Statement by H.E. Mr. Yuriy Sergeyev

Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations

at the plenary meeting of the 67^th session of the UN General Assembly

at the debate on agenda item 31 “Report of the Peacebuilding Commission”

       (New York, 26 March 2013)

 

Mr. President,

 

At the outset let me express gratitude to the former Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, Ambassador Abdul Momen of Bangladesh, for his informative presentation of the PBC report on its sixth session, as well as current PBC Chair Ambassador Ranko Vilovic of Croatia for his comprehensive statement.

 

While Ukraine aligns itself with the statement by the European Union, I would like to make a few points in my national capacity.

 

            In our view, the PBC report before us today, which contains a valuable analytical component, duly captures important manifestations of the Commission’s added value and its comparative advantages. Namely, my delegation welcomes PBC support for the successful conduct of elections in Sierra Leone, launching of a national reconciliation strategy in Liberia and resource mobilization in support of a new poverty reduction strategy in Burundi.    

 

            At the same time, we agree with one of the conclusions that “the unique membership structure of the Commission and its nature as a political platform made up of the most influential global actors is yet to be realized”.        

 

Going forward, our priority should remain implementation of the outcome of the 2010 review, in order to further boost PBC’s relevance, performance and impact on the ground. This, in our view, should include sharpening Commission’s analytical profile and enhancing its interaction and closer cooperation with the Security Council.

 

PBC must also give due and comprehensive consideration to the situation where two countries on its agenda have experienced disruption of constitutional order, thus undermining the progress in peacebuilding. A leading role in this exercise can be played by relevant country-specific configurations as well as the Working Group on Lessons Learned.

 

We fully share the conviction that only a more relevant, more flexible, better performing, better supported, more ambitious and better understood PBC will make the difference on the ground. In this respect my delegation looks forward to early implementation of the innovative Agenda for going forward contained in the Commission’s report.    

 

 

Mr. President,

  

Peacebuilding is one of the pillars of Ukraine’s multidimensional contribution to the UN activity in the area of international peace and security. In this regard we took our membership in the PBC Organizational Committee in 2011-2012 equally as a privilege and responsibility.

 

Among the highlights of Ukraine’s first experience in the Commission was our Vice-chairmanship in the OC in 2011 and active involvement in the Chairs Group; participation in the first-ever field visits of the inclusive PBC delegations to Guinea and Liberia; contribution to the activities of the Steering Group of the Liberia configuration, etc.

 

We are also glad to have been able to substantially contribute to a number of areas important for increasing PBC’s added value. Particular attention was paid to the strengthening of the Commission’s thematic edge (in terms of such crosscutting issues as women’s participation in peacebuilding, gender mainstreaming, children and youth in peacebuilding, peacekeeping and peacebuilding nexus etc.), as well as to its institutional consolidation and more robust interaction with relevant UN organs. Here the first-ever joint PBC-UN Women High-level event may come to mind.

 

I would do injustice to Ukrainian peacekeepers if I did not mention that my country’s contribution to the UN peacebuilding endeavor has been also channeled through its active military, police and civilian engagement in over 20 missions under the UN auspices. As a practical follow-up to our first membership in the PBC in general and its Liberia configuration in particular, Ukraine intends to send a new generation of the formed police unit to the UN Mission in Liberia.

 

We will do our best to further advance UN peacebuilding agenda and strengthen PBC’s impact in the post-conflict and fragile societies.    

 

            It is against this backdrop that we hope to be entrusted with the responsibility to serve in the PBC in 2014-2015, representing the General Assembly category.

 

           In closing, Mr. President, I would like to express our full support of the PBSO and PBF.   

I thank you.