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1. “We thank Under- Secretary-General Guehenno for briefing us on the situation in Kosovo and for presenting the Standards Implementation Plan. The Plan comes to us a few weeks after Kosovo was convulsed by the worst outbreak of inter-ethnic violence since the international community stepped in to restore the rule of law five years ago. The quarters for the Philippines contingent were among the structures razed, along with their belongings. Kosovo is a conflict area where violence can be reasonably expected to be least, considering that it is an area that one might consider as being under state-of- the-art conflict resolution in this building. That is due to the fact that KFOR is there, with its power and prestige. There is the power and prestige of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the United Nations.”

   2004-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4942 (2004) · source

2. “The Berlin conference furthers that partnership. The readiness with which the international community responded in Berlin is indeed an encouraging sign that the international community is not wavering in its support for Afghanistan. For its part, the Philippines remains committed to assist Afghanistan in its reconstruction efforts through training the Afghan people in health care, securing potable water and sanitation, agriculture and irrigation and civil and transport engineering. The journey of reconstruction and development of Afghanistan is like a bicycle ride: you must pedal, otherwise you fall. After the Berlin conference, with the sustained help of the international community, Afghans themselves must pedal through their own political and economic recovery.”

   2004-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4941 (2004) · source

3. “We welcome the steps being undertaken by Afghanistan together with its neighbours, as incorporated in the recent declaration to fight drugs, and the assistance being extended by other countries to develop viable economic alternatives to poppy cultivation. The International Monetary Fund says that at least 40 per cent of the economy of Afghanistan is illicit. Without an economy to provide legal income, eradicating the sole livelihood further undermines Afghanistan's political and economic future. Thus we share Pakistan's view on the need for Afghanistan to integrate its economy into the economies of the neighbouring subregions. The international community, through the United Nations, has been a consistent partner of the Transitional Government of President Karzai in facing challenges throughout the implementation of the Bonn process.”

   2004-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4941 (2004) · source

4. “My delegation believes that full implementation of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programme scheduled to be completed before the elections in September would contribute considerably to the security and credibility of the elections. Given the factional power in Afghanistan, greater effort to deal with local disputes must be exerted, as those local disputes produce an environment of insecurity that undermines the Afghanistan Transitional Administration in Kabul and weakens the central Government. Local dispute resolution mechanisms must be developed and community-based reconciliation must be promoted. Another factor destabilizing the political process is the serious problem of extensive poppy cultivation and all its consequences in drug production and drug trade.”

   2004-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4941 (2004) · source

5. “The establishment of more provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs) in critical areas controlled by warlords and the expansion of the operations of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) outside Kabul and other major cities will be important. The practice of sending soldiers to stay in villages and towns could give them a deeper understanding of the local people, and eventually they might win the cooperation of local warlords and villagers. A sizeable part of the political challenge would be overcome if security of the electoral process could be assured. A fully representative Government installed through a credible democratic process would go a long way in the effective governance of the entire country in the future.”

   2004-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4941 (2004) · source

6. “The lynchpin for the establishment of a democratically elected Government will be the presidential and parliamentary elections to be held this September, as announced by President Karzai. A credible, fully participatory election process will be critical to the full recognition of the Government that will be installed. Thus it is crucial that a robust security presence within both the registration and the election processes is assured. The necessary security could be provided by strengthening the Afghan army and police forces. We note in that regard the progress report that the United States provided us this morning. That may not be sufficient, however.”

   2004-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4941 (2004) · source

7. “That conference was indeed an opportune time to regenerate the process. In that regard, we fully support the presidential statement endorsing the Berlin declaration. We are all aware not only of the significant strides that the Government of President Karzai and the Afghan people have made to achieve the goal of a democratic, stable and functioning multi-ethnic society, but also of the challenges that have to be overcome to achieve that goal. The political process in Afghanistan is well on its way to significant development. The world commended the political maturity exhibited by the Constitutional Loya Jirga in adopting the Constitution, which lays the foundation for a democratically elected Government and parliament.”

