YouSaid · the spoken record

Duclos

lines on the record: 516
first: 2002-10-22
most recent: 2019-11-26
sittings or episodes: 97
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

“If that is not the case, appropriate training could be provided in order to enable them better to discharge their duties. Experience has shown that, perhaps in this kind of situation more than in any other, the United Nations is indispensable in the process of the design and implementation of responses to complex crises. The United Nations, however, must be able to meet such expectations through its own resources and by bringing together all of the actors involved. It seems to me that our discussion today is itself a contribution to that effort.”
2004-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4980 (2004) · source
“We believe that these questions should be considered by the Secretariat, which could then share its observations with us. Secondly, the institutional structure of a peacekeeping operation and the selection of its personnel must also take into account this requirement for coherence. The appointment of an assistant special representative of the Secretary-General who would also be a resident coordinator and humanitarian coordinator would be part of that framework. The skills and experience of such an individual, whose task is indeed complex, obviously are an important factor in the success if the operation as a whole. Special representatives themselves should also be, insofar as possible, familiar with humanitarian and economic issues.”
2004-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4980 (2004) · source
“I will not reiterate the suggestions made by our delegation, among others, during our initial discussions under the presidency of Pakistan, but I would like to stress two points in particular. First, planning for peacekeeping operations is crucial. Is it possible to involve, at an earlier stage of the process, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and his assistants, including the person in charge of humanitarian action and development? Could we not make better use of the experience of United Nations agencies, which often are already active in the area at the time when planning begins? Could we bring the phase of the assessment of economic and social needs - which must involve the World Bank - closer to that of the design of a peacekeeping operation?”
2004-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4980 (2004) · source
“The small group that we established under the resolution on Haiti falls into that category. Groups established by the Economic and Social Council are also designed to devise a response. This formula, to which we are quite naturally turning, must be more clearly defined and used more widely. Secondly, as many of us said in the course of our discussions on 17 May, peacekeeping operations, which often play a decisive role, must be part of overall peace-building strategies. This is particularly true in the case of complex crises, whose various aspects are interdependent and could each doom to failure the activities undertaken by the international community.”
2004-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4980 (2004) · source
“Experience has shown that, once the crisis has passed, political attention and international mobilization decline sharply. However, transition requires a sustained commitment over several years; a capacity to adapt to priorities depending on how events unfold; and, if necessary, immediate responses if serious difficulties arise. We must therefore consider political and administrative mechanisms that enable an effective follow-up of the progress made, warn of obstacles and propose remedies. Such mechanisms must involve the members of the Security Council, the countries concerned, major donors, regional and subregional organizations, and international financial agencies and institutions. They must be active in the field as well as in New York or Geneva.”
2004-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4980 (2004) · source
“The Secretariat and the agencies, together with the international financial institutions, could, based on past experience, agree to define a framework that could then be applied according to specific situations. We must also think about financial instruments that would be best suited to these integrated strategies. This is a complex issue, and a realistic analysis of the options might be a first step. Finally, I should like to emphasize the question of follow-up to strategies, which is probably one of the greatest weaknesses in the systems established by the international community. The lack of stringent follow- up machinery is, from our standpoint, quite probably one of the causes of some of the failures that have occurred.”
2004-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4980 (2004) · source
“To the contrary, responses must be devised at the outset in an integrated and coherent fashion. The inter-agency report prepared under the aegis of Ms. Carol Bellamy posits these principles clearly and proposes concrete action to adapt our traditional instruments to crisis situations and to strengthen coordination. We must support their implementation and continue the exercise, expanding it to the World Bank, for example. It is particularly important to articulate the various aspects of these strategies in areas where diverse competencies must be combined. Programmes of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, which are, as we know, crucial, provide an example.”
