YouSaid · the spoken record

Jelavic

lines on the record: 23
first: 1999-11-15
most recent: 1999-11-15
sittings or episodes: 1
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

“By adopting the New York Declaration, we the Members of the Presidency have committed ourselves to certain obligations and duties. We see this as another success in the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement. I would once again like to express my gratitude to you, Mr. President, and the Council for your invitation and for the interest you have shown in our problems and in our reality today and in the future.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“Mr. Jelavic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (spoke in Croatian; interpretation furnished by the delegation): I would like to express my gratitude at being invited to this meeting, at which we have had the opportunity to reaffirm our obligation and commitment to the building of a multi-ethnic and democratic community in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Members of the Council have told us in their statements that we will have the Council's support in the future, as well as the support of other organizations of the international community. We fully support the initiative of the United Kingdom's Ambassador for full and continuous cooperation between the Security Council, the United Nations in general and the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“This State can advance, however, only if it is built in accordance with our capabilities, views and agreements. In this context, we urge the Council to insist on direct communication between us in all institutions, as we in the Presidency have recently started to practice, as opposed to the former practice of communication through the Council. If this message is clear and we all exercise patience, I am convinced that, together, we will be able to achieve the self-sustaining, multicultural and multi- ethnic Bosnia and Herzegovina that we seek.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“Collective national rights and the rights of individuals, distinct from the issue of nationality, should supplement and not conflict with each other. The exclusivity of one or the other does not represent a just or viable solution. The structure of the Peace Agreement should be balanced in favour of consistency and the standardization of the rights of all peoples and all citizens, which it is not at present. All three peoples must have the same modalities to access institutions of authority and each citizen must enjoy the same rights throughout the State. Inequality leads to dissatisfaction or instability. Our young State is like all new institutions. It grows, changes and gains in strength. This State is ours and we must govern it responsibly, now also in partnership with the Security Council and its irreplaceable assistance.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“The selective use of international evidence will not lead to justice. To conclude, I am optimistic about Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Dayton/Paris framework. The Accords should be harmonized with new situations and needs and should be advanced. This is only to be expected, since the solutions imposed immediately after the war represent imbalances that were created by the war. Long-term stability, however, demands a balance removed from war - a balance of rights for the three constituent peoples. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, we must strive towards the goals of balancing and harmonizing the interests of the three constituent peoples, on the one hand, and of building a civil society on the other.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“I emphasize the fact that not a single indictment has been brought against perpetrators of crimes in which Bosnia and Herzegovina Croats were the primary victims, which we find extremely worrisome. In this context, I draw attention to the so-called "Uzdol four" indictment, which has been set aside at the Hague for years now. At this time, we do not support turning over cases to local courts in Bosnia and Herzegovina because the present system does not possess the capacity for this task. The former High Representative, Mr. Westendorp, has spoken quite clearly about the situation in our courts. The work of the Tribunal should also be advanced in regard to the rights of the accused. The defence must have the same resources and access to international documentation of the war as the prosecution.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“Since the work of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia at the Hague is being considered by the General Assembly and the Security Council, I should like to focus particular attention on this question. We consider the Tribunal to be an essential element on the path to reconciliation in our country. I believe that it can still succeed in this respect. However, this common goal will be achievable only if the indictments before the Tribunal conform to the real scope and breadth of the crimes that were perpetrated. Among other things, this involves the problem of the so-called "big fish" who remain out of the reach of justice even to this day. The proportion of the parties indicted to those imprisoned is also problematic.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“The issue of the election law is the most sensitive question for the numerically smallest constituent component of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The law must secure the election of legitimate representatives of all peoples into the common state institutions, in particular the Presidency and the House of Peoples. We will soon present proposals in this regard. Multi-ethnicity and multiculturalism are not contentious issues for the Croat component of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The best way to ensure these elements of the State is through equal access to institutions for all three components, consensus in decision-taking in respect of vital national interests, and decentralized authority along the lines of the European principle of subsidiarity.