YouSaid · the spoken record

Elaraby

lines on the record: 820
first: 1992-01-06
most recent: 2015-10-22
sittings or episodes: 83
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

“Mr. Elaraby (Egypt) (interpretation from Arabic): The Security Council has convened today to reaffirm its primary responsibility in the maintenance of international peace and security, including through the provisions of Article 26 of the Charter, which should be aimed first and foremost at nuclear disarmament, particularly following the nuclear tests carried out in South Asia in May. These tests are a cause of deep concern to the entire international community, not solely because they represent a real setback for the efforts of the international community to achieve the universality of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons within a specific schedule.”
1998-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3890 (1998) · source
“We also look forward to tangible movement on the part of the Security Council and the General Assembly in the direction of the recommendations and proposals contained in this important report, following their thorough consideration.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“The commitment of the international community to Africa will be measured in deeds and not in words. Today we are in need of reactivating the existing initiatives, whether political or economic, of coordinating them and of presenting new ideas to deal with their shortcomings. Finally, the delegation of Egypt would like to express its support for the Secretary-General's proposal that the Security Council reconvene at the ministerial level on a biennial basis and meet at the summit level every five years to assess the achievements aiming at establishing peace and political and economic stability in Africa for the good of its peoples and for their future.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“It is our hope that the process of reform of the United Nations, including the reform and restructuring of the Security Council, will lead ultimately to the achievement of justice, democracy and transparency in international transactions in the light of respect for the principle of sovereign equality. Finally, I must express our agreement with the conclusions of the Secretary-General, contained in his report, on the need for the African States, the international community and the United Nations to discharge their respective responsibilities in order to give a new impetus to peace and development in Africa within a true and constructive partnership. The time is long past when the responsibility for producing change can be shifted onto the shoulders of others, or be totally relieved of such responsibilities.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“In this regard, I wish to refer to the need to respect the specialization and competence of the various main organs of the United Nations within the framework of coordination and cooperation in dealing with multifaceted questions which are of mutual concern. Africa is, at present, undergoing a stage of important historic evolution and of political, economic and social reform, a stage in which the values of democracy and respect for human rights are being consolidated. From that perspective, Africa yearns for the establishment of democracy on the international level as well.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“This is in addition to containing the negative effects on the security and stability of the host countries themselves. These efforts must also include measures for the establishment of refugee camps away from the border areas, and rationalized coordination of the provision of humanitarian assistance between the United Nations organizations on the one hand, and the international relief organizations, on the other, and in particular the ICRC. Concerning the reference in the Secretary-General's report to post-conflict peace-building and the ways of establishing durable peace through the promotion of economic growth, Egypt will make detailed comments on those subjects to the General Assembly, in its capacity as the organ responsible for the questions which fall outside the competence of the Security Council.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“The report has focused light on the problem of the Rwandese refugees in the Great Lakes region and on the need for the international community to act decisively and effectively to ensure protection and safety to all refugees and to keep their camps free of any military presence. That may be achieved through the establishment of an international mechanism to assist the Governments of host States in maintaining the security and neutrality of the refugee camps. Within such efforts, it is also necessary that all other aspects of the problem of the refugees be dealt with, foremost among which is the provision of technical and humanitarian assistance to the host countries and mitigating the social and environmental impact on those countries.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“In this regard, I would like to support the Secretary-General's call for the establishment of an international legal mechanism to hold warring parties accountable for their transgressions. Yet the establishment of such a legal mechanism also necessitates an international machinery for follow-up and implementation. The failure of the international community to pursue and apprehend those indicted by the Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia yields a clear picture of sometimes giving political considerations primacy over legal considerations. This must be avoided in the establishment of the International Criminal Court. Egypt agrees with the Secretary-General's reference in his report to the importance of the humanitarian dimension and the question of refugees in the African continent.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“But on another level, it must remain clear that the proper framework is to enable such regional arrangements to play an effective role which complements the efforts of the United Nations, as provided for in Chapter VIII of the Charter. It is necessary that the efforts of such arrangements not be used as a pretext for the Security Council to shirk its primary responsibilities or as a justification for the Council not to adopt the appropriate decisions at the appropriate times. The Secretary-General's report also refers to the fact that civilians have become more than ever before the main target in most conflicts. Women and children are subjected to ruthless atrocities.