YouSaid · the spoken record

Andjaba

lines on the record: 606
first: 1996-12-11
most recent: 2005-10-27
sittings or episodes: 91
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

“They have a devastating impact on every part of society, in particular vulnerable groups, such as children and women. Furthermore, small arms have a profound impact on the social and economic development of countries. Despite the urgent need to fight poverty and diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, a lot of money continues to be spent on the production and accumulation of these weapons. The United Nations last year took a strong stand in addressing the scourge at the Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects. The Conference adopted by consensus the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.”
2002-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4623Resumption1 (2002) · source
“Allow me at the outset to congratulate you, Sir, on assuming the presidency of the Security Council and on convening this important meeting. I also wish to thank the Secretary-General for his report on small arms and for the valuable recommendations contained therein. My appreciation also goes to the Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs for introducing the report. Although slow progress has been made, in particular since the international community started to address the problem of small arms in a comprehensive manner, the easy availability of small arms worldwide continues to create havoc throughout the world, especially in Africa. They threaten peace and security and are responsible for countless numbers of deaths and injuries. Small arms are now estimated to kill half a million people every year.”
2002-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4623Resumption1 (2002) · source
“The continued humiliation of a people under occupation and the relegation of its legitimate fight against foreign occupation to the status of mere terrorism, are not in the interest of any Viable peace in the Middle East. Instead, the occupation of Palestine, which is at the core of the current crisis, should be ended.”
2002-04-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4506Resumption1 (2002) · source
“We also call on Israel to embrace the initiative of Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, which was adopted by the Arab League. It provides the light at the end of the tunnel in the current circumstances. My delegation strongly believes that international observers in the region would be a valuable mechanism to monitor the situation and ease tension between the parties. The Council should therefore continue to explore that option. In conclusion, my delegation wishes to reiterate that the only way to solve the crisis in the Middle East is through a negotiated peace settlement on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). The international community, and in particular the Security Council, should take all concrete actions necessary to achieve this goal.”
2002-04-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4506Resumption1 (2002) · source
“They have the right to establish their own viable State, just as Israel claims the right to its existence and wishes to live in peace with its neighbours within secure and internationally recognized borders. The Palestinian people also have the right to choose their own leaders, and the present attempts by Israel to force President Arafat, who is the legitimate leader of the Palestinian people, to leave Palestine should be rejected with the contempt they deserve. My delegation calls on both parties to comply with Security Council resolution 1402 (2002) and to implement it without further delay. The longer the current violence continues, the more difficult it will be to build the confidence necessary for negotiations.”
2002-04-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4506Resumption1 (2002) · source
“It is of great concern that Israel is expanding its illegal occupation with the reoccupation of Palestinian land. In this process, massive violations of human rights and international humanitarian law are being committed, including grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Furthermore, extrajudicial killings by the Israeli occupying forces are continuing, as well as the large-scale destruction of Palestinian homes and other properties. The international community, in particular the Security Council, should not turn a blind eye to this and should exert all pressure on Israel to ensure that these illegal acts are stopped. A11 acts of violence, including suicide bombings and the use of military forces against innocent civilians, must be condemned. The Palestinian people have the inalienable right to self-determination.”
2002-04-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4506Resumption1 (2002) · source
“The perceived inaction of the Council and the selectivity with which it enforces its resolutions are damaging its credibility and need to be addressed. The list of decisions and resolutions of the Council regarding the situation in the Middle East and the occupied Palestinian territory is growing longer. However, what is important is not their number but their implementation. In particular, we urge the Security Council to ensure the immediate and unconditional implementation of resolution 1402 (2002). I wish to recall that the latest aggravation of the crisis in the Middle East was caused on 28 September 2000, with the provocative Visit of the present Prime Minister of Israel to Al-Haram Al-Sharif. Today it is clear that he has succeeded in eroding most achievements towards peace and preventing further progress in the peace process.”
2002-04-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4506Resumption1 (2002) · source
“At the outset, Sir, I wish to extend my warm congratulations to you on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of April. We also express our appreciation to your predecessor, the Permanent Representative of Norway, for the able manner in which he conducted the work of the Council in March. I wish to associate myself with the statement made by the Permanent Representative of South Africa on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. Sir, you deserve our further appreciation for scheduling this important meeting so early in your presidency, in particular at a time when it appears to the outside world that the Security Council is either unable or unwilling to carry out its Charter responsibilities and ensure that its resolutions and decisions on the Middle East are implemented fully.”
