YouSaid · the spoken record

Adechi

lines on the record: 439
first: 2002-05-22
most recent: 2005-04-26
sittings or episodes: 65
sources: un-security-council

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

“The proliferation and illicit spread of small arms, as well as the recruitment and use of child soldiers, is contributing to the construction of that horrendous architecture, which the Security Council must act to dismantle. It must generate the necessary momentum to promote a process that will lead to lasting peace, through the consolidation of the truce we are witnessing today and of confidence and dialogue. The dynamic of a lasting peace requires strengthening the capacity of ECOWAS to restore peace and stability in the subregion, so that it might be in a position to fulfil its initial mandate - to promote the development and economic integration of West Africa and to enable the subregion to make a positive contribution to the input that West Africa must provide to the building of the New Partnership for Africa's Development.”
2004-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4899 (2004) · source
“The result is a weakening of the capacity of States to deal with the contradictions inherent in any society and a loss of initiative and of ownership by the State of its development policy. Furthermore, the State will gradually lose its ability to ensure respect for law and order and to offer its citizens basic social services. As a result, we are witnessing the weakening, and sometimes the loss of the sense of belonging on the part of impoverished and marginalized communities. This is fertile ground for warlords to recruit soldiers, resulting in the exacerbation of differences and ethnic or religious rivalries in the context of competition for limited resources and for power, and of the illegal exploitation of resources.”
2004-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4899 (2004) · source
“At the historical level, I would like to note the short period of time that has been available for building the nation-State in the post-colonial period, as well as the reduction in strategic importance as a result of the end of the cold war. Internally, there has been a lack of democracy and bad governance, which favour the survival of the regime at the expense of the survival of the population, and institutional security at the expense of human security, as well as political, economic and social exclusion; increased long-term human rights violations; the absence of justice; and the poor management of public affairs. At the external level, the construction of the nation-State in West Africa has been halted because of the structural and economic reform that has been imposed upon it.”
2004-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4899 (2004) · source
“Although we have made some progress, we have not eradicated malaria, which has now taken a back seat to HIV/AIDS as a result of massive population movements, serial rape and the dismantling of the health infrastructure, with one conflict leading to another and with one epidemiological or natural disaster after another. This is a matter of urgency. African mythology is replete with references to crossroads, which are represented as very dangerous places - places where all paths come together from surrounding areas, where each person might meet up with an enemy, but also where a decision must be made as to which path to take. The enemies of West Africa are well known. They are multifaceted, because such enmities have historical, internal and external causes. I would like to refer to just a few of them.”
2004-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4899 (2004) · source
“We take note with satisfaction of the Secretary-General's commitment to propose, in the near future, steps to implement his recommendations. But we should nonetheless underline the fact that West Africa is at a crossroads. We are focusing our comments today on cross-cutting questions relating to peace and security in the subregion, in particular the difficulties faced by the countries of the subregion as viewed by the subregion itself - difficulties that require coordinated Council action, as well as the coordination of the Council's activities with those of the Economic and Social Council. Essentially, tension must be defused in hotspots and the cycle of violence must be slowed or stopped, despite the continued existence of all of the factors that originally led to this disastrous situation.”
2004-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4899 (2004) · source
“They place the Security Council in a better light and strengthen the Secretary-General's initiatives in a part of the world where solidarity is still a meaningful concept that forms the cornerstone of human security. We hope, therefore, that these visits will continue, and that the missions will, to the greatest extent possible, be more inclusive. In deciding to send a mission to West Africa, the Council had a clear goal: to find ways and means to consolidate the peace process in the subregion with a view to preventing the escalation and regionalization of the conflicts. Clearly, some progress has been made, although the situation remains fragile. We welcome the coordination initiatives being undertaken by Mr. Ould-Abdallah in the subregion, through the United Nations Office for West Africa.”
2004-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4899 (2004) · source
“Here, I would like to emphasize how much those visits give rise to, and further reinforce, among the peoples of the region, a sense that the Council is taking responsibility for managing the crises that are within its purview. Indeed, how many people in Sassandra, on the outskirts of Monrovia or in what was not so long ago the hell of Kenema, have the slightest idea that the Security Council devotes more than half of its time to the threat to international peace and security represented by the spiral of violence and destruction that they face on a daily basis? At a time when multilateralism is being questioned and thrown into doubt and the Council sometimes seems to be a relic of the past, such visits are beneficial to the United Nations.”
