Conclusions

• The Clinton Administration retains a sympathetic view of the usefulness of the UN to the United States, and on multilateral peacekeeping as an important foreign policy instrument in the post-Cold War world;

• Presidential Decision Directive 25 on "Reforming Multilateral Peace Operations" specifically notes a potential role for regional organizations, generally in support of or with the blessing of the UN.

• Other governments and the UN Secretary-General hold similar views, and some regional organizations have become increasingly engaged in crisis management in the past few years.

• However, the United Nations and regional organizations have limited capability for managing threats to international peace and security, and the experience to date has been very mixed.

• The mismatch between the crisis management capability of the UN and regional organizations and the potential role they might play in managing threats to international peace and security indicates scope for further reform of these multinational organizations.