| Ladies and Gentlemen, During the past two days, you have had an intensive exchange on
problems and prospects of UN peacekeeping. The UN was founded to save succeeding
generations from the scourge of war. In undertaking peacekeeping operations, the UN gives
expression to one of the foremost purposes of the world body. The UN peacekeeping
activities had an uncertain beginning in the Cold War era. However, what began as a
tentative experiment is now accepted as a regular part of the UN's activities. Last year
we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first UN peacekeeping operation, which was in
West Asia. India is one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping operations. Through
its participation in UN peacekeeping activities, India has contributed to the maintenance
of international peace and security.
2. What is unique about UN peacekeeping operations is
their universality in terms of objective and composition. Its action represent the
collective will of the international community. The UN draws its peacekeepers from a broad
range of troop-contributing countries. The goals of UN peacekeeping are distinct from
national wars. Their objective is to promote international peace, not the partisan
interests of an individual country. This principle must determine the mandate, as well as
conduct of the operation on the ground.
3. As the then UN Secretary General Dr. Boutros
Boutros-Ghali remarked in his report in the Supplement to an Agenda for Peace, the
principles of neutrality, impartiality and minimum use of force have an abiding relevance
to UN peacekeeping. If UN forces are seen as partisan, they would not enjoy the support of
all parties to the conflict. Without such support, they would be cast in the role of
belligerents. This would also mean increased costs to the UN in terms of men and material.
Lack of public support for UN's action would also affect the UN's image.
4. While peacekeeping operations are important, they
cannot be a substitute for political settlement between parties to the conflict. An
open-ended mandate is a drain on scarce resources available to the UN. There is a risk
that in such a case, the UN's presence will be exploited for political propaganda,
encourage intransigence and vitiate the atmosphere for negotiations.
5. The UN peacekeeping is also not a substitute to
developmental work and nation building. Conflict prevention does not simply mean
diplomatic or military efforts. It also means recognising and addressing underlying
socio-economic causes.
6. The UN Secretary General's Annual Report on the
work of the Organisation for 1998 stated that the international community has begun to
overcome its reluctance to make use of the Organisation's peacekeeping capacity. Why was
there any "reluctance" to allow the Organisation to play its role in
peacekeeping? Maintenance of international peace and security is one of the foremost
purposes behind establishing the world body. The UN could not play its role in maintenance
of international peace and security during the Cold War period, as the decision-making in
the Security Council was often paralysed by differences among the permanent members. It is
surprising that such reluctance persists even after the end of the Cold War when there is
greater unity of purpose amongst them.
7. It is paradoxical that while the Security Council
is venturing into new areas like human rights, humanitarian law and disarmament which are
within the purview of other UN organs and bodies, it is being squeezed out of its role in
maintenance of international peace and security, which is its primary responsibility under
the UN Charter. The role of the Security Council is undermined by the tendency to
undertake peace enforcement without specific UNSC authorisation. Another disturbing
process is the expansion of the area of activity of NATO. These are ideas which could lead
to NATO intervening in situations well beyond Europe. The Council's role in maintenance of
international peace and security is also constrained by the worsening financial crisis
faced by the UN. Both these trends, unless checked, will increasingly marginalise the
Council's role and authority in international relations. This is unacceptable.
8. There are suggestions that UN's work in
peacekeeping could be "sub-contracted" to regional arrangements. The United
Nations is the only universal body. Its unique role in peacekeeping cannot be arrogated by
other organisations, which would lack legitimacy. The argument of military efficiency, or
financial resources, cannot be a substitute. It also begs the question that if resources
can be found for peacekeeping by regional arrangements, why not for the United Nations?
9. Isolationism of the inter-war period undermined
the authority of the League of Nations. The UN, to be successful, needs the engagement of
all the Member States. What will be the terms of this engagement? Will it be based on
co-operation or coercion? Consensual peacekeeping is most successful. Doctrines of
intervention without consent of the States parties need to be treated with caution.
10. We are witnessing two divergent trends in
international relations. While there are fewer resources available for development
cooperation, there is greater tendency to intervene in the domestic jurisdiction of
States. There is a dichotomy between disengagement from international commitment on one
area and greater intervention in other areas.
11. It is sometimes stated that that there are now
more intra-state, than inter-state conflicts, justifying intrusive peacekeeping. Both the
assumption, and the prescription, are questionable. There have been civil wars in every
phase of history. Often these have been more destructive than wars between nations. The
solution to conflicts of ethnicity or sub-nationalism lies in national reconciliation.
Democratic pluralism, rather than use of military force, is the answer to growing
violence.
