YouSaid · the spoken record

Burleigh

lines on the record: 290
first: 1997-08-14
most recent: 1999-12-03
sittings or episodes: 53
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

“The Security Council and the international community must continue to take concrete and practical steps to support the democratically elected Government of President Kabbah. The international community must also remain vigilant to ensure that existing sanctions on weapons transfers are respected. States bordering Sierra Leone have particular responsibilities in this regard as well as in preventing their nationals from further intensifying the fighting. Now more than ever, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) needs our support. The United States has contributed $9 million to provide logistical support to ECOMOG, and we are seeking to do more. The United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada and other Member States have also contributed to helping ECOMOG.”
1999-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3986 (1999) · source
“We meet today to vote on a draft resolution to extend the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL). We take such action against the backdrop of the terrible human tragedy and untold suffering being endured by the people of Sierra Leone. The American Government and the American people have viewed the unfolding crisis in Sierra Leone with shock and dismay. Human rights abuses and atrocities on the scale seen in Sierra Leone are appalling and unacceptable. Such crimes against civilians are an affront to Africa and to the international community. The authors of these crimes against civilians must be brought to justice. We all must intensify our efforts to bring an end to this terrible conflict.”
1999-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3986 (1999) · source
“The Amir shared his heartfelt hope to see peace come to his region in eloquent and passionate words." I had the official as well as personal pleasure of first meeting Shaikh Isa in 1975, when I had the good fortune to be posted as a junior officer at the American Embassy in Bahrain, and I can attest that Shaikh Isa was both a wise and a very humorous ruler. He was accessible to his people - in fact, he had an open-door policy which encouraged any Bahraini citizen to meet personally with him to express political or economic views or to seek assistance in solving problems, and he always helped. Shaikh Isa also found time to meet even with a very junior diplomat to give him much-needed historical, political and social background on the Gulf region and the Middle East in general. He will indeed be sorely missed.”
1999-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3986 (1999) · source
“I would like to quote a statement that President Clinton made on 6 March: "I would like to express my deep sadness at the news that Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa of Bahrain has passed away. The prayers and condolences of all Americans go out to the royal family and the people of Bahrain. The Amir was a good friend of the American people and a good friend of peace. He shared our desire to see a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region. I take heart from the personal commitment to forwarding the cause of peace the Amir expressed during his recent June visit to the United States.”
1999-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3986 (1999) · source
“Any delays in planning for this transition would be counter-productive and would not serve the best interests of the citizens of the Central African Republic. It is vital that the United Nations take steps now to formulate programmes for continued reform after MINURCA departs. Members of the group of Friends of the Central African Republic and United Nations officials must not delay in beginning to formulate a mechanism to ensure that economic restructuring, good-governance reforms, demobilization and military restructuring continue after the peacekeeping forces depart.”
1999-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3984 (1999) · source
“We hold President Patasse and his Government responsible for implementing long-overdue reforms and for meeting the specific benchmarks set forth in this draft resolution, in accordance with the commitments made by President Patasse in his letter of 23 January to the Secretary-General. If the Government of the Central African Republic fails to meet these commitments, the United States will, in consultation with other Security Council members, seek to review the merits of maintaining a peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic through mid-November. Secondly, this draft resolution clearly states that MINURCA will end on 15 November. The Security Council and the United Nations Secretariat must begin work now to ensure a smooth transition from peacekeeping to non-assessed peace-building.”
1999-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3984 (1999) · source
“We are, however, mindful of the need not to abandon African peacekeeping at this time of increased conflict on the continent, as well as the need to strengthen democracy in the Central African Republic. We therefore have agreed to one further extension of the mandate of MINURCA until 15 November. In our view this operation should be brief, a temporary window of opportunity during which the Government must implement stabilizing reforms. In agreeing to this extension, we have two continuing concerns. First, the Government of the Central African Republic must energetically avail itself of this renewed opportunity to institute the kind of reforms that engender long-term stability. This is a task that must be fulfilled by the Government, not by MINURCA peacekeepers.”
1999-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3984 (1999) · source
“The United States will join the consensus with other Council members in voting to extend the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA) until 15 November 1999. Our support reflects our concern over the deteriorating regional security situation in Central Africa and our respect for the Council's strong desire to continue this mission. It must be clearly noted, however, that our decision to endorse the extension of MINURCA's mission was made despite our deep misgivings concerning the pace of reform and the need for Government-coordinated programmes to improve the political, economic, social and military situation in the Central African Republic. We remain concerned that the Central African Republic Government will not meet its commitments under this draft resolution.”
