'India has right to attend UNSC decisions on peacekeeping ops'

India, as one of the largest troop contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions, has the "right" to participate in the decisions of the UN Security Council regarding formulation of peacekeeping mandates and deployment of forces, Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag said.

Gen Suhag made the remarks at the world body's first-ever 'Chiefs of Defence' Conference yesterday that brought together army chiefs and senior military officials from more than 110 UN Member States to discuss issues central to UN peacekeeping.
He voiced India's commitment to UN peacekeeping in line with the three cardinal principles of consent of the parties to the operations, impartially and non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate.

Gen Suhag also stressed India's concerns regarding consultations with Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) while deciding on mandates for UN Peacekeeping Operations.

"We also consider it is our right, as troop contributing countries, in terms of Article 44 of the Charter, to 'participate in the decisions of the Security Council concerning the employment of contingents' of the troop contributing country's armed forces. This provision of the UN Charter has generally been neglected," Singh said.

The Army Chief highlighted that India has so far participated in 49 UN peacekeeping missions, contributing over 180,000 troops and a significant number of police personnel.
India is presently participating in 12 out of the 16 active missions and 158 Indian peacekeepers have made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty over the past six decades, the highest among all member states.

India has in the past also voiced concern that the UNSC has repeatedly "violated" and "diluted" the clear provisions of Article 44 of the UN Charter, which explicitly requires the 15-nation Council to invite member states who are contributing troops but are not members of the Council, to participate in the decisions on peacekeeping and troop deployment.

It has stressed that views of the troop contributing countries should be taken into account while formulating peacekeeping mandates, the absence of which has seriously compromised the objectives of peacekeeping.

Noting that the conference has provided an "excellent platform" to interact with defense chiefs from across the globe, Suhag said the discussions would definitely help nations shape the future of UN peacekeeping.

He acknowledged UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's initiative to constitute an independent high-level panel on peacekeeping operations, saying India expects the report of the panel to provide a vision for future peacekeeping.

The 14-member panel, established last year in October, aims to assess the current and future needs of the world body's peacekeeping architecture.

"We take note of the ever changing environment of peacekeeping and the evolving challenges. India will continue to share the responsibility of global peacekeeping and contribute positively in future UN peacekeeping endeavours," Gen Suhag said.
The UN chief opened the inaugural day-long conference, organised by the Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support, that focussed on UN peacekeeping operations in the current political, strategic and operational environment as well as on the future of UN peacekeeping.

The army chiefs and military personnel also held discussions with Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous and Under Secretary General for Field Support Atul Khare on the challenges and opportunities for mission support in peacekeeping operations and performance challenges in the current security environment.

Lt Gen Ghayur Muhammd Awan, who represented Pakistan at the conference, said that his country is a firm supporter of the basic principles of peacekeeping, which are impartiality, consent of all parties and non-use of force except in self-defense and in the defence of mandate.

He said that peacekeeping requires genuine partnership between the Security Council, the troop contributing countries and the UN Secretariat during mandate formulation, its renewal or closing of the missions.

Closing the Conference, Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said that peacekeeping operations remain one of the Security Council's most substantive and dynamic tools to respond to conflict and post-conflict situations.

"When peacekeeping missions are deployed in post-conflict situations, countries are 50 per cent less likely to experience renewed conflict," he said. "This saves lives, protects infrastructure and fosters development."

He pointed to the UN's efforts to adapt its approach to peacekeeping in the face of evolving demands through the Peace Operations Review, which Eliasson said was expected to provide appropriate options and concepts for the future but he added that peacekeeping had a "timeless purpose" at its heart.

He talked of the role played by peacekeeping missions in promoting successful transition to sustainable peace and inclusive governance, and to protecting civilians.
He also drew attention to the "new and diverse ways" in which peacekeepers were being deployed in different contexts.

"The Security Council's high expectations and great demands testify to its faith in peacekeeping as a tool for maintaining international peace and security," he said. "We hope we will also be given the necessary resources to meet these demands."

He called on the gathered military officers to provide the capabilities needed to fulfil peacekeeping mandates, to unite politically behind peacekeeping missions and to continue working towards a common understanding of peacekeeping and to build support for it.

"We hope that your Governments will continue to engage actively in this renewed international dialogue on peacekeeping," he added.