ASHGABAT, turkmenistan: 

The UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) is marking its tenth Anniversary as an entity working on a mandate focused on preventive diplomacy. The Centre, located in Ashgabat, was established at the initiative of five Central Asian States by exchange of letters between the UN Secretary General and the President of the Security Council on 16th of May 2007. In a Region increasingly confronted with challenges and threats, UNRCCA has deployed preventive efforts to promote regional cooperation and assist Central Asian states to find mutually acceptable and beneficial solutions to these regional challenges. 

In its ten years of existence, the Centre has provided governments with a platform for dialogue on the most challenging regional issues ranging from the management of common resources, transnational threats such as terrorism and violent extremism, organized crime, drug and other forms of trafficking, as well as common efforts to help stabilize the situation in Afghanistan. In doing so, UNRCCA has closely cooperated with all governments in the region and built capacities to use preventive diplomacy methods and instruments to address existing and emerging challenges. 

To mark its 10-year anniversary, the UNRCCA, will organize and conduct a number of dedicated events and media communications across all five countries of Central Asia. The upcoming visit of the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to the Region will also represent an opportunity to renew the United Nations’ support to ongoing efforts of regional cooperation and underline the relevance of preventive diplomacy for Central Asia.