Security Council Press Statement on United Nations Regional Centre

 

for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia

 

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Mohammad Masood Khan ( Pakistan):

The members of the Security Council welcomed the briefing by Miroslav Jenca, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, on the work of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) over the past six months.

The members of the Security Council stressed the need for further cooperation and coordination between the Governments of the region, the Regional Centre, and regional organizations to strengthen the region’s capacity to overcome the challenges to peace, stability and sustainable development in Central Asia.

The members of the Security Council appreciated the work of the Regional Centre, which marked the fifth anniversary of its inauguration in December 2012, as an example of preventive diplomacy mechanisms available to the United Nations which contributed to strengthening peace and stability in the region, fostering good neighbourly relations and cooperation, and assisted Central Asian States, in accordance with its mandate and through regional cooperation, to respond to domestic and transnational threats to peace and sustainable development of the region.

The members of the Security Council commended the specific focus in the Centre’s activities on the impact of transboundary threats facing the region, implications of national developments on regional stability and the management of water and energy resources and environmental degradation, and the benefits of increased counter-terrorism cooperation.  In this regard, they appreciated the successful facilitation by the Regional Centre of the implementation in Central Asia of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

The members of the Security Council welcomed the role of the Regional Centre in facilitating assistance by Central Asian States to normalizing the situation in Afghanistan as it moves from transition to transformation, which affects the situation in Central Asia and fostering broader regional integration and cooperation as a tool to boost stability and sustainable development in the region.

The members of the Security Council stressed that the Regional Centre over the past five years has become a recognized partner in the region and worked to help the countries of Central Asia identify and develop mutually acceptable solutions to existing and emerging problems.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their support to the efforts of the Regional Centre to facilitate dialogue and assist the Governments of Central Asia on regional issues of their common concern.

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For information media • not an official record