YouSaid · the spoken record

Chowdhury

lines on the record: 1,172
first: 1997-03-06
most recent: 2009-08-07
sittings or episodes: 146
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

“At the same time, we have to be careful to avoid tokenism. We should go not only for visibility in the representation of women, but for representation that is wider and more effective. Bangladesh has begun to send its women to peace operations, with the first five civilian police deployed in East Timor. The armed forces in Bangladesh have recently opened their doors to women and will soon be having women in command positions. As a country that has contributed over the years to the most difficult United Nations missions, we shall be doing our part by sending more women peacekeepers in future. One area where the United Nations and its Member States must act urgently is in improving the training of peacekeeping personnel by fully gender- sensitizing them.”
2000-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4208 (2000) · source
“By bringing their experience to the peace table, women can inject into the peace process a practical understanding of the various challenges faced by civilian populations. The mechanisms that come out of such involvement are naturally more sensitive to the needs of civilians and therefore more sustainable and useful. Women also have a great role to play in promoting in strife-torn societies a culture of peace, which lies at the root of lasting peace and reconciliation. Unless there is a culture of peace, with women at its helm, long-term solutions will elude us. I come finally to United Nations peace operations and women. At the decision-making level and on the ground there has to be more representation of women. There has been a demand for more women special representatives of the Secretary-General. We welcome that.”
2000-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4208 (2000) · source
“The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court recognized war crimes against girls and women. The Security Council must add its voice in ensuring that there is no impunity for gender-based war crimes. The second area is the involvement of women in the peace process. From Burundi to Somalia, and from Northern Ireland to the Middle East and Cambodia, women have shown a great capacity as peacemakers. They have assumed an activist role while holding together their families and communities. At the grass- roots and community levels, women have organized to resist militarization, to create space for dialogue and moderation and to weave together the shattered fabric of societies. We must ensure that women get more avenues to promote peace, not only at the local level, but also at the national, regional and global levels.”
2000-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4208 (2000) · source
“They are in particular danger of being harmed and abused and of facing gender-based and other, unimaginable, gross human rights violations. As a participant in the Council mission to Sierra Leone, I have seen at first hand the ravages of war on women in that country. The Security Council must demand of all parties to armed conflict that they comply fully with international law applicable to the rights and protection of women and girls, and take special measures in this regard. To respond to their needs, all United Nations peace operations must include a gender unit. The human rights components of peace operations should include women's rights in all their documents and reports. At the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration sites, the different needs of women and men combatants and accompanying family members must be addressed.”
2000-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4208 (2000) · source
“Our work in the Security Council on this issue must be set in the broader context of the commitments of the Beijing process, both the 1995 Conference and the 2000 review, which show us the way forward. The Council's decisions affect women in situations of armed conflict. It is therefore only appropriate that those decisions be made keeping women squarely in the picture. We believe that the Council has to take into account three broad areas. The first is the impact of conflict on women and girls. As the nature of conflict shifts in a post-cold-war, globalized world, civilians, in particular women and children, are increasingly victims. Women and girls form the majority of refugees and internally displaced persons.”
2000-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4208 (2000) · source
“We feel proud to have, in our Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, a woman leader of great vision and courage who is actively contributing to peace at the national level as well as globally, spearheading the culture of peace and non-violence. Bangladesh is proud to have had the privilege of taking a pioneering step in the Security Council when it presided over the Council's first-ever pronouncement on women, armed conflict and peace on 8 March this year, International Women's Day. In that statement, the Council members recognized that peace is inextricably linked with equality between men and women and affirmed that women's equal access to and equal participation in power structures and their full involvement in the prevention and resolution of conflict are essential for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security.”
2000-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4208 (2000) · source
“These meetings of the Council are the result of the efforts of numerous women and their organizations, which have been demanding for some time now that the Council formally take up the matter. Today, we pay a tribute to their dedication and hard work in making it happen. We thank Secretary-General Kofi Annan for the important statement he made this morning, in which he highlighted areas that need attention from the Security Council. We also acknowledge the contributions of the two women who addressed the Council this morning. Ms. Angela King and Ms. Noeleen Heyzer have played a great role in making women's issues matter in the United Nations, and no doubt they will continue their important work. Bangladesh is fully committed to realizing the potential of women in promoting peace.”
