S/PV.6092Resumption1 Security Council

The President (spoke in Arabic): In accordance with the understanding reached in the Council's prior consultations, I shall take it that the Security Council agrees to extend an invitation under rule 39 of its provisional rules of procedure to Mr. Edouard Aho-Glele, Chairperson of the African Union Peace and Security Council. It is so decided. I invite Mr. Aho-Glele to take a seat at the Council table. I now give the floor to the representative of the Czech Republic.

Mr. Palous (Czech Republic): I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union (EU). The candidate countries Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia, as well as the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, align themselves with this statement. I would like to thank the Libyan presidency of the Security Council, which currently also holds the chairmanship of the African Union (AU), for organizing this open debate; the Secretary-General for his informative briefing; and Mr. Prodi for introducing the report (8/2008/813) on behalf of the African Union-United Nations panel established by the Secretary-General. Allow me to begin by saying that the European Union attaches great importance to the existing and further developing partnership between the United Nations and the African Union. I would also like to highlight, right from the outset, how much we appreciate the recent key efforts of the African Union in the area of peace and security, including the deployment of African Union peace-support operations and the African Peace and Security Architecture. These efforts are fully in line with the principle of African ownership, which the European Union is also fully committed to. In this context, the European Union appreciates the efforts of the African Union-United Nations panel led by Mr. Prodi in preparing the report. The United Nations cooperation with regional, subregional and other international organizations under 2 Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter, has, for a number of years now, been in the spotlight of the Security Council. This has been duly reflected in several Council decisions. Allow me to highlight at least two such resolutions: resolutions 1631 (2005) and 1809 (2008). These are truly strategic partnerships. The European Union strongly believes in such partnerships and fully supports any effective, focused and well- coordinated effort, be it on the side of the United Nations Secretariat or on the side of the United Nations Member States, to further develop and operationalize them. The European Union is proud to be building one such strategic partnership with the United Nations in many fields, including in the area of international peace and security, the maintenance of which, under the Charter, is the primary responsibility of the Security Council. Today, the European Union and the United Nations increasingly develop together thematic, strategic responses and operations. Allow me to recall here today the example of Operation Artemis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2003, which was a landmark in the particularly close European Union- United Nations cooperation in crisis management. It was subsequently formalized in the first joint European Union-United Nations declaration, signed on 24 September 2003, and supplemented by a joint statement of 7 June 2007. In recent years, approximately twenty EU military and civilian operations under the European Security and Defence Policy have been launched in all continents. Many of them are carried out under Security Council mandates, including in cases when the United Nations is no longer present in the particular territories. In 2006, for example, mainly in response to the call by the Secretary-General for reinforcement of the United Nations operation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the European Union launched a EU-led force (EUFOR) mission in Democratic Republic of the Congo. In January 2008, the European Union launched the bridging operation EUFOR Tchad/RCA in eastern Chad and north-eastern Central African Republic, the main task of which was to set the ground for a full-fledged United Nations operation in the same territory, the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT). Only three days ago, on 15 March 2009, based on close partnership and effective coordination between the United Nations and the 09-27223 European Union, most members of EUFOR Tchad/RCA were re-hatted, and today MINURCAT operates with its own military component, with around 1,650 nationals of European Union member States in it. Most recently, as of December 2008, the European Union launched the military operation called Operation Atalanta (EU NAVFOR Somalia), which is being conducted in support of resolutions 1814 (2008), 1816 (2008), 1838 (2008) and 1846 (2008). Of course, what I have just referred to is in no way a complete account of the various forms of EU- United Nations partnership and cooperation in the area of international peace and security. I have mentioned these examples mainly to clearly demonstrate that partnerships between the United Nations and its regional and subregional partners, such as the one between the United Nations and the European Union, are not only important but are effective and make a tremendous difference on the ground. The European Union fully supports efforts aimed at enhancing dialogue and interaction between the Security Council and representatives of regional, subregional and other international organizations. This is directly linked to providing for more effective and efficient carrying out of the Security Council's work and to contributing to making the Council's deliberations more strategically oriented, as well as to ensuring that better account is taken of the current realities on the ground. The expertise, first-hand inputs and leverage that regional and subregional organizations have to offer are major assets that the United Nations and the Security Council can truly benefit from. It is a well-known fact that today many challenges to international peace and security lie in Africa. Nine of the 19 current United Nations peacekeeping operations and numerous other types of United Nations missions and offices are situated in Africa. About 70 per cent of United Nations peacekeepers and 73 per cent of the United Nations peacekeeping budget go to Africa. Just from these basic facts, it is obvious that it is essential for the United Nations to have established and to further develop effective partnerships and cooperation with the African Union. The European Union fully supports efforts aimed at widening and strengthening United Nations cooperation with the African Union. In practical terms, 09-27223 close cooperation between the African Union and United Nations institutions and relevant bodies should be developed. We are encouraged by the fact that the modalities and parameters of such cooperation have been well established thus far, including through regular interactions between the United Nations Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council. These interactions are also fundamental in view of the relevant decision-making processes for peace support operations. They can, inter alia, provide for a better understanding of the conflict situations and challenges at hand and contribute to ensuring clarity of shared goals. As I have already mentioned, the European Union greatly appreciates recent endeavours by African regional and subregional organizations, in particular by the African Union, to deliver peace in the continent. We commend the progress made in this regard so far. This is in line with the principle of African ownership, which the European Union fully supports. The African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), as well as efforts aimed at creating an African standby force, are recent, highly visible demonstrations in this respect. For its part, the European Union has provided major support to those African Union Missions and will continue to do so, including through its naval operation EU NAVFOR ATALANTA by contributing to the protection at sea of United Nations vessels delivering the logistical support package to AMISOM. The immensity of the tasks, which stems from increasingly difficult conflict environments and other related challenges, requires substantial institutional and operational capacity, including on the part of the African Union. Among these tasks and challenges, the European Union attaches great importance to the protection of civilians as an integral part of most peacekeeping operations, as well as to the attainment of high standards in peacekeeping, including in particular the principle of zero-tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. The European Union is committed to assisting the African Union in developing its peacekeeping capabilities and human capacities. We fully support similar endeavours in relations between the African Union and the United Nations. Support in the area of logistics and training are essential elements of such cooperation. Furthermore, the European Union supports the idea of a multi-donor trust fund to finance 3 long-term African Union capacity-building. In this context, the European Union believes it will be pertinent to address specific modalities of such a fund, as well as its relations with existing funding mechanisms, including the European Union African Peace Facility, in order to provide additional resources to the African Union. With regard to funding mechanisms for African Union peace operations carried out under United Nations mandates in particular, the European Union understands the need for predictability and sustainability. Sustainable and predictable funding mechanisms should be reflective of the different scope and nature of the United Nations and its regional partners and should avoid restraining the independence of the respective partners in their specific spheres of competence and responsibility. These conditions fully apply, for example, to the instrument of a multi-donor trust fund, which could, inter alia, enable donors to assist the African Union and troop-contributing countries during operations. On the use of United Nations assessed funds, additional discussions will be needed. The European Union looks forward to the assessment that the Secretary-General will prepare, taking into account the report of the panel as well as the implementation of resolution 1863 (2009). The European Union strongly believes that security is a precondition for development. The European Union is the biggest donor of development aid to Africa. The European Union and the African Union have a well-established partnership, and the European Union is fully committed to developing it further. A cornerstone of the European Union-African Union partnership is the joint Africa-European Union Strategy agreed upon in 2007, which is accompanied by an ambitious and concrete three-year action plan for the period until 2010. It focuses on important objectives that range from security to democratic governance, human rights and development. The first of the eight strategic partnerships under the strategy is the partnership for peace and security. It includes projects such as joint evaluation missions to conflict and post-conflict areas, comprehensive consultation mechanisms, the training of experts, the development ofjoint strategies and so on. Joint European Union-African Union activities in this regard also include frequent political dialogue, the strengthening of the African Continental Early Warning System, ongoing assistance to African Union political- military structures and extensive training programmes. The three priority areas of the partnership for peace and security are, first, dialogue on challenges to peace and security, secondly, full operationalization of the African Peace and Security Architecture, and, thirdly, predictable funding for African-led peace-support operations. The Africa-European Union strategic partnership on peace and security is underpinned by a financing architecture. The European Union instrument called the African Peace Facility (APF), which was established on the request of the African Union, represents a major source of predictable, sustainable and flexible funding for African-led peace-support operations, as well as for the building of the required capacity to plan, lead and manage operations. With a total allocation of €440 million since 2004, the APF has provided a major part of the funding to a number of African-led peace operations - AMIS in the Sudan/Darfur, AMISOM. in Somalia, the Central African Multinational Force (FOMUC), now the Mission for the Consolidation of Peace in Central Africa (MICOPAX), and two African Union operations in the Comoros - and to strengthening the capacities of relevant institutions and structures, as well as to strengthening interactions between the African Union and African subregional organizations. As decided just a month ago, the APF will continue to function over the next three years with the allocation of €300 million. It will also allow for the funding of African-led mediation efforts and post- conflict stabilization activities. This substantial support package is further reinforced by an additional €200 million being provided for building the peace and security capacity, activities and missions of the African subregional organizations. In conclusion, let me emphasize once again that the European Union is strongly committed to further developing its own strategic partnership with the African Union and to providing long-term support to it in a wide range of areas. At the same time, the European Union fully supports further strengthening the strategic partnership between the African Union and the United Nations, including and in particular in the field of peace and security. In view of recent developments in Africa that remind us of the importance of effective conflict management, conflict 09-27223 prevention and the rule of law, the European Union is determined to continue assisting the African Union in developing its own capacity to deliver peace and stability on the continent and to become an increasingly strong partner to the United Nations and the entire international community. We see today's open debate as part of a long-term dialogue in this regard.

