YouSaid · the spoken record

Ahsan

lines on the record: 76
first: 2001-02-22
most recent: 2001-11-15
sittings or episodes: 12
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

“Through Ambassador Gambari's laudable efforts, the Security Council should continually seek to assess the situation on the ground and facilitate the search for a negotiated solution. Finally, we are happy to endorse the statement that the Council will adopt at the end of our meeting today.”
2001-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4418 (2001) · source
“My delegation would like to take this opportunity to recognize once again the excellent work by the United Nations Office in Angola with regard to capacity-building in the area of the administration of justice and protection and promotion of human rights. The process of peace and reconciliation in Angola, however, needs to be bolstered. While the primary responsibility for it lies with the Government and people of Angola, we agree with Minister Miranda that the international community should extend the necessary assistance. Ambassador Gambari, on behalf of the United Nations, has been pursuing consultations with authorities in Angola in order to redefine the role of the United Nations in helping the peace process. We believe innovative and courageous steps are needed to pull Angola out of the morass.”
2001-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4418 (2001) · source
“Reaching out to all citizens, meeting their basic needs and restoring their basic rights are priority areas on which the Government of Angola must focus. The creation of the Fund for Peace and National Reconciliation, the four-point peace plan, resettlement of the displaced population and, as we just heard from Minister Miranda, the meeting between the President of Angola and the chief of the Inter-Denominational Committee for Peace in Angola (COIEPA) are steps in the right direction. In determining more such steps, consultation with all political parties, civil society and church and community leaders is essential. This, we believe, will pave the way for free and fair elections that the Government intends to hold.”
2001-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4418 (2001) · source
“Here we wish to reiterate a particular point that concerns certain regional arrangements that UNITA officials have abused in continuing unrestricted movement across borders. We believe that the binding nature of relevant Council resolutions must be upheld and necessary adjustments should be made to those arrangements to ensure compliance. We attach particular importance to the tracking of UNITA's funds and financial assets, and we encourage the Mechanism to persist in their efforts in this regard. The key role of regional States has been established in ensuring full implementation of sanctions in the area of diamonds and arms. We strongly support the steps taken by the States of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and emphasize the need to assist them in their endeavour.”
2001-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4418 (2001) · source
“The Mechanism's recommendations in these areas have been before the Council for close to a year now, and we believe that the time has come to ask what the Council wants to do with them. An answer can be found only if a serious review of these recommendations is undertaken. We have therefore supported the idea of the review currently underway in the sanctions Committee. We believe that such a review will show that much more needs to be done in a number of areas covered in the sanctions. The latest report of the Mechanism also brought to the fore how extensively and effectively the UNITA representatives abroad have made use of the Internet, as personal contact among them has been made increasingly difficult by various restrictions, including on travel.”
2001-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4418 (2001) · source
“We deeply value in this regard the work done by the Monitoring Mechanism on Sanctions against UNITA, chaired by Ambassador Larrain. The Mechanism's pioneering work in monitoring sanctions implementation has actually established the concept that effective monitoring is a sine qua non for the implementation of sanctions. Given UNITA's pursuit of the military option, it is clear that the international community should do all it can to make things difficult for UNITA. Sanctions, therefore, must be implemented effectively. It is right that with increasing cooperation from States in the region, the focus of the sanctions should now be more on diamonds, arms, UNITA's financial assets and the activities of its representatives abroad.”
2001-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4418 (2001) · source
“We thank you, Madam, for convening this meeting on the situation in Angola. We wish to join previous speakers in welcoming the Foreign Minister of Angola once again to our midst and to thank him for his comprehensive statement. We also thank Ambassador Gambari for his briefing this afternoon. Only last month we had an opportunity to review the situation in Angola in the wake of gruesome attacks by UNITA on civilians. Since then, as Ambassador Gambari mentioned, reports of more fighting and of violence by UNITA have reached us. We have not seen any appreciable improvement in the situation. We therefore find it opportune to address this issue once again in the Council. Seen in its totality, however, the picture is not all that discouraging. The sanctions imposed on UNITA are taking effect.”
