YouSaid · the spoken record

Biden

lines on the record: 67
first: 2000-12-12
most recent: 2010-12-15
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

“I thank them all once more for their efforts in support of this process. I now resume my functions as President of the Security Council. The meeting rose at 1.35 p.m.”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“I thank all the participants for their contribution to this meeting. My thanks go particularly to my fellow Vice President, the Secretary- General, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iraq and other representatives. I would like to close by saying a few final remarks in my national capacity. Today was an important milestone for the Government of Iraq and the people of Iraq in their ongoing effort to leave behind their troubled past and embrace a much brighter future. The three resolutions we adopted bring an end to the burdensome remnants of the dark era of Saddam Hussein, lifting restrictions relating to weapons of mass destruction and civilian nuclear activities and terminating both the oil-for-food programme and the Development Fund for Iraq. It is a rare honour, I say to my colleagues, to be able to preside over this gathering.”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“I now invite His Excellency Mr. Vitaly Churkin, the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation, to take the floor.”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“I now invite His Excellency Mr. Hisashi Tokunaga, the Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, to take the floor.”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“I now invite His Excellency The Right Honourable Alistair Burt, Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, to take the floor.”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“I now invite Her Excellency Ms. Vera Machado, the Vice-Minister of Political Affairs of the Ministry of External Relations of Brazil, to take the floor.”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“I thank the Secretary-General for his statement. I now invite my friend His Excellency Mr. Hoshyar Zebari, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iraq, to take the floor.”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“Today, as we take stock of all that the Iraqi people have endured and accomplished, and all that still must be done, we cannot lose sight of the fact that Iraq is on the cusp of something remarkable: a stable, self-reliant nation with just, representative and accountable Government - a positive force for peace and stability in the region. We all have an interest in redeeming that promise and preserving the gains that Iraq has made. I now resume my functions as President of the Security Council. I invite His Excellency the Secretary-General to take the floor.”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“Since President Obama asked me to oversee our Administration's Iraq policy when we took office, let me assure the Council that the United States will continue to work with Iraqi leaders on the important tasks that lie ahead: conducting the census, integrating Kurdish forces into Iraqi security forces, keeping commitments to the Sons of Iraq, resolving disputed internal boundaries with regard to the future of Kirkuk, passing critical hydrocarbon legislation and a fiscally responsible budget, and helping stabilize the country's economy. We must also continue our efforts to protect and support those displaced by war and help enable voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable returns.”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“The Council has ended the Development Fund for Iraq effective 30 June 2011, due to the steps the country has taken towards resolving debts and claims inherited from the previous regime and establishing accountable arrangements for transitioning the Fund. We all know that our work on those issues is not complete. We urge Iraq's neighbours and the rest of the international community to continue to work closely with Iraq on its remaining Chapter VII obligations. We strongly support the resolution of outstanding issues between Iraq and Kuwait.”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“Accordingly, the Security Council has now lifted restrictions imposed by resolutions 687 (1991) and 707 (1991), relating to weapons of mass destruction and civilian nuclear activities, in recognition of Iraq's commitment to non-proliferation, its compliance with relevant treaties and other international instruments, its adherence to the highest non-proliferation standards, and its provisional application of the additional protocols to its agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, pending that agreement's entry into force. The Council has also terminated the residual activities of the oil-for-food programme, because Iraq has successfully closed out the remaining contracts.”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“To be sure, Iraq faces further challenges on the road to security and prosperity. Attacks by extremists remain an unacceptable aspect of daily life in the country. We are particularly concerned about recent attempts to target innocents because of their faith, including both Christians and Muslims, and to lash out at security forces working to keep the country safe. But I firmly believe that despite those challenges, Iraq's best days are ahead. As a founding Member of the United Nations, Iraq seeks and deserves the opportunity to resume its rightful role in the community of nations. Towards that end, this meeting formally acknowledges the significant steps Iraq has taken towards fulfilling its obligations to the United Nations, incurred in the lead- up to the 1991 Gulf war.”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“Quite frankly, I have watched the young men and women who are the Special Representative's staff literally risk their lives. I have watched them, and I think sometimes those outside this vaulted chamber underestimate the incredible talent, the incredible dedication and the incredible devotion of the men and women we send into those regions. They deserve our gratitude and our special thanks - not just the special envoys like Mr. Vieira de Mello, but also Ad Melkert, who I worked with every single day I was in Iraq. I will say again, we would not have gotten to this point - and I think our colleague from Iraq would acknowledge this - were it not for their staff, whose work is often done under trying conditions. I might add that I think that work remains as important as it has ever been.”