Building Regional Partnership in Afghanistan, Central Asia among Signature Items of January, Speakers Underline at Security Council ‘Wrap-Up’ Meeting

A ministerial debate on building regional partnership in Afghanistan and Central Asia was among the signature events of a January packed with meetings and discussions, Security Council President Kairat Umarov (Kazakhstan) told members during an end-of-month “wrap-up” meeting today.

“Central Asia is represented on the Security Council for the first time in the history of the United Nations,” he said, describing efforts to balance the organ’s global agenda with priorities in the region.  Through a comprehensive approach to conflict prevention, his delegation sought to foster new dynamism, pursuing a strategy to strengthen:  the security-development nexus; a regional approach to transnational threats faced by countries in conflict; and streamlining United Nations effectiveness.

Mahlet Hailu Guadey (Ethiopia), also speaking on behalf of Côte D'Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea, said the Council’s recent visit to Kabul allowed members to better understand regional dynamics.  She described other the notable meetings on enhanced coordination among the United Nations, African Union, International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, Southern African Development Community (SADC) in support of the 31 December 2016 political agreement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as the briefing on the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), and related presidential statement, in support of national and local actors.

Amy Noel Tachco (United States) welcomed the emphasis on promoting peace in Afghanistan, and potential partnerships between the Government and the region, stressing that that country was a top United States priority.  Discussions on the Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, and press statement supporting the work of its Head, Natalia Gherman, marked “the first time we have come to consensus on that topic in several years”, she said.

Gustavo Meza-Cuadra (Peru) agreed on the need act more constructively to prevent conflict.  Meeting today’s challenges must include bolstering multilateralism, respect for the rule of law and compliance with United Nations Charter, especially its Chapter VI.  It was important for the Council to be more coordinated in tackling new challenges, and to maintain unity.  While the 15-member organ had stood together in support of the peace process in Afghanistan, it struggled to reach consensus on the issue of impunity related to chemical weapons use in Syria.

Olof Skoog (Sweden) welcomed the timely briefing on non-proliferation, and in particular, the role of confidence-building measures.  The Council had an important role to play in advancing those issues, as well as standing united to ensure perpetrators were held to account.  He applauded efforts to ensure the Council communicated clear messages after most closed consultations, which not only increased transparency, but allowed members to summarize the most salient points of discussions.

Samer Melki (France) welcomed the 9 January meeting on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and adoption of the press statement, which recalled the importance of the Saint-Sylvestre agreement, respect of electoral timeline and participation of all in respect of fundamental rights.  “This was very important for the partners of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”  At the 23 January meeting on Mali, the Council sent a unanimous message of impatience on the implementation of peace agreements, while the renewal of sanctions on the Central African Republic on 30 January was another sign of its attention to the need for sustainable peace.

Lise Huberta Johanna Gregoire Van Haaren (Netherlands) said the Council’s continued support to Afghanistan was evident, as just this week it issued three press statements on terrorist attacks, events which only strengthened its resolve to stand with the Afghan people.  On Syria, the Council considered a draft resolution to establish a new mechanism to investigate chemical weapons use in that country.  The fundamental characteristic of any accountability mechanism was the principle of impartiality and independence.  “These are still missing in the proposal presented,” she said.

Alexander A. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) said non-proliferation required a quest to overcome disagreement, especially when considering new mechanisms.  On cooperation in Central Asia and Afghanistan, he expressed hope that the positive experience of the “Moscow format” would be taken into account, adding that external players must not try to drag regional countries into a game or present false choices.  It was important to find mutual understanding, and discussions must continue in the broader format of the General Assembly.  He also welcomed that the Council agreed on a press statement on the Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia for the first time in three years.

Zhang Dianbin (China) said the Council’s visit to Kabul, along with the 19 January ministerial meeting on Afghanistan and Central Asia, allowed members explore ways to resolve Afghan issues from a regional perspective.  The open debate on the question of Palestine underscored the urgency of resolving the issues and sent a clear message on the need to resume peace talks.

Joanna Wronecka (Poland) cited January’s two high-level events, along with the Council’s visit to Afghanistan, noting that the press statement on the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia was the first since 2015.  The presidential statement on UNOWAS would be useful tool for maintaining stability in that region.  She underscored the need to maintain unity, stressing:  “We will need this level of unity in the upcoming months.”

Sacha Sergio Llorentty Solíz (Bolivia) stressed that cooperation between Afghanistan and Central Asia was vital for creating stability, as well as fighting terrorism and transnational organized crime, citing four recent terrorist attacks in that country.  He also highlighted United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and work to support the political process.

Stephen Hickey (United Kingdom) said the Council must make the consequences for those violating the cessation of hostilities in South Sudan and undermining the revitalization forum.  He called for an arms embargo equally on all parties.  In Syria, while the Council had agreed to set aside differences on the political situation to tackle humanitarian issues, “we haven’t seen any progress.  Neither have the people in eastern Ghouta,” where children awaited the regime’s approval for medical evacuation.  The Council must express itself clearly on the matter.

Mansour Ayyad Sh. A. Alotaibi (Kuwait) said his country and Sweden, as co-penholders on the humanitarian situation in Syria, were ready to take the lead in reaching a unified Council position on expanding assistance to reach Idlib, eastern Ghouta and Aleppo, and providing civilian protection.  As Chair of the Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions, and as Council President for February, Kuwait would hold an open debate on increasing transparency and performance.