Secretary-General Says Peacebuilding Architecture Review Provides Opportunity

for Member States to Take Ownership of Commission’s Agenda, Advice

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks to the informal consultation on the 2010 Review of the United Nations Peacebuilding Architecture, in New York today, 17 February:

I am very pleased to be here for this informal discussion to launch the 2010 Review of the United Nations Peacebuilding Architecture.  I congratulate the Permanent Representatives of Ireland, Mexico and South Africa -- Ambassadors Anderson, Heller, and Sangqu -- on their appointment as facilitators for this process.

The 2010 Review is an important undertaking.  It offers Member States an opportunity to deepen their engagement with the Peacebuilding Commission and to take greater ownership of both its agenda and its advice.

The leaders who established the new peacebuilding architecture at the 2005 World Summit had a very clear goal: to help countries emerging from conflict make an irreversible transition from war to sustainable peace.  The new instruments were designed to bring all key stakeholders to the table, and to keep them engaged for as long as it took to set a country on the path towards peace and prosperity.  In its short existence, the peacebuilding architecture has shown its worth.

As we look ahead, Member States must consider how to make the Commission’s impact even more tangible, especially at the country level.  Towards that end, the Review must consider three key questions.

First, in what specific areas has the Peacebuilding Commission made the most significant contribution, and how can those results be consolidated and applied to other countries?  Second, what weaknesses and challenges have emerged, and how may these be redressed?  Third, how should the Commission enhance its partnership and working methods with partners in the field and with intergovernmental bodies at Headquarters?

Strengthening peacebuilding will better enable us to keep countries from relapsing into conflict, and sustain peace beyond the life of a peacekeeping mission.  It will help ensure that the enormous investments that Member States make in peacekeeping will achieve their intended result.  I therefore attach great importance to this Review.

I urge you to explore how to promote national ownership; how to monitor progress; how to better link security and development actors; how to strengthen mutual accountability between the countries emerging from conflict and their partners; and how to promote greater coherence and synergies between the different parts of the United Nations system and relevant outside actors.

The peacebuilding architecture is an invaluable platform; let us ensure it has the tools and political support to perform its vital functions.  I am confident that the co-facilitators will steer the Review to a successful conclusion.  As the process unfolds, you can count on my full support and that of the Secretariat.

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For information media • not an official record