YouSaid · the spoken record

Gayama

lines on the record: 341
first: 2006-03-14
most recent: 2007-08-29
sittings or episodes: 42
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

“Since the era of triangular trade between Europe, Africa and the Americas, the trade in what was then called "ebony wood" provided the incentive for colonial intrusion with agricultural and mining concessions made to the major mining companies, which were accountable only to their States and their boards of directors. Struggles for influence among transnational corporations and recurrent wars, which continue today to affect the pace of change in that part of the world, reflect striking continuity in both time and space. In the 1960s, Africa quickly took the measure of this major issue affecting its accession to international sovereignty.”
2007-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5705 (2007) · source
“Congo is convinced that, in the quest for more effective prevention and enhanced consistency which has led the various bodies of the United Nations to evaluate their degree of effectiveness, the Security Council, the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council - we also welcome the presence of their Presidents here - will focus jointly on the fundamenta1 factors underlying peace, security and development, which are part of their mandate. The abundance of natural resources in Africa has helped to shape its contemporary history, more often than not to its detriment rather than to its advantage.”
2007-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5705 (2007) · source
“Mr. Gayama (Congo) (spoke in French): During every era and nearly everywhere, natural resources have been connected with war and violence. They have inspired pirates and conquistadors in the search for gold. Today's debate on the maintenance of international peace and security: natural resources and conflict, also offers us the opportunity to address the aspects of prevention as well as the management of conflicts. Congo thanks the Belgian delegation in particular, for that initiative. In addition, we wish to welcome your personal presence, Mr. Minister for Foreign Affairs, as the head of your country's delegation.”
2007-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5705 (2007) · source
“In the international community's imperative fight in that area, conflict prevention and the promotion of political and socio-economic solutions form the essential basis for firmly establishing the rule of law, with all its implications in terms of human rights. This cannot fail to strengthen true peace and security. In conclusion, my delegation wishes to thank the Belgian delegation for having taken the excellent initiative to convene this debate. We are prepared to support any future decision the Council might take in response to public opinion on the question of the protection of civilians in armed conflict.”
2007-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5703 (2007) · source
“More than ever, it is up to the international community to stand up to the increasing numbers of barbaric acts with the power of the law, of which the thirtieth anniversary of the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions, relating to the protection of civilians in armed conflict, commemorated on 8 June, served as a timely reminder. In order for the 1977 Protocols to the 1949 Conventions to be effective alongside the relevant Security Council decisions - such as resolution 1674 (2006) of 28 April 2006 and resolution 1738 (2006) of 23 December 2006, adopted following the two most recent open debates on this item - it is now more necessary than ever to combine political will with an active consensus against the spirit and practice of terrorism, which continues to motivate too many parties to the human tragedies of our times.”
2007-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5703 (2007) · source
“The protection of journalists and humanitarian personnel is being given more attention, since now we see a situation of great concern, with tragedies sparing no continent. We see them in Southern Europe, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Iraq, the Middle East, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Haiti. Massive displacements of populations taken hostage, persecutions for cultural reasons, torture for political reasons or simply horrid crimes, the Janjaweed in Darfur of sinister reputation, Palestine, Somalia - all these have given us many lessons, enough for us to stress what Mr. Holmes said in his message at the start of the briefing.”
2007-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5703 (2007) · source
“The international tribunals for Rwanda, the former Yugoslavia and Sierra Leone, concerning which the Council was briefed a few days ago, are today the expression of the professed will of the international community not only to recognize the sacred character of human life but also to convert that affirmation into a tangible reality and to punish those responsible for those attacks. Unfortunately, too many States still hide behind crassly political strategic interests, so as not to lend all the assistance needed by the Tribunals, even if - for example, in the case of the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda or in Darfur or Somalia - some warlords, who have neither faith nor law, could have been severely punished.”
2007-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5703 (2007) · source
“From that point of view, the recently concluded agreement among the United Nations, the African Union and the Sudan for a hybrid operation in Darfur is of particular importance for hundreds of thousands of individuals who are victims of attacks and secret killings. We hope this will become a well-merited act of deliverance, which is long overdue. The principle of responsibility and the duty to protect were highlighted during the 2005 Summit, when the international community took on the obligation to protect people from the crimes of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.”