2000-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4208 (2000) · source
“Nevertheless, the women have spoken; they have made their recommendations to the Council. The onus is now on the Council to act. Through today's meeting, and through the resolution we will be adopting in a few days, we must send a powerful message that women need peace and, more importantly, that peace needs the involvement of women. We wholeheartedly congratulate Namibia, in particular Ambassador Andjaba and his team, for their leadership in organizing these historic meetings of the Security Council on women and peace and security. Throughout your presidency of the General Assembly last session, Mr. President, we saw your commitment to women's issues. It is gratifying for us to see you presiding over this important meeting today.”
2000-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4208 (2000) · source
“Finally, the voices of women have reached the Security Council. It is significant that today - United Nations Day - we are beginning to address, in an open meeting of the Security Council, not only how conflicts shape the lives of women, but also how women are coming together to shape peace and security and what the Council can do to facilitate women's involvement in United Nations peacemaking and peace operations. Yesterday, the Council members heard the concerns of civil society representatives on this issue and interacted with them. It was a so-called Arria- formula meeting. Although intended to be participatory, it took place behind closed doors and there were no official records. It would have been so much better to have had those presentations here in the Council Chamber.”
2000-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4208 (2000) · source
“It is most unfortunate that, just when the peace process in the Middle East had reached a crucial stage, an Israeli leader's calculated provocation resulted in the recent escalation of violence in the occupied territories, putting the whole process in jeopardy. We reiterate the call for putting the peace process back on track and, in this context, welcome the initiative of the United States to convene a meeting between the leaders of Palestine and Israel in Paris tomorrow.”
2000-10-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4204 (2000) · source
“In this connection, we emphasize the need for immediate and full implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions regarding the withdrawal of Israeli occupation from all Arab territories, including eastern Jerusalem, as well as regarding the return of the refugees. It is in this context that Bangladesh extends unreserved and unswerving support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to establish an independent State with Jerusalem as its capital and the right of the Palestinian refugees to return to their ancestral homes to live with dignity and honour. We urge Israel to refrain from all activities, including building new settlements in occupied Arab territories, that seek to alter the religious, political and ethnic character of these territories.”
2000-10-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4204 (2000) · source
“We also call for an appropriate inquiry into the events, including the possible violation of the Geneva Convention, to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. We urge all parties to act with the utmost prudence and restraint, to refrain from acts of provocation and to make all efforts to restore calm. We believe that the cycle of violence in the region can only end through a just and comprehensive peace agreement based on the relevant United Nations resolutions and the various international agreements signed between the parties concerned in the Middle East.”
2000-10-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4204 (2000) · source
“I wish to thank you, Mr. President, for convening this public meeting of the Council on the present volatile situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. I also offer formally our warmest congratulations to you on your assumption of the presidency of the Council. Bangladesh is deeply concerned at the escalation of violence in the occupied territories and the excessive use of force against Palestinian civilians by Israeli troops, resulting in heavy casualties. This is most tragic and totally uncalled for. The image of terror-stricken 12-year old Muhammad al-Durrah before he was shot dead continues to haunt us. We condemn such brutal acts perpetrated by the Israeli forces. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of all those killed and wounded in the recent violence.”
2000-10-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4204 (2000) · source
“In this regard, we look forward to the early October visit to New York by Foreign Minister Shihab, or a high-level special envoy of the Indonesian Government if the Minister is not available.”
2000-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4203 (2000) · source
“In this situation, the Government of Indonesia needs to act quickly and firmly to be able to provide the security, sooner rather than later. In the interim, the refugees must be fed, sheltered and protected. We feel strongly the need to maintain a line of communication between the Council and the Government of Indonesia. The Council should be taken into confidence and consulted. Its role consists, not in undermining the Government, which has the task of implementing resolution 1319 (2000), but in assisting and advising the Government. An eventual Council mission should be viewed in that context, as a useful instrument that could bring positive opportunity and support for the Government. There is no scope for a role any different.”
