S/PV.6306 Security Council

I wish to welcome the presence at this meeting of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria, His Excellency Mr. Michael Spindelegger. In accordance with the understanding reached in the Council’s prior consultations, I shall take it that the Security Council agrees to extend an invitation under rule 39 of its provisional rules of procedure to Baroness Catherine Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union. It is so decided. I invite Baroness Ashton to take a seat at the Council table. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. At this meeting, the Security Council will hear a briefing by Baroness Ashton. I now give the floor to Baroness Ashton. Baroness Ashton: I am grateful for the opportunity to speak to the Security Council about the growing cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union (EU) in the area of peace and security. The European Union attaches great importance to its partnership with the United Nations. A core objective of EU foreign policy is the development of an effective multilateral system with a strong United Nations at the centre. The United Nations Charter and this Security Council are the primary framework for the rules-based international system that we seek. The reasons behind the creation of the United Nations were similar to those that originally drove European integration: “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”. Today, the United Nations and the EU need to promote the ideals that inspired earlier generations — peace, justice, human rights, the whole notion that power relations among States must be subjected to the rule of law — in a new world. We share many objectives and we work closely together, at Headquarters and in the field. We are convinced that complex problems require comprehensive global solutions. We agree that we must advance the causes of security, human rights and sustainable development together; if we do not, none will succeed. It is no surprise that EU member States jointly constitute the largest contributors to the United Nations regular and peacekeeping budgets. But this partnership is about much more than money. The EU is a strong supporter of the United Nations in political and operational terms. The EU and the United Nations are working together on the ground in eight major crisis theatres in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The EU currently reports to the Security Council on three of its ongoing operations. Given the United Nations mandate in the area of peace and security and given the expansion of EU external action in recent years, it is logical that we have built a growing partnership in peace and security that has complemented our long-standing cooperation in development and humanitarian assistance. For example, in the 1990s we worked closely together to try to prevent and curtail the tragic and unnecessary wars in the Balkans. Since then, much progress has been made, but our joint work there is not yet complete. With respect to Bosnia and Herzegovina, steps remain to be taken to secure a well-functioning State. Further work is also needed in other countries of the region if they are to succeed on their path of eventual succession to the European Union, which remains our goal. In the Balkans as much as anywhere, we know that a lasting peace depends not so much on foreign intervention but on the efforts and commitment of local political leaders themselves. I am speaking before the Security Council at a special moment in the development of the European Union. The Lisbon Treaty is now in force. This is a historic step which matters to Europeans and non-Europeans alike. The Lisbon Treaty offers the opportunity to strengthen the European Union’s international impact and strategic vision through streamlined decision-making and greater policy coherence and consistency. Work is advancing on the creation of the European External Action Service, which will operate under my authority. It will integrate diplomats from the EU’s institutions and member States. It will also direct the delegations of the EU around the world, including here at the United Nations. The External Action Service will lead to more integrated policy-making and delivery by bringing together all the instruments of our global engagement — political, economic and crisis management — in support of our strategic goals. This should also make the EU a better partner of the United Nations, and I ask all United Nations Member States to support efforts to ensure that EU representatives can act efficiently within the United Nations to maximize our contribution to achieving common United Nations goals. In my short period in office as High Representative, I have established an important working relationship with the Secretary-General. We have discussed many issues that also top the agenda of the Security Council. These include piracy and the situations in Somalia and the Sudan, the Middle East peace process, and the serious concerns about Iran’s nuclear activities and its refusal to abide by several resolutions of the Security Council. We have also discussed such issues as climate change and the Millennium Development Goals that affect the wider international security landscape. The impact of climate change threatens the future of millions of people. It could worsen existing situations of fragility and insecurity and create new conflict constellations. For the Millennium Development Goals, it is important that we step up our efforts, particularly in those areas where improvements have been modest. There is a growing consensus internationally on the need to apply a comprehensive approach to crisis management and peacebuilding. The same goes for the need to take into account the evident links between security, development and human rights. Along with comprehensive approaches, we also need to ensure that our efforts are tailor-made, reflecting the precise nature of every challenge. That is true for individual conflicts, but it also applies to overarching topics such as the role of women in peace and security. This year, we mark the tenth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000), which was a milestone in making the entire international community more aware of and focused on the specific needs and concerns of women in the area of peace and security. Allow me to illustrate how the EU is contributing to the United Nations work in peace and security with some concrete examples, beginning with conflict prevention. In many crisis zones, special representatives of the Secretary-General and the EU are working hand in hand. Indeed, mediation and mediation support are now growing elements of EU- United Nations cooperation. Sometimes we act directly ourselves; at other times, we back the efforts of others. For example, in Darfur, the EU has provided support through the Trust Fund set up by the Secretary-General to facilitate the mediation efforts led jointly by the United Nations and the African Union. In the area of crisis management, civilian and military, our cooperation has developed significantly over a short period of time. In 2003, we launched Operation Artemis at the request of the United Nations and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to protect the people in Bunia in the eastern part of that country. This was the first time the EU assisted the United Nations in the area of peace and security. The Operation opened a new chapter in our cooperation and was followed later on by a backup force to support the United Nations at the time of the elections. In some places we have supplemented the United Nations, for example in Kosovo after the reconfiguration of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo. In other places, we have preceded the United Nations, for example in Chad, where our force to protect refugees from Darfur was succeeded by the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad. And in yet others we are reinforcing an ongoing United Nations operation — for example in Afghanistan, with the European Union Police Mission in that country. We are working closely with both the United Nations and regional partners, for example, our naval operation Atalanta has been combined with the training mission for the security forces in Somalia. The latter has been set up within a United Nations framework to support the Transitional Federal Government. As part of our comprehensive approach to the piracy problem, the EU Stability Instrument has been supporting the efforts of Kenya and Seychelles to prosecute piracy suspects through a programme that was developed jointly with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. One of our biggest priorities is to assist our African partners in the development of their capabilities in conflict prevention, crisis management and peacebuilding. We have created a specific financial instrument, the African Peace Facility, to underpin this work. With respect to the whole conflict cycle, special efforts are needed on peacebuilding. Too many conflicts re-emerge or linger and thus prolong the need for international engagement. In all of this, the leading role of the Security Council is evident. But I also want to mention our joint efforts in the Peacebuilding Commission. It is essential to bring together all resources to help countries succeed on the path of post-conflict recovery. The EU has expertise in these areas and is the biggest donor to all four countries on the agenda of the Peacebuilding Commission. Five years after the Commission’s creation, this is a good moment to take stock and see what could be improved. In the area of long-term stabilization and development we are working closely with the entire United Nations family. In Haiti, after the devastating earthquake, our joint actions comprised a good example of how to maximize EU-United Nations synergies. The EU responded rapidly to United Nations calls for assistance ranging from humanitarian aid to military assets. We now to need to pull together with clear plans for long-term reconstruction. The fight against impunity for the most serious crimes remains a key factor in peacebuilding and conflict prevention. That is why the EU is a staunch supporter of the International Criminal Court. Promoting the Court’s universality and bolstering the enforcement of its decisions are among the key topics for the upcoming review conference in Kampala. Before I finish, I want to underline three things: first, that the EU is strongly committed to an active partnership with the United Nations in promoting peace, protecting the vulnerable and helping people to live in safety and dignity. Secondly, this partnership has grown rapidly in recent years and has demonstrated its added value on the ground. We have achieved a good deal together, but even more work remains to be done. And thirdly, the EU’s potential will increase with the Lisbon Treaty. We should become more capable, better able to bring politics and economics together and better at combining different forms of intervention within a political strategy. As a result, I hope we shall become a stronger partner for the United Nations in the future.

