Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Jan Petersen

Address at UN Senior Management Seminar on Multidimensional Peacekeeping

Oslo, 14. June 2004

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a pleasure for me to welcome you to Oslo.

I hope you have had a chance to relax over the weekend and that you are ready for another week of lectures and discussions on international peace operations.

Sadly, there seems to be no decline in the need for such operations. On the other hand, international co-operation on how to enhance the functioning of these operations is improving and increasing. The G8 Global Peace Initiative is the most recent example at hand.

Norway's involvement in international peace operations illustrates our determination to take responsibility. It is part of our broad-based international engagement in conflict prevention, peace and reconciliation. Countries in conflict cause instability; they provide fertile breeding grounds for organised crime and international terrorism. Conflicts also cause enormous suffering for civilians, who are increasingly being targeted by armed groups.

Our contributions to international efforts reflect the conviction that if we can help other people to achieve a more secure, more decent life, we quite simply have an obligation to do so. Sixty thousand people have been killed in the conflict in Sri Lanka. If Norway’s efforts can make a difference to the situation there, that is a good enough reason in itself to be involved.

For its size, Norway is a major contributor to international peace operations, and we have a long tradition of participating in such operations. Since World War II more than 100 000 men and women of the Norwegian armed forces have served abroad.

In addition to our personnel contributions, Norway also supports the strengthening of peacekeeping capacity in troop-contributing countries. Since 1995 we have supported a project called ‘Training for Peace in Southern Africa’. The aim is to build regional competence for participation in peace operations and peace building. We also consider a similar project in Western Africa. Here we hope to involve ECOWAS, as the most experienced African organisation when it comes to peace operations.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Moving from conflict to sustainable peace is a difficult process that requires a comprehensive approach, not least in failed states. Providing military forces alone is rarely enough. In post-conflict situations there is also a need for civilian police, judicial expertise, and financial, as well as political support. And, to make our contributions as effective as possible, they should be part of joint international efforts, implemented in close co-operation with local partners.

Capacity-building and training are key words. We regard the enhancement of peacekeeping capacity as an essential element in a broad peace-building strategy. Today's peace operations are far more complex than the traditional peace- keeping operations, whose main function normally is to monitor a peace agreement between two conflicting parties. Today's operations are about peace building; they are designed to prevent further conflict, to support peace processes and to build democracy and well functioning institutions. This is very much in line with the Norwegian Government's broad approach to international crisis management.

In order to increase Norway’s contribution to international civil management operations, we have recently developed a comprehensive scheme for deploying experts from the entire judicial system to areas in need of assistance. This crisis response pool includes judges, prosecutors, police and prison personnel who can be deployed at short notice. It adds to the well established Norwegian Resource Bank for Democracy and Human Rights, NORDEM, which for some years have made it possible for us to quickly respond to the need for qualified personnel for democracy- and institution building.

Norway also supports the development of the UN's own capacity. The aim is to enable the organisation to offer standardised training. Joint training is of major importance for the smooth functioning of international operations. Efficient interaction between personnel of different backgrounds is essential at every level of an operation.

I am confident that this year’s UNSMAS seminar is a source of valuable insight, not only trough the lectures, but perhaps just as much from the exchange of views between the seminar colleagues.

I wish you every success during this week in Oslo.

Thank you for your attention.