United Nations Security Council Resolution 1631

Adopted by the Security Council at its 5282nd meeting, on 17 October 2005

The Security Council,

Recalling Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations,

Reaffirming its previous relevant resolutions and presidential statements,

Welcoming the adoption of the 2005 World Summit Outcome (A/RES/60/1),

Recalling its invitation of January 1993 to regional organizations to improve coordination with the United Nations, the Declaration of the General Assembly of December 1994 on the enhancement of cooperation between the United Nations and regional arrangements or agencies (A/RES/49/57), its meeting on “The Security Council and Regional Organizations: Facing the New Challenges to international Peace and Security”, held on 11 April 2003 under the Mexican presidency, and its debate on “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations in stabilization processes”, held on 20 July 2004 under the Romanian presidency,

Welcoming the Conclusions of the Chairman of the Sixth High-Level Meeting between the United Nations and Regional and other Intergovernmental Organizations (25-26 July 2005),

Reiterating its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security,

Emphasizing that the growing contribution made by regional organizations in cooperation with the United Nations can usefully complement the work of the organization in maintaining international peace and security, and stressing in this regard that such contribution must be made in accordance with Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter,

Recognizing the necessity to support capacity-building and cooperation at regional and subregional level in maintaining international peace and security, and noting in particular the importance of strengthening the capacity of African regional and subregional organizations,

Acknowledging the resolve of Heads of State and Government of the 2005 World Summit to expand, as appropriate, the involvement of regional organizations in the work of the Security Council, and to ensure that regional organizations that have a capacity for the prevention of armed conflict or peacekeeping consider the option of placing such capacity in the framework of the United Nations Standby Arrangements System,

Welcoming the decision in the World Summit Outcome to establish a Peacebuilding Commission, and looking forward to it as an important opportunity for cooperation and close contact with regional and subregional organizations in post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery,

1. Expresses its determination to take appropriate steps to the further development of cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security, consistent with Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter, and invites regional and subregional organizations that have a capacity for conflict prevention or peacekeeping to place such capacities in the framework of the United Nations Standby Arrangements System;

2. Urges all States and relevant international organizations to contribute to strengthening the capacity of regional and subregional organizations, in particular of African regional and subregional organizations, in conflict prevention and crisis management, and in post-conflict stabilization, including through the provision of human, technical and financial assistance, and welcomes in this regard the establishment by the European Union of the Peace Facility for Africa;

3. Stresses the importance for the United Nations of developing regional and subregional organizations’ ability to deploy peacekeeping forces rapidly in support of United Nations peacekeeping operations or other Security Councilmandated operations, and welcomes relevant initiatives taken in this regard;

4. Stresses the potential role of regional and subregional organizations in addressing the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and the need to take into account in the peacekeeping operations’ mandates, where appropriate, the regional instruments enabling states to identify and trace illegal small arms and light weapons;

5. Reiterates the need to encourage regional cooperation, including through the involvement of regional and subregional organizations in the peaceful settlement of disputes, and to include, where appropriate, specific provisions to this aim in future mandates of peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations authorized by the Security Council;

6. Welcomes the efforts undertaken by its subsidiary bodies with responsibilities in counter-terrorism to foster cooperation with regional and subregional organizations, notes with appreciation the efforts made by an increasing number of regional and subregional organizations in the fight against terrorism and urges all relevant regional and subregional organizations to enhance the effectiveness of their counter-terrorism efforts within their respective mandates, including with a view to develop their capacity to help Member States in their efforts to tackle the threats to international peace and security posed by acts of terrorism;

7. Expresses its intention to hold regular meetings as appropriate with heads of regional and subregional organizations in order to strengthen the interaction and cooperation with these organizations in maintaining international peace and security, ensuring if possible that such meetings coincide with the annual high-level meetings held by the United Nations with regional and other intergovernmental organizations for better efficiency of participation and substantive complementarity of agendas;

8. Recommends better communication between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations through, notably, liaison officers and holding of consultations at all appropriate levels;

9. Reiterates the obligation for regional organizations, under article 54 of the Charter, to keep the Security Council fully informed of their activities for the maintenance of international peace and security;

10. Invites the Secretary-General to submit a report to the Security Council on the opportunities and challenges facing the cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security, and encourages the Secretary-General to explore with regional organizations the possibility of agreements establishing a framework for regional organizations’ cooperation with and contributions to United Nations-led peacekeeping operations, taking into due consideration the cooperation guidelines already identified between the UN and certain regional organizations;

11. Requests the Secretary-General, where appropriate, to include in his regular reporting to the Security Council on peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations under its mandate, assessments of progress on the cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations;

12. Decides to remain seized of the matter.