S/PV.6702Resumption1 Security Council

Mr. Haroon (Pakistan): Pakistan's delegation warmly welcomes you, Madam President, to the Security Council. As we wish you and your delegation a productive visit, we warmly congratulate South Africa and the African National Congress on its one- hundredth anniversary. In that light, it is befitting that President Zuma's statement compels attention as a veritable tour de force in Africa. His role in the African Union should be viewed as historically groundbreaking. We also thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his rightfully vast report (8/2011/805) and for his briefing on Africa. We also thank the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan, Colombia, Guatemala and Kenya, as well as the African Union Commissioner, for their participation and for their important statements. We also welcome the representatives who have come from China, France, Germany, Portugal and Togo to take part in today's debate. Africa continuously defies its detractors, not only by progressing but by committing itself to the challenges of peace and security, including the building of bridges with the international and regional comity of nations. We commend the timely epoch-building initiative of South Africa to hold a debate on the African Union (AU)-United Nations relationship. The high-level participation is a necessary reflection of the close attention being paid to those linkages by the leadership of Africa. After all, this is the nation that gave the world the concept of transitional law, and that then peacefully upheld the rule of law in a manner that humankind can learn from. This forum's venture today would not be complete without invoking the great example of President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. That is world-class leadership. Asia and Africa are bound by strong interlinkages of history and friendship. The early twentieth century witnessed mutually inspiring independence movements in the South Asian subcontinent and the freedom struggle in Africa. Pakistan's strong support for Africa's decolonization struggle is well known. Today the two continents are partners in their respective peace and development and in the prosperity of their people. With 70 per cent of world trade binding our shores in the future, the world shall have to take note. I salute African wisdom and sagacity, because while most regional organizations are based solely on trade and economic considerations, Africa has made significant strides to conceive the challenge of peace and security as a collective responsibility. The African Union is an embodiment of that pioneering spirit. Within a decade of its foundation, the African Union has created a solid edifice for peace in Africa, in the form of African Peace and Security Architecture. The Architecture stands on institutions like the AU Peace and Security Council, the Panel of the Wise, the African Standby Force and the Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Framework. A set of subregional organizations further strengthens the Architecture. The AU has evolved tangible remedial measures for the entire spectrum of a conflict cycle. From preventive diplomacy and mediation efforts to active peacekeeping, peacebuilding and catalysing political processes, the continent is using a wide range of instruments in the international toolkit for peace and security. The world can learn from that. The Africa of today has sagaciously resorted to the vast spectrum of modalities for peaceful settlement of disputes, as envisaged in Chapter VI of the United Nations Charter- a practice that merits emulation by the Council. The cooperation between the AU and the United Nations in peace and security adds value to the work of both organizations, particularly in matters of peace and security. The AU Peace and Security Council and the United Nations Security Council define the AU-United Nations relationship at a strategic level. The AU Commission and the United Nations Secretariat provide the administrative foundation for that partnership. It is worthwhile noting that Africa's consensual and united position for enhanced representation at the Security Council, which is a legitimate demand, will also eventually strengthen the cooperation between the two bodies. Contacts between the AU and the United Nations, particularly between their two Councils, are too slowly evolving into a common strategic vision in areas of prevention and management, and manifest themselves in a lack of resolution of conflicts. That vision should forge enhanced political coherence to address the challenges of peace and security. While coordinating the evolution of a common strategic vision will be 12-20579 incremental, we believe that an expressly targeted focus on three key areas will further enhance cooperation between the two bodies. First, efforts should be made to ensure that the annual consultative mechanism between the Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council translates into formulating cohesive positions and strategies. The two Councils can do so by holding more frequent and informal exchanges, especially among their respective presidencies. Such exchanges need to be replicated between the AU Commission and the Secretariat, as well as among other relevant bodies in the AU and United Nations systems, namely, the Peacebuilding Commission and its five country configurations, which are all related to Africa. Secondly, regular interaction with subregional organizations in Africa will be critical to developing commonalities in respective decisions relating to peace and security, thereby ensuring their smooth implementation. In this regard, the Security Council has already expressed clear intentions in its presidential statement of 13 January 2010 (S/PRST/2010/l). The challenge is to translate the intent into action. Finally, AU-United Nations cooperation - as noted by President Zuma as well - can be optimized by strict prioritization in areas of building local capacities. Considering that most of the AU's work on peace and security is based on Chapter VI provisions related to the pacific settlement of disputes, the two organizations can identify relevant areas for capacity- building cooperation in mediation, arbitration and other measures relating to preventive diplomacy. Another avenue of cooperation could be security sector reform (SSR). The AU has developed an elaborate SSR policy framework for implementation, which must be supported by the United Nations. It would also be important to widen the discourse of AU-United Nations cooperation beyond the work of the Security Council to include issues such as fair trade practices, food and environmental security, and investment in governance institutions. Let me conclude by stating that Pakistan, as an observer State of the AU and a country in search of peace and stability in its own neighbourhood, identifies closely with the theme of today's debate. Out of nearly 10,000 Pakistani peacekeepers in the United Nations missions around the world, 9,000 are performing duties 1220579 in Africa. In the peace and stability of Africa, we see their safety and eventual safe return home. In the economic progress of Africa, we see opportunities for the whole global South, including Pakistan. We hope that today's debate and high-level participation, together with the draft resolution to be adopted later (S/20l2/25) will further concretize the modalities of AU-United Nations cooperation and pave the way of constructive collaboration. Pakistan is today a proud co-sponsor of the important draft resolution before the Council.

