UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL
Statement by H.E. Mr Peter Tesch Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
United Nations Peacekeeping Operations
New York 17 May 2004
Mr President
Australia welcomes this opportunity to discuss the future of peacekeeping, particularly in light of the recent increases in the number of peacekeeping operations and of further anticipated deployments of peacekeepers in the year ahead.
Time constraints prevent me from commenting on more than a few fundamental principles which should underpin peacekeeping operations. Australia has been a core contributor to these operations since they were first undertaken. Our contribution in East Timor has been highly regarded and seems to demonstrate that we remain committed to carrying our share of the international peacekeeping burden. We are conscious, though, of growing difficulties we all face as demands for new peacekeeping resources increase. In this situation, different models of burden sharing have become more important �€“ coalitions of the willing, for example, which do what blue helmet peacekeepers may not be able to.
In this respect, it could be instructive -as many delegations here noted -to look closely at the efforts of regional countries in maintaining peace and security in their neighbourhoods. The Australian-led mission in the Solomon Islands, to which most Pacific Island Forum countries have contributed, is an example of what can be achieved on a regional basis.
The demand for more peacekeepers underlines the urgency of resolving long-standing disputes. Much more needs to be done on conflict prevention. And, as the Brahimi Report suggested, early intervention remains crucial if we are to avoid conflicts and prevent them from escalating. In all these areas we need to ask if we are doing enough.
Mr President,
It goes without saying that efficient and cost-effective management of peacekeeping operations is crucial. Solid gains have been made under Mr Guehenno�€™s leadership since the Brahimi report was released. But we cannot rest on our laurels. We must create a culture of continuous improvement. We also have to hold peacekeepers to the highest standards of accountability. And we need to spare no effort to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers and UN personnel. Real cooperation �€“ including in the C34 and the Fifth Committee -is needed if we are to make progress in these areas.
The Security Council also bears a heavy burden and must ensure that new missions have clear, well-designed mandates, adequate resources, and credible success and exit strategies. Genuine consultation with interested countries and with TCCs will help the Council get its strategies right. Governance issues need to be given careful thought. We have regularly advocated that justice and rule of law considerations be treated as core components of UN missions. Australia has done more than just advocate this. To help build effective rule of law institutions, we are developing an International Deployment Group of 500 Australian police available to participate in peacekeeping and law enforcement missions. We urge other member states to consider similar mechanisms.
Mr President
The bottom line is that we have achieved much since the Brahimi report was issued, through the challenges before us have multiplied. We need, therefore, to look beyond the Brahimi report. We must continue to find smarter ways to address threats to our security. Debates such as this can help. So too can an open-minded attitude to new ideas and solutions, such as, for example, any that may emerge from the Secretary-General�€™s High Level Panel on security threats and challenges.