2002-04-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4506Resumption1 (2002) · source
“In conclusion, my delegation wishes to commend the new Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Mr. Namanga Ngongi, for the enthusiasm and determination already visible in his work. We offer him our full support and cooperation. We also share the appreciation for the women and men of MONUC, for the contribution they continue to make to the restoration of peace in the Democratic Republic Of the Congo.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“We agree that the next phase of MONUC's responsibilities will be challenging. But that is the price the international community has to pay in order for peace to return to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The disarmament and demobilization of armed groups and the repatriation, resettlement and reintegration of the ex-combatants into society will require determination and well coordinated plans by the international community. MONUC can succeed in its mandate; all it needs is strong political and other support. In this context, we welcome the Secretary- General's continued efforts to promote the peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His recent visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region was particularly important for confidence-building and to give momentum to the peace process.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“The progress in peace efforts should be matched by increased assistance aimed at the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the economy and the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a whole. It is furthermore disturbing to note that the RCD continues serious human rights violations, including the raping of women and girls. These atrocities should not be allowed to continue with impunity. On a more positive note, my delegation is happy that progress is being made with regard to the situation of children, in particular through the demobilization and repatriation of child soldiers. Other efforts, such as the assistance to war traumatized children through counselling and other treatments, are also welcome. In this connection, we welcome the efforts by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to vaccinate Congolese children against polio.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“In this regard, we call on the international community for increased financial support for the inter-Congolese dialogue. Only then can the dialogue succeed. The report states that the humanitarian situation in the eastern part of the country continues to deteriorate. It provides facts and statistics about food shortages and the restricted availability of health services. All this is exacerbated further by the fact that the Democratic Republic of the Congo has received large influxes of refugees in recent months. It certainly underlines the need to urgently restore peace to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, it is also a call for the international community to strengthen and expand its support to the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“The Security Council should ensure the full and unconditional implementation of its resolutions, in particular resolution 1304 (2000), which it adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter. My delegation welcomes the decision by the Political Committee in favour of the co-location of the Joint Military Commission (JMC) with MONUC, and we trust that final arrangements for the transfer of the JMC to Kinshasa have been made. We further welcome the successful preparatory meeting for the inter-Congolese dialogue, which was held in Botswana in August, and the important commitments agreed to by the parties. We regret that the Addis Ababa meeting was suspended, mainly owing to lack of funds, and hope that the dialogue will resume soon with the participation of all parties.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“However, despite those clear provisions, virtually no progress has been made, and the parties in question continue to make demands with the clear objective of sabotaging the peace process. Of grave concern to my delegation is the information provided this morning by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, which, of course, we have heard also from other sources: that Uganda and Rwanda are reinforcing their troops in the Democratic Republic of the Congo at a time when they are supposed to be withdrawing. That is a clear indication of the real motives of those two countries. Are we going to have another Kisangani, another fight over the natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo? That should not be allowed to happen.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“The same could result if there were any hint of hesitation on the part of the United Nations or if a vacuum were created in the security situation. In our view, those who invaded the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are still being allowed to frustrate the peace process and to pursue personal, exploitative and selfish agendas under the guise of national security. At the same time, the Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD) is hampering MONUC's operations, including through the illegal imposition of taxes contrary to the status of forces agreement. Resolution 1304 (2000) is loud and clear in its demand for foreign forces that have violated the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to withdraw, and for Kisangani to be demilitarized.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“While we have called for this in the past, and while we certainly welcome the recommendation, we cannot help but point out that the proposed step-by-step approach is too cautious and too limited in scope given the size of the country and the demands of the peacekeeping operation itself. My delegation would have preferred a full-fledged deployment of phase III, because this is the right time for it. Obviously, some problems still exist, and it would be naive for anybody to expect perfect conditions in any peace process. Minor problems should realistically be expected in every situation. What needs to be guarded against is blowing incidents out of proportion, since that might be exploited by those who are not really interested in peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“Ngongi, for his excellent introduction of the report of the Secretary-General. The report before the Council conveys an important message, which in its essence has been repeated for a long time now: the conditions for peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are positive; the ceasefire is holding; and the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are ready for peace. Unfortunately, that positive situation has up to now been matched with only limited assistance from the United Nations and the rest of the international community. At last, the Secretary-General recommends that the Council authorize MONUC to enter phase III of its deployment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in accordance with the proposed concept of operations.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“On behalf of my delegation, I wish to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of October. I wish also to thank Ambassador Levitte of France for the effective way in which he guided the work of the Council last month. Our thanks and appreciation go to the Secretary- General for his comprehensive report (S/2001/970) on the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC). Let me also take this opportunity to extend a warm welcome to His Excellency Mr. Le'onard She Okitundu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and to thank him for the useful and important statement he delivered this morning. I further thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr.”
