Ban underlines importance of AL,UN partnership

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (C Front) attends a High-level meeting of the UN Security Council on peace and security in the Middle East, at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States, Sept 26, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday called for greater Arab League and UN collaboration to find peaceful means of quelling the violence and unrest in the Middle East region.

"The Security Council long ago recognized the vital role (which regional organizations) can play in consolidating peace agreements and enhancing peace and stability," Ban said at the high-level meeting of the 15-nations UN body on the role of the League of Arab States in the Middle East peace process.

The Arab League is a regional organization composed of 22 member states in Northern Africa and the Middle East region with an aim to protect the sovereignty and interests of its member states.

Referring to the conflict in Syria, the nuclear issue in Iran, and the stalemate in the peace process between Palestine and Israel, the secretary-general acknowledged the "complex backdrop" of their partnership, saying it was "a time of widespread apprehension and tragic violence."

"At this tumultuous time for the Arab region, people are looking to our organizations to be on their side in the fight for justice, dignity and opportunity," said Ban.

Focusing on Syria, Ban reiterated his oft-repeated stance that "there is no military stance to this crisis" and added this is where their "joint role has been most prominent."

Lakhdar Brahimi, the Joint Special Representative to Syria, was appointed by both the Arab League and the UN to be engaged in good offices in a bid to bring an early end to the long-standing crisis in the Middle East country.

"The mediation efforts need solid and concrete support from the Council," he said, referring to the continued division in the Security Council on Syria.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the high-level debate of the 67th session of the UN General Assembly, where the Middle East issue, including the unrest in Syria, have been hotly contested so far.

The secretary-general raised four areas in which the two organizations may improve their relations: exchanging more information, putting conflict prevention at the heart of their agenda, ensuring success of the transitions by offering assistance, and exploring new collaborations, such as the development of sustainable energy.

"I look forward to working even more closely together to realize the aspirations of people across the arc of your membership," said Ban.