YouSaid · the spoken record

Jan Kavan

lines on the record: 76
first: 1998-09-24
most recent: 2001-09-24
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

“We have been tragically reminded that we need to promote the culture of peace and to build an environment in which the principles of these universally shared values will take root. Now more than ever we must strive to overcome our differences and be guided by our common interests. Let us unite our efforts and ensure that our work during this session of the General Assembly contributes to a better, safer and more just world.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Equally, the reform of the Security Council, including its enlargement in the categories of both permanent and non-permanent members and limitation of the veto, would enhance the authority of that body. A re-evaluation of the application of the sanctions mechanism must also play an important part in the Council’s work. The United Nations, more than any other international forum, is where people of all cultures and religions meet. We come here from various parts of our planet to solve the problems of today’s world. Despite our different backgrounds we gather here to approach the problems that face us bound by the universal human values that unite us. The highest of them all is the value of human life.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“In this regard allow me to mention the World Conference in Durban, South Africa. However difficult the negotiations have shown themselves to be, they point to the fact that extreme intolerance and terrorism are closely interlinked. The implementation of United Nations reform is imperative in order to make the work of our Organization more effective. As I said at the beginning of my statement, as a candidate for the presidency of the fifty-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly, I fully support the reaffirmation of the central role of the General Assembly, the revitalization of its work, and improvement of its procedural methods.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The Czech Republic fully supports the entry into force of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, an institution that I believe will be a great asset for the maintenance of international law. The protection of human rights will continue to shape the fate of human society. Human rights are universal and indivisible, and it is in the interests of United Nations Member States to support their Organization in its strenuous effort to secure the protection of human rights in today’s globally interconnected world. We must not remain indifferent to manifestations of racism, xenophobia, religious or political persecution, discrimination against minorities, violence against women or the violation of the rights of the child, regardless of where they take place.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The gap between the rich and poor countries continues to grow and is further exacerbated by the imbalance in the distribution of globalization benefits. The digital divide is just an additional symptom of the growing disparity between the developed and developing countries. The United Nations, in cooperation with national governments, the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the private sector, the non- governmental sphere and civil society, must be prepared to address the challenges of globalization. In short, we should respond to the globalization of capital by the globalization of solidarity and social justice. 10 We need to create a functioning international legal environment in order to prosecute crimes against humanity.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Although the destiny of the continent lies in the hands of the Africans, the international community should strengthen its efforts to assist Africa in its struggle to achieve durable peace and especially to acquire higher levels of development. The struggle to reduce poverty has to stand at the forefront of our joint endeavours. Debt relief and market access are crucial elements of the economic development of developing countries. The United Nations must continue with its activities to promote sustainable development and continue its programmes aimed at providing basic health care and education, fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and averting the devastation of the environment. A gender perspective should be included in all these efforts.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The international community has been encouraged by the change in political leadership in the Balkans, which offers a new opportunity to secure genuine peace and economic reconstruction. The upcoming local parliamentary elections in Kosovo will be an important moment in the stabilization process. I should like to use this opportunity to pay tribute to the Secretary-General and his Special Representative in Kosovo, Hans Haekkerup, for their work in the region. Our admiration also goes to the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the Kosovo Force (KFOR). In Africa, despite some progress, not only poverty and AIDS but also armed conflict remain major challenges to the United Nations and the entire international community.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“But the uphill struggle that faces us there is no reason for doing nothing and letting things get worse and would only mean that more people will suffer and die. The Czech Republic is a traditional and active supporter of the peace process in the Middle East. We cannot reconcile ourselves with the current setbacks. The political violence must be halted. Diplomatic initiatives aimed at bringing the parties back to the negotiating table must be fully supported. The Czech Republic fully supports the right of the Palestinians to their own viable and independent State. Nevertheless, its final shape should be the result of bilateral Palestinian-Israeli negotiations with the full backing of the international community.