YouSaid · the spoken record

Hubert Védrine

lines on the record: 103
first: 1997-09-24
most recent: 2001-09-24
sittings or episodes: 4
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

“I hope — I truly hope — that this will help to bring about a vital awakening and that my country, Europe and the United Nations will follow new avenues, in deeds and not just words, and that all of us, together, will successfully extend the needed coalition against terrorism to turn it into a coalition for an equitable world, and that this will lay the groundwork for a renewal of the international system.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“But building this community, instead of just talking about it or yearning for it, will mean for some of us giving up privileges, sharing wealth and power in new ways, and rewriting certain rules hitherto held to be inviolable. As the Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz has written, free trade was designed by Western countries for the Western countries. This is debatable, of course, but none of this will happen without sacrifices, above all on the part of the rich and powerful countries. At this very moment, a reshuffling of diplomatic cards on a grand scale is under way between the United States, Russia, China, Europe, the Arab or Muslim world, the other coalition partners, the rest of the world and the United Nations.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“I shall stop this list here. I could go on, for there is so much that remains to be done. All of us, as Members of the United Nations, are faced with this challenge. But I do not hesitate to say here that the rich countries — in other words, the West and a handful of other countries from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, where some 1.135 billion men and women live, have even more responsibility than others. Now that the illusions of the last 10 years have been dispelled, the choice before us is harsh, but clear: either a world so unjust that we have conflict with no foreseeable end, or, on the contrary, an international community of the United Nations, at last worthy of the name, to solve together humanity’s common problems and ensure its future.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“But we are undoubtedly now more aware than in recent years that the attainment of these objectives, which are both indispensable, and very ambitious, calls 28 different rules and different mechanisms, starting with the reform and enlargement of the Security Council, which we have waited for all too long; with respect for the role of the General Assembly; with the ratification of the major multilateral instruments — I am thinking of the Statute of the International Criminal Court and the Kyoto Protocol, among others; with a more appropriate and less indiscriminate use of sanctions when they are needed; with a clarification of the respective and legitimate roles of Governments and civil society; with an agreement on the modalities of interference to deal with large-scale and extreme emergency situations; with a regulation and development round at the World Trade Organization (WTO), which is starting today in Doha; with closer cooperation and greater consistency between the WTO and the International Labour Organization; with the creation of a world environmental organization; and with reform of the international financial institutions.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Eighth, we must aim at promoting balanced and negotiated disarmament, which strengthens security and strategic stability. Ninth, we must strive to allow all languages, cultures and civilizations to exist while maintaining a dialogue with one another. Tenth, we must seek to improve the state of health worldwide, which for one thing means devoting more resources to combating HIV/AIDS. I would hope that the new Global AIDS and Health Fund will be made operational by the beginning of 2002.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Fourth, we must help refugees and fully respect the right of asylum. Fifth, we must manage population movements in a humanitarian manner. Sixth, we must draft international standards in a democratic way to ensure that they are entirely legitimate and that everyone will consequently be bound to comply with them. Seventh, we must no longer tolerate situations of human distress. State sovereignty, which remains an essential feature of the international system, cannot, in extreme emergencies, be regarded as an absolute principle serving as a pretext for inaction. The Security Council must be able to fully assume its responsibilities in cases of gross human rights violations, for these also pose threats to international peace and security.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“We have already put forward numerous proposals to that end and will continue to do so, with increased conviction. Need I recall our well-known major objectives for the world? First, we must achieve a fairer distribution of wealth; 3 billion people currently live on less than 2 dollars per day, and the global income gap between the richest and the poorest has doubled over the last 40 years. Second, we must end impunity. Third, we must guarantee sustainable development everywhere — “sustainable”, that little word that makes all the difference, or which should make all the difference. The World Summit in Johannesburg in September 2002 will provide an opportunity to affirm a vision and a benchmark of development based on three intimately linked pillars: economic, social and environmental.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Even if we managed to resolve all these regional crises and others as well, our task would still not be over because, at the global level, the gulf between intentions for the world as stated at international meetings and actual realities is becoming intolerable for many peoples. We must redouble our efforts to create humane globalization. We saw this in Seattle, we saw it in Genoa, and even more so in Durban. We can see it in the reactions to the Afghan crisis and to many other issues. Despite the United Nations and our good resolutions, there is still no real universal consensus. What we call “the international community” has yet to be built. Is this a reason to throw in the towel? To the contrary – absolutely not. France has long been determined to add its stone to this edifice.