UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday urged the international community to step up cooperation to tackle security challenges in the Mediterranean region.
"The Mediterranean is a global junction of mutually enriching cultures, societies and economies. Yet violence and hatred are threatening that dynamism, to the detriment of the entire world," Guterres told a meeting of the UN Security Council chaired by Angelino Alfano, the foreign minister of Italy, which holds the 15-member body's presidency this month.
Challenges facing the region include illicit trade in narcotics, weapons and petroleum products, large movements of refugees and migrants, regrettably managed by human smugglers and traffickers, and maritime piracy.
"The Mediterranean Sea provides immense economic resources, such as hydrocarbons and fish stocks, and invaluable trade routes. However, its benefits depend on stability and cooperation," Guterres stressed.
The UN chief went on to highlight difficulties in various parts of the region.
Libya's stability is vital for the region, but after years of a prolonged transition, the country's institutions are deeply divided.
Instability in the Sahel region has contributed to an increase in irregular migration towards Europe.
Egypt continues to face several security challenges, including irregular migration, cross-border transit of weapons and fighters along its desert borders with Libya, Sudan and in the Sinai Peninsula bordering the Gaza Strip.
The Islamic State (IS) will continue to thrive unless the deep political roots of the Syrian conflict are resolved through a credible and comprehensive political process.
Turning to the movement of refugees and migrants, Guterres said that so far this year, at least 2,800 refugees and migrants have died in the Mediterranean, while countless others died on their way across the Sahel desert.
"There is a clear need to create more regular and safe ways to protect those fleeing persecution, and address the drivers of displacement," the secretary-general said.
All too often, responses to security challenges in the Mediterranean are undertaken largely or solely through traditional security arrangements or ad hoc solutions, he noted.
"We should do our utmost to resolve the worst of the region so that it can continue to contribute its best," he said.
