S/PV.6477 Security Council

I thank Baroness Ashton for her briefing. I now give the floor to the members of the Council.

I thank Baroness Ashton for her briefing. I welcome this second visit of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union, which attests to the importance of European Union engagement within the United Nations. I need not recall that the European Union has long been a prime political mover — a reality that the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty has strengthened further. The European Union — the largest contributor to the United Nations budget, responsible for some 40 per cent — undertakes decisive action in pursuit of the Charter objective to ensure international peace and security. Having brought peace to the old continent, which was a source of numerous conflicts, the European Union plays its full role in managing crises around the world. On the one hand, it has launched many civilian and military operations, mandated by the Security Council. Without going into exhaustive detail, I cite by way of example the support of the European Union and its member States for such varied operations as those in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on land and at sea in Somalia, and in Kosovo. Moreover, in the case of serious humanitarian crises or natural disasters, the European Union plays a decisive role in emergency assistance and reconstruction. In Haiti, for instance, we offered our expertise and committed more than €1.5 billion, making the European Union once again the largest donor. The European Union is also involved in the resolution of major international crises. From that perspective, I thank the High Representative for her very useful and enlightening comments today on the meeting of the Middle East Quartet that she chaired. That meeting, she told us, was just a first step; it should augur a change in the political software used by the international community to advance towards a negotiated final settlement of the dispute, the parameters of which are familiar to us all and which we know the two parties are incapable of achieving by themselves. Phased approaches have proven to be paths to nowhere, and we must therefore move on to a final settlement. We hope that the Quartet will play a key role in that regard. I should also like to revert to the Iranian nuclear issue, in which the European Union is represented by the E3+3 in negotiations to ensure that Iran honours its international obligations, especially with regard to the Security Council. As has been recalled, at the Istanbul summit the six reaffirmed their unity and steadfastness, while the Iranians insisted on new conditions in pursuing the same dilatory tactics they have used for the past six years. With regard to another priority international portfolio — counter-terrorism — on 31 January Baroness Ashton was asked by the Council on Foreign Relations to develop a European Union strategy for the Sahel, which we hope will be adopted as soon as possible. Its goal is to combat the links between Al- Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb and drug trafficking channels in West Africa. This is clearly a subject of great interest to both the European Union and the Security Council. Lastly, the European Union is an essential partner in preventing conflict and building peace. As Baroness Ashton has mentioned, the Brazilian presidency will in a few days organize a Security Council debate on the interdependence between security and development. In that regard, it is worth recalling that the European Union is the main provider of official development assistance, contributing more than 60 per cent of the assistance provided by member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development — that is, about €50 billion annually. The European Union’s participation in this debate therefore has particular relevance. Beyond financial assistance, however, I should like to refer to the efforts of the European Union in the areas of good governance, respect for human rights and gender equality. As the European Council affirmed on 4 February, the European Union is determined to provide its unreserved support for political transition and to support reforms in the southern Mediterranean. European heads of State have entrusted the High Representative with a mission in that regard. Of course, much remains to be done. However, as Robert Schuman said in his speech of 9 May 1950, Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity. That is equally true when it comes to foreign policy. The time has come to say and to demonstrate that the European Union is not some super non-governmental organization or purveyor of assistance. It has values and projects power. You can therefore count on France’s determination, Madam President, as a permanent member of the Security Council and as a founding member of the European Union, to ensure that that EU assumes its share of responsibility in building a world of peace, stability and prosperity, in line with the objectives of the Charter of the United Nations.

At the outset, allow me to express our appreciation to Baroness Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, for her cross-cutting briefing on the engagements of the European Union (EU) and its relations with the United Nations. A new phase in the EU’s history started more than a year ago with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon. The Treaty provides the European Union with tools to strengthen and simplify its international representation. During the past year, the European External Action Service was created under the able leadership of Lady Ashton. The Service should reach its full potential in 2011, resulting in the EU’s increased aptitude for maintaining international peace and security, combating poverty and providing humanitarian assistance, to mention some of the significant areas of the EU’s activities. Challenges and risks to international peace and security require a multidimensional and multilateral response. It is therefore commendable that the European Union and the United Nations are jointly addressing major global crises in the Middle East, the Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad and Haiti. The European Union and the United Nations share a strong commitment to peace consolidation, the rule of law and socio-economic development in post-conflict societies. Hence tangible results have been achieved in those areas. However, we believe that there is always room for improvement in the multidimensional approach to which I have referred. Bosnia and Herzegovina has had rather intensive cooperation and interaction with a variety of actors in the international community in its recent history. One of the lessons learned during the international engagement in our country was that all actors of the international community — civilian, military, economic and political — should speak with one voice. The Security Council presidential statement issued under the symbol S/PRST/2011/2 underscores that more coherent and coordinated actions represent an essential precondition for the success of every mission undertaken by international community actors — whether the United Nations or the EU or UNHCR, the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme or the International Organization of la Francophonie. Bosnia and Herzegovina therefore strongly encourages the European Union to be more vocal in the United Nations, with a view to establishing adequate coordination mechanisms for better coherence and efficiency of EU and United Nations military and civilian operations. The role of the EU is especially important when it comes to the issue of sharing experiences and improving coordination with other regional and subregional organizations, especially with the African Union. Finally, as a member of the Security Council and potential candidate for EU membership, Bosnia and Herzegovina remains fully committed to bolstering and developing cooperation and effective partnerships between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations, including the European Union.

