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

“Yel 'chenko (Ukraine) took the seats reserved for them at the side of the Council Chamber. The President: I have received a request dated 9 June 1999 from Mr. Vladislav Jovanovie to be allowed to address the Council in the course of its discussion of the item on its agenda. With the consent of the Council, I would propose to invite him to sit at the Council table and to make a statement. There being no objection, it is so decided. At the invitation of the President, Mr. Jovanovic' took a seat at the Council table. The President: The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations.”
1999-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4011 (1999) · source
“In accordance with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite those representatives to participate in the discussion without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided. At the invitation of the President, Mr. Nesho (Albania), Mr. Sychov (Belarus), Mr. Sotirov (Bulgaria), Mr. Niehaus (Costa Rica), Ms. Grcic Polic (Croatia), Mr. Rodriguez Parrilla (Cuba), Mr. Kastrup (Germany), Mr. Erdos (Hungary), Mr. Nejad Hosseinian (Islamic Republic of Iran), Mr. Fulci (Italy), Mr. Satoh (Japan), Mr. Tello (Mexico), Mr. Kolby (Norway), Mr. Calovski (the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) and Mr.”
1999-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4011 (1999) · source
“of the Permanent Mission of Yugoslavia to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General (S/1999/646) Letter dated 7 June 1999 from the Permanent Representative of Germany the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/1999/649) Letter dated 10 June 1999 from the Secretary- General addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/1999/663) The President: I should like to inform the Council that I have received letters from the representatives of Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Germany, Hungary, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Ukraine, in which they request to be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the Council's agenda.”
1999-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4011 (1999) · source
“Security Council resolutions 1160 (1998), 1199 (1998), 1203 (1998) and 1239 (1999) Letter dated 6 May 1999 from the Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/1999/516) Letter dated 5 June 1999 from the Charge d'affaires a.i.”
1999-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4011 (1999) · source
“As this is the first meeting of the Security Council for the month of June, I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute, on behalf of the Council, to His Excellency Mr. Denis Dangue Rewaka, Permanent Representative of Gabon to the United Nations, for his service as President of the Security Council for the month of May 1999. I am sure I speak for all members of the Security Council in expressing deep appreciation to Ambassador Rewaka for the great diplomatic skill with which he conducted the Council's business last month. Adoption of the agenda The agenda was adopted.”
1999-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4011 (1999) · source
“First, my own country, the Gambia, has been hosting refugees from our subregion for some time now and, secondly, the causes that lead people to seek refuge elsewhere may be different, but the effect is always the same, that is, human suffering, which is the subject of our discussion today. That is why my delegation joined in sponsoring the draft resolution before us and why we shall vote in its favour.”
1999-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4003 (1999) · source
“It is gratifying to note that there is international ownership of the Kosovo humanitarian crisis. But, as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees pointed out the other day, the Security Council should not overlook the humanitarian situation in other parts of the world, notably in Africa, where we have the highest refugee population in the world. We certainly appreciate all the efforts being made to alleviate the suffering of refugees in Africa and elsewhere, but the fact remains that we still need more help. In this regard, another manifestation of the international ownership of refugee crises would be most welcome. We are raising this issue for two main reasons.”
1999-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4003 (1999) · source
“We also commend other members of the United Nations family, such as the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Health Organization and the World Food Programme to mention but a few, which are helping to reach out to the needy, sometimes under difficult and dangerous conditions. We also recognize the important contribution of a number of non-governmental organizations in the face of all the risks to which they are exposed. The safety and security of all humanitarian personnel is of major concern to us, and we hope that this concern will always be borne in mind by all wherever they are rendering their selfless services. In this connection, it is necessary to facilitate access for them and to provide assistance to them in carrying out their humanitarian operations.”
1999-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4003 (1999) · source
“This is why my delegation believes that the principles outlined by the Group of Eight leaders constitute a credible basis for a lasting solution to the Kosovo crisis. We urge all concerned to work towards that aim, as reflected in the draft resolution before the Council. It is our sincere hope that all the refugees will return home to the land of their birth in safety and dignity. But this will remain an dream so long as there is no settlement within the framework of the Group of Eight principles. Those principles offer the best guarantees for creating conditions most conducive to a decent life free from fear and persecution. At this juncture, my delegation would like to commend the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for the wonderful job that it is doing to provide humanitarian assistance to all those in need.”