The President (spoke in Arabic): I now give the floor to Mr. Edouard Aho-Glele, Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union.

Mr. Aho-Glele (spoke in French): As the President has said, I am speaking on behalf of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union in my capacity as its President for this month of March. The Peace and Security Council of the African Union expresses its appreciation to the Security Council and to you, Mr. President, for having made the necessary adjustments to its agenda to allow the Chairperson to speak in today's debate on the issue of support for peacekeeping operations conducted by the African Union, which gives us the opportunity to express the views of the Peace and Security Council on the report under consideration (S/2008/813). Certain aspects of the Peace and Security Council's position have already been outlined by the Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union, as well as by members of this Council and other States Members of the United Nations. Nevertheless, on behalf of the Peace and Security Council, I would like to reaffirm several crucial points, some of which appear in its communique No. 178 dated 13 March, which we formally asked the African Union to pass on to you, Mr. President, so that the Security Council could take it into account during its discussions. The Peace and Security Council wishes to recall and to stress the importance of the role of regional arrangements as a basis for partnership between the United Nations Secretariat and the Commission of the African Union and between the United Nations Security Council and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, on the other. The Peace and Security Council would therefore like to express its gratitude for the initiative of the Secretary-General to establish an African Union-United Nations panel on support for peacekeeping operations in Africa. We also congratulate the panel, headed by Mr. Romano Prodi, 09-27223 on drafting a report that makes it possible to take suitable decisions. The Peace and Security Council seeks not to act as an advocate to this Council, but rather to encourage it to assume its full responsibility for taking the useful decisions required of it in its primary role in maintaining international peace and security and thereby support the Peace and Security Council of the African Union in its role as regional actor and leader on the African continent. The Peace and Security Council, in its secondary role as regional leader, welcomes the good relations between our two bodies in the settlement of numerous recent crises and attacks on peace and security on the African continent. However, situations persist in which the appeals of the Peace and Security Council have either not been heeded by the Security Council or have only provoked a timid response or received a tardy response. That was the case - and it is worth stressing - with the situation in the Sudan, where the Peace and Security Council has called upon the Security Council to defer the indictment brought against the President of the Sudan. That request was made last year, but the Security Council has yet to respond. To the consternation of the bodies of the African Union, an inappropriate action has just been undertaken by the International Criminal Court, which endangers the search for peace and security in that part of Africa that is the Sudan. The Peace and Security Council therefore appeals to the Security Council to listen more carefully to Africa's concerns and, following the example of what we are doing today with the consideration of this report, address the Peace and Security Council's requests that the issues of peace and security on the African continent be dealt with.

The President (spoke in Arabic): I thank Mr. Aho-Glele for his statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Italy.

Mr. Terzi de Sant'Agata (Italy): Mr. President, allow me to congratulate you personally on your appointment as the Permanent Representative of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and on the assumption of the presidency of the Security Council by your country, to which Italy is linked by very close and friendly relations. 5 I would like to welcome the Deputy Secretary- General, the Foreign Minister of South Africa, the Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, the Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union, and especially the Chairman of the African Union-United Nations panel, former Prime Minister Romano Prodi, who will speak again in due time before the conclusion of today's debate. Italy ranks first among countries of the European Union in contributions of troops to United Nations peacekeeping operations, ninth in the global ranking, and sixth among contributors to the peacekeeping budget. These statistics explain why we are so interested in ongoing efforts to enhance and update peacekeeping doctrines and procedures. Our interest extends to efforts being made in the General Assembly and its Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations; in the Security Council, where France and the United Kingdom are promoting an interesting debate; in the Secretariat with its "New Horizon Project" for peacekeeping; and, last but not least, in considering every possible way, such as the African Union-United Nations panel, to improve cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the panel, in particular Chairman Prodi, for their very valuable contributions to this debate of the Security Council and to the future peacekeeping efforts of the United Nations in Africa. The report, in our view, is well focused, balanced and rich with practical recommendations and proposals. Its main political objective is a clear and defined strategy for improving cooperation between the African Union (AU) and the United Nations. Such a vision, as outlined in the report and explained by Chairman Prodi, implies much closer interaction between United Nations and African Union bodies from the very start of the decision-making process. Regional actors, including the African Union, have better knowledge of internal dynamics in their areas and enjoy greater legitimacy with local Governments and public opinion. About 70 per cent of United Nations peacekeepers and 73 per cent of the United Nations peacekeeping budget go to Africa. Therefore, the regional dimension is key to ensuring effective and coherent responses to peace and security challenges. Regional ownership means a common vision and shared responsibilities. In the spirit of the Africa- European Union (EU) Lisbon strategy, AU empowerment in managing regional crises must be upheld. As my delegation recently stated in the informal General Assembly plenary meeting on Security Council reform, Italy is convinced of the need to enhance the regional dimension - and therefore the African voice - in a reformed Security Council. To help promote the regional dimension, reform should assure that decisions taken by the Security Council on regional crises foresee a larger role for Member States belonging to the region affected. In that context, we also welcome the proposal for the Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council to work together more closely and to structure a more consistent relationship between the United Nations Secretariat and the AU Commission. The more a continent grows in all its dimensions - political, economic, social, demographic - the more it is bound to share global responsibilities based on an equal partnership. Cooperation between the United Nations and regional, subregional and other international organizations in maintaining peace and security is encouraged by Chapter VIII of the Charter. The report refers rightly to that principle and underlines United Nations-EU structured relationships, such as the United Nations/European Union Steering Committee as an effective example for the African Union. With regard to cooperation among the United Nations, the EU and the African Union, I wish to fully align myself with the statement made earlier on behalf of the presidency of the European Union. The report also focuses on two elements that we deem essential to achieving more reliable and secure peacekeeping: training and logistics. The effectiveness and safety of peacekeepers depend on equipment, adequate training and professional standards that cannot be improvised. Existing training centres should be improved and adequately supported. The report is right in underlining the need for a closer relationship between the AU and the United Nations Logistics Base in Brindisi and a possible role for the United Nations logistics hub in Entebbe. The predictability and sustainability of peacekeeping financing are of undeniable importance, which is why we endorse the report's proposal to establish a long-term multi-donor capacity-building trust fund. With regard to the use of assessed contributions, while we reject any automatic mechanism, we are open to discussing that option in the context of clear and swift United Nations takeovers. Concerted efforts are needed to work out generally agreeable solutions. In conclusion, my country fully agrees that the AU-United Nations panel's report is an important step forward, provides a solid platform for our work at the United Nations and sets clear objectives with which my country is willing to concur.

