S/PV.7505Resumption1 Security Council

The President: In accordance with rule 37 of the Security Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Benin and Uganda to participate in this meeting. I wish to remind all speakers to limit their statements to no more than four minutes in order to enable the Council to carry out its work expeditiously. Delegations with lengthy statements are kindly requested to circulate their statements in writing and to deliver a condensed version when speaking in the Chamber. I now give the floor to the representative of Italy.

Mr. Lambertini (Italy): I thank you, Madam President, for taking the initiative to convene this open debate on such an important topic. I also wish to thank the Secretary-General for his briefing this morning. Italy aligns itself with the statement delivered earlier by the observer of the European Union (EU) and would like to add a few remarks in its national capacity. As pointed out by Nigeria in the concept note circulated for this meeting (8/2015/599, annex), the contemporary global security system increasingly hinges on cooperation between the Security Council and regional and subregional organizations. Regional organizations can at times be better positioned to respond to emergencies and crises. The United Nations - and the Security Council - should use its comparative advantage in ensuring coherence in the response of the international community, and should avoid duplication. While the partnership in peace operations between the United Nations and some organizations, such as the European Union, is already well established, we think that it could be further intensified. On the operational level, for instance, cooperation in support and logistics, in enhancing the exchange of information and analysis, in the rule of law and in defence and security sector reform may prove beneficial. The same is true in regard to cooperation between the EU and other regional organizations, such as the African Union (AU). We welcome and support the efforts of the African Union to strengthen its capacity in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peacekeeping, as well as its active role in defining and implementing African solutions to African problems. We are also ready to promote and support other regional and subregional initiatives in this field. We know that the scheme for cooperation on security between the United Nations and regional organizations is built on three pillars: peacekeeping, accountability and peacebuilding. With regard to each pillar, Italy is strongly committed to further strengthening those relationships, in conformity with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. Today we would like to focus on five related challenges. The first challenge is achieving coherence. While today we can say that coordination has improved, United Nations mandates are still rather general. That can lead to a decentralized decision-making process, which sometimes overlaps, or is not properly coordinated with, United Nations Headquarters. We should strive to ensure clarity on respective mandates at the highest political level. The second challenge is to create a common culture in the field through training and guidance. Training is crucial to ensure the success and the reputation of a mission. Italy has a strong record in training national personnel for peace operations. Respect for human rights, the protection of civilians and a gender perspective are embedded in national military training curriculums. Since 2005, the Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU), in Vicenza, has trained over 5,000 police personnel from different countries to be deployed in peacekeeping operations. That reality represents a common training platform with other regional organizations, including in the Middle East and Asia. Leadership training is key as well. To that end, full use should be made of in-house training opportunities and tools, considering the extensive offerings by the United Nations System Staff College, in Torino, the Global Service Centre, in Brindisi, and the Regional Service Centre, in Entebbe, Uganda. The third challenge involves protecting civilians and ensuring justice. Italy has signed the Kigali Declaration on the Protection of Civilians, a document that is setting a standard that should be followed by the international community. In order to ensure the effective protection of civilians, strong unity of intent among the United Nations membership is needed. We must strengthen our support for the International Criminal Court by ensuring appropriate follow-up to Security Council referrals. F ourthly, we must ensure a comprehensive approach through coordinated support for the justice and security sector. Rule of law and security sector reform (SSR) activities have been at the core of both United Nations and European Union missions over the past decade. The cooperation in place in Mali might set a good precedent for future endeavours. The EU's SSR mission - the European Union Capacity Building Mission for the Sahel and Mali, has been prepared in close collaboration with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. We should also work for a standing working group on SSR and the rule of law that serves regional organizations and the United Nations. Fifthly, we must invest financial and political capital in the prevention of conflicts. Preventing conflicts means affirming the primacy of politics, dialogue and mediation as essential tools to address global contemporary challenges of global security. In that framework, the role of civil society is crucial. We believe that engaging with civil society works best if it is a two-way process. It is important that regional organizations strengthen civil society's role, including through the promotion of human rights, support for the role of women and access to health care andjustice. Lastly, let me also briefly mention the issue of migration - a question that is transnational by definition, and therefore simply cannot be adequately addressed without consistent and close cooperation among States and international and regional organizations, such as the League of Arab States and the African Union. Italy is today at the forefront of efforts to deal with migration flows in the Mediterranean Sea and will spare no efforts to keep saving the lives of hundreds of migrants every day - but solutions must be sustainable. Therefore, humanitarian interventions to save lives must be coupled with a comprehensive approach capable of dealing with the root causes of migration, and they must do so in partnership with all the stakeholders involved. That is why Italy is actively supporting the efforts to underpin new regional cooperation frameworks in that sector - for example, with the establishment of the Rabat and Khartoum processes. Italy is committed to accelerating as much as possible the implementation of concrete projects that will show the tangible benefits of that cooperation both in African and European countries.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Kazakhstan.

Mr. Abdrakhmanov (Kazakhstan): We thank the Nigerian presidency for convening this important open debate today, especially in the light of the highly tense political situations and armed conflicts in certain regions of the world. We also commend the Secretary- General for addressing these important debates and for his leadership in fostering dialogue with regional and subregional organizations. The past years have been marred by such alarming transnational and global security challenges as terrorism and radical extremism, the presence of foreign fighters, transnational organized crime, human trafficking, illicit drug trafficking, illegal migration and other serious threats. No country can fight those alone, nor can the United Nations do so by itself. Hence the call for closer cooperation with regional and subregional organizations. Today, as 80 per cent of all Blue Helmets are deployed in Africa, the collaboration among the United Nations, the African Union and the European Union is particularly important, especially between the Security Council and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union. All three are working on building on security cooperation mechanisms established since 2006, while developing more multidimensional and solid relationships than in the past. Kazakhstan encourages this positive progress towards greater common ground among the three entities through capacity-building for the AU in administrative, logistics and financial dimensions, and a greater convergence of political agendas. Hybrid and support missions, co-deployment and transitions all require their specific approaches in tandem with ensuring safety and security for all peacekeepers. The engagement of a larger number of African countries - through troop and financial contributions, following the principle of "non-indifference" - is a commendable trend that must be supported. We would like to commend in that regard the activities of African subregional entities, including the Southern African Development Community, the Economic Community of West African States and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, among others. We believe that such subregional organizations complement the role of the African Union. The experience of economic integration in the different parts of the world is of high interest for my country, as the founding member of the newly created Eurasian Economic Union. The benefits of United Nations cooperation with the vast range of regional structures are well known. However, the crux of that cooperation lies in enhancing our mutual understanding of the root causes of local disputes and other security challenges and drawing on the insights of regional structures for their prevention and peaceful settlement. We have to seek ways of improving our early-warning system, effective prevention, peacemaking, peacekeeping, peacebuilding and, most of all, recovery in the post- 2015 developmental phase. Likewise, the United Nations and regional organizations can work towards more effective implementation of Security Council sanctions and resolutions. To achieve effective collaboration, my delegation proposes expanding organizational dialogue and strengthening representation in the respective capitals. Equally critical are more distinct mandates for coordination and improved arrangements, joint planning, fact-finding and analysis, joint assessment missions, mutual organizational learning and harmonization of administrative borders, among others. But let us be aware of other regions too. Central Asia is an example. Although it is a bridge between the East and West, it also has its geographic disadvantages. To ensure security in the entire Asian region, in 1992 Kazakhstan initiated the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), a unique security forum pan-continental in nature, to implement confidence-building measures and forge political dialogue and interaction to promote peace and stability in Asia. Today, CICA, which extends from Cairo to Seoul, unifies 26 countries from all the subregions of the continent, including Western, Northern, Central, Southern, Southeastern and Eastern Asia. Kazakhstan, as one of the founding members, hosts the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre on narcotic drugs, a body that exemplifies the region's cooperation with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. My country is also one of the founders and the major initiator of the Shanghai Corporation Organization's (SCO) regional counter-terrorism structure, which includes six member States. In addition, the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force - assisted by CICA, the SCO and others - adopted in 2011 ajoint plan of action for the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia. That plan became the first model document, setting an example for implementing similar United Nations strategies in other regions of the world. To date, Kazakhstan is a member, observer or partner of 15 regional organizations in various regions of the world, and my country is proud to hold observer status in two continental associations, namely, the African Union and the Organization of American States. We also signed a cooperation agreement with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Kazakhstan is committed to the implementation of the transformative post-2015 development agenda and has proposed, therefore, that the new United Nations regional hub, which my Government offers, should promote sustainable development, humanitarian assistance, disaster-risk reduction and building resilience. That is particularly crucial in the light of the withdrawal of the International Security Assistance Force from Afghanistan and the growing disturbances witnessed within the region. Kazakhstan has also been a pioneer in creating the Islamic Organization for Food Security, with its headquarters now established in Astana, our capital. My country was instrumental in fostering human rights protection while chairing and serving as the coordinating country of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and other regional entities. Those initiatives resulted in a number of successful events under our leadership, such as the establishment of the OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission and the convening of the first CICA High- level Seminar on Sustainable Democratic Development. Finally, given the far-reaching implications and effects of enhanced regional-global partnerships, Kazakhstan remains committed to achieving greater coherence, complementary synergy and dynamism between the United Nations and regional organizations.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Poland.

Ms. Kassangana-Jakubowska (Poland): Let me add my words of appreciation to you, Madam President, for selecting such an important topic for today's open debate and for your delegation's excellent and comprehensive concept note (S/2015/599, annex) on the subject. This demonstrates once again your constant dedication to the issue before us today. Poland aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union (EU). Given the detailed EU statement, I would like to share with the Security Council just a few additional thoughts from our national perspective. We share the View, as presented in the concept note, that profound changes in the security environment and the many new challenges linked to it have led to the increased relevance and role of regional organizations. Cooperation at the regional level can very often be the most effective way of addressing many of today's challenges, such as irregular migration, human trafficking and smuggling, internal conflicts, energy shortages or cybercrimes. Regional organizations are often much better positioned and equipped to understand and react to the root causes of armed conflicts in their regions. Many recent examples have shown the importance of the involvement of regional organizations in conflict prevention and resolution, as well as in mediation. The role of the African Union in the resolution of the Mali conflict, the positive engagement of the Economic Community of West African States in finding a peaceful solution to the political crisis in Burkina Faso, and the continued efforts of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development to bring to an end to the crisis situation in South Sudan are only a few examples of the involvement of regional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security. In that context, we see the need to develop closer cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in fields such as early warning, conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. Let me recall that establishing strategic and operational partnerships between the United Nations and such organizations was recognized in the 2005 World Summit Outcome. Also, two important reports published this year - by the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations (see S/2015/446) and by the Advisory Group of Experts on the 2015 review of the United Nations peacebuilding architecture - have shown that the United Nations cannot succeed alone. We should now do our best to turn their recommendations into practice. Europe has the longest and greatest experience in building collective security institutions at the regional level. This year we celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the signing of the Helsinki Final Act, which laid the foundation for the establishment of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The Ukrainian crisis has presented one of the greatest challenges in the region in the field of security issues. During that crisis, the OSCE has showed a solid degree of efficiency and relevance and proved that it is still worth a substantial investment to make it even more effective. Poland would like to emphasize the special role of the OSCE in the process of de-escalation of the conflict in Ukraine. Unfortunately, not all parties members of the OSCE have adequately supported the efforts aimed at the success of the peace process. It is also important that the safety and security of OSCE personnel engaged in those activities be guaranteed by all parties involved, and supported by the Members of the United Nations, as is the case with peacekeeping operations. We recognize that sustainable development is an important factor in addressing the root causes of conflicts and tensions. Poland is the current President of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. One of the priorities of our presidency is to develop a new agenda for sustainable development after 2015, which will pave the way for the regional implementation of the global sustainable development goals being elaborated in the framework of the United Nations. Finally, let me conclude by emphasizing the importance of coordination and cooperation both between the United Nations and regional organizations, and among regional organizations themselves. I am convinced that only by acting together, with the United Nations at the centre of the multilateral system, and with effective regional organizations having properly developed capacities in the fields of early warning, mediation, conflict prevention and resolution, can we tackle the complex security challenges we are facing today.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Pakistan.

