YouSaid · the spoken record

Nadezhda Mihailova

lines on the record: 81
first: 1997-09-24
most recent: 2000-09-24
sittings or episodes: 3
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“28 An issue of special relevance for Bulgaria and also, I believe, for other countries of the region, is the negative impact on the national economy of the strict implementation of the economic sanctions imposed until recently by the Security Council on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. As is well known, Bulgaria strictly abided by the Council?s decisions, suffering as a result economic losses which have almost been equal to Bulgaria?s foreign debt for three years. Given the continued relevance of that issue internationally, Bulgaria supports the view that since all provisions of the Charter are of equal importance, assistance to third States affected by sanctions has to be taken into consideration together with the imposition of sanctions.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“In our view, those States which would like to contribute to stability and security in the region have to take into consideration the interests and positions of the countries situated there. A common understanding has been expressed that any measures aimed at settling the problems of the region, sanctions included, should take into account the political and economic stability of South- Eastern Europe. They should not infringe upon the interests of the countries involved. Therefore, we believe that efficient measures should be of a political, and not of an economic, character.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The joint declarations of the Foreign Ministers of countries of South-Eastern Europe, adopted on the initiative of Bulgaria, reflect the will of these countries to make their contribution to the efforts of the Contact Group. They also illustrate the new spirit in relations between the States in the region and their responsible approach to security and stability. For the first time in many years our countries managed to put aside their differences so as to elaborate and express a common position on a problem of immediate concern. This approach sets the groundwork for the establishment of a politico-diplomatic mechanism for crisis management and prevention.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The crisis has reached a point where there is no more room for general statements and palliative solutions. The conflict in Kosovo has resulted in thousands of civilian casualties. There is a serious threat of deepening the crisis and a substantial risk of spillover to other parts of South-Eastern Europe. We are convinced that the only credible instrument for solving the problem is negotiations between the parties involved, which have to examine in a responsible manner all proposals for a peaceful settlement. We support Security Council resolution 1199 (1998) adopted yesterday. It is worth pointing out that as early as last February Bulgaria proposed that the countries generating stability in the region should unite their efforts in search of a peaceful solution to this problem.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“We are now engaged in active diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting the principles of democracy and stability in the region of South-Eastern Europe in order to contribute to the peaceful settlement of conflicts. I would also like to stress that my country has already achieved significant progress in another important area, combating organized crime and corruption and promoting regional cooperation in this field. Let me now address the complex situation in the Balkans. I would like to note the progress made in the implementation of the Dayton Agreement. We consider that the extended presence of the Stabilization Force (SFOR) would contribute to the consolidation of peace and stability in this region. Bulgaria is particularly concerned about the continuing tension in Kosovo.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“In the past year and a half the Government has managed to achieve: first, economic stability as a basis for moving forward with structural reform and sustainable economic growth; secondly, modernization of the public administration; and, thirdly, efficient enforcement of the rule of law in civil society. Resolute steps have been taken, in compliance with the Government programme “Bulgaria — 2001”, to translate into practice the new foreign policy priorities. At its core are the integration of Bulgaria into the European and transatlantic political, economic and defence structures, and the creation of a climate of confidence, stability and cooperation in South-Eastern Europe.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Such an approach does not solve the problem, but becomes part of it; moreover the problem is multiplied through its negative influence on neighbouring countries. We also believe that economic security is an essential part of the framework in which our efforts to make a better world are made. We are convinced that security can be guaranteed not by “hot money”, but only through real, long-term investments, which are crucial for a successful economic restructuring. 27 Bulgaria has managed to gain some knowledge and experience in handling the problems of the reform process.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Today we are combining our efforts against the new global threat, terrorism. But we must not forget that terrorism appears mainly in unstable regions or weak countries, and from there spreads to the rest of the world. That is why the problems of such unstable countries can neither remain their own responsibility, nor even problems of their regions. The problems seem to be much more global. The question today is how to combat the criminal world, how to manage crisis and regional conflicts, how to feed and shelter refugees. Tomorrow the question will be how to guarantee democratic stability through long-term engagements. The other approach is only to react to the consequences, thus adding new problems.