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“That wisdom, forged during a career spent in the hard-luck corners of the world, lives on in all of those who are bravely helping Iraq to build a better future, including the men and women of the United Nations Mission in Iraq (UNAMI). Over more than a dozen visits to Iraq since the war began - as their Foreign Minister can tell you, I jokingly kid that I deserve Iraqi citizenship, I have spent so much time there, and I have enjoyed every minute - I have seen first-hand, as I hope many here have, UNAMI'S efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, conduct elections, advance inclusive dialogue and national reconciliation, aid vulnerable communities, and promote the protection of human rights and the reform of the justice system.”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“I do not need to remind this gathering of the important role the United Nations played, and continues to play, in support of Iraq's development, and the very, very heavy price it has paid. We will not forget the horror of 19 August 2003, when terrorists took the lives of 22 people, including, I think we would all agree, an outstanding, remarkable United Nations envoy, Sergio Vieira de Mello. It was a tragic harbinger of all that was to follow after August of 2003, but the important work of the United Nations continued, and continues to this day. It continues because of the foresight of that United Nations Special Representative, who rightly observed, and I quote him, "There is no longer such a thing as a distant crisis", since "You can't help people from a distance".”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“It is made in Iraq, by Iraqis, and it reflects the remarkable development that in today's Iraq, politics has emerged as the dominant means for settling differences and advancing the country's interests. The Iraqi leaders must now honour, in a timely manner, the commitments to one another and to the Iraqi people that were made in the negotiating process. Going forward, the United States will continue to do its part to reinforce the progress being made in Iraq consistent with our Strategic Framework Agreement with the Iraqis, and to forge an enduring partnership across a range of sectors, including education, energy, trade, health, culture, information technology, law enforcement, the judiciary and security. We respectfully urge other nations to share their expertise as well with this new, emerging Iraq.”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“Since our Administration came to office, we have withdrawn more than 100,000 American troops from Iraq and ended our combat mission there. We have transitioned from a military-led to a civilian-led engagement. The 50,000 troops who remain until the end of next year, under the security agreement with the Iraqi Government, have been given a new primary mission: advising and assisting their Iraqi counterparts. Meanwhile, the frequency of violent attacks in Iraq has reached its lowest level - thank the Lord - since 2003. As the Council knows, in March the Iraqi people conducted an historic election, and last month Iraq's political leaders agreed on a framework for a Government that reflects the election's results. That Government will include blocs representing every major community and will not exclude or marginalize anyone.”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“With the Council's permission, I will now make a statement in my national capacity. It is a genuinely rare opportunity to preside over this meeting of the United Nations Security Council, which is addressing the important issues relating to the Republic of Iraq. Let us briefly reflect on what has been a critically important period in Iraq's history. In recent years, the Iraqi people have emerged from the depths of sectarian violence and have flatly rejected the grim future offered by extremists. They have earned themselves a chance for much better days ahead. Iraqi forces are now in charge of securing their country, and they have proved themselves more than capable of doing so, as I and many of those here have seen with our own eyes.”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“The Security Council encourages UNAMI's continued work, in coordination with the Government of Iraq, to provide protection and help create conditions conducive to the voluntary, safe, dignified and, in particular, sustainable return of Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons, and stresses the importance of further attention to this issue by all concerned. "The Security Council underscores UNAMI's important role in supporting the Iraqi people and Government to promote dialogue, ease tension, and encourage a negotiated political agreement on the nation's disputed internal boundaries, and calls upon all relevant parties to participate in an inclusive dialogue to that end." This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2010/27.”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“"The Security Council reaffirms its full support for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) in advising, supporting and assisting the Iraqi people and Government to strengthen democratic institutions, advance inclusive dialogue and national reconciliation, facilitate regional dialogue, aid vulnerable groups, strengthen gender equality, promote the protection of human rights, including through the establishment of the Independent High Commission for Human Rights, promote the protection of affected civilians, including children, women and members of religious and ethnic minority groups, and promote judicial and legal reform. "The Security Council commends UNAMI, headed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for its support throughout the electoral process, consistent with its mandate.”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“"The Security Council welcomes Iraq's reintegration into the region and encourages Iraq and all regional States to deepen and broaden their relationships and to conduct those relationships in a spirit of partnership and cooperation.”