Opening Remarks by Mr. Koichi Takemasa
State Secretary for Foreign Affairs
At the Opening Ceremony of the U.S.-Japan Global Peace Operations Initiative Senior Mission Leaders Course

October 19, 2009
Japanese

Distinguished guests,

Let me begin by expressing my sincere gratitude for your participation in the opening ceremony of the U.S.-Japan Global Peace Operations Initiative Senior Mission Leaders Course.

The Course participants comprise 25 military, police and civilian officials from 13 countries in the Asia-Pacific region who are potential senior leaders for future UN peacekeeping operations. It is my honor to have the presence of 15 experienced, excellent instructors from all over the world to deliver the Course. I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation for their participation and support.

In recent years, characteristics of international conflicts have been dramatically changed as shown by the frequent occurrence of internal and regional conflicts and terrorist attacks caused by ethnic and religious tensions.

In light of this development, the number of newly established UN peacekeeping missions has increased and the activities of these missions have been transformed from small-scale operations with limited mandates, such as ceasefire monitoring, to large-scale operations with multiple functions. In addition, UN peacekeeping missions have been deployed in the areas where fierce internal conflicts still continue or government function has become fragile in the absence of stable peace agreements.

The scale and budget of UN peacekeeping operations have become larger than ever, and the types of human resources required for UN peacekeeping operations have become diversified. There is a chronic shortage in certain kinds of human resources, such as police officers who work on the reforms of the security sectors and civil officers who deal with the rule of law.

Against this backdrop, many argue for the necessity of a comprehensive review of UN peacekeeping operations.

Some proponents of the review question the quality of deployed personnel. They point out that there are personnel who have obviously lacked proper training and that the impact of deploying such personnel to dangerous operations in remote areas is particularly severe. In this regard, the UN has set up training guidelines and conducted training courses around the world. One of the purposes of this Senior Missions Leaders Course is that Japan and the United States, two Member States, provide support for such efforts by the United Nations.

The Hatoyama Administration will make its utmost efforts in addressing various challenges facing Japan, and peacebuilding is no exception. Prime Minister Hatoyama, in his address to the United Nations General Assembly, stated the issues of peacebuilding as one of the challenges Japan needs to tackle as a "bridge" in the world.

Under the principle of the Hatoyama Cabinet, "Yu-ai" in Japanese, meaning "fraternity", Japan, in cooperation with the international community, will actively support the efforts of post-conflict areas and their peoples for stability and reconstruction.

In this regard, I would like to take this opportunity to explain some areas of our focus on UN peacekeeping operations.

First, Japan will make efforts to develop civilian experts specializing in peacebuidling.

Secondly, Japan will make efforts in strengthening peacekeeping capabilities of the international community.

Thirdly, Japan would also like to consider positively the possibility of deploying more personnel to UN peacekeeping operations.

Fourthly, Japan would like to contribute actively to the discussion on the review of the UN peacekeeping operations.

First is Japan's efforts to develop civilian experts specializing in peacebuidling.

Since 2007, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan has implemented human development program to train experts in the field of peacebuilding, and they, after the completion of the course, have been engaged in peacebuilding activities around the world, including in Sudan and Sierra Leone. We sincerely hope to develop human resources who can lead the international community in the various fields of peacebuilding including the achievement and implementation of peace.

Second is Japan's efforts in strengthening peacekeeping capabilities of the international community. Since last year, Japan has sent personnel from the Self-Defense Force and civilians as instructors to PKO training centers in Egypt, Ghana and Mali. In addition, Japan provides assistance to peacekeeping training centers in eight African countries (Ghana, Mali, Kenya, Egypt, Rwanda, Benin, Nigeria and South Africa) and Malaysia.

We believe that this Course starting from today will bring about the improvement in the capability of Asia-Pacific countries to participate in UN peacekeeping operations.

Thirdly, Japan would also like to consider positively the possibility of deploying more personnel to UN peacekeeping operations.

Given the fact that more than 110,000 people are currently working as peacekeepers, we think that there is much room for Japan to make further efforts. At the meeting with the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in September, Prime Minister Hatoyama told that Japan's human contribution to peacekeeping operations had not been sufficient and that this was the area where we would need to make more efforts.

Fourthly, Japan would like to contribute actively to the discussion on the review of the UN peacekeeping operations.

Japan has been a non-permanent member of UN Security Council since January this year and serves currently as the chair of the Security Council Working Group on peacekeeping operations. Particularly, in this Working Group after autumn, Japan, with the participation of members of the Security Council, and troop-contributing countries and others, would like to enrich the discussion on enhancement of cooperation with troop-contributing/ police-contributing countries and other stakeholders.

In this training Course, participants, who are potential senior leaders, such as Special Representatives to the Secretary-General, Deputy Special Representatives, Chief of Staff, Heads of Military and Police components, will undergo trainings on planning, preparing, managing and directing peacekeeping operations.

As you are aware, some UN missions are facing difficulties. For the success of such difficult missions, we have high expectations for the participants. I am very much looking forward to seeing your active engagement as senior personnel in UN peacekeeping operations as soon as possible after this Course.

Thank you for your attention.