Cooperation between the UN and regional and subregional organizations (League of Arab States)

 
Mr. President, Y.E. Khalifa Shaheen, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates I would like to thank the UAE, a proud member of the League of Arab States, for convening this important meeting. I wish to also express gratitude to the Secretary-General, H.E. António Guterres; the Secretary General of the League of Arab States (LAS), H.E. Ahmed Aboul Gheit and Razan Farhan Alaqil for their statements. I equally welcome, warmly, the participation in this meeting of H.E. Mr. Harsh Vardhan
Shringla, Foreign Secretary of India as well as the distinguished Representative of Yemen in its capacity as the chair of the Arab Group for this month.
 
Mr. President,
Consistent with its foreign policy objectives, and in keeping with the provisions of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations on regional arrangements, Ghana strongly supports the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations and regional and sub-regional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security. We believe that regional arrangements or mechanisms, with their unique and invaluable knowledge of the regions they represent, make vital contributions towards securing our collective security. It is imperative, therefore, that we encourage the sustenance of such strategic cooperation and coordination.
 
In this context, Ghana will continue to actively and constructively support initiatives by this Council to help cement further the veritable partnership between the United Nations and all regional and sub-regional organizations, including with the League of Arab States on the range of issues requiring urgent consideration such as an early warning for potential conflict situations, prevention, mediation, peacekeeping, peacebuilding, sustaining peace, addressing root causes of conflicts, counter-terrorism, vaccine equity and justice, as well as addressing the climate emergency.
 
We are pleased to note, in this regard, the principles of the 22-member League of Arab States, especially that conflicts, including those in the Arab region, should be settled by peaceful means, with full respect for the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the countries concerned and in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
 
Mr. President,
In contributing to this agenda item, we wish to make the following additional points:
i. Firstly, Ghana believes that in these times of heightened global tensions, the continued engagement and leadership of the League of Arab States will be critical to containing any new conflict situations and flareups in the Arab Region as well as addressing the prevailing security challenges. We, therefore, encourage greater diplomatic engagement by the League in the conflicts of the region, in collaboration with the Security Council, through its conflict resolution tools and strategies.
ii. Secondly, we commend the framework of trilateral cooperation under the auspices of the UN, the AU and the League of Arab States and welcome efforts to enhance consultations in addressing some of the intractable conflicts we continue to grapple with. We believe that a deepened partnership with the League of Arab States will help create the desired
conditions for tackling some of the cross-regional peace and security issues effectively as it is evident that sustainable peace will continue to be elusive without effective coordination and collaborative solutions to conflicts and crises facing the Middle East and the North Africa region. .
iii. Thirdly, never has it been necessary than now to recall that while the Charter confers on this Council the primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security, it also permits regional arrangements to deal with such matters pertaining to the maintenance of international peace and security as lie within their competence. Therefore, by utilizing avenues for regular consultations with the League of Arab States and other regional arrangements, this Council can be more effective in discharging its mandate, especially in situations where the arguments for subsidiarity are stronger and clearer.
 
Mr. President,
In concluding, we are mindful of the complexities that cooperation with regional arrangements entails and as a result Ghana would continue her efforts to identify gaps and propose guidelines to enhance complementarity between the United Nations and regional organizations. These efforts are a continuing endeavour and will benefit greatly from the partnership and solidarity of all
Council members, the wider UN membership and relevant international actors, including the League of Arab States.

I thank you.