asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent talks in Canada concerning the United Nations peace-keeping operations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - UN Peace-Keeping Operations.
21.
A meeting of military experts to consider the technical aspects of United Nations peace-keeping operations took place in Ottawa from 2nd to 6th November, inclusive, at the invitation of the Government of Canada. Representatives from the following twenty-three countries attended: Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, Ghana, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Liberia, Malaysia, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sweden, Tunisia and United Arab Republic. The Military Adviser to the Secretary-General of the United Nations attended the meeting as an observer.
Three working groups were established. Group 1 studied the questions of composition, command, control and liaison, training and operational problems. Group 2 studied questions relating to environmental operating information and logistic support. Group 3 studied personnel administration, public relations, accounting procedures, and legal problems.
The chairmen of the working groups reported to the delegates on the work of their groups at the final plenary session, but no attempt was made to reach formal conclusions on the items discussed. I feel that the exchange of views at the meeting will contribute to the effectiveness of such national forces as may be made available to the United Nations in the future, and that the meeting therefore has served the general purpose of improving the efficiency of United Nations peace-keeping operations.
Our best thanks are due to the Government of Canada for the preparation of the meeting and for its valuable assistance with the arrangements.
Could the Minister say whether or not consideration was given by this meeting to the financing of the peace-keeping operations?
Yes, that was mentioned in the reply.
I did not get that. The Minister said that, did he?
I mentioned accounting procedures.
This was not a United Nations meeting at all.
I know that.
I said "accounting procedures" not "financing".