UN PEACEKEEPING AND ITALY’S ROLE
 
The context
118,000 blue helmets deployed in 15 missions covering 4 Continents and an annual budget skimming 8 billion dollars, confirm the centrality of the United Nations in peacekeeping and security throughout the world.

The role of the blue helmets - traditionally conceived as a buffer force between sides – calls for today even greater skills in relating with the local populations, and, in this perspective, a strong presence of the police force.

This is where the Italian contribution becomes key.

A few figures regarding Italy’s role in peacekeeping:
• 1st  contributing country of blue helmets among European Partners and the G8;
• 10th contributing country of blue helmets among the 192 members of the UN.
• 6th financial contributor to UN peace missions;
• 350 million dollars deposited each year into the “peace funds” of the United Nations.
• Out of 15 peace missions conducted directly by the UN, 8 have seen the involvement of Italian soldiers along with the Blue Helmets.
• All UN peace missions are “powered” by the sole Logistics Base of the UN hosted in Brindisi and maintained by the Italian Government since 1994.
• Among the United Nations missions (e.g. UNIFIL in Lebanon) or those authorized by the Security Council (e.g. Afghanistan), Italy deploys over 8,000 troops in peace operations abroad.
• Italy’s contribution is not limited to sending its men to crisis areas, but also offers its professional know-how to improve the operational “capacities” of countries that are committed, as we are, to peacekeeping.
• The Center of Excellence for Carabinieri of Vicenza (COESPU) set up for the training of officers to be deployed in peace missions, has trained in 3 years 2,500 men coming from emerging countries, especially Africa.
• The Italian “way” of conducting peacekeeping, our commitment - particularly in the Middle East where we are the top contributors to the peace mission in Lebanon (and of which we have been in command for almost 3 years) - the quality of our “instructors” and, in particular, of the Carabinieri, have afforded our Government the recognition of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki moon (“Italy, an ideal partner for the UN”).
• President Obama, in a recent letter addressed to Prime Minister Berlusconi, acknowledged Italy’s leadership in Lebanon, the formidable training programs for Carabinieri in Vicenza and, especially, the “Italian way” of conducting peacekeeping, “winning over and maintaining the support of the local populations".

UN Logistics Base in Brindisi
The United Nations Logistics Base is located in Brindisi (Italy), a strategic point at the crossroads of Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The base, which began operating in 1994 in accordance with an agreement between the UN Secretariat General and the Italian Government, amended in 2001, has steadily grown in importance as the main operational hub for the DPKO outside of New York.
The base was established for the primary purpose of operating a logistical center for the UN’s operations in the world, and now plays a key role in fostering efficient management of peacekeeping operations and rapid deployment of new UN missions. The Brindisi Logistical Base also performs major functions for DPKO as a hub for satellite communications and information technology support for UN peacekeeping operations. It also has facilities for expert training activities. After the establishment of the Integrated Training Service (ITS), DPKO has decided to locate its Training Delivery Section in Brindisi. To foster a coordinated, consistent, and effective approach to research and training, the Brindisi Logistical Base offers the opportunity to cooperate with other institutions and bodies located in Italy that conduct training and research activities, such as the United Nations Staff College in Turin (UNSSC) and the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa. The DPKO has decided that Brindisi will host the Standing Police Capacity (SPC), a new tool for strengthening the police component of peacekeeping operations that was established by the 2005 Outcome Document. Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU)
CoESPU was established in Vicenza (Italy) in 2005 as an international training center. Its mission is to train international stability police for peace operations and thereby increase their numbers. CoESPU trainees become the nucleus for gendarme-like peacekeeping forces in their respective countries. CoESPU also serves as a center for developing doctrine and common operational procedures for the deployment of gendarme or Carabinieri-like forces on peace support operations.
In accordance with the G-8 Action Plan, the Center:

Italy’s peacekeeping role

HOW TO BECOME A PEACEKEEPER Training for Italian Military Peacekeepers
The Italian armed forces provide training courses for both military and civilian personnel that wish to take part in peacekeeping missions. The courses are taught at the Army’s Scuola di Guerra (School of War) in Civitavecchia and in the various branch offices of the Italian Red Cross. The Armed Forces offer courses for legal advisers on human rights in armed conflicts and for civilian personnel signed up for humanitarian peacekeeping operations and election monitoring missions. The armed forces, in collaboration with the Italian Red Cross, also offer a course on international humanitarian law for Red Cross nurses and officials. For information on courses offered by the Italian Armed Forces, contact: Permanent Mission of Italy to the UN
2 United Nations Plaza, 24th floor
New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel.+1.212.486919 Fax +1.212.4861036 Other information is available at: http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/dpko/index.asp Training for Italian Civilian Peacekeepers
The Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa offers a training course titled: “Training course: the Civilian Personnel of Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding Operations.” For information please visit the “Upcoming Training and Events” The European Master’s in Human Rights and Democratisation at the University of Padua is a one-year course requiring a good knowledge of English and an understanding of French.
Università di Padova- Segreteria EMA
Monastero di San Nicolò, 26-30126 Venezia Lido
e-mail: hrd-european.master@venis.it
http://www.centrodirittiumani.unipd.it/ A Masters in peacekeeping and security studies is offered at:
Università Roma Tre- Facolta di Scienze Politiche
Via Corrado Segre, 2- 00146 Roma
http://www.uniroma3.it/ USEFUL LINKS:
UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations: www.un.org/Depts/dpko/dpko/ Italian Ministry of Defense: www.difesa.it
www.lapacesifascuola.it