UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has proposed splitting the Department of Peacekeeping Operations into two divisions, but the non-aligned nations are not keen on the proposal, seeing an unwanted downgrading of a disarmament program.
In a letter sent to U.N. General Assembly President Sheikha Haya al-Khalifa last week Ban first made the proposal. Fresh from his first trip abroad as secretary-general, he personally presented it Monday to the 192 member states at a closed-door meeting of the assembly.
But word soon was out, and developing nations voiced opposition.
"The present (U.N.) Secretariat structure of the organization was not designed to cope with the current burden of activities and it is imperative that urgent action be taken to strengthening my capacity to deliver the necessary support to all mandated peace operations," he said in the letter to al-Khalifa, a copy of which was obtained by United Press International.
Ban proposed realignment of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, calling for a Department of Peace Operations to "plan, direct, manage and provide political guidance to all field operations currently under DPKO.
"The new DPO will lead the integrated planning process to ensure that all components of mission planning -- policy, support, military, police and civilian elements -- work together to provide efficient and coherent support to the field as well as an identifiable and accountable interlocutor for member states, United Nations and non-U.N. partners," he said.
It would also be responsible for "the conduct and management of peacekeeping operations and policy issues.
"The Department of Field Support will be responsible for providing support to U.N. field operations, including personnel, finance, procurement, logistics, communications, information technology and other administrative and general management issues," the secretary-general said in the letter.
One part of his restructuring of the world organization seeks to downgrade the Department of Disarmament Affairs into a separate office reporting directly to him. As an office it would no longer require an undersecretary-general to head it.
Observers feel this is where he would find room in the budget for a second USG to head one of the two new departments carved out of the present DPKO.
At the meeting Ban said the restructuring was necessary to enhance U.N. efforts at a time when the number of peace operations is at an all-time high, and there is a need to deal with the surge in demand, said Michele Montas, his chief spokeswoman.
The Department of Field Support can support field operations "more effectively, coherently and responsively, and establish a clear point of responsibility and accountability," she said.
The secretary-general also said there was a need for sustained and determined leadership to deal with disarmament issues, and proposed the Department of Disarmament Affairs be constituted as an office "with a direct line to him to ensure access and more frequent interaction," the spokeswoman said.
Ban also promised that he continues to listen to member states and has adjusted his proposals in accordance with their concerns.
Asked about response from member states, Montas noted discussions were continuing and pointed out Monday's presentation was just the beginning of consultations with the larger membership, following a period of talks on a smaller scale.
Said assembly spokeswoman Frehiwot Bekele, "The secretary-general noted that he has sought to adjust his proposals in accordance with the concerns of member states."
During the meeting, speakers expressed their commitment to support Ban in his efforts to strengthen and reform the Secretariat, the spokeswoman said. They also indicated more time as well as information and details would be needed for in-depth consideration of the proposals, Bekele said.
Ambassador Munir Akram of Pakistan said after the session more consultations on the proposals are needed and two committees have to approve the measures. Akram represents a group of 114 developing countries.
"When he asks for our opinion, he must show that he is listening," the envoy said of Ban.
Akram also told reporters there was concern over the how the chain of command in peacekeeping operations would be maintained.
"That needs to be looked at closely before we reach a decision on how to restructure," Akram said.
Others member nations said regardless of how Ban described it "disarmament was being downgraded," and they didn't necessarily buy Ban's argument the new office, by reporting to him, would actually have an enhanced role.
U.S. Ambassador Alejandro Wolff said Washington supported Ban's plan.
"It is his responsibility to deliver a secretariat that is responsive, that does its work well, that is efficient, that is transparent," Washington's envoy said. "We hold him accountable for that and therefore we ought to give him the authority to do the necessary changes."
