortcoming in resorting to Chapter VIII of the Charter, which related to cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations.  The Security Council had failed to authorize joint peacekeeping operations under Chapter VIII, knowing that the African Union had had successful experiences in maintaining peace within such a framework.  It was important for peacekeepers to fully respect codes of conduct and for Governments to hold them legally accountable when violations occurred.

JOSE ERNESTO ESTRADA ( El Salvador) supported the operational and logistical reform of the Peacekeeping Department in the framework of transparency and responsibility, and commended the deployment of teams to evaluate the conduct and discipline of peacekeepers in the field.  It was also important to continue the zero-tolerance policy in order to eliminate abuse and sexual exploitation.  The Special Committee’s meetings were important in advancing the peacekeeping agenda of the United Nations, and El Salvador would continue to participate.

He said his country was interested in offering political support and sharing its experience in peacebuilding and reconstruction.  In El Salvador, that process had involved the active participation of the Armed Forces and the national civil police.  The country had made a mark on modern history in the peaceful settlement of its conflicts.  Now it was time to go beyond its borders and help the peacebuilding efforts of others.  El Salvador was a good example that other Member States could follow in successfully reaching a peace agreement.  Its positive experience could be beneficial to United Nations peacekeeping operations and the Peacebuilding Commission.

El Salvador wished to increase its participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations and its cooperation with Security Council mandates, he said.  The country’s experience in successfully emerging from 12 years of armed conflict could be shared with the international community through innovative initiatives with the United Nations.  El Salvador had the political will to support United Nations operations.  It had lived through the experience that had concluded successfully with the 1992 Chapultepec Peace Agreement and with the successful implementation of the United Nations mandate that had ended in 2003.

PIRAGIBE TARRAGÔ ( Brazil) said his country was a traditional contributor to peacekeeping operations and its military and police personnel were currently present in 10 missions.  Brazil welcomed efforts to strengthen the peacekeeping machinery through such measures as the establishment of the Department of Field Support, but no change in administrative structures would make up for the absence of adequate mandates and means that should be provided by United Nations decision-making organs such as the Security Council and the General Assembly.

Noting that the text on principles and guidelines for peacekeeping operations had benefited from comprehensive consultations and input from troop-contributing countries, he said that open and transparent methodology should be followed in other areas of peacekeeping, but the document itself should be improved in future reviews.  Also, more details should be provided regarding plans for the strategic military cell cited in the Secretary-General’s report.  Brazil welcomed the report of the Working Group on Contingent-Owned Equipment.  However, more recommendations on welfare and recreation should be forthcoming.

In light of the increasingly volatile environments in which peacekeeping was conducted, the safety and security of troops must be seriously observed, he continued.  Towards that end, quick-impact projects should be developed in the immediate post-conflict phase.  In addition, there should be further clarifications on the objectives of the independent panel studying measures to ensure the safety and security of United Nations personnel all over the world.

He said that, since peacebuilding and peacekeeping could be regarded as two dimensions of the same effort, the two should mutually reinforce each other as they increasingly had in the mandates of MINUSTAH, where stability was based on the three pillars of political reconciliation, security and development.  All those areas must be addressed simultaneously.  In addition, it was well known that most United Nations troops came from developing countries facing serious budgetary constraints.  All efforts should be made to ensure that the reimbursement process was as expeditious and fair as possible, so that peacekeeping operations could benefit from the further contributions of developing countries.

MONA JUUL ( Norway) urged the Special Committee to focus on further measures to strengthen the Organization’s capacity to plan and implement operations, ensuring that those measures were sufficiently robust and integrated with the rest of the United Nations system and related partners to remove the threat of overstretch.  The Capstone Doctrine was welcome, since, in today’s time of great demand and rapid change, there was a particular need for commonly agreed principles and guidelines.  Norway supported a strengthening of the situation centre through the co-location of representatives from the Peacekeeping and Field Support Departments, the Department of Safety and Security and other parts of the United Nations.  The centre should also be provided with strong analytical capabilities to meet the growing need for assessment and consolidation of the constant flow of information.  It should also be provided with continuously updated security assessments for all operations.

