YouSaid · the spoken record

De Rivero

lines on the record: 288
first: 2002-01-18
most recent: 2006-07-21
sittings or episodes: 40
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 sustainability of the political process is also linked to progress in building a democratic and multi-ethnic society through the effective implementation of the standards for Kosovo. The future Kosovo should be a democratic and multi-ethnic entity where the civil liberties set out in the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights are respected, where civil society can develop, where there is political and religious tolerance and respect for minorities and where there is a regular transfer of power through free, transparent and fair elections. However, none of that will be possible in the absence of a viable, modern economy in Kosovo that is able to join the global economy in an effort to increase people's income.”
2006-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5373 (2006) · source
“The adoption of governing principles to resolve the matter, which were prepared by the Contact Group, and the preliminary meetings that have recently been held, are positive sign that we are on the right path to defining Kosovo's status. Another positive sign is the adoption by Kosovo's new Government of a negotiating platform for the Vienna meeting. In seeking to determine the status of Kosovo, it is important that we not fall behind in implementing standards. Their implementation is central to UNMIK's work. All the authorities concerned should continue to make their best efforts to facilitate substantial progress in that area, progress that will make it possible to establish the foundations for a lasting solution to the issue of Kosovo.”
2006-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5373 (2006) · source
“I would also like to convey the condolences of my Government to the Government and people of Slovakia on the tragic plane accident that took the lives of 42 of its officials in the service of UNMIK. With the beginning of the political process aimed at determining its future status, we have entered a decisive year for the future of Kosovo. The work of the United Nations is of more importance than ever. Peru would like to reaffirm its resolute support for UNMIK's undertakings. We are encouraged by the meaningful progress made in a relatively short time with regard to preparations for the political process to determine the future status of Kosovo.”
2006-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5373 (2006) · source
“Mr. De Rivero (Peru) (spoke in Spanish): I would like to thank Mr. Soren J essen-Petersen, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for his detailed presentation of the report on the work of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). I join others in welcoming Mr. Boris Tadic, President of Serbia. I also wish to add my voice to the condolences expressed on the death of Mr. Ibrahim Rugova, President of Kosovo, whose legacy of dialogue and non-violence should continue to guide the search for a peaceful solution for Kosovo. We also welcome the recent election of President Fatmir Sejdiu, to whom we wish success as he carries out his functions.”
2006-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5373 (2006) · source
“We believe that the International Conference on the Great Lakes should be convened without delay, and we hope that the recently established Peacebuilding Commission will include security and development in the Great Lakes region as one of the priority issues on its agenda.”
2006-01-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5359Resumption1 (2006) · source
“The matter of national reconstruction in the countries of the Great Lakes region must be tackled in a comprehensive fashion. We must promote democracy and organize elections. But at the same time we have to provide urgent international economic intensive care in order to begin to reduce poverty, which, I repeat, affects 80 per cent of the population. I know that this is a major challenge but, as I said, democracies are not sustainable without basic economic viability and social peace. For these reasons, Peru supports the proposed Security, Stability and Development Pact for the Great Lakes region.”
2006-01-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5359Resumption1 (2006) · source
“My delegation will give due attention to proposals that may be made with a view to bringing pressure to bear on these armed groups. Likewise, we have to be especially vigilant when it comes to the sanctions regime, to enable the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the support of MONUC - and above all of neighbouring States - to control its territory, as well as land and air access, to prevent the smuggling of arms and natural resources. We should consider whether MONUC could also have a regional mandate to address security needs at the borders. No democracy can be sustained in the Great Lakes region without basic economic viability. Hence, natural resources should once again be under the jurisdiction of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, so that the new Government to be elected next June will have the resources to govern.”
