CANADIAN PRIORITIES FOR UNITED NATIONS REFORM

The Federalist Debate VII N.2, 1994

A panel of influential Canadians is calling for the creation by the United Nations of a permanent stand-by force available to be deployed to global hotspots before or in the early stages of conflict.

The panel, by the Canadian Committee for the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations (the UN/50 Committee), said Canadians should contribute troops to such a force.

It also called for major changes in the U.N.'s stucture, including the creation of a second UN Security Council to promote sustainable development.

This body should have full co-ordination powers over specialized agencies dealing with global poverty, unemployment, food security, ecological security, drug trafficking, migration, humanitarian assistance and a new framework for sustainable human development, according to the report.

The panel's report, entitled 'Canadian Priorities for United Nations Reform,' is the first of a series of policy papers on U.N. reform to be released this year by the UN/50 Committee. It was presented to Prime Minister Jean Chretien in June.

The Committee, which was put together by the United Nations Association of Canada and the federal government to help plan the the 50th anniversary next year of the world body, is also supported by Canada's Governor-General, the prime minister, the foreign minister, and the premiers of the ten provinces.

Several former U.N. ambassadors serve on the committee, as does Canada's present representative to the United Nations, Louise Frechette.

"Canada should take the lead in urging the creation of a UN peace-enforcement capacity and in developing UN peace-enforcement policy," said Michael Oliver, chair of the UN Reform Satellite Committee of the UN/50.

The Committee called on Canada to commit troops for such a force which it said could help prevent the deaths of innocent civilians in the future. It said the force should be heavily-armed, well-equipped and ready for rapid deployment once the Security Council makes a decision to intervene in a dispute.

The force should be trained and prepared for military intervention, to secure ceasefire lines and protect humanitarian relief workers, the Committee said.

"If quick-reaction peace enforcement units had been deployed by the U.N. at the beginning of conflicts such as the Gulf War, the war in former Yugoslavia and in Rwanda, they may have been able to prevent or mitigate the level of violence and mass slaughter of civilians which we have seen," said Oliver.

He pointed out that "peace operations must be designed to react promptly, which also means that governments must react promptly and decisively." On structural issues, the panel suggested that the five permanent members of the Security Council be deprived of their individual veto rights. Instead, a majority of three of the five permanent members Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States would be required to veto a Council decision.

It also calls for enlarging membership on the Security Council from 15 to 21. The number of permanent seats on the Council should be increased, but only if three seats are added for states from the South. "This paper is intended to present the United Nations and the Government of Canada with a clear blueprint for action," said Douglas Roche, chair of the Committee. "It was developed after considerable reflection and consultation with members of the Committee, including many who are experts in the fields of peace and security, international development, human rights and the operations of the UN." (17/6/1994, InterPress Third World News Agency, IPS)