2004-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4980 (2004) · source
“I would like in particular to welcome the efforts of the specialized agencies - in particular the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - to work with the World Bank to prepare joint need evaluations, as occurred in the cases of Iraq and Liberia, and, I believe, will soon occur in Haiti. This is an indispensable tool, of course, in designing global strategies. We can therefore only hope that the methodology for such joint assessments will be further refined and that it will set a standard. Work on ways to guide a country from humanitarian emergency to sustainable development has also made considerable headway. It is clear that the various problems relating to transition cannot be dealt with sequentially, for example by dealing with security before humanitarian issues and humanitarian issues before development.”
2004-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4980 (2004) · source
“We therefore think that this question will become one of the important issues at the meeting of heads of State or Government in 2005, the principle of which has been decided by the General Assembly and which is to be devoted precisely to the Millennium Declaration goals. The High-Level Panel established by the Secretary-General to address threats to international security and necessary reforms can undoubtedly also make useful contributions. I would like to make only a few specific comments today, based on the questions that the President suggested to us regarding strategies for responding to and following up on crises and on the inclusion of peacekeeping operations in such strategies. First, the concept of integrated strategy has made considerable headway over recent years.”
2004-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4980 (2004) · source
“My delegation is particularly pleased to have participated in the Economic and Social Council Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Burundi, which has provided us with valuable lessons. The non-paper you conveyed to us, Mr. President, sums up the situation clearly, and I subscribe entirely to your analysis of the various aspects of the problem. As already recommended by the Brahimi report (S/2000/809), we must devise more complete and better integrated strategies to truly build peace. We must also provide ourselves with the means to implement them and to follow up on their implementation. This must be one of the highest priorities in future years if we wish to avoid some of the errors of the past. Our States collectively made that commitment at the Millennium Summit, as you said in your non-paper.”
2004-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4980 (2004) · source
“Mr. Duclos (France) (spoke in French): I would like at the outset, Sir, to say how pleased we are to have worked over the past weeks under your distinguished and effective presidency. I would also like to thank you for having chosen the important subject that brings us together today. As shown by the experience acquired over recent years and by our daily work, the United Nations is increasingly confronted by complex crises, which obviously call for a special effort towards coherence and coordination. In that connection, I welcome the statements made at the beginning of the meeting by the President of the Economic and Social Council and by Mr. Egeland, which clearly highlighted both the expectations arising from the United Nations response to such crises and the need to improve our tools.”
2004-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4980 (2004) · source
“Those obligations were specifically recalled by the Quartet during its 4 May meeting in New York. Similarly, France expects the Palestinian Authority to undertake more determined action in the area of security, particularly with regard to the fight against terrorism. The house demolitions and the military operations must cease immediately. There is an urgent need for the establishment of a ceasefire that includes all the parties and all the groups and for the immediate implementation by the Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel of their obligations under the road map.”
2004-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4972 (2004) · source
“Mr. Duclos (France) (spoke in French): France voted in favour of the resolution just adopted because we believed it essential that the Security Council react swiftly and firmly in the light of the brutal deterioration of the situation in Gaza. It was necessary that the Council make an appeal to reason and restraint, as had already been done by the European Union and by the Secretary-General, whose presence I welcome this afternoon. France is dismayed at the violence of the last few days and expresses its sympathy to the civilian population affected by Israeli military operations. France, like the European Union, has condemned the large-scale demolition of Palestinian houses in Rafah. That was disproportionate and contrary to international law and to Israel's obligations under the road map.”
2004-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4972 (2004) · source
“First, France supports a one-year extension of the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET), with a modified mandate and reductions in personnel. Secondly, in our view it is now very important that an UNMISET exit strategy succeed; we should try to define that exit strategy well in advance. It is important that the next resolution include a number of elements: setting a deadline for the withdrawal of the force; refocusing the mandate on assistance to the Timorese authorities to enable them to carry out reforms; a system for reviewing personnel levels at the end of the year; and strengthened coordination of the international community's action so as to ensure a smooth handover to transition and development partners, such as the relevant United Nations agencies, international financial institutions and bilateral partners.”
