YouSaid · the spoken record

Guterres

lines on the record: 423
first: 2002-11-14
most recent: 2015-12-21
sittings or episodes: 28
sources: un-security-council

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“Just few days ago, a delegation from the Security Council honoured our country and our people with an historic visit. We deeply appreciate that visit and the briefing that was just given. Today, 12 November, we celebrate Timor-Leste's National Youth Day. It was established to honour the courage and the dedication to freedom and the independence of Timor-Leste shown by the students and young people who marched in 1991 in Dili from Motael Church to the cemetery of Santa Cruz to protest the assassination of one of their comrades, Sebastiao Gomes. Many were killed that day by the security forces. In May, we celebrated in Timor-Leste the tenth anniversary of the restoration of our independence, which followed the popular consultation ofAugust 1999. Ten years ago, the world witnessed the birth of a new country.”
2012-11-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6859 (2012) · source
“We thank you, Sir, for convening this meeting on Timor-Leste during India's presidency of the Security Council. Since December 1975, the issue of Timor-Leste has been on the agenda of the Security Council. Many Security Council resolutions have been adopted on Timor-Leste and many United Nations missions established by the Council. Looking back, we can say that this United Nations organ has successfully fulfilled its obligations and mandate under the United Nations Charter. The report of the Secretary-General before us (S/2012/765) highlights developments in Timor-Leste, and I am confident that the statement of the Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General, my dear friend Finn Reske-Nielsen, will enrich our discussions today.”
2012-11-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6859 (2012) · source
“Only through a political solution leading to peace can the humanitarian emergency be brought to a conclusion. As history has so clearly demonstrated in the Middle East and elsewhere, it is in nobody's interest for a political conflict and the plight of its resultant refugee population to be left unresolved.”
2012-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6826 (2012) · source
“I urge all States to respond positively to the two appeals that will shortly be made by the humanitarian community for additional funding in countries of asylum and inside the Syrian Arab Republic. However, direct support to the victims is not enough. International solidarity must translate into effective burden- and responsibility- sharing, with meaningful support to Governments and communities in refugee-hosting countries. Fourthly, I ask all States in the region and beyond to continue to extend protection to the Syrians fleeing their country, and to ensure that the civilian and humanitarian character of asylum is maintained, in accordance with international law. Finally, we must recognize that there is no humanitarian solution to the Syrian crisis.”
2012-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6826 (2012) · source
“In that respect, I would like to conclude by making the following appeals. First, I appeal to all parties to the conflict to grant unrestricted humanitarian access inside the Syrian Arab Republic in order to enable humanitarian actors to deliver protection and assistance without discrimination, in accordance with humanitarian principles. Secondly, I would like to appeal to the parties to the conflict to continue to respect and provide protection to Iraqi, Palestinian and other refugees inside the Syrian Arab Republic. We are all aware of the complexity of the Palestinian refugee issue and its impact on countries in the region. A situation in which large numbers of Palestinians are forced to flee must be avoided at all costs. Thirdly, I would like to call for enhanced international support to all victims of the conflict.”
2012-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6826 (2012) · source
“International solidarity in support of their generosity must be urgently reinforced. The commitment of those countries to refugee protection has upheld the internationally recognized principle whereby all human beings have the right to seek and enjoy asylum in another State. That is a right that must not be jeopardized, for instance through the establishment of so-called safe havens or other similar arrangements. Bitter experience has shown that it is rarely possible to provide effective protection and security in such areas. However, evidently, more effective humanitarian assistance inside the Syrian Arab Republic might well reduce the numbers forced to flee across borders. As the conflict intensifies, the ability of the international system to respond is being tested in many ways.”
2012-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6826 (2012) · source
“Thousands of Iraqi, Jordanian, Lebanese and Turkish families are sharing their homes and their increasingly meager resources with relatives and friends, but mostly strangers, who have been rendered homeless. The large- scale arrival of refugees brings about a significant economic cost, leads to complex social consequences and has a serious impact on local infrastructure and the environment. The acute pressure on water resources in Jordan is just one example. All of that is taking place in countries also affected by the national security implications of the current crisis. By keeping their borders open to refugees in such a complex and challenging environment, the countries that neighbour the Syrian Arab Republic are providing a very positive example to the world. However, their capacities are being severely tested.”
