YouSaid · the spoken record

Kpotsra

lines on the record: 66
first: 1999-02-22
most recent: 2003-03-18
sittings or episodes: 5
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

“There is also a need for relevant and rigorous measures to prevent the recruitment of mercenaries from the usual countries of origin and for the countries that produce and export weapons, particularly certain members of the former Warsaw Pact, to commit to a true ban on the illicit export of weapons to African countries in general, and ECOWAS States in particular. This is the only way that the States of ECOWAS can hope to stem the proliferation of and illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and counter mercenary activities, in order to preserve the peace and security that are so dear to each of our nations, and to assure the harmonious development of countries of the subregion.”
2003-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4720Resumption1 (2003) · source
“Particular attention should also be given to the traffic carried out by independent intermediaries who facilitate the illicit trade in light weapons between manufacturers and armed groups. That must by achieved by strengthening national legislation in this area and by increasing cooperation between States in the field of border control. Lasting peace and security, which our countries wish so much to see and for which they are actively working to lay the foundations, cannot be established unless the international community makes a genuine and determined commitment, through assistance that is more sustained and is commensurate with our goals in the implementation of policies for the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants and the financing of peace-building processes.”
2003-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4720Resumption1 (2003) · source
“We are convinced of the relevance and positive nature of the Protocol. My country would therefore like to reiterate what President Eyadema said at a recent CENSAD summit held in Niamey by the members of the Community of Sahel and Saharan States. He stated that every member State must fully respect and implement the letter and spirit of the Protocol, as the economic integration that will promote the prosperity and happiness of the people of West Africa depends upon it. It is a fact that the proliferation and illicit circulation of light weapons and the use of mercenaries in West Africa poses a serious threat to international peace and security. Our States must act to further pool their efforts to eliminate these factors of political instability that are also capable of destroying economic and social infrastructure.”
2003-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4720Resumption1 (2003) · source
“In accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations, the provisions of the Protocol stipulate that member States must refrain from threatening or using force against the territorial integrity and political independence of other member States. It also forbids States from committing, encouraging or supporting any acts of subversion, hostility or aggression against other member States. States must also prevent such damaging acts on the part of resident foreigners or non-resident aliens who are using their territory as a base for operations. The Council will agree with my delegation that the Protocol provides a basis for healthy political cooperation among ECOWAS States in order to decisively prohibit any actions that may impair their sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity.”
2003-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4720Resumption1 (2003) · source
“At the international level, the United Nations Convention against Mercenarism should be further implemented and adapted to deal with new pernicious forms of mercenarism today. We are fully aware of the fact that the major objectives of ECOWAS cannot be achieved without first establishing lasting peace, security and harmonious understanding between our member States. Accordingly, Togo continues to attach special importance to the Protocol on Non-Aggression signed at Lagos on 22 April 1978, the scrupulous adherence to which will spare West Africa from the challenges posed by the wars it is experiencing.”
2003-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4720Resumption1 (2003) · source
“A review of that Programme will take place in a few months. Togo is a party to the Organization of African Unity's Convention for the Elimination of Mercenarism in Africa, which was adopted on 3 July 1977 at Libreville. We are also a party to the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries, which was adopted under the aegis of the United Nations on 4 December 1989. We are therefore very concerned about the use of mercenaries in the current conflict in West Africa. We vigorously condemn the use of mercenaries in conflicts, and urge countries and others involved in providing the services of mercenaries to end their activities for the sake of peace, security, friendly relations, brotherhood and cooperation among our countries.”
2003-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4720Resumption1 (2003) · source
“The essential goals of those mechanisms require that the international community further strengthen and make more effective its support through appropriate financial assistance that makes it possible for the mechanisms to better carry out their missions to deal with the problems caused by the flow of these weapons. The porous nature of borders makes it possible for such weapons to, among other things, nurture banditry, insecurity and cross-border crime. Similarly, the international community must provide considerable assistance to our States so that we can work to implement the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, which was adopted by the United Nations Conference on the subject that was held in July 2001.”