1999-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3984 (1999) · source
“We believe the overall interests of security in the region - particularly during this sensitive period - should be sufficiently compelling to outweigh other considerations. We believe UNPREDEP's role is indispensable at this time. Therefore, we hope to begin work immediately with members of the Security Council to find a way to allow the international community to continue to meet this critical need, without disruption. The United States has been proud to participate in this groundbreaking preventive deployment operation. We commend Mr. Henryk Sokalski, the former Special Representative of the Secretary-General; his successor, Mr. Fernando Valenzuela Marzo; and the Force Commander, Brigadier-General Ove Stromberg, for their strong leadership of this highly effective mission.”
1999-02-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3982 (1999) · source
“This mandate has been sufficiently broad to permit UNPREDEP to operate very effectively in monitoring and reporting on cross-border activity. Such activity includes any illicit arms flows across the border with Kosovo, of which there has been very little. The fact that the border between Kosovo and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has remained secure despite tensions in Kosovo demonstrates just how successful and necessary UNPREDEP has been. Our vote today to extend UNPREDEP's mandate is a vote of confidence in a mission that is needed now as much as ever. My Government very much regrets the decision by one member of the Council to exercise its veto with respect to this draft resolution.”
1999-02-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3982 (1999) · source
“Skopje in turn has contributed greatly to the international community's efforts in Kosovo by facilitating the work of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Kosovo Verification Mission, by agreeing to authorize the deployment from its territory of the OSCE Extraction Force, and by offering to host the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Kosovo Verification Coordination Centre and the European Commission Monitoring Mission. UNPREDEP itself plays a specific but very important role in achieving the international community's goals for Kosovo. We greatly appreciate the value of close cooperation between UNPREDEP and each of these missions. UNPREDEP's current mandate is to prevent the spillover of tensions into the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and by its presence to deter threats and prevent clashes.”
1999-02-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3982 (1999) · source
“The international community is maintaining its large investment in consolidating peace and ending violence in the former Yugoslavia and nearby areas. Kosovo is only the most recent flashpoint posing a threat to stability in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Although considerable progress towards a negotiated political settlement of the Kosovo crisis was achieved at Rambouillet, much more will be required in the weeks and months ahead. In any event, we remain committed to building peace in the Balkans.”
1999-02-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3982 (1999) · source
“These elections resulted in a pledge by the new coalition Government - which continues to include an ethnic-Albanian political party - to carry on the important policy of working actively for inter-ethnic harmony. Despite these improvements, however, there remain very real regional threats to the security of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. In this context, we remain deeply troubled by the continuing strained relations between Skopje and Belgrade, and by the lack of progress towards the demarcation of their mutual border. This, in our view, continues to be a major potential threat to the stability of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. There is a distinct risk that tensions elsewhere in the region will reverberate along this border.”
1999-02-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3982 (1999) · source
“In casting its vote today, the United States has once again expressed its confidence in and its strong support for the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP) and its extension for a further six-month period until August 1999. UNPREDEP plays a critical role in monitoring sensitive points along Macedonian borders with Albania and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. UNPREDEP is a Vital actor in promoting stability in the region. Since achieving independence, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has made enormous strides towards democratization and economic stability. We welcome the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's recent strengthening of relations with several of its neighbours and the successful holding of parliamentary elections in October and November of 1998.”
1999-02-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3982 (1999) · source
“Thus the complaints and statements we have heard from the Iraqi representative today have no standing. The Iraqi regime is itself the perpetrator of calculated ongoing violence against Iraqi civilians. Until that violence stops, the international community, including the United States, must continue to exert every possible effort to protect the citizens of Iraq from their brutal regime and to assist in providing for their basic humanitarian needs through the oil-for-food programme.”
1999-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3980Resumption1 (1999) · source
“With regard to the no-fly zones, it is also well known that they were created for the express purpose of protecting Iraqi civilians from the depredations of the Iraqi regime and its characteristic policy of employing massive military force against the persons, the homes, the businesses and the mosques of Iraqi civilians. The Shiites in the south and the Kurds in the north of Iraq have been the primary victims of regime violence in recent years. Indeed, the Iraqi regime's threat to its own civilian population is continuing. Just this weekend there were many reports of Shiite citizens being targeted by the regime, in Baghdad and in the south, following the assassination of a prominent Shiite religious leader. The no-fly zones also perform an essential early- warning function regarding Iraq's continuing threats to its neighbours.”