She said joint mission analysis centres and joint operations centres were important operational tools, and Norway, together with the other Nordic countries, was developing a tailor-made course for personnel serving in such centres.  The first such course was planned for Oslo this autumn.  Norway was also following closely the work to further develop the integrated mission planning process.  Its own project on multidimensional and integrated peace operations was in the final stages, and it would share its findings and recommendations for follow-up action with the Special Committee in the near future.  There was a need for the rapid establishment of Integrated Operational Teams and further clarification of their role.  The integrated approach must be reflected in training programmes.  Norway also supported the further development of enhanced rapidly deployable capacities and looked forward to a report on the Standing Police Capacity’s first year of operation.

Touching on a number of other areas, she said her country wished to see the United Nations more deeply engaged in Afghanistan, not least in ensuring better coordination of international efforts there.  Norway was pleased with the Secretary-General’s intention to appoint Kai Eide as his Special Representative to that country.  As for UNAMID and MINURCAT, they marked significant departures from previous models of United Nations cooperation with regional organizations.  The two operations should be reviewed thoroughly, as they would provide unique lessons for future mandates.  Norway would continue to engage in predeployment training of African police officers for service in UNAMID.  Regrettably, Norway had been unable to deploy engineers to UNAMID owing to Sudanese opposition.  However, it remained supportive of United Nations efforts in Sudan and hoped to see increased tempo in the deployment and in the Darfur peace process.

KIM HYUU CHONG ( Republic of Korea) said it was a “critical time” for United Nations peacekeeping around the world.  Indeed, with more than 79,000 military personnel, there were more men and women in the field today than at any other point in the Organization’s history.  The Republic of Korea had been emboldened by UNAMID, but since its creation, the operation had had been slow in deploying and in recognizing its full mandate.  It must overcome both the logistical and political issues that had contributed to its unfortunate stalling.  On UNIFIL, both the host country and Israel had continued to show commitment to resolution 1701 (2006).  However, overflights and the Lebanese political crisis continued.

Commending the Peacekeeping Department’s work, he said the strain, fatigue and human cost associated with peacekeeping operations should never be overlooked.  Now was the time to strengthen management and re-engineer procedures.  The Republic of Korea welcomed the process for filling posts in the newly created Department of Field Support.  To ensure unity of command, a matter of concern last year, the role of Integrated Operational Teams could not be overemphasized.  Hopefully, the Team in Darfur would serve as precedent for the other five.

The need for doctrine had become a matter of great importance, he said.  While policy directives for initiatives such as quick-impact projects had made progress, clear instructions had not been given to personnel on issues including civilian protection and risk management.  The Republic of Korea welcomed the increase in the number of women serving in the field and hoped that progress would continue.  It was to be hoped that the Korean experience in establishing democratic institutions could be an example for regions in which peacekeeping troops were being deployed.  The country also reiterated its profound respect for those who had sacrificed their lives in peacekeeping efforts.

RODRIGO MALMIERCA DIAZ ( Cuba) noted that peacekeeping operations had become the Organization’s most resource-consuming activity.  While those operations were helping the United Nations fulfil one of the main purposes for which it had been created –- to maintain international peace and security –- they were not a substitute for addressing and resolving the most serious causes of conflicts.  Peace operations were not an end in themselves, but rather a stop-gap for the creation of a security framework that would allow for the subsequent implementation of a long-term strategy leading to long-term sustainable development.

Approaching the matter any differently would make it impossible to overcome the vicious cycle of new conflicts and operations, along with the high human and material costs that implied, he warned.  Along with respecting the sovereign integrity of States, peacekeeping operations must have clearly defined and realistic mandates, as well as concrete objectives and the necessary resources for deployment and mandate implementation.  Prior to authorization and deployment, they must also have a clear exit strategy.

