YouSaid · the spoken record

Al-Shara'

lines on the record
74
first
1996-09-27
most recent
2005-10-31
sittings or episodes
6
sources
un-security-council

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  1. “In its final declaration, the summit called for a peaceful settlement to the Iraqi crisis and stressed the need to allow the inspectors more time to finish their work. The participants stressed the importance of the role of the United Nations and international legitimacy, along with the need to avoid double standards. On 1 March, the regular Arab summit was held in Sharm el-Sheikh. In serving as an emergency session, the summit adopted its first decision expressing its categorical opposition to a strike against Iraq. The summit stressed the need to give the inspectors sufficient time to fulfil their mandate and underlined the Security Council's responsibility in protecting the Iraqi people and in preserving Iraq's independence, unity and territorial integrity.”

    2003-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4714 (2003) · source

  2. “The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece attended that meeting in his capacity as holder of the current presidency of the European Union, as did representatives of the European Commission. All the participants expressed their opposition to war and stressed the need for a peaceful solution to the Iraqi crisis in implementation of resolution 1441 (2002). France, Russia, China and Germany have repeatedly and most clearly stressed that there is an alternative to war. Those countries are confident that the elimination of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction can be achieved by peaceful means if inspections are enhanced and the inspectors are allowed freely to pursue their tasks. On 25 February, the Non-Aligned Movement held its summit in Kuala Lumpur, which was attended by representatives of 116 States.”

    2003-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4714 (2003) · source

  3. “The Security Council met in this Chamber three weeks ago to discuss the question of Iraq. That was only a short while ago, yet the rapid and important developments that have taken place since then in the Middle East should be recalled briefly if only because of their grave impact not only on the region, but perhaps on the future of international relations. The day after our meeting here on 14 February, millions of people in more than 2,000 cities around the world took to the streets to say no to war against Iraq. This phenomenon was unprecedented in history. On the day that followed those demonstrations, the Arab ministers for foreign affairs held an emergency meeting in Cairo.”

    2003-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4714 (2003) · source

  4. “Mr. Al-Shara' (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): Allow me at the outset to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for this month. I also welcome the presence in the Chamber of the members of an Arab committee established at the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit of the League of Arab States held six days ago. The committee membership includes the Kingdom of Bahrain in its capacity as current Chairman of the Arab Summit, the Republic of Lebanon as former Chairman of the Arab Summit and the Republic of Tunisia as the next Chairman of the Arab Summit, as agreed at the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit. The committee also includes Syria, Egypt and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States. During its short visit to New York, this Arab committee will be able to meet with some members of the Security Council.”

    2003-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4714 (2003) · source

  5. “It would also lead to activation of paragraph 14 of that resolution, which would designate the Middle East as a zone free from all weapons of mass destruction: nuclear, biological-bacteriological and chemical, without excepting any State, including Israel, which alone has acquired all of those lethal weapons. In conclusion, this is truly a historic moment. War in the twenty-first century is not a game. It has become a tragedy condemned by history. Let us work for peace, because we can achieve peace if we pursue it in good faith, with strong determination and with the political will. These requirements are readily available to those who are faithful to the United Nations Charter, a charter which, when all is said and done, remains the sole authority capable of maintaining world peace and security.”

    2003-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4707 (2003) · source

  6. “We have considered the French proposal to strengthen the work of the inspectors. The inspections have brought considerable achievements that could not be attained by military force. Therefore, we support the French ideas because they provide an alternative to war. They constitute a basis for strengthening the inspections regime in order to enable it to complete as soon as possible the task entrusted to it. The fulfilment of this task will immediately lead to the lifting, through appropriate measures, of the sanctions imposed on Iraq under Security Council resolution 687 (1990).”

    2003-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4707 (2003) · source

  7. “In these circumstances, we believe that there is no alternative to respecting the Charter of the United Nations and using its institutions to safeguard world peace, security and prosperity, instead of poising the world on the edge of a volcano for many long months. The efforts of prominent members of the Security Council to stress the need to pursue a peaceful solution in implementing Security Council resolution 1441 (2002) give us hope that the world order is still in good shape. In that context, we recognize the French, German, Russian and Chinese efforts, as well as those of the majority of other members of the Security Council, that are fully devoted to the promotion of the United Nations, its Charter and its central role. We should all appreciate those efforts.”

    2003-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4707 (2003) · source

  8. “Had they really sought the elimination of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction they would have done so by supporting the work of the inspectors and by granting them enough time to accomplish their task. We support a peaceful settlement of the question of Iraq because we believe that the option of war would erode the international coalition against terrorism. The first signs of that erosion have already appeared, in the Afghan theatre. We will spare the Council any details, with which we assume members are all too familiar. Simply thinking that war is an option open to the Security Council is in itself proof both of the Council's failure to carry out its task and of the failure of the entire international order.”