2001-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4418 (2001) · source
“Otherwise, the Council will not only lose the propaganda battle on the ground, but it will very soon also be seen to be hurting the innocent rather than those at whom sanctions are targeted. If the humanitarian situation is aggravated, it can definitely undermine international support for sanctions. We have already seen that humanitarian assistance to Liberia has dropped in recent months. It is important that humanitarian assistance be de-linked from the sanctions, and we call upon all donors to come forward in assisting the Liberian population in mitigating their suffering.”
2001-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4405 (2001) · source
“We have noted that the Panel gave a lot of consideration to coming up with recommendations that avoid hurting the Liberian economy in the long run, which we believe is not the objective of the Council. This matter has to be given further careful consideration by the Council and the Liberia committee. Finally, I wish to mention a more general point on the impact of sanctions on the Liberian population. We have been confronted with various statistics regarding the gravity of the impact. Putting aside the issue of their authenticity, it is clear that there will be a humanitarian impact. The Security Council should not only continue to monitor the impact of sanctions on Liberia; it must also come up with ways to mitigate the suffering of the Liberian population.”
2001-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4405 (2001) · source
“However, in the absence of an effective air traffic control system in the region and of primary, or even secondary, radar, much of the airspace of West Africa remains unmonitored. Planes can easily fly in and out without being detected. We can shut down the companies that are involved in arms trafficking at a given time; recommendations have been made in this regard. However, the traffickers will only have to open new front companies to be back in business. We have to find ways to help the countries of the region develop an effective air traffic control system to monitor their airspace so that the sanctions are not undermined. Thirdly, we are looking carefully at the recommendations concerning timber and the maritime registry.”
2001-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4405 (2001) · source
“We support the recommendation concerning a short extension of the mandate of the Panel of Experts by next April to May. Regarding the specific recommendations on the various issues, let me briefly mention four points. First, we are not very sure whether an extension of the arms embargo to the three Mano River Union countries will produce the result that the Council seeks. We value the recommendations concerning development of a standard, universal End User Certificate that addresses the demand side of the problem. However, we noted the lack of attention in the report of the need to have regulatory frameworks addressing the arms producing and exporting countries, which would look into the supply side of the problem as well. Secondly, on civil aviation, there are useful recommendations in the report.”
2001-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4405 (2001) · source
“Sanctions on Liberia are having the intended results in advancing the peace process in Sierra Leone. We believe that the Security Council's focus on Liberia is useful for sustaining the momentum towards peace in Sierra Leone and the region. We shall continue to support measures taken by the Council to attain that objective. Nothing short of full compliance with resolution 1343 (2001) is acceptable. We agree that all the recommendations made in the report merit careful consideration by the Security Council. Therefore, it may be useful to have an in- depth consideration of these recommendations by the Liberia committee after today's open debate. The work of the Panel of Experts proves the effectiveness of continuing the monitoring of the situation by independent and credible mechanisms.”
2001-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4405 (2001) · source
“Madam President, I welcome you to the presidency this month. We wish to thank Ambassador Richard Ryan and his very able team for their excellent work in the presidency last month. We also wish to recognize the presence of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Liberia at this important meeting. The Bangladesh delegation commends Ambassador Mahbubani for his detailed briefing on Friday to the Security Council and also for today's introductory remarks. We thank the Panel of Experts for the very detailed and substantive report, and Ambassador Ayafor of the Panel for today's presentation. We appreciate their efforts to maintain such a high standard of work. Mr. Ed Tsui of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, has presented a very useful account of the humanitarian situation in Liberia, and we thank him for this.”
2001-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4405 (2001) · source
“We encourage further constructive engagement between UNMIK and authorities in Belgrade. UNMIK's Belgrade Office has proved to be a valuable instrument in facilitating and regularizing contacts between UNMIK and authorities in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. We welcome the important steps taken by Belgrade in appointing Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic', who briefed the Council on 17 September, as head of the Joint Coordination Committee for Kosovo. We believe that intensification of contacts between UNMIK and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia would pave the way for better ethnic tolerance and accommodation in Kosovo. In closing, we would like to say that we endorse the statement that the Council will adopt at the conclusion of this meeting.”