The President: I give the floor to the representative of India.

Mr. Hardeep Singh Puri (India): At the outset, I would like to thank the South African delegation for organizing today's debate. I also want to put on record my sincere personal thanks to you, Madam President, and to President Jacob Zuma for presiding over this meeting. I would also like to thank the Secretary- General and the representatives of the African Union (AU) and the subregional organizations for their valuable statements. The presence of so many high- level dignitaries from the capitals testifies to the importance of today's discussion. We appreciate the initiative of the South African delegation to organize a workshop of the interested stakeholders in preparation for today's meeting. It put in clear terms the steps that are required for enhanced cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union. These are also reflected in the draft resolution that is before the Council for adoption today (S/2012/25), which we have the privilege of co-sponsoring. A much as two-thirds of the active items on the Council's agenda concern Africa. About three-fourths of the Council's time is spent on African issues. It would therefore be no exaggeration to say that the success of the efforts of this Council in Africa will determine in significant measure its overall effectiveness in the implementation of its Charter- mandated role as the principal organ of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security. In this connection, it is important for us to listen to Africa and its organizations so that the Council's activities will not only be based on Africa's needs, but will also complement those of African countries and 3 organizations. Cooperation with Africa will also enable the Council to act with better understanding of the situation on the ground, which would establish Africa's ownership of the solutions and promote lasting peace and security on the African continent. Indeed, Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter recognizes the importance of regional organizations and their role in matters relating to international peace and security. The Charter also provides a broad framework for the Council's cooperation with regional organizations. We therefore support the strengthening of partnership between the United Nations and the African Union. We think that this partnership should be based on long-term strategic and operational perspectives, taking into consideration the complementarity of the strengths that the two organizations possess. Focus should be on capacity-building of the African Peace and Security Architecture so that the AU becomes a more effective and capable partner of the United Nations system. In this connection, we welcome the establishment of the United Nations Office to the African Union, which should facilitate systematic and broad-based cooperation between the two organizations. We expect the Office to expeditiously establish formalized structures of interaction with different AU bodies and subregional organizations. Other steps, such as the annual dialogue between the Council and the AU Peace and Security Council, the Secretary-General's 10-year capacity-building programme for the AU, linkages between the United Nations and AU Secretariats, inter alia, are also welcome and should facilitate regular consultation. The African Union has already proven beyond any doubt its ability to address African problems. The AU High-level Implementation Panel for the Sudan has facilitated dialogue between the parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. We continue to support its efforts for peace and security in Darfur through the Darfur political process. Similarly, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is the mainstay of international efforts to stabilize the situation in Somalia. The African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur has greatly helped in the improvement of the situation there, including through community welfare programmes. If these missions are to succeed and other joint missions undertaken in the future, it is necessary that there be better understanding between the United Nations and the AU at the strategic and operational levels. The Council should be more forthcoming in extending support to the AU in the critical areas of financial resources, force multipliers and force enablers, as may be required by the missions. If cooperation between the United Nations and the AU is to be effective and enduring, it is necessary that the Council not adopt a selective approach to this cooperation. Partnership should not be restricted only to the areas of the Council's convenience, but also extended to areas where there may be differences, and be based on mutual respect. This requires a mindset change in approach and demands the expansion of the permanent membership to make the Council reflective of contemporary realities and increased representation of developing countries, including those of Africa. This will not only make the Council more representative, but also enhance its ability to successfully address the challenges that the international community faces today. Conscious of the AU's role in handling African issues, not only those concerning peace and security but also those related to social and development matters, India has institutionalized its cooperation with the African Union. I would like to recall here the historic visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Addis Ababa in May 2011 to participate in the second Africa-India Forum Summit, signifying the importance of our relations with African States. Given the similarity of our objectives with those of the African Union, the Summit further deepened the India-AU development partnership, as well as peace and security cooperation. India has contributed $2 million for AMISOM operations - $1.5 million through the AU - without any caveats. India is also providing credit lines of $5 billion for the next three years to help Africa achieve its development goals. India will provide an additional $700 million for the establishment of new institutions and training programmes, in consultation with the African Union and its institutions. India is also offering 22,000 scholarships in various areas of capacity-building to African nationals during the three year period from 2011 to 2014. All those activities will enhance the AU's institutional capacity, and help the Council as well in 12-20579 dealing with African issues, in partnership with the AU.

