YouSaid · the spoken record

Gatilov

lines on the record: 453
first: 1996-04-18
most recent: 2017-09-21
sittings or episodes: 76
sources: un-security-council

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“National contingents of troop contributors in a peacekeeping operation might make use of the experience they have acquired on the ground and report their views about any particular aspect of the conduct of the operation to the force commander and to the Secretary-General's special representative, who would then take this information into account in preparing the relevant reports of the Secretary-General to the Security Council. It is no secret that it is those reports, as experience has shown, that are the real catalyst for introducing any changes in the mandates of peacekeeping operations. We believe that this would be an effective approach. It would work, and we further believe it would not involve additional bureaucratization of decision-making in the Council.”
2001-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4257Resumption1 (2001) · source
“We hope that carrying out that obligation that he voiced will meet the legitimate concerns of the troop-contributing countries. As for assurances that Member States' Views will be taken into account in decision-making on deploying peacekeeping operations, we must realize that no one has any such assurances, including the Council members, for decisions taken in the Security Council are, as a rule, the result of a compromise that is reached, and everybody must concede a little in order to achieve the main objective. This problem requires serious reflection. In this connection, we thought that the following possible action might be considered.”
2001-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4257Resumption1 (2001) · source
“It can be called institutionalization or formalization, but the main point is how useful the impact of our activities will be. It is primarily a question of the Security Council's willingness to strengthen significantly the existing system of consultation by holding closed or private meetings with troop-contributing countries, including at their request, without detriment to the Security Council's established rules of procedures. We believe that this will help resolve this issue of having timely meetings. As for inadequate information, we believe that the Secretariat, through the statement made by the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Guehenno, in November 2000, in the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly, expressed its willingness to deal with this complaint.”
2001-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4257Resumption1 (2001) · source
“It seems to us that we could define the criticism as follows: first, complaints that meetings with troop contributors are not held in a timely manner, particularly in cases of deteriorating situations on the ground for peacekeeping operations; secondly, complaints about inadequate information provided by the United Nations Secretariat; and thirdly, complaints about the absence of assurances that the views of contributors will be taken into account by the Security Council when it prepares the relevant decisions. We believe that the specific measures agreed in the past half year are in fact geared towards resolving these matters. It is not important what words are used to describe the efforts we are making to improve interaction with the troop-contributing countries.”
2001-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4257Resumption1 (2001) · source
“It is significant that these documents confirm the Security Council's primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. From that perspective, they have defined specific ways of improving our interaction with troop contributors. In preparing for today's meeting, we analysed the criticism often voiced against the Security Council in this connection.”
2001-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4257Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Mr. Gatilov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We welcome you, Mr. President, to today's meeting, and we are grateful to the delegation of Singapore for choosing this item for our discussion today. This will certainly help us improve United Nations peacekeeping potential. We agree with the general View that strengthening various forms of cooperation with the troop- contributing countries is an important way of enhancing the effectiveness of United Nations peacekeeping. This should be the main objective of our common endeavour. A series of steps has recently been taken in this direction, which include, most notably, the report of the Panel of experts under Ambassador Brahimi and, subsequently, Security Council resolutions 1318 (2000) and 1327 (2000), as well as General Assembly resolution 55/135.”
2001-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4257Resumption1 (2001) · source
“By deciding to lift sanctions, the Security Council would thus demonstrate confidence in the new leadership of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and would support its efforts for the democratic transformation of Yugoslav society. We hope that Russia's approach will be met with understanding and support.”
2000-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4225 (2000) · source
“Maintaining the sanctions regime in these new circumstances is totally unjustified and counterproductive. We are sure that after the admission of democratic Yugoslavia to membership of the United Nations, the process of its rehabilitation in other international organizations and institutions will be more actively pursued. The emergence of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from international isolation and the resumption of its activities as a fully fledged member of the international community are impossible without the lifting of all the sanctions and restrictions that are still in force. Russia welcomes the responsible political decision of the European Union to lift the measures formerly imposed against Yugoslavia. Not only should the United Nations not stand aside from these trends, but it should do everything to encourage them.”
2000-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4225 (2000) · source
“A significant portion of the country's population-not only Serbs, but also Romas, Bosniacs, Turks, Goranis and other national minorities-must be allowed to exercise their fundamental right to participate in the election process in their own country. This is extremely important from the standpoint of supporting the democratization process in Serbia and Yugoslavia. The UNMIK leadership should create favourable conditions for the elections. Otherwise, resolution 1244 (1999) would again be grossly violated. I would like to draw attention to another matter, which we feel requires a prompt solution. I refer to the lifting of the arms embargo imposed on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia by resolution 1160 (1998). This step is long overdue, since the demands of the resolution have in essence already been met.”
