YouSaid · the spoken record

Chevalier

lines on the record

23

first

2007-02-20

most recent

2008-04-16

sittings or episodes

3

sources

un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

1. “Belgium commends the two organizations for that outcome, and hopes that it will be promptly implemented both in letter and, especially, in spirit.”

   2008-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5868 (2008) · source

2. “Responsibility in this sphere lies in particular with national Governments, but the United Nations and regional organizations should take account of this dimension in their activities aimed at restoring, maintaining and building peace. The European Union is an example of a regional cooperation project which has developed in a way that none of its founders could have imagined 50 years ago. The African Union, for its part, is powerfully committed to blazing its own trail - a trail that is not yet completely charted. The European Union and Belgium are ready to assist it in developing the capacities necessary to overcome the challenges it faces. I welcome the similar readiness of the United Nations, which will be reflected in the adoption of a draft resolution on cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations.”

   2008-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5868 (2008) · source

3. “We join others - in particular the Secretary-General - in calling for decisive action, including through the immediate release of the results of the recent presidential election, in order to prevent the deterioration of a situation that is already very tense. I agree with Prime Minister Gordon Brown that a very clear, unanimous signal is needed. Let me conclude with some observations about the general principles of conflict prevention and peacebuilding. In the view of Belgium, improved governance is imperative in that regard. A Government that meets expectations, merits trust and is committed to democracy and human rights will be better equipped to eliminate the root causes of conflict. Natural resources can be an important factor here: depending on how they are managed, they can either fuel conflict or bring a peace dividend.”

   2008-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5868 (2008) · source

4. “Turning to the conflict in Somalia, let me first commend the members of the African Union Mission in Somalia for the work they have done in difficult conditions. The Mission clearly demonstrates that international efforts to bring security to the Somali people will achieve lasting results only if they are based on sincere efforts towards national political reconciliation. Belgium therefore fully supports the integrated and gradual approach recently proposed by the Secretary-General. Such an approach gives us another opportunity to develop cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations and to demonstrate the value it can add. Finally, I wish to say a few words about the situation in Zimbabwe. I would like to stress that Belgium is particularly concerned at the increased tension in that country.”

   2008-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5868 (2008) · source

5. “In spite of the great progress made in those countries - with regard to the democratic electoral process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to give just one significant example - the challenges are considerable. Peace remains fragile, and civilians, who deserve the international community's protection, continue to face daily violence. Belgium will remain strongly committed in its support for the countries and peoples of the Great Lakes region, and we will continue to work closely with the United Nations, with African regional organizations and with the European Union. In that connection, the Belgian Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, Development and Defence will travel together to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to Burundi next week.”

   2008-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5868 (2008) · source

6. “At the same time, the political process that was to be the foundation of the peacekeeping operation seems to be at a standstill. In that context, a strong, shared political vision of the two organizations involved - the United Nations and the AU - is critical. In Central Africa, too, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi have benefited from useful cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the EU has contributed to the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo through the EU-led force in that country, while in Burundi, significant cooperation has been established with the AU through the Regional Initiative and the United Nations Office in Burundi on the question of the Forces nationales de liberation.”

   2008-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5868 (2008) · source

7. “Such consultations must help to prevent decisions made by one party from taking the other by surprise and to facilitate cooperation in their implementation. They should also allow us better to determine the kind of cooperation that is most appropriate, based on the nature and geographical characteristics of a given conflict. Common experiences and lessons learned will help us to improve cooperation between international organizations. The African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur is in and of itself a unique experiment. However, the stakes are extremely high, since they involve the fate of a local population that has endured terrible suffering in recent years. Unfortunately, we must conclude that progress in deploying the mission has been far too slow.”

   2008-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5868 (2008) · source

8. “Such authorization, however, does not imply that the United Nations is substituting itself for the regional organization or that it is automatically assuming political, logistical or financial responsibility. The situation is somewhat different when the United Nations decides to support the operation of a regional organization. In the case of a joint operation, the United Nations and the regional organization are both responsible for the preparation and conduct of the operation. That is a particularly complex form of cooperation that can succeed only if it is based on a common political vision. In order to avoid all misunderstandings, appropriate consultations between the organizations are vital, especially in the initial decision-making phase.”