Mr. Loulichki (Morocco) (spoke in Arabic): At the outset, I would like to express our gratitude to you, Madam President, for convening this meeting. Let me also thank His Excellency Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his presence and effective participation during this morning's deliberations. Morocco, a founding member of the Organization of African Unity, has placed stability and development on the African continent at the heart of its foreign policy priorities, while adopting an approach of cooperation and solidarity in addressing the economic, social, political and security challenges that hamper comprehensive development in Africa. Since acceding to membership of the United Nations, Morocco has also been committed to contributing to the achievement of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, both in the area of the maintenance of international peace and security and in cooperating to achieve sustainable development and ensure the advancement of, and respect for, human rights. In line with that long and ongoing commitment at the continental and international levels, Morocco has made serious contributions to every genuine effort aimed at heightening cooperation between the United Nations and the African continent, in full respect for the jurisdiction and specificities of both partners. In that context, Morocco has made a positive contribution to international and regional efforts to resolve numerous conflicts. Morocco has always contributed to United Nations peacekeeping operations, especially in Africa. Based on the same conviction, the Kingdom of Morocco has supported democratic transformation in many African States. And we have contributed to consolidating stability in those countries through effective cooperation in crucial areas related to sustainable development. Given the interdependence between economic development and achieving peace and security, Morocco has supported development in Africa by strengthening trade relations and economic investment and efforts at creating promising projects. No one doubts the crucial role of subregional organizations and groupings in achieving continental and regional aspirations, in particular in Africa. That is the reason for our commitment to the greater Maghreb project and our ongoing readiness to operationalize it as soon as possible in order to contribute to the stability and prosperity of the five States that comprise it. Based on our belief in the need to develop and promote forums for cooperation and coordination among African States, Morocco, in cooperation with other brotherly African States, has established the 22-member Ministerial Conference on Fisheries Cooperation among African States Bordering the Atlantic Ocean. The goal of the Conference is to work together to share expertise in various areas, including human and sustainable development and combating organized crime. Achieving the shared objectives of the United Nations and regional organizations, in particular in the area of international peace and security, must take into consideration the following aspects. First, there must be a clear understanding and vision and respect for the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the charters of regional organizations. Secondly, with regard to the primary responsibility of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security, the Charter of the United Nations calls on the Council to encourage the peaceful resolution of local conflicts through regional organizations, on the basis of requests by the States concerned or through a referral by the Council, in full respect with other provisions of the Charter. Thirdly, there should be joint assessments and consultations between parties in order to avoid any competition likely to hamper or delay the ending of a conflict and the resolution of a dispute. Fourthly, the United Nations and regional organizations must pre-empt conflicts and disputes and prevent them from escalating. Fifthly, the root causes of conflict should be addressed, in particular on the economic, political and security levels. In addition, any trends towards cessation, instability and terrorism must be combated. The United Nations, including its entire membership and all its agencies, should strengthen its support for efforts to achieve comprehensive development, as well as to contribute to encouraging reform, democratic transformation and good governance. 5 Sixthly, in cases that concern more than one regional organization, experience has demonstrated the need for consultation among such organizations, as well as with the United Nations. That would help to avoid the duplication of effort and potential competition, as well as to identify the most qualified organization to address a given situation. The African Maghreb, proud of its strong historic relations with its brothers on the continent, is fully prepared to support every United Nations effort to strengthen the security and stability of African States, in full respect for their sovereignty, independence, national unity and territorial integrity. We are also prepared to participate effectively in any effort to combat terrorism, piracy and the scourge of drugs, which threaten the safety and security of our brothers in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa. Finally, I would like to draw the attention of the Council and the Secretariat to the Arabic text of the draft resolution before the Council. It has many shortcomings; including misspellings and parts that appear to be truncated. I would like that to be addressed.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Ethiopia in her capacity as the Chair of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.

