ArchiveS ArchiveS

 

 STATEMENT BY

 

 

Mr. President,

 

I wish to commend you for convening this important open debate on “Peacekeeping

Operations: the United Nations and Regional Partnerships and its Evolution”, and for

preparing the concept note which forms the basis of today’s debate. I wish to also

express my delegation’s appreciation to the United Nations Secretary General, the

Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service and the

representative of the African Union for their respective briefings earlier.

2. Malaysia would like to associate itself with the statement delivered by Thailand

on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the statement

delivered by Egypt on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.

 

Mr. President,

 

3. It is worth recalling that under the UN Charter, the Security Council has the

primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, while

regional organizations have the responsibility to work towards peaceful settlement of

issues and conflicts within their respective regions.

 

4. We are encouraged to note that thus far, various international organizations have

been playing active roles in peaceful settlement of dispute at the regional level,

including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the European Union (EU), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and our very own Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Malaysia believes that regional organizations should continue to play a leading role in efforts towards resolving conflicts within their regions.

 

Mr. President,

5. We all agree that partnerships between the UN and regional organizations in

peacekeeping operations offer unique comparative advantages. Apart from

commanding the legitimacy and affinity within their respective regions, regional

organizations could be sources of useful information, which could in turn contribute

towards enhancing the overall effectiveness of UN’s efforts in the management of

conflicts, as well as in addressing the root causes of conflicts.

 

6. Some regional organizations may even have greater flexibility in the allocation of

resources. Coupled with geographical proximity, regional organizations would be able to deploy assets, including troops, more rapidly than the UN – which is often crucial in

saving more lives. The question now is, how we can further enhance the effectiveness

of such cooperation, in order for us to maximize the benefits.

 

7. Malaysia firmly believes that cooperation between the UN and regional

organizations should be an on-going and dynamic process. With the increasingly

complex and multidimensional nature of today’s peacekeeping operations, it is vital for

the development of policies at the inter-governmental level be undertaken by

consensus. This policy making process must also be based on the relevant provisions

of the UN Charter and guided by the basic principles of peacekeeping. Malaysia

reaffirms that the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (C-34) is the

appropriate body in charge of policymaking in peacekeeping.

  

Mr. President,

 

8. A capability-driven approach should be one of the key strategies to address the

evolving nature of present and future peacekeeping. It should focus on developing

capability standards as well as comprehensive and effective training and preparation. It is essential that the UN and regional organizations use the same terminology of

peacekeeping, and to have a common understanding of basic doctrine and operational rules of engagement that could be practically applied under various circumstances.

 

9. In addition, it is vital for peacekeeping personnel to be provided with clear

operational tasks, appropriate guidance and training, as well as the necessary tools and equipment to enable them to carry out their duties effectively. Peacekeepers must also be constantly aware of the cultural sensitivities and the local peculiarities of the areas where they serve. These could be achieved through joint training workshops and awareness programmes to be conducted by the UN in troop contributing countries, as well as in the respective national peacekeeping centres.

 

10. From our part, we have established the Malaysian Peacekeeping Centre (MPC)

since June 1995, aimed at training and providing Armed Forces officers, Royal

Malaysian Police and NGO’s with appropriate knowledge on peacekeeping prior to their assignment with the United Nations. Over the years, MPC has collaborated with various UN agencies, among others, the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations and UN Development Programme (UNDP), as well as with training centres of partner countries in conducting various training programmes. To date, MPC has trained 1931 local officers and 612 international participants from 52 countries.

 

 Mr. President,

 

11. Peacekeeping operations depend enormously on resources, both financial and

personnel. Malaysia is all too aware that resources in time of great economic challenge are scarce. The recent discussion on the new troop reimbursement rate at the last session of the Fifth Committee only further attested to this challenge. It is imperative for Member States to remain committed in supporting UN peacekeeping missions. In this regard, Malaysia is of the view that both the UN and respective regional organizations must endeavour to adopt a more effective approach to generate sufficient resources for the peacekeeping operations.

 

Mr. President,

 

12. Another key issue that the UN and the regional organizations must emphasize on

is the importance of effective and efficient logistical support, which has often been

stretched too thin. It is of utmost importance to provide logistical support at the right

time, at right place and with the right quantity, to meet the demands on the ground.

Acknowledging that there is no single solution which will be able to satisfy the varying

needs of different missions, the United Nations, regional organizations and other

partners must cooperate to enhance their logistical capabilities.

 

13. In conclusion, Mr. President, I wish to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the

men and women of the United Nations, particularly those who have sacrificed their lives, while serving in peacekeeping missions. Rest assured, on our part, Malaysia will continue to work together with all partners and stakeholders in our collective efforts to advance the cause of international peace and security, through the UN’s peacekeeping agenda.

 

Thank you, Mr. President.