Kyrgyzstan Crisis Shows Value of United Nations Cooperation with Regional Bodies,

 

Secretary-General Tells Ministerial Meeting on Security in Europe

 

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message to the Informal Ministerial Meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), held in Almaty on 16-17 July, delivered by Ján Kubiš, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE):

I am pleased to convey greetings to this Informal Ministerial Meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.  I thank the Government of Kazakhstan, and in particular Foreign Minister [Kanat] Saudabayev, for convening this important gathering and for your contribution to regional cooperation through Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship-in-Office.

Your leadership and decisive action have been essential in coordinating the international response to the recent, deeply troubling events in Kyrgyzstan.  Our organizations have worked closely together, especially through the joint efforts of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office’s Special Envoy and the UN Special Representative.

This high level of cooperation and interaction, which also included the European Union, Commonwealth of Independent States, Collective Security Treaty Organization, Shanghai Cooperation Organization and others, has been an important factor in mobilizing humanitarian assistance, providing for early recovery and supporting the democratic process, including the referendum of 27 June.

The United Nations will continue its work in these areas, while monitoring the situation closely to assist the Government of Kyrgyzstan in preventing any further bloodshed.  Our further collective efforts are essential to contributing to an environment of safety and confidence, conducive to reconciliation and rebuilding.

The crisis in Kyrgyzstan has once again illustrated the value of close cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and regional organizations.  In my briefing to the Permanent Council of OSCE in April, I suggested five practical areas for stronger, broader and deeper cooperation between our two organizations: disarmament and non-proliferation, securing peace, elections, environment and development, and human rights.

All five areas are interlinked and are vital for international peace and security, since in most cases, a mix of political, economic and social issues are at the root of unrest.  Our cooperation in the Balkans and elsewhere has further demonstrated that peace and security, justice, accountability and human rights have to go hand in hand.  Thus, it is with particular interest that I follow OSCE’s current review of its comprehensive security concept under the Corfu Process.

At the United Nations, we continue strengthening our conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peacebuilding capacities to become even more responsive and effective partners of regional organizations.

In April, I also highlighted the need for our respective secretariats to exchange information more frequently and to continue expanding working-level contacts for more effective results on the ground.  Over the past three months, our teams have responded with direct and swift action.

Let us continue along this promising path.  And let us never forget our common raison d’être: to create and sustain security, prosperity and better lives for all.  In that spirit, I pledge my full support and wish you all the best for a productive meeting.

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For information media • not an official record