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The Lusaka Agreement and the relevant Security Council resolutions provide the framework for ending this crisis, but they should be applied as quickly as possible. To halt the illegal use of the resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which often occurs in association with forced child labour, should be an immediate priority. In all the cases I have just referred to briefly — and there are others — the problem we have to resolve is the coexistence of peoples who are at once close and antagonistic, deeply affected and divided by history and separated by fear and the spirit of revenge. We will achieve this only through perseverance and a clear understanding of each particular situation, guided by the principles of the United Nations.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“27 In the Balkans, we realized that international involvement must be sustainable. Thanks to it, and thanks to new leaders, noteworthy progress has been achieved towards democracy, reconciliation and regional cooperation over the last two years. We must make sure these positive changes are not challenged by outmoded patterns of behaviour. We must maintain and pursue the Europeanization of the Balkans. Turning to the Great Lakes region, we know that the lasting resolution of the conflict, which involves more than eight countries, will be a negotiated solution that will ensure the restoration of the sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and include as well safeguard clauses to protect the security of each of the States.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Yet, the increasing threat that this conflict poses to international peace and security requires that those who have the will and the means join forces in a push for peace, given that the main players are evidently unable to do so unaided. The urgency of the situation in the Near East obviously should not make us forget Iraq. Regional security still needs to be secured by restoring an international monitoring capability and by alleviating the suffering of the Iraqi people through the lifting of the embargo on civilian goods. I hope the discussions now in progress in the Security Council will finally bring this about. Nor should we forget the Caucasus, where ancient quarrels live on and where new ones are rising to the fore. Yet, here again there is no other way than to seek negotiated political solutions.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Naturally, it would have to be viable, democratic and peaceful, and it should give credible undertakings as regards Israel’s security. Guarantees will be needed, yet the Palestinian State is not the problem; it is the solution for reasons based on rights, humanity and security. Such is the EU’s common stance today. This morning, before the Assembly, President Bush himself has made this his objective. It is the path of reason — the only path that can halt the murderous spiral of conflict between the two peoples. Admittedly, responsibility for a lasting peace agreement lies first and foremost with the protagonists. Unless they make the move, no one else will be able to overcome their fears and resentment and put an end to the suffering of these two peoples.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“For neither my country, nor Europe, nor the United Nations — in other words, none of us — waited for 11 September to discover, condemn and seek to remedy the ills of the world. Yet how many good intentions have come to naught? How many resolutions have gone unimplemented? How many announcements have failed to materialize, which now feed a sense of bitterness and incomprehension? It is pointless to condemn or deny the theory of a clash of civilizations. Rather, we must fight against such a risk, which is by no means wholly imaginary, and against those who would make it a reality. This should be one more pressing reason for us all to find a solution to regional crises, particularly in the Middle East. Since 1982, France has called for the creation of a Palestinian State.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Beyond that, I propose the creation of a dialogue forum to move us in this direction. Several other organizations, too, will have a role to play, so that at the end of the day every country will be making a contribution. Leaving aside the hoped-for short-term results, the obstacles notwithstanding, we will not achieve lasting victory against all forms of terrorism unless we succeed in depriving terrorists of their breeding ground and eliminating the pretexts from which they fallaciously draw their justification, and unless we eradicate them in the true sense of the term. That implies nothing short of changing our world. And let no one claim that this would be tantamount to justifying the terrorists.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The General Assembly must quickly conclude the negotiations on the comprehensive convention on international terrorism. For its part, the Security Council should oversee the coordinated implementation by States of its resolution 1373 (2001). Action against terrorism also needs to be carried out through other organizations, in conjunction with the United Nations and consistent with its policies. For its part, the European Union (EU) has just taken unprecedented steps to strengthen police and judicial cooperation among its member States, including the creation of a European arrest warrant. An ambitious action plan has been agreed. The 29 members of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) have decided to extend the fight against money-laundering to the fight against the financing of terrorism.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“This is compatible with respect for the legitimate interests of the various parties concerned and it is the only way to turn our backs on the past. Beyond immediate military, diplomatic and humanitarian action, our common fight against terrorism needs to be pursued in all its forms, including police, judicial and others. The United Nations will have a crucial role to play in this difficult struggle, laying down universal obligations for each State and the framework for our action. A series of conventions has already been concluded, particularly the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, which I proposed in this very place in 1999. We must speed up the signature and ratification of those conventions.