YouSaid · the spoken record

Deputy Secretary-General

lines on the record: 595
first: 1998-06-29
most recent: 2020-11-03
sittings or episodes: 58
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 Deputy Secretary-General: I am pleased to be able to address the Security Council on the question of Afghanistan this morning. But it is sad to have to do so on a day when there is yet more bad news from that unhappy country. You have just referred, Sir, to the severe earthquake in the north of the country, which has caused heavy loss of life and thousands of injuries, and left tens of thousands without shelter. The Secretary-General issued a statement this morning expressing his distress at this news, which I am sure we all share. United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations have already sent relief items and assessment teams into the area. A helicopter with people from the United Nations and the International Security Assistance Force is currently surveying the damage. Chairman Karzai and Mr.”
2002-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4497 (2002) · source
“Used in this way, international preventive action can significantly strengthen the capacity of Member States to preserve and exercise their national sovereignty. It is my hope and the Secretary-General's hope that the United Nations system and Member States will be able to work together towards the implementation of the recommendations contained in this report. The constructive stance that the Security Council has already taken in the three open debates and subsequent presidential statements on this subject over the past two years is heartening. But the time has come to translate the rhetoric of conflict prevention into concrete action.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334 (2001) · source
“According to a study by the Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict, the international community spent about $200 billion on the seven major interventions of the 1990s - in Bosnia, Somalia, Rwanda, Haiti, the Persian Gulf, Cambodia and El Salvador, exclusive of Kosovo and East Timor. Such calculations do not, of course, reflect the human costs of war - death, injury, destruction, displacement, and their repercussions for families, communities, local and national institutions and economies, and neighbouring countries. The message is clear: Governments which peacefully resolve a situation that might deteriorate into a violent conflict and call for preventive assistance as soon as it is needed provide the best protection for their citizens against unwelcome outside interference.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334 (2001) · source
“A new, broader, more widely conceived definition of national interest in the new century would induce States to find far greater unity in the pursuit of the fundamental goals of the Charter. As the Secretary- General has stressed, in the growing number of challenges facing humanity, the collective interest is the national interest. Preventive strategies are not easy to implement. The costs of prevention have to be paid in the present, while its benefits lie in the future. In addition, the benefits are often not tangible. When prevention succeeds, little happens that is visible. Yet the report clearly demonstrates that conflict prevention is the most desirable and cost-effective approach for promoting the peaceful and just international order envisaged in the Charter.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334 (2001) · source
“First, if the Government concerned refuses to admit that it has a problem which could lead to violent conflict and rejects offers of assistance, there often is very little that outside actors, including the United Nations, can do. Secondly, the international community, including the Security Council and the Member States of the United Nations, all too often lacks the political will to take effective action in time. But such attitudes are not the only obstacle to effective preventive action. No less significant are the ways in which the Member States define their national interests in any given crisis. As the world has changed in profound ways since the end of the cold war, our conceptions of national interest have failed to follow suit.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334 (2001) · source
“All that being said, let me emphasize that effective conflict prevention requires action beyond what is recommended in this report and, indeed, beyond any institutional mechanism. The international community has a moral responsibility to ensure that vulnerable peoples are protected. On at least two occasions in the recent past, in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, we failed to live up to this responsibility. The question remains, why is effective conflict prevention still so seldom practised, and why do we so often fail when there is a clear potential for a preventive strategy to succeed? Past experience offers two main answers to this question.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334 (2001) · source
“One is that Member States support the follow-up processes launched by the last two high-level meetings between the United Nations and regional organizations, which dealt with conflict prevention and peace-building, respectively, and provide increased resources for the development of regional capacities in these fields. The other is that donor States should increase the flow of official development assistance, which has dropped to alarmingly low levels in recent years. Development assistance cannot by itself prevent or end conflict, but it does facilitate the creation of opportunities and the political, economic and social environment within which national actors can build a peaceful, equitable and just society.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334 (2001) · source