2001-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4387 (2001) · source
“Strengthening security measures is particularly important during the pre- election period, in view of politically motivated criminal incidents and ethnically targeted violence. We call on all community leaders in Kosovo, particularly those from the major ethnic communities, to come out clearly against any kind of violence. We condemn recent attacks against members of the international security presence. This must stop if the international community is to be helpful in realizing the hopes and aspirations of the Kosovars. We support the efforts of UNMIK and KFOR to improve public security, including through the confiscation of weapons and the packaging of legislation to combat violence and to encourage the return of displaced persons. We call on the Kosovo Albanian leaders to extend active support to those efforts.”
2001-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4387 (2001) · source
“In parallel with voter registration and bolstering the security situation, UNMIK has a great responsibility in engaging different communities in the electoral process. We welcome UNMIK's efforts in reaching out to the Kosovo Serbs, particularly those living outside Kosovo, to inform them of the electoral system and of the importance of ethnic representation in the new Assembly and to lobby for their participation in both registration and elections. Here, I want to note with satisfaction the fact that 20 per cent of the representation in the new Assembly will be by women. The Mission can consider further ways of showing the Kosovo minority communities what benefits they can derive from engagement in community life and the electoral process. UNMIK has increased its efforts to strengthen law and order in Kosovo.”
2001-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4387 (2001) · source
“First, concerning the elections, the democratic process in Kosovo started with the holding of municipal elections there last year, which saw some success in achieving the representation of different communities in the interim institutions. However, the political engagement of the Kosovo Serbs has remained a challenge. We look forward to the November elections for further consolidation of the process. We are appreciative to the authorities in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and particularly to President Kostunica, for encouraging the Kosovo Serb community to participate fully in the civil registration for the upcoming elections. A full participation of all ethnic communities is the only option for a peaceful future in Kosovo based on the greater tolerance and mutual accommodation of different ethnic entities.”
2001-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4387 (2001) · source
“Let me join previous speakers in thanking Mr. Hans Haekkerup, Special Representative of the Secretary General, for presenting the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and for his informative briefing and update on its important aspects. The presentation was especially important as he touched upon many issues before the Kosovo-wide elections, scheduled to be held on 17 November, and provided details of the post- election transition scenario. I will focus briefly on a few points in the Secretary-General's report and the presentation of Mr. Haekkerup.”
2001-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4387 (2001) · source
“The options presented by the Special Representative regarding streamlining point to the need for the international community to remain engaged. These options should be examined seriously in order to give necessary direction. We must recognize that the success of multi-ethnicity in Bosnia and Herzegovina is crucial to that country and the region. The continued support of the Security Council is important for peace and reconciliation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the greater region.”
2001-09-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4379Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Thirdly, as to election laws, we welcome the recent adoption of the Election Law by the Bosnia and Herzegovina Parliament. This will not only satisfy a considerable need for an organizational structure for Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also demonstrate that the newly elected authorities are ready for compromise on essential matters. Finally, the international community should continue to support the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina in their efforts to achieve stability and self-sustainability. The international community has, however, invested a lot of effort and energy over the last six years and we sincerely believe that these efforts must continue. Failure to achieve the targets of institution-building and the rule of law will have repercussions throughout the region - a risk which we should make every effort to avoid.”
2001-09-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4379Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Without the cooperation of its authorities, the indictees cannot be brought to justice. Secondly, with respect to economic reforms, the increasingly dire economic situation, as exemplified by the recent downward re-evaluation of economic growth, is of some concern to us. The creation of a single economic space seems to have come to a standstill. Many short-sighted political considerations seem to have become dominant, culminating in the blockage of numerous laws, including European Union road-map issues, by one of the entities. Decisive and concrete steps towards the structural economic reforms so desperately needed to attract foreign investment and to create jobs must continue. This will need bold measures of reform to create investor confidence.”
2001-09-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4379Resumption1 (2001) · source
“These are very much part of the core agenda of the country. The judicial and prosecutorial appointment process should be improved to ensure that appointments are conducted according to objective and transparent criteria and based on proper professional qualifications and procedures. Both are indispensable if the rule of law is to be established uniformly across the Federation. We agree in this regard with the comments made by the Special Representative on the efforts of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding police andjudicial reform. We continue to believe that the Republika Srpska has an obligation to cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. There are indicted criminals freely moving around the entity.”