2000-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4225 (2000) · source
“Problems which arose as a result of the speedy, improperly prepared municipal elections in Kosovo could be partially dealt with by organizing additional elections for those inhabitants of the province who, for reasons we are all familiar with, were kept out of the election process. The best option would be to hold Kosovo elections at the same time as the parliamentary elections to be held on 23 December in Serbia. We are convinced of the need to make sure that voting in the elections for the Serbian Parliament also takes place in the territory of the province of Kosovo. We do not understand why some elections can be organized in the territory of Kosovo while others, because of technical problems, apparently cannot.”
2000-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4225 (2000) · source
“The Joint Implementation Commission should start working at full strength and become a real organ for harmonizing views between the leadership of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and UNMIK on practical questions relating to the implementation of resolution 1244 (1999). We must review the question of the status of UNMIK and KFOR. We must promptly rescind the 17 August declaration by the head of UNMIK and the KFOR Commander, which violates the sovereignty ofthe Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and, as is normal international practice, we need to conclude the appropriate agreements with the Government of Yugoslavia. The question of the return to Kosovo, as spelled out in resolution 1244 (1999), of an agreed number of Yugoslav and Serb military and police personnel needs to be resolved.”
2000-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4225 (2000) · source
“It is high time to break the inertia of the confrontational relations with the leadership of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and fully involve it in implementing this basic Security Council resolution. In the interest of a fair settlement of the Kosovo problem on this basis, we might discuss a kind of package that would include the normalization of relations between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and UNMIK and the Kosovo Force (KFOR) in parallel with the implementation of measures for the reaffirmation by the international presences of the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia over Kosovo and steps to curb separatism in the province.”
2000-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4225 (2000) · source
“Taking advantage of the results of the municipal elections, which did not reflect the will of the entire Kosovo population, the Albanian leaders are now saying that they want to see the speedy holding of provincial parliamentary elections, since they view them as the next step towards independence. They stress this argument all the time in their public pronouncements. We think that the problem of the future status of Kosovo needs to be resolved not by violating resolution 1244 (1999), but, rather, by launching a specific dialogue between the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Kosovar leaders. The changed political situation in Yugoslavia now makes it possible to discuss the question of a new start in implementing resolution 1244 (1999).”
2000-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4225 (2000) · source
“As a result of this non-democratic process, a large part of the population of the province-of Kosovo, the Serbs both those living in the province and those who were forced to leave the country, most of the Turks there and representatives of other national minorities - were left outside this process. The negative consequences of the elections are also seen in the fact that the entire election campaign was not about purely municipal matters. The political leaders who participated basically conducted the campaign around the question of the independence of Kosovo.”
2000-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4225 (2000) · source
“Bernard Kouchner, for the information he has given us about the municipal elections that took place in Kosovo. However, we cannot share what we heard in his statement - the basically positive results that he told us about. We think that controlling and halting the tendencies towards Kosovo's secession should be a priority of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). However, the Mission leadership did not deem it necessary to heed the opinion of the new democratic leadership of Yugoslavia, and, in violation of generally recognized standards, held municipal elections in Kosovo.”
2000-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4225 (2000) · source
“A situation has emerged in which ill-considered and mistaken actions by the international presences in Kosovo, instead of confirming the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, are helping to reinforce the trend towards secession of this Yugoslav territory from the rest of the country. It may seem paradoxical, but at every forum Russia has to advance an argument that is recognized in words by everyone but is often disregarded in actual fact. The argument is that the crucial, basic principle for political settlement in Kosovo is respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, as established in resolution 1244 (1999). In these new circumstances, this question becomes even more acute. We are grateful to the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Mr.”
2000-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4225 (2000) · source
“Mr. Gatilov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): Today's discussion ofthe problem of Kosovo is taking place in new circumstances: when the Yugoslav people has made a democratic choice. More favourable conditions are being created at a fast pace to overcome the many years of crisis in the Balkans. To a decisive extent this will depend on how the establishment of good-neighbourly relations proceeds among all the States in the Balkans, how the outstanding problems are resolved in relations between them, how the peace process advances in Bosnia and Herzegovina and, of course, on the settlement of the Kosovo problem. In this context, Russia notes with regret that resolution 1244 (1999) is still being implemented in an incomplete and unsatisfactory manner.”
