(CeskeNoviny.ce) New York - The EU fully backs the U.N. in the field of peacekeeping operations but it also points out the need for their effectiveness and good preparation, the EU said in a statement, drafted by the Czech Republic as the EU presiding country, at the U.N. Security Council meeting on Friday.
The EU's statement was presented by Petr Kaiser, Czech deputy ambassador to the U.N.
The council launched a long-term discussion on the future of peacekeeping operations.
Kaiser said that any time before peacekeeping units are deployed, clear goals of the mission should be set beforehand and it should also be specified what steps would follow after the goals are fulfilled and the operation ends, so that the international community can monitor progress and fill gaps where needed.
"U.N. peacekeeping capacities should be deployed only when there is no other viable option and only for the shortest time necessary. Peacekeeping is costly and rebuilding peaceful and sustainable societies after an armed conflict requires a lot of resources. Every effort the international community undertakes in order to prevent conflicts is therefore worthwhile," Kaiser said on the EU behalf.
He recalled that the EU actively participates in U.N. peacekeeping missions and contributes over 40 percent to the U.N. peacekeeping budget, which has increased five times over the last ten years and is currently bigger than the regular budget.