I thank Baroness Ashton for her briefing. I shall now give the floor to the members of the Security Council who wish to make statements.

First, Sir, let me congratulate you on your assumption of the presidency of the Council. I thank you for organizing today’s meeting. It gives me great pleasure to welcome High Representative Catherine Ashton to her first briefing to the Council. The entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon in December brought about significant changes for the European Union (EU), and especially for its foreign and security policy. With the strengthening of the Office of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, which will be supported by the European External Action Service, the European Union will be able to speak to its partners with a stronger and more unified voice. Among those partners, the United Nations occupies a preeminent place. As stipulated by the EU Treaty, the EU’s actions on the international scene shall be guided inter alia by respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter. The challenges we are facing in the twenty-first century — resolving and preventing conflicts, combating terrorism and organized crime and preventing nuclear proliferation, to name but a few — clearly show that the United Nations cannot operate in isolation but requires cooperation and concerted action by its international partners. The Security Council recently reaffirmed the important contribution of regional and subregional organizations to the peaceful settlement of local disputes and to preventive diplomacy, in its presidential statement adopted in January under the Chinese presidency (S/PRST/2010/1). Due to their understanding of particular conflicts and the respective root causes as well as to their specific capabilities, regional organizations can have a comparative advantage in addressing crisis situations. In addition, local and regional ownership are often key to the success of such efforts. The importance of active participation by civil society has to be highlighted in this respect. In the field of international peace and security, the firm and well-established cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union remains crucial. With its Common Security and Defence Policy, the European Union makes an important contribution and has developed significant capacities for conflict prevention and conflict resolution. The European Union is currently engaged in 13 military operations and civilian missions, and Austria contributes personnel to six of them. The EU’s commitment to support the United Nations and the Security Council in its responses to threats to international peace and security is reflected in the Union’s support to all current United Nations peacekeeping operations. Concrete examples of cooperation include in the Horn of Africa, notably Somalia, where the EU is actively engaged in anti-piracy efforts to protect shipments by the World Food Programme to the Somali population. Equally, the newly established EU training mission in Uganda, aimed at supporting the Somali Transitional Federal Government by providing training to 2,000 members of the Somali security forces, is conducted through close coordination between the EU and the United Nations. In civilian crisis management as well, the EU is interested in close cooperation with the United Nations and other international actors, as in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Afghanistan and in Guinea-Bissau. When the Security Council debated the subject of cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations in January (see S/PV.6257), it agreed that increased cooperation with regional organizations also contributes towards the coherent and effective implementation of Council resolutions by the wider United Nations membership. That is certainly true of the cooperation between the Council and the European Union; the Union has a strong interest in adding to the Council’s work in many areas of mutual concern. Here, as an example of the important role the European Union is playing in translating Security Council resolutions into its own actions, I would like to point to two thematic issues: the protection of civilians in situations of armed conflict; and women and peace and security. Security Council resolution 1894 (2009), on the protection of civilians, explicitly stresses the importance of consultation and cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations to improve the protection of civilians in armed conflict. The European Union has on various occasions reiterated its firm commitment and active engagement to enhance the protection of civilians. Missions under the Common Security and Defence Policy have included important protection concerns in their mandates, in particular on women and children affected by armed conflict. The protection of civilians was the main objective of the European Union-led peacekeeping force in Chad, aimed at improving the security of refugees and internally displaced persons. Civilian Common Security and Defence Policy missions, such as the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia and the European Union Police Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, also have an important monitoring and reporting role in that regard. The European Union makes a particular contribution to sustainable peace with its expertise in the areas of the rule of law and human rights. In that regard, I welcome ongoing efforts in the European Union framework to further integrate the protection of civilians into Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations, taking into account the best practices identified by the United Nations in this area. One of the lessons learned from EU civilian and military operations is that missions become more effective through the mainstreaming of human rights and gender perspectives, both in the planning and implementation phases. To that end, in the context of our Common Security and Defence Policy, the European Union has adopted various instruments relating to the implementation of, among others, Security Council resolutions 1612 (2005), on children affected by armed conflict, and 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security. The EU is also actively supporting ongoing efforts to reinvigorate commitments on the tenth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000) in order to ensure the effective implementation of that landmark resolution. On all of those issues, better exchange and sharing of best practices and lessons learned is crucial, both between the United Nations and regional organizations as well as among regional organizations themselves. Another important example of constructive EU engagement in multilateral negotiations is the Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which has just begun. Nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and ensuring the responsible development of peaceful uses of nuclear energy in countries wishing to develop their capacities in that field represent key challenges today to which the European Union has found a common response despite the large spectrum of views of its member States. Thus, also in the sensitive field of nuclear cooperation, the European Union is making a substantive contribution. The Lisbon Treaty has simplified the international representation of the European Union. The External Action Service will help to enhance its strategic direction, coherence and effectiveness and to further improve the cooperation of the EU with international partners, and in particular with the United Nations. I hope that the visit by Baroness Ashton to the Council today will be the first in a series of regular appearances before this body.