2001-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4395 (2001) · source
“In conclusion, my delegation wishes once again to pay special tribute to the outgoing Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ambassador Morjane, for the commendable work that he has done for the Democratic Republic of the Congo peace process.”
2001-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4361 (2001) · source
“We trust that this visit will provide a further impetus to the peace process. We also welcome and support his new Special Representative, Mr. Ngongi, and wish him all the best in his work. We pledge our full support to him. My delegation furthermore hopes that the Security Council will soon approve the phase III deployment of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and that, when considering the mandate and size of phase III, it will take full account of the enormity of the conflict and the vastness of the country. We believe that the Council must act swiftly to support the positive developments in the peace process.”
2001-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4361 (2001) · source
“Annabi this morning, the withdrawal of Namibian troops from the Democratic Republic of the Congo is on schedule and is proceeding well. My delegation welcomes the successful outcome of the preparatory meeting of the inter-Congolese dialogue, which took place in Gaborone, Botswana. My delegation is happy to note that the parties were able to agree on a venue and date for the dialogue. We trust that women and groups representing them will actively participate in the forthcoming meetings. In that regard, we commend the facilitator of the dialogue, Sir Ketumile Masire, for his untiring efforts to make the dialogue a success. My delegation welcomes and fully supports the forthcoming visit of the Secretary-General to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region in general.”
2001-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4361 (2001) · source
“We commend the United Nations Children's Fund for the important work that it is doing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We call on the international community to continue, and to expand, its assistance, given the seriousness of the situation and the large-scale destruction that took place during the war. It is important for all the parties to fulfil their commitments and obligations in accordance with the terms of the Lusaka Agreement and relevant Security Council resolutions. In that regard, the continued occupation of Kisangani by the Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie is deplorable; the Security Council should do everything in its power to ensure that the city of Kisangani is demilitarized, as called for in resolution 1304 (2000). As indicated by Mr.”
2001-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4361 (2001) · source
“I wish to thank you, Mr. President, for arranging this important meeting. I wish also to thank Mr. Annabi for the comprehensive briefing that he gave this morning. It was clear from the briefing that good progress has been made on a number of fronts in the peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, although there remain some issues of concern. Those concerns include the security situation in the East of the country and the dire humanitarian situation. We are particularly concerned about the suffering of innocent women and children. In that connection, my delegation welcomes the aid provided and the pledges made by the international community aimed at alleviating the humanitarian situation and helping the economic recovery of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2001-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4361 (2001) · source
“In this connection, my delegation welcomes the important role being played by the Secretary-General, and we urge him to continue with these efforts. Outside the United Nations, States with influence over the parties should, instead of inaction, live up to their responsibilities by actively promoting the peace process and moving the parties to the negotiating table. In conclusion, the basis of negotiations and of a just and lasting peace remains Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). The peace process should be put back on track and the implementation of these resolutions should thus be ensured, while the existing agreements between the parties should be honoured.”
2001-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4357Resumption2 (2001) · source
“It is therefore of the utmost importance for the Security Council to act swiftly and decisively in terms of its responsibility under the United Nations Charter and to establish a United Nations observer force for the protection of Palestinian civilians. As a starting point, the Security Council should preserve its credibility by, at least, adopting the draft resolution currently before it. Although from our point of view the draft is weak, it could, with the necessary political will - I repeat: with the necessary political will - attract consensus from all Council members and provide a road map for the resumption of negotiations. Furthermore, the parties should show political will and courage to de-escalate the situation and ensure that negotiations are resumed, with the implementation of the Mitchell report as a starting point.”
