India for holistic approach to post-conflict peace-building

UNITED NATIONS - Advocating a holistic approach to “post-conflict peace-building”, India has suggested consultations with major troop and police contributing countries in formulating and revising mandates of the UN missions.

“Security is a key pillar for peace-building,” Hardeep Singh Puri, Permanent Representative of India, said addressing the UN Security Council Friday. “It is equally important to focus on building economic opportunity, particularly for the youth along with political and social stability.”

“This requires a holistic approach that is sensitive to the economic, social and political milieu of the post-conflict situation,” he said suggesting that the international community must always strive to ensure an effective two-way dialogue between the Peace Building Commission and countries on its agenda.

Given the sensitive nature of the peace-building tasks such as security sector reforms and development administration, there must be a high degree of coordination within the UN system, Puri said.

Noting that India has shared its unique nation-building experience and expertise in a number of countries transiting from conflict to peace, the envoy said: “We are very happy to continue to make available our capabilities in nation building to countries in post-conflict situations.”

Ever since the creation of the commission in December 2005, India has actively participated in its working as a member of its Organisational Committee and by contributing to the resources of the Peace-building Fund (PBF), he said.

“We will continue this active association with the PBC and the PBF with a view to enable these institutions to fulfill in their entirety the tasks as assigned to them by the General Assembly and the Security Council,” Puri said adding that the fund should act as a catalyst for good governance.

“We need to be cognizant that peace-building is still a concept in its infancy and is continuously evolving,” he said.

“It is therefore, imperative that we ensure that peace-building and the institutions that constitute the peace-building architecture are successful.”