2000-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4203 (2000) · source
“We welcome his resolve to take steps in the context of the implementation of resolution 1319 (2000). Special Envoy Yudhoyono's meeting with the Council, the four-point plan that he elaborated before the Council and the steps that have since been taken by the Government demonstrate that resolve. We also recognize the need for high visibility results of these steps. We are very much concerned at the plight of the refugees still living in camps in West Timor, unprotected, insecure and under the looming threat of further violence and penury. With the complete withdrawal of the international aid agencies, they are like a ticking humanitarian time bomb. We understand that UNHCR cannot return to West Timor until there is a credible security guarantee.”
2000-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4203 (2000) · source
“Today we are talking about the violent mindset of a group of people who have crossed all limits of humane behaviour. This raises legitimate questions about our commitment to protecting the innocent, justice, peace and security. The perpetrators of these violent acts cannot be allowed to derail the positive progress made by UNTAET in East Timor. The Council is resolute in condemning the outrageous and contemptible acts committed by the armed militia against the United Nations personnel. Such crimes should not go unpunished, as that, in our view, would weaken the very basis of relations between the United Nations and its Member States. We believe that the Government of Indonesia is conscious of its responsibility in this matter. We see this reflected in President Wahid's recent pronouncements.”
2000-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4203 (2000) · source
“We were, of course, quite concerned by the continuing violence and intimidation perpetrated by the armed militia against the refugees and aid workers and incidents of cross border incursions, all of which, cumulatively, translated into a halting of the repatriation process. More than all that, today we are confronted with a problem of a larger dimension. The burning down of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)in Atambua and the killing of three of its personnel have radically changed the situation in West Timor, jeopardizing, as never before, the safety and security of the refugees and the prospects for their repatriation to East Timor. The Council took serious note of this and unanimously adopted resolution 1319 (2000).”
2000-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4203 (2000) · source
“We once again commend Mr. Vieira de Mello for his leadership and perseverance. We believe the United Nations and all the Member States have a great stake in the success of UNTAET. The need to remind us about this lies in the fact that the period since Mr. Vieira de Mello's last visit to the Council has been a difficult one, both for UNTAET and for the Council. Last June we were looking ahead, speaking about the issues relating to the independence of East Timor, the launching of consultations for developing a constitution, security requirements and capacity-building in vital areas. There also had been with us for some time the thought of whether the military component of UNTAET could be gradually reduced.”
2000-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4203 (2000) · source
“Allow me to begin by thanking you, Mr. President, for scheduling yet another public meeting on the situation in East Timor. We are particularly happy to have with us once again Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello, Special Representative of the Secretary-General. We are grateful to him for the informative and useful briefing on the latest developments. I would like to add that we are happy to see Mr. Jose Ramos-Horta among us today. We always find the opportunity to meet and exchange views on East Timor very useful. The reason for this is that the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) has a distinctive character. While most of the United Nations missions are passing through difficult stages, we look up to UNTAET as one which, despite known constraints and the enormity of the task, has been able to achieve a lot.”
2000-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4203 (2000) · source
“In this context, we welcome the appointment by the High Commissioner for Human Rights of Ambassador Henrik Amneus as her Special Envoy on persons deprived of liberty, including prisoners, detainees and missing persons in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. We hope that his role will make a substantial contribution in resolving the fate of nearly 3,500 persons who remain missing and detained. In conclusion, I would like to note that the restoration of peace to a region which has been a hotbed of conflict and inter-ethnic violence is a task of immense complexity. The notable progress made thus far shows that efforts are on the right track. I pay special tribute to the untiring efforts of Mr. Kouchner in leading the attempts of the United Nations in establishing democracy, peace and security in Kosovo.”
