Statement by the delegation of Ukraine at the meeting of the UNGA 4th Committee on the comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects

Statement by the delegation of Ukraine at the meeting of the UNGA 4th Committee on the comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects

Mr. Chairman,

Time is high for the UN to accomplish an efficient and comprehensive reform of its peacekeeping pillar in order to address present-day challenges and requirements in this critical area. This is the demand of our time and a prerequisite for an effective overall reform of our Organization. As we can see, this is the gist of an absolute majority of statements in this hall. My delegation fully endorses this approach, and we reaffirmed that at the High-Level event organized by the Secretary-General on Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) in September.

The Secretary-General’s A4P initiative aimed at strengthening the bond between all peacekeeping stakeholders is exactly what our Organization requires in order to make this instrument more effective and reliable. We sincerely hope that the A4P Declaration endorsed by so many states, including by Ukraine as an active troop-contributor, will reinforce this collective commitment.

We would like to echo one of the appeals contained in the joint Declaration: it is crucial that management reform lead to improved ability of the UN to deliver on its mandates. Here, we see a vital role of the Secretary-General in carrying out his responsibilities in accordance with Article 99 of the UN Charter.

The Council should not only receive timely, frank and substantive reports from the Secretariat; it should also be provided with Secretary-General’s bold initiatives and options for UN peacekeeping presence in conflict-prone or conflict-affected countries and regions.

It is obvious also that every peacekeeping operation relies on an appropriate force generation to be able to deliver on its mandate devised by the Security Council. Therefore, Ukraine 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.

Mr. Chairman,

We should not be deceived by a belief in PKOs’ abilities to function efficiently and effectively without proper funding and sufficient capabilities, including aviation assets, advanced intelligence and modern technologies. That was among main recommendations of the HIPPO report as well as one of the Leaders’ Summit outcomes in 2015 yet to be accomplished.

PKOs should be provided with clear, coherent, achievable, sequenced and, at the same time, resilient mandates, sufficient to ensure security and safety of civilians, including stopping illegal inflow of weapons and mercenaries. Undeniably PKO is a reliable instrument for curbing and, more importantly, preventing conflicts and ensuring sustaining peace. PKOs provide adequate conditions on the ground for advancing a respective peace process.

At the same time, we need to closely monitor and assess the real accomplishments in mandate implementation of every single mission, identify those in need of structural reform and to thoroughly consider every mission’s mandate with the focus on achieving a political solution.

We also have to take the triangular dialogue between the Security Council, TCCs/PCCs and the Secretariat to a new level, first of all by enhancing formal and informal consultations during establishment or renewal of PKOs’ mandates. In this respect, the Security Council Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations could also serve a basis for triangular consultations format, especially taking into account that this WG was entrusted by UNSC resolution 2378 (2017) with the task of monitoring and consideration of the UN PKO reform process within the Council.

Ukraine reaffirms its support for the UN “zero tolerance” policy on all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers. Proper conduct by, and discipline over, all personnel deployed in UN peacekeeping operations are vital to their effectiveness.

Here, Mr. Chairman, I wish to recall my country’s request to deploy a peacekeeping operation under UN auspices in the occupied territory of Donbas. It was and continuous to be our conviction that deployment of such a mission will serve as a clear evidence of UN’s ability to act responsibly and in line with its mandate in challenging conflict situations. We need to see progress on this track.

I would also like to remind that in violation of the UN Charter as well as contrary to the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and Security Council, the foreign military aggression against Ukraine and temporary occupation of parts of its territory still persist, leading to the suffering of the people of Ukraine and undermining regional and international peace and security. A UNSC-mandated peacekeeping operation could be a decisive factor in bringing peace to Ukraine and ending sufferings of Ukrainians affected by the conflict.

In closing, let me underline that Ukraine’s commitment and contribution to the UN peacekeeping will not be shaken even when my country itself is under attack. Ukraine will remain a reliable partner in our common peacekeeping endeavor.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman