YouSaid · the spoken record

Kolby

lines on the record: 733
first: 1998-04-24
most recent: 2003-06-17
sittings or episodes: 118
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

“In this connection, I would like to pay tribute to Canada, the current President of the Council, for focusing on this important subject. The well-being of individuals and their communities should be a frame of reference in the Council's efforts to prevent and resolve conflict. Recent multifunctional mandates from the Council and various consolidated appeals clearly illustrate that the issue of human security is global in character and universal in scope. We need to develop this further by defining adequate internal follow-up mechanisms. We should also continue efforts to develop better-targeted and effective sanctions. The international community is collaborating on a number of issues related to the well-being and security of individuals.”
1999-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3980 (1999) · source
“In many of today's conflicts, targeting civilians has become an integral part of war tactics. While in the First World War 5 per cent of the victims were civilian casualties, in today's wars the figure is close to 90 per cent, and children are among those most affected by this development. The lack of adherence to international norms in today's conflicts leaves the international community and the United Nations with a special responsibility to mobilize against the increase in civilian casualties. Today's discussion on the protection of civilians in armed conflict is a positive reflection of the Security Council's increased attention to the human dimensions of security issues. Norway greatly appreciates the opportunity to participate in this debate.”
1999-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3980 (1999) · source
“Although each country has the main responsibility for ensuring a political climate that is conducive to stability and economic growth, the international community must provide broad support. Norway is strongly committed to doing its part. An important target of Norwegian development cooperation is to provide adequate funds and human resources to ensure that the critical post-conflict phase represents a bridge from despair to sustained peace and long-term development.”
1998-12-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3954Resumption1 (1998) · source
“In many instances, it will also be important to improve coordination and information-sharing between the United Nations and regional organizations such as the Organization of African Unity and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The United Nations should play a leading role to ensure that all international efforts are carried out in a coordinated and efficient way. We must secure a better unity of purpose and integrate United Nations peace-building efforts with those of other stakeholders. Norway will assume the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 1999, and we are determined to further refine the already well established working relationship between the United Nations and the OSCE.”
1998-12-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3954Resumption1 (1998) · source
“Norway is strongly committed to the follow-up to the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti- Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, including demining and rehabilitation activities, to which we have allocated $120 million over the period 1998-2002. The report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa (S/1998/318) clearly underlines the need for a holistic approach, where economic and social issues must be an integral part of international endeavours to secure and strengthen peace. This is true for Africa, but it is also true for other regions. Coherence must be ensured between the work of the Security Council and that of other bodies of the United Nations, in particular the General Assembly.”
1998-12-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3954Resumption1 (1998) · source
“Norway supports the call for a voluntary embargo on arms sales to conflict zones in Africa, as suggested by the United States. We welcome the proposal by the Secretary-General for increased transparency with regard to the supply of weapons to areas of actual or potential conflict, including measures to monitor and regulate the role of arms brokers. The international community should support the implementation of such initiatives. In order to help the United Nations assist in national and regional initiatives effectively and without delay, Norway recently launched a trust fund for support to prevention and reduction of the proliferation of small arms. We encourage other countries to contribute to the fund. Anti-personnel landmines also constitute a formidable obstacle to post-conflict reconstruction and the consolidation of peace.”
1998-12-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3954Resumption1 (1998) · source
“We commend the initiatives taken in this respect by the Secretary-General, both at Headquarters level in the context of United Nations reform - most notably through the efforts by the Administrative Committee on Coordination - and in the field through the enhancement of the role of the Special Representatives of the Secretary-General. These efforts must be pursued and developed in the light of experience gained. The large number of small arms available in conflict areas represents an important problem both during and after conflicts. There is a need to establish better control over transfers of small arms. There have been a number of encouraging regional initiatives in this regard, most notably the moratorium on the manufacture, export and import of light weapons declared by leaders of West African States on 30 October this year.”
1998-12-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3954Resumption1 (1998) · source
“Successful implementation of post-conflict peace- building efforts requires a clear commitment by the parties involved. Measures must be identified and designed in close cooperation with those directly concerned, taking into account the specific conditions and needs in each particular situation. It is therefore of vital importance to address the need for post-conflict peace- building measures in the very early stages of conflict- resolution efforts, and to include such measures in the negotiations on peace accords. The implementation of such comprehensive activities also necessitates close coordination among the various departments and agencies of the United Nations.”