1999-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4003 (1999) · source
“The tragic humanitarian situation in and around Kosovo, which has been at the top of the international agenda for some time now, continues to unfold. Meanwhile, the policies and practices of ethnic cleansing and deportation also continue unabated. Worse still, there appears to be no end in sight to such practices, which one would think would have been consigned a long time ago to the cesspool of history. It must be recognized, however, that, the urgent need to respond to the humanitarian crisis notwithstanding, the underlying political problems should also be given all the attention that they deserve, because the longer we postpone the search for a durable solution, the longer the suffering of the refugees will continue. There is absolutely no doubt about that.”
1999-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4003 (1999) · source
“Of course, regional arrangements have responsibility for the maintenance of peace and security in their areas. The Security Council, however, has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, as clearly stated in the Charter of the United Nations. It must be noted, though, that at times the exigencies of a situation demand, and warrant, decisive and immediate action. We find that the present situation in Kosovo deserves such a treatment. The action started today by the international community could have been avoided, for the action could still be prevented. We therefore call on those with whom the responsibility lies to take the necessary action to prevent a continuation of this action before it is too late.”
1999-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3988 (1999) · source
“The international community time and again called on the authorities in Belgrade to respect human rights and to cooperate with the international community with a view to settling peacefully the question of greater autonomy for Kosovo, but to no avail. As far as my delegation is concerned, we cannot remain indifferent to the plight of the murdered people of Kosovo. In recent times, the actions of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Government in Kosovo have caused an untold amount of suffering among the Kosovar Albanians and have generated thousands and thousands of refugees and displaced persons. It is the responsibility of any Government to protect its citizens. We speak with great regret of the fact that the international community had to take the action it took today.”
1999-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3988 (1999) · source
“The situation in Kosovo, in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, is a cause of great concern to my delegation. Like all peace-loving nations, we in the Gambia are very much attached to the sacrosanct principle of the peaceful settlement of disputes, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. Throughout the past year, the international community has deployed a great deal of effort in order to find a peaceful settlement to the question concerning Kosovo. Unfortunately, however, many opportunities to resolve the crisis were missed, for reasons well known to all of us, including the latest talks in Paris. Meanwhile, the onslaught against the ethnic Albanian community in Kosovo continued unabated.”
1999-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3988 (1999) · source
“It is our fervent hope that today's meeting will serve as a catalyst to reactivate that process. The belligerents should not miss this golden opportunity to transform the troops' present standstill into a formal ceasefire. This, in turn, would pave the way for the United Nations to step in and play a more active role by deploying a peacekeeping force. It is the long-awaited rendezvous with history that we have been calling for, but for this to happen the parties to the conflict must first and foremost agree on a ceasefire, without which there is very little that the rest of the international community can do to help them. They must understand that the security of their countries is inextricably linked, and therefore it is in their interest to work together for the collective security of all of them.”
1999-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3987 (1999) · source
“It is our firm belief that through the Lusaka process, the collective security of all the countries in the region could be adequately addressed. It is the fervent wish of the Government and the people of the Gambia that the parties hear the voice of reason and cease hostilities immediately, accept a ceasefire framework, as already agreed to in principle as part of the Lusaka process, and enter into negotiations on implementation and monitoring arrangements. The proximity talks commenced with the rebels is a step in the right direction and should therefore be pursued. We believe that in this difficult and complex conflict, negotiation is the way forward. A military solution is certainly not the best option. The parties to the conflict should therefore take the Lusaka process seriously.”
1999-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3987 (1999) · source
“Barely emerging from that unfortunate state of affairs, coupled with the vicissitudes of a country in transition, the Democratic Republic of the Congo was suddenly plunged into a series of internal and external problems. This war has so far produced no benefit for any of the parties. At best, the net result is massive displacements of civilian populations, an untold amount of suffering and loss of life, food shortages, the spread of diseases and economic misfortunes. Since the problem has regional implications, my delegation has always expressed support for the regional diplomatic initiatives geared towards the peaceful resolution of the conflict. In this connection, my delegation would again like to commend the efforts of the Southern African Development Community, which mandates President Chiluba to undertake these efforts.”
1999-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3987 (1999) · source
“We also urge them to allow access of humanitarian assistance to those in need, and to ensure the safety of all humanitarian personnel. It is against this background that we are meeting today to see what we can do, through a concerted international effort, to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and, by extension, in the Great Lakes region. It appears that history is about to repeat itself, but it should be our common resolve to make sure that the mistakes of the past are not committed again. It will be recalled that the process of the Congo's decolonization was like a painful childbirth, followed by callous cold-war calculations; and what ensued is an open secret. A whole generation was thus wasted!”