2004-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4899 (2004) · source
“Mr. Adechi (Benin) (spoke in French): Our debate today is a further demonstration of the attention being accorded by the Council to the situation in Africa in general - and West Africa in particular, which remains one of its major concerns. We took note of Mr. Tuliameni Kalomoh's introduction of the progress report of the Secretary- General on the recommendations of the Security Council mission to West Africa (S/2003/ll47), for which we thank him. We also welcome the initiative to enable Council members to gain a greater understanding of the facts on the ground and to learn about aspects that the report does not convey - not because it attempts to mask such facts, but simply because the written word is not capable of reflecting them.”
2004-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4899 (2004) · source
“Such an approach would benefit affected children and the international community as a whole, because it would make it possible to facilitate the return of children to normal civilian life and to replace the culture of violence inculcated in their minds with a culture of peace. In conclusion, my delegation believes it is important that today's discussion lead to concrete measures on the part of the Security Council to implement the Secretary-General's recommendations and the relevant proposals made during this open meeting. In that respect, my delegation is prepared to contribute in the coming days to the formulation and adoption of the draft resolution initiated by the French delegation.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“We are grateful to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for the important work it has done to assist children everywhere there is a need. We also welcome the interest non-governmental organizations have shown in protecting children in conflicts. It is also important for peacekeeping operations authorized by the Security Council to be planned in a way that provides a framework for the recovery of war- affected children. From that point of view, responding to the needs of those children should be an essential component of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“Another phenomenon that has emerged alongside the violation of the rights of children is the illegal exploitation of natural resources, an area in which children are being used in horrendous conditions - as is well known - and are subjected to a multitude of abuses. The resources illicitly procured in this manner fuel and indefinitely prolong conflicts. The Security Council needs the means to put an end to those practices and to enable the people of the countries concerned to exploit their own natural resources peacefully in order to promote their economic and social development under the political regime of their choice. My delegation supports all the efforts that that have and could be made in this area. We hope that the relevant bodies of the United Nations system will act immediately on the ground.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“In that respect, my delegation views as very well founded the identification of the link between violations of the rights of children and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, landmines and unexploded ordinance. It is obvious that the progress that could be made in combating the proliferation of such weapons could have a real impact on war-affected children. It is therefore a matter of urgency that the differences of view preventing the international community from effectively waging a campaign against those scourges be overcome. The ease with which non-State armed groups acquire weapons is completely incomprehensible and calls for action by the Security Council, which has the responsibility of maintaining international peace and security.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“As did the Secretary-General, my delegation underlines the initiatives taken by the Economic Community of West African States, in particular the adoption in 2000 of the Accra Declaration and Plan of Action on War-Affected Children and the measures subsequently taken in the context of the implementation of those documents. Nevertheless, the problem remains crucial in the subregion of West Africa, which requires active mobilization by the international community to end the recruitment of child soldiers, which, unfortunately, continues. My delegation believes that in order to be effective the campaign against the abuses and crimes of war of which conflict-affected children are victims, must be waged taking into consideration all factors that incite those abuses.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“In that respect, we stress the obligation on belligerents to scrupulously abide by the Geneva Conventions on international humanitarian law and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is good that pursuant to its resolutions in this area, the Security Council now has a list of groups and other entities that recruit children and use them in conflicts. It is now up to the Security Council to take bold deterrent measures to put an end to the impunity enjoyed by those guilty of crimes against children. Here, resolutions 1379 (2001) and 1460 (2003) provide a good starting point. If the Security Council announced stricter measures, it would add credibility to efforts in the area of prevention and would make them more effective.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“We thank the Secretary-General for his report (S/2003/1053) of 10 November 2003 addressed to the Security Council and the General Assembly pursuant to resolution 1460 (2003). The report fully analyses the question of children in armed conflict. The assessment of the progress made in protection is particularly important as a sign of the international community's awareness of the serious nature of the problem and of the need to redouble its efforts to eradicate the violence perpetrated against children. It is clear from this exhaustive report that the mechanisms for protecting children in conflicts have been strengthened in recent years by new elements at the international, regional and local levels.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“Mr. Adechi (Benin) (spoke in French): My delegation welcomes you, Madam, and expresses its satisfaction at seeing you preside over the Council's work. And we associate ourselves with the thanks addressed to you for organizing this open Security Council meeting on children and armed conflict. Today's debate demonstrates the Security Council's concern about the situation of children in countries in conflict, particularly the situation of child soldiers torn from their communities by warlords who use drugs and psychological and physical violence to turn them into fierce soldiers serving causes of which they know nothing. To stay within the five minutes given to members for their statements, I shall confine myself to just some of our concerns. The full text of my statement will be made available to delegations.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“That consideration of the regional dimension of conflicts should enable the strengthening of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes in the framework of the peacekeeping operation mandates. Security Council debates on children and armed conflict and on post-conflict situations should enable us further to examine these questions. At this stage, we will limit ourselves to underlining the need for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes to consider child soldiers in an appropriate manner, taking their specific needs into account.”