2012-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6826 (2012) · source
“Refugees are nonetheless exposed to increasing insecurity, which also limits their access to our offices and restricts the movement of staff. Some 31,000 Iraqis have now returned to their own country since the surge in violence in mid-July, while migrant workers and other third-country nationals are also experiencing acute hardship. Refugees from Palestine in Syria fall within the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Our colleagues at UNRWA need funding to expand their assistance programme, and are very appreciative of the temporary protection afforded in neighboring countries to the relatively few who have been forced to flee. The refugee exodus is having a significant impact on the society, economy and security of host countries.”
2012-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6826 (2012) · source
“I am deeply saddened by the drowning of a number of Syrians, including children, earlier this week in the Mediterranean. The most tragic consequences ofthe crisis are being felt inside Syria itself. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent Society, supported by the United Nations system and other humanitarian actors, continues to undertake exceptional work in the most difficult circumstances, despite being considerably overstretched. Humanitarian activities, as has been noted, are severely hampered by constraints on access and funding. UNHCR persists with efforts to provide protection and assistance to Iraqi and other refugees and asylum- seekers in Syria. The commitment of the Syrian people and authorities to maintaining asylum space has been commendable.”
2012-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6826 (2012) · source
“They have largely been absorbed into local communities, along with many thousands more who have not yet sought assistance. Efforts are under way with the Government to expand accommodation options, as hosting families are stretched and schools where many hundreds have been sheltered are due to reopen shortly. In Iraq, a country striving to make its own transition from conflict to stability, the number of Syrian refugees is now more than 18,000. In those four countries, there has been exemplary cooperation between Governments, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, other United Nations agencies, the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement and non-governmental organizations. Smaller numbers of Syrian citizens have also sought protection beyond the region, in areas such as North Africa and Europe.”
2012-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6826 (2012) · source
“As the fighting intensifies, pressure is increasing at border checkpoints, with thousands of people waiting as new sites are made ready - as is the case at the present moment. In Jordan the number of refugees arriving each day is also rising. Earlier this week, more than 5,000 people arrived in a span ofjust 30 hours. Some 72,000 Syrian refugees have now been registered. In total, the Government estimates that there are now approximately 180,000 more Syrians in the country than at the outset of the crisis. Most are hosted by local communities, but in accordance with a decision of the authorities, over 21,000 recent arrivals are being accommodated at the newly established Zaatari refugee camp. The numberofSyrianrefugeesinLebanonregistered or awaiting registration now exceeds 57,000.”
2012-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6826 (2012) · source
“Mr. Guterres: Syria has a long and generous history of providing refuge to people in need of sanctuary, including Palestinian and Iraqi refugees. It is now particularly heartbreaking to see so many Syrian citizens losing their lives, being uprooted from their homes and becoming trapped in war zones. As ofyesterday, 229,000 people had left the country and sought registration as refugees in neighbouring States. That number is growing rapidly. All sorts of assets are quickly being used up and social support networks are fragmenting. For many, becoming a refugee is the only way to survive. The number of Syrians arriving each day in Turkey continues to increase dramatically. Thanks to the Turkish Government, more than 80,000 Syrians are now being hosted in camps and public buildings in the south-east of the country.”
2012-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6826 (2012) · source
“Mr. Guterres: Very briefly, I would like to thank you again, Mr. President, for this opportunity, and to say that when doing humanitarian work, we are on the receiving end of the problems we've been talking about here. We deal with their impact and with the most vulnerable. Obviously for us, not having the ability to interfere with the political dimensions, which are always part of the origin of humanitarian problems, it is very important that the international community as a whole be able to address the gaps - in governance, in political will and in operating - that lead to situations such as those we have been discussing today, and to find the best instruments and strategies for addressing them.”
2011-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6668 (2011) · source
“If climate change goes unchecked and if we fail to find sustainable solutions for displaced populations, we will be creating the conditions in which further breaches of international peace and security are certain to take place.”
