Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Koro Bessho
Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations
At the Briefing on
United Nations Peacekeeping Operations
6 April 2017
Madam President,
I thank the presidency for its initiative in convening this briefing at the Council today. I would also thank Secretary-General Guterres for his informative briefing. Japan is deeply committed to UN peacekeeping and is the third largest contributor to its budget. We are eager to discuss how this vital tool for international peace and stability can deliver the greatest impact on the ground.
Madam President,
Our goal in reviewing peacekeeping operations should be to ensure that peacekeeping achieves results consistently. It is thus our essential task to undertake serious, well-informed discussions to determine in concrete terms what we want each mission to deliver.
Today’s discussion must be put into context: while we should always seek to improve the efficiency of UN peacekeeping, overall, it is a cost-effective tool. Just one example: an analysis by the United States Government Accountability Office in 2006 found that MINUSTAH was costing less than half of what a US operation of equal size and duration would have required. Our priority is not to simply scale back or downsize peacekeeping, but to ensure that it is effectively employed where it can make a difference with limited resources.
Madam President,
In reviewing operations, some improvements may take time. But one measure we can implement this very day is to hold more in-depth discussions in the Council on the mandates we authorize. We tend to add on different capacities to missions in response to individual circumstances, but we must stop to reflect on this habit. The Council has the primary responsibility to identify a mission’s core objective and priorities through focused discussions.
The clarity and effectiveness of mandates, and thus of peacekeeping itself, stem from the quality of these discussions. This requires us to methodically review and analyze information from the field, troop-contributing countries, and the Secretariat. A recent good example is the extensive discussion on MONUSCO between Council members and troop-contributing countries, which resulted in a clearer and better-prioritized mandate.
Madam President,
We must assess whether the continued deployment of a given peacekeeping operation fits the reality on the ground. We often hear that shrinking mandates or troop levels can undermine peace and security if the timing is not right. But this cannot be an excuse for status quo mandate roll-overs without serious consideration. We need deeper discussions in the Council to link political processes closely to mandates. We should also consider whether the timing of deployment is appropriate in the conflict spectrum.
We must be prepared to constructively discuss peacekeeping exit strategies with an understanding of the context on the ground, including what would follow from a premature withdrawal where political solutions are elusive. In doing so, the Council should explore enhanced coordination with the Peacebuilding Commission, which can play an important role in the transition from peacekeeping to post-conflict recovery.
Madam President,
As one means for making peacekeeping even more cost-effective, Japan proposes that we further explore coordinated initiatives to increase personnel capabilities across missions. Individual troop-contributing countries are responsible for ensuring high troop standards, but in many cases, enhanced capacity through additional training can be beneficial. Triangular cooperation among the Secretariat, troop-contributing countries, and a third country such as Japan can help ensure that peacekeepers are well-prepared for the field. Standardizing this practice could be one way to guarantee that missions consistently receive the best personnel to complete their mandates.
Madam President,
We must use UN peacekeeping even more effectively so that this vital tool continues to protect the most vulnerable, while fitting into a broader sustaining peace framework built on the pillars of peace and security, human rights, and development. There are naturally many views on how this can best be accomplished. Japan hopes that today’s briefing will mark the start of deeper Council discussions involving a wide range of stakeholders on each mission and mandate.
I thank you, Madam President.
