Seated at the UN Security Council meeting at the UNSC headquarters in New York on Wednesday afternoon (20/9) local time, or Thursday (21/9) Western Indonesia Time, Vice President Jusuf Kalla (center, at end of panel) reads out his speech. His proposal on UN peacekeeping reform emphasized preventive diplomacy, putting forth dialog and mediation as tools for conflict prevention.
NEW YORK, KOMPAS – The Indonesian delegation spoke at the United Nations (UN) Security Council about the importance of preventive diplomacy, mediation and nurturing peace. Indonesia also stressed its readiness to continue to contribute in sending UN peacekeeping troops.
“We must carry forward the link between preventive diplomacy, mediation and peacekeeping. These are the main elements for sustainable peace,” Vice President Jusuf Kalla said during the UNSC meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, Wednesday (20/9) local time, or Thursday morning western Indonesian time.
Kompas reporters Mh Samsul Hadi and Andy Riza Hidayat, reporting from New York, said that the issue of reforming the UN peacekeeping mission was chosen as the discussion’s theme in order to reduce the inefficiency, corruption and violations in various UN peacekeeping missions all over the world. It is considered that the mission of the UN’s peacekeeping troops have not been able to prevent and overcome the conflicts in the world.
The matter of inefficiency was one of the topics of discussion. At the moment, the UN is carrying out 16 peacekeeping operations, involving more than 100,000 personnel and costing US$8 billion a year. In one decade, the cost has been reduced by 17 percent. For reasons of efficiency, three missions in Haiti, the Ivory Coast and Liberia will be ended in March 2018.
In his 5-minute speech, Kalla said that reforming the UN peacekeeping mission required a collective and strong political support. Reforms must also be adjusted to the needs on the field, which can be done through capacity building.
Despite some pessimistic views, Kalla said that the UN peacekeeping troops still had an important role to play in creating world peace. He declared Indonesia’s readiness to continue to contribute to the UN peacekeeping mission.
Kalla also spoke on the plan to add 1,040 personnel to the number of Indonesian peacekeeping troops to be sent to Central Africa. The number of troops from Indonesia was previously2,700 personnel.
He explained that the UN peacekeeping mission reform could also be done through troops’ capacity building. Other than improving their professional capacity, Indonesia also vowed to increase the role of women in the UN peacekeeping mission.
Regarding this matter, Indonesia had provided training for peacekeeping troops through capacity building. “In the past three years, Indonesia has carried out capacity-building training in 30 countries, involving around 7,000 peacekeeping personnel,” said Kalla at the meeting.
Kalla also mentioned ASEAN’s contribution to maintaining peace in Southeast Asia. “The UN must strengthen its partnership and involvement with regional organizations,” he said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the UN peacekeeping missions cost a lot of money. He suggested four things, that peacekeeping operations be supported by diplomatic efforts, improving troop capabilities, eradicating corruption and violations, and also building partnerships with regional entities.
At the meeting, Kalla also mentioned Indonesia’s bid to secure a seat as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2019/2020 period. The candidacy is part of Indonesia’s effort to create a peaceful and stable global ecosystem. Furthermore, being involved in the UN Security Council would enable Indonesia to ensure the creation of sustainable peace as well as various measures to fight terrorism and violence.
Indonesia will compete in its bid with the Maldives. Voting will be held at the UN General Assembly in June 2018.
