01 October 2009
State’s Jennifer Pulliam Discusses Global Peace Operations
CO.NX webchat transcript, October 1
Jennifer Pulliam, program manager for the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI), answered questions in a CO.NX webchat.
Following is the transcript:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of International Information Programs
Webchat Transcript
CO.NX Chat: Safeguarding Communities; Keeping the Peace
Guest: Ms. Jennifer Pulliam
Date: October 1, 2009
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. EDT (13:30 GMT)
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): This chat has been rescheduled to October 1 at 9:30am EDT (1330 GMT). Once we receive your questions they will appear in RED on the screen.
Greg Szymanski: hello, is there anybody alive?
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): Hey Greg. I'm alive. :) Our guest Jennifer Pulliam will be live in about 40 minutes. Feel free to post your questions now.
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): More information on the GPOI program can be found at http://www.state.gov/t/pm/ppa/gpoi/. Also if you are not already a member visit the CO.NX homepage at http://co-nx.state.gov.
raheel qureshi: hi
camila: hello
camila: there is anybody there?
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): Hi Camila...Jennifer will be live in about 10 minutes.
kris: hi!
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): Jennifer will be joining us in a few minutes. Feel free to post any questions you have now.
Dada: Hello!
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): Question from Steve in Facebook: What is GPOI? What is success for the program?
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): Hi Dada. Welcome to the chat. Jennifer will be starting in a few moments.
Jennifer Pulliam: Welcome! My name is Jennifer Pulliam, and I work as a program manager for the Global Peace Operations Initiative, or GPOI. GPOI is a US program primarily designed to assist with training and equipping military units deploying to peacekeeping operations. I'm happy to answer questions you may have!
Aniksi: Hi!
Delavegas: Hi people
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): A questions from Saana in Facebook: Can you quickly explain what the program does? In what countries? Is this U.S. only or more countries?
Jennifer Pulliam: Through GPOI, we currently provide training to 56 partner countries around the world, about half of which are African countries. GPOI represents a US program but we work very closely with other countries (such as the UK and France) that conduct similar capacity building activities
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): A question from Farshid in Facebook: How long has the GPOI been in operations?
Jennifer Pulliam: GPOI was established in 2004
Adrian: Good Morning Ms. Pulliam
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): Hello everyone. I have enabled the presentation on the right so you can flip through it to learn more about the program at your leisure.
Aniksi: What does that training consists of?
Jennifer Pulliam: The training we provide through GPOI depends on the requirements and requests of the participating country but may encompass basic soldier skills relevant to peacekeeping operations, staff training for personnel who will work in mission headquarters, military observers in peacekeeping missions.
Delavegas: Is the GPOI working in collaboration with the AU?
Jennifer Pulliam: We work very closely with the AU in coordination with other international partners, providing equipment, training and advisors
Anan Odeh: hello I’m from Palestine
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): Greeting Anan...we're very glad you could join us today.
Aniksi: Equipment for these missions is what?
Jennifer Pulliam: Again, it depends on the requirements and requests of the participating country but can consist of uniforms, tents, generators, vehicles -- a wide range of items. In general, GPOI only provides non-lethal equipment in support of peacekeeping training or deployments
Adrian: Is the GPOI going to be joining forces with other countries in the future when it comes to training? Or will it remain a US initiative?
Jennifer Pulliam: GPOI is a US initiative, but we often partner with other countries. For example, through GPOI, the US and Italy have partnered to operate an international training center for stability police units that deploy to peacekeeping missions
Aniksi: What is AU?
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): Thanks the AU is the African Union. Here is more information on it. http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/index/index.htm
Anan Odeh: Maybe, but what this conversation?
musty: what are the achievements so far related to countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan?
Jennifer Pulliam: GPOI's focus is not centered on Afghanistan and Pakistan, as there are a number of other programs that support those efforts. Rather, we generally concentrate on building the capabilities of troops deploying to UN and regional (e.g., AU) peacekeeping missions
Anan Odeh: ok Good
Adrian: Thank you!
Delavegas: There are bodies in Africa such as ECOWAS, etc. Is the GPOI in consultation with these bodies?
Jennifer Pulliam: Yes, as with the African Union (AU), we work very closely with ECOWAS, providing staff training, and equipment (such as communications and information technology equipment), as well as supporting multinational peacekeeping exercises
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): Question from Julia in Facebook: Have you been to these places like Afghanistan or countries in Africa? Do you do training Ms. Jennifer?
rangga: Maybe, but what this conversation?
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): Hi Rangga. The conversation is about the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI) which is training military and police personnel to secure the peace and protect at-risk populations in a several global hotspots, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Lebanon, Somalia and Sudan’s Darfur region.
Dada: Is this a NATO based program?
Jennifer Pulliam: GPOI is not a NATO based program. It is a US-based program but, as noted earlier, we collaborate closely with other countries--some of which are NATO members--in order to coordinate our programs, ensure we aren't duplicating efforts, and work together to address peacekeeping shortfalls
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): Question from Ricky Somalia: In what form is the GPOI in Somalia?
Jennifer Pulliam: GPOI has funded training and the provision of equipment for African Union troops that are currently deployed in Somalia
Adrian: Ms. Puliam could you tell me what countries has the GPOI collaborated with in South America? Has it done any work with Colombia on trying to help them deal with the FARCS?
