Peace Operations chief warns Council's polarization limits missions to ‘intermediate goals of peace’

UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said, without the strong, united political support of United Nations Security Council members, peacekeeping missions are relegated to only achieving the ‘intermediate goals of peacekeeping.’” Today (29 Jul), addressing the Security Council about adapting peace operations for the pursuit of political solutions, Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, “We continue to see the implications of the polarization of this Security Council. As I have stated here and in related forums, without the strong, united political support of United Nations Security Council members, peacekeeping missions are relegated to only achieving the ‘intermediate goals of peacekeeping.’” He added, “We should not discount the value of these, which include managing conflicts, maintaining ceasefires and protecting hundreds of thousands of civilians every day. But it’s a less desirable and more expensive outcome than Council Members providing the requisite political support that would enable peacekeeping to reach its ultimate objective of enabling the parties to the conflict to reach durable peace – one that they can maintain following the successful drawdown of a peacekeeping mission.” He also said, “Peace operations in general and peacekeeping missions in particular will not be able to do their utmost to enable a countries transition from conflict to peace or simply to implement the mandates provided by this Security Council, if they are not given the requisite resources to do so.” He stressed, “While we continue to seek efficiencies, including but not exclusively through UN80, I would like to reiterate the Secretary-General’s request to pay in full and on time their contributions. Our ability to keep the peace requires it.” Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, addressed the Council on behalf of Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo. She said, “The trust deficit we see today did not exist with many of our more successful missions in the past – this rich history must be re-explored and mined.” She also said, “To be successful, our political missions must be responsive to the needs of their host State or States – and, conversely, enjoy the support of their host State or States. The responsibility for achieving political solutions rests with national actors.”


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