Italian missions for peace in the world Italy and Peacekeeping:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Contents

Editor-in-Chief: Counsellor Grammenos Mastrojeni

Press and Information Service Editorial Staff ANSA News Agency: Alessandra Spitz; Arabella Marconi Acknowledgements to: the Directorate General for Multilateral Policy and Human Rights Counsellor Mario Baldi the Directorate General for the Countries of The Mediterranean and Middle East Counsellor Carlo Formosa

the Ministry of Defence for the data supplied www.difesa.it

1. Italian peacekeeping — 50 years of history ........ Page 3 2. Peacekeeping today ............................................... Page 4

a. Italian participation in peacekeeping missions ......... Page 5 b. Italy’s presence in Iraq .................................................. Page 9

Map: ongoing missions ......................................................... Page 11 3. From peacekeeping to peacebuilding .................. Page 12 4. The Italian commitment to peacekeeping reforms ... Page 14

Chart ........................................................................ Page 19 Peacekeeping/peacebuilding: The financial contribution

There are currently approximately

9,000 Italian men and women abroad making an important contribution to reconstruction, stability and peacekeeping efforts. From Africa to the Balkans and from the Middle East to Asia, Italian peacekeepers are making a highly significant political, military and financial contribution through the various operations being conducted or authorised by the United Nations in all the principle crisis areas across the world.

Consistent with its tradition of solidarity and its vocation for dialogue with the countries in the South of the World, Italy has always played a highly visible role in this context. This role is borne out, first and foremost, by its deployment of men: our country is among those sending the largest numbers of troops on peacekeeping missions. But Italy’s role is important also in terms of employment of financial means, ranking sixth among contributors to the UN’s peacekeeping budget.

Italy’s engagement in peacekeeping missions throughout

the world has long been part of the country’s foreign policy, beginning in the 1960s with its participation in numerous UN missions, where it made a significant contribution in terms of human life, particularly in 1963 in the Congo. Italian involvement in the international scene increased with the Libyan mission in the 1980s, and continued to grow through the 1990s with participation in many multinational missions authorised by the United Nations: one of its main theatres of intervention was the Balkans region, whose stabilisation and development particularly concern Italy for geopolitical reasons. Italy’s participation in humanitarian missions has also been considerable, especially on the African continent (Somalia and Mozambique), where it has also been necessary to evacuate Italian citizens in peril. The desire to help troubled populations around the world, such as that of Iraq (Kurdistan) or East Timor, has been constant, but most recently Italy has also carried out various counter-terrorism operations, such as that in Afghanistan. Over the years Italy has gone on to assume ever increasing responsibility for maintaining peace in the world, its contribution always being based on a spirit of solidarity and commitment to the reconstruction and strengthening of peace, and our country has been acknowledged for all this at international level.

Italian peacekeeping 50 years of history

3

Italy makes a noteworthy contribution to the efforts of the

UN both operatively and logistically (in the rapid deployment of missions), as well as at the training level, through a Centre of Excellence located in Vicenza at the Scuola Sottufficiali dei Carabinieri (Carabinieri School for Non-Commissioned Officers), for the training of military peacekeeping forces in civil police functions. Italy’s contribution aims above all at developing a common operative approach and standards for this type of force (in keeping with the “training of trainers” approach) that can reap the benefits of the positive synergies achievable with the UN Staff College in Turin and the Brindisi Base. The Centre could also act as a catalyst for similar initiatives currently being launched by the European Union

(e.g.European Gendarmerie). Our country also gave strong impetus during its 2003 EU Presidency to the fruitful collaboration already existing between the United Nations and the European Union in the sector of crisis management. The European Union has traditionally made a steady contribution both in terms of men (approximately 40,000) as well as financial support (the 25 EU Member Countries supply almost 40% of the UN’s peacekeeping budget) for the peace missions conducted or authorised by the United Nations. The signing on 24 September 2003 in New York of the joint EU–UN declaration on crisis management by Prime Minister Berlusconi and Secretary General was, therefore, an important step forward. All this, in addition to proving an indispensable instrument for

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Peacekeeping today

maintaining our country’s international credibility, gives Italy the chance to participate in strategic decisions regarding the world’s main crisis regions

