YouSaid · the spoken record

De Hoop Scheffer

lines on the record
23
first
2004-11-11
most recent
2006-09-20
sittings or episodes
2
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un-security-council

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  1. “It is therefore the responsibility of all of our organizations to explain the basis of what is often a long-term commitment. It would be beneficial for us to demonstrate to the general public and to those who finance us an exemplary spirit of cooperation and solidarity among organizations. I would like to conclude by welcoming the recent establishment of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission. It is an important step towards instituting real teamwork at the international level, and NATO is ready to contribute to its work. The United Nations, and the Security Council in particular, have the primary role in the maintenance of international peace and security. Regional organizations and other intergovernmental bodies have a responsibility to assist. NATO will continue to play its role in that collective effort.”

    2006-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5529 (2006) · source

  2. “Thirdly, there is a need to find a just balance between the responsibilities of the various international actors and those of local actors. That balance is, of course, a function of the type of conflict, but I also feel that the international organizations have an interest in promoting, as speedily and as fully as possible, the appropriation of the peace, stabilization and reconstruction processes by the people and authorities of the countries in question. Substitution is sometimes indispensable, unfortunately, but it must not be seen as an easy way out, lest it undermine the final objective of timely disengagement. My final comment is that we need to maintain the support of public opinion, without which the political basis of our interventions and the resources we enjoy decline.”

    2006-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5529 (2006) · source

  3. “If we wish to prevent Afghanistan from falling back under Taliban rule and exporting fanatical terrorism, then all actors with an interest in the well- being of that country need to reinvigorate their efforts to create a strong and sustainable Afghanistan. (spoke in French) My second observation concerns the role of Member States. We often forget this, but our organizations' ability to act depends directly on the political involvement of nations and the will to contribute - in the case of NATO, financially and militarily - to conflict management. In the framework of our respective organizations, we therefore need to recall the importance of striking a balance between collective political will and the means provided us by nations.”

    2006-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5529 (2006) · source

  4. “First of all, it is clear that each organization has different strengths and that these need to be complemented and mutually reinforced. NATO offers unparalleled military experience and capability, yet addressing a conflict requires a coordinated and coherent approach from the outset. Clearly defined responsibilities regarding the political, military, economic, development cooperation and other challenges of a conflict are indispensable if we are to maximize our chances of success. I saw for myself only two weeks ago in Afghanistan how important that lesson is. NATO, through its International Security Assistance Force, is certainly a key enabler in that country, but the military contribution to stabilizing that country is not an end in itself.”

    2006-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5529 (2006) · source

  5. “NATO's experiences of cooperation with the United Nations include the peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, defusing the crisis in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, stabilizing the situation in Kosovo, providing security and assistance in Afghanistan, training and equipping the security forces in Iraq, providing humanitarian assistance in Pakistan, and assisting with training and logistical support both the United Nations and the African Union in the Sudan. Drawing on those experiences, NATO has learned valuable lessons about its own structures, procedures and capabilities, which we are now addressing. But NATO has also learned some important lessons that, I believe, have wider relevance, in particular to cooperation with the United Nations, as well as with other regional organizations and intergovernmental bodies.”

    2006-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5529 (2006) · source

  6. “Mr. De Hoop Scheffer: I thank you first of all, Sir, for your very good initiative and for your invitation to participate in this important debate. Let me make some comments about cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations and other intergovernmental bodies from a NATO perspective. It goes without saying that NATO nations are deeply committed to the United Nations. In the Treaty of Washington, which founded NATO, the allies reaffirmed their faith in the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and acknowledged the primary responsibility of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security. Consequently, NATO has already made and, indeed, continues to make a significant contribution, in particular by leading operations under a United Nations mandate.”

    2006-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5529 (2006) · source

  7. “Apart from that responsibility, NATO will, of course, given the importance of this subject, be involved in seeing to it that the indicted war criminals go to The Hague as soon as possible. We will do this, of course, in close consultation with the European Union, which is taking over the responsibility for the operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

    2004-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5075Resumption1 (2004) · source

  8. “Mr. De Hoop Scheffer: NATO will keep what we call a residual presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina. NATO will have a headquarters in Sarajevo to do what you just indicated, Mr. President - that is, working together on a continuous basis with the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina on defence reform. I think I can say that a lot of progress has been made on defence reform. On the other hand, much remains to be done, and NATO, I think - and that is also very much the view of Bosnia and Herzegovina - is in a unique position, given its experience, to continue to consult with the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina and to give good advice on the process of defence restructuring and defence reform.”