2000-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4225 (2000) · source
“We are participating in 10 of the 15 United Nations peacekeeping operations, providing military police, political and civilian personnel and logistical support. We reaffirm our willingness to fully support United Nations peacekeeping activities, which seek to achieve final results and guarantee a dignified exit.”
2000-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4223 (2000) · source
“We believe that most of the economic aspects of conflicts should be handled by the competent offices in the United Nations system. Security Council involvement in this process, including through the use of peacekeeping operations, has its limits, and it should take place on an ad hoc basis if there is still a real threat to international or regional peace and security. The peacekeeping efforts of the Security Council have extinguished major regional conflagrations in Cambodia, Mozambique and Central America. The most recent example of such positive efforts was the settlement achieved in Tajikistan. Russia, as a member of the Security Council, continues to make its contribution to the United Nations efforts to prevent and settle crises.”
2000-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4223 (2000) · source
“Unfortunately, the peacekeeping resources of the Organization are not limitless, and they must be apportioned in the best possible way, in a manner commensurate with the real danger posed by a given conflict to regional and global stability. As the Council knows, given the recent surge in demand for United Nations peacekeeping, the United Nations peacekeeping budget has grown increasingly tight. A comprehensive approach to modern-day peacekeeping means that there must be a smooth transition from one phase to the next. Of great importance here is the political support provided by the Security Council to peacemaking efforts, which must be carried out through the appropriate bodies of the United Nations and its specialized agencies.”
2000-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4223 (2000) · source
“In this context, there is no doubt that there is a need to design a well-thought-out strategy for the conduct and termination of specific peacekeeping operations. The importance of this is relevant from the standpoint of ensuring the smoothest possible shift from conflict to normality; reducing the likelihood of the eruption of a new wave of violence and ensuring the transition to a long-term and just settlement. We think that a guarantee for attaining these goals should be the main criterion in carrying out the tasks outlined by the Security Council when setting up peacekeeping operations, and should be a condition for exiting from a peacekeeping operation. One important factor for establishing and terminating a peacekeeping operation is the material resources of the United Nations.”
2000-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4223 (2000) · source
“We support the useful initiatives to enhance the practical results of United Nations peacekeeping activities, in particular the recommendations of the Brahimi report. We think that the outcome of their consideration within the United Nations should be to agree on concrete measures capable of increasing the anti-crisis potential of the Organization on the basis of the consent of Member States. Peacekeeping operations, of course, are not an end in themselves; but they are one very important instrument for bringing about the ultimate goal, which is a political resolution to a conflict, primarily by creating favourable conditions for the successful activities of international mediators and for encouraging dialogue among the parties to the conflict themselves.”
2000-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4223 (2000) · source
“These principles include the necessity that there be a real threat to international security and consent of the parties and that the peacekeepers be neutral and impartial. So that peacekeeping operations conclude successfully, a United Nations rapid-deployment capacity must be developed, and the effectiveness of the planning must be enhanced and the technical and financial resources of operations must be ensured. In this connection it is important to strengthen the relevant Secretariat units, including making full use of the capacity of Military Staff Committee as an important source of military expertise both for preparing for the possible deployment of an operation and for wrapping one up.”
2000-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4223 (2000) · source
“It is of crucial importance that the Millennium Summit reaffirmed the commitment of members of the Council to strengthen the primary responsibility of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security, and that the Summit took note of the need for strict compliance with its authority in this area. The Charter provision that the Security Council alone is entitled to authorize such an extreme measure as the use of force in a crisis situation remains crucial. Improving United Nations peacekeeping, including the definition of an exit strategy for peacekeeping operations, requires first and foremost the clear formulation and strict fulfilment of Security Council mandates and timetables for the conduct of peacekeeping operations, as well as adherence in practice to the basic principles of peacekeeping.”
2000-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4223 (2000) · source
“Mr. Gatilov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): In the View of the Russian delegation, the topic for today's discussion, while in and of itself very important, should be considered in conjunction with other equally important tasks relating to improving the peacekeeping potential of the United Nations. Of particular importance is acting on the understanding achieved at the Millennium Summit to the effect that effective international peacekeeping under the aegis of the United Nations, carried out in keeping with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the decisions of the Security Council, is one of the key factors for guaranteeing global strategic stability.”
