YouSaid · the spoken record

Jurica

lines on the record: 449
first: 2008-02-12
most recent: 2009-03-25
sittings or episodes: 67
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

“It is our hope that the difficulties encountered in confirming the CFE Treaty as adapted in 1999 will soon be overcome, so that the countries of South-East Europe will be given the chance to take part in this pan-European arrangement. However, it is also very important to note that in some countries throughout the world the reduction of armaments and armies does not necessarily translate or lead to greater stability and security. There is an urgent need in some areas of the world to rebuild armed and police forces in order to deal with a wide spectrum of security challenges. In that context, we would like to note the importance of security sector reform in the process of post-conflict stabilization.”
2008-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6017 (2008) · source
“A good example of a successful subregional arms control agreement is the adoption and implementation of the relevant provisions of annex I-B of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina of 1995, which contributed to collective security and stability in South-East Europe through the establishment of limitations and ceilings in conventional arms and armaments for the signatory countries to that agreement. On a regional level, it should be mentioned that the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe - the CFE Treaty - has contributed to the security and stability of post-coId-war Europe.”
2008-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6017 (2008) · source
“Croatia would like to underscore the importance of regional and subregional organizations in matters relating to the improvement of international collective security. As a European country, Croatia especially values the active role and contribution to collective security of a number of European regional organizations, most notably the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The reduction of armaments can contribute to regional and subregional security and stability.”
2008-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6017 (2008) · source
“The notion of collective security is, in our opinion, compatible with the lofty duties and responsibilities of the Security Council. Consequently, we believe that it is useful for the Council to discuss issues related to the strengthening of collective security through the general regulation and reduction of armaments. Similarly, Croatia would also like to stress the important role and activities of the General Assembly as well as other elements of the United Nations machinery in the field of the disarmament. Moreover, one should not overlook ongoing efforts and action at the multilateral, regional, bilateral and national levels on the issue of the strengthening of collective security through disarmament and the reduction of armaments.”
2008-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6017 (2008) · source
“It is our pleasure Mr. President, to welcome you to the Security Council today. I would like to thank you for your initiative in organizing this open debate on the strengthening of collective security through the general regulation and reduction of armaments. We would also like to welcome the Vice-President and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Panama, Mr. Samuel Lewis-Navarro, to this debate, as well as High Representative of the Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, Mr. Sergio Duarte. Croatia recognizes the primary responsibility and the leading role of the Security Council in the maintenance of international peace and security: the Council is the only global body mandated with that task. In that context we see today's debate as a contribution to the fulfilment of that role.”
2008-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6017 (2008) · source
“We encourage the extension of UNAMI's presence in Iraq. UNAMI has proved to be a positive force in advancing national reconciliation, facilitating political consensus, engaging with the issues of minority representation and disputed internal boundaries, promoting regional dialogue, offering substantial electoral assistance, promoting human rights and supporting reconstruction and development. It has our full and continuing support.”
2008-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6016 (2008) · source
“Dialogue with and the constructive engagement of Iraq's neighbours are other critical components in the long-term stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq. We salute and encourage the growing regional diplomatic engagement, including through the reopening of embassies of regional countries in Baghdad. National reconciliation remains a priority in Iraq. In order to overcome sectarian violence, cross- community cooperation efforts should be encouraged at all levels. Iraqi leaders have demonstrated the ability to work together and move beyond sectarianism. A number of important legislative milestones have been reached this year. We hope to see similar progress on the issue of hydrocarbon resources, the implementation of article 140 of the Constitution and the constitutional revision process.”
2008-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6016 (2008) · source
“Security is also a precondition for the reconstruction and development of the country. Last May in Stockholm, the international community reaffirmed its commitment to continuing to work in partnership with the Iraqi Government within the framework of the Iraqi Compact. We welcome the signing of the United Nations Assistance Strategy for Iraq, notably its focus on mobilizing Iraq's resources and on capacity-building. Iraq has vast economic potential, which will be translated into improvements in infrastructure and in essential services for all Iraqi citizens. To echo the Secretary-General's remarks, the mobilization of Iraq's abundant economic and human resources can provide further impetus to the national reconciliation effort.”