2000-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4200 (2000) · source
“We observe in the report that the reinforcement of the judicial system has resulted in greater levels of activity for dispensing justice. This, accompanied by an improved penal system, will contribute greatly towards the establishment of the rule of law. Fifthly, we have referred to the problem of missing persons and detainees quite a number of times in the Council. It remains a major source of tension between the different ethnic communities. Continuation of this situation is counter-productive to attempts at building inter-ethnic harmony. We have underscored the appropriateness of the appointment of a special envoy ofthe Secretary-General for missing persons and detainees.”
2000-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4200 (2000) · source
“The leaders in Kosovo must do more to end the cycle of violence. We call on all Kosovars, irrespective of their ethnic origins, to unite against those who disrupt peace and pose a threat to building a safe, democratic and multi-ethnic future for Kosovo. We encourage UNMIK in its continued efforts to improve security, the rule of law and the return of refugees and internally displaced persons. Fourthly, the judiciary in Kosovo has been dysfunctional for quite a long time, mainly due to the lack of judges. We welcome the appointment last month of an additional 136 professional judges and prosecutors and 309 lay judges in courts of different regions of Kosovo, thus bringing the number ofjudges close to the target level.”
2000-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4200 (2000) · source
“This is a success for UNMIK in its outreach efforts aimed at including minority communities in democracy-building in Kosovo. We hope that others will follow the lead and join together in the quest for peace. Thirdly, regarding the security situation, there have been sporadic eruptions of politically motivated violence in recent months in Kosovo. There is a likelihood that such incidents will increase in the pre- election period. Major efforts, including the reassignment of resources, should be made to curb the probability of any incidents that might disrupt the electoral process. We encourage the high priority given by UNMIK in deterring election-related violence and in enforcing the election code of conduct. We are disturbed by the continuation of incidents of civil violence and unrest in different parts of Kosovo, including Mitrovica.”
2000-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4200 (2000) · source
“These elections will be the first major step towards the development of democracy. The timely completion of the civil registration process, particularly of the ethnic Albanian community, is a big step forward. We regret, however, that the vast majority of the Kosovo Serbs and some other minority communities could not participate in registration due to intimidation by hardline elements. We emphasize the importance of full participation by all in the local administration in order to restore effective peace. Secondly, regarding the participation of moderate Serbs, we also welcome the participation since June in the Interim Administrative Council (IAC) and the Kosovo Transitional Council (KTC) of the Serb National Council, under the leadership of Bishop Artemije.”
2000-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4200 (2000) · source
“Bangladesh warmly welcomes Mr. Kouchner today to brief us at the Council. We have listened with great attention to his very important statement. We are heartened by the achievements of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the positive developments in Kosovo, but at the same time feel that the pace of return to normalcy needs to be accelerated. UNMIK has come a long way against many odds in the six months since the Security Council mission visited Kosovo, where we had occasion to see first hand the enormity and complexity ofthe issues. I would make the following points today on the report (S/2000/878) of the Secretary-General and the presentation of Mr. Kouchner. First, regarding the elections, we welcome the steps taken by Mr. Kouchner for holding the municipal elections in Kosovo on 28 October.”
2000-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4200 (2000) · source
“In an ongoing first-ever multiparty congress the people of East Timor have entered into a discourse about the development of a constitution and the divising of a national human rights action plan. We believe these Timorese inputs are the most crucial ones in the process of transition and should therefore emanate from an inclusive and broad-based participation of the people of East Timor.”
2000-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4191 (2000) · source
“Tomorrow East Timor will celebrate the first anniversary of the landmark referendum in which its people decided in favour of independence. For some time now we have seen a momentum slowly built towards a process of transition towards independence. This is only as expected, and we fully support the preparatory steps being taken by UNTAET in this regard. On their part, the East Timorese leadership is also engaged. Here, ifI may digress from my text, I express our concern about the reported resignation of Mr. Xanana Gusmao. Then subsequently we learned that he has withdrawn his resignation. Maybe we can hear whether there is any confirmation of this news from Mr. Annabi.”
