New York, March 28, 2018.In her statement at the Security Council High-Level Open Debate entitled "Collective Action to Improve UN Peacekeeping Operations," the Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, Ambassador Anayansi Rodríguez Camejo, recognized the main role of the General Assembly in the development of concepts, policies and strategies related to Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) and of the Special Committee in charge of such Operations, as the only UN forum with a mandate to analyze these issues.
The diplomat pointed out that the establishment and deployment of peacekeeping operations must be carried out under the strict observance of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, especially respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence of the States and non-intervention in their internal affairs. She added that the basic principles established for the development of these operations, such as the consent of the parties, impartiality and the non-use of force, except in self-defense, should also be respected.
She reflected on how the use of force by a PKO has political implications and can give rise to unforeseen circumstances, including increasing the risk of threats and attacks against UN personnel; since the use of force per se neither improves the effectiveness of the operation nor guarantees the safety of the personnel involved, whether military, police or civilian.
Rodríguez Camejo, reiterated that the PKOs are not a substitute for attention and solution to the root causes of conflicts and that they should allow the creation of a security framework enabling the implementation of a long-term strategy towards sustainable economic and social development.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.