1999-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3987 (1999) · source
“Quite apart from the real threat that a combination of factors poses to the country's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence, the entire Great Lakes region itself has virtually been transformed into a powder- keg. In the process, there have been serious allegations of massacres and other forms of gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. Consequently, the security situation remains precarious; and, as it continues to deteriorate, the number of refugees and internally displaced persons also increases. Let us seize this opportunity to remind the parties of their obligations to respect and protect human rights and also to respect international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977.”
1999-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3987 (1999) · source
“Let me begin by thanking you, Mr. President, for organizing this open debate on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with a view to finding a way forward in that seemingly intractable conflict. Let us hope that at the end of the day the voice of reason will prevail over the logic of war. We also acknowledge the presence of the Secretary-General amongst us this morning, and we thank him for coming. In the same vein, we salute the presence of the Minister for Human Rights of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The tragic situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been a cause for serious concern to my Government.”
1999-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3987 (1999) · source
“In this regard, my delegation supports the extension of the mandate of UNOMSIL and will therefore vote in favour of the draft resolution.”
1999-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3986 (1999) · source
“With the dual-track approach still a viable option, renewed diplomatic initiatives on the basis of the Abidjan peace accords could very well bear fruit. In fact, the proposed special ECOWAS Summit would create another opportunity to bring everybody on board, putting the emphasis again on wider regional involvement in the quest for a lasting peace in Sierra Leone. As the situation in Sierra Leone still merits international attention, my delegation welcomes the decision of the Secretary-General to re-establish UNOMSIL in Freetown as soon as possible. We support an increase in the current number of military observers and human rights personnel. We strongly believe that the continued presence of the United Nations on the ground is necessary.”
1999-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3986 (1999) · source
“While we welcome the recent reinforcements from Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea and Mali, we still believe that the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) needs to be further strengthened in terms of logistics and material support. My delegation is therefore grateful to the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Canada, the Netherlands and Argentina for their continued support. We appeal to others to emulate these generous gestures, which constitute an ample demonstration of support for, and solidarity with, the people of Sierra Leone. This is all the more necessary in view of the fact that President Kabbah's Government has, despite all the odds, revived its programme of demobilization, disarmament and reintegration.”
1999-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3986 (1999) · source
“In this context, we welcome the plan being finalized by the international humanitarian community and the Government of Sierra Leone. We equally urge the rebels to respect human rights and international humanitarian law and to ensure unhindered access of humanitarian assistance to the needy. However, according to the Secretary General's Special Representative, Mr. Okelo, there have since been some significant improvements in the military and security situation. This relative calm could not have prevailed without the enormous sacrifices made by the forces of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It is also true that without the timely assistance of friendly Governments, the marked improvements in the security situation would not have been possible.”
1999-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3986 (1999) · source
“The latest round of violence unleashed by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC)/Revolutionary United Front (RUF) is unique in both the scale and the grotesque nature of the attacks on civilians. The Secretary General's report speaks for itself. With no recognizable political agenda, the rebels have been waging a war of terror against the innocent civilians for almost eight years now, and there is no end in sight to the wanton destruction of life and property perpetrated by the rebels. Not even babies are spared. The perpetrators of these persistent patterns of gross violations of human rights should be pursued and brought to justice. The humanitarian situation is also a cause for grave concern, in particular the problem of access to those in need.”
1999-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3986 (1999) · source
“Please allow me, Mr. President, to also seize the opportunity at this first formal meeting of the Council following the untimely demise of the Amir of the State of Bahrain, His Highness Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa, to express my delegation's heartfelt condolences to the delegation of Bahrain, to our friend and colleague Ambassador Buallay and through him to the bereaved ruling family, the Government and the people of the friendly State of Bahrain. The irretrievable loss of such a great and wise leader will be felt not only in Bahrain and the Arab world, but also in all peace-loving countries throughout the world. My delegation is saddened by the situation in Sierra Leone.”
1999-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3986 (1999) · source
“Considering the fact that the overall situation is still volatile, exacerbated by the conflict in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo, and in the light of all the issues raised by the Secretary-General in his report, my delegation is of the strong view that it would be premature to wind up the mandate of MINURCA. Consequently, we agree with the recommendation of the Secretary-General to extend the mandate of MINURCA until 15 November 1999, mindful of the fact that such an extension is tied to a number of conditions and conditionalities. In any case, at this crucial stage when the country is engaged in a process of painful reforms, the least that the Council should do is to support that process.”