   2004-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4941 (2004) · source

8. “We join other members of the Council in congratulating you, Mr. President, and Germany on your assumption of the presidency this month, and Ambassador De La Sabliere and France on its highly successful presidency last month. I also wish to thank Under-Secretary Guehenno and you, Mr. President, for briefing us on the results of the Berlin conference and on the steps ahead for Afghanistan's future. In January, the Philippines supported the idea proposed by you, Mr. President, to regenerate the political and financial support necessary to further the political and economic transition of Afghanistan as envisaged by the Bonn process. We now welcome the fruits of the Berlin conference, which generated renewed commitment on the part of the international community to assist in the recovery and the development of Afghanistan.”

   2004-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4941 (2004) · source

9. “Finally, in response to today's briefings, we support the adoption of a statement that would establish some sort of a road map for initiatives to be undertaken by international and regional bodies to deal in a practical and operational way with cross-border issues in West Africa.”

   2004-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4933 (2004) · source

10. “The experience of Sierra Leone showed how the World Bank can play an important role in post-conflict transitions, complementing political and security efforts of client Governments and the international community. We need to strengthen coordination among the various United Nations agencies on the ground, in particular the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa, UNAMSIL, UNMIL and UNOCI. Close cooperation among United Nations offices will avoid duplication of efforts and will serve as a necessary reinforcement measure to further the work of each office. We particularly commend the work of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and support the strengthening of his Office.”

    2004-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4933 (2004) · source

11. “Due emphasis should be placed on programmes adopted for ex-combatant children, in particular addressing their reintegration and improving their capacities for employment. The need to provide a livelihood for ex- combatants is imperative and should be an integral part of every DDR programme. Without this, the peace process will remain fragile. With an alternative livelihood, ex-combatants would have no reason to pick up arms again. We would also like to underscore the need for the cooperation and involvement of international institutions such as the World Bank in security sector reform. It may be recalled that the successful implementation of Sierra Leone's DDR programme was accomplished with the support of the World Bank.”

    2004-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4933 (2004) · source

12. “We would encourage ECOWAS to further intensify its efforts to implement the Moratorium beyond its expiration this year, through the adoption of a legally binding instrument, as well as to consider a ban on mercenaries. Recommendations 19 and 20 of the Secretary-General's report - on the enhancement of the capacity of border services such as border guards, police, immigration and customs, and on maintaining a central register of arms held by the military and national security agencies - should also be given priority attention. Regarding disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programmes, a key recommendation that merits the Council's attention focuses on the need to closely study the lessons learned in DDR programmes in Mali and Sierra Leone for possible application in other areas of West Africa.”

    2004-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4933 (2004) · source

13. “In this connection, the international community should seize the opportunity to build on the gains thus far achieved and pursue steps that would further enhance stability and peace in the region. Towards that end, we welcome the recommendations of the Secretary-General dealing with cross-border issues confronting the countries of the region, most notably those on proliferation of small arms and the use of mercenaries. We would like to focus on some points that we believe should be given priority. As rightly pointed out by the Secretary-General in his report (S/2004/200), security sector reform lies at the heart of resolving most cross-border regional problems. On the proliferation of small arms, we congratulate ECOWAS on its adoption of a Moratorium on small arms and on the establishment of a Small Arms Unit in its secretariat.”

    2004-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4933 (2004) · source

14. “In the words of the Foreign Minister of Ghana, peace and stability now engender cautious optimism and justified concern, and the establishment of functioning Governments is under way. These results can be attributed to the synergy of actions undertaken by the United Nations and regional organizations. The timely deployment of peacekeeping operations, both by regional groups and by the United Nations, significantly account for the maintenance of stability in the subregion. The United Nations now has three large peacekeeping operations in West Africa: the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and the United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI). Those United Nations presences provide an opportunity to deal in depth with regional instability factors and cross-border issues.”

    2004-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4933 (2004) · source

15. “We wish to thank the French presidency for convening this important meeting on ways to combat subregional and cross- border problems in West Africa. We welcome the comprehensive briefings by the current Chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Foreign Minister of Ghana, and by its Executive Secretary, Mr. Chambas, as well as by Under-Secretary-General Egeland and the Associate Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Mr. Diabre. In recent weeks, West Africa has been a good example of a multifaceted and integrated approach to conflict situations: a successful example of what the United Nations and civil society can accomplish in conjunction with regional organizations, notably ECOWAS.”