2004-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4896 (2004) · source
“In that regard, the Security Council must be aware of all the consequences of the triangular relationship among the exploitation of natural resources, the financing of conflicts and the circulation of small arms, and, as a result, should put an end to this trafficking, which fuels wars. My delegation also wishes to recall the important March 2003 workshop on the proliferation of small arms and light weapons and mercenary activities in West Africa, which made clear the relationships among mercenary activities, the illegal trafficking of small arms and the exploitation of resources in order to finance belligerents. We welcome the fact that consideration of the regional dimension of African conflicts, particularly in West Africa, has become a widely shared concern.”
2004-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4896 (2004) · source
“The Council could further consider innovative ways to ensure greater compliance with embargoes on small arms and sanctions that could be imposed, including the possibility of putting an end to the supply of ammunition because, without ammunition, all weapons are harmless. United Nations support for regional moratoriums, such as that agreed by the countries of the Economic Community of West African States, can help overcome the proliferation of small arms. Here, my delegation would like to underline the importance of the support the United Nations provides for the Programme for Coordination and Assistance for Security and Development in West Africa. It is crucial to monitor stocks of small arms and their transfer to non-State actors.”
2004-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4896 (2004) · source
“My delegation believes that the issue of trafficking and that of the illicit brokering in small arms are components of a single problem. Closer cooperation among States and the creation of national registers are therefore essential for the rigorous regulation of this activity. It is opportune to recall the 31 October 2002 presidential statement of the Security Council (S/PRST/2002/30), which, among other things, underlines the need to study the feasibility of developing an end-user certificate system. The Secretariat could be involved in the framework of support for the efforts of the working group established by the General Assembly. The Security Council, for its part, could further consider the means to ensure better compliance with embargoes and sanctions.”
2004-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4896 (2004) · source
“It is encouraging to note that the results of the work of the United Nations Group of Governmental Experts have led the General Assembly to create a working group tasked with negotiating an international instrument to identify and trace, in a timely and reliable manner, illicit small arms and light weapons. This should strengthen the capacity of States to cooperate in identifying and monitoring small arms in a reliable manner. We hope that this work will make progress; for our part, we intend to contribute actively to that work. The phenomenon of the illegal trafficking of small arms persists because the monitoring mechanisms are easily eluded and because the exchange of information is inadequate. In that regard, we hope that the results of the feasibility study on Interpol's Weapons and Explosives Tracking System will soon be made known.”
2004-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4896 (2004) · source
“Internal conflicts increasingly involve non-State armed groups; this complicates the issue of humanitarian action and the protection of human rights. One can thus identify a long list of the harmful consequences of the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons. They provide the reasons justifying the mobilization of the international community and the United Nations and the particular attention that the Security Council devotes to this problem. I take this opportunity to thank the Secretary- General for his report (S/2003/12l7), which takes stock of the initiatives undertaken. I would like to express to the Secretary-General my delegation's great appreciation for the progress made in the implementation of the recommendations contained in his previous report (S/2002/1053).”
2004-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4896 (2004) · source
“In that context, other particularly worrisome phenomena have arisen: child soldiers, the illegal exploitation of the natural resources of crisis-stricken countries and the emergence of a self-sustaining war economy that makes it difficult to restore peace. The illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons constitutes a grave challenge for crisis- stricken countries and the regions to which they belong. Porous borders and weak security and monitoring structures bring the risk of widespread destabilization in certain subregions of Africa. That phenomenon is particularly evident in West Africa. The impact on the protection of human rights and respect for international humanitarian law is particularly devastating for civilian populations, notably the most vulnerable groups: women, children and the elderly.”