I thank you for convening this meeting, Madam President. I also welcome the statement of the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. One of the main objectives of the Lisbon Treaty is to enhance the European Union’s international role. One year after its entry into force, important steps have already been taken in order to give the Union a stronger and more unified voice and capacity to act, as High Representative Ashton has just underlined. Given the importance of the cooperation between the European Union (EU) and the United Nations, as partners with shared values and objectives, we believe that strengthening the EU’s foreign policy will also contribute to reinforcing an effective multilateral system with the United Nations at its centre. The challenges of the twenty first century demand the concerted action of global, regional and subregional actors. With its specific tools in the fields of security, crisis management, development and the environment, among other areas, the EU is in a singular position to support the United Nations in responding to the multidimensional challenges to peace and security. As has already been mentioned, the European Union and its member States jointly make the largest financial contribution to the United Nations system. The EU plays a central role in peace-making, peacekeeping and peacebuilding and works with the United Nations to prevent conflicts, manage crises and build sustainable peace. There are several good examples where the cooperation between the two organizations is taking place or can be further developed, be it in the Balkans, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Somalia or the Sudan. Allow me now to address some of the issues mentioned by the High Representative in Africa and Middle East. In the Sudan, the conclusion of a timely and peaceful referendum is a historic accomplishment and a milestone, not only in terms of underlining the Sudanese people’s attachment to democratic processes but also as evidence of what can be achieved through cooperation and commitment among all stakeholders. Its outcome will allow for the stability and sustainable development of both South and North Sudan and pave the way for the normalization of relations between Khartoum and the international community. The High Representative has underlined the EU’s continued engagement in that process. In the short term, this means supporting the international efforts to reach an agreement on all outstanding Comprehensive Peace Agreement and post-referendum issues, including Abyei and the difficult security and humanitarian situation prevailing in Darfur. It also means, in the period ahead, working closely with the United Nations towards peace, stability and the integrated development of the subregion. The EU and the United Nations have also been working together to help stabilize the situation in Somalia, as was mentioned by the High Representative. The support to the African Union Mission in Somalia, the cooperation between the European Union, the United Nations and the African Union in the training of Somali military personnel and the coordinated efforts in fighting piracy off the coast of Somalia provide good examples of this. However, continued strong coordination between the three organizations, along with other international stakeholders, is crucial, as those efforts must be accompanied by an upgraded and comprehensive political strategy for the country in order to achieve a long-term sustainable solution. With regard to Côte d’Ivoire, we concur with the High Representative’s assessment. In the aftermath of the AU summit last week, Portugal welcomes the recent creation of the African Union high-level panel for Côte d’Ivoire. In keeping with the objectives of the Africa-European Union Strategic Partnership, it is very important to back this genuinely African effort to find a political solution to the current stalemate. Such support represents a strong signal of our willingness to work closely with African regional and subregional organizations on issues of peace and security. More generally, we see that some of the challenges faced by Côte d’Ivoire are shared by other countries in the region. That is why we think that it is important for the European Union and the United Nations to give serious consideration to their approach to West Africa as a whole, as I have stressed on different occasions in the Council. The European Union and its member States have been following the recent developments in the Maghreb and the Middle East very closely. That is a region with which the European Union has long- standing relations and where, through a number of instruments and mechanisms, it has developed genuine and effective bilateral and regional partnerships, as Baroness Ashton has just alluded to. She also mentioned a number of steps that the European Union is undertaking in the light of recent events with the aim of jointly furthering, with its partners, the shared goal of building stability, peace and prosperity in the Mediterranean and the Middle East region. The developments that we are witnessing will undoubtedly have a decisive impact on the future of the region and beyond. As my Minister recently stated, the many issues affecting that region cannot be addressed “in a fragmented, unlinked, inconsistent and incoherent manner”. They require an efficient partnership between all stakeholders. Over the decades, the European Union has developed an important acquis of instruments that can and should complement United Nations efforts to promote peace and security in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Together, the European Union and United Nations should develop a complementary partnership capable of adequately responding to the many challenges in the region. Portugal stands fully behind Baroness Ashton’s remarks concerning the Middle East and the peace process. Indeed, the current developments in the region clearly underscore the urgency of a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East. Portugal thus reiterates the Quartet’s most recent appeal to the parties to overcome the current obstacles in the peace process and to engage in serious negotiations on the basis of the well-known parameters for peace. I thank Baroness Ashton for clearly reaffirming those parameters. We know what the issues are. What is needed is the effective political will to address them, with the serious ambition of reaching peace through a comprehensive agreement on all final status issues, as underlined by our French colleague. Ending the 63-year conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is the shared aspiration of all those in the Chamber. That is surely another area where the European Union and the United Nations can actively work together towards a positive outcome, through both the Quartet and the relevant United Nations bodies. I conclude by saying that the very fact that this meeting is taking place reflects the important role that regional organizations play in the overall contribution to peace and security. That clearly results from the United Nations Charter, and the European Union has been part of that effort. The Treaty of Lisbon represents yet another step forward in the Union’s vision and capacity in that area, which we strongly believe can be instrumental to the United Nations in pursuing its universal goals.

