S/PV.3207 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Following consultations among members of the Security Council, 1 have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: "Continuing its examination of the Secretary-General's report entitled 'An Agenda for Peace' (S/24111), the Security Council during the month of April 1993, emphasizing the importance of building strong foundations for peace in all countries and regions of the world, considered the subject of post-conflict peace-building. "The Security Council supports the view that the United Nations, in order to meet its responsibilities in the context of international peace and security, should view its objectives in respect of economic and social cooperation and development with the same sense of responsibility and urgency as its commitments in the political and security areas, "The Security Council stresses that, in examining the question of post-conflict peace-building, it wishes to highlight the importance and the urgency of the work of the United Nations in the field of development cooperation, without prejudice to the recognized priorities for the activities of the United Nations in that field as defined by the competent bodies. "The Security Council took note of the Secretary-General's observation that, to be truly successful, peacemaking and peace-keeping operations 'must come to include comprehensive efforts to identify and support structures which will tend to consolidate peace and advance a sense of confidence and well-being among people'. It agreed that in addition to the specific measures mentioned by the Secretary-General in paragraph 55 of his report 'An Agenda for Peace', activities such as disarming and demobilisation of belligerent forces and their reintegration into society, electoral assistance, the restoration of national security through formation of national defence and police forces and mine-clearing, where appropriate and within the framework of comprehensive settlements of conflict situations, strengthen national ‘ii \ political structures and enhance institutional and administrative capabilities and are important in restoring a sound basis for sustainable peace. "The Security Council further agrees that in the aftermath of an international conflict, peace-building may, inter alia, include measures and cooperative projects linking two or more countries in mutually beneficial undertakings which contribute not only to economic, social and cultural development but also enhance mutual understanding and confidence that are so fundamental to peace. "In discharging its responsibilities in the prevention of breaches of peace and in the resolution of conflicts, the Security Council encourages coordinated action by other components of the United Nations system to remedy the underlying causes of threats to peace and security. The Council is convinced that the organizations and agencies of the United Nations system, in the development and implementation of their programmes, need to be constantly sensitive to the goal of strengthening international peace and security as envisaged in Article I of the Charter, "The Security Council recognizes that post-conflict peace-building, in the context of overall efforts to build the foundations of peace, in order to be effective, also needs adequate financial resources. The Council, therefore, recognises that it is important for Member States and financial and other United Nations bodies and agencies, as well as other organizations outside the United Nations system, to make all possible efforts to have adequate funding available for specific projects, such as the earliest possible return of refugees and displaced persons to their homes of origin, in post-conflict situations. "The Security Council, as the organ having primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, fully recognizess as stated in paragraph 59 of 'An Agenda for Peace', that social peace is as important as strategic or political peace and supports the Secretary-General's view that there is a new requirement for technical assistance for the purposes described in that paragraph. "The Security Council intends to continue its consideration of the Secretary-General's report entitled 'An Agenda for Peace', as indicated in the President's statement of 29 October 1992 (S/24728)." This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council Under the symbol S/25696. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideraticn of the item on the agenda. The meeting rose at 12.55 p.m.