2000-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4191 (2000) · source
“We recognize that the success of this initiative will depend on the financial aspect as well as on creating conditions, both social and economic, on both sides of the border that are conducive to the process of repatriation and resettlement. It is encouraging to note that offers of assistance have started. We were encouraged to hear at last month's briefing that FALINTIL members had received interim assistance from UNTAET while a definitive arrangement was under study by a group from King's College, London. We feel that the outcome of the study should be the subject of prior discussion between FALINTIL and UNTAET. We believe the security arrangements of the territory must be determined by informed decision of the East Timorese leadership. UNTAET would play a facilitating role in making the decision.”
2000-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4191 (2000) · source
“We have noted the decision taken by the Indonesian authorities to close down refugee camps in West Timor in a matter of months. It is our view that this step should be taken if full coordination and consultation with UNTAET and UNHCR. That way, the solution would be sustainable and would contribute to the ultimate goal of repatriation of East Timorese refugees. We deem it indispensable that the registration process be completed by UNHCR before the closure of the camps. But for the interim, efforts must be made to ensure security of the refugees as well as of the international aid workers in West Timor. We welcome the initiative taken by the Government of Indonesia in speeding up the repatriation process.”
2000-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4191 (2000) · source
“The draft strategy for human resource development and institution-building presented recently in a workshop appears to be the correct step- by-step approach. We are very concerned at the recent encounters between the UNTAET peacekeeping force and the militia, which led to the loss of a number of peacekeepers' lives. As regrettable as that is, the broader implications, both for the scope of the United Nations mission and for the repatriation of refugees, is very disturbing. The repatriation of refugees has almost ground to a halt. The situation in the refugee camps remains tense. The UNHCR personnel and other aid workers continue to be targeted by the militia. As we have done in the past, we strongly call for appropriate action to stop such militia activities.”
2000-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4191 (2000) · source
“We thank you, Mr. President, for scheduling this open meeting on East Timor, and we thank you for the expression of condolences on the death of the Bangladesh soldier in East Timor, who lost his life in the cause of peace. Our thanks go also to Assistant Secretary-General Annabi for his comprehensive briefing on the latest developments in East Timor. Among the many daunting challenges faced by the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), capacity-building in the field of human resource development stands out. We fully support the policy adopted by UNTAET of consultation with the relevant United Nations agencies and other development partners in determining the needs in this field.”
2000-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4191 (2000) · source
“Bernard Kouchner in leading the efforts of the United Nations to establish peace and security and to further reconciliation in Kosovo. We commend him for carrying out a formidable job most admirably.”
2000-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4190 (2000) · source
“My sixth point relates to economic activity. The pace of economic activity in Kosovo needs to be boosted. That would provide jobs for the Kosovars and would allow them to look forward to the future rather than being haunted by the misery of the past. We are encouraged by the launching of road repair programme in Kosovo by the European Agency for Reconstruction. Improving the infrastructure is definitely the most important investment for stimulating economic activity. In conclusion, I would like to say that restoration of peace in a region which has been a hot spot of conflict and inter-ethnic Violence for a long time is a task of immense complexity. The notable progress made recently shows that it is not impossible. Let me conclude by paying a special tribute to the untiring efforts of Mr.”
2000-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4190 (2000) · source
“The additional judges and prosecutors will definitely contribute to the re-establishment of the rule of law in Kosovo. My fifth point concerns missing persons and detainees. We have made references to this continuing problem a number of times in the Council. The relatives of the persons who remain captive suffer constant agony and anxiety. We saw this ourselves during the Visit of the Security Council mission to Kosovo last April. The continuation of this situation breeds mistrust and undermines attempts to build inter- ethnic harmony. The sooner the problem of the missing persons is brought to a satisfactory end, the better will be the outlook for a return to peace. In this context, we reiterate our support for the appointment of a special envoy of the Secretary-General for missing persons and detainees.”
2000-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4190 (2000) · source
“As the elections near, UNMIK should concentrate more on security aspects. We are concerned that political violence could increase with the approach of the elections. Every step should be taken to hold the election campaigns in a secure and peaceful manner. Fourthly, as regards the judiciary: the judiciary in Kosovo has been dysfunctional for quite some time, mainly on account of a lack ofjudges. We welcome the appointment earlier this month by the head of UNMIK of an additional 139 judges and prosecutors and 309 lay judges to the Supreme Court, to the district, municipal and minor offences courts in different regions of Kosovo, and to the commercial court in Pristina. The effective functioning of the judicial system is an essential prerequisite of law enforcement.”