2004-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4965 (2004) · source
“Mr. Duclos (France) (spoke in French): I too want to thank Mr. Kamalesh Sharma for his briefing; we are sorry that he is leaving his post. The Permanent Representative of Ireland will be making a statement on behalf of the European Union, with which my delegation fully associates itself. Mr. President, you requested that we be as brief as possible, so I shall not repeat previous speakers' analysis, which reflected the fact that significant progress has been achieved in Timor-Leste and that that progress needs to be consolidated. Here, let me note that, in our view, very careful consideration must be given to combating impunity for serious crimes committed in 1999. We draw two conclusions from the analyses.”
2004-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4965 (2004) · source
“I cannot conclude this brief statement without commending the work done by Ambassador Noel Sinclair in heading the United Nations Observer Mission in Bougainville and that of his successor, Mr. Stenbock.”
2004-05-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4962 (2004) · source
“I would recall that the Bougainville police forces are still rather small and have not yet received sufficient training to cope with the situation. But it is undeniable that the overall development of the situation in Bougainville is satisfactory. The question facing us today is, what will happen to the United Nations Observer Mission in Bougainville after 30 June? It seems to us that it is still a little early to take a decision in that respect. We await with interest the report of the Secretariat fact-finding team that will visit in June. However, we believe that the international community should continue its efforts in three areas: first, support for the transition in Bougainville; secondly, preparations for elections; and thirdly, assistance for development.”
2004-05-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4962 (2004) · source
“Mr. Duclos (France) (spoke in French): First, I thank the German delegation for its excellent work last month as President of the Council. I convey to you, Sir, our congratulations and best wishes for the Pakistani presidency this month. I also wish to thank Mr. Danilo Turk for his clear and comprehensive briefing. What struck us in that account is the fact that things are now moving in the right direction. The establishment of autonomous institutions has been speeded up, the collection of weapons is to be completed soon and the Constitution should soon be adopted. That will be a decisive stage with respect to the elections, which could be held before the end of the yean Admittedly, there are still concerns. I am thinking in particular of the security situation, which is still precarious.”
2004-05-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4962 (2004) · source
“As was indicated by the Security Council in its statement of 12 September, only sufficient progress by the Provisional Institutions in implementing standards will make it possible to get the discussion going. Finally, we are prepared to work on a presidential statement, which seems to us very useful for again stressing a number of messages from the Security Council and the international community in the current circumstances: a message to condemn the violence and a message to express a hope for the future.”
2004-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4942 (2004) · source
“Here, like others, we welcome the open letter of 2 April and hope that the positive commitments that it contains will be backed up by specific action. Thirdly, should we change our approach to the Standards Implementation Plan? We do not think so. Like others, we are in favour of continuing with the current process. We have taken note here of the Standards Implementation Plan that was submitted by the Special Representative on 31 March. It seems to us to be a useful document and we are prepared to work on it. I am sure that that document needs to highlight, in the current context, a number of points, such as the rights of minorities, human rights and the rule of law. I also think that it is important that this document not give rise to any ambiguity with regard to the meeting scheduled for 2005.”
2004-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4942 (2004) · source
“First of all, we, like others, think we now need to reassure the Serb minority, see to it that the property that was destroyed can be rebuilt, implement a policy for refugees who want to go back home, give assurances to the Serb community regarding security, and see to it that those responsible for the violence are prosecuted and punished. Secondly, of course we need to look to the provisional authorities of Kosovo, who must adopt a responsible attitude. We are not against a transfer to the provisional authorities of greater responsibility in a certain number of specific areas, but it must be clear that it is the provisional authorities of Kosovo who are the first ones responsible for restoring a climate conducive to progress in Kosovo.”
2004-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4942 (2004) · source
“We might wonder, therefore, whether UNMIK has the kind of dialogue and close relationship with Kosovar society that is necessary to its ability to fulfil its crucial job there in implementing policy. We also might question the nature of the economic plan for Kosovo because, as was indicated by our British colleague, there is no doubt that the deplorable economic environment in Kosovo contributed to the violence that we observed. But apart from this useful collective soul-searching, what should we do in the coming stages?”