2000-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4223 (2000) · source
“The time has come, apparently, to ask the question: What is more important strategically i to ensure stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina or to push for progress towards its unitarization, despite the provisions of the Peace Agreement, which might lead to the loss of all those gains accumulated with such great difficulty over the last four years? We believe that there is no alternative. Of the many factors which determine the solid basis of Dayton, the most important is the balance of these two entities on an equal footing. We cannot allow a situation in which, because of ignoring the interest of one, the whole structure collapses. The most important thing now, in our View, is to ensure real stability in the country and in each of its entities. Today this is the most important basis for moving the peace process forward.”
2000-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4222 (2000) · source
“Basic efforts must be channelled towards focused work with Bosnian political forces, encouraging their cooperation between each other and with the international community. That approach seems particularly relevant after the general elections held on 11 November. We believe that their results will be of decisive significance for the fate of the peace settlement. We believe that a guarantee of success and the irreversibility of a Bosnian settlement is full and consistent implementation of the Peace Agreement.”
2000-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4222 (2000) · source
“We share the concept of moving responsibility for advancing the peace process in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and for the situation in that country, to the Bosnian sides. We believe that relying on "pushing through" Dayton, which often destroys the compromise variants achieved by the Bosnians themselves, is counter-productive. The way out, obviously, should be found through drawing up approaches acceptable, first and foremost, to the Bosnian sides and not by putting pressure on them. Such a policy cannot, as practice has demonstrated, lead to a real breakthrough in a Bosnian settlement. International structures cannot, and must not, replace the legitimately elected organs of power in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in both entities.”
2000-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4222 (2000) · source
“Mr. Gatilov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We too are grateful to Mr. Guehenno for his briefing on the results ofthe elections. Russia, as one of the guarantors of the Peace Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina, attaches great significance to further progress in the peace process in that country. We are convinced that the basic objective of the Bosnian settlement must be assistance in the establishment of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a united, fully fledged and viable democratic State, comprising two units which are on an equal footing. We believe that an encouraging signal in terms of development ofthe situation in Bosnia has been seen in the most recent changes in Yugoslavia.”
2000-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4222 (2000) · source
“We believe that the relevant provisions of the Charter provide for a clear system for using the military and analytical potential of States that are members of the Security Council in various stages of peacekeeping activities. In this way, States will be able to exercise their right not only to take political decisions, but also to deal with military components, and countries that provide contingents, represented on the Security Council, will then be able to fully meet their concerns. The Russian delegation will submit its views on this matter, and we expect that there will be further constructive discussion of them. In conclusion, I reaffirm that we are prepared to participate fully in discussing and implementing the recommendations of the Brahimi Report.”
2000-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4220 (2000) · source
“We believe that the provisions on the need for consultations with troop-contributing countries are clear evidence that the Council is ready to consider the views of States that make a real contribution to United Nations peace operations. Now that the resolution on the Brahimi Report has been adopted, we enter an equally important stage of implementing the agreed decisions. This relates, inter alia, to the paragraph proposed by the Russian Federation, whereby the Security Council undertakes to consider using the Military Staff Committee as one of the means of enhancing the United Nations peacemaking capacity. We believe that this approach would maintain balance in the distribution of responsibilities between Member States and the United Nations Secretariat.”
2000-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4220 (2000) · source
“We would also like to note the rather constructive approach shown by members of the Group in seeking generally accepted wordings. It is our expectation that the tone now set will prevail in further work in this area. We think that the document will not only be a good guide for the Council's peacekeeping work, but will also be duly considered by Member States. It is significant that the Security Council has assumed the task of formulating clear and precise mandates and in- depth yet quick work on all issues related to preparing to deploy peacekeeping operations. The important role played by special Security Council missions to hot spots has been reaffirmed.”
2000-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4220 (2000) · source
“Mr. Gatilov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): Today the Security Council is concluding an important stage in its work. The Council has carefully considered recommendations that fall within its purview, recommendations contained in the report of the United Nations Panel on Peace Operations, that is the Brahimi Report. And so, one of the instructions given us from the Security Council meeting at the level of heads of State and Government at the recent Millennium Summit, has now been followed. We would like to extend our special thanks to the Chairman of the Working Group of the Security Council established for this purpose, namely the Deputy Permanent Representative of Jamaica, Ambassador Curtis Ward, for his able and effective guidance of the work.”
