YouSaid · the spoken record

Guehenno

lines on the record: 1,147
first: 2000-11-14
most recent: 2011-05-12
sittings or episodes: 58
sources: un-security-council

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“In the interim, even without hard statistics in hand, there is no disputing that HIV/AIDS in general is a problem of massive proportions, and that peacekeepers are not exempt from it. What are the key immediate challenges before us? While we cannot change what has happened already, the first step in mitigating future risks is to increase the awareness of peacekeepers, and those with whom they come in contact locally, about the causes of HIV/AIDS and the ways of preventing its spread. The Security Council's ground-breaking and historic resolution 1308 (2000), adopted in July of last year, specifically recognized the importance of incorporating HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness skills in DPKO's training for peacekeeping personnel, as did the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, in its report of 20 March 2000.”
2001-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4259 (2001) · source
“In collecting data that could help to shape our future policies and programmes, it is, of course, essential to respect the confidentiality of individuals' medical records. On a related note, just a few days ago DPKO put forward a proposal to Member States, within the context of the discussions of the so-called post-Phase V Working Group, for the United Nations to reimburse contributors for the costs of conducting HIV testing for their personnel, both pre-deployment and upon return. We believe that it would be an important and relatively minor investment for the Organization to make, while recognizing that it remains the prerogative of Member States to apply their respective policies on testing. We do, however, strongly recommend voluntary confidential testing and counselling.”
2001-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4259 (2001) · source
“Member States, and not the United Nations, are responsible for the medical records of their contingents. National Governments do not, as a matter of practice, inform the United Nations that one or more of their personnel have contracted HIV/AIDS while on mission. Even if they were ready to do so, Member States would have had to test their personnel for HIV prior to deployment in order to know if the infection had been contracted while on mission, rather than beforehand. DPKO, in cooperation with UNAIDS, welcomes any information from Member States that would help us to verify and understand the extent of the problem better, so that we might tailor our prevention strategies accordingly.”
2001-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4259 (2001) · source
“However, the correct collection of such data is difficult for a variety of reasons, two in particular. First, there is generally a lack of reliable and complete data on HIV/AIDS in the places in which peacekeepers deploy. The capacity of countries to collect epidemiological data on HIV/AIDS, if it ever existed, can be severely crippled by the outbreak of war. Thus, there is generally a lack of baseline data against which to judge the impact of a peacekeeping operation on the incidence of HIV/AIDS in the place of deployment. The development of local capacities in this area is therefore critical, and I join the appeal to the donors to increase their assistance for this purpose. Secondly, we do not have reliable data on the prevalence of HIV among contingents.”
2001-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4259 (2001) · source
“Furthermore, it is a fact that some peacekeepers are sexually active while on United Nations missions. That such risk behaviour takes place at all is an issue to which I will return later in my remarks, because it is an important one. These few basic points alone should leave absolutely no one in doubt. It is undeniable that there is a risk of peacekeepers transmitting HIV, or of contracting HIV, while they are on mission. It stands to reason that this must have happened already. How big is the risk? We do not yet have the means to quantify the extent to which this has happened already, or to quantify the extent of the risk in the future. There are normal rules and norms for epidemiological research and collection of medical data which are especially important to follow when dealing with the issue of HIV/AIDS.”
2001-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4259 (2001) · source
“As the Under- Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, the question I must ask myself is, what impact do 38,000 or even 50,000 peacekeepers deployed worldwide have on this epidemic that has affected tens of millions of people? And what can the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) do to make a contribution in helping to prevent its spread? The reality is that a number of peacekeepers, like any sample of people from around the world, are likely to have been infected by HIV, prior to deployment, and this does not apply only to peacekeepers coming from countries with high prevalence rates. It is also a fact that some, although certainly not all, of our peacekeeping missions are deployed to parts of the world where there is a relatively high incidence of HIV/AIDS.”
2001-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4259 (2001) · source
“Almost 22 million people have died of AIDS since the epidemic began, and Africa has buried three quarters of them. The continent could end up burying one third of today's 15-year-olds because of AIDS in the countries where the epidemic is most rampant. The problem is not, of course, restricted to Africa. Over 36 million people around the world are estimated to be living with HIV today. I am taking this opportunity, as a human being, to add my voice to Dr. Piot's in publicizing those statistics. I want to address one issue that is of great concern to all of us. Is there a link between HIV/AIDS and peacekeeping? Is there a risk?”