I welcome the presence for the first time before the Security Council of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union. Her presence marks an important step in the relations between the European Union and the United Nations. I noted with a mixture of pleasure and consternation that the majority of what I have to say has already been said by Baroness Ashton — with pleasure, as this means that there truly is a European vision of international affairs, but also with consternation, because I think I am going to be repeating much of what she has said. That having been said, repeating things is somewhat a habit for us diplomats. The European Union is very much involved in the United Nations — first of all, in financial terms, as we contribute some 40 per cent of the United Nations budget, while our gross national product contribution amounts to only 30 per cent. We contribute 44 per cent of the resources of the United Nations Development Programme and some four fifths of the resources of the Peacebuilding Fund. The European Union is also strongly involved with the United Nations in managing crises. That has been the case for several years, with several military and civilian operations having been launched by the European Union under mandates from the Security Council. France, as a permanent member of the Council and a founding member of the European Union, has always supported this synergy between the European Union and the United Nations. As a result, several European Union missions are currently deployed in coordination with United Nations missions. In Afghanistan, the European Union Police Mission works on police reform with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan to stabilize that country. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the European Union mission to provide advice and assistance for security sector reform and the European Union police mission undertaken in the framework of reform of the security sector and its interface with the justice work in complement to the activities of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. And in Guinea- Bissau, the EU mission in support of security sector reform works in cooperation with the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in that country. Following the earthquake in Haiti, the European Union mobilized more than €1.2 billion, making it the top donor, and we continue to work in close coordination with United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti on the ground. In the fight against piracy off the Somali coast, the European Union mobilized with Operation Atalanta. World Food Programme ships enjoy the protection of the European Union, as do vessels providing United Nations logistical support packets to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). In Somalia, the European Union is also involved in training soldiers of the Somali Transitional Federal Government, in coordination with AMISOM. With the Lisbon Treaty, the European Union is now equipped with better tools to make its voice heard on the international stage, in particular at the United Nations. France hopes that the partnership between the United Nations and the European Union on matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security will continue and grow in strength. There are a great number of possible areas for this — through training personnel deployed in United Nations peacekeeping operations before crises occur, or strengthening African capacities to manage crises; through European Union participation in observing electoral processes — as in Burundi over the coming weeks, for example — or through working together on security sector reform, the process of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration and providing support for the Peacebuilding Commission. We are convinced that such cooperation is ever more necessary and that, today, in order to succeed, we need to mobilize all of the means at our disposal — be they political, civilian or military. In that regard, of course, the European Union has a great deal to contribute. France will spare no effort to strengthen the links between the European Union and the Organization. Sir Lyall Grant (United Kingdom): I would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of May. I would also like to join other colleagues in warmly welcoming Baroness Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to the Security Council today. Baroness Ashton’s first appearance before the Council reflects the significant changes in the external personality of the European Union, which she has just described. The European Union created Baroness Ashton’s role through the Lisbon Treaty in order to improve the coherence, focus and delivery of the European Union’s external relations. In short, the Lisbon Treaty will help the European Union become a more effective international partner for the United Nations and for other regional organizations. The European Union emerged from the shadow of conflict in the twentieth century. That experience has helped to make the European Union a force for stability and prosperity in its neighbourhood — from the Balkans and the Caucuses to the Middle East and North Africa. As a result of both history and geography, the European Union retains a deep interest in, and commitment to, Africa in particular. The European Union is now sharing its experience and improving coordination with other regional organizations, including the African Union. Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter sets out a clear framework for cooperation between the EU and the United Nations. The European Union is a natural partner for the United Nations. They share many objectives: maintaining international peace and security, tackling poverty and delivering humanitarian assistance, and addressing global threats and challenges, such as terrorism, nuclear proliferation and climate change. As Baroness Ashton has said, the European Union and its member States match their political commitment with resources, providing almost 40 per cent of the United Nations budget. The European Union is the world’s largest donor, providing almost two thirds of all development assistance. The European Union makes a major contribution to peace and security around the world. It has launched more than 20 missions, bringing European policemen, judges, peacekeepers and aid workers to three separate continents. Over 3,000 military and over 4,000 civilian personnel are currently deployed through the European Union in crisis management operations ranging from the Balkans to Africa and the Middle East. Right now, the European Union is working with the United Nations in eight major crisis theatres. In 2009, the EU and its member States provided over €400 million in funding for stabilization activities and crisis management missions. A sign of the close cooperation that exists between the European Union and the United Nations is that today, as we meet here in the Council, Under- Secretary-General Alain Le Roy is in Brussels, meeting with the EU’s Political and Security Committee. Let me give four examples of that close cooperation. First, the United Nations and the EU have worked together to bring peace and security to the Balkans since the conflicts of the 1990s. In Kosovo, the EU is taking on the lead role in supporting the development of rule of law and governance standards. The EU continues to work to help all countries of the Western Balkans to realize their aspirations to join the European Union and to finally break from the divisions of the past. Secondly, the EU is working alongside the United Nations and others to help in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to help that country make progress on the complex issues of police and army reform. Such efforts will be crucial, especially as the United Nations seeks to focus its efforts towards peacebuilding. Thirdly, the United Nations and the EU and other regional organizations are partners in Afghanistan. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has the primary responsibility for coordinating international civilian support. In that role, Staffan de Mistura works closely with Vygaudas Ušackas, head of the EU delegation, and Mark Sedwill, NATO’s senior civilian representative. In January, participants at the London Conference encouraged them to work closely together, and we are pleased that that is now a reality. Lastly, sanctions are an area where close cooperation between the EU and the United Nations is vital. As the world’s biggest economy and home to some of the most open and trade-oriented countries in the world, the European Union is central to maintaining effective sanctions regimes. The Security Council’s primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security requires us to set the strategic direction for cooperation with regional bodies. Those relationships will be of vital importance in the years ahead. There is more that we can do together, particularly in areas such as preventive diplomacy and peacebuilding. We look forward to a strengthened partnership between the United Nations and the EU, built on shared values and with a strong commitment to action in support of those values.