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“We should do our utmost to alleviate the suffering of the innocent Afghan people. I believe there is an extremely important role for the United Nations to play in the consolidation of the post-Taliban Afghan State that is so desperately needed. We should fully support the current efforts of the United Nations, and especially those of Ambassador Brahimi, to form as soon as possible a stable, broad-based Government that will reflect the ethnic diversity of the country. I agree with Foreign Secretary Jack Straw that the one institution in the world that can deliver that better future is the United Nations. The greatest tensions today undoubtedly prevail in the Middle East. It is regrettable that much of the progress achieved in the past few years seems to have been squandered.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The United Nations must continue its major role in maintaining peace and security throughout the world by applying an integrated approach of conflict prevention, peacekeeping operations and post-conflict reconstruction. Recognition of the roots of conflicts and education towards tolerance must be incorporated into our preventive strategies. We fully support the implementation of the comprehensive overhaul of the peacekeeping operations as proposed by the Brahimi report (A/55/305) and other recent reports focusing on this issue. The recent liberation of Mazar-e-Sharif in northern Afghanistan, and even the most recent fall of Kabul, improve our possibilities of supplying the Afghan people with the humanitarian aid that they so badly need. That must remain at the forefront of our endeavours.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The fight against terrorism has a higher priority than ever before, and nobody can stay neutral in this fight. The Czech Republic is proud that it was able to offer both military and humanitarian help to the efforts led by the United 9 States. The Czech Republic is proud that some of its help was accepted and thus that some of our best soldiers can now actively contribute to these joint endeavours. As I have said, conflicts can be a breeding ground for terrorism. Terrorism fully exploits unresolved conflicts and profits from their expansion. Therefore our intensified fight against terrorism points unequivocally to the need for the international community to pay far greater attention to conflict resolution in various regions.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“In recent weeks the United Nations has shown its renewed resolve to combat international terrorism. We commend the Security Council for its swift action and we support the adoption of Security Council resolutions 1368 (2001) and 1373 (2001) to combat threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts. The Czech Republic is taking all necessary steps towards the full implementation of the provisions of resolution 1373 (2001), and fully supports the actions of the relevant Counter-Terrorism Committee. My strong belief in the need for political and diplomatic moves does not in any way suggest that one should negotiate with the terrorists. Just the contrary. Terrorists have to be defeated and brought to justice. There can be no negotiations with the terrorists. The evil of terrorism must be eradicated.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“A determined focus on preventing money-laundering is a crucial aspect of this effort. Long-term and extensive development assistance aimed at alleviating the most pressing problems of the developing world should be an integral part of these efforts by the international community. The Czech Republic sees the upholding of the unity and operational readiness of the international coalition combating terrorism as the most imperative task of the day. We, the international community, should not lose this unique opportunity but should take decisive action. The fight against terrorism is a long- term mission and will have an impact on all aspects of our lives. At the national level, the Czech Republic is preparing a national plan for combating terrorism, which is inspired by the Action Plan of the European Union.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Political solutions of conflicts, many of which are essentially political conflicts, will reduce tensions, promote peace and fairness and, especially, take the wind out of the sails of those who put forward the absurd myth that terrorist actions can bring about anything other than loss of the lives of innocent people and the exacerbation of problems and conflicts. In our fight against terrorism we need to look for comprehensive solutions and to that end employ all available tools to identify, isolate and destroy the terrorist networks and to combat terrorism as a whole. Our anti-terrorist striving must equally concentrate on combating international organized crime, people smuggling, and drug and arms trafficking. On the financial front it is necessary to cut terrorists off from their resources.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“As I listened carefully to speeches delivered here over the last few days by many leading politicians of the world, I was pleased to confirm my conviction that not only the Czech Republic or the European Union, but also many other countries argue that the fight against terrorism should combine the necessary military operations with, above all, decisive attempts to eradicate the root causes of terrorism. It is therefore necessary to pay far greater attention to conflicts that provide fertile soil for terrorism, because if conflicts remain unresolved for decades, they give rise to feelings of frustration, despair and powerlessness or, as the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran put it, to alienation, extremism and lawlessness.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“However, other phases can be embarked upon at the same time. I agree with the President of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf, who said at this Assembly that a three-pronged strategy is needed: first, to go after the main culprits, the individual terrorists; secondly, to move decisively against the terrorist organizations; and thirdly — what in my opinion is very important — to address unresolved disputes, which proliferate throughout the world and must be resolved in a helpful and just manner.