    2004-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4933 (2004) · source

16. “We appeal to them to follow the path of peaceful negotiations to achieve the goal of two States, living side by side in peace and security, in accordance with Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 1397 (2002). The conflict in the Middle East will never be resolved by violent means. Thus, we urge restarting the peace process established under the Quartet's road map, which the Council endorsed in resolution 1515 (2003). We ask the parties to fulfil their obligations under the road map to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.”

    2004-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4929 (2004) · source

17. “Regrettably, the strong words this afternoon by the parties concerned have not contributed to the constructive exercise of such political will. The Philippines has a strong interest in the stability of the region. It is a region that is host to about 1 million Filipino workers and their families. We are troubled by the wanton violence that we witness almost on a daily basis, particularly the deliberate targeting of civilians and the involvement of women and children in the conflict. The conflict cannot be allowed to proceed unabated without seriously imperilling the opportunities of future generations of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace an harmony. We call on all sides to exercise restraint and to refrain from violence, which will further escalate the situation.”

    2004-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4929 (2004) · source

18. “The policy of the Philippine Government is to condemn unequivocally all extrajudicial executions committed by any party. Such actions are a despicable violation of human rights and contrary to international law. We are deeply disturbed by the recent escalation of violence in the Middle East which has continued the pattern of attack and reprisal. The condemnable killings of Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and six other Palestinians yesterday, as well as the related acts of terrorism on 14 March in the port of Ashdod, constitute specific elements in this deadly cycle. We are gravely concerned that, unless strong political will on all sides is exercised to curtail terrorism and violence, the path to peace will ultimately be doomed.”

    2004-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4929 (2004) · source

19. “Ethnic Serbs and Albanians must be prevailed upon to exercise restraint and avoid taking any action that would lead to further chaos. Appropriate measures should also be taken to ensure that those responsible for the latest wave of violence are brought to justice. We join the call for Kosovars and their leaders to employ their best efforts to implement the "Standards for Kosovo," while keeping in mind that peace efforts cannot be implemented as a political project, even by the most well-meaning - or the best-armed - unless the soil is fully cultivated.”

    2004-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4928 (2004) · source

20. “This outbreak of violence has dealt a severe blow to efforts to bring peace and stability to Kosovo. What happened yesterday should prompt us to take a second look at the situation there and make adjustments if necessary. We should ask ourselves whether the violence could have been prevented. We should ask this not to put blame on anyone, but to allow us to come up with an appropriate response and to prevent such incidents from happening again. Right now, the most important thing is to restore order there. The international community must take the necessary steps to make sure that the rule of law prevails in Kosovo and that elements from both within and without are given no opportunity to sow further discord in the province in order to advance their agenda.”

    2004-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4928 (2004) · source

21. “Only a few weeks ago, we heard the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Harri Holkeri, speak of how Kosovo was slowly but surely moving in the direction that the international community wants it to take. It is also regrettable this violence should happen only a few days after Mr. Holkeri announced the holding of elections in Kosovo in October and following the visit there, a few days ago, of the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Jean-Marie Guehenno. Yesterday's violence may seem to be a spontaneous release of collective anger and frustration, but we should note that it took some time to build up and did not take place without warning. Before yesterday's violence, there had been indications that Kosovo remains the ethnic tinderbox that it has always been.”

    2004-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4928 (2004) · source

22. “The extent of the property damage has still not been fully assessed, although we know that a number of houses and public buildings have been torched by rampaging mobs across the country. We have been informed by our embassy in Budapest that even the Philippine police contingent's quarters in Kosovo have been burned and looted. My delegation joins the rest of the Security Council in expressing our indignation at these reprehensible acts of violence, which have dealt a severe blow to the international community's efforts to bring about a tolerant, multi-ethnic and democratic Kosovo. Such outbreaks of ethnically related violence have no room in Kosovo's future. This violence has to stop, and it must stop now. What happened in Kosovo yesterday is indeed unfortunate.”