2001-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4259 (2001) · source
“Mr. Guehenno: I had the opportunity less than a month ago to brief the Security Council during its informal consultations on the subject of HIV/AIDS and peacekeeping. I am grateful to have the opportunity today to speak on this subject again, in this open meeting. Putting the issue in context, people of conscience cannot possibly turn away from the staggering tragedy of HIV/AIDS. I personally cannot but be thunderstruck by some of the most recent estimates of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization about the epidemic, which bear repeating. I personally find it painful to comprehend that an estimated 3 million people around the world died of AIDS last year, and that 5.3 million were newly infected.”
2001-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4259 (2001) · source
“Mr. Guehenno: First, let me thank the Council for the warm support extended to the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General. As I said in my briefing, the support of the Council is essential to the success of the Mission and I will convey to Mr. Hans Haekkerup the kind words that were extended to him. I would like to address the two issues that were raised by Ambassador Gatilov. First, on the work that would be done in Bern on the institutional framework for Kosovo, we are not aware of that work and, indeed, we would welcome any information on it. Secondly, the report on Racak is not in our hands. We have never seen it. We have been in contact with the delegation of the Russian Federation and we have used our good offices with various institutions to get our hands on it. We will continue to pursue those efforts.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“In order to realize these ambitious goals, the Mission will continue to rely upon the type of strong and committed support it has enjoyed from the Council and Member States since its inception.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“As the leadership of the Mission passes from one Special Representative of the Secretary-General to another, preparations are already under way to tackle the new set of challenges UNMIK will face in the coming months. The new Special Representative of the Secretary-General has laid out a clear agenda for the future. Under his leadership, the Mission will concentrate on developing a legal framework for provisional self-government in Kosovo, in accordance with resolution 1244 (1999). Renewed energy will also be put into the development of effective law-enforcement institutions. In addition, UNMIK will establish an office in Belgrade in order to facilitate dialogue with the Government of Yugoslavia.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“Members of the committee will be included in briefing sessions dealing with the public health aspects of depleted uranium. A public information campaign is being developed to inform Kosovo residents, both local and international, about depleted uranium and what is known about illnesses, specifically leukaemia, which may or may not be related to ingesting depleted uranium. To conclude, I should like to stress that over the last 18 months, UNMIK has made impressive progress in the implementation of its mandate. The support of the members of the Council and the inspired leadership of Mr. Kouchner have played an essential role in this process.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“The initial survey indicates that the incidence of leukaemia in adults in Kosovo has not increased. UNMIK is taking a number of specific steps to deal with the potential problems posed by depleted uranium. Warning signs are being posted by UNMIK in all known areas that were targeted by shells containing depleted uranium. At UNMIK's request, the World Health Organization has seconded a staff member to Pristina to coordinate the establishment of a voluntary testing programme for Kosovo residents and UNMIK staff at Pristina Hospital. The WHO is also dispatching to Kosovo three specialists- a toxicologist, an authority on radiation and an environment expert - to assess the consequences of depleted uranium. A committee of local medical experts is being established, with a representative from the UNMIK Department of Health among its members.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“The samples are now being analysed in Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Austria and Italy. The team's preliminary field findings show three sites with no signs of higher radioactivity, nor any remnants of depleted uranium ammunition. At eight sites, the team found slightly higher amounts of radiation immediately at or around the holes left by depleted uranium ammunition, or pieces and remnants of ammunition. The team's final report is expected in March 2001, although a further follow-up mission may be needed. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the UNMIK Department of Health and Social Welfare have examined the incidence of leukaemia in Kosovo. Records at Pristina Hospital for the past four years were reviewed, and doctors from district hospitals have been interviewed.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“The issue of depleted uranium has been very much in the news, and I shall take the opportunity of this briefing to say a few words on that particular issue. In November 2000, UNMIK invited a team of scientists, led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and including the International Atomic Energy Agency, to study the possible presence of radioactivity in and around sites where depleted uranium ammunition was used. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), through KFOR, provided maps identifying 112 such sites, most of them in southern and western Kosovo. The UNEP-Ied team visited 11 sites: five in the west and six in the south of the province. The team collected 340 samples of soil, water and vegetation, and conducted smear tests on buildings, destroyed army vehicles and depleted uranium penetrators.