New peacekeeping challenges posed.

A number of United Nations peace-keeping operations, especially in Africa, have confirmed their vital role. While troop numbers continue to increase, new regional arrangements are being developed that take into account the manifold conditions under which the United Nations is called upon to ensure the orderly transition of societies from conflict to peace.

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With the expected repatriation of millions of refugees and intemally displaced people throughout Africa, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers on 8 March called for global support to break the continent's cycle of poverty, violence and despair. Addressing a two-day conference on voluntary repatriation and sustainable reintegration in Africa, he said that as many as 5 million people could soon return to their homelands--the continent's biggest return movement in a decade--as nine long-running conflicts come to an end or diminish in intensity. Largescale returns were possible in Angola, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Sudan, as the countries head towards peace.

While the Governments of affected countries have prime responsibility to resolve conflicts and promote development. Mr. Lubbers stressed that donor Governments could provide important support as countries return to stability. "Efforts must be made to ensure the effectiveness of programmes aimed at the disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and rehabilitation of former combatants, including youths", he said. More than 800,000 refugees have recently returned to Angola, Burundi, Eritrea, Rwanda and Sierra Leone, despite what he described as "enormous challenges" in their homelands.

Briefing the Security Council on 5 February 2004. Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie Guehenno noted that three-quarters of the 45,000 uniformed UN peacekeeping forces were stationed in Africa. While the continent had made real progress in achieving peace, he cautioned that many challenges remained and that it was "important to sustain the peace-keeping efforts there". Mr. Guehenno highlighted as successes the establishment of a transitional government in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the prospect of real peace in Sierra Leone and Burundi, the possible success in Liberia and negotiations in Sudan.

Three Special Representatives of the Secretary-General also briefed the Council--Daudi Mwakawago, head of the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL). William Lacy Swing, head of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) and Jacques Paul Klein, chief of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

Mr. Mwakawago said that UN forces in Sierra Leone were being gradually downsized from 17,000, and that withdrawal would be complete by the end of 2004. The pace of withdrawal takes into account the Government's readiness to assume responsibility for countrywide security and law and order. Mr. Swing observed that MONUC had evolved from a small observer mission to a complex multidimensional operation called upon to facilitate the transition process, culminating in elections in June 2005. Dramatic progress has been achieved. Former adversaries were now together in the same government, the once-divided country was reunited, and the Congo River was open to traffic. But Mr. Swing also noted that 3.5 million persons had lost their lives while 600,000 had fled their homes. Mr. Klein reported that the increased deployment of international forces throughout Liberia had served to quell violence and paved the way for the provision of humanitarian assistance.

In a new report to the General Assembly. Secretary-General Kofi Annan noted that, with regional military forces being strengthened for rapid deployment to conflict areas, the United Nations could deploy multinational peacekeeping troops as part of a series of steps reinforcing strategic partnerships. The focus of cooperation with regional organizations, he said, had been both on providing "direct support to the United Nations by deploying before, alongside or after a United Nations operation", as well as on the "long-term enhancement of the capacity for peacekeeping of regional and sub-regional organizations, particularly in Africa".

In Cote d'Ivoire, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) forces established the peace, reinforced by French rapid reaction peacekeeping forces, until the Security Council authorized a UN operation in the country. In Liberia, ECOWAS forces were first sent in to stabilize the situation in the country and then "re-hatted" with the blue helmets of UN peacekeepers. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a European Union-led force deployed in Bunia reduced ethnic fighting there, while MONUC, the UN mission in the country, was restructured to address wider security needs. Elsewhere, the report noted, UN peacekeepers cooperate with forces from the Common-wealth of Independent States (CIS), the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan and the Australianled International Force in East Timor (INTERFET).

According to the latest overview of the UN peacekeeping budget released on 5 March 2004, the level of UN peacekeepers serving around the world continues to grow, even as the number of missions remains relatively stable. The annual review shows that more peacekeepers and military observers are needed, while the levels of civilian police and civilian staff required are falling. The UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) has been expanding since 2000, as operations have grown in light of the recommendations of the Panel on UN Peace Operations.

GREAT LAKES REGION 

Momentum for Conference continues

Briefing the Security Council on 17 February, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Tuliameni Kalomoh noted that relations between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and its neighbours were improving, while the disarmament, demobilization and resettlement of fighters from Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi had proceeded faster than expected. "Advances achieved in the peace processes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi over the past six months have created a new momentum in favour of the convening of an international conference of the Great Lakes region", he said. The Conference aims to hammer out policies that ensure that the region can safeguard peace, security, democracy and development. The core countries of the Great Lakes Conference are Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. The first summit is scheduled to be held in November 2004 in Tanzania.