2001-09-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4379Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Bangladesh appreciates the role played by High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch in an exceedingly difficult and complex mission. His briefing this morning traced the difficulties faced and the challenges ahead. We also thank Mr. Jacques Paul Klein, Special Representative and Coordinator of United Nations Operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, for his comprehensive statement and for sharing with us his perception about the present situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The overall situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina remains stable. However, some issues need to be addressed. First, with respect to institution-building, the consolidation of institutions is one of the main priorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We have noted the progress and the difficulties in strengthening the state institutions and in creating an independent judiciary.”
2001-09-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4379Resumption1 (2001) · source
“The Government and the people of Bangladesh are shocked at the despicable, cowardly acts of terrorism committed yesterday in New York, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania. We are overwhelmed by the enormous toll in innocent human lives, destruction and damage in cities that these horrific attacks have taken. The Government of Bangladesh has condemned these attacks in the strongest terms in a statement released yesterday. On behalf on my Government, I express our deep condolences to the bereaved families and our sympathy for those affected by this catastrophe. These attacks represent an affront to humanity and a challenge to the international community. We must collectively face this challenge. Bangladesh reiterates its full support to international efforts in combating all acts of terrorism.”
2001-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4370 (2001) · source
“Lack of unanimity, however, should not be used as an argument for Council inaction on this issue. We would strongly urge all concerned to evaluate the situation from the standpoint of what is expected of the Council in such a situation. In our View, the Council has a responsibility to call for the immediate implementation of the Mitchell Committee recommendations and for the launching of a viable political process. We believe the current situation, if left to the momentum it has generated, is unlikely to lead to any fruitful outcome. The language of force must be replaced with the language of peace. The painful reality remains that no such possibility exists as long as the policy of systematic, unilateral military action is in place in contravention of norms of international humanitarian law and human rights.”
2001-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4357 (2001) · source
“In his conclusions, the Secretary-General argues in favour of a resumption of political activity leading towards a just settlement and of economic activity leading to an improvement of living conditions. That provides a useful perspective for action by the Council. We support the appeal to the international donor community to extend economic and financial assistance to the Palestinian people, and we acknowledge the crucial role it has been playing in laying the foundations for the viability and sustainability of the Palestinian economy. We call on Israel to reverse the policy of closures and economic blockades and to transfer without delay the revenue it is withholding from the Palestinian authority in contravention of signed agreements. The reality of the current situation demands concerted action in the Council.”
2001-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4357 (2001) · source
“What the Israeli policy has achieved by economically strangulating the Palestinian people and their economy has been well documented. The Secretary-General's report of 6 July 2001 to the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, under the item of the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly entitled "Strengthening of the coordination and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance", mentions, "severe internal and external closures [that have] resulted in large-scale losses to the Palestinian economy, wiping out more than three years of prior growth" (A/56/123-E/2001/97, para. 5). With a 50-per-cent income loss and with unemployment tripled, the impact on the livelihood of the Palestinian people has been devastating.”
2001-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4357 (2001) · source
“Despite the widespread violence that marked the ceasefire, we believe that it remains the point of departure for any meaningful action. However, along with the measures that the Tenet work plan outlines, there must also be commensurate action taken at the political level - actions that will affect the situation on the ground. The Israeli policy of collective punishment and targeted killings, economic blockades and deprivation and, most recently, measures such as occupation of the Orient House and other Palestinian institutions in and around occupied East Jerusalem are, in the first place, actions that must be reversed - not only because these are illegal, but also because these actions have contributed to the deterioration of an already fragile situation and aggravated the crisis of confidence between the parties.”
2001-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4357 (2001) · source
“We fully endorsed the stated objective of his visit, that is, to press the two parties to implement in their entirety the recommendations of the Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-finding Committee. We particularly welcome his efforts during his visit to nudge the parties towards an early resumption of negotiations. We feel that he correctly emphasized the need for political contact between the parties beyond security talks. He also recognized that the international community should work with them to get them into the logic of implementation of the Mitchell plan. We see in today's discussion the Council's responsibility, its mandate and also, in line with earlier resolutions, its obligations. We believe that the Council should call on the parties to desist from actions that contradict the spirit of the recent ceasefire agreement.”
