YouSaid · the spoken record

Gopinathan

lines on the record
80
first
2002-03-30
most recent
2005-07-21
sittings or episodes
10
sources
un-security-council

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  1. “With this understanding, we believe that the Council should now invite non-members to participate in the work of other subsidiary bodies as a matter of course. We welcome this as an additional element in demonstrating transparency in the work of the Council and commend this refreshing approach. In the presidential statement of 31 January 2002, the Council, bearing in mind the linkages between conflicts in Africa and the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons, reaffirmed its continued commitment to addressing this problem. We do hope that a clear and sharp focus will be given to this issue by the ad hoc Working Group, as much devastation and loss of life has been caused by illicit arms and weapons.”

    2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538 (2002) · source

  2. “This is a responsibility which devolves primarily on States or intergovernmental organizations. However, if the Working Group considers the need to draw on the expertise of civil society in some specific areas, we would not object. Let me now come to a couple of areas that appear to have been missed and which the Council may consider adding to the programme of work of the ad hoc Working Group. While there have been references to inviting components of civil society to participate in the work ofthe Working Group, there is no reference to participation by non-members of the Council. This must have been an inadvertent omission, as it could not have been the intention of the Council to give civil society a role more prominent than non-members in its subsidiary organs.”

    2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538 (2002) · source

  3. “However, the maintenance of international peace and security is first and foremost the responsibility of the Council, from which there should be no derogation in the name of burden-sharing or division of work. The Council must not transfer its responsibility or take a back seat. Regarding invitations to representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), universities and academia in the work of the Group, we agree that NGOs and civil society can play an important role. We do recognise this, and we support and encourage them. But experience has shown that this works mainly in the economic and social fields and in respect of humanitarian assistance. Maintenance of peace and security is far more complex and, by definition, more difficult and mostly beyond their capacity.”

    2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538 (2002) · source

  4. “Regarding the establishment of a group of friends for specific conflict situations, we agree that this is a useful modality that can play a positive role provided such a group is the genuine friend of all the parties to the conflict and enjoys their confidence as a legitimate interlocutor. Otherwise, the group would be seen as taking sides or interfering and would not serve the cause of peace, but only complicate the situation further. As far as cooperation with OAU and subregional organizations, we fully support the idea that the ad hoc Working Group should establish close links with OAU and subregional organizations. In fact, we would like to take this opportunity to applaud the work done by the OAU and many subregional groups of Africa with limited resources and, often, without political and financial support from outside.”

    2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538 (2002) · source

  5. “The antithesis of elections is usurping power by overthrowing elected governments. By its presidential statement S/PRST/2002/2 of 31 January 2002, the Council expressed its strong support for the Organization of African Unity (OAU) decision to deny recognition to Governments that come to power through unconstitutional means. Before the Council indulges in assisting in election observation, it must, in line with its position articulated in the statement of 31 January 2002, take a very clear and categorical position against military coups and unconstitutional changes in the Governments, no matter where they occur. Embracing military dictators and considering them to be a part of a solution, rather than the problem that they truly are, sends a very wrong message.”

    2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538 (2002) · source

  6. “With regard to confidence-building in the region of the Mano River Union, we welcome the Secretary General's decision to establish the United Nations Regional Office in West Africa. We are confident that under the able stewardship of Mr. Ibrahima Fall the Office will be able to contribute to the efforts of the Mano River Union countries as well as other subregional groups to prevent and resolve conflicts in the region. On the subject of election observation, we agree that free and fair elections are crucial for promoting and strengthening democracies. As the largest democracy in the world, we are fully committed to the democratic ideal. Indeed, election observation, where requested by the concerned State, contributes to confidence in the electoral process, particularly in nascent democracies.”

    2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538 (2002) · source

  7. “We understand that as yet there is no agreement in the Economic and Social Council on the modalities of cooperation with the Security Council, and that the Economic and Social Council has also not yet set up an ad hoc advisory group on African countries emerging from conflict. In our view, this issue needs further in-depth, thorough examination, keeping in view the roles of the two bodies as enshrined in the Charter. Post-conflict peace-building does not fall within the purview of the Security Council, but lies with other bodies and organs of the United Nations which are better placed to deal with this task. As and when these bodies require the involvement and the cooperation of the Security Council, they would invite it.”

