YouSaid · the spoken record

Adam

lines on the record: 83
first: 1999-09-30
most recent: 2022-05-19
sittings or episodes: 9
sources: un-security-council

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“My country publishes, on a monthly and annual basis, detailed and complete statistics on all imports and exports of diamonds. In conclusion, in paragraph 165, the report proposes the creation of an "ongoing focal point to monitor adherence to sanctions". Belgium supports this idea, because we are aware of the risk of overlap and duplication caused by the simultaneous existence of three panels of experts.”
2001-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4264Resumption1 (2001) · source
“One of the goals of this process is precisely to establish such a system. Belgium has great experience in the area of diamonds, and this enabled us to make a decisive contribution to the establishment of the certification system adopted by Sierra Leone. We are prepared to share this experience with the international community so that the system can be expanded. Paragraph 162 of the report (S/2000/1195, enclosure) states that "It is essential, and a matter of urgency" to set up a harmonized system of public documentation and statistics on diamond imports and exports. We support this concept, as well as the idea of transparency in that area. We are convinced that, whatever kind of global certification scheme is established, one of the key elements for its success will be transparency.”
2001-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4264Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Mr. Adam (Belgium) (spoke in French): Belgium fully supports the statement made on behalf of the European Union by the Permanent Representative of Sweden as President of the European Union. As the Ambassador of Sweden did, I too would like to congratulate Ambassador Chowdhury and the Panel of Experts for the excellentjob done. My country would like to take this opportunity to reiterate its resolve to find a solution to the problem of conflict diamonds, as well as to say that we fully agree with the Panel's conclusions. I would like to make three particular points. With regard to the need to establish a global certification scheme for rough diamonds based on the system adopted in Sierra Leone, I should like to recall the prominent role played by Belgium, together with other countries involved in the diamond trade, in the Kimberly process.”
2001-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4264Resumption1 (2001) · source
“The report of the Panel of Experts on violations of Security Council sanctions against UNITA constitutes, in the eyes of our country, a significant instrument contributing to the resolution of the problem arising from the illicit financing of groups that perpetuate wars in which the first to suffer are civilians. Belgium reiterates its complete willingness to continue to work in close collaboration with the sanctions Committee and with its Chairman, Ambassador Fowler.”
2000-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4129Resumption1 (2000) · source
“However, it was judged that the administrative statute relating to these experts should be reformed, and currently the competent governmental authorities and the Diamond High Council are discussing a new statute. When those deliberations are concluded, the sanctions Committee will be informed of their results. Belgian expertise in diamonds is recognized and long-standing. Belgium will always put this expertise at the disposal of the international community, inter alia, within the framework of the conferences of experts on this subject. An international conference of representatives of all the diamond centres will be convened in Antwerp in July, in which Ambassador Fowler will participate.”
2000-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4129Resumption1 (2000) · source
“The Diamond High Council also signed an agreement with the relevant judicial authorities, by virtue of which it is committed to centralize and to communicate all information that comes to its attention having to do with criminals or criminal activities. A study is being carried out within the High Council, and preliminary contacts have been made to examine to what extent a system of control comparable to that in place for Angola is also possible for Sierra Leone. The physical control of the arrival or dispatch of diamonds is done in Antwerp by sworn experts. Since the introduction of sanctions against UNITA, no case of embezzlement has been noted.”
2000-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4129Resumption1 (2000) · source
“The Diamond High Council of Antwerp, a body that represents the private diamond sector, took into account the recommendations of the Chairman of the sanctions Committee. It took steps intended to lead to a better application of the sanctions, inter alia, through the establishment of a task force on Angola. Together with Angolan authorities, it has set up a system of issuing more reliable certificates of origin. At the request of the Government, it is also engaged in reviewing its procedures. Let me also mention that another working group that includes representatives of the Belgian Government and the Diamond High Council was created with the mission of drafting a programme of measures to be taken. This group met for the first time in September 1999.”
2000-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4129Resumption1 (2000) · source
“Moreover, it remains difficult to distinguish between diamonds coming from different mining areas that extend beyond borders. Lastly, determining the origin of a diamond is not enough to establish when it was extracted from a given deposit; moreover, that deposit may even have passed from the control of the Government to that of Savimbi. Belgium nevertheless remains convinced that effective procedures intended to control the diamond trade can be developed and continues actively to encourage research undertaken in this field. Furthermore, Belgium is the only country to have detailed statistics in this area that make it possible to identify trends. These data are at the disposal of all interested parties.”