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“We are reviewing the election law carefully. Our re- elections are focused on principles, such as the equality of citizens and peoples and the standardization of these rights. We are of the opinion that the dual goals of respecting the principle of constituent peoples and of building a civil society are well suited to the Serb community and should be duplicated for the other two. In Republika Srpska, the number of so-called crossover voters is clearly defined and a distinct level of multi- ethnicity is built into the electoral registers. In the Federation, meanwhile, due to the numerical majority of one community, the possibility of crossover votes is unintentionally promoted for one community alone: the smaller one. Conversely, the candidates from the larger community are the only ones to be elected exclusively along ethnic lines.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“I feel that the best solutions for our country are those that are acceptable to all three of its constituent parts and that respect the dignity of each citizen. It is also important that everything we propose be understandable and acceptable to each individual, on whose behalf we are here to solve complex issues. At the same time, the solutions must be practical. Ideal solutions can be drawn up on paper, but that does not mean that they are always implementable. At the Madrid Conference of the Peace Implementation Council, I welcomed the establishment of the border service as a state institution. I said that the creation of this service should be linked to the contraction of some other institutions that are now less important, such as the military. I still ask for the Council's support on this matter.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“I therefore call upon the international community to accept the principle of our responsibility for ourselves as the cornerstone of building Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in this context to allow sufficient time for debate in the process of passing these laws, as opposed to insisting on overambitious deadlines and on imposing solutions. Haste and the frequent imposition of solutions strengthen the culture of dependency and promote exclusivity and extremism. If it is clear that the High Representative intends to impose a solution on his own, then it is in the interests of the parties to promote and represent maximalist positions. In such a situation, the belief in a common or collective interest is marginalized.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“Speaking specifically, I must stress that we have two important laws before us in Bosnia and Herzegovina: the permanent election law and the law on the border service. The Presidency has discussed these important laws on a number occasions. I believe that these two laws should be linked to the policy proposed by the High Representative of transferring the ownership of the process to us. These laws are of key importance to the vitality of the country, perhaps not so much for their own sake as for the type of country that we are building. For the success of the peace agreement and the future of the country, the question of who builds the State - we or the international community - is of paramount importance. Such important elements as these laws must be adopted only by the appropriate state institutions.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“Economic reform must be directed at such issues as privatization, the rule of law, overcoming corruption and the social and retirement systems - in other words, at the creation of institutions that form the foundation of a market economy. We must focus our attention on creating a unified market in Bosnia and Herzegovina that will be open to our neighbours and other States of the region. The joint European Union/Bosnia and Herzegovina Consultative Task Force has been assisting us on these issues for over a year. The Stability Pact, which seeks to establish a new value system for the States of the region in the areas of governance, economic management and security is now available as well.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“The issue of the return of minorities should not be overlooked now that a significant number of refugees have returned. Instead, the focus should be directed to the areas where the return has been minimal. We in Bosnia and Herzegovina are aware that problems exist. In June, at the outset of my eight-month mandate as Chair of the Presidency, we outlined the crisis issues that must be resolved. These are issues related to the economic regeneration of the country. We are aware that without creating a climate suitable for economic growth and foreign investment, there will be little progress in the implementation of the Peace Accords, that failure on the economic front calls into question the stability of the State.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“More than 50 per cent of the pre-war minority residents have returned to the Croat majority areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is more than anywhere else in Bosnia and Herzegovina, more than in Croatia, more than in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and more than in Kosovo. In fact, this is more than is typical historically after such conflicts. For example, about 40 per cent of pre-war non- Croats in the western municipalities of Mostar have never left or reside there again. It is difficult to find such a percentage in others of the larger cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I believe these elements should be noted. Allow me to repeat, about 40 percent of pre-war non- Croats in the western municipalities of Mostar never left or reside there again.