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Grauls

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515

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2008-06-05

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2013-02-12

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74

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un-security-council

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1. “In agreement with the Government of the Central African Republic, it has been decided that an initial assessment of the implementation of the strategic framework will be carried out in six months. The biannual assessments should allow us to maintain the momentum of the peacebuilding process in the Central African Republic. In order to strengthen peace and stability in their country, the people of the Central African Republic need the support of the international community. The encouraging signs to which I have referred are an appeal to which we must respond positively. That is why, since the strategic framework was adopted, I have visited various Governments and organizations in order to make international partners aware of the needs of the Central African Republic and to invite them to join in the Commission's efforts.”

   2009-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6147 (2009) · source

2. “The Commission also encourages the strengthening of the subregional Mission de consolidation de la paix en Republique Centrafricaine, which will be called on to supervise the DDR programme. 5 I wish to say a word on the electoral process. If it is to unfold in acceptable conditions, the process must enjoy the assistance of the international community. In that regard, the authorities of the Central African Republic must urgently establish the Mixed and Independent Electoral Commission, the only national body authorized under the Constitution to undertake preparations for elections and to adopt changes to the electoral code. The activation of the Commission is necessary to ensure the firm commitment of the United Nations and other actors of the international community.”

   2009-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6147 (2009) · source

3. “The financing of the early DDR phases seems to be assured thanks, among other things, to contributions from the Peacebuilding Fund and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and to the agreement of President Bozize' to allocate to DDR all the funds pledged by the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, pursuant to the communique issued by the heads of State in Libreville on 30 January. We encourage the Government of the Central African Republic to pay those funds into the UNDP Trust Fund in order to ensure their transparency and effective management. If the DDR process is to begin expeditiously, the Steering Committee must rapidly proceed to validate the submitted lists of recognized combatants belonging to political-military groups.”

   2009-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6147 (2009) · source

4. “I refer to the drafting and implementation of a DDR programme thoroughly integrated into the SSR programme, and the preparation for elections in 2010. Without successful DDR, the electoral process may be compromised, and without a successful electoral process the entire country runs the risk of being destabilized. The drafting of the DDR programme is progressing. Considerable technical work has been completed, and political conditions are being established so that the programme can be launched in optimal circumstances. In that regard, I note the return of recalcitrant rebel groups to the peace process, which is an encouraging sign.”

   2009-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6147 (2009) · source

5. “Pascoe noted, the Commission has decided to focus on three urgent priorities: security sector reform (SSR) and the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programme for ex-combatants; good governance and the rule of law; and the identification of development poles, to be considered as embryonic structures created to relaunch socio-economic development throughout the Central African Republic. Those three priorities correspond perfectly to the conclusions reached by the inclusive political dialogue that brought the Government, the unarmed opposition, rebel groups and civil society together in December. The Commission is currently focusing its attention on two files that are critical to stability and peace in the Central African Republic.”

   2009-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6147 (2009) · source

6. “I should like at the outset, Sir, to thank you for giving me the opportunity once again to address the Security Council in my capacity as Chairman of the Peacebuilding Commission country-specific configuration on the Central African Republic. I should also like to warmly welcome the appointment of Ms. Sable-Work Zewde as Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Central African Republic and to assure her of the Commission's support. Since I last addressed the Council in March, the Peacebuilding Commission adopted its strategic framework for peacebuilding on 6 May. The framework is a kind of road map for achieving the goals that the Commission has set itself. From 21 to 23 May, I led a mission to Bangui to officially present the framework to all actors of Central African society. 09-37565 As Mr.”

   2009-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6147 (2009) · source

7. “The Central African Republic configuration ensures coordination between those efforts and other disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes. Finally, I would like to thank the Special Representative, Ms. Coomaraswamy, for her consistent and resolute action for children in conflicts. Belgium particularly appreciates her field visits, such as recently in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or in the Central African Republic. Her presence has a real impact on the attitude of the parties to the conflict and undoubtedly contributes to stemming the suffering of children in conflicts. We greatly admire her strong ongoing commitment for the cause of children in areas of conflict.”

