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CRUCIAL VALUE OF OAS-UN COOPERATION IS EMPHASIZED AT NEW YORK FORUM

Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin, representing the Organization of American States (OAS) at a United Nations Security Council forum in New York today, underscored the value of close cooperation among multilateral organizations, saying it is a critical component of the new OAS action plan for strengthening regional governability in the Americas.

Ambassador Ramdin said the OAS welcomes a much more structured approach to strengthening collaboration between UN and regional organizations in the areas of democracy, development and security, including peace building and conflict prevention. Citing the OAS’ active engagement in conflict-prevention and its facilitation and mediation efforts, notably with respect to the political crises in Haiti, Nicaragua, Ecuador, and Bolivia, Ramdin said OAS engagements involve as well the provision of technical assistance and capacity building.

Addressing a debate on cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations—the second such forum in which he has participated since being elected Assistant Secretary General last June—Ambassador Ramdin explained the preventive capacity the OAS brings to UN-regional cooperation, and the capacity of the OAS to mobilize member states and resources within the inter-american system to reach consensus on concerted actions to address hemispheric challenges. He lauded the valuable work of the Security Council and the UN’s leadership role in the maintenance of peace and security, while noting that much more can be done to strengthen institutions through closer collaboration, analyses, joint implementation of technical cooperation, focused attention on structural prevention and improved streamlining of funding for preventive multilateral actions.

He pointed to the crucial role of subregional organizations like the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), and Central American Integration System (SICA) in the Americas. “These subregional organizations should strive to work in tandem with lead multilateral institutions, by searching for ways to complement the work of the OAS and the UN,” he stated, citing Haiti as a good example OAS-UN collaboration.

On the critical matter of funding, the OAS Assistant Secretary General noted that lack of funds for peace-building and reconstruction activities hinders the reconciliation process, and he therefore urged joint articulation of appeals for assistance for conflict-affected countries. He also called for special donors’ conferences bringing together UN, regional organizations, donor countries, Bretton Woods institutions and other relevant parts of the UN systems.

Reference: E-241/05