Ms. Lodhi (Pakistan): On behalf of my delegation, I would like to thank Nigeria for convening this important meeting of the Security Council. I also wish to thank the Secretary-General for his comprehensive and insightful briefing this morning. We meet at a time of unprecedented and complex global and regional challenges. Large parts ofthe Middle East are in flames, afflicted by multiple inter- and intra-State conflicts, the spread of terrorism, external intervention and power struggles and massive human dislocation and suffering. Confrontation between the major Powers has returned to Europe and threatens to encompass Asia. Poverty stalks Africa and persists in South Asia. Global threats to peace and world order from diverse sources are also multiplying - climate change, poverty, unemployment, especially among youth, water scarcity, a record number of refugees and forced migrants, and gross violations of human rights. Yet this is also a time of opportunity. Today, an interconnected and interdependent world possesses the financial, scientific and organizational capabilities to address those imposing and myriad challenges. What is needed is political will, especially among key global and regional Powers, to utilize those capabilities effectively and cooperatively, and to rise above their narrow interests and competing agendas. Regional organizations can contribute to addressing many of those challenges, especially their economic and social dimensions. They can also promote the greater and closer political consultations that are essential to addressing the security dimensions of those challenges. In the realm of security, the role of regional organizations and mechanisms has been recognized as well as circumscribed in Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. Regional organizations and groupings can serve effectively to promote mediation, arbitration and other peaceful means of conflict resolution. But in this sphere the United Nations, and especially the Security Council, has absolute primacy. Any enforcement action and any use of coercive means to implement international decisions can be authorized only by the Security Council. Each regional organization is unique and different in its historical origins, mandate, membership, evolution and capabilities. Some have proved their worth and made valuable contributions, among them the European Union, the African Union, the League of Arab States and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Others, such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), have much potential but have yet to fulfil their promise. SAARC has been constrained because of the deep differences among its members and efforts to utilize it for regional domination. Some regional organizations have great and untapped potential. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is one of them. That relatively newer grouping can advance the goals of economic development, stability and security across the broad swath of Euro-Asia. Among those organizations, the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) is in a unique position. It includes 57 United Nations States Members - almost a third of the membership. It spans four continents. Its members are directly or indirectly involved in the numerous security challenges that bedevil the Middle East, Africa and beyond. Collectively and in cooperation with the United Nations, the OIC has the capabilities to address and overcome those challenges, including Palestine and other Middle East conflicts, as well as the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. The OIC can also contribute to the promotion of global peace and prosperity. The United Nations should actively promote cooperation with the OIC in areas such as mediation and conciliation in disputes, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, humanitarian assistance, especially to refugees and displaced people, and in addressing the root causes of conflicts and extremism. Cooperation between regional organizations can also be very useful. For instance, in the context of the current challenges in West Asia, cooperation and consultation could be most valuable between the SCO and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Equally, regular consultations between the Gulf Cooperation Council and key countries of West Asia can be timely, among other things, to deal with the shared threat from violent extremism and to devise common strategies on related issues. Finally, the Pakistan delegation looks forward to the concrete follow-up that we hope will emerge from this important deliberation of the Security Council.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Viet Nam.

Mrs. Nguyen (Viet Nam): I have the honour to speak on behalfofthe States members ofthe Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and my own country, Viet Nam. We commend the initiative by the Nigerian presidency to hold this important open debate. In the year in which we celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations, a year that will set new directions for the Organization in many areas of its work, it is indeed important to reflect on the challenges ahead and the critical role that regional organizations can play in addressing these challenges. Our collective efforts in the maintenance of international peace and security are now faced with increasingly complex threats, in both the traditional and non-traditional sense. Conflicts are taking new forms with the rise of extremist groups in control of a large swath of territories. Intra-State conflicts are not winding down, while inter-Sate tensions remain a major source of concern. New non-traditional security issues also pose serious challenges to global security, as highlighted in recent debates of the Security Council. Comprehensive approaches, which should include a prominent role for regional organizations, are required so as to achieve tailored and sustainable solutions to such challenges. In this connection, ASEAN member States are pleased with the efforts by the United Nations, including the Security Council, to engage with and promote the contribution of regional organizations. With the adoption of relevant resolutions, the partnership between the United Nations and regional organizations and among regional organizations themselves is being strengthened, especially in conflict prevention, mediation, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. We commend the efforts made by the Secretary-General and the Security Council in this regard. ASEAN has strived to strengthen its own ability to address regional security challenges in accordance with its Charter. ASEAN has made significant progress in making an ASEAN community a reality, including the advancements made under the political-security pillar. ASEAN works closely with our dialogue partners in various ASEAN-led mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum, ASEAN Plus Three, the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus, and leads efforts to build a regional architecture conducive to regional stability and prosperity. We are intensifying ongoing efforts by the State parties to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone and the nuclear-weapon States to resolve all outstanding issues in accordance with the objectives and principles of the Treaty pertaining to the signing and ratifying of the Protocol to that Treaty. We are also working with partners to develop tools for conflict prevention and the peaceful settlement of disputes, including a code of conduct in the South China Sea. ASEAN continues to attach great importance to our partnership with the United Nations. ASEAN and the United Nations have been partners in addressing issues of common interest and concern within the region and beyond. The ASEAN-United Nations Comprehensive Partnership continues to be advanced with the implementation of the work plan of 2015. ASEAN member States have deepened their engagement with various United Nations efforts, including United Nations peacekeeping operations. Cooperation between the two secretariats has been regularized through a number of consultations, workshops and dialogues. ASEAN welcomes the appointment of a United Nations liaison officer to the ASEAN secretariat. Moving forward, ASEAN believes that regional organizations can do more to address new security challenges. First, ASEAN's own experience has shown that the ASEAN way of consensus-building, sustained engagement, respectfortheviews ofallparties concerned and the fundamental principles of international law, including respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, non-interference in their internal affairs and the peaceful settlement of disputes, is the best way to address common challenges. As the Chair of ASEAN put it at the forty-eighth ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, ASEAN history is built upon the twin pillars of dialogue and diplomacy. Secondly, it might be necessary to adequately reflect on the role of regional organizations in the ongoing reviews of United Nations peacekeeping, peacebuilding architecture and other important exercises. The forthcoming reports of the Secretary-General on this important work could provide assessments and, most importantly, recommendations on how to further promote the engagement of regional organizations. Thirdly, ASEAN is supportive of enhancing consultations and dialogue among regional organizations with the United Nations to share best practices, expertise and resources, so that we can fully utilize our collective capacity to meet new, complex challenges. In particular, regional organizations have the comparative advantages of geographical proximity and a better understanding of the context of the problems. ASEAN looks forward to closer engagement with the United Nations and with other regional organizations, including during the upcoming high-level week of the General Assembly. Fourthly, no two regional organizations are the same. Each has its unique characteristics, objectives and functions. In working to address any international security challenge, the partnership between the United Nations and a regional organization must build upon an accurate understanding of each other's nature and strengths as well as limitations. I would like to conclude by underscoring that the partnership between ASEAN and the United Nations has been beneficial to regional peace and stability. We look forward to continued United Nations support for ASEAN centrality in our regional security architecture. ASEAN reiterates its commitment to contributing to the work of the United Nations and stands ready to work closely with the United Nations and other partners in our joint efforts to address the new challenges of the day.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Indonesia.

Mr. Anshor (Indonesia): Indonesia congratulates Nigeria on its presidency for the month of August and expresses its appreciation to you, Madam President, for having convened this open debate. We also thank the Secretary-General for his briefing. Indonesia aligns itself with the statements made earlier by the representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Viet Nam on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, respectively. There is no denying that the role of regional and subregional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security currently reflects significant progress. Their growing contribution and particularly their cooperation with the United Nations, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter, is commendable. As a consistent and robust supporter of regional organizations, Indonesia is pleased that today's theme has been discussed on a regular basis by the Council. My delegation has always underlined the value of the capacities of regional and subregional entities to foster peace and security through strong and regionally owned frameworks for conflict prevention, peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. Indonesia, during its presidency of the Council in November 2007, organized a debate with a similar topic to focus on existing and potential capacities of regional organizations and to identify and develop modalities by which to enhance cooperation between these organizations and the United Nations, including the Security Council. The presidential statement adopted on that occasion (S/PRST/2007/42) stressed, among other things, developing an effective partnership between the Council and regional and subregional organizations, so as to enable an early response to disputes and emerging crises. The more complex, multidimensional and interlinked threats posed by contemporary challenges to global security, as also rightly mentioned in the concept note (S/2015/599, annex), demand a creative approach from regional and subregional actors, an approach that puts greater primacy on cooperation and synergy and that can incorporate the holistic nature of threats while dealing with the unique factors present in each situation. Such an approach is undoubtedly a challenge for the United Nations, which needs to sharpen its response in dynamic situations and must actualize it in such a way that regional and subregional views are appropriately reflected and the intergovernmental system can fully own those United Nations responses. Regional organizations are uniquely positioned to advise and contribute to peacemaking and peacebuilding, because they often share bonds of history and fraternity that give them insights into how to resolve local conflicts. In that regard, Indonesia emphasizes the significance of enhanced consultation, trust, cooperation and collaboration for optimizing the comparative advantages of the United Nations and regional actors. Within South-East Asia, it has been our policy to maintain peace and stability together with other ASEAN member States by strengthening our capacities and upholding shared norms aimed at consolidating peace and at actively preventing and resolving conflicts. The dividends have been many. Today South-East Asia is one of the most dynamic regions in the world. Peace and stability in South-East Asia have been critical not only for global trade but also for larger global peace and security. It is important for Indonesia that ASEAN continues to become a net contributor to peace, development and prosperity. To that end, in 2011, under Indonesia's chairpersonship, ASEAN adopted the Bali Declaration on ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations, which serves as a common ASEAN platform for addressing key global issues of shared interest in multilateral forums, including the United Nations. Outside South-East Asia, we have also worked hard to promote a new regional architecture in the Asia-Pacific region, one capable of yielding greater and more durable peace and in which the relations among the major Powers can remain peaceful and cooperative. We hope that it will help emerging Powers to find their proper place without triggering mistrust. Furthermore, Indonesia is one of the countries that has been actively supporting and developing a framework of cross-regional consultations and cooperation linking and coordinating various regional and subregional organizations, such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Asia-Europe Meeting and the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation, so that they can confront common global challenges. In April we initiated and hosted the 2015 summit of the Asian-African Conference, aimed at strengthening partnerships among Asian and African nations, while also emphasizing synergies among various regional and subregional organizations on the two continents. Our shared global challenges will be best tackled when we all act responsibly and in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and international law, and when we enable and support regional and subregional organizations in their efforts to fully perform their roles. While the various regional and subregional actors are certainly at different levels of development, each possesses particular strengths and has great potential to contribute to the work of the Council. We are positive that, through discussions such as today's and by ensuring that tangible follow-up steps are taken, the strengths of the various regional actors can be harnessed more effectively for the common good. Indonesia, for its part, is fully committed to continuing to contribute to that end.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of South Africa.

