No ‘Nobler Goal or Greater Sacrifice’ than Peacekeepers’ Decision to Leave Home to ‘Serve the Cause of Peace, Security and Justice’, Fourth Committee Hears
Nothing represented the best of the United Nations globally than the sight of blue helmets safeguarding peace day in and out in difficult locations, the representative of Indonesia said this morning, as the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) continued its comprehensive review of peacekeeping operations, during which speakers laid out their vision for a process that responded to new challenges without abandoning traditional tenets.
There was no nobler goal or greater sacrifice than the decisions of peacekeepers to leave their homes and loved ones to serve the cause of peace, security and justice, the representative of Lebanon said. She emphasized the importance of incorporating women’s perspectives at every strategic and operational level.
The representative of Niger said that, although not designated as such by the Charter, peacekeeping operations had become one of the major instruments with which the United Nations fulfilled its mission. The operations, she said, must come under the mandate and direction of the Security Council and be Charter-based amid the efforts under way to ensure their effectiveness and efficiency.
Stating that his country participated in peacekeeping operations to help the United Nations to deliver on its promise to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, the representative of Pakistan urged the Organization to hold closer consultations with countries contributing troops and other personnel.
Reflecting a sentiment shared by several speakers, the representative of India said the principles of consent, impartiality, and non-use of force must be reiterated in peacekeeping operations as they were rooted in the Charter. Changes to mandates, mixing traditional with new interventionist tasks, were a source of worry, he added.
The representative of Uruguay, stating that 25 per cent of its operational defence was involved in peacekeeping operations, reaffirmed the importance of triangular discussions among troop contributors, the Security Council and the Secretariat. Because of the financial cuts, troop contributing countries were asked to do more with less, he noted.
The multidimensional nature of peacekeeping operations brought new hurdles for the United Nations, which required thorough and systematic analysis, the delegate from Cuba said. At the same time, he cautioned that the imperative to protect civilians should not be used as a pretext to bring down legitimate Governments.
The representatives of Guatemala, Venezuela, Mexico, Syria, Malaysia, Peru, Brazil, Egypt, Bangladesh and Turkey also made statements.
The representative of Venezuela took to the floor to state that he had inadvertently referred to “Macedonia” instead of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in his statement, and added that he had submitted an updated text to the Committee.
The Fourth Committee will meet again at 10 a.m., Thursday, 30 October, to continue its comprehensive review of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects.
Background
The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) met this morning to continue its comprehensive review of peacekeeping in all its aspects. For background, see Press Release GA/SPD/567 of 28 October.
Statements
MÓNICA BOLAÑOS PÉREZ (Guatemala), associating with Non-Aligned Movement and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), stressed the central role of peacekeeping in the maintenance of peace around the world and welcomed the high review panel tasked with evaluating a mission’s functioning. She drew attention to the importance of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, known as “C-34”, as the only appropriate forum for assessing fully the Secretariat’s policy. Peacekeeping operations should have clear and achievable mandates, and the specificities of each case must be taken into account, especially when a mandate was expanded. Her delegation noted the existing gap in capacities and resources, and she encouraged each country to provide troops, while reiterating the importance of triangular discussions during the decision-making process. All troop providing countries should be contacted at the beginning of all missions. Also important was the annual exchange with the commander on the ground.
Concerning robust operations, she drew particular attention to the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), and said such cases raised questions, including the need to reconcile their character with the basic peacekeeping mandate. Recognizing the added value of modern technology, she also drew attention to its risks, stressing that it was essential that modern technology followed the United Nations Charter’s principles. Priority should also be on the security of peacekeeper, she said, adding that the kidnappings of blue helmets in Mali, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and elsewhere, were tragic reminders of the need to guarantee the security and safety of the mission. She was not happy with the slow pace of the investigation of such incidents and asked that those be sped up and that the perpetrators be brought to justice. She urged the Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support to provide a rapid response to the Ebola epidemic and protect mission staff.
ALFREDO FERNANDO TORO-CARNEVALI (Venezuela), associating with the Non-Aligned Movement and CELAC, agreed that the classic model of peacekeeping had ceased to exist and that more robust efforts were now needed. However, Venezuela addressed that issue with caution. The change in the nature of conflict and the imperative to change peacekeeping mechanisms were nothing new, he said, citing the examples of Somalia, Rwanda and the Balkans, but such missions were controversial and, in the past, had bogged down the Security Council. Quoting a recent article, he said, “the United Nations does not throw bombs back at you”, which provided the raison d’etre for the Organization. Preserving the guiding principles of peacekeeping was essential, he said, adding that political efforts to bring about reconciliation were needed.
