YouSaid · the spoken record

Jagne

lines on the record: 307
first: 1998-06-06
most recent: 2003-03-18
sittings or episodes: 55
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“This unprecedented show of international support also constitutes a unique opportunity, which must be seized by the people of Sierra Leone, to restore their beautiful country to its former glory days as a great centre of learning, of trade and commerce, of culture - in short, as the vibrant nation that it once was. In order to achieve this, however, as called for in the draft resolution, the parties must fulfil their commitments under the Peace Agreement. In this connection, the process of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration should be accelerated. With the return to Freetown of the leaders of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, we hope that this exercise will indeed be accelerated.”
1999-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4054 (1999) · source
“And, to crown it all, United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright visited Sierra Leone a few days ago to demonstrate once again the unflinching support of the United States for the peace process. All these expressions of support will send the right signals to the Government and the entire people of Sierra Leone, that the rest of the international community is behind them in their effort to consolidate the peace and to rebuild their country. We all agree that it has been a long and arduous task to get to where we are today.”
1999-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4054 (1999) · source
“Prior to the conclusion of negotiations resulting in the draft resolution before us, most of us were totally dispirited about the whole question of peacekeeping operations in Africa. We were crestfallen, because of the fear that the concept of peacekeeping in Africa was no longer of interest to the Council. But, with the quality of the draft resolution, those fears have now been allayed. We have been reassured that interest in the continent's problems has not been lost. We are therefore most grateful to the delegation of the United Kingdom for its initiative and, indeed, for its constructive approach to the proposals made by various delegations with a View to improving the text. We cannot help signalling out Canada for insisting so much, and rightly so, on the protection of civilians.”
1999-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4054 (1999) · source
“We can say without fear of contradiction that, having heard from President Chiluba, speaking on behalf of Africa, the Council will not shy away this time around, but will give us a helping hand in the true spirit of international solidarity to dispel any notion of Afro-fatigue syndrome.”
1999-09-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4047 (1999) · source
“My delegation would like to express its profound gratitude to President Chiluba for his indefatigable efforts leading to the breakthrough in the quest for a lasting peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We all agree that there is hope for peace, but this does not mean that we should rest on our laurels. This is just the beginning of the end, and without the necessary resources from the rest of the international community to consolidate these initial achievements we cannot see how the process could be carried through. With the presence of President Chiluba today and his message of hope to the Security Council, we are confident that the much needed cooperation between the Security Council and Africa will now be placed on a firmer footing.”
1999-09-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4047 (1999) · source
“That is why we believe that greater attention should be given to conflict prevention by addressing, first and foremost, the root causes of conflict in an integrated and comprehensive manner. Otherwise we fear very much that the vicious circle of the recurrence of conflicts will continue for a very long time and that in the process innocent civilians will continue correspondingly to pay a heavy price. The Secretary-General has done his part, for which we are grateful. The recommendations contained in his report require extensive and careful consideration. He has identified important mechanisms and measures which can help us in our efforts. The ball is now in our court. Since this is what the draft resolution under consideration attempts to do, my delegation will vote in its favour.”
1999-09-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4046 (1999) · source
“The international community must ensure that perpetrators of war crimes and violators of international humanitarian and human rights law are held accountable. In this connection, we reiterate our support for the establishment of international ad hoc tribunals, as and when necessary, to prosecute war criminals. In this context, we commend the excellent job being done by both the Rwanda and former Yugoslavia Tribunals. These two institutions constitute beacons of hope in the crusade against the culture of impunity. There is no doubt that there is adequate legal protection for civilians in armed conflict. Attention should therefore be directed to physical protection. The Security Council should therefore devote its energies in this direction. In an earlier statement, we made reference to the old saying that prevention is better than cure.”
1999-09-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4046 (1999) · source
“Life would be much easier for Member States if only they would make the best use of the technical services offered by the United Nations and, indeed, other relevant organizations. There is no need to attempt to belabour all the points raised in the Secretary-General's report on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. He has covered them very well, including the attendant problems, and has made recommendations. We agree with him that it would be important to establish an agreed mechanism and timetable for follow-up and review. That is the way forward. Having said that, my delegation is of the View that, while efforts are being made to improve the protection of civilians in armed conflict, the issue of impunity should be given added importance.”
