In many tense situations, one does not need Blue Helmets one needs effective policing.

We have heard horror stories of women and children being raped and abused by individual blue helmet peacekeepers.

That has become our national commitment, and we have continued to improve our rapid deployment capacity in readiness for United Nations blue helmet activities and to make troops available for deployment.

We welcome all the measures taken thus far by the Security Council and are particularly encouraged by the fact that more blue helmets have been sent and that Mr. Antonio Monteiro has been appointed as the United Nations High Representative for the elections in Côte d'Ivoire.

Nevertheless, these Russian military forces are still referred to as peacekeepers or blue helmets , as the overall conflict resolution in the region in structured as a United Nations led peace process.

In addition, we should give special attention to the increased risks for humanitarian workers in the region, who are more and more often mistaken, at worst, for combatants or, in the best of cases, for Blue Helmets.

Over the past 21 months, investigations into allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse involving 264 United Nations peacekeeping personnel have been concluded 16 civilians have been summarily dismissed, and 132 Blue Helmets have been repatriated (seven of whom were Commanders).