S/PV.3166 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consjderation of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Following consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: "1 , The Security Council has continued its examination of the Secretary-General's report entitled 'An Agenda for Peace' (S/24111). "2 , The Security Council notes with appreciation the views of the Secretary-General, as presented in paragraphs 63, 64 and 65 of his report, concerning cooperation with regional arrangements and organisations. "3 . Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the United Nations Charter, the pertinent activities of the General Assembly and the challenges to international peace and security in the new phase of international relations, the Security Council attaches great importance to the role of regional arrangements and organisations, and recognizes the need to caordinate their efforts with those of the United Nations in the maintenance of international peace and security. "4 . While reaffirming its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security and being aware of the variety of mandate, scope and composition of regional arrangements and organizations, the Security Council encourages and, where appropriate, supports such regional efforts as undertaken by regional arrangements and ,' organizations within their respective areas of competence in accordance , * \ with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. "5 . The Security Council therefore invites, within the framework of Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter, regional arrangements and . organisations to study, on a priority basis, the following: ‘Iways and means to strengthen their functions to maintain international peace and security within their areas of competence, paying due regard to the characteristics of their respective regions. Taking into account the matters of which the Security Council has been seized and in accordance with the United Nations Charter, they might consider, in particular, preventive diplomacy including fact-finding, confidence-building, good offices and peace-building and, where appropriate, peace-keeping; " - ways and means to further improve coordination of their efforts with those of the United Nations. Being aware of the variety of mandate, scope and composition of the regional arrangements and organisations, the Council stresses that the forms of interaction of these arrangements and organizations with the United Nations should be flexible and adequate to each specific situation. These may include, in particular, exchange of information and consultations, with a view to enhancing the United Nations capability including monitoring and early warning, with the Secretary-General or, where appropriate, ,his Special Representative, participating as observers in the sessions and the work of the General AssembLy, .secondment of officials to the United Nations Secretariat, making.timely and specific requests for United Nations involvement, and a. readiness to provide -necessary resources. ~. I "6. The Security Council requests the Secretary-General: ati to transmjt this statement to those regional arrangements and organizations which have received a standing invitation to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly as observers, and to -other regional arrangements and organisations, with a view,to promoting the aforementioned studies and encouraging the replies to the United Nations; I'- to'submit as,soon as possible and preferably by the end of April 1993 to the Security Council a report concerning the replies from the regional arrangements and organizations. "6 Q&i The Security Council invites the States which are members of regional arrangements and organizations to play a constructive role in the consideration by their respective regional arrangements or organizations of ways and means to improve coordination with the United Nations. "7. In discharging its responsibilities, the,Security Council will take into account the'said replies as well as the specific nature of the issue and the characteristics of the region concerned. The Council considers it important to establish such forms of cooperation between the United Nations and the regional arrangements, and organizations, in the area of maintaining peace and security, that are appropriate to each specific situation. "8. The Security Council, noting the constructive relationship it has maintained with&the Arab League, the EC, the OIC, the OAS,and the OAU, supports the intention of the Secretary-General as described in paragraph 27 of his report to ask regional arrangements and organizations that have not yet sought observer status'at the United Nations to do so. “9. The Security Council notes the importance of the understanding reached at the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe to consider the CSCE a regional arrangement in the sense of Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter and of the further examination within the framework of the CSCE of the practical implications of this understanding. The Council welcomes the role of the CSCE, together with the European Community, in the implementation of action required to carry out the pertinent resolutions of the Council. "10. The Security Council intends to continue its consideration of the Secretary-General's report, as indicated in the President's statement of 29 October 1992 (S/24728)." The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The meeting rose at 4.20 P.m.