2001-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4357Resumption2 (2001) · source
“Their rights can never be sacrificed because of the occupying Power's single-minded insistence on security. The situation in the occupied Palestinian territory continues to degenerate daily, which could lead to a point of no return. The recent occupation by Israel of Orient House and other Palestinian institutions constitutes serious violations by the Israeli Government of earlier agreements between itself and the Palestinian National Authority. This is a cause for serious concern. Unless these actions are reversed, they may have dire consequences that can push the whole region into a cycle of violence, destruction and bloodshed.”
2001-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4357Resumption2 (2001) · source
“Arguments and counter-arguments are being made about violence and resistance by the Palestinians. However, the basic fact remains that Palestine is a nation under foreign occupation - a nation living under dire humanitarian conditions - and the Security Council, which is responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security, is paralysed and unwilling to do anything about it. No one can therefore expect the Palestinians to sit idly by and wait until they are completely dominated or wiped off the face of the earth. The crux of the matter is that the occupation must stop. There can be lasting peace in the Middle East only when the just aspirations of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent State of their own, are restored.”
2001-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4357Resumption2 (2001) · source
“The economic suffocation of Palestinians continues through the illegal blockade of towns, which not only deprives them of their freedom of movement but also makes it impossible for them to earn their livelihood in a normal manner. These acts constitute gross violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949. The violations should stop and Israel, the occupying Power, should scrupulously abide by its legal obligations and responsibilities under the Convention. In this connection, we support the call for the convening of a conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention in order to enforce the Convention in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem. Such an action would help to address the situation on the ground.”
2001-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4357Resumption2 (2001) · source
“The Israel Defence Force continues to use excessive force against Palestinian civilians, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries, untold suffering and widespread destruction. The Israeli Government continues furthermore to practice a policy of extrajudicial killings, which is unacceptable and violates international law. This practice must be stopped and measures must be put in place to ensure accountability for those killings already committed and to deter similar acts in the future. In the light of this, it was even more shocking yesterday to hear some Security Council members preaching a hands-off approach, while some delegations adopted a neutral position in a completely one-sided conflict. This is totally unfair and unacceptable, to say the least.”
2001-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4357Resumption2 (2001) · source
“It is, indeed, unfortunate that the Security Council has to date been paralysed and has failed to do anything about the tragic situation unfolding in the occupied Palestinian territory. The Council has clearly forsaken its responsibilities, as outlined in Articles 24 and 37 of the Charter of the United Nations, to maintain international peace and security. It has furthermore failed to enforce its own resolutions aimed at resolving the situation in the Middle East. What started out as an irresponsible provocation- the visit to Al-Haram Al-Sharif last year - has, sadly, already resulted in hundreds of deaths and injuries, and the peace process has suffered perhaps irreparable harm. Despite this situation, the international community is allowing the carnage to continue in the occupied Palestinian territory.”
2001-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4357Resumption2 (2001) · source
“I wish to congratulate you, Sir, on you assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month and for arranging this very important meeting. I also wish to commend Ambassador Wang Yingfan of the People's Republic of China for the excellent manner in which he conducted the work of the Council in July. Yesterday, the Permanent Observer of Palestine briefed the Council about the tragic events in the occupied Palestinian territory and pointed to the fact that the Council continues to ignore the crisis while it is engaged in discussing topics such as the protection of civilians in armed conflict and the prevention of armed conflict. My delegation could not agree more with such a conclusion.”
