“” I started to feel very idealistic about the UN, and I have never lost this feeling“Said Mr. Stewart UN News In an exclusive interview.
At the beginning of August, he moved as a special representative of the secretary general and head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (Unclog).
His departure comes at a time of cautious optimism on the island. Last week, the secretary general reported that the talks between Greek Cypriot chiefs and Turkish Cypriot chiefs were “constructive”, with a “common understanding” on new initiatives.
Mr. Stewart called on “an important stage” talks in the maintenance of the momentum.
“We are at a difficult time for Cyprus because of the coming elections in the North and other dynamics,” he said. “The intention was to keep the ball and maintain the momentum, and I think it has succeeded. »»
Peace by preventing sparks
By thinking about his mandate in Cyprus, Mr. Stewart compared UNFIC’s daily work to eliminate sparks before igniting.
“There are all kinds of activities in the buffer zone every day, each having the potential to degenerate,” he said. “” Our work is to prevent these sparks from bursting into flames. When I am Security advice That things are calm, it means that we have succeeded.“”
Our work is to prevent sparks from bursting into flames. When I point out to the Security Council that things are calm, it means that we have succeeded.
The figures confirm its point: in more than half a century of UN peacekeeping on the island, no blow was drawn between the two soldiers.
“” Some people ask why the peacekeeping mission is still necessary, since it has been peaceful for 50 years … The answer is simple – it’s peaceful because the mission does its job. Without this, the deep distrust between the sides could easily slip into the confrontation. »»
Lessons on confidence and empathy
Mr. Stewart was also the special advisor to Cyprus, leading the good office of the Secretary General to support full regulations. The biggest obstacle, he said, does not reside in public feeling but in political will.
“” People get along well“, He noted.Millions of people cross one side to the other each year without incident. But among political leaders, distrust is so deep that even the idea of compromise is considered negatively.“”
This distrust, he said, is rooted in decades of hard line accounts that depict the other side as an enemy rather than a partner. Breaking these stories is essential.
“Peace consolidation requires not only negotiations, but a desire to dismantle these rigid stories and strengthen empathy,” he said. “And we do it all the time at an individual level. Bring two people who have each lost something against each other, and they can very easily sympathize with each other and share common sorrow. ”
This belief in the power of empathy, he added, resonates far beyond Cyprus: in many conflicts, peace emerges when people begin to recognize humanity-and suffering-on the other side.
Peacekeeping not a single size
Mr. Stewart’s career gave him a panoramic vision of the evolution of peacekeeping.
In Timor-Leste, he saw how the support of the United Nations can help an emerging state to strengthen resilience. In Addis Ababa, as part of the United Nations Office at the African Union, he witnessed the power of partnerships. And in the west of the Sahara, he experienced the limits of peacekeeping when a cease-fire did not hold.
He stressed that peacekeeping is not a single size mode – it is modular – “a little of that and a little that”, adapted to the circumstances and working with a wide range of partners.
“” I guess I experienced the evolution of peacekeeping and seen many different aspects, [but] I am always more convinced that peacekeeping is an absolutely essential tool for the international community.“”
A quiet outing
Now prepare for life after the UN, Mr. Stewart is clear: he does not intend to return to a role of advice or advice.
“For me, retirement means retirement,” he said with a smile.
“I want to do everything I have postponed for my entire career – living in a house I have, spending time with my teenage son who goes to high school … It’s the life I have in mind.”
Idealism remains intact
By concluding the interview, I asked if he had final words. While looking for ideas, I suggested: “Maybe your first day of work.”
He recalled his beginnings to the United Nations, a trip that started with the referendum for self-determination in Timor-Leste in the 1990s, in the context of intimidation, violence and a fragile security environment.
I started to feel very idealistic about the UN, and I have never lost this feeling … The UN is there to do good things – good things
“It was our watch, our responsibility for making a free and fair vote,” he said, “and that was going to be impossible in these circumstances. However, despite the chances, the Timorai vote continued, and the result was clear – a success against all expectations.
“” It was a very exhilarating and exciting experience to start the UN … It pushed me to feel very idealistic about the UN, and I have never lost this feeling that, you know, the UN is there to do good things, to do good things.“”
As he moves away from the UN, Mr. Stewart says that idealism remains intact.
“” It could take time, but we will succeed … even if people are discouraged because it is very, very difficult for all kinds of reasons that are out of our control, it is a wonderful principle to serve. So, I leave only the best for my colleagues who will continue the fight.“”
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