We would like to welcome Baroness Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission. This Security Council meeting takes place just a few days after the conclusion of the Munich Security Conference, which provided a good opportunity to discuss informally current issues of international security. On the margins of the Conference, there was a broad range of important events that also have a direct impact on the maintenance of international stability. I hope that colleagues will not mind if we deem the most important event to have been the exchange of instruments of ratification of the Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, signed on 8 April 2010 in Prague by the Presidents of Russia and the United States of America. That document became a reality thanks largely to the understanding that unilateral approaches to security are counterproductive. We are pleased that the resolve to improve international relations, including in the Euro-Atlantic region, is supported by our European partners. Recently, they put forward a whole range of ideas that are basically in line with the initiative of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to conclude a treaty on Euro-Atlantic security. In particular, German Chancellor Angela Merkel proposed the establishment of a Russia-European Union committee on foreign policy and security issues that would raise cooperation between Moscow and Brussels to a completely new level. A priority of our cooperation with the European Union (EU) and the United Nations, including as part of the Quartet of leading international mediators, is the topical issue of a Middle East settlement. The most recent ministerial-level meeting of the Quartet took place on 5 February in Munich, at Russia’s initiative. During the meeting, there was a substantive exchange of views on the situation in the Middle East, including in the light of recent events in Egypt and other countries in the region. Russia commends the efforts of the EU to support the Middle East peace process. Our positions on that issue are broadly the same. EU support for Palestinian State-building and the restoration of normal trade and economic links between the Gaza Strip and the outside world are important. We consider it necessary to bolster those efforts in active pursuit of intra-Palestine unity. We, in turn, are also striving to solve this issue by acting in coordination with regional and other partners. We count on continuing fruitful cooperation with the EU on an entire range of issues linked to the Iranian nuclear programme. The Sudan also represents an important area of our productive cooperation with the EU and the United Nations. We welcome the successful holding of the referendum on self-determination in Southern Sudan. That demonstrated the resolve of the Sudanese parties to fully implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). It is important that both parties to the Agreement recognize the referendum results. The priority now is to settle the remaining obstacles with constructive international assistance in a mutually acceptable way, as part of the CPA. In her statement, Baroness Ashton also mentioned the issue of Côte d’Ivoire. The situation in that country remains tense. Action that could further exacerbate the situation must be avoided. We support the diplomatic efforts of the African Union and its high-level panel of mediators to develop options for a political settlement, to bring about national reconciliation in the country and to create the conditions to overcome its long-term de facto schism. The international community needs to support those efforts by believing that there is no reasonable alternative to a peaceful solution to the crisis. Any interference using force is the quickest path to the long-term destabilization of the situation in the Côte d’Ivoire and the entire subregion. We agree with Baroness Ashton’s assessment of the situation in Haiti. Currently, the top priority for Haitians is to conclude the electoral process peacefully and to elect the leadership of the country democratically. Given the scale of Haiti’s problems, comprehensive international assistance to that country must continue. Nevertheless, the main responsibility for Haiti’s recovery should be borne by the people of the country. The Russian Federation has consistently supported comprehensive development and better cooperation with the United Nations, the Security Council and regional and subregional mechanisms. Cooperation should be on the basis of the United Nations Charter, in particular Chapter VIII. As a regional mechanism, the European Union has established fruitful and close cooperation with the United Nations on a wide range of key areas. We support further strengthening of that cooperation.

I would like to join my colleagues in warmly welcoming Baroness Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union. High Representative Ashton’s briefing to the Security Council comes at a good and timely moment. Recent developments in Tunisia and Egypt, both neighbours of the European Union (EU), are of immediate relevance not only to the European Union and its member States but also, ultimately, to the international community as a whole. Northern Africa and the Middle East are in a crucial phase of transition. Civil societies claim fundamental political and human rights and a new economic perspective for the future. Reforms are the only way forward. We have to adapt our policies with regard to the entire region. The European decision to grant special support to the transformation process is the right initiative to respond to Egyptian requests. Baroness Ashton also informed us about the meeting of the Middle East Quartet in Munich, which she chaired three days ago. Our common goal is very clear: we all want to see the State of Israel and a sovereign, independent, democratic, contiguous and viable State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security. The Munich statement, in which the Quartet highlighted the urgency of meaningful negotiations on all final status issues and their conclusion by September 2011, committed to playing an active role and scheduled the next principals’ meeting for March, is an important contribution to creating much-needed momentum. The close contacts between the High Representative and the Secretary-General over the past week is yet another indicator of the high level of cooperation between the EU and the United Nations. Let me underline that this cooperation is built on a fundamental convergence of views. It is based on the idea that relations among States should be subject to the rule of law and founded on universal values and mutual respect. The EU believes in a multilateral, rules-based approach to world affairs. The EU itself was built by a process of negotiation and consensus among its current 27 member States, which has led to a considerable pooling of sovereignty. Germany has been part of that unique peacebuilding and institution-building exercise from the very beginning. With a newly created External Action Service implementing the Treaty of Lisbon, the EU is about the further improve its joint diplomatic capabilities and will become an even more effective international partner for the United Nations and for other regional organizations. While holding the European Union presidency in 2007, Germany promoted the adoption of a joint declaration on United Nations-European Union cooperation in crisis management. Exchanges between senior United Nations Secretariat officials and the Political and Security Committee of the EU on areas of cooperation have since become regular practice. By definition, the European Union firmly believes in regional cooperation. The African Union (AU) and African subregional organizations are strengthening the African Peace and Security Architecture and are working actively to settle conflicts in Africa through their peacekeeping missions and good offices. The EU supports those efforts, and not only with financial means. The African Peace Facility has helped to enhance AU peace support operations and its institution- and capacity-building. In Somalia, just to give one example — and I could name others — the United Nations, the African Union and the European Union are closely cooperating and complementing each other in their efforts to help rebuild sound State institutions, thereby creating conditions for peace and stability, and to combat piracy off the Horn of Africa and the Indian Ocean. Through its Operation Atalanta, the EU contributes successfully to the protection of World Food Programme shipments, thereby saving the lives of many ordinary Somalis. Atalanta also plays an important role in protecting African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) transports and international shipping, which are so vital for the economies of the broader region. Furthermore, following calls from the Security Council, the European Union is conducting a programme in Uganda to train soldiers for Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government. The objective of that military training mission is to improve the security situation in Somalia. AMISOM, which receives substantial support from the European Union, has the same objective. In conclusion, let me reiterate that my country remains committed to a strong partnership between the United Nations and the EU that builds on shared values and common goals. We welcome the Security Council’s recognition of the need for closer cooperation with regional and subregional organizations in its presidential statement (S/PRST/2010/1) last year. We are confident that the cooperation between the EU and the United Nations will remain fruitful and look forward to the further deepening of that relationship.