2007-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5703 (2007) · source
“Among the victims of crimes of genocide and atrocities of all kinds - which are the source of famine, malnutrition, illness or simply of exclusion and anything else that can breed death or desolation - we count all of those who are denied all human dignity and the right to the first among human rights, which is the right to life. It is women, children and other categories of vulnerable people of whom we are thinking and for whom today the strict application of those rights should be demanded. Now more than ever, the action that the Security Council is called upon to take should be taken in the most coherent manner possible with governmental and nongovernmental organizations committed to the noble task of protection of and assistance for civilians, direct or indirect causalities of armed conflicts.”
2007-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5703 (2007) · source
“Serious attention should be paid to DDR programmes now underway in Burundi, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Cote d'Ivoire so that not only young people but the "reconverted" will be freed from unemployment in the long term and will cease being a source of constant misfortune for the citizens of their countries as agents looting, stealing, rape, maiming and other forms of insecurity. Two days ago the entire world commemorated the International Day of Refugees, of which there now about 14 million, along with 20 million internally displaced persons spread through 23 countries.”
2007-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5703 (2007) · source
“Some of them are young or even only children. It is for the young people and children that disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programmes are increasingly being established, which are now part of the whole range of measures geared towards getting more young people back to civil society - which they never should have left behind - and which allow them to trade a rifle or combat fatigues for a more useful tool. The third term of the DDR trilogy - the "R" of reintegration - is the measure whereby we assess the degree of reliability of a programme. It is the final point of a process whose objective is to build peace and to secure a commitment guaranteeing a non-return to the life of a fighter. That is where the Peacebuilding Commission should act, which now more than ever should be supported.”
2007-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5703 (2007) · source
“Mr. Gayama (Congo) (spoke in French): Armed conflicts that in the past involved only military personnel are now involving civilians on a routine basis. In today's debate - which you were kind enough to convene, Mr. President, and we wish to thank you for that - conflicts we are discussing involve men and women of all ages, and the only thing they did wrong was to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, as innocent victims of the cruel game of those who control weapons. So let us not talk about the category of civilians engaged in militias - whose objectives are debatable - who, having decided to engage in policy through means more violent than peaceful, seal their own fate. The only reason for that is ideology. These are the people who practice terrorism and the bulk of those they recruit, primarily from among extremists.”
2007-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5703 (2007) · source
“To what extent, then, do they expect that intergovernmental or governmental institutions will provide adequate cooperation for the successful completion of their missions?”
2007-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5697 (2007) · source
“Along the same lines, regarding the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), the involvement of governmental institutions with respect to these trials is clearly variable. Could either the Prosecutor or the President - with, of course, all the circumspection called for by their judicial functions - tell us how we might continue the process, given the greater participation required by Governments and States to ensure the credibility of the objectives of justice - which are not at all in question, but the need for which is so understandable, at least from the standpoint of history? We in the Security Council know that any intergovernmental body is always subject to contradictory influences.”
2007-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5697 (2007) · source
“Hence our interest in paying particular attention to this issue, all the more so since departures have been announced, such as those of Ms. Carla Del Ponte and of other experts. In conclusion, I would like to ask one or two questions. Mr. Byron, the President of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), told us that there had been some difficulties in finding countries to receive a number of those acquitted, while there was a rather positive assessment of cooperation between Rwanda and the ICTR. How can we assess the current relationship between the Tribunal and Rwanda, which is being extremely active internally, making use of the local tribunal system known as gachacha?”
2007-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5697 (2007) · source
“By effectively combating impunity, ad hoc tribunals are serving higher objectives in terms of national reconstruction and peacebuilding - something of which the Security Council, the Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights Council have a great need within the framework of their mandates. Whatever the outcome so far, we believe that it is useful to welcome the effort at the codification and development of international criminal law that has resulted from the work of the criminal tribunals to date. This is a valuable legacy for the future. It is a legacy whose gains - both technical and in terms of human expertise - we must preserve. A wise African, Mr. Amadou Hampate Ba, has said that the loss of a savant - an expert who is a repository of knowledge- is inevitably like a fire in a library.”
2007-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5697 (2007) · source
“We hope that this will not further hamper the momentum and the pace at which the Tribunals are working to complete their mandates. This is why we endorse the appeal made for greater firmness regarding those States that bear responsibility for the apprehension of fugitives. Even if it is acknowledged that no one is guilty until guilt is proven, we cannot help harbouring a serious presumption of guilt as regards fugitives - knowing as we do exactly what causes them to flee. This is, therefore, a legal obligation that derives from the rules of international law and, above all, from the moral duty of States and the international community to impose justice that is credible and that applies to all.”