1999-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3984 (1999) · source
“It is needless to refer to the letter of the President of the Bank to this effect. MINURCA's role and those of the other international institutions are mutually reinforcing. Furthermore, it goes without saying that without the presence of MINURCA, the progress made so far would not have been possible, and therefore we can state with guarded optimism that with the continued assistance of the rest of the international community, the problems of the Central African Republic could be resolved satisfactorily. In this connection, the continued cooperation of all the parties in the Central African Republic is absolutely necessary.”
1999-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3984 (1999) · source
“The United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic has been very instrumental in the search for peace in that country. It should also be recognized that the people of the Central African Republic made it possible for the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA) to be largely successful in the execution of its mandate. In fact, following his recent trip to Bangui, Assistant Secretary-General Annabi informed the Council that all his interlocutors, including President Patasse, unanimously agreed to keep MINURCA. The President's letter to the Secretary-General recommitting himself to the reforms is a clear testimony to this commitment. Let us also remember that those reforms are not only political but also economic and financial. Vital international institutions such as the World Bank are also involved.”
1999-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3984 (1999) · source
“We hope that the Security Council in dealing with conflict situations in the future will bear in mind the problems of lack of respect for international humanitarian law and human rights law in making its decisions. We therefore agree with Mr. Sommaruga's idea of launching an appeal for the strengthening of international humanitarian law on 12 August this year. We hope that on that auspicious occasion, the international community will also do something for internally displaced persons by adopting an appropriate framework.”
1999-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3977 (1999) · source
“The international community has done a lot in recent times to bring to an end the related problem of impunity. The establishment by the Security Council of the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia and the recent adoption of the Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) are classic examples. The coming into force of the Statute of the ICC would indeed be a fitting tribute on the fiftieth anniversary of the Geneva Conventions. Finally, what can the Security Council do to ensure protection of civilians in armed conflict? Chapter 7 of the Charter of the United Nations provides the Security Council with the unique power to deal with conflict situations. Effective use of its provisions, including, if possible, the use of enforcement actions, can be of great help.”
1999-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3977 (1999) · source
“The international community as a whole has an important responsibility in this regard. As we have earlier pointed out, poverty contributes immensely to the causes of conflict. The need to eradicate poverty and establish early warning systems to prevent conflict therefore needs no further emphasis. As we are all aware, the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols are applicable only to States parties. The problem we face in warfare today is that most conflicts involve groups that are not parties to the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols. How do we deal with the situation? The establishment of international norms to ensure individual responsibility for atrocities committed in times of war and to ensure respect for fundamental human rights is therefore crucial.”
1999-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3977 (1999) · source
“When designing sanctions, it is important to contemplate the effects those sanctions might have on children and on other vulnerable groups of society. It is unacceptable that as a result of poorly targeted sanctions, infant mortality rates in some countries have increased dramatically. One important feature in contemporary armed conflicts is the indiscriminate use of anti-personnel landmines. These, as we have learned, have accounted for an untold amount of death and destruction among civilian populations. For this reason, we welcome the coming into force of the Ottawa Convention on anti-personnel landmines. We hope that this Convention will yield the desired effects. As we think about protecting civilians in armed conflict, the most effective protection that comes to mind is the prevention of conflict itself.”
1999-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3977 (1999) · source
“Most atrocities against civilians in armed conflict are committed in places outside the reach of the international community, and the mere presence in the field of humanitarian workers, we have been told, just to witness events, is a major deterrent and could contribute greatly to the protection of civilians. This is why access to those in need is crucial in every humanitarian endeavour. Considering that the needy are often trapped in hostile conditions, exposed to all sorts of dangers and difficulties, it goes without saying that those who risk their lives in total self-abnegation to reach out to others must be protected and minimal guarantees established to create on enabling environment for them to carry out their humanitarian operations. The effects of sanctions on children is a cause of grave concern.”
1999-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3977 (1999) · source
“Ambassador Olara Otunnu started by saying that children deserve particular attention, and he went on to develop similar aspects of the problem raised by both Ms. Bellamy and Mr. Sommaruga. These eloquent speakers not only posed the problem, they also offered practical proposals for possible solutions. We are convinced that through concerted international effort, coupled with the necessary political will, we can surmount these difficulties. The problem of access by humanitarian actors to those in need is at the top of the list, and we cannot agree more that we have to insist on having access to the needy for the effective and efficient delivery of humanitarian assistance.”