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“We obviously wish to help with the implementation of the Millennium Declaration, including the eradication of extreme poverty and the integration of human rights into every aspect of our work, as we were so eloquently reminded by Secretary- General Kofi Annan a few days ago. We need to inch forward the necessary reform of the United Nations system, strengthen the role of the United Nations General Assembly, help to challenge the marginalization of important continents such as Africa, Latin America and parts of Asia. We need also to help the United Nations to play an effective role in the struggle against international terrorism. It is clear that accomplishing the objective of finding and bringing to justice the perpetrators of the attacks on the United States is most urgent and topical.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“When we approach these most pressing challenges we must be proactive. For its part, the Czech Republic is determined to carry its share. The Czech Republic has submitted its candidacy for the presidency of the fifty-seventh session of the General 8 Assembly of the United Nations. We hold this highly demanding and prestigious position in great respect and are determined to actively participate in the realization of the demanding tasks ahead of us, in the most responsible manner. We are prepared to be attentive to your voices and concerns and to serve the entire membership.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The Czech Republic is determined to contribute to the search for effective ways to meet the most pressing challenges of today and to support the international response to terrorism and the actions undertaken so far, especially if the military operation continues to be targeted as accurately as possible against military targets, in this, it is hoped, the final stage of the Taliban’s defeat. We view these actions as legitimate and in accordance with the United Nations Charter and United Nations Security Council resolution 1368 (2001). Today more than ever we feel it our duty and obligation to preserve and cherish the uniqueness, as well as the open and universal character, of the United Nations and push more decisively for a strengthening of the role we have entrusted to it.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“We should do our utmost to avoid the trap of allowing the struggle against terrorism, the struggle for peace, justice, stability and coexistence, to be replaced by a clash of civilizations, by the very war that Osama bin Laden is calling for, by a war against Islam. That would be a tragedy. The international community has at its disposal great potential to address even the most complex problems and crises. It must now reach an agreement on how to approach them and on which tools it will employ to address them. International organizations, and the United Nations specifically, play an irreplaceable role in this process.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The fact that we were able to create such a wide anti-terrorist coalition so swiftly is very encouraging indeed. It is imperative to strengthen that coalition and enable it not only to fight effectively against terrorism but also to contribute to solving other pressing problems, especially those whose solution will strengthen the struggle against terrorism by reducing tension and promoting justice and stability. The current, unusually wide, international coalition against terrorism presents, I believe, a unique opportunity that we should seize. We should do our utmost to make it effective and operational. We should do our utmost not to let it collapse for reasons that would not stand up to the inevitable future scrutiny of our sons and daughters.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“We perceive the horrifying attack as an attack against the entire civilized international community against the principles of freedom, democracy and peace, the principles upon which the Organization stands. In the aftermath of the attacks of 11 September, the concepts of security, peace and solidarity are acquiring a new and distinct meaning. We recognize the growing interdependency of individual actors on the international scene. The dangers of the new threats and risks that confront our civilization come to the forefront. To conquer them we must not only move energetically against the perpetrators, but also concentrate on the causes that propel them. At the same time, we are witnessing significant progress leading to the creation of new relationships in the international community.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Let me congratulate Mr. Han Seung-soo on his election to the presidency of the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly and wish him every success in this important post. At the same time, I take this opportunity to offer my most sincere congratulations to the Secretary- General, Kofi Annan, and the entire United Nations on the occasion of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize award, and to express my gratitude for their determination to defend the ideas of tolerance and mutual respect among nations. Allow me to extend my own and my country’s deepest sympathy to all those who lost loved ones in the horrible terrorist attacks of 11 September. We are deeply moved by the unspeakable tragedy and share the grief of the American people and of all those affected.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Nevertheless, we will continue to support the United Nations and, as I have said, to participate in its missions to pour millions of dollars into humanitarian and development aid, and so on. The point I wish to make clear in this speech, even so late in the evening, is that we will always be ready to help.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“I also hope that the Millennium Assembly will contribute decisively to the acceleration of work on the United Nations reforms, the need for which was so clearly highlighted by the Kosovo crisis. I am sure that the recovery of the commitment to multilateralism and to the leading United Nations role in the struggle to uphold basic Charter values, such as democracy, human rights and the rule of law, is now in sight. My traditionally cautious optimism was, I admit, slightly strengthened in this respect by listening here to some politicians representing countries with far more resources than the Czech Republic has at its disposal. Our resources are, unfortunately, fairly limited.