New report calling for more cooperation on peacekeeping echoes UN’s thinking – Annan

Welcoming a new multinational report on peacekeeping operations, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today said its recommendations for more cooperation and coordination by Member States mirror the world body’s own efforts to strengthen its security capacity.

The report, Meeting the Challenges of Peace Operations: Cooperation and Coordination, is the second major study from the Challenges Project, a consortium of more than a dozen countries and partner organizations that began its work on peacekeeping in 1997.

At a meeting held at UN headquarters today, Mr. Annan accepted the 169-page report from the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Laila Freivalds, and said it came at an opportune time as UN peacekeeping operations have grown fivefold since 2000.

Underscoring the report’s strong endorsement of multilateralism, the Secretary-General said, “Today’s most pressing security challenges, notably those involving fragile States and terrorism, can only be met through concerted and coordinated multilateral action at both global and regional levels.”

Foreign Minister Freivalds said the report gives practical recommendations for improving the work of peacekeeping operations by emphasizing three main areas: cooperation between the UN and regional organizations; improving training and education for peace operations; and strengthening the rule of law in post-conflict areas.

She stressed the importance of backing by Member States for peacekeeping. “But,” she added, “in providing that support, governments have a right to expect that efficient and effective use will be made of their valuable resources.” This, she stressed, requires improved coordination.

At a press conference held earlier in the day at UN headquarters, Lt. Gen. Satish Nambiar of India, a veteran former peacekeeper who is now president of the United Service Institution of India, said that one of the major deficiencies of peacekeeping operations around the world is the lack of political commitment by the international community.

The General, who served as Force Commander of the UN Protection Force in the former Yugoslavia (UNPROFOR) during the tumultuous 1990s, said Member States must “take interest in giving political back-up to missions out in the field” and in providing the UN with the necessary personnel.

Over the past five years, there has been a surge in demand for UN peacekeeping operations. Presently, more than 70,000 uniformed and approximately 15,000 civilian personnel are deployed in the field. In addition to new and complex peace operations in Africa and Haiti, the UN is providing support peace missions in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as for the African Union mission in Darfur.

Officially known as the “Challenges of Peace Operations: Into the 21st Century,” the project’s main goal is to enhance the international community’s capacity to conduct peace operations. A report was issued at the end of the first phase and presented to the Secretary-General in 2002.