1999-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3977 (1999) · source
“It is becoming increasingly clear that poverty has the potential to constitute the single most important threat to international peace and security. It is not a mere coincidence that all three speakers drew attention to this fact. The writing is on the wall. Let us therefore act before it is too late. The urgent need to act now is made most acute by the fact that children, who are the future of any society, are the most affected. This is why we are not surprised when, again, all three briefings clearly laid emphasis on the plight of children. My delegation would therefore invite the Council to consider seriously the peace and security agenda for children being advocated by UNICEF.”
1999-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3977 (1999) · source
“In the same vein, we would like to salute the presence of the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict in the persons of Mr. Sommaruga, Ms. Carol Bellamy and Ambassador Olara Otunnu. This is indeed a unique experience. These three briefings, we hope, will complement the ones that were held before on related issues. We now have a global picture of the magnitude of the problem. While admitting that there are no easy solutions, we should begin by attacking the evil at its roots. I am referring to the causes of conflict, the main culprit being poverty. In fact, all three briefings we have heard underscore the need to look into the causes of conflict.”
1999-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3977 (1999) · source
“Mr. President, let me begin by commending you for your foresight, which led you to include this important issue in our programme of work for the month. Our meeting today takes on particular importance for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the presence among us of The Honourable Lloyd Axworthy is a clear demonstration of the significance that Canada attaches to humanitarian issues generally. At a time when there are so many theatres of conflict in Africa, and worse still, when such conflicts target civilians more than combatants, there could not have been a better time to discuss the protection of civilians in armed conflict. We are also honoured to have the Secretary-General with us today.”
1999-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3977 (1999) · source
“With the establishment of the International Criminal Court, we, the Member States, should cooperate even more closely to pursue and bring to justice perpetrators of gross violations of human rights. In this regard, it is important to use the media judiciously for the dissemination of information, as widely as possible and in all languages, so that all nations will uphold international humanitarian law. It is certainly not an easy task, but let us start. This briefing has been an eye-opener. It has been very useful, and we are convinced that, through concerted international efforts, we can together make a big difference in the lives of the less fortunate members of the family of nations.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“As in similar situations, all that we can do is join the appeal for States parties to recommit themselves to the aims and objectives of these international legal instruments and international humanitarian law. The problem is made even more difficult because of the nature of conflicts today, when we are dealing with armed groups that have no regard for the sanctity of life. This is why we understand both the United Nations and other international humanitarian agencies when they insist on minimum guarantees from all the parties to a conflict before moving in or resuming work. As we tackle the problem of impeded access to the needy, we should also redouble our efforts in dealing with the question of impunity. In this connection, we follow with keen interest the work of the International Tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“The situation in Sierra Leone is a classic example of atrocities inflicted on civilians by armed rebel groups. Those who survive the atrocities are reduced to the status of displaced persons and refugees. Even then, there is still no mercy, because humanitarian workers are often denied access to them. Nothing can be more criminal than to deny food and water to the needy. In addition to that, humanitarian agencies are sometimes left alone in extremely hostile situations, exposed to all sorts of dangers and difficulties. In order to deal with these issues, Under-Secretary-General Vieira de Mello cited a number of international legal instruments ranging from the Convention on the Rights of the Child to the most recent, the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“Madam Ogata, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, also spoke to us on the work of her agency. Today, Under- Secretary-General Vieira de Mello is following in the footsteps of Olara Otunnu and Madam Ogata. We listened with great attention to Mr. Vieira de Mello when he guided us step by step from the environment, to the nature of modem-day warfare, to the legal instruments available to deal with the attendant evils of war. When wars are no longer fought in the battlefield but in cities and Villages, what can we expect? More civilians die. The answer is simple. And among the civilians who bear the brunt of such conflicts are women and children, the most vulnerable groups. They are targeted for physical elimination and abuse.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“Like previous speakers, my delegation would like to thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting on a subject of common concern to the international community. We are also grateful to Under-Secretary-General Vieira de Mello for his comprehensive and thought-provoking briefing. The question of humanitarian action has always been on the agenda of the international community. But we could also state, without any fear of contradiction, that the Secretary-General's report on Africa rekindled interest in this matter. Since the publication of the report, related issues to the maintenance of international peace and security have gained renewed attention. It will be recalled that Ambassador Olara Otunnu briefed us on the thorny issues of children in armed conflict and post-conflict peace building.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“Creating attractive outlets for ex-combatants and even rebels would encourage them to lay down their arms and participate in the uphill task of nation-building. So much for the internal situation. From a regional perspective, as the representative of France rightly pointed out, subregional and regional cooperation is also important in the search for peace. The Mano River Union summit is a case in point. President Kabbah paid an official visit to the Gambia recently. Such high-level exchanges of visits contribute to confidence-building and should be encouraged. Finally, we support the Secretary-General's recommendation for the extension of the mandate of UNOMSIL for another six-month period. We also salute the role of Reverend Jackson in the region and we thank you, Sir, for organizing this open meeting, which we find very useful.”