2008-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6016 (2008) · source
“We are also pleased to hear that the responsibility for security has been handed over to the Government of Iraq in more than two thirds of its provinces. The Iraqi Government has demonstrated its increasing capabilities, including the ability to address security challenges. We welcome the beginning of the integration of ex-combatants into Government functions and recognize that that is a long-term effort that is essential in order to create impartial and non- sectarian security forces that enjoy the trust and respect of all Iraqi communities. We have taken note of the belated discussions under way between Iraq and the United States, and we hope that they will lead to the rapid conclusion of a status-of-forces agreement before the end of this year, leaving no security gaps.”
2008-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6016 (2008) · source
“We salute the important contributions that UNAMI has been making in that regard, including its facilitation role on the issue of minority representation in the provincial councils. A secure environment is critical to the holding of successful elections. The recent incidents of violence, including an intimidation campaign against Christians in Mosul, are unsettling. We deplore all attempts to reignite the conflict, and we express our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the recent attacks. However, that should not be allowed to overshadow the overall security gains witnessed over the past year. We are encouraged to observe a continuing period of improved stability, and we welcome it.”
2008-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6016 (2008) · source
“The gains achieved on the political and the security fronts this year, with the assistance of UNAMI and the support of the multinational force, underpin a remarkable process of transformation of Iraq towards a democratic, stable, secure and prosperous country. The democratically elected Government of Iraq is extending its authority and security presence in a growing number of provinces. The socio-economic situation is improving, while microeconomic indicators point to an expanding economy. The recent adoption of the provincial election law has opened the way for provincial elections to take place in early 2009. That would be an excellent opportunity to further consider the progress achieved. It is important that the elections be well-prepared as well as fair and inclusive.”
2008-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6016 (2008) · source
“May I begin by extending our welcome to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. de Mistura, and expressing our appreciation for the ongoing efforts and commitment that he and his team are devoting to fulfilling the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). Allow me also to take the opportunity to thank Ambassador Khalilzad of the United States for his presentation on behalf of the multinational force and Ambassador Al Bayati of Iraq for his presentation today. While Croatia aligns itself with the statement delivered by France on behalf of the European Union, allow me to make a few additional observations.”
2008-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6016 (2008) · source
“Various activities in the past six months have shown that the Committee is a useful tool in combating terrorism. In the forthcoming period, our work will be focused on the stocktaking exercise, as well as on preparing for an interim review of the CTED by 30 June 2009, as mandated by resolution 1805 (2008). The Committee is also expecting to receive a new revision of the survey of the implementation of resolution 1373 (2001) by Member States, and to pursue with enhanced vigour contacts with relevant countries to facilitate the delivery of technical assistance. I believe that with an inclusive but pragmatic approach by all members, that collaborative effort will bear fruit and will meet the expectations of the Security Council.”
2008-11-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6015 (2008) · source
“The Committee, mostly through its experts and in line with resolution 1805 (2008), cooperates and coordinates its activities with the two other Security Council subsidiary bodies that deal with counter- terrorism - the Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1540 (2004). One tangible example of that cooperation is the organizing, together with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, of subregional workshops on the preparation of responses to the Security Council committees dealing with counter-terrorism. The third such workshop will be held in Nairobi, Kenya. Moreover, as part of its cooperation and exchange of information with counter-terrorism partners during its meetings in New York, the Committee heard several briefings by representatives of relevant organizations and United Nations bodies.”
2008-11-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6015 (2008) · source
“The Committee continues to play its part in the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy, and the CTED is participating actively in the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) through contributing to the work of several working groups. The Committee has held a discussion on the issue of its participation in the Strategy and is also regularly assisting Member States to implement those provisions of the Strategy that fall within its mandate. In that respect, it is worth noting that the Committee's recent visit to Madagascar was organized with the participation of representatives of the CTITF.”
2008-11-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6015 (2008) · source
“In its dialogue with Member States, the Committee continued to remind them that they must ensure that any measures taken to combat terrorism must comply with all their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law. With respect to the implementation of resolution 1624 (2005), the Committee held a discussion to explore the technical assistance needs of States to implement that resolution, as well as to facilitate the provision of such assistance. The Committee continues to encourage those States that have not yet reported to do so. The Committee also continues to encourage Member States to become party to and implement the 16 international counter-terrorism instruments.”