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“The ultimate goal could be the formation of rapid- response international forces, formed of national contingents and permanently available, well-equipped expert groups which could be dispatched to the stricken area in a matter of minutes or hours. In conclusion, let us remind ourselves once again that the future of the United Nations is primarily a matter of the political will of its Member States. Finding answers to the questions which have been raised at this year’s session of the General Assembly is therefore not only up to the United Nations, but up to the entire international community. The Millennium Assembly should give us a major opportunity for finding answers to these questions.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“The implementation of international law by the United Nations international judicial bodies has considerable positive influence on how global public opinion perceives the United Nations itself. Let me now touch briefly on one more serious problem. Recent earthquakes in Turkey, Greece and Taiwan have underlined the need for the world to be prepared to provide coordinated help to an area hit by a massive natural disaster. This experience should, in our view, lead to the further strengthening and deepening of the idea already presented some time ago, namely, the idea of the “White Helmets”. The challenge is to extend “White Helmets“ into regular international rescue forces under United Nations leadership, capable of coordinated action on the spot — naturally, with the consent of the countries receiving such assistance.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Incidentally, the new Czech Government has adopted a foreign policy 49 concept which regards human rights as one of its main pillars and which at the same time stresses the desirability of United Nations mandates for peace-enforcing operations. Fifthly, it is in the vital interest of the United Nations for the world to step into the twenty-first century under the rule of law in international relations. The situation in the former Yugoslavia, including developments in Kosovo, clearly shows the extremely important role already played today by international judicial bodies in enhancing the prestige of international law and its gradual integration into the political decision-making processes.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“It is unacceptable at the threshold of the new millennium to claim that human rights are relative and that their violation by sovereign States on their own territory is solely their internal affair and as such may not be a subject of interest to other members of the international community. If the United Nations were unable publicly to defend the existence of human rights, it would be unable to defend its own existence. At the same time, let us not forget the Secretary- General’s warning about the need to ensure universal legitimacy, which he issued in connection with the bombing campaign against Yugoslavia.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Fourthly, the role of the United Nations in the area of human rights and as part of a broader concept of human security should be considerably intensified. We welcomed the Secretary-General’s personal statement in his address at this year’s session of the Commission on Human Rights, in which he said, “I have made human rights a priority in every United Nations programme”. This, it seems to me, accurately reflects the importance which the United Nations should give human rights issues in the future. The United Nations should ensure that the universal nature of human rights is accepted and projected as a leading principle for the conduct of the international community. By our joint efforts we should guarantee a dignified and complete life for every individual in the next millennium.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“It is the excessive accumulation of hand-held and other small arms which above all requires our tough response, because these personal weapons play a key role in most conflicts. I would like to express my full support for the call by the United Kingdom Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, to halt the illegal trade in small arms. Cooperation with regional organizations such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Organization of African Unity, which may be more successful in dealing with conflicts, should also play a role in preventing conflicts. I very much welcome the Secretary-General’s emphasis here on moving from a culture of reaction to a culture of prevention.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Annan expressed to me during our talks in Prague last July. I have to admit that we consider the results of this year’s negotiations, especially those on Security Council reform, to be inadequate. This, of course, corresponds to the role of the United Nations during the initial stages of the Kosovo conflict. The composition of the Security Council requires change. The Czech Republic believes that the number of both permanent and non- permanent members of the Security Council needs to be increased, while representation of developing countries has to be strengthened. Thirdly, conflict-prevention mechanisms need to be created, and attention should be devoted to questions such as discrimination, poverty, access to raw materials and the arms trade. The arms trade does not include only extensive, elaborate weapons systems.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“The United Nations and the international community in general face the need to clearly define the relationship between national sovereignty and the protection of human rights and ultimately to engage in a discussion on how they should support sensible civilian Governments that keep armed forces under control. In this context, we should clearly focus on the Secretary-General’s argument about individual sovereignty and the right of every individual to control his or her own destiny. Secondly, the urgency of a radical acceleration of the process of United Nations reform, particularly reform of the Security Council, is becoming increasingly evident. The Czech Republic fully supports the Secretary-General’s reform efforts, and I would like to share the optimism concerning early substantial progress in reform negotiations which Mr.