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 United Nations Association 

of

GREAT BRITAIN and NORTHERN IRELAND

 

Early in 1993, in preparation for the 48th AGM at Leicester University, the UN Association Executive issued a statement of its Policy and a Preliminary Agenda.  UNA Branches were invited to comment and propose amendments.

Looking through the Preliminary Agenda it was clear that although resources issues featured in many statements and proposals the Policy statement on UN Resources did not adequately reflect that almost universal concern.  I therefore analysed the various calls for resources and suggested an amendment as follows:-

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO PRELIMINARY AGENDA 48

Harpenden Branch UNA

In numerous places in the Agenda 48 document there are references - some specific and others implied - to a lack of resources or a call for their deployment. Some are extracted as follows:-

Resource-related points

There is one statement specifically on resources:-

No.17, Section 3.3

We shall also continue to press for the adequate resourcing of these vital areas of UN concern.

With all the above resource-related points in mind it is considered that 3.3 falls far short of what is needed to address the resources issue.

We suggest that in Agenda 48 there should be a strong statement of GB & NI UNA policy on UN resources brought out as a section on its own and indeed perhaps heading up the whole document.  There should be a campaigning emphasis in the statement.  This should be aimed at all member countries of the UN and not just at members of the Security Council.  The "widow's mite" principle should apply to countries with very slender resources.  Something along the following lines is suggested:-

RESOURCES

1    The effectiveness of the UN in preventing conflict, facilitating the distribution of relief and providing post-conflict support would be greatly enhanced if each member country commits resources in advance of specific requirements and fulfils such commitments (except in particular situations of national sensitivity) when called upon by the UN.  To this end we will press our Government to take the lead in the UN in a sustained diplomatic campaign to prevail upon each member country to plan, commit and provide the various kinds of resources required by the UN - for example money, equipment, skilled personnel, armed services - to the utmost of its ability.  Furthermore, through WFUNA, we will suggest that the UN Associations of other countries give urgent consideration to the Resources issue.

2    The commitment in advance of armed services would provide an opportunity, for example through joint exercises, to build up mutual confidence and trust between commanders and units of different nations.  This would facilitate the placing of each national force under UN command.  To this end we will press our Government to encourage and take part in joint peace-keeping exercises of forces earmarked for deployment by the UN.

My paper to the Harpenden Branch was agreed and was sent to UNA Headquarters as a proposed amendment.  Paragraphs 1 & 2 above appeared as such in the Final Agenda 48.

The then Chairman of the Harpenden Branch wanted me to present the amendment at the UNA AGM,  which took place from 16th to 18th April 1993, but I could not attend.  He therefore asked me to let him have my arguments so that he could make a case for its adoption.  I set them out as follows:-

POINTS RE No.17 Section 3.3

  • It hardly needs saying that the change from East-West confrontation opens the way to new approaches to UN operations.

  • Analysis of points made in the original version of Agenda 48 shows the need for more resources of all kinds.

  • Up to now the UN has, for the most part, had to cadge resources on an ad hoc basis after an emergency has arisen.

  • With its new (or revitalised) roles the UN should be able to rely on the availability of resources at short notice.

  • To this end all nations should earmark resources for UN use in advance of specific UN requirements.

  • All nations should plan resources for possible use by the UN as well as those they require for their own defence and development.

  • Some of the activities engaged in by groups of nations for their own defence should be mirrored in furtherance of the UN roles.

  • Joint training exercises in peace-keeping operations would provide the time and opportunities for building up mutual trust and confidence between personnel from a number of nations as well as enhance the effectiveness of international teams.

The Chairman of the Harpenden Branch said that in the event he did not need to present these points for when on 17th April that item was reached, David (Lord) Ennals said from the chair that the Executive Committee liked Harpenden=s amendment and it was adopted without discussion.

None of the above is coincidental but it was extraordinary that, just 3 days later, the invited speaker at the AGM of Harpenden Parish Church was Graeme Warner from the UN Information Centre in the U.K.  No doubt he had attended the UNA AGM in Leicester and here he was in Harpenden speaking under different auspices.  At coffee afterwards I learned from him that he had already written to the UN Secretary General about Harpenden Branch's motion.

  

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