2008-11-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6015 (2008) · source
“In addition, and in order to promote transparency in the Committee's work, I am pleased to report that, on the basis of a recent decision of the Committee, Member States to be visited will be invited, on a voluntary basis, to meet with the members of the Committee in an informal setting before the consideration of the final visit report, in order to present their views on the visit and its outcome. Regarding the facilitation of technical assistance, along with its regular activities - which include ongoing dialogue with Member States, donors and beneficiaries - the Committee is engaged in ensuring follow-up to its fifth special meeting with international, regional and subregional organizations, held in Nairobi in 2007. The Committee also maintains the technical assistance matrix and a directory of assistance programmes on its website.”
2008-11-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6015 (2008) · source
“As we speak, the Committee is engaged in a follow-up visit to Kenya and will immediately afterwards visit to Uganda and to the United Kingdom. Moreover, as the new organizational plan of the CTED contains a provision for more flexible and targeted visits, the Committee approved a new list of visits for the period until the end of 2010. Member States have been contacted by the Executive Directorate in that regard, and many of them have already provided their consent to a visit.”
2008-11-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6015 (2008) · source
“The groups have already presented to the Committee first results of their work, aimed at revising and harmonizing criteria for technical judgments of elements of resolution 1373 (2001), and they are working towards the completion of a document that will assist the CTED in that task. The Committee has continued organizing visits to Member States, which constitute a fundamental component of its activities to effectively monitor and promote the implementation of resolution 1373 (2001). Throughout the period the Committee has been carrying out visits that were approved at the end of 2006, always with the consent of the countries involved. Since our last briefing, the Committee has concluded successful full-fledged on-site visits to Cambodia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, South Africa and Egypt and a focused visit to Madagascar.”
2008-11-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6015 (2008) · source
“As the first deadlines for responses have expired, the Committee has recently endorsed a proposal on how to conduct the stocktaking of each Member State's implementation of resolution 1373 (2001). That process has already started and will be carried out in stages at the subcommittee and Committee levels, while particular emphasis will be given to regular dialogue with Member States. The reorganization plan of the CTED mandated the establishment of five cross-cutting technical working groups, covering major areas of implementation of resolution 1373 (2001), as well as implementation of resolution 1624 (2005).”
2008-11-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6015 (2008) · source
“It provides an assessment of the implementation of the resolution in regions and subregions and draws conclusions about progress in the implementation of the resolution in key thematic areas. The report also contains priority recommendations for the Committee's future action. The survey was discussed at informal consultations of the Security Council, during which it received positive reviews by Council members. I would like to emphasize that it is the first report of its kind adopted since the establishment of the Committee. The Committee has continued to analyze the preliminary implementation assessments. Thus far, the Committee has adopted some 188 PIAs, and the remaining 5 should be formally approved by the Committee in the forthcoming months. While receiving their assessments, Member States were also given time to respond.”
2008-11-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6015 (2008) · source
“Therefore, together with the Executive Director, I continued the practice of informing the wider United Nations membership on the work of the Committee and the CTED at an informal briefing held on 6 November 2008. At the outset, I am pleased to report that since my last briefing to the Security Council, on 6 May 2008, the Committee has pursued its activities according to programmes of work and has accomplished several key initiatives. In May this year, the Committee adopted a document entitled "Survey of the implementation of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001)" (see S/2008/379), and submitted it to the Security Council. The report was prepared on the basis of evaluations contained in the preliminary implementation assessments (PIAs).”
2008-11-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6015 (2008) · source
“In my capacity as the Chairman of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), known as the Counter- Terrorism Committee, it is my honour to brief the Security Council on the work of the Committee in the past six months. Before entering into the core of the presentation, I would like to extend the Committee's gratitude to Mr. Mike Smith, Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), and his team for their valuable assistance. I also appreciate the continuous support of the Secretariat, as well as the constructive atmosphere in the Committee, which greatly contributes to the fulfilment of its mandate. Transparency is one of the basic principles of our work.”
2008-11-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6015 (2008) · source
“Finally, we hope that during its third year, the Peacebuilding Commission will continue to build on the previous experience and work done thus far, taking in and applying the lessons learned and strengthening its efficiency, flexibility and dynamism in response to the peacebuilding needs of the countries on its agenda.”
2008-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5997 (2008) · source
“In our opinion, that would be of benefit first and foremost to those countries being debated, and give other interested parties and organizations the opportunity to provide relevant information that would allow the Security Council to adopt more informed decisions. All the activities that we are talking about today will obviously not be possible without sufficient, timely and flexible funding. As one of the founders of and contributors to the Peacebuilding Fund, Croatia hopes that the Fund will be able to further evolve into a mechanism capable of responding promptly to the Commission's needs.”
