UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL
Statement by H.E. Mr John Dauth LVO Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
On Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa
New York 22 May 2002
Mr President
It is a pleasure to be able to participate in this important meeting on conflict prevention and recovery. There is, as the Secretary-General said in a recent speech on conflict prevention, no cause more central to the work of the UN and no mission whose success is more important to fulfilling the vision of the UN Charter. And, I would add, there is no region where the issue is more urgent than in Africa.
Mr President
I would like to make three brief points today.
- First, that successful conflict prevention and recovery must draw on political, security, economic and regional perspectives. The challenge -and also the promise -is to integrate these perspectives to develop comprehensive responses. We need a deeper understanding of how poverty, poor governance and conflict feed off each other. We also need to know how to encourage virtuous cycles where peace and sustainable development are mutually supporting. Focused and well-structured interaction between the Security Council, ECOSOC and the OAU -each bringing its own perspectives -can be an important part of an integrated international response to conflict. Australia will encourage this during our term on ECOSOC.
- Second, and very welcome, with growing understanding of the causes and cures of conflict, our policy toolbox is fuller than it once was. For example, appreciation of the economic factors sustaining conflicts has allowed a more effective international response to the scourge of conflict diamonds, including through the Kimberley Process, in which Australia is deeply engaged. Transitional justice issues are also receiving more attention, and Australia has been active in its support for international tribunals. But caution is needed. Conflict prevention and recovery remain very inexact sciences. It is important, therefore, to encourage more local input, local knowledge, and local ownership. African-driven initiatives and processes such as the New Partnership for Africa's Development must be supported. Mr President, not only do we have more tools, we have also been improving the tools we do have. UN Peacekeeping, in particular, has made substantial progress and must continue to
- do so. Australia has a proud record of peacekeeping in Africa, including in Rwanda,
Somalia, Namibia, Western Sahara, Mozambique and Ethiopia/Eritria. - Finally, Mr President, conflict prevention and recovery in Africa must be a partnership between the region and the wider international community. I am happy to say that Australia is a willing and engaged partner. We are, for example, working closely with Nigeria and South Africa at the highest levels through the Commonwealth in relation to the recent election in Zimbabwe to engage with Zimbabwe on issues of democracy and governance following the unsatisfactory conduct of the recent Presidential election. We recognise that development assistance plays a direct and practical role in promoting peace and overcoming conflict. This year, Australia will adopt a new policy on peace, conflict and development cooperation. Delivering an aid program that adopts a comprehensive approach to conflict prevention and recovery will be a priority in the coming years. We have a modest but targeted development assistance program for Africa. A major priority is poverty reduction through capacity building, governance and the fight against HIV/AIDs, which is an immediate and long-term threat to development and security. Education in another priority including by supporting the African Virtual University initiative in Nairobi in cooperation with the World Bank.
Thank you, Mr President.