1998-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3957 (1998) · source
“This is why the international community should disburse, as quickly as possible - as indicated by Mr. Miyet - the pledges and commitments made during the special conference on Sierra Leone. We cannot see how, without the adequate resources, the Government's programme of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration could be carried forward, especially the component affecting women and children. With regard to the question of human rights, we have no doubt that a successful rehabilitation programme, within the wider context of post-conflict peace-building, could also take care of human rights concerns. Post-conflict peace- building efforts should be concentrated on development- oriented projects for self-employment.”
1998-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3957 (1998) · source
“Only the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) has the ability to deal with the rebels and to help restore stability to Sierra Leone. This is why my delegation has been calling for increased assistance to ECOMOG. Furthermore, the impact of the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL) will be felt better only when ECOMOG is given the logistics and material support that it requires. ECOMOG and UNOMSIL have mutually reinforcing roles. They complement each other, but if one of the parties is lacking adequate resources, their overall performance will not be satisfactory. Only a few days ago, we began an open debate on post-conflict peace-building, but we all know that, without the necessary resources, there can be no meaningful peace-building.”
1998-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3957 (1998) · source
“My delegation is grateful to Ambassador Dahlgren and, through him, to the Government of Sweden for the keen interest that they have always shown in Sierra Leone. Ambassador Dahlgren's recent trip to that country is a clear testimony to his commitment as Chairman of the Sierra Leone sanctions Committee. The importance of such visits cannot be overemphasized. We also thank the Secretary- General for his report and Mr. Miyet for his update. Whilst noting with satisfaction that the Sierra Leonean Government is consolidating its authority, we deplore the fact that the military situation is still volatile and unpredictable, due likely to rebel activity, killing and mutilating of civilians. Ambassador Dahlgren has given us a graphic illustration of these atrocities.”
1998-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3957 (1998) · source
“As far as this issue is concerned, we believe that there is unanimity in the Council to do everything possible to alleviate their suffering. The people in the region also need peace. They have had so many sleepless nights. The time has now come for them to have some respite.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3955 (1998) · source
“If it is not, the ability of the vital organ of the United Nations, which has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, will be seriously impaired. Having said that, we still believe that Iraq should resume full cooperation with UN SCOM. and the International Atomic Energy Agency as required under the relevant Security Council resolutions. In this way, the Council can proceed as planned with the comprehensive review. However, we maintain that any comprehensive review must take into account the question of Kuwaiti prisoners of war, archives and other properties removed illegally from Kuwait during the invasion. We are of the firm view that the interests of small States must be protected. This is why we insist so much on this point. We are also mindful of the plight of the innocent people of Iraq.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3955 (1998) · source
“It is a pity that things have to be this way. There is, however, no need to cry over spilt milk. The die is cast. This morning, when we looked at the options offered by the Secretary-General following the latest report of the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM), we thought that they constituted a possible way out of the quandary in which we find ourselves - not knowing that it was too late already. It is unfortunate indeed, and very much so, that force had to be used to deal with the situation. Where do we go from here? Perhaps when the dust has settled, we will be in a better position to see more clearly how best to proceed with normal business. This would depend, of course, on whether there is any business left to do. Whatever the outcome, we would like to see the unity of the Council restored.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3955 (1998) · source
“In addition to the basic short-term peace-building programmes, there should be a sustained effort to support medium- and long-term programmes as well - such as the strengthening of national institutions, monitoring elections, the protection and promotion of human rights, good governance and so on and so forth. This is all fine, but the crux of the matter is to address with equal zeal the question of sustainable development. Experience has shown that widespread poverty breeds conflict. It is difficult to envisage how democracy, good governance, the rule of law and respect for human rights can flourish in conditions of abject poverty. In order to achieve durable peace, the people must first be empowered. Then there will be no need to take up arms again.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3954 (1998) · source