On 12 March, the Security Council established a committee to monitor the arms embargo against all armed groups operating in the eastern region of the DRC. Concerned at the continuing insecurity and the flow of illegal weapons throughout the vast region--driven chiefly by armed groups and militia--the Council authorized the UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) to seize banned arms, monitor the movements of such groups, and continue its surprise inspections of aircraft cargo and transport vehicles.

A national collaborative meeting was held on 25 February to discuss the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission as part of the political transition to peace. It aims to promote reconciliation by shedding light on past violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.

WEST AFRICA

Peacekeeping and good governance

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a 12 March report on ways to combat cross-border problems in West Africa, appealed to the Security Council to allow peacekeeping missions enough time to help establish good local governance and ensure national involvement in fostering reconciliation in the region. He urged the international community to "maintain a significant and robust presence in post-conflict countries to prevent regression into conflict and to promote the consolidation of good governance and national ownership of the peace-building process". The political approach to the region must promote democracy, accountability, peace, tolerance, gender equality and transparency. Mr. Annan stressed, replacing the prevailing culture of impunity, violence, exclusion and extortion--often exacerbated by the poor governance record in many parts of West Africa. Regional problems include youth unemployment, social exclusion, the increasing use and proliferation of mercenaries, child soldiers, small arms, weak national institutions and the erosion of the security sector. Mr. Annan recommended improving the harmonization of UN offices in the region, under the guidance of his Special Representative, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah.

The Secretary-General, in a 15 March report to the General Assembly, asked the UN organ to fill a shortfall of $40 million in the 2004-2005 budget of the Special Court for Sierra Leone. Voluntary contributions by UN Member States, he said, were enough to pay only for operations through June 2004. The Court was set up through an agreement between the United Nations and Sierra Leone to try those people who bear "the greatest responsibility" for atrocities committed during the country's brutal civil war in the late 1990s. So far, the Court has issued indictments against 11 individuals, including Charles Taylor, the former President of Liberia. On 12 March, the Security Council ordered all Governments to freeze the assets of Charles Taylor and his immediate family, barring them from using "misappropriated funds and property" to obstruct the restoration of peace and stability in Liberia and the West African region.

IRAQ

Interim Constitution signed

In response to the signing of the Interim Constitution by the Iraqi Governing Council in Baghdad on 8 March. Secretary-General Kofi Annan stressed "the importance of an inclusive national dialogue and genuine consensus-building among all Iraqis, which will help to promote stability in Iraq as the country moves closer to regaining its sovereignty".

At the request of the Governing Council and the Coalition Provisional Authority, Mr. Annan sent a fact-finding mission to Iraq from 6 to 13 February to determine the future role of the United Nations in Iraq. The mission reported that without substantial preparations, credible elections could not be held before 30 June 2004, the deadline for the transfer of sovereignty. It called for the establishment of a public administration infrastructure, a regulatory framework for elections, an electoral commission and voter registration programmes. The fact-finding mission marked the first return of UN international staff to Iraq since they were pulled out of the country in October 2003, following the 19 August terrorist bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad. Currently, all international staff of the United Nations Assistance Mission to Iraq (UNAMI) are based in Nicosia. Cyprus and Amman.?ordan, while national staff continue to implement and monitor humanitarian programmes in the 18 Iraqi governorates. On 10 December 2003. Mr. Annan named veteran relief coor-dinator Ross Mountain as his Acting Special Representative for Iraq.

AFGHANISTAN

Voter registration

A large number of Afghans have enrolled in the first phase of voter registration. The number of women registering to vote for the upcoming elections, though still far behind that of men, is showing a consistent gradual increase, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported on 11 March. So far, 28 per cent of the nearly 1.4 million Afghans who registered in the eight regional centres are women, compared with only 16 per cent at the start of registration in December 2003. Secretary-General Kofi Annan appealed to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to expand its engagement in Afghanistan as elections approach. He named Jean Arnault of France as his Special Representative in Afghanistan and Head of UNAMA.

On 13 October 2003, the Security Council extended the UNAMA mandate for twelve months and expanded the mandate of the International Assistance Force to allow for maintenance of security outside the capital for international personnel engaged in reconstruction and humanitarian efforts in the country. The mandate expansion would help the Government to extend its authority to the provinces and provide social services and reconstruction assistance.

The production of opium in Afghanistan has reached its highest levels since 1999, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported, and it warned that poppy cultivation could further expand.