2001-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4357Resumption2 (2001) · source
“We also commend the efforts of the facilitator of the Burundi peace process, former President Nelson Mandela, and we continue to support his important work. My delegation also reiterates its full support for an international conference on the Great Lakes region at an appropriate time. In conclusion, my delegation wishes to reiterate its continued commitment to the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement and the Harare and Kampala disengagement plans and their speedy and full implementation. We also wish to reiterate our full cooperation with MONUC.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“The implementation of quick-impact projects will be welcome, but we share the recommendation that the international community consider much broader economic assistance to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to accompany the onset of peace. Furthermore, my delegation wishes to reiterate its concern regarding the plundering of the natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Security Council should adopt urgent measures to stop these practices. In this regard, we welcome the Council's recommendation that if no progress is made within three months, the Council should consider taking the measures necessary to put an end to any continuing illegitimate exploitation. My delegation welcomes the efforts of the Security Council mission to provide momentum to the peace process in Burundi, and we support its recommendations.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“With regard to the extension of civil administration to zones vacated by foreign forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in our view the Government should take over such functions. We call on the international community to assist the Government in carrying out these responsibilities. My delegation agrees that a complete return to peace will be stimulated by an increase of economic activities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We welcome the reopening of the Congo River, which, apart from the economic advantages, will also have positive consequences for confidence-building and the strengthening of a sense of national unity.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“My delegation furthermore reiterates its deep concern for the dire humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in the eastern part of the country. We call on the Security Council to ensure that those responsible for human rights violations in that part of the country are brought to justice. My delegation also welcomes the progress made in the preparation for the inter-Congolese dialogue. We wish to commend Sir Ketumile Masire, the neutral facilitator, and we welcome his proposal to convene a preparatory meeting for the dialogue on 16 July. However, we wish to emphasize that the dialogue is for the Congolese people, and it should be conducted without foreign interference.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“My delegation shares the concern expressed by the mission about the reluctance to disengage on the part of the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo (MLC). We agree that the Security Council should closely monitor the situation and ensure that the MLC disengages, as was promised at the meeting with the Political Committee. Another concern that remains is the continuing occupation of Kisangani. We call on the Security Council to continue to insist that Kisangani be demilitarized without further delay, as provided for in resolution 1304 (2000). We also support the mission's recommendation that the Council consider further measures to promote compliance with this resolution. It is correct that this city could play a much broader role in the economic and political life of the country.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“It is therefore our hope that the Security Council is now convinced about the urgent need for its continued strong support to enable the speedy and successful implementation of the Lusaka Agreement. The timely planning and approval of phase III in the deployment of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) is crucial for the smooth implementation of the peace process. In this regard, we welcome the mission's recommendation that the Security Council consider approving a transition to phase III for MONUC activities. In all this, it is again submitted that the complexity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo peace process should be taken into account when considering the size and mandate of deploying phase III of MONUC.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“His diplomatic skills in discharging the responsibilities of the Council have allowed the mission to successfully execute its mandate and to provide the Council with a comprehensive report with valuable conclusions and recommendations. My delegation is glad to note that the Security Council mission found much that was encouraging in its visit to the Great Lakes region. My delegation wishes to underscore the fact that the window of opportunity for peace clearly exists mainly because of plausible peace initiatives by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the commitment of the parties to the implementation of the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“I wish to thank you, Mr. President, for convening this important meeting. It is once again testimony to the seriousness with which your delegation views the situation in the Great Lakes region and particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We wish to thank the Secretary-General for his presence this morning and for the very important statement he delivered. We commend him for his continued peace efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I also wish to thank Ambassador Levitte for his excellent presentation of the report of the Security Council mission to the Great Lakes region and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is clear from the report that the mission benefited greatly from Ambassador Levitte's outstanding leadership qualities and professionalism.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“We hope that the outcome of the visit will generate further momentum for the peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Of particular importance is the implementation of resolution 1304 (2000), which, among other things, demands the complete demilitarization of Kisangani. The Panel disturbingly concluded that "Exploitation of the natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo by foreign armies has become systematic and the constitution of criminal cartels [is] becoming commonplace in occupied territories. These criminal cartels have ramifications and connections worldwide, and they represent the next serious security problem in the region." (S/2001/357, para. 214) That conclusion should provide enough urgency for the Council to take immediate action to put an end to those criminal activities. Finally, my delegation welcomes the Council's decision to send a mission to the Great Lakes region this month.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317Resumption1 (2001) · source