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“While the search for new approaches and responses to the processes of globalization confronts humanity with new challenges, existing cases of conflict, unrest and underdevelopment bear the mark of the divisions and confrontations of past decades. The question we have to address now is whether the next millennium will be one of continued unrest and confrontation or one of peace and prosperity for all United Nations Member States, big or small. Globalization and interdependence are bringing profound changes to the world we live in. An increasing number of issues, such as the economic and financial crisis, organized crime, terrorism and regional conflicts, cannot be effectively resolved by individual countries. Therefore, international cooperation is more necessary than ever.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Allow me, on behalf of the Bulgarian delegation, to congratulate Mr. Opertti on his election to the presidency of the fifty-third session of the General Assembly and to wish him every success in guiding this important session to tangible results. I would like also to express our appreciation to Mr. Udovenko for the proficiency and insight with which he presided over the fifty-second session. The Republic of Bulgaria, as an associated country, has aligned itself with the statement on behalf of the European Union, delivered by Mr. Wolfgang Schüssel, Vice-Chancellor and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“I am personally convinced that by the end of this session the United Nations will have changed, and that this change will be for the better.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“We believe that the text of a new Convention that would ultimately ban all anti- personnel landmines, which was agreed at the Oslo Diplomatic Conference this month, could well serve as a basis for achieving a comprehensive and widely accepted international agreement. We also hope that the Ottawa process and the negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament will be mutually supportive and will result in an effective ban on anti-personnel landmines. In conclusion, finding an adequate solution to these problems will be impossible without the successful reform and restructuring of the United Nations Organization and of all its bodies. Therefore, we expect a decisive breakthrough in this direction at the present session of the General Assembly.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“The existing regimes of multilateral treaties, such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological Weapons Convention, provide for basic restrictive norms in this field. The Republic of Bulgaria supports all international endeavours to meet the goals of non-proliferation and stands for a further strengthening of these regimes. The Conference on Disarmament is an appropriate forum for negotiations on the elimination of certain types of conventional weapons. A long-lasting solution should be found to the problem of anti-personnel landmines, the ban on which has humanitarian and disarmament aspects and needs a verification regime.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“We consider respect for the rights of Bulgarians in neighbouring States and the related implementation of international human rights standards as an important factor in the promotion of bilateral relations. 27 The monitoring and the effective control of the implementation of human rights and fundamental freedoms remains of critical importance, and Bulgaria reiterates its support for the efforts of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. I should like at this point to welcome the appointment of Ms. Mary Robinson to this high post and to wish her every success in her activities. The Bulgarian Government regards the possible spread of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery as one of the major concerns of the 1990s.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“The reform processes in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and other organizations give us hope of success. Bulgaria believes that the activities of international forums and bodies for human rights should be aimed at ensuring the effective exercise of these rights by every human being. The implementation of international standards could be achieved by improving existing mechanisms and by a constructive and open dialogue on the most sensitive issues. This approach is not directed a priori against any country or group of countries. In this context, Bulgaria attaches high importance to the guarantees for the human rights of Bulgarians living abroad and is closely watching the situation of Bulgarian minorities.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“Naturally, these exemptions and preferences should be in accordance with the Charter. We believe that the burden of the specific economic problems created by the sanctions should be fairly distributed among all third countries and not borne by neighbouring States only. We strongly believe that while negotiating with sanction-affected third countries, the international financial institutions should take account of the need to compensate them indirectly. It is our understanding that the United Nations specialized agencies play an important role and provide valuable support to countries in their efforts to achieve sustainable development. The reforms which are under way in these agencies need the support of the Member States.