Statement by the delegation of Ukraine at the UNSC briefing on UN peacekeeping operations: strategic force generation

Statement by the delegation of Ukraine at the UNSC briefing on UN peacekeeping operations: strategic force generation

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Mr. President,

Let me start with expressing gratitude to the briefers for their highly valuable information on the issue at hand.

It is obvious that any peacekeeping operation relies on an appropriate force generation to be able to deliver on its mandate devised by the Security Council. Therefore, my Delegation considers the issue of ensuring strategic force generation as an integral part of the comprehensive reform of the UN peacekeeping as outlined by the Secretary-General.

The establishment of the Strategic Force Generation and Capacity Building Cell as well as Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System was a significant step forward in the implementation of the HIPPO report recommendations. The 2015 Leaders’ Summit gave a good start for the registration of TCCs’ and PCCs’ pledges. It was also important to give that initiative an additional impulse at the subsequent conferences held in London and Paris.

Ukraine is proud to be among those who joined the pledging process from the very beginning. In addition, my country, being a participant of all of those meetings, will also take part in Vancouver Defence Conference next month.

Mr. President,

The establishment of the PCRS provided the peacekeeping operations with what they badly needed for a long time: force generation flexibility and predictability. As a result PKOs became better adapted in terms of equipment and expertise to the execution of mandated tasks.

At the same time, as was pointed out in the concept note, there is still a lot of opportunities for improvement in efficiency of mandate delivery on the ground. In this regard, I would like to highlight several ways, in which the Council could contribute to strengthening PKOs in terms of force generation.

1. The Council should take dialogue with TCCs and PCCs to the new level, including through its Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations as well as by continuing formal and informal consultations during establishment or renewal of PKOs’ mandates.

Here we note with satisfaction the meeting of the Working Group held just a few days ago with the participation of the C-34 members. That was a good move fully in line with the revised Presidential Note 507 and resolution 2378 on peacekeeping reform we adopted few weeks ago.

2. Missions should be provided with clear, coherent, achievable, sequenced and, at the same time, resilient mandates drawn in accordance with core tenets of the UN peacekeeping.

To this end, the Council should receive timely, frank and substantive reports from the Secretariat, as well as be provided with the Secretary-General’s bold initiatives and options of new UN peacekeeping presence.

In this regard, Ukraine supports the Secretary-General’s endeavor on restructuring the Peace and Security Pillar of the Secretariat that, as we expect, should result, i.e., in strengthening strategic advice to the Council.

It is obvious also that we need to closely monitor and assess practical progress in mandate implementation of every single mission, identify those in need of restructuring and to thoroughly consider every mission’s mandate with the focus on supporting a political solution to the conflict.

3. Concerning capability gaps, due attention should be payed to securing proper funding and providing sufficient aviation assets (both combat and cargo), as well as making use of advanced intelligence and modern technologies.

Considering the mandates’ establishment or renewal the Council should engage more actively with the parties to a dispute and/or host country in order secure the use of appropriate modern technologies in PKOs.

The Council should also support and facilitate strengthening of intelligence capacities of operations to improve their situation awareness.

All these aspects are critically important for ensuring security and mobility of the peacekeeping personnel.

Last but not least, the UN PKOs must be provided with properly trained and equipped personnel capable and ready to take robust actions for mandate execution on the ground. Impartiality should also remain one of the top critical principle while choosing a composition of PKOs’ personnel.

The Council, on its part, has to follow closely implementation of resolution 2272 and continue to support Secretary-General’s initiatives in the area of peace and security, including on the eradication of sexual violence in the UN peacekeeping.

In closing, I would like to reiterate that Ukraine will do its outmost to remain a reliable partner of the UN peacekeeping endeavor even in times when my country itself requires UN peacekeeping assistance in light of continuing foreign aggression.

I thank you, Mr. President.