I welcome the briefing by Baroness Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union, on cooperation between the Union and the United Nations. China attaches great importance to cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security. In January last year, an open debate on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security (see S/PV.6257) was held in the Council on the initiative of the Chinese presidency. The meeting issued a presidential statement (S/PRST/2010/1) reiterating the importance and the necessity of mutually reinforcing cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations. The European Union (EU) is a major cooperation partner of the United Nations and has made positive contributions to the maintenance of international peace and security. In recent years, the EU has been actively engaged in preventive diplomacy and good offices on hot-spot issues, and has promoted the settlement of conflicts and disputes through mediation, negotiations and other peaceful means. The EU vigorously supports United Nations peacekeeping operations and has provided substantial funding for United Nations-mandated African Union (AU) peace support operations. The EU is playing an active role in post-conflict peacebuilding efforts and has also made significant efforts in supporting the development of the AU and other African regional and subregional organizations. China appreciates the positive role of the EU in maintaining regional and international peace, stability and security. We support and encourage continued contributions from the EU in that regard. China highly values and supports the constructive role of the EU in international affairs. We trust that, as the EU intensifies its efforts to implement the Lisbon Treaty, along with progress in the process of integration, the EU, the United Nations and the Security Council will be able to undertake even more pragmatic and effective cooperation in the maintenance of international peace and security.

South Africa would like to welcome High Representative Baroness Ashton to the Security Council and thank her for her briefing on the European Union’s (EU) cooperation with the United Nations. Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in the area of peace and security is a major priority for South Africa. We welcome all efforts in that regard. We have noted all the areas of cooperation that Baroness Ashton mentioned in her briefing today. South Africa has had an opportunity to share its positions on many of those issues. As a strategic partner of the European Union, South Africa acknowledges and welcomes the EU’s significant and steadfast contribution to the maintenance of international peace and security. We are of the view that multilateralism is strengthened through enhanced cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations. Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations makes provision for regional arrangements in the maintenance of international peace and security. The role of the European Union and the African Union (AU) in that regard is testimony to the foresight of the crafters of the Charter, who envisaged such a role for regional bodies. Multilateralism will also be strengthened through enhanced cooperation among various regional organizations. In that regard, we again acknowledge and value the strong cooperative relationship between the African Union and the European Union. Each regional organization is unique and the challenges they face in addressing international peace and security differ. Cooperation with the United Nations should therefore take on characteristics that reflect its own priorities and comparative advantages. The 2008 report of the African Union-United Nations panel on modalities for support to African Union peacekeeping operations, also known as the Prodi report, stated that “There is a need to reaffirm the collective responsibility for global peace and security in order to reflect changes that have taken place in recent years. . . . there is a growing anomalous and undesirable trend in which organizations lacking the necessary capabilities have been left to bear the brunt in terms of providing the international community’s initial response, while others more capable have not engaged. This inversion of responsibility is generating a trend of benign neglect in which interests rather than capabilities prevail.” (S/2008/813, para. 11) The report further notes, in the following paragraph, that the complexity of recent and ongoing conflicts in which Africa has intervened to resolve creates demands that are out of all proportion to the availability of resources to address them. We have witnessed, particularly over the past decade, that regional organizations have acted when the Security Council has been unable or unwilling to act in particular circumstances. The African Union, for its part, has been proactive in taking the lead in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and peacekeeping in countries such as Burundi, the Sudan and Somalia. Despite the strong political will to establish peace and security throughout the African continent, the AU continues to face enormous resource constraints. In this regard, we commend the role that the European Union is playing in meeting these challenges, including through the establishment of the African Peace Facility to support peace-support operations mandated by the African Union. Meeting in Tripoli in November 2010 on the occasion of the third Africa-EU Summit, leaders of the AU and the EU recognized the need for more concerted action between the AU, the EU and the United Nations to move the process of implementation of the recommendations of the Prodi panel and subsequent reports of the Secretary-General forward. In this regard, the Summit stressed the importance of follow- up to the Prodi report especially on attaining predictable, sustainable and flexible funding for African peace-support efforts. Africa and the EU also committed to strengthening dialogue and cooperation with the United Nations to address global threats to peace and security, both in terms of conflict areas as well as in thematic areas, such as terrorism and the protection of civilians. South Africa will continue to promote effective multilateralism by working towards enhanced cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations, including the European Union. In this regard, we look forward to working with all our partners in the Security Council to achieve this aim.