2008-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5997 (2008) · source
“In our View, enhanced flexibility brings more responsiveness and more agility to the Peacebuilding Commission in addressing post-conflict situations. Similarly, although we value the current interaction between the Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission, we believe that room still exists for enhancing such cooperation and for making better use of the Commission's input in the Council's deliberations. My delegation sees benefits in the idea put forward in previous debates with regard to soliciting the advice of the Peacebuilding Commission on country-specific issues placed on the agendas of the Security Council and the Commission.”
2008-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5997 (2008) · source
“We believe that its second session brought many positive developments that can be built upon in the future, in particular those related to the more focused approach to countries on the Commission's agenda. We hope that this approach will be maintained, in particular with respect to the new countries on the Commission's agenda - Guinea- Bissau and the Central African Republic - whose inclusion we very much welcome. Furthermore, we see the expansion of the Commission's agenda as a clear sign of its growing relevance, Vitality and strength within the United Nations peacebuilding architecture. That having been said, we would like to echo the Views expressed by some members around this table on the need to keep in mind that the Commission's evolution should go hand in hand with its flexibility.”
2008-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5997 (2008) · source
“Only if they are implemented together can sustainable peace and long- lasting stability and prosperity be achieved. We are equally cognizant that the chances for substantive peace are enhanced by the speedy and coordinated engagement of the United Nations system as a whole following the establishment of a ceasefire on the ground or the signing of a peace agreement. It is therefore imperative that all post-conflict efforts be coordinated and integrated so that they can be utilized to capacity while substantially reducing overlap. It was for those particular reasons that Croatia supported and greatly values the establishment in 2006 of the Peacebuilding Commission and its subsequent work on country-specific issues.”
2008-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5997 (2008) · source
“I thank you, Sir, for organizing this debate to consider the second annual report of the Peacebuilding Commission. Today's deliberations should help us to take stock of the progress made thus far and the challenges we face as we enter the Commission's third year of work. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Chairman of the Organizational Committee, Ambassador Yukio Takasu, for his observations and for his admirable chairmanship of the Commission. The establishment of the Peacebuilding Commission was, in our opinion, one of the most important results of United Nations reform to date. The peacebuilding concept, as enacted through the Commission, offers the best way for us to effectively implement and consolidate the three main pillars of the United Nations: security, development and the protection of human rights.”
2008-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5997 (2008) · source
“That is all to confirm our forceful commitment to the efforts of the entire international community to rebuild a free, safe and stable Afghanistan, as well as our strong support for the Government and the people of Afghanistan.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“We fully concur with the assessment of the Secretary-General that greater human, administrative and security resources need to be mobilized in order for UNAMA to fulfil its mandate and achieve the established priorities. In that regard, we commend UNAMA's decision to open new provincial offices, thus further strengthening its outreach capability, which is crucial for the implementation of its mandate. A sense of urgency is clearly present. Finally, throughout this year Croatia has raised the level of its military contribution to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) by approximately 30 per cent. Additionally, we have initiated development projects in the province of Badakhshan in the sectors of health and education, in accordance with the priorities of the Afghan Government.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“Croatia would like affirm its strong determination expressed at the Conference held in June in Paris to work closely under the Afghan leadership in support of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy, based on the Afghanistan Compact of 2006. Similarly, let me reiterate our support for the assessment of the Special Representative that the priorities identified at the Paris Conference are sufficiently covered by UNAMA's mandate, as laid out in resolution 1806 (2008). In that context, we welcome the changes announced by President Karzai to his cabinet, which we see as a clear sign of the Afghan determination to rigorously implement the Paris agenda.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“Supporting a comprehensive approach also means supporting Afghan efforts to bring disaffected Afghans into the mainstream of society and cause them to renounce violence and accept Afghanistan's constitution and the relevant Security Council resolutions. We share the view that UNAMA has an important role to play in supporting Afghan-led reconciliation activities in whatever ways the Government of Afghanistan considers appropriate. Furthermore, the crisis in Afghanistan is not only a national and regional, but also a global problem. The fight against terrorism can be won only through the concerted efforts of the relevant international actors.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“The country's neighbours have an important role to play in supporting the Afghan Government's effort to secure its borders, but also in acquiring joint opportunities afforded by trade, energy market integration and infrastructure construction. We welcome the recent international agreements entered into by Afghanistan and its neighbours and express our full support for the efforts already put in place by the Special Representative aimed at underscoring the potential of regional economic development and cooperation. We are also fully aware that there is no purely military solution to the situation in Afghanistan. In order for the Afghan Government and the international community to succeed, they need to apply a comprehensive approach, uniting military, political, humanitarian and development activities.