The President (spoke in Arabic): I thank the representative of Italy for respecting the five minutes assigned to him. I take this opportunity to remind speakers to kindly confine themselves to the five- minute limit and that all statements longer than five minutes should be condensed. I give the floor to the representative of Egypt.

Mr. Abdelaziz (Egypt) (spoke in Arabic): I would like to start by welcoming Mr. Romano Prodi, Chairman of the African Union-United Nations panel on modalities for support to African Union (AU) peacekeeping operations, and to thank him and the panel members for their efforts in preparing the report (S/2008/813) that we are considering today in the context of efforts to invigorate partnership between the United Nations and the AU, pursuant to Chapter VIII of the Charter and the Constitutive Act of the African Union. There is no doubt that the enormous growth and evolution of activities related to the maintenance of international peace and security at the level of the United Nations and regional organizations, especially in Africa, highlights the importance of exploring ways to support regional efforts in that field within a comprehensive system that functions consistent with the purposes and principles of the Charter and contributes to advancing the efforts of regional organizations to peacefully resolve conflicts in a geographical context, in cooperation and coordination with the United Nations, which has the primary responsibility to respond to conflicts and to maintain international peace and security. My delegation therefore followed with interest the work of the joint panel and carefully studied its report. We welcome it as a step towards enhancing cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations and towards supporting African peacekeeping activities, particularly in the light of the efforts of the AU to build its institutional capacity in that regard and to enhance its capability to respond to crises and emergency situations and achieve long-term stability on our African continent. It must be noted that the need for peacekeeping operations is increasing in Africa and that the success of such operations depends to a large extent on the availability of resources and equipment, as demonstrated by the experience of the African Union Mission in Sudan before it was transformed into a hybrid mission and of the African Union Mission in Somalia. In the light of predictions that a decrease in the demand for peacekeeping operations in the near future is unlikely, and until a decrease in the number of conflicts is achieved through intensified efforts to improve mediation and conflict prevention, the need for peacekeeping operations will continue to increase in the future. That increase would have a negative impact on United Nations peacekeeping activities, both in terms of unprecedented and growing budget requirements that overwhelm the budgets of Member States and by making countries reluctant to contribute the required troops at appropriate times to achieve the objectives of peacekeeping and by hampering their ability to provide equipment. All of those issues underline the importance of invigorating the role of regional organizations, especially by providing essential financial resources and enhancing their institutional capacities in peacekeeping. Here we call upon the United Nations and donor countries and organizations to support the AU, by providing necessary financial resources, as called for in resolution 1809 (2008), addressing the lack of equipment and insufficient logistical support, and responding to the specific challenges faced by the AU due to the complexity of the conflict environment and the lack of capacities necessary, including financial capacities, to achieve a rapid response in some cases and to strengthen peace, stability and development on the African continent. All of those goals require joint coordination at three levels. The first is between the Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council; the second is between the United Nations Secretariat peacekeeping bodies and their AU counterparts; the third is between the Peacebuilding Commission and the AU Peace and Security Council consistent with the provisions of Chapter VIII of the Charter. Here, and to enhance the possibility of implementing the report of the joint panel, I wish to highlight a few points mentioned in the report's recommendations as the main pillars for supporting the peacekeeping capacity of the African Union. First is the need to enhance and develop the institutional capacity of the AU, strengthen its ability to respond to crises and promote a sustainable African capacity that can help achieve the long-term stability of the continent and address, consistent with the Charter, situations that breach peace and security. Secondly, it is necessary to establish a strategic and more effective partnership between the Security Council and the AAU Peace and the Security Council, on the one hand, and between the United Nations Secretariat and the AU Commission on the other, in order to achieve long-term success and ensure a joint vision of the two organizations on how to address peacekeeping in Africa by enhancing the ability of the AU to provide a rapid response and bolster the United Nations capacity to guarantee sustained operations. Third is the need to expand and establish joint working modalities between the United Nations, the AU and other organizations, in particular in maintaining international peace and security, based on the model of the Steering Committee established in that regard between the European Union and the United Nations, including the exchange of staff and the promotion of expertise, capacity-building and other relevant issues, in particular in the field of logistics and financing. Fourth is support for training programmes to develop African peacekeeping capacities, including regional training centres in Africa, while keeping in mind the fact that such centres are fundamental to building capacities and responding to needs at the regional and subregional levels, as well as those of Member States. In conclusion, Egypt supports the proposal of the panel to establish two new financial mechanisms, as stated in the report. I will not go into detail, but I will affirm Egypt's strong support for those recommendations. We hope that their implementation in the medium and long terms will bring about a decrease in conflicts in Africa and put the continent on the path towards peace and development.

The President (spoke in Arabic): I now give the floor to the representative of Canada.