The United States welcomes High Representative Ashton back to the Security Council. We thank Baroness Ashton for her briefing today and the European Union (EU) for its close and deep cooperation with the Security Council, which encompasses conflict prevention, crisis management, peacekeeping, post- conflict peacebuilding and long-term capacity- building. The European Union has become an important partner for the Council in addressing matters of peace and security. Together, we are applying more effective solutions to the increasingly complex problems we face. This morning, I would like to highlight a few areas of our effective cooperation. First, I would like to thank the European Union for its critical role in preventing and resolving conflict in the EU neighbourhood, utilizing both civilian and military operations on the ground. One example is Operation Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which the United States strongly supports. We welcome the EU’s intention to strengthen its civilian presence there to better promote reforms needed for Bosnian European integration. In Kosovo, the United States is a contribute to the EU’s Rule of Law Mission and supports the High Representative’s initiative to facilitate dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo to resolve practical issues, improve lives and help realize both countries’ European perspectives. We likewise support the ongoing efforts of the EU, the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe as chairs of the Geneva process for Georgia, including their respective roles in facilitating the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism, which is tackling ongoing difficult security and humanitarian issues on the ground. Beyond Europe, we welcome the role played by the EU as a member of the Middle East Quartet. The United States is continuing to consult with both the Israelis and Palestinians, and is working with the Quartet and our partners in the region to achieve a framework agreement on all the core issues, ultimately resulting in a negotiated peace agreement. Further, we commend the EU’s support of United Nations efforts in the Horn of Africa, where the EU is deploying naval forces through Operation Atalanta to combat piracy, and in Haiti and the Sudan. The United States welcomes the Government of the Sudan’s announcement that it accepts the Southern Sudan referendum results, and looks forward to continuing our work with the EU and the broader international community to ensure that the two States live alongside each other in peace. We also note the EU’s support of a peaceful resolution to the political crisis in Côte d’Ivoire and the financial pressure it is putting on former President Gbagbo and his supporters to step aside in favour of democratically elected President Ouattara. Many challenges lie ahead, but we must maintain the unity of the international community’s response as we address these challenges in Côte d’Ivoire and elsewhere. Secondly, we would like to point out the EU’s support for training and capacity-building in coordination with the United Nations and international partners. Such efforts can serve as a multiplier for the peacekeeping and peacebuilding activities undertaken by regional organizations. We appreciate the EU’s initiative to share experience, through the EU African Peace Facility, to build the African Union’s capacity for peace operations, as well as the training the EU is providing for Somali Government forces. Within Afghanistan, the EU, like the United States, works closely with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). We commend the EU’s police training mission that has been operating in Afghanistan since 2007, in coordination with the NATO training mission and UNAMA. Especially important is its support for the construction of Afghan National Police staff colleges in Bamyan and Kabul in 2011. The EU’s civilian assistance and the efforts of the numerous individual EU member States with personnel on the ground in Afghanistan in provincial reconstruction teams contribute to Afghanistan’s long-term security. Finally, I want to strongly applaud the European Union’s commitment to the protection of women in conflict situations and the promotion of their participation in peacebuilding. The recent joint Africa- EU Strategy Action Plan underscores both organizations’ commitment to this important issue. The United States expresses its appreciation to the European Union for its commitment to international peace and security, and looks forward to further discussions between the United Nations and the EU on how to deepen cooperation and coordination.