TIMOR-LESTE

Sustaining achievements

Although the operation of the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) is scheduled to end in May 2004, the Secretary-General has recommended that its mandate be extended for one year, in order to provide assistance to Timor-Leste's justice system and core administrative structures, support the development of a national police force and maintain security. "I am convinced that a comparatively modest additional effort can make a crucial difference in broadening the scope and increasing the sustainability of the remarkable achievements that have already been made, and allowing Timor-Leste to reach a threshold of self-sufficiency", Mr. Annan stated on 18 February in his report to the Security Council. The country became independent on 20 May 2002, after a three-year transitional process under the guidance of the United Nations.

KOSOVO

Date for next Kosovo elections set

The head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Harri Holkeri, announced on 14 March that Kosovo's elections would be held on 23 October 2004.

Following the recommendations of an election working group, he endorsed closed lists, which he termed "the most appropriate option for Kosovo at this time". During the 2000 elections, using the open lists system, only 8 per cent of successful candidates were women "The closed lists will ensure women's participation in the Assembly of Kosovo, which currently has one of the highest percentages of women representatives", Mr. Holkeri said, adding that open lists "tend to favour those who have high public profiles".

RELATED ARTICLE: New Peacekeeping Operation for Cote d'Ivoire

The Security Council on 27 February unanimously authorized a peacekeeping operation for Cote d'Ivoire for an initial period of twelve months. The UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) is set to start on 4 April 2004, when the mandate of the current United Nations Mission in Cote d'Ivoire (MINUCI) ends. Approximately 7,000 UN personnel will monitor the ceasefire agreement reached in May 2003 between the country's warring parties. Cote d'Ivoire has remained divided, with the southern part under the control of the Government, led by President Laurent Gbago, and the north by rebel groups, since a coup attempt in 2002 that resulted in widespread violence and a humanitarian crisis. After months of fierce fighting, the Government signed a peace agreement with the rebel forces in Linas-Marcoussis, France, which calls for the Government, rebels and political opposition to share power until elections in 2005. According to the Council, UNOCI will cooperate with the French forces already stationed there, promoting "the re-establishment of trust between all the Ivorian forces involved", with the UN presence in Cote d'Ivoire having a stabilizing effect on peacekeeping efforts throughout the West African region.

RELATED ARTICLE: Multinational Force Arrives in Haiti

The Security Council on 29 February authorized the deployment of a multinational interim force to Haiti to restore peace and security following the departure of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. It called on the United Nations, the Caribbean Community and the Organization of American States to "promote the rebuilding of democratic institutions" and combat poverty in Haiti. On 26 February, Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed John Reginald Dumas of Trinidad and Tobago as his Special Adviser for Haiti to help tackle the country's escalating political, economic and social turmoil. Mr. Dumas began discussions with the political leaders in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, on 16 March. At the same time, a multidisciplinary UN mission is determining the terms of a mandate for a possible peacekeeping mission. The interagency team is looking at security, transportation and humanitarian conditions in the country. On 9 March, the United Nations launched an emergency "Flash Appeal" for $35 million to help improve food security and meet the humanitarian needs of some 3 million Haitians. UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland emphasized that short-term emergency measures "must be accompanied by a broad set of long-term policies to address the problems of governance and poverty".

RELATED ARTICLE: Bakassi Peninsula Talks Continue

The Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission continues its efforts to resolve the dispute over the sovereignty of the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula. In its ruling of 10 October 2002, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delineated the disputed boundary in favour of Cameroon. At the request of the two countries' Presidents, Secretary-General Kofi Annan established the tripartite Commission in November 2002 to peacefully implement the ICJ decision. On 1 February 2004, following talks in Geneva between President Paul Biya of Cameroon and President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, both countries agreed to confidence-building measures, including an exchange of ambassadors, the opening of consular services along their border, and the introduction of joint patrols of security forces. They also were considering drafting a non-aggression treaty.

RELATED ARTICLE: Cyprus Settlement 'in Reach'

More than 40 years after the United Nations first became involved in the Cyprus dispute, Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 13 February said a settlement was "in reach" after the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders committed to his plan to reunify the island nation ahead of its 1 May 2004 entry into the European Union. The two parties agreed to finalize by 22 March negotiations under the Secretary-General's mission of good offices. If the talks, headed by his Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, succeed in reaching agreement on modifications to the plan, the proposal will be submitted on 20 April to separate referenda for approval by its communities.

Coordinated by Horst Rutsch with Consuelo Remmert