2004-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4942 (2004) · source
“The main lesson is doubtless an understanding that, even today, the role played by extremist forces in Kosovar society remains extremely significant and that we must make a renewed effort to isolate those extremists from the majority population that seeks a democratic Kosovo. The second lesson unquestionably relates to the attitude to the international presences in Kosovo. In this regard, we agree with Mr. Guehenno's statement. We welcome the review process to determine how we arrived at this point. I am sure that the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the Kosovo Force reacted promptly and appropriately during those events, although UNMIK appeared to have been taken by surprise.”
2004-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4942 (2004) · source
“Mr. Duclos (France) (spoke in French): My delegation fully associates itself with the statement to be made in due course by the Ambassador of Ireland on behalf of the European Union. I would just add a few words. First, the events of March definitely represented a serious blow to the process supported by the international community in Kosovo. We are grateful to Mr. Jean-Marie Guehenno for his frank and very useful briefing this morning. It seems to us that - as the Under-Secretary- General emphasized - it would be helpful to undertake a process of collective soul-searching about what happened during the recent violence.”
2004-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4942 (2004) · source
“The extension of UNMISET's mandate must enable the United Nations to continue its disengagement. Clearly, it is essential that the Organization show its capacity to terminate its operations when the right conditions have been met and its capacity to extend stabilization efforts through development assistance and involvement by bilateral donors. Thus, we should like to make a threefold suggestion. UNMISET's timetable should not exceed one year, depending, of course, on the situation on the ground. We believe that in order to hold to such a deadline, we should set out a precise troop-reduction schedule until UNMISET's ultimate withdrawal. Finally, we believe we should also continue to encourage the Timorese authorities to pursue their efforts with a View to consolidating the State and strengthening the country's independence.”
2004-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4913 (2004) · source
“The main ideas proposed by the Secretary-General seem relevant. UNMISET must continue to provide assistance to the country's judicial system and administrative agencies and must help to maintain security and stability by supporting in particular the training of Timor-Leste's police force. At this stage, it is difficult to assess either the size or the components UNMISET will need after the extension and reconfiguration of its mandate. For our part, we have confidence in the proposals to be made by the Secretary-General when he indicates the format he believes to be best adapted to the needs on the ground. We should, of course, also be attentive to the concerns of the various parties involved and to the development of the situation on the ground. In parallel, it remains important that we define a clear exit strategy.”
2004-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4913 (2004) · source
“I refer especially to the fact that, in some ways, the domestic security of the country is still fragile, due in particular to the activities of armed groups, which have already been mentioned. Externally, the armed forces of Timor- Leste are apparently unable to cope alone with potential serious border incidents. Finally, the issue of the repatriation of East Timorese refugees in West Timor remains a potential source of instability. In that context, what should we do? France, for its part, supports an extension of UNMISET's mandate for a one-year period, as recommended by the Secretary-General. Such an extension should enable the United Nations to consolidate the gains achieved. In our view, we should reconfigure the mandate and emphasize assistance to Timor-Leste's authorities.”
2004-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4913 (2004) · source
“Mr. Duclos (France) (spoke in French): We wish to thank Mr. Jean-Marie Guehenno for his extremely specific briefing, which will be most useful in our further considerations. The representative of Ireland will shortly make a statement on behalf of the European Union, which we fully endorse. Like other delegations, we have many reasons to be pleased by events in Timor-Leste. First, we take the opportunity afforded by the presence of Mr. Jose Ramos-Horta, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Timor- Leste, to express our gratification at the progress that has been made by the people of Timor-Leste since its accession to independence and the deployment of the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET). At the same time, along with that outstanding progress, there remain reasons for concern.”
2004-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4913 (2004) · source
“My delegation fully aligns itself with the statement to be made later by the representative of Ireland, speaking on behalf of the European Union.”