   2009-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6114Resumption1 (2009) · source

8. “The Central African Republic Government now needs to ratify and to incorporate into law the relevant international conventions and protocols to prevent recruitment, but also to protect and re-integrate released children. The Central African Republic configuration is committed to heightening the awareness of national parties and international partners in order to launch appropriate programmes and mobilize long-term financial support for the children concerned. In the process of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of armed groups, UNICEF is currently implementing a demobilization programme for child soldiers, which, under the agreement with one of the rebel groups, the Armee Populaire pour la Restauration de la Republique et la Democratie, should soon lead to the demobilization of 105 children.”

   2009-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6114Resumption1 (2009) · source

9. “In that regard, the international community, together with national authorities, must fulfil their responsibilities. That prompts me to say that the issue on our agenda today exceeds the scope of the Security Council. The Peacebuilding Commission also has a very important role to play, in particular in coordinating disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes and in sensitizing public opinion on the issue of child soldiers. I would like here to refer to the Central African Republic configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission, which, together with the Government of that country, has recently renewed commitments to the issue in its strategy to build peace.”

   2009-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6114Resumption1 (2009) · source

10. “The fight against impunity is a fundamental element for reconciliation and peace, without which children will remain the victims of serious violations. We therefore support the plea of the Secretary-General to extend the action and responsibility of the Security Council and of its sanctions regimes in order to adopt appropriate sanctions against individuals or groups that persist in recruiting and using children. Thirdly, Belgium would like to underscore the critical importance of reintegration programmes for former child soldiers. My country therefore fully subscribed to the Paris Principles in 2007. The principal message of those guiding principles is that preventing the recruitment of child soldiers and facilitating their reintegration must be envisaged over the long term, that is through programmes spread over several years.”

    2009-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6114Resumption1 (2009) · source

11. “We believe that broadening the mechanism should, first and foremost, take into consideration the criteria of sexual violence, without however prejudicing additional future broadening. That would serve as a significant step towards eradicating that most hateful violence. Secondly, during its recent mandate in the Council, Belgium consistently emphasized the fight against impunity, whether through national or international mechanisms, such as the International Criminal Court. Today, that Court is the appropriate legal instrument for prosecuting those suspected of having committed the gravest crimes, in particular against children. I wish to recall that the Court is an adjunct to national criminal justice systems and that it is first and foremost up to those jurisdictions to act.”

    2009-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6114Resumption1 (2009) · source

12. “On behalf of Belgium, I would like to highlight three elements for today's debate and then to share some thoughts as Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission's country-specific configuration on the Central African Republic. First of all, Belgium fully supports the recommendation of the Secretary-General to broaden and strengthen the mechanism of resolution 1612 (2005) so as also to include in the annexes of the reports of the Secretary-General parties in conflicts responsible for systematic sexual violence. The scourge of sexual violence is well known. The Council, through resolution 1820 (2008), has recognized that such violence, in some conflicts, is used as a weapon of war.”

    2009-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6114Resumption1 (2009) · source

13. “Mr. Grauls (Belgium) (spoke in French): I would first of all like to thank you, Mr. President, for having organized this debate. It shows the special interest that Mexico attaches to the issue of children in armed conflicts, as does your greatly appreciated chairing of the Working Group of the Security Council on Children and Armed Conflict. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his report (S/2009/ 158), as well as the Special Representative, Ms. Coomaraswamy, the Under-Secretary-General, Mr. Le Roy, and the Executive Director of UNICEF, Ms. Veneman, for their briefings. I would particularly like to say how much we appreciated Grace Akallo's very poignant testimony this morning. Belgium aligns itself with the statement that my Czech colleague delivered on behalf of the European Union.”

    2009-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6114Resumption1 (2009) · source

14. “I wish him success in his future projects. I cherish the hope that his successor be appointed as soon as possible so as to ensure a strong United Nations presence in the field during this pivotal time. In conclusion, I would like to reaffirm the commitment of the Peacebuilding Commission to support the Central African Republic's efforts in national reconciliation and reconstruction.”