Ms. Hulan (Canada): Allow me to begin by echoing the words of appreciation that have been expressed by previous speakers here today to Mr. Prodi, Commissioner Lamamra and Minister Dlamini Zuma for their presence and presentations this morning. I thank you, Sir, for the opportunity to address the Council today on an issue that we all agree could affect the way that peacekeeping is conducted in Africa for years to come, namely, the need to increase coordination with the African Union (AU) and enhance its long-term capacity to respond to urgent requirements for peace operations in Africa. Canada considers that the report of the panel of experts (S/2008/813) provides an excellent basis for further efforts towards a sustainable and predictable funding relationship between the international community and the African Union. Africa is facing some of the most dire humanitarian and security situations in the world. While the entire international community is committed to bringing a peaceful resolution to the conflicts on that continent, it is important to acknowledge that African organizations continue to show a particular and extraordinary commitment to that effort. Canada applauds the African Union and African subregional organizations for their involvement in African peace and security and supports the continued contribution of African States to conflict resolution and peacekeeping operations on the continent. Canada has long supported African Union efforts in the area of peace and security. In cooperation with other partners, Canada has provided direct training, equipment and other support to the military, civilian and police components of AU and United Nations missions to build capacity for peace operations in Africa that meet African needs, including the development of the African Standby Force, direct support to the African Union Mission in Sudan and now in support of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur. Canada also remains committed to supporting the development of African peacekeeping capacity- building, including through the implementation of our G8 commitments. We are encouraged by the results demonstrated by the African Union, notably progress in the development of the police component of the African Standby Force and the continent-wide training and implementation plan, but we acknowledge that further donor support will be required to consolidate and sustain the achievements that have been realized thus far. It has become increasingly clear with the recent AU mission in the Sudan and the current mission in Somalia that ad hoc donor funding mechanisms for AU missions are neither sufficient nor carry the required predictability or accountability to be reasonably considered as a sustainable model for future cooperation. Improvements must be made and a more comprehensive approach taken to the provision of support to African-led operations if effectiveness and efficiency are to be improved. The panel's report opens the door to some possibilities that need to be further studied to determine a way forward. Further consideration should also be given to the complexity of transition planning. The processes associated with recent transitions, such as in Liberia and Darfur, should be assessed with a view to determining the best methods and realistic timeframes associated with those processes. With such a high proportion of peacekeeping activities being conducted in Africa and the commitment of the African Union to increase its operational capacity, Canada very much supports developing an effective strategic United Nations-AU relationship. As the panel of experts notes, that relationship needs to be further strengthened, in particular between the AU Peace and Security Council and the United Nations Security Council. Those efforts should be aimed at maximizing the AU's strengths, as well as at developing a stronger mutual understanding, joint approaches to issues and improved continuity in the transition of peacekeeping operations. Canada commends both the United Nations and the AU for the continuing close cooperation between respective officials, which was noted in the report, and urges a strengthening of the relationship at that important level. Canada welcomes further analysis and discussion of the potential mechanisms that could support an effective strategic relationship. Canada takes note of the new ideas stated in the report regarding mechanisms to address sustainable funding for both operational and capacity-building activities. We agree that while the AU is stretched to respond to crises across the continent, the need for overall organizational capacity-building must not be forgotten. It is clear that the demand for new missions, as well as the scale and complexity of existing missions, have both continued to grow and that that has resulted in significant cost increases to the Organization. Since 2000, the cost of United Nations peacekeeping has more than tripled and there are now some 18 operations in the field, requiring a heavy commitment from the United Nations and its Member States. While we are supportive of mechanisms to increase the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations in Africa, we must be conscious of the overall costs of United Nations operations and responsible in maximizing the effectiveness of every dollar spent. To that end, we encourage all missions to be reviewed regularly for areas of success where United Nations presence may be reduced in order to preserve global capacity to respond to new and urgent crises. Finally, I would like to extend Canada's particular appreciation to Mr. Prodi and his team for casting a critical eye on the challenging and very timely issue of supporting African Union peacekeeping operations. We are encouraged by the efforts to address this issue and look forward to further analysis and consideration by the Secretary-General and the African Union Chairperson.

The President (spoke in Arabic): I now give the floor to the representative of the Congo.

Mr. Bale (Congo) (spoke in French): At the outset, Sir, I would like to congratulate you on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for this month and to thank you for having organized this debate on an issue so crucial and vital to Africa. I extend my delegation's congratulations to your predecessor, the Permanent Representative of Japan, who led the Council's work during the month of February, and seize this opportunity to offer to him the warmest appreciation of the Government of the Congo for his country's commitment to peace in Africa. Once again, Africa returns to the Security Council's agenda, as if to remind us that the establishment and maintenance of peace and security remain a major challenge, even though appreciable progress has been achieved as a result of actions taken under the leadership of the African Union. Here, it is worth recalling that peace and security are preconditions for all sustainable economic development. It is to that end that the African Union and its regional and subregional integration organizations are endeavouring to build a peace and security architecture, including by putting in place early warning systems and standby forces as peacekeeping operations conclude. This quest for peace and stability, including with regard to conflict prevention, management and resolution on the continent, is vibrantly reflected in the actions carried out in Darfur, where the African Union Mission in Sudan preceded the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, and in Somalia with the African Union Mission in Somalia, which is awaiting substantial support from and a handover to the United Nations. Similar efforts have been made at the subregional level. The contribution of the forces of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, expanded to the Economic Community of Central African States, was most decisive in the gradual restoration of stability in the Central African Republic and facilitated the deployment of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad. Various initiatives of African countries have made it possible to give the populations of such countries as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi reasons to hope for lasting peace. Africa's political commitment to investing in peace and stabilization on the continent is thus a reality. Regrettably, that commitment collides with a dearth of resources and limited capacities. That is why my delegation appeals once again to the international community to continue to support and further commit itself alongside the African Union and its subregional organizations in their joint efforts to establish a peace architecture and in the deployment of peacekeeping operations and various peace processes under way on the continent. In that regard, my delegation welcomes the multifaceted support provided by Africa's bilateral and multilateral partners, which are assisting the African Union in its various peace and security programmes, and recognizes the growing involvement of the United Nations. The Council's recent decisions concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, the Central African Republic and Somalia reflect the concerns of Africa and open up promising prospects for peace and security in those countries - prospects that are, however, waiting to be realized. Here, my delegation highlights the relevance of the provisions of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, which today serves as a springboard for developing the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union, in particular between the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council. The challenges that Africa is called upon to meet in order to establish and ensure lasting peace and security, particularly within the framework of peacekeeping operations, should promote more dynamic and better coordinated cooperation with the entire United Nations system, since the causes of conflicts and crises are as many as they are varied. Thus, such cooperation, if it is to be fruitful, must focus on strengthening the complementary efforts of those two bodies, particularly in the areas of preventive diplomacy and peacebuilding. In that context, my delegation would like to congratulate Mr. Romano Prodi and the African Union- United Nations panel that he chaired on their report on modalities for support to peacekeeping operations under a United Nations mandate, contained in document S/2008/813. The relevant recommendations set out in the report, while not exhaustive, enlighten us as to the path to be followed to make the difficult work of establishing and building peace more effective. The African Union has undertaken that task in its supplementary role, which cannot replace the primary role of the United Nations and its Security Council in the maintenance of international peace and security. However, this process is only in its infancy and should be followed up with an in-depth analysis of those recommendations in order to strengthen the human and institutional capacities of the African Union in the area of peacekeeping and to ensure that it has sufficient and predictable resources. Finally, by striving to meet the challenge of achieving peace and security, African States and the African Union, in a joint spirit of enthusiasm, wish to play their rightful role in extricating the African continent from its tragic fate of war, conflict and crisis, which is hampering its march towards development. To that end, they have quite rightly turned to the United Nations, which is a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations, to ensure that an Africa where peace and security reign can fully participate in international peace and security.

The President (spoke in Arabic): I now call on the representative of Algeria.