Mr. Mminele (South Africa): I would like to begin by joining previous speakers, Madam President, in congratulating you and your delegation on your assumption of your important role, and in wishing you success in steering the work of the Security Council during your presidency. South Africa commends you for giving special attention to this important topic during your presidency, and we welcome today's debate, which will, we hope, help to strengthen cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations. Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations recognizes that cooperation with regional and subregional bodies can improve collective security. For its part, the African Union (AU) has established, as part of the African Peace and Security Architecture, the African Union Peace and Security Council, which is, among other things, a standing decision-making organ for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts on the African continent. Despite the challenges faced by the African Union and its subregional organizations, such as a lack of predictable sources of funding, they remain a reservoir of critical knowledge about the nature of conflicts on the continent. They have a distinct comparative advantage in addressing conflicts in often complex environments and are usually able to deploy troops to areas of conflict without delay. Regional and subregional organizations also have the distinct advantage of being able to respond rapidly to conflicts that arise, as evidenced by the various African-led international support missions, such as those in Mali and the Central African Republic. Such rapid response missions have acted as bridges to the more sustainable United Nations peacekeeping missions. In 2012 South Africa piloted the adoption of resolution 2033 (2012), which built on resolution 1809 (2008), adopted during the April 2008 South African presidency of the Security Council. The two resolutions encourage the strengthening of regular interaction, consultation and coordination between the two bodies on matters of mutual interest. Moreover, their strategic thrust is aimed at promoting political and legislative coherence between the Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council in dealing with African peace and security challenges. Since that time we have seen the benefits of the collaboration between the United Nations and the African Union and its subregional organizations. At the operational level, the United Nations Secretariat has been active in supporting the AU's Peace and Security Architecture through the implementation of a 10-year capacity-building programme. Both organizations also benefit fromthe deploymentofjointtechnicalassessment missions. Further examples of such cooperation are the hybrid model of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, the assistance provided to the African Union Mission in Somalia and, recently, the robust mandate developed for the Intervention Brigade of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Such collaborative efforts, benefitting from the experience of the more robust mandates espoused by regional and subregional bodies, illustrate the importance of closer collaboration between the United Nations and Chapter VIII bodies. We must also be aware that the principles of national ownership and the sovereignty of States, which should be respected ifwe are to create lasting peace, are central to the sustainability of peace initiatives. Steps, however minimal, taken by those directly affected by a conflict, including regional and subregional organizations, should be taken into consideration and, where possible, built upon. South Africa believes that, given the scarcity of financial and human capital, a clear division of labour and productive burden-sharing between the United Nations and regional organizations is critical to sustainable conflict resolution and prevention efforts. We also believe that regional organizations could benefit from flexible and predictable financial support from the United Nations and other international institutions and stakeholders. In conclusion, in South Africa we believe that cooperation between the United Nations and the region and its subregions can further enhance capacity so as to ensure complementarity and minimize the duplication of efforts. Ultimately, however, we must draw on the strengths of each organization and be prepared to adopt more flexible and sometimes more robust approaches to addressing conflicts in a more effective manner. The United Nations needs to adjust to an environment that requires a more nuanced approach rather than rigid procedures that have proved ineffective.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Uruguay.

Mr. Ceriani (Uruguay) (spoke in Spanish): My delegation would like to thank and congratulate Nigeria on its conduct of the presidency ofthe Security Council for August, and also for its timely choice of subject for today's open debate, which enables the Council and the international community to advance the Organization's essential task of maintaining international peace and security. As the concept note (S/2015/599, annex) circulated for today's debate clearly highlights, the international environment has been undergoing profound and rapid changes that challenge the Organization and the international community and make it necessary to act in a coordinated and effective way to tackle those changes. In that regard, the nature of the new global security challenges cannot be addressed in the same way that they were even a decade ago. Increasing threats and their transnational character, such as pandemics, organized crime and various forms of terrorism, require States to act together, because individually they do not have the ability to control those threats. Therefore, the role they play in regional and subregional organizations under Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations can be a key element in the fight against such global threats. Uruguay, as a member of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), finds in that organization a framework for regional cooperation that seeks to collectively confront the challenges of our region. Today we are witnessing multiple conflicts that have progressively deteriorated and cause growing concern that the world is far from seeing the purposes and principles essential for peaceful coexistence, development and cooperation among peoples and nations fulfilled. To be able to enforce those purposes and principles and ensure the maintenance of international peace and security, regional organizations should work from the outset to include conflict prevention and resolution and to generate other initiatives that contribute to safeguarding regional peace and security. They must work in an ongoing and tireless way, while being creative and resourceful in response to such global challenges, and they must support conditions that ensure political stability and democratic governance in their regions and institutions so as to ensure the rule of law, the promotion and protection of human rights and the defence of the territorial integrity of States and their right to inclusive and sustainable socioeconomic development. In that task, UNASUR has, for example, been able to develop a strategy that has managed to solve problems, using good offices and mediation in situations of tension between its members, even in the internal crises of some of them. That has been possible because the work has been based on the view that democracy serves as a beacon to guide actions for adoption whenever a threat had emerged. Moreover, the main security body accountable to UNASUR is the South American Defence Council, established at the end of 2008 and the main objective of which is to serve as an active forum for political dialogue with the aim of defusing potential conflicts in the region. The South American Defence Council does not seek to create a South American armed force, nor does it wish to develop a joint operative capability or a common defence policy. Rather, it seeks to achieve the consolidation of the South as a zone of peace capable of shaping a South American identity with regard to defence and of generating consensus to strengthen regional cooperation on such issues. Today we can say with satisfaction that Latin America and the Caribbean is a zone in which there are no serious conflicts between States that threaten international peace and security. In line with that fact, and continuing with the example of UNASUR, we note that the work of the organization, of which we are a part, is based on lessons learned in the region at different times of tension. We believe, without wishing to export models, that they can also be applied in those areas where the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter are today being violated. The need to adapt to new problem situations and the challenges they present can be the basis for providing a new dimension to regional organizations on cooperation in matters of peace and security. Similarly, coordination and cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations should be addressed so as to ensure the validity of the principles and values enshrined in the Charter of the Organization.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of the Republic of Korea.

Mr. Oh Joon (Republic of Korea): At the outset, allow me to congratulate you, Madam President, and the Government of Nigeria on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of August and for convening today's important debate. As we celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, we also pay tribute to the visionaries to whom we owe much gratitude for formulating the Charter of the United Nations with such wisdom and foresight. I join others in praising the insights enshrined in Chapter VIII of the Charter, which foresaw the need for the United Nations to establish deeper cooperation with regional organizations. Seventy years later, we are witnessing a trend whereby regional and subregional organizations are becoming more prominent features in the global peace and security landscape. Today the international community faces a vastly different set of security challenges and threats. In coping with them, regional organizations play an increasingly important role. We have seen the instrumental role of regional organizations, especially in the crucial stage of early response, in situations in Somalia, Mali, the Central African Republic, South Sudan and Burundi. Furthermore, the successful response of the African Union in countering the Ebola epidemic in West Africa highlights the convening power, political leverage and outreach of a regional organization. In recognition of the role that can be played by regional and subregional organizations, the Republic of Korea was one of the sponsors of resolution 2167 (2014). We appreciate the report by the High-level Independent Panel in Peace Operations (see S/2015/446), which calls for closer cooperation with regional organizations in addressing present and future conflicts. As a member of the Peacebuilding Commission's Organizational Committee, the Republic of Korea will seek ways to further develop close consultations with regional and subregional organizations and arrangements. Coming from a region where the role of regional organizations is not as prominent as in Africa or Europe, the Republic of Korea is nonetheless actively engaged in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) processes, including ASEAN-B, the ASEAN Regional Forum and the East Asian Summit. Last December, we hosted the Commemorative Summit on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the ASEAN-Republic of Korea dialogue relations. Furthermore, the Republic of Korea has promoted the Northeast Asia peace and Cooperation Initiative. Inspired by the experiences of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in making Europe whole and free in the aftermath of the Cold War, the Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative seeks to build a consensus on softer, yet critical, issues such as climate change, the environment, disaster relief and nuclear safety. We hope gradually to strengthen cooperation among regional players with a view to eventually addressing the region's more difficult issues. Today, as we speak of how best to implement regional cooperation, we need to be as imaginative as the Founding Fathers of the United Nations so that we can effectively address threats to peace and security of all kinds around the world.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Panama.

Ms. Franceschi Navarro (Panama) (spoke in Spanish): At the outset, let me thank the presidency of the Security Council, in the person of the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Nigeria, for convening this debate on the nature of current challenges to global security and the role that regional organizations and subregional organizations can play in the maintenance of international peace and security. This debate could not be more relevant. The global economy is more interconnected than ever, making global security a particularly relevant issue. What is therefore required is a certain minimum of security, stability and predictability at the global level so as to ensure that the flow and interconnectedness of the economy can guarantee well-being and prosperity for all. In that context, regional conflicts or tensions resulting from interreligious or intercultural disputes, or drug trafficking, loss oflives as a result of terrorism and infectious diseases such as Ebola, and natural disasters, among others, affect the supranational flow of goods, services, people and capital that characterizes the global economy of our times. Allow me to share just two figures that reflect that impressive flow and interconnection. In 2005, the number of migrants, globally, was estimated at 191 million people. In terms of capital flow, global remittances were estimated at $406 billion in 2012. In that context, the maintenance of international peace and security are key factors and prerequisites for the progress and prosperity of humankind. As Tavares has said, peace seeks to manage violence, while security seeks to manage threats. Therefore, the post- 2015 development agenda, "Transforming our world: the 2030 agenda for sustainable development", which will be adopted in September, envisions that its goals and targets will lead to a world free of poverty, hunger, disease, free from fear and violence, where all people can realize their potential. In particular, the target of goal 16, on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, is to substantially reduce illicit flows of weapons, promote the return of seized assets and combat all forms of organized crime, inter alia, by 2030. We therefore reaffirm that peace and security will be strengthened to the extent that there is inclusive development to support the health of our ecosystems and promote equality and respect for all human rights, democracy, human development, gender equality and the participation of women. Facing that challenge requires a commitment to conflict prevention, constructive dialogue, cooperation and collaboration, mutual respect and education as the primary tools for guaranteeing the international peace and security that we all desire. Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, as has been mentioned by several speakers, notes that Member States shall make every effort to peacefully settle local disputes through agreements or regional agencies or arrangements. To that end, regional agencies and organizations can play an important role in prevention and early warning of situations that undermine global peace and security in different parts of the world. In the Latin America and Caribbean region, we highlight the role played by regional entities in the struggle for security and peace among neighbours. It is important to clarify that in this region, sustainable economic and political progress is threatened not by the existence of weapons of mass destruction and nuclear weapons, but by inequality, the unmet needs of people, insecurity and the presence of organized criminal networks that are strengthened by drug trafficking networks in the region. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 36 per cent of homicides globally occur in the Americas. We note, for example, that the Organization of American States, the longest lasting regional entity, consisting of 35 States members, is a robust advocate of democracy, strengthening electoral systems and modernization of the State. With respect to crisis management, it promotes dialogue among the parties. We also stress the role of the States members of the Caribbean Community in decisively supporting United Nations efforts to stabilize Haiti, the only country in the Americas with a United Nations peacekeeping operation. We further note the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, which was created in 2011, has 35 member States, and represents a new political dialogue and integration mechanism, with the primary objective of integration and peace. We also point to the Union of South American Nations, which is composed of 12 South American States, whose South American Defense Council is an innovative space for coordination and cooperation among South American countries in the field of peace and security. Overall, we believe that there is no single model for relations between the United Nations and regional organizations in promoting peace and peacebuilding. Some regional institutions focus primarily on cooperation for security, yet not necessarily on peace. They should take into account the experiences of each region and the various decision-making processes, which point to the need to strengthen cooperation with the United Nations within the purview of each regional organization. It is important to build capacity in those organizations and to strengthen both their conflict prevention mandates and their capacity to implement solutions within the aforementioned principles of non-intervention and national sovereignty. They must have the tools, funding and expertise to implement their mandate. Above all, they should strengthen their legitimacy and credibility in the region. The Security Council enjoys pre-eminence in the maintenance of international peace and security, and a mandate to consider measures and promote closer, more effective cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in the areas of early warning and conflict prevention. The daily reality of emerging conflicts and the demands facing multilateral organizations are in constant flux. Threats to international peace and security have changed in form and substance from those that led to the establishment of the Security Council in 1946, when the first meeting was held. That is why we consider it timely to resume the discussion on the reform of the Security Council, and to integrate a broader representation of nations to enrich our understanding of the threats to international peace and security. I reiterate that the cost of not doing so is too high for the sustainability, legitimacy and effectiveness of the multilateral system. Panama, like other Member States, has created a proposal to gradually achieve, in two successive stages, coinciding with the centenary of the United Nations, a Security Council of 25 members. In that Council, all members would be equal and elected for three years, with the possibility of consecutive re-election. Finally, we need to work together to halt the spiral of insecurity that is buffeting the world. Highlighting the interests of all of our societies will ensure our ability to build a future of peace and security for all.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Morocco.