2003-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4720Resumption1 (2003) · source
“That was followed by the establishment of the Programme for Coordination and Assistance for Security and Development (PCASD) in March 1999 as a body to support the Moratorium. Progress has been made in the implementation of those two mechanisms, namely, through the setting up of national commissions to combat the proliferation and illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons, the training of armed and security forces and the collection and destruction of light weapons. All of that justifies the importance and utility of such bodies to our countries.”
2003-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4720Resumption1 (2003) · source
“It is therefore important to acknowledge that policies to re-establish peace have had very limited success, thereby promoting the proliferation and circulation of light weapons and the resurgence of mercenary activity. That activity has often occurred because former combatants and child soldiers are prepared to provide their services and expertise whenever conflict erupts or when there are uprisings against constitutionally established regimes. Given the dangerous situation that has emerged as a result of the proliferation of light weapons, on 31 December 1998, the heads of State and Government of ECOWAS adopted a Moratorium on the Importation, Exportation and Manufacture of Light Weapons in West Africa for a renewable period of three years.”
2003-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4720Resumption1 (2003) · source
“The first phase is the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of combatants in order to strengthen peace; the second is the implementation of economic and social measures conducive to reconstruction and to reducing social injustice. As the Council will recall in that regard, many measures were put forth to strengthen peace after the tragic conflicts in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Unfortunately, they did not meet expectations. The pledges of financial contributions to bring about the effective and seamless disarmament, demobilization the reintegration of former combatants and the reconstruction of economic and social infrastructure have generally not been honoured.”
2003-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4720Resumption1 (2003) · source
“How could one explain that progressive extension of war from State to State in our subregion? Looking at the situation, one could say that the ease with which armed insurrection and war take place so easily in West Africa is due to the proliferation and circulation of small arms and light weapons and to the ease with which those who provoke such conflicts are able to find the necessary local and foreign human resources willing and able to undertake destabilizing actions, aggression and war. However, that state of affairs can also be explained by the inconclusive results of two essential phases of the consolidation of peace.”
2003-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4720Resumption1 (2003) · source
“That Togolese presidential statement also demonstrates Togo's commitment to contribute as much as it can to ensuring that West Africa becomes a region of peace and an area that promotes economic integration throughout our continent of Africa. The item on our agenda illustrates the fragility and precariousness of West Africa, particularly as a result of the conflicts in the Mano River region and the civil war in Cote d'Ivoire. With the conflicts in Liberia and Sierra Leone, our region has been moving for over a decade towards a state of instability marked by the length of those conflicts and by the scope of their humanitarian, economic and social consequences. The end of the war in Sierra Leone led us to believe that there would be a climate of peace; but then Cote d'Ivoire plunged into turmoil.”
2003-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4720Resumption1 (2003) · source
“"Only strict respect for the Protocol will make it possible for our subregion to avoid the fratricidal wars that lead to the loss of many human lives, destroy property, maim people, drive millions of men, women and children into homeless exile and delay economic development and prosperity in our States." That statement by Togo's Head of State conveys the steadfast nature of our country's foreign policy, which seeks to make peace, security and political stability the fundamental goals of its diplomacy. It is for that reason that Togo is working tirelessly to find a peaceful resolution to conflicts and to establish peaceful and good-neighbourly relations of cooperation with our immediate neighbours and with other countries.”
2003-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4720Resumption1 (2003) · source
“"That succession of armed conflicts is simply the direct result of the free movement of light weapons and of the recruitment of unemployed young people who are trained in ECOWAS member States to attack other member States. If we want such wars to stop, we must do our utmost to fully implement the Protocol on Non-Aggression we signed at Lagos on 22 April 1978, precisely to ensure that the territory of a member State cannot be used for the recruitment, training or arming of assailants who would attack another member State.”
2003-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4720Resumption1 (2003) · source
“Hence, we have decided to give pride of place to dialogue, working together and preventive diplomacy to avoid having conflicts distract us from economic progress. "We have also come to understand that ensuring the free movement of people and goods- which is an essential component of economic integration - peace and security must be guaranteed to all member States of the Community. "Unfortunately, like other parts of the continent, our subregion continues to be at the mercy of fratricidal conflicts that threaten development efforts and subregional integration. "Day after day, the climate of insecurity - which began in December 1989 with the Liberian war - is spreading like wildfire. As if part of some domino effect, since 19 September 2002, Cote d'Ivoire too has been beset by civil war.”
