YouSaid · the spoken record

Aboul-Gheit

lines on the record: 661
first: 1999-08-25
most recent: 2023-11-29
sittings or episodes: 72
sources: un-security-council

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“While all these measures are, from our point of View, extremely positive, given the difficult circumstances the country is going through and the prevalence of extreme poverty among its population, we unfortunately find that the international community is still hesitant in mobilizing the financial resources and other forms of assistance that the country requires to address the enormous challenges, which are only increasing day by day.”
2001-09-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4380 (2001) · source
“Donor Governments and institutions, however, must accept that the Government of President Patasse has neither the necessary capacity nor the adequate resources to provide for the needs of these refugees and that the entire international community has a special responsibility towards them. Thirdly, the Government of the Central African Republic had previously prepared a number of emergency plans to overcome the humanitarian, economic and social repercussions of the coup attempt. It has also taken a number of encouraging steps to resume its dialogue with the trade unions and drafted a series of important laws to attract foreign investments.”
2001-09-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4380 (2001) · source
“Secondly, the international community must also focus its attention on addressing the humanitarian crisis facing the Central African Republic, as evidenced by the displacement of large numbers of civilians inside the country and across its borders and by the even larger numbers of refugees who flocked to its territory from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Chad, Sudan and Rwanda. Some may say that the presence of such a large number of refugees from all these countries only demonstrates that the Central African Republic is still an oasis of stability in a region plagued by armed conflicts and ethnic strife.”
2001-09-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4380 (2001) · source
“We therefore ask donor Governments and institutions to respond to the recommendations of the Secretary-General, to contribute generously in financing the programmes prepared by the Government for this purpose and to provide the requisite military and technical expertise to guarantee their successful implementation. In this context, I cannot but express the hope that the response of the international community to these requirements will be more forthcoming than that received by the Government when it presented its programmes in this field to the special meeting held in New York in May 2000.”
2001-09-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4380 (2001) · source
“Mr. Aboul Gheit (Egypt) (spoke in Arabic): I realize that it is late on a Friday evening and I will therefore address only five points in my country's statement on the report of the Secretary-General. First, I entirely agree that the process of restructuring the armed forces and the collection of the small arms that are circulating in the country must become a special priority in the efforts of the international community in the immediate term. We cannot expect the Central African Republic to achieve political, economic or social recovery without being able to eliminate its security problems.”
2001-09-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4380 (2001) · source
“What we find positive about the Secretary- General's report is the proposed coordination between the principal bodies in the field of conflict prevention. We call on the Security Council to increase its coordination with the General Assembly, which has the more general and comprehensive role in the field of conflict prevention, and with the Economic and Social Council when required. The result should be one policy and one vision for the Organization in this very important field.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Paragraph 77 of the report gives a list of examples of areas in which there are missions supported by the Department of Political Affairs. Among these examples there is a reference to "the Occupied Territories". Our understanding of this reference is that it applies to the occupied Palestinian territories. If our understanding of this is correct, and this is most likely, we wonder how this lapse in referring to Palestine occurred in this context. Is this a deliberate error, despite the many different reviews to which such a report is subjected? We are posing this question to the Secretary-General in all seriousness so that he can rectify such error or lapse, and so that he can find out how such an important report could be issued with such an incomplete and truncated expression.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334Resumption1 (2001) · source
“While we fully understand the threat posed by these weapons to the security of communities, particularly in cases of intra-state civil strife and conflict, nevertheless the report should not have ignored the importance that many countries attach to achieving nuclear disarmament and to addressing the problems posed by other unconventional weapons, the existence of which threatens whole communities and societies. We call on the Secretary-General to correct this lapse as soon as possible. We have a number of other comments on points in the report of the Secretary-General. We will deal with them in our statement to the General Assembly during the discussion of this issue. Allow me before concluding, however, to refer to a lapse that surprised us.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Before concluding on this point, I would like to state that the confidence we have in the Secretary-General to choose the so-called network of eminent personalities and figures to help in the prevention of conflicts should not stop the Member States from having a role in determining the criteria by which these figures and personalities are to be selected. Thirdly, we were extremely disappointed reading paragraphs 86 to 93, regarding disarmament. We have not found a single reference to any other kind of weapon that threatens international peace and security besides small weapons.