Statement [made on behalf of the Security Council, at the 5649th meeting, 28 Mar. 2007, in connection with the Council's consideration of the item entitled "Relationship between the United Nations and regional organizations, in particular the African Union, in the maintenance of international peace and security"]

Re-affirms its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security in accordance with the Charter of UN; recognizes the important role of regional organizations in the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts; recognizes that regional organizations are well positioned to understand the root causes of many conflicts closer to home and to influence the prevention or resolution, owing to their knowledge of the region; assess the risk of conflict at regional level and prioritize those areas of highest risk; and highlight possible methods at a regional level in combating illegal exploitation and trafficking of natural resources; invites further collaboration with the Peace and Security Council of the African Union in order to help build the latter's capacity to undertake, inter alia, rapid and appropriate responses to emerging situations and to develop effective strategies for conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peacebuilding.

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