YouSaid · the spoken record

Apata

lines on the record: 34
first: 1999-11-30
most recent: 2002-05-22
sittings or episodes: 3
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

“I am not trying to define its mandate, but I think we should draw a lesson from the Counter-Terrorism Committee, whose working methods would be useful for the ad hoc Working Group. Because we cannot meet all the time with Council members in this type of forum, it would be useful for the ad hoc Working Group to meet occasionally outside the Chamber with members of the African Group and with the general membership of the United Nations as the situation demands.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538Resumption1 (2002) · source
“The situation in Sierra Leone is related to the situation in Liberia. Liberia is related to Sierra Leone and to the Mano River Union. The Representatives can bring their collective wisdom to bear, share information and then decide what needs to be done. I think it will be useful. I also believe it is necessary for the Special Representative for West Africa to regularly consult, not only with the ECOWAS secretariat and the chairman of the authority of ECOWAS, but also with ECOWAS leaders who have plans to act on a particular conflict. I am referring to timely intervention. As I said earlier, the Special Representative has many contacts, which will help him accomplish these tasks for the Council. Let me briefly explain what I thought should be part of the role of the ad hoc Working Group.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538Resumption1 (2002) · source
“Lastly, on the role of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in resolving conflict, the choice of Assistant Secretary-General Ibrahima Fall, as I stated earlier, is commendable because he knows the terrain. All doors will be open to him. He will be able to interact with the various heads of State in our subregion. He will, therefore, be able to propose solutions to some ofthe conflicts. I want to make some practical suggestions to the Council. There are a number of Representatives and Special Representatives of the Secretary-General in West Africa: in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, and of course the Office recently established in West Africa. It would be useful for all of them to meet occasionally to compare notes on what is happening there, because the conflicts seem to be interrelated.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538Resumption1 (2002) · source
“The African leaders have committed themselves to not accepting in their midst those who take power by unconstitutional means. They will only accept democratic leaders. In this regard, they have established what they call peer review: if you do not behave well, you are not welcome in our midst. I think they have introduced an important concept. They have also said that African leaders will not be accepted if they are seen to be manipulating the constitutional process in order to extend their time in office. That is one of the problems that brings about the conflicts that the Council is concerned with. African leaders need to be commended for that initiative.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538Resumption1 (2002) · source
“It is just the beginning of a process: a process of peace-building. We must try to avoid war in the Central African Republic. I say this also with reference to Sierra Leone, where an election was recently concluded. We in Nigeria see that as the beginning of a process. We urge the Council not to precipitately withdraw or draw down forces. One should draw them down as the situation improves, while doing so in consultation with national and subregional leaders, who are involved in the peace- building process there. We urge you do so. To use a British saying, we should not be penny wise and pound foolish. On the question of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), to which Ambassador Baali and Ambassador Kumalo of South Africa referred earlier on, I will flag only one aspect of NEPAD.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538Resumption1 (2002) · source
“We do not know what will happen in Madagascar. Because peacekeeping operations are full-fledged operations, if we mount one, we will spend an enormous amount of resources doing so. It is crucial for the ad hoc Working Group of the Security Council and the advisory group of the Economic and Social Council to work together in planning this type of election monitoring support and observation, particularly as some of the aspects will impact on human rights, freedom ofthe press and so forth. On the question of drawing down peacekeeping operations, in places where we have peacekeeping operations, peacekeeping forces have been rapidly drawn down immediately after elections were held. We need to exercise caution and be patient because the holding of elections does not guarantee peace.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538Resumption1 (2002) · source
“Let us briefly discuss the question of preventing conflict following elections. Ambassador Levitte raised that question this morning. He stated that the immediate cause of conflict can be the holding of elections and the acceptance or non-acceptance of election results. He suggested that perhaps it is necessary for the United Nations and the OAU to have joint election monitoring units in place. I would support that initiative. I would even suggest that we start not three months but six months before the election and increase the number of United Nations and OAU officials we send into the field as the election approaches. Let us start working on that because it is surely cheaper for us to spend the type of money needed to prevent conflict than to mount a peacekeeping operation in the aftermath of an election.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538Resumption1 (2002) · source
