Statement by H.E. Ambassador UMETSU Shigeru, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the Informal meeting of the plenary to hear a briefing from the Secretary-General on the review on the future of all forms of United Nations peace operations

 

Thank you, Madam President.

I thank the Secretary-General for his briefing. Japan welcomes the awaited release of the review.

While further examination of the review is needed, I wish to re-emphasize some critical elements that will help ensure that UN peace operations continue to serve as an effective tool for promoting international peace and security in an increasingly complex and uncertain global landscape.

First and foremost is the safety and security of personnel. I wish to extend our deepest condolences to the families of the two Ethiopian peacekeepers who lost their lives this week while bravely serving in UNMISS. We mourn the loss of all peacekeepers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in missions around the world.

Crimes against peacekeepers are unacceptable, and robust training and capacity building are essential. Japan remains committed to working closely with the Secretariat and troop- and police- contributing countries to strengthen the capabilities of peacekeepers, including those deployed in AU-led peace support operations.

Japan also emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to peace operations, viewing peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding as a peace continuum. All forms of peace operations must have a shared strategic vision toward the long-term stability of the host nation. In this regard, securing the HDP nexus is vital to prevent capacity or funding gaps during mission transitions.

While I understand that the review tries to address the points I have just underscored, there will need to be active discussions between the Secretariat and the Member States to thoroughly examine the issues at hand. Beyond that, the true challenge lies in how we can effectively translate those discussions into concrete actions to address the identified problems – and this process must continue under the next Secretary-General.

This is our continuous collective effort for the future of peace operations. Japan is committed to play its role in fostering the discussions in the follow-up of the review, as well as the recommendations agreed by the C34.

I thank you.