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“That is the aim of the action plan for Afghanistan that France proposed back on 1 October, and of the other contributions it has made with the same goals in mind. We await Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi’s proposals with interest; they should set forth broad outlines of action for the United Nations. On these bases, the Security Council should be able to adopt a framework resolution within a few days, endorsing Mr. Brahimi’s proposals and spelling out the modalities of United Nations support for the establishment of an Afghan 26 Government representative of the various constituents of the population. There is no question of imposing on Afghanistan some ready-made solution concocted by outsiders. I call on all the constituents of the Afghan nation and all neighbouring countries to heed the general interest of Afghanistan and its people.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The leaders of these terrorist networks and those who support them must be decisively prevented from committing further harm. But that military action should, as a matter of course, form part of an overarching strategy that includes immediate, broad-scale humanitarian action that is better adapted to the needs of people in distress. France has put forward several proposals in this regard and supports the current initiatives for better coordination. That overarching strategy should also include a political solution — something that has now become urgent — and strive to ensure that the demise of the Taliban regime does not lead to factional infighting and chaos; and it must once again make the Afghan people masters of their own future.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The unprecedented magnitude and gravity of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington on 11 September warrant our unfailing solidarity and an exceptional response. In its resolution 1368 (2001), which was adopted unanimously, the Security Council rightly qualified those acts as attacks and, hence, as legitimately meriting a defensive response under Article 51 of the Charter. The United States is thus entirely within its legal and political rights in carrying out its targeted military response against the terrorist organizations responsible for those acts. The military action under way was therefore inevitable, and must be pursued until all its objectives have been achieved. Given the preliminary results achieved yesterday, I hope that those objectives will be met as soon as possible.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“At the outset, it is a great pleasure for me to congratulate the President on his election, which is a sign of the esteem in which he and his country are held. Coming after his re-election to a second term ─ which is a sign of the general confidence he has earned ─ the Nobel Peace Prize that has been awarded to the Secretary-General is a well-deserved tribute to his work and, through him, to the United Nations Organization as a whole, thereby inspiring greater hope than ever before. On this my third visit to New York since the tragedy of 11 September, I also want to express once again my profound emotion and pay homage to the people of New York, who are being so severely tested, and to their courageous mayor, who is now finishing his term.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“As you know, it also contributes the rather large amount of around 55 per cent of the world total of official development assistance. We are pleased with everything that was said last week on this extremely important matter, and we will continue our exemplary work on sustainable development. Indeed, we believe that development is one of the key ways of resolving all of the problems facing us throughout the world, as outlined in my statement, and the European Union wishes to express its strong, continuing commitment to that end.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Given that such crime, that one of its most odious manifestations is the trafficking in human beings, and that it poses an ever- growing threat to our societies, it is vital for the international community to develop the means to cooperate and fight against it effectively. Lastly, the European Union looks forward to the early establishment of the International Criminal Court. I would like to recall that ratification by 42 States is still needed for this. By way of conclusion, I would like to stress one last point, and that is sustainable development. The European Union's contribution to international cooperation is substantial. With 30 per cent of the global gross domestic product, the Union contributes 36 per cent of the United Nations regular budget and 39 per cent of the peacekeeping budget.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The Union, all of whose members have abolished the death penalty, calls on States that have not yet done so to adopt a moratorium as a first step towards the eventual abolition of this punishment, which is contrary to human dignity. The European Union will endeavour to strengthen international cooperation in the fight against terrorism and will play an active role in the negotiations to be held to that end. It earnestly hopes that this General Assembly will adopt the Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocols at the Palermo Conference next December.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The European Union intends to contribute actively to the special session of the United Nations General Assembly for the follow-up to the World Children's Summit, to be held next year, which will give the international community yet another opportunity to help this cause move forward. Another important task, the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, lies ahead. At the European Preparatory Conference, to be held in October under the auspices of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, the European Union will demonstrate its commitment to combat all expressions of racism, whatever form they take.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“In this connection, the European Union welcomes the designation, thanks to the support of many countries, of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Human Rights Defenders, Ms. Jilani; we welcome her appointment and assure her of our full backing as she undertakes her duties. This year the United Nations has once again demonstrated that it is the main forum of progress in setting standards for human rights, as witnessed by the adoption of two optional protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sexual exploitation of children and on children in armed conflicts. This represents a major step forward in favour of the protection of children.