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“Covic emphasized his desire to work with KFOR to arrange for the peaceful disarmament of ethnic Albanian fighters in the area, gave security guarantees for all those who wished to return to their homes in Presevo, and told UNHCR that there would be compensation for any damages to property by the security forces. Mr. Covic also stated that arrangements would be made to enhance the role of ethnic Albanians in local government. According to UNHCR, further concrete measures, such as the inclusion of ethnic Albanians in the local police forces and the demilitarization of the area, are needed in order to address the sources of tension in the area. UNHCR has established a presence in the area in order to closely monitor the situation.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“They include the abduction on 31 December of six ethnic Serbs near a crossing point into Kosovo, all of whom were released the next day after intervention by KFOR. KFOR has continued to play a major role in helping to stabilize the situation, including a visit by the Commander of KFOR to Bujanovac on 20 December. Following this visit, KFOR brokered an agreement on 30 December designed to improve freedom of movement between Bujanovac in Serbia proper and the town of anilane in Kosovo. On 10 January, the UNHCR Special Envoy visited villages in the ground safety zone and held meetings with the ethnic Albanian Mayor of Presevo and Mr. Covic, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, in order to assess the situation of the returnees. Mr.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“With respect to the situation in southern Serbia, the security environment in the Presevo Valley remains tense, although the risks of major conflict appear to have diminished. Most of the 5,000 ethnic Albanians who fled in November 2000 have since returned to their homes in southern Serbia. However, the situation is not yet stable. Elements from the Liberation Army of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac (UCPMB) have moved into towns and villages, reportedly to protect the returning populations, and are now in close proximity to Serbian police and Yugoslav military forces. In addition, several incidents in southern Serbia have threatened the ceasefire understanding reached in early December.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“In addition to private sector development, the assessment outlined five other priorities, including education, health, poverty alleviation, public administration and housing. Under the Kosovo consolidated budget for 2001, domestic sources of revenue will play an increasingly major role in funding expenditures. The 2001 budget provides for total recurrent and some capital expenditures of 743 million deutsche marks in public enterprises, the municipalities and the general government. This is financed from domestic revenues - such as taxes, fees and user charges - of 541 million deutsche marks and donor grants of 202 million deutsche marks, of which 40 million deutsche marks is exclusively for electricity imports, if required.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“With respect to economic reconstruction, UNMIK's initial focus on emergency reconstruction has now shifted to economic development and the promotion of private sector enterprise. Attention has focused on the development of small to medium-size enterprises, which should generate the bulk of sustainable job growth. Substantial progress has been made towards establishing a legal framework to support private sector development. Four core regulations- dealing with business organizations, pledges, foreign investment and contracts - have been endorsed by the IAC. In mid-December, the Mission published a preliminary assessment of the continuing reconstruction and economic development needs of Kosovo.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“The Judicial Performance Working Group has launched its review of the judiciary, with specific attention to possible misconduct ofjudges, lay judges and prosecutors. The Kosovo Police Service (KPS) has improved in both quantity and quality. 312 cadets graduated from the eleventh class at the Kosovo Police Service School on 16 December, bringing the total number of trainee police officers who graduated from the school's basic training course to 2,851. Despite increased threats and intimidation against Kosovo Police Service personnel, KPS officers are largely performing in a professional manner. This was exemplified by the pursuit and arrest by an off-duty KPS officer of a homicide suspect who had escaped multiple times after being arrested for shooting a Russian KFOR soldier.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“By the end of 2000, more than 100 schools had been constructed or repaired. All tent schools have been replaced by containers. Facilities and staff have been provided to care for abandoned children and adoption procedures are now in place to find permanent homes for them. As of the end of December, 46,000 families were receiving social assistance. UNMIK's second winterization programme is under way, assisted by unseasonably mild weather. Firewood and coal have been distributed to needy families and emergency shelters have been constructed in key cities. The Mission has made significant progress in strengthening the rule of law in Kosovo. The Kosovo Judicial Institute and the World Bank began work on a $3-million technical assistance project to establish various aspects of commercial law, including training for judges and lawyers.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“It contains a detailed analysis of living conditions in Kosovo Serb communities throughout the province and specific recommendations as to measures required and resources needed at the local and central levels in order to create the conditions favourable for returns. Both the Serb National Councils of Gracanica and Mitrovica have strongly endorsed the framework document. (spoke in English) I would now like to turn to civil administration and the rule of law. Since the Council was last briefed, there have been key developments in civil administration. Employment offices are now operational in a growing number of communities. An initiative to place a youth worker in every municipality has been launched in order to involve the young in community activities, such as refuse clean-up and safe driving campaigns.