    2009-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6091 (2009) · source

15. “Moreover, I welcome the recommendations to that end made by the Secretary-General in his letter of 3 March addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/2009/l28). A rapid implementation of those recommendations is necessary given the urgent need for a consolidated approach by the United Nations during this crucial phase in the political history of the Central African Republic, which the Secretary-General described as "perhaps the most genuinely inclusive attempt to foster national reconciliation in the Central African Republic to date" (5/2009/128, p. 2). Before concluding, I would like very warmly to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Ambassador Francois Lonseny Fall, for the outstanding work that he has carried out within the framework of his mandate in the Central African Republic.”

    2009-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6091 (2009) · source

16. “We call on the Government of the Central African Republic and UNDP to finalize arrangements to transfer those funds to the UNDP trust fund as soon as possible. The third challenge is economic. Like other countries in the region, the Central African Republic is particularly affected by the consequences of the world economic crisis. The Peacebuilding Commission is committed, together with the international financial institutions, to seeking mechanisms to respond to those impacts that affect a Central African population that is already very weak. As Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission country-specific configuration, I advocate the establishment of an United Nations integrated mission in the Central African Republic.”

    2009-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6091 (2009) · source

17. “It has already been postponed to 16 March. At this stage, no further reports can or should be accepted. We cannot waste any more time. With regard to the financing of the disarmament, DDR process, it is necessary to raise the awareness of the international partners to the urgency of pledging funds to the trust fund that will be set up by the UNDP. Once the DDR programme document has been finalized, the remaining balance of the funds already allocated to the Central African Republic by the Peacebuilding Fund could quickly be available for DDR. On 30 January in Libreville, 8 billion CFA francs were also pledged by the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa to finance DDR activities in the Central African Republic.”

    2009-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6091 (2009) · source

18. “The Commission calls on all political-military groups, in particular the Front democratique du peuple centrafricain, to adhere to the Libreville Comprehensive Peace Agreement and to become involved in implementing the recommendations of the inclusive political dialogue. 09-2601] The Peacebuilding Commission believes that the most critical step to preserve the momentum of the inclusive political dialogue is the finalization and implementation of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programme. However, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which is responsible for drawing up that programme, cannot finalize the programme document within every political-military group provides a complete list of its combatants. The initial deadline for submitting those lists was 25 February.”

    2009-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6091 (2009) · source

19. “The resurgence of violence in the north of the country has led in recent weeks to a new displacement of thousands of civilians and gives rise to great concern. That is why it is important to ask all parties to show restraint and avoid reprisals. That is why it is also important to urgently meet the needs of the thousands of civilians displaced and affected by this conflict. While the first challenge lies in the field of security, the second is political. Given these alarming developments, the Peacebuilding Commission encourages all parties that participated in the inclusive political dialogue to implement as quickly as possible and in a spirit of reconciliation the recommendations resulting from that dialogue.”

    2009-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6091 (2009) · source

20. “After decades of internal tension and a dramatic deterioration in living conditions, the population of the Central African Republic yearned for such developments. The Strategic Framework for Peacebuilding in the Central African Republic will very soon be finalized and will serve as the basis for long-term engagement between the Central African Republic and the international community. That framework was formulated in close cooperation with all national parties in the Central African Republic and thus enjoys broad national ownership. However, several major challenges remain, and the Peacebuilding Commission recalled them in a statement that was made public today. The first challenge is security.”

    2009-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6091 (2009) · source

21. “The inclusive political dialogue, which was held in Bangui last December and which brought together representatives of the entire political class and all of Central African society, as well as the positive results achieved, had been virtually inconceivable last June. The recommendations of the inclusive political dialogue have begun to be implemented. Indeed, a broad-based Government has been established, including members of the political opposition and former rebels. A steering committee has been formed for the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) process, and an Independent Electoral Commission has been created to prepare the 2009 and 2010 municipal, legislative and presidential elections. Those steps attest to the genuine desire of all parties concerned to work in a new atmosphere of peace and understanding.”