“As to his own preventive role, the Secretary- General thinks that it could be enhanced by increasing the use of interdisciplinary fact-finding and confidence-building missions to volatile areas; by developing regional prevention strategies with regional partners and the relevant United Nations organs and agencies; by establishing an informal network of eminent persons; and by improving the capacity and resource base for preventive action in the Secretariat. I would like to draw the Council's attention to two other recommendations in the report.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334 (2001) · source
“The report calls on the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council to play a more active role in conflict prevention and to enhance their interaction with the Security Council in this field. One of the recommendations made to the General Assembly is that it authorize the Secretary-General and other United Nations organs to take advantage of the advisory competence of the International Court of Justice. Needless to say, Member States themselves are also urged to resort to the Court earlier and more often to settle their disputes.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334 (2001) · source
“The Secretary-General proposes a number of means to help identify and capitalize more easily on windows of opportunity for preventive action. One is the practice, which the Secretary-General intends to initiate, of providing periodic regional or subregional reports to the Council on disputes with a potential to threaten international peace and security. Another is the proposition that the Council consider the establishment of new mechanisms, such as an ad hoc informal working group, another subsidiary organ or some other informal technical arrangement for discussing prevention cases in a more sustained and structured way. The Council may also wish to consider sending fact-finding missions with multidisciplinary expert support to potential conflict areas, with the aim of working out comprehensive prevention strategies.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334 (2001) · source
“Ninth, the United Nations is not the only actor in prevention and may not always be the actor best suited to take the lead. Member States, international and regional organizations, the private sector, non- governmental organizations and other civil society actors also have very important roles to play. Tenth and finally, effective preventive action by the United Nations requires sustained political will on the part of Member States. This includes, first and foremost, a readiness to provide the United Nations with the necessary political support and resources for undertaking effective preventive action and developing its institutional capacity in this field. Now, how can this Council, which has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, enhance its role in conflict prevention?”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334 (2001) · source
“Sixth, an effective preventive strategy requires a comprehensive approach that encompasses both short- term and long-term political, development, humanitarian and human rights programmes. Seventh, conflict prevention and sustainable development reinforce each other. An investment in prevention should be seen as a simultaneous investment in sustainable development, since it is obvious that the latter is more likely to happen in a peaceful environment. Eighth, there is therefore a case for looking at United Nations development programmes and activities from a conflict-prevention perspective. This in turn requires greater coherence and coordination in the United Nations system, with a specific focus on conflict prevention.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334 (2001) · source
“There may also be cases where certain measures under Chapter VII, such as economic sanctions, can be used preventively. Fourth, to be most effective, preventive actions should be initiated as early as possible. The sooner a dispute or problem that might lead to conflict can be identified and addressed successfully, the less likely it is that it will deteriorate into violent conflict. Fifth, the primary focus of prevention should be the multidimensional root causes of conflict. The proximate cause of conflict may be an outbreak of public disorder or a protest over a particular incident, but the root causes are more likely to be found in socio-economic inequities, systematic ethnic discrimination, denial of human rights, disputes over political participation or longstanding grievances over the allocation of land, water and other resources.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334 (2001) · source
“First, conflict prevention is one of the primary obligations of Member States set forth in the Charter and our efforts in conflict prevention must be in conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter. Second, conflict prevention must begin with national Governments and local actors. Otherwise, it is unlikely to succeed. They have the primary responsibility. The United Nations and the international community should support their efforts and assist them in building national capacities. Third, the most useful instruments of prevention are those described in Chapter VI of the Charter, which deals with the peaceful settlement of disputes. Measures under Chapter VII are normally taken only after a conflict has broken out, though they may still have a preventive effect by deterring other potential conflicts.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334 (2001) · source
“The Deputy Secretary-General: Recent debates, including those at the Millennium Summit and the Security Council summit last September, have shown wide agreement on the need to make conflict prevention a central pillar of our collective security system in the twenty-first century. I therefore welcome this opportunity to present the first report on this subject, which the Secretary-General has submitted to both the Security Council and the General Assembly. If this report has one message, it is that we must intensify our efforts to move from a culture of reaction to one of prevention. Drawing on the lessons we have learned, the Secretary-General proposes the following 10 principles which, in his View, should guide our future approach to conflict prevention.”