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“At the same time, the Union shall continue its drive for the implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction. It will join in the efforts to achieve the total elimination of anti- personnel mines. On the very important subject of human rights, the European Union will continue to support the efforts of the United Nations to reach the goal set by the Secretary-General to put human rights at the heart of every aspect of its work. The best guarantee of solid progress in this area is each person's awareness of the importance of human rights and democracy and the emergence of groups who actively promote them in every country.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“This will enable us to move closer to our common objectives — namely, the elimination of nuclear weapons and general, comprehensive disarmament under strict and effective international control. The issue of small arms and light weapons is just as sensitive in many regions of the world. It deserves special attention. The 15 European Union members 23 will contribute to the preparation of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, which will take place during the summer of 2001, with the objective of obtaining a positive and enforceable plan of action to combat the destabilizing accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, the completion of the operational readiness of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) and the negotiation at the Disarmament Conference of a fissile material cut-off treaty are all necessary steps that are of concern and ought to mobilize all States, be they parties to the NPT or not. The start of this negotiation implies urgent negotiations on a working programme in the Conference on Disarmament. International standards in this field can only be effective if they are universal. Arsenal reductions, which are the prime responsibility of the nuclear-weapon States, must also be continued.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Since the end of the cold war, effective instruments for ending the arms race and achieving disarmament have begun to see the light of day, with the halt to testing, the treaty enshrining it, the first two START agreements to reduce the largest nuclear arsenals and a host of unilateral decisions following the same trend. Our priority must be to consolidate this mechanism. A start was made with the Review Conferences of 1995 and 2000; the results, which we welcome, must be fully implemented. We must give full weight to strengthening the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) through the widespread implementation of the measures contained in the 1997 Model Protocol and to remain alert to the issue of NPT compliance. We must also revive the momentum of the multilateral negotiations.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“This is particularly true of chemical and biological weapons, which have now been banned. The Union is working towards the early conclusion of a protocol containing reliable and effective verification measures to strengthen the 1972 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction. We are equally determined to ensure nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, where so much progress has been made since the signing of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), to which 187 States are now parties.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“We invite the two countries, who have been members of the United Nations since 1991, to continue this process in order to help the Korean people heal the wounds of the past. On the subject of Haiti, the European Union recalls that full respect for the constitutional provisions concerning the elections and electoral legislation currently in force is the basis of democracy and the rule of law. The threat of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems is a crucial issue that the European Union — which shares the concern for international peace and security that ought to inspire the nations represented here — is resolved to combat relentlessly. To this end, international cooperation must be stressed, along with the development of multilateral standards for non- proliferation, arms control and disarmament.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The European Union will be looking closely for such signs from the parties involved and will encourage initiatives likely to resolve all the disputes between the two countries. It is important for the specific measures laid down in Security Council resolution 1172 (1998) to be implemented and for Pakistan and India to subscribe to the international non-proliferation regime and sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Having advocated direct dialogue between the two Koreas for many years, the European Union welcomes the historic inter-Korean Summit that took place in Pyongyang from 13-15 June this year. This is an important step on the road to reconciliation between the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, opening bright prospects for strengthening the stability of the region.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“We are extremely concerned by the instability caused by the militias in both East and West Timor. The new outbreaks of violence by them have taken the lives of two “blue beret” peacekeepers and, more 22 recently, of three personnel of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The European Union calls on the Indonesian authorities to adopt effective measures to control the militias without delay. The European Union also calls for the termination of terrorist activity in Kashmir, the implementation of confidence- and security-building measures and strict respect for the line of control in order to restore a peaceful local climate and enable the dialogue between Pakistan and India to resume in the spirit of the Lahore Declaration.