principles: aclearmandate; theconsistent support oftheSecurity Council; the co-operation oftheparties inconflict; thereadiness ofMemberStatestomake available personnel andresources; ageographically balanced composition; an effective andintegrated UnitedNations command; andadequate financial and logistical support. 1.13Peace-keeping operations havedemonstrated theirworthincontributing tothe maintenance ofinternational peaceandsecurity. Suchoperations arecurrently in existence inseveral areasoftheworld. Thefirstobjective ofthesubprogramme willbetodirectexisting operations. 1.14Thesecond9bjective ofthesubprogramme willbetoenhance thecapacity and effectiveness oftheUnitedNations inconducting peace-keeping operations. Following therecentincrease inthenumberofpeace-keeping operations andof -4- Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Librarypotenti.al newmissions underactiveconsideration, thecapabilities ofthe Organization toconceive, plan,direct, execute andadminister suchoperations ata timewhenretrenchments havetakenplacehavebeenseverely taxed. Atits forty-fourth session, theGeneral Assembly, acting ontherecommendations ofthe Special Committee onPeace-keeping Operations, adopted anumberofdecisions aimed atimproving theability oftheOrganization tomeetthoseincreased demands andat facilitating support ofthoseoperations byMemberStates. 1.15Aspartofthisprocess, theSecretary-General, inJanuary 1990,established theSeniorPlanning andMonitoring GroupforPeace-keeping Operations, which consists ofseniorstaffconcerned withdifferent aspects ofsuchoperations. The Groupischaired bytheSecretary-General, orinhisabsence bythe Under-Secretary-General forSpecial Political Affairs, andadvises the Secretary-General onpeace-keeping andrelated matters, including preparation of contingency plansforpossible newpeace-keeping operations andrelatedactivities; monitoring oftheconduct ofexisting peace-keeping operations andrelated activities; andreviewoftheorganizational structure withintheSecretariat that dealswithmatters related topeace-keeping operations. Italsoadvises the Secretary-General 'onbudgetformulation andthemonitoring andcontrol ofregular budget andextrabudgetary fundsrelated topeace-keeping activities. (b)CourseofactionbytheSecretariat 1.16Inimplementing thesubprogramme, theSecretary-General, assisted particulariy bytheOfficeforSpecial Political Affairs, viIIundertake the following activities: (a)Toprepare for,setupanddirectpeace-keeping operations; (b)Tomaintain liaison withMemberStatesconcerning participation insuch operations; (c)Toensureco-ordination amongthedepartments involved andsubmitreports totheSecurity Council andtheGeneral Assembly. SUBPROGRAMME 3•.RESEARCH ANDTHECOLLECTION OFINFORMATION (a)Objectives 1.17Thelegislative mandate forthesubprogramme derives fromArticles 98and99 oftheCharter andGeneral Assembly resolutions 41/70,41/213 and44/164. 1.18MemberStates havestressed thattheUnitedNations, throughitsrelevant organs, shoulddealinatimely andurgent mannervithpotential oractualthreats tothepeaceorwithacutehumanitarian situations. Thisrequires areliable and well-organized systemforcollecting, analysing anddisseminating information for earlywarning ofpotential conflict areaswheretheUnitedNations couldbeof assistance inresolving disputes bypeaceful means. 1.19Theobjectives ofthesubprogramme are: (a)Toensurethatthepertinent UnitedNations organsareprovided with information thatcanassistintheconsideration ofthemostappropriate mannerof -5- Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Libraryresponding toimpending oractualsituations thathaveorarelikelytohave repercussions onthemaintenance ofinternational peaceandsecurity; (b)ToensurethattheSecretary-General iskeptfullyinformed of international situations andtrendsinordertofacilitate thedischarge ofhis responsibilities. (b)CourseofactionoftheSecretariat 1.20Inimplementing thesubprogramme, theOfficeforResearch andtheCollection ofInformation willundertake thefollowing activities: (a)Providing earlywarning ofdeveloping situations requiring theattention oftheSecretary-General; (b)Collecting, consolidating andarranging timelydistribution ofpolitical
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the United Nations' efforts to maintain international peace and security, with a focus on peacekeeping operations and the collection of information to prevent conflicts. The language used is formal and bureaucratic, suggesting that the text is a report or document from a UN agency.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, International relations