Statement by

Mr. Vahid Ghelich

Third Secretary

Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations

Before the Special Political and decolonization Committee, UNGA 77

On agenda item 48:” Comprehensive review of the whole question of Peacekeeping operations in all their aspects”

New York, 3 November 2022

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

Mr. Chairperson,  

First and foremost, I would like to thank the Under-Secretary-Generals for Peace Operations, Operational Support, and Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance for their comprehensive briefing.

 My delegation pays tribute to the men and women, especially the UN peacekeepers, who lost their lives in the line of duty while defending the honour of the United Nations.

I associate myself with the statement made by the distinguished representative of Morocco on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement as well.

Distinguished Colleagues,

Since the United Nations’ establishment in 1945, its central mission delineated all those years ago has continued to this day to aim towards maintaining international peace and security. Its peacekeeping operations, in particular, have remained an invaluable tool for the undertaking of this mission despite the challenges they have faced. While we reaffirm this vital role, we seriously consider that deploying UN peacekeepers on missions, extending their missions and implementing their responsibilities should be in full conformity with the UN Charter’s principles and purposes.

Regarding the role of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (C-34) as the only UN forum mandated to comprehensively review the entirety of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects, my delegation continues to underscore its utmost importance and reiterates its support to the Committee. In this regard, the work of this Committee in providing strategic recommendations and clear guidance to the Secretariat is critical.

We take note of the Secretary-General’s Action for Peacekeeping Initiative (A4P), which calls for a shared commitment among all Member States to enhance their engagement in this field. Iran, as one of the signatories of the declaration of Shared Commitments on UN Peacekeeping Operations, expects this ambitious roadmap to continue to be followed with solid practical results.

While reiterating the need for UN peacekeeping operations to keep pace with the ever-changing and complex nature of peace and security, we believe that it is essential to follow the purposes and principles of peacekeeping, namely the consent of the parties, impartiality and the non-use of force except in self-defense. The respect for principles of sovereign equality, political independence, territorial integrity of all States and non-intervention in matters that are essentially within their domestic jurisdiction should also be upheld in this regard. Furthermore, the joint commitment of all stakeholders involved in formulating and implementing peacekeeping mandates should continue.

In terms of the Protection of Civilians (PoC), the host countries hold the primary responsibility, and peacekeeping missions should only aim to support the national efforts of host countries to face up to this responsibility and carry it out where mandated. Therefore, any military intervention by the United Nations or foreign forces under the pretext of protecting civilians should be avoided.       

Regarding the issue of modern technologies and intelligence usage in peacekeeping missions, we believe that using such technologies as well as intelligence must be considered on a case-by-case basis, not only with respect to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Member States and the fundamental principles of peacekeeping, especially the consent of host States but also with the aim of ensuring the safety and security of United Nations personnel, including its peacekeepers.

Mr. Chairman,

While we emphasize that the legal aspects of using modern technologies and intelligence should be defined in appropriate intergovernmental processes, we reaffirm that improving the safety and security of uniformed personnel is a shared responsibility for all stakeholders to ensure our troops' protection, health, safety and security.

In addition, the utmost standard of conduct and discipline for United Nations personnel, including UN peacekeepers, must be upheld as they can directly affect the Organization’s image. In this regard, the policy of zero-tolerance on misconduct, especially Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA), should be fully implemented.

While remembering the role and placement of regional arrangements in peacekeeping operations in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, we underline that regional agreements should not, in any way, supersede the role of the United Nations or disengage it from its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. 

The Rule of Law also has a vital role and position in peacekeeping operations. In this context, essential matters, including cultural diversity, national ownership and the specificity of hosting countries, should be taken into account when extending any support to countries in conflict or emerging from conflict.

We underscore the importance of the active participation of Troop and Police Contributing Countries (TPCCs) in policy formulation and decision-making processes in all stages of peacekeeping operations to achieve the partnership and effectiveness required for the United Nations peacekeeping missions. We underline the need for practical triangular cooperation between TPCCs, the Secretariat and the Security Council. 

We also believe that equitable geographical distribution should be fully considered in staffing the headquarters and agencies in the fields at all levels.

In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, I would like to reiterate our strong commitment and support to the UN peacekeeping operations as the flagship activity of the United Nations. My Government stands ready to increase its contribution to peacekeeping operations logistically and militarily by deploying troops, military observers, police and civilians.

I Thank you