New york: At the conclusion of the UN Security Council's high-level session on cooperation between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the United Nations, chaired by Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Council adopted a Presidential Statement affirming the GCC's significant role in international security.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the session focused on the agenda item: "Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organisations in maintaining international peace and security." The Security Council emphasized its primary responsibility in maintaining international peace and security and acknowledged the importance of effective partnerships between the UN and regional organizations, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the UN Charter.
The Security Council expressed appreciation for the briefings provided by Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, and Jasem Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the GCC. These briefings highlighted the role of regional organizations in addressing international peace and security issues. The Council recognized the GCC's expertise in promoting sustainable peace and security and its contributions to stability through mediation, preventive diplomacy, and humanitarian engagement.
The Security Council welcomed ongoing consultations between the UN and GCC Secretariats and emphasized the need for strengthened cooperation, including regular dialogue, coordination, and information sharing. The areas of focus include conflict prevention, mediation, peacebuilding, counter-terrorism, and humanitarian response. The Council also recalled previous resolutions that underscore the GCC's importance to global peace and stability.
The Presidential Statement highlighted the GCC member states' contributions to UN peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts. It encouraged regular briefings by the GCC Secretary-General to enhance cooperation with the UN, particularly in addressing emerging regional threats and challenges. Furthermore, the statement urged joint efforts to promote the participation of women and youth in peace and security initiatives, in line with resolutions 1325 (2000) and 2250 (2015).
The Security Council called for collaboration between the UN and GCC on shared challenges such as maritime security, terrorism prevention, and food and water security. It reaffirmed its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of all GCC member states, consistent with UN Charter principles and international law.
Finally, the Security Council requested the Secretary-General to include recommendations in his next report to strengthen institutional relations and cooperation between the UN and GCC, furthering their collaborative efforts in maintaining international peace and security.