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“Therefore, the Republic of Bulgaria will continue to attach particular importance to the work being done within the United Nations system to address more effectively problems related to the implementation of Article 50 of the Charter. We welcome the provisions of the General Assembly resolutions urging the organizations within the United Nations system, international financial institutions and other international bodies to continue to address more specifically and directly the issue of economic assistance to third States affected by the implementation of the sanctions. I should like to draw the Assembly s attention to the possibility of granting certain exemptions from sanctions or creating a preferential regime for the most gravely affected third States.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“Our aspiration to non-permanent membership of the Security Council for the 2002-2003 period demonstrates our readiness to assume responsibilities for peace and security both in the region and in a wider international context. As members know, Bulgaria has suffered tremendous losses as a result of the strict implementation of the sanctions imposed by the Security Council against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). Combined with the disadvantages caused by the sanctions against Libya and Iraq, the total amount of the direct and indirect costs to Bulgaria is comparable to the country s foreign debt.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“The cooperation between NATO members and partner countries in the area is an important element in this process, and Bulgaria has advanced ideas for an enhanced Euro-Atlantic cooperation on the security of south-eastern Europe and the Black Sea. Bulgaria will also continue to work actively along the lines of its 1996 initiative for security, stability and cooperation in south-eastern Europe. We attach great importance to the coordination of our efforts with the other initiatives for cooperation in the region, especially with the Royaumont process launched by the European Union and the South-east European Cooperative Initiative, sponsored by the United States.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“Our Government is making great efforts to intensify its preparations for accession to the European Union, with a view to meeting the requirements for membership in the nearest possible future. We strongly hope for a political decision by the European Union to start the negotiations with all associated countries at the beginning of 1998. This would be a confirmation of the position that all candidate countries have equal chances of becoming members. Bulgaria considers these integration processes as a significant contribution to the strengthening of regional stability and security in south-eastern Europe. The Bulgarian Government is making every effort to promote European standards of international conduct in this part of the continent. Our approach has been backed by a number of important initiatives at the regional level.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“For us, accession to these institutions is an expression of the European identity of Bulgaria and an integral element of the political and economic transformation of the country. It is a question of immediate national interest and strategic priority, a matter of choice of civilization; and not an issue of politics of the day. 26 Bulgaria considers the decisions reached at the NATO Summit in Madrid as a historic opening of the alliance to the new European democracies. We feel strongly that the enlargement should continue as a geographically balanced process aimed at achieving equal security and stability in different regions; thus the risks of new dividing lines or grey zones in Europe would be avoided.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“Here I would like to point out that Bulgaria attaches great importance to the concerted efforts of the world community in the fight against organized crime and terrorism. We look forward to contributing to the efforts to elaborate the future international convention for the suppression of terrorist bombings and for the drafting of a widely accepted text of the statute of the international criminal court. We are also committed to draft regional programmes for preventing organized crime, international terrorism, illicit drugs and arms trafficking, illicit trade in nuclear materials and the trafficking of people. The desire of the Bulgarian Government to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union underlies our foreign policy and is overwhelmingly supported by the Bulgarian nation.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“We have made every effort to implement this strategy, and today we already have the first positive results. In the political sphere, the transition to the rule of law, political pluralism and respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms has been completed. The democratic institutions are stable and enjoy the broad support of more than 50 per cent of the people. In the economic sphere, a currency board was successfully introduced as a means of guaranteeing financial stabilization and of restoring the confidence of the international financial institutions and business circles in Bulgaria. This has resulted in a radical decrease of the inflation rate and an increase in foreign investment and the country s currency reserves. The results of the crackdown on crime and corruption have re-established respect for law and order.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“The beginning of the year was marked by an acute economic, financial and political crisis, which resulted in the appointment of a caretaker government, the dissolution of the Bulgarian Parliament and early elections. At the same time, the civilized, peaceful and constitutional way in which Bulgarian society overcame the political crisis is a very important sign of the maturity of democracy in the country. At the elections held last April the Union of Democratic Forces won an overwhelming majority for their agenda: financial stabilization, market-oriented structural economic reform and speedy privatization; the strengthening and modernizing of State administration; rule of law and combating organized crime and corruption; and the integration of Bulgaria into the Euro- Atlantic community of nations.