Statement at the Security Council Debate on Cooperation between the UN and Regional and sub-Regional Organizations

 
By H.E. MRS. Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee
Ghana Permanent Representative to the United Nations
The Ghana Permanent Mission to the United Nations
New York City
December 6, 2018

AS DELIVERED

THE SECURITY COUNCIL HIGH-LEVEL MINISTERIAL DEBATE ON COOPERATION BETWEEN THE UN AND REGIONAL AND SUB-REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:  THE ROLE  OF STATES, REGIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND THE UNITED NATIONS IN THE PREVENTION AND RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS

Mr. President,

Ghana joins previous speakers in thanking the Cote d’Ivoire Presidency of the Security Council for convening this High-Level meeting on the Role of States, Regional Arrangements and the United Nations in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, a theme at the very heart of the United Nations Charter.

We all have a primary responsibility as member states to pursue the overriding moral, political and humanitarian imperative of preventing the outbreak, continuation, escalation or relapse into conflict.

The complex and multi-dimensional nature of conflicts today as well as new and emerging threats to peace and security call for enhancing strategic and operational partnerships between the United Nations regional organizations. As implied under Chapter VIII of the Charter, the responsibility for peace and security must be a shared one, and the success of our joint efforts will depend to a large extent on our political commitment to more effective use of the tools provided in the Charter in respect of regional and sub-regional arrangements.

Mr. President,

Joint collaborative efforts between the UN and regional and sub-regional arrangements have proven successful in conflict prevention and resolution. They have been particularly instrumental in dealing with difficult political transitions, diffusing tensions and encouraging political dialogues ahead of highly contentious elections, resolving electoral crises and ending political deadlocks.

The conclusion in 2017 of the joint United Nations-African Union Framework for Enhanced Partnership for Peace and Security is therefore a welcome development. The Joint Framework offers a platform for regular consultations; joint horizon scanning; joint assessment and good offices missions; joint/similar messaging and mutual capacity enhancement towards conflict prevention and resolution in Africa. The Memorandum of Understanding between the African Union and the Peacebuilding Support Office of the United Nations, together with other policies including the AU’s post conflict reconstruction and development policy and the African Solidarity Initiative will enable collaborative actions that are critical for sustaining peace. It is my delegation’s hope that these initiatives will benefit from greater support from the United Nations in order to ensure maximum benefits for conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peacebuilding.

In a similar vein, the UN’s multifaceted engagement and partnership with ECOWAS have effectively made the sub-regional body a vital partner in the areas of conflict prevention, mediation and resolution, as well as in peacebuilding and strengthening of regional capacities. We take this opportunity to commend the work of the United Nations Office for West Africa and Sahel (UNOWAS) and call for the strengthening of its partnership with ECOWAS through regular thematic inter-governmental dialogues in support of conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Several sub-regional instruments for cooperation exist, including the 2008 ECOWAS Strategic Framework for Conflict Prevention, the 2011 Praia Declaration on Elections and Stability in West Africa, the ECOWAS Humanitarian Policy and Plan of Action (2012-2017), and the ECOWAS Political Declaration and Regional Action Plan to Combat Illicit Drug Trafficking, Organized Crime and Drug Abuse.

Mr. President,

Ghana commends the Secretary-General for the special focus placed on preventive diplomacy, good offices and mediation in the maintenance of international security. We wish to emphasize the importance of these efforts within the framework of regional and sub-regional arrangements and to reaffirm Ghana’s commitment to contributing to such initiatives.

My delegation wishes to acknowledge in this regard, the technical assistance and good offices provided by UNOWAS in support of ECOWAS mediation efforts in Guinea Bissau, as well as those in Togo led by Co-Facilitators – Presidents Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana and Alpha Conde of Guinea – to resolve the constitutional reform crisis. It is our sincere hope that the remarkable efforts of the co-facilitators coupled with the Roadmap adopted on 31 July 2018 by the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, which both sides have committed to, will yield decisive results.

Mr. President,

Cooperation between the UN, regional arrangements and Member States in the maintenance of peace and security has been more evident in the area of peacekeeping. Whether in their capacities as TPCCs or host nations, Member States are important stakeholders in peacekeeping and we welcome in this regard the A4P initiative that is aimed at enhancing partnerships and efficiencies in this important pillar. Ghana wishes to add its voice to calls for the need to enhance the predictability, sustainability and flexibility of financing for AU-led peace support operations authorized by the Security Council.

My delegation also wishes to use this opportunity to call for greater harmonization of standards between the United Nations and regional and sub-regional organisations, as a way of improving transitions from regional operations to UN supervised Missions. An increased systematic coordination and consultation on policies, guidance and training standards would ensure coherence in all phases, from planning to drawdown of operations. Increased efforts must go into capacity-building to ensure the highest standards of conduct and discipline and compliance with the relevant rules, regulations and procedures,

In conclusion, Mr. President, we wish to stress the importance of national efforts to foster political dialogue, national reconciliation, democratic governance, justice and accountability, respect for human rights and the rule of law.

We must commit to enhancing collaboration with regional and sub-regional arrangements for timely responses to situations or disputes that pose a threat to international peace and security. It is our hope that continued partnerships in the maintenance of international peace and security will be impacted by the interconnected pillars of the United Nation’s work in order to guarantee sustained peace and development.

I thank you Mr. President

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