2001-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4334 (2001) · source
“The Secretariat stands ready to report on progress made in carrying out the 54 recommendations made in both of the Secretary-General's reports, and to devise clear steps to act upon those recommendations. I wish the Council all success in these very important deliberations.”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312 (2001) · source
“The Secretary-General's report underlines the urgent need for the international community to assist already-burdened host States in separating armed elements from displaced civilians at the earliest possible time in order to preserve the civilian character of asylum, to prevent further deterioration of security conditions and to deny such groups a haven for their activities. Last September, the States Members of the Organization pledged in the Millennium Declaration to expand and strengthen the protection of civilians in complex emergencies. However, many of the main recommendations of the Secretary-General's first report have gone unimplemented. The Secretary- General hopes that this meeting will help move from words to deeds and from intention to implementation.”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312 (2001) · source
“A third priority must be the separation of civilians and armed elements in refugee camps or other settlements where displaced persons gather. Recent fighting in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, for instance, has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians. There, as elsewhere, mixed communities often find themselves under the control of unaccountable armed elements who may further terrorize already vulnerable civilians, divert needed aid to fighters, and establish bases for cross-border attacks, all of which threaten even greater destabilization and even regional wars.”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312 (2001) · source
“The report also supports the use of truth and reconciliation commissions, calls on Member States to enforce international law, and opposes the use of amnesties for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Second is the question of access to vulnerable populations. Access to affected civilian populations is a prerequisite for any meaningful action and impact on the ground. The Security Council has a pivotal role in that respect, particularly in engaging with all parties to a conflict, including armed groups not controlled by a recognized State. Operations mandated by the Council, such as those in Angola, Bosnia and Sierra Leone, have been handicapped by their inability to establish effective contact with such groups. Renewed efforts are needed in that area, given the nature of today's conflicts.”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312 (2001) · source
“The new report complements the first report's findings and takes a closer look at current trends in a few areas that are of concern to the international community or that have shown some encouraging developments in recent years. Among those areas I wish to mention three. First is the criminal prosecution of violations of international criminal law. We have recently witnessed remarkable progress, both domestically and internationally, in efforts to end the culture of impunity for those who have committed serious assaults on the civilian population during an armed conflict. The Secretary-General's new report urges the speedy ratification of the Statute of the International Criminal Court, and calls for reliable funding of the international criminal tribunals, and in particular the special court for Sierra Leone.”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312 (2001) · source
“In those conditions, civil- defence forces, vigilante groups and militias often prey on civilians for their own private and destabilizing purposes, and in some cases specifically target them. Given such circumstances, the protection of civilians must become a regular and central aspect of United Nations peace operations and should be reflected in the mandates and the design of such operations. The second report of the Secretary-General on the protection of civilians in armed conflict is now before the Council for consideration, in document S/2001/33l. As members know, the first report on protection (S/1999/957) was issued in September 1999 and contained 40 recommendations for action.”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312 (2001) · source
“I would like to stress at the outset how glad I am that the Council has invited the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to address this meeting. Looking at the protection of civilians from the perspective of human rights can help identify very useful steps that the Security Council may wish to consider. Mrs. Robinson will speak to the Council in greater detail along those lines. My own remarks will concentrate on a few key points arising from the Secretary-General's report. Wars today are often fought not between sovereign countries or with regular armies, but between different religious, ethnic and political groups and with irregular armed groups.”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312 (2001) · source
“The Deputy Secretary-General: The Council is meeting today to continue the debate on a subject of vital importance: the protection of civilians in armed conflict. Civilians account for an estimated 75 per cent of war victims. The ongoing human suffering inflicted by conflicts, from Afghanistan to Angola and from the Middle East to the Great Lakes, is a daily reminder of the need for a new and concerted response at the highest political levels from Governments, which bear the primary responsibility for protecting civilians, from the Security Council, and from all others who can help cover the considerable distance still to be travelled if the international community is to find truly effective solutions in this area of acute human need.”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312 (2001) · source
“By consulting closely, by coordinating our responses and our actions and establishing a relationship of trust and confidence, we can fully exploit the potential of peacekeeping. We welcome today's debate, which we hope will lay the groundwork for still-closer ties among the Security Council, troop contributors and the Secretariat.”
2001-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4257 (2001) · source
“For example, the establishment of a stand-by list of military and civilian police specialists would accelerate the recruitment of mission staff, which could then help make use of the expertise of troop contributors early in the planning phase. Strengthened stand-by arrangements could lead to further opportunities for training of all potential peacekeepers, resulting in turn in a more coherent and consistent approach. It could also allow many administrative issues to be resolved in advance, such as negotiations related to contingent-owned equipment. This would reduce the risk of misunderstandings, delays and frictions. The strength and promise of peacekeeping lies in its collaborative nature.”
2001-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4257 (2001) · source
“In addition to its regular meetings with groups of troop contributors, the Secretariat stands ready to meet with the representatives of individual Member States at any time, upon request, to discuss any concerns relating to the field. Furthermore, the Secretariat has not hesitated to introduce innovations where this would be useful; one example was the meeting the Secretariat convened in August 2000 with chiefs of defence staff of those countries contributing to the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL). In addition to the imperative to improve consultations, the Panel on Peace Operations contains a number of practical recommendations that can help improve our cooperation with troop contributors.”