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Secondly, the fact that the Secretary-General would enhance his traditional role in the prevention of conflicts is a matter that we welcome within the framework of checks and balances established by the Charter regarding his role and the responsibilities of the principal bodies and organs of the United Nations. We also welcome the report's statement that the work of the Secretary-General in the area of conflict prevention should be carried out in full cooperation with the concerned countries and parties. But we have a question about recommendation 9, regarding the enhancing of the traditional role of the Secretary- General in conflict prevention, in particular about improving the Secretariat's capacity and resource base for preventive action. We would like clarification from the Secretariat. What do they mean by this recommendation?”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334Resumption1 (2001) · source
“On the other hand, determining the point at which the Security Council may or should intervene in a specific conflict that threatens international peace and security is a very complicated issue on which there may be many views and opinions. The Council should make a decision only if there is complete unanimity. I am not speaking here about clear cases, such as those of foreign occupation, or clear violations, such as ethnic cleansing. Intervention by the Council in such cases is part and parcel of the responsibility entrusted to it under the Charter of the United Nations.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334Resumption1 (2001) · source
“But, since I am speaking to the Security Council, I would like to submit a number of remarks regarding items in the Secretary-General's report that have attracted our attention and that I believe are important to refer to. First of all, there are paragraphs 36, 37 and 39 and recommendation 3 regarding the Secretary-General presenting informal periodic reports to the Security Council and the formation of a subsidiary body of the Council perhaps for every situation, region or area that requires it. These are matters that are best, or should be best, approached with extreme caution and care. The dividing lines between what constitutes a threat to international peace and security and what falls within the scope or responsibility of a specific government are extremely fuzzy and obscure in many cases.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Mr. Aboul Gheit (Egypt) (spoke in Arabic): I am pleased, Sir, to express to you my deep satisfaction at seeing you preside, for the second time, over the work of the Security Council during Bangladesh's presidency of the Council. I am certain that the work done by the Council under your presidency will be successful. A number of delegations that spoke before me have called for the General Assembly to continue to play the role entrusted to it by the Charter in the domain of conflict prevention. We find this approach relevant and believe it merits our support. In addition, we were pleased to hear that the President of the General Assembly will be organizing a similar debate next month on this very important issue.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Perhaps those events will strengthen the conviction of the United Nations that the security and political situation in the Great Lakes region continues to be extremely fragile and that any undue haste in terminating or reducing the presence of the United Nations in the region - or a failure to confront the inter-twined problems that continue to threaten international peace and security - will only result in multiple consequences of a much more serious nature than those already afflicting this important and strategic region in the heart of the African continent.”
2001-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4327Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Sixthly, Egypt, will continue its active role in contributing to the restoration of permanent peace in the Congo and in the Great Lakes region - whether through its bilateral contacts with the parties concerned or within the Organization of African Unity. We will also maintain our support for the courageous efforts of the United Nations - represented by the Security Council and the Secretary-General and his Special Representative, Kamel Morjane - as well as our contribution to MONUC, in which Egypt is proud to be the largest provider of military observers among the 43 countries participating in the operation. Before concluding, I would like to express our deep concern at the ongoing events in the Central African Republic following the failed coup attempt that erupted in Bangui over two weeks ago.”
2001-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4327Resumption1 (2001) · source
“While we welcome the ideas and initiatives that the international community has begun to put forward in that regard, we also express the hope that the international community will prove its resolve to build a genuine peace in the Congo and to eradicate the basic causes that may prevent permanent peace and stability from taking root in the country. It should do so by generously contributing to the various programmes that may be put in place so that they do not remain a dead letter, as well as to end the suffering of the Congolese people, who have been deprived for many decades of enjoying the life of dignity and prosperity that they deserve.”
2001-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4327Resumption1 (2001) · source
“In this regard, we welcome the steps being taken to organize a meeting between Presidents Kabila and Museveni, and we express the hope that those efforts will extend to arranging similar direct contacts between the leaderships in Kinshasa and Kigali. Fifthly, we have also witnessed the increasing importance given by the Security Council and the Secretariat to the need to enhance the international support that must accompany the implementation of the Lusaka Agreement in resuscitating the Congolese economy, rebuilding the infrastructure that was destroyed by the conflict and rehabilitating the social, educational and health institutions of the country.”
