20.10.2014.

International conference on UN peacekeeping missions

The regional roundtable about UN peacekeeping missions titled “Being a Peacekeeper”, which gathered countries that contribute to forces in UN, was opened today at the Palace of Serbia. The gathering, which was opened by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic, the head of UN peacekeeping, Under-Secretary-General Herve Ladsous, and Chief of the UN Office in Belgrade Peter Due, is an opportunity to discuss the present state of peacekeeping operations worldwide and the possible participation of the countries of the Western Balkans in UN peacekeeping operations.

Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic headed the delegation of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Serbia. Addressing the guests, Minister Gasic stressed that the Republic of Serbia is the largest force contributor in UN peacekeeping operations in this region and that, by engaging in peacekeeping operations, our country confirms its interest and intention to actively contribute to the regional, European and worldwide security, and to obeying the international rights and peace.

- It is important to stress the significance that engaging in multinational operations has for the Republic of Serbia and its national security. It supports the process of transformation and reorganization of the entire defence system, inclusion in collective security systems and reaching the necessary level of interoperability of our units. By gaining experience from participating in peacekeeping operations and by improving operative capabilities of each member of the Armed Forces of Serbia, we improve the country’s defence capacity and its credibility, which we see as one of the main goals of our defence policy – Minister Gasic stressed, adding that engaging in EU operations under the Common Security and Defence Policy contributes to the Republic of Serbia being closer to joining the European Union, which is undoubtedly one of our main foreign policy priorities.

According to him, the Republic of Serbia has significantly increased its participation in peacekeeping operations, considering how in 2013 and 2014 more persons have been deployed than in the previous ten years combined.

- The most important increase is referral of the Infantry Company to UNIFIL in Lebanon during 2013, and referral of the Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment which are currently, under the operation of the EU navy forces “Atalanta”, in Somalia waters securing the ship of the UN World Food Program from pirate attacks. In a very short time, we have managed to be among the first ten European countries with the largest number of deployed members in UN peacekeeping operations, and to go from being the “importer of security” to its “exporter” – Minister Gasic stated, noting that this is also proven by the fact that, currently, 210 members of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Serbia are taking part in seven UN missions, while another 27 are deployed in three UN missions conducted in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.

Minister of Defence also pointed out that particular attention is given to enhancing the number of deployed women in multinational operations – they currently comprise 8,7 percent of all our deployed members, and that military ambulance is considered our strategic capacity which is continually developed and enforced.

The Delegation of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Serbia included Prof. Mitar Kovac, PhD, Head of the Department for Strategic Planning, Major General Slavoljub Janicijevic, Deputy Commander of the Joint Operations Command and Colonel Milivoje Pajovic, MSc, Head of the Peacekeeping Operations Center.

The organizers of this year’s roundtable are: UN Department for Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and International Peace Institute (IPI), in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Serbia and with the support of the United Nations Office in Belgrade (UNOB) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP/SEESAC). This has been the fifth event organized by DPKO and IPI in the course of the “Being a Peacekeeper” series since 2010. Previous roundtables were held in New York, Kuala Lumpur, Berlin and Buenos Aires.