1999-09-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4046 (1999) · source
“In a nutshell, they are the victims of all sorts of atrocities, ranging from rape to mutilation and massacre. Notwithstanding the plethora of international legal instruments designed to protect civilians in situations of armed conflict, it would appear that civilians caught in such situations are more vulnerable today than ever before. Clearly, therefore, these important international legal instruments are more honoured in their breach than in their observance, thus the pressing need to urge Member States and non-State actors alike to redouble their efforts in order to reverse the trend. It goes without saying that the implementation of said instruments is the key to success in our efforts to improve the situation.”
1999-09-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4046 (1999) · source
“My delegation would like to pay tribute to you, Mr. President, for according such a high priority to the subject under consideration by the Security Council today. In recent times, the Council has devoted a considerable amount of time to the question of civilians in armed conflict and other related issues. My delegation is also grateful to the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report on the matter. Over the years, the number of civilians affected by conflicts has been increasing dramatically. The statistics available to us are really frightening. Furthermore, it is now well-known that civilians are increasingly becoming the deliberate targets of combatants, and children, women and other vulnerable groups bear the brunt of this growing insanity.”
1999-09-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4046 (1999) · source
“This is why my delegation attaches great importance to the "six plus two" process, and is therefore appealing to all the parties to return to the negotiating table without further delay. That is in the best interest not only of all the people of Afghanistan, but of all the other parties concerned also. A military solution should not even be contemplated even though the reality on the ground is something else. The greatest challenge facing the Security Council today is to persuade the parties to go back to the negotiating table and when we have succeeded in reasoning with them to do so, to persuade them to negotiate in good faith. That can be done, if only we stop sidelining, side-stepping or demonizing this faction or that faction. It does not help the process any meaningful way.”
1999-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4039Resumption1 (1999) · source
“My delegation sincerely believes that the "six plus two" process constitutes the most appropriate framework to deal with this crisis. Unless and until all the parties concerned are ready to get their acts together, the vicious cycle of violence will prevail and the entire region will remain in a quandary, trapped in the Afghan quagmire. In this situation of near-paralysis, the Security Council should demonstrate its ingenuity and chart a new course in its approach to the Afghan crisis. We certainly do not underestimate the complexity of the situation, but we are of the View that the underlying political problems must first be resolved. Once that is done, it will create the enabling environment to deal effectively with other issues such as human rights abuses, terrorism and illicit drugs, to mention only a few.”
1999-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4039Resumption1 (1999) · source
“Thank you once again, Mr. President, for scheduling this open meeting on the situation in Afghanistan. My delegation was among the first to support the idea when it was proposed by one of our colleagues. We did so with the conviction that by coming out into the open, by putting all the cards on the table, by allowing everybody to speak out, together, through concerted international effort, we should be in a position, provided that the political will exists, to find a lasting solution to the Afghan enigma. A solution to the Afghan imbroglio has continued to elude the international community for too long. This beleaguered country has had a checkered history. Unfortunately, there is no end in sight to the protracted conflict.”
1999-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4039Resumption1 (1999) · source
“Finally, I would be remiss in my duty if I concluded this statement without thanking the international humanitarian and human rights community who work so hard, most of the time putting their own lives at risk, to make a difference in the lives of children affected by armed conflict. We salute and support them in their work and encourage them to continue to render their much appreciated services for the benefit of less fortunate children, where ever they may be on this planet. In this way, life for many of these poor and innocent souls would, at long last, be worth living.”
1999-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4037 (1999) · source
“Their concerns and needs should therefore be included in any post-conflict rehabilitation process at an early stage. In this regard, the example of Sierra Leone is worthy of note. We note with satisfaction that the Security Council continues to treat this issue with all the seriousness that it deserves. There is a clear commitment in the Council to continue to take the necessary steps to promote the protection of civilians, particularly children, in situations of armed conflict and to cater for their needs in a post- conflict rehabilitation process. The draft resolution on children and armed conflict, that we hope will be adopted soon, constitutes an ample demonstration of this commitment.”