2006-01-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5359Resumption1 (2006) · source
“Today the Democratic Republic of the Congo sometimes cannot cover, from its budget, basic public services such as health, education and, above all, civic security. In these conditions, stability and democracy could revert to crisis in the Great Lakes. Here, I would like to pay tribute to the Blue Helmets who have sacrificed their lives, and in particular to the Guatemalan peacekeepers who were ambushed a few days ago by the Lord's Resistance Army. Such events show that the Security Council must closely follow developments regarding these illegal groups, especially the Lord's Resistance Army, which has ravaged northern Uganda and which has a presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in southern Sudan.”
2006-01-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5359Resumption1 (2006) · source
“The greatest international economic intensive care in the Great Lakes region must be focused on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is the strategic epicentre of the entire region. Without stability in that country, we will not have stability, peace or democracy in the region. In order to build peace and democracy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we need a robust United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) that would deter and dissolve the illegal armed groups. We also need a national armed force that would centralize the use of force, a well- trained police force that would provide security for its citizens and, lastly, a State that would be in a position to provide basic public services.”
2006-01-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5359Resumption1 (2006) · source
“We must forgive those countries' debt, increase official assistance, give them access to markets without reciprocity, and ensure that the international private sector, on the basis of the Secretary-General's Compact, invests in those countries and modernizes their primary economies in order to ensure their competitive integration into the global economy. We have to understand that democracy is not sustainable when nearly 80 per cent of the population is poor and when it is surrounded by rich natural resources that are in the hands of illegal armed groups. Moreover, the region's natural resources by themselves cannot help these countries emerge from their poverty. The main feature of underdevelopment is to have natural resources and to export commodities, which historically bring low prices, impeding development.”
2006-01-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5359Resumption1 (2006) · source
“However, they cannot suffice in a context of social disintegration. We have to acknowledge that, thus far, in the Great Lakes region we have been building democracies on weak and fragile foundations. For those reasons, many post-conflict transitions are but the early stages of fresh democratic crises. The primary task at hand if democracy in the Great Lakes region is to be rendered sustainable is urgently to administer what one might call "international economic intensive care" to those countries where electoral processes have taken place or where they are about to be undertaken.”
2006-01-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5359Resumption1 (2006) · source
“In recent years, due to the explosive population growth and to the ensuing social demands, those autocracies collapsed, resulting in the disintegration of the social fabric of those countries and in the emergence of factional struggles among illegal armed groups, which have been, and are still, trying to appropriate the countries' natural resources for themselves. Against that backdrop of conflicts among illegal armed groups over the ownership of natural resources, continuing population growth and a poverty rate of 80 per cent, it is very difficult - let us be candid here - to ensure the sustainability of democracy. Please do not misunderstand me; electoral processes aimed at rebuilding those countries are indispensable in order to give legitimacy to national reconstruction in those countries.”
2006-01-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5359Resumption1 (2006) · source
“Mr. De Rivero (Peru) (spoke in Spanish): Over the last 30 years, in the countries of the Great Lakes region, especially in those where conflicts have broken out, per-capita income has decreased and the population has continued to grow. The result has been the widespread pauperization of the peoples of the countries of the Great Lakes region in which conflicts have arisen. Indeed, roughly 80 per cent of people in those countries live on less than $2 a day. Thus there has been no growth of a middle class but, rather, impoverishment and an absence of development. That process of impoverishment has taken place against a backdrop of considerable natural wealth which has benefited only businesses and autocratic Governments.”
2006-01-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5359Resumption1 (2006) · source
“We urge Timor-Leste's development partners to do their utmost to ensure that the new Government to be elected democratically in 2007 will inherit an economically viable country that can sustain Timor-Leste's progress towards becoming an increasingly democratic society.”
2006-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5351 (2006) · source
“We hope that the Secretary- General will issue an opinion, bearing especially in mind the statement made by an eminent university professor, human rights champion and scholar of truth commissions to the effect that the purpose of such commissions is not to uncover the entire truth - which is virtually impossible, given human nature - but to bring to light that which was kept hidden from our knowledge in order to ensure justice and reconciliation. I hope that the Secretary-General will approach this matter in that spirit. Moreover, we also note with appreciation the activities undertaken since August 2005 of the bilateral Commission for Truth and Friendship established by Timor-Leste and Indonesia. Peru agrees that UNOTIL's mandate should be extended beyond May.”