At the outset, Sir, I would like to congratulate you on your assumption of the presidency of the Council. I wish to thank you for organizing this meeting with Baroness Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union (EU). The European Union plays an increasingly important role in contributing to international peace and security. Thus, we greatly appreciate the opportunity to exchange views on issues of common interest. I would also like to extend a warm welcome to Baroness Ashton on her first visit to the Security Council in her new capacity and to thank her for the comprehensive presentation that she has just provided. Let me also welcome the Foreign Minister of Austria, Mr. Michael Spindelegger, who is with us today. As called for in Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter, effective cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations is of crucial significance in maintaining international peace and security. In today’s environment, comprising multifaceted and complex challenges threatening international peace and stability, the need for strong and effective partners at the regional level becomes even more acute. In that regard, the EU is certainly one of the major partners of the United Nations, supporting our shared objectives and filling an important gap. Baroness Ashton’s statement today, which touched upon a wide range of issues on which the United Nations and EU cooperate closely, is, in itself, testimony to that fact. Indeed, the scope of the EU’s cooperation with the United Nations in the field of peace and security, ranging from Africa to Latin America and Asia, is extremely broad and multidimensional. Certainly, it goes beyond peacekeeping and addresses the entire spectrum of peacekeeping, peacemaking and peacebuilding, as well as the critical linkages between those separate but inseparable processes. Thus, the EU has made valuable contributions to the work of the United Nations in the fields of conflict prevention, crisis management, mediation, humanitarian assistance, promotion of the rule of law and long-term development through the many political, economic and social instruments available to it. The unique level of integration among EU members and the breadth of the Union’s multifaceted engagement in international relations, ranging from climate change to arms control, present us with many valuable opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation. We also believe that the institutional consultation brought about with the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty will render the EU an even stronger partner of the United Nations in those fields. In that regard, as a member of the Security Council and, at the same time, as a negotiating country on its way to full membership of the EU, Turkey particularly welcomes the EU’s increasing contribution to international peace and security, as well as its keen interest in work in cooperation with the United Nations. For its part, Turkey actively participates in EU peace and security efforts. In that context, let me point out that so far, through its military, police and civilian capabilities, Turkey has contributed to EU peacekeeping efforts in Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Congo, Palestine and Kosovo. Turkey enjoys a prominent place in terms of the number of EU operations participated in and the military and civilian contribution to each area of EU cooperation. However, more important, the political dialogue between Turkey and the EU on issues related to our immediate neighbourhood and beyond has proven to be an even more valuable tool of conflict prevention and mediation, serving the interests of the entire international community. In that context, it is my sincere belief that the continued enlargement of the EU on the basis of common values and principles will also expand the space of peace, prosperity and security in an area of great importance to global stability.