2000-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4129Resumption1 (2000) · source
“I wish to recall that Belgium is the only European Union country that has a licensing system for the import and export of diamonds. Besides the customs controls, a second, physical inspection of all imports and exports is carried out by sworn experts. Our country is also considering the adoption of a law on extraterritoriality for crimes in the diamonds sector. The control of the provenance and the origin of diamonds, which the Panel of Experts took up in paragraphs 92 and 95 of its report, constitute a key element of a problem whose complexity cannot be underestimated. The possibility of identifying with certainty the origin of a diamond through a physical examination is for the moment considered by specialists to be an almost impossible endeavour. The number of diamonds of small size dealt with each year is in the hundreds of millions.”
2000-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4129Resumption1 (2000) · source
“I made this point on that occasion, and I would appreciate it if the Council would take note of those measures. First of all, I want to stress that Belgium cooperated from the beginning, and without reservation, with the sanctions Committee and with the Panel of Experts. An inter-ministerial working group, referred to as the task force, was set up, and it includes all the ministries and Belgian services concerned. The group has met seven times since the beginning of the year and has studied and adopted several measures to improve control over the origin of diamonds. This task force led to a reinforcement of customs controls and to the start of judicial inquiries against people suspected of illegally trafficking in diamonds.”
2000-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4129Resumption1 (2000) · source
“The recent missions to the region by several members of the Belgian Government are a concrete illustration of this. Their main purpose was to encourage all the parties directly involved to implement the Lusaka agreements and to support the restoration of peace in the Great Lakes region. All steps aimed at reducing the suffering of the populations of African countries affected by wars, such as Angola and Sierra Leone, will therefore receive Belgium's firmest support. It is from this perspective that Belgium took a great number of measures aimed at ensuring the application of the sanctions of the Security Council, actions that unfortunately were not mentioned in the report of the Panel of Experts that was the subject of the debate in the Security Council on 15 March.”
2000-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4129Resumption1 (2000) · source
“The report that was submitted to the Council on 10 March is innovative, and it attests to the will to tackle the causes of and the real responsibility for the violations of the sanctions. This is why the international community has the right to expect that the quality of the report measures up to the expectations it created and that the recommendations resulting from it will allow for a genuine improvement in the effectiveness of the sanctions. Belgium attaches all the more importance to these problems since in recent months it itself has engaged in significant deliberations and consultations aimed at examining the various actions that can be undertaken to contribute to peace and stability on the African continent, in particular in Central Africa.”
2000-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4129Resumption1 (2000) · source
“Mr. Adam (Belgium) (spoke in French): I thank you, Mr. President, for having agreed to preside over this important meeting of the Security Council and I congratulate Canada for the eminent role it is playing and in particular Ambassador Fowler for the delicate task he is discharging with honour. I also welcome most particularly the presence among us of the Minister of External Affairs of Angola. I subscribe fully to the statement that has just been made by the representative of Portugal on behalf of the European Union. Belgium unreservedly supports the aims pursued by the sanctions Committee and believes that the report of the Panel of Experts constitutes a significant stage in the search for solutions that would allow Security Council sanctions against UNITA to be effectively applied.”
2000-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4129Resumption1 (2000) · source
“We share the idea that armed conflicts must be resolved through a political approach, without ignoring - as the report does - the perverse economic mechanisms that feed conflicts.”
2000-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4113Resumption1 (2000) · source
“At the same time, we regret that the report makes no mention of the factual information - of fundamental importance to us - that was conveyed by my delegation here in New York and during the visits of its authors to Brussels and Antwerp. I thank Ambassador Fowler for the additional points he made on this matter in his oral briefing, but, frankly, I should have preferred them to appear in the report. Belgium accordingly requests that, when the Security Council resumes its discussion, the report be brought up to date to take the factors I have indicated into account. Finally, Belgium reiterates it full readiness to work in close cooperation with the Sanctions Committee.”
2000-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4113Resumption1 (2000) · source
“Although reference is made in the report to the fundamental problem of identifying the origin of diamonds - particularly in paragraphs 98 and 92 - this extremely complex issue is insufficiently elaborated and clearly underestimated in the report. The Belgian Government welcomes the recommendation made in paragraph 113 that a conference of experts convene for the purpose of determining a system of controls that would allow for increased transparency and accountability in the control of diamonds from the source or origin to the bourses. We will participate and ensure that Belgian expertise contributes to such an endeavour. In conclusion, I wish generally to emphasize Belgium's appreciation of the clear and specific language of the report, which will help to modernize the working methods of the Security Council.”
2000-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4113Resumption1 (2000) · source
“108) would not appear to reflect the true state of affairs. Another point I wish to make refers to the entirely erroneous assertion in paragraph 88 of the report that an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 diamond dealers in Antwerp operate in a so-called "grey" market outside the regulatory framework. All importers and exporters of diamonds are required to enrol with the Department of Licenses in Antwerp, which is under the direct responsibility of the Belgian Ministry of Economic Affairs. This is not the case for jewellers - in Belgium or anywhere else, for that matter - a distinction that was apparently lost on the authors of the report.”