2004-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4896 (2004) · source
“Mr. Adechi (Benin) (spoke in French): The illegal circulation of small arms across national borders, their abundant availability in certain regions of the world and their improper use are at the root of the prolongation of many civil wars and internal armed conflicts and thus thwart efforts to promote economic and social development. The situation is particularly worrisome in Africa because the illegal circulation of arms has facilitated and encouraged recourse to force to settle internal political crises, to the detriment of dialogue and negotiation. As well, once conflicts have erupted, the illegal trafficking of light weapons helps exacerbate them.”
2004-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4896 (2004) · source
“We also encourage joint efforts and coordination between the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999), so that the threat posed by Al Qaeda and the Taliban as well as their associates might be better matched with national measures to combat terrorism. In conclusion, my delegation would like to commend you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month.”
2004-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4892 (2004) · source
“For that reason, the fight against terrorism, given its transnational character, requires increased international cooperation. It is also important to study the approaches to be taken and the means to be used in the process of involving all States more effectively in the long-term fight against the threat posed by the members of Al Qaeda and the Taliban. In order to be effective, this struggle must be a balanced one that should take into account the social realities of each country and its technical and human capacities. Your report, Sir, has shown, in a relevant manner, the difficulties that States have encountered. Your visits and those of the Monitoring Group are therefore important in enhancing and promoting dialogue with States, because terrorism is a progressive process. In this regard, we support the work done by the Committee.”
2004-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4892 (2004) · source
“Mr. Adechi (Benin) (spoke in French): Mr. President, my delegation would like to express its deep appreciation for the tireless efforts you have been making in chairing the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999) with a view to waging an effective and efficient fight against the threat posed by the Al Qaeda network and the Taliban. In spite of the difficulties encountered, the progress achieved is clear evidence of the political will of States to combat terrorism with the necessary resolve, given the fact that this is one of the major challenges facing the international community at the beginning of this millennium. Terrorism is so deeply shocking to people, to human relations and to relations among States that no country can remain indifferent to it, because it can strike anywhere, indiscriminately.”
2004-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4892 (2004) · source
“We are happy to note that the Security Council is taking small steps in that direction. The dialogue held a few weeks ago between the civil society of Kisangani, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Security Council delegation was an encouraging illustration of this. I would therefore encourage the Council to commit itself resolutely to that approach. I cannot conclude without commending the engagement and perseverance of Ambassador Koonjul of Mauritius, who has given body and soul to the Working Group. I also wish to express our gratitude to the other members of the Council for their ongoing support for this project, a timely response to the concerns of Africa in the prevention and resolution of conflicts.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538 (2002) · source
“With respect to conflict settlement, and in particular the practice of establishing so-called groups of friends, I would note that, from Africa's point of View, we observe that only external friends are summoned, while no account is taken of the many internal friends - indigenous peoples who have no choice but to love their country. My point is that the Working Group should consider ways to enable existing traditional mechanisms, specific to each country, to help prevent conflicts or their re-emergence. This could include recourse to groups of elders, traditional or religious leaders and women's movements. Such a commitment from civil society in its broadest embodiment could help to mobilize national or subregional energies to promote peace and to re-establish trust and a sense of belonging.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538 (2002) · source
“Reliable electoral roles require proper census- taking, reliable and operational information about civil status, credible inscription measures for electoral roles and, finally, an independent election monitoring structure. That is what is at stake, requiring considerable financial and logistical resources and thus increased and commensurate logistical and financial capacity. The Working Group might also take up this issue. I take this opportunity to indicate that Benin, currently chairing the follow-up committee on the Fourth International Conference of the New or Restored Democracies, plans to convene an African workshop or colloquium to consider this issue and to draw up an inventory of best practices and successful experience on this subject. Through you, Sir, I urge all people of good will to assist Benin in convening that meeting.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538 (2002) · source
“In Africa today, voters, through their political parties and civil society organizations and thanks to new communications technologies - particularly the mobile phone and rural radio stations - are largely able to observe elections and to assess their legitimacy. Furthermore, and thanks to African non-governmental organizations, the practice of using observers from other regions of Africa has gained considerable ground. On the other hand, the weak link in the chain of the electoral process is and will remain the establishment of reliable and permanent electoral roles. Permanence in this context means a simple updating rather than a complete recreation of such lists, in which there is a possibility of manipulation every time an election is held. Therein lie the sources of contested elections that can lead to conflicts.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538 (2002) · source
