IV

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 346

Concerning the establishment of a permanent United Nations security force.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JUNE 6, 2000

Mr. WYNN submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred

to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT 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 can

be a useful element in serving America’s interests and

that the primary objective of the United States Armed

Forces is to be prepared to fight and win 2 simultaneous

regional conflicts;

Whereas international peacekeeping operations can be a useful tool to help prevent and resolve regional conflicts before they pose a direct threat to United States national

security;
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Whereas international peacekeeping operations can also 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 remain confined in one country or even one region. Take

Rwanda, for example. The failure of the international

community to respond effectively led not only to geocide

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

combatants across the borders. Because we failed to act

in time, 7 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, in Cambodia, United Nations efforts led to an election protected by peacekeepers, the return of hundreds of

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

Whereas, in El Salvador, the United Nations sponsored elections and helped to end a long and bitter civil war;

Whereas the United Nations supervision of Namibia’s transition to independence removed a potential source of conflict in strategic southern Africa and promoted democracy;

Whereas the United Nations operations in Cyprus have prevented the outbreak of war between 2 NATO allies;
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Whereas peacekeeping operations on the Golan Heights have

helped 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 by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That the Congress urges the United Nations

3 to establish a permanent standing United Nations security

4 force as follows:

5 (1) The United Nations security force shall be

6 composed of not more than 15,000 volunteers from

7 United Nations member countries who are recruited,

8 trained, employed, and compensated directly by the

9 United Nations.

10 (2) The United Nations security force will be

11 trained and equipped specifically for rapid deploy12 ment in international peacekeeping operations con13 ducted under chapter VII of the United Nations

14 Charter. Rapid deployment of such force means the

15 capacity to deploy to an affected region with 21 days

16 of the enactment of a United Nations Security

17 Council resolution authorizing deployment. The max18 imum period of deployment of the United Nations

19 security force shall be 6 months. After such period,

20 international peacekeeping operations shall be con-
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1 ducted by forces of the member countries of the

2 United Nations.

3 (3) The United Nations security force may be

4 deployed only under the authority of a resolution of

5 the United Nations Security Council. The com6 mander in chief of the United Nations security force

7 shall be the Secretary General of the United Na8 tions.

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