2000-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4113Resumption1 (2000) · source
“87) However, Belgium is the only - I emphasize only - country of the European Union with a binding licensing system for the import and export of diamonds, based on two laws of 1962 and several royal and ministerial decrees of 1987, 1993, 1995 and 1997. The entire trade in diamonds with countries not members of the European Union is subject to this system. There is also a monitoring mechanism for all diamond trading within the European Union. The Belgian Government is accordingly surprised to find no, or at best only partial mention in the report of these various measures, despite the fact that information on them was conveyed in due time. Thus, the reference to the "unwillingness of the responsible authorities in Belgium effectively to police the smuggling of illegal Angolan diamonds onto the market" (ibid., para.”
2000-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4113Resumption1 (2000) · source
“Finally, these measures were made public on 3 March in a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Brussels. Information has been provided to the Panel of Experts on Belgians or other people operating abroad who might hold Belgian nationality. Unfortunately, the report makes no mention of this cooperation or of the drafting currently under way of an effective Belgian bill on extraterritoriality for crimes related to the illegal diamonds trade. Moreover, a protocol agreement exists between the Diamond High Council and the judicial authorities in charge of prosecuting diamond-related crimes. The Panel claims to have found that "the extremely lax controls and regulations governing the Antwerp market facilitate and perhaps even encourage illegal trading activity". (S/2000/203, para.”
2000-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4113Resumption1 (2000) · source
“Moreover, in a discussion which the Minister for Foreign Affairs had recently with the management of the Diamond High Council, the latter undertook to revise its procedures at the request of the Belgian Government. It was decided, inter alia, to create a second working group, to include representatives of the Belgian Government and the Diamond High Council, to draft a programme of action and determine measures to be taken. Furthermore, the Belgian Government has fully cooperated with the Chairman of the Sanctions Committee from the outset. In February this year, the Chairman of the Sanctions Committee was informed orally and in writing of the most recent measures undertaken by the Government, thus bringing up to date the information available to the Committee.”
2000-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4113Resumption1 (2000) · source
“It has studied and decided upon several measures to improve the mechanism monitoring the provenance of diamonds. These measures consist, inter alia, of enhanced monitoring by customs authorities and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, as well as the establishment, together with the Luanda authorities, of a certification mechanism. Other administrative measures are under consideration by the task force. We did not, however, wait for the creation of the task force to strengthen the existing controls, which had already led to the seizure of illegal diamonds. Following upon the actions undertaken since then by the task force, customs and judicial investigations have been initiated with regard to various persons suspected of illegal diamond trading.”
2000-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4113Resumption1 (2000) · source
“In this spirit, Belgium regrets the omission of important information from the report, as well as the inclusion therein of some unfounded references. The Government of Belgium has indeed assumed its responsibilities and has taken United Nations sanctions very seriously from the moment they have been imposed. Three important elements with respect to the actions of my Government seem to be lacking from the report. After several internal preparatory meetings, an interdepartmental working group referred to in the report - the so-called "diamond task force" - was established in January 2000. This task force has met five times since the beginning of the year. It includes representatives of all Belgian ministries and departments concerned.”
2000-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4113Resumption1 (2000) · source
“Mr. Adam (Belgium) (spoke in French): Belgium has read with the greatest attention the report of the Panel of Experts before us on today's agenda. Our Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Louis Michel, is in Luanda today and has had a lengthy interview with the President of the Republic of Angola. I can assure the Council that our two Governments approach the question of sanctions in the same way. We are aware of the unspeakable suffering of the children, men and women of Angola. That is why Belgium is committed firmly and unreservedly to the objectives pursued by the authors of the report and believes, as they do, that the effectiveness of and monitoring mechanisms for Security Council sanctions must be improved.”
2000-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4113Resumption1 (2000) · source
“On the contrary, however, we are hearing a lot of rumours of war and of military reinforcements, a lot of threats coming from the various fronts of that complex and devastating war. I appeal to my African friends. They must help us help them. There must be a change in attitude; a commitment to peace must take hold. Too many regions of Africa and too many people in Africa believe that the only way to improve their lot is to take up arms. I think this is a mistake. I think we must offer other prospects based on both N orth-South and South-South partnership.”
1999-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4081Resumption1 (1999) · source
“We are told that the United Nations is no longer entitled to make mistakes. I believe that, unfortunately, all human endeavours are subject to error from time to time, and we must assume a certain amount of risk. Thus, I am brought to my third point: the Africans themselves. During the debate chaired by the Prime Minister of the Netherlands a few months ago, I said - and I believe it is worth repeating here - that the Africans must help us help them. I have in mind in particular a country with which we have very close ties, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Lusaka process. We would like to see the African parties to that conflict more directly involved in the implementation of the commitments they made in Lusaka.”
