Stronger regional partnerships can help UN promote global stability, Ban tells Security Council

“Brutal wars raging across the Middle East and beyond continue to take lives, displace millions and wreck economies,” Ban told the Security Council's open debate on cooperation between UN and regional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security on Friday.

The UN chief also drew attention to targeting of hospitals, schools and humanitarian convoys and said the he is “especially alarmed that a wide variety of armed actors are taking advantage of modern technology and globalization to wreak havoc on a horrific scale.” He also drew attention to rising ethnic and sectarian tension within conflicts, and growing xenophobic, nativist and protectionist policies and sentiments in other parts of the world.

“These challenges transcend national borders and demand a collective response by the international community,” he added.

Noting the UN has risen to the moment by undertaking a series of Organizational reviews, all of which emphasized the urgent need to prioritize conflict prevention – in a collective manner that draws on regional and global partnerships.

Moreover, in line with Chapter VIII – relating to the regional arrangements – of the UN Charter, the Ban said the Organization is working to intensify its interactions with regional and sub-regional organizations.

While touching on a number of key regional issues, Ban turned to the organizations that were the main focus of the Council meeting, noting that Central Asia is the region where the UN has its closest contact with the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

“These organizations regularly exchange information with the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia on terrorism, violent extremism, drug trafficking and other issues of shared interest and concern,” he explained, adding that his Special Representative for Central Asia and the Head of the UN Regional Centre, Petko Draganov, regularly meets with the organizations' leaders to discuss shared priorities and the latest developments.

Further highlighting the value of cooperation with these and other regional organizations, with which the UN has much in common but may differ in resources, capabilities or mandates, the Secretary-General stressed the importance of deepening strategic dialogue, forging common approaches to emerging crises, as well as to improve collective responses to peace and security threats.

“In that way, we can make the most of our respective strengths,” he said.

The UN chief also noted the work of the various entities of UN system in cooperation with regional organizations in areas such as counter-terrorism, addressing drugs and crime, peacekeeping, as well as measures for building confidence and promoting stability.

“Let us use this valuable Security Council meeting to advance our partnerships for the sake of the peoples of these regions and our world,” the Secretary-General concluded.

UN Photo/Evan Schneider

Source: www.justearthnews.com