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“Bulgaria shares the ideas expressed by the Secretary- General that the reform should be implemented within the framework of a complex approach that would not neglect the specific needs of the countries in transition and the smaller States. We support the efforts aimed at restructuring the governing institutions of the United Nations in the socio- economic field; at raising the operational capacity of the Economic and Social Council and of the specialized funds and programmes; and at transferring funds from management and administration to social and economic programmes. As Assembly members are probably aware, 1997 was a difficult but successful year for Bulgaria.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“For years now the United Nations has been operating under the burden of a serious financial crisis. Bulgaria supports the initiatives contained in the report of the Secretary-General aimed at elaborating criteria and mechanisms for stringent financial discipline, strict control and accountability. Such an approach could contribute to the successful implementation of the administrative reform and reorganization of the Secretariat. We believe that a new scale of assessments for contributions to the United Nations regular and peacekeeping budgets would allow greater account to be taken of the financial potential of individual Member States.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“The new challenges to international peace and security demand an 25 enhanced role for United Nations peacekeeping operations. As an active participant in United Nations peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Tajikistan and elsewhere, Bulgaria welcomes the growing efficiency of the Security Council and also supports an enhanced role for the Secretary-General in the field of preventive diplomacy. Bulgaria shares the view that future peacekeeping operations should encompass the whole complex of political, humanitarian and military aspects of peacekeeping in order to achieve maximum efficiency. Close cooperation with the regional security organizations and other relevant bodies is of key importance to the success of future United Nations peacekeeping efforts as well.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“In our view, the decisions on these important matters should be reached by consensus. We believe that the enlargement should reflect the increased number of United Nations Member States. On the other hand, the growing economic and political potential of some Member States may attest to their ability and maturity to successfully assume the responsibilities and meet the challenges of permanent members of the Security Council. A fair decision on the enlargement of the Council should preserve the balance between the permanent and non-permanent members, as well as among the regional groups. Such a decision should also include the allocation of an additional non-permanent seat for the Group of Eastern European States. We support the efforts aimed at further improving the early warning system of the Organization.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“I hope that the fifty-second session of the General Assembly will be remembered for decisive progress in designing and carrying out the reform of the United Nations. We have already heard the profound analysis and the valuable proposals put forward in the report of the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan. It is now the turn of the representatives of Member States to commit their vision, sense of strategy and courage. Let me briefly present our views on the main aspects of the reform of the United Nations. The Bulgarian Government has thoroughly studied the proposals and the report of the Secretary-General. In principle, we support and approve of these proposals. The Republic of Bulgaria considers the ongoing discussion within the United Nations on the reform and enlargement of the Security Council to be positive and substantive.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“The word “reform” has been used so much today in different parts of the world that I would be afraid of classifying United Nations reform with the various other reforms advocated by numerous politicians. If I take the liberty of sharing the Bulgarian experience, it is because in early 1997 my country lived through its genuine reformist resurrection. Hundreds of thousands of citizens walked in the streets of Sofia and other Bulgarian cities and towns to demand opportunities, not well-being. Their voice precipitated early parliamentary elections and brought a disastrous rule to an end. Obviously, three things are needed for the success of reform: vision, strategy and courage. The vision about where we want to go, the strategy for getting there and the courage to begin.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“I would like, first of all, on behalf of the Bulgarian delegation to congratulate Mr. Udovenko on his election to the presidency of the fifty- second session of the General Assembly. His vast experience and knowledge will be of great importance for the successful fulfilment of the tasks facing the Organization today. I would also like to express our appreciation to his predecessor, Mr. Razali Ismail, for his competence in presiding over the fifty-first session. The statements of previous speakers have proved the importance of the necessity for an efficient overall reform of the United Nations. I would like to declare Bulgaria s support for the position of the European Union, as stated in this general debate by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg, Mr. Jacques Poos.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)