    2004-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4928 (2004) · source

23. “Mr. President, we thank you for having convened this afternoon's meeting on Kosovo and the Secretary-General for his comprehensive and informative briefing. We are honoured also by the presence in our midst of the Foreign Ministers of Germany and of Serbia and Montenegro. Yesterday Kosovo once again became a war zone when the longstanding ethnic animus between the Serbs and the Albanians erupted in an orgy of death and destruction - the worst since the international community stepped in five years ago to put an end to a bloody conflict which neither side seems willing to forgive and forget. We condemn the violence, which has resulted, as reported this morning, in 31 people dead and more than 200 wounded, including 11 peacekeepers and 61 police officers. These are only initial figures. The number of dead and wounded is expected to rise.”

    2004-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4928 (2004) · source

24. “In the same vein, While employing innovation and creativity in carrying out some degree of transformation of the CTC, the Council should continue to uphold the important and timeless principles enshrined in the Charter to ensure the full cooperation of everyone in the important task of combating terrorism. I would like to end by emphasizing one theme. The global effort against terrorism requires the Security Council and the rest of the membership of the United Nations to remain committed partners if success is to be achieved in eradicating the scourge of terrorism.”

    2004-03-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4921 (2004) · source

25. “The institutional and legal instruments that our 1945 forebears have bequeathed us under the Charter to respond to threats to peace, breaches of the peace and acts of aggression might not have foreseen the serious threat which terrorism presents today to international peace and security. However, while the Charter would appear limited in that sense, it is, at the same time, sufficient to provide the Security Council with appropriate means to meet that challenge. As the Security Council deliberates on various proposals to improve the working methods and structure of the CTC, we hope that Member countries will embrace the changes that may seem outside the usual mould but are required to help States wage an effective battle against terrorism.”

    2004-03-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4921 (2004) · source

26. “Resolution 1373 (2001) has been the cornerstone of the Security Council's counter-terrorism measures. We are now in the tenth quarterly work programme of the CTC. The past two and a half years have shown the need to improve the working methods and structure of the CTC. This transformation will require innovative changes, which are outlined in the 19 February report of the CTC and have been ably presented by Ambassador Arias. We hope that the Council can adopt a resolution along the thrusts and structural changes outlined by Ambassador Arias. The fight against terrorism poses a huge challenge to the United Nations, particularly the Security Council.”

    2004-03-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4921 (2004) · source

27. “It is, rather, a different form of warfare, in whose context the Security Council's methods should be as creative, inventive and imaginative as those employed by terrorists, who take advantage of post-modern amenities in their actions. While we recognize the need for innovation in the fight against terrorism, our efforts - even if they are based on Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter - must be established on and rooted in the bedrock of cooperation and synergy among all Member States. The Security Council must emphasize the fact that the international community's capacity to overcome the challenge of terrorism should be energized by States' finding common interests and purposes rather than by legalistic ideas of enforcement and mandatory obligations.”

    2004-03-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4921 (2004) · source

28. “Terrorist money is transferred through banking facilities or the use of the telephone and other convenient modes of communication. Terrorists themselves travel by aeroplane and have, tragically, used them as weapons to attack. Terrorism has a very different feel from twentieth-century causes of conflicts, because it proceeds from a radical and ideological framework that defies the standard political and military calculations applied to traditional threats to the peace. In the face of such an enemy, nothing short of a global war that relies on strong international partnership and cooperation is required. Terrorism has no rational leadership with which negotiations for peace are possible.”

    2004-03-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4921 (2004) · source

29. “The catalytic moment in everyone's consciousness regarding the seriousness of that threat occurred on 11 September, even though the Security Council has been confronting that menace for many decades, starting from the assassination in 1948 of Count Bernadotte, the United Nations mediator in Palestine. The international community is beginning to understand the full extent of the distinct and formidable challenge posed by terrorism to international peace. We all realize that the threat of terrorism necessitates a creative and determined response that is outside of the usual box from which we draw ideas. Terrorism operates on a paradigm that is based on the use of modern technology, which otherwise provides creature comforts to many. Terrorist information is acquired and conveyed through e-mail and the Internet.”