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“"In recognition of Iraq's progress towards the establishment of effective and accountable successor arrangements for the transition of the Development Fund for Iraq, the Security Council has adopted resolution 1956 (2010), which terminates arrangements for the Development Fund for Iraq on 30 June 2011. "Welcoming the progress made by the Governments of Iraq and Kuwait towards the resolution of the outstanding issues between both countries, and encouraging further cooperation, the Security Council calls on Iraq to quickly fulfil its remaining obligations under the relevant Chapter VII Security Council resolutions pertaining to the situation between Iraq and Kuwait.”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“"In recognition of Iraq's progress in supporting the international non-proliferation regime and complying with disarmament treaties and other relevant international instruments, its commitment to taking additional steps in this regard and its provisional application of the Additional Protocol to the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), pending its ratification, the Security Council has adopted resolution 1957 (2010), which lifts the restrictions imposed by resolutions 687 (1991) and 707 (1991) relating to weapons of mass destruction and civilian nuclear activities. "In recognition of Iraq's success in closing out the remaining contracts in the Oil-for-Food programme, the Council has also adopted resolution 1958 (2010) to terminate the residual activities of the Oil-for-Food programme.”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“"The Security Council reaffirms the need to combat all forms of terrorism and that no terrorist act can reverse the path towards peace, democracy and reconstruction in Iraq, which is supported by its people, the Government of Iraq and the international community. "The Security Council welcomes positive developments in Iraq and recognizes that the situation now existing in Iraq is significantly different from that which existed at the time of the adoption of resolution 661 (1990). Consistent with resolution 1859 (2008), the Security Council also welcomes the important progress Iraq has made in regaining the international standing it held prior to the adoption of resolution 661 (1990).”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“"The Security Council reaffirms its commitment to the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Iraq and emphasizes the importance of the stability and security of Iraq for its people, the region and the international community. "The Security Council supports the inclusive political process and power-sharing agreement reached by Iraqi leaders to form a representative national partnership Government that reflects the will of the Iraqi people as displayed by the parliamentary elections of 7 March 2010. We encourage its leaders to continue to pursue a federal, democratic, pluralistic and unified Iraq based upon the rule of law and respect for human rights.”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“I shall now put to the vote the third draft resolution contained in document S/2010/636 and co- sponsored by Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, Gabon, Japan, Lebanon, Nigeria, the Russian Federation, Turkey, Uganda, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America. A vote was taken by a show of hands. In favour: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, China, Gabon, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, the Russian Federation, Turkey, Uganda, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: France The President: There were 14 votes in favour, none against and one abstention. The draft resolution has been adopted as resolution 1958 (2010). I have been authorized by the members of the Council to make the following statement on their behalf.”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“I shall now put to the vote the second draft resolution, contained in document S/2010/633 and co- sponsored by Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, France, Gabon, Japan, Lebanon, Nigeria, the Russian Federation, Turkey, Uganda, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America. A vote was taken by a show of hands. In favour: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, China, France, Gabon, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, the Russian Federation, Turkey, Uganda, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America The President: There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 1957 (2010).”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“The Security Council will take action on those three draft resolutions prior to hearing statements. Accordingly, I shall first put to the vote the draft resolution contained in document S/2010/632 and co-sponsored by Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, France, Gabon, Japan, Lebanon, Nigeria, the Russian Federation, Turkey, Uganda, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America. A vote was taken by a show of hands. In favour: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, China, France, Gabon, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, the Russian Federation, Turkey, Uganda, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America The President: There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 1956 (2010).”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“I wish to warmly welcome the Vice-President of Uganda, the Secretary-General, ministers and other representatives present in the Security Council Chamber. Your presence is an affirmation of the importance of the subject matter to be addressed. On behalf of the Council, I wish to extend an invitation under rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure to His Excellency Mr. Hoshyar Zebari, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iraq. It is so decided. At the invitation of the President, Mr. Zebari (Iraq) took a seat at the Council table. The President: Members of the Council have before them documents S/2010/632, 8/2010/633 and S/2010/636, which contain the texts of three draft resolutions respectively. I also wish to draw the members' attention to the documents cited as sub-items of the agenda of this meeting.”
