U.N.
THE PROTECTION AND GUARD SERVICE - UNITED NATIONS
The UN Centre of Excellence
The United Nations will establish in Romania a Centre
of Excellence for the protection and guard officers in several
countries, with a view to training the personnel who provide security
for the UN officials.
From the point of view of the organization, Romania
is a member of the European Union and of NATO, and from the
geographical point of view it is close to many conflict areas.
Therefore, it was deemed appropriate that Romania should host such a
Centre of Excellence.
It is desired that the Centre should have
“international vocation”, and the trainers and trainees
will be selected worldwide, according to the UN decisions. Security
officers will be trained in the field of protection, crisis mangement
a.s.o. depending on the UN requirements. The personnel - leadership,
trainers and trainees - will be multinational.
On the occasion of the visit to Bucharest by the UN
Under-Secretary General for Safety and Security, Sir David Veness, a
press conference was organized at the headquarters of the Protection
and Guard Service. We present below the press statements of Maj.Gen.Dr.
Lucian Pahonşu, Director of the Protection and Guard Service (PGS), and
of Sir David Veness, the UN Under-Secretary General for Safety and
Security.
The Press Conference of Maj.Gen.Dr. Lucian Pahonşu, Director of the Protection and Guard Service,
and of Sir David Veness, the UN Under-Secretary General
for Safety and Security
- August 2007 -
and of Sir David Veness, the UN Under-Secretary General
for Safety and Security
- August 2007 -
• The establishment of the Centre of Excellence
Maj.Gen.Dr. Lucian Pahonşu: First of all, I would like to extend my thanks to the guests of the Protection and Guard Service, to Mr. Veness, and at the same time to thank you for accepting our invitation. I would like to brief you on some of the topics that we have addressed during the three-day visit of the UN delegation. First, we have discussed about the way in which the PGS officers are carrying out their protection and guard missions in Sudan and Afghanistan. Mr. Veness also wanted to meet the team that is leaving on a mission in Sudan on Friday. Another topic on the agenda was the development of cooperation in the field of training. Yesterday, Mr. Veness had meetings with the Foreign Minister, the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of Defense and the presidential defense advisors. Now I will give the floor to Mr. Veness, inviting him to give further details on the topics that have been discussed.
Sir David Veness: Thank you very much, Director, for your warm welcome and the opportunity to be present in Romania. As the Director has explained, my responsibilities are for the staff safety and security and the operations of the UN. And the purpose of my visit to Romania is primarily to extend the very grateful thanks of the United Nations both to the Government of Romania and to the Romanian people for the sustained and generous contribution that is made to the security of the United Nations globally: the supplies in peacekeeping operations, both military and police, and also in vital protection operations. These Romanian men and women are operating in some of the most difficult and challenging locations on Earth, and they are displaying mixed commitment, professionalism and courage, and it is those talents and contributions that I wish to salute. I’ve seen it first-hand, as my duties take me from Afghanistan, Iraq to Sudan, with men and women about their daily duties, and everywhere I go, their contribution is widely praised both by the people of those countries and by the colleagues. At present, we have a very pressing requirement in Darfur, and I was privileged to meet yesterday the officers who are on their way to duties in Darfur. This will be a vital mission and a critical support to the humanitarian challenge within Darfur. As the Director mentioned, I had the privilege of meeting senior Ministers from Defense, Interior and Foreign Affairs, and I had the opportunity to personally convey the gratitude of the United Nations to these government ministers, and indeed to welcome the continuing commitment of Romania to these vital humanitarian challenges. Because what the men and women of Romania are doing is a vital assistance on the global stage, I hope that the experience that they gained and the knowledge is also a benefit here in Romania. One interesting idea that we have discussed in the past days is a review of a concept of a Centre of Excellence. The idea is a possibility based here in Romania, based on the experience which men and women have gained, of a centre of training and development of brute practice. This would be a very valuable contribution to humanitarian security and activity in order to assist development globally. It is, I think, achievable that this would have a benefit within the immediate region, but given the unique geographic position of Romania and its geopolitical disposition, it is an excellent base for the consideration of such a concept. And the Director and I are committed to exploring and developing this proposal which will need to be considered politically at various levels. But let me conclude by re-emphasizing the purpose of my visit over these days. It is on behalf of the United Nations and those engaged in vital humanitarian, peacekeeping and other activities to salute the contribution that the men and women of Romania have made, are making and will make in the future. Thank you very much.
