Mr. President,

I would like to thank the Russian Federation for organizing this meeting. I also thank UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, Stanislav Zas, for their insightful presentations.

The UAE attaches great importance to prioritizing regional views in conflict resolution as well as in peacebuilding and sustaining peace. We are a member of a wide range of regional and sub-regional organizations, including the Gulf Cooperation Council, the League of Arab States, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and we value these  organizations for the coordination and synergy that their platforms offer to jointly address common challenges.

The UAE supports the principle of regional solutions to regional problems. Regional mechanisms impart the local context and the knowledge that are essential for supporting sustainable solutions. In some cases, regional issues have international consequences, and the context provided by regional organizations can critically inform the work of the Security Council. From this perspective, we are pleased to see the UN strengthen its relationships with various regional and sub-regional organizations, including the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Building on such relations, the UAE also hopes to see the enhanced inclusion and participation of regional actors in the discussions of the Security Council. Today’s debate is a good manifestation of how voices from the region can inform the Council’s deliberations on security challenges impacting Central Asia.   

The UN and the CSTO have a number of overlapping objectives, including peace building, countering terrorism, combatting trafficking in persons, and combatting illegal trafficking of narcotics and arms. The Council should encourage enhanced cooperation and coordination between the UN and regional actors as well as the sharing of best practices. In this regard, we also note the regular high-level and working-level contacts between the CSTO and the UN’s Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, the Office of Counter-Terrorism, and the Department of Peace Operations.  

Cooperation between the CSTO and the UN, as well as with other sub-regional organizations in the Central Asian region, is all the more warranted in light of recent developments in Afghanistan. The challenges resulting from the radical shift in the political, security, and humanitarian environment in Afghanistan pose risks with regional implications for Central Asia, including in relation to transnational crime, drug trafficking, terrorist activities, and refugee flows. We welcome regular contacts between the CSTO, the UN Regional Center on Central Asia, and the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan to coordinate approaches for addressing the threats of terrorism and extremism in the region as well as other cross-border challenges.

Regarding recent events in Kazakhstan, the UAE closely followed the stabilization of the situation. We expressed our support for the government of Kazakhstan’s efforts to maintain stability and security within its borders and fulfil the aspirations of its people. Such steps are critical for maintaining stability in neighboring countries and in the region as a whole.

Mr. President,

The Council must ensure that regional perspectives are systematically included in its consideration of items on its agenda. Factors of conflict, like terrorism or drug trafficking, are neither easily contained within state borders, nor can they be addressed by one state alone. Taking into account the experience, knowledge, and perspectives of neighbors will be vital for creating comprehensive strategies for conflict prevention and resolution.

Thank you.