Ms. Sinegiorgis (Ethiopia): At the outset, I wish to express our appreciation to the Republic of South Africa for organizing this open debate on the strategic partnership between the United Nations and the African Union (AU), as well as for providing the concept note (S/2012/20) and for making it possible for the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to participate in this very important debate. In the same vein, I would like to commend the Secretariat for the report of the Secretary-General on United Nations-African Union cooperation in peace and security (S/2011/805). I also wish to seize this opportunity to commend the African Union Peace and Security Council for organizing a debate on the same subject at the beginning of the week in Addis Ababa, and the African Union Commission for issuing a comprehensive report concerning this critical partnership. The meeting in Addis Ababa was indeed a very important event, which gave us the opportunity to redouble our resolve to strengthen the African Union's partnership with the United Nations, based on the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, as well as the principles of complementarity, subsidiarity, burden-sharing, comparative advantages and flexibility. I also wish to associate myself and, indeed, fully subscribe to the statements delivered by Commissioner Lamamra and Mr. Moses Wetangula. In our view, this debate has come at the right time- a time when Africa is making tremendous efforts to address the peace and security deficit, at the continental and subregional levels, through the African Peace and Security Architecture. IGAD is encouraged by the level of cooperation that exists between the United Nations, on the one hand, and the African Union and African subregional organizations, such as IGAD, on the other. We also welcome the intention to consider further steps to promote closer cooperation. We note with appreciation that, in the past few years, significant strides have been made in conflict resolution, peacekeeping and post-conflict peacebuilding and reconstruction. That is indeed in consonance with the overriding objective of the African Union's peace and security agenda, which is to create an enabling momentum for a more integrated, peaceful and prosperous Africa. In this regard, the signing and implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in the Sudan, the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur and the African Union Mission in Somalia are illustrative examples of cooperation based on flexibility and making best use of the comparative advantages of the African Union, subregional organizations such as IGAD and the United Nations in the areas of effective mediation, peacekeeping and peacebuilding strategies. In IGAD, we always emphasize the overriding role of the African Union in matters of continental peace and security. It is because of this unwavering commitment that we make every effort to coordinate subregional efforts with our continental organization. It must be underlined that no meeting of IGAD, at any level whatsoever and no matter how sensitive the issue on the agenda, takes place without the presence of the African Union. We have no doubt that, by acting together, we have the potential to produce results beyond the sum of the constituent parts. Despite many positive developments, the challenges of clarity of mandate, capacity deficit and predictable, flexible and timely financing remain issues of concern. Therefore, it is vital that all parties concerned continue their engagements in activities aimed at reaching innovative and feasible solutions to those important elements of a comprehensive and effective implementation of this strategic partnership. While emphasizing the need to consolidate these gains, we believe that the African Union, and through it subregional organizations like IGAD, should be supported by the Security Council, based on the principles of complementarity and subsidiarity, as enunciated in Chapter VIII of United Nations Charter. We are of the view that those continental and subregional organizations are better placed in terms of geographical proximity, political and cultural familiarity with local conditions, and shared experiences with regard to regional peace and security initiatives. Hence, without prejudice to the global mandate of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security, the international community will benefit by lending the requisite support to those institutions for the maintenance of regional peace and security. In this regard, greater efforts are required to ensure that the cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union is more effective, including through joint planning and joint assessments for peace operations on the continent. Those efforts must be guided by respect for each organization's mandate and responsibilities, seeking the best division of labour among them. The mandate of the Security Council is clear. It is the body that has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, but it should not be too difficult to apply Chapter VIII with flexibility and wisdom, the goal being to address a common challenge. Indeed, the results IGAD has achieved, in partnership with the AU, in the Sudan, Somalia and other areas of regional security concern are illustrative of what can be achieved in this regard. Thus, we would like to emphasize the need for the United Nations to intensify such regional initiatives and to accelerate its efforts to implement the United Nations 10-year capacity-building programme for the African Union. More strident efforts are also required to fully operationalize the African Union's African Peace and Security Architecture, including the African Standby Force and the continental early warning system. Furthermore, the enhancement of cooperation between the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council, including the annual consultations, is vital for reaching those objectives. It is our considered view that those meetings should result in concrete action on the modalities and means for the development of strategic partnerships when addressing specific issues of