Msia Proposes UN And AU Set Up Fund To Facilitate Security Agenda In Africa

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 (Bernama) -- The United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) must consider to come up with a finacing mechanism to ensure facilitation of peace and security agenda in Africa are carried out smoothly. Malaysia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Hussein Haniff said the importance in finding a lasting solution to the funding of AU-led peace support operations cannot be over-emphasised. "There is clearly an urgent need to enhance the predictability, sustainability and flexibility of financing the AU when undertaking peacekeeping missions under the UN mandate," he said in his speech on the UN-AU Partnership and its Evolution at the Security Council Open Debate, in New York, on Tuesday. He said in this regard, the UN state members could contribute significantly in this area by paying their annual assessed contributions to the Secretariat in full, on time and without conditions. He said collaboration in maintaining peace and security in Africa should also be stepped up and Malaysia fully supports efforts by both sides to harmonise their approach to crisis management and peacekeeping, as well as mobilise their resources to bolster regional security, whether political, civilian or military. He added that there is a also a need for the UN to build an innovative, flexible, action-oriented and balanced partnership with the AU to ensure that Africa's concerns and position are taken into account when making decisions on matters of fundamental interests to the region. "We also support the idea that there must be greater clarity on how the Security Council should best consult with the Peace and Security Council of the AU on major decisions related to peace operations," he added. Hussein said Malaysia also supports the proposal to have a greater level of coordination between Security Council and the Peace and Security Council of the AU on their agenda. -- BERNAMA