Military

DATE=10/30/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-N-PEACEKEEPING REFORM (L Only)

NUMBER=2-268633

BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY

DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan is proposing a more than 22-million-dollar increase in the world organization's peacekeeping budget. V-O-A Correspondent Breck Ardery reports it is the first step in implementing recommended reforms of U-N peacekeeping operations.

TEXT: There has been criticism that a number of U-N peacekeeping operations have been poorly planned and executed. A recent study ordered by Mr. Annan made recommendations to improve performance and one was the establishment of an executive committee on strategic analysis.

Jean-Marie Guehenno (Gweno), the new head of U-N peacekeeping operations, told reporters that such a committee will help provide coherent planning in advance of a peacekeeping mission.

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It will draw the attention of the decision-makers to an emerging situation where some early planning has to be done. The best way to do it is to de-compartmentalize the organization. In that way, the people who look at issues from economic, political, military and disarmament standpoints can exchange and integrate their views, so that we can react in a timely fashion.

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The establishment of the committee and other administrative changes are expected to add 22-point-two-million-dollars to the U-N peacekeeping budget. The proposal will be considered by the U-N General Assembly before the end of the year.

Other reforms, such as creation of a rapid-response force, would be much more expensive, and are not yet being formally proposed.

The United Nations currently has 15 peacekeeping operations around the world at an annual cost of about two-point-two-billion-dollars.(Signed)

NEB/UN/BA/LSF/TDW