    2004-03-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4921 (2004) · source

30. “Mr. President, I would like to thank you and your delegation for having organized this important debate on the Counter- Terrorism Committee (CTC). This meeting is taking place at a critical juncture for the Security Council and aims to take stock of the continuing threat of international terrorism and to find ways to improve the Council's response to this menace, primarily through the unique work of the CTC. I thank most sincerely Ambassador Arias, Chairman of the CTC, for his report today on the Committee's work and on the innovations needed to revitalize the CTC. There is broad agreement that terrorism is one of the defining threats to international peace and security in the twenty-first century.”

    2004-03-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4921 (2004) · source

31. “We are gratified to note the assurance by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers this morning about the Government's commitment to coordinate on those reforms. It is incumbent upon the international community to be strong and to know what it is doing - and to ensure that all know that it is strong and knows what it is doing. We congratulate Lord Ashdown on his intrusive approach to nation-building in Bosnia and Herzegovina and on his mediation efforts among the political actors in that country. I wish him well in what he called the irreversible road to statehood and European integration for Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

    2004-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4920 (2004) · source

32. “We join other countries in expressing our desire to see indicted war criminals brought before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for war crimes and other crimes against humanity. We call on the concerned authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to extend their full cooperation to see to it that those indictees are turned over and brought to justice. We expect the relevant authorities in the country to appropriately investigate and prosecute war crimes cases that have been referred by the ICTY to local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies. In the present situation, the national Governments appear to have retained a veto capacity, to have a large say or even to obstruct the reforms of the High Commissioner.”

    2004-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4920 (2004) · source

33. “We take note of Lord Ashdown's concern, described in paragraphs 66 and 67 of the report, at the growing challenges to the police certification process conducted by the International Police Task Force (IPTF) during its mandate in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is unfortunate that police officers who were denied certification by the IPTF - most because of their involvement in war crimes, the abuse of authority or criminal activities - have taken advantage of a legal loophole to get themselves reinstated. We were gratified to hear this morning that Under-Secretary- General Jean-Marie Guehenno has recognized the seriousness of the matter and is making proposals to resolve it. Another concern is the fact that those behind the slaughter of civilians in Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to evade justice.”

    2004-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4920 (2004) · source

34. “We can ask questions such as whether reform should be carried out within existing bodies or by institutions restructured from within or from without. We have observed from the report (S/2004/ 126, annex, enclosure) that the people and the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina are still relying on the international community to make tough decisions: drafting key laws and regulations and, in most instances, paying the bills. However, we are gratified to note that progress has been made in the mission implementation plan setting out the specific goals and the points at which the handover to domestic institutions will take place. If one can see the past, one can also demand a future.”

    2004-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4920 (2004) · source

35. “We take note of the fact that, as stated in the briefing given by Lord Ashdown, the reform process - a difficult task indeed - is driven by the international community but carried out by the national Governments. We endorse the High Representative's approach of mobilizing a popular constituency for his reforms - that is, the people themselves. We believe that people who have a past and who know where they come from will know where they are and where they are going. Having a past means having a sense of history. I hope Lord Ashdown's approach has a significant impact on this process, since having a sense of history also means having a sense of country. If one can see the past, one can ask questions about the present.”

    2004-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4920 (2004) · source

36. “It is good for the international community and for the Security Council, and I suppose Lord Ashdown welcomes this also. It means that the effort of the international community to build a self-sustaining State in Bosnia and Herzegovina is nearing its terminal phase. It means also that quite soon our dilemma will become when and how to disengage from Bosnia. As indicated in the report of the High Representative, the number of core tasks for his Office has been reduced from six to the following four: entrenching the rule of law; reforming the economy; strengthening the capacity of the governing institutions; and establishing, at the State level, civilian command and control over the armed forces. Still, these are formidable tasks of nation-building, in which the country's foreign guardians will have to engage themselves more deeply.”

