Riyaz Patel
South Africa has reaffirmed the centrality of cooperation between the United Nations (UN) and regional bodies to address peace and security challenges, including the scourge of terrorism.
“Terrorism continues to threaten our populations and deprive us of the genius and creativity of our children and youth. On the African continent it has the potential to derail our collective efforts to bring about peace, security and sustainable development,” said International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) Minister Naledi Pandor at the UN.
The Minister was addressing the UN Security Council meeting on Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and sub-regional organisations in maintaining international peace and security across the world.
Pandor said continued terrorist attacks across the world have shown that no nation or region is immune to this threat. There is no short-term solution to countering the threat of terrorism and its devastating consequences, she said.
“If we are to triumph over this scourge we need, in addition to our national efforts, to strengthen international, regional and sub-regional cooperation and coordination efforts.”
Countries, she said, should seek political solutions aimed at resolving long-standing conflicts to create the conditions for stability and a better future over the long-term.
“We should seek to address the marginalization of some sectors of the population and address socio-economic and political disparities. More often than not, where there is conflict, there might also be a deficit of the rule of law, thus allowing terrorists the space to entrench themselves and expand their activities,” said the Minister.
Pandor said a multilateral framework, anchored in the UN, remains critical to preventing and countering the diverse and evolving aspects of terrorist threats.
“With near-universal membership, the UN is best placed to foster cooperation across the globe, as well as in supporting member states and regions to implement the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy across its four pillars,” she said.
Pandor said the collective sharing of experiences and information and the adoption of best practices in dealing with common threats.
The DIRCO Minister, who is leading the South African delegation to the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA74) emphasized that regional organizations are key partners of the UN.
“South Africa has consistently prioritized an enhanced strategic partnership between the United Nations and regional and sub-regional organizations, not only in countering terrorism but also in conflict prevention and resolution.“
Pandor continued: “As a member of this Council, my country continues to strive for a closer partnership between the UN and the African Union. This takes into account the volume of African conflict situations on the agenda of the Security Council, as well as the growing threat of terrorism across Africa.”
South Africa noted that different regions of the world experience the threat posed by terrorist groups and/or the return or relocation of foreign terrorist fighters, differently.
Pretoria further encouraged the development of partnerships with regional organizations, given their understanding of local and regional dynamics and their understanding of what would be required to address the issue.
“In this regard, the international community must find ways to support efforts by regional organizations aimed at fighting terrorism and violent extremism, including through sharing experiences and providing technical assistance and adequate resources for capacity-building,” said Pandor.
The Minister also spoke of the “need to understand” the root causes and conditions that give rise to terrorist tendencies.
UNGA, which got underway in New York on Monday, is being held under the theme: ‘Galvanising multilateral efforts for poverty eradication, quality education, climate action, and inclusion.’
Proceedings conclude on 30 September.
Additional Input from South African Government News