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“The guidelines adopted by the Disarmament Commission two years ago on illegal trafficking in small and light arms, in addition to the work results of the panel of experts formed by the Secretary-General on this subject, may constitute a framework for strengthening the curb on this dangerous phenomenon. The Secretary-General's report also deals with the importance of supporting regional and subregional initiatives as a way to promote collective action to contain crises. It reviewed the United Nations experience in Liberia and Sierra Leone in cooperation with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as successful experiences which must be built upon.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“Here I would like to refer to the achievement actually made by Africa through the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the continent and the adoption in April 1996 of the Cairo Declaration, which contains a number of principles which reaffirm Africa's commitment to the maintenance of international peace and security. Concerning the illegal inflow of arms to Africa by private international arms merchants, this is a matter of extreme gravity. Perhaps the political and military turmoil from which the States of the Great Lakes region suffered is the best evidence of the endless conflicts that this phenomenon can lead to. I wish here to express our full support for the Secretary-General's proposal relating to the necessity of confronting this phenomenon through compiling and publicizing information about it.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“With respect to the importance of stopping the proliferation of arms, the report notes that Africa's compelling development interests require that a minimum of resources be diverted for military purposes, and that this could be achieved through transparency and confidence- building measures in the security and military fields, including support for the work of the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms. Despite the fact that we agree with the general objectives of such an orientation, we would like to point out that a large number of States have a firm position on the need to expand that Register to include also all weapons of mass destruction, in addition to military holdings and the procurement of weapons from national production. All these subjects are of importance to Africa and to all other regions of the world.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“The second proposal - relating to the adoption of national legislation - raises questions about the nature of the legal commitments arising from resolutions of the Security Council. In principle, all States are collectively committed under the Charter to comply with Security Council resolutions without the need for national legislation in each State to define the violation of their provisions as a criminal offence. Here it is worth noting that the present implementation of sanctions regimes is marred by a number of deficiencies which led the General Assembly to adopt by consensus resolution 51/242, entitled "Supplement to An Agenda for Peace", which included a detailed text on the question of sanctions regimes. That text could be the nucleus of a comprehensive reassessment of the entire question of sanctions regimes.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“In his report, the Secretary-General speaks of increasing the effectiveness of sanctions regimes and stopping the proliferation of arms as measures to ensure the success of international efforts at crisis containment. On the question of sanctions regimes, the report observes that greater use should be made of sanctions aimed at decision- makers in the targeted State, and that, when an arms embargo is imposed against a given State, other States should adopt national legislation to ensure stricter observance of the embargo by their citizens. Although both ideas are sound, the experience of implementing a number of sanctions regimes has proved how difficult it would be to put the first measure into practice.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“The Security Council cannot maintain its position towards developments in the Lockerbie crisis, especially the recent decision of the International Court of Justice affirming the Court's jurisdiction in the case. While affirming the need to respect the norms of international law and the resolutions of the Security Council, Egypt expects the Council to give serious consideration to the options proposed by the OAU and the League of Arab States for resolving this crisis in a way that would ensure justice - especially as last month's open meeting of the Security Council on this matter made clear the desire of the international community to do this expeditiously.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“I shall now make some remarks on specific topics, starting with Somalia. It is unacceptable to continue to turn a blind eye to what is taking place in Somalia. The United Nations should take the initiative to assess developments there and provide all possible help to facilitate the establishment of the peace which that country has been awaiting for so long. For its part, Egypt supports the efforts made by all parties, and will persist in these efforts to bring peace to Somalia, in coordination with the League of Arab States, the OAU and all other interested parties. Another question to which the OAU gives top priority is the sanctions that have been imposed on Libya.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“If the catastrophe of genocide in Rwanda provided a clear example of this hesitancy, the fact that the United Nations has thus far refrained from playing an effective role in Somalia, and its recent reluctance to undertake timely pre-emptive intervention in Congo (Brazzaville), make it clear that the international community in general and the Security Council in particular have not yet recovered from this paralysis. From this, we might conclude that the report of the Secretary-General is fundamentally bold and honest in acknowledging the errors and failures that marked the Organization's past work. But it must be clearly said that mere acknowledgement of errors, without the intention and determination to prevent their repetition by adopting timely and practical measures, is not enough to guarantee optimal performance in the future.