DAVID FORÉS RODRÍGUEZ (Cuba), associating with the Non-Aligned Movement and CELAC, said the multidimensional nature of peacekeeping operations brought new challenges for the United Nations, which required thorough and systematic analysis. Peacekeeping operations should be based on respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter, including respect for national sovereignty, non-interference, and non-use of force, except in cases of legitimate self-defence. Clear mandates and adequate resources were central to an operation’s success, requiring coordination among troop contributing countries, the Security Council and Secretariat. Modern technology should be used to protect peacekeeping personnel and civilians. Ending hunger, poverty and inequality was the best way to reverse the vicious cycle of new conflicts and the need for new peacekeeping operations. The imperative to protect civilians should not be used as a pretext to bring down legitimate Governments, he stressed.
YANERIT MORGAN (Mexico), associating with CELAC, said that peacekeeping operations were a fundamental part of the United Nations quest for world peace. Debates on related issues required the inclusion of all of those directly involved. Analyses of the Special Committee forum were extremely important for the success of the operations on the ground, she said, urging the Security Council to meet regularly with troop contributing countries, which should be involved in the decision-making process from development to transition. Mexico stepped forward announcing a renewal in its participation in peacekeeping operations, with an emphasis on humanitarian work. The country supported peacekeeping, an instrument designed to help countries generate the conditions for lasting peace. Her country renewed and strengthened its commitment to the United Nations by contributing to peacekeeping operations, provided that those had clear mandates. Mexico’s participation would be determined based on an analysis of the missions, working in close cooperation with the Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support. Her country was prepared to answer the call for global solidarity in support of people and peoples. She remained concerned, however, about force mandates. She also paid tribute to the staff and volunteers that worked in the missions.
ESTASIUS WIDYO SUNARYO (Indonesia), associating with the Non-Aligned Movement and the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), said nothing represented the best of the United Nations globally than the sight of blue helmets safeguarding peace, day in and out, in difficult locations. As missions assumed more multidimensional and complex duties, the international community must strengthen its support. While the Security Council had created more robust mandates, contributing countries continued to struggle and were confronted with challenges preventing them from responding to the requests in a swift and timely manner. He urged the United Nations to present relevant polices on the creation of force intervention brigade and the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for Member States’ consideration. Highlighting Indonesia’s contribution to peacekeeping missions around the world, he reaffirmed the country’s steadfast commitment to play an active role in the maintenance of international peace and security. Beneficial as United Nations peacekeeping was, it was not by itself the remedy to conflict.
IHAB HAMED (Syria), associating with the statement made by Morocco, said that peacekeeping operations played a crucial role in building and maintaining peace in post-conflict situations. A mission should adhere to the United Nations Charter principle of not interfering in a State’s internal affairs, and should remain neutral. Application of those principles required the cooperation and consent of the host country. Peacekeeping operations, however, could not replace a permanent solution to a conflict, and in that context, addressing the underlying causes was essential. His delegation had excellent relations with the mission in its country, however, those operations were supposed to be there for a set period of time, but had unfortunately lasted for decades because of Israeli interventions, and aggressive policies in the region. He asked the United Nations to put pressure on Israel to stop its occupation and aggression, so that the people in the occupied territories would be able to leave in peace and security.
Syria, he said, was concerned about threats against peacekeeping personnel, which created a considerable challenge to the missions on the ground. The recent development in Golan, which prompted the mission to depart, was a breach of international law, and it endangered the lives of the mission’s personnel. That situation had encouraged some groups to multiply threats and attacks, and those were now acting freely in the buffer zone, he concluded.
HUSSEIN HANIFF (Malaysia), associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement and the ASEAN, said his country’s personnel served in seven United Nations peacekeeping missions. Their tasks were becoming more complex and demanding with the unconventional threats on the rise. Modernizing peacekeeping equipment and deploying new technologies were essential as long as legal implications were properly addressed. The basic principles of peacekeeping, including impartiality and non-use of force except for self-defense, remained essential and must be adhered to. Exchanging views and sharing information could improve the interoperability of missions. His Government wished to see more dialogues, greater international and regional cooperation and consensus on religious issues. Training was a key element for peacekeepers. His country established a Peacekeeping Training Centre in 1996 to provide pre-deployment courses. Among the trainees were more than 600 foreign military, police and civilian personnel from more than 40 countries.
