10 December 2014
Ban Ki-moon: UN and OSCE have a shared role in managing regional challenges
On the eve of the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressed the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The Secretary-General stressed the importance of partnerships between the United Nations and the OSCE in navigating trans-regional crises such as civil conflicts, terrorism, trafficking and political divisions.
“We are a world in transition. New powers are emerging. Urbanization and migration are on the rise. We are striving for a more sustainable and equitable path of development. Distinctions between the national and the international are falling away. At the same time, the global security landscape is shifting dramatically,” said Mr. Ban Ki-moon. Noting that the conflict in the Ukraine remains “a deep concern” which “risks jeopardizing our collective ability to solve global problems”, Mr. Ban encouraged continued cooperation between the UN and OSCE. The Secretary-General stated the organizations have a “common responsibility to diffuse tensions”.
Considering other challenges to security the Secretary-General encouraged the continued involvement of the OSCE in the region and stressed the need for continued cooperation between the two organizations. “By working together” he stated, “we can be the first generation to end extreme poverty and the last generation to live with climate change as an existential threat”.
Source: UN News Centre | Ban spotlights role of UN-OSCE partnership in addressing regional challenges