    2004-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5075Resumption1 (2004) · source

  9. “The Alliance has already made a significant contribution to United Nations operations. NATO nations are always prepared to consider further requests for support, and I fully expect and trust that this cooperation will continue.”

    2004-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5075Resumption1 (2004) · source

  10. “We have developed an effective operational relationship between our two organizations there, and we have adopted the model of our cooperation to other operations. NATO nations are deeply committed to the United Nations. In the Treaty of Washington, which founded NATO, Allies reaffirm their faith in the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and they acknowledge the primary responsibility of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security. In the field, NATO has broadened its scope for support to the United Nations since our original peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our support now includes missions in other theatres and active cooperation on common challenges such as the fight against terrorism.”

    2004-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5075Resumption1 (2004) · source

  11. “Of course, it also includes substantial military assets - land, air and maritime - that are in short supply elsewhere. These assets include the necessary mix of capabilities for both combat and post- conflict reconstruction, as well as the appropriate deployable command elements to ensure maximum operational effectiveness. They now also include high- readiness units such as the NATO Response Force. Finally, I would stress NATO's proven determination to stay the course. Our 12-year commitment to support in Bosnia and Herzegovina is testimony to our resolve and ability to sustain our operations over lengthy periods if and when necessary. Bosnia and Herzegovina is the most successful proof of the effectiveness and potential of the United Nations and NATO working together for peace and stability.”

    2004-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5075Resumption1 (2004) · source

  12. “Overall, troops from all five continents, from more than 20 non-NATO nations, served effectively under NATO command and alongside NATO troops. That framework for action is tried and tested, and it has accumulated a wealth of experience. NATO also has a unique capacity to back up its political decisions with serious peacekeeping and peacemaking power. That power is flexible and is easily tailored to the various demands placed upon it. It encompasses training and advice to troops likely to be called upon to carry out peacekeeping duties, through activities such as participation in NATO-led exercises; advice on interoperability issues; and the sharing of doctrine and documentation. It also includes operational planning, with the associated force generation, strategic movement and logistics support.”

    2004-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5075Resumption1 (2004) · source

  13. “As I mentioned earlier, every international institution has something to offer, and its particular skills must be used to best effect. As far as NATO support is concerned, there are a number of benefits that I would wish to highlight. First and foremost, I would emphasize NATO'S utility as a framework for political dialogue and action. It is an alliance of 26 sovereign and democratic nations, and it binds together Europe and North America in a multilateral approach to security. But NATO is also a framework which facilitates participation by other nations. During the NATO-led operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the contributions from NATO's partners were indispensable, as were the contributions from other nations.”

    2004-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5075Resumption1 (2004) · source

  14. “Also in Afghanistan, NATO will continue to deliver on its commitments. In Iraq, under the terms of Security Council resolution 1546 (2004), and at the specific request of the Interim Government of Iraq, NATO is providing assistance in training and equipping the Iraqi security forces. We are in the process of substantially enhancing that assistance. I am aware that the alliance's involvement in those two countries has prompted some people to suggest that NATO is taking on the role of global policeman. I can assure the Council that nothing could be further from the truth. But the alliance's security interests are affected by events in those countries, and it is therefore logical for NATO to assist the efforts of the United Nations and of the international community there.”

    2004-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5075Resumption1 (2004) · source

  15. “Those are essential elements for reasons of political legitimacy, for sustaining public support over the long term, and for political credibility. Together with a robust military capability, those were the main ingredients of NATO's success in Bosnia and Herzegovina. But I believe they will also be the key for NATO to deliver success in other operations. NATO is now playing a major role, under a Security Council mandate, in Afghanistan. It leads the almost 10,000 strong International Security Assistance Force and is progressively expanding its presence throughout the country. Last month, it assisted the United Nations by supporting Afghan Government efforts to provide a secure environment for the presidential elections, as well as by directly supporting the electoral process.”

    2004-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5075Resumption1 (2004) · source

  16. “That does not mean that NATO must intervene in each and every instance. But we should always be aware that indifference might be more costly, over time, than timely engagement. Secondly, success in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a clear demonstration of international institutions complementing each other and reinforcing each other's efforts. A holistic approach calling on the relative strengths of the different international organizations is vital. And it is also valuable to involve as many individual States as practicable. NATO benefited greatly from the operational participation of many non- NATO nations. Finally, I would highlight the need for political dialogue to articulate a clear end-state, and the need for determination to see the mission through until that end- state is achieved.”