“It is of particular importance that due compensation be paid to the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the expropriation of their property and for the general looting of the country. The Namibian Government, furthermore, supports the extension of the mandate of the Panel of Experts, which will allow the Panel to conduct follow-up investigations. Namibia's support for the implementation of the Panel's recommendations is rooted in its firm belief that all avenues should be explored and all opportunities investigated to cultivate an environment conducive to the implementation of the Lusaka Agreement. In that regard, we call on the Security Council to ensure that the Lusaka Agreement, the Kampala and Harare disengagement plans and relevant Security Council resolutions are fully implemented.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317Resumption1 (2001) · source
“We have said from the beginning that Namibia's involvement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was never motivated by economic benefit, but rather by the principle of helping defend a fellow State member of the Southern African Development Community against aggression from outside. That action was in full conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and with the charter of the Organization of African Unity, and it was aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Namibian Government supports the recommendations made by the Panel of Experts aimed at curbing the illegal exploitation of the natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Throughout, the report contains alarming revelations, such as the role of some international financial institutions in directly or indirectly encouraging the illegal exploitation of the natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The fact that those institutions never questioned the increasing exports of resources by the aggressor countries, and even rewarded them with the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Debt Initiative when it was clear that they were plundering the resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is of deep concern and should be further investigated.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317Resumption1 (2001) · source
“This information is with the Security Council, and we believe that the international community should not be fooled by such denials. Furthermore, the quality of the report reflects the high degree of professionalism of the Panel members. Throughout their work they have maintained a strict evidentiary standard to substantiate their findings. The conclusions reached in the report also clearly show that the invasion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo took place for economic reasons, not because of security concerns as claimed by the invading forces. The Security Council should take strong measures to correct the situation and to deter the committing of similar atrocities in the future. My delegation fully supports the conclusions reached by the Panel.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317Resumption1 (2001) · source
“This approach has confirmed beyond any doubt the ruthless plundering of the resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo by the aggressor countries, the rebel groups and individuals beyond normal trade under bilateral or multilateral trade agreements. I, for one, did not expect the countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi to say: "Yes, we are looting the resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo". Even in 1998, when these countries first aggressed the Democratic Republic of the Congo, they were denying that they had troops in the Congo, but eventually they admitted it. Burundi in particular denied it until recently, when they confirmed to the world that they had withdrawn three battalions from Congo and that two remained.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317Resumption1 (2001) · source
“This latest incident is again proof of the massive violations of human rights and international humanitarian law that are being committed in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Contrary to what we have heard from some delegations this morning, the Panel produced an objective, comprehensive and well-substantiated report. Its working methods were sound and it had an inclusive approach by holding extensive discussions with Governments, international organizations and non- governmental organizations. The use of primary resource documents, often produced by countries themselves, and of vital statistics objectively revealed the discrepancies between exports and trade before and during the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317Resumption1 (2001) · source
“At the outset, I would like to express my delegation's profound sorrow and deep condolences for the tragic murder of six staff members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on 26 April in Ituri province in north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. They died while providing much-needed humanitarian assistance to the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is our hope that this tragedy will not seriously disrupt the important work of the ICRC and other humanitarian organizations. My delegation condemns this cowardly act in the strongest possible terms and calls for immediate investigations to ensure that the perpetrators and their instigators are brought to justice. These murders, furthermore, should be condemned by everybody.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317Resumption1 (2001) · source
“I wish to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council and to thank you for arranging this important meeting. I would also like to take this opportunity to commend Ambassador Greenstock for the excellent manner in which he conducted the work of the Council in April. My delegation welcomes the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as the Ministers from Uganda and Burundi and the special envoy from Rwanda. I would also like to thank the Chairperson of the Panel of Experts, Ms. Ba-N'Daw, for introducing the report of the Panel this morning.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317Resumption1 (2001) · source
“In conclusion, while the Security Council possesses enough tools, through the Charter of the United Nations, to respond to situations regarding the maintenance of international peace and security, it needs to be continuously vigilant to be able to respond to modern-day challenges, which are not so clear-cut but clearly pose threats to international peace and security. These issues include HIV/AIDS and the effects of poverty. In this regard, it is imperative for the Security Council to reform itself to reflect the will of the wider United Nations membership, so as to strengthen its role, maintain its authority and improve its effectiveness.”
2001-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4288 (2001) · source