Socio-Economic Well-Being Important In Post-Conflict Initiatives

KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 (Bernama) -- Addressing the socio-economic well-being of the population in conflict affected areas is vital to decrease the possibility of re-emerging wars, Charge d'Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations, Saiful Azam Martinus Abdullah said at the United Nations (UN) Security Council Open Debate on Post-Conflict Peace Building in New York on Thursday. He said in post-conflict initiatives, the international community played an important role in developing the economy in the affected places, as most of them were located in the world's most impoverished areas. Saiful Azam said Malaysia's efforts in managing such situations had always centred on socio-economic development and capacity building of local stakeholders. "Through the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP), Malaysia has contributed in the development of capacity in Member States in need. We believe such capacity building programmes would eventually contribute to resolving conflicts," he said. The text of his speech was made available here, on Friday. He said Malaysia believed that peace-building was a complete system in conflict resolution, as it encompassed a wider range of involvement in many issues such as humanitarian-relief and post-conflict re-construction. Meanwhile, Saiful Azam said Malaysia valued the role and functions of the UN's Peacebuilding Commission, but hoped that the approach to peacebuilding should be pragmatic. He said the Commission and other UN bodies and regional organisations could champion their relations to share related experiences and capacities in post-conflict efforts. "In supporting the effort for resource mobilisation, it would be of great interest for the Commission to take steps in interacting with other partners. Such interaction would generate interest to explore mutually beneficial potential and opportunities. Saiful Azam added that Malaysia wished to have better interaction with the Commission, members of the different configurations, its Chair and other interested partners in generating a synergy of capacities. "We want to ensure Member States that Malaysia will continue to be an active player and a reliable partner in international efforts to support peace and nation re-building initiatives in post-conflict situations," he said. -- BERNAMA