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“Personal mediation by African Heads of State has become a mainstay of crisis containment on our continent. At a time when Africa is shouldering greater responsibility for the settlement of African questions, many regrettably detect international hesitancy with respect to the Security Council playing its natural role in some of these crises. The Secretary-General actually refers to this in paragraphs 29 and 30 of his report, where he concludes that setbacks suffered by the United Nations in Somalia and in the former Yugoslavia have brought about a kind of paralysis in the international community, of whose symptoms the Security Council has failed to rid itself to this day.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“Since 1993 Africa has been taking tangible, positive steps towards the settlement of its disputes. It established the Organization of African Unity (OAU) Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution, which was accompanied by vigorous efforts at the regional and subregional levels which no one can deny. Some of those efforts, indeed, preceded international efforts, as in Liberia and the Central African Republic. Furthermore, the Organization of African Unity and African leaders have played an active mediation role for States in crisis, which sends a clear signal of a major shift: that African States have overcome the excessive sensitivity that they displayed in the past with respect to intervening in each other's affairs.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“Early on, the report rightly notes that it is impossible to address the current situation in Africa without considering the historical, geographical, political, ethnic and economic elements of what the African continent experienced between the end of the nineteenth century and the end of the cold war just a few years ago. It is axiomatic that any concept of a lasting solution must take all of these considerations into account. As today's debate is taking place in the Security Council, which is primarily concerned with the maintenance of international peace and security, my statement will concentrate on the aspects of the Secretary-General's report that relate to issues within the Council's purview, bearing in mind that other aspects of the report will later be considered in detail in the General Assembly.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“Mr. Elaraby (Egypt) (interpretation from Arabic): I wish at the outset to thank the Secretary-General and his staff, and all others who contributed to the valuable report that has been submitted to both the Security Council and the General Assembly. The report unquestionably reflects the determination of the United Nations to absorb the lessons of the past, and at the same time sets out an ambitious vision for the future shape of United Nations efforts regarding Africa and its political, economic and humanitarian questions, with a view to achieving the lofty purposes of the United Nations, as defined in the Charter.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“In conclusion, my delegation hopes that the parties concerned would exercise their authority responsibly through the desired dialogue in order to reach a just solution that would restore stability, security and peace to the region.”
1998-03-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3868 (1998) · source
“For this reason, the Foreign Ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference adopted, at their latest meeting in Qatar in March, a resolution in which they condemned the wide- ranging acts of suppression, the discriminatory measures and the human rights violations against the Albanian inhabitants. They also called on the international community to take the necessary steps to immediately end these violations and to set up democratic institutions in Kosovo. The adoption by the Council today of this resolution is a step towards the achievement of what the Foreign Ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference called for two weeks ago.”
1998-03-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3868 (1998) · source
“However, in principle, the constitutional requirements in the Charter should in general be scrupulously followed and respected. The delegation of Egypt would like to record this observation with regard to the future work of the Council. At the same time, Egypt supports the content of the resolution, namely its call upon the authorities in Belgrade and the leadership of the Kosovar Albanian community urgently to enter without preconditions into a serious dialogue in order to reach a political settlement of the situation in Kosovo. Such a settlement should take into consideration the interests and the aspirations of the Albanian community, which accounts for 90 per cent of the population of the region, which has long had a special status. The situation in Kosovo represents a source of grave concern to public opinion the world over.”
1998-03-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3868 (1998) · source
“This is especially so since the resolution adopted today clearly condemns the excessive use of force by the Serbian police against the civilians of Kosovo and clearly defines the steps that the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia should take in order to open the way for the Security Council to review the sanctions imposed on it today. Our delegation has noted that the Security Council candidly refers to the fact that this resolution has been adopted under the provisions of Chapter VII of the Charter without a prior reference to a determination by the Security Council that there exists a threat to international peace and security as required by the provisions of Article 39 of the Charter. Of course, it may be said that the Council is the master of its own procedures, and this is correct with regard to procedures.”