2006-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5351 (2006) · source
“That is why the most important undertaking for the future is to make Timor- Leste's economy viable. Every effort must be made to find more development partners for Timor-Leste and to ensure that the conference of partners in April secures greater resources. We note with appreciation the transmission by President Gusmao to the Secretary-General on 20 January of the report of the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation on the violence and human rights violations perpetrated in Timor-Leste between 1974 and 1999.”
2006-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5351 (2006) · source
“Furthermore, preparations are now under way for parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled for 2007. In the area of international relations, Timor-Leste ratified important human rights agreements and made significant progress in the demarcation of its land border with Indonesia. The bilateral Commission for Truth and Friendship established with Indonesia has now begun its work. Timor-Leste also signed an agreement with Australia on the sharing of natural resources from the Timor Sea, which will provide resources to improve its fragile socio-economic situation. Despite such domestic and external political progress, there are still few prospects for the economic and financial viability of Timor-Leste, which continues to have one of the lowest per capita incomes - some $400 a year - in the world.”
2006-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5351 (2006) · source
“Mr. De Rivero (Peru) (spoke in Spanish): My country welcomes the President of Timor-Leste, Mr. Xanana Gusmao, and Foreign Minister Jose Ramos- Horta, and thanks President Gusmao for his comprehensive and, above all, candid briefing on the situation in his country. We also thank Mr. Sukehiro Hasegawa, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Timor-Leste, for his important work at the head of the United Nations Office in Timor-Leste (UNOTIL). In 2005, Timor-Leste continued to progress towards effective democratic governance in spite of difficulties in the judicial and financial spheres. Local elections took place with broad civic participation and the rule of law was strengthened through Parliament's adoption of the penal code, the civil procedure code and other important legislation.”
2006-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5351 (2006) · source
“In conclusion, I must recognize that to strengthen the protection of civilians after the cessation of conflict, during the post-conflict period, there must be resolute action to build national democratic institutions - not so much through general elections, but beginning with democracy at the local level, then progressing to general elections. Frequently there are elections which do not turn countries into democracies. Also, it is important, during post-conflict reconstruction, to put viable economies in place, because the majority of countries that have collapsed had economies that were poorly integrated in the world economy. This creates social marginalization, which, in the final analysis, is the cause of the collapse of States and the conflicts that the Security Council faces.”
2005-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5319 (2005) · source
“Moreover, my delegation agrees that we need a new resolution to update the framework used by the Security Council to provide support for the protection of civilians, in order to ensure that this new environment is better reflected in the capacity of the United Nations to respond. In that connection, we believe it is important to take into account regional and subregional organizations which can play a major role because they are in a better position to have a more complete picture of the situation and of possible solutions for the countries of the region. In the case of the American continent, the Organization of American States should at last be enabled to take an active role alongside the Security Council.”
2005-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5319 (2005) · source
“In that way, the victims of these violations may receive compensation - at least moral compensation - and may again hope to rejoin their society with dignity. But judicial deterrence is not enough. At times, solid mandates are required for peacekeeping operations. Peru agrees with the Secretary-General that in the five years since the adoption of resolution 1296 (2000) there have been new challenges to the safety and well-being of civilian populations and the tools that we have at our disposal to address these concerns need to be developed accordingly. We believe that it is important to improve the design of peacekeeping missions, supported by specific mandates for the protection of civilians during conflict.”
2005-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5319 (2005) · source
“This represents an important milestone on the path towards international justice for grave violations of human rights and strengthens the position of the United Nations in adopting appropriate measures to help the victims of massive violations of human rights, to defend the rule of law and, above all, to put an end to impunity and bring the perpetrators of such violations to international justice. The investigation by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court will help uproot the sense of impunity that exists today with respect to Darfur, and will help - in cooperation with the international authorities and the Government of the Sudan - to ensure that the perpetrators of violations are brought before tribunals and judged with all the guarantees required by international standards.”
