Joint Statement by Secretary-General of United Nations, Secretary General of Collective Security Treaty Organization

The following joint statement by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Stanislav V. Zas, Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, was issued today:

The Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization welcome the steady progress and positive dynamic in the strengthening of relations between the secretariats of the two Organizations in the 10 years since the signing of a Joint Declaration on Cooperation.  They note in particular the importance of cooperation, in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, to advance global and regional peace and security.

Since the signing of the Joint Declaration in March 2010, cooperation between the two organizations has been enhanced by Memoranda of Understanding and Protocols on Cooperation between the secretariat of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and United Nations entities, such as the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Department of Peace Operations.  Biennial resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly welcome and note with appreciation this relationship.

As the international community commemorates the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations, the Secretaries-General reiterate their strong commitment to the Joint Declaration and their intention to further enhance the scope of cooperation at all levels, including in key areas, such as early warning, conflict prevention and resolution, peacekeeping, preventing and countering terrorism, the fight against international crime and illicit arms trafficking, disaster preparedness and response, and information-sharing.