Mr. Benmehidi (Algeria) (spoke in French): I should like to congratulate you, Sir, on your appointment as Permanent Representative of the great Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to the United Nations and on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of March. I also wish to thank you for having organized this debate on the issue of peace and security in Africa, to which both of our countries attach particular importance. I should like to thank Mr. Romano Prodi for presenting the highlights of the report (S/2008/813) of the panel that he chaired under the mandate set out in resolution 1809 (2008) of 16 April 2008. We are grateful to him and to other members of the panel for that contribution, which is part of the overall efforts to strengthen the African Union's capacity to meet the challenges facing Africa in maintaining peace and security. I should also like to thank Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra, Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union, for his important statement, to which my delegation fully subscribes. My delegation studied with great interest the report of the African Union-United Nations panel on modalities for support to African Union peacekeeping operations. We welcome the approach that it recommends, which reflects our desire to see a strategic relationship between the United Nations and the African Union develop on an equal and coordinated basis founded on an approach aimed at optimizing comparative advantages. I should like to emphasize that the strategic partnership envisaged between the United Nations and the African Union arises from the manifest willingness of the Union's member States to take their destiny into their own hands by honouring their commitments and by directly and collectively addressing the factors of instability in the region. Here, I should like to commend the initiative taken by South Africa in April 2008 to propose this agenda item to the Security Council, of which today's discussion is a part, and to welcome the presence of Foreign Minister Dlamini Zuma. The African Union, by virtue of its role as a federative body, has invested significant resources in order to assume its share of the burden of promoting peace, security and stability in the region. However, given the many challenges that Africa must overcome, the needs are considerable, and the mobilization of the scarce resources available on the continent is not likely to meet them. That raises the issue of the choice that African countries must make between the increasing needs of development and the demand for conflict prevention. Both require a certain level of resources that are in desperately short supply, particularly in the current context of economic and financial crisis. It was with that in mind that, in January 2007, the Assembly of the African Union requested the United Nations to consider, in the context of Chapter VIII of the Charter, the possibility of financing through mandatory assessed contributions peacekeeping operations carried out by the African Union or under its authority and with the consent of the United Nations. In that regard, Algeria welcomes the recommendations of the panel chaired by former Prime Minister Prodi, in particular the two proposals for financing mechanisms that it suggests. We are pleased by the warm welcome that they have received today and, in particular, by the emphasis placed by most speakers on the need to ensure predictable, stable and flexible funding for support operations conducted by the African Union. With regard to other recommendations, my delegation would like to stress that the report highlights the need for Africa to move from being a beneficiary of aid to being a full-fledged global security actor. In that regard, the panel cited the measures taken in recent years by the United Nations aimed essentially at linking the African Union and, more specifically, the Peace and Security Council more closely to its decision-making, strategic and planning process. The report also identifies areas in which United Nations assistance has proved valuable, while specifying that such effort should be carried out with other institutional and non-institutional actors capable of providing a range of services. My delegation wishes also to draw attention to the complexity of the modalities by which administrative and financial decisions are taken in the United Nations and to the relatively heavy administrative and financial controls to which those decisions are subject. Transposing those modalities into the African context risks unnecessarily making current African Union procedures more onerous; this could have a negative effect on the broadly acknowledged comparative advantage the Union enjoys in being able to react quickly to crisis situations, even in the absence of all necessary elements. In conclusion, Algeria expresses its support for the panel's proposal that a joint African Union-United Nations team be established to examine in detail the panel's recommendations. My delegation also supports the draft presidential statement that has been proposed for adoption by the Council following this debate.

The President (spoke in Arabic): I now give the floor to the representative of Kenya.

Mr. Muita (Kenya): My delegation wishes to commence, Mr. President, by congratulating you on your appointment as Permanent Representative of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and thanking you for convening this important debate on peace and security in Africa. My delegation also welcomes the presence during these deliberations of the African Union (AU) Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Lamamra. Kenya also commends His Excellency Mr. Romano Prodi, Chairman of the AU-United Nations panel, and his team for a wonderful report (S/2008/813). Peace and security has eluded many parts of the continent of Africa for many decades. From the Horn of Africa to the Great Lakes region to West Africa, conflicts have been endemic. In past years, there has been commendable progress both in achieving peace and in fostering economic growth. However, new threats emanating from the shift of inter-State to intra- State conflicts have changed the nature and character of the security framework. The cost of these conflicts is having a negative impact on the continent; it manifests itself through massive destruction of property and the uprooting of whole communities. In addition, general insecurity inhibits economic development, and, along with the consequent conflicts, brings with it an enormous financial burden, including on the international community. Related problems such as the destruction of infrastructure, environmental degradation, disease and the massive displacement of populations mean that the aftermath of conflict is more damaging and long- lasting than the conflict itself. My delegation is encouraged by this debate because it underscores the fact that Africa's peace and security issues are now receiving increasing attention at the international level. We are also heartened by the broad acknowledgement that peace and security concerns in Africa comprise an integral part of global peace and security concerns. The causes and consequences of conflicts and instability in Africa have significant linkage to global developments and political interactions in the international arena. The international community therefore needs to offer commensurate responses to crisis situations in Africa. In the past, support rendered has tended to be calculative, often delayed and, frankly, insufficient. This trend undermines the very essence of the United Nations, which is vested with the responsibility of ensuring global peace and security. Threats to peace and security in Africa are diverse, and initiatives to contain them should equally be diverse. They should consist of promoting long-term conditions for development and security, building the capacity of African institutions for early warning, as well as enhancing their capacity to prevent, manage and resolve conflicts. Institutionalizing commitment to the core values of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) through leadership should also be a major consideration. Any attempt to straitjacket conflict resolution runs the risk of sacrificing effectiveness. There is, therefore, a need for a programme of democratizing the entire agenda of Africa's peace and security architecture, starting with the basic structures of government and looking outwards to the subregional and regional institutions to mobilize collective action. While the Security Council has the primary responsibility for international peace and security, regional and subregional organizations act on its behalf and have proved useful precursors to larger United Nations efforts. Kenya firmly supports the devolved approach to conflict resolution and reiterates its unflagging commitment to the support for regional organizations such as the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the Economic Community of West African States. My delegation encourages the strengthening of partnerships between the AU and the United Nations in the area of political and technical cooperation. To that end, Kenya takes note of Security Council resolution 1809 (2008), which established the African Union- United Nations panel to consider the modalities of how to support peacekeeping operations established under a United Nations mandate. Kenya also welcomes the work of the Peacebuilding Commission. We believe that its efforts to marshal resources from the international community serve to enhance integrated strategies for post-conflict recovery. This to a great extent supplements regional efforts and results in meaningful peace. We are encouraged that the Commission has recognized the role of African regional and subregional organizations and the important role of women in peace and security efforts. We look forward to the further strengthening of these roles. We know that peacebuilding is an important but lengthy process. Nevertheless, we need to continue to take concrete steps to address the root causes of conflicts in Africa, especially the lack of economic and social development and strong governance institutions, and we need also to put in place mechanisms to ensure that conflicts do not recur. There has been tangible progress in focusing the attention of the international community on socio- political problems in Africa, especially in the Great Lakes region and the Horn of Africa. Kenya and the other neighbouring countries have been involved in collaborative efforts to stabilize the region. In that regard, Kenya especially welcomes Security Council resolution 1863 (2009) which, inter alia, provides a support package for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), to be funded through assessed United Nations contributions and the establishment of a trust fund to allow for the funding of the force. Cognizant of the security challenges in Somalia, Kenya has offered to train Somali citizens, who will thereafter join Somalia's security structure. In conclusion, my country supports the resolution of conflicts by peaceful means. Kenya's mediation efforts in several conflicts in the Horn of Africa and its continuous contribution of peacekeepers to missions in Africa and beyond are testimony to its commitment to the AU-United Nations partnership. My country thus remains firmly committed to supporting the AU and the United Nations in promoting peace efforts in Africa.

The President (spoke in Arabic): I now give the floor to the representative of Norway.