2001-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4257 (2001) · source
“In this context, the Secretariat attaches the highest importance to providing frequent and comprehensive briefings to Member States. We hold consultations with Member States during the formulation and revision of concepts of operations and at times of crisis. With the recent increase in resources, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations will be able to make its senior staff available - including its military and civilian police experts - to provide even more frequent briefings. We look forward to exploring with Member States how these sessions can be improved so as to respond to their requirements as fully as possible.”
2001-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4257 (2001) · source
“This will help us address such problems as commitment gaps in the contributions of troops; failures or shortcomings in the operations; and problems concerning safety and security, as you, Mr. President, have mentioned. We in the Secretariat are committed to providing accurate and timely information to political decision-makers in the Security Council, proposing options for action, and assessing accurately the risks and costs of each of these options. At the same time, we must provide troop contributors with the information they need to decide whether they wish to participate in a particular operation, including the requirements and risks that are involved. With both groups of interlocutors, our contacts allow us to listen to and take account of their concerns, expectations and insights.”
2001-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4257 (2001) · source
“Much of the focus of today's discussion concerns the framework for consultation between the Security Council and troop-contributors. We all stand to gain from a clear understanding between those who prepare the mandates and those who execute them. Troop- contributors need to know clearly what Security Council members envision, and the Security Council members need to understand what troop-contributors are prepared to do. While the process of consultation may be time-consuming and complex, it pays invaluable dividends- not only for the troop- contributing countries (TCCs) and the Council, but also for those vulnerable populations we are seeking to help. A central aspect of this effort is to improve cooperation between TCCs, the Security Council and the Secretariat.”
2001-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4257 (2001) · source
“At the same time, our operations are being asked to discharge increasingly complex tasks, often in hostile environments. In this context, it is more important than ever that there be the closest possible cooperation among the key elements in the peacekeeping machinery. In the General Assembly, in the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations and in the Security Council, the international community has repeatedly acknowledged the importance of a vibrant and vigorous partnership, grounded in an ongoing dialogue. Most recently, the need for partnership and close communication was stressed in the report of the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations. I hope that today's discussion can help us to identify ways to pursue this goal.”
2001-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4257 (2001) · source
“The Deputy Secretary-General: Before I begin my address I would like to inform all present that we are trying to lower the temperature in this house. I think it is going to make our meetings much less pleasant if we do not manage to solve that problem. So we are working on it. We meet today to address an issue of central importance to our efforts to reform and revitalize United Nations peacekeeping for a new era. This meeting reflects a recognition that without strong, close, and constructive cooperation among the Security Council, the Secretariat and the countries which supply the troops for our missions, we cannot expect to find success in this vital endeavour. Over the past year the international community has shown renewed political will to act to prevent conflict through the instrument of peacekeeping.”
2001-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4257 (2001) · source
“We can and must do much more to make our world safer for all of them. I am confident that today's debate on this most pressing issue will be fruitful and that the Council will show the necessary political leadership in the fight against those who exploit children. This is a cause which concerns all of us, for children represent the hope and the future of the world.”
2000-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4176 (2000) · source
“Children in many corners of the world - in Sierra Leone, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Angola, in Sri Lanka or in East Timor, to name but a few - continue to be killed, maimed, sexually abused, recruited into armed forces or deprived of life-saving humanitarian assistance. The Secretary-General's report, which the Council is about to consider, contains a comprehensive review of issues related to the protection of the rights of children affected by armed conflicts and a series of specific and targeted recommendations for action. Mr. Olara Otunnu and Ms. Carol Bellamy, who between them spearhead the work of the United Nations system in protecting children in conflict, will brief the Council in much greater detail. The abuse of children in armed conflict, as everywhere else, is unacceptable.”
2000-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4176 (2000) · source
“That resolution has strengthened the advocacy work of the Special Representative of the Secretary- General for Children and Armed Conflict and of the United Nations Children's Fund. It has also enhanced the United Nations ability to implement programmes on the ground in affected countries. It is time to reflect on the progress we have made and to examine how best to move forward with the protection of children in war-torn nations. The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which focuses on the involvement of children in armed conflict, has finally been adopted and is now open for signature and ratification by Member States. Child Protection Advisers are deployed in Sierra Leone and in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite these positive developments, the task ahead is still enormous.”
