NEW YORK -

SRSG Jenča briefed today the UN Security Council on the activities of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) over the past six months.

He focused on recent developments in Kyrgyzstan and specific actions by UNRCCA in cooperation with the UN Country Team to assist the Kyrgyz government and prevent the re-occurrence of violence. The Council was informed of other specific challenges facing the Region, including persistent disagreements over the management of shared natural resources, problems related to the desiccation of the Aral Sea and environmental degradation, dangers stemming from the volatile situation in Afghanistan and security threats posed by international terrorist groups and organized crime, in particular drug trafficking. Members of the Security Council welcomed the efforts of the Centre in addressing the crisis in Kyrgyzstan and expressed support for UNRCCA activities in the framework of its Plan of Action (UN Security Council Press Statement is attached).

During his visit SRSG Jenča met with the UN Secretary-General and other senior officials in the UN Secretariat to discuss issues related to the implementation of the UNRCCA mandate. He also met with Mr. R. Blake, Assistant Secretary of State, and Mr. Michael McFaul, Senior Director for Russia and the CIS at the National Security Council, and held discussions on Capitol Hill.

Press Statement by the Presidency of the Security Council from 5 August 2010