1999-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4037 (1999) · source
“We must also insist that places that usually have a significant presence of children be treated as battle-free zones. In the same vein, it is important to obtain humanitarian ceasefires or days of tranquillity for the purposes of delivering humanitarian aid or carrying out vaccination campaigns to inoculate children. The international community should, whenever appropriate, seek to obtain the commitment of belligerents to such causes. There are many more measures the international community may take to alleviate the plight of children caught up in armed conflict. The Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict is showing the way forward. In many post-conflict situations, the special needs of children affected by conflict are not addressed. Children are the future of any nation.”
1999-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4037 (1999) · source
“While not trying to find a justification for the violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, it is clear that in many conflict situations, many belligerents do not know the rules governing armed conflict. It is therefore important that the attention of warring parties be continuously drawn to international standards governing armed conflict and their obligations to observe them. As the French saying goes: Nul ne censer ignorer la loi. This is why we support the advocacy role being played by the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict and encourage him and others concerned to continue to play this most vital role. Prominent in this advocacy work is the concept of children as zones of peace.”
1999-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4037 (1999) · source
“As a first step, the international community should ensure that there is respect for international humanitarian and human rights law. The ratification of the Statute of the International Criminal Court and International Labour Organization Convention N o. 182 of 1999, concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour would constitute steps in the right direction. Grave violations of international humanitarian and human rights law often occur in communities which are cut off from the outside world. The presence of the international community in such places would be vital for the purpose of producing witnesses to such violations. It is therefore important that the international community gain access to places engulfed in armed conflict.”
1999-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4037 (1999) · source
“Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, those who are able to escape the horrors of conflict situations are either internally displaced or go elsewhere as refugees, or are separated from their families. The situation is sometimes further exacerbated by the exposure of children to landmines and small arms. Notwithstanding the many regimes of international humanitarian and human rights instruments, violence against civilians, in particular children, goes on with indescribable impunity. This signals a complete breakdown of value systems and an utter disregard for values governing the conduct of war. Concerted international effort is necessary to address seriously this deplorable state of affairs. We must not relent in our collective endeavour to stamp out the systematic targeting of children in situations of armed conflict.”
1999-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4037 (1999) · source
“We have been told that from the mid-1980's to the mid-1990's, 2 million children were killed, 1 million orphaned, 6 million seriously injured or permanently disabled, 2 million made homeless and 10 million left with serious psychological trauma. In many conflicts, the lofty values regarding the protection of children seem to be forgotten completely. Children have been deliberately or indiscriminately targeted. Many of them have been conscripted as soldiers, sometimes at gunpoint. Not even young girls are spared. The plight of young girls is particularly worrisome. In many instances, they have been subjected to rape and other sexual and physical violence. The use of children as instruments of war is now commonplace in many conflict situations.”
1999-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4037 (1999) · source
“My delegation is of the firm view that the Council should draw inspiration from these measures to formulate a programme of action. In this way, we are confident that the matter will be dealt with effectively and efficiently to produce the desired results. The first step in this direction is to keep the question of children and armed conflict on top of the agenda of the Security Council by including it in reports to the Council on peacemaking, peace-building and peacekeeping operations. It is distressful to learn that in most recent conflicts, civilians, in particular children, have suffered greatly and that 90 per cent of the casualties of today's conflicts are civilians, of which the vast majority are women and children. The magnitude of the problem is overwhelming.”
1999-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4037 (1999) · source
“Mr. President, we are honoured and pleased to have you with us today. I would like to thank you, on behalf of my delegation, for organizing this open meeting on a subject to which we all attach a great deal of importance. Many thanks also to Mr. Olara Otunnu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, for his thought-provoking briefing. We also commend him for the energy and enthusiasm that he has continued to demonstrate in his advocacy to raise international public awareness of a problem that deserves the undivided attention of all of us. Now that we know what the problems are, the next step is to move from the realm of rhetoric to the domain of deeds. The Special Representative has outlined a series of selected measures geared towards the alleviation of the suffering of children.”