2001-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4327Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Fourthly, of course we cannot ask the United Nations to undertake the primary role in the efforts to resolve the conflict in the Congo without reaffirming the responsibility that the parties themselves bear in moving forward with the implementation of the Lusaka Agreement and their responsibility to demonstrate the necessary political will - not only to prepare detailed plans for the withdrawal of foreign forces and the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of the armed groups, but also to implement what is agreed upon in good faith and to resolve any differences that may emerge between them within the Joint Military Commission, the Political Committee and the inter- Congolese dialogue under the facilitation of former President Masire, We would also like to take this opportunity to encourage the parties to intensify their diplomatic contacts at the highest level in a manner that strongly drives the peace process forward and contributes to the building of trust among them at this critical time.”
2001-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4327Resumption1 (2001) · source
“This, however, should not serve as a cause for hesitation in the establishment of phase III, so long as the two primary conditions that the Secretary- General previously set for the deployment of United Nations personnel in the Congo are met. Those conditions are the provision of the necessary security guarantees for MONUC personnel, and the reaffirmation by the parties of their commitment to respect and implement the Lusaka Agreement.”
2001-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4327Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Thirdly, while we are aware of the essential prerequisites that must be met prior to the deployment of phase III of the operation - at the forefront of which is the provision by the parties of relevant information on the numbers, locations and armaments of their forces and those of the armed groups - we would also like to stress that the United Nations must be ready to address the challenges and risks it may face in such an expanded operation, as it did in Sierra Leone and, before that, in East Timor. The Congo operation, like all other peacekeeping operations, will by its nature and the nature of the mission area be subject to a number of risks that cannot be avoided.”
2001-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4327Resumption1 (2001) · source
“While we welcome the recommendation in the Secretary-General's report on the revised concept of operations for the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) and on the deployment of additional troops, observers and civilian personnel in the operation, we also hope that the United Nations will proceed to prepare the necessary plans to establish and deploy the third, expanded phase of the Mission so that the period we are about to enter - which we assume will be a transitional one - will not be prolonged, and so that the situation in the field will not become entrenched where it currently stands, that is, lacking the implementation of the specific steps needed to bring the Lusaka Agreement to its desired conclusion.”
2001-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4327Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Secondly, and in the same vein, we now look to the United Nations to intensify its efforts to support the parties in implementing their commitments in accordance with the Lusaka Agreement and the relevant Security Council resolutions; to create an environment conducive to the withdrawal of foreign forces from the Congo and to ending the problems posed by armed groups; and to establish the necessary arrangements to restore the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Congo and address the security concerns of its neighbours.”
2001-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4327Resumption1 (2001) · source
“These steps have been reflected, inter alia, in the continued respect by the parties of the ceasefire; in the implementation of the disengagement plans between their forces in the field; and in their agreement on the principal framework that will govern the processes of withdrawing all foreign forces from the country and of disarming, demobilizing and reintegrating the armed groups taking refuge on Congolese soil.”
2001-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4327Resumption1 (2001) · source
“We have also followed the activities of the Security Council mission that visited the Great Lakes region in the second half of May this year, as well as the valuable results that were achieved during that mission. In this regard, my delegation would like to make a number of specific points that we believe need to be stressed. First, the peace process in the Congo has lately witnessed a number of consecutive steps that have served to maintain the current momentum aimed at implementing the Lusaka Agreement in both its military and political components and at reaching a final and comprehensive settlement of the conflict, which has been tearing the Congo apart and draining the energies of its neighbours for almost three years.”
