Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the UN

Statement by H.E. Ambassador Shin Dong-ik
Deputy Permanent Representative
Civilian Capacity in the Aftermath of Conflict
General Assembly
17 December 2012
New York

Mr. President,
1. I would like to begin by expressing my appreciation to you for convening this meeting on ‘Civilian Capacity in the Aftermath of Conflict’ under agenda item 118. My appreciation also goes to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and his Civilian Capacity team for the initiative and leadership they have taken to promote tangible progress. I believe today’s discussions will serve to bring in important perspectives to further our collective efforts towards enhanced civilian capacities in post-conflict countries.

Mr. President,
2. We know all too well that the end of conflict does not automatically mean flourishing peace. Indeed, the fragility in post-conflict countries can only be overcome when the people themselves can become the masters of their fate. Without adequate civilian capacities, sustainable peace and long-term development will remain a farfetched dream. It is in this vein that the Republic of Korea has joined many other Member States as a co-sponsor of General Assembly resolution 66/255, adopted by consensus this March.

3. The Republic of Korea notes with appreciation that the Secretary-General’s report A/67/312 on civilian capacity in the aftermath of conflict contains some specific assessments on priority areas such as national ownership, system-wide framework, partnerships, and expertise. We believe that this is a step in the right direction and that it is also in line with the four shared principles of the Busan Partnership, agreed upon and endorsed by some 160 countries on the occasion of the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness held in Busan last year. These four principles are 1) ownership of development priorities by developing countries; 2) focus on results; 3) transparency and accountability to each other; 4) inclusive development partnerships.

4. As civilian capacity is about developing the people’s capability to construct and secure their own future with their own hands, country-owned and country-led approaches in the planning and implementation of civilian capacity building must be put at the center of our efforts. Inclusivity and participation of all relevant stakeholders in the process, including women and children, is also critical. We can also expect enhanced accountability where democratic approach is guaranteed both in form and in substance. 

5. However, the UN’s peacekeeping, peace-building, and development components are not being harmonized in a sufficiently effective manner at the current juncture. Rather than taking a fragmented approach, these efforts should be synchronized to maximize effectiveness. Civilian capacity must be promoted at, or even before, the peacekeeping stage so as to avoid missed opportunities and wasted time and resources. Specifically, the demand for resources and expertise should be precisely assessed. Furthermore, the division of labor and partnership-building among all stakeholders must be planned in advance to avoid duplication and redundancy. In this regard, we look forward to the swift and successful implementation of the initiative so that the UN can deliver as one as the Secretary-General has often stressed. 

6. The Republic of Korea also welcomes the launch of the online platform CAPMATCH and hopes that it will serve as a useful tool to match the demand and supply of expertise and resources available. As for the Republic of Korea, 13 government and non-governmental institutions ranging from universities, hospitals, and relief agencies have registered to offer assistance in their own capacities. We encourage the UN to come up with a specific strategy to make the best use of CAPMATCH and substantively contribute to the initiative. 

Mr. President,
7. The Republic of Korea believes that it is crucial for the UN to establish a lean and mean system to support the long-term political and economic stability of post-conflict countries in this era’s challenging international environment. Having risen from the ashes of war to what it has become today, the Republic of Korea stands ready to play its part in this regard.

Thank you.