Feb 16, 2011, 0:56 GMT

New York – The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe pledged on Tuesday to work closely with the United Nations to implement programmes on issues ranging from fighting terrorism to boosting cyber security.

The 56-nation OSCE, considered the world’s largest security organization, told the UN Security Council in New York that it will increase cooperation with the UN in Afghanistan, Kosovo as well the Balkan nations.

‘We value highly the close cooperation that we enjoy with the UN in the maintenance of international peace and security,’ said Foreign Minister Audronius Azubalis of Lithuania. His country holds the 2011 OSCE chairmanship.

‘Lithuania’s chairmanship of the OSCE will try to work towards realization of these goals,’ Azubalis said. He cited Kosovo as ‘a longstanding example’ of OSCE-UN cooperation since 1999 after NATO forces drove out Serb security forces accused of atrocities against Albanian ethnics.

OSCE members include the United States and nations in Western and Central Europe.

The council meeting with OSCE was part of the annual review of cooperation between the UN and regional organizations. Last week, the council met with European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton, who reaffirmed the 27-member EU’s effective support for multilateralism.