mutual interest and concern. In this regard, concrete steps should also be taken to strengthen the policy-level coordination between those two important entities to avoid not only conflicting positions but also duplication of efforts. At the operational level, the Secretariat and the African Union Commission need to ensure the complementarities of their efforts, as well as realistic benchmarks and timelines. Strengthening the efforts of the African Union and its institutional capacity to effectively plan, deploy and manage peacekeeping operations is a key prerequisite for their success. It is also of high importance that the African Union ensure leadership and ownership of the process. That will require greater partnerships, inclusiveness and purposeful leadership. We believe that there is scope in the cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union to incorporate those vital elements. Our best intentions, however, will amount to nothing if we fail to provide adequate, flexible and predictable funding for peacekeeping operations in Africa. It is also necessary to coordinate efforts between the United Nations and regional organizations. IGAD strongly supports closer collaboration between the United Nations and the African Union and subregional organizations. To stimulate a more comprehensive engagement of regional organizations, we must replace old habits and institutional protectionism with an open and flexible approach, adapted to the particular situation at hand. Allow me to conclude by expressing our congratulations to the new members of the Council and our immense gratitude to Gabon and Nigeria for having represented Africa in such an excellent manner.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Nigeria in her capacity as Chair of the Economic Community of West African States.

Mrs. ngu (Nigeria): Allow me to convey Nigeria's profound appreciation to the Republic of South Africa for having convened this high-level meeting in continuation of the dialogue on strengthening the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union (AU). Let me affirm Nigeria's unalloyed support for that laudable initiative. President Goodluck Jonathan, in his capacity as Chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), greatly appreciates the invitation extended to him to participate in today's debate. I would also like to express my appreciation to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his leadership and commitment to peace and security in Africa. His comprehensive report (S/2011/805), which appropriately sets the tone for today's debate, is pertinent for its concrete proposals for improving the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union. We owe a great debt to the Kenyan Foreign Minister, Chair of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union, and Commissioner Lamamra for their illuminating perspectives and important insights. In Africa's increasingly dynamic and complex security environment, the need to strengthen the partnership between the United Nations and the AU, two organizations whose efforts have proven critical in addressing peace and security challenges, cannot be overemphasized. We therefore welcome the important milestones that have been achieved in the relationship between the two bodies over the past two decades. We appreciate, in particular, the increasingly horizontal and vertical cooperation between the two organizations and their key organs and institutions. The launching of the United Nations-AU Joint Task Force on Peace and Security on 25 September 2010, the establishment of the United Nations Office to the African Union in Addis Ababa and the regular desk-to-desk meetings have all borne fruit and significantly enhanced the cooperation and coordination between the United Nations Secretariat and the AU Commission. It is encouraging that the meetings of the Task Force have provided valuable opportunities for both organs to seek lasting solutions to the conflict situations in Somalia, Cote d'lvoire, the Sudan and Libya. For the partnership to be viable, sustainable and strategic, it must be underpinned by clarity of guidance. Indeed, we share the Secretary-General's view that the partnership should be based on comparative advantages, the complementarity of mandates and optimal use of resources and capacities. It must be stated that cooperation between the Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council is of singular importance to the growing partnership between the United Nations as a whole and the AU. As a current member of the AU Peace and Security Council, having just concluded our tenure in the Security Council, we are fully cognizant of the central role that both organs play in the maintenance of international peace and security. Regular consultative meetings between them are, therefore, not only desirable but imperative. In July 2010, under Nigeria's presidency of the Security Council, both organs, meeting in New York, agreed to a specific format and modalities for their annual consultative meetings. That is a good step forward. We expect qualitative progress on that understanding and more Vigorous discussion of substantive, not just procedural, issues at future consultative meetings. Peacekeeping in Africa is an integral and vital part of the maintenance of international peace and security, for which the Council has primary responsibility. Undoubtedly, it is the core area of cooperation between the United Nations and the AU and, conversely, the area bearing the greatest and most significant challenge. When the AU undertakes a United Nations- mandated peacekeeping operation, it faces multiple financing, equipping and mission support challenges. Those demands often outweigh its resources and capacities to effectively respond. The lessons learned from the workshop of November 2010 between the United Nations and the AU reinforces our View that a great deal still needs to be done on mission planning, the development of doctrines and policies and the operationalization of the African Standby Force. On Somalia, while we welcome the United Nations effort to augment its footprint with the establishment