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“In this respect, a sharp increase was noted in the number of incidents targeting Kosovo Albanians and other minorities who remain in the northern side of the town of Mitrovica. UNHCR estimates that as few as 19 Kosovar Albanian families remain within the general population in that part of town. UNHCR notes that minorities are still leaving the province, though recent departures tend to be small in scale. On 13 January, the Joint Committee on the Return of Kosovo Serbs endorsed a framework document on returns in 2001. The framework document notes that return operations should be low-profile, incremental and orderly.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“Interethnic tensions thus continue to create problems for minority community access to social services. For example, access to health care, particularly in the smaller minority communities, is in danger of deteriorating further. These services have largely been provided by non-governmental organizations and KFOR. However, a number of non- governmental organizations either have or are planning to pull out of Kosovo. The Department of Health established by UNMIK is endeavouring to fill the gaps that will be caused by these departures. The recent unrest in Kosovo's northern municipalities has resulted in increased pressure on Kosovo Albanians and other minorities in these areas.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“The principal coordination mechanism to ensure an effective and coordinated international community response to these incidents is the UNMIK Political Violence Task Force. A number of senior LDK politicians remain under UNMIK Police protection. With respect to minority communities in Kosovo, Kosovo Serbs and their property have continued to be the targets of violent incidents, including arson and grenade attacks. In Ashkalija communities, the atmosphere has remained tense following the November killing of four Ashkalija returnees in Srbica, in the Mitrovica region. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that, in several locations, Ashkalija parents have kept their children home from school out of fear for their safety.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“Yugoslavian authorities declined an UNMIK request to allow international doctors to visit and evaluate sick Albanian prisoners in detention centres in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, but they did pledge to have their own doctors conduct thorough examinations. On 17 December, UNMIK, in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration, conducted a second family visit to the Nis prison involving relatives of 20 prisoners. On security matters, since the Council was last briefed by the Secretariat, there has been one serious security incident in northern Kosovo. On 18 December, the UNMIK municipal building in Zubin Potok was the scene of a shooting and grenade attack. Threats and attacks against members of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) have continued.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“The Gracanica Assembly expressed concern over respect for the law and the effective setting up of law-enforcement procedures, as well as recent Kosovo sales of property belonging to Serbs, which, according to the Assembly, were made under duress. UNMIK is considering a range of possible administrative recourses. On 14 December, UNMIK and representatives of the Government of Yugoslavia met to discuss the matter of detainees and missing persons. The meeting focused on practical arrangements for family visits in prisons under Belgrade's authority and in those under UNMIK's authority. Yugoslavian representatives also asked that their medical personnel be authorized to conduct medical examinations of Serb prisoners held in Kosovo detention facilities before family visits.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“Negotiations have been complicated, however, by demands from some Kosovo Serb leaders that their communities be allowed to set up their own distinct municipal structures, separate and distinct from the elected Assemblies. This was rejected by UNMIK as being contrary to resolution 1244 (1999). I should like to say a few words about the Gracanica Assembly. On 30 December, the Serb National Council-Gracanica held its year-end meeting. The Gracanica Assembly reaffirmed its willingness to participate in all of UNMIK's Kosovo-wide institutions, while at the same time strongly criticizing Belgrade-based Serb leaders and their representatives in Kosovo who continued their policy of non- cooperation with UNMIK.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“In eight others, the process of setting up these committees is under way. However, the process of setting up the municipal administrations has been complicated in some municipalities by the deliberate politicization of the process for selecting high-level municipality officials by the two major Kosovo Albanian political parties. This has partially undermined UNMIK's effort to develop effective democratic municipal assemblies. In the three Kosovo municipalities where Serbs constitute the majority, Serb representatives have been appointed to the Assemblies by the Special Representative. However, the inclusion of Kosovo Serbs in Assemblies in areas where Serbs are not in the majority remains a problem. The Special Representative has met with representatives of the Kosovo Serb community.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“The main objective of the Council is to increase cooperation between the various administrative departments. On 10 January, the first meeting of the UNMIK working group on the legal and institutional framework for Kosovo-wide elections was held. It was attended by Kosovo Albanian and Kosovo Serb experts designated by the IAC. It focused mainly on proposals for the functions and composition of a provisional assembly and on an appropriate electoral formula for the Kosovo-wide elections. The date for those elections will be set once the legal framework has been developed by the Special Representative. The Assemblies in the 27 municipalities where the election results were certified are now fully established. The three committees- dealing with policy, finance, and communities and mediation- have been established in 12 Assemblies.