12. The United Nations was founded on the principle
of sovereign equality. Respect for national sovereignty of Member States would strengthen
the world body. Sovereignty need not be seen as a barrier to the UN playing its role under
the Charter. Cooperation of the Member States would strengthen the UN's authority. To be
successful, UN peacekeeping activities need support of broad spectrum of international
community.
13. It also ironical that there is greater stress on
humanitarian assistance, while developmental assistance is shrinking. Humanitarian
assistance may be useful in a crisis situation. It does not however, address long term
developmental needs. It is axiomatic that "assistance" must be based on the
consent of the Member States. The doctrine of humanitarian intervention needs to be
treated with caution. To equate humanitarian situations with threats to international
peace and security s a dubious proposition. The experience of Somalia was not very happy
either for the people of that country or for the UN. The "Failed State" syndrome
cannot be set up as a universal model justifying intrusive doctrines.
14. Peacekeeping also raises the issue of
applicability of humanitarian law to UN forces. This becomes a problem especially in
Missions which involve peace enforcement. Entanglement with peace enforcement would also
undermine the neutrality of humanitarian organisations. Neutrality and impartiality are
essential for success of their operation as well as safety of their personnel.
15. Peacekeeping must be as part of broader UN
framework. Development must remain central to UN's agenda. Adequate resources are needed
for both development and peacekeeping. The UN's financial crisis has a crippling effect on
UN's role in development as well as peacekeeping. The debate on financial reform of the UN
remains stalled. At a time when globalisation has become the accepted "mantra",
why cannot we summon the political will to support the only truly universal organisation
that exists? The Secretary General must be provided adequate resources to discharge the
legislative mandate given to the UN by the Member States. Lack of finances will aggravate
the problem of delays in payment of troop contributing costs. This in turn limits
participation of many developing countries in future peacekeeping operations.
16. Peacekeeping operations are mandated by the
Security Council. Most of these operations are in developing countries. Developing
countries, which are the object of the Council's actions, must also participate in its
decision-making. Security Council re-structuring must result in enhanced representation of
developing countries in permanent as well as non-permanent members' category.
17. India is one of the largest troop contributors to
UN's peacekeeping activities. Over the years, India provided total of 50,000 troops to 29
UN peacekeeping operations. This included some of the most risky operations in Egypt,
Congo, Cambodia, Somalia and Rwanda. Professional excellence of Indian troops has been
widely appreciated. India has been consistent in its support to UN's peacekeeping
activities even during the Cold War years, when the great powers often bypassed the UN.
18. India has the unique capacity to sustain
large-scale troops commitments over prolonged period. India played a key role in
diplomatic negotiations during the Suez crisis. After the war, the UN Emergency Forces
were deployed in Sinai. India provided 12,000 troops over a period of 11 years to the UN
operation.
19. Indian troops took part in the UN Operation in
the Congo. This was the first UN operation, where peace-enforcement was authorised. What
was significant was that the UN resorted to military force to defend national sovereignty
and territorial integrity of a Member State against secessionist forces. 39 Indian
soldiers sacrificed their lives in discharging the mandate given by the United Nations.
20. The United Nations played a crucial role in
Namibia's transition from a colony to a sovereign, independent country. India was a member
of the United Nations Council for South West Africa entrusted with the responsibility to
administer the territory until independence. I had the privilege of being associated with
the process as the United Nations Commissioner for South West Africa. Later an UN
Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) was established to supervise elections and pave the
way for achieving Namibia's independence. India provided troops as well as a Force
Commander to the Operation. We are privileged to have with us H.E. Tuliameni Kalomoh, the
Namibian Deputy Foreign Minister with us here. Since independence, Namibia has been
playing an important role at regional as well as international level.
21. India demonstrated its capacity to provide an
integrated force comprising land, sea and air elements to UN's peacekeeping efforts in
Somalia. In the initial phase, Indian naval ships performed patrolling duties off the
Somali coast. When UNOSOM II operation was established, India provided 5,000 troops. The
Indian contingent had the largest area of responsibility. It is significant that there
were minimum casualties of the Somali people, or the UN forces in the sector controlled by
the Indian contingent.
22. Recently, India was called upon to provide 1
battalion to the UN peacekeeping operation in the Southern Lebanon. The Indian contingent
was quickly deployed once the decision was taken.
23. India's participation in UN peacekeeping
operations not based on any narrow contention of interest, but flows from our commitment
to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. In doing so, India has made a signal
contribution to the maintenance of international peace and security. We shall continue to
do so in the next millennium also. |