2000-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4220 (2000) · source
“Following the visit of President Kostunica to Sarajevo, we hope to see the establishment of fruitful cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Yugoslavia, particularly the speedy implementation of diplomatic relations between them and the resolution all bilateral problems without the imposition of any conditions on either side. We believe that the international community should focus its efforts on working with the political authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina by encouraging them to cooperate both among themselves and with the international community. Such an approach is particularly relevant in the period preceding the 11 November elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2000-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4209 (2000) · source
“However, we do not consider ourselves to be bound by the Brussels Declaration, as we have serious objections to a number of its provisions. We will in future work towards the full and non-discriminatory implementation of the Dayton Agreement, in keeping with the letter and spirit ofthose agreements. In principle, we understand how the High Representative is establishing priorities in his work, but it seems to us that his special powers are being overutilized, thereby placing Bosnia and Herzegovina, in essence, under a kind of international protectorate. We do not believe that the use of force to push Dayton forward creates a stable foundation for institution- building. International structures cannot and should not replace legally elected authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole and in both entities.”
2000-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4209 (2000) · source
“Mr. Gatilov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We too are grateful to the High Representative, Mr. Petritsch, for his thorough briefing on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and for the efforts he is making to establish normal living conditions in that country. We wish to note, however, that the situation there remains fragile. On the one hand, as we have heard today, positive changes are taking place that are a source of optimism. On the other hand, in order to preserve stability, multifaceted support by the Stabilization Force is frequently required, as well as continued, ever-stronger pressure on the Bosnian participants in the peace process by the Office of the High Representative and other international players. Russia continues actively to be involved in the implementation of the Dayton Accords.”
2000-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4209 (2000) · source
“They simply provoke new crises in the region, and they run counter to the spirit of the Dayton Agreements, one ofthe signatories to which is Yugoslavia. Russia, for its part, will continue to make an active and constructive contribution to developing the peace process in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the basis of the strict implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreements. We believe that the work of UNMIBH should continue to be directed towards this end.”
2000-08-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4188 (2000) · source
“Under that document, questions involving defence lie exclusively within the competence of the entities and can be shifted to common Bosnian institutions only with the consent of the entities. We also confirm our position that having SFOR contingents arresting persons indicted by the Tribunal runs counter to SFOR's mandate. Unfortunately, it has still not been possible to rid the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia of all elements of politicization or to bring its activities into accordance with its statute and the decisions of the Security Council. We would also like to confirm our deep conviction that attempts under any pretext whatsoever to isolate the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from the Balkan settlement processes are counterproductive.”
2000-08-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4188 (2000) · source
“Thanks to its contribution, law and order is being strengthened and the local police are becoming increasingly professional and are being reorganized on an inter-ethnic basis. The judicial system is being reformed, and attempts are being made to combat organized crime and corruption. A single multi-ethnic border service has now been established and is gradually taking over the control of all the entry points on the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the same time, UNMIBH still has to do a lot to neutralize the taking of narrow ethnic approaches and also to combat illegal activities in the police and judicial areas. We believe that raising questions about the establishment of a single defence system in Bosnia and Herzegovina- and even more, of a single, common Bosnian army - runs counter to the provisions of the Dayton Agreement.”
2000-08-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4188 (2000) · source
“There have been a series of incidents involving acts of violence. This disorder has shown that there is an acute problem in providing alternative housing for Bosnians returning to their homes. We believe that a solution to this problem must be all- encompassing. We note that the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) is taking steps to normalize the socio-political processes for developing Bosnian statehood. Russia continues to support the work of the United Nations Mission and of the Stabilization Force (SFOR), as important elements in the international effort to move the Bosnian settlement forward. The United Nations Mission plays an important role in coordinating the activities of all the international organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2000-08-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4188 (2000) · source
“However, the basic responsibility for the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina lies with the Bosnians themselves. We hope that the new generation of Bosnian politicians, who will take charge of the country following the elections this fall, will be able to energetically begin resolving the remaining tasks. There are quite a lot of such tasks. Unfortunately, we must say that implementation of the provisions of the Dayton Agreement is proceeding slowly. The common governmental institutions in Bosnia are operating ineffectively. Political change in the country is being hindered by nationalist forces. Social tension is still growing, and there has been no decline in inter-ethnic confrontation. Recently, problems regarding the return of refugees to Bosnia and Herzegovina have appeared to be exacerbated.”