Mr. President, allow me at the outset to congratulate you on your assumption of the important functions of President of the Security Council and to wish you every success in your work. We welcome Baroness Catherine Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union (EU) and thank her for her briefing today. We also listened with great interest to the statements made by the Foreign Minister of Austria and by our colleagues representing members of the European Union. My Turkish colleague, Ambassador Apakan, reminded me of the Russian proverb: “Repetition is the mother of learning”. The Russian Federation has consistently championed the multilateral development and improvement of United Nations and Security Council cooperation with regional and subregional mechanisms. Such cooperation should be based on the solid foundation of the United Nations Charter, including its Chapter VIII. As a regional mechanism, the European Union has established close and fruitful cooperation with the United Nations in a whole range of key areas, from conflict prevention, crisis settlement and humanitarian assistance to peacebuilding and promoting sustainable development. The Russian Federation also has positive experience in bilateral cooperation with the European Union. We actively cooperated in a peacekeeping operation that began under EU auspices and is now being conducted under the aegis of the United Nations in Chad and the Central African Republic. Together, we are fighting piracy off the coast of Somalia and cooperating constructively within the framework of the Quartet of mediators for a Middle East settlement and on resolving a broad range of other topical international problems. We reaffirm our interest in pursuing dialogue with the European Union on promoting the initiative of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on the elaboration of a comprehensive, legally binding treaty for European security, which would provide for the creation of a single security area for all Euro-Atlantic States. We hope that, with the creation of a single EU diplomatic service, new momentum will infuse that dialogue. We support the further development of mutually beneficial cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union. The entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty will require fine-tuning EU cooperation formats with external partners, including the United Nations. In that regard, there is a need to establish a process of transparent consultations with all Member States and regional organizations in the framework of the United Nations. In conclusion, we stress that, despite the growing need for an effective division of labour between the United Nations and regional entities, including the EU, the leading role of the Security Council in the maintenance of international peace and security, as enshrined in the United Nations Charter, remains unchanged.

I, too, would like to express my delegation’s congratulations to you, Mr. President, for assuming the presidency for the month of May. I am also grateful for your kind words addressed to the Japanese presidency for the month of April. I would like to join my colleagues in thanking the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union (EU), Baroness Catherine Ashton, for her briefing. Cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations constitutes an integral and increasingly important part of the United Nations architecture for international peace and security. As Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter envisages, the Security Council should be kept informed of the activities of regional organizations. It is in this spirit that Japan welcomes today’s briefing and the presence of Baroness Ashton in the Council. Japan congratulates the European Union on its significant achievements, in cooperation with the United Nations, in maintaining international peace and security. The complementary and mutually reinforcing role of the European Union has been most noteworthy in its peacebuilding and peacekeeping activities all over the world, from the West Balkans, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Afghanistan. The cooperation between United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo and the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo and the transition from the European Union Force to United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad are but a few examples of the close and meaningful collaboration between the EU and the United Nations. Operation Atalanta is another important contribution the EU is making. With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, Japan hopes that the foreign policy of the European Union will show even greater coherency and effectiveness under the leadership of the High Representative. A summit meeting between Japan and the European Union was held in Tokyo last month with the personal participation of the High Representative. Japan will continue to cooperate closely with the EU in such concrete areas as building capacity in the Afghan police force and supporting the Djibouti regional training centre for anti-piracy. Japan also values coordination with the EU in the areas of peacebuilding, human security, nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. In closing, we hope that the role of the EU in international peace and security will be further enhanced, as will its partnership with the United Nations.

Mr. President, at the outset I would like to congratulate you on assuming the presidency of the Security Council. I also thank the Ambassador of Japan for his work last month. I thank the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union (EU), Baroness Ashton, for her presence with us here today and for her statement concerning cooperation between the EU and the Security Council in the area of peace and security. China attaches great importance to working with regional and subregional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security. In January, the Security Council, under the Chinese presidency, organized a thematic debate on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security (see S/PV.6257), following which the Council adopted a presidential statement reaffirming the importance of and need for reciprocal cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations (S/PRST/2010/1). China highly appreciates the active role played by the EU in defending peace and security in its own region and throughout the world. We have always felt that dialogue and consultations are the best way to resolve differences and prevent and settle conflicts. The EU has great experience in the area of preventive diplomacy. Currently, some dozen special representatives of the EU are working throughout the world to find solutions to various conflicts through mediation and good offices, and we support the European Union in its efforts to continue to make its contribution in this way. We agree with Baroness Ashton that, as indicated in her statement, the African Union and African subregional organizations are currently working actively to settle conflicts in Africa through their peacekeeping missions, but that they are facing funding and capacity problems. The European Union, by participating in United Nations peacekeeping missions deployed, inter alia, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad and the Central African Republic, is also helping the African Union and countries of Africa to reinforce their capacities. We welcome these efforts and are prepared to work with the United Nations, the EU and other parties concerned to make a greater contribution to strengthening the capacity of the African Union and African subregional organizations. China attaches importance to and very much supports the constructive role played by the EU on the international stage. We are convinced that, with the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty and the deepening of the European integration process, the EU, the United Nations and the Security Council will be able to enjoy more pragmatic and effective cooperation in maintaining international peace and security.