Italian participation in peacekeeping missions Italy’s ongoing engagement in international peacekeeping and humanitarian missions has given it a very high profile in the world’s main crisis settings, and is one of the most significant manifestations of overall Italian involvement in the UN. In addition to ranking sixth among UN peacekeeping budget contributors (with approximately 5% of total expenditures), Italy participates in international peacekeeping operations in various ways:

- more than 9,000 Italian troops deployed in multilateral peacekeeping forces such as SFOR in Bosnia-Herzegovina, KFOR in Kosovo and ISAF in Afghanistan,

Every day millions of people encounter the spectre of war, living in lands where word peace is no more than a dream. But peace cannot be improvised: it must be constructed with commitment, perseverance, faith and, aboave all, diplomatic force. There are, then, those that voluntarity decide to risk their own lives so that peace becomes a reality in those places battered by hatred and conflict. They are the peace professionals — peacekeepers. Specialised in conflict management, they watch over human rights, help refugees and intervene in situations of tension. They are involved in many missions scattered across the globe. In addition to their military forces, all the various international organisations make use of civilian personnel in a wide range of functions and sectors: election monitoring, emergency aid, transport, logistics, human and material resources management, legal and political affairs, administration, humanitarian assistance, information and communications, data processing and human rights..

Military peacekeepers

The Italian armed forces offer training courses for both military and civilian personnel intending to participate in peacekeeping missions. The courses are held at the Army’s Scuola di Guerra (School of War) in Civitavecchia and in the various branches of the Italian Red Cross in Massa, Lesolo and Lido di Roma. In particular, the Armed Forces offer courses for legal advisers on human rights in armed conflicts and courses for civilian personnel intended for humanitarian operations or peacekepeping and election monitoring missions. The Armed Forces, in collaboration with the Italian Red Cross, also offer a course on international humanitarian law for Red Cross nurses and officials.

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Guardians of the peace

Contacts

For information on courses offered by the Italian armed forces: Permanent mission of Italy to the UN United Nations Plaza, 24th floor New York, NY 10017, USA Tel. +1.212.486919; Fax. +1.212.4861036 Other information is available at: http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/dpko/index.asp

How to become a peacekeeper

as well as in those directly led by the EU (EUPM in Bosnia, Concordia/Proxima in Macedonia); all these are authorised under the aegis of the UN Security Council, the total cost of which surpasses 1.2 billion euro a year, in addition to UN peacekeeping contributions;

- approximately 400 Blue Helmets deployed in operations directly led by the UN in the Balkans (UNMIK), Middle East and North Africa (UNIFIL, UNTSO, MINURSO), in Africa (UNMEE/Ethiopia-Eritrea) and in Central Asia (military observers along the India/Pakistan border);

Civilian peacekeepers

Qualifications Candidates for peacekeeping operations must have a university degree plus 4 to 5 years of professional experience (part of which in the field under difficult conditions). Knowing languages is important (fluency in English and/or French is essential, and knowledge of Spanish, Portuguese, Arab or Russian is an even greater advantage) and the ability to withstand difficult physical conditions and long working hours. Those who are chosen must pass a detailed medical examination before being accepted and, after having had the requested vaccinations, must be available on short notice.

Retribution The compensation package includes a salary and an adequate mission allowance calculated according to training and peacekeeping experience. Normally, proof of a health insurance policy covering the period of the mission must be shown. Overtime compensation is not included (working hours often exceed eight hours a day and include working on weekends). If the candidate’s CV is considered to be of interest, s/he will be asked to undergo an interview and, in the case of a successful outcome, will be placed on the list from which candidates will be contacted from time to time according to need. Relief Web (http://www.reliefweb.int), a project of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, is an extremely valuable source for jobs in the humanitarian sector, and can be consulted under the heading humanitarian vacancies.

