Statement by the delegation of Ukraine at the UNSC meeting on the UN-African Union peace and security cooperation
Statement by the delegation of Ukraine at the UNSC open debate on the UN-African Union peace and security cooperation
24 May 2016
Mr. President,
I want to thank you for convening this open debate to discuss the topical issue of UN-AU cooperation. It is very important that this debate is being held after the joint consultations between the members of the Security Council and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union.
From the outset, I would like to state that Ukraine aligns itself with the statement of the European Union to be delivered later.
We warmly welcome the briefers and thank them for their comprehensive presentations and expressed views, which unveiled a broad and progressive dynamic of cooperation between both organizations.
Over the past decade, the role of the African Union and sub-regional organizations in promoting peace and sustainable development among African States has increased significantly. The African Union has demonstrated its ability to take the lead in effective resolution of conflicts, and its views on this matter are of particular value for the UN.
The launch of the African Peace and Security Architecture and establishment of its constitutive elements, as well as deployment of African Union’s peace support operations authorized by the Security Council, are a clear testimony to the growing importance of enhancing the UN-AU cooperation.
Mr. President,
Over the years, the African Union proved a valuable partner of the UN. On many occasions, the African Union and its member states were able to step in promptly to help maintain peace and security or bring in a measure of stability in crisis situations. African Union’s presence has also an extra benefit of providing additional political legitimacy and leverage to international peace operations. We value very much the readiness of the AU to tackle problematic or sensitive issues head on, especially whenever the UN was not able to act expeditiously due to its many limitations. Let me mention in this regard the AU’s response to the crises in Somalia and Mali as examples of pro-active approach.
We welcome the progress that has been made in enhancing the capacity of the AU to manage crises, as well as the positive role that the African Union has played in the context of several electoral crises on the continent.
Regrettably, we have also seen cases when the United Nations and the African Union were not able to reach a shared understanding on how to address certain conflicts. The result was a slow response of the international community to peace and security threats in various areas.
The recent case in point — the situation in Burundi, which is far from being resolved.
Ukrainian delegation proceeds from understanding that deployment of robust UN police presence would be very much in accordance with our shared goal to prevent further escalation of the crisis and possible bloodshed.
We therefore call for increased consultation and broader use of preventive diplomacy tools and mechanisms, as endorsed by UNSC resolution 1625.
One of our common threats is terrorism, especially as we see the rise of new types of terrorism-related threats to international peace and security. We call for greater unity and stronger international partnership between the UN and the AU in combating this dangerous phenomenon, including in particular through effective implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. It is also important to enhance our cooperation to stop sources of terrorist financing and to prevent supply of arms to terrorists.
Mr. President,
In recent years, we have seen progress achieved in developing the strategic relationships between the United Nations and the African Union in the area of peace and security. At the same time, we have to admit that challenges remain and that more should be done to further strengthen this relationship to effectively address common collective security concerns in Africa.
Ukraine welcomes the new African Peace and Security Architecture Roadmap 2016–2020, aimed at greater coordination and cohesion between the UN and the AU in fulfilling their priority tasks.
In addition, last year, the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations, in its report, called for the UN to deepen its strategic partnership with the AU through consultative decision-making and common strategy.
Thus, we look forward to finalization in 2016 by the UN Secretariat and the AU Commission of a Joint UN-AU Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security. This instrument will provide a blueprint for early and continuous engagement between our Organizations before, during and after the conflict.
We expect that follow-up work will include practical steps to enhance the overall effectiveness of the global security architecture, in full recognition of the role of regional organizations and the UN-AU partnership.
Meanwhile, in the last UN-AU communiqué, it was agreed to conduct a joint field mission to a conflict situation or area in Africa, to be identified through consultations during 2015. Unfortunately, this mission did not take place and we call for renewing this effort again in the course of 2016.
Mr. President,
When we look at the African Union Flag, we can see the white colour representing Africa’s desire to have true friends around the world. Africa can continue counting on Ukraine as a country that remains your reliable friend and strong supporter of peace, democracy and development on the African continent. As Ukraine has applied for an observer status in the AU, we intend to use this enhanced relationship with the AU to advance cooperation and dialogue on a broad range of issues, including security.
To conclude, I wish to use this opportunity to convey my cordial greetings on the occasion of the Africa Day (May 25).
I thank you, Mr. President.