Speech given by H.E. Mr. Ivica Dačić First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia at the Summit on Strengthening International Peace Operations:


"Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I express my appreciation to the Vice-President of the United States, UN Secretary-General, President of Rwanda, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Prime Minister of Japan and Prime Minister of Pakistan for their whole-hearted engagement in organizing this important meeting.

As a reliable member of the international community, my country is an active contributor to United Nations peacekeeping operations, demonstrating our commitment to the fundamental goals of our Organization with regard to establishing and safeguarding international peace and security.

Peacekeeping operations are a unique tool to assist post conflict countries on the road to sustainable peace.

We need a coordinated and strong response by all United Nations Member States. In addition to political support, effective use of available human, financial and logistical capacities is of paramount importance for the success of peacekeeping missions.

Mr. Chairman,

Maintaining peace is the collective responsibility of us all. Engagement and commitment calls for the adoption of broader strategies. A proper answer needs to be found to inter-related questions of security and development, which is the best way to prevent resurgence of conflicts. The greater participation of women in peacekeeping operations, which we firmly support, is an important part of this approach.

Serbia supports the institutional reforms initiated by the UN Secretary-General, which provide for strategic review and analysis of peacekeeping operations. For its part, Serbia will make every effort to support the reforms and therefore assist in increasing the effectiveness of peacekeeping forces.

It is a fact that the budget of the United Nations peacekeeping operations is reaching its historical heights, while missions themselves are confronted with a continued reduction of their own budgets. This presents a direct threat to their operational capacities and performance in the field, as well as to the evolvement of the mandates they are entrusted with. We need to maintain and strengthen the quality and sustainability of peacekeeping missions. It is a paramount importance to increase cooperation with regional organizations and actors and coordinate priorities and efforts.

Excellencies,

It is my honour to address you on behalf of my country which heads the region in the participation in peacekeeping operations and is among the first 10 countries in Europe that support and take part in peacekeeping missions all over the world. Over 200 members of the armed forces of Serbia have joined the ranks of over a hundred thousand United Nations peacekeepers and we intend to ramp up our participation significantly in the forthcoming period.

Serbia intends to soon increase the level of its engagement within UNIFIL by deploying a force-protection platoon (32 personnel); we will also start new engagements, including within MINUSCA, scheduled to take place towards the end of the year. Sixty-eight personnel, staff officers and observers, will to be deployed within this mission. In addition to the arrangements already concluded, Serbia is also in the near future planning to conclude a memorandum of understanding on contributing personnel to a field hospital in the Central African Republic. At the end of October, Serbia will co-host a high-level regional roundtable on UN peacekeeping to discuss cooperation among the countries of the Western Balkans on United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Bearing in mind that my country is part of a region that has gone through very challenging times, we approach the process of maintaining and building peace with special responsibility. In that context, we have promoted regional cooperation, reconciliation and understanding as the solid building blocks of lasting peace.

On this occasion, I would also like to salute all United Nations peacekeepers who risk their lives for the highest goals of peace. Serbia remains a partner to every United Nations Member State who aspires to contribute to peace and prosperity in the world through active engagement and cooperation.

Thank you for your attention."