THE REPUBLIC OF

th 75 Session of the United Nations General Assembly Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) General Debate

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S T A T E M E N T

by

MRS JELENA PLAKALOVIĆ FIRST SECRETARY OF THE PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

New York

3 November 2020

Mr. Chairman,

I congratulate you and the bureau members on your election and wish you well as you lead the Committee under the unprecedented circumstances imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Serbia aligns itself with the general statement delivered by the European Union, and would like to add additional remarks in its national capacity on the agenda item relating to .

Mr. Chairman,

Serbia attaches great importance to the participation in peacekeeping operations and the maintenance of international peace and stability. The participation of the members of the Armed Forces of Serbia in the peacekeeping missions of the United Nations and the European Union is an important element of the foreign policy of my country. In cooperation with their United Nations and European Union partners on an equal footing, Serbian peacekeepers make an active contribution to the maintenance of international peace and stability reflecting, at the same time, Serbia’s compliance with the obligations stemming from its membership in the United Nations and other international organizations. In line with the country’s firm commitment to safeguarding peace in the region and the world, the participation is also conducive to promoting the country’s cooperation with its partners and building up the capacities of its and other to respond to the demands made of them in peacekeeping operations.

Serbia supports Secretary-General in implementing the conclusions, proposals and measures to improve United Nations peacekeeping operations, which are contained in the Reports. My country supports Secretary-General in his zero tolerance of sexual exploitation and abuse and calls for full implementation of special measures to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse.

The participation of Serbia in United Nations peacekeeping missions is a concrete contribution to the maintenance of international peace and stability and is done in full recognition of the United Nations values in the field of peacekeeping operations. Its engagement so far has been exemplary. Since 2002, Serbia has consistently improved the quality and quantity of its participation in United Nations missions. The members of the Ministry of Defence and the Interior currently participate in 9 multi-national operations: 6 under the mandate of the United Nations (MONUSCO, UNFICYP, UNIFIL, UNTSO, MINUSCA and UNMISS) and 3 under the auspices of the European Union. Overall, 281 Serbian soldiers, officers, policemen and other personnel are currently deployed in United Nations multi- national operations. Serbia is the leading country in the and ranks among the ten largest troop and police contributing countries in Europe. Mr. Chairman,

Let me point out the special attention that my country attaches to peacekeepers’ training. Serbia’s Armed Forces have considerable capacities for the training of units before their deployment to peacekeeping operations. In that, the Centre for Peacekeeping Operations and the Centre for the Training of Units for Multi-national Operations play important roles. The Centre for Peacekeeping Operations selects, trains and prepares individuals and groups for peacekeeping operations, organizes relevant courses, seminars and workshops, participates in the evaluation of unit deployment readiness and issues deployment readiness certificates. It is a unique institution with 3 certified United Nations courses: United Nations Military Observers Course, Staff Officers Course and the Civilian Protection in Peacekeeping Operations Course.

The Centre for the Training of Units for Multi-national Operations carries out outright preparations and training of the units of the Armed Forces of Serbia and the armed forces of partner countries for deployment to peacekeeping missions all over the world. It is tasked with ensuring qualified personnel and proper conditions for training the units in handling the weapons and mastering the peacekeepers’ tactics, techniques and procedures, carrying out modern military range evaluation exercises and assessing up-to-date classroom capacities and training and simulation equipment. Unique in the region, the Centre has hosted more than 100 various activities in which over 5 000 members of the and 1 000 members of the armed forces of partner countries have been trained.

Rather than increasing it substantially in the coming period, Serbia plans to continue its participation in peacekeeping operations at the level already achieved. It intends to send up to 700 peacekeepers to multi-national operations every year.

Serbia’s medical capacities figure prominently in its participation in peacekeeping operations. Proceeding from a long tradition, quality, training and possibilities, it attaches special attention to the deployment of military medical capacities to multi-national operations. Serbia has concluded a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations on contribution to the ‘Stand-by’ arrangement system (now the United Nations Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System), so that it can, if needed, deploy an aerial medical evacuation team (AMET), staff officers or military observers within a short period of time.

Special attention is also given to the number of women in peacekeeping operations, whose participation has increased over the years. Out of 4,247 peacekeepers who served from 2002 to 2020, 312, or 9.74 per cent, have been women. Out of 276 currently deployed peacekeepers, 42, or 14.95 per cent, are women.

On 4 May 2017, the Government adopted the Conclusion on the adoption of the Report on the need to establish a legal framework and institutional capacities for the participation of civilian structures from the Republic of Serbia in multi- national operations. The Report provides for the training of civilian experts in the Centre for Peacekeeping Operations before their deployment to peacekeeping missions.

Mr. Chairman,

In its commitment to United Nations peacekeeping operations, Serbia is motivated also by the fact that it is a host country to the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), deployed under UNSCR 1244 (1999). UNMIK’s presence and activities in Kosovo and , unchanged in mandate and undiminished in scope, are of key importance for its pivotal and long-term role in preserving and promoting stability in the Province. In view of the numerous challenges and the overall, very complex political and security situation that still exists in the Province, as well as the trust that the Serbian and other non-Albanian populations have in the United Nations mission, we consider that UNMIK should continue to be engaged in all questions relevant to UNSCR 1244 (1999) consistent implementation. In order to make it possible for it to respond to all demands mandated by the Security Council, as well as to address the ongoing and new challenges, it is of paramount importance to ensure to the mission proper human and financial resources.

In conclusion, let me point out once again that Serbia is firmly committed to continuing its participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions and ready to actively cooperate and contribute to our joint efforts to ensure lasting peace all over the world.

I thank you.