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Mr. Chairman,
Pakistan associates itself with the statement made by the representative of
Morocco on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.
2. I would also like to thank Under Secretary General Jean-Marie Guehenno for
his statement on the whole range of issues relating to peacekeeping and the
activities of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. The exchange of views
in the interactive session was highly useful.
Mr. Chairman,
3. The 2005 World Summit recognized the vital role played by the United Nations
peacekeeping and commended the contribution of United Nations peacekeepers in
that regard. The sense of collective accomplishment and personal sacrifice has
always been the hallmark of peacekeeping. To date 2040 peacekeepers have made
the ultimate sacrifice by laying down their lives in the line of duty. This
includes 91 Pakistani peacekeepers.
4. United Nations peacekeeping is, indeed, a “noble calling.” Today,
peacekeeping operations play a critical role in the maintenance of international
peace and security, preventing and containing conflicts, promoting compliance
with international norms and Security Council’s decisions, and building peace in
post-conflict situations. It represents a powerful instrument to promote the
Charter’s central purpose, i.e. “to save succeeding generations from the scourge
of war.”
5. UN peacekeeping has undergone remarkable change and at the occasion of the
60th anniversary of the United Nations, it would be fitting to look back at this
evolution over the years. The first ever peacekeeping operation was the UNTSO –
set up in 1948 and continuing to-date. Of similar vintage is the UNMOGIP –
established in 1949 to supervise the cease-fire between India and Pakistan in
the disputed State of Jammu and Kashmir.
6. Since 1948, the United Nations has hosted 60 peacekeeping missions in
different parts of the world. Currently, there are 18 missions. Most of them are
multidimensional complex operations. As Mr. Guehenno said the other day, the
ongoing UN peace operations comprising 83,000 personnel had a direct effect on
more than 200 million people around the world. This is a reflection of the
international community’s abiding faith in the United Nations and the instrument
of peacekeeping.
7. Pakistan is proud to be one of the largest and most consistent contributors
to United Nations peacekeeping, having the distinction of serving in 31
peacekeeping operations since 1960. We are currently the largest contributor
with close to 10,000 personnel including troops, civilian police and military
observers in 11 peacekeeping operations. This is a concrete manifestation of
Pakistan’s contribution to the maintenance of international peace and security.
8. The United Nations must be credited for adapting itself to the changing
nature of conflicts and continuously adjusting peacekeeping concepts and
operations. However, whereas the nature of peacekeeping has evolved, its “noble”
objectives remain the same. We strongly support the call by NAM and other member
states for strict observance to the basic principles of consent of the parties,
impartiality, and non-use of force, except as mandated by the Security Council.
9. Today the UN is increasingly addressing complex crises and situations through
integrated missions. Mandates of complex missions are becoming as diverse and
expanded as the comprehensive peace agreements these missions are asked to help
implement. Tasks include inter alia: monitoring, verification and investigation
of ceasefire agreements, establishing necessary security conditions and law and
order, assistance with DDR, security sector reform, extension of state authority
and control over natural resources, national reconciliation, peace-building,
promotion of rule of law, human rights, organization of elections and referenda,
facilitation and coordination of voluntary return of refugees and IDPs,
provision of humanitarian assistance, assistance with monitoring of sanctions,
inter-mission cooperation and possible cross-border operations, etc.
10. Enabling UN peacekeeping to effectively carry out its mandated tasks poses
formidable challenges in planning, coordination, resource mobilization,
deployment, command and control, force projection and credible deterrence, and
implementation. While a lot of progress has been made, continuous innovation and
improvement is needed in all these fields.
11. The recommendations of the Brahimi report are not yet fully implemented as
was mentioned by Mr. Guehenno. Recommendations made by the Special Committee
over the years also need to be followed through. Important decisions have also
been made at the September Summit including inter alia on standing police
capacity, enhancement of rapidly deployable capacities and regional cooperation.
In the context of a comprehensive and integrated approach, the Peace-building
Commission established by the Summit is expected to further synergize
peacekeeping and peace-building activities for the promotion of durable peace.
It is vital that we get the details right in operationalizing the Commission.
12. Best practices and experience gained from past operations have to be put to
appropriate use. At the same time it should be clear that the objectives of each
particular mission are different. The concept of operation, the integrated
planning process, mandate, deployment and implementation of each mission needs
to be guided by that objective.
13. Mandates set by the Security Council must be clear, realistic, and
achievable. In complex operations, robust mandates are essential for success as
was stated by the Brahimi Report. It is encouraging that rules of engagement
have been strengthened to allow peacekeepers control or quell violence, defend
themselves, and protect civilians and other UN staff and personnel. Rules of
engagements should also be uniformaly applied through out the mission to ensure
credibility and effectiveness.