1998-03-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3868 (1998) · source
“Mr. Elaraby (Egypt) (interpretation from Arabic): Today, the Security Council adopted a resolution reimposing an international embargo on the export of arms to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. There is no doubt that this is a step, though it may be regarded as a step backward with regard to the developments in the area in general, yet it is a realistic reflection of the recent deterioration of the situation in Kosovo. Egypt considers the content of today's resolution as a preventive message, which we hope that the concerned parties will fully understand in a way that will prevent the situation in the area from further deterioration and protect the lives of the innocent Albanian civilians in the region.”
1998-03-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3868 (1998) · source
“This requires that a meeting of the Security Council be held as soon as possible to take such a decision, and to end the suffering of the Libyan peoples.”
1998-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3864 (1998) · source
“On the contrary, what the Court has decided is indeed an additional incentive to all the parties to the dispute to reach an agreement on the settlement and to proceed with the trial in a way that is acceptable to all parties. What is being requested now, after all these years, is for justice to be served and for truth to be revealed. This requires that the suspects should be tried speedily and in a venue conducive to the achievement of justice. A reconsideration of the sanctions imposed on Libya has become an urgent matter at this stage, in order to prepare for the attainment of an agreement or until the objective and final Judgment of the Court on the dispute has been pronounced with regard to this dispute.”
1998-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3864 (1998) · source
“That is why it is important for the States concerned to take into account the positive positions expressed by many of their nationals from among the families of the victims who consider it necessary to accept one of the options in order to achieve justice and establish the facts. Moreover, there is an urgent need, which cannot brook any delay, to put an end to the suffering of the Libyan people as a result of the sanctions and which was clearly reflected in the report of Mr. Petrovsky to the Secretary- General following his last visit to Libya, and an end to the damage sustained by neighbouring countries as well, resulting from the imposition of sanctions. The Security Council cannot ignore what the International Court of Justice has decided on 27 February last. It cannot pretend that this development has never occurred.”
1998-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3864 (1998) · source
“These are, first, to try the suspects in a neutral country to be determined by the Security Council not by Libya or any other State; secondly, to try them at the seat of the International Court of Justice at The Hague by Scottish judges and in accordance with Scottish law; and thirdly, to establish a special criminal court at the Court's headquarters at The Hague to try the suspects; that would be similar to the Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda. Such options undoubtedly are serious and practical proposals in order to settle the dispute peacefully and without imposing further suffering on the families of the victims who, for long, have endured pain in the wake of the accidents, nine years ago.”
1998-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3864 (1998) · source
“In its desire to do its part in seeking a just and speedy solution to the problem, Libya, in the context of responsiveness to the provisions of Security Council resolution 731 (1992) has accepted or put forward a number of initiatives and proposals, all of which have been adopted by the League of Arab States, the Organization of African Unity, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of the Islamic Conference. The Security Council must now assume its responsibilities and look into selecting one of the options that have been submitted.”
1998-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3864 (1998) · source
“It is worth noting that over the past few years there have been many tangible and positive developments towards implementing the relevant Security Council resolutions, particularly the following. First, one of the outstanding problems between Libya and the United Kingdom has been solved with regard to the United Kingdom's recent inquiries in connection with the Irish Republican Army. Secondly, the French magistrate has effectively completed his investigations, which pave the way for the French judiciary to undertake a trial in absentia. Thirdly, Libya has taken practical and tangible steps towards severing all relations with any groups which may be suspected of involvement in terrorist operations. Also, Libya continues comprehensively to reject terrorism in all its forms.”
1998-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3864 (1998) · source
“The only way out of the present impasse and to put an end to the suffering of the families of the victims, and of the brotherly people of Libya and the neighbouring countries, is to endeavour to give the suspects a fair trial while ensuring the integrity and fairness of the trial, in application of the principle of due process, which provides, as is well recognized in all judicial systems in all States, that a defendant is innocent until proven guilty. With the rendering of the two Judgments by the Court, the matter has now become abundantly clear, in that it is for the Court, and the Court alone, to settle the dispute, on the basis of the Montreal Convention, and to determine the venue of the trial.”
