UNITED NATIONS, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council voiced broad support on Wednesday for a three-phase strategy proposed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for possible UN engagement with Somalia.
Council members "broadly agreed with the strategy in the report of the secretary-general that improvement of the security situation and real progress in the political process are prerequisites for a decision by the Security Council on possible deployment of a UN peacekeeping operation in Somalia," Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters after a council meeting.
The 15-member body held a closed-door meeting to discuss the recent developments in the Horn of Africa state. UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe, UN peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy and Under-Secretary-General for Field Support Susana Malcorra briefed the council on the political situation and support for peacekeeping efforts in that country. Pascoe presented to the council the latest report by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Somalia.
Somalia, backed by the African Union, has been calling for the council to dispatch a UN peacekeeping force to buttress the transitional government's efforts to bring order to the conflict-torn country.
Adopting resolution 1863 in January, the Security Council expressed its intent to establish a UN peacekeeping operation in Somalia as a follow-on force to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The council said that it will make a decision on the issue by June 1 and requested the UN chief to provide recommendations by submitting a report by April 15.
In the report, Ban recommended "an incremental approach" to the deployment of a UN peacekeeping force, saying that such a goal can only be achieved when certain conditions, including improved security situation and political progress, are fulfilled.
THREE-PHASE APPROACH
Such an approach consists of three phases. As the first step, the UN will continue to provide its support to AMISOM and help build the Somali security institutions, support its political reconciliation process, and provide humanitarian assistance.
Then, security conditions permitting, a second phase will lead to "a light United Nations footprint" in Mogadishu. This phase will see the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) provide direct assistance to the political process on the ground. It will also have the Department of Field Support (DFS) ensure the delivery of the support package to AMISOM, while the UN country team oversees humanitarian, development and recovery initiatives.
Having satisfied himself of the "acceptability of a UN presence in Mogadishu," the secretary-general will then refer the matter back to the Security Council to advise and decide on the final phase, namely a full-fledged UN peacekeeping operation to take over from AMISOM.
Roy told the council that the incremental approach is the right strategy for the country at the present time. It is important to emphasize, he added, that this is a flexible strategy and not one based on a rigid timetable.
He said important benchmarks for establishing a UN force include implementation of a credible cease-fire, consent to the deployment by all the major Somali actors on the ground, and adequate pledges of troops and required military capacities by member states.
"It remains the assessment of the secretary-general that deployment of a UN peacekeeping operation at this stage, in the absence of these conditions, would be a high-risk option, and that an ill-timed mission would fail," he said.
A CRITICAL TIME FOR SOMALIA
Pascoe told the council that the meeting came at "a critical moment for Somalia."
"One in which the response of the international community to an embattled government's pleas for help could make the difference between consolidating hopeful steps toward peace and a descent once again into anarchy and hopelessness," Pascoe said.
Pascoe said the situation remains "quite fragile" following the attempted coup on May 9 by Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys and Al Shabaab fighters, and noted that the latest surge in violence is clearly a response to the government's strategy to reach out and build a critical mass in support of peace.
He said that despite heavy fighting, recent months have witnessed newfound reasons for hope, and the Somali people have the best chance in two decades to end their suffering and move towards a better and more stable future.
"The government's efforts at building a consensus for reconciliation are slowly gaining ground, despite the serious challenge by well-funded radicals," he stated.
"The international community must make a vital investment at this time to nurture the fragile peace process, help the government establish its authority throughout the country and build its security and rule of law institutions.
"Now is not the time to analyze and discuss, but to provide concrete help while it can still make a difference," said Pascoe.