Mr. President, I congratulate you on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of May. You can count on the support of the Brazilian delegation. I also commend Ambassador Takasu and his delegation for their work in the month of April. I would also like to thank Baroness Ashton, European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, for her briefing. I also wish to extend a warm welcome to His Excellency Mr. Michael Spindelegger, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria. It is important for the Security Council to be kept abreast of activities undertaken by regional organizations in assisting the Council to fulfil its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. As the Treaty of Lisbon launches a new phase in the institutional development of the EU, we hope it will strengthen cooperation with the United Nations and help to advance what already is a mutually beneficial partnership. We commend the European Union for promoting political dialogue and strengthening national capacities in several countries and regions, including Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. In particular, we welcome the role of the European Union in the stabilization of the Balkans, under the general framework of the relevant Security Council resolutions. My delegation attaches great importance to the work the EU undertakes in the area of peacebuilding. The European missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are playing an important role. We encourage them to continue to closely coordinate with the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other players in the reform of both the Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo and the Congolese national police. As Chair of the country-specific meeting of the Peacebuilding Commission for Guinea-Bissau, we appreciate the contribution that the European Union is making to security sector reform in that country. We wish to continue to cooperate with the EU Mission in Guinea-Bissau so as to create the conditions for successful reform.

Let me begin by congratulating you, Mr. President, and the delegation of Lebanon, for having assumed the presidency. We also commend Ambassador Takasu and the Japanese delegation for their excellent work last month. I would also like to thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this important briefing focused on United Nations/European Union (EU) cooperation. I would like to thank Baroness Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, for her informative briefing. Let me also thank the Foreign Minister of Austria for his briefing. Uganda is convinced that, given their complementary role in the maintenance of international peace and security, prioritizing the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations is the best approach. Fostering effective partnerships will improve the capacity of the United Nations to address complex challenges to peace and security in various regions of the world. We welcome the EU’s strong commitment to developing an active partnership with the United Nations. We are convinced that the EU, as well as other regional and subregional organizations, has a significant contribution to make to conflict prevention, mediation and resolution and to peacekeeping and peacebuilding. It is important to strengthen cooperation between and among regional and subregional organizations. We particularly want to commend the European Union for the support it has given the African Union (AU) in dealing with peace and security challenges on the continent. A case in point is the support given to the African Union Mission in Somalia. The partnership between the EU and the AU in support of the African Peace Facility, for instance, has been instrumental in enhancing AU peace support operations and capacity- building, especially in area of early response activities. Uganda emphasizes the need to enhance regular interaction, coordination and consultation between the United Nations Secretariat and respective regional and subregional secretariats and commissions on matters of common interest. That will enhance complementarity and minimize the duplication of efforts. In conclusion, we welcome the Security Council’s continued engagement and exchange of views with the EU and other regional and subregional organizations on practical ways to strengthen and utilize those useful partnerships. The open debates on AU/United Nations cooperation held in March and October 2009, as well as the open thematic debate on cooperation with regional and subregional organizations held on 13 January, attest to that. Uganda supports such a far-sighted approach.

I would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, on assuming the presidency of the Council. I would also like to congratulate Ambassador Takasu for his excellent work as President during the month of April. I thank High Representative Ashton very much for her briefing today. The United States shares the commitment of the European Union (EU) to multilateral diplomacy as an essential tool for addressing global challenges in our interconnected world. In accordance with the United Nations Charter, regional and subregional organizations play important roles in preventing, managing and resolving conflicts. The United States deeply appreciates the lasting contributions that the EU has made to peace and security across a wide range of issues. From conflict prevention to peacekeeping to peacebuilding, the European Union has been a critical partner of the United Nations in managing crises throughout the world. The EU has worked together with Afghanistan’s Ministry of the Interior to strengthen the rule of law, thereby contributing to international efforts to build up the capacity of Afghan institutions to withstand and defeat violent extremism. Or consider the Great Lakes region of Africa, where the EU Special Representative, in coordination with the United Nations and other international partners, has worked towards lasting solutions to numerous challenges. The European Union is also sharing its peacekeeping and peacebuilding expertise with other regional organizations. We thank the EU for committing substantial resources to furthering the African Union’s efforts to bring peace and security to the continent. The United States applauds the EU’s creation and funding of the African Peace Facility, as well as its contribution to building capacity for peace operations. We also appreciate the EU’s efforts to train Somali security forces to fight terrorism more effectively, and the EU’s strong efforts to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia. The United States is also working alongside the African Union to ensure that these investments pay dividends in the years to come. My Government is grateful for the EU’s rapid response to the earthquake in Haiti and for the EU’s role in organizing the successful donor conference held in March. The United States remains deeply committed to working with Haiti and its international partners in the country’s reconstruction and renewal. The United States also shares the EU’s commitment to taking concrete action in the area of women, peace and security, including empowering women, deepening their involvement in political processes and ending sexual violence in conflict zones, including the horrific use of rape as a weapon of war. We also welcome the EU’s leadership on other important initiatives, such as the protection of civilians, particularly vulnerable children. The United States applauds the many contributions the EU has made to peace and security and looks forward to continuing its partnership with the EU to address pressing global challenges. We encourage the continuing dialogue and deepening cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union.

