EU Presidency Statement - Safety and security of UN personnel

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union. The countries of Central and Eastern Europe associated with the European Union (Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia), the associated countries of Cyprus, Malta and Turkey and an EFTA country belonging to the European Economic Area (Liechtenstein), align themselves with this statement.

Mr. Chairman,

The European Union would first of all like to pay tribute to the courage and devotion of the men and women working for the United Nations system and humanitarian action who have lost their lives or have been victims of crimes in the call of duty. The European Union also pay tribute to those who are pursuing their work in the field and every day perform their tasks in increasingly dangerous conditions. Since 1 January 1992, 204 of the Organization's agents have lost their lives in the course of their duties. Since 1 January 1994, 255 members of UN staff have been taken hostage. These worrying statistics do not include the loss of human life suffered by non-governmental humanitarian agencies nor the rapes, robberies, harassment, attacks on humanitarian convoys, carjackings, arbitrary arrests and detentions.

For ten years now the European Union has worked within the Organization to ensure better protection of United Nations personnel and associated personnel at all levels: legal, diplomatic, institutional and financial. In its speech of 26 November to the General Assembly under item 20 of the agenda for this 56th session, the European Union took stock of the actions, which have been taken and remain to be taken in these areas.

Having always attached great importance to this crucial issue - in particular by the Resolution it introduces each year entitled "Safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel" - the European Union reaffirms that security measures constitute an essential function within the United Nations, which must be coordinated under the authority of the Secretary-General and must receive adequate and foreseeable funding, based on fair cost-sharing arrangements encompassing the whole of the United Nations system, as recommended by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions in its report A/55/658 in December 2000.

The joint award of the Nobel Peace Prize this year to the Organization and its Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, reminds us more than ever of the vital role played by the UN in peace affairs, and must spur us into acting to enable its staff to perform its noble task in the best possible conditions.

In his report A/56/384 on the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and the protection of United Nations personnel, and in his report A/56/619 on the interorganizational security measures to be implemented following Resolution 55/238 (II) of 23 December 2000, the Secretary-General underlined the critical importance of improving and strengthening coordinating mechanisms between the Organization, agencies, funds, programmes and institutions through the harmonization of security management between all actors in the United Nations system and the humanitarian community. The Union welcomes this and is delighted that the "culture of security awareness", engendered by the Secretary-General's own personal efforts, is beginning to have tangible effects.

Mr. Chairman,

Today we have before us concrete proposals to meet the expectations of the personnel of the United Nations system with a view to providing them a more effective protection. We must meet those expectations.

The Secretary general invites us to approve a total requirements of 53.4 millions dollars, of which the United Nations share would amount to 10,4 millions dollars, representing an increase of 8 millions dollars against the previous estimates under the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003. As always, the European Union will carefully consider the financial impact of these proposals.

In any event, The European Union endorses the substance of the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, whose chairman deserves our thanks for the wisdom and common sense shown by the members of his Committee. The European Union would particularly draw attention to the ACABQ's conclusions in paragraphs 14 to 16 of its report A/56/619, which ought to be scrupulously adhered to by the Organization and all bodies participating in the common security system. The principle of shared financial responsibility in the coordinated management of the security personnel and the implementation of a coherent security policy throughout the United Nations system is a cornerstone of that system.

On that point, the European Union would like to congratulate the Office of the United Nations Security Coordinator and the agencies, funds and programmes for their timely adoption of the necessary cost-sharing arrangements. If those arrangements are to work and be abided to, it is important that the positions of United Nations Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator be established as full-time posts and at a adequate level. It is above all essential that the participating institutions engage wholeheartedly in such coordination and ensure that their own security measures comply with the commitments entered into, are financially transparent and contribute to the synergies and to the coherence of the common system.

The European Union notes that the proposals of the Secretary General cover 64 of the 80 high-risk duty stations. In view of the important requirements requested today, this coverage seems insufficient and must extend itself to all high-risk duty stations.

Finally, the European Union subscribe to the very clear recommendations of the ACABQ in paragraph 11 of it' report. A prolonged discussion on defining clear lines of responsibility, accountability and hierarchical security structure is unacceptable. This issue must be resolved quickly, taking into account Article 74 of the United Nations Charter.

Mr. Chairman,

By way of conclusion, allow me once more to pay tribute to the peacekeeping staff, the staff of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and all those who, either within the United Nations family or in collaboration with it, work in the field on a daily basis to prevent conflicts, repair the damage caused by disaster and war, provide assistance to civilian populations, protect the rights of the weak and victims - in particular the rights of women and children - limit the proliferation of small and massive arms of destruction, prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity, and oversee reconstruction and development. They fully deserve the support of all Member States, whether by means of contributions or by measures to ensure their security and decent working conditions, so that the United Nations banner can cease to be a target and become instead a guarantee of protection.

Thank you for your attention, Mr. Chairman.

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• EU Presidency Statement - Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel (11/10/2004)