Foreign Minister reviews challenges facing United Nations

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said that serious challenges and threats to international peace and security worldwide put the United National to the test.

The remarks were made during a roundtable talks organized by the International Peace Institute, kicked off Tuesday, to probe means of boosting cooperation and partnership between the UN and AU in the field of peacekeeping.

Shoukry praised an initiative floated by General Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft to hold this high-profile discussion under the rubric "In a World of Risks: A New Commitment to Peace."

The Egyptian minister urged to exert further efforts to promote peace and security at the regional and international levels.

The Egyptian top diplomat said that the United Nations should review peacekeeping operations, peace-building structure and the progress made with regard to implement the UN agenda on women.

The three elements are objective framework for the management of the UN peace and security structure from a comprehensive perspective that focuses on integration between the UN mechanisms, Shoukry said.

Shoukry said that the UN organizations should start a real change in their approach towards dealing with international disputes and crises.

Egypt through its membership in the UN Security Council assumes responsibility to raise the banner of troop-contributing countries in this important dialogue.

Over the past year, Egypt has hosted African, regional and Arab talks about restructuring UN peacekeeping operations, Shoukry noted.
The time is ripe for reconsidering the ability or current structures of the UN to achieve sustainable peace worldwide, he said.

Egypt is looking forward to cooperating with the Member States in the General Assembly and the Security Council and the African Peace and Security Council during the coming months to translate the results of the three elements into policies, procedures, structures and resources that are able to develop the culture of the organization in order to assume the duties of sustainable peace, he said.

Shoukry expressed confidence that the current deliberations will be the main thrust in this respect.

Source: MENA