“The second point is in relation to the collaboration between the United Nations and subregional organizations. Ambassador Ke'be' focused on the OAU. I will not focus on that. We are happy that the United Nations has been able to establish a framework for cooperation with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It is working very well. Only a couple of weeks ago, the Executive Secretary of ECOWAS was here to hold discussions with members of the United Nations Secretariat. What one would have loved to see is for the leaders of these organizations to be involved in this type of meeting today because they play a role. If, in the future, the Executive Secretaries of ECOWAS, SADC and others can be invited to participate in this type of deliberation, it will be extremely useful.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538Resumption1 (2002) · source
“One role the ad hoc Working Group on Africa will have is to feed ongoing work in Africa into the work of the Council. If we do this, we can avoid the type of problem that Ambassador Levitte mentioned this morning, where African leaders are active, planning efforts in one particular direction, and the Council is acting in another. We then have to resolve the contradiction. So, the challenge for the ad hoc Working Group is to work in collaboration with the Secretary-General and to identify the particular leaders across Africa who are actively engaged in some of these issues and feed whatever they are doing into the work of the Council. Nigeria is willing to assist the ad hoc Working Group, at least in regard to what we are doing, to feed the Council information ofthis kind.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538Resumption1 (2002) · source
“Some of them are resolved without anyone noticing, without even reaching the public's eye. Because of the nature of this open meeting, one cannot name countries, soldiers or the nature of such conflicts, but these leaders have been successful in persuading other leaders before elections that they should not run for office but should instead allow for an easy transition in their country. That is part ofthe ongoing efforts that they are making. With respect to their quiet interventions, the challenge we need to face is how do we feed information on such interventions into the work of the Council? How do we get what they are doing on an ongoing basis fed back to the Council. I amjust raising these questions for the reflection of Council members.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538Resumption1 (2002) · source
“The first issue I want to deal with is the role of subregional leaders and organizations. I am separating them into two categories - regional and subregional leaders and regional organizations - because they are not one and the same. They interlock but they are different. The Ambassador of France, Ambassador Kebe and Assistant Secretary-General Fall extensively covered this issue in its different aspects this morning. Let us say first that most conflicts are resolved by the efforts of African leaders themselves, without prompting by anybody. This has been going on for years; it is going on now and will continue. A number of regional leaders in Africa - Presidents Mbeki, Konare and Bongo and even my own President - have always been active in continuously trying to solve different problems in Africa.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538Resumption1 (2002) · source
“The doors will open to him in all capitals and that will facilitate his assignment. I want to depart from my written statement in order to react to some of the comments that were made this morning, particularly by Assistant Secretary- General Ibrahima Fall, Ambassador Koonjul and the Ambassador of France. Let me start by saying that the format that the Council has adopted today is extremely useful to our deliberations in order for us to listen to non-Council members and, as appropriate, for Council members to react. In this manner, we can have a dialogue and exchange of views, which will hopefully reach the Council's informal consultations and its future decisions in matters relating to conflict prevention and resolution in Africa. Therefore, let me focus on a few issues that Ambassador Koonjul asked us in his letter to focus on.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538Resumption1 (2002) · source
“This morning, we listened to Ambassador Ke'be' speak about the involvement and role of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and cooperation with the United Nations. We heard his proposals and briefing about what the OAU is trying to do in the establishment of peace and security. We agree with the thrust of his statement. These issues are not new to Assistant Secretary- General Ibrahima Fall. For over 30 years, he has been very active on all these issues in Africa Hall in Addis Ababa, in Geneva and here in New York. He has always brought clarity and focus to all the issues he has dealt with and we are sure that he will bring all this to his new responsibilities as Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa. There could be no better appointment, because he is known in West Africa.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538Resumption1 (2002) · source
“Nigeria conveys its gratitude to you, Sir, for personally presiding over the deliberations ofthe Council this afternoon. We want to thank the delegation of Singapore and Ambassador Mahbubani, whose interest in Africa has always been outstanding. Up until last January, he was the Co- Chairman of the Open-Ended Ad Hoc Working Group of the General Assembly on the Causes of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa, and he has brought that commitment into the work of the Security Council. We thank him very much. We also want to thank the Ambassador of Mauritius for the outstanding work he has been carrying on in the Council since the election of his country to membership, and in particular in his capacity as Chairman of the ad hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa.”