2001-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4357 (2001) · source
“Both sides have agreed to the full and comprehensive implementation of the Committee's recommendations. The Council should do its part to help them achieve that objective by establishing a monitoring mechanism of an international character. Such a mechanism would have the advantage of impartially establishing the factors acting against ending the current cycle of violence, monitoring the efforts employed by parties in line with the recommendations and exerting, as a consequence, the much-needed calming influence on the situation. Bangladesh commends the initiatives of the Secretary-General in recent months, including his visit to the region in June, as a part of his ongoing efforts to find a political solution to the crisis based on relevant United Nations resolutions.”
2001-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4357 (2001) · source
“It is expected of the sponsors of these efforts to remain engaged, especially in view of the serious deterioration in the situation that threatens the agreed basis of the peace process. We are firmly of the view that the current volatile situation calls for a continued and more intimate involvement of the international community. Bangladesh strongly endorses, therefore, the idea of establishment of a monitoring mechanism to help the parties implement the recommendations of the Committee. There is no scope to confuse the purpose of this mechanism. Clearly, allegations and counter- allegations about the bona fides of one side or the other have gone on for long enough. The time has come for all to realize that the parties need help in achieving what they have failed to achieve so far on their own.”
2001-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4357 (2001) · source
“While the Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-finding Committee - the Mitchell Committee - report clearly enumerated recommendations for the parties, we have seen attempts to avoid their implementation. As has been done in various other forums recently, the Council should emphasize that the full implementation of the recommendations of the Fact- fmding Committee, without any preconditions, is of crucial importance at the present time. Unfortunately, recent events on the ground are not giving encouraging signs for achieving that objective. The international community has made valuable investment in the peace process, in particular following the Sharm el-Sheikh meeting. We recognize and welcome these efforts at mediation.”
2001-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4357 (2001) · source
“The gravity of the situation has been stressed by previous speakers today and has also been addressed by the international community in recent days. Apart from the human suffering that the continuing violence has caused, we are gravely concerned at the unravelling of what remains of the Middle East peace process. The dynamic of events, on the one hand, and the unilateral policy of applying military force, on the other, have unmistakably contributed to this unravelling. The cycle of violence has apparently resisted efforts to stop it. The reasons are not very far to seek. Maintaining the economic blockades and closures, destruction and other illegal measures in the occupied territories and continuation of the settlement activities are factors that stand in the way of ending violence. The Council should address this issue carefully.”
2001-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4357 (2001) · source
“The Security Council, however, is not considering this issue for the first time, nor is it acting in a void. In our opinion, the Council has and must play its legitimate role in the situation in the Middle East, including the question of Palestine. In its resolution 1322 (2000) of 7 October 2000, the Council called for the establishment of a mechanism of inquiry into the tragic events of the preceding few days. The Council invited the Secretary-General to continue to follow the situation and to keep the Council informed. It may be recalled that the Council also called for the immediate resumption of negotiations within the Middle East peace process on its agreed basis for achieving a final settlement of the question. These, in our view, are parameters that establish a continuing relevance for Council action on the issue.”
2001-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4357 (2001) · source
“We have been witnessing in the past few weeks a dangerously escalating situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and East Jerusalem. We are extremely concerned at the continuation of the alarmingly high level of violence taking place daily and causing numerous deaths and intolerable human suffering. Apart from its implications for the peace process, the situation represents a threat to peace and security in the region and warrants consideration by the Security Council in view of the Council's role in the maintenance of international peace and security. We therefore strongly supported the request made by the member States of the Organization of the Islamic Conference for holding an emergency meeting of the Council. We commend you, Mr. President, for responding to this call.”
2001-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4357 (2001) · source
“While the group continues its deliberations- and we are happy to note that it is doing so in close consultation with the local population - we believe that there is a need to strike a balance between international and local staff, not sacrificing efficiency. We fully agree that the enormous investment made by the international community in East Timor should be protected. It is encouraging to note the good progress made so far; however, much more is required to be done to run the country after independence. We fully appreciate the need for an international peacekeeping presence in East Timor beyond independence and believe that decisions will have to be taken on the merits of the unfolding situation. More and more, the affairs of the territory are going to be in the hands of the East Timorese.”