Mr. Laassel (Morocco) (spoke in French): At the outset I wish to thank Nigeria for its initiative in organizing a public debate on the relevant topic of regional organizations and contemporary challenges of global security. Currently the international community faces an unimaginable number of challenges to international peace and security through an unprecedented exacerbation of terrorism, intra-State conflicts and threats to peace posed by climate change, pandemics and poverty. Terrorist groups, including Daesh, Boko Haram, Al-Qaida and their affiliates, control vast territories. Meeting those challenges requires the united efforts and cooperation on all sides, which highlights the relevance of the topic of today's debate. The authors ofthe Charter ofSan Francisco assigned the primary role for the maintenance of international peace and security on the United Nations, but they also called for cooperation between the Organization and regional and subregional organizations. The strengthening of partnerships to meet global challenges to peace and security, in particular the peaceful dispute settlement and the resolution of multiform crises that threaten to destabilize entire regions and affect millions of people, complements the efforts made in recent years by regional and subregional organizations, provided that the measures taken by these organizations are consistent with the goals and principles of the United Nations Charter. That means that all action undertaken must respect the provisions set forth in resolutions and be consistent with the mandates of the Security Council, and that the Council should be fully informed of activities undertaken or planned by these agreements or regional entities in maintaining international peace and security. The Kingdom of Morocco sets great store by bolstering multilateralism and the expansion and enhancement of cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional institutions in line with the Charter and pursuant to the parameters established by Security Council resolutions. Morocco therefore confirms the principles set out in the Charter of the United Nations regarding the peaceful dispute settlement as set out in Chapter VI, and firmly supports the ongoing role played by the United Nations as the universal Organization responsible for resolving and ruling on issues pertaining to the maintenance of international peace and security, the promotion of human rights and sustainable development. Similarly, Morocco reiterates its commitment to multilateralism that respects the rules and principles of international law within the framework of the United Nations with a view to creating an international society that is based on equality and legality, enjoys peace and security, and respects human rights and sustainable development. Those goals must be achieved through the adoption of a comprehensive multidimensional approach based on the rule of law in all aspects of international relations, especially through respect for the United Nations Charter, the peaceful dispute settlement, respect for the sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity of States, and non-interference in their internal affairs. While the main role falls with the United Nations in this field, close cooperation based on effective communication and coordination between the Security Council and regional and subregional organizations can be a major asset in our collective efforts to maintain international peace and security. Over the years and with the experience that they have gained, the subregional organizations have demonstrated their ability to make a key contribution to international peace and security with their enhanced knowledge of the sensibilities of their subregion and social cultural aspects that can add value to the peaceful conflict settlement. Regional and subregional organizations have profound knowledge, original ideas and solid local networks in place. These elements are essential to mediation and planning for peacekeeping operations and to helping countries to establish lasting peace. Some of these organizations even have a proven capacity for rapid reaction to crises by drawing on a whole set of instruments in the short or long term in the fields of development, humanitarian assistance, security or politics. In Africa, which faces serious security, humanitarian and socioeconomic challenges, subregional organizations are best placed in terms of geographic proximity, political and cultural knowledge of local situations, and common experience in order to act most effectively for peace and security. To that end, we welcome the scale and diversity that are increasingly a hallmark of the role played by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in its subregion. In addition to its contribution to maintaining the stability and unity of countries in the region, as was the case in Mali and Burkina Faso, or through the deployment oftroops or the election of observers, as in Nigeria and Togo, ECOWAS continues to expand the scope of its interventions to cover areas as varied as they are complex, as reflected by its contribution to the recent successes made in the struggle against the terror group Boko Haram, or its participation in eradicating the Ebola virus in Liberia and the disease's overall regression in Guinea and Sierra Leone. Other subregional organizations stand out for their capacities to mobilize to combat the destabilizing effects of terrorism and the degradation of the humanitarian situation in their respective subregions. That is the case with the Lake Chad Basin Commission, which seeks to operationalize as soon as possible the Multinational Joint Task Force to take on the Boko Haram terrorist group, which continues to rage in the subregion. In the Central African Republic, the efforts of the Economic Community of Central African States to ensure a peaceful political transition through its support for the holding of credible and transparent legislative and presidential elections have been admirable. At this point, we note that while subregional African organizations have worked actively to settle conflicts in Africa, they face huge obstacles, such as the absence of lasting and flexible financial support, as well as a lack of military expertise and equipment and appropriate civilian competence. Finally, despite the growing proliferation of threats and challenges to international peace and security, which could justify closer cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations with a view to improving the international collective security system, the central role of the Security Council in matters of international peace and security remains unchanged, as defined in the United Nations Charter.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Brazil.

Mr. Guilherme de Aguiar Patriota (Brazil): I should like to thank you, Madam President, for presiding over this open debate. I also wish to thank the Secretary-General for his briefing. Coordinating the aims and activities of regional and international actors reinforces multilateralism and increases the prospects for sustainable peace. It can play a decisive role in preserving stability and preventing the escalation of crises. Indeed the potential for regional arrangements to confront challenges to global security should not be restricted to or mainly focused on peacekeeping. Article 52 of the Charter emphasizes the crucial role that regional arrangements play in the pacific settlement of local disputes. Initiatives in the areas of conflict prevention, mediation and post- conflict peacebuilding, as well as measures to foster sustainable and inclusive patterns of development are also vital to achieve durable peace. Regional and subregional organizations have achieved different levels of institutional development. While some of these institutions have comprehensive mandates, which include developing and implementing their own security and defence policies, others are much more limited in scope and ambition. Today's debate should reflect this institutional diversity. It is important that the United Nations be attentive to and respectful of the specificities of each regional arrangement, avoiding the simple replication of practices. In the Americas, the purpose of the Organization of American States is to guarantee continental peace and security. That is to be fulfilled through peaceful processes. In extreme cases, this could lead to the suspension of a member State whose Government has been overthrown by force. This means resorting to political pressure but not to arms. In South America, the Union of South American Nations has built an institutional architecture to contribute to the promotion of stability in the region. The South American Defence Council has established an innovative mechanism for coordination and cooperation among South American countries in matters of peace and security. In parallel, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States has proclaimed Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace and recommitted to promoting nuclear disarmament and the proscription of weapons of mass destruction globally. Brazil recognizes, in line with the report of the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations (S/2015/446) that African regional and subregional organizations are main players in combating security challenges in their respective jurisdictions. We praise the stabilization efforts by the African Union with the support of subregional organizations in Somali, the Central African Republic, and West Africa. We also commend the constructive role played by the East African Community and the African Union in mediating Burundi's electoral crisis. While welcoming a more active engagement of regional organizations in Africa or elsewhere, Brazil reiterates that the primary responsibility of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security should be strengthened, not hindered, by the action of those organizations. The Council's authority should not be outsourced to or superseded by these entities. The tenets of Chapter VIII of the Charter are of paramount importance in this regard. Brazil also believes that contemporary challenges to global security will be better tackled if regional and subregional organizations are more involved in and focused on issues in their respective areas of jurisdiction. Moreover, financial constraints should not drive policy. We disagree with the tacit reasoning that regional entities should be more engaged in facing contemporary security challenges as a means of achieving budget savings for the United Nations. Finally, let us not forget that regional involvement is not a panacea. There will be cases in which differences regarding a certain situation will exist within the region. Overframing a certain challenge as a regional question may further aggravate the situation. The results of the efforts of regional and subregional organizations to tackle contemporary security challenges will be elusive if unaccompanied by real political will at the global level to face those challenges. No administrative arrangement between global and local institutions can replace political consensus building. Brazil reiterates its readiness to contribute to the task of forging convergence among different entities and promoting an enhanced cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations. Last but not least, Brazil is convinced of the urgent need for a reform of the Security Council that includes new permanent and non-permanent seats. Such reform would render the Council more representative and would truly enhance the relationship between the United Nations and regional organizations in matters of international peace and security.

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

Mr. Cevik (Turkey): Turkey has aligned itself with the statement delivered today by the observer of the European Union. I now wish to make a statement in my own capacity, and I should like to thank the Nigerian presidency for organizing this timely debate. In our View, the role of regional organizations in meeting the contemporary challenges of global security is crucial and needs to be further highlighted. Today, threats characterized by their transnational nature - such as terrorism, organized crime, sectarianism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, climate change, poverty, and the uncontrolled and involuntary mass movement of people - are constantly evolving. Thus, peace and security can no longer be achieved solely through military means, since some of these challenges are not necessarily of a military nature. We need to employ a broader combination of policies to confront contemporary challenges. We believe that regional organizations have a significant contribution to make in this regard. As stated in the excellent concept note (S/2015/599, annex) prepared by your presidency, Madam President, regional organizations are increasingly focusing on contemporary challenges that have a direct impact on regional and global security. Aware of this fact, Turkey has been promoting and actively taking part in the activities of regional organizations in its region such as the European Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, NATO, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Black Sea Economic Organization, the Organization of Economic Cooperation, the Council of Europe, the D-8 and the Turkic Council. In line with our objective of contributing to stability, security and prosperity beyond our neighbourhood, we have also strengthened our relations with regional organizations throughout the world, in Africa, Asia and Latin America alongside the enhancement of our bilateral relations with countries in these regions. In Africa, Turkey as a strategic partner of the continent since 2008 actively supports various United Nations and African Union peace operations by providing funds and personnel. We also contribute to the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund and the Commission's work. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) contributes greatly to democracy, peace and stability in West Africa through its efforts in Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Burkina Faso and other countries. We support the peacekeeping activities of ECOWAS and other regional actors in Africa. In this regard, we have provided grants to the African-led International Support Mission in Mali Trust Fund and the Mali Peace and Security Fund. We have also made a donation to the projects developed by the United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect in Africa for the Central African Republic, ECOWAS and the African Union. In East Africa, we follow closely the integration process in the East African Community (EAC). We believe that full integration of the member countries of EAC will boost the development in the region and unfold new potentials. We consider the Intergovernmental Authority on Development to be a key factor in attaining peace, stability and sustainable economic development in the region. In Asia, establishing more institutional ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which we view as the key regional organization, is our priority. We also enhanced our relations with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as a dialogue partner. In Latin America, in addition to the Organization of American States, the Association of Caribbean States, the Central American Integration System and the Pacific Alliance, in which Turkey has observer status, we have institutional relations with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, the Caribbean Community and the Common Market of the South. As regional organizations are more and more active in the international scene, the enhancement of cooperation among the regional organizations and coordination between regional organizations and the United Nations are crucial in order to create synergies and to achieve better results, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter. We are glad to observe the positive developments in recent years concerning the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union to find solutions to several conflicts in Africa. Turkey, whether through bilateral, regional or international channels, will do its utmost to contribute to peace and security in its region and beyond.

