Regional organizations complement work of UN worldwide, Ban Ki-moon says

Highlighting the role of regional organizations in preventing conflict, peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said that the United Nations is committed to building up their capacity to meet global challenges.

Addressing a Security Council debate on the role of regional and sub-regional organizations in maintaining international peace and security, Mr. Ban said the UN’s partnerships with such groups are “stronger and more active than ever.”

In the past year, the UN has demonstrated its commitment to cooperating with regional organizations, he pointed out.

The world body has established a joint peacekeeping force and held political mediations for the war-ravaged Darfur region of Sudan with the African Union (AU), while it has worked closely with the European Union (EU) to protect civilians in neighbouring Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR).

Also this year, the UN has also worked with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regarding Myanmar; collaborated with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to support elections in that region; partnered with the Organization of American States (OAS) to provide assistance to Haiti during its elections; and regularly consulted with the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and League of Arab States.

This kind of cooperation, Mr. Ban said at the debate, which also heard from dozens of speakers including representatives of regional organizations, is “delivering results on the ground as well as lessons for the future,” and also provides “a better understanding of our respective strengths and advantages.”

Additionally, working with regional and sub-regional organizations allows for a more prompt response at the start of a crisis and for more effective post-conflict peacebuilding efforts, he said.

“We need to build on these strengths together, find better and more efficient ways of tackling global challenges,” the Secretary-General said, pledging the UN’s support to bolster the organizations’ capacities to achieve sustainable peace in their respective regions.

The need for further collaboration between the UN and regional and sub-regional organizations was reiterated in a presidential statement read out by Hassan Wirajuda, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, which holds the Council’s rotating presidency this month.

Recognizing the “growing contribution” made by these organizations, the statement said that they are “well positioned to understand the root causes of many conflicts and other security challenges close to home and to influence their prevention or resolution, owing to their knowledge of the region.”

The Council also encouraged regional and sub-regional organizations to bolster cooperation among them, and emphasized the role they could play in curbing illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, as well as counter-terrorism efforts.