Washington, September 24: President Barack Obama on Wednesday said the United States will help explore ways to reduce the strain on United Nations peacekeeping operations, after a meeting with countries that contribute the most troops to efforts in conflict zones.
Obama later joined a private ceremony to honour troops and civilians slain while in the line of UN duties. He laid a wreath at a memorial to the 22 UN staff killed in a 2003 suicide bombing against the UN mission in Baghdad, the deadliest single attack ever against UN personnel.
Obama said that UN peacekeepers helped spread the burden of policing global conflicts around the world, and he pushed other countries to aid the effort. The US would consider increasing its own involvement.
But the United States, which has contributed few resources to UN missions but provides about one quarter of the budget for such efforts, did not pledge to increase its own troop commitments.
“Over the last 10 years, the demands on peacekeeping have grown, and operations have become more complex. It is in all of our interests to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of these efforts,” Obama said.
The UN has 15 peacekeeping operations running around the world, involving more than 100,000 troops. Many of the missions are stretched thin and have been plagued by inefficiency and corruption. A sexual abuse scandal involving UN soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo has soiled peacekeepers’ reputation.
The White House said that Obama pushed countries to boost resources and troops and to adopt reforms that would make peacekeeping operations “credible and achievable.” The US said it may consider providing more military officers, police and civilian personnel.
“From Sudan to Liberia to Haiti, peacekeeping operations are a cost-effective means for the United States and all nations to share the burden of promoting peace and security,” Obama said.
He met with delegations from Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Italy, Jordan, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Senegal and Uruguay.
–Agencies–