France Supports UN Resolution To Top Up African Union's Peace Fund - Envoy

UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st November, 2018) France supports the African Union's initiative to adopt a framework resolution that would strengthen the security of peacekeeping operations across the African continent, France's Ambassador to the United Nations Francois Delattre said on Tuesday.

"France supports the African Union's initiative to adopt a far-reaching resolution by the end of this year," Delattre told the UN Security Council.

The proposed resolution intends to use the UN-assessed contributions to top up the African Union's peace fund that would enable it to cover 25 percent of the spending on African peace operations.

The United States urged the Security Council to pay more consideration before making UN-assessed contributions available for African peace support operations.

US Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Jonathan Cohen said the United States is calling for more consideration before committing UN funds to African Union peace support operations.

"Security Council members must be given time to ensure that there is full political and legislative support from their capitals before making this commitment," Cohen said, adding that the United States would not be able to engage the new Congress on the issue before 2019.

During an open debate held at the UN Security Council earlier on Tuesday, UN Secretary-general Antonio Guterres called on the international community to strengthen cooperation and commitment to peacekeeping in Africa and to adopt the African Union's proposed resolution.