1998-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3864 (1998) · source
“But the continuation of the form the Council has followed over the past few years with regard to reviewing the sanctions on Libya, resulting in a routine review without regard for new factors and developments, will ultimately lead to just such a crisis. Here, I must once again stress what Egypt has said during previous deliberations: it is essential for the sanctions regime in general to be substantively and comprehensively reviewed, because practical experience shows that it is in dire need of such a review, particularly in respect of the time-frame for the imposition of such sanctions and of their "automatic" renewal.”
1998-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3864 (1998) · source
“Although the Charter grants the Security Council vast powers in relation to its responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, nevertheless these powers should not, under any circumstances or any conditions whatsoever, extend to what would result in the imposition of collective sanctions against peoples and States on the basis of mere suspicion. In this respect I must be very clear: no one is endeavouring to create, nor does anyone wish or intend to create or have an interest in creating, a constitutional crisis that would adversely affect the credibility of the Council or the dignity of the International Court of Justice.”
1998-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3864 (1998) · source
“Moreover, an appropriate legal reading of the Judgments handed down by the Court on the Libyan claim and on the rejected American and British submissions clearly demonstrates that the Court has jurisdiction. Libya's submission to the Court predates the adoption of resolution 748 (1992), so it cannot be said that the provisions of the resolution supersede the jurisdiction of the Court. The Charter clearly defines the functions and powers of the main organs of this Organization, including the International Court of Justice and the Security Council. Consequently, all these organs are governed by the constitutional framework set forth by the Charter.”
1998-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3864 (1998) · source
“Under that Convention, Libya is entitled to hold the trial on its own territory. Still, it has not taken this course, as a gesture of its goodwill and out of its belief in the necessity of reaching an understanding leading to the holding of the trial and the establishment of the facts. Furthermore, and this is an important matter, the results of the investigations undertaken by certain States have not been communicated to Libya, making it very difficult to hold a trial within an integral framework that would ensure justice. Once more, I reiterate that the two Judgments of the Court confirm that the dispute is of a purely legal nature and, consequently, it should not be politicized.”
1998-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3864 (1998) · source
“This was recently reaffirmed by President Mugabe, current Chairman of the Organization of African Unity, during the ministerial-level Security Council meeting on the situation in Africa on 25 September 1997; in the resolution adopted by the Council of Ministers of the OAU on 27 February last; in the resolution adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States last July; in the resolution of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers at its session in Doha, Qatar, in March 1998, and the many statements of the Non-Aligned Movement, the most recent being that of the Ministerial Conference in New Delhi in April 1997. The Montreal Convention, which the International Court of Justice determined is the instrument concerned, recognizes the principle of universal jurisdiction.”
1998-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3864 (1998) · source
“The overall legal situation, as taken up and decided by the highest international judicial authority, confirms that the dispute is in fact between Libya and the United States and the United Kingdom, as has been repeatedly stated by the relevant regional organizations ever since the crisis began.”
1998-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3864 (1998) · source
“The meeting is particularly significant in the light of the recent important developments in respect of the legal approach to the dispute. As previous speakers have recalled, the International Court of Justice handed down two important Judgments on 27 February last, both confirming, first, that there is a legal dispute between the parties concerning the interpretation or application of the 1971 Montreal Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation, and secondly that the Court has jurisdiction in that dispute on the basis of article 14 of the Convention. The Judgments also confirmed the admissibility of Libya's claim notwithstanding Security Council resolutions 748 (1992) and 883 (1993).”
1998-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3864 (1998) · source
“Mr. Elaraby (Egypt) (interpretation from Arabic): Allow me at the outset to express my delegation's pleasure at seeing you, Sir, the Foreign Minister of Gambia, presiding over this important meeting of the Security Council. It is also my pleasure to welcome Mr. Omar Muntasser, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Libya. This formal meeting of the Security Council is also being attended by representatives of the victims of the Lockerbie incident. We hope that it will be the harbinger of a solution. This meeting was convened in response to a request from Libya supported by both the Committee of Seven of the League of Arab States and the Committee of Five of the Organization of African Unity (OAU); those Committees are concerned with the dispute between Libya and the United States of America and the United Kingdom over the Lockerbie incident.”
1998-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3864 (1998) · source
“While we confirm the importance of Iraq complying with all its commitments in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions, it is necessary for the Council not to ignore seriously considering the implementation of this important paragraph in order to achieve national security of States in the region; such consideration would also help the Security Council to discharge its responsibilities without any selectivity.”