2000-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4176 (2000) · source
“The Deputy Secretary-General: Let me first thank you, Madam President, for convening this open debate of the Security Council on children and armed conflict. The problem which brings us here today is one of the most disturbing human security issues facing the international community. It is also a great challenge to the United Nations, one which is close to the heart of the Secretary-General. He therefore deeply regrets being unable to attend this important debate, which he intended to open personally, and he has asked me to convey his appreciation and full support for this timely initiative. Almost a year ago, the Security Council adopted resolution 1261 (1991), which places the issue of children and armed conflict on the peace and security agenda.”
2000-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4176 (2000) · source
“Many of you have invited us to come forward with concrete proposals, and I can assure you that we will do that. Let me finally say, in the name of Catherine Bertini and all our colleagues in the United Nations system, that we appreciate very much the moving tributes that you have all paid to our colleagues who have fallen victim in the course of their duty as United Nations and humanitarian workers. I think you will all agree that we must move beyond words to concrete actions so that, in the words of one of the speakers today, today's heros do not become tomorrow's victims.”
2000-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4100Resumption1 (2000) · source
“I welcome very much the support expressed by most speakers for the number of concrete measures that Catherine Bertini and I mentioned in our presentations, particularly training, and the recognition by many speakers that to implement some of these measures, resources will have to be provided. Let me say in passing, Mr. President, that we appreciate very much the contribution that you have announced today to the trust fund that was set up a couple of years ago for the purpose of providing for security of United Nations staff. I believe the next step in the consideration of these very important issues will be the comprehensive report that the Secretary-General will issue on the protection of United Nations and associated personnel and humanitarian personnel.”
2000-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4100Resumption1 (2000) · source
“I noted with great satisfaction that many speakers again supported the notion of the need to strengthen the international legal framework for the protection of United Nations and humanitarian workers. I also noted with great pleasure that a number of countries have initiated the process of ratification, and that we can hope to see a good number of new ratifications coming about in the near future. As well, I have noted that many countries have indicated interest in seeing whether the scope of application of this Convention could be enlarged. Also, there were many positive references to the important role that the International Criminal Court would play in this matter once it enters into operation.”
2000-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4100Resumption1 (2000) · source
“Many delegations - most delegations, I think - have reaffirmed a number of very important principles: that the primary responsibility for the safety of United Nations and other humanitarian workers rests with the Governments of the countries in which we are operating; that the perpetrators of attacks against United Nations and humanitarian personnel must be brought to justice; and that the impartiality and neutrality of humanitarian agencies and humanitarian workers must be protected. I very much welcome the commitment of the Security Council increasingly to factor into its decisions the security dimensions of its mandates, as exemplified by the draft presidential statement that the Council will be adopting shortly.”
2000-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4100Resumption1 (2000) · source
“The Deputy Secretary-General: First of all, let me reiterate our gratitude to you, Mr. President, for placing this item on the agenda of the Council. It is clear from all the statements that have been made today that we all share the same deep sense of concern over the multiplication of grave incidents - deliberate attacks against United Nations and humanitarian workers.”
2000-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4100Resumption1 (2000) · source
“It is not a perk. It is not a favour to be granted. Security is something we owe the troops and civilians who volunteer to serve in faraway places under the most challenging of circumstances and to the local staff who help us fulfil our mandates. Security is also indispensable to the success of our work and that of the other organizations that collaborate with us in the field. It is, in a word, part and parcel of any peacekeeping, humanitarian or other mission we undertake anywhere in the world. We must stop acting as if it were anything less than that.”
2000-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4100 (2000) · source
“The mandates given to United Nations operations have an enormous impact upon the security of our personnel in the field. That is why I urge Council members to bear in mind two issues when they formulate those mandates. First, the size and configuration of the force must be commensurate with the risk it is likely to face. If it is not, the parties will be tempted to test its will, which will in turn endanger the lives of our personnel. Secondly, mandates should not create unrealistic expectations among the local population. Too often, United Nations personnel become the targets of desperate people's anger and frustrations when it turns out they cannot fulfil those expectations. I believe I have clearly expressed my conviction that we must change the way we think about the security of United Nations personnel. Security is not a luxury.”
