SANTIAGO, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- A regional seminar of the United Nations Peace Building Commission opened on Monday to discuss the efforts to prevent conflicts, safeguard peace and promote development in post-conflict countries.

    At the opening ceremony, Chilean Foreign Minister Mariano Fernandez reaffirmed the country's commitment to UN peace missions, adding that it is necessary for the commission to address security issues related to development.

    UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peace building Support Judy Cheng-Hopkins said UN peace missions had increased over the past years and helped to curb conflicts in a number of countries. However, once they withdraw from these countries, there must be a force comprising judges and police officers to maintain social order and avoid conflicts.

    Chile's UN Ambassador Heraldo Munoz, who heads the commission, said that 55 million U.S. dollars had been earmarked to fund UN emergency operations in Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Haiti and Nepal.

    According to Alicia Barcena, executive secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the organization has joined the peacekeeping efforts in many countries since 1980.