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

Mr. Imnadze (Georgia): I thank Nigeria for organizing this event and bringing this very important issue to the attention ofthe Council. I also want to thank the Secretary-General for his insightful remarks earlier today. Georgia aligns itself with the statement made by the observer of the European Union, and in my national capacity I should like to add the following. Throughout the years we have witnessed fruitful cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations. At the same time, we remain mindful of the serious challenges in designing a comprehensive peace and security architecture that would rapidly respond to security threats in different corners of the world, including the region I come from. The global and European security environment has changed exponentially in recent years. The conflicts, threats and instability in many regions across the globe, together with old and newly emerging security challenges - affecting, among others, Iraq, Libya, the Sahel region, Syria and my immediate neighbourhood - are significantly impacting international peace and security and challenging our fundamental values and principles. We fully acknowledge the growing asymmetric threats posed by transnational terrorism and its new forms, such as foreign terrorist fighters, to the viability and efficiency of regional and international organizations. And we believe that the entire international community at all levels must stand and act unitedly to effectively counter them. In the meantime, the more traditional threats posed by expansionist and irredentist State actors remain at the core of regional and international instability and insecurity. Taking into account the universal nature of the fundamental principles upon which the European security architecture rests, we are confident that the main problem is rather related to the unwillingness of some States to comply with commitments undertaken within the regional organizations than with the imperfection of the system itself. The disregard for obligations is a major challenge to our common security and has resulted in the crisis that we are facing today in the region. Unfortunately for all of us, regional security in Europe is being significantly challenged by Russia's aggressivebehaviouragainstitsneighbours-especially Georgia and Ukraine - in particular through the ongoing illegal military occupation of integral parts of our sovereign territories. This worrisome pattern to alter international borders arbitrarily and by force poses a deadly threat not only to the strategic vision of a Europe whole, free and at peace, but also to the notion of amicable relations between all peoples in our region. It should be noted that the first signs oferosion ofthe modern European security system emerged quite long ago. A lack of willingness to fulfil the commitments in good faith undertaken during the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Istanbul Summit in 1999 must be considered as one of the clear signs of the beginning of this erosion process. Regrettably, OSCE participating States failed to demonstrate enough resolve and unity adequately to respond to this dangerous tendency at an early stage. The imposition of an illegal moratorium on the implementation of the obligations arising from the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe in 2007 was the next perilous step towards the deepening of the security crisis. The full-scale aggression committed against Georgia in 2008 and the consequent ethnic cleansing, occupation of 20 per cent of my country's territory and ongoing steps towards its annexation by one of the founding Members of the United Nations were a logical continuation of this process. Allow me to express my profound disappointment that, as a result of Russia's opposition, we have lacked opportunities to restore a meaningful and comprehensive OSCE mission in Georgia, which would serve as an impartial monitor of the existing situation in Georgia's occupied regions. This issue is of particular concern given the absence of international monitoring mechanisms on the ground, a rueful consequence of the terminations not just of the OSCE mission but also of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia in 2009 by exercising the power of veto of a permanent member. Unfortunately, inadequate assessment by the international community of the above-mentioned erosion of the security architecture, and hence the inadequate response to the tragic events that unfolded in Georgia, led to another grave violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity of a United Nations Member State, this time Ukraine in 2014, resulting in the annexation of new territories and the creation of grey zones in the OSCE area. We believe that close cooperation between the United Nations and the OSCE and other regional organizations and full exploitation of their potential in early warning and prevention as well as crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation, is indispensable for the maintenance of international peace and security. I should also like to stress the particular importance we attach to the partnerships between the United Nations and the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM. There is no need to remind those participating in this debate that all GUAM member States - Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova - have grave security challenges arising from conflicts, including occupied and annexed territories. Therefore, the United Nations engagement is crucial to preserving stability in this region with a population of more than 60 million. To this end, we once again welcome the recent consensual adoption by the General Assembly of the second resolution on cooperation between the United Nations and GUAM (resolution 69/271) and look forward to strengthening the partnership between these organizations.

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

Mr. Alotaibi (Kuwait): I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in my capacity as the Chair of the OIC group. At the outset allow me to express to the delegation of Nigeria, a fellow State member of the OIC, both congratulations on presiding over the Security Council and gratitude for holding an open debate on such a timely and important topic as the role of regional organizations in meeting the evolving challenges of global security. I should also like to thank the Secretary-General for his briefing. In my statement, I will focus on the challenges arising from the continuously evolving threat posed by terrorism and violent extremism, and highlight the critical role played by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation towards countering it. As our world has become more interconnected and interdependent, so too have the challenges we face, requiring us to enhance our collective efforts to tackle these global threats. Having said that, it is not enough for these security challenges to be tackled at the country-to-country level; more importantly, they must be addressed throught the coordination and cooperation of regional and subregional organizations in a concerted effort to ensure the collective peace and security of our peoples. The Security Council is to encourage the aforementioned, as clearly stipulated in Article 52 of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. Terrorism and violent extremism remain two of the most serious threats to every society, as well as to international peace and security as a whole. Regardless of its ethno-religious identity, geographical location, socioeconomic conditions or political stance on the world stage, every nation is more or less susceptible to the growing threat of terrorism. Therefore, never before in history has a comprehensive and concerted response to terrorism been needed as much as it is today. However, there seems to be fundamental differences within the international community on how to handle the issue of terrorism. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation is committed to fighting terrorism and countering violent extremism. To that end, the OIC works to delegitimize violent extremist ideology, develop counter narratives to such extremist ideologies and propaganda, provide appropriate pathways to vulnerable groups - especially youth and women - elevate credible and authentic religious voices that support tolerance and non-violence, counter the use of cyberspace, including social media, by extremist groups. As part of its ongoing efforts, the OIC Ministerial Executive Committee held an emergency session on 15 February to review and invigorate its actions against terrorism and violent extremism. Similarly, on 5 May the General Secretariat organized an expert level workshop on countering threats of terrorism and extremism in cyberspace implementing one of its deliverables. Moreover, on 27 May in Kuwait, the forty-second session of the Council of OIC Foreign Ministers had a special brainstorming session on developing an effective strategy to combat terrorism, violent extremism and Islamophobia, thereby strengthening the OIC's commitment to the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. The OIC member States will deliberate on and consider a proposal for establishing an OIC fund to combat terrorism. Additionally, the OIC General Secretariat will organize an intergovernmental expert group meeting to finalize the strategy to combat terrorism and violent extremism in cyberspace. The United Nations and the OIC continue to work together in order to counter incitement to terrorism and violent extremism. In this regard, within the framework ofthe ongoing United Nations-OIC cooperation, the OIC held a workshop in Jeddah in May 2013 on countering incitement to terrorism and enhancing cultural dialogue pursuant to Security Council resolution 1624 (2005). Similarly, after the forthcoming session of the General Assembly, the OIC looks forward, again in close consultation with the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate, to holding a meeting of OIC member States on national practices in countering incitement to terrorism and violent extremism pursuant to Security Council resolutions 1624 (2005) and 2178 (2014). The OIC remains an important partner of the United Nations in peace, security and fostering a culture of peace at the global level. The OIC stands ready to make meaningful contributions to the aforementioned initiatives, and reiterates its cooperation to working with the United Nations in conflict prevention and resolution, mediation, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, the promotion of good governance at national and international levels, combating international terrorism, fighting extremism, countering religious intolerance, including Islamophobia, promoting and protecting all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, humanitarian assistance and capacity building. Regional organizations have a greater role to prevent, manage and resolve crises and to ensure the maintenance of international peace and security. It is imperative and incumbent upon us - States and regional organizations - to work more closely, more collectively, in order to contribute to the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.

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

Mr. Nkoloi (Botswana): Let me at the very outset congratulate the delegation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on its assumption of the presidency of this Council for this month. We pledge our full support to you, Madam President, as you lead the activities of this Council. This debate on regional organizations and contemporary global security challenges is indeed timely and pertinent, particularly at this historic moment in the calendar of the United Nations. We therefore appreciate your initiative, Madam President, in convening this important debate. Botswana reaffirms its commitment to peace and security issues, as well as to human rights. Seventy years after the founding of the United Nations, when the founders pledged to settle disputes through peaceful means, the United Nations, and in particular the Security Council, remains the only hope for humankind to live in peace. The world community continues to face unprecedented levels of threats to international peace and security, and at a frightening pace. Above and beyond those, there is the proliferation of armed conflict, radical extremism and racial and religious intolerance, which have taken root in most regions of the world. No single country is immune from those threats, and no single country can counter them alone. The threats come in different forms and manifestat themselves in many ways. One thing is clear: they are deadly, sudden and they leave ruin and destruction in their wake for families, communities and nations, big and small. The growth and continued existence of the Islamic State, Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab and many other brutal terrorist groups continue to pose serious threats to global security. They kill, maim and unleash brutal terror on innocent people with impunity. Apart from those global terrorist networks, there are those who engage in drug trafficking, trafficking in wildlife and wildlife products, money laundering and the illicit trafficking and trade in arms and light weapons. In essence, they destabilize regional governance structures and inflict a sense of insecurity in our communities. The continued violations of human rights perpetrated against vulnerable populations, especially women and children, with millions displaced, calls for regional bodies to work together to stem the rising tide of terror. In addition, climate change continues to unleash havoc on our planet - triggering humanitarian crises, robbing populations of their natural capital and compromising food security. As a result, millions of people face hunger as a result of drought, starvation and diseases such as Ebola and malaria. The United Nations - in particular the Security Council as the custodian of international peace and security 4 must continue to display exemplary leadership in addressing threats to peace and security. It is therefore imperative for the international community to work in unison and make concerted efforts to address those challenges. To that end, we call on influential members of the Council to refrain from the use of the veto, especially where genocide and atrocities are concerned. Any attempt to frustrate the ends of justice by those members constitutes an insult, especially to victims. Threats posed by armed conflicts require that the United Nations and regional organizations work together in a complementary manner to bring justice to people. In taking the lead, regional organizations can help, as they possess valuable advantages, such as a clearer understanding and knowledge of regional dynamics, cultures, sensitivities and perceptions. They are also better placed to address conflict prevention through mediation, arbitration and reconciliation, as well as handle differences between warring groups. Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations recognizes that important role for regional organizations with regard to global peace and security. It is therefore Botswana's belief that the engagement of regional organizations at an early stage of conflict helps contain it before it manifests itself, or even spreads and becomes out ofhand. In playing our part, my delegation has engaged in intervention and mediation efforts at the political level by using the experience and wisdom of our former leaders, especially within our subregion. At the regional level, we operate in the context of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) troika. At the continental level, we engage and continue to work through the African Panel of the Wise. Having just assumed the chairmanship of SADC, we pledge to continue to live by the values, traditions and culture of SADC as a cornerstone of regional cooperation. In that connection, we shall remain steadfast in our commitment to the principles of democracy, inclusive development, the rule of law and the promotion and protection of human rights for all. We continue to strongly support action against all forms of threats to international peace and security, as well as action for the strengthening of institutions of accountability at national, regional and international levels. To conclude, Botswana reaffirms its unwavering support to the efforts of regional organizations in promoting and protecting international peace and security.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Egypt.