2005-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5319 (2005) · source
“If such atrocities were committed, however, there could then be rapid action on the part of the Security Council. Moreover, that would be a coherent and consistent way of implementing the World Summit Outcome. Acceptance of the concept of the "responsibility to protect" and its effective implementation by the Security Council are now extremely important for enhancing the credibility of the United Nations. In that connection, my delegation would like to draw attention to the Security Council's decision to refer the case of Darfur to the International Criminal Court.”
2005-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5319 (2005) · source
“Against that backdrop, Peru has stressed the importance of an ongoing focus by the Council on the concept of the responsibility to protect. That concept involves three basic responsibilities: first, to prevent the causes of domestic conflict; secondly, to respond - and this could include coercive measures, sanctions and, in extreme cases, the use of force; and thirdly, to reconcile the population and to rebuild the country that has collapsed. An important measure to strengthen the credibility of the Council's efforts to protect civilians could be to have the permanent members of the Council reach a gentleman's agreement not to use the veto when crimes against humanity are involved such as ethnic cleansing, genocide or grave and massive violations of human rights. That could deter those who might be planning to perpetrate atrocities.”
2005-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5319 (2005) · source
“Human rights are of concern to all States in the international system, and respect for such rights is a sine qua non for the legitimate exercise of national sovereignty. Accordingly, it is important to ensure access to humanitarian assistance for civilian populations affected by conflict, with full respect for humanitarian work and for internationally agreed principles on humanitarian assistance, and to protect humanitarian personnel and civilian populations, particularly its vulnerable segments, such as women, children, refugees and internally displaced persons. The reality is that, in various situations of conflict throughout the world, the United Nations has often been unable to prevent genocide, massacres and ethnic cleansing.”
2005-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5319 (2005) · source
“The responsibility to protect must be viewed as a concept that guarantees the achievement of the ultimate goal of State sovereignty, which is none other than safeguarding the human rights of a State's own citizens and promoting respect for the human dignity of its own people - a fundamental element of its own definition as a civilized State. That was the understanding reached last September by our heads of State and Government, who forged a new consensus so that action could be taken to avoid any recurrence of genocide such as took place in Rwanda and in Srebrenica. The United Nations must never abdicate its ethical responsibility to safeguard and defend the human rights of individuals throughout the world.”
2005-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5319 (2005) · source
“The primary responsibility to protect populations - as was noted earlier; we could not agree more - from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity lies with each State, and cooperation is necessary to ensure that this is the case. In armed conflicts, the protection of civilians is also the responsibility of the parties to the conflict, be they States or armed groups. The United Nations has a responsibility to protect populations from serious and systematic violations of international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Conventions. Cases of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity or ethnic cleansing should meet with an immediate and firm response by the Security Council.”
2005-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5319 (2005) · source
“Mr. De Rivero (Peru) (spoke in Spanish): The delegation of Peru congratulates you, Sir, on having convened this open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. We would like also to thank Under-Secretary-General Jan Egeland for his introduction and to highlight the work done by his Office to promote the protection of civilians in armed conflict - work which today does great credit to the United Nations. I cannot but note that the events referred to in his report cause us grave concern. In my delegation's View, the question we are considering is one of the most important issues on the Security Council's agenda, given its humanitarian and ethical implications and given its scope, which encompasses the prevention of conflict escalation and the restoration, maintenance and consolidation of peace.”
2005-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5319 (2005) · source
“Peru hopes that the efforts to incorporate the information from the lists into the Interpol database can be completed as soon as possible. That would exploit the capacity of that main organism for international police cooperation and facilitate the tasks of national authorities. The adequate functioning of the list system, including the listing and the delisting of individual and entities, continues to require the utmost attention. Respect for due process and the rights of those included on the lists must be considered at all times.”