1999-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4037 (1999) · source
“We encourage all those who can do so to continue to provide assistance to ECOMOG so that it can pursue the noble tasks of restoring peace to Sierra Leone, and restoring to Sierra Leone its past glory as a centre for learning and the training and development of great minds, erasing the gruesome image of a killing field.”
1999-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4035 (1999) · source
“We know that the level of deployment of UNOMSIL needs to be further strengthened, and we therefore look forward to the Secretary-General's proposals for a concept of operations. Work on this should be expedited, as time is of the essence. ECOMOG, too, needs to be beefed up. Arrangements for the sharing of responsibilities between the United Nations and ECOWAS need to be expedited. It is imperative that we put on the ground a credible and neutral force as soon as possible to carry out urgent tasks and prevent a relapse into fighting. It must be pointed out from the outset that ECOMOG has material and logistics problems. We thank all those States, in particular the United Kingdom and the United States of America, for their vital support. Much more is still needed.”
1999-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4035 (1999) · source
“Although some few hundred of them have been released, which we welcome, we urge it to release all the remaining abductees in its custody. The challenges with which Sierra Leone is confronted are enormous and diverse. A comprehensive political strategy and assistance programme is required. We therefore agree with the Secretary-General that a strategic framework for Sierra Leone will be necessary. In this context, we welcome the establishment of the steering group headed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. The assistance that the United Nations can provide to Sierra Leone is crucial for the consolidation of peace in that country. For this reason, we support the draft resolution before us.”
1999-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4035 (1999) · source
“With the opening of roads that were hitherto closed and general improvements in the level of access to those in need, the number of people needing immediate and urgent assistance has increased significantly. We thank all those States and organizations that have been providing assistance. However, a lot more remains to be done. We therefore appeal for more assistance. The victims of the war, in particular those who have suffered maiming and mutilation, require special assistance. The special needs of children and women should also be given top priority. We welcome the leading role being played by the United Nations Children's Fund in this regard in cooperation with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. We understand that over 2,000 children were abducted by the RUF.”
1999-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4035 (1999) · source
“While we are considering enhancing the strength of the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL), very important and challenging tasks lie ahead. The disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants is crucial to the peace process. We understand that some 4,000 rebels are assembled in Makeni, waiting to be disarrned. We should act swiftly to ensure that the disarmament centres are opened quickly and that disarmament work commences. Durable peace would be unattainable if there were no successful disarmament of the ex-combatants. In a region awash with small arms, the need to act swiftly cannot be overemphasized. Let me now turn to the humanitarian situation. The humanitarian situation in Sierra Leone is a real catastrophe.”
1999-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4035 (1999) · source
“We also share the disclaimer entered by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on this issue. Let us be very clear about one thing: the people of Sierra Leone have played their part. The rest of the international community should also play its part by pursuing and bringing to justice those accused of war crimes. In this context, we welcome the establishment of the national forum for human rights and the adoption of the Human Rights Manifesto, which contains commitments for immediate and sustained promotion and protection of human rights. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission to be established pursuant to the Agreement could go a long way towards creating the environment for reconciliation. We hope that that Commission will be established as soon as possible.”
1999-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4035 (1999) · source
“We must build on these positive developments. We should not let this opportunity slip away. This is why it is extremely important for the leader of the RUF to return to Freetown, as agreed in Lome. There is no room for tergiversation. My delegation welcomes the commitment demonstrated by the Government of Sierra Leone in its efforts to implement the Lorne Peace Agreement. In the minds of most Sierra Leoneans, peace is paramount. But what is peace without justice? This is why, in our view, every effort should be made to address violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. There is the need for a delicate balance under the circumstances. Like most delegations, we are concerned about the blanket amnesty granted to the RUF. While this may not foster justice, we understand the circumstances under which it was granted.”