2000-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4190 (2000) · source
“We emphasize the importance of the full participation of all ethnic communities in local administration in order to restore peace and security. My third point concerns the security situation. A number of violent incidents have erupted in different parts of Kosovo, including Mitrovica, in recent months. The leaders in Kosovo must do more to end the cycle of violence. We call on the Kosovars, irrespective of their ethnic origin, to unite against those who disrupt peace and are a threat to peaceful coexistence and to building a safe, democratic, multi-ethnic future for Kosovo. We support the ongoing efforts of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to improve security, the rule of law and the return of refugees and internally displaced persons.”
2000-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4190 (2000) · source
“The international community has long been supportive of elections being held in the fall of this year. We are happy to note that the projected time-frame is being maintained. The municipal elections will be the first major step towards the establishment of duly elected institutions in Kosovo. We are also encouraged by last month's signing of the municipal elections law, which resulted from elaborate discussions with local bodies and consultations with international organizations. Secondly, regarding voter registration: we also welcome the successful end of the registration of Kosovo's population last month in preparation for the election. The registration of more than 1 million people within Kosovo and 150,000 outside is a big step forward. We regret, however, that the Serbs, numbering about 100,000, did not register.”
2000-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4190 (2000) · source
“I thank Assistant Secretary-General Hedi Annabi for updating us on the situation in Kosovo. A number of positive developments have taken place in Kosovo since we last met in the Council for an open discussion, in July. We look forward to the report of the Secretary-General, as just mentioned by Mr. Annabi, and to its introduction by Special Representative Mr. Bernard Kouchner. For today's debate we would like to make the following points. First, regarding municipal elections: we welcome the announcement by Mr. Bernard Kouchner that the municipal elections in Kosovo will be taking place on 28 October, a date set at the recommendation of the Chairman of the Central Election Commission and in consultation with the Interim Administrative Council.”
2000-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4190 (2000) · source
“In order to achieve the objective of self-sustaining growth, efforts should be concentrated on encouraging private-sector-led development and on creating conditions for a single economic space in the country. The donors should continue their support for achieving these objectives. We note that some important initiatives have been launched and that some gains have been achieved. But much of the progress will depend on overcoming obstruction and delays. We hope that with the willingness and commitment of all parties concerned and the continued efforts of UNMIBH, considerable progress will be possible in achieving peace and development objectives in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2000-08-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4188 (2000) · source
“Some significant progress has been made recently - and we have also heard from Mr. Miyet about this - particularly in rural areas, although the will of citizens to return to their pre-war homes has not been matched by the actions of authorities at all levels. The progress in urban return is slower. This indicates a necessity to implement property legislation and to enforce the legal rights of all citizens. We encourage the Bosnian authorities to concentrate further on these areas. Fourthly, with regard to economic reconstruction, some large-scale post-war reconstruction-particularly in the infrastructural sector-has been taking place in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is expected to drive economic growth.”
2000-08-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4188 (2000) · source
“Progress in the area of judicial reform must be accelerated. In this context, we consider the strengthening of the Constitutional Court and the establishment of a State court to be among the major priorities. The entity institutions ofthe country should implement legislation to remove all political influence from the judicial branch. UNMIBH has a key role in the area of consolidating the judicial system, as well as in police restructuring. We are encouraged by the information that Under-Secretary-General Miyet shared with us today on progress in the area of police reform, particularly as regards the involvement of minorities in the police force. Thirdly, the return of refugees and internally displaced persons remains a real test of commitment to the peace process.”
