Statement By The US - India Joint Working Group On UN Peacekeeping Operations

On June 28-29, 2001, inter-departmental teams from India and the United States met in Washington to hold the second meeting of the Joint Working Group on UN Peacekeeping activities. The Joint Working Group reflects the desire of the two countries to work together to strengthen the international security system and especially the United Nations and its peacekeeping operations.

The first meeting of the Joint Working Group was held in New Delhi in November 2000. In that meeting, India and the United States reaffirmed their support for the United Nations and, reflecting the extensive participation by both countries in UN peacekeeping operations, their intent to work together to strengthen cooperation on UN peacekeeping matters.

In their second meeting in Washington, the Indian and US delegations expressed satisfaction at the progress made by follow-on actions from their first meeting, and at closer consultations on UN Peacekeeping issues.

The Joint Working Group had constructive discussions on position papers on a range of UN peacekeeping issues. The two sides also shared experiences on functional and operational aspects of peacekeeping, including on specific UN peacekeeping missions. They discussed approaches and measures to enhance operational capabilities for peacekeeping missions. In this context, they agreed to exchange papers on lessons learned from peacekeeping missions and increase mutual participation in UN peacekeeping related training events.

The Joint Working Group attached special importance to the development of institutional linkages between the two countries on education and training on peacekeeping issues, including the exchange of observers, students, and guest faculty at respective training activities in the two countries.