   2008-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5868 (2008) · source

9. “Belgium also welcomes the impressive progress made over the past few years in cooperation between the United Nations and the EU and the United Nations and the African Union (AU), as well as in their trilateral relationship, in the area of conflict management. Belgium firmly believes in the added value of cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations. We believe that such cooperation should be based on a solid mutual understanding of what it can yield and of what can legitimately be expected of it. If a regional organization decides to establish a peacekeeping operation authorized by the Security Council under Chapter VIII of the Charter, the Council is validating the international legality of the operation.”

   2008-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5868 (2008) · source

10. “Mr. Chevalier (Belgium) (spoke in French): At the outset, I wish to commend and, above all, to thank you, Sir, for organizing today's very important debate. We welcome the resolve of Africa and its leadership to bring peace, security and development to their continent. I can assure you that we share your conviction that those objectives can be achieved only if mutual cooperation is genuinely strengthened. Belgium fully endorses the statement to be made by the representative of Slovenia on behalf of the European Union (EU), setting out the results of and prospects for partnership between Africa and the EU.”

    2008-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5868 (2008) · source

11. “It is therefore important that all United Nations forums shoulder their responsibility to strengthen their implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). In that context, we welcome the debate planned in the Commission on the Status of Women at its forthcoming session, to be held in 2008. In conclusion, the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) represents an extremely complex challenge. The Security Council must show the way forward. We believe it is urgent to strengthen its capacity to follow up on problems related to gender- based acts of violence in armed conflict. To that end, the Council must have better-targeted reporting at its disposal.”

    2007-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5766 (2007) · source

12. “At the national level, Belgium has prepared a charter for its armed forces to promote the equality of women and men; in particular, it takes into account the provisions of resolution 1325 (2000) within the framework of operations conducted abroad. Training on the gender perspective is an integral part of preparing troops who will take part in a mission. Furthermore, resolution 1325 (2000) now serves as a point of reference for the identification of assistance projects eligible for financial support from Belgium. The formulation of a national plan on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) is also under way. Today's debate reminds us once again that action to meet these challenges goes beyond the Security Council's sphere of action.”

    2007-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5766 (2007) · source

13. “Clearer mandates will facilitate follow-up by peacekeeping missions on issues related to resolution 1325 (2000) on the ground and will facilitate reporting to the Security Council. Moreover, the need to mainstream the gender perspective in peacekeeping mandates applies not only to United Nations peacekeeping missions, but also to the peacekeeping missions of regional organizations such as the European Union and the African Union. As you yourself, Mr. President, emphasized in your invitation to this debate, the role and the responsibility of Member States in the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) cannot be overestimated.”

    2007-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5766 (2007) · source

14. “Such a report should also enable us to define better- targeted and far more effective actions. Strengthening the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) in its entirety is a collective duty. The Security Council can and must do more when it defines the mandates of peacekeeping missions. In general terms, it must take greater account of the situation of women in the conflict in question. In fact, depending on the case, women can be not only potential victims, but also major actors in the political or socio-economic areas, or even combatants - actors in the conflict. Women continue to be underrepresented in peace and reconstruction processes. That preliminary analysis must be translated into better-defined mandates, in the spirit of resolution 1325 (2000).”

    2007-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5766 (2007) · source

15. “Various United Nations forums as well as Member States have contributed to that effort. Here, I should like to recall the Brussels Call to Action to Address Sexual Violence in Conflict and Beyond. But we need more than awareness-raising if we are to implement the provisions of resolution 1325 (2000) in that regard. Belgium calls for closer Security Council follow-up and for the development of tools to that end. Indeed, the Council should have at its disposal a horizontal report on gender-based acts of violence in the armed conflicts on its agenda. Such a report should draw on all sources available within the United Nations system and elsewhere. The experience acquired in combating the use of child soldiers has shown us the importance of this type of instrument.”

    2007-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5766 (2007) · source

16. “Therefore, I would like to warmly thank the presidency for having organized this debate. Nearly seven years ago, the Security Council adopted its ground-breaking resolution on women and peace and security. Today, unfortunately, we must note that the issues and the challenges posed remain fully relevant. Despite the efforts of the United Nations system, described in the report of the Secretary- General (S/2007/567), and despite efforts on all our part, the resolution's objectives have not been attained. My country is particularly concerned about the persistent scourge of gender-based acts of violence, particularly in armed conflicts. The momentum unleashed by resolution 1325 (2000) has helped to accelerate the raising of awareness about that scourge. A doctrine against this type of crime is in the process of being developed.”