2005-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5229Resumption1 (2005) · source
“In addition, the resulting team must include strategists in the fight against terrorism and specialists in the various areas of that fight. Legal professionals are needed, as are intelligence and police experts with experience in the field. The members of the team, as has been said, must come from different geographic regions and legal traditions and, most important, must have practical experience in fighting terrorism. It is necessary to overcome the limitations I have mentioned in order to optimize the use of the report system and the specialized activities of the CTED. That way, the CTC will best be able to carry out the mandate entrusted to it by the Security Council. Before concluding, I would like briefly to refer to the work of the 1267 Committee.”
2005-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5229Resumption1 (2005) · source
“That would help the Committee itself and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) to duly process the content of the more than 600 reports that have been submitted by States during more than three years. A second element is following up the reports. It is necessary that the responses and the courses of action taken by the CTC in each case be based on a meticulous and rigorous analysis of the reports and that the specific situation and experience of each country be taken into account. Otherwise, the Committee risks adopting a mistaken approach with respect to the reality in some countries, affecting its contribution to States' mechanisms to fight terrorism. Thus Peru agrees that the CTED, the technical support organ of the CTC, must complete its team as soon as possible and become fully operational.”
2005-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5229Resumption1 (2005) · source
“In other words, countries that lack financial resources, experience in the fight against terrorism or the required personnel or that have not been able to adopt specific national legislation must be able to receive the assistance they require to adequately implement resolution 1373 (2001) and to report on those activities to the CTC. It is those deficiencies that must guide the CTC's cooperation with States. That is important, because the Committee's main task is to ensure that States have the necessary tools to fight terrorism. In addition, in connection with reporting fatigue, it would be useful to agree on a timetable for the submission of reports, as set out in paragraph 6 of resolution 1373 (2001).”
2005-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5229Resumption1 (2005) · source
“We also highlight the importance of the CTC's continued coordination and cooperation with other organs of the United Nations and with international, regional and subregional organizations in order to focus efforts and avoid duplication. In that context, we should respect the different spheres of competence of the various forums and be mindful that recommendations coming from diverse organizations belonging to diverse forums, spheres of competence and situations cannot automatically become universal norms. With regard to the reports, there are some points that could be considered to improve their effectiveness. First, delays in the submission of reports, as the Chair of the Committee stated, are to a large extent due to reporting fatigue and lack of capacity.”
2005-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5229Resumption1 (2005) · source
“Within the framework of this holistic strategy, it is essential that we build structures of inter-State cooperation. We are therefore grateful for the briefings by the Chairs of the three Security Council committees and appreciate the convening of today's open meeting. I will now make some brief comments on the work of the Counter- Terrorism Committee (CTC) and of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999). Peru appreciates the efforts made by the Chair of the CTC to give priority attention to the Committee's role as a facilitator of technical assistance both between States and between them and international organizations.”
2005-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5229Resumption1 (2005) · source
“It is an asymmetric struggle, and the way to wage it is, therefore, different. Based on our own successful fight against terrorism, Peru can state that only through a holistic approach is it possible to combat this scourge effectively. An appropriate legal framework is needed, along with operational capacity in the areas of security and, above all, in intelligence. In that holistic struggle, it is necessary to respect human rights and international law. Firmness in the fight against terrorism also requires firmness in the preservation of civil liberties. The democratic State cannot put itself on the same level with terrorists; that is our experience. Another long-term element that must be considered as part of this holistic approach is the elimination of the social exclusion and the frustration that lie behind terrorist alienation.”
2005-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5229Resumption1 (2005) · source
“Mr. De Rivero (Peru) (spoke in Spanish): I wish, on behalf of the Government and the people of Peru, to express our condolences and sentiments of solidarity with the Government and the people of the United Kingdom and with the relatives of the Victims of the terrorist attacks carried out in London on 7 July. Those criminal acts deserve our deepest condemnation. Peru, which fought and defeated terrorism from 1980 to 1992, strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever it takes place and whoever commits it. No ideological, political or religious reason can be used as justification by those who carry out, cooperate in or finance terrorist acts. We all know that terrorism cannot be fought in a conventional war. There is no territory or theatre of operations, because the actors are clandestine.”
