Historical archive

Necessary strengthening of UN peacekeeping operations

Historical archive

Published under: Solberg's Government

Publisher: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

'The recommendations concerning reform of UN peacekeeping operations that were submitted to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today give us a unique opportunity to strengthen UN peacekeeping. The world needs a UN that has the capacity to prevent and bring an end to violent conflicts as effectively as possible,' said Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende.

A High-level Independent Panel chaired by the former President of Timor-Leste, Nobel Peace Prize laureate José Ramos-Horta, submitted its report containing recommendations for the reform of UN peacekeeping operations and special political missions to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today. The Panel has carried out the most comprehensive review of UN field operations for 15 years, and the report comes at a time when demand for UN involvement in the world's many conflicts is increasing.

The High Levels panle's report was submitted to the UN 16 June. Photo: UN delegation

The High-level Panel's report was submitted to the UN 16 June.  The panel was led by former President of Timor-Leste, José Ramos-Horta. Photo: Norway's mission to the UN

'It is positive that the Panel recommends a modernisation of UN peacekeeping operations. We must enable the UN to meet the new security challenges we are facing. In my view it is particularly important that this reform process improves the UN's ability to protect civilians, to think creatively about how peacebuilding operations are carried out, and to ensure the safety of its own personnel,' said Minister of Defence Ine Eriksen Søreide.

The Panel's report and recommendations are the result of a thorough process and extensive consultations. Former Norwegian Minister of International Development and former Head of the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan Hilde Frafjord Johnson is one of the 16 members of the Panel.

'It is important that we grasp this opportunity to carry out reforms of the UN's most important instrument for preventing and ending violent conflicts. Norway has supported the work of the Panel and we look forward to studying the many recommendations in detail once the whole report is available. We expect that the Panel will recommend that greater emphasis is placed on preventing conflicts and that coordination between the UN's special political missions and peacekeeping efforts is enhanced,' said Mr Brende.

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See further information on the UN's peacekeeping operations and special political missions.