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“Three new members participated in the KTC meeting on 10 January, one from the Party of the Liberal Centre, one from the Bosniac Party of Democratic Action of Kosovo and one from the Democratic Party of Albanian Ashkalij a in Kosovo. These parties draw their political support from different minority communities, including the Kosovo Bosniacs, the Ashkalija and the Gorani, respectively. The Interim Administrative Council - the IAC - structure has yet to be reformed. Other changes will take into account the results of the 28 October municipal elections, which enabled the United Nations Mission to gauge more precisely the popularity of the various political parties on a Kosovo- wide basis. The Special Representative chaired the two meetings of the Council of Joint Interim Administrative Structure Co-Heads.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) has continued its work to create inclusive local administrative structures. To ensure that there is a political foundation for this work, the outgoing Special Representative reminded Kosovo's residents that they are responsible for building a tolerant society. He called on Kosovo's political leaders to use their influence to reject intolerance and put an end to extremism, and he stressed that Kosovo Albanians risk squandering much of the goodwill of the international community unless they stop ethnically motivated killings and political violence in general. The Kosovo Transitional Council (KTC) has been enlarged, and further enlargement is planned to make it as representative as possible of all of the political, religious and ethnic communities of Kosovo.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“It is a pleasure for me to give members of the Security Council an update on developments in Kosovo since the previous briefing in mid-December. Before I begin my briefing, I should like to remind the Council that Mr. Kouchner has now left Pristina, and his successor, the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Hans Haekkerup, has taken up his post. I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Mr. Kouchner, who, with the great ability, dedication and energy for which he is known, mobilized people in very difficult circumstances to establish the interim administration in Kosovo in accordance with resolution 1244 (1999). I should first like to speak about the joint interim administrative institutions.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“Mr. Guehenno: There were two questions from the Canadian representative, one on President Jelovie's remarks. It is, I think, the understanding of the international organization present in Bosnia and Herzegovina that those remarks should not go unanswered. At the moment there is discussion with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on what the appropriate answer is, and that has not been finalized yet. On the second question, the timing of presidential elections, this is indeed a very political issue, and we do not have information at this stage as to when they could take place.”
2000-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4222 (2000) · source
“This will enable the cantonal assemblies to elect the Federation House of Peoples, which will in turn elect members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina House of Peoples. The Republika Srpska National Assembly must also form a new Government and elect members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina House of Peoples. These processes are complex and will take time, though hopefully not the six months it took following the last general elections, in 1998.”
2000-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4222 (2000) · source
“The HDZ has managed to consolidate its supporters, and also the supporters of more right-wing parties, under a banner of fierce criticism and open defiance of the international community. The High Representative and the OSCE are currently considering taking measures against President Jelavic in view of his defiance. In the Republika Srpska, the SDS is indeed buoyant with its victory. It has run a campaign of not antagonizing the international community through nationalist rhetoric. It remains to be seen whether that approach will continue after the elections. Perhaps more significant is the closer alignment now between the likely Republika Srpska Government and the new Government in Yugoslavia. The priority for the Office of the High Representative and the OSCE is now to convene the elected legislative bodies.”
2000-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4222 (2000) · source
“Smaller parties such as the PDP and the SBiH also gained ground and will certainly occupy a pivotal position as brokers and king-makers, although in neither case is their true political orientation clearly known. The Croat opposition parties- the New Croat Initiative (NHI) and the Croatian Peasants Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HSS) survived. As a counterpart to that not-as-good-as-expected performance of the SDP, the traditional nationalist parties have done better than expected. In the Federation, the SDA remains a potent political force, which nonetheless will go through a period of internal reform that may see it adopt an even more conservative posture.”
2000-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4222 (2000) · source
“Though the SDS is expected to have a strong showing in the Republika Srpska National Assembly, it is not expected to win an absolute majority. The Party of Democratic Progress (PDP) will again play a pivotal role. Its President, Mr. Ivanic, is a strong candidate to be the next Republika Srpska Prime Minister. Ivanic has openly precluded cooperation with Silajdzic's SBiH. What conclusions should we draw from these results? Well, it had been hoped that this third set of general elections since Dayton would produce local political authorities who would work constructively to consolidate a sovereign and multi-ethnic Bosnia and Herzegovina. Regrettably, that has not yet been fully achieved. On the positive side, the multi-ethnic SDP polled well, but not as well as many in the international community had hoped.”