2001-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4321 (2001) · source
“With regard to the recent sentencing in the Atambua incident, we, like Mr. Ramos-Horta, hope that we have not yet heard the last of it. We welcome the preparatory steps taken towards the holding of elections on 30 August this year. In this regard, we would like to ask Mr. Annabi about the role that even volunteers are understood to be playing in assisting UNTAET. They could be undertaking other tasks in aid of UNTAET in a cost-effective way, in addition to monitoring elections. As regards the post-independence scenario, we welcome the setting-up by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the working group on post- UNTAET planning and the integrated mission task force.”
2001-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4321 (2001) · source
“On the other hand, very important steps have also been taken by the East Timorese side in the political arena - I am referring to the intention that we heard about today to disband the National Council of East Timorese Resistance and have all political parties sign up to certain principles to be followed in their future endeavours. We listened carefully to the points made by both Mr. Gusmao and Mr. Ramos-Horta on justice and reconciliation. We fully understand their sentiments. Clearly, much more needs to be done to ensure that there is justice which is seen and accepted as fair. Justice should pave the path towards reconciliation, and in reconciliation both Indonesia and East Timor have an abiding, long-term interest. Cooperation between the UNTAET serious crimes unit and the authorities of Indonesia must be reinforced.”
2001-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4321 (2001) · source
“The recent increase in the number of East Timorese students studying in Indonesian institutions augurs well for meaningful and mutually beneficial relations between the two societies. We are happy to learn about the campaign for the dissemination of information to refugees on the security and political situation in East Timor. We view the decision to send a security assessment mission to West Timor as a constructive one. In this regard, we hope that the Government of Indonesia will extend full cooperation to the team and take steps that will facilitate an outcome conducive to the return of humanitarian personnel. Meanwhile, security in the camps must be improved through steps that the Government of Indonesia can take. The great reduction in number of refugee returns recently is of concern to my delegation.”
2001-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4321 (2001) · source
“We want to acknowledge the progress made in the recent round of talks between the Government of Indonesia, the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) and the East Timor Transitional Administration. On the registration of East Timorese refugees in the camps, we note the resolve to clarify issues relating to citizenship as a consequence of the choice to be made by them. We also welcome the idea of creating a special fund for the payment of pensions to former Indonesian employees, and its inclusion in the joint appeal for the comprehensive resolution of the situation of East Timorese refugees, to be launched by the United Nations and the Government of Indonesia. Positive discussion has also taken place on the establishment of an air link and postal services between Indonesia and East Timor.”
2001-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4321 (2001) · source
“My delegation welcomes the interim report of the Secretary-General and the additional information provided by Mr. Annabi this morning. We also welcome to the Council Mr. Xanana Gusmao, President of the National Council of Timorese Resistance, and Mr. Ramos-Horta. We greatly value their presence and the statements that they made today. We are at a point at which the territory is poised to embark on the path to independence. The stage for that event has been set by the promulgation of the regulation on the election of the Constituent Assembly and the process of civil registration, which is under way. Today's debate provides us with an opportunity to take stock of the situation regarding some unresolved issues, as well as those issues that might affect the course of events leading towards independence.”
2001-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4321 (2001) · source
“Today's briefings have made it clear that enhanced focus on post-conflict reconstruction and economic regeneration is absolutely vital. The United Nations system and the international community should support long-term development in Sierra Leone and assist the Government in gradually expanding its administration and services throughout Sierra Leone and in creating opportunities for former combatants to find alternate sources of livelihood. Before concluding, we would like to note that given the importance of a subregional approach, we would favour the recommendation to set up a United Nations office in West Africa. We will be open to further discussion of this matter.”
2001-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4319 (2001) · source
“We are encouraged by the information regarding the release of children abducted by the RUF. We, too, place great stress on ending the plight of girls who were abducted and whose human rights were violated. We also see hope in the role of the Mano River Union's Women's Peace Network in the Union's countries and we call for assistance for their efforts. The human rights situation in the region continues to concern us. The recent fighting in the border areas claimed civilian casualties and displaced thousands. All parties must abide by international humanitarian and human rights law and end abuses, including killings and abductions of civilians in areas affected by fighting. In this situation, we note with satisfaction the opening of the human rights office in Kenema.”