I would like first of all, Sir, to congratulate you and the friendly Mission of Lebanon on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for the month of May. Let me also congratulate the Japanese Mission on its very successful presidency during the month of April. I welcome the convening of this meeting to consider the important subject of cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations. I would also like to thank Baroness Catherine Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union, for her informative briefing. We commend efforts of the European Union in the fields of peacekeeping and peacebuilding and its close cooperation with the United Nations. We warmly welcome the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria to the Security Council today. Achieving long-term stability remains a growing challenge for successful conclusion of peacekeeping missions. Although they are considered to be a necessary precondition, traditional peacekeeping activities, which provide a safe and secure environment, are not sufficient. The experience of the European Union and its activities related to State- building, security sector reform and broader efforts to promote democracy, human rights, good governance and the rule of law have proved to be very successful in many of its missions, not only in Europe but beyond. Bosnia and Herzegovina commends the peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts of the European Union throughout the world, particularly in Africa. We recognize the importance of partnership between the African Union and the European Union. In that respect we underline the significant role of the European Union missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Darfur and Somalia in contributing to peace and security in Africa. Furthermore, the European Union has comparative advantages not only in dealing with regional conflicts but also with regard to its capacity to assist in post-conflict rehabilitation and recovery. Institutions of the European Union can provide indispensable contributions to achieving necessary long-term stability and the consolidation of the social and economic systems of post-conflict societies. Here, we would like to underline the importance of the rule of law missions of the European Union, whose primary goal is to strengthen judicial and legal systems, which is one of the major preconditions for achieving political stability and security, as well as social stability. We would like to point out the fact that first European Union missions were in the region of the Western Balkans. Also, five years ago, the European Union established its presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina through its military mission, the European Union Force Althea, and its rule of law mission, the European Union Police Mission. The focus of the current military mission is on training and capacity- building. However, both missions are making a great contribution to long-term efforts for the consolidation and stabilization of the country. Bosnia and Herzegovina remains fully committed to strengthening and developing cooperation and effective partnerships between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations. We are of the view that the success of cooperation between regional organizations, including the European Union, and the United Nations relies on a common vision and common goals. Nevertheless, reaching those goals will require a flexible and systematic approach whereby coordination mechanisms ensure the optimal use of time and resources. In conclusion, we would like to stress the importance of the Lisbon Treaty, which ensures better a legal framework and institutional capacity for the timely and efficient conduct of European Union military and rule of law missions.

I wish at the outset to welcome Catherine Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union, and to thank her for the information she has shared with us. I also thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria for his statement here today. Of late, our debates have recognized that cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations is of fundamental importance to our efforts to maintain international peace and security. Similarly, timely involvement by those organizations in the peaceful settlement of disputes and in the peacebuilding process is essential to maintain medium- and long-term stability. Mexico therefore supports the work of the European Union, with its new international outreach under the Lisbon Treaty, as a strategic partner of the United Nations in promoting peace and protecting vulnerable individuals in particularly critical regional conflicts, such as those mentioned by the High Representative in her statement. We encourage the European Union to continue strengthening its strategic relationship with the United Nations in the framework of the provisions of the Charter and to redouble its efforts to provide technical cooperation in building the national and regional capacity that is needed to prevent or ease conflicts, promote and protect human rights and strengthen the rule of law. We welcome the fact that in many of its activities in this sphere, the European Union seeks to pool its efforts with those of other regional or subregional organizations and of actors on the ground. As part of its strategic association with the European Union, Mexico reaffirms its readiness to continue developing frameworks for triangular cooperation that, with imagination and goodwill, will enable us to pool our efforts and attain our shared objectives.

I join previous speakers in congratulating you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for the month of May. You may rest assured of the cooperation of the Nigerian delegation. We also appreciate the excellent work carried out by Ambassador Takasu and his team last month. We welcome the presence of the Austrian Foreign Minister and thank him for his statement to the Council. I thank you, Mr. President, for having organized this important meeting on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations, with a focus on the European Union (EU). We appreciate the presence of Baroness Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and thank her for her invaluable briefing on the EU’s contribution to the work of the United Nations. Indeed, the briefing promotes the United Nations commitment to enduring and meaningful partnership with regional and subregional organizations as emphasized in the Council’s presidential statement of 13 January (S/PRST/2010/1). We welcome the practical and concrete steps outlined by Lady Ashton to improve and formalize the EU-United Nations relationship through such instruments as the Joint Statement of EU-UN Cooperation in Crisis Management. Considering the scope of the challenges facing the United Nations, and the Security Council in particular, there is much to be gained from continually strengthening the relationship and maximizing the comparative advantages of the two organizations. By virtue of its security and defence mandate, the EU has assisted tremendously in moving the United Nations peace and security agenda forward. Its operational capacities have been deployed in several peacekeeping operations in Africa, Europe and Asia, with notable outcomes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chad and the Central African Republic. EU-United Nations cooperation has robustly enhanced global efforts to manage crises, address urban planning and strengthen the fight against all forms of discrimination. Notwithstanding the notable progress made, there is scope for improved cooperation in information exchange, in the management of crisis situations, in EU-United Nations joint decision-making and in the compilation of lessons learned. Peacebuilding is another area in which the EU’s efforts are appreciated. But they should be augmented progressively. Support for mediation efforts and other conflict-prevention tools and assisting African partners in developing their own capacities should also be areas of attention and focus. The EU and the African Union (AU) have a strong partnership and a shared commitment to intensifying regional integration. By strengthening its relationship with the AU and with individual African countries, the EU is indeed promoting the goals of the United Nations. EU-AU dialogue and cooperation have made remarkable progress in several areas, including good governance, the prevention and settlement of conflicts, food security, the environment, regional integration and trade. The dialogue is on the right path but needs to be promoted in more concrete ways. The EU’s cooperation with subregional organizations such as the Economic Community of West African States, the Southern African Development Community and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development should be deepened. It is in that context that we welcome the fourteenth ministerial meeting held in Luxembourg on 26 April in the framework of the Africa-EU dialogue. It was evident from the meeting that there continue to be significant challenges on peace and security issues in Africa that require closer cooperation between the EU and the AU — mostly in promoting support for the African Union Peace and Security Architecture. The Joint Africa-EU Strategy and the general options for the Action Plan for the period 2011 to 2013 also need enhanced implementation measures. Joint action and cooperation could also enhance and promote the AU peace and post-conflict reconstruction strategies in the areas of energy and infrastructure, climate change, the Millennium Development Goals, agriculture and food security and the economic and financial crisis. The EU could also consider an incremental buy-in into the United Nations Framework for the Ten-Year Capacity-Building Programme for the African Union.