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“Fighting terrorism, organized crime and corruption is another of the most important tasks that we are confronted with. Hence, it is important to implement the reform of the legal system and the police, to harmonize the laws on the whole territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina and to pass a consistent law on the border services of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Of all the priorities, I emphasize the issue of the return of refugees and displaced persons. A large number of refugees have returned to the country, mostly from Europe. The same cannot be said for so-called minority returns, which have amounted to only 80,000 individuals. Nevertheless, I think that I, at least, can speak of a success here; more than half of these returnees have returned to the majority areas of the people that I primarily represent in the Presidency.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“The Council of Ministers should also take on a greater share of responsibilities in the resolution of ongoing issues of vital importance for Bosnia and Herzegovina. The issue of implementing serious economic and social reforms is also an enormous task and one of the most important priorities. We are aware that failure on the economic front could call into question the entire process. Respect for human rights and, especially in our case, the right to ownership are also top priorities. In this light, the implementation of the property laws promulgated by the High Representative is of crucial importance in promoting the process of the return of refugees and displaced persons. Consistent and effective work by the International Tribunal at The Hague and, especially, the apprehension of the most-wanted individuals are also crucial.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“I am convinced that the events of our recent past are simply not repeatable, as Dayton gives us a moral responsibility, military equilibrium and a political framework that ensures the stability and prospects of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The visible and important progress notwithstanding, there are many more tasks ahead of us, of which one of the most important is the issue of the functioning of the joint institutions, and especially the reorganization of the Council of Ministers in accordance with the decision by the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is important to accomplish this while maintaining the principle of consensus in the decision-making of the Council.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“There is real progress in the stabilization of peace, the freedom of movement, the rebuilding of infrastructure - hospitals, schools, houses, bridges, roads - the fully functioning common currency, common documents, passports, licence plates and symbols. The return of refugees and displaced persons should be noted in particular. All of this was accomplished due to the unselfish support and the notable assistance of the international community. Furthermore, I would like to underscore the situation of real peace that reigns in the spirits of the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina - a lasting and self-sustaining peace.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“Their reports have, among other things, noted the publication over the past year of a number of independent studies that began to question the successes, as well as the very future, of the 1995 Agreement. We believe it is appropriate to debate frankly the criticisms that have been directed at the Agreement, as well as at those directed at us. Nevertheless, it is inappropriate to dramatize the situation, failing to take into account the starting point - from which, it could be said, we have only recently commenced. We are all aware of the despair that we are moving away from, and in this context we see notable improvement.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“The Declaration also addresses the question of return of refugees, first of all, to the urban centres. We will provide information about this process every three months. With the goal of strengthening the common institutions, the Declaration foresees the formation of a Presidency secretariat, as well as the improvement of consistency in the work of all State ministries, especially in the context of their timely functioning. We also gave support to activities in the fight against corruption and in promoting transparency, as well as establishing a central database for passports. Common travel documents are also envisioned. We expect today's debate to proceed within the framework of the recent statements to the Council by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Klein, and the High Representative, Mr. Petritsch.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“This is evidenced by the New York Declaration, which was adopted by the Presidency last night and which has been distributed to the Council members. I would like to note that we reached an agreement on establishing the State border service. Further, in the context of strengthening inter-entity cooperation, we agreed to form joint units that would take part in the future United Nations peacekeeping operations. In this way we would like to show that we can play a constructive role in international affairs and, to some degree, repay a debt to international community and to all of those who in the uniforms of the United Nations Protection Force, the Implementation Force and the Stabilization Force have contributed to establishing peace in our country.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“Mr. Jelavic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (spoke in Croatian; interpretation provided by the delegation): It is my pleasure and an honour to address this noble body, in particular at a time when we mark the fourth anniversary of the Dayton/Paris Agreement. We are grateful for the invitation to speak before the Council and extend warm greetings to you, Sir, who as Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia travelled to New York especially to preside over this meeting. We would also like to extend greetings to the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan. We offer our sympathies to him and to the many families around the world who recently lost their loved ones in Kosovo. I believe this discussion will be fruitful. After all, we did not come here solely to mark an anniversary, but also to advance the implementation of the Agreement.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source