2007-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5697 (2007) · source
“Therefore, it is important to provide them with all the support they need to continue their work diligently and to complete their mandate in 2010, as recommended by the Security Council. It seems to us ever more clear that, in pursuing that goal, cooperation with national jurisdictions is of particular importance; beyond helping to attain the goals, this contributes to building the capacities of those jurisdictions. To be sure, an assessment of such cooperation yields a somewhat mixed, even contradictory, picture: a rather active picture as regards Rwanda, which has continued to insist that the perpetrators of genocide be brought to trial; and a variable picture with respect to certain countries of the former Yugoslavia. We cannot fail to deplore the lack of cooperation demonstrated by certain States.”
2007-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5697 (2007) · source
“Mr. Gayama (Congo) (spoke in French): The delegation of the Congo would like to express its gratitude to the Presidents of the two International Tribunals, Mr. Pocar and Mr. Byron, as well as to the Prosecutors, Ms. Del Ponte and Mr. Jallow, for their briefings, which have given us the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to international criminal justice. Their progress reports highlighted encouraging indicators for the continued work of the two Tribunals and took note of real progress in the implementation of the completion strategies that the Council has defined for them. There are grounds for welcoming the activities of the Tribunals, given the stepped-up pace of their work during the period under consideration, particularly regarding trials and appeals, in which significant progress has been achieved.”
2007-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5697 (2007) · source
“Particular attention should therefore be given to the follow-up of the conclusions of those various meetings, as well as to the work being done in the various committees that are being asked to find domestic legislative solutions to basic issues such as hydrocarbons, provincial elections, political pluralism and amnesty. My delegation hopes that each and every one of those various initiatives - provided that they are carried out in the interest of the Iraqi population and with a principally political perspective that remains based on consensus, as the current Iraqi authorities have worked together to do - will contribute to re- establishing trust, which is an essential condition for peace and reconstruction in the country.”
2007-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5693 (2007) · source
“The Secretary-General and the United Nations system overall must stress the coordination of all efforts to help Iraq in order to be in a better position to implement future initiatives, and we can already imagine how great the importance of those initiatives will be. As part of that effort, we wish to mention in particular the April conference in Geneva on displaced persons held under the auspices of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; the meeting in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, on 3 May 2007, where we saw the launching of the International Compact with Iraq; and the enhanced meeting of the neighbouring States of Iraq of 4 May, also in Sharm el- Sheik, which brought Iraq and its neighbouring countries together with the five permanent members of the Security Council and the Group of Eight.”
2007-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5693 (2007) · source
“It is mainly the responsibility of Iraqi political and religious leaders to find consensus responses through an inclusive process to the questions and difficulties of all kinds that the country is experiencing. Although the role of Iraq's neighbouring countries and the ongoing support of the international community can no longer be underestimated in the current context, it is important to keep in mind that the United Nations should remain ready to actively support the Iraqi Government. My delegation is aware of the essential role played by UNAMI to that end, and we very much welcome the work it is doing. We also welcome the leadership role of the Secretary-General through the recent initiatives for peace and reconstruction in Iraq.”
2007-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5693 (2007) · source
“We once again condemn those violent acts, whose continuation and overwhelmingly sectarian character are aimed at nothing less than the destruction of a country, its infrastructure and its political institutions. An example of that was the 12 April 2007 attack against the Council of Representatives. However, the civilian population too is exposed to death and destruction on a daily basis. We bring up the issue of violence in order to express our impatience as regards urgently finding satisfactory solutions to the enormous challenges to the unity of Iraqi society. Once again, those challenges include national reconciliation. The sharing of political power and equitable distribution of natural resources, in particular oil revenues.”
2007-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5693 (2007) · source
“The overall situation in Iraq continues to be a source of major concern, not just for that country but for the entire Middle East region and the wider international community. We see recurring acts of violence, characterized by almost daily attacks, kidnappings, the taking of hostages and other heinous crimes. With regard to Iraq's rich cultural and religious heritage, which is admired by the entire world, the cost of the damage inflicted upon it is very difficult to ascertain as yet. The dangerous nature of the situation in Iraq has led to the flight of many people who have become displaced or who have simply decided to become exiles in neighbouring countries, in particular Syria and Jordan, thereby creating a major humanitarian problem in the region.”
