Opening Remarks by H.E. Mr. Tsuneo Nishida
Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations
at the Seminar titled, “The Evolving Roles of Engineering Units
in U.N. Peacekeeping Operations”
20 March 2013
As we have witnessed, U.N. peacekeeping has struggled to address the challenges of peacekeeping operations since even its first inception. One of those challenges is how to manage complex situations for the successful delivery of its emerging multidimensional functions. Each peacekeeping mission encounters many challenges regarding its resources, capabilities and performance. We all should be well aware that we have to overcome all of these challenges to reach our goal. Today, I would like to initiate our efforts by examining the role of engineering units, which, together with other units of U.N. peace operations, are at the forefront of such undertakings.
Japan has taken an early peacebuilding role in the 20-year history of its participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations. In Timor-Leste, Japan delivered engineering, police capacity building and electoral support. These deployments contributed to building a foundation for economic development, the rule of law and the political process in the country. In Haiti, Japanese engineering units proactively contributed to national recovery efforts and planted seeds for the country’s future development. Now, Japanese engineering units are supporting nation building efforts for South Sudan, the youngest nation in the world. I believe Japan’s experiences show us a path to overcoming emerging challenges.
Security Council Resolution 2086, adopted in January this year, shows a comprehensive picture of such multidimensional aspects of our peacekeeping operations. This resolution is indeed a critical milestone in the history of our discussions on the peacekeeping theme, as it focuses on the role of early peacebuilders. But, most importantly, our thematic discussion needs to translate into successes on the ground by properly and timely addressing problems which peacekeepers face every day. One of our challenges here in New York is to help peacekeepers address their problems most effectively and efficiently on the ground.
I hope that today’s seminar will deepen and broaden our understanding of the evolving roles of U.N. peacekeeping operations, focusing on military engineering units. The perspectives from the ground and headquarters brought by today’s speakers, I believe, will help create an environment more conducive to the successful execution of tasks on the ground.