2004-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4903 (2004) · source
“This, of course, means greater involvement on the part not only of the Security Council but of the entire United Nations system - though such involvement can never be a substitute for the will of local stakeholders. My delegation, like others, believes that in practice it would be beneficial for the Secretariat to bring together in a more effective way the unique experience and expertise of the United Nations and to better coordinate the instruments and mechanisms that need to be mobilized. It would also be desirable that the Secretary-General's report - pursuant to the discussion last September - reflect the discussion that we are having today. My delegation is particularly grateful to you, Mr. President, for having organized this very important and useful debate that will shed light on the day-to-day activities of the Security Council.”
2004-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4903 (2004) · source
“Nor should we forget that if we truly want to bring about national reconciliation in current post- conflict situations, the fair distribution of economic resources, as well as power-sharing, access to education and health and development are all necessary conditions for improved coexistence and, ultimately, for the return of trust. The earlier comments of Mr. Mark Malloch Brown and of Ms. Carolyn McAskie were very interesting in this respect. Thus it can be seen that, in dealing with these problems, we have moved from a simple approach - support for a top-down agreement between government and opposition leaders - to a more complex and comprehensive approach involving several kinds of support from the international community.”
2004-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4903 (2004) · source
“It first requires a peace agreement or other viable form of agreement - one that does not contain within it the seeds of another conflict or civil war, but that makes it possible to deal with or resolve basic problems. Success will also depend on the process being inclusive. It is crucial that the positive effects of national reconciliation spread to all segments of the population. That is why, in this context, special importance must be accorded to disarmament and reintegration programmes for former combatants, to the situation of children, to the situation of women - whose important role has been acknowledged in resolution 1325 (2000) - and to the full integration of communities, minority groups, refugees and foreign or displaced populations.”
2004-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4903 (2004) · source
“Likewise, victims are entitled to the truth and reparations. The United Nations must continue to play a role in this area, first by including in the mandates of peacekeeping missions - as is increasingly the case - measures to fight impunity by, for example, investigating human rights violations and then, when this is appropriate or necessary, by providing support for national tribunals. As the representative of Spain stated, the International Criminal Court can now, of course, make a major contribution in this respect. It is respectful of national jurisdictions and can help to make up for any possible shortcomings that they may have. Justice is not the only key to the success of any national reconciliation process.”
2004-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4903 (2004) · source
“Your delegation, Madame, was wise in holding today's discussion in the wake of the Security Council's debate in September, presided over by Mr. Jack Straw, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom, whose initiative my country deeply appreciated. National reconciliation often requires a balance between the imperatives of justice and the defence of universal values, on the one hand, and taking into account the circumstances inherent in a situation or a particular culture, on the other. Wise time management is often a condition of success. Such non-jurisdictional instruments as truth and reconciliation commissions may make a valuable contribution. However, that which is inviolate must be respected. There can be no impunity for serious crimes under international criminal law.”
2004-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4903 (2004) · source
“Mr. Duclos (France) (spoke in French): At the heart of the process of national reconciliation often lie - as your country, Madame, knows especially well - serious political and moral dilemmas in terms of justice. My delegation was very interested in the meeting that Ambassador Mufioz organized a few days ago with the non-governmental organizations, which provided particularly enlightening testimony on the subject. I pay tribute here to their work and thinking. My delegation listened with great attention to the outstanding statement of Mr. Kalomoh on this subject early in this meeting. We believe that the solution to these dilemmas always lies in the establishment of the rule of law, with all of the force and breadth inherent in that concept.”
2004-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4903 (2004) · source
“In that spirit, France, together with the Netherlands, submitted this year to the General Assembly a draft resolution on the promotion, at the regional level in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe the United Nations Programme of Action on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects, to facilitate the sharing of our experience within that body, which has already led to the publication of eight best practices guides. We are pleased that the draft resolution was adopted by consensus. In the context of sharing information, France can see only advantages in having the OSCE best practice guides distributed by the Secretariat to Member States as soon as possible.”
