Security Council debates DDR

Disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) needs to be addressed comprehensively in peace talks to enable the smooth transition from peacekeeping to peace building, the UN Security Council concluded at the end of a day long debate on Wednesday.

The political commitment of the parties involved in a peace process was a precondition for the success of DDR programmes, the Council added.

In a statement by its president, the Council underscored the importance of “incorporating, as appropriate, within specific peace agreements, with the consent of the parties, and on a case-by-case basis within United Nations mandates, clear terms for the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of ex-combatants, including the timely collection and disposal of arms and ammunition”.

In his speech to the Council, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that it was essential that DDR be incorporated into any peace agreement.

“...The arrangements for the disposal of arms and ammunition should be decided as part of peace negotiations, so that the question of what to do with the collected arms and ammunitions does not subsequently become a stumbling block,” he said.

Annan also called for more flexibility by the Security Council in using assessed funding for disarmament and demobilisation tasks, so that some key activities - including the destruction of weapons and the establishment of ‘quick-impact’ projects - could take place before voluntary funding was received.