    2004-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4920 (2004) · source

37. “At the outset, Sir, allow us to congratulate you on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for March and to commit to you our full cooperation. We also congratulate Ambassador Wang Guangya of China on a successful presidency last month. We thank the High Representative, Lord Ashdown, and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Terzic, for their comprehensive briefings. Given the steady progress being made in the country, of which we have heard this morning, the debate on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not as sexy this morning as it was seven or eight years ago. That is good for Bosnia and Herzegovina, for the European Union (EU), for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).”

    2004-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4920 (2004) · source

38. “The international community and the United Nations system should not abrogate its responsibility to treat the current structural dysfunction in Haiti now to a robust presence in order to address security and humanitarian aspects. The surest way to allow a bad situation to worsen and to spread is to do nothing or to do something too late. I believe the Security Council should avoid that. We therefore welcome the appointment by the Secretary-General of the Special Adviser on Haiti for that purpose.”

    2004-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4917 (2004) · source

39. “South-East Asia had that sad experience during the Viet Nam war. Yesterday, the Council President, on behalf of the Council, issued a press statement (press release SC/8009) that called upon the Government and the armed rebels to cease the use of violence to advance political goals. It remains unclear whether that message ever really reached the parties concerned, or whether they heard even a bit of what we were saying. If, after this meeting, the Council decides to renew yesterday's call, it must also decide to do something beyond that call and address the situation on the ground. Otherwise, we may find ourselves addressing our own statement and, as an unintended consequence, only embarrass ourselves.”

    2004-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4917 (2004) · source

40. “Although the circumstances are different, INTERFET - the international force in East Timor - which was authorized by the Security Council, was instrumental in arresting violence and restoring law and order in that country. Australia and other countries in the region restored law and order in the Solomon Islands last year. Of course, a peaceful and constitutional solution to the current crisis in Haiti will have to be evolved. We are gratified to note that the Organization of American States (OAS), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and other countries with particular interest are engaged in Haiti to persuade Haitians to resolve their differences peacefully, democratically and constitutionally. That will obviate the spectre of refugees: boat people from Haiti spilling into the neighbouring countries.”

    2004-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4917 (2004) · source

41. “Given the volatility of the situation in Haiti, if an international force in support of a political settlement is envisaged, it must be done now, before the situation further deteriorates, before a blood bath occurs. Time is of the essence, and we must bite the bullet now. We therefore see merit in the statement of the Foreign Minister of France, circulated as a Security Council document, which calls for, inter alia, the immediate establishment of a civilian peacekeeping force under a mandate mentioned therein. A number of countries have said that they may be ready to contribute to that force. There are also a number of countries that have sent troops to Haiti to protect their citizens. We could thus readily have a new coalition of the willing to arrest continued violence and the breakdown of law and order in Haiti.”

    2004-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4917 (2004) · source

42. “Therefore, there is an urgent need for an international civilian police presence to do the job. We are aware that there are calls from powerful nations and large organizations - also from nations not so powerful, and organizations not so large - for rebels to cease and desist from further violence. But such calls, no matter in how strong a voice, must be accompanied by strong action on the ground. Otherwise, they may remain hollow and empty and go unheeded. We are also aware that there are ongoing diplomatic and political initiatives to secure a peaceful solution to the crisis. But those laudable initiatives will have a greater chance of success only when the guns are silent. By their pronouncements both sides have hardened their positions and are on a collision course.”

    2004-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4917 (2004) · source

43. “We wish to thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting on the question concerning Haiti, with the added impact of the presence of the Secretary-General. Yesterday we had a briefing from the Under- Secretary-General for Political Affairs about the grim situation on the ground in Haiti. This afternoon, the Foreign Ministers of Jamaica and Bahamas and the Permanent Representative of Haiti had an even more grim and bleak picture of the situation. The urgent priority now is to restore order on the ground, avoid further loss of life and property, pre- empt further human rights abuses and allow safe delivery of humanitarian assistance. That has been strongly advocated by the Foreign Ministers of Jamaica and Bahamas. There is no military force in Haiti, and the civilian police are incapable of doing all that.”

