YouSaid · the spoken record

Biarn Lian

lines on the record

22

first

1995-01-19

most recent

1995-12-20

sittings or episodes

2

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

1. “It is our firm belief that an institutionalized mechanism with these features, and taking care of these concerns, is in the interest of the Security Council itself and the troop-contributing countries, and that it will contribute in a very positive manner to what must remain our overall objective: the enhancement of the capacity of the Security Council - and thus of the United Nations - to maintain international peace and security.”

   1995-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3611 (1995) · source

2. “Secondly, in addition to the arrangements already decided by the Council, it is important that consultations with potential contributors should also take place before decisions are taken to launch new operations. Thus, we feel, the Council as well as the potential troop contributors will be in a better position to assess realistically which options are available and to decide on the course of action to be taken. The Permanent Representative of New Zealand commented very effectively, I feel, on the reservations expressed, in particular, by France on this point.”

   1995-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3611 (1995) · source

3. “It is now time to review the mechanism and to look at ways to further develop it, along the lines that have been drawn up by the representative of Argentina. Let me focus on two aspects which the Nordic countries consider to be of particular importance. These two aspects have already been touched upon by a number of previous speakers in this debate. First, the establishment of a forum for consultations for troop contributors will, we feel, lead to more efficient and effective decision-making and management with respect to peace-keeping operations. We are of the View that this mechanism should preferably be institutionalized as a subsidiary organ under Article 29 of the Charter. This would ensure regular and formalized consultations, which is essential for this matter of crucial concern to the international community.”

   1995-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3611 (1995) · source

4. “Allow me also to underline in this context the need we feel, as very substantial contributors to the peace-keeping operations of the United Nations, for a mechanism for troop contributors to communicate, on a regular basis, their concerns, ideas and experiences to members of the Security Council and the Secretariat. This would bring us closer to the decision-making of the Security Council, which in turn would contribute to ensuring continued support from our public opinion and from our home authorities in these important matters. The Nordic countries welcomed the steps that were taken in this respect last year, and have certainly found consultations that have ensued very useful. We trust that this is also the View of the Security Council itself.”

   1995-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3611 (1995) · source

5. “The Nordic countries have been, and remain, among the most important troop contributors to the peace-keeping operations of the United Nations. It is the same, long- standing comrnitment to this essential task which is reflected when we stress the need to strengthen the arrangements for consultations between the Security Council and troop-contributing countries on peace-keeping operations. We must aim at arrangements which will contribute to a strengthened support for the Security Council in the performance of its duties, to a more precise formulation of mandates for the operations and to an improved perception and understanding by troop contributors of these mandates.”

   1995-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3611 (1995) · source

6. “The Nordic countries fully associate themselves with the statement made by the Permanent Representative of Argentina, summarizing the discussions which have taken place among a number of interested countries and outlining the features we believe should characterize a strengthened and improved mechanism for consultations between the Security Council and the troop-contributing countries. The Members of the United Nations have conferred primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security on the Security Council. But it is a shared responsibility for all Member States to make sure that the Security Council has at its disposal the necessary means as well as the necessary support to carry out its task.”

   1995-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3611 (1995) · source

7. “I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Nordic countries - Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and my own country, Norway. Allow me first of all, in my brief statement, to express our appreciation to you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting and to commend the Permanent Representative of Argentina, Ambassador Emilio Cardenas, for the initiative he took to bring about this very timely follow-up to the mechanism established through the presidential statement of last year.”

   1995-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3611 (1995) · source

8. “These problems need urgently to be solved on a permanent basis. As the Secretary-General himself has said, the ability of the United Nations to perform the tasks for which it was created is in peril, and this is no longer simply a financial question but an urgent political question. Norway fully agrees with this analysis and fully supports the introduction of the financial incentives, sanctions and reforms that the Secretary-General has suggested, as a political measure to meet the threats we perceive to the Organization. In our View, reforms are necessary to maintain and renew multilateralism.”