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“On security and military matters, we welcome the continuing improvement of the Afghan National Army and support the Afghan request to raise the Army's recruitment ceiling to 134,000 by 2010. We especially welcome the Afghan Government's assumption of greater responsibility for security in the country, with the Afghan National Army taking over lead responsibility for security in Kabul. Croatia is currently examining arrangements to send to Afghanistan additional teams to be included in the training and mentoring of the Afghan National Army, within an operational framework and with a liaison team. We commend all regional efforts aimed at the stabilization and the further development of Afghanistan.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“It is evident that such measures are necessary not only to demonstrate the seriousness of the Afghan Government with regard to its commitments to the international community, but, even more, to strengthen the trust and confidence of ordinary Afghans in the present Administration. Croatia is of the opinion that the upcoming elections are a key priority and a real test of Afghanistan's democratic progress. While we regret that continuing disagreement within the National Assembly has prevented the adoption of a new electoral law, we are confident that all necessary legislation - including legislation on the Independent Election Commission, the lead coordinating body for the elections - will be swiftly adopted.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“Croatia is pleased to see that international efforts to counter the flow of chemical precursors for illicit heroin manufacturing, recently strongly supported by the Security Council through the adoption of resolution 1817 (2008), are already bearing fruit. We commend the International Narcotics Control Board for its leading role, and we welcome the greater regional cooperation on this issue. Inextricably linked to the problem of opium cultivation is the problem of the rampant corruption that plunders Afghanistan. We therefore welcome the adoption of the law on corruption and the establishment of the High Office of Oversight to combat corruption.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“Highly aware of the acuteness of the problem, Croatia has just donated $50,000 through the World Food Programme to alleviate food shortages in the province of Badakhshan. It is a well-known fact that the insurgency in Afghanistan is fuelled predominantly by the drug trade. With that in mind, Croatia is encouraged by the new report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), according to which there has been a 19 per cent decrease in opium cultivation and a 6 per cent decline in the production of opium. We welcome the renewed efforts aimed at curbing that scourge, undertaken with the approval of the Afghan Government and consistent with the relevant resolutions of the Security Council.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“In that context, Croatia believes that strict compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law and the implementation of adequate measures to ensure the protection of civilians should be effected throughout Afghanistan. We especially welcome the efforts undertaken to date by the international forces to minimize the risk of civilian casualties. Croatia is concerned about the worsening humanitarian situation, brought on primarily as a result of the ongoing insurgency and the negative impact of the conflict on humanitarian access. The current drought and the high global food prices have only exacerbated the situation. We therefore welcome the second joint emergency appeal for relief to address high food prices and the drought crisis, launched to help people affected by the current conditions.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“As was clearly stated in the report of the Secretary-General (S/2008/617), only if an absolute readiness of all stakeholders to be coordinated is present will UNAMA be in a position to successfully execute its mandate. Croatia is seriously concerned about the worsening of the security situation in Afghanistan. The insurgency is intensifying and is now negatively affecting areas that previously were relatively calm. Of particular concern is the situation in the border region with Pakistan, where hostile activities have significantly increased. The change of tactics employed by insurgent - towards attacks of an asymmetric nature, often carried out in highly inhabited areas - has significantly contributed to the rise in civilian casualties.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“I would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Mr. Kai Eide, for his full and informative briefing and for his leadership of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in these difficult and challenging times. At the same time, we are pleased to welcome the Permanent Representative of Afghanistan, Mr. Zahir Tanin, and we thank him for his statement. My country, Croatia, is encouraged by hard work that UNAMA has carried out to date, helping to coordinate the humanitarian efforts of the international community in support of the Afghan Government. My delegation would like to reiterate its full support for UNAMA's leading role in that regard.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“Although the Russian Federation pulled out the majority of its forces from Georgia last Friday, it is still maintaining a presence both within the two regions and in the buffer zones imposed around their boundaries. Finally, Croatia is extremely concerned by the humanitarian situation on the ground and the large number of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). My Government, acting together with the relevant international organizations and interested Governments, will continue to provide help to all those in need. We believe that all the refugees and IDPs should be given the right to return to their homes and continue their lives in a secure and safe environment.”
