4) Any other business:
Mr. Chairman,
I would like to joint the Ambassador of Morocco in thanking you for giving us the opportunity to inform the participants of this Contact Group on the seminar on "The role of Regional and Sub-regional Organizations in Mediation in the Mediterranean" that took place in Madrid, on 17th March 2015.
The purpose of the Seminar was to contribute to the implementation of the latest General Assembly resolution, RES 68/303 (2014), focused on mediation and regional organizations. As Ambassador of Morocco recalled, the Med/Med Initiative served for more than three years as a forum for debate and cooperation in which regional organizations have actively taken part. Therefore, it was an appropriate framework to analyze and debate the mandate established by the resolution 68/303.
The meeting was attended by the UN (DPA-MSU, UNDO and UNAOC), OSCE, UE, Arab League, UfM, and UMA.
Moreover, the meeting had two complementary objectives: first, to promote the development of mediation capacities by regional and sub-regional organizations; and second, to help develop cooperation and coordination mechanisms. These two objectives coincide with the main goals of the Med/Med initiative.
Let me highlight some of the conclusions of the seminar that we believe could be of interest for this Contact Group.
Participants recalled that the UN Charter provides with an appropriate legal framework. Chapter VIII paves the way for regional organizations to play major role in the maintenance of international peace and security. They concluded that UN Members and Regional and Sub-regional Organizations should actively contribute to the implementation of the recommendations of UNGA resolutions and the UNSG reports on mediation, particularly through the Group of Friends of Mediation and regional initiatives such as Med/Med.
The proximity of Regional and Sub-regional Organizations to regional culture and local realities might be helpful to identify local actors for mediation among authorities, religious leaders or civil society.
Participants stated that even though the increasing role of preventive diplomacy is highly recognized, the budget allocated to prevention is still very small in comparison with that of Peacekeeping or humanitarian assistance. However, prevention stands as a good investment and an opportunity to save public expenditure.
The creation of Mediation Support Units inside Regional and Sub-regional Organizations should be promoted as it increases the coherence and multiplies their capacity of interaction as well as the impact of the actions that can be achieved.
Regional and Sub-regional Organizations in the Mediterranean should establish focal points for Mediation with a view to creating an optimal synergy in mediation.
A broader concept of mediation support is needed in order to reinforce the capacities of Regional and Sub-regional Organizations. This support may come not only through mediation itself but also through political statements, financial means and technical support.
Mediation teams should be ready to interact in an increasingly complex environment and hold a flexible approach to the mediation process. A certain regional organization may play a leading role at one stage of the process and a different one at the following.
Another important topic addressed at the seminar was the role of women in mediation. In this respect, participants concluded that the role of women in mediation should be promoted within the regional and sub-regional organization while underlining the need and importance of training with a view to setting up a roster of women specialized in mediation within the regional and sub-regional organizations.
Participants also underlined that duplication of efforts and competition between different organizations to take the lead in a mediation process should be avoided.
It was also highlighted the importance of optimizing mediation processes through coordination between regional and sub-regional organizations and national and local mediators.
Regional and Sub-regional Organizations should develop synergies, exchange views and share information and lessons-learned to succeed in their mediation efforts. In this regard, the participants underlined the importance of mediation in post conflict situation in activities such as SSR (Security Sector Reform), DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration), transitional justice and human development.
Coordination in the process of mediators training should be reinforced. The UN which already plays a leading role should remain the umbrella for each mediation process conducted by Regional and Sub-regional Organizations and other players with the view to achieve compromise as a prerequisite for the success of mediation.
Participants also highlighted the role of the OSCE, together with the UN, in mediation and encouraged regional and subregional organizations to take advantage from the experience and know-how of these organizations.
The conclusions of the Seminar were to be presented at the UN and in Regional and Subregional organizations participating in the initiative. They may also serve to the Report that the SG must present to the General Assembly in its 70th Session.
Finally, during the Seminar the EU made an announcement of another Seminar about the role of worldwide regional organizations in mediation that will take place in May.
I would like also to recall that the two next regional conferences of the Med/Med initiative will be hosted by two participants of the Mediterranean Contact Group, Jordan and Montenegro.
Thank you very much for your attention.