1999-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3980Resumption1 (1999) · source
“The danger of instability lingers in the Gulf region for one central reason: Iraq's manifest aggressive intent towards its neighbours and Iraq's failure to comply with mandatory resolutions of this Council. Furthermore, it is an indisputable fact that the coalition's recent use of force in Iraq came about only after Iraq's repeated refusal to cooperate with the disarmament requirements stipulated by this Council. In short, Iraq has refused to give up its weapons of mass destruction. It is also well known and well documented that, within the scope of that limited use of force, coalition forces exercised every possible precaution in order to avoid civilian casualties and collateral damage.”
1999-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3980Resumption1 (1999) · source
“We are very aware of the time constraints on the Council, and it is with some regret that I feel the need to ask for the floor to respond to some of the statements of the representative of Iraq. But I will be brief. The blame for Iraq's difficulties in recent years rests solely with the Iraqi leadership. Iraq is not and has not been a victim of aggression by other States. It is Iraq that has attempted literally to erase one of its neighbours. It is Iraq that has launched military aggression against other neighbours. And it is Iraq that has directed violent threats against nearly all of its neighbours that have not actually been physically targeted. Within the past three weeks alone, Iraq has aimed violent threats at Turkey, at Saudi Arabia and at Kuwait.”
1999-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3980Resumption1 (1999) · source
“Finally, we look forward to the Secretary-General's recommendations, both on ways the Council can improve the physical and legal protection of civilians in all situations of armed conflict and on contributions the Council can make towards more effective implementation of existing humanitarian law.”
1999-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3977 (1999) · source
“We also support the Council's willingness to respond, in accordance with the United Nations Charter, to situations in which civilians have been targeted or humanitarian assistance to civilians has been deliberately obstructed. In summary, the Government of the United States welcomes the Council's efforts to address these critical issues. The many constructive suggestions we have heard today from the ICRC, the United Nations Children's Fund and the Special Representative deserve careful and urgent consideration by the Council. We pledge ourselves to the pursuit of practical applications of these suggestions.”
1999-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3977 (1999) · source
“We particularly welcome the Council's reaffirmation today of the need for the international community to assist and protect civilian populations affected by armed conflict; of the need for all parties concerned to ensure the safety of civilians and to guarantee the unimpeded and safe access of United Nations and other humanitarian personnel to those in need; of the obligation of all States to comply strictly with their obligations under international law; and of the need to bring to justice individuals who target civilians, as such, in armed conflict, or who otherwise commit offences under international humanitarian and human rights law.”
1999-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3977 (1999) · source
“We salute the Red Cross Movement and look forward to the results of the upcoming International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) humanitarian forum in Wolfsberg, which will focus on "protecting people affected by armed conflict". These efforts in other forums are vital and complement the action the Council takes today in the exercise of its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.”
1999-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3977 (1999) · source
“As one example, the United States chaired the Council's thematic group that drafted resolution 1208 (1998), which identified the maintenance of the security and the civilian and humanitarian character of refugee camps as an urgent and important issue. In its resolutions and presidential statements, the Council has also addressed the challenges of illicit arms flows, children affected by armed conflict and protection of humanitarian workers. We welcome the discussion of these matters in other forums, particularly in this year which marks the fiftieth anniversary of the four Geneva Conventions and the one hundredth anniversary of the Hague Convention.”
1999-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3977 (1999) · source
“I would like to thank Canada for its initiative to focus the attention of the Council on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. The United States shares Canada's desire to bring to international attention the new character of armed conflict, in which civilians, including humanitarian workers, are often not simply random, incidental victims of conflict, but its very targets. We must work together to find ways to halt this trend, and we must strive to strengthen international protection of civilians, recognizing that the Council's task of maintaining peace and security can extend to the protection of individuals as well. Over the past several months, the Security Council has wrestled with the issue of protecting civilians in armed conflict, including refugees, children and humanitarian workers.”