    2009-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6091 (2009) · source

22. “Mr. Grauls (Belgium) (spoke in French): At the outset, I should like to thank you, Mr. President, for having given me the opportunity to address the Council in my capacity as Chair of the Central African Republic configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission. The Central African Republic was included in the Commission's agenda in June 2008, at a very appropriate time. Since then, over the past eight months, the configuration has systematically encouraged and supported the considerable progress that the Central African Republic has made in the area of peacebuilding and stabilization.”

    2009-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6091 (2009) · source

23. “In this context, we also wish to welcome the eminent establishment of a group of experts which, on a relatively informal basis, will discuss aspects related to protection of civilians in each mandate up for renewal by the Council. This will contribute to creating a more systematic approach to the aspects related to the protection of civilians. Finally, we believe that combating impunity is a vital factor of the protection of civilians. The Council must also make a contribution thereto through its different instruments, such as its sanctions committees. The Security Council and its sanctions regimes must do a better job of shouldering their responsibilities by punishing such phenomena as sexual violence or the recruitment of and serious violence done to children.”

    2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066Resumption1 (2009) · source

24. “The Council did so recently on 22 December in resolution 1857 (2008), which revised the mandate of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Council could have done so even more resolutely and with greater conviction, given the extreme gravity of the crimes it seeks to prevent and that such crimes are firmly identified in international penal law. My country will continue to advocate to that end and to encourage our Organization to establish the early warning instruments and rapid response mechanisms vital to avoiding more mass atrocities. Belgium welcomes today's scheduled adoption of a presidential statement complemented by an update of the aide-memoire on the protection of civilians. This document remains a significant reference point for the Council's daily work.”

    2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066Resumption1 (2009) · source

25. “Belgium cherishes that concept, which was adopted by the General Assembly in 2005, for it emphasizes the duty of each State to protect its population against the clearly identified ultimate crimes of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. As the body responsible for maintaining international peace and security, the Security Council has adopted civilian protection as an objective, as established by humanitarian law. The Council must also now integrate fully the notion of the responsibility to protect into its work. It already does so in a number of ways: by instituting good offices missions, fighting impunity, combating the use of child soldiers and through the Peacebuilding Commission.”

    2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066Resumption1 (2009) · source

26. “Civilians are equally forgotten, however, when the Israeli army places its military goals above strict adherence to international humanitarian law. The civilian population is thereby twice victimized. In that regard, we call for the immediate implementation of resolution 1860 (2008). The horrors of numerous wars prompted the international community to develop humanitarian law as we know it today, including with regard to the protection of civilians in conflict situations. Likewise, the mass atrocities committed against civilian populations, even in non-conflict situations, have led to the emergence of the idea of the responsibility to protect.”

    2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066Resumption1 (2009) · source

27. “Mr. Grauls (Belgium) (spoke in French): My delegation fully associates itself with the statement delivered by the representative of the Czech Republic on behalf of the European Union (EU). We would like to make a few observations based on our two years of experience on the Security Council. We listened with great interest to the statement made by Mr. Holmes. He gave us a briefing that very clearly illustrates that there is still much progress to be made in the area of the protection of civilians. International humanitarian law is not observed in the course of hostilities in numerous conflicts. The current situation in Gaza is a strikingly tragic illustration of that. Civilians are forgotten when Hamas utilizes residential buildings, schools and hospitals to fire from and uses the civilians around them as human shields.”

    2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066Resumption1 (2009) · source

28. “Based on the observation that we cannot have a lasting peace without involving the entire Palestinian people, we urge the continuation of these Arab efforts, and we encourage Hamas to have a sense of responsibility for not depriving Gazans of the peace dividends. In this context, Belgium welcomes the confirmation of the organization of an international meeting in 2009 in Moscow. Without prejudging the progressive stabilization of various hotbeds of regional tension, we hope that that meeting will allow for the identification of the way in which we can integrate them into a comprehensive and mutual stabilization in the Middle East. Already, together with our European partners, we are prepared to work with the parties in order to offer them the international safeguards necessary for making progress in this direction.”