2010-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6450 (2010) · source
“These are very, very basic functional requirements to put in place when we separate all the high-minded rhetoric that we all utter about peace and security in the Balkans. I want, on behalf of my Government, to thank Jacques Klein for what he has done. I would end with a caution: I would not make any commitment that we will be out by 2002. We must stay as long as is required, because it may not be possible to go back and try to fix what would be more broken if we left, at least within the timeframe of my career. And I would like to see this end nobly within the timeframe of my career 4 which, ifI speak much longer, will be very much foreshortened. I thank the President and all members for their indulgence. Flexibility will be the word that I take from here and that I make sure that my colleagues understand full well.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“I can assure members, as one member of the United States Senate and Congress - and as a senior member with some little bit of influence in that small pond called the Senate - that I believe that we will maintain United States commitment, and that we will maintain, along with the Council, patience to bring to fruition what is ultimately necessary. As a friend of mine, a local politician in my home state who has no knowledge of international affairs, said to me, "Joe, if the water does not flow because the public works commissioner is not in place, if the traffic lights do not function, and if you cannot arrest a man for beating his wife or stealing from the local shop-owner, you can have no government in place".”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“I quite frankly wish that all my colleagues in the United States Congress could have heard all members' comments and replies to Mr. Klein. One of the things that my Administration and I have been counselling our colleagues in the United States Congress is patience. We have come a long way. This is an incredible opportunity to do something that has not been done in the history of the modern nation-State in Europe: to integrate the Balkans fully within Europe. It is the ultimate solution. It is painful; it is timely. We understand, again, that most of the pain is being borne by our European friends. We understand that most of the obligation is being borne by our European friends.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“One was their appreciation of the report; the second was the fact that there seemed to be an overwhelming consensus that it accurately reflected what was happening on the ground; and the third was that they all seemed to suggest something that my Government feels very strongly: that there is a need for more patience, that progress has been made but that much more needs to be made, and that there must be a commitment to the practical requirements of implementing Dayton - that is, having a police force that is not corrupt and is capable; having a court system that functions; and having war criminals indicted and brought to trial. With one or two exceptions on the last point, there seems to be a pretty wide consensus here, expressed very cogently by my friend from Jamaica.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“I for one and, I know, my Government are also prepared to be flexible, although I cannot speak for the entire United States Congress. I would like to make one other point before I really do trespass on members' patience too much. I was impressed by the comments made by the representatives of Argentina, Bangladesh, Canada, Jamaica, Malaysia, Tunisia and Ukraine: all of them spoke to the report of Jacques Paul Klein. Three things impressed me very much.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“In terms of the contributions to United Nations expenses being based on the ability to pay, I would suggest that an international organization of the consequence of this one cannot fully meet its potential without everyone in the organization having a significant investment in it based upon their capacity S/PV.4245 and capability; I would argue that gross domestic product is not the only basis upon which to determine that. I know that the representative of France, in his previous capacity, has heard all those discussions of the views of the United States about additional burdens it undertakes in our collective interest. I will not repeat any of them because it would be inappropriate, but will only say that we appreciate the comments relating to flexibility.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“Again, as I said, I am technically speaking for my Government now, but one thing I do not do is speak for the United States Congress. There is no living human being capable of doing that; the Lord Almighty would have difficulty today. And with a 50- 50 split in the United States Senate about to take place, as my grandfather would say, with the grace of God and the goodwill of the neighbours, we may very well be able to reach some consensus on these issues in our Congress. But we want to do both: we want to participate in meaningful reform and we want to pay our fair share.