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Training

The Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa offers an interesting training course called: “Training Course: the Civilian Personnel of Peace-keeping and Peace-building Operations”. For information please visit the “Upcoming Training & Events” link at www.itpcm.sssup.it, where the on-line form is also available (http://www.sssup.it/pkcourse2005/domande/). For further information: Via Cardinale Maffi 27 – 56127 Pisa Tel +39.050.882685 (monday – friday , 9-17); Fax +39.050.882665 The European Masters in Human Rights and democratisation at the University of Padova is a one-year course requiring good knowledge of English and understanding of French. Università di Padova - Segreteria EMA Monastero di San Nicolò - Riviera San Nicolò, 26 - 30126 Venezia Lido Tel: +39 041 5265404; Fax: +39 041 5262927 E-mail: hrd-european.master@venis.it http://www.centrodirittiumani.unipd.it/a_formazione/ema.asp?menu=formazione A Master s in peacekeeping and security studies is offered at: l’Università Roma Tre – Facoltà di Scienze Politiche Via Corrado Segre, 2 - 00146 Roma Fax +39.06.55176241 http://www.uniroma3.it/ Training Courses aimed at the preparation of experts for missions on the ground are also offered by Movimondo. http://www.movimondo.org

Moreover, on 17 April 2005 the Council of Ministers authorised the most recent of 26 Italian missions abroad, adding approximately 220 Italian soldiers to Sudan to the contingent of 10,000 blue helmets deployed in that country. Italy’s decision was made on the basis of a UN mandate and on the humanitarian aspects of the mission. The task of the UN mission is to watch over, with the consent of both sides, the implementation of the Sudan peace agreement signed in Nairobi by the government of Khartoum and the rebels of the south. The UN Security Council decided to send in the blue helmets on the basis of resolution 1590 of 24 March 2005;

- significant support for the disarmament, de-mining, rehabilitation, humanitarian assistance and refugee projects led by UN funds, programmes and agencies that are becoming an ever more essential component in the peace-building process intended to strengthen peacekeeping missions.

- finally, the growing connection between European and UN civil and military capability for crisis resolution. In this regard the Italian Presidency of the European Union fostered a Joint EU–UN Framework Declaration on cooperation in crisis management signed in New York on 24 September 2003.

Our country participates in various European initiatives that contribute to underpinning the UN’s peacekeeping/ peace-building missions, amongst which: - EU battlegroups

Within the framework of this first major rapid intervention force (capable of being deployed within 5 to

10 days) that should become operative sometime in 2005, Italy has made a national battlegroup available, and also participates in a multinational amphibious battlegroup (with Spain, Portugal and Greece) and a land-based one (with Slovenia and Hungary).

- European Gendarmerie Force An initiative launched at the Noordwijk Summit in September 2004 by five European countries having military forces with policing tasks (Italy, France, Holland, Spain and Portugal), with headquarters in Vicenza: once it is set up, the European Gendarmerie Force will also be able to be deployed in UN peacekeeping missions;

- creation of a civilian capability in crisis management The DGIE has launched a reflection — first an inter-Directorate one, to be followed by an inter-Ministerial one — aimed at creating a national roster of civilian public administrative Capability Commitments Conference (November GAERC) to contribute a total of 2259 units;

- supporting the Peace Facility for Africa. Italy donates approximately 37.5 million dollars (equal to 12.5% of the total) to the programme entitled “Peace Facility for Africa”, launched by the EU to finance development of the AU’s autonomous capabilities and that of other regional and sub-regional African organisations in their peacekeeping/peace-building missions. Two courses were arranged in this context — one in Turin and the other in Brindisi — participants of which included approximately 70 officials from numerous African countries within the facilities of the UN Staff College in Turin; another course has been set up by UN-DESA, University of Sant’Anna and the Legon University

in Accra; and, finally, a Centre of Excellence for the training of African peacekeepers is in the process of being set up at the Scuola Carabinieri in Vicenza.

The Italian Presence in Iraq The Italian presence in Iraq is a multidimensional peacekeeping mission with a strong humanitarian component offering assistance to the local authorities. It was legitimised by UN resolutions 1483 and 1546 and follows in the Italian tradition of contributing to the stability and reconstruction of countries struck by war. The Italian mission was instituted by Law 218 of 1 August 2003, which ascribes specific functions to our contingent, amongst which those of contributing, along with the countries of the Coalition, to ensuring the conditions of security and stability necessary to allow the influx and distribution of humanitarian aid, and contributing to the most urgent interventions for the restoration of infrastructures and essential services. With the Iraqi Interim Government’s assumption of full responsibility after 28 June 2004, the Italian contingent’s efforts have, moreover, acquired the marked connotation of support for local authorities. The national contingent is under the operative control of the Commandant of the Multinational Division with responsibility for the area of Dhi Qar, whose provincial capital is Nasiriyah. The contingent is made up of approximately 3,200 soldiers from the various armed forces: Army, Navy, Air Force and Carabinieri Corps. The Italian contingent is located at Camp Mittica, inside the Compound Family Quarters in the outskirts of Nasiriyah, and also includes some Romanian personnel. Our forces carry out a wide spectrum of activities, ranging from security to reconstruction. In the former category they carry out short and long-range patrols, guard sensitive objectives, operate check-points and — very important — offer