   1995-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3492Resumption2 (1995) · source

9. “The objective must be to solve the tasks at the right level and by the relevant organs in close cooperation. We believe that more work is required in order to improve the practical coordination of all aspects of a comprehensive peace-keeping operation, including humanitarian efforts, particularly in the field. Here again, the role of the special representative of the Secretary-General, the role of the force commander and the chain of command need to be absolutely clear. In conclusion, I should like to point to the critical financial situation of the United Nations with respect to peace-keeping. The resources of the United Nations are stretched to the limit, as are those of many troop- contributing countries. The United Nations is faced with a serious financial situation, which is adversely affecting peace-keeping operations.”

   1995-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3492Resumption2 (1995) · source

10. “Recent experience shows that it is difficult to foresee the full consequences of peace enforcement operations. Few crises lend themselves readily to this type of approach, and many countries tend to be reluctant to put their soldiers under United Nations command for operations that are perceived as risky or uncertain. The limited resources of the United Nations impede peace- enforcement actions. In the cases where the Security Council mandates such actions, they may have to be delegated to Member States or other arrangements which have the necessary capacity to implement them. The issue of coordination is crucial, be it within the Secretariat, between the various United Nations agencies and bodies or between Headquarters and the field, and also in Governments' positions in various bodies.”

    1995-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3492Resumption2 (1995) · source

11. “The Security Council should, in connection with the imposition and use of sanctions, assess the consequences of sanctions on third countries and explore ways of assisting third countries that are adversely affected by sanctions. In fact, similar proposals were presented by the Nordic countries in their document "Shaping the peace: the United Nations in the 1990s", which was circulated in October 1991. It is important that the instrument of sanctions not be weakened in any way. The Secretary-General voices his concern regarding the consequences of using force, other than for self- defence, in a peace-keeping context. While we agree with those who point out that the use of coercive measures cannot be ruled out, we feel that the issue of the use of force or peace enforcement should be approached with caution.”

    1995-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3492Resumption2 (1995) · source

12. “We share many of the Secretary-General's comments in the area of post-conflict peace building. The transition from a peace-keeping operation to longer-term humanitarian and development efforts needs careful management, and the question of coordination and responsibility needs to be closely considered in each individual case. With regard to the issue of anti-personnel mines, my delegation believes that we are off to a good start, thanks to initiatives by the European Union and the United States, both of which were firmly supported by my Government. We will continue to be actively engaged in these issues and in follow-up activities. Sanctions will continue to be an important instrument in United Nations efforts to foster peace and security.”

    1995-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3492Resumption2 (1995) · source

13. “The Security Council should, whenever possible, consult with potential troop-contributing countries also before a decision is taken by the Security Council to launch a new peace-keeping operation. The new tasks of the United Nations peace-keeping operations are manifold. What is now needed is consideration of new proposals in relation to the new tasks of peace-keeping operations. The Secretary-General's forward-looking ideas regarding a rapid reaction force, a reserve stock of standard peace-keeping equipment, and partnerships between Governments that need equipment and those Governments ready to provide it all merit further study and deliberation. These proposals are intended to respond to present and future requirements that can already now be foreseen, and therefore deserve our full attention.”

    1995-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3492Resumption2 (1995) · source

14. “In this connection, Norway welcomes the improvement we have witnessed in the procedures for consultations between troop-contributing countries, members of the Security Council and the Secretary-General. We firmly believe that an enhanced dialogue with the Security Council and increased transparency in these matters will be of crucial importance for maintaining broad political support for United Nations peace-keeping operations in the Member States. The consultations with troop-contributing countries should be structured, focused on areas of particular concern and take place on a regular basis as well as when extensions and/or modifications of existing mandates are being considered.”

    1995-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3492Resumption2 (1995) · source

15. “Let me just emphasize the importance we attach to clear lines of command and a common understanding of operational control. We see the principle of unity of command as a prerequisite for a successful peace-keeping operation. Norway fully shares the Secretary-General's concern that a peace-keeping operation should not be asked to use force when its existing composition, armament, logistics support and deployment deny it the capacity to do so. The viability of the operation and the danger to the personnel must be the main priorities. We furthermore support the Secretary-General's call that before the Security Council takes a decision on a new or expanded peace-keeping operation the United Nations should be assured that the necessary personnel and equipment will be forthcoming.”