Mr. Mahmoud (Egypt) (spoke in Arabic): At the outset, I would like to thank the Nigerian presidency of the Security Council for holding this debate on regional organizations and contemporary challenges of global security. I am also grateful for the concept note (S/2015/599, annex) prepared on such an important subject. We fully support it. The founders responsible for the Charter of the United Nations showed foresight in drafting Chapter VIII of the Charter as the basis for a partnership between the United Nations and the Security Council, as that body responsible for international peace and security, on the one hand, and regional and subregional organizations, on the other. Given their important role in managing and preventing conflicts, the seventieth anniversary of the signing of the Charter is an opportunity to consider these issues in the light of the increase in the number of challenges and threats, which no party on its own can face up to. Therefore, we need collective efforts of a strategic nature to confront them. Egypt, which is a founding Member of the United Nations and of two major regional organizations - the African Union, which is the largest in terms of membership and the challenges it faces, and the League of Arab States, which is one of the oldest regional organizations - has always insisted on partnerships between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in order to face challenges. I would like to underscore the following: First, past experience has shown the comparative advantage of regional organizations, including their deep understanding of the underlying causes of conflicts. That means that they play an important role in terms of mediation and the peaceful settlement of conflicts. They also have the capacity to take difficult, even very difficult, decisions, to end conflicts at an early stage when the international community may be hesitant to intervene. The African Union and subregional organizations in Africa cooperate on Somalia, Darfur, Mali and the Central African Republic. That demonstrates the capacity that Africa has to pay the highest price to establish peace and security, while respecting the need for there to be African solutions to Africa's problems. Secondly, the contemporary challenges to peace and security, such as terrorism, organized crime, piracy, arms and drug trafficking and trafficking in natural resources are all cross-border in nature. They are not limited to one single country, and they all pose a threat to international security. Therefore, all those problems need to be dealt with in a global manner, as well as locally and internationally, in order to deal with their security and humanitarian consequences. We must also deal with the underlying causes. The post- 2015 development agenda could establish a proper framework in that area. Thirdly, the role of regional and subregional organizations is not limited to peace and security. They also play a role in the economic collective strategy for sustainable development in order to ensure the establishment of peace and stability. The report of the High-level Independent Panel on United Nations Peace Operations (see S/2015/446) shows the importance played by regional organizations in preventive diplomacy. The Panel has made a number of important recommendations for cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations in that context. The report also servese to illustrate the importance such bodies play in establishing and consolidating peace in countries emerging from conflict. In the light of all that, we must enhance the partnership between the United Nations and regional organizations - headed by the African Union and the League of Arab States - so that everyone can benefit from the respective comparatives advantage, while duly allocating responsibilities through a plan of work that enhances regional capacities and consultation mechanisms. That would allow for the establishment of a joint strategy that brings together the efforts of the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations. Accordingly, we reiterate the importance of the support provided by the United Nations to regional organizations, including the African Union through the Ten-Year Capacity Building Programme, which will end in 2016. Such support includes that provided for the African Standby Force to help develop a vision for the future. We therefore emphasize the importance of the the current recommendations and those set out in the 2008 Prodi report (S/2008/813) with regard to peackeeping operations in which the African Union participates via a Security Council mandate, while of course taking into account the United Nations and the Security Council's responsibility with regard to peace and security. I would like to point to the Sharm El-Sheikh declaration adopted last year on establishing a joint Arab peacekeeping force for Arab countries in order to confront any challenge faced by them, including any threat to Arab national security coming from terrorist and other groups. We were among the first to establish such a force. With regard to the efforts being made to settle problems faced by the Arab region, the same Sharm El- Sheikh summit adopted a resolution that conferred upon Egypt the chairmanship of a committee to do whatever necessary to halt the Israeli occupation and come up with a solution to the Palestinian question. Given the changing nature of the security problems faced by the world today, Egypt would like to reiterate the fact that a deeper and broader partnership at the regional level is of vital importance.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Cuba.

Mr. Reyes Rodriguez (Cuba) (spoke in Spanish): Cuba commends the Nigerian presidency of the Security Council on guiding our work, and especially, Madam President, your presence here throughout the day. We support the statement made by the representative of Iran on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. Cuba welcomes and supports the holding of this open debate of the Security Council on an issue as important as the one before us. Maintaining international peace and security is the primary responsibility of the Security Council, and one ofthe purposes of the United Nations. Therefore, all States Members have the duty to promote it. Cuba has the honour - alongside 32 other States of the Latin America and Caribbean region - ofbelonging to the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). It is a mechanism for dialogue and consultation that is becoming a political forum and actor in promoting the process of political, economic, social and cultural integration, thereby achieving the necessary balance between the unity and diversity of our peoples. In its short history, CELAC has already reached a major milestone, which is the proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace - in the context of the second Summit, held in Havana. That proclamation confirms our region's commitment to the principles of international law and enhances the culture of peace, with the aim of removing forever the threat or use of force, promoting the peaceful resolution of disputes and promoting the commitment of the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean to encourage friendly relations and cooperation among themselves and other nations, regardless of their differences. We believe that CELAC is a tangible example of how regional integration can lead to ongoing dialogue and be based on the principle of complementarity, in order to work towards achieving the inclusive development of its member States on the basis of solidarity. In facing contemporary challenges to global security, regional and subregional organizations and their member States must always uphold decision-making on the basis of consensus and through framework of multilateralism. Those elements will always form the foundation of an effective international order - one that rejects unilateral steps that are extraterritorial in nature and contrary to international law, and may endanger multilateralism. The role of regional organizations and associations in no way reduces the responsibility of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security. However, for the United Nations to become a standard for transparency, democracy and participation of the entire international community in resolving serious global problems, it is urgent to reform the Organization. That includes having a Security Council that is democratic and transparent, in which none of its members should promote armed confrontations or the philosophy of regime change. That contradicts the purposes and principles that should guide the Organization. The General Assembly must also be revitalized. It should assume its key role in achieving the rights of peoples and every individual to have a fair, democratic and equitable international order that supports the efforts of States to build a future that each nation decides for itself. We are convinced that, despite the positive contribution made by regional and subregional organizations, international peace and security will continue to be threatened as long as we do not have a common view of what are the actual threats to peace and security. International peace and security will continue to be threatened in the absence of the total elimination of nuclear weapons, which threaten the survival of the human species. Cuba will continue to work actively in its national capacity and as a member of other groups of States - such as the Non-aligned Movement and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean - to achieve the elimination and total ban on those weapons. International peace and security will continue to be threatened as long as there is no defined concept of the terrorism that we are fighting - because we cannot define terrorism as good or bad depending on who perpetrates it. We must all commit ourselves to combating terrorism, whatever its forms or manifestations, wherever it takes place and whoever its author. But in that battle, we must neither forget nor violate the principles that underlie the Charter of the United Nations. To prevent conflict and maintain peace, it is necessary to have solidarity, cooperation and international assistance. And we must work together to eliminate poverty, unemployment, hunger, inequalities and the causes of those inequalities. In our view, international peace and security can be maintained only if we all respect the principles of the Charter of the Organization, as well as international law, which enshrine the principles the sovereign equality of all States, the peaceful settlement of international disputes, political independence, the non-resort to the threat or use of force against any State and non-intervention in the internal affairs of States. Cuba will continue to contribute its modest resources to the welfare of other peoples, especially the most vulnerable. It will remain committed to supporting international cooperation to achieve sustainable, inclusive development and to the defence of international peace and security.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Ukraine.

Mr. Mialkovskyi (Ukraine): I thank you, Madam, for convening this important thematic debate. Ukraine aligns itself with the statement made by the observer of the European Union (EU). At the same time I would like to make a statement in my national capacity. Numerous conflicts throughout the world have created an environment in which the United Nations alone cannot respond effectively to emerging threats to international peace and security. In that regard, I would like to underscore that Chapter VIII is as relevant today as ever. Regional organizations, with their experience in the peaceful settlement of disputes, including through conflict prevention, confidence-building and mediation, are strengthening the capacity of the United Nations. Deep cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations is a vital element in the contemporary world, where the international community is facing such complex challenges. We firmly support the efforts of the United Nations to strengthen its relations with regional organizations, with the ultimate goal of achieving a concrete, positive impact on the political and socioeconomic development of the regions. In 2015, we are marking the seventieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War and of the signing of the Charter of the United Nations. Throughout these 70 years, the United Nations has faced numerous and complex challenges, including terrorism and extremism, conflicts, poverty, unemployment, inequality and climate change. Unfortunately, today we can add to that list a brutal violation of the Charter of the United Nations by one of the permanent members of the Security Council. Soon it will be a year and a half that Ukraine has been subject to Russian aggression. The Council is well aware of the outcomes - Crimea and Sevastopol have been forcibly annexed, while the Donbas has been plunged into violence, with thousands killed, over 1 million displaced and regional infrastructure destroyed. The contribution of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has been an important part of the international community's response to the threats arising from Russia's aggression against Ukraine. We highly appreciate the work of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, in line with the agreed mandate covering the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. The Mission enjoys Ukraine's full support in the implementation of its tasks, in particular those related to monitoring and verification under the Minsk agreements. We regret the fact that, despite significant international efforts, the situation on the ground remains tense and volatile, with casualties among Ukrainian servicemen and civilians on the rise due to a surge in the activity of Russia-backed militants. Although we have made active use of the crisis mechanisms of the United Nations and the OSCE, that has not prevented the illegal occupation of Crimea and Sevastopol, or direct Russian military involvement in the Donbas. Moreover, Russia continues to consolidate its aggression despite its own commitments to de-escalation under the Minsk agreements. In the current circumstances, we believe that the capacity of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission should be strengthened, including by increasing the level of cooperation with the United Nations. In that respect, we look forward to hearing from the Secretary- General on how the United Nations can assist the OSCE in contributing to the implementation of the Minsk agreement, in particular with regard to his idea to establish a relevant United Nations office in Ukraine. The development of a strong partnership between the United Nations and the European Union is increasingly critical as global crises intensify in complexity and multiply in scope. In the case of the EU, that might be achieved by making effective use of the existing common security and defence policy tools, including by better linking them to the EU's foreign affairs, humanitarian assistance and solidarity. In terms of the Russian aggression in Ukraine, we still think that the EU Common Security and Defence Policy crisis management operation could be one of the appropriate solutions, not only allowing for the maintainance of peace and security, but also facilitating political processes, protecting civilians and human rights, and assisting in restoring the rule of law. We believe that if our suggestion were implemented, it could enhance the arsenal of measures already in place to make Russia abide by the rules and live in peace with its neighbours. I would like to underscore that Ukraine fully recognizes the important role that OSCE plays in observing the implementation of the Minsk agreements. At the same time, achieving a comprehensive settlement and lasting peace in certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions requires additional efforts, including the involvement of available international means and tools. In recent years, cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development-GUAM, which Ukraine chairs this year, has developed with General Assembly resolution 69/271 on United Nations-GUAM cooperation. One example I could mention is the ongoing projects with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), such as the Afghan Opiate Trade Project of the UNODC and the joint GUAM/UNODC project in combatting money-laundering, as well as in seizing and confiscating criminal proceeds. GUAM also plans to develop cooperation with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. The political cooperation of GUAM. member States is based on their common vision and well- rooted traditions. The statutory documents and summit declarations of GUAM. are in line with basic United Nations approaches to regional cooperation, creating political stability and economic prosperity, allowing universal values to take hold and establishing a peaceful and promising civil society that enables personal fulfilment. All our member States suffer from unresolved conflicts, some ofwhich have existed for decades. Those conflicts undermine peace, security and cooperation and generate impacts both at the regional level and in their trans-Atlantic dimension. Triggered from outside and accompanied by foreign military interference, such conflicts can find a peaceful resolution exclusively on the basis of the generally accepted norms and principles of international law, particularly those related to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the States concerned within their internationally recognized borders. The activities of GUAM. during the ongoing Ukrainian chairmanship have encompassed a number of projects and programmes aimed at the creation of a zone of stability and cooperation in the region. As already mentioned, since the occupation of Crimea Ukraine has faced an expanded Russian aggression of hybrid character on its eastern borders, accompanied by an unprecedented media campaign. Therefore, we look forward more than ever to obtaining further support for GUAM. efforts, which would be aimed, first of all, at building the capacities of its member States. It is also a matter of crucial importance to keep pace with and increase the dynamic ofprojects that would energize the economic sector as well as enhance security measures.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Armenia.

