moved:
That this House take note of possible Canadian peacekeeping activities in Kosovo and the possible changes in peacekeeping activities in the Central African Republic.
Madam Speaker, at the outset let me gain the agreement of the Chair for a division of time between me and the Minister of National Defence. We will use the opportunity if we may.
Let me say that tonight we have the opportunity in this forum to discuss the situation in two troubled spots on two different continents, Kosovo and the Central African Republic, and to discuss Canada's contribution in resolving the conflicts faced by these regions and the people in these regions.
This is a demonstration of the range and the extent of Canada's worldwide interest and the responsibilities that the international community expects Canada to undertake on behalf of the large question of ensuring peace and security in the world.
Members will recall that last October the House took note of and supported the need for the international community to support and prevent an impending human disaster in Kosovo. Fortunately the disaster by the actions of the international community was averted. The underlying issues, however, were not resolved. We were simply put in a position where an agreement was made, but the parties to that agreement were not prepared to fulfil their commitments.
Therefore once again the international community has been called upon to take action when the breakdown of responsibility in Kosovo was so apparent to many of us in terms of the human tragedy that was occurring.
It is important, however, to recognize that in the course of that we learned a very fundamental lesson. The willingness to take action, the fact that NATO and Canada as a member of NATO were prepared to be part of the preparation to take strong, effective action, did bring the parties to the table. Once again the capacity and the capability of a group of international players of which Canada is a part were put forward and brought about the new negotiation.
In the case of Kosovo we are in the situation now where an ultimatum has been given to the parties. Either they come to an agreement to withdraw their troops, to arrive at a settlement that will allow for free elections in an open democracy, that will provide for police and security forces which reflect the population and that they will respect human and civil rights, or once again we will be called upon to take action.
I am here in an optimistic mood in the sense that the negotiations in Ramvouillet are continuing. No one can foresee the outcome, but it is important to recognize that if an agreement is made, if the parties can come to an agreement based upon the principles which were put forward by the top contact group, by the NATO council and by the United Nations Security Council, then there will be a call upon resources of a peacekeeping nature; a responsibility to make sure the agreement is enforced; and a robust intervention which will ensure, as we did in Bosnia, that the breakdowns, the transgressions and the violation that have been so much part of the story of that region will be intercepted by an effective international presence in Kosovo.
The Minister of National Defence and I cannot be in the House tonight to tell members exactly how many or where or what. The minister of defence will do his best to outline what the nature of the rules of engagement would be and the responsibilities. However, it is important for us to be able to indicate to the international community that we are prepared to participate and that we are prepared to make a commitment in this very serious and very important condition in the international community at this time.
It is also important to note that the commitment is not simply just for peacekeeping troops. That will be a very important commitment, but accompanying that commitment is also a peacebuilding responsibility. There is no point just simply sending in a group of good soldiers to separate the combatants, if we are not also prepared to invest in helping to put in place the building blocks of a resolution to start helping to develop a society in which elections can be held and in which the communities can begin to develop some degree of responsibility for their own government in which human rights are respected.
It is important to notify the House and have it acknowledge that this is simply not a peacekeeping initiative. It would also require participation through the OSCE and other bodies of a responsibility to help ensure fair and free elections, to help in a commitment to develop a civil society, to help in the resettlement of refugees of which there are close to 300,000 in that country right now, and to help with the basic humanitarian requirements.
It is important to note that we already have 40 Canadians in Kosovo as part of the verification mission and that CIDA has already contributed several millions of dollars to humanitarian aid.
I want it to be clearly understood by the House the reason for having this debate. If an agreement is reached and Canada participates we will have more than just troops, as crucial a role as they may play. There will also be the civil peacebuilding role that will have to accompany it at the same time.
I would make the case that it is the kind of contribution Canadians would want us to make. It is an investment worth making because to help ensure stability, to help protect the security of helpless civilians who have been harassed and violated and transgressed against, is part of what Canadians can make as a worthwhile, serious contribution to world peace.
The third element which is also important is that as the president of the security council this month we will also be in a position to ensure that the United Nations Security Council is fully engaged on this matter. In the last rounds of negotiation the council did endorse the peace proposal that came out of the meetings of the NATO council. Canada played a role in ensuring that part of the responsibility of the council was met.
We would also clearly like to see, if there is a decision or an agreement this weekend to go ahead with the development of an international presence in Kosovo, that the security council endorse such a movement and that there be a full and open exchange at the council to assert its responsibility under chapter 6 of the charter to exercise that particular role. Those are the kinds of conditions we have.
The importance of having the debate now is clear. Next week the House will be in recess. We will not have the opportunity to debate. If there is an agreement this weekend, which I am sure we all heartily hope there will be, then it will be necessary for us at least to have this initial debate so that when the government decides what course to take, what role we could play, we will have had the full opportunity to hear from members of parliament from all regions what they think the best judgment should be of Canadians on this very crucial issue.
I would like to speak for a moment as well about peacekeeping in the Central African Republic, the other theme of the motion. As the House knows, this is not a new initiative for Canada. We have already been in the Central African Republic, but let us just stop for a moment and look to see what is happening.
I cannot give a full discourse, but throughout central Africa and west Africa we are seeing a continuing situation of breakdown of governments. We are seeing the rising emergence of the warlords. We are seeing the interventions of those people who prey and profit off conflict by selling goods, by selling arms. We are seeing the incredible tragedy of young children being used as human shields. We are seeing the case of young children being recruited into armies. We are seeing the attempt in that area of societies that are trying to redevelop out of extreme poverty, being faced with, as someone said, the most effective weapon today: a young male under 15 with an AK-47. That is the situation we are now facing around the world.
Last year we were asked by the secretary general to offer support for a peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic in order to provide needed communications in both languages. That was a prerequisite for other African members of that peacekeeping mission to be able to mount their effectiveness.
That comes up for renewal. That is one of our responsibilities. We would also like to invite members of parliament to indicate their support for a continuation if the United Nations Security Council decides to go ahead with the MINURCA-UN project of peacekeeping in the Central African Republic. We believe that Canada should continue to play an effective and useful role as part of a partnership with other African states in the peacekeeping matters there.
Clearly, again, we need to have and would like to have the views and positions of members of parliament from all regions so that we can take that decision based upon the best judgment possible.
When I spoke in the House in October about the role of the international community in preventing humanitarian crises, I said that we need to act even in imperfect circumstances because all that is required for evil to triumph is a good do-nothing. The same formula applies. It is not perfect. There are difficulties ahead with some risk attached, but if we stand back and do not play our role then evil will triumph and that is not the Canadian way.