The UN Security Council on Thursday upheld diplomatic efforts to prevent conflicts in Central Asia, citing in particular the work of the UN regional centre for preventive diplomacy in the region, dpa reported.
"The members of the Security Council reaffirmed the need to provide support to the efforts of the Regional Centre to facilitate dialogue and assist the governments of Central Asia on regional issues of common concern," the council said in a statement after discussing the recent ethnic conflict in Kyrgyzstan.
The council was briefed on the situation in Kyrgyzstan by the UN special representative in Central Asia, Miroslav Jenca, about the work of the UN centre for preventive diplomacy over the past six months. The centre was involved in finding solutions to the conflict in Kyrgyzstan.
The statement said the council "encouraged further cooperation and coordination between the regional centre and the governments of the region and relevant regional organization."
Clashes between police and demonstrators in Bishket, capital of Kyrgyzstan, continued this week with the arrest of opposition leader Urmat Baryktabassov, who was charged with attempted murder of government officials.
Ethnic tensions erupted in April and clashes killed an estimat