UN Secretary-General: The Board represents the “surge in diplomacy for peace” and is expected to allow the United Nations to work more effectively with regional organizations, non-governmental groups and others involved in preventive diplomacy around the world.
Trump commended the Secretary General for trying to focus more on people and less on bureaucracy in order to regain the trust of the people around the world.
The Advisory Board on Mediation includes Jean-Marie Guéhenno (France) had served as the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations and Noeleen Heyzer (Singapore) had served as Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and as Executive Director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).
António Guterres’ proposes to establish a combined Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, and a single department named the Department of Peace Operations to be responsible for both peacekeeping and special political missions.
United Nations Under-Secretary-General Atul Khare emphasised that the United Nations should find mechanism acceptable to countries in conflict as the UN can neither replace governments of countries in conflict nor impose peace on them.
Secretary-General António Guterres stressed shared African Union, United Nations interest in keeping conflict from escalating.
Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and announced Japan’s support to the United Nations in mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals.
Panelists discussed the issues and challenges facing Japan, ascertained Japan’s comparative advantage, and recommended what Japan should do in future international peace cooperation.
Mr. Akashi suggested the Japanese people should think seriously of what Japan can and should do to build a more peaceful international society based on law and justice.
Akio Miyajima, Director-General of the Cabinet Office in charge of International Peace Cooperation Activities calls for the Continuation of Japan’s Contributions to UN Peace Operations.