1998-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3858 (1998) · source
“In this connection, Egypt would like to see similar progress made when it comes to the question of the Kuwaiti prisoners of war, missing persons, and properties. In conclusion, the Egyptian delegation places great importance on recalling paragraph 14 of resolution 687 (1991), related to zones free from weapons of mass destruction, which has yet to be implemented. Since 1990, Egypt has requested that this paragraph should include all of the countries of the region without any exception.”
1998-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3858 (1998) · source
“Esmat Abdul Maguid, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, to Baghdad to exert his utmost influence to find a peaceful solution to the crisis, which contributed, along with the Russian Federation and France as well as other States, to creating a favourable atmosphere for the successful visit of the Secretary-General to Baghdad. The United Nations Special Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency for almost seven years have made tangible progress in the disarmament of prohibited weapons in Iraq in accordance with paragraphs 8 to 13 of Security Council resolution 687 (1991). This progress must be taken into consideration when taking stock of Iraqi compliance as a prerequisite for lifting the sanctions that have led to the deterioration of the living conditions of the Iraqi people.”
1998-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3858 (1998) · source
“In all cases, these controls must be subjected to the discretion of the Council. Egypt hastened to intensify its contacts with all the concerned parties. President Hosni Mubarak, when the crisis was at its height, sent a number of letters to the Iraqi President urging him to take part in reaching a solution that was in conformity with the Security Council resolutions. The President also made a number of contacts with the leaders of the Arab States with all influential countries and with the Secretary-General. He also dispatched Mr.”
1998-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3858 (1998) · source
“Undoubtedly, in Egypt we think that the success of the Secretary-General in his historic mission attests to the central role that the United Nations must perform in order to maintain international peace and security in all parts of the world. We think that the success of his mission demonstrates that it is necessary to depend on the him when it comes to very sensitive diplomatic missions. Since the outbreak of the crisis, Egypt has expressed its rejection of the use of military force as a means to settling international disputes. In general, the use of force is not only prohibited internationally under the rules of international law but also in accordance with the Article 2, paragraph 4, of the Charter. There are controls in Article 42 on when force can be resorted to, and also in Article 51, which is related to legitimate self-defence.”
1998-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3858 (1998) · source
“He managed to defuse the crisis and sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Iraq that allows for special arrangements for the inspection of presidential sites, which, in any country throughout the world, are considered important symbols of sovereignty. The intensive negotiations that were held by the Secretary-General with all the members of the Council, both permanent and non-permanent, as well as his constant contacts with the leaders of States that were able to influence the course of the crisis have undoubtedly been fruitful and saved the world from sliding into the so- called abyss of the use of force. Certainly, it could have had devastating effects, not only on the Iraqi people, but also on the peoples of the region as well as on peace and stability in the region. It could have even spilt over to the world as a whole.”
1998-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3858 (1998) · source
“Mr. Elaraby (Egypt) (interpretation from Arabic): At the outset of my statement, I would like to welcome you, Sir, Your Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Gambia, and congratulate you on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for this month. I am also pleased to extend my sincerest appreciation to the Permanent Representative of Gabon, His Excellency Mr. Dangue Rewaka, for his able presidency of the Council last month. Firstly, I would on behalf of Egypt like to pay tribute to the sincere and persistent efforts of the Secretary-General and congratulate him for the historic success achieved in accordance with his responsibilities under the Charter.”
1998-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3858 (1998) · source
“I also wish to commend the efforts of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General to Bosnia; the Commander of the IPTF; the leaders of SFOR; and all the men and women working in trying circumstances to bolster peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
1997-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3842 (1997) · source
“We also deem it important that the Security Council assign a larger role to the Stabilization Force and the force to succeed it in June next year, in order to impose the will of the international community and of the people of Bosnia to create a unified, multiethnic State whose people live together under one roof, enjoying independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within their internationally recognized boundaries. In conclusion, I wish to pay tributes to the efforts made by the High Representative for Bosnia, Mr. Carlos Westendorp, especially in the current circumstances in which he is assuming his tasks.”
1997-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3842 (1997) · source