2005-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5229Resumption1 (2005) · source
“Only in that way will it be possible to determine whether or not warring parties have complied with humanitarian conventions. United Nations reform is unquestionably a very high-profile issue in international public opinion today. In that regard, the case of Darfur will prove whether the Council is capable of bridging the gulf between its speeches and resolutions about protecting civilians and effective action in the face of crimes against humanity.”
2005-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5209 (2005) · source
“One of the things that should be examined in the area of protecting civilians in international armed conflicts today is the increasingly common use of the notion of collateral damage. That is often a euphemism referring to the many civilians who are going to die, or who have in fact died, and is to justify military objectives. If the United Nations does not react to the concept of collateral damage in international conflicts, it will be following the military logic of belligerents, which accepts the inevitability of the loss of innocent life as falling within the acceptable scope of military action. If we really want to protect civilians, one of the first tasks of the Security Council should be to dispatch special missions to investigate civilian losses in international armed conflicts.”
2005-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5209 (2005) · source
“If we do not improve the quantity and quality of United Nations personnel, we will not be able to achieve protection for civilians, unless the Organization were hypothetically prepared to resort to the hiring of private military firms that have no obligations vis-a-vis international humanitarian law but are already providing an alternative in many armed conflicts. It is for those reasons that the Council should embrace the recommendations of the High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change calling on countries with the greatest military capacity to make available to the United Nations autonomous, highly- trained and self-sufficient stand-by battalions that could even be as large as a brigade.”
2005-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5209 (2005) · source
“With regard to the second responsibility - namely, to respond - not all peacekeeping missions have been completely successful, either. As regards the responsibility towards reconciliation and reconstruction, it remains to be seen whether that will work in the future. As we can see, the Council continues to face the great challenge of fully carrying out its responsibility to protect, which today exceeds the good intentions reflected in resolutions 1265 (1999) and 1296 (2000). It is therefore a good idea to consider another draft resolution to supplement those. The gentleman's agreement on avoiding a veto and the practical measures I have mentioned will be worth nothing if the Council's peacekeeping - or peace enforcement - capacity is weakened by lack of recruitment, shortcomings in the troops recruited and delayed deployment of troops.”
2005-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5209 (2005) · source
“The Council could also take the following practical measures to strengthen its capacity to protect civilians. First, the Council needs greater foresight in identifying countries at risk of crisis and under stress, as well as in possibly identifying future threats to peace not yet on its agenda. Secondly, the Council should undertake a systematic evaluation of mandates pertaining to the protection of civilians, including measures taken pursuant to Chapter VII of the Charter, so as to enhance its capacity to protect. Thirdly, the Council should review national reconciliation and reconstruction processes on an ongoing basis. Thus far, the Council has not effectively carried out its responsibility to prevent conflicts.”
2005-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5209 (2005) · source
“One important measure that would strengthen the Council's responsibility to protect civilians would be, for example, for the five permanent members of the Security Council to arrive at a gentleman's agreement not to use their veto when dealing with questions about whether to intervene to prevent crimes against humanity, in particular in the face of mass violations of human rights or the right to life, ethnic cleansing and genocide. That gentleman's agreement would become operative once the Secretary-General put forth a case backed up by reports of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The underlying idea would be for permanent members of the Security Council, in response to a request by the international community, to cooperate by not vetoing Council operations that could save thousands of human lives.”
2005-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5209 (2005) · source
“The United Nations is thus duty-bound to protect civilians from crimes against humanity, including mass violations of human rights, ethnic cleansing and genocide. That right to protection is not easy to exercise, because it involves three specific responsibilities: the responsibility to prevent internal causes of conflict that put populations at risk; the responsibility to respond, which includes coercive measures, sanctions and, in extreme cases, military intervention; and the responsibility to reconcile the population and rebuild the ravaged country.”