2011-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6668 (2011) · source
“UNHCR will be hosting an intergovernmental event at the ministerial level in Geneva in two weeks' time, where we will examine such protection gaps affecting the forcibly displaced people of the world. Finally, let me underline the importance of integrating the issues of climate change and human displacement into all of our conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peacebuilding endeavours, including the participation of the forcibly displaced in both peace talks and political solutions. People should not be obliged to abandon their homes in order to survive. Once they have been uprooted, they must be given our full support in finding sustainable solutions to their plight. Providing such support is a humanitarian imperative, but it is also in our common interest.”
2011-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6668 (2011) · source
“But even if we mobilize the international community in this way, it seems unlikely that we will be able to do enough to avert human displacement completely. Indeed, mobility seems likely to be one of the adaptation strategies employed by populations affected by climate change. That is why I believe that it would be appropriate for the international community to formulate and adopt a set of principles specifically designed to reinforce the protection of and find solutions for people who have been forced to leave their own country as a result of catastrophic environmental events but who may not qualify for refugee status under international law.”
2011-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6668 (2011) · source
“At the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, there was broad consensus that the communities most likely to be affected by the consequences of climate change are those that bear the least responsibility for its acceleration. Populations in developing countries are also more exposed to disasters and less able to cope with their effects. When we look at today's bleak picture for mitigation efforts, it is evident that a massive programme of support is essential in order to reinforce the proven resilience of their communities and citizens. Such action should take full account of the fact that women, especially poor women, are most seriously affected by climate change and natural disasters.”
2011-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6668 (2011) · source
“Although many might argue that climate change does not fall within the competency of the Security Council, the linkages I have set out here today cannot be ignored when looking at matters of peace and security. In a world that is becoming smaller and smaller and is, for the first time, facing physical limits to economic growth, those threats can only grow. The strands that make up this complex picture - climate change, population growth, food insecurity and water scarcity - are the subject of many separate summits and debates, but the international community has no forum today that allows for a comprehensive discussion of and comprehensive response to those trends. I firmly believe that in one way or another that governance gap has to be closed.”
2011-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6668 (2011) · source
“Fourthly, as the representative of an organization that has a mandated responsibility for both refugees and stateless persons, I would like to mention the linkage between climate change and citizenship. Some small island States are confronted with rising sea levels and are becoming highly vulnerable to extreme weather events. Where will these people go if and when it becomes impossible for them to remain in their own country? Some may be able to acquire a second nationality, once they have been obliged to move. But how will they retain their national identity? Is the world ready to accept the idea of a State without a territory? These are questions that the international community has only just started to consider and that now require serious attention.”
2011-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6668 (2011) · source
“Researchers at universities such as the University of California at Berkeley, Stanford, New York University and Harvard, looking at rainfall and temperature records in Africa between 1980 and 2002, have indicated that global warming is strongly related to the incidence of armed conflict, with a one-degree temperature rise increasing the potential for conflict by 50 per cent. I believe it is probably too early to assume that such scientific quantifications are foolproof, but the linkage is clearly there. Thirdly, there is increasing evidence to suggest that the growing frequency and intensity of natural disasters is closely linked to the process of climate change. According to a recent estimate, more than 40 million people were uprooted by natural disasters in 2010 alone, most of them internally displaced in the developing world.”
2011-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6668 (2011) · source
“First, the process of climate change is constraining the amount of land available for cultivation in many developing countries and is simultaneously reducing agricultural productivity. Confronted with growing levels of poverty and food insecurity, more and more young people are making their way from rural to urban areas, and massive youth unemployment, together with volatile food and commodity prices, is proving to be a clear source of social and political unrest. Secondly, climate change is reinforcing the potential for conflict Within and between States by intensifying the level of competition for scarce resources, including water, grazing land and arable land. Many commentators have pointed to the potential for so-called water wars over transboundary freshwater reserves, which could clearly uproot large numbers of people.”
