64th session of UN General Assembly adopts Resolution on cooperation between UN and SCO

18.12.2009

On 18 December 2009 introducing a plenary text on cooperation between the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (A/64/L.34), on behalf of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, MURAD ASKAROV (Uzbekistan) said the organization aimed to strengthen trust and friendship among its member States, encourage efficient cooperation in politics, trade and economy, and science and technology, among other areas, and consolidate efforts to maintain peace and security. The Council of Heads, its governing body, determines priorities and decides on issues of internal functioning. The Council of National Coordinators coordinates cooperation between ministries and agencies of member States.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization had enjoyed observer status with the General Assembly since 2004, he said, and cooperated closely with the United Nations in most major areas. Prospects for joint work looked promising in environmental protection, humanitarian issues and migration. To address common objectives, the relationship between the two bodies had to be placed on a more systematic basis. That was the purpose of the draft resolution, which noted that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization aimed to strengthen peace, security and stability in the region; counter terrorism and extremism, and promote regional cooperation in areas like trade and economic development, energy and transportation.

Further, the draft emphasized the importance of strengthening dialogue and cooperation between the two bodies, he said, and proposed that the United Nations Secretary-General hold regular consultations with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s Secretary-General through existing inter-agency forums and formats. It proposed that United Nations specialized agencies, programmes and funds cooperate with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization with a view to implementing programmes to achieve their goals. He believed the draft text would be adopted by consensus.

BOLAT NURGALIEV, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, said consideration of the draft resolution reflected Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s increasing role in security in the Asian region. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s activities aimed to encourage regional cooperation in areas like trade, energy, transport, agriculture, finance, information and communication technologies, science, customs, education, healthcare, environmental protection, and natural disaster risk reduction.

He said Members had made significant contributions to ensuring post-conflict reconstruction in Afghanistan, efforts which he hoped to step up, with United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, in the interest of jointly carrying out projects in those areas. In closing, he expressed his appreciation to States that supported inclusion of the item on the Assembly’s agenda.

The Assembly then adopted by consensus the resolution on cooperation between the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (A/64/L.34), by which it emphasized the importance of strengthening dialogue, cooperation and coordination between the United Nations system and that organization. Among other things, it proposed that the Secretary-General hold regular consultations with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s Secretary-General through the existing inter-agency forums and formats.