    2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538 (2002) · source

  8. “While economic and social aspects may have a bearing on peace and security, the interface between these two elements, which are dealt with by the Economic and Social Council and the Security Council respectively, should be coordinated by the General Assembly, the highest intergovernmental body of the United Nations, to which both the Economic and Social Council and the Security Council report. Further, the modalities of cooperation between these two bodies need to be first discussed within each so as not to repeat the situation that occurred last year when efforts to hold a meeting between the two Council's had to be aborted.”

    2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538 (2002) · source

  9. “We are confident that under Ambassador Koonjul's guidance the Working Group will make a significant contribution to the work of the United Nations, especially that of the Council, towards resolving conflicts in Africa. At the Security Council's open meeting on 29 January 2002, we made a detailed statement sharing our perspective of what needs to be done for promoting peace and resolving conflicts in Africa. We shall therefore focus on only some of the issues that have been listed in the guidelines. There is the matter of enhancing economic coordination with the Economic and Social Council.”

    2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538 (2002) · source

  10. “We welcome you, Sir, to the Council and would like to convey our deep appreciation of the fine contribution that Ambassador Kishore Mahbubani and his dedicated team have been making to the work of Council. Your delegation's web site for its work in the Council presidency merits commendation. We hope that it will serve as an example for other delegations, including ours. We would also like to congratulate Ambassador Lavrov for his stewardship of the Council during a particularly demanding period last month. We would like to place on record our appreciation of Ambassador Jagdish Koonjul for the work done by the ad hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa. Mauritius, a beacon of peace, democracy, harmony and prosperity, is a shining example not just for Africa, but for the rest of the world.”

    2002-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4538 (2002) · source

  11. “India's leadership has conveyed to Israel that by isolating President Arafat, it was compounding difficulties rather than lessening them, making the task of peace that much more difficult. In line with the "quartet" statement of 10 April, we believe that Israel must immediately halt its military operations; bring about an immediate and meaningful ceasefire; withdraw immediately in full, including from Ramallah and from President Arafat's headquarters; allow full and unimpeded humanitarian access; refrain from the excessive use of force; and ensure the protection of civilians. A number of ideas have been proposed. We urge you, Sir, to work closely with the leadership of Palestine and Israel to craft workable solutions to steer the region out of the present imbroglio and to realize our collective vision of a lasting peace in the region.”

    2002-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4515 (2002) · source

  12. “On the contrary, efforts have to be redoubled. In a recent communication to President Arafat, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee reiterated that India considers President Arafat as a symbol of the aspirations and the struggle of Palestinian people. As we have stressed in earlier statements, we are concerned at the restrictions imposed on President Arafat, who is the democratically elected leader of the Palestinian people. For the international community as well as for the Palestinian people, President Arafat is the embodiment of Palestinian nationhood. Now, and in the near future, President Arafat has an important role to play. We fully share the international community's concern about his health and well-being.”

    2002-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4515 (2002) · source

  13. “The required will to move on the path charted in those resolutions must be demonstrated. India's support for the Palestinian cause has been consistent, strong and unwavering. We have stood and continue to stand by the Palestinian people in their struggle to achieve their legitimate national rights, which are the key to peace and stability in the Middle East. India is in constant contact with several Arab countries on this issue. We stand ready to do whatever we can to bring peace to the region. We support the 10 April Madrid joint statement by the "quartet". Much hope had been pinned on the efforts of the "quartet" as well as on those efforts undertaken bilaterally. But we have yet to see any meaningful progress on the urgently required steps. However, the international community cannot give up.”

    2002-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4515 (2002) · source

  14. “We believe that there can be no justification for causing such an acute crisis, not even the right of self-defence. Innocent civilian lives are sacrosanct, no matter where and no matter whose. Due respect for international humanitarian law should be the norm of conduct. Humanitarian agencies should be allowed full access, in compliance with international humanitarian principles. With each passing day we are moving inexorably away from the vision of Israel and Palestine living peacefully as two States, side by side, within secure and recognized boundaries. We therefore call for an immediate end to violence and for the resumption of dialogue. Peace can be crafted only at the negotiating table and not on the treads of tanks. Resolutions 1397 (2002), 1402 (2002) and 1403 (2002) provide the road map.”

    2002-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4515 (2002) · source

  15. “Violence witnessed in Israel and Jerusalem through horrific suicide bombings carried out by Palestinian militants against civilians cannot be justified on any ground and should end forthwith. In this context, we have noted the 13 April statement, in Arabic, by President Arafat condemning acts of terrorism in all its manifestations. From all accounts, some parts of the occupied territories face a serious humanitarian crisis, over which Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the entire international community have expressed their deep distress and anguish. The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Peter Hansen, and the Secretary-General's Special Coordinator, Terje Roed- Larsen, have termed the situation in the Jenin refugee camp as horrific.”