2011-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6668 (2011) · source
“Climate change is not an independent variable, a phenomenon that can be examined in isolation from the many other economic, social, political and ecological processes that determine the level of human security available to people in different parts of the world. In that respect, there is little value in posing the simplistic question of how many people are going to be displaced by climate change. Instead, we should be addressing the more complex issue of the way in which global warming, rising sea levels, changing weather patterns and other manifestations of climate change are interacting with and reinforcing other global imbalances so as to produce some very powerful drivers of instability, conflict and displacement. I would like to highlight four of those linkages.”
2011-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6668 (2011) · source
“Climate change is the defining challenge of our times, one that interacts with and reinforces the other global mega-trends, such as population growth; urbanization; growing food, water and energy insecurity; and the risk of pandemics. It is a challenge that is adding to the scale and complexity of human displacement, and one that has important implications for the maintenance of international peace and security. Let me elaborate on that statement. Recent years have seen the publication of many books and articles that speculate on the number of people who will be forced to move in the next two or three decades as a result of climate change. Twenty million? Fifty million? One hundred million? There seems to be no consensus on the matter. That is, perhaps, because the wrong question is being asked.”
2011-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6668 (2011) · source
“It is not difficult to understand why so many people abandon their usual place of residence and flee in search of safety elsewhere: persecution, violence, authoritarian rule, failures of governance, economic collapse and natural disasters. One only has to look at the tragic case of Somalia to see how all of those different factors can coexist and combine, with the appalling outcome that more than a quarter of that country's citizens have now been uprooted. In that context, a principal reality of the contemporary world is the accelerating pace of climate change, as well as the international community's failure to address that issue in an effective manner.”
2011-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6668 (2011) · source
“In many parts of the world, refugees, asylum seekers, irregular migrants and the victims of human smugglers and traffickers are following the same routes, are making use of the same means of transport and are confronted with the same risks and dangers, especially when travelling by sea. The patterns of movement are changing, but meanwhile, the scale of human displacement is also growing. Looking at the statistics of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in themselves - and they refer only to refugees from conflict and those internally displaced by conflict - last year we witnessed a count of 43.7 million people, a record high that is, as I said, only part of the picture of displacement.”
2011-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6668 (2011) · source
“Information, ideas, capital, culture and people are all crossing borders at a much greater speed than at any previous time in history. Furthermore, with respect to the movement of human beings, patterns of migration, mobility and displacement are changing. Increasingly, the traditional distinction between migrants, who cross borders in search of a better life, and refugees, who are forced to flee persecution and conflict, has become blurred. More and more people are forced to flee while remaining within the borders of their own country, or do so for reasons that are not covered by the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. As they lose their livelihoods and coping mechanisms to environmental degradation, they often find themselves with no option but to move on.”
2011-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6668 (2011) · source
“Mr. Guterres: Let me begin by expressing my sincere appreciation for this opportunity to address the Security Council. The past 12 months have witnessed many momentous, often disturbing and sometimes inspiring, events. On the one hand, many of those events have confronted the Security Council with enormous challenges in its efforts to maintain international peace and security. On the other hand, they have required my own Office to respond to a succession of emergencies, providing protection and assistance to refugees and internally displaced persons, often in the most hazardous operational environments. It is in that context of mutual endeavour that I would like to turn to the theme of the presentation that I was asked to give today, which is that of human displacement and climate change. We live in a world that is on the move.”
