UN Security Council’s Debate on “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security”

07 August, 2013

On August 6, the United Nations Security Council held an open debate the agenda item “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security”. The debate, presided over by President Kirchner of Argentina (which holds the Council’s presidency this month), aimed at further strengthening dialogue and exchange of information among regional and sub-regional organizations and the UN on issues such as conflict prevention, peaceful settlement of disputes, peacekeeping and post-conflict peacebuilding.

The meeting heard statements from around 60 speakers, including Armenia’s Permanent Representative, UN Secretary General, a number of foreign ministers, as well as representatives of the AU, the European Union, the LAS, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), the OAS and Member States

In his statement, Ambassador Garen Nazarian noted that as a member of the CSTO, Armenia welcomes the increasing close relations between the organization and the United Nations aimed at strengthening the ties and deepening the response to regional challenges and appreciates an ongoing dialogue between two organizations.

He further stated that Armenia highly values the close cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe which is an inclusive and comprehensive organization for cooperation in the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian areas. In this context, Ambassador Nazarian highlighted the importance of efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs seeking just and peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

According to Nazarian, the OSCE is the only intergovernmental regional organization having a unique experience and vast institutional memory concerning the settlement of the NK dispute and continuous negotiations within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group served as one of the major prerequisites for the maintenance of the 1994 ceasefire between the parties to the conflict without any peacekeeping forces in place.

Garen Nazarian has further noted that since May of this year by assuming the Presidency of the Council of Europe (CoE), which is a regional intergovernmental organization and a key partner of the United Nations, Armenia declared the fight against racism, discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance, fight against terrorism and human trafficking, promotion of intercultural dialogue, strengthening the rule of law and fostering democratic societies as priorities of its CoE Presidency – principles shared by both organizations (UN and CE).

In conclusion, Ambassador Nazarian called upon all stakeholders to nurture, encourage and support steps and initiatives aimed at expanding the cooperation with existing partners, and seek new opportunities for partnership arrangements with other regional organizations that are working to advance the cause of international peace and security.

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