concrete support to the reconstruction of the entire Iraqi security apparatus, both at central and local level, through the training of the new Iraqi police forces. As regards the second category, aimed at satisfying the essential needs of the population, urgent interventions have been under way from the very beginning on behalf of the health needs of the population as well as other interventions in typically non-military sectors such as justice, education, health care, public services and public administration. Operating in these latter sectors are the “Functional Specialists”, experts from the civilian world trained in the military context (CIMIC Operations). The main activities in terms of humanitarian support and reconstruction that the contingent has performed since the beginning of its mission, and continues to perform, concern:

- hiring of local personnel to clean the roads and put things in order;

- drafting of plans for picking up and distributing gasoline, thus ensuring the normal associated activities and avoiding the proliferation of the black market;

- restoration and upgrading of the electrical plant at Nasiriyah in order to allow for the distribution of energy;

- drafting of a plan for the protection of the archaeological areas of competence;

- drafting of health care plans in support of local hospital facilities (furnishing of medical supplies, health care equipment, water purifiers, etc.);

- specialised health care for the population and preventive medicine in schools throughout the area of competence;

- ensuring the correct payment of pensions to former public employees and military personnel;

- logistical and security support for the efforts of governmental and nongovernmental organisations;

- support for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Directorate

General for Development Cooperation’s “multi-sector project in the province of Dhi Qar regarding health care, agriculture and education”;

- distribution of humanitarian aid from various national donors with related strategic and tactical transport.

BOSNIA

- NATO HQ SARAJEVO 16 - EUFOR ALTHEA 1.070 - EUPM (European Union Police Mission) 21 TOTAL 1,107

KOSOVO

- KFOR (Kosovo Force) 2,590 Operation "Joint Guardian" - UNMIK 1 (UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo) TOTAL 2,591

BALKANS

EUMM (European Union

Monitoring Mission)

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ALBANIA

- NATO HQ TIRANA 310 - ALBANIA 2 (28th Naval Group) 175 - DIE (Delegation of Italian Experts) 31 TOTAL 516

ISRAEL UNTSO

(UN Truce Supervision Organization)

7

LEBANON UNIFIL

(UN Interim Force in Lebanon)

53

EGYPT MFO

(Multinational Force and Observers)

77

MALTA MIATM

(Italian Mission for Technical-Military Assistance)

49

IRAQ ANTICA BABILONIA

- USA 8 - Land-based interforce component 3,370 - Kuwait 18 - International Red Cross 67 TOTAL 3,463

FYROM - NATO HQ SKOPJE 16 - National logistical support to KFOR 140 - EUPOL PROXIMA 5 TOTAL 161

MOROCCO MINURSO

(UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) 5

ETHIOPIA/ERITREA UNMEE

(UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea) 57

INDIA - PAKISTAN UNMOGIP

(UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan)

8

INTERNATIONAL COUNTER-TERRORISM INITIATIVES

- ENDURING FREEDOM USA 8 Carrier "Grecale" ("Resolute Behaviour") 225 - NATO Activities in the Mediterranean Carrier "Scirocco" ("Active Endeavour") 225 TOTAL 458

HEBRON TIPH2

(Temporary International Presence in Hebron)

15

AFGHANISTAN - ISAF (International Security Assistance Force)