MASOOD KHAN (Pakistan), associating with the Non-Aligned Movement, reaffirmed his country’s strong commitment to peacekeeping, adding that 150,000 Pakistanis had served in missions around the world. Pakistan participated in the operations to help the United Nations deliver on its promise to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. To that end, his country had recently offered to share its competencies and experiences with other States. The basic principles of peacekeeping, including non-intervention and non-use of force except in self-defence, were critical to its success. He stressed the importance of robust peacekeeping, protection of civilians, national capacity-building and the search for political reconciliation, among other elements. Deployment and use of new technologies on a case-by-case basis should be guided by lessons learned and in consultation with Member States. While drafting mandates, the United Nations must encourage greater consultations with troop- and police-contributing countries and consider the realities on the ground.
GUSTAVO MEZA-CUADRA (Peru), associating with the CELAC and the Non-Aligned Movement, said the scope of the mandates had become multidimensional in nature, tasked, not only with sustaining peace and security, but also promoting sustainable development, civilian capacities, rule of law, human rights and civilian protection. Their nature made them more complex, and in that connection, those missions should follow strictly the principles of neutrality and non-use of force. He stressed that the perception of impartiality in peacekeeping operations was essential for staff protection. Peace enforcement mandates, such as MONUSCO’s, was not a precedent for other operations. The growing complexity in the mandate created the need for greater coordination between the Council, peacekeeping operations and contributing countries, as the contingent would be tasked with implementing the mandates on the ground. The troops should get the best training and technology possible, as well as adequate mandates.
He reiterated the importance of increased reimbursement rates, adding that peacekeeping operations developed comprehensive actions to help build structures and processes important for enduring peace. Regarding ethical conduct of staff, Peru supported the policy of zero tolerance, condemning staff that acted in any inappropriate manner. In the case of despicable conduct, the staff responsible should be severely punished. His country supported the increase in women’s involvement, noting that 8 per cent of the Peruvian troops were female. He reiterated his country’s commitment to peacekeeping operations, with a contribution of more than 7,000 troops on the ground in eight peacekeeping operations.
GUILHERME DE AGUIAR PATRIOTA (Brazil) said his country’s commitment to peacekeeping operations had translated into deployment of personnel and troops in more than 50 missions since 1948. Brazil favoured a multilateral system based on enhanced cooperation and aimed at seeking solutions to the challenges facing the international community. The complexities of the situation on the ground in a variety of settings demanded constant efforts for improvement, he said, citing the need to ensure that peacekeeping truly contributed to sustainable peace at a time when there was strong pressure to do more with less, and to make troops on the ground more effective through a common understanding of what was expected of them. Brazil supported the introduction of advanced technological assets in peacekeeping, provided they did not compete for scarce resources in ways that negatively impacted the right sizing of contingents and equipment. He expected that the decision-making process involving the Secretary-General’s review of peacekeeping operations would duly reflect the diversity of views about the complex subject and would recognize the General Assembly’s central role in consideration of the recommendations.
ABHISHEK SING (India) said that his country had considerable experience in peacekeeping since it was the largest contributor of troops with more than 170,000 having participated. He was looking forward to the Secretary General’s strategic review and expected to be deeply involved in it. The Charter-based principles of consent, impartiality, and non-use of force must be reiterated. Although Member States were invited to participate in the decisions of the Security Council concerning the deployment of contingents, that was not occurring in practice. Changes to mandates were a source of worry, mixing traditional with new interventionist tasks. His country had experienced that in MONUSCO, where it contributed 4,000 troops. The danger of using the peacekeeping to tackle internal political conflict must be emphasised, he added. He urged the Fourth Committee to seek a compliance report of the Special Committee as that would assess the actual cooperation with the different players in the missions. The emergence of a multidimensional mandate was not matched with funding. The new rate represented an increase but it was far from being adequate. He also emphasized the importance of adequate representation of troop and police contributing countries in leadership opposition in both field and at Headquarters.
CAROLINE ZIADE (Lebanon) said that, while the world might not look safe or more prosperous on the eve of the Organization’s seventieth anniversary, it was important to continue investing in it and its peacekeeping missions. The Secretary-General’s review of the operations should be deeply rooted in well-established principles and maintain the Special Committee’s central role in the intergovernmental process for negotiations regarding policies. She emphasized the importance of incorporating women’s perspectives at every strategic and operational level. Recalling that she was speaking on behalf of a host country of one of the oldest peacekeeping operations in the world, created as a result of repetitive Israeli aggression, she cautioned against Israeli attempts to undermine the credibility of the United Nations mission and the Lebanese army. There was no nobler goal or greater sacrifice than the decisions of peacekeepers to leave their homes and loved ones to serve the cause of peace, security and justice.