    1995-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3492Resumption2 (1995) · source

16. “We have contributed to a large number of them and have been active in the development of their concepts - the creation of training manuals and the establishment of stand-by forces. In particular, the strengthening of United Nations command and control capabilities has been a concern of ours for a long time. Suffice it to mention the Nordic initiative at the forty-eighth session of the General Assembly and the informal working group on command and control that was set up under the chairmanship of Norway, also as a follow-up to the informal Ottawa meeting on peace- keeping operations. The Secretary-General has now issued a separate report regarding this issue which we will have the opportunity to discuss in further detail in the Special Committee on Peace-keeping Operations later this spring.”

    1995-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3492Resumption2 (1995) · source

17. “Secondly, and perhaps most important, the formal authorities in conflict- prone countries often resist United Nations or other international involvement. The Secretary-General, therefore, underscores that we must create a climate of opinion in which the norm would be for Member States to accept an offer of United Nations good offices or for themselves to invite such an offer from the United Nations. Similar attitudes should be promoted amongst Member States with regard to preventive deployment. The concept of peace-keeping operations should be further developed to meet the new challenges. Norway has been and still is a staunch supporter of United Nations peace-keeping operations.”

    1995-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3492Resumption2 (1995) · source

18. “As pointed out by the Secretary-General, solutions need to be found to the practical problems of finding persons with the necessary qualifications and seniority to act as special representative or special envoy of the Secretary-General, and of providing the resources needed for establishing small field missions for preventive diplomacy and peacemaking. In this connection, I would like to point to the instrument of preventive deployment. The deployment of forces with a clear preventive mandate was for the first time initiated in The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia with a joint Nordic force. So far this operation must be described as successful and it therefore, we feel, stands out as an example to be followed in other potential conflict areas. The first main obstacle to a strategy of preventive deployment is the lack of resources.”

    1995-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3492Resumption2 (1995) · source

19. “Norway has tried to meet these challenges by establishing the Norwegian Emergency Preparedness System and the Norwegian Resource Bank for Democracy and Human Rights. At the request of United Nations agencies, newborn democracies and parties to armed conflicts, more than 500 relief workers, human rights advisers and peace mediators and observers were dispatched last year to more than 30 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. These stand-by arrangements have made it possible for us to play an active role as facilitator in relation to four separate peace processes: in the Middle East, in Guatemala, in the former Yugoslavia and, most recently, in Sri Lanka. In all of these peace efforts, our role is either supportive of, complementary to or preparatory for, the United Nations.”

    1995-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3492Resumption2 (1995) · source

20. “At a time when a multitude of demands are being put on the Organization and resources are scarce, focused preventive action will be the most efficient way in which the United Nations can seek to meet tomorrow's challenges to collective security. Effective preventive action requires early action. Our experience is that international assistance can preserve peace, save lives and protect human rights and democracy if it reaches vulnerable communities in time. We have too often been passive observers of unique opportunities being lost, because we, as individual nations or as United Nations Members, did not mobilize resources in time. Too often our response mechanisms have proved to be inadequate for the early needs of embattled democracies, peace initiatives or disaster-prone and vulnerable communities.”

    1995-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3492Resumption2 (1995) · source

21. “I would like, as others have done, to comment in a preliminary manner on some of the issues that are of particular importance to my authorities. We believe preventive diplomacy and peacemaking are challenging tasks in which the United Nations is well placed to play an important role through a variety of instruments, such as mediation, conflict resolution and the Secretary-General's good offices. We should all do our utmost to allow future United Nations activities for peace and security increasingly to be focused on efforts that can solve problems before they are allowed to deepen into crisis or conflict.”

    1995-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3492Resumption2 (1995) · source

22. “Allow me first to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of January. I am convinced that the skill you display in the performance of your duties will enable the Council to deal with the important matters before it in a businesslike and expeditious manner. Norway joins others in welcoming the Secretary- General's position paper at the opening of the United Nations fiftieth anniversary year. The Supplement to "An Agenda for Peace" is an important and valuable contribution to the ongoing process of strengthening the United Nations activities in the field of peace and security. The Secretary-General has concisely drawn our attention to the most urgent issues facing the United Nations, drawing on the experience gained since his report "An Agenda for Peace" was issued in June 1992.”

    1995-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3492Resumption2 (1995) · source