Mr. Mnatsakanyan (Armenia): Armenia expresses its appreciation to the Nigerian presidency for initiating this debate and for providing an excellent concept note (S/2015/599, annex). We also thank the Secretary- General for his detailed briefing earlier today. No country can be effective in pursuing its national agenda without engagement with others. That is particularly obvious for countries with modest capacities. The regional and subregional levels of cooperation provide an effective platform for pursuing specific common objectives for countries bound by common security goals, common values, or mere geographic proximity. In the context of the present debate, the global level of cooperation here in the United Nations, inter alia, is a critical form of interregional engagement. As a member of numerous regional organizations, including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Armenia benefits greatly from the institutional strength and effectiveness of the European regional and subregional landscape of cooperation, including in the fields ofpolitical dialogue, security, human rights, democratic transformation and the strengthening of the rule of law, trade and economy, culture and youth. In our national context, the peaceful resolution of conflicts on the basis of the norms and principles of international law without exception are of particular significance, given the ongoing negotiations for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict within the internationally supported format of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship. This format is by far the most effective one in our particular case for several reasons, not least its capacity to sustain focus on a compromise solution, to defuse tensions and to prevent escalation. Consolidated support for these negotiations by the international community, including this body and the Secretary-General, is critical in deflecting attempts to pursue mediation shopping and lopsided, often highly biased interpretations of the causes and consequences of the conflict. Armenia welcomes the unwavering and continued support of the United Nations system and the Secretary- General for the established format of negotiations and for the OSCE Minsk Group co-Chairs. As a member ofthe CSTO, Armenia will continue to deliver on its commitment to forge stronger cooperation with the United Nations in order to contribute to international peace and to United Nations peacekeeping capacities. As a troop-contributing country, Armenia has acquired considerable national experience in its engagements in NATO-led peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan and in Kosovo. Previously, Armenian peacekeepers have also been engaged in Iraq. Over the past year Armenia also has acquired new and valuable experience in a United Nations-led operation in Lebanon. Armenia has been investing its experience in the strengthening of preparedness for peacekeeping within the CSTO. In this context, we welcome the expanding cooperation of the United Nations with the CSTO, including between their respective secretariats. We look forward to the United Nations presence at and observance of a combined exercise of the CSTO peacekeeping forces entitled "Cooperation 2015", to be held in Armenia in early autumn. Armenia attaches equally high importance to its work within all other regional and subregional organizations of which it is a member or with which it has close cooperation. The present international agenda, with proliferating threats, disagreements and conflicts, makes it particularly urgent to redouble the efforts made towards seeking common solutions and sustainable dialogue. Smaller States are particularly vulnerable and sensitive to situations in which disagreements at the regional and global levels pose a risk of the emergence of dividing lines. Armenia is not an exception to such vulnerabilities and sensitivities. Civil society is an important contributor to the effective addressing of security challenges globally and regionally. For decades, non-governmental organization representatives and human rights activists have been playing an indispensable role in promoting peace, reconciliation, mutual trust and understanding. That function remains a critical supporting and consolidating factor for all peace processes, wherever they might take place, not least in the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Such efforts must be continually supported. In conclusion, Armenia believes in the viability and efficiency of both the United Nations and regional mechanisms in enhancing trust, confidence-building and dialogue among nations. Regional and subregional organizations have an essential role to play. They often have a better understanding of local circumstances, tailored approaches and effective tools, as well as their own resources and financing. Cooperation and dialogue among States from the subregional to the regional to global levels has been and remains the modus operandi for the sustainability ofpeace, security and cooperation.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of the Netherlands.

Mr. Van Oosterom (Netherlands): Let me first express my appreciation to the presidency of Nigeria for organizing this important open debate. Let me also thank you, Madam President, for being here with us at this late hour and doing us the honour of being personally present here. In view of time constraints, I will read out a shortened version of my statement. The full version will be available on my Twitter account. I align myself with the statement made earlier by the observer of the European Union (EU), which gave an extensive overview of the ways in which the EU is playing its role as a regional organization and as a partner in confronting contemporary challenges to global peace and security. Only by forging stronger partnerships can the international community effectively address current challenges to peace and security. These partnerships, in our View, should include cooperation not only between international, regional and subregional organizations, but also between Governments, civil society, business communities and development organizations. Regional organizations play an essential role in addressing issues of peace and security. This applies to the prevention of conflict, the containment and resolution of conflict and rebuilding in the post- conflict phase. It is the ambition of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to be a partner for peace, justice and development in all these three phases. Let me touch on each of the three. First, on prevention, we believe that regional and subregional organizations are well positioned to understand the root causes of armed conflicts. They are often aware of emerging conflicts very early on, and they are well placed to use tools such as mediation for conflict prevention, a point just made by our Armenian colleague. An interesting example is the Organization of American States Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia, implemented with the support of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. As many here are aware, Colombia is one of the neighbouring countries of our Kingdom. Our Kingdom consists of four autonomous countries, three of which - Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten - are in the Caribbean, (spoke in French) and we also consider Haiti to be a neighbouring country. (spoke in English) We are intensifying our Kingdom's cooperation with the the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) regional organization to address current regional security challenges, and therefore CARICOM. is also a very important cooperation partner for us. The third example relates to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, of which the Netherlands is a founding member State. It usually follows a multidimensional approach, focusing on the politic, economic and human dimensions of conflict, and is therefore able to play a crucial role in monitoring and verifying the implementation of the Minsk agreement, which is the basis for a sustainable solution to the conflict in full respect of Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Also during conflict, regional organizations are crucial. In that phase, the international community must do its utmost to contain and mitigate the consequences of conflict and to resolve it. Peacekeeping is often needed to protect civilians and to create the conditions for peace. In Mali, the Netherlands is proud to be an active partner in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali to that effect. Of course, a political process is crucial to achieve peace. On the African continent, the Kingdom of the Netherlands pays tribute to the increasingly important role that the African Union (AU) is playing in maintaining peace and security. Great progress has been made in recent years in implementing the African Peace and Security Architecture. The Peace and Security Council has proved to be a key force behind the increased action and visibility of the AU. Today, AU missions are increasingly deployed ahead of United Nations missions, making them important instruments for stabilizing conflicts and guaranteeing security. In the political process, subregional organizations are often the best placed to help steer countries in conflict back onto the road to peace. Important recent examples in Africa are, of course, the Economic Community of West African States, the Economic Community of Central African States, the East African Community and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). In very tense and complicated situations, their efforts need to be enhanced and supported by the international community, for example by the IGAD-Plus formula. As was said earlier today, the European Union takes pride in our close cooperation with the African Union. My third point concerns the importance of regional organizations in the post-conflict phase. There, timely and coordinated efforts are needed to prevent a relapse into conflict. If exit strategies are nothing more than an afterthought, countries are at great risk of falling back into conflict. In our view, therefore, peacebuilding must be an essential element of every mission. It must be included in initial planning, and it must be part of a comprehensive vision for peace, justice and sustainable development for conflict situations. The United Nations and regional and subregional organizations have to make that shift together in order to save lives and prevent cycles of violence. In conclusion, I would like to quote from the report of the High-level Panel on Peace Operations (see S/2015/446), which says: "We have truly entered an era of partnership peacekeeping, indeed of partnership in all aspects of the international peace and security agenda." Now is the time for the United Nations to reach out and strengthen those partnerships, developing mature and productive relationships based on trust, mutual responsibility and accountability. The Kingdom of the Netherlands is committed to remaining a partner in peace, justice and development for that worthy purpose.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Haiti.

Mr. Regis (Haiti) (spoke in French): I would first like to commend the Security Council's decision to organize this debate, which fits well with its mandate and the essential role it plays in international peace and security. It is to the Council's credit that it has invited Member States to further reflect on this vital topic, and particularly on the place and role of regional organizations in establishing a more balanced world. Even if the concept of a threat to peace, as stated in Article 39 of the Charter of the United Nations, is still regarded by some as ambiguous and elusive from the point of view of international law, threats to peace and security are no less real and have continued to multiply and increase in intensity. That is why the scope of United Nations interventions in the area of peacekeeping has continued to expand. From the Palme Commission to the Brahimi report (S/2000/809) via Boutros Boutros-Ghali's Agenda for Peace (S/24lll), there have been many United Nations initiatives aimed at establishing an international consensus on the key aspects of global security. In recent decades, alongside traditional threats such as the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, we have witnessed the development of a whole range of new threats to peace. Whether they are military, political, economic or in the areas of health or the environment, whether they are inter-State in nature or stem from non-State entities and actors working in the international arena, there is no denying that these new threats occupy an ever-growing place on the international security agenda. They include the rise of international terrorism, the proliferation of local and regional crises, crimes against civilians, mass atrocities, the expansion of organized crime, massive population transfers and other global challenges such as poverty and environmental crises. The Charter of the United Nations enshrines the political primacy of the Security Council in the maintenance of international peace and security. However, recent history has shown that in national conflicts the Council's actions are often subject to multiple political and strategic constraints that in some major regional crisis situations have left it virtually paralysed even when the circumstances warranted an urgent intervention. Faced with this barrage of new threats, the international community can only gain from the closer involvement of regional organizations in every possible effort to reduce threats to peace and security, whether by preventing or slowing the arms race, stemming the threat of nuclear proliferation or resolving problems and conflicts that could jeopardize strategic balances in various regions. In the spirit of its fundamental responsibility, and given the principle of subsidiarity that is implicit in the Charter, the Security Council is called on to encourage the peaceful settlement of local disputes through regional organizations, either on the initiative of the States concerned or by reference from the Security Council. The Council is therefore taking a new approach to peacekeeping operations based on a comprehensive, coherent and integrated vision of what is needed to fight threats to peace and security. It reflects a growing awareness that no stabilization, peacekeeping or peacebuilding mission, however well- intentioned, can have an impact in resolving a conflict it is asked to settle or produce lasting results if it does not address the fundamental problems, including poverty, that are at the root of the crisis. That is why the Republic of Haiti welcomes the convergence of actions by the Security Council and regional organizations, in which development assistance and poverty reduction combine with policy initiatives in the areas of security, the protection of human rights, good governance and the strengthening of the rule of law, with the aim of increasing the effectiveness of United Nations efforts on the ground within the framework of post-conflict stabilization and reconstruction activities. My country also believes that development is an essential response to the myriad threats that are fuelled to a great extent by situations of poverty and despair. In that regard, we believe that since sovereign States must be the first responders in the face of threats to peace, we should provide more substantial international support to them, particularly the poorest countries, which are often ill-equipped to exercise their sovereignty responsibly and address their immediate security challenges effectively. In conclusion, by organizing today's meeting, the Security Council has sought to reaffirm the importance it attaches to the role of regional and subregional organizations and to its cooperation with them in order to maintain peace and international security, in conformity with Chapter VIII of the Charter. I am convinced that today's dialogue will make a considerable contribution to achieving that goal.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Uganda.

