There are real dangers in sending troops indefinitely into harm's way in the absence of a clear peace plan and reasonable prospects for achieving it. Disputing parties must be committed to peace, and must be held accountable for their actions. Third, peace operations must have a mandate from the Security Council that is appropriate to the job they are being asked to do. If the environment is hostile, they must be appropriately equipped and able to project credible force. Fourth, deployment must take place quickly once a decision is taken by the Security Council.
Delays can lead to the further deterioration of a situation, and can cost lives.
The Brahimi Report offers a number of useful ideas to speed deployment which merit careful consideration. Fifth, UN peace operations must have a clear exit strategy. It is also linked to the efficacy of accompanying peace processes and peace-building efforts. We welcome the attention given to these issues in the Brahimi Report. We also support the point that the UN must be given the resources it needs to carry out the demands that we make of it.