Mr. Wetland (Norway): Let me join others in thanking the Libyan presidency for organizing this open debate and in welcoming to the United Nations Ms. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Minister for Foreign Affairs of South Africa; Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, African Union (AU) Commissioner for Peace and Security; and Mr. Romano Prodi. Norway welcomes the report of the African Union-United Nations panel on African Union peacekeeping operations (S/2008/813). The report points to a number of critical issues for United Nations peacekeeping operations in general, and underlines the challenges in managing conflicts and maintaining peace and security on the African continent in particular. The AU has a commendable record on mediation, crisis management and peacekeeping. But we know it is challenging to sustain such work over time. That is why the international community needs to assist in this effort, be it with funding, logistics, equipment or by other means. Norway supports the idea of establishing a multi-donor trust fund to finance long-term capacity- building of the African Union. We also favour a mutually agreed and standardized system of reporting for the fund. Such a fund could encourage greater support and better coordination of donor contributions. However, one key issue here is the need to differentiate between projects that qualify as official development assistance (ODA) and projects that do not. This could be done by creating a separate window in the trust fund for ODA funding for non-military and civilian purposes. Norway has also taken note of the panel's recommendations on the use of assessed contributions in support of United Nations-authorized AU peace operations. We believe that such support should be given on a case-by-case basis. The go-ahead given by the Security Council to use assessed contributions to finance a logistics support package for the African Union Mission in Somalia could be an interesting test case. When further developing funding mechanisms, we must also address the need to develop the AU's institutional structures for financial management. This is important to ensure AU ownership and accountability to donors. Norway supports the idea of establishing a joint United Nations-AU team to examine the detailed modalities to support the recommendations made by the panel. One of the first tasks of that team could be to define the strategic relationship between the two organizations. The role of other partners is also important here. Regional organizations, such as the European Union and NATO, as well as individual countries all have roles to play in augmenting African peacekeeping capacity and the emerging African Peace and Security Architecture. We believe it is important that regional organizations take greater responsibility for international peace and security, but the primary responsibility for responding to threats to international peace and security remains with this Council. When regional organizations act in crises situations under Chapter VIII of the Charter, they should always be mandated and coordinated by the Security Council. Norway agrees with the panel on the need for a clearer strategic vision for the relationship and collaboration between the Security Council and the African Union on issues concerning peace and security. We also fully support the efforts undertaken by the African Union to develop a new African Peace and Security Architecture, including the establishment of an African Standby Force, and to enhance its capacity for conflict prevention and mediation and for addressing post-conflict situations. Norway remains committed to supporting the African Union in all these fields. Military capability must be supplemented by non-military means to build a lasting peace. Civilian and police components are increasingly important in peacekeeping operations, not least with regard to the protection of civilians. Appropriate training is key here, and for the past 14 years, Norway and African partners have run the successful Training for Peace programme capacity-building to enhance civilian and police capacity for African peacekeeping. Norway is also planning to support civilian capacity in the AU Peace Support Operations Division. In conclusion, let me reiterate Norway's strong commitment to supporting the AU in its peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts. We appreciate the panel's important contribution to the discussion on how to proceed from here, and hope that today's debate will open the path to new and better ways to help the large number of people in Africa who are in urgent need of a more robust peacekeeping effort.

The President (spoke in Arabic): I now give the floor to the representative of Nigeria.

Mr. Onemola (Nigeria): The Nigerian delegation commends the initiative of the Libyan presidency of the Security Council to convene this crucial discussion on peace and security in Africa. We appreciate the statements made by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; the Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union (AU), Mr. Ramtane Lamamra; and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of South Africa, Ms.Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. We wish to express profound gratitude to Mr. Romano Prodi, Chairman of the African Union-United Nations panel on modalities for support to African Union peacekeeping operations, for his able leadership, commitment and succinct briefing. His panel deserves our full appreciation for its dedication, hard work and well-articulated report (S/2008/813). The broad agreements and recommendations contained in the report attest to the collective commitment of the panel to strengthening peacekeeping efforts in Africa. Nigeria believes firmly that the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security remains with the Security Council. However, more than ever we recognize the importance of regional organizations as integral and complementary components of a broader global strategy for maintaining and strengthening global peace and security, within the ambit of Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter. For this reason, we have been steadfast in our commitment to the United Nations, the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States. Indeed, Africa has assumed its role and responsibility in peacekeeping operations with utmost seriousness, recognizing that peace and stability are precursors of social and economic development. With deployments to Somalia, Darfur, Burundi, Sierra Leone and Liberia, Africa has demonstrated sufficient political will to tackle the challenges confronting the continent. During these deployments, our peacekeeping forces have engaged in a variety of missions, including protection of humanitarian aid, disarming of factions, cantonment, mediation and peace enforcement. They have also undertaken capacity-building and election- monitoring activities in these countries. If Africa is to continually undertake these responsibilities effectively and efficiently, it needs robust support for its existing peace and security architecture, which consists of the Peace and Security Council, the Continental Early Warning System, the Panel of the Wise, the African Standby Force and the Peace Fund. Africa also needs sustainable, flexible and predictable funding of peacekeeping operations. In addition, support is required to facilitate the building of the continent's peacekeeping capacity and institutional pedestals. It is in this regard that Nigeria fully supports the recommendations of the Prodi panel. We acknowledge, as does the panel, that its proposals will not address all the peacekeeping challenges on the African continent. However, the recommendations constitute a very useful starting point, a concrete basis for immediate action and a foundation for the future. Overall, the report reflects the need for greater United Nations action, African peacekeeping self-sufficiency and the development of indigenous conflict-management capacities, within the context of shared responsibility. The use of United Nations-assessed funding to support United Nations-authorized AU peacekeeping operations and the establishment of a voluntarily funded multi-donor trust fund have been canvassed, over a long period of time, as panaceas for the lingering problems of peacekeeping in Africa. Similarly, the proposed capacity-building development of the AU's logistics capacity and establishment of a joint United Nations-AU team to examine the implementation of the panel's proposals are needed to revitalize the AU's capacity to implement peace and security on the continent. Nigeria hopes that today's discussion will help us to forge a new consensus and support for these proposals. We urge the Security Council to take up the responsibility and the challenge of implementing the report within a reasonable period of time in order to enhance the AU's capacity to respond to the ever- growing peacekeeping and security challenges in the region. We also hope that a more strategic relationship between the AU Peace and Security Council and the United Nations Security Council, on the one hand, and between the United Nations Secretariat and the AU Commission on the other, will eventually emerge.

The President (spoke in Arabic): I give the floor to the representative of Benin.