1999-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3977 (1999) · source
“It is my Government's view that there are circumstances - such as the humanitarian crisis in Kosovo this past fall and currently looming, or the repression of the civilian population in Iraq - in which the international community should and must be willing to act to protect civilians against the depredations of their own Governments. It is sad but true that the sovereignty arguments can be used and sometimes have the practical result of finding excuses for repressive, even murderous Governments which are engaging in gross violations of the human rights of their own citizens. These arguments also often lead to the incapacitation of the international community, as you alluded to just now, Sir. We do not believe that such extreme examples of Governments' mistreatment of their own populations should be tolerated.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“I just wanted to make a brief comment. Excuse me for taking the floor twice, but I thought that several of the interventions today have been extremely interesting and thought-provoking - in particular your comments just now, Sir, but also issues raised earlier by Ambassador Lavrov and then commented on, in one way or another, by Ambassadors Turk, Greenstock and Dej ammet and again by yourself. There is one aspect of them that I should just like to note for the record, because it is a subject that has come up repeatedly in the Council and which I think you, Sir, were alluding to again. I would describe it as the question of the use and misuse of the sovereignty concept. I am just throwing this out for possible future discussion among Council colleagues, because I know it is controversial and a very difficult issue.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“Before concluding, I would like to thank Under- Secretary-General Vieira de Mello once again for his briefing and raise one specific issue which I hope he might address prior to the conclusion of today's meeting. Given the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has had such a widespread negative impact upon the civilian population in the country, we would welcome Mr. Vieira de Mello's comments and observations concerning the humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic and the possible role which the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs might play there.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“The United States welcomes the establishment by the Secretary-General of the Executive Committee on Peace and Security and the Executive Committee on Humanitarian Affairs to better define the relationship between the Special Representatives of the Secretary- General, humanitarian coordinators and other components of United Nations missions. The United States also would like to reiterate its support for the work of the Emergency Relief Coordinator and the members of the United Nations Inter-Agency Standing Committee. We support more frequent Council briefings by Under- Secretary-General Vieira de Mello and other members of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The Council must consider humanitarian and human rights needs as part of an overall strategy to restore peace and security to an area in crisis.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“We believe it would be desirable for the Secretary- General to make recommendations to appropriate United Nations agencies to assist in peace-building efforts as peacekeeping operations are drawn down. We stress the importance of a division of labour between peacekeeping activities and longer-term peace-building programmes. There is a need for closer cooperation and dialogue between the Security Council and various bodies within the United Nations system responsible for those programmes. It is critical that mechanisms exist on the ground to provide for effective coordination between political and military components of United Nations operations, as well as with human rights and humanitarian components.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“The United States is pursuing ratification of that Convention, and we remain interested in exploring an optional protocol to the Convention to broaden its coverage to non-United Nations humanitarian workers. Where violations of international humanitarian law and human rights pose a threat to international peace and security, the Security Council should consider addressing those situations with due regard to the roles and responsibilities of other organizations of the United Nations system. The United States believes the Security Council should review ways to ensure a smooth transition from international peacekeeping to post-conflict peace-building.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“We agree that such coordination efforts should be focused on ensuring humanitarian access to populations in need, guaranteeing the safety and security of international humanitarian personnel and improving the transition from international peacekeeping to international peace-building. In terms of ensuring humanitarian access to populations suffering the impact of ongoing conflicts, it is our view that the Security Council may wish to consider developing a range of options to maintain law and order and to create a secure environment for civilians, including humanitarian workers, endangered by conflict. With regard to the protection of international aid workers, the United States welcomes the entry in effect last week of the 1994 Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“The Council cannot ignore the linkages inherent in today's complex humanitarian emergencies. The Council should be kept regularly informed of the humanitarian aspects of potential or actual conflicts so that it has a comprehensive picture of the problem and can determine the proper steps to take. The Council should review ways to strengthen the linkage between humanitarian action and the early commencement of post-conflict integration, rehabilitation and peace-building. In addition, the Council should lend support to initiatives aimed at strengthening local and national capacities for confronting humanitarian and human rights crises. Under-Secretary-General Vieira de Mello spoke today of the need to coordinate humanitarian action with peace and security concerns.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“International humanitarian personnel sent to provide assistance are no longer simply caught in the cross-fire; all too often, they are targeted by participants in the fighting. During the Security Council's discussion of post-conflict peace-building on 29 December 1998, Council President Buallay affirmed the Security Council's belief that the quest for peace in Africa required "a comprehensive, concerted and determined approach, encompassing the eradication of poverty, the promotion of democracy, sustainable development and respect for human rights, as well as conflict prevention and resolution, including peacekeeping, and humanitarian assistance." (S/PV.396I, p. 2) That comprehensive, coordinated approach should not be limited to conflicts in Africa.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this open briefing on this important subject, and I would like to begin by commending Under-Secretary-General Vieira de Mello for his comprehensive, informative and sober briefing on the problems. Most of the conflicts we are witnessing today in various parts of the world involve internal struggles among rival factions. Sadly, many of these conflicts involve gross Violations of human rights, resulting in complex humanitarian emergencies. Many conflicts are exacerbated by policies of ethnic expulsion, exclusion or annihilation. Civilians, including women, children and the elderly, are increasingly becoming deliberate targets. Nine out of 10 casualties in these conflicts are non-combatants.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“The past three weeks have demonstrated the crucial importance of being able to communicate quickly with UNITA on search-and-rescue operations and other humanitarian concerns. We believe that the only way to resolve this ongoing conflict is through negotiations and not through military action. A negotiated settlement cannot be achieved without the ability to communicate with all parties. In this context, the report requested by this draft resolution must address how such communications can be maintained with all parties.”