Maj.Gen.Dr. Lucian Pahonşu: If there are questions regarding the subject of the conference?
Question: What is the situation right now in Darfur?
Sir David Veness: The importance of those deployments is that unless the conditions of security can be improved, then it will not be possible to provide the aid, the food, the water, the medicines and other vital supplies that are so clearly necessary. But the whole international community is very clear that there is a vital and pressing need for that security in order that the humanitarian relief can be delivered.
Question: What will the Centre of Excellence consist of? Have the functional criteria been established? Will it also host people from abroad?
Maj.Gen.Dr. Lucian Pahonşu: It is very important for us that this Centre is going to carry out its activities in Romania. The Centre will have international vocation. Both the trainers, the leadership and the trainees will come from all the countries represented at the United Nations, according to the requirements and desires of the Organization. The Centre will train security officers in fields such as protection, crisis management and other fields that are needed by the Organization. We will have multinational personnel both at the level of leadership, trainers and trainees. We have intense work ahead of us in order to materialize this important project.
Question: Why are more PGS fighters needed in Darfur?
Maj.Gen.Dr. Lucian Pahonşu: First of all, because a newly appointed UN representative will take over his mission in Darfur, and secondly due to the fact that the Organization has selected Romania as a provider of protection measures for this UN official. It is the way in which my colleagues in Sudan and Afghanistan are doing their duty that led to their selection for a new mission in Darfur.
Sir David Veness: The main reason is the expansion of the mission in Darfur. The Security Council at the end of July expanded the role of the international community in Darfur. It is vital that the security of staff is achieved in order to bring about humanitarian aid that everybody seeks to achieve urgently. An immediate need is the expertise and professionalism of protection officers. I am very pleased that the Government of Romania responded so promptly and effectively with an offer to assist the international community with this vital task. I should stress that what we are seeking to achieve in Darfur is the relief of suffering and misery that is affecting too many people.
Question: What will be the functions of the Centre of Excellence, who will be in the leadership? Where is it going to function?
Maj.Gen.Dr. Lucian Pahonşu: I can give you a detail, Mr Burt D’Hooge, the Deputy of Sir Veness will stay a few more days in Romania and will work on this project together with the established task force within our institution, and in two months’ time we will review everything again. It is my belief that in five or six months’ time the theoretical project will have been completed. Starting today (Tuesday, 28 August 2007), the two teams (UN’s and PGS’s) will embark upon this project.
Question: Why does the geographic position recommend Romania for hosting the Centre of Excellence?
Sir David Veness: I was referring to both the political alliances and memberships that Romania enjoys, most recently with accession to the European Union, its membership of NATO, and indeed its traditional geopolitical significance. Geographically, when you look at the challenging conflict areas of the world, Romania is regrettably adjacent to many of those, particularly close to the junction of Europe and Asia and also looking south to the areas where degradation is regretfully to come.
Maj.Gen.Dr. Lucian Pahonşu: First of all, I would like to extend my thanks to the guests of the Protection and Guard Service, to Mr. Veness, and at the same time to thank you for accepting our invitation. I would like to brief you on some of the topics that we have addressed during the three-day visit of the UN delegation. First, we have discussed about the way in which the PGS officers are carrying out their protection and guard missions in Sudan and Afghanistan. Mr. Veness also wanted to meet the team that is leaving on a mission in Sudan on Friday. Another topic on the agenda was the development of cooperation in the field of training. Yesterday, Mr. Veness had meetings with the Foreign Minister, the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of Defense and the presidential defense advisors. Now I will give the floor to Mr. Veness, inviting him to give further details on the topics that have been discussed.