2003-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4720Resumption1 (2003) · source
“Gnassingbe Eyadema, in the presence of His Excellency John Kufuor, President of Ghana, the current President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), at the opening of the Third ECOWAS Trade Fair: "By creating ECOWAS, we sought an ideal to become fact: to build a vast common market for harmonious trade and development in a space of peace and security. We rightly think that the peoples and nations of West Africa are as capable of taking their own fate in their hands, to succeed in integrating their economies and to work together to ensure their prosperity, as have the peoples in Europe, America and Asia. We are aware that no development effort is possible without peace and security.”
2003-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4720Resumption1 (2003) · source
“Our Government welcomes this fortunate initiative, which again provides an opportunity to the international community to assess the crises in the subregion and to determine in the light of the assessment that it makes the best ways and means to provide West Africa with the political stability and security that it so much wishes, with a view to ensuring that the integration policy can flourish. Before going any further, I should like to bring your attention to an excerpt from a speech delivered on Friday, 7 March, by the President of the Togolese Republic, His Excellency Mr.”
2003-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4720Resumption1 (2003) · source
“In addressing these warm congratulations to you, my delegation would like to assure you that we have great confidence in your eminent qualities as a skilled diplomat to successfully conduct the Council's proceedings during this month when all are looking at the Council. Mr. President, by including on the Council's agenda the question entitled "Proliferation of small arms and light weapons and mercenary activities: threats to peace and security in West Africa", your country, Guinea, is once again demonstrating its unswerving devotion to peace, security, friendship and the policy of good-neighbourliness.”
2003-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4720Resumption1 (2003) · source
“Mr. Kpotsra (Togo)(spoke in French): Mr. President, first and foremost, I wish to welcome your assumption of the presidency of this prestigious United Nations body during this particularly sensitive time when the world is wavering between peace and war. It is a sensitive period, because of tensions, conflicts and threats of war prevailing all over that are continuing or will not fail to cause many victims and destruction. Sir, my delegation is convinced that this sad state of affairs in the world can only reinforce your commitment to the search and the strengthening of international peace and security.”
2003-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4720Resumption1 (2003) · source
“We are prepared to make a vigorous contribution to that end. Furthermore, this was borne out by the audience that the head of State of Togo gave on 30 January to the Angolan Ambassador to Togo and Nigeria, who, at the end of his 13-year mission, came to bid farewell.”
2001-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4283 (2001) · source
“In that context, the imminent issuance, as announced, of the updated list of UNITA representatives and leaders, as well as the adult members of their families, will no doubt contribute to strengthening cooperation in this area. Likewise, further detailed information from the Angolan Government to help to identify accurately the individuals concerned, would assist enormously. For its part, convinced that it is the victim of improper accusations, and resolved not to allow itself to continue to be used as a scapegoat, the Government of Togo will in due course take appropriate measures to institute proceedings against individuals or companies that, through their misdeeds, endeavour to tarnish Togo's image. In conclusion, I should like to reiterate the ardent wish of the Government of Togo for a speedy end to the conflict in Angola.”
2001-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4283 (2001) · source
“I would like to draw the attention of the Security Council to the fact that last Tuesday, 20 February 2001, the Minister of Defence of the Togolese Republic, who is present in the Chamber, and I myself held a working meeting lasting about two hours with Ambassador Larrain and three members of his team. On that occasion, the Monitoring Mechanism was provided with an explanation and additional information about the military materiel in transit at the Niamtougou base on 17 and 18 May 1997 and about that which was confiscated by Togo. Discussions also took place with regard to the question of expelled Angolan nationals. On each of those points, we reiterated our promise to continue to cooperate fully with the Monitoring Mechanism, provided that the Government receives assistance for that purpose.”
