S/PV.6075
6075th meeting
Friday, 23 January 2009, 10.20 a.m.
New York
United Nations peacekeeping operations
Mr. Dabbashi (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) (spoke in Arabic): Mr. President, you spoke for all of us in praising Ambassador Butagira of Uganda. I wish him every success in his future endeavours.
I take this opportunity to express our gratitude and appreciation to Mr. Alain Le Roy, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. We also thank Ms. Susan Malcorra, Under-Secretary-General for Field Support, for her efforts in establishing her new Department. We thank them both for their statements. We also thank Mr. Hédi Annabi, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for his valuable briefing.
The United Nations has had great success in its peacekeeping operations. The Organization has helped to save the lives of countless civilians, reduced tensions and prepared proper conditions for sustainable peace. That success reaffirms the central role of the United Nations as a bellwether of many parts in the maintenance of international peace and security. Of course, peacekeeping cannot replace the definitive settlement of conflicts, a goal we all share, which can be met only by addressing the comprehensive political, security, economic and humanitarian dimensions of a given problem.
The growing number of peacekeeping operations requires us to analyse the root causes of conflicts if we are to resolve and end them. Conflict resolution requires States to provide the Organization with the necessary human, financial and logistical resources and political support. Communication and coordination between the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the Department of Field Support and all agencies and departures involved are also needed. We must make a sustained study to prevent the recurrence of mistakes and to assess the threats to peace. Information regarding accidents and casualties must also be freely communicated. In that respect, we condemn all attacks on peacekeeping personnel, missions and property. We fully support a policy of zero tolerance for sexual abuse. We condemn all such violations and call for their perpetrators to be brought to justice.
Security sector reform must be included in the comprehensive reform process if we are to ensure security, stability and development. The United Nations is highly experienced in that area. The Peacebuilding Commission has assumed the critical role of strengthening States’ post-conflict security capacities. We therefore support the important post-conflict security sector reform efforts of peacekeeping operations.
We believe that the United Nations role should be one of coordination in providing support and advice to States in the reform process and in mobilizing resources and enhancing their effectiveness. Reform is multidimensional; no single solution can be applied to all sectors. National circumstances, needs and priorities must be taken into account if we are to help States to achieve their own priorities. Security sector reform is key to establishing peace and security in regions that have been subject to conflict or are in a post-conflict phase.
Peacekeeping mandates must be created or renewed in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and established criteria and guidelines, including the consent of the State concerned, the non-use of force except in self-defence, total neutrality, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, and non-interference in their internal affairs. We believe it important for all troop-contributing countries to be involved in every phase and dimension of a peacekeeping operation.
In conclusion, the African Union (AU) is playing a growing peacekeeping role in certain conflict zones on the African continent. The AU has launched initiatives that deserve our encouragement and support. We believe it necessary that we continue to implement the joint work plan between the AU and the United Nations in order to build the short- and long-term peacekeeping capacities of the former. We hope that the United Nations will take specific and concrete measures in support of the AU’s peacekeeping in Somalia, pursuant to resolution 1863 (2009).