2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538Resumption1 (2002) · source
“Finally, Nigeria is of the view that warlords and their cohorts who have committed crimes against humanity, should be brought to justice under international law. Nigeria's support for the Special Court in Sierra Leone is anchored in the strong conviction that bringing such criminals to justice will send an important message to those who may harbour similar intentions that they would not escape justice. We appeal to the Council to ensure that this Court is funded from the regular United Nations budget rather than through voluntary contributions.”
2002-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4460Resumption1 (2002) · source
“The decision by the Security Council last year to impose sanctions on illicit diamonds and other natural resources emanating from such conflict areas as Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola is an important measure that will hopefully contribute positively to the peace process in these countries. However, the Council is urged to always take into account the views of subregional leaders prior to the imposition of sanctions on any country or countries, group or groups and individual or individuals in their subregion. The high-level consultations between the members of the Security Council and the ECOWAS ministerial Mediation and Security Committee last year, prior to the imposition of sanctions on Liberia, are commendable, and the Council is urged to institutionalize such an approach in its working methods.”
2002-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4460Resumption1 (2002) · source
“The Secretary-General, in his report entitled "The causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa", drew attention to the importance of economic sanctions and arms embargoes as an effective tool for conflict prevention and resolution. Our experience has shown that conflicts are stimulated, prolonged and sustained by the proliferation of small arms and light weapons and illegal exploitation of natural resources. We strongly support the outcome of the Conference on Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons. We invite the Council to study this report and explore how the recommendations and conclusions could be implemented in our efforts to prevent conflicts.”
2002-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4460Resumption1 (2002) · source
“Nigeria endorses the use of inter-disciplinary fact- finding and confidence-building missions to volatile regions, and particularly commends the visits of the members of the Security Council to conflict areas in Africa, as well as the utilization of the services of special envoys by the United Nations Secretary- General in addressing conflicts on our continent. The outstanding contribution of such mediators as former President Nelson Mandela is an affirmation of the raison d'etre for the continuous use of eminent personalities as mediators. We also welcome the establishment of the United Nations Office for West Africa. In our view, this will facilitate cooperation and collaboration between the United Nations, ECOWAS and leaders of our subregion, particularly in the area of peace and security.”
2002-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4460Resumption1 (2002) · source
“On the issue of cooperation with regional organizations, Nigeria commends the efforts of the Security Council in building the necessary level of synergy with ECOWAS, IGAD and the Southern African Development Community in the prevention and resolution of conflicts in their respective subregions. However, we urge the Security Council to intensify its support for the various regional initiatives in the maintenance of peace and security in Africa. In order to strengthen the existing cooperation between the United Nations and the OAU, the Nigerian delegation urges that greater assistance be given by the United Nations to the OAU Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution, and appeals for financial and logistical assistance to subregional organizations in order to enhance their effectiveness.”
2002-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4460Resumption1 (2002) · source
“They include: strengthening the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution at the regional and continental levels; promoting and protecting democracy and human rights in their respective countries; restoring and maintaining macro-economic stability in their economies by ensuring discipline in the implementation of fiscal and monetary policies; promoting the development of infrastructure, agriculture 4 including its diversification into agro-industries - and manufacturing to serve both domestic and export markets; and revitalizing the educational and medical training institutes, giving high priority to tackling the problems of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other communicable diseases.”