1999-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4035 (1999) · source
“Peace in that country is long overdue. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) also deserves special commendation. We therefore thank all the countries that contribute troops to ECOMOG for their steadfast commitment to restoring relative safety and security to Sierra Leone by putting to an end the carnage that we all witnessed for so long. The ceasefire agreement is holding, but the security situation is extremely fragile. Everything should be done to make sure that it holds permanently. The international community must therefore continue to show its solidarity with the Government and the people of Sierra Leone in these trying moments. It cannot be gainsaid, however, that the people of Sierra Leone bear the ultimate responsibility for ensuring peace in their war-ravaged country.”
1999-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4035 (1999) · source
“Mr. President, when I came to see you for the bilaterals, I told you one thing. I said, "Please keep the flag flying." You have been doing so admirably well. Thank you for doing so, and I hope you will continue to keep the flag flying for the rest of your mandate. My delegation would first of all like to congratulate the Government and the people of Sierra Leone as a whole on their relentless efforts to achieve peace. The signing of the Lorne Peace Agreement by the Government of Sierra Leone and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) represents an important milestone in our collective quest for peace in Sierra Leone. This event provides the Sierra Leonean people a unique opportunity to turn a new page in their history, to a chapter of peace after nine years of senseless war. The people of Sierra Leone have undergone untold suffering.”
1999-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4035 (1999) · source
“9) It is our fervent hope also that other members of the international community, in particular Council members, will emulate the good example of the delegation of the United Kingdom and donate generously towards the work of these panels.”
1999-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4027 (1999) · source
“But in the final analysis, Ambassador Fowler's statement before the seventieth ordinary session of the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity says it all: "African States are by no means alone in bearing responsibility for respecting and enforcing the sanctions against UNITA. Supply and demand must both be addressed Africans are not buying UNITA's diamonds, and Africans are not producing tanks and armoured personnel carriers and vast quantities of heavy ammunition for Mr. Savimbi' s use, but it is African States that will in large part determine, through their actions, whether the Security Council sanctions against UNITA succeed or fail. And it is clearly African States that would bear the brunt of failure." (S/1999/829, appendix 1, p.”
1999-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4027 (1999) · source
“We salute his dynamism, sincerity, resolve, courage and effective leadership in rekindling interest in the Angolan civil war and in exploring ways and means of making the sanctions more effective in order to yield the desired results. The people of Angola have suffered for too long, and the time has now come to renew our collective commitment to putting an end to this protracted conflict. As Ambassador Fowler has said, this is an area where the Council speaks with one voice. Since we see eye to eye on this question, it is our view that with renewed resolve we can undoubtedly succeed in extinguishing one of the fiercest hot spots on the African continent. We also look forward to the establishment of the expert panels.”
1999-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4027 (1999) · source
“Let me begin, Mr. President, by commending you for organizing this open briefing, which is a step in the right direction in our common endeavour to bring greater transparency to the work of the Security Council. My delegation would like to join previous speakers in expressing our sincere gratitude to Ambassador Fowler and the entire Canadian delegation for giving a new lease of life to the "Angolan sanctions" Committee - a misnomer, as Ambassador Fowler has said. As Chairman of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 864 (1993) concerning the situation in Angola, Ambassador Fowler's practical approach to the issue of sanctions has given a new sense of direction and purpose to that Committee.”
1999-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4027 (1999) · source
“Suffering is the same everywhere, and therefore people should be treated equally, irrespective of where they are located, be it in Africa, Asia, Latin America or Europe. All the same, we are thankful for the amount of assistance provided to Africa. But it is inadequate compared to what others elsewhere are receiving. We need the continued support and understanding of the rest of the international community in the spirit of true partnership and solidarity, especially at this time when African leaders have demonstrated renewed commitment to resolving the problems bedeviling the continent, not by recourse to the barrel of a gun but through negotiations.”
