Susan Rice’s Five Points at the Security Council Debate on U.N. Peacekeeping Operations

At the Security Council Debate on U.N. Peacekeeping Operations held on August 5, 2009, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, issued a statement on global peacekeeping operations. She also commented on the Statement by the President of the Security Council [PRST], which proposes further communication, organization, monitoring, engagement and evaluation in peacekeeping missions.

Rice commended the United Kingdom and other member states on behalf of the United States for their work on the PRST, and noted that adopting the PRST is an important step to improve the success of current and future peacekeeping operations. "We have agreed to reflect seriously on the progress that has been made and the obstacles that remain to ensure that we can make any necessary adjustments," she said. "But as we have noted before, the United States will not support the arbitrary or abrupt downsizing or termination of missions."  She went on to highlight that the Security Council and Secretariat "must do a better job of consulting with troop- and police-contributing countries, especially when adopting new mandates or renewing old ones."

Rice also praised the "New Partnership Agenda," a non-paper issued by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Field Support. This non-paper included the Secretariat's call to "energize faltering peace processes, rally missing capabilities, meet local capacity-building and peace-building needs, consider new business models for mission planning and support, and clarify such key concepts as ‘robust peacekeeping' and the protection of civilians." Rice stated that "the United States remains ready to do its part, and...will receive new ideas with an open mind," but she reminded the Secretariat of its responsibilities to improve and strengthen the mechanisms of peacekeeping as well.

In addition, with the mandates of the U.N. missions in Liberia, Haiti, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo up for renewal in the coming months, Rice affirmed that the U.S. "is ready to act on both the spirit and the letter of this PRST and New Horizon non-paper," and that the U.S. would "welcome early dialogue with troop and police contributors to these missions." She also encouraged the Secretariat to recommend what the Security Council could do to increase the responsible and timely success of U.N. peacekeeping missions.

Rice concluded by underscoring the importance of fulfilling financial obligations to the U.N., and referenced her visit to Capitol Hill as well as the intention of the U.S. to pay its debts to the U.N. from 2005-2008 as well as meet its obligations in 2009. "We remain ready to invest in U.N. peacekeeping, even in a time of economic crisis, because this truly global enterprise serves a shared interest and offers millions of people the prospect of a more secure, prosperous, and dignified future."

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