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“Both of them are practising lawyers, and I might add that one of them is about to commit to six months to a year in Pristina with the United States Department of Justice. Not only do we watch Canada and consider it a great friend and neighbour, but I am quick to say that my sons, on their mother's side, are related to a number of Canadians. So I appreciate the distinction made by the representative of Canada between what we are bound to do and what we voluntarily do. We appreciate that very much. With regard to the comments made that the United States should not act unilaterally, should pay its bills in full and should not make contributions contingent on reform, I would suggest that we want both to pay our fair share and to work with others on meaningful reform.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“I want to assure members that I appreciate and understand, and my Government appreciates and understands, that the bulk of the commitment is being made by the European Union. We also want to thank those, including the representative of China and the President in his capacity as the representative of the Russian Federation, who spoke of a desire and willingness to be flexible regarding the scale of assessments. I am confident of one thing: that if there is any significant reform, there will be a significant increase in the prospect that the United States Government, and the United States Congress in particular, will not only meet its obligations, but will understand that its future lies in increasing its voluntary commitment. I thank our Canadian friend. I am a student of Canadian politics. Both my sons are with me today.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“It would be presumptuous of me to do this, but if Ambassador Levitte would like, I could send him copies of some of my floor speeches in the United States Senate making the case that the European Union is carrying the bulk of the responsibility on the ground, and economically as well. We appreciate the recognition and understanding expressed in the statements of France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands that this may be necessary in the light of the proximity of the problem to their interests. We also understand the burden that has been imposed - a burden that is not often recognized in the United States; we focus on our own burdens, as every country tends to do - as a consequence of the significant number of refugees that have flooded into Germany, France and many other European nations.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“As I said once before, I apologize for having to play out before the Council our internal dilemma as it relates to our commitment to the United Nations - and that is a binding commitment and a lasting commitment. Nonetheless, there have been some bumps in the road in terms of our internal domestic politics. I also want to thank members for their statements regarding a willingness to be flexible. I assure them that I for one am inclined to be, and desire to be, very flexible. I want Ambassador Levitte, along with the representatives of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands, to understand that I fully appreciate the contribution of the European Union not only to the United Nations, but also to the Balkans in general and to Bosnia and Herzegovina in particular.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“We learned a great deal from the Council's presence, and members were very, very helpful to those of us in the United States Senate who are very supportive of the United Nations in making the case - a case that is obvious on its face to all members of the Council but that is less than obvious to some of my colleagues - as to why the United Nations is such an important body, particularly as it relates to the United States and from the United States perspective. I hope members will be willing to come back. This is my second trip here in about 12 months - plus the Council's trip to Washington. I want also to thank Council members for their collective understanding of our position.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“I appreciate your indulgence, Mr. President, in allowing me to trespass more on your time, if not your patience. I also truly appreciate the candour with which all the members ofthe Security Council have spoken today. I would like, in my capacity as a member of the Foreign Relations Committee and on behalf of Senator Helms, to re-issue the invitation, to which the representative of Mali made reference, to come to S/PVAZAS Washington again. We hope the Security Council would be willing to do that. It is an open invitation.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“I thank the Council for its indulgence, and I thank the Council for the opportunity and the honour of speaking before this body.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“The financial and peacekeeping reforms now being discussed will go a long way towards ensuring that we meet our commitment - and, quite frankly, that my Government meets its commitment. I conclude by saying that we badly need the United Nations. It would be presumptuous of me to suggest that the United Nations needs us, but I would suggest that, at a minimum, it is probably useful to have us. Quite frankly, my ability and the ability of Ambassador Holbrooke and his successor to ensure that the United States meets its obligations will require that there be changes along the lines of the Helms- Biden amendment. Again, ifI had been the one able to dictate the outcome in the United States Congress, no conditionality would have been attached, but there still would have been a call for the same reforms that are in that legislation.