2000-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4222 (2000) · source
“Gains by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) may not be as high as they were in the municipal elections, and the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina (SBiH) may have experienced a strong boost in support. It appears likely that Silajdzic will play an important role as a coalition broker in many parts of the Federation - particularly in Sarajevo - and in the Federal institutions. In the Republika Srpska, even though 80 per cent of voters stated prior to the elections that they were mostly concerned about economic issues, the Serb Democratic Party, which did not put forth an economic programme, stands to make great gains. This reflects the disillusionment of Republika Srpska voters with the performance of Prime Minister Dodik.”
2000-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4222 (2000) · source
“After the polls closed, he announced that HDZ was victorious, which, he claimed, signals the end of the missions of the OSCE, the Office of the High Representative and UNMIBH. He also added that the Bosnian Croats no longer recognized the administration of the international community because it wanted to transform Bosnia and Herzegovina "from a State of three equal nations into a State without the Croat people." Jelavic claimed that 70 per cent of Bosnian Croats voted overwhelmingly for the HDZ. Though support for the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) is shrinking, preliminary results show that the party may not suffer the dramatic decline that some had expected.”
2000-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4222 (2000) · source
“In the Federation, as I just mentioned, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) carried out the Bosnian Croat so-called referendum despite a warning from the OSCE Provisional Election Commission that it considers the expression of opinion to be a party activity subject to its rules and regulations. The HDZ failed to provide OSCE with a list of the locations for the referendum polling stations, of which there were 389, placed beyond 50 meters from election polling stations. The case has now been submitted to the Elections Appeal Sub-Commission for adjudication. Barring unforeseen developments, it is not expected that the holding of the so-called referendum will result in the invalidation of the elections. The rhetoric of the President of the HDZ, Mr. Jelavic, has intensified.”
2000-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4222 (2000) · source
“Apart from that, other irregularities appear to have taken place in Srebrenica, where some double voting was noted, coordinated by the local branch of the SDS, and possible intimidation of some voters by an SDS official, who had in fact been barred from public office. The OSCE will draw the double voting to the attention of the Elections Appeals Subcommission to seek corrective action. Other complaints and incidents of which we were informed were relatively minor. (spoke in English) I would now like to turn to the situation in the Federation, on the one hand, and in the Republika Srpska, on the other.”
2000-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4222 (2000) · source
“Estimated voter turnout in the eastern Republika Srpska seems to have reached 80 per cent; that is expected to provide an additional boost for the Serb Democratic Party (SDS). Voter turnout is estimated to have been lower in the western Republika Srpska - about 50 per cent in Banja Luka. Turnout among Bosnian Croats varied, although we have indications that it was fairly high in the west part of Mostar and the Posavina canton, but lower in the Livno, West Herzegovina and Herzegovina-Neretva cantons. A number of irregularities occurred. The main one, of course, was the Bosnian Croat "referendum", to which I shall return later.”
2000-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4222 (2000) · source
“Similar close cooperation was fostered - and took place - with the OSCE and with the Stabilization Force (SFOR). On election day, IPTF officers made it clear to the local police that freedom of movement had to be ensured, that voters were not to be intimidated and that polling stations had to remain free of incidents that could disturb the proper conduct of the elections. As a result, the atmosphere of the elections was relatively calm. That was a tribute to the fine work of the IPTF and to the ability of the local police to act professionally. Voter turnout appears to have been somewhat higher than in the April municipal elections, when it was 65 per cent. This time it has been estimated at 70 per cent of registered voters. Turnout varied from region to region within Bosnia.”
2000-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4222 (2000) · source
“They voted at 3,600 polling stations across the entire territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, monitored by 760 international supervisors and 5,500 local monitors. Final certification of the elections results is not expected before 17 November, the deadline for the receipt of postal ballots. Turning to the activities of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) during the elections, the Mission helped monitor the detailed security plans of the local police and oversaw their implementation during the elections. In general, this was done in an exemplary and professional manner. All police officers from the International Police Task Force (IPTF) received training on how to cooperate with the local police in this situation.”
2000-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4222 (2000) · source
“With the Council's permission, I shall confine myself to reporting on the outcome of the most recent elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, because the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Jacques Klein, may come to New York in December, at which time he will be able to meet with the Council himself. On 11 November, the third general elections since the signing of the Dayton Accord took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina under the supervision of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Elections were held to the House of Representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Federation House of Representatives, the National Assembly of the Republika Srpska and various other bodies. Some 2.5 million voters were registered to vote- 1,335,032 in the Federation and 1,102,913 in the Republika Srpska.”
2000-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4222 (2000) · source