Mr. Zinsou (Benin) (spoke in French): My delegation is pleased to see you, Sir, presiding over this important meeting of the Security Council to consider the report (S/2008/813) of the African Union-United Nations panel led by Mr. Romano Prodi, who is present among us. The panel has been charged to consider in- depth the modalities of cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union in the conduct of United Nations-mandated peacekeeping operations. We warmly congratulate Mr. Prodi on his work. We also welcome the notable presence here of the Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Asha-Rose Migiro. The report before the Security Council today is in line with Benin's untiring efforts during its membership of the Council in 2004 and 2005 to focus the attention of the international community on the need to strengthen cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union in order to promote stability throughout the continent. In this regard, I would like to recall that the first building blocks of this structure were the presidential statement on institutional relations with the African Union (S/PRST/2004/44), adopted in Nairobi on 19 November 2004 by the Security Council, and resolution 1625 (2005), adopted at the high-level meeting of the Council held in this Chamber on 14 September 2005. I must also refer to resolution 1631 (2005) and resolution 1809 (2008), which was an initiative of the Republic of South Africa, represented here today by its Minister for Foreign Affairs. I recall that in implementation of resolution 1631 (2005), Benin, which then chaired the Security Council's Ad Hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa, held a seminar, on 15 December 2005, on the very topic of cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union in the field of international peace and security. The ongoing commitment of Benin to this subject is made evident by a happy coincidence: this debate is taking place at a time when Benin is chair of the AU Peace and Security Council. In this regard, I welcome the participation in this debate of His Excellency Ambassador Edouard Aho-Glele, Permanent Representative of Benin to the AU in Addis Ababa, through the explicit decision of that body of the Union. Having said that, Benin largely shares the assessments of the panel. These are part of a realistic and promising approach that has enabled us to discard the concept of subcontracting peacekeeping operations to the African Union and adopt the principle of subsidiarity, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter. Such an approach will take full advantage of AU rapid response capacities and of their comparative advantage in terms of knowledge of the realities on the ground. This approach presupposes that cases that exceed the capacities under development by the AU can be rapidly taken on by the United Nations. We fully adhere to the principle that a peacekeeping operation initiated by the African Union and that must extend beyond six months can be put under United Nations command. From this perspective, the financing of these operations from United Nations assessed contributions for a period of six or more months is fully justified. We wish to underscore the importance of the coordination and synergy that must be developed between the United Nations and the African Union on the one hand and Africa's regional economic communities on the other hand. The African Peace and Security Architecture is established on the basis of such coordination and synergy. Assistance aimed at strengthening these communities, which are essential elements in the region, should be fully taken into account in efforts undertaken by the international community to strengthen African peacekeeping capacities in the context of implementing the Ten-Year Capacity- Building Programme. This is part of the clear strategic relationship to be drawn up between the United Nations and the African Union, with strict respect for the Security Council's primary responsibility for international peace and security. We fully support the proposal by the panel that a special multi-donor trust fund to support the African Peace and Security Architecture be set up. That proposal accurately reflects the primary responsibility of the international community. In our view, it would be very useful to include the regional economic communities on the board of this fund. This special trust fund should devote particular attention to setting up standing logistic capacity - through the acquisition of a critical mass of equipment that can be mobilized on a short-term basis - in order to validate the rapid response capacity of the standby force and to avoid privatization measures in the area of logistics. Of course, this question should be studied in greater depth. In addition, Benin fully supports the strengthening of the African Union complementary mechanisms for conflict prevention, which will ultimately help it avoid having to resort to peacekeeping operations. This is all the more important in this period of crisis, in which the risk of social conflicts degenerating into major political crises cannot be dismissed. My delegation would like to recall that resolution 1625 (2005) set forth a pragmatic approach that advocated enhancing the monitoring of States where the risks of conflict are clear, in order to contain crises and ensure that they do not become entrenched and to deal effectively with the underlying causes of the conflicts. Sufficient human and financial resources must be mobilized to this end. The recent measures that were adopted to strengthen the Department of Political Affairs will, in our View, enable us to develop a cohesive strategy for the use of early warning and mediation mechanisms and peacebuilding and development efforts. We hope that the follow-up to the implementation of that resolution will once again lead, this year, to a report by the Secretary-General, as was the case in January 2008 (see S/2008/18), and take into account the potential of the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund. Emergency actions by those bodies have allowed us to quickly address situations of concern. In conclusion, my delegation supports the draft presidential statement that will be adopted at the end of this debate. Benin hopes that the recommendations of the panel will enjoy meticulous follow-up and that a joint team tasked with studying the implementation of these recommendations will be set up as soon as possible.

The President (spoke in Arabic): I now give the floor to the representative of Argentina.

Mr. Argiiello (Argentina) (spoke in Spanish): First of all, allow me to congratulate you, Mr. President, on your very timely call for an open debate on peace and security in Africa. This is a necessary debate, and my country is closely following its course. The report we are studying (S/2008/813) originated in an initiative of the Secretary-General, laid out in resolution 1809 (2008), on cooperation between our Organization and regional organizations, which set up a panel to study and recommend modalities to improve the support to - and the predictability and sustainability of funding for - peacekeeping missions under United Nations mandates. The panel's report contains valuable observations and a number of action-oriented proposals, which I will briefly highlight, as they closely coincide with our own analysis of the matter. First, we agree that the armed conflicts and the very political instability prevailing in some regions of Africa are clear obstacles to the economic development of those countries. The vicious cycle of poverty and violence that we see in many parts of continent, where conflict is almost constant, is a trap. This trap impedes progress in societies and clearly causes the effects of such conflicts to be even more harmful and deep- rooted than the conflicts themselves. Security is thus a prerequisite for long-term sustainable development. It is clear that we must face these challenges with a comprehensive approach. In such an approach, the deployment of a peacekeeping operation is a response when necessary, but prevention of conflicts before they begin would make a comprehensive approach that also encompasses response capacity. Ever-increasing participation by the African Union in conflict-prevention, peacekeeping and post- conflict reconstruction efforts is therefore essential. More than ever before, threats to security require a collective approach based on various types of cooperation. In turn, that requires close coordination with regard to both strategies and programmes. At the same time, there is a need to optimize the advantages that the regional organizations could bring. In that regard, we believe it is essential to establish the necessary capacities, including in subregional organizations, to arrive at coherent responses that are part of a joint strategy that encompasses the widest possible range of conflict-prevention, peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction efforts. Finally, with regard to the report's recommendations on financing issues, we agree with what the Secretary-General said this morning in his intervention, that such issues call for thorough consideration, especially by the relevant bodies of the Organization.

The President (spoke in Arabic): I now give the floor to the representative of Australia.

Mr. Goledzinowski (Australia): First of all, Mr. President, please accept my country's congratulations on your appointment to your very high office. Thank you also for this opportunity to address the Council on the report of joint African Union-United Nations panel on support for African Union peacekeeping operations (S/2008/8l3). At the outset, I would like to commend the panel for their comprehensive, thorough and realistic report. The panel has raised a number of recommendations for strengthening the United Nations-African Union (AU) relationship with regard to peacekeeping and for developing the AU's structural, procedural, logistical and human resources. The report has also raised some interesting proposals regarding the establishment of a new financial mechanism aimed at strengthening the AU's capacity, both for peacekeeping and capacity- building. These recommendations demand further reflection by Member States, both in the Security Council and in the General Assembly. Australia commends the AU for its increasing engagement in conflict prevention, peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction activities. The challenges are significant, especially for a relatively new regional organization that is trying to address operational imperatives while simultaneously developing its own peace and security architecture. In addressing these operational and institutional challenges, we would encourage the AU to learn from the experiences, both good and bad, of the United Nations and other comparable regional organizations. With Africa remaining home to 40 per cent of global peace operations, the need to strengthen the AU's capacity for peacekeeping, both in terms of responding to crises and promoting long-term stability, is self-evident. We support the provision of assistance by the United Nations to develop the AU's conflict- prevention and peacekeeping capacity, and we encourage the United Nations Secretariat and the AU Commission to explore ways in which their relationship can be further developed. With more than 70 per cent of the United Nations military personnel and more than 50 per cent of its police personnel deployed to missions in Africa, we also support the report's call for the establishment of a more effective strategic relationship between the United Nations and the AU. We need to recognize that those United Nations resources are scarce and need to be used in a cost-effective and efficient manner. I would like to emphasize that the Australian Government is keen to strengthen our engagement with Africa and the AU in the field of peace and security and to cooperate where appropriate with African Member States in addressing many of the challenges raised in the report. This was outlined by our Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Smith, when he addressed the African Union Executive Council meeting in Addis Ababa on 29 January. During his visit to Addis Ababa last month, the Australian Minister for Defence announced that a number of places would be made available for AU- nominated officers to undertake training in Australian defence courses on vital military skills to help increase the effectiveness of peace missions. The Defence Minister also announced that Australia would co- sponsor, together with the AU and United Nations, a peacekeeping symposium in Africa later this year to allow for an exchange of expertise and experiences. Furthermore, he undertook to explore the possibility that Australia may be able to provide some modest training and mentoring assistance to the Eastern African Standby Brigade to help build the capacities and capabilities of the AU for peacekeeping and peace- support and prevention activities. Australia also looks forward to continuing our support for the E-Learning for African Peacekeepers programme, known as ELAP. We have been a proud supporter of this programme since its inception, in 2006. In that time, the programme has attracted over 168,000 enrolments, at no cost to the participants, in distance training across some 22 peacekeeping courses. As noted throughout this report, military capabilities can never substitute for long-term political solutions to crises. Australia has been pleased to contribute to United Nations initiatives aimed at strengthening the relationship between the AU and the Organization and at developing more effective conflict- prevention mechanisms in Africa, both at the regional and subregional levels. In conclusion, we look forward to working with members of the Council and members of the African Union in the coming months as we further consider this important report.