“On the issue of institutional dialogue, it should rely greater on operational early warning and preventive diplomacy mechanisms of the Organization of African Unity and regional African organizations. This practice would help perpetuate such dialogue and strengthen the synergy between the Council, representatives of the Secretary-General in the field and African organizations concerned. Ultimately, we might contemplate an identical assessment or, at the very least, a close reading of crisis situations by the aforementioned stakeholders. In all cases, better account could be taken of what precisely is at stake, providing better opportunities to reduce tensions and earning greater credibility for the Council. As to election monitoring, the relevance of the type of intervention we have seen to our objectives needs to be redefined.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538 (2002) · source
“As a result, civilians, and sometimes even United Nations personnel, are used as shields and bargaining chips. We believe that the ad hoc Working Group, because of its informal nature and flexible functioning, could help bring about innovation, adaptability to unusual situations or experiment with exploratory measures in the new type of intervention undertaken by the Council. Generally speaking, the Working Group could focus greater attention on prevention in its programme of work. The Council, in its formal mode, has been rather reactive in this respect. With respect to conflict prevention, the Working Group could in particular discuss the following points.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538 (2002) · source
“Accordingly, we very much hope that the Working Group will develop close and regular cooperation with the Ad Hoc Advisory Group of the Economic and Social Council on African Countries Emerging from Conflict in order to make the peace dividend tangible for Africans and to ensure that the economic situation of those countries will not pose a threat to peace or exacerbate and ultimately destabilize security conditions. The nature of the Security Council's involvement in Africa is becoming complex. It is no longer confined to classic peacekeeping because the character and consequences of conflicts have prompted the Council to integrate civilian and police components into its operations. With the break-up of institutions, we are seeing the emergence of non-State actors.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538 (2002) · source
“Therefore, the Security Council needs to better coordinate its African activities with those of the Economic and Social Council in order to mobilize international political support for peace-building in Africa. Mindful of the fact that it has the primary responsibility for conflict prevention and settlement in Africa, and in its desire to facilitate the resolution of such conflicts, our continental organization - the Organization of African Unity (OAU) - has sought to redynamize its Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution. The OAU needs its implementation of the outcome of this restructuring to be accompanied by the establishment of closer and better coordinated cooperation and by the contribution ofthe Working Group, so that the Council can be better aware of how Africa has evaluated conflict situations.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538 (2002) · source
“Our support, therefore, will be constant as long as the ad hoc Working Group helps to strengthen the link and the cohesion between the volume of activities that the Council devotes to Africa and the effective implementation ofits decisions. Upon analysis, the African Group believes that the programme of work presented to us falls within collective efforts to examine and address comprehensively the question of conflict prevention and resolution. We therefore support the programme of work. We also support the strengthening of interaction between the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council in order to consolidate peace through development.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538 (2002) · source
“In that initiative, the African Group would like to see a sign of the Council's real and lasting commitment to put an end to the cycle of violence in Africa and to accord equal treatment to all humanitarian crises without exception. The United Nations has placed the individual at the centre of its concerns and considers the individual as the ultimate purpose of its work. Since the Council devotes more than 60 per cent of its deliberations to Africa, the Working Group's mandate should contribute to ensuring that the peace dividend for the benefit of African people reflects that same proportion. Our support for the ad hoc Working Group's programme of work is therefore commensurate with the added value generated in the Council's real commitment to Africa.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538 (2002) · source
“Having placed Africa at the heart of its millennium concerns, the United Nations rightly sought to focus the international community's attention on that continent, which, despite the commendable efforts and the numerous reforms it has undertaken over approximately the past 10 years, has had a hard time finding its way on the path of development. Among the reasons that explain that situation is the persistence of wars and conflicts. The establishment of peace, security and stability is, therefore, a prerequisite for the economic development ofthe African continent. We welcome the Council's opportune initiative to establish an ad hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538 (2002) · source
“Mr. Adechi (Benin) (spoke in French): On behalf of the African Group, I should like to thank you, Mr. President, for having taken the initiative of organizing this second public debate relating to the Security Council's ad hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa and for having invited non-members of the Council to participate. The African Group is particularly happy to see you presiding over the Council's work. Your presence illustrates once again your country's commitment to peace, security and development in Africa. We also welcome the presence of Mr. Ibrahima Fall, who will soon assume his duties as Assistant Secretary-General in charge of the United Nations Office in West Africa, in Dakar.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538 (2002) · source