Source: CCTV.com

05-11-2007 17:26

The United Nations peacekeeping operation is generally defined as UN presence in the field (normally including military

and civilian personnel) with the consent of the parties involved in situations of conflict. It is aimed to implement (or monitor the implementation of) arrangements relating to the control of conflicts (cease-fires, separation of forces etc.), to the resolution of conflicts (partial or comprehensive) and to protect the delivery of humanitarian relief.

The term peacekeeping is not found in the UN Charter. From the first deployment of military observers in the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) in 1948, UN peacekeeping has evolved to meet the unique demands of sharply different conflicts in a changing political landscape.

One of the main incentives behind the development of UN peacekeeping was the Cold War. During the Cold War era, the superpowers had an interest in bringing to an end proxy wars before they were themselves dragged into direct confrontation. Thus, peacekeeping tended to be limited to preserving an agreed truce between opposing parties while alternative mechanisms were used to address a conflict's underlying issues.

It is generally placed between traditional methods of resolving disputes peacefully, such as mediation and fact-finding (Chapter VI) and more forceful action, such as embargo and military intervention (Chapter VII)

 

Editor:Du Xiaodan