2000-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4100 (2000) · source
“But that is, in effect, the impression we will give until Governments take the necessary measures to end impunity. For example, this Council has recently received reports identifying those allegedly responsible for the shooting down of two United Nations planes in Angola in December 1998 and January 1999, in which a total of 23 people were killed. In this case, as in the many others still unresolved, it is my sincere hope that Member States will do all they can to ensure that a serious investigation is completed and that the culprits are brought to justice. This Council itself has a special responsibility to see that justice is done when our colleagues are the victims of deliberate acts of violence, and it has a crucial role to play in other respects, too.”
2000-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4100 (2000) · source
“Thirdly, Member States should take steps to speed up ratification of the Statute of the International Criminal Court, which defines intentional attacks on personnel involved in humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping operations as war crimes. And fourthly, Member States should assist in investigating and bringing to justice those who have harmed or murdered people serving the United Nations and, indeed, other organizations working to foster peace or bring relief in conflict areas. Since January 1992, 184 staff members have lost their lives in the service of the United Nations. Of these, 98 were murdered. And yet, to date, only two perpetrators have been brought to justice and convicted. What does this tell the world? That it is all right to kill United Nations personnel? That those who do so are guaranteed impunity? I trust not.”
2000-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4100 (2000) · source
“First, those who have not yet done so can sign and ratify the 1994 Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, which finally entered into force last year, but as yet has only 29 States parties. Sadly, this is the exact same number I quoted when I addressed the General Assembly on the same subject four months ago. Secondly, the Convention currently covers United Nations and associated personnel providing support to a United Nations operation authorized by the Security Council or the General Assembly. Member States may wish to consider extending its scope to cover categories of personnel who at present fall outside the Convention's protection regime.”
2000-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4100 (2000) · source
“I take this opportunity to thank the Governments of Finland, Japan, Monaco, Norway and Senegal for their contributions to the Fund so far and I appeal to all Member States to demonstrate their commitment to the security of personnel by contributing as generously as they can. As I have said, resources for security must not only be increased; they must also be more predictable. In the longer run, we must move away from the ad hoc approach we have been taking. There should be nothing discretionary about financing staff security. It is a core responsibility of Member States and budgetary arrangements should reflect this. Together, we must start exploring ways in which this could be achieved. But there is much more Member States can do. Let me suggest a series of concrete actions they could take directly.”
2000-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4100 (2000) · source
“One innovation we have introduced this year is that most Inter- Agency Consolidated Appeals launched for 2000 include requests from humanitarian agencies to cover country- specific security requirements. I sincerely hope these appeals will be heard. Another source of financing has been the Trust Fund for Security of personnel of the United Nations, established in the summer of 1998. Unfortunately, the level of contributions so far has been frankly disappointing. Contributions received amount to a little more than $1.2 million. This has not even allowed us to provide training for those assigned to the 20 most precarious countries and regions.”
2000-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4100 (2000) · source
“In this case, it could literally be a question of life or death. Available information should be shared more widely and more systemically; clear procedures should be in place and respected; and security equipment should be pooled when feasible. To achieve all this, the Secretariat needs the support of the Member States on several levels. First of all, we need all to recognize that good security costs money. Personnel costs money. Equipment costs money. Resources have to be sufficient and they have to be predictable. At present, they are not. The financing of security management and training remains piecemeal - with funds coming from a great many different sources - and, I am afraid it say, it also remains inadequate.”
2000-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4100 (2000) · source
“Your country, Sir, has an excellent programme in this respect and, during a recent training session for United Nations volunteers, a one-day orientation was organized for them by your Government. Another good example has been that of the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) and the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET). A pre-deployment base of operations was established outside the immediate mission area, in Darwin, Australia, to train security and other staff before deployment to East Timor. Finally, we want to ensure much better coordination of security arrangements among the many United Nations actors often present in one location, as well as with other humanitarian organizations which might be present. Better coordination has been a key part of our reform efforts in other areas.”
2000-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4100 (2000) · source
“Troops normally receive extensive security training; a constant awareness of potential danger is instilled in them. But many non-military staff - police officers, relief workers, human rights observers and others - serve in conditions that are just as difficult. They must become as security- conscious as their military colleagues and be thoroughly prepared to cope with the dangers they may face. One way this could be done could be to establish training centres where all international staff, whatever the mandate they are to fulfil, would receive intensive security training before being deployed. Member States may also wish to consider inviting non-military staff to attend the security segment of their training programmes for peacekeepers.”
2000-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4100 (2000) · source