- Afghanistan 710 - Abu Dhabi 80

TOTAL 790

SUDAN PEACE PROCESSES SUDAN

8

SENEGAL UNOWA

(UN Office for West Africa) 1

MMIISSSSIIOONNSS UUNNDDEERRWWAAYY AASS OOFF 55 AAPPRRIILL 22000055

Source: www.difesa.it 11

The most recent United Nations

interventions present some substantially new features as compared with the past: the mandates established by the Security Council no longer cover only military and security aspects, but include a set of efforts aimed at underpinning peace. These range from public order to civil administration, from rule of law to border controls. Given the close bond existing between peacekeeping, peacebuilding and nation-building, Italy is convinced in its support for UN activities, including elements of an administrative character and civilian and institutional rehabilitation, in addition to those strictly concerning security. In this sense, Italy is calling for a more functional coordination between peacebuilding programmes promoted by UN Funds, Programmes and Specialised Agencies, as well as by the World Bank and other international financial institutions. Italy is capable of contributing to this process through the growing engagement of a wide range of central and local government offices as well as civil society specialists and experts.sssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

From Peacekeeping to Peacebuilding

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Together with other European countries, Italy has supported this new trend from the beginning, and is playing its part by supplementing its traditional participation (through qualified helicopter and airplane contingents or Carabinieri operating in UN peace operations), sending more specialised personnel from the police forces, Guardia di Finanza and the judiciary (magistrates, staff from the penitentiary administration and civilian experts). In the latter cases, these are skills highly requested by the UN at the moment, something that will be increasingly reflected in the contribution Italy makes towards maintaining peace. Italy contributes to the numerous Trust Funds that have been expressly created by the United Nations for the tasks of disarmament (DDR), de-mining, civil reconstruction and the rehabilitation of former combatants in countries such as Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Eritrea. Italy is a leader in the reform of the Afghani judicial system, through the reorganisation of the legal system, the reconstruction of the structures of the judicial administration, and the training of staff (Afghanistan Justice lead country). Italy’s financial commitment in this sector is on the order of 20 million euros for the 2003-2004 period, and covers almost the entire amount required (27 million euros). Italy is also involved in defining and demarcating borders between Eritrea and Ethiopia. In 2003, Italy was the third largest donor to this difficult mission with a contribution of more than 1.5 million dollars to the United Nations Trust Fund.

Lets clear our ideas … The word peacekeeping is often wrongly used to explain all the various types of operations for supporting peace when, in fact, peacekeeping is only one of the activities belonging to the wider category of Peace Support Operations (PSO), a term that includes all forms of intervention aimed at the prevention, management and resolution of crisis situations outside the national territory, and which do not have a direct effect on a country’s vital interests. These actions always arise from a request by the parties involved in the conflict, who can freely turn to whichever organisation they prefer, not only the United Nations or NATO but also the OECD, OSCE, the Union of African States, the European Union, or other multinational forces of intervention. Inlcuded in the PSO category are various types of operations that are often indistinguishable one from the other, but that end up constituting a complex continuum. Conflict prevention. This type of operation is aimed at averting the outbreak of a crisis, often through the preventive deployment of armed forces. Peacemaking. Peacemaking operations are undertaken after the start of hostilities in order that diplomatic efforts, mediation activities, or even the imposing of sanctions can bring about reconciliation. Peacekeeping. Peacekeeping operations are aimed at ensuring that agreements and ceasefires are respected, and at moderating, or putting an end to hostilities. Peacebuilding. Peacebuilding operations are carried out at the conclusion of a conflict to maintain stability, rebuild state institutions and avoid a resumption of hostilities. Humanitarian aid. Humanitarian aid missions are aimed at providing support to local populations and at alleviating their suffering. Peace enforcement. Peace enforcement operations deserve separate treatment since some do not consider them to be part of the PSO spectrum. Indeed, whereas the previously mentioned operations foresee the presence of “peacekeeping forces” on the ground following the request of the parties in conflict, peace enforcement operations are launched even without the agreement of the different sides, thus replacing national institutions — where they are no longer functioning and prove incapable of controlling their territory — for the purposes of establishing peace.

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Glossary

Following the painful failures of Somalia, Rwanda and Bosnia in the early 1990s, and after a period of relative restriction of its multilateral interventions, the United Nations has begun a process of reform and re-launch of this entire sector, on the basis of the recommendations contained in the Brahimi report of 2000. UN peacekeeping reform is focused on reinforcing central structures (with an increase in the number of Italian staff), improving mandates handed down by the Security Council, on the greater involvement of those countries that contribute troops and acceleration of the operational deployment of contingents when interventions take place. In this context Italy is offering the United Nations an important contribution through several significant measures

with the aim of boosting the operational efficiency of peacekeeping missions and the level of preparedness of the staff employed in these missions, such as:

- The UN Logistics Base in Brindisi; - The UN System Staff College in Turin; - The training of African peacekeepers.