2007-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5693 (2007) · source
“Mr. Gayama (Congo) (spoke in French): On behalf of my delegation, I would like to thank the Secretary-General for the report (S/2007/330) he has submitted for consideration by members of the Council, which pertains to the fulfilment of the responsibilities entrusted to the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). In that connection, we would like to thank Mr. Ashraf Jehangir Qazi for his briefing, as well as Ambassador Khalilzad, Permanent Representative of the United States of America, for his briefing on the activities of the Multinational Force. My delegation also listened with great interest to the statement delivered by His Excellency Mr. Hoshyar Zebari, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq, whose presence here today we welcome.”
2007-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5693 (2007) · source
“We have heard eloquent testimony to the interest in that issue of all States Members of the United Nations - not just members of the Security Council, but also States belonging to other United Nations bodies. However, at the end of the day, it is the Security Council that is responsible for the missions assigned to the three subsidiary bodies whose reports we are discussing today. Consistency within the Council - and I would even go so far as to say the responsibility of certain of its members, and in particular the permanent members - are of course decisive for the success of the sanctions regime.”
2007-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5679 (2007) · source
“At the same time, we welcome and should like to see closer cooperation between the Committees, including through joint and synchronized activities among experts, for instance during their visits to States. Consistency must be the watchword between the Committees and States and among the Committees themselves. In that regard, guidelines represent an important contribution. Taking account of the various mandates, we might also wish to consider establishing bridges to ensure greater harmonization of procedures. Under the auspices of the permanent mission of Greece, a symposium was held recently to consider the political and legal aspects of the sanctions regime in general.”
2007-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5679 (2007) · source
“In that respect, my delegation calls for ongoing efforts by the three Committees to address cases on hold and to ensure that such issues as humanitarian exemptions be given special attention. Furthermore, the role of States is of primary importance in improving the work of the Committees. The Congo therefore endorses enhanced cooperation in the context of established mechanisms by appealing to all States to ratify the 13 counter-terrorism instruments. This may be the right moment to appeal yet again for greater openness towards the developing countries in order to help them better to meet their obligations in the context of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy adopted by the United Nations.”
2007-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5679 (2007) · source
“States have also been continuously reminded to ensure that any measure taken in that regard be consistent with their obligations under international law, and in particular human rights law, refugee law and international humanitarian law. Respect for human rights and freedoms therefore lies at the heart of our efforts to counter terrorism, and it is recommended that we remain mindful of that in the work of the three Committees, especially with regard to the listing and delisting of natural legal persons. Indeed, such procedures are an essential instrument for guaranteeing justice and respect for the principle of representation in court, and for reminding us, when necessary, that concern for justice is what differentiates the partisans of terrorism from those of freedom and counter-terrorism.”
2007-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5679 (2007) · source
“My delegation also wishes to commend in that regard the programme of cooperation activities with States adopted by the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), including the organization of seminars and workshops in the context of efforts to assist States in drafting their reports to the Committee. To touch on just a few important aspects of the three Committees' work, I wish to make a few general comments. The Security Council established the counter- terrorism committees to emphasize the need to combat that scourge in all its forms and manifestations, drawing on appropriate means and in full respect of the United Nations Charter.”
2007-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5679 (2007) · source
“That speaks to the importance of public meetings such as that being held today and of their informative nature, which we highly appreciate. That is all the more true given the fact that, like many other African countries, the Congo is particularly interested in such aspects as facilitating the provision of technical assistance to States and dialogue with States in the context of compliance with resolutions 1624 (2005), 1267 (1999) and 1540 (2004). We are pleased to note the progress that has been made in that regard with the valuable assistance of the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate in improving the approach towards States and identifying solutions adapted to their specific needs.”
2007-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5679 (2007) · source
“Mr. Gayama (Congo) (spoke in French): My delegation commends once again the quality of the work undertaken by the three Committees chaired respectively by Ambassadors Arias, Verbeke and Burian. We congratulate them most warmly and stress that theirs is a major contribution to the struggle being waged globally against the scourge of terrorism. That struggle is also being waged by those who work every day on the ground in security services throughout the world or who serve as experts on our Committees, the Executive Directorate and the Monitoring Group. The complexity and sensitive nature of that commitment require not only the mobilization of States, but also the utmost transparency in order to guarantee the legitimacy of activities planned and undertaken.”
2007-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5679 (2007) · source
“Through its vote, Congo would like to signal the steps that Iran should take, which should include the suspension of its uranium enrichment programme. That would not be a 07-28152 sign on weakness, but rather a reassuring gesture allowing the rebuilding of confidence in order to find a peaceful and lasting solution. Congo therefore urges Iran - a country with which we have normal relations - to heed our call and to opt for dialogue and cooperation.”