    2007-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5766 (2007) · source

17. “Mr. Chevalier (Belgium) (spoke in French): As we speak - at this very moment - thousands of women are victims of sexual violence in its most atrocious forms. Who among us has not reacted with horror when reading the reports on the sexual violence committed against women in the Kivus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or in the Sudan? Therefore, some might wonder: what is the point of another debate in these hushed halls of the United Nations? We have the duty to answer that question by going beyond statements and reaffirming our political commitment to combating violence against women, using all means at our disposal. This public debate on strengthening the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, is thus particularly timely, because it is urgent to act.”

    2007-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5766 (2007) · source

18. “But in many cases SSR is a precondition for the reconstruction and sustainable development of States emerging from conflict. Recognizing funding for SSR programmes as official development assistance would unquestionably help ensure the financing of these programmes. I renew my thanks to you, Mr. President, for organizing this debate, and I assure you that my country is committed to an ongoing discussion of this topic.”

    2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632 (2007) · source

19. “Long-term engagement requires involvement of other actors beyond the peacekeeping phase, in particular regional organizations and bilateral actors, to help the Government with successful security sector reform. Good interaction and coordination among the peacekeeping operation, the Government concerned and other actors is key for the success of any reform. The Peacebuilding Commission could, as required during this post-conflict phase, ensure consistency in the actions undertaken by external actors. I turn briefly to the issue of the financing of SSR programmes. The current criteria of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development sharply limit the possibility of reporting the financing of SSR programmes as part of official development assistance.”

    2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632 (2007) · source

20. “Experience has shown that great efforts must be made to bring about a transition from rebel group to regular army in order to build well-disciplined, effective military and security forces. Security sector reform changes during that phase: the role of Government becomes central and longer-term strategy replaces short-term actions. I turn now to the need for good interaction and coordination among the actors involved in the process of security sector reform: who does what, and when they do it. In principle, peacekeeping operations cover the short term and the medium term; they play an important role in SSR because of the great fragility of the countries in which they are deployed. Clearly, the time required for complete and successful security sector reform far exceeds the mandate of a peacekeeping operation.”

    2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632 (2007) · source

21. “In preparing a peacekeeping operation it is important to integrate SSR dimension as soon as possible: during the planning stage. During the initial post-conflict phase, the country will face the challenge of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR); in that phase the best possible coordination should be ensured between DDR and SSR - which, as we all know, are closely interrelated. At that point, local ownership is limited, because of the institutional shortcomings seen in all countries emerging from conflict. But local ownership must become more important - indeed decisive - in the transitional phase, when armed groups have been demobilized or reintegrated into the regular army.”

    2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632 (2007) · source

22. “Local ownership will be key to the success of any SSR programme. In our view, SSR is an integrated and holistic process, whose success clearly depends on the capacity of the various institutions - military, police and judiciary - and on the relationship among them, with a View to ensuring lasting security and justice in the country concerned. At this meeting I wish to consider in detail two aspects of the issue. The first is the time frame: the sequence of the successive phases of an SSR process. The second relates to the crucial importance of coordination and interaction among all actors. We must all understand that it is not only in countries where peacekeeping operations are deployed that security sector reform is an issue. But I wish to concentrate my remarks today on situations involving peacekeeping operations.”

    2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632 (2007) · source

23. “Mr. Chevalier (Belgium) (spoke in French): I wish first of all to congratulate you, Mr. President, on your initiative to convene this thematic debate on security sector reform (SSR). The fact that you are here in person - and your person is an imposing one - illustrates the importance you attach to this critical issue. We are also honoured by the presence of the Secretary-General. I believe that this is an excellent opportunity to delve into a concept that is susceptible of diverse interpretations. Better understanding will undoubtedly contribute to better implementation and coordination on the part of the actors concerned. Belgium considers that any concept of SSR should be adapted to local circumstances. There is no single standard concept of SSR; there are as many interpretations as there are situations.”

    2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632 (2007) · source