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New Zealand strongly supports the role of the Peacebuilding Commission in coordinating and integrating post conflict peacebuilding activities. The body has always been an integral component of the wider UN reform agenda. Following its establishment, we are hopeful that a more comprehensive response to post conflict situations will be possible, resulting in lasting peace.
In the two years since World Leaders agreed to establish the Peacebuilding Commission, solid progress has been made in getting this new body up and running and on building the support architecture – the Fund and the Support Office. We are pleased to note that operations in Burundi and Sierra Leone are already well underway, following the referrals of those two countries to the body in 2006. But the Commission remains in its infancy. Only once the outcomes of initial projects begin to be evident will it be possible to draw some conclusions about the efficacy of the Commission's work.
Looking ahead, we recognise that key to the body's long-term success will be its ability to achieve demonstrable results in its actual operations. In that respect New Zealand is particularly interested in the interaction between the Peacebuilding Commission’s activities and those of UN and other agencies working in the field.
Building capacity in post conflict situations is not an activity the UN can achieve alone; the engagement of local authorities as well as the involvement of civil society elements (both in country and in New York) in the Commission’s activities will be critical to its success. Even more important will be ensuring coordination and coherence with other aid agencies and international organisations on the ground. Greater information exchange between partners in the field, donors and Commission members will continue to be integral in building the continued confidence and support of the wider UN membership. In addition New Zealand hopes that the rolling out of the “one UN” initiative, as part of efforts to improve system wide coherence of the UN at the country level, will further enhance the operations of the body.
Mr President,
This year holds particular challenges for the Peacebuilding Commission and we welcome the appointment of Japan as the new Chair. Japan will play a key role in shaping the future direction and focus of the body.
As the year progresses, a key challenge facing the Commission will be to ensure that it has clarity of purpose and a good understanding of the environment on the ground before taking on new countries. New Zealand would be wary of moving to new countries without a clear understanding of lessons learned from the first phases of the Burundi and Sierra Leone operations.
Mr President,
New Zealand continues to support the UN’s efforts in assisting young and fragile states towards achieving peace and prosperity. Like the UN, New Zealand has a long history of involvement in the state-building process in Timor-Leste, and is committed to its success. As last year’s events demonstrated however, the road to stability and development is not going to be quick or short on challenges. We hope the UN’s commitment will be sustained over the long term. There may eventually be a supporting role for the Peacebuilding Commission, provided such assistance is considered appropriate.
As said earlier, a further challenge for the Commission will be to strive to deliver concrete results in the first two countries. In order to meet the expectations of the membership, comprehensive efforts and partnerships will be required in the transition from war to peace. New Zealand will continue to follow the Commission’s progress in this regard.
Thank you.
