Consultations between UN, troop-contributing countries remain essential for peacekeeping: Security Council

The UN Security Council on Thursday adopted a presidential statement on UN peacekeeping operations, calling for sustained consultations between the Security Council, UN Secretariat as well as police and troop contributing countries to better implement peacekeeping mandates.

On the last day of the year 2015, the most powerful UN body is trying to make some progress on peacekeeping reform based on an overall review on UN peacekeeping operations which has started last year.

"The Security Council views consultations with troop- and police-contributing countries as an opportunity to set expectations for the required capabilities, performance standards, and timelines, as well as to understand the limitations of troop- and police-contributing countries," said the statement.

In this regard, the 15-nation Council encouraged the UN Secretariat to provide for relevant troop-and police-contributing countries, information in a timely manner, in particular related to critical security incidents within missions.

The Council also promised to expand its consultations on peacekeeping with relevant regional organizations, particularly the African Union.

Earlier this year, an independent panel, which was established by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in last October, has suggested in a report that UN peacekeeping operations should possess the capabilities to deploy fast so as to better tackle challenges on the ground, which requires enhanced cooperation and coordination among relevant parties.

It also suggested that a global-regional partnership on this matter should be strengthened.

Currently, the UN has now been working on a way forward to make UN peacekeeping an effective tool in promoting international peace and security. Enditem