Downsizing likely

An American expert on the UN peace operations yesterday hinted that the number of peacekeeping troops working across the world might be cut down for a range of factors, particularly the global financial crisis.
Adam C Smith, research fellow and manager of the Peace Operations Programme at the International Peace Institute (IPI) in New York, said the number of the peacekeeping troops had been reduced from 51 percent to 33 percent in the last six years, and it might decline further as the UN was facing shortage of fund to carry out its missions.
Smith, however, said the deployment of police, including women from South Asian region, including Bangladesh, was increasing as the UN peacekeeping was increasingly called on to deploy multi-dimensional operations to help countries transition from conflict to peace with a significant focus on protecting civilians.
In an interview with The Daily Star, Prothom Alo and Dhaka Tribune at the American Center yesterday, the US expert said there was a possibility of reducing the number of Bangladeshi peacekeepers too in the changed situation.
About Bangladesh's demand for more commanding posts in the UN peacekeeping missions, Smith said Bangladesh had the right to demand because it was the largest troops contributing country in the world.
But, he said, Bangladesh's presence in the command was visible as Ameerah Haq had been appointed UN Under-Secretary-General for the Department of Field Support, thus becoming the highest-ranking Bangladeshi official at the United Nations.
Besides, another high commanding post in the UN peacekeeping belongs to Bangladesh while Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT) is an important institute where peacekeepers from 25 to 30 countries received training, he said.
Smith suggested that Bangladesh continue to push for more commanding posts.
Lauding Bangladeshi peacekeepers, he said different countries usually hesitated to engage in all types of peacekeeping operations but Bangladesh never did.
He said the UN had also chosen Bangladesh and allowed the highest number of peacekeepers from the country because of its strong commitment to democracy.
Smith stressed the importance of the US-Bangladesh partnership in consolidating the global peace initiatives. “The US can help Bangladesh by providing various military equipment, which Bangladesh needs in the peacekeeping operations." In this context, he informed that the United States would provide four C-130 transport aircraft.

An American expert on the UN peace operations yesterday hinted that the number of peacekeeping troops working across the world might be cut down for a range of factors, particularly the global financial crisis.
Adam C Smith, research fellow and manager of the Peace Operations Programme at the International Peace Institute (IPI) in New York, said the number of the peacekeeping troops had been reduced from 51 percent to 33 percent in the last six years, and it might decline further as the UN was facing shortage of fund to carry out its missions.
Smith, however, said the deployment of police, including women from South Asian region, including Bangladesh, was increasing as the UN peacekeeping was increasingly called on to deploy multi-dimensional operations to help countries transition from conflict to peace with a significant focus on protecting civilians.
In an interview with The Daily Star, Prothom Alo and Dhaka Tribune at the American Center yesterday, the US expert said there was a possibility of reducing the number of Bangladeshi peacekeepers too in the changed situation.
About Bangladesh's demand for more commanding posts in the UN peacekeeping missions, Smith said Bangladesh had the right to demand because it was the largest troops contributing country in the world.
But, he said, Bangladesh's presence in the command was visible as Ameerah Haq had been appointed UN Under-Secretary-General for the Department of Field Support, thus becoming the highest-ranking Bangladeshi official at the United Nations.
Besides, another high commanding post in the UN peacekeeping belongs to Bangladesh while Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT) is an important institute where peacekeepers from 25 to 30 countries received training, he said.
Smith suggested that Bangladesh continue to push for more commanding posts.
Lauding Bangladeshi peacekeepers, he said different countries usually hesitated to engage in all types of peacekeeping operations but Bangladesh never did.
He said the UN had also chosen Bangladesh and allowed the highest number of peacekeepers from the country because of its strong commitment to democracy.
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