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 presi-
dential 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 use-
ful tool to help prevent and resolve regional conflicts be-
fore they pose a direct threat to United States national
security;
•HCON 346 IH
Whereas international peacekeeping operations can also serve
the interests of the United States by promoting democ-
racy, 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 Amer-
ica’s national interest to support an international re-
sponse to conflicts, even those which seem remote, be-
cause, in today’s interconnected world, they seldom re-
main 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 min-
eral-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 elec-
tion protected by peacekeepers, the return of hundreds of
thousands of refugees, and the end of a destabilizing re-
gional conflict;
Whereas, in El Salvador, the United Nations sponsored elec-
tions and helped to end a long and bitter civil war;
Whereas the United Nations supervision of Namibia’s transi-
tion to independence removed a potential source of con-
flict in strategic southern Africa and promoted democ-
racy;
Whereas the United Nations operations in Cyprus have pre-
vented the outbreak of war between 2 NATO allies;
•HCON 346 IH
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
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress urges the United Nations
to establish a permanent standing United Nations security
force as follows:
(1) The United Nations security force shall be
composed of not more than 15,000 volunteers from
United Nations member countries who are recruited,
trained, employed, and compensated directly by the
United Nations.
(2) The United Nations security force will be
trained and equipped specifically for rapid deploy-
ment in international peacekeeping operations con-
ducted under chapter VII of the United Nations
Charter. Rapid deployment of such force means the
capacity to deploy to an affected region with 21 days
of the enactment of a United Nations Security
Council resolution authorizing deployment. The max-
imum period of deployment of the United Nations
security force shall be 6 months. After such period,
international peacekeeping operations shall be con-