THE PERMANENT MISSION OF

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SOUTH AFRICA
TO THE UNITED NATIONS

STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR DUMISANI S. KUMALO PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

AT THE DISCUSSION ON THE PROGRESS ACHIEVED IN THE WORK OF THE PEACEBUILDING COMMISSION [AGENDA ITEMS 47,113 AND 1491

UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY NEW YORK 06 FEBRUARY 2007

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Madam President. May I begin by associating myself with the statement read on behalf of the NonAligned Movement by the Ambassador of Jamaica. Madam President, When the 2005 Summit called for the creation of the Peacebuilding Conmission (PBC), it was with realisation that countries emerging from conflict did not have a "home" in the UN system. For example, a country caught up in conflict could count on the Security Council to assist with peacekeeping. Also, a country that had long emerged from conflict could rely on the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) or even the General Assembly, to help attract develop~nent projects. But, for a countsy that had just emerged from bitter conflict, the chances of falling between the cracks were a reality until the creation of the PBC. It is for this reason that in its founding resolution, the PBC is expected to have a direct impact on the lives of people of the country in its agenda. Country ownership of the PBC strategies is a necessary ingredient for long-term success. Therefore, the PBC should have first-hand knowledge about other role-players on the ground that are pro~noting post-conflict recovery in a country emerging from conflict since the PBC is best placed to enhance coordination and cooper-ation among varions stalceholders. Madanl President, In June 2007, or shortly thereafter, it is expected that the General Assembly will review the work of the PBC as mandated by Resolution 601180. It would be helpful at that time if the PBC were to present a report that also contained the lessons leained from Burundi and Sierra Leone, the first two countries on the PBC agenda, One of the strengths of the PBC is that it can organise emergency resources that are often the glue that keeps countries from sliding back into conflict. But, the fact that the PBC can raise seed money does not make it a donor agency. According to the resolution that created the PBC, its primaiy role is "to bring together all relevant actors to marshal resources and to advise on, and propose integrated strategies for post-conflict peacebuilding and recovely; to focus attention on the reconstn~ctionand institntion-building effo~fs necessary for recovery from conflict, and to support the development of integated strategies in order to lay the foundation for sustainable development; to provide reco~nrnendations information to i~nprove and the coordination of all relevant actors within and outside the United Nations, to develop best practices; and, to help to ensure predictable financing for early recovery activities and to extend the pe~iodof attention given by the intel-national community to post-conflict recove~-y."

Madam President, In conclusion, my delegation believes that there are some operational goals that the PBC should set for itself if it has to become effective. Among these is making sure that the countries emerging fro111 conflict have full ownership of the building of the peace for the benefit of their people. Another is to make celtain that the PBC develops rules of proceduse that are permanent and predictable. It should be clear to everyone what the PBC is about, what it can do, and camlot do. The PBC is too important to the lives of people in countries that are emerging from conflict. We agree with the NAM that the PBC should considcr as a ~uatterof urgency undertaking Field Missions to Freetown and Bujumbura in order to evaluate the situation on the ground and to exchange infom~ation with Govemme~~t authorities, civil society and other key stakeholders. We also concur that Field Missions should be an integral tool of the PBC. Otherwise the New Yol-k meetings are not going to make a great difference in the lives of people in Freetown or Bujumbura who are supposed to be the beneficiaries of the PBC. I thank you,