Sir David Veness: Thank you very much, Director, for your warm welcome and the opportunity to be present in Romania. As the Director has explained, my responsibilities are for the staff safety and security and the operations of the UN. And the purpose of my visit to Romania is primarily to extend the very grateful thanks of the United Nations both to the Government of Romania and to the Romanian people for the sustained and generous contribution that is made to the security of the United Nations globally: the supplies in peacekeeping operations, both military and police, and also in vital protection operations. These Romanian men and women are operating in some of the most difficult and challenging locations on Earth, and they are displaying mixed commitment, professionalism and courage, and it is those talents and contributions that I wish to salute. I’ve seen it first-hand, as my duties take me from Afghanistan, Iraq to Sudan, with men and women about their daily duties, and everywhere I go, their contribution is widely praised both by the people of those countries and by the colleagues. At present, we have a very pressing requirement in Darfur, and I was privileged to meet yesterday the officers who are on their way to duties in Darfur. This will be a vital mission and a critical support to the humanitarian challenge within Darfur. As the Director mentioned, I had the privilege of meeting senior Ministers from Defense, Interior and Foreign Affairs, and I had the opportunity to personally convey the gratitude of the United Nations to these government ministers, and indeed to welcome the continuing commitment of Romania to these vital humanitarian challenges. Because what the men and women of Romania are doing is a vital assistance on the global stage, I hope that the experience that they gained and the knowledge is also a benefit here in Romania. One interesting idea that we have discussed in the past days is a review of a concept of a Centre of Excellence. The idea is a possibility based here in Romania, based on the experience which men and women have gained, of a centre of training and development of brute practice. This would be a very valuable contribution to humanitarian security and activity in order to assist development globally. It is, I think, achievable that this would have a benefit within the immediate region, but given the unique geographic position of Romania and its geopolitical disposition, it is an excellent base for the consideration of such a concept. And the Director and I are committed to exploring and developing this proposal which will need to be considered politically at various levels. But let me conclude by re-emphasizing the purpose of my visit over these days. It is on behalf of the United Nations and those engaged in vital humanitarian, peacekeeping and other activities to salute the contribution that the men and women of Romania have made, are making and will make in the future. Thank you very much.
Maj.Gen.Dr. Lucian Pahonşu: If there are questions regarding the subject of the conference?
Question: What is the situation right now in Darfur?
Sir David Veness: The importance of those deployments is that unless the conditions of security can be improved, then it will not be possible to provide the aid, the food, the water, the medicines and other vital supplies that are so clearly necessary. But the whole international community is very clear that there is a vital and pressing need for that security in order that the humanitarian relief can be delivered.
Question: What will the Centre of Excellence consist of? Have the functional criteria been established? Will it also host people from abroad?
Maj.Gen.Dr. Lucian Pahonşu: It is very important for us that this Centre is going to carry out its activities in Romania. The Centre will have international vocation. Both the trainers, the leadership and the trainees will come from all the countries represented at the United Nations, according to the requirements and desires of the Organization. The Centre will train security officers in fields such as protection, crisis management and other fields that are needed by the Organization. We will have multinational personnel both at the level of leadership, trainers and trainees. We have intense work ahead of us in order to materialize this important project.
Question: Why are more PGS fighters needed in Darfur?
Maj.Gen.Dr. Lucian Pahonşu: First of all, because a newly appointed UN representative will take over his mission in Darfur, and secondly due to the fact that the Organization has selected Romania as a provider of protection measures for this UN official. It is the way in which my colleagues in Sudan and Afghanistan are doing their duty that led to their selection for a new mission in Darfur.
Sir David Veness: The main reason is the expansion of the mission in Darfur. The Security Council at the end of July expanded the role of the international community in Darfur. It is vital that the security of staff is achieved in order to bring about humanitarian aid that everybody seeks to achieve urgently. An immediate need is the expertise and professionalism of protection officers. I am very pleased that the Government of Romania responded so promptly and effectively with an offer to assist the international community with this vital task. I should stress that what we are seeking to achieve in Darfur is the relief of suffering and misery that is affecting too many people.
Question: What will be the functions of the Centre of Excellence, who will be in the leadership? Where is it going to function?
Maj.Gen.Dr. Lucian Pahonşu: I can give you a detail, Mr Burt D’Hooge, the Deputy of Sir Veness will stay a few more days in Romania and will work on this project together with the established task force within our institution, and in two months’ time we will review everything again. It is my belief that in five or six months’ time the theoretical project will have been completed. Starting today (Tuesday, 28 August 2007), the two teams (UN’s and PGS’s) will embark upon this project.
Question: Why does the geographic position recommend Romania for hosting the Centre of Excellence?
Sir David Veness: I was referring to both the political alliances and memberships that Romania enjoys, most recently with accession to the European Union, its membership of NATO, and indeed its traditional geopolitical significance. Geographically, when you look at the challenging conflict areas of the world, Romania is regrettably adjacent to many of those, particularly close to the junction of Europe and Asia and also looking south to the areas where degradation is regretfully to come.
Thank you!