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Madam President, I would like to thank you for convening us today to discuss the contribution of the regional organizations to the maintenance of international peace and security, and the Secretary General for his briefing. Lithuania aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the representative of the European Union. As noted on other occasions, regional and subregional organisations have the advantage of geographical proximity and can thus respond more quickly to the evolving situation on the ground; they share better knowledge of and insights into the causes, factors and actors of a crisis; and as neighbours have a direct interest in preventing a crisis from spilling over.

The UN and regional and subregional organizations would benefit greatly from developing greater complementarity and using their comparative advantages and capabilities as they seek to defuse crises, negotiate peaceful settlements or tackle cross-border threats.

Let me refer today to three regional organizations of which my country is a member: the European Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe, and their cooperation with the UN.

Madam President,

In the aftermath of the horrors of World War II, European Governments, determined to prevent another such terrible war were determined to proceed so as to make a war between the historic rivals "not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible".

Successive transformations made the EU an anchor of peace and security on the Continent, whose underlying principle of solidarity works inside as well as outside its boundaries, including through its strategic partnership with the UN which was recognised in last year’s PRST 2014/4 on the subject adopted under the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council.

On the political level, the EU’s commitment to prevention and mediation finds expression in its continued support  to UN stand-by team of mediation experts and its direct involvement in mediation, such as the one that produced a historical agreement between Pristina and Belgrade in 2013 and, more recently, a successful conclusion of Council-mandated negotiations between E3+3 and Iran.

As the largest humanitarian and development donor worldwide, the EU cooperates with the UN in all major conflict and post-conflict areas, be it Syria, Libya, South Sudan, Ukraine, CAR, Yemen, or Afghanistan.  

The EU has been at the forefront of UN-led international efforts of Ebola response, which this Council discussed last week. 1.2 bn euros were dedicated by the EU and its member states for humanitarian aid, recovery, and research projects in the affected countries, including for support to the African Union’s medical mission in West Africa. EU institutions and member states have allocated some 3.7 bn EUR to tackle the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Syria alone.

The comprehensive and synergistic nature of UN, EU and AU partnership can well be seen in Somalia, Mali, and CAR, ranging from border management and security sector reform, to capacity building, to post-conflict reconstruction and reconciliation.

In Mali, EUTM and the civilian mission EUCAP Sahel Mali are actively contributing to the country's security sector reform. Lithuania is a long-term contributor to EUTM Mali and is committed to maintaining its involvement.

UN, EU and AU partnership is also strong in Somalia, involving UNSOM, UNSOA, AMISOM and Mission Atalanta, in which Lithuania participates since 2011.

EU’s African Peace Facility inter alia supports AMISOM’s fight against Al-Shabaab terrorists and will provide funding for the multinational joint task force against Boko Haram. EUCAP Sahel Niger, established in 2012, is helping the country and the region to tackle trans-border security threats such as terrorism and organised crime.

With regard to combatting terrorism and countering violent extremism, UN-EU high level counter-terrorism political dialogue and cooperation offer much needed exchanges as well as capacity - building initiatives for affected regions and states and should be further developed.

Madam President,

Turning to the OSCE, this Organisation, with 57 participating states on three continents, engages in a wide range of issues, from conflict prevention, mediation, confidence and security building measures, combatting illicit trade in small arms and WMD proliferation, to promoting rule of law, good governance, as well as human rights and fundamental freedoms.

As such, it undoubtedly has a great potential for closer cooperation and synergy building with the UN, which is yet to be fully utilised. For  example, the OSCE has developed considerable mediation and conflict prevention capacities, complementary to those of the United Nations, and continues to play a role in tackling the protracted conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh, Transnistria, and Georgia, as well as contributing to security and stability in Central Asia.    

This year the OSCE marks the 40th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act – a set of fundamental commitments based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, inviolability of borders, and the non-use of force, which are also at the core of the UN Charter. It is an important but poignant anniversary, in the context of the unprecedented breach of those very principles by Russia whose proxy war against Ukraine and the illegal annexation of Crimea continue to cause death and destruction.

In this context, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission has an important role to play, as it is represents the only international body providing continuous reporting from the ground and registering ongoing Minks ceasefire violations which are again on the rise.

The mission’s vehicles have been burned; its UAVs repeatedly jammed; its observers denied access and threatened by the illegal militants who continue to enjoy military and material support of their patrons.

This mission needs the full support and cooperation of both the EU and the UN to continue carrying out its work. In spite of existing difficulties, UN’s greater role in seeking a durable, viable resolution of this conflict should be further explored.

Madam President,

Let me now turn to the Council of Europe, which has developed an impressive inventory of 200 international treaties, aimed at addressing some of the most pressing contemporary challenges. The conventions on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, on Corruption, on Cybercrime, on the Prevention of Terrorism and on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings are just a few examples, highly relevant for the work we do here at the UN and on this Council.

These treaties are open to accession by non-member states, and can provide useful standards and tools for countries anywhere around the globe for strengthening the rule of law, good governance, and respect for human rights whose absence often lies at the core of conflict.

In June this year the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe addressed the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee on the initiatives aimed at supporting states’ efforts to implement Council resolution 2178 on foreign terrorist fighters. The recent adoption by the Council of Europe of the protocol on foreign terrorist fighters merits our attention as we continue to elaborate joint responses to the FTF threat. It also serves as an excellent example of close cooperation between regional organizations and UN entities, since the adoption of the protocol was originally suggested by CTED, which also participated actively in the drafting process.

UN-Council of Europe partnership can also be strengthened in the field of the rule of law, whose absence and the ensuing lawlessness and abuse are often at the very core of conflict. The Venice Commission of the Council of Europe assists countries in democratic transition and constitutional processes. The work of the Commission is well recognized not only within the Council of Europe but also among its Mediterranean and Central Asian partners. The Venice Commission is already working closely with the UNDP on justice reforms. Its expertise could be further used in assisting states in the constitution and legislative fields, especially in post-conflict situations where building the judicial system and ensuring the independence of the judiciary are key priorities.

To conclude, as contemporary security challenges are too complex and multidimensional to be addressed by any single player, it is essential to take the partnerships between the UN and regional organizations forward strengthening complementarities and creating new synergies on the basis of their comparative advantages. I hope that today’s debate will contribute to this process. I thank you.