Mr. Muhumuza (Uganda): I would first like to congratulate you, Madam President, on Nigeria's accession to the presidency of the Council for this month and on your successful conduct of its affairs, and to thank you for holding this debate on the important topic of regional organizations and the contemporary challenges to global security. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Secretary-General for his briefing earlier today. My delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered by the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. Article 52 of the Charter of the United Nations makes provision for the existence of regional arrangements or agencies for dealing with matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security as are appropriate for regional action, consistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations. It was therefore appropriate that when Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali issued his June 1992 report "An Agenda for Peace" (S/24111), at the end of the Cold War, he highlighted the role that regional organizations could play in preventive diplomacy, early warning systems for crisis prevention, peacekeeping and post- conflict peacebuilding. In 2002, African Heads of State recast the objectives of the Organization of African Unity and transformed it into the African Union (AU). Part of the objective was for Africa to respond to various conflicts on the continent and to reestablish sustainable peace and security, not just for individual Member States, but for the region as a whole. Africa further came up with its own system to address a broad spectrum of matters, including peace and security, by launching the African Peace and Security Architecture, leading to the creation of the African Union Peace and Security Council. My delegation believes that global security cannot be achieved without cooperation with regional organizations. Given their in-depth understanding of respective regions as well as their geographic proximity to challenging environments, regional and subregional organizations are often uniquely positioned to understand the particular local dynamics and root causes of those challenges. Ugandan President Museveni has said that in some cases, even before the international forces acquaint themselves with the names of the protagonists in a conflict situation, regional actors might have made an impact in the early stages of such a conflict. Regional and subregional organizations are at the centre of promoting cooperation and integration in such areas as trade and investment, infrastructure development and critical sectors, in the case of Uganda, such as agriculture, energy, water and security, as well as the fostering of private-sector partnerships. Uganda believes that, due to the leverage regional and subregional organizations have had within our respective countries, they can, and often do, provide useful forums for policy coordination and harmonization on various important multilateral processes. My delegation is of the view that regional and subregional organizations require the political support of the United Nations and international community for successful preventive diplomacy and crisis management, not unlike what the East African Community has received in its Burundi political intervention or the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in the South Sudan civil war. However, we would like to partner with the Security Council in those initiatives. The Council needs to work hand in hand with affected countries on procedural issues and the drafting of press and presidential statements and resolutions that concern areas of operation. I will briefly state why. My delegation would like to emphasize the importance of strengthening the United Nations-AU partnership. The concept of a United Nations-supported regional force, like the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), is simply an evolving construct that can be traced back to the United Nations Mission in Liberia takeover from the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group in Liberia in 1990, the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur in 2004, the Force Integration Brigade in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the African-led International Support Mission in Mali and the African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic. The implementation of peacekeeping mandates has, in some cases, also been severely hampered due to a variety of factors, including insufficient troop numbers, challenges faced by the Council in overseeing the management of integrated operations, difficulties in generating and quickly deploying well-equipped troops and competent civilian capacity. Further challenges to global security include the issue of resources for regional organizations. Whereas the African Union has shown willingness to participate in peacekeeping operations, those initiatives lie largely in the hands of under-resourced regional countries. In the past, the Security Council has hesitated to provide the degree of practical and material support in the peacekeeping context that the AU Peace and Security Council has requested. That is a major area where consistency and predictability are required for regional partnerships to be successful. Allow me to give an example of a successful partnership which has led to greater global security. Following the establishment of AMISOM, the Security Council requested the Secretary-General to provide a United Nations logistical support package to AMISOM, including equipment and services, until 1 June 2009 or until the Council reached a decision on establishing a United Nations force. By that time, it was clear to the AU that the troops were operating in an untenable situation and required an adjustment in their mandate. The Ugandan Government therefore requested that the Security Council strengthen the mandate of AMISOM to a more robust one so that it could dislodge militants who had increased attacks on the Somali Government. In our statement to the Security Council at that time (see S/PV.6068), my delegation argued that the wording of the mandates rendered AMISOM. an observer in an active conflict. This is a place where partnerships between the African Union and the Security Council can come in the wording of such mandates. AMISOM had become a peacekeeping force in an environment that was not peaceful. In addition, there was a need for at least 16,000 troops in Somalia ifthe situation obtaining then was to be contained and for the relevance of the troop presence to be felt. In our view, Madam President, resolution 1863 (2009) marked the turning point for AMISOM's tangible successes. The Council responded positively by renewing the AMISOM. mandate for another six months and authorizing the Mission to take all necessary measures to protect key infrastructure in Somalia as well as to create the appropriate security conditions for the delivery of humanitarian aid. It also requested that the African Union maintain the AMISOM. deployment and reinforce the original 8,000 troop deployment in order to enhance the Mission's capability to carry out an unfettered peace enforcement mandate and to protect key installations around Mogadishu. AMISOM. has transitioned beyond Burundi and Uganda, and now we have Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Sierra Leone also providing troops. Ghana and Nigeria are among the police contributors. The peace dividend from joint efforts within the AMISOM. family cannot be overstated. We now have businesses flourishing in Mogadishu and investors have the confidence to venture into Somalia. The seaport is also vibrant and airlines have reopened their flight routes into Somalia. In conclusion, even though Africa seems to have the greatest security challenges, it is also the place where a partnership has the highest potential to make an impact. The United Nations needs to fast-track its efforts to broaden the contributor base by working with partners at the regional and subregional levels. It should take advantage of those capacities and we welcome the efforts so far taken in that regard. In order to foster that relationship further, the United Nations needs to familiarize itself with the AU institutional design, its working methods, practices and capacities and vice versa. Both organizations need to commit to exercising diligence, transparency and good-will towards a workable partnership. The United Nations should take maximum advantage of the strengths and roles that regional organizations such as the African Union and subregional organizations such as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the Southern African Development Community and the Economic Community of West African States can play. We should build on the lessons of our past and current experiences to create ever more innovative and flexible partnerships that draw on respective strengths, while encouraging expanded cooperation and dialogue. While Uganda commends the United Nations system for coping with various African situations, with varying degrees of success, it has been done mainly through political and peacekeeping tools. United Nations peacekeeping has been the most visible tool and in several cases it has been very effective. By contrast, United Nations conflict prevention and mediation efforts have been less visible and United Nations coordination of integrated programmes to address the root causes of conflict has been even less effective. That can clearly be seen by analyzing the resources allocated to the new peacebuilding architecture. It is incumbent upon us to find ways of ensuring predictable and sustainable financing for regional and subregional organizations, especially in cases where they carry out notjust peacekeeping but also peacebuilding initiatives.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Benin.

Mr. Adoumasse (Benin) (spoke in French): At the outset, I would like to join previous speakers who have extended to you, Madam President, sincere congratulations over the accession of your beautiful country, Nigeria, to the presidency of the Security Council and to express the full support of my country, Benin, in fulfilling that noble mission. I express the deep appreciation of my country to New Zealand, Nigeria's predecessor in that role, for their leadership in discharging their task. Benin aligns itself with the statement made by the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran on behalf of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries. The concept note (S/2015/599, annex) prepared by Nigeria as a guide for this open debate and the briefing made this morning by the Secretary-General provide highly relevant analyses of the situation. In the view of the Government of Benin, the topic of today's debate is particularly important because of the great interest it holds for the future of the African continent, as we believe that regional organizations are the appropriate instruments to confront contemporary challenges to global security. Moreover, that approach is fully in line with the collective security system established by the Charter of the United Nations. While the Charter of the United Nations does not impose an obligation on Member States, it implicitly assigns them the responsibility for first-response measures in situations that represent a threat to international peace and security. That is the deeper meaning ofChapter VIII, which recognizes that regional organizations have the role of addressing matters related to the maintenance of international peace and security that manifest regional characteristics. It is therefore fortunate that several regional integration organizations, initially geared towards promoting the economic development of their member States, have now acquired competencies in matters of peace and security in response to the significant impact of political and military crises that have gravely affected the environment in which they carry out their original statutory activities. Contemporary challenges in peacekeeping and international security are many and complex, and their resolution holds the key to the survival of humankind. Those challenges include terrorism and violent extremism, as embodied by Boko Haram, the Islamic State, Al-Qaida and affiliated networks and entities, and the multiple crises and conflicts that have plunged our peoples into mourning. The role of regional and subregional organizations must be taken seriously into account in responding to and meeting those challenges. This debate allows us to gather the varied perspectives on ways to implement the crucial cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations, particularly in Africa, to deal with threats to international peace and security. The most advanced regional organizations with significant financial means, material resources and proven expertise, should, in our view, be fully brought to bear in actions to strengthen the capacities of African regional and subregional organizations in the prevention of conflicts, crisis management and post- conflict stabilization. Benin supports the provisions of resolution 2167 (2014), which clearly lays out the guidelines to be followed in that context. Cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union in most peace operations of the African Union has proven its worth and relevance. Such cooperation has led, inter alia, to operations such as the African Union Mission in Somalia and the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, and enabled remarkable progress in combating the terrorist group Al-Shabaab in Somalia and the gradual stabilization ofthe situation in Darfur. We must draw on the lessons learned from those successful collaborations to continue to improve the strategic partnerships with regional and subregional organizations, using the most pragmatic formulas to address the challenges by ensuring the funding of operations undertaken by regional organizations with the approval of the Security Council, in accordance with its mandated powers. My delegation believes that successful cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union lies in greater coherence of action through regular consultations between the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council, with a view to a more flexible use of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations and taking into account the intrinsic realities of each crisis and conflict. It is important to address the outstanding issues in the development of the strategic partnership of the United Nations with the African Union and the regional economic communities in matters ofpeace and security, with a forward-looking View to making the most of such partnerships for the benefit of the effectiveness of the collective security system established by the Charter of the United Nations. The Security Council must assume its full, primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. The Member States should work towards the emergence of credible regional organizations throughout the world to guarantee their effectiveness in managing situations and finding solutions to the multifarious complex challenges of today. I conclude my statement by commending the European Union, whose commitment to the implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions, particularly those regarding cooperation with African regional and subregional organizations, represents an example to follow. Through its training of thousands of African soldiers, its capacity-building projects and its financial and material support, the European Union is on the frontline of cooperation with regional and subregional organizations as a way of resolving conflicts and creating conditions conducive to peace and security on the continent, with a view to the sustainable development of its States. However beyond military action, the search for peace must attach greater importance to interreligious and intercultural dialogue to promote peaceful relations among peoples. That dialogue must involve all components of society acting collectively to address the root causes of conflict and establish healthy relations between grass-roots communities. That was the overriding goal of the symposium held in Cotonou from 26 to 28 May, which adopted the African Initiative for Education on Peace and Development through Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue. The manifesto strongly urged, inter alia, the development and implementation of national peace policies through dialogue by working together to conceive, plan and manage development projects broadly, embracing religious and cultural sensitives at all levels within all countries.

The President: There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. The meeting rose at 5.50 pm.