2011-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6668 (2011) · source
“As member States made clear in the g7+ statement, our countries understand that urgent action with international partnerships is critical at this time. As Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao recently said, this is not the time to be pessimistic - this is the time for hope and change. It is my sincere hope that the international community and members of the Security Council will take this message and work with us to ensure that our States and nations are also able to make a smooth transition towards peace and stability.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472 (2011) · source
“In that regard, on behalf of the g7+, I would like to that advantage of the timely opportunity afforded by this debate to suggest the idea of a report of the Secretary-General devoted to the topic of institution-building in conflict-affected States. In conclusion, all that we seek to achieve is difficult and requires time. However, what the g7+ has prioritized, and what I have presented to the Council today, are specific and, more important, actionable reforms to which the international community must now commit. We will work with our development partners through the International Dialogue to elaborate concrete actions that can improve international engagement in conflict-affected States. An action plan will be ready by the end of the year, and we would be happy to share the results.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472 (2011) · source
“Thirdly, we must be absolutely clear as to the purpose that institutions are intended to serve, and then be relentless in that pursuit. Function over form must take priority. It is only when the tangible benefits of institutions are seen and felt that citizens' confidence, trust and engagement with State institutions will emerge. Fourthly, sustained political dialogue within States - between the men and women who make up our communities and Government - is crucial to strengthening democracy and encouraging buy-in, thereby turning State-building into a nation-wide endeavour involving all peoples.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472 (2011) · source
“First, international partners must help us build our institutions by working within them. That includes a complete review of the way technical assistance is provided to our countries. This is critical if we seek to strengthen State legitimacy and to build people's trust in emerging institutions, particularly during delicate transitions. Secondly, one cannot build a nation upon the principles of another. There is no overarching model that can be applied to solve the unique challenges facing our nations. International actors must appreciate the importance of historical context, culture, regional diversity, linguistic complexities, social differences, ongoing political dissonance and the national mentality. All of those are crucial elements in State- building in post-conflict nations.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472 (2011) · source
“On that same occasion, the g7+ challenged the global community to commit to a new paradigm of international engagement in conflict- affected countries and regions. Other friends tell us of delays in the setting up of trust funds that are not delivering rapidly and flexibly, and thus causing disruptions in aid flows that then impact negatively upon the abilities of emerging institutions to deliver visible results to people. In my country as well as in other countries, the responsibility for coordinating our development partners' various conflicting policies and practices gives an additional responsibility to our institutions. In order to ensure that we can rely on our partners, we feel that urgent reform and support must be directed towards at least four key areas.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472 (2011) · source
“Given the experiences of Timor-Leste, and considering the experiences that our fellow States have expressed to us, it is clear that institutions play a critical role in sustaining the shift away from conflict towards the building of more stable, responsive and accountable State. We are therefore concerned when we repeatedly hear of situations where the actions of the international community in that regard fall short of its promises. As we said at the Millennium Development Goals summit last year, aid delivery and programmes supported by international actors are often inapplicable, unsuitable and incompatible with our agendas and priorities, including with regard to institution-building.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472 (2011) · source
“At the forum's inaugural meeting, held in Dili last year, 13 countries and regions came together to recognize the strong spirit of solidarity between our countries and regions, reflecting a strong desire to work together in the g7+ to share experiences, challenges, failures and successes in order to make a rapid transition to sustainable peace and development. My colleague the Minister of Finance was honoured to have been nominated as Chair. The g7+ now accounts for almost 350 million people. It is the intention of the Group to own our nation-building agendas, drawing upon the combined wisdom of those 350 million people to provide the international community with the tools necessary to bring about real change.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472 (2011) · source
“In fact, that shared experience provides the bridge necessary to identify and connect with a diverse range of countries, all of which are united in the search for peace. A forum of post-conflict affected countries was thus built, with a foundation grounded in the same basic human challenges we all face and spanning a diversity of cultures, histories and languages. The forum, known as the Group of Seven Plus (g7+), is a new and independent forum of conflict-affected countries and regions that have come together to form a single collective voice to present to the international community.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472 (2011) · source
“We could not see ourselves in the road maps, strategies and policy notes put forward. In response, members agreed to convene four working groups dedicated to combining the breadth of experience that conflict-affected States and international partners had to offer, in order to present a credible and legitimate plan of action for the international community to refer to. The working groups focus on capacity development, under the co-chairmanship of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Japan; aid instruments, under the co-chairmanship of Afghanistan and Sweden; planning processes, under the co-chairmanship of Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom; and political dialogue, under the co-chairmanship of Liberia and the United Nations. Over time, a bond has been established between countries with direct experience of conflict.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472 (2011) · source