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Aung San Suu Kyi's freedom of speech, movement and communication with the outside. It is urgent for dialogue to begin between the Myanmar authorities and the democratic opposition, including the National League for Democracy and national minorities. The Union supports the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Burma, Mr. Razali, in his efforts to find a solution. The European Union expresses its solidarity with the people of East Timor and commends the work done by the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) in close cooperation with the political authorities of East Timor. It is in favour of accelerating reconstruction assistance in order to guarantee a successful transition and avoid any delay in the timetable leading to independence.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The European Union reiterates its support for resolution 1306 (2000) on Sierra Leone, which tightened existing arms sanctions and established an embargo on raw diamonds illegally exported from Sierra Leone. The European Union calls on all the parties to the conflict to comply with the principles and objectives of the Lomé Agreement and to be fully involved in the re-establishment of peace and stability and compliance with human rights in Sierra Leone. The European Union and its member States will continue to contribute to African capacity and means of action in conflict prevention and resolution, in particular through support for the OAU and subregional organizations and initiatives. The European Union is deeply concerned at the situation in Myanmar. It asks the Myanmar authorities to immediately restore Ms.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“We are pleased to note greater awareness about the illicit trade in diamonds and other minerals, which directly fuels conflicts. This is the case in particular with the illicit trade in diamonds in Angola, whereby UNITA has been funding its war effort. We underscore the importance of complying with Security Council resolutions on this matter. We welcome the decision to place this important question on the General Assembly's agenda. The discussion should be based on the Kimberley process. It should reflect the work of the preparatory conference co-chaired by the United Kingdom and Russia. Lastly, it should examine the proposal made at Miyazaki to establish a standing group of independent experts to formulate ways of preventing illicit trade.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“It also urges them to abide by the relevant Security Council resolutions, in particular resolution 1304 (2000), which calls for an orderly withdrawal of foreign forces from Congolese territory and for the cooperation of all parties in the deployment of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) through the lifting of restrictions on the freedom of movement of MONUC personnel and by ensuring their security. The illegal exploitation of the natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a violation of the country's sovereignty, is also unacceptable. The European Union therefore commends the establishment by the Secretary-General on 15 August last of a group of experts in charge of analysing ties between the illegal exploitation of those riches and the continuation of the conflict.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“It is endeavouring to provide assistance to the war-stricken populations of both countries, whose immense suffering has been compounded by drought. The European Union is deeply concerned by the developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It calls on all parties to the Lusaka Agreement to implement their commitments, including those made at Kampala. This will allow for progress with respect to the military and political provisions, all of which are under threat due to the continued fighting and the deadlock in preparing for a national dialogue.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The European Union is equally determined in its support for efforts to prevent and settle conflicts in Africa, in close cooperation with the United Nations, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and other subregional organizations and in accordance with the objectives agreed at the Africa-Europe Summit, held last April in Cairo under the Portuguese presidency of the European Union. It will lend its backing to the measures taken jointly by the OAU and the United Nations to implement the peace settlement between Ethiopia and Eritrea. In supporting the deployment of international observers, the European Union is also willing to lend its support to the establishment and demarcation of borders, to demining and to assistance to refugees and displaced persons.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The European Union considers the status quo in Cyprus unacceptable, and it supports the efforts of the Secretary-General to reach a negotiated, comprehensive, fair and lasting settlement consistent with relevant Security Council resolutions. It reiterates its commitment to stability and prosperity throughout the Mediterranean region. With talks beginning right here under the auspices of the Secretary-General, it 21 invites the parties concerned to enter into substantive talks.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Thanks must be given to all those who have made this possible in spite of enormous difficulties, especially the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, the United Nations staff and the Kosovo Force soldiers, the many international organizations there on the ground and the non-governmental organizations. The first democratic municipal elections in Kosovo, to be held in a few weeks' time, will constitute a major step in the implementation of resolution 1244 (1999). I would forcefully reiterate that the international community will not allow unacceptable acts of violence, whatever their motivation, to cause the democratic electoral process under way to fail. We will not let extremists from whatever faction sabotage the work accomplished over the past year under the auspices of the United Nations.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia will not be able to participate in the conference, as the nature of its present regime does not allow it to do so. But the Serbs know that they have their place in the European family and that the European Union is looking forward to the day when the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is in a position to participate fully in the stabilization and association process and to recover its rightful place in Europe. The elections to be held on 24 September could be decisive in this respect. In Kosovo the international community, acting on the basis of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999), has achieved praiseworthy results.