United Nations Peacekeepers Resolution of 2003

United Nations Peacekeepers Resolution of 2003 - Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United Nations (UN) should establish a permanent standing UN security force of up to 15,000 volunteers who are trained and equipped for rapid deployment for not to exceed six months in international peacekeeping operations pursuant to a Security Council resolution. Urges the President to instruct the U.S. Ambassador to the UN to encourage efforts to establish such a force.

[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 27 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 27

  Concerning the establishment of a permanent United Nations security 
                                 force.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 8, 2003

Mr. Wynn submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                  Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Concerning the establishment of a permanent United Nations security 
                                 force.

Whereas, since 1948, the United Nations has established more than 50 
        peacekeeping operations;
Whereas on May 3, 1994, President Clinton issued a presidential decision 
        directive (PDD 25) stating that properly conceived and well executed 
        peacekeeping operations are a useful element in serving the United 
        States interests and that the primary objective of the United States 
        Armed Forces is to be prepared to fight and win two simultaneous 
        regional conflicts;
Whereas international peacekeeping operations are a useful tool to help prevent 
        and resolve regional conflicts before they pose a direct threat to 
        United States national security;
Whereas international peacekeeping operations serve the interests of the United 
        States by promoting democracy, regional security, and economic growth;
Whereas on February 23, 1999, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan 
        stated, ``It is sadly clear that the need for United Nations 
        peacekeeping will continue and, indeed, will probably grow. And it is 
        very much in America's national interest to support an international 
        response to conflicts, even those which seem remote, because, in today's 
        interconnected world, they seldom remained confined to one country or 
        even one region. Take Rwanda for example. The failure of the 
        international community to respond effectively led not only to genocide 
        in Rwanda itself, but also to the exodus of refugees and combatants 
        across the borders. Because we failed to act in time, seven countries 
        are now fighting each other in a mineral-rich region which should have 
        been a prime area for investment and development. Is this something the 
        United States can afford to ignore?'';
Whereas United Nations efforts in Cambodia led to an election protected by 
        peacekeepers, the return of hundreds of thousands of refugees, and the 
        end of a destabilizing regional conflict;
Whereas United Nations sponsored elections in El Salvador helped to end a long 
        and bitter civil war;
Whereas United Nations supervision of Namibia's transition to independence 
        removed a potential source of conflict in strategic southern Africa and 
        promoted democracy;
Whereas United Nations operations in Cyprus have prevented the outbreak of war 
        between two NATO allies;
Whereas United Nations operations in the Golan Heights have helped to preserve 
        peace between Israel and Syria; and
Whereas international peacekeeping operations have proven invaluable over the 
        years in deterring conflict and war throughout the world: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Resolution may be cited as the ``United Nations Peacekeepers 
Resolution of 2003''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF SECURITY FORCE.

     It is the sense of the House of Representatives that the United 
Nations should establish a permanent standing United Nations security 
force as follows:
            (1) The United Nations security force should be composed of 
        not more than 15,000 volunteers from the United Nations member 
        countries, who are recruited, trained, employed, and 
        compensated directly by the United Nations.
            (2) The United Nations security force should be trained and 
        equipped specifically for rapid deployment in international 
        peacekeeping operations conducted under chapter VI or VII of 
        the United Nations Charter. Rapid deployment of such a force 
        means the capacity to deploy to an affected region within 21 
        days of the enactment of a United Nations Security Council 
        resolution authorizing deployment. The period of deployment of 
        the United Nations security force should be limited to a 
        maximum of six months.
            (3) The United Nations security force should be deployed 
        only under the authority of a resolution of the United Nations 
        Security Council. The commander in chief of the United Nations 
        security force should be the Secretary General of the United 
        Nations.

SEC. 3. INSTRUCTIONS TO THE AMBASSADOR.

     The House of Representatives urges the President to instruct the 
United States Ambassador to the United Nations to encourage efforts in 
the United Nations to establish such a permanent United Nations 
security force.
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