I would like to thank Baroness Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union (EU), for her insightful comments and analysis of some current global security challenges. Nigeria lauds the depth of the EU’s work in regional security issues around the world. We firmly believe that vigorous action is needed to curb the threats to global security. Accordingly, we look forward to the enhanced security that the External Action Service will bring to EU missions worldwide. Second only to natural disasters, the challenges of governance pose grave security risks to local populations. Humanitarian aid is an essential support for countries facing crises to develop robust and participatory governance institutions. In turn, political stability and properly functioning democratic institutions are prerequisites for the reconstruction and development of distressed communities. We therefore commend the EU for its work in Haiti, the Sudan, Côte d’Ivoire and elsewhere. The depth of its involvement in these countries illustrates its understanding of the relationship between security, development and humanitarian aid. With respect to Haiti, like the EU, we support a transparent and legitimate electoral process and the implementation of the postponed second-round presidential elections. Indeed, we salute the work done by the Organization of American States verification mission to evaluate the presidential elections in Haiti. We consider this to be an important step to maintain and strengthen the confidence of the Haitian people in the electoral process. Nigeria commends the international community, especially humanitarian actors, for the support given to Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake and cholera outbreak. Strengthening the capacity of the Government and national institutions to engage in the tasks of reconstruction is an overriding long-term challenge, to which we must remain fully committed. In reviewing the Southern Sudan referendum, the commendable role played by the EU cannot be overlooked. Through financial support, monitoring activities and partnership with the Secretary-General’s high-level monitoring panel, the EU contributed significantly to the outcome of the referendum. We are pleased that the EU is prepared to provide long-term support for addressing the political and economic challenges facing both Northern and Southern Sudan. We welcome the EU’s firm and clear support for the decisions in favour of democracy taken by the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union. Now more than ever, a concerted international response is required to overcome the crisis situation in Côte d’Ivoire. EU support therefore remains very necessary. We also welcome the important role the EU continues to play in efforts to find a lasting solution to the Middle East crisis. Its commitment expressed at the 5 February Quartet meeting in Munich, Germany, to set up an engagement in the peace process is commendable. It is hoped that the next meeting, scheduled to take place on the margins of the Group of Eight Foreign Ministers’ meeting, will add impetus to this process. On partnership in general, the vitality of the partnership between the EU and the African Union is evident, not only in the work of the EU in the Sudan, but also in Operation Atalanta, a multilateral task force off the coast of Somalia. These efforts reveal that partnerships are an effective means of employing global resources to combat regional security risks. We therefore call for sustained dialogue between the EU and African regional and subregional organizations, and enhanced support for regional peace and security architecture, post-conflict strategies and peacebuilding efforts. In closing, Nigeria shares the conviction that, if it is to respond successfully to global crises, challenges and threats, the international community needs an efficient multilateral system founded on universal rights and values. Through partnerships, humanitarian aid and financial support, the EU has demonstrated the impact that multilateral partnerships can have on our collective search for lasting peace. Sir Mark Lyall Grant (United Kingdom): I would like to join other colleagues in warmly welcoming Baroness Ashton back to the Security Council today. As a member of the European Union (EU) and a permanent member of the Security Council, the United Kingdom has a strong interest in ensuring that the partnership of the European Union and its member States with the United Nations becomes increasingly effective in addressing the many challenges to international peace and security. Baroness Ashton has highlighted today the important role that the European Union plays across a range of key security issues. I do not need to cover that same ground, so I will confine myself to making a few general comments. First, Baroness Ashton rightly pointed to the European Union’s ability to take a comprehensive approach to global problems. The European Union is uniquely placed among regional organizations to deploy the full range of tools, from military intervention and political influence to humanitarian and development assistance. The European Union and its member States can therefore support and complement the United Nations across that full range of activity, from Afghanistan to the Balkans. In particular, the European Union and the United Nations can combine powerfully with the Security Council to prevent and resolve conflict. The current period of uncertainty and change in the Middle East and North Africa highlights the need for a comprehensive and coordinated approach. It is essential that the European Union and the United Nations work closely in responding to and planning for events as they unfold. In Tunisia, the European Union is already working on a broad package to assist with constitutional and democratic reforms and economic development. My Foreign Minister is in Tunisia today, discussing how best we can support the reform process. The United Nations and the EU should be natural partners in this endeavour. On the Middle East peace process, where decisive progress is urgently needed, the European Union has demonstrated the practical application of the comprehensive approach, in close coordination with the United Nations. As a member of the Quartet, the European Union has been involved in pressing for a political solution to the conflict, while at the same time providing critical assistance to the Palestinian Authority’s State-building programme, which will continue to provide the foundations of a future and viable Palestinian State. Secondly, the European Union has an important role to play in sharing its experience and its expertise with other regional organizations. EU/United Nations/African Union collaboration in Somalia is a concrete example of what can be achieved when regional organizations and the United Nations work together. The European Union is complementing the broad support of the United Nations to the African Union Mission in Somalia by providing funding through the African Peace Facility. This is just part of a multi-level EU strategy towards Somalia, which encompasses regular assistance to the security sector through development programmes and projects, humanitarian assistance, naval security operations and security training. As we approach the end of the transitional period in August 2011, it is vital that the African Union, the United Nations and the EU pursue a coherent strategy to ensure that the transition results in a legitimate, credible Government that is acceptable to all the Somali people. Thirdly, the European Union, as the world’s largest economy comprising the most open and trade- oriented countries in the world, can be a force for development by providing a huge potential market. Open and resilient markets play a key role in maintaining global peace and security. Finally, the European Union has an important role to play in advancing non-traditional contributions to international peace and security. One such example is in the area of climate security. Climate security is likely to feature on the Council’s agenda later this year, reflecting the growing recognition that climate change is a powerful amplifier of instability across some of the most volatile regions in the world. We hope that the European Union can take forward work on climate security as a key policy priority, in close collaboration with the United Nations. The Security Council’s primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security requires us to set the strategic direction for cooperation with regional bodies. These 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 to support these values.

First of all, I would like to welcome Baroness Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union, and thank her for her invaluable statement. Over 50 years ago, those who drafted the United Nations Charter dedicated an entire Chapter of that document, namely, Chapter VIII, to regional organizations because they believed in the complementary role played by such organizations alongside the United Nations in maintaining international peace and security. Today, the international environment is especially dynamic, particularly in the light of multilateral diplomacy, the great openness of States, the emergence of geographic blocs, and new, complex and diverse challenges. In this environment, some regional organizations, including the European Union, have been able to consolidate their positions as active partners in the many activities of the United Nations, the most important of which is the maintenance of international peace. This success is due to the fact that these organizations’ principles are in line with those of the United Nations and its objectives to promote peace and security, ensure respect for human rights, and establish the rule of law. Lebanon welcomes the ongoing efforts, both past and current, of the European Union to preserve and build peace. We also commend its operational work and its achievements in the civilian sphere, including its overt cooperation aimed at resolving a great number of conflicts around the world. The European Union provides the United Nations with the means to accomplish its work, in particular in Africa and Haiti. Lebanon urges the European Union, which has enhanced its role on the international scene following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, to prioritize its foreign policy in order to achieve a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East and to put an end to violations of international law and international humanitarian law. This is all the more important given the European Union’s key position in the international Quartet. Lebanon believes that the mere occasional condemnation of certain Israeli practices is insufficient. Indeed, such condemnation has not prevented Israel from ignoring the resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly, as well as the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. We recall here that Israeli practices contravene the very principles of the European Union, such as the rejection of violence and racism, the establishment of the rule of law, and respect for basic human rights and international humanitarian law, in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention. That Convention prohibits collective punishment, such as that meted out in Gaza, and the transfer of settlers to occupied territories, such as continues to occur in the West Bank today. It is high time for all parties that seek a two-State solution to recognize the Palestinian State, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and to support it in bringing an end to the occupation of all Palestinian territories. The new Palestinian State should be a Member of the United Nations, and could be before the next session of the General Assembly begins in September. Lebanon also encourages the promotion of cooperation between the European Union and other regional organizations in the exchange of expertise, information and lessons learned in terms of human resources, training and capacity-building, in particular with the League of Arab States and the African Union. That could help to maintain peace and security in the Arab world and Africa. Regional organizations can play an effective role in preventing conflicts and facilitating post-conflict reconciliation and reconstruction. In conclusion, Lebanon encourages greater cooperation between regional organizations and the United Nations in order to achieve a safer and more stable world.