14. Adequate resources must be provided to implement the mandates. Effective
deployment and command and control are also vital for mission’s success and
credibility. The implementation of the mission’s mandate has to be
comprehensive, aimed not just at keeping peace but also sustaining peace. This
should be the key determining factor in exit strategies.
15. Wider, complex and robust mandates require larger and stronger, adequately
equipped and fully operational missions. Understandably, complex missions have
grown larger. However, big as they would seem, given their broad mandates, many
of these missions are still regarded as under-staffed and over-stretched. This
adversely affects performance, discipline and command and control.
16. Irrespective of an increased civilian side, the core of the peacekeeping
remains its military component. With the number of operations reaching a record
level, there is an ongoing surge in demand for professional and experienced
peacekeepers. Meeting this surge is a big challenge for the United Nations,
particularly in terms of generating necessary resources, personnel and other
capabilities. It is imperative that all Member States provide full political and
financial support to the Organization to meet these challenges. Pakistan first
drew attention to the issue of surge in May, 2004 during its Presidency of the
Security Council. In a wide-ranging Presidential Statement the Council focused
on different dimensions of the future challenges in peacekeeping.
17. Pakistan also supports stronger relationship between the UN and the regional
organizations, within the framework of Chapter VIII. We believe the special
contrubution the regional organizations can make to conflict prevention and
management complements the primary role of the United Nations and therefore does
not absolve the United Nations of its responsibilities under the Charter for the
maintenance of international peace and security. Within that context, greater
assistance should be provided for capacity building in peacekeeping of regional
and sub-regional organizations, particularly in Africa. The potential of
regional and sub-regional organizations to contribute to UN peacekeeping should
be realistically assessed.
18. The major Troop Contributing Countries also need support and assistance in
enhancing their own respective peacekeeping capacities, in particular through
assistance in establishing their national peacekeeping training institutes.
19. One of the important recent developments is in the field of intermission
cooperation. Pakistani forces deployed in some areas on both sides along the
border between Liberia and Sierra Leone have been taking part in activities in
the context of inter mission cooperation.
20. During the interactive session we raised a question whether the arrangement
for the provision of security for Sierra Leone Court by UNMIL was within the
scope of intermission cooperation as contained in the report of the Secretary
General (S/2005/135 dated 2 March 2005) and the temporary nature of
re-deployment provided for by resolution 1609. The USG noted that this was a
special case that did not fall in the context of intermission cooperation. That
is our understanding also. However, it may be pointed out that the Secretary
General’s report (S/2005/273 Add 2, para 22) does in fact justify this
deployment in the context of intermission cooperation. It is unfortunate that
the TCCs were never properly consulted in all this process.
21. I would like to stress here the importance of triangular cooperation between
the troop contributing countries, Security Council and the Secretariat. Such
cooperation must take place not only in the drawing up of mandates, but also in
their implementation, review, renewal or change, especially in case of rapid
deterioration of ground situation. The Security Council’s Working Group on
Peacekeeping Operations should continue to involve TCCs in its deliberations. We
appreciate the efforts of Japan to invigorate this relationship recently.
22. Eliminating sexual exploitation and abuse is also a priority objective. The
Special Committee in its resumed session made substantive recommendations in
that regard. Pakistan is fully committed to implementing those including the
zero tolerance policy. Accountability extends to commanders and managers alike.
We appreciate the Secretariat’s efforts to implement the recommendations of the
Committee. In that regard we stress the need for better coordination and
consultation with member states. We have also suggested that a uniform and
consolidated list of standards or code of conduct may be worked out. Besides,
the draft model MOU requested by the Special Committee may also be provided for
its consideration in the next session.
23. UN peacekeepers are performing duties in increasingly volatile and dangerous
situations. The need to ensure safety and security of peacekeepers cannot be
over emphasized. In this context we continue to stress the importance of timely
field intelligence. We appreciate the Secretariat’s efforts to develop a
comprehensive policy on Joint Operations and Joint Mission Analysis Centers. Mr.
Guehenno told us that overstretch undermines the capacity to manage operations
effectively. In difficult mission areas such as in DRC this must have a bearing
also on the safety and security of the peacekeepers. We must know why there are
so many fatalities of peacekeepers in the field? We strongly urge the
Secretariat to undertake a study in that regard as requested by NAM.
24. We welcome the priorities outlined by USG Guehenno to enable the Department
to meet the existing and future damands and challenges in peacekeeping and look
forward to discussing those in detail in the context of the forthcoming session
of the C-34 and other workshops and briefings.
25. Let me conclude by reiterating Pakistan’s abiding commitment to UN
peacekeeping and to contribute to this noble cause as a major stakeholder with
long-standing experience. We have played a significant part in forging UN
peacekeeping as an effective instrument to promote international peace and
security. We want to see it serve, and serve better, the collective purposes of
the United Nations and of the peoples whom it represents.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman.