NZDF Involvement in UNTSO SINCE 1954
A Kiwi at the top
(From Defence Update, No.36, September 2005, p.5, published by the New Zealand Defence Force)
The New Zealander who heads UNTSO is no stranger to complex international peacekeeping operations. Major General Clive Lilley is ten months into a posting as UNTSO's Jerusalem-based Head of Mission. In his career with the New Zealand Army he has served in key roles in Somalia, Bougainville, East Timor, and Solomon Islands.
In his UNTSO role he is responsible to the Secretary General for all aspects of the mission’s performance throughout its operational area - Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt. He deals with UN and UNTSO issues in and across the five mandated countries, and also has representational and diplomatic responsibilities with a host of other regional personnel.
So what is a typical day in this part of the turbulent Middle East?
As Head of Mission he reports to the United Nations
headquarters in New York, and to that end meets regularly with
politicians, senior foreign affairs officials, defence chiefs and
security officials and police representatives from Israel, Syria,
Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt.
"I also make frequent calls on the diplomats representing the Security Council "permanent five" countries, and keep in contact with other UN missions operating in the region. Working in this part of the world is never dull, and the variety of work that comes with the appointment makes for very interesting times."
When an incident affects UNTSO, for example, if treaty violations occur, he becomes involved either directly with the government of the nationals involved in the incident, or indirectly by ensuring UNTSO staff follow the required United Nations processes.
UNTSO is now in its 57th year of operation, and will achieve its mandate when there is a comprehensive peace throughout the Middle East. Three of the five countries covered by the mandate have signed peace agreements, but as yet no peace agreement has been signed between Israel and Lebanon and Israel and Syria.
It is sometimes a challenge, says Major General Lilley, to understand the rationale why things are done as they are in UNTSO. "A big challenge for the mission and myself is to review how it does its business and to introduce simple, smart and efficient ways for the missions to be both professional and effective.
"The Secretary General is introducing a range of changes throughout the entire UN organisation. These corporate changes require a complete reassessment of what, how and why UNTSO conducts its business. The changes these moves require, together with our own internal reviews of how UNTSO is performing are all designed to increase the organisation's effectiveness and professionalism in a rapidly changing world. I am hoping we will achieve that."
This page was last reviewed 29 June, 2007 and is current.