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“I commend him for his statements to the General Assembly, in which he said that sovereign boundaries would no longer provide a defence for madmen who wanted to exterminate their own populations. That was visionary- indeed, revolutionary. Perhaps it sprang from the tragedy in Rwanda; it should serve as a warning to the despots ofthe world. I know that the task of the Security Council is a daunting one, and I know that the task ofthe rest of the membership is equally difficult in terms of determining how to address some of the issues I have raised. But we must never lose sight of our obligation to, as the Charter charges us, maintain international peace and security. Yes, we need greater emphasis on development, but we cannot address development without peace and security.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“At the same time, the report acknowledges that the United Nations must do a better job in preparing and implementing its peacekeeping mission. I ask all members of the Council to join in supporting the need to reform and strengthen that critical function. Peacekeeping is a shared task for ever Member and, without the help of all, countries in crisis will not get the help they need; and, when they do, our peacekeepers will be put at unacceptable risk. The Secretary-General has been particularly helpful in this discussion, and I am sorry that I am not able today to thank him personally for his efforts. However, it seems fitting that he is right now in Algeria attending the signing of a formal peace agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“I know that my time is limited, but I want to make some brief comments concerning United Nations peacekeeping operations, recognizing that financial reforms are only part of the changes needed by the United Nations. Ambassador Brahimi and the expert Panel on United Nations Peace Operations have produced a courageous and, we believe, far-sighted report on how to reform United Nations peacekeeping operations. The report (S/2000/809) clearly indicates that the threat of personal danger has not prevented thousands of men and women from participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations during the past 50 years. Sadly, a number have given their lives in the service of peace, as did those in East Timor and Sierra Leone recently; we honour their memory.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“And I want to make it clear that I am saying this as a friend of the United Nations and as one who believes that we must continue to move to pay our arrearages. I anticipate responses to the views I am expressing on this issue, and I do not mean to suggest that I do not realize that there are other points of S/PVAZAS view- and compelling points of view - held by members ofthe Security Council. I want to take note of some positive indications of change and to say that I am truly pleased to see real and lasting reforms under way in this body; I believe that these will help permanently re-centre support for the United Nations within the United States Congress. In the interests oftime, I will forgo speaking ofthis. Let me turn finally to the peacekeeping issue.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“We believe, however, that the financial burden of the United Nations must be shared, and that a handful of countries cannot be expected to go it alone. Together with my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives and Senate, I am concerned that the reform efforts may fail. That would seriously jeopardize the financial base of the United Nations and could destabilize the United States-United Nations relationship. As a long-time supporter of the United Nations, I believe it is critical that this issue be resolved now. It should not cast a shadow over the relationship of the United Nations with the next United States Administration. A negative outcome might have a devastating impact on any efforts within the United States Government to promote development aid and to garner more resources for peacekeeping.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“On the contrary: the United States Government is in the process of committing nearly $3.5 billion to the United Nations in the year 2001, and that includes record levels of voluntary contributions and a 71-per-cent increase in the agreed congressional appropriations for peacekeeping. We want to continue that impressive record in the future - I personally want to continue that record. Moreover, the United States agrees that, as a permanent member of the Security Council, we have a special obligation to this institution, and we hope that the other four permanent members also join us in bearing that responsibility - which they do. Clearly, the poorest countries cannot and must not be held to the same assessment rates as the industrial Powers.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source