2001-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4283 (2001) · source
“With regard to the section dealing with the trade in diamonds, and specifically paragraph 188, the final report indicates that South African records of rough diamond imports refer to an import on 12 January 1999 of diamonds weighing 587.89 carats, with a value of $48,500 and originating from the "Presidence du Togo". Laymen though we are in this area, we nevertheless have difficulty in believing that such transactions would take place without the identity of the seller being revealed, retained and recorded. We do hope, however, that the clarifications required by the Monitoring Mechanism will be provided by the competent South African authorities, and that this will also make it possible to shed light on the real persons behind that operation.”
2001-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4283 (2001) · source
“Despite the fact that Angolan nationals were not on the list of UNITA leaders and adult members of their families established by the Committee on sanctions, and even though their presence hardly represents any danger to their country or its institutions, the Government of Togo decided on 15 May 2000 to expel them from its national territory. One must agree that this was a painful decision that had to be taken and carried out, although it certainly contravened international humanitarian norms. It is even more intolerable to take note today of doubts regarding the effectiveness of the implementation of that decision.”
2001-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4283 (2001) · source
“With regard to the chapter concerning UNITA representation and the travel and place of residence of UNITA leaders and the adult members oftheir families, the final report seems to cast doubt on the application of the decision by the Government of Togo regarding the expulsion of 56 Angolan nationals residing on its territory. To be more precise, this was a matter of 36 pupils and 2 students residing with 18 members of their families. In this regard, I should like to recall that in my statement to the Council on 15 March 2000 on the occasion of the report of the Panel of Experts, I recognized that the authorities of Togo had in fact authorized the stay in Togo of Angolan children accompanying some of their family members for humanitarian reasons.”
2001-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4283 (2001) · source
“In the same vein, it is important that importing countries define and set up appropriate mechanisms to manage arms imports with a view to favouring an exchange of information between importing and producing countries. When questioned with regard to the transit of military materiel to Togo, the Government of Togo informed the Monitoring Mechanism about the documented case of the movement of military materiel between the former Zaire and Togo in May 1997, as mentioned in paragraphs 46 and 47 of the final report. That information was confirmed in writing to the Monitoring Mechanism only a week ago.”
2001-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4283 (2001) · source
“As the Monitoring Mechanism suggests, we should ensure in particular that the form used to issue end-user certificates is standardized and has a degree of security adequate to discourage and prevent their falsification. Strengthening these monitoring measures would be aimed at ending the practices to which numerous arms merchants resort, with the complicity of greedy individuals whose sole concern is to make exorbitant profits in disregard of established rules and norms. We should also hope that the conclusions and recommendations to be reached by the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, which is to be held next July, will make it possible to remedy such phenomena.”
2001-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4283 (2001) · source
“The Monitoring Mechanism, which succeeded the Panel of Experts, has established that the 18 end-user certificates that were supposedly remitted by the authorities of my country to UNITA leaders were in fact false documents. This is described in paragraphs 34, 43 and 49 ofthe report under consideration. The fact nevertheless remains that we must deplore that arms were sold and transferred on the basis of some of those false end-user certificates. It is therefore important that the necessary support be given to the recommendation of the Monitoring Mechanism to ensure that exports regimes for military materiel and weapons are strengthened by, among other things, establishing a verification system to determine the authenticity of relevant documentation and the actual delivering country.”
2001-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4283 (2001) · source
“A 17 May 2000 directive by the Ministry for National Defence regarding the security of borders instructed security and customs forces to deny entry into Togo to all individuals referred to in resolution 1127 (1997). Another directive of that Ministry, dated 12 July 2000, imposed a ban on all transit by land, air or sea of military materiel destined for UNITA. The readiness demonstrated by the Government of Togo and the various measures it has successively adopted have already made it possible to shed light on some of the allegations contained in the report of the Panel of Experts. Those concern, among other things, military materiel allegedly procured by UNITA.”
2001-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4283 (2001) · source
“Since deciding, on 22 March 2000, to establish a nine-member inter- ministerial commission of inquiry to carry out an in- depth investigation of the allegations contained in the report of the Panel of Experts established pursuant to resolution 1237 (1999), the Government of Togo has continued to take decisive measures aimed at ensuring strict compliance with national legislation and the conformity ofthat legislation with the standards set out by the Security Council. Among the measures is the signing and implementation of the following texts. In a ministerial decree of 15 May 2000, the Government of Togo decided to expel from its national territory 56 Angolans, even though they were not on the list of UNITA leaders and adult members of their immediate families targeted by the sanctions.”
