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Statement by New York, 18 June 2001
Mr. Chairman, On behalf of the Indonesian delegation, I would like to extend our heartfelt congratulation to you on your reelection. Likewise, we wish to congratulate other members of the Bureau on their reelection. Let me also use this opportunity to express our appreciation to the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Jean-Marie Guéhenno for his important remarks at the opening of our session. Before proceeding further, my delegation would like to closely associate itself with the statement made by the distinguished representative of Jordan, who spoke on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. Mr. Chairman, Indonesia wishes to reiterate its strong commitment to the maintenance of international peace and security through active participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations. Since 1957 the country has taken part in more than twenty U.N. missions. We contributed troops, military observers, and civilian police and are committed to continue that effort. The Law No. 37/1999 on Foreign Relations envisages the legal basis of Indonesia’s participation in the U.N. peacekeeping operations as part of the country’s active and independent foreign policy. We continue our efforts in promoting national capacity, including resources and institutional strengthening. Intensive reform at home in legal, institutional, resources and administrative aspects of peacekeeping operations is continuing with a view to augmenting qualitative and quantitative contribution to the U.N. traditional and multidimensional peacekeeping operations. These efforts aim at promoting the country’s active and leading role in peacekeeping operations as it had shown in the past. Troop-contributing countries (TCCs) have not always had sufficient resources to support their programmes for strengthening national capacity. Economic difficulties currently experienced by some TCCs have often diverted national resources allocated for the promotion of active participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations into other areas of urgency. In that regard, as envisaged in the recently adopted Security Council resolution 1353 (2001), international cooperation will be instrumental in mitigating the impact of such difficulties upon a TCC’s national capacity. My delegation is pleased to note that tripartite consultations that include TCCs, the U.N. Security Council and Secretariat have regularly been held. Such consultations are necessary not only in the phase of designing and changing the mandate of a peacekeeping mission but also in the light of responding to the challenges of making the U.N. peacekeeping more effective and efficient. In that regard, we take note of the aforementioned Security Council resolution and hold the view that implementation of the resolution should be in accordance with the guidance provided by the General Assembly. Promoting the security and safety of U.N. peacekeepers is of paramount importance. Threats endangering the life of the peacekeepers can be man-made or nature-caused. Attacks by combatants have often resulted in peacekeepers’ casualties. Exposures to HIV/AIDs or other contagious diseases or to ionization (depleted Uranium) can create physical dysfunction among peacekeepers. Comprehensive security and safety plan that incorporates these hazards and dangers is essential. It is also imperative that individual peacekeepers be made more aware of and carefully responsive to the security environment in the field. Information component of a peacekeeping mission is of importance to the success of the mission. Information activities could include providing local population with access to accurate, impartial, and comprehensive information about the goals of an on-going peacekeeping mission in a country. Objective information provided by the UN or other international agencies has been constructive to the strengthening of a peace process. It can enhance not only the success of the operations but also personnel safety and security in such activities. We also view that information capacity in the field should include equipping peacekeepers with access, including electronic-mail, to communicate with their respective capitals and permanent missions in New York. Indonesia notes the increasing role of civilian police (civpol) in a peacekeeping mission. The experiences of UNMIBH, UNMIK, and UNTAET indicate that civpol is a critical element of peacekeeping operations. We also note with appreciation the excellent cooperation that Selection Assessment Team extends to TCCs in the selection process of civpol personnel to be designated in a mission. My delegation holds the view that the Civilian Police Unit, in cooperation with the Training Unit, could extend to TCCs, especially those that have less experienced and well-trained civpol, training-for-trainers (TOT) programmes. My delegation remains cognizant of the importance of an expedite action on the processing of claims and the acceleration of reimbursement to those countries contributing personnel, including military, civilian police and civilians, and equipment to peacekeeping operations. Prompt reimbursement is critical to quick reestablishment of TCCs’ resources. Mr. Chairman, I would now like to make a few comments on some outstanding issues contained in the Secretary-General’s Report on the implementation of the recommendations of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations and the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations. My delegation appreciates the report, and the analysis and recommendations contained therein. We emphatize the magnitude of the problems that the report addresses and we take note of the solutions offered in the report. Some of which are obvious while some others require further clarification and elaboration. As regards the restructuring of the U.N. Department of Peacekeeping Operations, this process should adhere to the principles of transparency, effectiveness, and efficiency. It should also be equipped with resources in order to meet the challenges of the current activities. A well-defined job description of the UN DPKO and that of other related Departments is also of paramount importance. While emphasizing the need for enhancing capacity in the UN system to effectively and efficiently manage knowledge and information, we view that such a capacity should work in a transparent manner and be built upon sensible terms of reference with clear mandates and purposes. The terms of reference should also explicate what type of information and knowledge the capacity will manage. Regarding rapid deployment, my delegation views that elements affecting such activity are not merely those of physical constraints, such as strategic lift, logistic sustainment, readiness of resources and administrative preparations, but also political will of TCCs which represents the driving force for an active and well-prepared participation. We continue to attach great importance to UN Standby Arrangement System and the development of on-call lists of military personnel, civilian police and civilian personnel. We view that, in addition to UNSAS, garnering of those personnel should also be based on other sources as applied in the foregoing period. Mr. Chairman, Before I conclude my statement, let me make a few words about post-conflict peacebuilding (PCPB) and cooperation with regional organizations. PCPB is an important phase in a situation where actual conflicts have been put to an end. A comprehensive approach to PCPB should include political, social, developmental and humanitarian measures. At the operational level, PCPB requires effective coordination among all actors and agencies involved in the efforts, coherent strategy, capacity-building, and mobilization of political will and resources. As it has a political character, PCPB should contribute to the preclusion of the recurrence of conflicts. Reconciliation and indigenization are two critical processes that PCPB strategy should incorporate. Successful reconciliation will ensure durable peace as all parties are engaged and assume collaborative responsibilities. Active involvement of those parties will not only ensure a lasting agreement but also will fend off spoiler groups. In a complex mission where the UN is developing an interim administration, engaging local nationalities into the program is critical to the success of the efforts. Despite the fact that the Brahimi Report did not give emphasis on cooperation with regional organizations, Indonesia notes the increasing significance of such cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations in dealing with conflicts in a region. The relevance of regional organizations in conflict resolution is indisputable as they are uniquely qualified to deal with problems emanating from their regions. Successful regional efforts will depend on good relationships among member states of the organizations, concurrent political commitment from each and every state in the region, and the support of international community through the United Nations. Finally, Mr. Chairman, the Indonesian delegation continues to support your efforts and look forward to participating in the deliberation on the issue. We also wish to place on record, our heartfelt tribute to the peacekeepers, both men and women, who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of peace. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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