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“This test, so crucial for the future of the United Nations, has not yet been concluded and properly evaluated. It is not only Kosovo that has revealed that the United Nations in its present form does not make full use of its potential to be an irreplaceable vehicle for achieving the goals set out in the Charter. At the threshold of the third millennium, the Organization therefore looks for an answer to the question of how the international community can become a truly responsible community and what role the United Nations will play in this process. In our view, the United Nations must first of all respond to the changed substance of conflicts in today’s world. These are not classical conflicts between States but, in most cases, internal conflicts rather similar to civil wars.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“We continue to be involved in international activities focused on demining and on providing help to landmine victims. 48 The Czech Republic welcomed the enlargement of the Conference on Disarmament by another five countries, to which I extend warm congratulations. At the same time we express our hope that the Conference on Disarmament will succeed in overcoming the current stagnation and will start talks not only on a treaty banning the production of fissile materials for military purposes but also on other topical problems of arms control and disarmament, including nuclear disarmament, and on security guarantees for non- nuclear countries. There is no doubt that this year has been a real test for the United Nations, as well as a critical test of transnational decision-making during crises.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“In the context of the international efforts to limit and ban the use of anti-personnel landmines, I can inform the Assembly with satisfaction that, following last year’s ratification of Protocol II to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, the Czech Republic has completed the process of ratifying the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction and will soon deposit our ratification instrument with the Secretary-General. We support all efforts towards achieving universal applicability of that Convention.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Regarding conventional arms, the Czech Republic supports all measures that contribute to greater transparency. It consistently fulfils its obligations to notify the relevant registers and supports the efforts for an expansion of their procedures which would cover additional types of weapons. The Czech Republic also fully shares the international community’s grave concern over illegal transfers of hand-held and light weapons, and supports all measures required to stop such activities.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“We consider the achievement of universal applicability of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and their speedy ratification a very urgent task. In this respect, we particularly appreciate the CTBT ratification by France and by the United Kingdom. The Czech Republic hopes that the conference of CTBT countries, to be held at Vienna in October this year, will help to accelerate ratification in other countries. We welcome efforts to improve the effectiveness of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and we continue to express our support for early negotiation of a verification protocol to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Our aim is still a world without any nuclear weapons. With regard to the forthcoming Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), to be held in the year 2000, the Czech Republic calls for overcoming the stagnation in negotiations on the relevant treaties supporting the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and for developing more positive attitudes, particularly on the part of nuclear countries, which will create a more favourable atmosphere in the disarmament process and lead to the adoption of clear, practical and implementable nuclear disarmament measures in the new millennium. There is no question but that early ratification of the START II Treaty between the United States and Russia would help considerably to revive the disarmament process.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Peace and security in crisis-ridden areas are also closely related to humanitarian relief, which is provided as a rule to afflicted civilian populations. A radical deterioration in the security situation may cause a devastating humanitarian crisis, as we have seen in Kosovo. Here, too, there is a need to look at the possibilities of simplifying the United Nations decision-making mechanisms. It is disturbing that, for example, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees did not have sufficient resources and capacities to tackle the humanitarian crisis in that region, which was due mainly to somewhat rigid procedures. One of the most important tasks of the international community is undoubtedly to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and to eliminate them completely.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“The Czech Republic is also prepared to consider sending military observers to the United Nations peace missions in Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and, of course, following a recent request we received from Australia and the agreement on the Security Council mandate, also to East Timor. The Czech Republic is concerned about the developments in East Timor. We welcome the fact that after decades, the people of East Timor were given an opportunity to implement their right to self-determination, and we feel very shocked that the results of the referendum led to bloodshed and indiscriminate killings. Indonesia’s acceptance of the United Nations military peacekeeping forces has made us confident that the United Nations will succeed in ensuring peace in that area.