    2003-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4707 (2003) · source

  9. “As Iraq's neighbour, and having considerable experience with current events in our area, we understand better than anyone else that this would be the first war in the Middle East region to be unanimously rejected by Arabs. And the great majority of the people of the world say no to this war. This war will have grave consequences for the unity and territorial integrity of Iraq and its people. It will spill over to the entire region. The war will lead to total anarchy and will benefit only those whose aim is to spread fear and destruction everywhere. Those who are beating the drums of war make no secret of their goal, which is not to disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction. Rather, they have a hidden agenda that they seek to implement throughout the entire region. The prelude to that agenda is the war against Iraq.”

    2003-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4707 (2003) · source

  10. “Has it not cooperated with them positively, while Israel rejects any form of inspection of its nuclear facilities? Against that paradoxical backdrop, are we not justified in wondering whether such policies indicate double standards? Or perhaps we should realize that the real danger lies in the fact that those policies are deliberately designed to put Iraq and Palestine, in particular, and the Arabs and Muslims, in general, in a difficult position and to jeopardize their present and their future? Will not such policies have an impact on the vital interests of the world at large? We are in favour of a peaceful solution to the question of Iraq. Common sense dictates that there is no alternative to such a solution.”

    2003-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4707 (2003) · source

  11. “Israel refuses to recognize an independent Palestinian State, as endorsed by the international community, including the United States of America. Even when the United States of America voted in favour of those resolutions, they remained a dead letter - or as we say in Arabic: ink on paper. The ink has faded of late and the paper has turned yellow. And miraculously, Mr. Sharon has become a "man of peace". Against that backdrop, allow me to ask, where does today's Iraq stand? Has Iraq not recognized the State of Kuwait and its international borders, which were demarcated by the Security Council? Were not no-flight zones imposed on Iraq in the northern and southern parts of the country without any legal basis that could justify such a ban? Has Iraq not unconditionally and unreservedly opened its doors to the inspectors?”

    2003-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4707 (2003) · source

  12. “Since 1973, we have been counselled to adopt policies to pursue a peaceful settlement to the Arab- Israeli conflict, to normalize relations with Israel and to cooperate with it in various areas. This is despite the fact that Israel, first, continues to occupy Syrian, Palestinian and Lebanese territories, to build settlements in them and to threaten its neighbours. Secondly, Israel continues to possess all types of weapons of mass destruction; it is in exclusive possession of nuclear weapons and rejects all international supervision and inspections, unlike the States of the Middle East that have accepted such international supervision and inspections. Thirdly, Israel continues to defy all relevant United Nations resolutions - more than 500 of them, 31 of which were adopted by the Security Council.”

    2003-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4707 (2003) · source

  13. “That progress proves that the inspections are leading to significant results through dialogue, cooperation and mutual trust between the inspectors and Iraq. Therefore, the Council must continue to support the inspectors and allow them sufficient time to undertake their task as set out in resolution 1441 (2002). Our region stands at a grave crossroads, teetering between war and peace. Our region has suffered tremendously from the scourge of many wars, and it continues to this very day to suffer a racist policy directed against the defenceless Palestinian people, a policy based on occupation and settlement and bent on destroying man and nature alike.”

    2003-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4707 (2003) · source

  14. “Mr. Al-Shara' (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): Three months ago, the Council unanimously adopted resolution 1441 (2002). Syria joined the consensus after receiving assurances and clarifications that voting in favour of the draft resolution meant proceeding seriously towards a peaceful resolution of the issue of the disarmament of Iraq of weapons of mass destruction and that it would not be used as a pretext for waging war against Iraq. A moment ago, Mr. Blix and Mr. ElBaradei presented their reports and noted the progress made in the period that has elapsed since they made their last reports to the Council. This means that in only two weeks substantial progress has been made in the work of the inspectors. The progress reached its peak today when Iraq approved a law prohibiting weapons of mass destruction.”

    2003-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4707 (2003) · source

  15. “The European summit conference that took place in Florence and the industrial summit that took place in Lyons reaffirmed the basis for the peace process and the principles of that process, which are based on Security Council resolutions and the principle of "land for peace". It is high time that Israel realized that it will not be able both to achieve peace and keep the occupied territories. It must choose. And that choice is for Israel to return the occupied territories taken by force to their rightful owners and to respect its commitment so that we can re-open the road of the peace process. That choice is desired not only by the people of the area, but by the whole world.”

    1996-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3698Resumption1 (1996) · source

  16. “Consequently, regarding the question of the tunnel, the prelude to evil, we believe that, important as it is, we should not confine ourselves to discussing that particular question. Rather, this Council should adopt the appropriate resolution to rescue the moribund peace process, the area and the region from more violence and tension that benefit no one. In conclusion, I would like to apologize for going into such detail, but I would like to state that all Arab countries, in a single voice and at two conferences - first at the summit conference and then at the Foreign Ministers' conference - have all said that peace is a strategic option for the Arabs, but that it is unacceptable that it not be a strategic option for Israel. It would be a real catastrophe and a real tragedy if it were not.”

