United Nations, 5 May (ZXS) -- At the open meeting held by the United Nations Security Council on the financing of African Union's independent peacekeeping operations on 25 May, at which Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, called on the international community to actively provide support, and stressed that the issue of financing African peacekeeping operations should reflect the fundamental principle of solving African problems in African ways.
Zhang Jun said: Over the years, the African Union and African sub-regional organizations have carried out peacekeeping operations and made tremendous efforts and sacrifices to maintain stability in Africa and silence the gunfire in Africa. In February this year, the AU Summit adopted a consensus document stressing the need for adequate, predictable and sustainable funding for AU peacekeeping operations and calling on the United Nations to provide support. The demands of African countries in this regard are legitimate and reasonable, and the international community should attach great importance to them and actively provide support.
Zhang Jun stressed that in dealing with the issue of AU peacekeeping funding, it is necessary to reflect the fundamental principle of solving African problems in an African way. Since it is an AU peacekeeping operation, the whole process of planning, authorization, deployment and management of the operation should fully reflect "African-led and African-owned". AU peacekeeping operations remain AU operations after receiving funding from the United Nations. The issue of financing is to be addressed, not to transform the AU force into another UN peacekeeping force.
Zhang Jun said that the protection of human rights is part of the mandate of peacekeeping operations, but it should be placed in an appropriate position. It is undeniable that African countries have made great efforts to strengthen the capacity of their armed forces and enhance their awareness of the protection of human rights. At the same time, no one is perfect when it comes to human rights. Some countries' overseas troops and some United Nations peacekeeping forces have had problems with discipline. It is a prejudice not to mention AU peacekeeping operations and to conclude that the protection of human rights is problematic in the first place. The fact that there have been cases of human rights violations or fears that such cases may occur in the future should not completely negate the outright denial of AU peacekeeping operations and their important contributions. Most importantly, the issue of human rights accountability provisions should not be used as a justification for protracted delays in the discussion of funding options and delays in taking decisions.
Zhang Jun pointed out that support through UN contributions should complement the AU's existing funding modalities. The traditional donors of developed countries should not reduce their financial support for Africa as a result, nor should they simply hand over the planned contributions to Africa to the United Nations under a different name, and shirk their historical responsibility to Africa.
Zhang Jun said that the security challenges facing Africa are diverse, and the AU's future autonomous peacekeeping model is also different, and there should be no one-size-fits-all funding plan. The key will depend on which option can be agreed upon as early as possible and that will benefit Africa the most. Political decisions should be followed by reduced procedural red tape and the micromanagement of budget preparation and implementation by the AU rather than the United Nations, as far as possible.
Zhang Jun said that at present, many UN peacekeeping operations in Africa are facing complex challenges, and it is necessary to carry out timely strategic assessment and mandate adjustment, including formulating exit strategies. The financing of AU peacekeeping operations should be considered in a holistic manner with the reform of United Nations peacekeeping operations. China supports the decisive and necessary streamlining and optimization of some United Nations peacekeeping operations and the better support of the resources freed up to support AU peacekeeping operations.
Zhang Jun said that China firmly supports Africa in enhancing its independent peacekeeping capability and providing adequate, predictable and sustainable financial support for the AU's independent peace operations. We hope that the Security Council will take this meeting as an opportunity to adhere to a pragmatic and results-oriented attitude and promote substantive progress on relevant issues as soon as possible. (End)