1999-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4025 (1999) · source
“Each time we discuss Africa, the Secretary-General's report on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa (S/1998/318) comes to mind. Very often, though, we pay less attention to that other aspect of the report: sustainable development. We cannot agree more with Mrs. Ogata that there is a close link among poverty, conflict and forced displacement. Unless and until the question of the eradication of poverty is properly addressed, there will always be conflicts and consequently forced displacements. The evil must be attacked at its roots. Poverty constitutes one of the main root causes, if not the main root cause of all these problems that we are facing today in Africa. We can only hope that the same attention being given to other parts of the world will be given to Africa as well.”
1999-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4025 (1999) · source
“Again, our leaders have done their best; it now remains for the rest of the international community to make a major effort to help consolidate what has been achieved so far. In providing assistance to refugees, let us also not forget the host countries that share their meagre resources, sometimes to such an extent that they create other problems for themselves at home. My own country, the Gambia, has for a long time been hosting refugees from all over our subregion. Although we do not make a lot of noise about it, we do need assistance to cater to all our brethren from neighbouring countries. Many have been integrated into Gambian society, but that does not mean that our problems are over.”
1999-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4025 (1999) · source
“Nobody should be left in doubt now that African leaders are doing everything in their power to find peaceful solutions to the various conflicts plaguing the continent. We must also recognize that these efforts cannot be sustained unless we have the support of our partners in development. We are, therefore, duty-bound to echo Mrs. Ogata's appeal for assistance to the various peace processes in Africa. In Central Africa, the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the main focus of attention. Peace is within reach, and therefore we should not relent in our endeavour to obtain a ceasefire agreement signed by all the parties to the conflict. It would have a positive impact throughout the region. Similarly, in West Africa the Lorne agreement raises our hopes for a lasting peace in war-torn Sierra Leone.”
1999-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4025 (1999) · source
“With the recent political developments, there appears to be a ray of hope, as embodied in the Lorne and Lusaka peace agreements. In both cases, we all agree that the peace is fragile. This is why it is absolutely necessary to heed the appeal made by Mrs. Ogata this morning for the necessary resources to be provided to shore up those agreements. The consolidation of the peace process cannot be done in a vacuum. Post-conflict peace-building requires resources, yet at times assistance is hard to come by. Fresh from Algiers, where she attended the Organization of African Unity summit, Mrs. Ogata has eloquently interpreted the new spirit that prevailed in Algiers, as amply demonstrated by African leaders in their renewed commitment to try to resolve conflicts peacefully.”
1999-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4025 (1999) · source
“Our meeting today is taking place when the continent of Africa and the Arab world are mourning the sad and irretrievable loss of an illustrious son, a statesman of exceptional stature, a great and generous leader, a freedom fighter and a peacemaker: King Hassan II of Morocco. We offer our heartfelt condolences to the Government and the people of Morocco. May his soul rest in perfect peace. My delegation would like to express its gratitude to you, Sir, for organizing this open briefing, the importance of which cannot be overemphasized. We are also honoured to have Mrs. Ogata with us again, and we thank her for her informative and very useful briefing. Listening to Mrs. Ogata we understand better the magnitude of the problem, particularly in West and Central Africa.”
1999-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4025 (1999) · source
“Like other delegations, we feel that the Security Council should continue its engagement in the discussion of the important issues of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants in a peacekeeping environment. We therefore support the idea of the Secretary-General submitting a report to the Council on his observations and recommendations on principles and guidelines on the subject and lessons learned to facilitate further the consideration of this matter.”
1999-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4020 (1999) · source
“We therefore reiterate our support for the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and encourage him to continue to advocate for the special needs of former child soldiers. Before I conclude, I would like to touch on the related issue of the massive flow of small arms in many conflict situations, particularly in Africa. It is estimated that over 500,000 small arms are in circulation in the continent. The availability of such arms fuels existing conflicts and sparks new ones. The adoption of a moratorium on the import and export of such arms to regions in conflict is becoming a compelling necessity. Other mechanisms to deal with this situation should also be explored.”
