Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Thank you Mr President
New Zealand welcomes the adoption of this Resolution and it thanks France for its constructive and inclusive leadership which secured agreement on the text.
New Zealand strongly supports MONUSCO, and its FIB, and the role MONUSCO continues to play in supporting the DRC as it hopefully enters a period of stability, lasting peace, increased prosperity and security.
Mr President
The inclusion of an Intervention Brigade in the MONUSCO mandate makes this a special and unusually complex operation.
And, in the context of this latest mandate renewal, it was with those special characteristics in mind, that New Zealand proposed a strengthened oversight mechanism in respect of MONUSCO‘s operations to neutralise armed groups. So we welcome what’s now been agreed in that regard; more targeted 90 day reporting, together with DPKO’s new commitment to provide regular, informal briefings on MONUSCO’s operations to both Council members and to TCCs.
Once it’s performed its charter function of mandating any peacekeeping operation, this Council must then perform an oversight role, an oversight role in respect of those operations; and it’s crucial that, in that role, it be both engaged and responsive.
We seek to make the right decisions in this Council chamber; but it’s equally important that having made those decisions we then follow through on how they are being implemented in practice.
We owe that to the troops charged with implementing such mandates; and we owe it to the civilian populations they are tasked to protect.
And it’s crucial that we approach that oversight with a supportive and a pro-active mind-set. New Zealand will therefore actively participate in these Council briefings, and if the better flow of information identifies significant risks to civilians or MONUSCO troops, we’ll stand ready to promote any necessary council action in response.
Mr President
MONUSCO’s very existence, let alone its ability to perform its tasks, is dependent on the willingness and the generosity of those countries that contribute their troops – the TCCs. We truly value the TCCs’ contribution.
And we acknowledge the sacrifices they make in the full delivery of a Mission’s mandate; and (in this case) in carrying out MONUSCO’s top priority - the protection of civilians.
So, we are very pleased that we now have two new mechanisms that will more effectively monitor MONUSCO’s distinct mandate.
We’ll be active in assessing the effectiveness of those new mechanisms, Mr President; and we commit to seeking out any other measures that might be required to enhance further this Council’s very important oversight role.