    2002-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4515 (2002) · source

  16. “As recent events have demonstrated, it has neither enhanced Israel's security nor served the cause of peace. If anything, it has only created more impediments to the collective quest for a lasting peace in the Middle East. The continued military operations by Israel and its acts of retaliatory violence serve no purpose except to cause loss of life, mostly of innocent civilians, including women and children, and to make the divide between the peoples of Israel and of Palestine ever wider. Immediate cessation of military operations and withdrawal by Israel and a ceasefire are therefore the most urgent steps. These brook no delay, as the price is being paid by the innocent on both sides quite needlessly.”

    2002-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4515 (2002) · source

  17. “We thank you, Mr. President, for convening this emergency meeting to discuss the ever-deteriorating situation in the occupied territories, to which, most regrettably, no immediate end seems to be in sight. In the past few weeks, the Council has adopted three resolutions and one presidential statement, but to no avail. The crisis continues unabated. In fact, with each passing day it is worsening. Its reverberations are being felt in the region and beyond; the consequences of this could be unimaginable. The military action of Israel, which continues notwithstanding the Security Council resolutions and the calls and appeals by the international community to cease those operations and withdraw, are a cause of acute concern to all of us.”

    2002-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4515 (2002) · source

  18. “They also pose a threat to United Nations peacekeepers. We urge that the violations be brought to an end immediately and that the sanctity of the Blue Line be respected. The situation in the Middle East is frighteningly grave. On 7 April, the Council called on the parties to cooperate fully and in good faith with ministers and Special Envoys of the "quartet" and with the Secretary- General, especially in the context of the forthcoming visit of the United States Secretary of State to the region. We urge the Security Council to work assiduously with the parties concerned to bring to an immediate end to the violence that has engulfed the region and which could have very far-reaching consequences. We convey to the Council our full support in its endeavours.”

    2002-04-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4510Resumption1 (2002) · source

  19. “We hope that this interaction will contribute to the immediate implementation of the Council's resolutions and will pave the way for the resumption of dialogue and negotiations, so that the people of Israel and the people of Palestine can live side by side within secure and recognized borders, also paving the way for lasting peace in the region. In our earlier statements, we emphasized that President Arafat, who enjoys wide support and respect, is the symbol of Palestinian nationhood. His well-being and safety are also of paramount concern to the international community. We reiterate that all restrictions placed on him should be lifted forthwith to enable him to play his rightful role. Another cause of serious concern is the continued violations of the Blue Line. These risk further exacerbating the situation in the region.”

    2002-04-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4510Resumption1 (2002) · source

  20. “There can be no justification for directing violence at innocent civilians. Resolutions 1397 (2002), 1402 (2002) and 1403 (2002), recently adopted by the Security Council, provide a road map for the restoration of normalcy. We once again call upon both parties to implement those resolutions. Israel must withdraw its forces from the occupied territories immediately, and there should be a ceasefire followed by the resumption of negotiations. That is the clearly expressed and uniform sentiment of the international community. We understand that the Security Council met with the Permanent Representative of Israel and the Permanent Observer of Palestine yesterday.”

    2002-04-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4510Resumption1 (2002) · source

  21. “We thank your delegation, Mr. President, for convening this meeting to discuss the ever-worsening situation in the occupied territories, which is a growing cause of acute concern and deep distress for all of us. Since 29 March, we have made two statements on this agenda item, setting out our position before the Council. I shall therefore be brief. The statement recently made by Peter Hansen, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which underlines the grievous situation of civilians in the Balata and Jenin refugee camps, is indeed extremely distressing and speaks for itself. Israel's military actions against innocent civilians will in no way serve its best interests or provide the security it seeks for its people. In fact, the consequences will be to the contrary.”

    2002-04-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4510Resumption1 (2002) · source

  22. “Equally, all other agreements in this regard, the Tenet plan, the Mitchell Report, United Nations Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and land for peace can bring the peace process on the raise. This is not just a concern for the Middle East, but is a much larger global concern." To this I would only add the immediate and effective implementation of resolution 1402 (2002), adopted by the Council in the early hours of the morning of 30 March. We call upon the Security Council to work together with the parties concerned in order to bring an end to violence and work towards the immediate resumption of dialogue and negotiations so as to achieve lasting peace and security for all in the region.”