1998-12-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3954Resumption1 (1998) · source
“Too often we have seen the hopes for a better future shattered. Too often the vicious cycle of violence has proved to be stronger than aspirations for peace. It is important to plan for post-conflict peace-building from the outset, when armed conflict is still ongoing. Norway therefore supports the efforts by the Security Council over the past few years to develop and adopt more comprehensive mandates for United Nations peacekeeping operations. Recent mandates have encompassed aspects that are critical for long-term peace- building, including the facilitation of the reintegration of refugees, the demobilization of combatants, the collection of weapons, the reintegration into society of child soldiers and the reinstatement of legitimate Governments.”
1998-12-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3954Resumption1 (1998) · source
“The agenda item under consideration by the Security Council at today's meeting relates to the complex character of one of the most fundamental purposes of the United Nations: to maintain international peace and security. Conflict resolution and peace-building involve mediation, peacekeeping, humanitarian efforts, demobilization and disarmament efforts, reconstruction and reconciliation, enhancement of human rights and good governance, and long-term economic and social development. We appreciate this opportunity to participate in a debate within the framework of the Security Council on the challenges of post-conflict follow-up and the consolidation of peace. Experience has taught us that a ceasefire and the establishment of a peacekeeping operation are not sufficient to ensure peaceful development in a war-tom society.”
1998-12-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3954Resumption1 (1998) · source
“In this context, I would like to mention that my Government, in order to support training and enhanced security management, has contributed $100,000 to the recently established United Nations Trust Fund for the security of United Nations personnel, referred to in paragraph 50 of the Secretary-General's report. We encourage other Member States to also provide resources to this fund.”
1998-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3932 (1998) · source
“All Member States are encouraged to sign and ratify the Statute of the International Criminal Court and other relevant international instruments. Thirdly, problems that have a negative impact on the security situation of humanitarian workers could be addressed in the context of a humanitarian strategy that includes preventive measures. Such measures might be based on international humanitarian law and could include training for democracy and human rights. Finally, firm measures must be taken against parties that deliberately attack civilian staff members of the United Nations and the personnel of humanitarian organizations.”
1998-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3932 (1998) · source
“Providing protection and assistance to refugees and internally displaced persons often means operating in areas of conflict. Humanitarian assistance should therefore always be part of a broader international effort aimed at seeking political solutions and the peaceful settlement of conflicts. In order to ensure a cohesive response, the possible role of humanitarian assistance in contributing to such broader goals should therefore be analysed. Secondly, to improve the current situation, it is important that those responsible for violations of international law, including international humanitarian law, be brought to justice. The International Criminal Court should fulfil its potential by ensuring better accountability of States, non-State actors and individuals.”
1998-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3932 (1998) · source
“It is an honour for me to address the Council during the Swedish presidency. On behalf of Norway, I would like express appreciation for the Secretary-General's report on protection for humanitarian assistance to refugees and others in conflict situations. We would like to support the European Union statement, with which we fully agree. In addition, I would like to emphasize some points that we believe are of particular importance. First, the necessity of ensuring consistency and coordination between humanitarian action and broader United Nations peace and development activities should be stressed. The contribution of targeted and efficient assistance to people in distress is an important objective of Norway's humanitarian policy.”
1998-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3932 (1998) · source
“Norway urges the parties to the peace process to intensify their bilateral consultations at the highest possible level, to implement the outstanding issues in the Interim Agreements, including the redeployment on the West Bank, and to move as fast as possible to the final status negotiations.”
1998-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3900 (1998) · source
“Norway is concerned about the recent approval by the Israeli Government of plans which would alter the demographic balance in the Jerusalem area. This new Israeli plan is not conducive to creating trust between the parties in the Middle East peace process, which is essential to move the process out of the present stalemate. On the contrary, the decision might increase the tension between the parties, as it might contribute to pre- empting the outcome of the final status talks. Israel should recognize the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention - both de facto and de jure - to the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and to other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, and should comply fully with its provisions. Norway appeals to the parties to respect the letter and the spirit of the Oslo accords.”
