FM: Serbia committed to peacekeeping operations

FM: Serbia committed to peacekeeping operations

"We are firmly committed to an active role in promoting sustainable peace and development, the basis for reconciliation, understanding, stability and prevention of renewed conflicts. It is necessary to unite the will and efforts in the challenging but also the noble road to peace in the world," he said addressing a gathering dubbed, "Leader's Summit on Peacekeeping."

Dacic said he was proud that Serbia is among the top eight countries in Europe when it comes participation in UN peacekeeping missions, the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday.

"Today, close to 350 members from Serbia are participating in peacekeeping operations in the world. I want to emphasize that Serbia, as a state whose primary objective is integration and EU membership, is also taking part in EU missions," Dacic said.

He added that in the forthcoming period, the country plans to increase the level of engagement by deploying engineering units, a medical team for evacuation by air, and by participation with three staff officers in the UN peacekeeping operation MINUSMA.

"With this in mind, as well as the previous experiences of Serbia and our region, we are clearly committed to the process of building and maintaining peace. In this context, regional cooperation, reconciliation and understanding are the basis of our work," said the head of the Serbian diplomacy.

According to him, the maintenance of peace is a shared responsibility and requires continuous contribution of all stakeholders, while "political support is crucial to the fulfillment of the mandate of established missions and eliminate the gap between the objectives and results on the ground."

"Serbia attaches great importance to the key role of the United Nations in the promotion and maintenance of international peace and security and considers peacekeeping operations as one of the most important instruments for a lasting peace in the world," he said, and added: "Mobilization of additional and specific capacities is necessary in order to improve the functioning of field missions."

According to Dacic, "Serbia agrees with the need for institutional reforms and supports efforts aimed at increasing the efficiency and interoperability of the peacekeeping forces, including the use of modern technologies."

"We believe it is necessary to further develop and improve training for peacekeeping operations. We are strongly in favor of strengthening the comprehensive treatment of interrelated issues of security and development, and the promotion of greater participation of women," Dacic said.

He added that Serbia, as the chair of the OSCE, paid increased attention to the role of regional organizations in peacekeeping missions, and believes that partnerships between global organizations such as the UN and regional organizations are becoming increasingly important.

"Guided by this idea we will organize an event on the sidelines of this year's general debate of the 70th UN General Assembly session devoted to peacekeeping operations of the OSCE, which will be held on October 1," he concluded.