1999-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4081Resumption1 (1999) · source
“So I believe that our countries must do more to mitigate the effects of this epidemic. Unfortunately, AIDS is not the only disease. There is malaria, which remains a tragic scourge in Africa, and other diseases, such as sleeping sickness, which continues to cause major devastation, particularly because it often strikes practically impenetrable parts of the continent. Secondly, there are the expectations of African countries. I heard a variety of comments made here about this. Some speakers have talked of procrastination, others about double standards. It is true that if we decide to wait until the conditions are ideal for intervening in Africa - I am afraid that such ideal conditions will never see the light of day. If we wait for conditions to be perfect before we undertake a perfect operation, we will never do anything.”
1999-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4081Resumption1 (1999) · source
“Mr. Adam (Belgium) (spoke in French): Unlike you, Mr. President, I was not born in Africa, but I spent many years of my life there, and like you I am very aware of the woes and misfortunes that continent suffers. I would like to endorse what was said earlier on behalf of the European Union by the representative of Finland. I have also been listening keenly to what my African colleagues have said here. I would like simply to respond on three points. First, as regards AIDS, I heard Ambassador Holbrooke's comments this morning and would like to fully endorse them. AIDS kills more people than war, and AIDS kills as war does. That is, it is a disease that kills people in the prime of life, people capable of being productive and creative. The survivors are children and the elderly, who are thus condemned to live in ever-worsening poverty.”
1999-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4081Resumption1 (1999) · source
“Africa must help us help Africa, for if the world's good intentions are to be effective in benefitting that continent, African leaders too must work to create a context for the peace and good governance that are necessary for development. Financial and technical cooperation can exist only in a climate that ensures its effectiveness. Cooperation cannot be based on giving partners the benefit of the doubt: it develops and flourishes in a climate of predictability and stability.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“Belgium will make its contribution and will step up its direct contacts, its cooperation and its financial support. History has forged special links between my country and that region, along with responsibilities which my country intends to shoulder in a responsible and consistent manner, as Mr. Michel said last week. Belgium has the capacity to do this. My country has a reserve of men and women with experience of Central Africa, its customs, its languages and its economy. Our institutes of agronomy have acquired great expertise in tropical agriculture and animal husbandry, and the Antwerp Institute of Tropical Medicine has a well-deserved reputation worldwide. Those are only some examples of the kind of potential that Belgium can place at the service of Africa.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“To encourage and support them, the international community must make a considerable effort; here the Security Council must be a driving force. The point is not to find ad hoc solutions to individual problems. In some regions of Africa, despair is so great that many see no prospects for improving their lot other than through armed struggle. We must change that way of thinking by showing that only peace can bring happiness and prosperity: peace, and certainly not military victories that bring illusory gains at the cost of untold suffering. We therefore believe that peace should be complemented by a partnership pact setting out specific commitments in the economic, financial and social areas. Such a pact would mobilize donor countries and international financial institutions and their resources as well as recipient countries.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“The Security Council too must demonstrate Vision and shoulder its responsibility to restore peace in a continent which today has by far the world's largest number of victims of conflict - dead, wounded, missing, refugees, displaced persons and the victims of anti- personnel landmine - not to mention endemic diseases such as AIDS, malaria and sleeping sickness, which are an unprecedented scourge of the continent and which it is even more difficult to combat when the countries they affect are involved in war. The Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement has aroused great hope. Now it must be implemented, and we would be very concerned by any delay or prevarication. This means that the parties concerned should demonstrate the political will to solve the root problems of the present conflict, and should seek lasting solutions throughout the region.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“Salim Ahmed Salim, Secretary- General of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), and by the representative of Algeria, on behalf of the current Chairman of the OAU. Let me take this opportunity to explain my country's approach and aims with regard to Africa, and more specifically with regard to Central Africa and the Great Lakes region. The Vice-Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belgium, Mr. Louis Michel spoke in the General Assembly last week of the need for a more active and more generous policy towards the African continent, which has suffered so greatly; he even proposed that the fifty-fourth session of the Assembly should be held under the banner of Africa.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“Mr. Adam (Belgium) (spoke in French): I wish first to congratulate the delegation of the Netherlands on the excellent manner in which it has been carrying out the duties of the presidency this month, particularly through the endeavours of the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mr. Kok. I associate myself with the statement made by the delegation of Finland as President of the European Union, especially with respect to the progress report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa. Moreover, I fully subscribe to the views expressed by Mr.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source