Secretary General at UN Peacekeeping Summit: NATO ready to help make UN operations even more effective

In his address to the summit, the Secretary General offered NATO’s unique capabilities to help UN peace operations. “NATO is doing more with, and more for our partners, helping them to better cope with their security challenges themselves,” he said. “This cooperation on capacity building is central to how the Alliance helps to address crises around the world.” Mr. Stoltenberg said NATO could support the protection of UN forces, particularly in the area of countering Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs); provide enhanced training, education and exercise opportunities; and enhanced support, if needed, to help the UN improve its rapid deployment abilities.

Lastly, Mr Stoltenberg spoke of how NATO could consider specific requests from the UN within the context of NATO’s Defence and Related Security Capacity Building Initiative and to enhance NATO-UN cooperation on defence sector reform. “Mindful of NATO’s unique capabilities and of your call for more structured cooperation between organisations, we stand ready to enhance our support to the UN,” Mr. Stoltenberg said. “The need for a strong and effective United Nations is as great now as it has ever been in its 70 year history.”

The Secretary General’s address at the Peacekeeping Summit is part of a six-day visit to the United States.  Earlier in the day, Mr Stoltenberg attended the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).  During his visit Mr. Stoltenberg had an opportunity to meet other world leaders. On Sunday Mr. Stoltenberg met with Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan as well as Mr. Habib Essid, Prime Minister of Tunisia. On Saturday he met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani, and Secretary General of the Arab League, Nabil Elaraby.