Like others, I should like to extend a warm welcome to High Representative Baroness Ashton and to thank her for her comprehensive briefing on the role of the European Union (EU) in the United Nations and its views on some contemporary issues that are on the Security Council’s agenda. Clearly, given the limitations of time, the wide canvas that the High Representative has covered will prevent me from commenting on each of the issues that are currently before the Council and on which my delegation’s views are, in any case, reasonably well known. The EU is the largest economy in the world in terms of nominal gross domestic product. It is one of the largest trading blocs; the largest exporter and importer of goods and services; and the largest trading partner of the leading economies of the world, including India. It is also one of the biggest development aid donors and the largest provider of humanitarian assistance. With a membership of 27 countries and five candidate countries, the EU is already an important voice in its region and beyond. With the greater cohesiveness that the EU seeks in foreign affairs and security policy, its role will only become more significant in the world in the coming years. India therefore welcomes stronger cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union. Indeed, Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter provides for such cooperation between the Organization and regional organizations. Article 54 of the Charter enjoins the regional organizations to keep the Security Council fully informed of their activities for the maintenance of international peace and security. In that spirit, we welcome today’s briefing and congratulate the European Union on its contributions to global peace and security, in cooperation with the United Nations. With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, India hopes that the European Union’s foreign policy will show greater coherence and effectiveness under the leadership of High Representative Baroness Ashton. India’s bilateral relations with the EU have expanded significantly over the years. The EU is India’s largest trading partner, while India is the EU’s ninth largest trading partner. The relationship was elevated to a strategic partnership in 2000. The most recent summit-level meeting between India and the EU — the eleventh since 2000 — took place in Brussels on 10 December 2010. The summit reviewed a whole spectrum of bilateral, regional and global issues, and the leaders committed themselves to giving new momentum to the key areas that already constitute the bulk of our cooperation. There was also agreement on the need to step up cooperation in the fight against international terrorism, as reflected in the India-EU joint declaration on international terrorism. Given this strong bilateral partnership, we look forward to the EU emerging as an even more important voice in today’s multipolar world, and attach great value to the EU’s activities in the United Nations and its role in preventive diplomacy. We support the EU’s contributions to capacity- and institution-building in African States and its support in the training of police and security forces, electoral assistance, legislative and judicial reform, and so on, which have all contributed to international peace and security. India has also made contributions in these areas and cooperated with the EU and other countries in anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia. We look forward to the further deepening of such cooperation. India supports the EU’s aspirations to playing a more significant role in the General Assembly. In this context, we welcome the ongoing consultations among Member States, and hope that a consensus will emerge very soon.

My delegation associates itself with previous speakers in thanking you, Madame, on convening this meeting on cooperation between the European Union and the United Nations. Having heard the briefing of Baroness Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union, whom I welcome, my delegation wishes once again to stress the very important role of the European Union in achieving the objectives of the United Nations, in particular with regard to international peace and security. In her briefing, Baroness Ashton highlighted a number of issues of topical interest in the field of peace and security. I wish to address four of those issues: the Sudan, Haiti, the Middle East — in particular the question of Palestine — and Somalia. Turning first to the Sudan, I congratulate the countries of the European Union on their assistance to United Nations efforts to restore peace and stability in that country through their contribution to the work of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan and to the successful holding of the referendum on Southern Sudan. We remain convinced that the establishment of the new State of Southern Sudan will enjoy the significant support of the European Union in meeting the many challenges ahead. Turning to Haiti, we commend the European Union’s support of the Haitian Government, especially with regard to its efforts following the earthquake of January 2010. We are confident that it will pursue its efforts to help that country to rebuild itself economically and to strengthen its institutions. With regard to the Middle East, and more specifically the Palestinian question, we commend the European Union’s involvement, in the framework of the Quartet, in relaunching direct Palestinian-Israeli talks to find a lasting negotiated solution to a conflict that has persisted too long. The recent meeting held in Munich, over which Baroness Ashton personally presided, clearly demonstrates the consistent commitment of the European Union to peace in the Middle East and to the creation of a Palestinian State, which we, too, call for wholeheartedly. I am delighted by the similar views of the European Union and Gabon on that issue. We call on the European Union also to continue its support to the Palestinian Authority. I cannot fail to mention the European Union’s efforts in Somalia, specifically with regard to increasing the capacity of the African Union Mission and of Somali security and defence forces. We also share the European Union’s views with regard to addressing the issue of piracy off the Somali coast, namely, that the approach to settling this issue must take into account the general situation prevailing on the ground. In conclusion, Gabon would once again like to welcome the role of the European Union in the work of the United Nations in its pursuit of peace, justice and well-being in the world.

