Co-ord inated multilateral action key to address world’s challenges
I WOULD like to thank the Vietnamese presidency for the opportunity to brief the Security Council on what has been a key priority since taking office: co-operation between the UN and regional and subregional organisations.
This co-operation has grown exponentially since 1945.
Today, it encompasses preventive diplomacy, mediation, counterterrorism, preventing violent extremism, peacekeeping, peace building, promoting human rights, advancing the women, peace and security agenda, combating climate change and, since last year, the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
As we look to the future, fostering dialogue and building confidence across all these areas is central to our common work.
Our investment in institutionalising partnerships has translated to more effective engagements before, during and after crises, with concrete operational results.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the UN is working with the EU, the Organisation
for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Council of Europe to support local efforts to advance dialogue, trust-building and reconciliation.
In Sudan, the UN supported the AU and Ethiopia in facilitating negotiations that resulted in the establishment of a civilian-led transitional government, with women and young people playing a prominent role.
Together, through our Hybrid Operation in Darfur, the UN and the AU also provided technical, advisory and logistical support to the negotiations that culminated in the signing of the Juba Peace Agreement in October 2020, before jointly presenting options for a new UN political mission, which led to the establishment of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan.
As we continue to support Sudan in its efforts towards democratic governance and an inclusive society, our collaboration remains essential.
In Mali, following a military coup, the UN and the AU supported the efforts led by the Economic Community of West African States towards the formation of a transitional government in September 2020. Since then, we have been working closely with Malian stakeholders to support the implementation of the transition road map and action plan.
In supporting the Libyan-led, Libyan-owned dialogue process and transition, the UN is working closely with the AU, the League of Arab States and the EU, including in the context of the Berlin process and the Quartet.
We are working together to support the implementation of the ceasefire and we are closely co-operating with the AU in its initiative to support the Libyan authorities in promoting national reconciliation.
And in Bolivia, close co-operation between the UN, the EU and the Episcopal Conference of Bolivia played an important part in finding a peaceful solution to the crisis following the 2019 general elections and building confidence ahead of the general elections held last October.
These examples show that our ability to work together and build on our complementarities allows us to more effectively support member states in managing complex political transitions and in finding sustainable solutions to political challenges.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is an important part of this picture. Since its founding, Asean has played an important role in its region through diplomacy, conflict prevention and peace building in conflict situations.
The Comprehensive Partnership between Asean and the UN, well established since 2011, has grown across the peace and security spectrum as well as social and economic development.
Under our technical co-operation agreement, we have provided capacity building support in the areas of mediation and dialogue, ceasefires and gender inclusion.
Today, Asean’s role is more crucial than ever as the region faces an urgent crisis in Myanmar. I have repeatedly called on the international community to work, collectively and through bilateral channels, to help bring an end to the violence and the repression by the military.
The UN’S co-operation with Asean in this regard is vital. The situation requires a robust international response grounded on a unified regional effort.
Strengthening UN partnerships with regional and subregional organisations is an integral part of my vision for a networked multilateralism.
Despite the pandemic, my biennial high-level interactive dialogue with heads of regional organisations was held virtually last November.
I am committed to pursuing an even closer engagement to promote confidence-building and dialogue, in conflict prevention, management and resolution.
We can only address our world’s current and future challenges, including those exposed and heightened by Covid-19, through ambitious and co-ordinated multilateral action.
Guterres is UN Secretary-general. This is an edited version of his statement to a recent UN Security Council meeting.