2002-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4460Resumption1 (2002) · source
“In this regard, it was very instructive when those leaders declared that they would no longer allow themselves to be conditioned by circumstances, resolved to determine their own destiny and invited the rest of the world to complement their efforts. We therefore invite the international community to complement them in a profound and transparent manner. Nigeria, which chairs the Implementation Committee of NEPAD, is determined to facilitate the early realization of the objectives that are very much at the heart of NEPAD.”
2002-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4460Resumption1 (2002) · source
“The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) is therefore a bold and imaginative initiative on the part of our leaders to accomplish the objective of transforming African societies in the political, social and economic domains for the sole purpose of improving the lives of our peoples. While they accept that the primary responsibility for accomplishing this huge task is theirs, they also recognize that they cannot do it alone, particularly in this era of globalization. That is why the emphasis is on partnership- partnership between Government and non- governmental organizations; partnership between public and private sectors; partnership between Government and all segments of society and - this is of crucial importance - partnership between Africa and the international community.”
2002-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4460Resumption1 (2002) · source
“The successes achieved so far in Sierra Leone, Burundi, the Central African Republic and Guinea-Bissau are largely due to their peacemaking efforts. We salute their perseverance and achievements. While it is "not yet Uhuru" in these countries, we nevertheless acknowledge that significant progress has been made towards sustainable peace. We recognize that our continent is the weakest link in the global chain. This recognition, among other factors, prompted African leaders to redouble their efforts at the dawn of a new millennium to move Africa out of external debt, conflict situations, preventable communicable diseases and poverty.”
2002-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4460Resumption1 (2002) · source
“In the face of these challenges, African leaders have embarked on serious efforts aimed at finding lasting and sustainable solutions to key problems of socio- economic development. The efforts of President Bouteflika, which brought about the end of the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict; those of the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in addressing the problems of the Mano River Union; those of the leaders of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in seeking the peaceful resolution of the conflicts in Somalia and the Sudan; and those made in the context of the Lusaka peace process in relation to the conflicts in Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are some of the exemplary steps taken by our leaders in trying to rid Africa of conflict situations.”
2002-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4460Resumption1 (2002) · source
“Nigeria warmly welcomes the newly elected members of the Council: Bulgaria, Cameroon, Guinea, Mexico and the Syrian Arab Republic. We also welcome the Secretary General of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), His Excellency Mr. Amara Essy. Nigeria aligns itself with the thrust of the statement he gave this morning. On behalf of the Nigerian delegation, I wish to thank those delegations that have expressed condolences to our Government and our peoples on the recent tragic events in Lagos. We appreciate those expressions of support. For many States on our continent, the promises of prosperity remain unfulfilled, 40 years after independence. In fact, many parts of the continent are characterized by poverty, decaying infrastructure, the scourge of HIV/AIDS and conflict situations.”
2002-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4460Resumption1 (2002) · source
“Nigeria is very pleased to see you, Mr. Minister, personally presiding over these important deliberations of the Security Council. Your presence is a demonstration of your personal commitment, and that of your Government, to ensure that, at the dawn of a new millennium, Africa embarks on the rapid socio-economic transformation of its societies and is no longer an item on the agenda of the Security Council. We welcome the various ministers who addressed the Council this morning. Their presence - particularly the presence of those from outside the continent 4 testifies to the commitment of the international community to assist Africa in tackling various problems it faces. On behalf of the Nigerian delegation, I thank them for their contribution to this debate.”
2002-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4460Resumption1 (2002) · source
“In conclusion, while Member States of the United Nations must demonstrate greater political will in the area of conflict prevention, the Security Council has a vital role to play in giving preventive action the priority it deserves as the Council discharges its primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.”
