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57TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Mr. Chairman,
I thank you for giving me the floor to speak on this item. Also my thanks to the Ambassador of Jordan, Prince Ra'ad Zeid al-Hussein the chairman of the Ad hoc committee for his leadership and introducing clearly the report of the Committee yesterday.
Mr. Chairman,
Kenya is one of the leading troop contributing countries. To date, she has contributed well over 10,000 personnel to the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations with 1841 troops now serving in different Missions. Kenyan troops have served in East Timor, Namibia, former Yugoslavia and currently in Sierra Leone, Eritrea and Ethiopia. Kenya is a nation, which puts peace and international security at the forefront of its activities, and we are determined to continue with this policy.
Mr. Chairman,
Kenya has had its share of casualties; four of our troops have died out of hostile action. Twenty-three have been seriously injured to the point of permanent impairment, while a larger number sustained minor injuries. My delegation strongly believes that most of these casualties could have been averted and in future, if the legal regime on protection is strengthened. Kenya thus condemns any attacks on United Nations and Associated personnel.
Mr. Chairman,
My delegation thus considers very important and timely the recommendations of the Secretary General and discussions which took place in the committee. We note with appreciation that the discussion reached a conclusion on shorter and long-term measures and indeed there was a general agreement on the former.
Mr.Chairman,
Kenya supports efforts to legally ensure the safety of United Nations Personnel by strengthening the existing regime. My delegation is in agreement with the conclusions of the committee that relevant provisions of the convention be incorporated in status-of-forces (SOFA's) Status-of-mission Agreement (SOMA's) and host country agreements.
We favor an arrangement where host nations discharge their responsibilities particularly to pronounce attacks against members of United Nations and Associated Personnel and take necessary measures accordingly. Furthermore we wish that peacekeepers be provided with a robust mandate to enable them discharge their duties well.
Mr. Chairman,
The 1994 convention on the safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel provides a good protection. On its part, Kenya is taking domestic steps to ratify the convention and soon she will be a party.
Furthermore we have considered other recommendations of the Secretary General as Contained in document A/55/637 and that of the Ad Hoc committee in Document 52/A/57/52 and we are happy to continue to discuss in detail these issues in our next meeting. We are therefore prepared to participate in any consensus building to ensure more safety of the United Nations and Associated Personnel.
I thank you.
Kenya Mission to the United Nations © 2002 by CODIA |