    2004-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5075Resumption1 (2004) · source

  17. “Cooperation with the ICTY is a key conditionality for further progress in relations between NATO and Bosnia and Herzegovina. I would like to underscore the words spoken this morning by Lord Ashdown on the position of Republika Srpska in that respect. Cooperation with the ICTY is crucial for any further development of the relations with NATO, starting with membership of the Partnership for Peace programme. With the imminent termination of the Stabilization Force mission, it is timely to review all that has been achieved there. I would draw attention to some of the lessons that I believe to be key. The first is to anticipate spillover. As we have seen in the Balkans, when States fail they tend to threaten security and stability not just in their own region, but well beyond.”

    2004-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5075Resumption1 (2004) · source

  18. “While there has been real progress, work remains to be done, and the closely coordinated international effort must continue across the wider region. But, given the improved state of security in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is the right time to terminate the Stabilization Force mission. As the Council heard from Lord Ashdown this morning, NATO is now working to hand over peacekeeping responsibilities to the European Union next month. I therefore look forward to a Security Council resolution authorizing that handover of responsibility. But that does not mean that NATO's long-term commitment to the country has changed. NATO will retain a military presence in the country and has already established a new headquarters in Sarajevo, which will provide advice on defence reform and will remain engaged in bringing indicted war criminals to justice.”

    2004-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5075Resumption1 (2004) · source

  19. “In a cooperative international effort, NATO contributed to successfully defusing the crisis in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, paving the way for a lasting political settlement, in the framework of the Ohrid Framework Agreement. And since 1999, under a United Nations mandate, NATO has been involved in stabilizing the situation in Kosovo. Last month, NATO-led troops provided security for the Parliamentary Assembly elections there. The good cooperation between the Kosovo Force (KFOR) and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) on the ground continues to be crucial for the stability of the province. That was also underlined by the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Kosovo, Soren Jessen- Petersen, when he addressed the North Atlantic Council of NATO yesterday.”

    2004-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5075Resumption1 (2004) · source

  20. “Today only 7,000 troops remain in the country - a clear indication of the considerable progress that has been made, progress which is also to a very large extent due to the relentless efforts and very hard work of the successive High Representatives for Bosnia and Herzegovina, from Carl Bildt to Lord Ashdown. Given our joint successes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is not surprising that NATO support to the United Nations there has been viewed as a template to be applied to other demanding crises. That involves close cooperation with other major international players, including the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.”

    2004-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5075Resumption1 (2004) · source

  21. “The decision to go out of area in the Balkans was a historic decision for the alliance. It was NATO's first peacekeeping operation. But just as important, it represented the birth of United Nations-NATO cooperation. Since 1992, NATO has provided continuous support to the United Nations in the Balkans. In 1995, some 65,000 troops were deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina, under a United Nations mandate, to implement the military aspects of the Dayton Peace Agreement. United Nations and NATO cooperation has resulted in a safe and secure environment. State institutions have been established, human rights are now respected, and the country has been set on the path to integration into Euro-Atlantic and European structures.”

    2004-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5075Resumption1 (2004) · source

  22. “Such a grave step is never taken without extensive consultation among allies. In response to the series of new strategic challenges, the alliance has decided to go out of area to build stability in a number of regions that have an impact on the security of the Euro-Atlantic area. The United Nations has also faced a multiplication of its activities and tasks in this fluid strategic environment. It is therefore not surprising that NATO and the United Nations, each within their specific roles, have found increasing scope for cooperation, especially in peace operations. That brings me back to Bosnia and Herzegovina, because, in a real sense, the alliance's transformation began in the Balkans. The Bosnia mission was undertaken in close cooperation with, and under a mandate from, the United Nations.”

    2004-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5075Resumption1 (2004) · source

  23. “Mr. De Hoop Scheffer: It is a real pleasure for me to be in New York and an honour to have been invited to address the Security Council this afternoon. My remarks will focus on the support of NATO to the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but I should like to start with a couple of observations about our respective organizations. As an alliance of 26 democracies, NATO allies are bound together by common values, as well as a commitment to common defence. In the past decade, NATO nations have expanded the geographic scope of alliance operations and activities and have transformed their nature, all without forgetting our core task, of course, of collective defence. Each operation requires a political decision by allied nations to commit their young men and women to a potentially hazardous mission.”

    2004-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5075Resumption1 (2004) · source