2001-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4327Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Mr. Aboul Gheit (Egypt) (spoke in Arabic): I would like at the outset to extend our thanks to you, Mr. President, for organizing this open debate and for affording us the opportunity to participate in this meeting on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and on the role we expect the United Nations to play in this important phase of the peace process in that country. I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome the Foreign Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Our two countries have excellent relations that serve to unite us. The delegation of Egypt has considered with interest the report of the Secretary-General on the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2001-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4327Resumption1 (2001) · source
“That is the question we pose to the Council. I should like in conclusion to express to you, Mr. President, our deep gratitude for having convened this open debate and for having given us the opportunity to address the Council on this issue.”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312Resumption1 (2001) · source
“It has also failed to understand its role, both politically and with regard to security, in providing an appropriate climate conducive to restoring peace and security in the occupied Palestinian territories and to protecting Palestinian civilians. Consequently, it has up to now failed to fulfil its role. Despite that continuing failure, we will not waver in demanding that the Council assume its responsibility. We have yet to find a single convincing reason why the Council should remain silent on the issue of the Palestinian civilians who are being subjected to acts of aggression. Those acts make it imperative that appropriate protection be provided to them. Will we be able to do this, or will the Security Council remain a useless organ as far as the protection of Palestinian civilians is concerned?”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312Resumption1 (2001) · source
“If the occupation force refuses to cooperate with the Council in the implementation of its resolution, then it is in violation of the Council's resolutions, thereby adding another resolution to the series of resolutions that have been violated by that Power - a matter that should make it subject to international accountability. The truth of the matter is that for the last six months the Council has failed to live up to Arab expectations and to the expectations of many Member States of the United Nations and the international community. It has failed in its mission to defend Palestinian civilians. It has failed to assume the responsibilities mandated to it by the general membership of the Organization. It has failed to understand the nature of what is asked of it.”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312Resumption1 (2001) · source
“The question of consent to the deployment of any personnel by the Organization to the territory of a Member State with a view to maintaining international peace and security, under Chapter VI of the Charter, is a condition that has to do with territory under the sovereignty of a given country. But a State occupying territory that is not under its legal jurisdiction cannot be said to have sovereignty over that territory, and there is therefore no requirement to seek the acceptance of that country in order to deploy troops on that territory. This is perfectly clear to us, and I hope it is now as clear to everyone else. With regard to all the talk about so-called cooperation by the occupying Power, that is a different matter altogether. That cooperation is not a prerequisite to the adoption of a resolution by the Council.”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312Resumption1 (2001) · source
“We have also heard talk of human security and the responsibility of the international community to provide the elements and conditions for all to enjoy that security. Regrettably, the majority of those who talk about this either abstain in the voting on draft resolutions brought before this and other forums of the United Nations, or simply ignore many of the principles they advocate for political reasons totally outside the scope of the question. An important legal point raised by some delegations during the debate on the Arab request to protect Palestinian civilians concerned the acceptance by an occupying force of the deployment of an international presence in the occupied territories. We detect an obvious confusion in those views and approaches, which we must now correct.”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312Resumption1 (2001) · source
“The situation in the occupied Palestinian territories is, in fact, the sole case in which members and non-members of the Council have made repeated requests for the Council to take action to assume what we believe is its primary responsibility under the Charter, namely, to adopt measures to provide protection for Palestinian civilians under occupation. What has the Council done? Since last November the Council has been at a standstill in the debate on this subject. In this debate we have heard flimsy arguments and wholly irrelevant politicking. Regrettably, we have heard only silence from many of those who are champions of human rights and who talk about the need to protect human rights and to adopt the doctrine of so-called humanitarian intervention in cases of severe violations taking place in a given region.”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Not only does the occupying Power utilize military weapons against Palestinian civilians, it also employs an economic blockade that deprives civilians of income and undertakes political assassinations, trials without evidence, the demolition of homes and razing of farms, and restrictions on civilian movement. It even uses military operations against purely peaceful civilian demonstrations. I do not think there is a single place in the entire world where civilians experience what Palestinians are now experiencing.”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312Resumption1 (2001) · source
“It is therefore only logical that such an occupation would represent the beginning of a cycle of violence in which the civilians under occupation are the second party. The violence resulting from such an occupation would of course be the responsibility of the occupying Power. Given that scenario, I find it very difficult to see any real difference between what Palestinian civilians are suffering and what other civilians suffer in situations to which the Council gives special attention in an effort to render protection. As a matter of fact, the situation in the Palestinian territories is much worse than many other situations. The balance of power in the territories is completely uneven.”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312Resumption1 (2001) · source
