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Statement
by H.E. Mr. Hasan Kleib Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations at the 2010
Substantive Session
of the Special Committee
on Peacekeeping Operations (C-34) Fourth Committee Madame Chair, Let me first of all join previous speakers
in thanking the Under-Secretary Generals, Mr. Alain Le
Roy, and Ms. Susana Malcorra, for their comprehensive remarks
yesterday. We have noted with interest their respective proposals geared for
enhancing cooperation among important stakeholders, particularly the Council,
troop and police contributing countries, and the Secretariat. Their efforts are
indeed very much valued. As the demand, complexity and risk
facing the peacekeeping have grown manifold, the challenges to the brave blue
helmets are unprecedented. The robust support and cooperation of the
international community must be befitting to the tasks given to
peacekeepers. This session provides us
an important opportunity to reinforce the agreed understandings, examine
emerging issues, and enhance collective support for UN peacekeeping. Peacekeeping is one of the important
elements in the Indonesian foreign policy with the objective to contribute to
the maintenance of international peace and security. For its part, Indonesia
has participated actively in the UN peacekeeping going as far back as 1956. We
are presently contributing to six UN peacekeeping operations with 1,674
Indonesian peacekeepers currently deployed. A level 2 hospital is also being
prepared to be deployed in MINURCAT. Madame Chair, My delegation wishes to associate
itself with the statements delivered earlier by Morocco on behalf of the Non-Aligned
Movement, and by Thailand on behalf of ASEAN. In addition to those remarks, my delegation
would like to share some of its views. As a unique global partnership, UN
peacekeeping should be clearly and firmly based on the three basic principles,
namely, consent of the parties concerned, impartiality, and non-use of force
except in self-defence and the defence of the mandate. The C-34 has an important
role to ensure that these principles are well translated into action in the
field. To achieve UN peacekeeping’s full
potential, we fully agree on the need for clear and achievable mandates with
clearer priorities from the Security Council. The complete achievement of the
tasks given to the peacekeepers necessitates that they are deployed with clear guidelines.
If the critical factors such as security and humanitarian situation on the ground
significantly deteriorate or the protection of civilians is at stake, the
Council should act swiftly to develop an appropriate response including the
modification of its mandate as necessary.
Madame Chair, The issue of the Protection of
Civilians (PoC) continues to be an extremely important element in peacekeeping
missions. The implementation of this mandate
should indeed be backed by requisite resources, equipment and
capabilities. We, therefore, expect that realistic
and practical guidelines on protection of civilians, as well as requisite force
numbers and resources would be provided to UN peacekeepers so that they can
execute their mandates. These practical
guidelines should also make clear what peacekeepers can and cannot do. We welcome the concept papers
presented to the C-34 recently, which include many significant elements. These concept
papers, in our view, should also focus sufficiently on the ‘need’ and ‘how’ of
meeting the resource requirements for robust peacekeeping and PoC mandates. The
papers are very comprehensive in “operationalizing” one of the basic principles
of PKO, namely in the defence of a mandate authorized by the Council. However, the
other basic principle, namely the requisite consent of the parties, particularly
of the host government, should also be adequately operationalized. The element
of “the consent” should be incorporated in the proposed definition of ‘robust
peacekeeping’. Other important feature that should
be considered further is that the UN force commander, national contingent and
the host government should be on the same page to identify who the spoilers are,
and who the civilians are which are to be protected. Madame Chair, In view of meeting
the demands of robust peacekeeping, we welcome the initiative from the
Secretariat that introduces a Global Field Support Strategy, a new global
service-delivery model. While noting the importance of this initiative, there
are indeed many details that need to be further discussed and explored. In this
regard, we support the proposal to hold a special deliberation regarding this
matter including in the form of an Open-ended Working Group in the GA plenary. On the issue of
peacebuilding tasks in peacekeeping operations, we share the views that bringing lasting peace to conflict
scarred regions requires a comprehensive approach. It entails a robust
political process, which all parties to the conflict have a trust in; and
requires a successful and seamless transition from peacekeeping to
peacebuilding. We note that the DPKO is developing
a strategy for peacebuilding tasks undertaken by peacekeepers. But as the
Secretary General has pointed out ‘peacekeepers are not long-term
peacebuilders’. In this regard, we share
the view of the critical importance of developing a rapidly deployable civilian
capacity in the UN system. This capacity
roster should constitute civilian experts from all regions. As recognized by
the Secretary General in his report on “the immediate aftermath of conflict”,
the establishment of this capacity should court to the Global South such as
countries in the Southeast Asian region. In this regard, we wish to inform that
Indonesia, together with Slovakia, will co-host a workshop on ‘the role of the
UN in multidimensional peacekeeping operations and post-conflict peacebuilding:
towards an ASEAN perspective’ in Jakarta on March 29-30, 2010. For its part, Madame Chair, the C-34 can promote exchanges between the pertinent
stakeholders inside and outside the UN system to develop a comprehensive peacebuilding
template strategy for the UN peacekeeping system. We expect that the C-34
Session will recommend tangible ways through which partnerships can be forged
and strengthened with the relevant entities as the PBSO, UNDP, DPA, and OROLSI,
as well as with the external multilateral financial and development agencies.
This will facilitate the UN peacekeeping to perform in a robust, safe and
efficient fashion. To conclude Madame Chair, my delegation would underscore what we all know too
well that peacekeepers can only succeed if there is a peace to be kept. Peacekeeping
should be supported by an effective peace process involving the relevant
regional actors, international community and the UN. Without that we risk
endangering the lives of blue helmets and tarnishing the image of United
Nations. Let me assure you that our
delegation stands ready to cooperate and contribute actively for the successful
outcome of our deliberations under your very able stewardship. I thank you.  |