Allow me, Sir, to express to and your delegation you my delegation’s congratulations on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of May. I assure you of my delegation’s cooperation. I would also like to thank the delegation of Japan for the able way in which it guided the Council’s work in the month of April. Like other delegations before me, I too would like to thank Baroness Ashton for her briefing. I am sure that members of the Council will agree with me that her statement is in line with the strengthened cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations envisaged in Chapter VIII of the Charter. Such cooperation is needed in the face of increasing and more complex challenges, particularly in promoting international peace and security. In that regard, my delegation duly appreciates the commendable contribution of the European Union to restoring peace in the Balkans, as well as in Chad in the context of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad. European Union efforts in Somalia are helping to strengthen the capacities of Somali forces. Likewise, the European Union is assisting the African Union Mission in Somalia in its efforts to restore peace and stability in that country. In addition, the European Union is working off the coast of Somalia to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden. We are certain that, with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, the role and activities of the European Union will only be strengthened to create more dynamic and practical partnerships with the United Nations. We also hope that the European Union will strengthen its cooperation with other regional organizations, including the African Union, so as to allow them to benefit from its broad and comprehensive experience in the areas of peacekeeping, peacebuilding and conflict prevention.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Lebanon. At the outset, I welcome Baroness Catherine Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union. I would also like to express my gratitude to His Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria. More than half a century ago, the framers of the Charter of the United Nations devoted a chapter to regional organizations: Chapter VIII enshrines their firm commitment to the complementary role that such organizations can play together with the United Nations in the maintenance of international peace and security. Today, in an era of strengthened multilateral diplomacy and greater openness between countries, when geographic groupings are increasingly prominent, regional organizations such as the European Union have demonstrated their effectiveness as full- fledged partners of the United Nations in an array of activities, including in the maintenance of international peace and security. That success is due to the fact that the purposes of those organizations are in line with those of the United Nations: promoting peace, respect for human rights, economic and social development and the rule of law. Article 10A of the Treaty of Lisbon affirms the conviction and commitment of the European Union’s 27 member States to those very noble ideals. Lebanon welcomes past and present efforts by the European Union to maintain and build peace. I should also like to mention the European Union’s clear impact on the resolution of many conflicts in Africa, in Asia and in the Balkans, through providing the United Nations with resources it needs to carry out its mission. Lebanon calls on the European Union to continue to play a significant role on the international stage. Following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, Lebanon urges the European Union to prioritize in its foreign policy the promotion of just and lasting peace in the Middle East by putting an end to the violations of international humanitarian law and international law there, in particular given its membership of the Quartet responsible for establishing peace and security in the Middle East. Lebanon also encourages the European Union to continue to cooperate with other regional organizations, to exchange experiences and information, to share lessons learned and to strengthen and expand human resources and capacities, including those of the League of Arab States and the African Union, which could contribute significantly to the maintenance of peace and security in Africa and throughout the Arab world. Lebanon welcomes the ongoing cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and regional organizations, which are of great importance politically and practically. Such organizations can play a role before conflicts erupt through preventive diplomacy, during conflicts to mitigate their impact and contain them until they are settled peacefully, and in post-conflict situations by contributing to reconstruction and peacebuilding efforts. In conclusion, Lebanon wishes every possible success to Baroness Ashton in her new post following the creation of an institutional framework reaffirming the role of European policy on the global stage. I now resume my functions as President of the Security Council. I give the floor to Baroness Ashton to respond to the questions and comments raised. Baroness Ashton: All that remains for me to do is to thank you, Sir, for presiding over this meeting and the members of the Security Council for their positive comments and recognition of the role of the European Union. I might also say that I recognize that the Lisbon Treaty provides us with a real opportunity to develop a more coherent and effective strategy for Europe. Listening to all the comments that were made, I think that the agenda is well set for the future of the post-Lisbon Treaty world and especially for myself. We very much look forward to continuing the strong partnership with the United Nations into the future.

There are no further speakers inscribed on my list. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.