The President (spoke in Arabic): I now give the floor to the representative of Bangladesh.

Ms. Jahan (Bangladesh): Let me begin by complimenting the leadership of Libya in stewarding the Council's deliberations during the current month. I would also like to thank you, Mr. President, for your initiative to organize this open debate on peace and security in Africa pursuant to the landmark resolution 1809 (2008). We commend the African Union-United Nations panel, in particular Chairperson Romano Prodi, for presenting to the Council the report on modalities for support to African Union (AU) peacekeeping operations (S/2008/813), now before the Council. The report has raised some interesting ideas and points that we believe need further exploration, both by the Council and the General Assembly. My delegation associates itself with the statement delivered by the representative of Cuba, which currently holds the Chair of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement. However, we would like to highlight some issues and to add a few points. Bangladesh welcomes the complementary role played by regional organizations in United Nations- mandated peacekeeping operations. Their role, however, must not be seen as a substitute for that of the United Nations in maintaining peace in conflict areas. United Nations peacekeeping forces must maintain a true international character to uphold the Organization's universality, impartiality and neutrality. We are pleased to note that cooperation between the United Nations and the AU has grown over recent years. The partnership in the deployment of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur is a case in point. Notwithstanding the need for enhanced cooperation and partnership between the United Nations and regional organizations, Bangladesh supports the recommendation contained in the panel's report - which was further subscribed to by the Non-Aligned Movement in a statement made earlier today - that, in defining the division of responsibilities, it is imperative to avoid creating the perception that the United Nations is subcontracting peacekeeping to the African Union. The prime objective of this strategic partnership should be to maximize the African Union's strengths in terms of its contribution to conflict prevention and mediation and its capacity to undertake peacekeeping operations in conformity with Chapter VIII of the Charter. The African Union must be provided with the necessary support in developing its institutional capacities, thus enabling it to implement its mandate in a coordinated and appropriate manner, including in areas of building integral capacities to plan, manage and support both conflict prevention and peacekeeping activities in Africa in close cooperation with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. As a leading troop-contributing country, Bangladesh attaches utmost importance to the safety and security of troops in the field. We welcome the various steps taken by the Secretariat. However, more actions are needed for better safety and security of peacekeepers. In this context, Bangladesh would like to stress upon the deployment forces should be commensurate with the mandate and the situation on the ground in a particular mission. Moreover, contingents should only be tasked to cover areas of responsibility that lie within their capabilities and agreed mandates based on memorandums of understanding. Bangladesh recognizes United Nations peacekeeping to be an indispensable and cost effective tool in the maintenance of international peace and security. Based on this principle, we support United Nations peacekeeping operations and we have full commitment to them. Bangladesh had been providing approximately 10 per cent of the total troops for peacekeeping for more than a decade. Besides, currently, we are the largest contributor of police personnel in United Nations peacekeeping. These statistics are a true manifestation of our commitment and contribution to United Nations peacekeeping operations. My delegation will maintain this commitment, and we will continue to coordinate our collective peace and security efforts under the auspices of the United Nations. In this vein, we shall continue to support the Security Council in fulfilling its Charter mandated responsibilities in the maintenance of international peace and security.

The President (spoke in Arabic): After consultations among the members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: "The Security Council reiterates its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and recalls that cooperation with regional and subregional organizations in matters relating to the maintenance of peace and security and consistent with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations can improve collective security. "The Security Council recalls its previous relevant resolutions and statements which underscore the importance of developing effective partnerships between the United Nations and regional organizations, in particular the African Union, in accordance with the United Nations Charter and the relevant statutes of the regional organizations, in particular the African Union. "The Security Council welcomes the continuing important efforts of the African Union to settle conflicts in the African continent, and expresses its support for peace initiatives conducted by the African Union. "The Security Council reaffirms its resolution 1809 (2008), which recognizes the need to enhance the predictability, sustainability and flexibility of financing regional organizations when they undertake peacekeeping under a United Nations mandate. "The Security Council recognizes that regional organizations have the responsibility to secure human, financial, logistical and other resources for their organizations. "The Council underscores the importance of supporting and improving, in a sustained way, the capacity of the African Union, and welcomes recent developments regarding cooperation between the United Nations, the African Union and international partners, including the enhancement of the African Union capacities. "The Security Council welcomes the efforts of the African Union-United Nations panel in producing a report on modalities to support African Union peacekeeping operations (A/63/666-S/2008/813). The Security Council notes with interest the panel's report. "The Security Council requests the Secretary-General to submit a report, no later than 18 September 2009, on practical ways to provide effective support for the African Union when it undertakes peacekeeping operations authorized by the United Nations, that includes a detailed assessment of the recommendations contained in the report of the African Union- United Nations panel, in particular those on financing, as well as on the establishment of a joint African Union-United Nations team. "The Security Council further requests the Secretary-General to take into account in his report the lessons learned from past and current African Union peacekeeping efforts, in particular the African Union-United Nations mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and the efforts to provide a logistical support package for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), and the establishment of a trust fund called for by Security Council resolution 1863 (2009). "The Security Council underlines the importance of implementing the Ten-Year Capacity Building Programme for the African Union on peace and security, in particular the operationalization of the African Union Standby Force and the Continental Early Warning System. The Council stresses its support for ongoing efforts to strengthen the African Peace and Security Architecture and reiterates its call for the international community, particularly donors, to fulfil their commitments in the 2005 World Summit Outcome document. 20 "The Security Council emphasizes the importance of establishing more effective strategic relationships between the United Nations Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council and between the United Nations Secretariat and the African Union Commission, and encourages further joint efforts in this direction, focusing on issues of mutual interests. The Security Council calls on the Secretariat and the African Union Commission to further collaborate on issues of mutual interests, including through developing a list of the military, technical, logistic and administrative capacities that need developing, supporting regular follow-up missions, experience sharing, staff exchanges, and in financial and logistical areas. "The Security Council expresses its intention to further consider this issue following the report of the Secretary-General." This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2009/3. Before I adjourn this meeting, I wish, on behalf of all the members of the Council, to express my gratitude and appreciation to Mr. Romano Prodi and the other members of his panel for their valuable efforts and for the report before the Council. We are grateful to Mr. Prodi for having come to New York to present the report to us. There are no further speakers inscribed on my list. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The meeting rose at 5 pm. 09-27223