PR/E21/99
Peace-keeping will be Topic of
October 22
UN Day Symposium
Since the first UN Peace-keeping Operation (PKO) was launched in the Middle East more than 50 years ago, almost 50 PKOs have been deployed to manage or resolve conflicts throughout the world. Following the end of the Cold War, the number of UN PKOs has increased dramatically, yet this multiplication of missions has not always been based on coherent policy or supported by integrated military and political response.
This year’s UN Day Symposium will take stock of recent UN peace-keeping efforts. Panellists will consider the problems and challenges of averting or resolving conflict, feasible responses to improve both the formulation and application of peace-keeping efforts, and the appropriate role of the UN in these efforts.
Panellists for the symposium’s morning session, "UN Peace-keeping Force Commanders: Reflections from the Field," will be Maj. General Jioji Konousi Konrote, former Commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL); Lt. General Satish Nambiar, former Commander, UN Protection Force in the former Yugoslavia (UNPROFOR); and Lt. General John Sanderson, former Military Component Commander of the UN Transition Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC).
Panellists for the afternoon session, "The Role of the UN: Political, Organizational and Scholarly Perspectives," will include Mr. Yasushi Akashi, former UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, and Prof. Hisako Shimura, former Divisional Director of the UN Department of Peace-keeping Operations.
The UN Day Symposium is open to the public, admission is free, but advance registration is required. Registration will begin at 9:00 a.m., and the symposium will start from 10:00 a.m. Simultaneous interpretation in English and Japanese will be provided.
Media representatives are cordially invited to attend. A copy of the programme is attached.
For further information, please contact:
The UNU Public Affairs Section:
Tel. (03) 5467-1243, -1246 Fax (03) 3406-7346
