UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- A strong partnership between the United Nations and regional organizations and subregional organizations is crucial in responding to challenges of security, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said here on Wednesday
The statement came as Vietnamese UN Ambassador Le Luong Minh, on behalf of the ASEAN, was addressing an open Security Council debate at the UN Headquarters on the cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security. The debate was initiated by China, which holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council in January.
"Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations is crucial and beneficial, not only to the safeguarding of peace and security but also to development," Minh said.
Echoing the sentiment of a "strong partnership" between the United Nations and regional organizations, he noted that the relationship is crucial in responding to the challenges from both traditional and non-traditional security issues.
Regional organizations can play a crucial role in security in their regions through regional dispute settlement mechanisms which are accompanied by political, financial and physical support from the international community, he said.
Minh noted that regional initiatives with the collaboration from UN agencies and international organizations help to encourage dialogues and consultations in order to reduce misunderstandings.
Minh reiterated ASEAN's role in fostering good relationships with other countries and groupings through "developing dialogue" where he noted that the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is the primary forum that highlights political and security dialogue and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.
ASEAN was granted an observer status in the UN General Assembly in 2006 where the two organizations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation to further enhance the ASEAN-UN relations and cooperation.