1998-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3900 (1998) · source
“States are in the process of negotiating an optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on involvement of children in armed conflict. Norway is among the States that support raising the age limit of participation in hostilities to 18 years. Children under this age should in all circumstances be protected from taking part in warfare. The challenge before the international community is no less than that of creating a culture for protecting children. We look forward to a continued focus and follow-up by the Security Council on this important issue.”
1998-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3896 (1998) · source
“We encourage the United Nations to continue to promote awareness of these sensitive issues in the training of its staff. Landmines are a threat to all civilians, not least to children. The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction has established an international framework for further comprehensive action. We are encouraged by the broad global support extended to the Convention, and in particular the many mine- affected countries that have signed it. We see mine action as part of the wider agenda for peace and sustainable development. Participation of children in armed conflict is a tragic and growing problem.”
1998-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3896 (1998) · source
“But much remains to be done on this sensitive and painful issue, and as we speak, important work is being carried out in Rome, where the statutes for the new permanent international criminal court are being negotiated, based, inter alia, on input from the Special Representative. When the United Nations, on behalf of the world community, sends humanitarian personnel, peacekeeping forces or other representatives to conflict areas, they must live up to the highest standards of behaviour towards the local population. Regrettably, this has not always been the case. There should be compulsory training to sensitize all peacekeepers to problems of child prostitution and exploitation of children, as some countries have already established.”
1998-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3896 (1998) · source
“We must face the fact that women and children are Victims of rape, sexual abuse and gender-based Violence, which in many places have become an intrinsic part of armed-conflict strategies. These activities are being used systematically by certain armed forces to humiliate and demoralize their declared enemies, as well as against the national population in internal conflicts. This practice cannot be tolerated. The international community should make it clear that this is unacceptable and that the military leadership should be held responsible for the conduct of their forces. Norway has supported programmes for the rehabilitation of women who have been victims of sexual violence in, for example, the former Yugoslavia.”
1998-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3896 (1998) · source
“The Security Council should consider whether the collection and destruction of small arms should be part of the mandate of future peacekeeping operations, as is the case in the ongoing operation in the Central African Republic. Demobilization and reintegration of soldiers must be part of an integrated humanitarian relief and peace-building strategy. Psycho-social rehabilitation and the reintegration of children who have experienced the atrocities of war even before they can read and write pose specific challenges to which the international community should devote more attention. We fully support the efforts of the Special Representative to engage the United Nations agencies and international humanitarian non-governmental organizations to this end.”
1998-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3896 (1998) · source
“The Security Council can address the needs of children in different ways when establishing the mandates of peacekeeping and peace-building operations and in the context of mediation of peace agreements. In conflict areas, access to humanitarian supplies is Vital. The Security Council must take this into account in its consideration of conflict situations, and it must also be willing to consider facilitating the disbursement of necessary humanitarian relief where the needs of children have to be given special consideration. In modern wars, most casualties are caused by small arms, far too often in the hands of children. Small arms must be controlled.”
1998-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3896 (1998) · source
“In his interim report to the Commission on Human Rights, the Special Representative stated, "the most important and pressing challenge today is how to translate [international] standards and [local norms] into action that can make a tangible difference to the fate of children exposed to danger on the ground." [E/CN.4/1998/119, Summary] Norway therefore welcomes the fact that the Security Council has included this issue on its agenda, and we appreciate the opportunity to participate in this open debate. As the body with primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, the Security Council must take the interests of children explicitly into account in its considerations. The Council should be kept regularly informed of the activities of the Special Representative.”
1998-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3896 (1998) · source
“Children are the least responsible yet the most vulnerable victims in all conflicts. They are widely used as instruments of war - inter alia, as child soldiers - and they are deliberately targeted. This is intolerable and unacceptable. Norway strongly supports the work of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict in his important role as an advocate of political and humanitarian initiatives to benefit children at the international level, as well as in contacts with the parties to a conflict. We feel that the work of the Special Representative should be followed up by all relevant bodies of the United Nations system, as well as by other organizations.”
