After a briefing by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative Miroslav Jenca on the work of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), the Council acknowledged the centre’s assistance during the recent presidential elections in Kyrgyzstan, which it said concluded the process of peaceful and democratic political transition in that country.

“The members of the Security Council welcomed the role of the regional centre in facilitating the assistance by Central Asian States to normalizing the situation in Afghanistan and fostering broader regional integration and cooperation as a tool to boost stability and sustainable development in the region,” according to a press statement, read out by Ambassador Vitaly Churkin of Russia, which holds the Council’s presidency this month.

Council members also expressed support for UNRCCA’s efforts to promote dialogue on managing common natural resources in the region, and to create conditions for durable solutions through enhanced cooperation, taking into account the interests of all States.

They encouraged continued cooperation and coordination between governments in the region, the regional centre, and relevant regional organizations.

UNRCCA is based in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, and deals with issues involving that country, as well as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.