Presidential Statement nº S/PRST/2009/8 of the United Nations Security Council

• Issuer: Security Council of the United Nation

United Nations

S

/PRST/2009/8

Security Council

Distr.: General

21 April 2009

Original: English

09-30904 (E) 210409

*0930904*

Statement by the President of the Security Council

At the 6108th meeting of the Security Council, held on 21 April 2009, in

connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled “Maintenance of

international peace and security: mediation and settlement of disputes”, the

President of the Security Council made the following statement on behalf of the

Council:

“The Security Council recalls the statement of its President

(S/PRST/2008/36) of 23 September 2008 and takes note of the report of the

Secretary-General on Enhancing Mediation and Its Support Activities

(S/2009/189), as well as the recommendations contained therein.

“The Security Council, in accordance with the Charter of the United

Nations and as the organ with the primary responsibility for the maintenance

of international peace and security, underscores its intention to remain engaged

in all stages of the conflict cycle, including in support of mediation, and

expresses its readiness to explore further ways and means to reinforce the

promotion of mediation as an important means for the pacific settlement of

disputes, wherever possible before they evolve into violence.

“The Security Council recognizes the importance of mediation, to be

launched at the earliest possible phases of conflicts, as well as in the

implementation phases of signed peace agreements and underlines the need to

design mediation processes that address the root causes of conflicts and

contribute to peacebuilding, in order to ensure sustainable peace.

“The Security Council stresses that the principal responsibility for the

peaceful settlement of disputes rests with the parties to the conflict and that it

is only through their full participation and genuine commitment to resolve the

conflict including its underlying causes, that peace can be achieved and

sustained. In this regard, the Council underlines the importance of building

national and local capacity for mediation.

“The Security Council emphasizes the importance of the actions

undertaken by the United Nations Secretary-General, in promoting mediation

and in the pacific settlement of disputes, and welcomes the continued efforts

by the Department of Political Affairs, in particular through the Mediation

Support Unit to respond to emerging and existing crises. It underscores that

mediation support efforts should be responsive to the demands of fast-moving

peace processes.