Madame President,
Thank you for convening today’s open debate.
Italy aligns itself with the statement by the European Union and would like to add the following remarks in its national capacity.
One year ago, the New Agenda for Peace sent a clear message on the need to adapt UN peacekeeping to the current global security scenario.
Success or failure of the strategic challenge of peacekeeping transition will depend on the strength of our commitment, the effectiveness of our collective effort and the cohesion among the main stakeholders.
To achieve this goal, we must work on two main levels of trust.
The first track concerns the build-up of peacekeeping operations.
Regional organizations must be involved in the decision-making process culminating in the adoption of the resolutions and mandates which they will implement.
On this point, Italy acknowledges Africa’s significant and increasing contributions to international peace and security. The continent has demonstrated admirable courage, leadership, and ownership in addressing global challenges. We therefore welcome the landmark 2719 resolution on AU-led peace support operations.
At the same time, the Peacebuilding Commission should have a central role in forging ties with local authorities and in building a network of peacebuilders and peacekeepers, with the ultimate goal of providing the Security Council with targeted, effective advice.
This will help the Security Council adopt mandates which can actually be implemented.
The second track of trust concerns the implementation phase and the performance of peacekeepers. No matter what organization is called to execute a mandate, peacekeepers should receive top-level training before deployment. By stepping up and standardizing the performance of peacekeepers, we will strengthen the trust among the Security Council, the Host Countries and all relevant stakeholders. Moreover, and most importantly, peacekeeping operations will be more effective in protecting civilians and shielding the most vulnerable groups from threats.
While adaptation is critical, we have already some solid ground and best practices to build on.
UNIFIL, for example, has built over the years a successful model based on respect for the local culture, impartiality, credibility and closeness to the civilian population, so becoming one of the most stable and successful UN peacekeeping Missions. Italy believes that tailored training was a key determinant of this result, and therefore looks forward to share and offer such best practices for the sake of effective peacekeeping.
Madame President,
peace processes do not end as soon as the last soldier leaves the ground.
It is therefore essential to consider peacebuilding and peacekeeping as complementary
By fostering stability, dialogue, and inclusivity, effective peacebuilding can play a critical role in breaking the cycles of underdevelopment, uneven growth, unfair politics, and the risks of militarization. However, it is not a silver bullet. To effectively tackle these vicious cycles, peacebuilding must be accompanied by comprehensive policies in economics, governance, and security. Together, along with sustainable development, they can bring sustainable peace.
The UN system can count on Italy, for the future of effective peacekeeping.
