India stalls Ban146;s reform plans

As protracted negotiations on Secretariat reforms began, India extracted a promise from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to preserve...

As protracted negotiations on Secretariat reforms began, India extracted a promise from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to preserve unity of command both at the headquarters and at field level in any restructuring of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations DPKO.

Taking a tough line, Indian Ambassador Nirupam Sen and others, including members of the powerful Non-aligned Movement 8212; who account for over 60 per cent of the UN membership 8212; made clear there was no question of accepting any proposal without a proper discussion among members. More technical details on the proposed restructuring of DPKO were also sought, and to which the Secretary-General agreed.

Ban wants to split DPKO into two 8212; Mission Support and Operations 8212; which he contends would strengthen it. But Sen, supported by many member states, did not buy his argument.

At the 192-member General Assembly, where Ban explained his proposal on Monday, Sen told him India had much at stake as the third largest troop contributor in the reorganisation of DPKO as it could directly impact its soldiers in the field and even endanger their lives.

8220;We have to see that unity of command on the field is maintained,8221; he said. 8220;And the secretary-general gave us an assurance that he will ensure unity of command on the field 8212; but we have to see in detailed discussions how that is done.8221;

Ban wanted the restructuring to be done before he makes the appointment for top positions. But member states, including India, asked him to de-link the two issues and go ahead with selection of senior members of his team without waiting for the outcome of his proposals.

This was the first taste of inter-government negotiating process for Ban who is trying to win quick approval of his plan, but with little success. The DPKO handles some 100,000 peacekeepers attached to 18 missions across the world. Their number could go up if Dafur mission materialises.

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The Department is currently headed by Jean Marie Guehenno of France and diplomats say Ban wants to split the department so that he can put an American in charge of half of it as Washington wants to be associated with the DPKO. Taking it away from France would annoy Paris, something which Ban does not want to do right in the beginning of term.

Stressing the need for maintaining integrity of command, Sen said Chief Administrative Officer CAO, who belongs to Office of Mission Support, is integrated at the field level and is directly responsible to be the special representative of the Secretary General.

This is crucial as a CAO controls aviation, transport, engineering and finance besides the critically important link to the equipment base at Brindisi.

Implying that any change could adversely impact on the operations, Sen said further discussions would need to focus on unity of command down the line to the field level and asked Ban to explain how he plans to maintain that. The restructuring proposals are strongly supported by the US. But several European member states have reservations.

8211;Dharam Shourie