of the United Nations office in Mogadishu, we also believe that the full provision of both light and heavy support packages for the African Union Mission in Somalia will be a realistic way to underpin recent security gains. Ultimately, a full and robust United Nations peacekeeping operation will be the panacea to the relentless insecurity, piracy and humanitarian challenges in the country. With respect to Darfur, the signing of the Doha agreement provides the impetus for the Security Council to give its consent to the convening of the Darfur political process, as called for by the African Union. In their statements this morning, several delegations aptly acknowledged that the success of any peacekeeping operation is largely dependent on adequate and timely financial and logistical resources. Yet, financing AU peacekeeping operations remains a daunting challenge. Indeed, as the Prodi panel report notes, "financing options are not difficult to identify" (5/2008/813, paragraph 7). The problem persists because we, the stakeholders, have failed to adopt the far-reaching and creative alternatives required. Existing frameworks have so far not been found conducive to building sustainable strategies for peacekeeping partnership. The Council must consider endorsing a financing option that guarantees the predictability, sustainability and flexibility of funding for AU peacekeeping operations. In that regard, Nigeria welcomes the establishment of the AU High-Level Panel on Alternative Sources of Funding, set up in July 2011 under the chairmanship of former President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, and hopes that the Panel would be supported in achieving its critical mandate. Greater progress is also required in the implementation of the Ten-Year Capacity-Building Programme. Looking ahead to a more strategic partnership, both organizations must intensify their investment in conflict prevention, mediation and peacebuilding. Nigeria believes that preventive diplomacy strategies, such as early warning systems and mediation, are pivotal to the attainment of peace and security on the continent. Indeed, for that reason we sought to address the issue of conflict prevention during our presidency of the Security Council in July 2010 (see S/PV.6360). The AU has worked assiduously over the past decade to build a viable framework for prevention and response, not least through the Panel of the Wise and the AU Peace and Security Council. ECOWAS has also made great strides in that area, primarily through the steady implementation of its conflict prevention framework, including its council of elders, fact-finding and electoral support missions and early warning systems. Even more significant, both organizations have developed robust peacekeeping mechanisms. Such seminal work at the regional and subregional levels must be supported by decisions taken within the United Nations. That is why Nigeria welcomes the effort by both the United Nations and the AU secretariat to develop common guidelines that are delineated in the framework for mediation in Africa from lessons learned in Kenya, Darfur, Somalia and Guinea-Bissau. We take this opportunity to call for increased collaboration between the United Nations and the African Union in the drafting of resolutions that would not only address our inherent challenges, but also propel us towards meeting our shared aspirations for a more peaceful world. That is, indeed, an achievable objective if it is underpinned by a closer partnership between the United Nations and regional organizations, particularly the African Union and ECOWAS.

The President: It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it, contained in document S/2012/25. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now. A vote was taken by Show of hands. In favour: Azerbaijan, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Guatemala, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Portugal, Russian Federation, South Africa, Togo, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America The President: There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2033 (2012). I now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements after the voting.

Mr. Parham (United Kingdom): The United Kingdom has just voted in favour of resolution 2033 (2012) because we are convinced of the important role that regional organizations can play in the pursuit of peace and security in Africa and elsewhere. The United Kingdom recognizes in particular the contribution that the African Union is making to preventing and managing conflict in Africa, and commends the cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union in that regard. However, we do not believe that that cooperation, however welcome in principle, should come at the expense either of the Security Council's primacy in respect of the maintenance of international peace and security or of its practical capacity to respond speedily and effectively to any threat to international peace and security. We regret that the hurried manner in which the text of the resolution was negotiated has left in place some potential ambiguities on those issues. I would like therefore to clarify the United Kingdom's position. In particular, the text refers in paragraph 6 to coordination between the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council. In those instances where we consider coordination to be appropriate, it can occur only in the context of the primacy of the Security Council regarding the maintenance of international peace and security. Effective cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations calls for an emphasis on timely 10 communication and consultation and the avoidance of prescribed procedures that are inflexible in the face of varied and urgent challenges. The United Kingdom supports efforts further to enhance relations between the Council and regional and subregional organizations in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.

The President: There are no further names inscribed on the list of speakers. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The meeting rose at 4.35 p.m. 12-20579