“The report of the Secretary-General contains not even a single reference to the situation of the Palestinian people. Our sole consolation in the absence of such a reference may be the legal view that the situation of the Palestinian people has to do with an occupation in which international conventions and agreements apply, the Fourth Geneva Convention being foremost among such agreements. Given that perspective, it follows that the situation of the Palestinian people differs from others in which a Power is engaged in armed conflict and in which there is some sort of balance between that Power and another Power. The reality is that, in both its civilian and military aspects, occupation is the imposition by force of the will of one party on another.”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312Resumption1 (2001) · source
“We have no real disagreement with most, if any, of the recommendations made by the Secretary-General in his report. Those recommendations are aimed at according due importance to the protection of civilians in armed conflict. In this regard, allow me to reiterate the importance of respecting the principle of a State's sovereignty over its territory and the need for the relevant actors in the international community to act in concert to tighten the noose around forces and elements that target civilians, whether those forces are regular or irregular. Allow me now, in addition to everything I have just mentioned, to move from the theoretical to the practical. In this context, I would like to refer to the situation of the Palestinian people.”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Mr. Aboul Gheit (Egypt) (spoke in Arabic): I have previously expressed in detail Egypt's views on the protection of civilians, in the statement made before the Council on 17 September 1999, when I talked about the different competencies of the Organization and the legal concepts on which we must base ourselves in dealing with the subject. I also dealt with the role that we feel the Council can play in some cases in which it can intervene. Therefore, I will not repeat my views on these questions. We have taken note of the report of the Secretary- General on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. We have also taken note of the paper distributed by the President of the Council in order to guide the debate in a practical direction.”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312Resumption1 (2001) · source
“We also believe that the international community must seriously consider coordinating international demining efforts, since landmines prevent a return to normal life in Somalia. We must also seriously implement Security Council resolution 733 (1992) regarding the arms embargo against Somalia.”
2000-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4166 (2000) · source
“The upcoming phase requires us to work seriously to help the Somalis to recover their national territories and territorial integrity and to guarantee that they are able to overcome the crisis after a full decade of human tragedy and suffering. We therefore underscore the importance of the international community's support for the Djibouti initiative. We believe that the international community must provide all the assistance necessary to urge the various Somali leaders who have chosen to boycott the initiative to approach it in a positive manner. We believe that it is important to increase humanitarian assistance to Somalis throughout Somalia and to contribute to rebuilding the Somali infrastructure.”
2000-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4166 (2000) · source
“This, in our view, will guarantee the return of stability and peace to Somalia and ultimately lead to stability in the Horn of Africa region. The Djibouti initiative met with success during the first phase of the Somalia National Peace Conference. The meetings held under this formula were able to settle many of the differences between the warring factions and clans, particularly between the Hawiye and the Darod. We consider this to be a positive step towards the realization of national reconciliation. We hope that the second phase of the Somalia National Peace Conference in Djibouti will lead to a solution to the political questions, including the establishment of executive and legislative State institutions, in a way that guarantees a calm transition in which the Somalis can reunify their territories.”
2000-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4166 (2000) · source
“Egypt believes that responsibility for the solution to the Somali question rests with the Somalis themselves, including the leaders of civil society and of the warring factions. We believe that international intervention, be it collective or individual, must be in the context of support for the realization of the unity and territorial integrity of Somalia. Egypt therefore welcomes and supports the Djibouti initiative. We bless the efforts of President Ismail Guelleh and express our confidence that he can carry out this difficult mission. Egypt also believes that the Djibouti initiative represents an appropriate framework, commensurate with the Somali situation and environment, for the solution of the conflict.”
2000-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4166 (2000) · source
“The elements of this approach are the preservation of the unity and independence of Somalia and opposition to the principle of the division of Somalia and to the establishment of autonomous entities within the country. In seeking to promote this approach, Egypt has been making use of its contacts in various international forums and with people involved in Somalia. Because we believe in the unity of Somalia, we seek to maintain a balance in our approach to and contacts among all Somali provinces. We are providing humanitarian and technical assistance to all Somalis. We are eager to develop our relations with the two administrations of Somaliland and Puntland in the framework of maintaining one Somalia.”
2000-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4166 (2000) · source
“Mr. Aboul Gheit (Egypt) (spoke in Arabic): Allow me to express to you, Sir, our great appreciation for the interest in the conflict in Somalia that you have demonstrated during your presidency of the Council this month. It will undoubtedly contribute to successfully and appropriately restoring the question of Somalia to the agenda of the Security Council and of the international community in the coming months. This is particularly true given the developments taking place on this issue within the framework of the Djibouti initiative. I would like to stress once again the approach to the Somali crisis that Egypt has maintained consistently since the crisis broke out.”