Jennifer Pulliam: In South America, we are working with countries such as Peru, Paraguay, and Uruguay. To date, Colombia has not participated in GPOI programs. However, there are a number of other US programs ongoing in Colombia to address security concerns there
Adrian: How is the GPOI funded and who can join it?
Jennifer Pulliam: GPOI is funded as part of the US State Department's budget. Using these funds, we provide assistance to countries that express a commitment to participating in peacekeeping operations and that request support from the US Government to facilitate this participation
Aniksi: How successful are those peacekeeping missions and how long do they last?
Jennifer Pulliam: That really depends. In many situations UN and regional peacekeeping missions have helped provide the security necessary to facilitate peace processes and enable economic development. In some cases, this may take many years.
Dada: Do you work in Kosovo?
Jennifer Pulliam: We don't conduct activities in Kosovo directly, but we have helped to train and equip troops that have deployed as part of the peacekeeping missions in Kosovo
Ali Eid: hi from Cairo What about the role of the international NGO SUCH AS PEACE GROUPS IN un peacekeeping process.
Jennifer Pulliam: NGOs play a critical role in peace processes and are particularly essential for providing humanitarian assistance and rebuilding societies post-conflict. In general, GPOI doesn't provide assistance directly to NGOs, as our program is focused on enhancing the capabilities of military peacekeepers. But our programs often do include training for military troops to help them more effectively work with NGOs in a peacekeeping environment.
sammi: How long has the GPOI been in operation?
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): Hi Sammi...GPOI was established in 2004.
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): Question from Paulina Roma in Facebook: Do you consider the program a success?
Jennifer Pulliam: We do! Among other accomplishments, we've trained nearly 87,000 troops to date, a high percentage of which have deployed to UN and regional peacekeeping missions. But there are still significant gaps in international peacekeeping capabilities, and we will continue to work hard with our partner countries to address these issues!
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): Question from Sam Kinnesy in Facebook: How many people make up the program?
Jennifer Pulliam: A lot! We have a small office here in the US State Department that manages the program funds. But we work very closely with a wide range of offices and individuals--elsewhere in State, at our embassies, in the Department of Defense, and even private sector trainers to actually implement program activities
Cairo IRC: What is the problems they faces in Africa
Jennifer Pulliam: In terms of the troops we train, primary problems are often related to resource constraints and shortfalls -- for example, often partner countries lack the equipment they need to train and deploy their troops. With respect to troops deployed to peacekeeping missions in Africa, they are often working in very difficult conditions--for example, poor infrastructure and insecure environments--that prevent them from effectively carrying out their mission
Ali Eid: the role of the peace keeping forces would increase within the 21 Century or would remain? ali
Jennifer Pulliam: Requirements to deploy peacekeepers have increased substantially since the 1990s. The UN now has about 116,000 peacekeepers deployed around the world and expects such trends to continue. So the requirement to ensure we have sufficient numbers of well-trained peacekeepers available to respond to these needs remains a priority.
Thomas: What about the salary of these troops (which devise, equal salaries, who does pay it?)?
Jennifer Pulliam: That depends on the mission. Troop contributing countries are responsible for the salaries of their troops. However, if troops are deploying to a UN mission, the UN reimburses the country for the units they provide.
Thomas: UN troops & GPOI troops are in touch, or not?
David McKeeby: Thomas: There aren't really “GPOI troops.” Under the GPOI program, the U.S. has trained and equipped nearly 87,000 troops to date, a high percentage of which have deployed to UN peacekeeping missions as well as operations undertaken by the African Union and other regional organizations. GPOI's goal is to work with our international partners to build greater international capacity to undertake peacekeeping missions to address shared security challenges from difficult post-conflict environments and help countries se the stage for recovery.
Cairo IRC: Is there a certain period of time for them to stay in every country
Jennifer Pulliam: If you are referring to US trainers, it depends on the type of training being provided to the partner country. Training courses range from a few days in length to six or eight weeks.
David McKeeby: At the UN General Assembly last week, President Obama renewed America's commitment to supporting international peacekeeping efforts. Read more about it at: http://fpc.state.gov/129575.htm
guest: also did your sylibus include the disaster management.
Jennifer Pulliam: Most training activities don't address disaster management specifically, but many of the soldier skills and the other training provided are applicable to disaster management situations
brian: With democracy, and the media coverage being of a global nature, why use force to “impose peace” get the parties together and let them share their differences, the leaders. Surely as a race mankind should ultimately evolve to use our intelligence rather than brutt force?
Jennifer Pulliam: The role of peacekeeping is not to impose peace, rather to create a secure enough environment to allow political dialogue to take place. Peacekeeping missions are only one of a range of conflict management tools that must be accompanied by a political process--as well as economic development, security sector reform, etc--to resolve a conflict.
David McKeeby: For more on GPOI, see: http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entries/training_peacekeepers/
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): Thanks for joining us today for this interesting chat. For more information on GPOI please visit their website at http://www.state.gov/t/pm/ppa/gpoi/. For future discussions please visit the CO.NX website at http://co-nx.state.gov . Thank you.
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): The chat is now closed.
(end transcript)