2001-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4319 (2001) · source
“We particularly emphasize the need to address the issue of reintegrating child combatants with enough care. We are concerned about the humanitarian situation in the region. We appreciate that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) continues to help trapped refugees, especially those in the "parrot's beak" region of south- east Guinea, by transferring them from insecure border areas to camps in the interior. It is also useful that the capacity of the new sites has regularly increased to keep up with the pace of the relocation exercise. We fully support the two-track approach taken by UNHCR with regard to refugees in Guinea, as Ms. McAskie has mentioned. We recognize that the response to consolidated appeals has to be greatly improved.”
2001-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4319 (2001) · source
“During the briefings made today we were also reminded of the importance of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) process in sustaining peace and security. We cannot overemphasize the role of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants. Specific actions need to be taken, both by the countries concerned and by donors, to achieve successful DDR. The Sierra Leone Government in particular has to take decisions to ensure the success of the DDR programme and has to be in a position to extend its authority as the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) withdraws from areas it dominates. At the same time, donors must assist the Government in that regard, as that will be critical to the Government's ability to provide former fighters with alternate livelihoods.”
2001-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4319 (2001) · source
“We greatly appreciate the role played by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its Chairman, President Konare of Mali, in promoting peace and stability in the region, as well as the role it played in the recent meeting in Abuja. We support the proposal of ECOWAS to deploy international monitors in the border region and we call on the United Nations and donors to support that initiative by providing ECOWAS with the necessary financial resources and technical assistance. Despite the recent efforts of the Abuja Summit and the formation of the mediation committee, we regret to note that the leaders of the three countries concerned have so far failed to meet.”
2001-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4319 (2001) · source
“We note the enormity of the tasks that the Government of Sierra Leone has ahead of it in that regard. That has been referred to in all three of today's briefings. Clearly, the Government of Sierra Leone needs to be assisted in accomplishing those tasks. The countries of the Mano River Union also need to remain engaged in order to achieve sustainable peace in the region. All countries in the region should take action to prevent armed individuals and groups from using their territory to prepare and commit attacks on neighbouring countries and refrain from any action that might contribute to further destabilization of the situation on their borders, as the Security Council demanded in resolution 1343 (2001) of7 March.”
2001-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4319 (2001) · source
“On Sierra Leone we note that while endorsing the results of the Abuja ceasefire review Meeting of 2 May, RUF agreed to withdraw all of its combatants from Kambia, release at least 200 child soldiers by 26 May and return all weapons and equipment seized from the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) by 30 May. We have to be watchful that RUF makes good on this promise because their past record is not very straight. We are concerned that fighting continues in the border areas, destabilizing the entire region. Various armed groups are receiving support and continuing to fight. This has to stop. We are also concerned that reports of ceasefire violations are continuing. We are satisfied that UNAMSIL continues to be deployed in areas of Sierra Leone that had been dominated by the rebels.”
2001-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4319 (2001) · source
“Thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting. We, too, would like to express appreciation for the three briefings today by Under-Secretary-General Guehenno, Assistant Secretary-General Fall and the Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Ms. McAskie, which complement each other and highlight the essential contours of the problems. We acknowledge with satisfaction the excellent report on the Inter-Agency Mission led by Mr. Fall. We agree that without an integrated region-wide approach to the problems in the Mano River Union countries, sustainable peace and economic and social development cannot be achieved. Dialogue is essential to this process. At the same time we think the military pressure, particularly on the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), has to be continued to achieve the ultimate objective of sustainable peace in the region.”
2001-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4319 (2001) · source
“We would have liked to hear Mr. Annabi brief us on this. What is the current situation? What is the employment rate now? What new projects have been undertaken in the last few months to improve the rate of employment? We think the relationship between the employment situation and the civil disturbances is quite clear, and we have to address that problem as best we can. To conclude, I would also like to ask the Secretariat to brief us in due course on the second round of Timorese talks, which is perhaps now taking place with Australia in Melbourne. Some of the points, as you mentioned, Mr. President, can also be covered in the forthcoming report of the Secretary-General.”
2001-04-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4308 (2001) · source