“We need to continue working together. Now more than ever” – OSCE Chairperson Lajčák calls for stronger UN-OSCE co-operation at UN Security Council

NEW YORK, United States, 7 March 2019 – Briefing the United Nations Security Council on the priorities of the 2019 Slovak OSCE Chairmanship in New York today, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Slovakia’s Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Miroslav Lajčák reconfirmed the OSCE’s commitment to supporting the implementation of the UN global mandate at the regional level.

Reminding the members of the Security Council that the United Nations and the OSCE – as the world’s largest security organization under Chapter VIII of the UN Charter –  are based on the same vision of “systems of agreed rules, principles and norms”, “new forms of co-operation between decision makers - so that life can be better for people on the ground” and “dialogue in places where there has been none”, Minister Lajčák called for closer UN-OSCE co-operation on resolving today’s conflicts.

Making the case for closer co-operation, Lajčák stressed that “In working together, we have nothing to lose – and everything to gain.”

“The OSCE has a lot to gain from closer UN engagement, such as operational readiness, capacities and capabilities at various stages of the conflict cycle,” the Chairperson-in-Office said. “But the OSCE has a lot to give, too,” he continued, mentioning tailored regional knowledge, niche expertise and lessons learned from the ground, thanks to its field operations. 

“In addition, in this climate of eroding global arms control, the OSCE can be a platform for confidence building and increased transparency,” Lajčák added.

Looking at future challenges, the OSCE Chair pointed out that as the security landscape is changing, and unpredictability is rising, both organizations need to adapt by pooling their capacities in the areas of conflict prevention and resolution, sustainable development, institution building, rule of law and good governance, in line with the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security.

Concluding his briefing, Lajčák stressed that “there is absolutely no alternative when it comes to the legitimacy the UN brings and the reach it allows,” and, similarly, “when it comes to the OSCE’s 57, there is absolutely no alternative to local know-how and field presence.”

While in New York, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office also met with the President of the 73^rd session of the UN General Assembly, María Fernanda Espinosa; Deputy-Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed; UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary A. DiCarlo; UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix; UNICEF’s Executive Director, Henrietta H. Fore; and Under-Secretary-General of the UN Counter-Terrorism Office Vladimir Voronkov.