China Calls for Attachment of DDR to U.N. Peacekeeping Operations

China Thursday said the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process has become an increasingly important component of the United Nations peacekeeping operations and post-conflict peace-building activities and urged their attachment to peacekeeping operations.

Addressing the open debate of the United Nations Security Council on the role of U.N. peacekeeping in DDR, Shen Guofang, Chinese deputy permanent representative to the U.N., said the DDR process should be included in relevant peace agreements from the very beginning on a case-by-case basis and, at the same time, overall planning should be made for this process.

The process involves political, economic, military, social and other factors and the United nations should listen carefully to and fully respect the opinions of all parties involved, especially those of the governments concerned, and seek their support and cooperation, Shen stressed.

"Without a relatively secure and stable environment, it would be impossible for the United Nations to carry out disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programs in coordination with countries and parties concerned," Shen said.

"The conflicting parties should demonstrate the political will for this process and maintain the cease-fire in real earnest, and at the same time, the United Nations peace-keeping operations should be put in place as soon as possible to help stabilize the situation on the ground," the ambassador said.

"When carrying out disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programs, the international community, including the United Nations, must maintain an impartial and objective attitude, enable all former combatants to be civilianized fully and thoroughly or to be incorporated into regular national forces in accordance with peace agreements," Shen said.

"The illicit arms flow has more often than not made effective disarmament, demobilization and reintegration operations very difficult to realize or drained off their achievements. Therefore, parties concerned should put a grip on it and, more important, the existing mechanism for arms embargo of the Security Council should be strictly implemented," he said.

The issue of disarmament, demobilization and integration is not only something for the Security Council to discuss, but also demands the participation and coordinated action of all relevant United Nations bodies and the exchange of information and communication among them.

Shen called on the international community and relevant U.N. agencies to provide necessary contributions and appropriations for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration in a peace-keeping environment.

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