2001-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4283 (2001) · source
“We wish once again to extend our congratulations to him and to reiterate our firm commitment to assist him in carrying out his duties. My delegation remains convinced that it is through substantive dialogue and seeking ongoing cooperation with all States that the United Nations will be able to achieve effective implementation of the sanctions imposed by the Council, and in particular those against UNITA. It is against that background that the Government of Togo committed itself fully to cooperate with the Angola sanctions Committee as soon as certain allegations - and not always very innocent ones - drew our attention to this matter.”
2001-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4283 (2001) · source
“My delegation welcomes and congratulates the Chairman of the Mechanism, Ambassador Juan Larrain, as well as the members of his team, for that constructive and positive approach, which has brought considerable change to the propensity, which prevailed only a few months ago, to resort to sensationalism and calumny with regard to this question. We note with satisfaction that the new Chairman of the sanctions Committee for Angola, Ambassador Richard Ryan of Ireland, intends to take up his mandate by opting for a constructive approach conducive to starting a frank and open dialogue with all Governments in order to obtain their steadfast cooperation for effective and stringent respect for the sanctions imposed against UNITA.”
2001-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4283 (2001) · source
“To your predecessor, Ambassador Kishore Mahbubani, I must pay tribute for the ease and excellence with which he was able to carry out his office. The open debate that the Security Council is holding today to consider the final report of the Monitoring Mechanism on Angola sanctions occurs within a context of strengthening cooperation between the Security Council and all States, with a view to guaranteeing the effectiveness of the embargo regime, for the following reasons. In carrying out its mandate the Monitoring Mechanism has to a great extent tried to favour an approach based on research, in cooperation with all parties concerned. That research is aimed at finding adequate ways of strengthening the sanctions regime imposed against UNITA.”
2001-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4283 (2001) · source
“Mr. Kpotsra (Togo) (spoke in French): Before beginning my statement, I would like to congratulate you wholeheartedly, Mr. President, on behalf of my delegation, on your assumption ofthe presidency of the Security Council this month, and to express our full admiration at the masterful way in which you have been steering the work of this body. The impressive role that Tunisia has played through you and your delegation only confirms the good feelings that Togo and its people have for your country, its leaders and its people. All our wishes for success go out to you, Sir. Allow me also to reiterate to the new members of the Council - Colombia, Ireland, Mauritius, Norway and Singapore - my delegation's congratulations. We are sure that they will make a significant contribution to the work of the Council during their term.”
2001-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4283 (2001) · source
“I would like to emphasize my Government's determination to shed full light on the allegations contained in the report of the Panel of Experts and, more generally, to contribute to efforts to improve the effectiveness of embargo measures. It is in this context that the Government of Togo is planning to establish a body to follow up and monitor the rigorous implementation of various Security Council resolutions on sanctions against UN ITA. We have already decided to invite to Togo the United Nations experts whose previous mission did not lead to a constructive dialogue.”
2000-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4129Resumption1 (2000) · source
“My delegation is also gratified that the draft resolution soon to be voted on by the members of the Council provides for setting up a monitoring mechanism composed of up to five experts entrusted with the follow-up of the work carried out by the Panel of Experts established pursuant to resolution 1237 (1999). My delegation truly hopes that the observations and comments made during the examination of the report of the Panel of Experts will be taken into consideration, particularly those regarding the working methods followed by the Panel of Experts. In conclusion, I would like to reaffirm the commitment of the Government of Togo to respect resolutions of the Security Council, particularly those imposing sanctions on UNITA.”
2000-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4129Resumption1 (2000) · source
“As I stressed in my letter of 24 March 2000, contained in document S/2000/256, it goes without saying that certain allegations can be verified by members of the national commission of inquiry only on the basis of the detailed information requested by my Government. This includes details concerning the type and registration of the aircraft alleged to be involved in the violations of sanctions, as well as the dates and places connected with their refueling in Togo. It is in this context that I would like to reaffirm the willingness of the Government of Togo to cooperate closely with the sanctions Committee.”
