V. Regular Institutional Dialogue: 30. The United Nations must play a central leading role in promoting dialogue on the security of ICTs in their use by States and developing norms, rules and principles for responsible State behaviour in this arena. 31. Given the strategic importance and the global cross-border nature of the related threats and of any international measures to mitigate these threats, an inclusive, multilaterally agreed, and rules-based process within the UN System is the best and most efficient way to ensure that the agreed arrangements are equitable, comprehensive, and effective. 32. States have a primary responsibility for maintaining a secure and peaceful ICT environment. However, international dialogue within this proposed UN-led process should allow for the appropriate participation of the relevant private sector entities, academic experts, and civil society organizations to express their views. 33. This process should take place within an inclusive institutional platform dedicated for that purpose. Such a platform should not duplicate ongoing work by other international organizations and forums addressing issues such as the criminal and terrorist use of ICTs, human rights and Internet governance, but should rather focus on monitoring and disseminating information on the implementation of the agreed rules and measures from the international security perspective, as well as the further development and elaboration of such agreed rules and guidelines. 34. The Secretary General’s offer in his disarmament agenda to utilize his good offices in order to resolve possible conflicts related to ICT incidents is welcomed. However, developing a specialized institutional platform could represent a major contribution towards a more reliable and secure global ICT environment and strengthening the international community’s capabilities in addressing ICT security incidents and gradually developing the necessary technical, legal and diplomatic measures. VI. Confidence-Building Measures: 35. Previous GGE reports have recognized that CBMs strengthen international peace and security. They can increase interstate cooperation, transparency, predictability and stability. 36. They have also highlighted that in their work to build confidence to ensure a peaceful ICT environment, States should take into consideration the Guidelines for CBMs adopted by the Disarmament Commission in 1988 and endorsed by consensus by the General Assembly in resolution 43/78. 37. The GGEs recommendations included important references to measures such as the identification of appropriate points of contact at the policy and technical levels to address serious ICT incidents, the development of mechanisms and processes for bilateral, regional, sub-regional and multilateral consultations to enhance confidence and to reduce the potential of conflicts, and the importance of transparency to increase confidence. Page 5 of 7