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“In the context of elections concerning almost the entire region, we will encourage them to develop regional cooperation and to continue to make determined efforts for political, economic and social reform in order to consolidate democracy and human rights, to build the rule of law and lay the groundwork for sustainable development. In this context, the European Union has reaffirmed its determination to continue to be the driving force in the Stability Pact for South-eastern Europe, which represents a new vision of cooperation between the countries of the region and the international community. The summit to be held shortly in Croatia of the European Union and the Western Balkan countries — on the basis of a French proposal — will signal our common resolve to overcome the divisions of the past.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“This means the greatest possible integration into the political, economic and social currents of Europe through the stabilization and association process, political dialogue, trade liberalization, the harmonization of their laws with those of the European Union, and cooperation in justice and domestic affairs. The assistance provided by the European Union to countries of the region over the last 10 years — nearly 8 billion euros — is considerable. The European Union will continue to sustain this stabilization and association process by providing the western Balkan countries with massive technical, economic and financial assistance and by granting them asymmetrical trade advantages in farming and industry very soon, which will pave the way for the creation of a free trade zone with the European Union.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Ten years of conflict have ravaged the region, leading to severe human suffering and to politically unstable and therefore dangerous situations. But beyond accumulated hardships and the lagging economic and social development of many of those countries, all of the peoples and nearly all of the leaders of the region have realized that it does have a future, and that future is Europe. Today, all Europeans now share the belief that these countries are bound one day to join the European Union. This is why the European Council has reiterated that its goal is to firmly attach the countries of the region to Europe.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“It welcomes the redeployment of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and the presence of a joint security force, sent to the area by the Lebanese Government. It urges all parties to fulfil their responsibilities in order to defuse tensions. The European Union believes that only a comprehensive settlement encompassing every track of the peace process, including the Israeli-Syrian track, is likely to guarantee lasting stability in the region. It will continue to support the efforts of the parties to this end and contribute to the implementation of any agreements that may be reached. Turning to Europe, the situation in the western Balkans is a matter of serious concern to the entire international community.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The European Union hails the considerable efforts and determination shown by the President of the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli Prime Minister during recent negotiations to reach a final agreement between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. We welcome in particular the renewed vigour with which very sensitive issues have been addressed at this time. We commend President Clinton and the Secretary of State for their unflagging efforts to facilitate negotiations. Circumstances favourable to reconciling positions continue to exist. We urge the parties to seize this historic opportunity, show courage in decisive choices, take fully into account human realities and the recognized rights of all, and thereby achieve a final agreement. The European Union welcomes Israel's withdrawal from the zone it occupied in southern 20 Lebanon.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“In this connection, Member States have set themselves the goal of being able, by 2003, to provide up to 5,000 police officers, 1,000 of whom will be deployment-ready within 30 days. These decisions now enable the European Union to complement its already sizeable economic and humanitarian programmes with the full range of resources required for crisis management. Of course, these activities are designed in full respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter. Now more than ever, it is vital to establish working ties with the United Nations. To initiate this cooperation, the European Union troika will discuss this issue for the first time with the Secretary-General. On behalf of the European Union, I hereby invite Mr. Kofi Annan to go to Brussels for a working meeting with the organs of the Union.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The European Union has also announced its intention to establish by 2003 a force of 60,000 troops for international missions involving the whole range of conflict-prevention and crisis-management operations, with the requisite air and naval support for deployment within 60 days for a period of at least one year. This autumn there will be a conference for the commitment of capability at which each Member State shall pledge its contribution to this joint endeavour. The Union has also set ambitious and realistic targets for developing collective capabilities. In addition to its military resources, it will develop civilian intervention capabilities, including a corps of civilian police, whose contribution to peacekeeping is invaluable.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The Union has decided to equip itself to be a major political actor and to play its full role on the international stage. To this end, and within a very short time-frame, it has undertaken decisive measures. New decision-making, action-oriented political and military bodies have been set up: a political and security committee, a military committee, a European Union military staff, a situation centre and a committee for civilian crisis management. These bodies will enable the European Union to intervene quickly and credibly in the management of international crises.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)