    2004-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4917 (2004) · source

44. “Respect for the views of others requires courage in the face of deep-rooted differences, but we have no choice but to move forward to ensure a stable Iraq, a peaceful region and a safer world. There are many issues that demand our attention. Many of them will have to be discussed and debated later, either in this forum or in other forums that have been established on Iraq. It is important to maintain a united and unified Iraq. Equally important is to give the Iraqi people a sense of where they are going and when. In this endeavour, we must also protect the gains achieved for Iraq so far, during the past months. And, with a clearly defined mandate, the United Nations can play a constructive and important role towards those ends.”

    2004-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4914 (2004) · source

45. “We are grateful to Ambassador Jones Parry for his briefing and for the comprehensive paper he has just distributed. The reconstruction of Iraq will require the participation and cooperation of the international community, particularly the influential countries that initially opposed the war and are still holding back much-needed assistance to place Iraq on the track to peace and stability. The leading role of the United Nations in this effort will be a critical foundation for a diplomatic consensus among all major players to extend help in the reconstruction of Iraq. To attain unity among the international community, the differences of the past should be left behind, and no one should be required to concede in terms of national views and positions on the military action in Iraq.”

    2004-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4914 (2004) · source

46. “The new governing structure must be able to deliver security and basic services to the people. That will take courage, resources and improvisation. Two important issues must be addressed, and the first is security. Even after the Iraqis take over, the Coalition military will remain in de facto control of security until an Iraqi military or civilian force is firmly established. We are grateful for Ambassador Negroponte's update on this force, and perhaps, in this connection, we could ask for more information on the command structure of such a military or civilian force. The terms of reference of such an arrangement after 30 June will have to be determined, and securing the peace and stability of a united Iraq will also require the support and cooperation of neighbouring States. The second important issue is the delivery of basic services.”

    2004-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4914 (2004) · source

47. “As the United Nations begins in earnest to perform the required tasks in Iraq's nation-building process, let me affirm our full support of the principle that the United Nations must work in the context of an independent identity and purpose to preserve not only the reality but also the perception of its neutrality. The core issue of the political process to restore sovereignty in Iraq is how to hand over power, and to whom, after 30 June. Given the great divide among the factionalized communities in Iraq, which are manoeuvring for advantage at one another's expense, the United Nations will be called on to nurse the new Government's strength and ability to govern. A weak Iraqi Government - one with limited legitimacy, ineffective institutions and limited control over the country - must be avoided.”

    2004-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4914 (2004) · source

48. “First, a special representative should be appointed as soon as possible to lead the efforts of the United Nations in the design, planning and implementation of a credible process for the establishment of an interim government and for the holding of fair and credible elections to choose a permanent government in Iraq. The special representative may also be able to determine if it is possible to replicate in Iraq some of the successes achieved in the Afghanistan political process. Secondly, while giving due regard to the Security Council's concerns, the Secretary-General could consider returning United Nations staff and personnel to Iraq at the earliest possible time. A United Nations presence on the ground is important to provide visibility for the actual engagement of the international community in the process.”

    2004-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4914 (2004) · source

49. “The legitimacy of the process in the eyes of the Iraqi people will be a key element in ensuring that democracy and stability take root deeply in the country. In our view, now that the United Nations has started to re-engage itself in Iraq, it has become a pivotal player in the country and the body that is in the best position to provide such legitimacy. The chance and the opportunity to create a legitimate political process and establish stable institutions for that purpose is devolving to the United Nations, which must be able to serve as midwife to the process through 30 June and beyond. To pave the way for ensuring a central role for the United Nations in Iraq, it is essential to consider, as soon as possible, the following courses of action.”

    2004-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4914 (2004) · source

50. “We, too, are grateful to the Permanent Representatives of the United States and of the United Kingdom for their comprehensive and candid briefings this morning. I would like to speak on only two points: the United Nations role in the political process in Iraq, and international cooperation in the reconstruction of Iraq. We note with gratification that there is now a consensus that the United Nations should have a robust role in Iraq. In that connection, it is critically important that the political process to restore sovereignty and establish a democratically chosen government in Iraq be fully accepted and supported by the people of Iraq. As many have stressed within and outside the United Nations, Iraqi ownership of the process must be a foundational principle in this exercise.”

    2004-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4914 (2004) · source