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“The Czech Republic intends to continue its involvement in peace operations under the leadership of 47 both the United Nations and regional organizations, as borne out by, among other actions, the operation of Czech units under NATO command in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as in Kosovo. The first Czech policemen should arrive in Kosovo to join the UNMIK police force within the next five days. The number of police necessary to maintain civil order in Kosovo is now more than double the figure originally estimated, Mr. Kouchner told me. Police officials, not the military, are trained to investigate murders or, even more importantly, to take measures to prevent murders or other grave challenges to law and order.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“I wholeheartedly agree with the Secretary-General’s unequivocal statement that commitment to humanitarian action must be universal if it is to be legitimate. This means not only that our commitment to peace and stability cannot end with the cessation of hostilities but that we have to be seen to be objective and even-handed towards all ethnic groups, as well as towards all regions. I am glad to note that the recent argument that “East Timor is not Kosovo” was quietly dropped. The Secretary-General has said that humanity, after all, is indivisible; we have to wholeheartedly agree with him.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Unfortunately, during my stay in Kosovo I did not come across any convincing evidence that that vision could really be implemented in any foreseeable future — just the contrary. The diminishing number of Serbs in Kosovo, the continuous threats of murder — even to very old Serbian ladies — the rising influence of a mafia, which Mr. Kouchner told me about, the ever-present spirit of revenge, the lack of trained police forces, the absence of local civil administration, the disease of corruption and rivalry between different sectors of the Kosovo Albanians are just some of the obstacles which have to be dealt with decisively in order to prevent the vision of the future from becoming nothing but a never-fulfilled dream.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“A major degree of responsibility lies on the shoulders of the United Nations, and especially on those of the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Mr. Bernard Kouchner, in Kosovo. I had an opportunity to get to know his difficult task at first hand during my visit to Pristina a few days ago. The Secretary-General’s Special Representative needs the full support of the international community in his efforts, including the transformation of the UCK into a non-military Kosovo protection corps. The Czech Republic obviously supports all steps and measures which may bring about the establishment of a democratic and multi-ethnic society in Kosovo as stipulated by the Washington North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) has been marked by these problems: the Mission was not financially secured to the degree which would have corresponded with the security situation at hand and with the very difficult task of restoring the civil administration in Kosovo. On the other hand, it was probably the most rapidly deployed mission in the history of the United Nations. The importance of UNMIK is shown by the fact that, as the highest civilian authority in Kosovo, it coordinates activities of international regional governmental and non-governmental organizations. The Czech Republic greatly appreciates the positive cooperation between UNMIK and KFOR, although it is evident that the international security forces cannot in the long term replace civilian administration and police forces.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“The Czech Republic therefore attaches great importance to the use of peacekeeping operations in dealing with crisis situations and supports the efforts directed towards their greater efficiency, particularly as regards their rapid deployment. Speed appears to be the key aspect in many cases. However, the United Nations must also have adequate funding to carry out this demanding role effectively; unfortunately, its financial resources are considerably limited at present because of the fact that some Member States fail to honour their financial obligations.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“That is why it participated, in its capacity as the currently presiding country of the Central European Initiative, in the Stability Pact Summit meeting at Sarajevo and why it will be working towards democratization, economic reconstruction and security in the region. We are, of course, fully aware that this is far easier said than done. The obstacles on the road are numerous and enormous. The United Nations plays an irreplaceable role in providing for international peace and security. The peaceful resolution of disputes will undoubtedly continue to be one of the main priorities of the United Nations.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“The United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Robin Cook, correctly argued here that we must counter the culture of impunity. All criminals should be held to account. As Secretary- General Kofi Annan said, massive and systematic violations of human rights should not be allowed to stand, wherever they may take place. Kosovo will be the benchmark for the success achieved by international institutions. Kosovo is now in a period when it is necessary to defend peace, a period in which to achieve political stability and democratization, economic stabilization and a gradual development of the region. The Czech Republic is interested in the region’s stability in all respects.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“The Kosovo tragedy and other crises have brought us closer to recognizing the importance of the principle of the personal security of human beings and its guarantees as a precondition of peace and security in the world. The fact that the worst atrocities, which have nothing in common with the civilized world, are still 46 being committed at the end of the twentieth century makes this recognition all the more sad and alarming. In this context, the Czech Republic would express its appreciation and support for the work of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. The Czech Republic is convinced that the international community’s efforts should result in just punishment for all the atrocities committed.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)