“Having reflected upon our past failures and successes, we feel that we are better placed to communicate the lessons learned and to draw attention to what we consider to have been ineffective when it comes to how aid has been used to support institution-building in post- conflict States. For Timor-Leste, the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding, which we co-chair 11-2l268 with the United Kingdom, is a very important channel that we use to engage in open and frank exchanges with fellow member States, as well as with regions and our development partners. At the Dialogue's first meeting, which was hosted by Timor-Leste in April 2010, members indicated that they could not hear their voices echoed within the vast body of work dedicated to addressing conflict in our countries.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472 (2011) · source
“A second key social programme that has served to support stability involves recognizing our veterans through the provision of pensions. We have allocated $58 million in this year's budget for that purpose. All of us who have experience in conflict situations know how important it is to tackle veterans' issues. Those pensions formed part of a wider integrated social welfare package that now includes the elderly and female-headed households. Those reforms heralded the beginning of a new compact between citizens and the State. Those successes now allow us to say goodbye to conflict with hope and determination, and welcome to development. That is our nation's motto today. We find ourselves in a unique position.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472 (2011) · source
“Also at that time, we faced the daunting task of establishing public trust in our defence and security forces, as well as trust in our institutions in general. We therefore had to take ownership of the process. With the help of the United Nations, we began security sector reform. Existing divisions in the defence and security forces slowly began to be eliminated through professionalization and better oversight and management. There were also improvements in the security infrastructure and salaries and reforms to the promotions regime, ensuring that merit and ability were restored as key criteria for career advancement. Those reforms also helped to secure peace and stability and to ensure that the nation would not have another crisis.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472 (2011) · source
“During his visit to Timor-Leste, the Secretary- General visited tent camps in Dili, our capital. Around 150,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) lived in tents in East Timor at that time. This is a problem that, ll-21268 in many places, takes decades to solve. In East Timor, we did our best, with the help of the international community and the representatives of the IDPs themselves, and by discussing ways to find solutions we were able to solve the problem in two years. We therefore thank the Secretary-General and all the countries and experts that helped us in that process. At the time of the crisis, we enjoyed the support of many countries, 36 of which contributed to the United Nations police mission, reflecting a wide variety of policies and philosophies.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472 (2011) · source
“The identification of specific national priorities in a sequenced manner has allowed us to identify and then resolve specific issues. From establishing stability to ensuring food security, these issues have required immediate, coordinated and strategic solutions while not distracting us from the larger task of reform. Emerging from crisis in 2006, our immediate challenge was to establish security and stability so that out people could begin to rebuild. At that crucial moment, Timor-Leste was faced with a defining decision. To whose voice, amidst the offers of international support, should we listen for direction? At this time, I would like to thank the Secretary-General and the Security Council for responding to our request for assistance in a timely manner. The crisis of 2006 profoundly affected East Timor.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472 (2011) · source
“Much of this achievement has been underpinned by the strengthening of institutions. From the professionalization of the public service to reform of the security sector and the nation's taxation system; and from promoting transparency through the establishment of civil service and anti-corruption commissions to reforming public financial management, institutions have all helped in sustaining peace through the better delivery of public services. Very soon, data on Government expenditure will be available in real time to the people Via an on-line portal, thus ensuring greater transparency and making public spending more efficient. Timor-Leste's national priorities process embodies this national home-grown strategic response to the challenges of post-conflict State-building.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472 (2011) · source
“We all went through the global financial crisis, yet for three years running Timor-Leste has experienced an average of double-digit economic growth. This places us among the ranks of the top 10 fastest-growing economies in the world. Such growth has seen a 9 per cent decrease in poverty, reversing rising poverty levels that peaked at 50 per cent during the crisis. This decrease saw some 96,000 people lifted out of extreme poverty. The 2010 United Nations Human Development Index recently recorded a rise in rank of 14 places for Timor-Leste. Unemployment has plummeted, with 96 per cent of men aged between 30 and 49 years currently employed and two in five women now working year- round. In 2007, 85 per cent of all Timorese were employed in the agriculture sector; today, that figure stands at 67 per cent of men and 61 per cent of women.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472 (2011) · source
“I thank the Secretary-General for his very informative briefing. May I, on behalf of Timor-Leste, thank you, Sir, and your country for holding this important thematic debate and for your kind invitation to us to join the Council on this very important occasion. My colleague, Minister of Finance Emilia Pires, Chair of the Group of Seven Plus (g7+), could not be with us as she is with the Prime Minister at our nation's Parliament, discussing the 2011 budget. This year's budget is focused on developing our country's infrastructure and human capital. The budget process is a key enabling tool in support of our Nation's State-building agenda. Such is the level of public interest in this process that it is broadcast live on television and radio networks for 13 days to the entire country. Today, the situation in East Timor speaks for itself.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472 (2011) · source
“Today, Timor-Leste is an observer member of the Pacific Islands Forum, and there is a strong desire in our country that, in a few years from now, Timor-Leste will become a full member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. We have worked with Indonesia with courage and forward thinking on common issues of the past, such as human rights violations, through the Commission of Truth and Friendship. As a democratic country that is pro-human rights, we have promised ourselves and our people that we will not condone impunity or human rights violations in our own country. Finally, we concur with the assessment made in the report that there is a consensus in Timor-Leste that UNMIT should remain in Timor-Leste up to 2012. We thank all present for their support.”
