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UN chief says peacekeeping operations must evolve to meet needs

26 August 2011 19:57 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon said here Friday that peacekeeping remains a critical aspect of the global organization’s work and must evolve to fit growing and country-specific needs, APA reports quoting news.xinhuanet.com website.

"Peacekeeping is an essential tool for overcoming threats to international peace and security and supporting complex transitions from conflict to stability," he said.

Ban’s statements came as he addressed the Security Council during an open debate on UN peacekeeping operations.

"It requires a variety of approaches to respond to various local needs and a wide range of political realities," he said. "To be successful, peacekeeping operations must have a clear and achievable mandate, unified political support from the Security Council, and adequate, predictable human, material, and financial resources."

Ban explained that UN peacekeeping has grown significantly since 2001. In early 2010 more than 101,000 peacekeepers were deployed on the ground, an all time high. Though the growth rate of deployments slowed in 2010, according to Ban, peacekeeping missions remain complex and require more flexibility and adaptability than before.

"Indeed we may be entering a new phase with diverse and multifaceted situations where peacekeeping may play a role," he said. "Peacekeeping will need to evolve to meet specific demands in a variety of environments and to flexibly and nimbly bring together multiple capabilities in a coherent and effective manner. "

UN peacekeeping has deployed 66 operations since 1948, with 53 of these deployments occurring since 1988. Hundreds of thousands of military personnel and tens of thousands of police and civilians hailing from 120 countries have participated in these missions. In 2011, the UN has 16 peace operations on the ground on four continents.

Peacekeeping at the UN is unique because it brings together the Security Council, the Secretariat, troop and police contributing member states, and many other stakeholders.

Ban said that such partnerships are the "cornerstone" of UN peacekeeping and integral to achieving peacekeeping’s aims. He cited the New Horizon Initiative of 2009, a process that evaluated the progress of UN peacekeeping, and emphasized the importance of cooperation between stakeholders.

Ban explained that building partnerships and maintaining them is not always easy, particularly in the current world climate.

"Unfortunately, some aspects of this partnership are under increasing pressure," Ban said. "The current financial climate, differing perspectives on mandated tasks, and, in some instances, the loss of host government consent have all created tensions in our relationships."

The UN and its peace building partners must attempt to overcome these challenges, said Ban. He expressed his support for a Security Council statement that would improve communications between entities around the globe with regards to peacekeeping processes.

"One way forward is outlined in the presidential statement to be issued today in which the council requests that the Secretariat ensure that troop and police contributors are engaged early, with appropriate information, to enable effective consultations between the council and Secretariat," Ban said. "I agree with this approach and look forward to working with you to implement it."