IV

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. RES. 194

Concerning the establishment of a permanent United Nations security force.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JULY 16, 2001

Mr. WYNN (for himself, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia,

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. CAPUANO, Mr.

CLAY, Ms. WATERS, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. MEEKS of New

York, Ms. MCKINNEY, Mr. FILNER, and Mr. KUCINICH) submitted the

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

RESOLUTION

Concerning the establishment of a permanent United Nations

security force.

Whereas, since 1948, the United Nations has established 53

peacekeeping operations, 15 of which are ongoing;

Whereas on May 3, 1994, President Clinton issued a presidential decision directive (PDD 25) stating that properly

conceived and well executed peacekeeping operations are

a useful element in serving the United States interests

and that the primary objective of the United States

Armed Forces is to be prepared to fight and win two simultaneous regional conflicts;

Whereas international peacekeeping operations are a useful

tool to help prevent and resolve regional conflicts before
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they pose a direct threat to United States national security;

Whereas international peacekeeping operations serve the interests of the United States by promoting democracy, regional security, and economic growth;

Whereas on February 23, 1999, United Nations Secretary

General Kofi Annan stated, ‘‘It is sadly clear that the

need for United Nations peacekeeping will continue and,

indeed, will probably grow. And it is very much in America’s national interest to support an international response to conflicts, even those which seem remote, because, in today’s interconnected world, they seldom remained confined to one country or even one region. Take

Rwanda for example. The failure of the international

community to respond effectively led not only to genocide

in Rwanda itself, but also to the exodus of refugees and

combatants across the borders. Because we failed to act

in time, seven countries are now fighting each other in

a mineral-rich region which should have been a prime

area for investment and development. Is this something

the United States can afford to ignore?’’;

Whereas United Nations efforts in Cambodia led to an election protected by peacekeepers, the return of hundreds of

thousands of refugees, and the end of a destabilizing regional conflict;

Whereas United Nations sponsored elections in El Salvador

helped to end a long and bitter civil war;

Whereas United Nations supervision of Namibia’s transition

to independence removed a potential source of conflict in

strategic southern Africa and promoted democracy;
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Whereas United nations operations in Cyprus have prevented

the outbreak of war between two NATO allies;

Whereas United Nations operations in the Golan Heights

have helped to preserve peace between Israel and Syria;

and

Whereas international peacekeeping operations have proven

invaluable over the years in deterring conflict and war

throughout the world: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved,

2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

3 This Resolution may be cited as the ‘‘United Nations

4 Peacekeepers Resolution of 2001’’.

5 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF SECURITY FORCE.

6 It is the sense of the House of Representatives that

7 the United Nations should establish a permanent standing

8 United Nations security force as follows:

9 (1) The United Nations security force should be

10 composed of not more than 15,000 volunteers from

11 the United Nations member countries, who are re12 cruited, trained, employed, and compensated directly

13 by the United Nations.

14 (2) The United Nations security force should be

15 trained and equipped specifically for rapid deploy16 ment in international peacekeeping operations con17 ducted under chapter VI or VII of the United Na18 tions Charter. Rapid deployment of such a force

19 means the capacity to deploy to an affected region
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1 within 21 days of the enactment of a United Nations

2 Security Council resolution authorizing deployment.

3 The period of deployment of the United Nations se4 curity force should be limited to a maximum of six

5 months.

6 (3) The United Nations security force should be

7 deployed only under the authority of a resolution of

8 the United Nations Security Council. The com9 mander in chief of the United Nations security force

10 should be the Secretary General of the United Na11 tions.

12 SEC. 3. INSTRUCTIONS TO THE AMBASSADOR.

13 The House of Representatives urges the President to

14 instruct the United States Ambassador to the United Na15 tions to encourage efforts in the United Nations to estab16 lish such a permanent United Nations security force.

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