2005-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5209 (2005) · source
“However, it is worth asking ourselves whether perpetrating or permitting mass or systematic violations of the right to life and, specifically, the provisions of the Geneva Conventions and the Convention Against Genocide, can honestly be called the domestic affairs of a State. It is clear that, in accordance with international law, States bear the primary responsibility for protecting civilian populations. We believe that belligerent armed groups also bear that responsibility. If States or armed groups violate international law or fail to comply with the Geneva Conventions, the Convention Against Genocide or humanitarian law in general, such violations are not a domestic matter, but represent a threat to international peace and security. Accordingly, such acts must meet with an immediate and firm response by the Security Council.”
2005-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5209 (2005) · source
“Such conflicts are truly hellish in character, there being no longer any respect for the most basic humanitarian principles, nor any distinction between the belligerents and innocent civilians. Thus, civil armed conflicts turn into a kind of mass crime wave. They are truly destructive national conflicts that transform countries into breeding grounds for crimes against humanity. That is why this debate is so important. It must be said that the problem in addressing such conflicts is that the United Nations was not created to prevent internal conflicts among civilians. Many Governments still believe that the suffering that they inflict or allow to be inflicted on their civilian populations is the domestic affair of States.”
2005-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5209 (2005) · source
“Mr. De Rivero (Peru) (spoke in Spanish): My delegation commends you, Mr. President, for having convened this open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. We are also grateful to Mr. Egeland for his comprehensive briefing - although I must say that his comments give cause for concern. This discussion is important, because one of the great challenges facing the Security Council in the twenty-first century will be the protection of civilian victims of conflicts throughout the world - conflicts that are now mostly civil in character. Since the cold war, approximately 33 domestic armed conflicts have broken out or been rekindled, resulting in more than 5 million deaths and almost 17 million refugees and displaced persons.”
2005-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5209 (2005) · source
“Post-conflict peacebuilding must evolve into an economic and political process that simultaneously creates viable economies and democratic institutions. Such a process must be innovative and be led by the United Nations, with the participation of, and fresh input by, Global Compact transnational companies as well as institutions and civil society.”
2005-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5187Resumption1 (2005) · source
“Thus democracy spreads from the citizenry to the State. These thoughts on the democratic reconstruction of collapsed States are based on important socio- political studies that have been carried out with respect to specific cases, in particular Kosovo, Timor-Leste, Liberia and Sierra Leone. I am thinking in particular of the research done by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, which now has observer status with the General Assembly. Up to now, the greatest constraints on peacebuilding have been a lack of strategies aimed at preventing conflict, and then, in the post-conflict stage, a lack of strategies aimed at creating a modern, viable economy and at building democracy, starting from small local communities and working up to the national level.”
2005-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5187Resumption1 (2005) · source
“That social contract has to be secured by United Nations peacekeeping forces, which must ensure that power is gradually transferred to the people through national democratic institutions. Reconstruction should also lead to a revitalized national civil administration capable of providing basic public services such as water, energy, health care, education and infrastructure. It is also crucial that such a civil administration be created on the basis of democratic principles that will strengthen the rule of law. What is most important, however, is for such a democratic civil reconstruction to start at the local level. First priority has to be accorded to setting up local democratic governments. Democracy must spread from the local level to the regional level, and from the regional level to the State.”
2005-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5187Resumption1 (2005) · source
“In order to continue to obtain credit, they have to undergo structural adjustment, which, instead of modernizing them, only makes them more unstable politically. While modernizing the non-viable economies of collapsed States, we must also set in motion a process of political reconstruction. In other words, while building a viable economy, we also have to create an effective institutional democracy. In building such democratic institutions, the commitment of the international community is required. That is why Peru has consistently advocated that all Security Council peacekeeping missions incorporate institutional reconstruction programmes that will lay the foundation for a solid democracy. The first thing to be done is to promote national agreement - in other words, arrive at an effective social contract within the collapsed country.”
2005-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5187Resumption1 (2005) · source