Like my colleagues, I too would like to thank Baroness Ashton for her presence and her very important statement today. The review that we are undertaking reflects one of the main mandates of the United Nations Charter, which calls on us to prevent conflict and achieve international peace and security while serving as a forum for coordinating efforts to attain those common goals through political dialogue and cooperation. That not only strengthens the effectiveness of multilateralism; it also provides an opportunity for creating models applicable to other areas of the world. The United Nations and the European Union have the task of raising awareness about the consequences of transnational organized crime, both in the various relevant forums of the United Nations and in Member States. That is why there is a need for the Organization’s contribution in the areas of civilian, customs and port and airport security. With regard to development cooperation as an effective means of conflict prevention and peacebuilding, we underscore the importance of the assistance provided by the European Union as an appropriate part of the social development process of recipient countries in the context of their national priorities. In cases of natural disasters, for example, in order to prevent the displacement of populations, an increase in refugees or migration without sufficient guidance and information, we believe that cooperation must focus on reconstruction, the financing of projects, the rehabilitation of affected farmland and the restoration of infrastructure in the worst affected areas. The Baroness also mentioned in her statement the current impact of climate change and its consequences on such important issues as natural disasters, which compromises the safety of the civilian population and makes the emergence of conflicts much more likely. We value the contribution of the European Union and the members of the Quartet in seeking lasting peace in the Middle East. For Colombia, all approaches towards achieving and strengthening peace in the region must be governed by the fundamental principles of the peaceful settlement of disputes, the obligation on the non-use of force and the free self-determination of peoples. Furthermore, they must be in accordance with due observance of human rights and international humanitarian law and, of course, respect for the dignity of all. Historically, Colombia has maintained that the solution of the Arab-Israeli conflict must lie in the existence of two States living together in peace, which are essential conditions to achieving the stability and security of the region. The political conditions and the aspirations to strengthen democratic progress in the Arab world dominate the world stage today. Those processes will be strengthened only to the extent that they develop and conclude peacefully. The current outlook requires even further efforts to achieve peace. Today, we are very pleased to note the developments in the Sudan. With the conclusion of the referendum, the Southern Sudan has taken an important step towards achieving a peace that we hope will be stable and lasting. That requires the full implementation of the provisions of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The birth of a new State now presents a very delicate process. The establishment of a road map for good relations and mutual respect between the North and the South is essential in all areas — political, economic and social. We should consider the support to be provided by the Security Council in the implementation of the agreements between the parties and the prospects opening up in the immediate future. The potential for conflict remains as long as there are no specific agreements on the status and administration of this area. My country and all Latin American nations attach the highest priority to the situation and future of Haiti. It is essential to maintain close coordination to promote cooperation policies aimed at the country’s comprehensive development as an imperative, given the sad and desolate reality of that nation. Strengthening its State structures, social cohesion and physical reconstruction go hand in hand with its internal security, well-being and development. Investing in development is an investment in peace and security. We have said, and we reiterate, that the case of Côte d’Ivoire requires finding a prompt and appropriate course for the country, along with the appropriate regional bodies and efforts and in line with the legitimacy and expressed will of its people to exercise democracy. The work that can be done among the United Nations, regional organizations and the European Union will ensure peace in that country. We highlight the central role that institution- building plays in efforts to promote peace in countries emerging from conflict situations. In that context, we reaffirm the primary responsibility and leadership of affected States. The international community, and the United Nations in particular, can play a supporting role in the priorities and agendas set by States concerned. In conclusion, I would like to say that we believe it necessary to promote institutional development on the basis of the existing capacities of a State and its social, economic and cultural specificities, as well as to better coordinate the activities of all stakeholders involved.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Brazil. It is a great pleasure for me to again welcome Baroness Ashton to the Security Council. Brazil fully appreciates the valuable contributions that regional organizations can and do make to an enhanced multilateral system with the United Nations as its centre. The High Representative has addressed the many and varied manifestations of a very active and ongoing partnership with the United Nations in areas and activities of common interest. Those range from conflict prevention, conflict resolution, crisis management and humanitarian assistance to peacebuilding and long-term stabilization and development. Brazil appreciates the role that the European Union plays in bringing about a solution to the Israeli- Palestinian issue, which is long overdue. We hope that the peace process can soon resume and move forward quickly so that the international community will swiftly achieve our common goal of two States living side by side in peace and stability. Brazil also recognizes the concrete contributions of the European Union to peacebuilding around the world, from the Sudan to Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Haiti. A situation of special interest to Brazil is that of Haiti. We hope that the electoral process can soon be concluded with credibility and full respect for the will of the people, so that Haitians can focus again on the much-needed activities of reconstruction and promoting sustainable development. Another situation of specific interest to Brazil is that of Guinea-Bissau. We welcome the continued engagement of the African Union in our common efforts to bring sustainable peace to Guinea-Bissau. We believe that the country needs such engagement to build democratic governance and to effectively address its key challenges of stability, reconciliation, fighting impunity and combating drug trafficking. In the same vein, we encourage the European Union to continue investing in local capacity-building and social and economic development in fragile and conflict-affected countries. Brazil strongly believes that the interlinkages between peace, security and development must be properly acknowledged as the Security Council discharges its responsibilities. We welcome the EU’s participation in and support for the high-level debate that Brazil has proposed on that very important issue, which will be held this Friday. As we have been able to note at this meeting, cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union is strong and effective. It is our hope that the changes brought about by the Treaty of Lisbon will help to further strengthen that important partnership. In our own region, through the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), we are consolidating a genuine zone of peace and prosperity. By promoting dialogue and understanding among South American countries, UNASUR is making its own contribution to the maintenance of international peace and security. I now resume my functions as President of the Security Council. I give the floor to Baroness Ashton to make some concluding remarks. Baroness Ashton: I will be very brief. I would just like to thank all members of the Security Council for their contributions to this debate and for their encouragement and support of the role of the European Union. As I began, I said that I saw this as a critical partnership and that the European Union would do everything it could to support the work of the United Nations. I very much look forward to the post-Lisbon Treaty building of the European External Action Service, which will enable us to do that even more effectively.

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.