Turning to the reports before the Committee, he expressed concern that terms such as “peacekeeping operations” and “peace operations” were used interchangeably.  If the term “peace operations” were used instead of “peacekeeping operations” its scope and implications must be well-defined so that the Secretary-General’s proposals left no room for doubt or misinterpretation.  In addition, the Secretary-General’s report on reform of the security sector exceeded the scope of the Committee’s mandate.  It was necessary to define the Organization’s role in that process, and further, Member States must define the players taking part.

HOANG CHI TRUNG ( Viet Nam) said the recent surge in demand for United Nations peacekeeping operations had overstretched the Organization’s capacity to address the challenges of planning and implementing mission mandates, including the provision of resources and operational support, the enhancement of personnel safety and security, the maintenance of proper conduct and discipline, and the development of well-defined exit strategies.  Still, the evolving nature of peacekeeping operations attested to the durability of national stakeholder commitments, the availability of support and the efficiency of coordination among United Nations agencies.  More than ever, the cross between peacekeeping, conflict prevention and resolution, preventive diplomacy, peacemaking and peacebuilding remained critical for the smooth transition of war-ravaged countries to lasting peace, security and development.

In that regard, he said, the success of peacekeeping operations rested on strict observance of the purposes and principles of the Charter, particularly those related to sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of States, alongside the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of States.  Of paramount importance was the need to establish and conduct peacekeeping operations on the premises of fundamental principles such as consent of the concerned parties, impartiality and the non-use of force except in self-defence.  All efforts to enhance the Organization’s ability to manage peacekeeping operations more effectively and efficiently should be discussed in the framework of the Special Committee, the body mandated to comprehensively review all aspects of peacekeeping and to make policy contributions in that area.  The experience and resources of Member States, regional organizations and troop contributors should be underlined as essential.  Viet Nam was completing its own preparatory process for participation in peacekeeping operations.

HAMID CHABAR (Morocco), aligning himself with the Non-Aligned Movement, said his country had contributed to 13 peacekeeping operations, including the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC).  The publication of the guiding principles document would bring clarity to the implementation of operational mandates.  In the debate on doctrine, much discussion had focused on the principles governing peacekeeping.  Actions should be carried out with respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries concerned.

On security-sector reform, he urged the avoidance of ambiguity, saying it was important to define the scope of application of each United Nations entity.  The role of the Peacebuilding Commission should help provide a consistent approach to the rule of law.  On the issue of sexual abuse, Morocco adhered to the zero-tolerance policy, though it was vital not to take extreme measures on the basis of imprecise information.  There was a need to take into account the credibility of staff and the reputation of the troop-contributing country concerned.  Next year would mark the sixtieth anniversary of the first peacekeeping mission, providing an opportunity both to remember achievements made and develop responses to the complex challenge ahead.

LORENC XHAFERRAJ ( Albania), associating himself with the European Union, said the Government of his country was deeply concerned about the persistence of threats to United Nations personnel.  Albania condemned all terrorist attacks, notably the recent one against United Nations personnel in Algiers, and paid tribute to all those who had lost their lives in peacekeeping operations.

Outlining his country’s efforts, he said it was deeply committed to contributing to the world’s peace and security.  Albania had first become involved in those efforts in October 1994, by sending staff officers and military observers to Georgia.  Some 24 staff officers had participated in that Mission thus far and a total of 3,200 Albanians had participated in international peacekeeping operations since that time.  The country would continue its active participation, becoming a clear security provider.

Most recently, Albania had adopted a “single set of forces” concept for its contribution to operations led by the United Nations, European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization, he said.  It would also contribute to the European Union-led operation in eastern Chad later this year.  Albania reiterated the importance of the leading role of United Nations peacekeeping and reaffirmed the important contributions of regional organizations.

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For information media • not an official record