1998-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3896 (1998) · source
“Finally, I join the Secretary-General in the hope that the report will mark a new beginning in the relationship between the United Nations and Africa. Norway strongly supports the call for continuous involvement by the world community in the development and security of Africa. Hopefully, such a partnership will contribute to the creation of a true African renaissance.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“Sometimes one may actually do more harm than good. Better coordination at the country level is crucial, among donors and between donors and the African countries. This implies that everyone should be prepared to lower their own flags for the sake of better results in our development efforts. Such coordination is also crucial in responding to conflict situations in order to harmonize policies and actions, to avoid the possible pitfalls of a proliferation of mediation efforts and, in cases where sanctions have been imposed by the international community, to improve their effectiveness. In this respect we welcome the recommendation that sanctions should be better targeted at decision makers. This is in line with a holistic human rights perspective, where the effects on social, economic and cultural rights are also duly taken into account.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“The proposal by Mali to establish a moratorium on small arms for West African countries is a very encouraging one, and we were pleased to be able to participate in thorough discussions of this proposal at a recent seminar in Oslo. We join the Secretary-General in urging all African countries to participate in the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms. Landmines constitute a serious obstacle to post-conflict reconstruction. We urge all Member countries to sign and ratify the Ottawa Convention. We join others in emphasizing strongly the need for adequate resources for mine-clearing activities. Norway has already stated its intention to contribute $120 million over the next five years to this task. The development efforts of many African countries are currently being hampered by the lack of adequate coordination among donors.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“We regard the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Debt (HIPC) Initiative as an important initiative and a milestone in the efforts by the international community to ease the debt burden of the poorest and most indebted countries. The Norwegian Government is now finalizing a plan for debt reduction for the developing countries. Initiatives to stop the unlawful use and excessive accumulation of small arms ought to be an integral part of domestic as well as foreign policy. In some countries, support is needed to restructure the national security sector and train security personnel. Efforts to collect and destroy small arms after conflicts also merit our active support.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“The building of local capacity, which is a central theme in the Secretary-General's report, is crucial for economic development, and we see the untying of aid as a vital step towards facilitating the growth of the private sector in African countries. My Government is currently working on a plan to increase Norwegian development assistance to 1 per cent of our gross domestic product by the year 2001. Special emphasis will be placed on increased cooperation with African countries, on poverty alleviation, on improved delivery of social services and on debt reduction. Norway has for a long time strongly advocated international solutions to the serious debt burden of the heavily indebted poor countries, and we have focused on programmes which can provide efficient debt relief operations.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“Poverty reduction represents one of the most urgent challenges in Africa. Poverty reduction is crucial in terms of economic development, political stability and regional and global security. It is also in itself a realization of some of the most fundamental human rights in the social and economic area. To succeed in this endeavour, we believe that the following factors must be emphasized. First, the international trend of reduced disbursements of development assistance must be reversed. There should be, inter alia, an increase in the aid provided to least developed countries. Secondly, increased resources must be channelled to the social sectors, specifically to education and health. And thirdly, the focus should be on the poor segments of the population. Economic development is fundamental in achieving poverty reduction.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“Improving and enhancing African capacity with regard to peacekeeping operations and conflict prevention will contribute to the stability of the continent. The role of the international community should primarily be to strengthen and support the efforts and initiatives taken by the African countries themselves. This is part of the responsibility of the international community, and we are looking forward to cooperating with African countries and others under the aegis of the United Nations. Norway fully concurs with the Secretary-General's identification of three critical factors in addressing the security challenges facing Africa: the need for a clear understanding of the causes underlying conflicts, the political will to respond and the need for adequate resources to address the challenges.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“The Norwegian development cooperation programmes with African countries have also increasingly addressed questions of governance, democracy-building and human rights, factors which are crucial in order to prevent conflicts from erupting. We also view humanitarian aid in close conjunction with efforts to promote peace and prevent conflict, and we support efforts to enhance African peacekeeping capacity. The Secretary-General rightly emphasizes the responsibility of African countries themselves for developments in Africa. We welcome the involvement of the Organization of African Unity and subregional organizations in all stages of conflict resolution and in enhancing the capacity for peacekeeping operations.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source
“Norway has a strong commitment to the African continent. We therefore welcome and commend the Secretary-General's report on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa. We support the broad and holistic approach of the report and the recommendations it contains, and we appreciate this opportunity to discuss these issues in an open meeting of the Security Council. Norway shares the View that conflict prevention, including early warning and action, and peace-building are preconditions for lasting peace in Africa. A development perspective is, however, important. There can be no development without peace and no peace without development. The reduction of poverty is a necessary condition for realistically promoting human rights, stability and security.”
1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source