    2002-04-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4506Resumption1 (2002) · source

  23. “He stressed that India is deeply troubled at the current situation and stands ready to do whatever it can to work for peace in the region. In conclusion, I would like to quote from Jaswant Singh's statement in Shanghai on 1 April, during his recent Visit to China. Referring to the situation in the Middle East, the External Affairs Minister said: "President Arafat represents the authority of the Palestinian people. To subject President Arafat to this treatment is to denude the Palestinians of the sense of their nationhood. This must stop. What must also stop are acts of terrorism. Violence begetting violence is not an answer. United Nations Security Council resolution 1397 (2002) enjoins Israel and Palestine to maintain peace. That is mandatory.”

    2002-04-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4506Resumption1 (2002) · source

  24. “Already a large number of innocent civilians on both sides had been killed, and this needed to be stopped. The situation was distressing and it was not acceptable that it had come to such a pass. India stood by the people of Palestine in their hour of need. The External Affairs Minister conveyed to both President Arafat and Deputy Prime Minister Peres that India stood ready to do anything to bring peace back to West Asia. President Arafat's Special Envoy, Hani al-Hassan, called on Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee this morning in New Delhi. President Arafat conveyed his appreciation for India's consistent support to him and to the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people. Prime Minister Vajpayee expressed concern about President Arafat's health and well-being.”

    2002-04-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4506Resumption1 (2002) · source

  25. “Expressing India's deep distress at the recent events, he called upon both to implement Security Council resolution 1402 (2002), which enjoins both parties to a meaningful ceasefire and withdrawal, the immediate cessation of all acts of violence and full cooperation with United States Special Envoy Zinni. Minister Jaswant Singh told Deputy Prime Minister Peres that by incarcerating President Arafat by virtually imprisoning him, Israel was compounding difficulties, rather than lessening them, making the task of bringing peace that much more difficult. The External Affairs Minister conveyed to President Arafat that India considered him the symbol of Palestinian nationhood and was concerned about his safety and well-being. The situation needed to be contained and controlled.”

    2002-04-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4506Resumption1 (2002) · source

  26. “My delegation associates itself with the statement made in the Council earlier today by Ambassador Kumalo, Permanent Representative of South Africa, in his capacity as Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement. We had already intervened in the Council debate on this item during the emergency session convened on 29 March. Our statement today seeks only to provide additional elements with regard to our position on the crisis in the Middle East. The Honourable Jaswant Singh, External Affairs Minister of India, has spoken to President Yasser Arafat and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres of Israel during the last two days.”

    2002-04-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4506Resumption1 (2002) · source

  27. “Ambassador Kamalesh Sharma, Permanent Representative, would have very much liked to have delivered the statement made by us under this item on 29 March. He was indisposed that evening, and as he is out of town today he has authorized me to make the statement on his behalf. I would like to begin by expressing our delegation's deep appreciation at seeing you, Sir, preside over the deliberations of the Security Council this month. We wish you every success in your presidency and assure you of the fullest cooperation of our delegation. We would also like to thank the delegation of Norway for the effective manner in which it guided the work of the Council in March.”

    2002-04-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4506Resumption1 (2002) · source

  28. “My delegation reiterates our call for an end to the violence and the immediate resumption of dialogue and negotiations so as to achieve lasting peace and security for all in the region. We call upon the Council to express the collective will of the international community, once again in less than three weeks, for immediate resumption of such a dialogue.”

    2002-03-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4503 (2002) · source

  29. “The needless escalation of violence in the region is unwarranted and is a cause of deepest concern. We call for an end to the violence and for the resumption of peaceful dialogue and negotiations in order to realize the vision of two States living in peace within secure boundaries in accordance with resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and subsequent accords agreed to and accepted by the parties. President Arafat continues to remain for all of us the embodiment of Palestinian nationhood. The way President Arafat is being treated is shocking. We do not see how the siege of President Arafat and today's military operations aimed at his headquarters can in any way contribute to the eventual cessation of violence or greater security.”

    2002-03-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4503 (2002) · source

  30. “Mr. President, we thank you for convening this emergency meeting of the Council. We also thank the Secretary-General for his statement to the Council today on the sharp deterioration ofthe situation in the Middle East. We are meeting this evening in extraordinary circumstances. The Council expressed the collective will of the international community only a fortnight ago in resolution 1397 (2002), which outlined the vision of two States living in peace within secure borders. Only yesterday, the Summit of the Arab League States in Beirut adopted the resolution supporting the peace plan put forward by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. All of us thought that the push towards peace in the Middle East had acquired significant momentum through this action of the Arab League. Today, we seem to have moved far away from that vision.”

    2002-03-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4503 (2002) · source