Colonel (ret) Peter Leentjes provided a summary to the participants. He stressed the importance of the military role in peacekeeping operations. Aside from the security support, they must also be able to provide training, transport, medical and engineering support. They must also provide assistance during elections and to the long-term development of the whole country. The military role must always be interconnected with the other components of the peacekeeping operations.

He said that the three groups were able to take into account in their outputs the basic requirements of a peacekeeping operation. Basic needs must always be considered since they will respond to the need of the people such as security, food, water, health and housing and the economic opportunities. It is also important to consider the political process since it will provide a venue for reconciliation and at the same time reduce violence.

In any peacekeeping operations, the following key institutions must always be reestablished: military, police, judiciary and the civil service. The reestablishment of these four institutions will help in the reconstruction process.

End-states must be expressed as a long-term strategy and not as a hard reality. It must be comprehensive so that all the components will be considered. A comprehensive plan must involve the elements of national power, which includes the military, diplomatic process, economy and information.

Modern operations now are complex; that is why it is important to have a political-military planning. Integration of the efforts must be done by leaders, that is why they must be very good communicators so as to get the opinions and consensus of those they govern. This consultative process will serve as a medium to involve the local governments. Local governments play a key role not only in the national government but also in the rule of law, military structures and international agreements.

The international community will play a major role in the rebuilding process. International law and justice will provide a useful basis for the law and order issues of the host country. In general, their financial as well as diplomatic support will help in the whole of the reconstruction process. In conclusion, collaborative effort is always the key to a successful peacekeeping operation.

Mr. Mel Chaloupka, Director of Simulation and Decision Support Directive from the US Pacific Command delivered brief remarks during the closing ceremony of the International Peacekeeping Operations Seminar on Ends States and Exit Strategies in Complex Contingencies.

• Mr. Chaloupka congratulated the participants and organizers of the seminar-workshop for a job well done. Even he was amazed at the quantity and quality of the outputs from the five-day seminar. He added that each participant should be very proud to have represented their country in this incredible assemblage of nations committed in minds and bodies to peace and to the maintenance of professional peacekeeping standards.

• He commended Lt. Gen. De Los Santos for sharing the success story of peacekeeping operations in East Timor under his leadership. Peacekeepers, especially Filipino peacekeepers did shine in East Timor under the leadership of Lt. Gen. De Los Santos.
  
  
• Experienced peacekeepers that participated willingly shared their experiences and helped substantively during the discussions. Likewise, participants who have no active experience in peacekeeping operations were equally important by contributing as much. They added new perspective and insights.

Prospects and Recommendations

• The output of this seminar should be distributed because it will greatly help future PKOs.
  
  
• He challenged each participant to share the knowledge they have gained in the seminar with their colleagues and supervisors back in their country.

• He also asked the participants to nourish the relationships they established during the course of the seminar and to continue the linkages even after the seminar.

Commodore Carlos L Agustin AFP (Ret), President of the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP), delivered the closing remarks during the closing ceremony of the International Peacekeeping Operations Seminar on "End States and Exit Strategies in Complex Contingencies".

BACKGROUND ON THE TOPIC

The traditional peacekeeping operations conducted during the Cold War era were purely military in nature.

In contrast, contemporary peace operations have become more complex, and thus the roles and responsibilities of the peacekeepers need to be more clearly defined. The core competencies of all involved personnel need to be attuned to these needs.

During the 1950's and 1960's, the Philippine contingent participated in humanitarian and peacekeeping operations. Today the involvement of Filipino peacekeepers globally has been more emphasized in assisting the United Nations in securing peace and development in areas of conflict and disaster.

ISSUES AND CONCERNS

• The military aspect of peacekeeping operations now merges with the non-military aspect. The non-military aspect of peacekeeping operations provides support and assistance in handling more complex contingencies

• As nations move away from a state of violence, challenges and prospects to support their social and political structures in attaining sustainable peace and development become more distinct.

• Each peacekeeping operation is unique with a specific set of mandated tasks, but all share certain common aims, which are to alleviate human suffering, and create conditions and build institutions to sustain peace.

PROSPECTS/RECOMMENDATIONS

• Peacekeepers today play an important role in leading conflicted areas toward a stable government based on self-governing principles, reliable governance and sustainable development.

• Continuous training and exposure to various seminars will greatly develop and enhance the experiences of peacekeepers in order to achieve the objectives of peacekeeping operations