2000-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4166 (2000) · source
“You have also done your utmost to ensure respect for the law. I would also note the excellent relations, based on mutual respect, between Egypt and Canada. Also, at an individual level, you yourself have excellent relations with your Egyptian counterpart.”
2000-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4130Resumption1 (2000) · source
“When the Council takes such a decision, it must also take into account the fact that, in considering each case individually, it is setting a precedent for other, similar cases. Double standards and selective application of such standards should be avoided. We also believe that human, technical and other resources must be made available so that any responsibilities given to peacekeeping operations can in fact be fulfilled. Perhaps I could just give one rather glaring example, that of the tragic events of Srebrenica, which should never have been allowed to recur. In concluding, I should like to thank you very much indeed, Mr. President, for all the work that you have done in promoting the activities of this Organization. Canadian diplomacy has always had an important role to play in connection with the United Nations.”
2000-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4130Resumption1 (2000) · source
“Protection for displaced persons is the responsibility of the Governments of the States represented in the United Nations as a whole. On the question of preventive diplomacy, fact-finding missions and so forth, we believe that the Council can carry out certain actions in order to prevent conflict and reach a peaceful settlement to a conflict. Chapter VI of the Charter is relevant here, and of course the consent of the State concerned is required, because these procedures are in fact voluntary. In connection with peacekeeping missions and operations, and how they are related to the protection of civilians in armed conflicts, the Security Council must be cautious in those cases where it gives a mandate to a peacekeeping operation to protect civilians against any dangers threatening them in armed conflicts.”
2000-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4130Resumption1 (2000) · source
“Another point I would like to make is that when dealing with humanitarian assistance to civilians in armed conflict, the international community has to distinguish between States within whose territories there are Governments that impose the law and other States where there is virtually no legitimate Government. The latter case is of course an exception to the rule. However, one must always proceed on the basis of consensus. Internally displaced persons do not constitute a totally separate category; they are civilians and international human rights laws and conventions provide appropriate protection for civilians. So we believe that we need to ensure respect for these conventions, rather than invent new norms to protect one particular category of civilians to the exclusion of others.”
2000-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4130Resumption1 (2000) · source
“Those States must then provide protection for the personnel providing the humanitarian assistance. We do not believe that any organization should take unilateral decisions to offer assistance to civilians in any particular State without obtaining the prior consent of the State concerned. There are provisions in the Charter on the sovereign equality, territorial integrity and political independence of States, and the Council has to take those principles into account when dealing with issues of security - for example, in the establishment of temporary secure zones or safe corridors for the delivery of humanitarian assistance.”
2000-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4130Resumption1 (2000) · source
“These points are contained in the guidelines contained in General Assembly resolution 46/182. Egypt believes that the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians in time of war should be carried out with the consent of or at the request of the countries concerned. There must be full respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of States and for their national legislation. Humanitarian assistance must not be used as a cover for action in support of the political interests of any particular State or group of States. When we speak of providing humanitarian assistance, we are thinking of programmes carried out under the auspices of the United Nations or the International Committee of the Red Cross. The consent of the States parties to the conflict is required.”
2000-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4130Resumption1 (2000) · source
“When the Council takes action vis-a-vis certain States that have violated international norms, it must respect the restrictions contained in the Charter. It must consider the situation, then report on the situation and determine whether the conflict in question is indeed a threat to international peace and security. Any internal dispute over a territory should not be regarded ipso facto as a threat to international peace and security. We support action by the Council to protect personnel providing humanitarian and international assistance. We believe they must be allowed to do their job. They must have access to areas of conflict. Organizations involved in the delivery of humanitarian assistance must also respect the principles of neutrality, impartiality and humanity.”
2000-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4130Resumption1 (2000) · source
“Failure to respect these laws can lead to threats to international peace and security. Certain ideas that have not yet achieved international consensus are being voiced in certain quarters. However, we believe we must continue to develop specific criteria to be used where the violation of legal norms leads to a threat to international peace and security. We must never use double standards or favour the political interests of certain Members of the United Nations, more specifically, of the permanent members of the Security Council. We must not favour their interests over those of the other Members of the United Nations as a whole. We believe the Council should take into account the entire issue of powers granted to it under the Charter.”
2000-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4130Resumption1 (2000) · source