UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy said Wednesday that the use of new technologies in UN peacekeeping should respect the sovereignty and will of the host country.
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Peacekeeping missions, when using technologies of all kinds to conduct reconnaissance and surveillance, should have prior consultations with the host countries to make sure that the use of relevant technologies fully respect their sovereignty, uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, and follow basic principles of peacekeeping, said Dai Bing, the charge d'affaires at the Chinese Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
Peacekeeping missions should use relevant technologies based on the needs on the ground and in accordance with Security Council mandates, and should avoid harming the national security, public security and information security of host countries, he told a Security Council open debate on peacekeeping and technology.
"The use of new technologies must focus on improving the safety of peacekeeping personnel," he said. "Peacekeeping operations can fully use technological tools to improve information gathering and analysis, risk early warning, emergency response, emergency relief and other capacities, and reduce safety risks for peacekeepers."
He stressed the need to reduce the threat posed by improvised explosive devices to peacekeepers.