    1996-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3698Resumption1 (1996) · source

  17. “Israelis believe that the Arabs are helpless and that, with its old means of force and power, with all its weapons of mass destruction, foremost among which are the nuclear option and a huge arsenal of advanced weaponry, Israel does not have to comply with international law, Security Council resolutions nor even the principles of international legality. The Security Council, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, is called upon today more than ever before to adopt whatever decision it considers necessary and appropriate to revive the peace process and put it back on track. It is called upon to condemn the bloody practices of the Israeli authorities in the occupied Palestinian territories. It is called upon to put an end to these events of bloodshed, these painful and tragic events.”

    1996-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3698Resumption1 (1996) · source

  18. “And in an atmosphere such as the one in which we live today, fraught with danger, we cannot help feeling that we are returning to the law of the jungle, rather than living in a world of respect for international law, international legitimacy and the resolutions of the Security Council. I regret that I have had to go into such detail, but I must also tell the Council that what is happening now must be a warning to us all that the peace process faces a real threat. The peace process is dying. The peace process might be buried and we might not have another such opportunity as we have had to implement a comprehensive, just peace in the Middle East. Arrogance and intransigence do not make peace. Israel today is acting with unprecedented intransigence and arrogance.”

    1996-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3698Resumption1 (1996) · source

  19. “In our opinion and in world opinion, these commitments and pledges represent a fundamental basis for the resumption of negotiations on all tracks. If the Israeli Government is not going to commit itself to the implementation of commitments and pledges made by the previous Government, it is basically telling us and the whole world that we should not believe that it will enter into any new commitment or respect any old one, in accordance with resolutions of international legality and legitimacy and the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference. How can any Arab party resume peace negotiations without such commitments and pledges?”

    1996-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3698Resumption1 (1996) · source

  20. “The events that have unfolded over the past two days clearly reflect the tragedy of the Palestinian people. They reflect the fact that this people will not surrender. They will not be an easy victim of the occupation and the settlement policy. No matter how many attempts are made to derail the peace process or to diminish its role, the Palestinian people will accept nothing less than their legitimate right to self-determination and to the restoration of all their occupied territories to the boundaries of 4 June 1967. We in Syria will not give up our strategic option for peace. We will accept nothing less than a full withdrawal from the Golan to the lines of 4 June 1967. We believe that the Israeli Government is trying to renege on commitments and pledges made by the previous Israeli Government.”

    1996-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3698Resumption1 (1996) · source

  21. “Those who have followed the statements, declarations and practices of the Israeli Government since it took power approximately 100 days ago know that the Israeli Government does not miss a chance to tell everyone that it tries to change the rules of the game for the peace process and that it is committed to intransigent positions that reject the principle of land for peace. It declares unequivocally that it will not withdraw from occupied Arab territories, that it will not withdraw from the occupied Syrian Golan or from East Jerusalem, and that it wishes to resume and encourage settlement of the West Bank, Gaza and the Golan. The Israeli Government does not care much for the accords, agreements or commitments reached in earlier negotiations, during the term of the previous Israeli Cabinet.”

    1996-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3698Resumption1 (1996) · source

  22. “As I have said, and as many in our region and in the world - those who follow the peace process - know, the new Israeli Government came to power with a strategy that has absolutely nothing to do with peace. It is perfectly obvious, from the first day it assumed power until the day when the entrance to the tunnel was opened, that the Israeli Government, regrettably, does not have a strategy for peace. The Israeli policy aims at burying the peace process by various means.”

    1996-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3698Resumption1 (1996) · source

  23. “I could say that the international efforts made to hold the Madrid Conference, the discussions and deliberations that preceded the Conference to enable all to reach agreement on the basis and rules for that Conference, and the agreement by Syria in particular at that time to take part, led for the first time to talk of peace in the area after a decades-long conflict. The opening of an entrance to the tunnel, which led to this bloodshed, symbolizes closing the door to peace. Wrong are those who believe that the issue is the opening of an entrance to tourists so that they do not have to walk as far; wrong are those who believe that this was the reason the tunnel entrance was opened.”

    1996-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3698Resumption1 (1996) · source

  24. “Mr. Al-Shara (Syrian Arab Republic) (interpretation from Arabic): Allow me at the outset to warmly congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for this month. Let me take advantage of my presence in New York for the fifty-first session of the General Assembly to set out in detail the position of my country, Syria. The Security Council is meeting in the wake of the events that took place in the occupied Palestinian territories. Syria is a direct party to the peace process. It has affirmed and reaffirmed that its option for peace is a strategic one. My country played a major role in the Madrid Conference and in opening the way for a comprehensive peace process, for the first time in the history of the Arab- Israeli conflict.”

    1996-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3698Resumption1 (1996) · source