1999-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4020 (1999) · source
“Failure to do so properly often leads to a rise in banditry and other violent crimes. In countries where there are serious economic hardships, programmes to assist ex-combatants to adapt successfully into productive civilian life is fundamental. Without such programmes, a fragile peace could be easily derailed. We recognize that a reintegration programme for ex-combatants is a long-term socio-economic goal. Peacekeeping plans should take this fact into consideration and make provision for the continuation of the process even after the conclusion of a peacekeeping operation. In this connection, it is equally important to bear in mind the special needs of vulnerable groups in society such as women, the elderly and, in particular, children. They should be given special attention.”
1999-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4020 (1999) · source
“It is, however, often regarded as the responsibility of humanitarian and development agencies. As such, funds are not usually available for this purpose under a peacekeeping mandate. Our delegation is of the view that, while there is merit in the sharing of responsibilities, adequate funding arrangements should be made to avoid citing the lack of funds as the reason for the premature termination of such an important process with all its attendant negative consequences. The next stage in the sequence is reintegration, which also suffers the same fate. With the exception of the perpetrators of war crimes, who should be pursued and brought to justice, it is an open secret that the integration of ex-combatants into society is not only desirable but also necessary.”
1999-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4020 (1999) · source
“A scheme of incentives would, however, require the financial support of the international community. Demobilization of ex-combatants is also an important aspect in the quest for a lasting settlement of a conflict. As clearly indicated by the Deputy Secretary-General in her statement this morning, this process includes the registration, medical examination of combatants, and the provision of their immediate basic needs, such as transportation to their communities, or even their absorption into a unified force. In this connection, the situation in Sierra Leone could very well constitute a real test case, as flagged by the United Kingdom delegation, especially as regards child soldiers. We agree that demobilization is a necessary complement of disarmament. It is the next stage in the sequence of events.”
1999-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4020 (1999) · source
“There are instances where combatants tend to hold on to their weapons as trophies symbolizing their participation in what they may View as a noble cause. In other instances, because of security concerns or other hidden motives, the incentives for surrendering weapons are very small. Acts of banditry are common examples. The international community must, however, find ways to ensure that in peacekeeping or peace-building operations, combatants are effectively disarmed to avoid a recurrence of the conflict. This objective could be achieved by first, incorporating clear terms for disarmament in peace agreements and giving a clear and comprehensive mandate to the peacekeeping or peace-building operation; and second, by devising an appropriate and workable scheme of incentives to induce voluntary handover of weapons.”
1999-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4020 (1999) · source
“Besides, these efforts can be extremely time-consuming. Therefore, in the search for a durable peace in any conflict situation, one fundamental objective is to avoid a recurrence of the conflict. This is why the issues of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants are so crucial. There are instances where fighting continues notwithstanding the presence of a United Nations peacekeeping or peace-building mission on the ground. In order to avoid such situations, it is important that the warring parties are disarmed at the outset. This, however, depends to a large measure, on the one hand, on the political will of the parties to end the conflict, and on their commitment to surrender their weapons, on the other hand.”
1999-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4020 (1999) · source
“My delegation extends to you, Sir, a very warm welcome to New York and thanks you for organizing this open debate on such an important issue. We are honoured to see you presiding over this meeting of the Security Council, Mr. Minister. In the discharge of its mandate for the maintenance of international peace and security, the Security Council is nowadays faced with very complex conflict situations. These conflicts are mostly within the borders of one State, but have international implications. Some of them involve large numbers of factions, militias and armed groups over which Governments often have little or no control. The massive flow of small arms also adds to the complexity of the conflicts, which in turn require a great deal of investment in terms of resources in the search for a lasting solution.”
1999-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4020 (1999) · source
“It stresses the importance of allowing complete freedom of movement for UNAMET within East Timor in order to carry out its tasks. "The Security Council urges the Indonesian Government and the pro-integration and pro- independence groups to continue to enhance cooperation with UNAMET, to allow the popular consultation to go ahead in a timely manner. "The Security Council will remained seized of the matter." This statement will be issued as document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/ 1999/20. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The meeting rose at 3.55 p.m.”
1999-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4019 (1999) · source