Peace support course underway in KAIPTC

Accra, July 12, GNA - The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) would hold its fifth annual International Peace Support Operations Course (IPSO) for military, police, and civilian Peacekeepers in Accra from June 18 +IBM- July 13, 2007.

A statement issued by Angela Odai, Public Information Officer of the KAIPTC said the IPSO sought to develop regional peacekeeping capacity by broadening the understanding of the complex principles and procedures involved in mounting joint peace support operations.

The three-week course which was being funded by the government of the United Kingdom attracted about 90 participants including those from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD),the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU).

Among the topics discussed were the changing nature of UN peacekeeping, the additional requirements and pressures of working in a multi-national, interagency environment, and the political and military considerations involved in the planning, co-ordination and conduct of United Nations, ECOWAS, African Union and other peace support operations.

The course drew participants and lecturers from the civilian, police and military sectors in order to reflect today's multi-faceted peacekeeping theatre.