Italy is also supporting a considerable strengthening of UN peacekeeping missions, which has led to the recent interventions in Liberia, Ivory Coast, Burundi and Haiti with important financial implications for United Nations Members (the budget for peacekeeping activities has jumped in just a

The italian commitment to peacekeeping reforms

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few years’ time from 650 million to the over 3.5 billion dollars estimated for the July 2004 – June 2005 period).

The United Nations Logistics Base in Brindisi (UNLB) The United Nations Logistics Base located in Brindisi, in Italy, began operating in 1994 in accordance with an agreement between the UN Secretariat General and the Italian Government. The agreement was amended on 7 December 2001 to allow further expansion of the Base in connection with the present efforts to reinforce the United Nations capabilities for rapid deployment of and support for missions, such efforts being insistently called for in the Brahimi Report of 2002. The positioning and the management of Strategic Deployment Stocks (SDS) in the Brindisi area has notably increased the importance of the logistical base, with a related increase in staff of approximately 30 per cent, bringing the present number to 130 and the facility’s annual budget up to around 29 million dollars (2004-2005). Furthermore, since 2002 three new special depots have been built for stockpiling very fragile electronic material and equipment through a measure entirely financed by the Italian Government, for a total of 7.5 million Euros. Location The base is situated at a strategic point at the crossroads between Europe, Africa and the Middle East, allowing for rapid and direct intervention in the Balkans region, and providing a stable and secure air and sea bridge to the African and Asian continents. Functions

- The Brindisi base plays a strategic role in the rapid deployment of new UN missions, particularly in Africa.

- It fulfills important functions as a hub for satellite communications and information technology support for UN operations, also thanks to the area’s generally favourable weather conditions.

- In addition, Brindisi constitutes an expert training centre for technicians in the use of the instruments and materials housed on the base (about 1,500 arrive each year from different UN missions throughout the world).

- Lastly, synergies and operational agreements in the logistical organisation of development projects are under way between the base and other UN agencies (e.g. the World Food Programme).

An important Italian contribution Italy’s readiness to provide a facility so essential to United

Nations action, completely free of charge, is much appreciated internationally. The Italian government offers continuous political and financial support to the base and to the UN personnel employed there. The offices, buildings and warehouses provide a very flexible and adaptable facility, which is proving indispensable to UN peacekeeping missions. According to agreements, Italy is responsible also for a broad series of maintenance and running costs for the various services connected with the base. Furthermore, the UNLB benefits from defence and security services provided by the Italian Air Force for the entire zone occupied by the base.

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Thanks Italy’s willingness, the UN has greatly increased its operational capacities, including those for the rapid deployment of peacekeeping missions. In fact the UNLB has become the centre for warehousing and management of Strategic Deployment Stocks (SDS), the principal hub for satellite communications and an important centre for technical training. At present the UNLB employs approximately 130 people with an annual budget of approximately 29 million dollars. Negotiations are under way for a further expansion of the base through the use of areas and infrastructures situated in the airport zone of the nearby Military base of San Vito dei Normanni.

UN System Staff College in Turin (UNSSC) Italy’s attention with regard to the important process of UN peacekeeping reform is also concentrated on the training activities required for this type of operations. The United Nations has often reiterated the importance of a coordinated approach to research and training based on an effective and consistent strategy and on an efficient division of responsibilities between the related institutions and bodies. In this connection the presence in Turin of the UN System Staff College offers considerable possibilities for obtaining added value from the Italian contribution, for example by promoting synergies, exchanges and contacts with the Army’s Applications School and our country’s advanced military training centres. Italy is fostering growing appreciation for the Turin Staff College where, in May 2004, it organised training courses in peacekeeping, human rights and conflict prevention for officers of the African armed forces. To date, African officers from 21 countries have taken part in these courses.