2000-08-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4188 (2000) · source
“Mr. Gatilov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We are grateful to Mr. Miyet for his informative briefing on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We believe that regular reports to the Council, pursuant to Security Council resolutions on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, help to ensure a closer monitoring of the operations of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH). We also deem it important to ensure that the settlement process is stable and irreversible in order to strengthen the multi-ethnic statehood of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the basis of democratic changes and respect for the rights of all peoples of that country. As is well known, the key to success here is full and consistent respect for the Dayton Peace Agreement.”
2000-08-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4188 (2000) · source
“Like other members of the troika, Russia believes that the consistent implementation and enhancement of the effectiveness of the sanctions regime against UNITA is an important element of international efforts to end the conflict in Angola, and it supports the work of the Security Council Committee on sanctions against UNITA, under the chairmanship of Ambassador Fowler. Together with our partners in the troika, we would appeal to the international donor community to expand its support to Angola to overcome the aftermath of this long-lasting conflict and to bring about a life of peace, particularly in those territories which until quite recently were under UNITA's control.”
2000-07-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4178 (2000) · source
“Mr. Gatilov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): The Russian Federation, as a member of the troika of States observers of the implementation of the peace process in Angola, fully concurs with the statement made by the representative of the United States on its behalf, relating primarily to the need for implementation of the Lusaka Protocol, for support for national dialogue and reconciliation and for ensuring a democratic political process and protection of human rights. The troika is unanimous in holding Savimbi responsible for the continuation of the conflict in Angola. Russia fully shares the view that by his actions the leader of UNITA has excluded himself from the political process, and that as long as he fails to take irreversible steps to implement the Lusaka Protocol he cannot hope to participate in the dialogue.”
2000-07-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4178 (2000) · source
“In conclusion, I should like to express the hope that the recommendations put forward in the report of the Secretary-General on the question of children in armed conflict, as well as today's wide-ranging discussion in the Security Council, will provide additional impetus to international cooperation to protect our growing generation from the conflagration of armed conflict.”
2000-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4176 (2000) · source
“Moreover, highest priority attention is being accorded to the problems of children in difficult situations and to questions of their physical and psychological rehabilitation. Among the legal acts governing activities on the behalf of children in our country, it is important to note the 1998 federal law on fundamental guarantees of the rights of the child in the Russian Federation, which legally enshrined the objectives and major axes of work to promote and protect the rights of the child. Despite the difficult economic situation in Russia, the Russian Government is seeking ways of providing social support to the most vulnerable strata of the population, first and foremost children, caught up in armed conflict.”
2000-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4176 (2000) · source
“We believe that if the positions of a number of States on this question had been more flexible and more responsible, we would have been able to include in the Protocol a universal age limit of 18 for recruitment in armed forces and participation in hostilities, thus avoiding the use of a double standard. That is the principled position of the Russian Federation. Our country was among the first to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The legal and practical guarantee of the rights of children is a fundamental axiom of Russian policy in the sphere of the protection of children, which is being carried out in the framework of a single national plan of action for children.”
2000-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4176 (2000) · source
“This is an important victory for the protection of the interests of children and a significant step towards the implementation of our shared goals. The Russian Federation supports the adoption of the Protocol at the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly this fall, so that it can be open for speedy signing and ratification, with the subsequent appropriate modification of national legislations. At the same time, we regret that the relevant working group of the Commission on Human Rights was not able entirely to fulfil its mandate to create a new, effective mechanism for the protection of the rights of children in armed conflict.”
2000-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4176 (2000) · source
“Approximately 300,000 young people under 18 have been forced to take up arms as child soldiers. Behind these figures lies enormous human misery placed on the tender shoulders of children. It is obvious that the international community cannot fail to act in response to such serious situations in which children are suffering. Of course, the best way to protect children is to prevent the emergence of conflicts or to settle them before they become devastating. Russia generally supports the draft Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, drawn up by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and adopted by the Economic and Social Council on 10 May this year.”
2000-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4176 (2000) · source
“In this respect, it also applies to those children who have been forcibly involved in hostilities; who are growing up in refugee camps; who are left to fend for themselves on city streets; and who are subject to exploitation. The change in the nature of contemporary conflicts has led to a situation in which more than 90 per cent of victims are civilians, at least half of whom are children. Children account for more than 65 per cent of refugees and internally displaced persons. According to the assessments of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Mr. Otunnu, there are currently 20 million children who have been displaced by war within their countries and to others. Many have been maimed and orphaned; thousands have been subject to rape, sexual abuse and other atrocities.”
2000-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4176 (2000) · source