GONZALO KONCKE (Uruguay) associating with CELAC, said his country’s commitment to peacekeeping was nothing new, and it had gradually increased its number of blue helmets ‑ totalling 2,000 ‑ in continuation of that commitment. That meant that 25 per cent of its operational defence was involved in peacekeeping operations. He stressed the importance of women’s participation in peacekeeping, and noted his country’s reaffirming of dialogue and triangular discussions on the work of the blue helmets. In interventions such as MONUSCO, not enough time was given to consideration of a change in mandate. With the United Nations turning 70 next year, the goal of global peace and security remained elusive. The increase in peacekeepers and their activities, due to the more complex mandates, required an increase in training and equipment. Because of the financial cuts, troop contributing countries were asked to do more with less. Everyone should think about the risks associated with that, including the difficulties associated with fulfilling mandates, as well as troop rotations, which made the service period more difficult. Uruguay favoured a holistic approach to peacekeeping, inclusive of protection of civilians and an early peacebuilding component. He was concerned at the limited participation of troop contributing countries in the management of the operations.
AMR ABDELLATIF ABOULATTA (Egypt), associating with the Non-Aligned Movement, said that peacekeeping faced heightened demand, greater complexity and extra responsibility, increasing the burdens on the United Nations and troop- and police-contributing countries. Because peacekeeping should not be seen as an alternative to addressing the root causes of conflict or as a conflict-management tool, there was a need for improved assessment, effective planning and rapid deployment response. His delegation considered several elements as crucial to the strengthening of peacekeeping within the framework of the Secretary-General’s upcoming strategic review. Those included achieving consensus among Member States on policy development and implementing only approaches that had been collectively adopted.
In that regard, he highlighted the need for effective triangular cooperation with enhanced participation of troop-contributing countries in doctrine development and decision-making processes. General Assembly resolution 68/281 authorized the long-awaited increase in reimbursement rates, he noted, adding that without the consent of the troop contributing countries, mission tasks must not be changed. It was also vital to improve pre-deployment planning and make field support coordination more effective based on objective assessments and clear and achievable mandates. The role of regional organizations also must be strengthened. The protection of civilians should not be used as a pretext for United Nations military intervention; a solution must be found to the legal difficulties of characterizing civilians in armed conflict as combatants.
Greater attention also must be paid, he said, to exit strategies as States increasingly requested the termination of missions where they perceived a transition to conflict management. There must be increased integration of peacekeeping and peacebuilding under the auspices of the Peacebuilding Commission, but not in order to cut costs. Further consultations were necessary on the implementation of the global field support strategy. To further discussion, Egypt would host a regional meeting in Cairo to provide African inputs to the Secretary-General’s strategic review, he said, drawing attention to a non-paper that demonstrated his country’s pledges to training and capacity building.
SALAMATOU BOHARI (Niger), associating with the Non-Aligned Movement, said peacekeeping operations had undergone significant changes since their inception. Although not designated as such by the Charter, they had become one of the major instruments with which the United Nations continued to fulfil its mission. Consent of parties, non-intervention, and non-use of force should be central to peacekeeping operations, she said, adding that there were risks and costs that needed to be addressed. Calling for clearer mandates, adequate resources and partnership among all stakeholders, she said the missions must come under the mandate and direction of the Security Council and be Charter-based amid the efforts under way to ensure their effectiveness and efficiency.
MUSTAFIZUR RAHMAN (Bangladesh), associating with the Non-Aligned Movement, said that the nature of United Nations peacekeeping was constantly changing, whereas, initially, it was intended to have a light footprint, missions now were no longer limited and had now a multidimensional level. Such developments required long-term comprehensive training for peacekeepers and improved rapid deployment. Many missions suffered from a lack of technical support, and with that, he offered his delegation’s knowledge and know-how. He supported the use of modern technology, but said it should be used prudently and with clear mandate.
He emphasized the need for the mandates to be clear and include a fair representation of troop contributing countries. The operations should be properly resourced before deployment, and peacekeepers’ safety was paramount. He also called for improved dialogue with main troop contributing countries, stressing also the need for proper reimbursement and compensation. In closing, he said that the use of force, new technology, and the complexity of multidimensional missions demanded intensive dialogue to ensure that blue helmets delivered their mandate.
MERVE NEVA ÜNAL (Turkey) said peacekeeping was constantly evolving and being tailored to meet new challenges, adding that now was the best time to start talking about its future direction. Global changes affected the conditions of peacekeepers dramatically, while budgetary challenges were increasing. The need for a rethinking of the key concepts, mandates, response capacities and resources was clear, she said, welcoming the Secretary-General’s announcement of an upcoming review. That process must prioritize the protection of civilians, while care also should be taken not to compromise the key asset of the United Nations: impartiality. Ensuring proper personnel, training and equipment remained essential, while modern technology could be utilized in strict conformity with international law, the Charter and the principles of transparency. Short-term peacekeeping efforts needed to be integrated into longer-term strategies.