2004-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4896 (2004) · source
“We believe, in particular, that specific attention should be paid to this issue within the framework of the post- conflict processes in Central Africa, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as in West Africa, where an important role should be played by the Economic Community of West African States - as mentioned earlier by the Ambassador of Benin - as well as by the peacekeeping operations that have already been set up and that will be set up in Liberia and cote d'Ivoire. It would be useful to develop the regional dimension in combating the illicit trade in small arms as part of our effort to counter the proliferation of weapons. In this regard, information exchanges on various regional experiences should be more actively promoted, including in the framework of the United Nations.”
2004-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4896 (2004) · source
“In Europe, the conflict in the former Yugoslavia and the political changes that have taken place in Eastern Europe have resulted in the dangerous proliferation of small weapons throughout the European continent. Today, we are finding such arms in our own territory. France remains particularly concerned about the continued increase in the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons on the African continent - a major factor in the destabilization of States there. I would like to draw the attention of the Security Council to the need for greater cooperation and involvement on the part of the international community, together with the African continent, in combating the traffic in small arms and light weapons.”
2004-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4896 (2004) · source
“As soon as the Swiss candidacy was announced by the President of the Swiss Confederation in the General Assembly, the President of the French Republic assured him of the support of France. As the Council knows, our two countries have worked together for a long time with a view to making progress on the identification and tracing of small arms. France will work actively to make progress on the elaboration of such an instrument. I would like to reaffirm our hope, expressed during the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly, that any such instrument will be legally binding. Combating the illicit trade in small arms is of major concern to the international community. As emphasized in the United Nations Programme of Action, that concern is global, regional and national.”
2004-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4896 (2004) · source
“In this regard, we welcome the adoption by the General Assembly of resolution 58/241 of 23 December 2003, by which is was decided, in particular, to set up a working group to negotiate an international instrument to identify and trace small arms. That is not the only aspect of the problem, however. The question of brokering and the issue of end-user certificates also merit the attention of the international community. But work on identifying and tracing represents the first step towards a treaty to control the illicit trade in small arms. I would like once again to congratulate, on behalf of my country, Ambassador Anton Thalmann of Switzerland, who has just been appointed to chair the work of that group.”
2004-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4896 (2004) · source
“Mr. Duclos (France) (spoke in French): We would like to thank the Secretary-General for his report, as well as Mr. Abe for his briefing. We would also like to thank you, Mr. President, for having organized this debate today on such a crucial issue. It is well known that conventional arms are the weapons that are responsible for the greatest number of victims in the world today. We are aware of the scourge that light weapons, in particular, constitute in this regard. We support and are taking an active part in the implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.”
2004-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4896 (2004) · source
“It is likewise imperative to create and enforce respect for obligations, and this includes armed groups and other illegal groups that participate in conflicts. We could have a lengthy discussion on this subject, as it goes right to the heart of the action we need to take in the coming months and years in the service of international peace and security. I will stop here for the time being and merely reiterate that my delegation is very willing to continue along the route marked out by Mr. Egeland in the search for further progress in this area.”
2003-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4877 (2003) · source
“It is also our duty to provide some sort of prioritization scheme in that regard, lest we follow only the conflicts that receive the greatest media attention and forget that there are other bloody conflicts far from the television cameras. That is the first condition that needs to be met. The second condition is to give high priority to the question of access to civilians. On that point as well I would agree with what Mr. Egeland said earlier. It seems to us that the problem of gaining access to the population is the key to dealing with a large number of problems that we place under the heading of protection of civilians in armed conflict. With regard to access, we need, of course, to give priority to secure access, but we also need to deal with problems such as the political instrumentalization of access to populations.”