2010-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6276 (2010) · source
“The stability and peaceful political environment in Timor-Leste are the result of the collective effort of Timor-Leste, the United Nations and the international community. Many citizens of Member countries have served in Timor-Leste. Today, there are still many civilian and police officers from within the United Nations system. There are others from neighbouring countries, such as New Zealanders and Australians, who have contributed to peace, came to Timor-Leste at the invitation of our country and continue to serve in the International Stabilisation Force. We hope that, by 2012, they will return to their families after a successful mission. Relations with the countries in our region are excellent.”
2010-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6276 (2010) · source
“Many achievements have been made, but many challenges remain on the road ahead. Justice and reconciliation are part of our system of values. We are strongly against impunity, and we believe in the rule of law and human rights. The Government welcomes the support of UNMIT and the international community in general for the justice sector. Yesterday, the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission was sworn in at our National Parliament. The ceremony represented a milestone in the fight against corruption and nepotism. Mr. Aderito de Jesus has all the professional and personal qualities to be chosen by an absolute majority of the members of Parliament to lead that crucial struggle. He will have all the support that he needs from the Government. The people of Timor-Leste expect a lot of him, and I wish him great success.”
2010-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6276 (2010) · source
“A land law, that will also protect the property of women, is under discussion. The National Commission for the Rights of the Child has now been fully implemented. It will have a positive impact as an oversight and consultative body to the Government in matters related to the protection and dissemination of the rights of children. A traditional or customary justice law is currently been drafted. It will regulate cases that can be solved by customary justice and also protect human rights, especially those of women and children. The Government has done everything possible to create better conditions for the justice sector. This year, a new training course for future judges, prosecutors and public defenders will begin with the help of Portugal. The justice sector is in its infancy.”
2010-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6276 (2010) · source
“The recommendations of the independent comprehensive needs assessment were incorporated into the Strategic Plan. Major areas include institutional development, infrastructure and information technology reform, legal framework, human resources development, access to justice, and important measures to strength the rule of law such as the implementation of the Audit Court, improvement of the capacity for criminal investigation, creation of the forensic services, and implementation of a case management system in all core justice institutions. On 19 February, a bilingual version of the Penal Code was published in Portuguese and Tetum. Domestic violence became a public crime. A draft law on the protection of women and children subjected to domestic violence was submitted to the National Parliament and is now under consideration.”
2010-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6276 (2010) · source
“The Accra accords were based on the principles of 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. On 26 February, a global report will be launched in Washington, DC, where the Minister of Finance of Timor-Leste, Emilia Pires, will be one of the panellists. On 8 April, we will host in Dili the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and State-Building, to be co-chaired by the United Kingdom and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We hope that by sharing experiences and best practices among post-conflict countries, we may all be better prepared to navigate towards the future with more confidence. The Council of Coordination for the justice sector, composed of the courts, general prosecutors and the Ministry of Justice, met on 12 February and agreed on the Justice Sector Strategic Plan.”
2010-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6276 (2010) · source