    2008-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6049 (2008) · source

29. “Beyond that, and in view of the impact on regional peace and security, we emphasize increased cooperation for the monitoring of the Lebanese-Syrian border and respect for the arms embargo approved in resolution 1701 (2006). On this specific item, and more generally because of its role in the region, we call upon Iran to use its influence constructively and in support of peace. Finally, with regard to Palestinian reconciliation, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Egypt have successively shown the Arab commitment to reunifying the Gaza Strip and the West Bank within the fold of the Palestinian Authority.”

    2008-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6049 (2008) · source

30. “But the sense of responsibility of the regional players does not stop there. Under the aegis of Turkey, indirect negotiations have begun between Israel and Syria. There has been a renewal of contacts after eight years of silence. We hope that a fifth session will soon bring them close to direct discussions with a View to a peace agreement. In Lebanon, after violence that we feared would lead to a new civil war, mediation by Qatar helped in the election of a new President and in renewing national dialogue. Since then, a constructive dialogue has begun with Syria. We encourage the fulfilment of the commitments entered into in Damascus for the normalization of bilateral relations, including the establishment of diplomatic relations.”

    2008-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6049 (2008) · source

31. “In a period of transition that is inevitably more fragile, Belgium, along with its European partners, advocates maintaining this international commitment. We could begin by seeing to it that the adoption of resolution 1850 (2008) does not remain window dressing without a future. On the contrary, it should strengthen the ability of our Council to shoulder its responsibilities in accordance with the Charter and see to it that its previous resolutions are implemented. Our second observation touches upon the reaffirmation of the regional commitment in the quest for stabilization and a complete, just and lasting peace with Israel. Resolution 1850 (2008) recalled the importance of the Arab Peace Initiative. We can once again hail the commitment of the sponsors of the Initiative to reaffirm it at the Riyadh summit in March 2007.”

    2008-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6049 (2008) · source

32. “In support of those two forums, four successive ministerial conferences have been convened in Annapolis, Paris, Berlin and London to give the greatest possible political and economic support to the negotiations, alongside the investment conferences in Bethlehem and London and the economic recovery plan of Tony Blair, Representative of the Quartet. Finally, after having been too long the symbol of paralysing disagreement on the part of the international community, the Security Council - our Security Council - recalled last Tuesday that it remains seized of the matter. We thus welcome the adoption of resolution 1850 (2008), in that it confirms the Council's responsibility to help in the realization of the solution of two viable States living side by side in peace and security.”

    2008-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6049 (2008) · source

33. “The first observation is that we are seeing international commitment at a level unseen since the beginning of the millennium. There have been five summit meetings of the Quartet in a single year, including a meeting with the direct briefing of the parties on the status of negotiations. That included the direct involvement of the international community with Israel and the Palestinian Authority, already reflected in the reactivation of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee and in the discussion of Palestinian reform plans.”

    2008-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6049 (2008) · source

34. “Mr. Grauls (Belgium) (spoke in French): I, too, would like to thank Mr. Serry for his very useful and detailed briefing and my Israeli and Palestinian colleagues for their statements. Two days after a debate focused on the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, and despite our ongoing concern over the humanitarian and security situation on the ground, especially in and around the Gaza Strip, I will avoid repeating the detailed position of Belgium on the issue, especially since it was broadly reflected in the statement made by the representative of France on behalf of the European Union, to which my delegation fully subscribes. I would rather take advantage of the briefing we have received to forecast the opportunities and challenges in the Middle East that await us in 2009.”

    2008-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6049 (2008) · source

35. “The African Union has been very courageous in assuming that burden by sending the AMISOM. forces. It is urgent that AMISOM. be strengthened and supported, as the Secretary-General just suggested in his statement. Aware that combating piracy is essential but that it also involves broader interests, and aware of the particular situation in Somalia, we believe that important work remains to be accomplished first at the political and security levels. With that in mind we voted in favour of the resolution.”