2003-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4877 (2003) · source
“We are fully prepared to work on that basis, perhaps - if other Council members agree - with the idea of adopting another resolution that would be a further demonstration of our resolve to act in this area. For that joint undertaking to be developed fully, there are probably two conditions that should be met. The first is to give full priority to information gathering on this very painful subject. Put simply, I believe that Mr. Egeland's briefing is, in itself, a factor in the struggle to protect civilians against attacks, because it has provided us with a very concrete and incisive portrait of the scourges besetting our world. In the future it is very important that we continue to twitch the guilty conscience of the responsible parties and international actors.”
2003-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4877 (2003) · source
“The third source of concern I would like to refer to - and here it is not a question of having better information 4 is the result, unfortunately, of irrefutable facts, namely the worsening attacks against humanitarian personnel. Like others I would like to pay tribute to those who have given their lives for the civilian population and for the ideal of a better world while working for the United Nations. The worsening situation requires that the Council discuss that issue and take action. Indeed, we must note with bitterness that the terrorists of today have even more scorn for international law than yesterday's warlords. How in such a changing context can we make progress in the months to come? How can we take further action? Mr. Egeland has given us a ten-point platform that we completely support.”
2003-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4877 (2003) · source
“Egeland referred in particular to some regions in the Democratic Republic ofthe Congo. Secondly, the use of children in armed conflict is a source of concern. Here again, the Under-Secretary- General referred to examples that were particularly shocking. In the case of Uganda, he mentioned a war against children waged to a large extent by other children. In the cases of women and children, we don't know whether the situation has become worse, which we fear, or whether there is just more information on the subject. In both cases, our better awareness ofthose problems forces us to step up our efforts to increase our investment in attempting to find solutions to those issues.”
2003-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4877 (2003) · source
“Even if Iraq is not a case of a humanitarian crisis, undoubtedly it creates an obligation to provide humanitarian assistance on the part of the international community. That also creates special obligations for the Coalition Authority, which has a special duty to fulfil their obligations under international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Conventions, including caring for the civilian population in Iraq and avoiding collateral damage to those civilians. New opportunities and obligations and also new sources of concern are created, and from that long list I will highlight three subjects. First, as many other colleagues have noted, the cases of violence against women concern us and as we study various cases we realize how great that scourge is and how devastating its effects can be. Mr.”
2003-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4877 (2003) · source
“We see new opportunities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and West Africa, the consolidation of the situations in Liberia and Sierra Leone, the setting up of a transitional process in Liberia and the latest positive developments in C6te d'Ivoire, which give one hope for effective implementation of the Linas-Marcoussis agreements. All of that is creating an opportunity for the international community to assume an exemplary approach based on close regional coordination to deal with the extraordinary scourges that have beset the civilian populations. I could also refer to other opportunities, but I will dwell on two opportunities that, in particular, require a response from the Council. The Council has new opportunities as well as new obligations, and here, how can we not think of Iraq?”
2003-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4877 (2003) · source
“Egeland, we welcome the cooperation between the Transitional Government in Kinshasa and the ICC Prosecutor, which will demonstrate above and beyond the ideological debates of the past, what a great contribution the ICC can make, not only in the area of justice, but in bringing about reconciliation and in dealing in depth with the wounds of a society that has been traumatized by a particularly horrendous conflict. The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs quite rightly noted that the problems involved in protecting civilians in armed conflict exist within a constantly evolving context. He described several elements of that context that were particularly striking. I note from that context in flux three new elements, namely, new opportunities, new obligations and new sources of concern.”
2003-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4877 (2003) · source
“When you read the current aide-memoire and compare it with the version we had one year ago, we are pleased to note that major progress has been made in the common ground that we share as Council members in trying to deal with threats against civilians in armed conflict. That effort is particularly outstanding, since it is less the result of a doctrinal vision, than a step-by-step reaction by the Security Council in its various resolutions, as it has dealt with the various crisis situations. Our thinking in the Council as we deal with attacks against civilians during conflicts has been guided, first and foremost, by international justice and the International Criminal Court (ICC). Like Mr.”
2003-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4877 (2003) · source