Mr. President,
The number of conflicts in the world is on the rise, and these are increasingly intra-state conflicts.
Asymmetrical threats are more serious than ever and they transcend national borders.
The root causes of conflicts are various, and they can only be adequately addressed through a combination of tools.
In the prevention and resolution of conflicts and tackling present challenges, a strengthened partnership between the United Nations and regional organizations, in accordance with Chapter 8 of the UN Charter, is indispensable.
We must do better to strengthen the UN’s bonds with regional bodies. And this requires a strategic, long-term and mutually beneficial perspective.
Türkiye fully supports the leading role of the United Nations and we are committed to expanding the partnership of the UN with regional organizations in conflict prevention, mediation, peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts.
Mr. President,
A large portion of the Council’s agenda deals with peace and security challenges in Africa.
We are pleased to observe that the partnership between the African Union and the UN has strengthened, enhanced and deepened, especially in the last decade.
We also welcome the increasing coordination and coherence between the African Union and sub-regional organizations in the Continent.
These efforts will further consolidate African leadership and ownership in overcoming the challenges faced by the Continent.
The UN-AU partnership can further be intensified by strengthening the institutionalization of this relationship.
Besides the African Union, organizations such as the OIC, OSCE, CICA, ASEAN, NATO, CELAC and the Organization of American States (OAS) have important roles to play in ensuring peace and stability together with the United Nations.
Intra-regional cooperation can also significantly contribute to our joint efforts to maintain peace and security and to build on the lessons learned from different cases.
Mr. President,
There are a number of principles that we deem important when it comes to the engagement of the UN with regional organizations.
First, effective partnerships between the United Nations and regional organizations must be rooted in respect for regional processes and contexts.
Second, every conflict situation has its own circumstances and no organization can impose a one-size-fits-all approach to the prevention and resolution of conflicts.
Third, we can benefit from the experiences of different regional settings to improve our problem-solving practices.
Lastly, we need more innovative and flexible partnership agreements that draw on the strengths of the respective organizations and pay attention to their comparative advantages.
Mr. President,
We see this open debate as a good opportunity to take stock of what we have achieved so far and to reflect on the way forward.
We hope that the ideas expressed today will be helpful in paving the way for a strengthened, enhanced and a mutually beneficial cooperation between the UN and regional organizations.
We thank the Ivoirian Presidency for organizing it.
Thank you.