2000-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4129Resumption1 (2000) · source
“At the same time, we deplored the frivolous and entirely unprofessional method followed by the Experts, as well as the lack of consistency of the allegations raised against Togo. Nevertheless, and in order to make an in-depth study of the substance of these allegations, the Government of Togo decided on 22 March to establish an interministerial commission of inquiry composed of six members, who were later joined by the President of the Constitutional Court, the First Vice-President of the National Assembly and the President of the Supreme Court of Togo. Yesterday, I sent the report drafted by the commission to the President of the Security Council and we expect that it will soon be published as an official document of the Council.”
2000-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4129Resumption1 (2000) · source
“Mr. Kpotsra (Togo) (spoke in French): At the outset, I wish to express my pleasure that Mr. Lloyd Axworthy, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Canada, has come here yet again to preside personally over this important meeting of the Security Council. I also wish to welcome the participation in this debate of Mr. Joao Bernardo de Miranda, the Minister of External Affairs of Angola. About one month ago, the Security Council met openly to consider the report of the Panel of Experts established pursuant to resolution 1237 (1999) to investigate violations of sanctions imposed against UNITA. In the course of its statement, the delegation of Togo decried the fact that the report had been released first to the media, to the detriment of the States Members of the United Nations, particularly those that it implicated.”
2000-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4129Resumption1 (2000) · source
“In conclusion, I would like to reiterate the importance my country attaches to achieving lasting peace in Angola. Would not the energies we are now expending in accusing each other, in defending ourselves and in indicting each other not be better utilized in favour of that objective?”
2000-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4113Resumption1 (2000) · source
“Is this not evidence of Togo's commitment to transparency in inter-State relations? Is this not an indication of our willingness to dispel all misunderstandings and to contribute to the relaunching of the peace process in Angola? I cannot conclude my statement without stressing, for the benefit of those who have called for it, that just as they would not be inclined to interfere in the way in which the Innuit of Labrador or the Nisga'a people of British Columbia are ruled over, so are Africans loathe to accept directives or injunctions from individuals who come from elsewhere - whatever mandate they may have taken on. Until the contrary is proved, the future of the Organization of African Unity remains in the hands of Africans.”
2000-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4113Resumption1 (2000) · source
“As far as Togo is concerned, we have always affirmed and reaffirmed our commitment to the United Nations, to the ideals of the Charter and to peace in Africa. We have always advocated cooperation between the Angolan and Togolese security services. I am happy to be able to tell the Council that an Angolan delegation visited Togo last week, specifically from 4 to 10 March 2000. The delegation visited a number of locations that the international brainwashing campaign has identified as being involved in violations of the sanctions against UNITA. It went to the Commando de Kpewa National Training Centre, in the north of Togo, which was established in 1975 and has already provided training for and graduated over nine classes of monitors and commando instructors, both nationals and foreigners.”
2000-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4113Resumption1 (2000) · source
“Jean- Pierre Bemba - leader of the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo (MLC) - he certainly did not receive a welcoming ceremony commensurate with his presumed rank. Apart from the rather disconcerting frivolity with which the Experts - entrusted by the Council to work on a noble cause - offered these accusations against States, and above all against heads of States, leaks were cunningly orchestrated to make the report available to the media; there were attempts to set States and subregions against each other; and there was an impression of collusion between the interests of a country that has an official mandate and the implementation of sanctions against UNITA. These are elements that could significantly affect the credibility of the Security Council and of the United Nations. I think this should be remedied immediately.”
2000-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4113Resumption1 (2000) · source
“As a result, it was not until a few hours before their departure on 11 December that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of my country and the chief of police met with them, twice. Having some information on the violations cited in connection with the UNITA meeting, the Togolese side gave its reactions. Responding to information regarding the welcoming of Mr. Savimbi on his arrival at Lome on 17 November. The Togolese side provided evidence to show that the Government was at that time meeting in the Council of Ministers at Kara, in the north of Togo, and that there it met President Alpha Oumar Konare of Mali. Obviously, if Mr. Savimbi had landed at Lorne on the same day aboard a military aircraft, accompanied by Mr.”