2008-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5969 (2008) · source
“We believe that the best option would be to turn to negotiations, as provided for in the six-principle agreement drawn up by the Russian and the French Presidents. The politics of presenting a fait accompli is not acceptable, as it does not leave room for a negotiated settlement. My Government strongly supports the efforts of the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, aimed at resolving the current crisis. Croatia reiterates its support for the six- principle agreement. According to that agreement, all military action must cease and the military forces must return to the positions they held prior to the outbreak of hostilities.”
2008-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5969 (2008) · source
“In our opinion, the unfortunate decision to recognize those two Georgian regions is not in accordance with the Charter of United Nations, the Helsinki Final Act or the prior resolutions of the Security Council, confirming the aforementioned principles, to which the Russian Federation rendered its support. We are also concerned by the fact that that decision can effectively negate all the progress achieved thus far towards a possible resolution of the situation in Georgia. Bearing in mind the new circumstances, it is self-evident that further progress in that regard will be extremely hard to achieve. Notwithstanding, we need to continue to unite our efforts to achieve a reasonable and peaceful political solution to the crisis.”
2008-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5969 (2008) · source
“At the outset, I should like to thank the representatives of the Secretariat's Department of Political Affairs and Department of Peacekeeping Operations for their briefings and to welcome the presence among us of the Permanent Representative of Georgia. Let me begin by expressing our regret at the decision by the Russian Federation to formally recognize the independence of the two Georgian regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. As it has on numerous occasions in discussions on this subject in the past, Croatia reiterates its support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia with its internationally recognized borders.”
2008-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5969 (2008) · source
“We believe that, through its practical implementation, that goal will be largely achieved. At the same time, we believe that the question of reforming or improving the working methods is not a static process and that further modifications to the aforementioned note through the Council's Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions may be appropriate at some time in the future.”
2008-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5968 (2008) · source
“My delegation has long believed that including or consulting with a country host to a peacekeeping operation during discussions among Council members on the future of that country can be beneficial to the Council's decision-making process. Included in that are regional and subregional organizations. Such organizations are often ideally placed to help or advise the Security Council on overcoming crises erupting on a local or regional level. Using their expertise or having them pronounce on various crises not only should become common practice during open meetings, but also should be taken up during consultations among Council members, possibly by having them brief one or more interested Council members upon request. The President's note and its recommendations were designed to improve the efficiency of the work of the Council.”
2008-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5968 (2008) · source
“We must not lose sight of the fact that the Security Council's primary mandate is maintaining international peace and security, and that, and only that, should be the driving force in deciding the format of its meetings. Any reflections on or possible reform of working methods must be conducted in that light so as to help facilitate the more efficient and effective functioning of the Security Council as a whole. Conversely, the Council may wish to make better use of the wish for consultations and participation in its deliberations by countries particularly affected, including possibly countries host to peacekeeping operations, neighbouring States or even countries that are targeted for sanctions or that have sanctions implemented against them.”
2008-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5968 (2008) · source
“We welcome the achievement of greater transparency in the Council's work through briefings by the presidency to non-Council members, including regular meetings with troop-contributing countries, and an increasing number of open meetings of the Council. Even though my delegation supports having more open meetings, that idea should be tempered with a sense of what Council members wish to achieve in those meetings. While some may recall that prior to the 1990s, the Council conducted more of its business in open rather than closed meetings, one needs to keep in mind that the Council's agenda at the time was far less ordered and indeed less full.”
2008-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5968 (2008) · source
“We especially thank the delegations of Japan, Slovakia and Panama for their excellent stewardship of the Council's Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions, as well as the so-called group of the Small Five, an important group whose efforts have gone a long way in stimulating those debates. We would especially like to offer our appreciation to Ambassador Kenzo Oshima of Japan, whose efforts while chairing the Working Group led to the Council approving the note contained in document S/2006/507, which is the subject of today's debate. Croatia supports the recommendation contained in the note, while at the same time believing that implementation of certain points contained therein needs to strike a balance between desirability and expeditiousness.”
2008-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5968 (2008) · source