    2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6046 (2008) · source

36. “Our efforts must be focused on supporting the process under way and must be aimed at persuading all parties in Somalia to unite in the country's interest. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the International Contact Group are working to that end, and the international community as a whole should contribute to that effort. With regard to peacekeeping on the ground, my delegation has reiterated several times that a United Nations peacekeeping force is inconceivable without sufficient political will on the part of Somali actors themselves and at least the beginning of peace to support. As for the idea of a stabilization force, that essentially depends on the willingness of certain States to assume that responsibility, as the Secretary-General just emphasized.”

    2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6046 (2008) · source

37. “Piracy is a particular phenomenon that requires appropriate responses. Efforts to support peace and efforts to combat piracy should be carried out in parallel, each with its own requirements and means. Linking them too closely together can only hamper their effectiveness. Thus, the attention that we are devoting to piracy problems today cannot conceal the absolute need to make progress in the political process. In the area of security, the Djibouti Agreement and the first phases of its implementation have provided some hope for progress. However, Belgium cannot fail to note the internal disagreements within the institutions of the Transitional Federal Government and the fact that the security situation continues to deteriorate despite that progress.”

    2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6046 (2008) · source

38. “That is why it was essential that the exceptional measures just adopted by the Council be time-bound, strictly monitored and taken for only one specific purpose, namely, combating piracy and only by countries cooperating with the Somali authorities, in compliance with humanitarian and human rights law. It is obvious that, ultimately, eradicating piracy is only one aspect of the problems posed by the situation in Somalia. Combating piracy can in itself have positive effects, as one can see from the recent report of the Monitoring Group, which highlighted the links between piracy and weapons trafficking. More generally, the international community has an obligation to continue to work to promote stabilization of the country. However, we must resist the temptation to lump together the responses given by the international community.”

    2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6046 (2008) · source

39. “Today's meeting has led the Security Council to take an another step in addition to resolution 1846 (2008). In fact, the resolution that we have just adopted authorizes the international community to act not only in the territorial waters of Somalia, but also on its soil. That gives us another instrument to effectively combat piracy. However, Belgium would like to emphasize the exceptional nature of this measure. The Council certainly has the power to adopt exceptional measures, as we have already done with resolutions 1816 (2008) and 1846 (2008). But Belgium strongly believes that the concern to suppress piracy must not undermine certain very valuable principles of international law: the law of the sea, freedom of navigation and the sovereignty of States over their territories.”

    2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6046 (2008) · source

40. “Mr. Grauls (Belgium) (spoke in French): The fight against piracy off the coasts of Somalia has been the object of increasing mobilization on the part of the international community over the past year. In addition to various Council resolutions, several specific initiatives have been taken to respond to a phenomenon that is taking on extremely worrisome proportions in terms of maritime security and the provision of humanitarian aid. Belgium strongly supports international action to combat acts of piracy. As a member of the European Union, our country participates in such action through Operation Atalanta and has decided to participate directly in the coming months by providing a warship. Mr. President, Belgium welcomes the fact that your country, Croatia, and mine plan to cooperate in the Operation.”

    2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6046 (2008) · source

41. “Belgium and its European partners contributed their political and economic support for the Palestinian Authority at the meetings in Paris, London, Berlin and Bethlehem. Through the European Union, we also participated in the Quartet, whose five summit meetings in one year reflect greater political commitment. Belgium supports a broader role for the Quartet in following up the parties' implementation of their commitments. We also welcome the regular involvement in its meetings of members of the Follow- up Committee on the Arab Peace Initiative. Desirous of greater international involvement in that promising yet fragile process, Belgium will vote in favour of the draft resolution prepared by the United States and Russia.”

    2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6045 (2008) · source

42. “Rockets are again being fired into southern Israel, and there is a real danger that the violent downward spiral may resume, with civilians, as always, the primary victims. Belgium therefore calls on all actors, and Hamas in particular, to work urgently to prolong the truce in order to ensure the critical normalization of the security, humanitarian, economic and political situations to which the populations involved legitimately aspire. In that context, we join the Quartet in supporting the efforts of Egypt to achieve inter- Palestinian reconciliation and the release of Corporal Shalit. At the international level, the past year has seen a remarkable intensification of the international and regional support that was already manifest in the largely positive response to the Annapolis meeting.”