2000-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4113Resumption1 (2000) · source
“I should point out, since the Panel of Experts did not deem it opportune to do so, that the period of 8 to 11 December 1999 was slated for the visit to Lorne of three members of the Panel. Unfortunately, that coincided with the summit of the West African Monetary Union, which was followed by the conference of heads of State of the Economic Community of West African States. We therefore proposed to the Chairman of the Panel to delay the visit slightly and to come after 10 December. However, the three experts did not heed our suggestion and kept to their initial plan as though their presence alone meant that all the competent national departments should be available to them regardless of the summits being held.”
2000-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4113Resumption1 (2000) · source
“One cannot otherwise understand how in paragraph 142, for example, the Panel of Experts can allow itself to say, "the current military leadership in Abidjan is said to be close to Savimbi and very sympathetic to UNITA." But there is not a word about the considerable influence brought to bear by distinguished individuals on spheres of power or on the decision-making process in certain countries. Also, one could well wonder about the relevance of omissions in recommendation 34 of the Panel, where nothing is said about certain subregional organizations to which the Council is invited to submit the report, as though to imply that there is a certain hostility on the part the members of these subregional organizations vis-a-vis the peace process in Angola. I now come to the investigations undertaken in my country.”
2000-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4113Resumption1 (2000) · source
“In any case, let the Security Council and the sanctions Committee shoulder their responsibilities, and I assure the Council that we will shoulder ours. Certainly we can be accused of many things - of advocating dialogue in order to foster peace on our continent, and of rightly refusing to hurl anathema on certain individuals - but I do not believe we can honestly be accused of having violated existing sanctions. Turning again to the selective nature of the accusations by the Panel of Experts, I would like to note and deplore the fact that many countries that have long been known to be involved in violations of sanctions relating to Angola are deliberately omitted from the report, and sometimes mitigating circumstances are invoked by the Panel in favour of certain Governments or countries.”
2000-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4113Resumption1 (2000) · source
“Savimbi, including his children, in violation of existing sanctions. We do not deny this fact, but unless we enter the logic of personal vendetta, we do not see how children can be held responsible for the actions of their fathers. It is, however, clear that if the children were on the list drawn up by the sanctions Committee, we would immediately take the necessary steps to expel them from our country. But would the United Nations venture to proceed along this road and deny the right to life and the right to education to children whose parents are - at a given moment, because things do change in life - presumed guilty of certain crimes. The devastating consequences for innocent civilians of the sanctions imposed and applied blindly against Libya and Iraq, for example, make us shudder at the very idea.”
2000-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4113Resumption1 (2000) · source
“I could say that those in charge of the Rex Diamond Mining Corporation, which was registered on 14 September 1985 in Toronto, have publicly boasted of their privileged relations with Foday Sankoh's Revolutionary United Front (RUF). These are proven facts that I am citing. Should I conclude from all this that the Government supports RUF? Would I go and write such a thing without asking for the view of the country concerned? This, nonetheless, is what has been done in the case of Togo, and I ask all the members of the Security Council to think about this. Let me come back to the working methods of the Panel. My country attaches great importance to this. We sincerely believe in the neutrality of the United Nations. On several occasions the report accuses my country of having hosted the family of Mr.”
2000-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4113Resumption1 (2000) · source
“For example, I could speak of the content of the excellent report from the Canadian non-governmental organization Partnership Africa-Canada on diamond trafficking in Sierra Leone and say that the De Beers diamond company - which, curiously, is so seldom cited in the report of the Panel but which controls between 80 and 90 per cent of the world diamond trade - acquired, in 1999, 35 per cent of the Ekati mine in Canada, which is to represent 6 per cent of world production in the years to come. I could also mention the case of Sierra Leone, for while there is no Canadian interest in the case of Angola, in Sierra Leone there are three Canadian companies - Rex Diamond Mining Corporation, Am Can Mineral Limited and Diamond Works - which have all been operating in Sierra Leone.”
2000-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4113Resumption1 (2000) · source