The United Nations General Assembly adopted on November 17, 2017, the resolution "The Role of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia", submitted by Turkmenistan. 57 countries have co-sponsored the resolution.
The resolution welcomes the Center's efforts to strengthen dialogue among the countries of the region in addressing issues of common concern.
In the course of introduction of the draft text at the General Assembly meeting, it was stressed that for ten years since its establishment, the Center has become an excellent platform for regional dialogue on the management of common resources, as well as for cooperation in combating terrorism and militant extremism, organized crime, drugs and people trade.
The Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia is a unique structure in the UN peacekeeping activities. The initiative of its creation belongs to the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, consistently coming out with conceptual ideas on maintaining peace and ensuring security on a regional and global scale.
On the basis of the unanimous support of the initiative by all countries of the region and then by the Community of Nations, the headquarters of the Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia was solemnly inaugurated in Ashgabat on December 10, 2007. The center is the first political mission in the history of the United Nations, whose powers include preventive diplomacy, taking into account the current directions of interaction in modern conditions.
Seventy-second session
Agenda item 65
Peacebuilding and sustaining peace
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on17 November 2017
72/7. Role of the United Nations Regional Centre for
Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia
The General Assembly,
Guided by the Charter of the United Nations,
Recalling the exchange of letters between the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council on the establishment of a United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy in Ashgabat,1
Welcoming the twenty-fifth anniversary of the membership of the Central Asian countries in the United Nations, reaffirming the unique role of the United Nations in the system of international relations, and encouraging political dialogue directed towards collective action to address common challenges and the development of economic and social cooperation between the countries of the region,
Noting the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, in December 2017, and relying on the experience of the Regional Centre,
Reaffirming the importance of preventive diplomacy in supporting United Nations efforts to assist in the peaceful settlement of disputes, and acknowledging in this context the role of the Regional Centre in assisting the Central Asian States, in accordance with its mandate and through enhanced regional cooperation, to respond to transnational threats to peace and in supporting sustainable development in the region,
Understanding the importance of the creation and preservation of the most stable and secure Central Asian space, supporting the aspiration of the countries of the region to establish a model of a Central Asian regional zone of peace, security, cooperation and development, taking into account the experience gained in regional cooperation, as well as the assistance of the international community, represented by the United Nations,
Noting the specific focus of the Regional Centre on supporting cooperation among the Central Asian States in the areas of counter-terrorism and prevention of violent extremism conducive to terrorism, with a view to the integrated and balanced implementation of all pillars of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy2 in the region,
Recalling the Ashgabat Declaration of the high-level United Nations-Central Asia dialogue on implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia, adopted on 13 June 2017,3
Underlining the necessity of countering illicit drug production and trafficking in the region, and in this regard commending the efforts being made by the Regional Centre, jointly with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime through its Regional Office for Central Asia, in Tashkent, and the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for combating the illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, in Almaty, Kazakhstan,
Welcoming the close interaction of the Regional Centre with United Nations country teams, as well as the Peace building Fund, in the areas of conflict prevention and peace building,
Welcoming also the readiness of the Central Asian countries to make efforts to reach mutually beneficial agreements on the integrated use of water and energy resources in the region,
1.Encourages the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia to continue to liaise with the Governments of the region and, with their concurrence, with other parties concerned on issues relevant to preventive diplomacy;
2.Welcomes the assistance of the Regional Centre in implementing the initiatives of the Central Asian countries towards a stable, peaceful and prosperous region;
3.Encourages the Regional Centre to continue close cooperation with the Governments of the region to strengthen the capacity of the region to overcome challenges to peace, stability and sustainable development through preventive diplomacy and dialogue.
55th plenary meeting 17 November 2017