The training of African peacekeepers

Italy actively participates in the international community’s efforts aimed at strengthening the autonomy of African peacekeepers in view of the growing complexity of peace missions in Africa, and the greater responsibilities in the hands of local organisations (including the African Union and sub-regional organisations such as ECOWAS, IGAD and SADC). Italy collaborates on several initiatives on the bilateral, European and G8 (Action Plan for Africa) levels. In the European context, the recent creation of the Peace Facility for Africa should be pointed out, with a financial endowment of 250 million euros, of which Italy contributes 14 per cent.

Furthermore, at the Sea Island Summit in the United States in June 2004 Italy launched a joint initiative with the U.S. to create a “centre for excellence” in 2005 for the training of police forces based on the model of the carabinieri, who have demonstrated unrivalled capacities in the course of numerous peace missions. Finally, in addition to the courses at the UN Staff College in Turin, Italy also supports the training of non-military African personnel for deployment in peace missions with a reconstruction component, through a project jointly organised by UN-DESA, Universita’ Sant’Anna di Pisa and Ghana.

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Italy’s obligatory contribution to the 2004 budget for

peacekeeping/peacebuilding missions amounted to approximately 140 million US dollars (equal to 4.885 per cent of the entire budget for peacekeeping missions), and was the responsibility of the Directorate General for Political Affairs. Italy participates financially in the UN’s peacekeeping/peacebuilding missions and, more in general, to crisis management activities run by International Organisations, also through a series of voluntary contributions that are authorised by different expenditure laws, and consequently divided up between different areas of responsibility at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In 2004 the following can be quoted: 1) 1

1 All figures are in dollars and calculated at an average dollar/euro exchange rate of 1.2.

Purpose

Body/Project

Amount in US$

Peace Process in Sudan

AU for monitoring mission in Darfur 772,446

AU acivities in support of peace process in Darfur 39,000 UNICEF for the contribution to the National

Conference of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement

300,000

IGAD-VMT secretariat for the support of peace monitoring activities in Sudan

120,000

IGAD Secertariat for peace negotiations 270,000 Peace Process in Somalia

Transitional Institutions Somalia National Reconciliation Conference

204,000

Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the organisation of the Somalia National Reconciliation Conference

480,000

UNDP for organising a seminar on DDR in Somalia

75,000

Great Lakes Office of the SRSG for the Great Lakes for the organisation of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region

360,000

Dem. Rep. of Congo

Contributions on behalf of the DRC’s Transitional Institutions

48,000

Chart

PEACEKEEPING/PEACEBUILDING: FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION

1) Contributions allocated by the

Directorate General for Sub-Saharan Africa (DGAS) on the basis of law 180/921

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2 Finally it can also be pointed out that, during a recent conference in Freetown on the Italian contribution to the protection of minors in western Africa, the DGCS announced its decision to set up a World Bank and African Development Bank Trust Fund (9.6 million dollars) for the development of rehabilitation programmes for children in armed conflicts in western Africa.

2 All figures are in dollars and calculated at an average dollar/euro exchange rate of 1.2. The figures were taken from the resolutions published in the DGCS Official Journal.

Purpose

Body/Project

Amount in US$

Peace process in Somalia

FAO, ILO, UNDP, UNICEF, UNIFEM and UNESCO

4,800,000

Peace process in Sudan

UNDP in response to the Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal

600,000

UNICEF in response to the Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal

660,000

WHO in response to the Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal

1,020,000

Iraqi reconstruction

UNDG Iraq Trust Fund for the reconstruction and development of Iraq

12,000,000

Peace process in Burundi

World Bank for the “Multilateral Donor Trust Fund for Debt Relief” Programme

1,800,000

Peace process in Afghanistan

Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund at the World Bank

6,000,000

IOM for the “Reintegration of Former Combatants in Afghanistan” Programme

3,600,000

UNODC for a programme for reforming the penitentiary system

6,000,000

UNDP for the “2004 Afghan Election Project”

6,000,000

Peace process in Liberia

UNICEF for yellow fever control programme

600,000

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

OCHA for the replenishment of non-food and non-medical stocks warehoused at the UNLB in Brindisi

1,080,000

2)aContributions approved by the Directorate General for Development Cooperation (DGCS) to come out of the funds covered by law 49/87 for 20042

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