2000-08-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4188 (2000) · source
“All this indicates steady progress towards peace and stability. In this context, we would like to focus on the following four points. I turn first to the State Border Service. Following the establishment ofthe first State Border Service entry point, on 6 June at the Sarajevo airport, the State Border Service has been established at a number of other points. This is an appreciable sign of progress. We believe this process will be further accelerated by the adoption of the law on the border service by the Bosnia and Herzegovina Parliament. The authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina should, in coordination with UNMIBH, work to further accelerate the deployment ofthe State Border Service. Secondly, with regard to an effective judiciary, an independent and impartial judiciary is a prerequisite for the establishment of the rule of law.”
2000-08-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4188 (2000) · source
“Our thanks go to Under-Secretary-General Bernard Miyet for his briefing and update on the current situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We recall the last briefing on developments there, given in an open meeting of the Council by Special Representative Jacques Paul Klein on 13 June. In May, we also had an occasion to hear from High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch. We found all these briefings very useful and worthwhile. The Council has extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) until 21 June 2001, against the backdrop of visible and encouraging signs of peace taking root in that country. We note that the security situation has stabilized, the return of refugees and displaced persons is accelerating and political pluralism is gaining strength.”
2000-08-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4188 (2000) · source
“We call upon Ethiopia and Eritrea - fellow members of the Non-Aligned Movement - to make serious efforts to achieve an early implementation of the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities. We encourage them to go beyond the bonds of friendship and cooperation. They are two neighbours with a long- shared history. We wish to see them as two friendly, prosperous people in the comity of nations.”
2000-08-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4187 (2000) · source
“UNMEE should be able to complete its mission early; however, this will depend on the conclusion of a peaceful, definitive settlement of the conflict. The two parties should use the proximity talks responsibly so as to fulfil their commitment to reach such a settlement. Meanwhile, the international community should ensure full respect for the arms embargo imposed by Council resolution 1298 (2000). The international community should be able to devote its attention and resources to the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in the two countries. The priority, once the territorial disputes are resolved, should quickly be shifted to people and their development.”
2000-08-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4187 (2000) · source
“We call upon the Governments of the two countries to exercise the utmost restraint and ensure full respect for the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities. Their cooperation with the United Nations will be critically important in the authorization, deployment and operation of UNMEE. The international community needs to respond more attentively to the immediate humanitarian needs of the war-affected peoples of Eritrea and Ethiopia. Special attention and assistance should be given to the drought-stricken population in Ethiopia. We call upon the donor community to come forward with greater generosity in response to the July 2000 revised appeal, which calls for $87.3 million in relief aid, required by the eight United Nations agencies.”
2000-08-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4187 (2000) · source
“We endorse the coordination mechanism proposed by the Secretary-General and hope that the OAU will ensure effective coordination and consultations with the United Nations representatives. At the Lome summit meeting of the OAU, the heads of State and Government called for a speedy deployment of the United Nations Mission. We believe that the Council should give its authorization as soon as possible. At the same time, it is important that the Secretariat should complete the mission planning process for an early deployment. Bangladesh stands ready to participate in UNMEE. I would like to pay tribute to President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria and express my deep appreciation to the OAU high-level delegation for their contribution to the conclusion of the Agreement between the two countries.”
2000-08-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4187 (2000) · source
“The Governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea deserve our appreciation for agreeing to provide airtime on national radio and television to UNMEE for public information broadcasts. We also note with appreciation the importance the Secretary-General has attached to coordination with the humanitarian community, as well as on civil-military coordination. A mission that is planned in keeping with the elements contained in relevant Council resolutions and presidential statements - including those relating to the protection of civilians and the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process - will certainly mark a significant improvement in United Nations peacekeeping. Of particular importance is the coordination with the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which is a guarantor of the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities.”
2000-08-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4187 (2000) · source
“We support the Secretary-General's proposal, as contained in his 9 August report, asking authorization for a military force of up to 4,200 personnel for the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) to assist in the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement. The structure and concept of the operations are based on good political and military assessments. This will allow us to move forward, as envisaged in Security Council resolution 1312 (2000). We welcome the inclusion of an elaborate public information component. Council members and the broader membership have been putting emphasis on this aspect as an element of lessons learned, particularly in Sierra Leone.”
2000-08-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4187 (2000) · source