1999-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3965 (1999) · source
“The United States will vote in favour of this draft resolution because of our deep concern about the fate of the crews and passengers of the two United Nations aircraft that were recently downed over Angola. We urgently call on the Government of Angola and UNITA to cooperate fully with the search-and-rescue mission and with the investigation of these tragic incidents. We do have concerns about two aspects of this draft resolution. We question the appropriateness of the reference to Chapter VII, since the draft resolution does not seek to authorize new international enforcement action. We are concerned that such a reference might be misunderstood as a step in that direction. Secondly, we doubt the wisdom of considering the imposition of sanctions against communications with UNITA.”
1999-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3965 (1999) · source
“Secondly, for Under-Secretary-General Miyet, I have a question about the force protection of the United Nations personnel deployed there, and whether he believes that arrangements are still adequate for their protection or whether some consideration is still being given to any redeployment of the personnel of the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL).”
1998-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3957 (1998) · source
“He was here this week and was able to brief Council colleagues about his activities, and we will continue to keep Council members informed of his efforts. I have two specific questions, because, as has been noted, we will go into more detail later when we talk about the renewal of the mandate. But I wanted to ask, on this joint border-monitoring mechanism proposal between Liberia and Sierra Leone, if either Ambassador Dahlgren or Under-Secretary-General Miyet would like to address what practical next steps there may be or what role we might play in trying to help this process along - "we" meaning the Council or the Secretariat.”
1998-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3957 (1998) · source
“I too, like my colleagues, would like to thank Under-Secretary- General Miyet for his briefing and his update on the report. I should like especially to recognize Ambassador Dahlgren and his contribution, both in his role as Chairman of the sanctions Committee for the past difficult period and for this initiative he has taken, the results of which we have learned about today - that is, the indispensable personal observations and assessments he has made about the situation in Sierra Leone. I agree with Ambassador Amorim that the situation on the ground there is very discouraging. I want to thank Ambassador Dahlgren for his mention of the role that our presidential Special Envoy, Reverend Jesse Jackson, is trying to play in facilitating the reconciliation between the countries in question.”
1998-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3957 (1998) · source
“Secretary Albright stressed that in carrying out military action we will do all we can to minimize civilian casualties, and we will support Iraqis who are working for the day when the people of their country will be free to choose their own leaders and shape their own destiny. Iraq's policy of unremitting defiance and non-compliance necessitated the resort to military force. The United States did not seek a confrontation and did not undertake this decision lightly. The coalition now looks to the highest level of the Iraqi leadership for an immediate demonstration of unconditional compliance with the terms of the Security Council resolutions.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3955 (1998) · source
“And while our strikes are focused on Iraq's military capabilities, there will be unintended Iraqi casualties. Indeed, in the past, Saddam Hussein has intentionally placed Iraqi civilians in harm's way in a cynical bid to sway international opinion. Secretary Albright emphasized this evening that our quarrel is not with the Iraqi people. On the contrary, we recognize that Iraqis have been the primary victims of Saddam Hussein's failure to cooperate internationally and of his reign of terror domestically. The United States took the lead in establishing a United Nations programme to meet the humanitarian needs of Iraqi civilians and supported the expansion of that programme earlier this year.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3955 (1998) · source
“Any Iraqi attempt to attack coalition forces or to initiate aggressive action against a neighbouring State will be met with a swift response by the coalition. As President Clinton stated this evening, if we had delayed for even a matter of days from Chairman Butler's report, we would have given Saddam Hussein more time to disperse his forces and protect his weapons. Also, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins this weekend. For us to initiate military action during Ramadan would be profoundly offensive to the Muslim world and therefore damage our relations with Arab countries and the progress we have made in the Middle East peace process. President Clinton also stressed that the decision to use force is never cost-free. Whenever American forces are placed in harm's way, we risk the loss of life.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3955 (1998) · source