    2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6045 (2008) · source

43. “Belgium notes that the continued settlement activity has been unanimously condemned because it is clearly and completely contraindicated by the stated desire to establish the mutual confidence necessary to the peace process. Above all, however, it is illegal and jeopardizes the establishment of a viable Palestinian State. The violence deliberately committed by extremist settlers against Israeli law enforcement agencies and, above all, against Palestinian civilians strengthens our concerns even furthers. We therefore call on the Israeli authorities to freeze settlement activity forthwith and to ensure that the violence does not go unpunished. After five months of calm and hope in the Gaza Strip, the humanitarian situation of its population continues to deteriorate and is now catastrophic.”

    2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6045 (2008) · source

44. “In the West Bank, recent progress in the economic and, above all, security fields demonstrates the benefits of the political programme of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, as well as the mutual benefits of increased cooperation on the part of the Israeli authorities. Alongside the release of Palestinian prisoners, these results strengthen mutual confidence and point to the road to be followed; they should encourage Palestinians and Israelis alike to step up their efforts to meet their obligations. Recent events have made such progress all the more urgent. In the West Bank and East Jerusalem, ongoing Israeli settlement activity is alarming.”

    2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6045 (2008) · source

45. “First, the intensified bilateral negotiations pursued by the Israelis and Palestinians bear witness to considerable political investment on the part of the parties, particularly in their resistance of the repeated attempts of extremists on both sides to derail the negotiations. We can only welcome the confirmation by the parties themselves that that this political dynamic is now irreversible. More than ever before, the negotiations need full domestic and international support, regardless of the outcome of the period of political transition now under way. At the domestic level, support for the negotiation process will require above all concrete and visible improvements in the situation on the ground.”

    2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6045 (2008) · source

46. “In recalling in its draft resolution the guidelines for the bilateral negotiations under way, the Council is reconfirming its responsibility to support the process until the goal shared by all - the end of the conflict and the establishment of an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian State in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, living side by side with Israel in peace and security within secure and recognized borders - is reached. Today, 13 months after the Annapolis conference, for the first time in eight years there is sufficient momentum to reach the peace agreement awaited for more than 60 years. Maintaining that momentum and the future of the two-State solution continues to require our attention and commitment on several levels.”

    2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6045 (2008) · source

47. “Mr. Grauls (Belgium) (spoke in French): I would begin by expressing our appreciation to Secretary of State Rice and Foreign Minister Lavrov for this welcome American-Russian initiative that will enable us to end this meeting by adopting a resolution on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Speaking up once again after a long silence and, we hope, in one voice, the Security Council is reminding the peoples concerned that the international community as a whole remains concerned about their fate.”

    2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6045 (2008) · source

48. “Sanctions are a valuable tool in that respect, and I am convinced that they can be further developed to become an even better tool.”

    2008-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6043 (2008) · source

49. “I would most especially like to thank the delegates, the Monitoring Team and the Group of Experts on C6te d'Ivoire, as well as the Secretariat for their valuable work and cooperation. During my chairmanship of those three sanctions committees, I have been able to observe how different and, in a sense, how unique they are. Each committee works within its own political context, being a country- specific committee or tackling a global terrorist phenomenon. Each has its specific mandate and its own tools to implement it, for instance, with or Without a group of independent experts. The interplay of those distinct characteristics always seems to produce a unique result. The world is not the same as when we started, nor is the Security Council. But certain threats to peace and security remain and they must be addressed effectively and fairly.”

    2008-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6043 (2008) · source

50. “The discussions within the Group mainly concentrated on the establishment of a residual mechanism to carry out certain essential functions of the International Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda after their closure. 10 My delegation delivered a statement regarding the work of that body during the Security Council debate last Friday. So, I do not wish to come back to that in detail here. Moreover, there are further details on that process in a letter that I will forward to the President shortly and that will be circulated as an official document. To conclude, I would like to thank all those who have been involved in the work of those subsidiary organs over the past two years.”

    2008-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6043 (2008) · source