2007-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5647 (2007) · source
“However, we understand that the main problem in this case is the lack of trust in the strictly peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear programme. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, that programme has been outside the scope of any controls for almost 20 years. Congo believes that the solution to this crisis is to be found through dialogue and negotiation, without any threats to use force. It is for that reason that Congo urges the continuation of negotiations within the existing framework or in another context. The vote we will cast shortly should therefore not be interpreted as an expression of any sort of hostility or punitive measure. The role of the Security Council is not to become an instrument of coercion.”
2007-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5647 (2007) · source
“It is important to keep in mind that the NPT is based on three pillars that must be equally observed. The first is non-proliferation, which is the subject of this meeting. The second is nuclear disarmament, which would send a strong message as to the genuine desire of nuclear Powers to firmly commit themselves to the path of confidence-building measures. And the third is the inalienable right of signatory States to develop and have access to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Congo reaffirms its commitment to the full implementation of the Treaty and the need to respect the right of every State party - including the Islamic Republic of Iran - to use civil nuclear energy and to develop the capacity to produce it.”
2007-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5647 (2007) · source
“Mr. Gayama (Congo) (spoke in French): Allow me to explain the vote that my delegation will cast shortly in connection with the very sensitive issue of compliance with the nuclear non-proliferation regime. Since it began its term on the Council, Congo has understood that the unity of the Security Council is essential to give the necessary authority to the messages it sends to the entire international community or to individual Member States. It was with that concern in mind that Congo participated constructively in the debates that took place prior to this meeting on this issue. The decision we are about to take is of particular importance. Congo believes that this is basically and only about ensuring compliance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).”
2007-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5647 (2007) · source
“Such an approach, which would be based on the monitoring of the security situation by the Afghans themselves, would facilitate the establishment of the authority of the State in all of the provinces of the country so that the military strategy could gradually yield to the objectives of the Afghanistan Compact. This, in turn, would promote the participation of all Afghans in the process and would lead their country towards stability, peace, democracy and progress. Finally, my delegation thanks the delegation of Italy for having prepared a draft resolution on UNAMA in accordance with the Secretary-General's recommendations, which we support - particularly the recommendation to extend UNAMA's mandate.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“Eradicating the scourge of drug production continues to be a major challenge. We believe that, for its part, the Afghan Government is duty bound, in supporting the efforts of its international partners and strengthening hopes for peace, to continue to demonstrate goodwill with respect, for example, to restoring a climate of trust and cooperation in the region. In this respect, we encourage the effective holding of quarterly meetings, as agreed upon between the Foreign Ministries of Afghanistan and Pakistan, with a view to strengthening cooperation between those two countries in the area of security.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“We also welcome the partnership established by the International Security Assistance Force, the Afghan Government and the international community which is firmly committed to defending and ensuring the stability of Afghanistan in the long term. That alliance recently demonstrated its usefulness on the ground, as shown by the success of Operation Achilles and the increasingly effective presence of the Afghan National Army. In this context, the recent seizure by the Afghan police of a major shipment of drugs is a clear sign that the activities of national forces are achieving results in this area. The international community has always stressed the critical importance of this issue in expressing its determination to stay the course and to persevere in its work to build the institutional capacity of the country.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“Given such developments, my delegation believes that - without giving up the military option or measures to strengthen security, which have demonstrated their value - we should show greater imagination in making every effort to achieve lasting peace by all means possible, in particular by adopting new strategies based on dialogue and cooperation among the players within the country, as well as those outside - at least at the regional level. We therefore encourage the actions of the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board established by the Afghan Government and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“However, if the efforts undertaken so far are not to be in vain, the international community must more than ever contribute to building a democratic and prosperous nation in Afghanistan. Clearly, for a long time to come we will need to avoid making the mistake of underestimating an enemy that - like the Hydra - always seems able to come back to life, despite the blows inflicted on it. In a cynical gesture, that enemy recently celebrated the fiftieth birthday of its leader, while continuing to spread terror and chaos by means of kidnappings, murder and other violent acts.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“That dramatic episode only strengthens my delegation's resolve to demand compliance with international conventions on the protection of civilians in conflict. We firmly condemn the practice of the Taliban and other terrorists of using innocent victims as human shields or as bargaining chips, as well as other prohibited practices. We would like to take this opportunity to express regret for the loss of life among civilians, United Nations staff, international forces and the Afghan army and police force. We commend the courage of those men, women and children. Their sacrifice demonstrates how difficult it is to stabilize, even to a limited degree, a situation that is still haunted by the spectre of chaos.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“Mr. Gayama (Congo) (spoke in French): My delegation would like to thank you, Mr. President, for having organized this important briefing on Afghanistan, which gives the Security Council an opportunity to review the most recent developments in the country. In this regard, we would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Tom Koenigs, for his detailed briefing, as well as Mr. Antonio Costa, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, for his briefing. We would like to take this opportunity to welcome the presence in the Security Council of His Excellency Mr. Massimo D'Alema, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Italy, and we share his sense of relief regarding the release of journalist Mr. Daniele Mastrogiacomo.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“In Central Africa, it has also long promoted the activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa, which some time ago signed a non-aggression pact bringing together many countries, particularly members of the Economic Community of Central African States. All of that reflects the historic United Nations commitment to this region, whose recovery will be a very important step for Africa as a whole. That is why, at this point, it would be good if the Security Council could define, or seek to encourage the Secretariat to define, all support modalities that the United Nations can provide to the Great Lakes region - mindful, obviously, of lessons learned from experience, such as those succinctly referred to by Mr. Ibrahima Fall.”