“Indeed, the Iraqi Government did not even wait for the Special Commission's report before presenting its own skewed interpretation of events to the Security Council yesterday, because the Iraqi leadership understood that the report of the Special Commission would be factual. Following Iraq's repeated, flagrant and material breaches of its obligations under resolutions 687 (1991), 707 (1991), 715 (1991), 1154 (1998), 1194 (1998), 1205 (1998) and others, in addition to its failure to fulfil its own commitments, the coalition today exercised the authority given by Security Council resolution 678 (1990) for Member States to employ all necessary means to secure Iraqi compliance with the Council's resolutions and restore international peace and security in the area.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3955 (1998) · source
“within the scope of its mandate, by imposing new restrictions on the weapons inspectors and by repeatedly denying access to facilities which UNSCOM. wished to inspect, Iraq once again acted in flagrant and material breach of resolution 687 (1991). I should like to pause here to praise the outstanding professional work of the talented and dedicated staff of the Special Commission and its Executive Chairman, Richard Butler. Their efforts from 1991 until today have reflected the seriousness with which they view their mandate. Subjected repeatedly to a pattern of harassment from a legion of Iraqi officials, they have always sought to perform their duties in an accurate and serious manner, and they have succeeded. Iraq fully understood that its actions would be reported accurately to the Security Council by the Special Commission.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3955 (1998) · source
“It must be noted that Iraq rescinded its restrictions on the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and offered those assurances only in the face of a credible threat of force. Military force was not employed at that time, however, because the United States, along with other members of the Security Council, sought a peaceful resolution to the situation created by Iraq and opted to go the extra mile to test Iraqi intentions. In that event, Iraq failed to fulfil its assurances. As the 15 December UNSCOM. report makes clear, Iraq failed to provide the full cooperation it promised on 14 November and thus left UNSCOM. unable to conduct the substantive disarmament work mandated to it by the Council. By refusing to make available documents and information requested by UNSCOM.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3955 (1998) · source
“Nevertheless, Iraq has repeatedly taken actions which constitute flagrant, material breaches of these provisions. On a number of occasions the Council has affirmed that similar Iraqi actions constituted such breaches, as well as a threat to international peace and security. Just one month ago, on 14 November, the Government of Iraq committed to provide full and unconditional cooperation with UNSCOM, as required by the resolutions. The Iraqi Government described it as a "clear and unconditional decision by the Iraqi Government to resume cooperation with UNSCOM. and IAEA". Iraq stated that the weapons inspectors could "immediately resume all their activities according to the relevant resolutions of the Security Council".”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3955 (1998) · source
“In its resolutions - including, in addition to resolution 687 (1991), resolutions 707 (1991), 715 (1991), 1154 (1998), 1194 (1998), 1205 (1998) and others - the Council has elaborated and reiterated those conditions, including "full, final and complete disclosure" (resolution 707 (1991)) of all aspects of its programmes to develop weapons of mass destruction, and "immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access" (ibid.) for the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) "to any and all areas, facilities, equipment, records and means of transportation which they wish to inspect" (ibid.). Iraqi compliance with all these requirements is a fundamental element of international peace and security in the region.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3955 (1998) · source
“Following the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi occupation in 1991, Security Council resolution 687 (1991) mandated a ceasefire; but it also imposed a number of essential conditions on Iraq, including the destruction of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and acceptance by Iraq of United Nations inspections.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3955 (1998) · source
“As the Council is well aware, this resort to military force was undertaken only when it became evident that diplomacy had been exhausted. The coalition acted out of necessity, and the Government of Iraq bears full responsibility for the consequences of this military operation. We did not act precipitately. On the contrary, the United States has worked with its partners in the Security Council over the past months in a sincere and sustained effort to bring about a peaceful resolution of the confrontation created by Iraq. For reasons best known to Saddam Hussein, Iraq chose to reject that effort.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3955 (1998) · source
“Coalition forces today began operations against military targets in Iraq. Our ongoing military action is substantial. We are focusing on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programmes and its ability to threaten its neighbours. Coalition forces are acting under the authority provided by the resolutions of the Security Council. This action is a necessary and proportionate response to the continued refusal of the Iraqi Government to comply with the resolutions of the Security Council and the threat to international peace and security which Iraq's non- compliance represents. In carrying out this action, our forces have taken appropriate measures to defend themselves from any interference by Iraq and have made every possible effort to avoid civilian casualties and collateral damage.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3955 (1998) · source