Finland Times

 

File Photo of Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja. Photo – Lehtikuva.

The United Nations General Assembly on July 31 in New York unanimously adopted the third UN resolution on mediation proposed by Finland and Turkey.

 

Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja says that the consensus resolution marks a significant step forward. 

 

"Regional organisations are playing an increasing role in conflict prevention and mediation, but their full potential has yet to be realised. This resolution, drafted under Finnish and Turkish leadership, provides a major boost to the development of UN and regional mediation efforts," said Tuomioja in an official press release.

 

The resolution furthermore paves the way to closer partnerships between the UN and regional organisations and encourages them to strengthen their collaboration and information exchange.

 

"Good examples of such partnerships include the UN's support for OSCE's mediation efforts in the Ukraine and the tightening cooperation between the UN, the European Union and the African Union," Tuomioja says.

 

In addition, the resolution promotes women's participation in conflict prevention and resolution, urging the UN, regional organisations and member countries to appoint women in mediation roles.

 

The decision to commence drafting a new resolution was made at the UN Friends of Mediation ministerial meeting hosted by Finland and Turkey in New York last September. 

 

The group was, above all, keen to promote standards of mediation and to support efforts at conflict mediation.

 

Drawn up with the help of UN and international mediation experts, the draft resolution was submitted to the Friends of Mediation by Finland and Turkey in February. The views of regional organisations and civil society were also consulted in the drafting process. 

 

The draft resolution adopted by the UN Friends of Mediation was presented to the General Assembly in early June. During the course of the negotiations many states expressed their recognition of the growing role of mediation.

 

The new resolution further strengthens Finland's development role in the area of international mediation. Finland is committed to continue to invest in international mediation and in developing Finnish mediation expertise in line with the government programme.