2007-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5637 (2007) · source
“Fragility is also evident in the fact that there is still mistrust among the members of the region, and that mistrust must be eliminated. The region therefore still needs the international community. In that connection, we think that the role of the Group of Friends of the Great Lakes Region will continue to be welcomed for some time to come. We support the idea of the Organization's continuing to provide cooperation to the regional secretariat in technical and material terms and in every possible way. We know that the United Nations is now very much involved throughout the region. It has been working in Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and countries adjacent to the region, particularly the Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic. But the United Nations has not done only that.”
2007-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5637 (2007) · source
“That is evident in the major languages utilized in the region, namely, Swahili and Lingala, among others. That will undoubtedly contribute to an inclusive approach, in which we believe civil society will be the primary participant and beneficiary. It is for that reason that we welcome the commitment undertaken by parliamentarians of the region meeting recently in Kinshasa with a view, primarily, to ratifying the Pact. There is no doubt that many factors are contributing to fragility in the region, especially given that all the elements of peace have not yet been fully consolidated. The sad reality is that small arms are circulating freely. Among others, that situation benefits all those who illegally exploit the vast natural resources of the region.”
2007-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5637 (2007) · source
“I am referring to the Economic Community of Central African States, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries, whose reactivation is called for by all those concerned about improving the situation in the region. The international community has therefore rightly called the Great Lakes region a special reconstruction and development area. We therefore believe that it is urgent that the Community's secretariat be able to function properly. The indispensable support of the international community must be channelled through the secretariat and its member countries in order to ensure that the entire structure can operate. With regard to institutional coherence, it is being developed on the basis of the genuine cultural unity that exists in the region.”
2007-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5637 (2007) · source
“Generally speaking, that ownership can move from dream to the reality that, in all countries of the region, Governments and peoples have always called for, namely, peace and development. The Great Lakes region is of key importance, not just for Africa but also for the world. That region is where one finds the Congo River Basin, which, after the Amazon, is the world's second largest ecological lung, as it were. The region is also home to established institutions operating to some degree or other. To a certain extent, those institutions constitute the fabric of the region.”
2007-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5637 (2007) · source
“Fall concludes his mission, it can be said that the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region is now a reality. It is indeed a fragile institution and must for that reason be strengthened - specifically, by ensuring that the countries of the region assume ownership for the mechanisms that have been established. That is a requirement that must first be met before the support of the international community can continue. The countries of the region should send a clear message as to their commitment to the important tool for peace and development that they have now established. The ratification of the Stability, Security and Development Pact then becomes a key and indispensable requirement.”
2007-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5637 (2007) · source
“Mr. Gayama (Congo) (spoke in French): As my country is one of the 11 that make up the Great Lakes region in the larger sense that Mr. Ibrahima Fall mentioned, it is on behalf of all those countries - my own, of course, but also those represented in the Chamber, including those whose representatives are seated at the side of the Council Chamber as well as those whose representatives are currently away from New York - that I would like today to express our gratitude to Mr. Ibrahima Fall, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for his professionalism and commitment in carrying out his duties, which consisted in establishing community institutions for the Great Lakes region. We thank him most sincerely for that. As Mr.”
2007-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5637 (2007) · source