1999-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4072Resumption1 (1999) · source
“The current situation in Sierra Leone - where the implementation of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration has to wait for a special appeal fund, which was launched in Geneva on 23 November 1999 - is a clear example. The amount so far contributed to the special appeal fund, which is expected to provide the necessary resources for the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process, has not been very impressive. If there were a budget in place for conflict prevention and peacemaking, there would most likely be funds available in that budget to enable the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process to get under way.”
1999-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4072Resumption1 (1999) · source
“This reality further underscores the imperative necessity of developing and fine-tuning common indicators for early warning and joint training of staff in the field of conflict prevention. In this light, the Nigerian delegation proposes that the United Nations should establish a conflict prevention and peace-building budget, similar to the peacekeeping budget. Such a standby financial facility would ensure availability of financial resources to promptly kick-start preventive and peace-making activities. This would be an improvement on the current situation, in which an appeal for donations has to be made before any significant progress can be recorded in the implementation of peacemaking and peace-building efforts.”
1999-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4072Resumption1 (1999) · source
“Even from the point of view of relative human and material cost, prevention proves to be the prudent strategy. According to a recent estimate, the cost to the international community of the seven major conflicts in this decade, the decade of the 19905, excluding Kosovo and East Timor, was $199 billion, in addition to the unacceptable scale of human casualties. From this example alone, the dividend from preventive diplomacy is self-evident, as it ensures fewer conflicts and lesser humanitarian catastrophes. Conflict prevention as a major component of the maintenance of peace and security should be accorded the highest priority in the light of the monumental costs of peacekeeping and post-conflict peace-building.”
1999-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4072Resumption1 (1999) · source
“Experience has shown that the surest and certainly the most cost-effective means of maintaining international peace and security is through the vehicle of preventive diplomacy. However, for the Security Council to enhance its role in the prevention of armed conflicts, it is imperative for the parties to a dispute to demonstrate the necessary political will and for the Council to provide adequate resources to enable the United Nations to respond in a timely fashion with preventive action. With the benefit of hindsight, we have learned, regrettably, that when preventive action is not taken or is delayed, a dispute leads to the outbreak of armed hostilities, as in the cases of Rwanda, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Kosovo. In this way the credibility of the United Nations is dented, at a time when more is demanded and expected of it.”
1999-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4072Resumption1 (1999) · source
“The relative weaknesses of the United Nations on this score should be an added reason for enhanced cooperation with regional and subregional organizations, such as the Economic Community of West African States and the Organization of African Unity. Ideally, the concept of conflict prevention would be the most efficacious approach for the maintenance of international peace and security. In our increasingly interdependent world and in the wake of the proliferation of armed conflicts, it has become more necessary for the Council to retool existing mechanisms and design innovative early warning systems to nip in the bud situations that would lead to a breach of international peace and security.”
1999-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4072Resumption1 (1999) · source
“The wanton destruction of life, the acute refugee crises, the plight of displaced persons and, above all, the destabilization of regional peace and stability should compel all members of the international community to seek appropriate tools to respond adequately to these conflicts. Nigeria regrets that Africa has a disproportionate share of these conflicts. Yet the region's capacity to effectively resolve these conflicts continues to be undermined by lack of resources and inadequate support from the international community. The best efforts of the United Nations, which finds itself challenged by the necessity to resolve these conflicts, are usually hindered by lack of financial resources and limited knowledge and familiarity with local situations.”
1999-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4072Resumption1 (1999) · source
“I wish to congratulate you, Mr. President, on the able manner in which you have presided over the affairs of the Council in the month of November. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the end of the cold war, a landmark event that brought relief from the tension which characterized the international political system in that era. In spite of the benefit of that epochal event, the decade has regrettably been marred by the proliferation and intensification of intra-State conflicts. These conflicts, although regional in character, have often threatened international peace and security.”
1999-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4072Resumption1 (1999) · source