YouSaid · the spoken record

Kumalo

lines on the record: 1,090
first: 1999-08-25
most recent: 2008-12-31
sittings or episodes: 160
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

“We are honoured to participate in this meeting of the Security Council. We commend your able stewardship of the Council, Mr. President, during this eventful and critical time. It is indeed important for us during this wrap-up meeting to thoroughly reflect on the work of the Council, particularly in the context of promoting peace and security in Africa. Over the years, the Security Council has remained actively seized of matters of conflict on the African continent. The Security Council has sought to utilize all the different mechanisms at its disposal in seeking to fulfil its primary responsibility for the maintenance of peace and security in Africa.”
2003-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4766 (2003) · source
“It is still the most appropriate instrument for ensuring that an enabling environment is created in places of conflict and suffering, an environment in which the people can shape their own future and determine their own destiny.”
2003-04-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4748 (2003) · source
“We believe that in doing these things the Security Council has contributed positively to peace-building and reconstruction efforts, and we hope that this will continue. The Security Council is central to the success of post-conflict stability and transition. However, we hope that when the Security Council considers the role of the United Nations in post-conflict situations it will actively engage regional partners and incorporate their views, which may be critical for the post-conflict period. It is South Africa's view that the United Nations is indeed collectively greater than the sum of its individual parts. There is no doubt that it has achieved great success; it has also had its share of failures.”
2003-04-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4748 (2003) · source
“4) South Africa believes that the Secretary-General and his staff, acting with an approved United Nations mandate, have the political credibility, skills and objectivity required for creating an enabling environment in which post-conflict peace-building and reconstruction can take place. The Security Council has consistently taken the principled position that its responsibilities do not end with the termination of hostilities in any particular country. Council members have adopted an integrated view of security, which takes into account development and reconstruction issues. Furthermore, the Security Council has remained open to establishing a working relationship with the Economic and Social Council and international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.”
2003-04-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4748 (2003) · source
“Among those principles are respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of States and recognition of the important role that regional organizations can play in assisting with peace-building efforts. As the Secretary-General pointed out during the Security Council's interactive debate with regional organizations earlier this month, "Our Organization - for all its imperfections, real and perceived - has built up unique experience in dealing with a range of crises, by bringing humanitarian relief to millions in need, helping people rebuild their countries from the ruins of armed conflict, promoting human rights and the rule of law, and engaging in many other activities that have come to be seen as essential parts of peacemaking, peacekeeping and peace-building". (S/PV.4739, p.”
2003-04-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4748 (2003) · source
“It is time for the entire United Nations membership to actively engage in responding to the imbalance in addressing matters of international peace and security. We believe that this debate should take place throughout the United Nations and that it must urgently address the question of how to reaffirm the rules-based multilateral system on which our collective security is premised. The United Nations has a vital and fundamental role to play in post-conflict situations. It is the only organization that can bestow legitimacy and credibility on transitional arrangements. Over the years, the United Nations has developed norms and principles to ensure that comprehensive and multilateral solutions are found to address complex post-conflict situations.”
2003-04-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4748 (2003) · source
“I would like to congratulate Mexico on its outstanding stewardship of the Security Council during the month of April and on convening this debate at such an appropriate time. The presence this morning of the Presidents of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council is a wonderful and welcome acknowledgement that we need all the organs of the United Nations to become fully involved in post-conflict situations. We are living through yet another defining moment for collective security. For more than 50 years, the United Nations has sought to accommodate the interests of the powerful States without jeopardizing the interests of the weaker States. In recent weeks, however, this delicate balance of State interests has been upset, exposing the inequality among sovereign States and leading to greater insecurity for all States.”
2003-04-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4748 (2003) · source
“It is also appropriate to prioritize the delivery of essential medicines and food from the existing contracts and to ensure that the most urgent needs of the Iraqi people are addressed. The war in Iraq should not destroy the foundation of the rules-based system of collective security with which the United Nations and its Charter provide us. The founders of the United Nations sought to bring predictability to international governance. They envisaged a world order in which the lives of the innocent and weak would be protected, and not one that is premised on military might and the law of survival of the fittest. The United Nations is more relevant than ever in a world confronted by complex challenges. There are places all over the world where peace must be won. Iraq is no exception.”
2003-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4726 (2003) · source
“The Security Council must pass a resolution on humanitarian assistance that upholds the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq and ensures that the natural resources of Iraq remain in the hands of the people of Iraq. South Africa believes that the open- ended and punitive sanctions that the people of Iraq have been forced to endure for more than 12 years must come to an end. As an interim measure, the oil for food programme is important for the people of Iraq. According to the Secretary-General, 60 per cent of the 27 million citizens of Iraq depend on the programme for daily sustenance. We agree that this programme could be adjusted to ensure that the humanitarian goods that have been ordered by the Iraqi Government are delivered.”
2003-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4726 (2003) · source
“It is for this reason that we agreed with the weapons inspectors when they indicated that they needed more time - "months not years", to quote Mr. Blix - to assure the world that Iraq is free of weapons of mass destruction. The tragedy of the war in Iraq is that it continues to produce civilian and military casualties. Although we may disagree on the need for this war, we cannot ignore its casualties. The Security Council has a role to play in ensuring that provisions are in place to assist with the delivery of humanitarian relief to the Iraqi people. We would wish to caution the Security Council from being drawn into drafting a resolution that would provide tacit or implied approval of the military operations that are under way in Iraq at this time.”
2003-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4726 (2003) · source
“It is for that reason that we agree with the Secretary-General that "Perhaps if we had persevered a little longer, Iraq could yet have been disarmed peacefully, or - if not - the world could have taken action to solve this problem by a collective decision, endowing it with greater legitimacy, and, therefore, commanding wider support, than is the case now." (SG/SM/8644) As a country that voluntarily disarmed itself of weapons of mass destruction, South Africa strongly believes in a world free of all weapons of mass destruction. Ideally, we believe that no State should possess such weapons. We therefore made every effort to ensure that Iraq fully implemented all relevant Security Council resolutions, including 1441 (2002).”
2003-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4726 (2003) · source
“The United Nations is the primary institution that gives legality and legitimacy to our collective efforts to secure peace and security in the world. The fear is that despite optimistic expectations, this war may result in an unwanted occupation that will further complicate the achievement of peace and stability in the entire region. The war in Iraq must not be allowed to lead to the erosion of the principles and values that are contained in the Charter of the United Nations. For more than 50 years, the international community has relied on the United Nations to address disputes and promote peace and security in the world. Imperfect as it may be, the United Nations is the principal institution governing the international political system, and endows legality and legitimacy on our actions.”
2003-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4726 (2003) · source
“The moment we had feared has come to pass. Iraq is in the midst of a bitter war. Some States have come together to invade Iraq without the authorization of the United Nations. This unilateral resort to force is compounded by the fact that progress was being made in dealing with the disarmament of Iraq through inspections authorized by the Security Council. We regret this war, as do millions of people around the world. We recall the position of the African Union and the Non-Aligned Movement that war is not a solution to the world's problems. We reaffirm the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq, and believe that the people of Iraq must be allowed to determine their own future and freedom. Now more than ever, the United Nations must play a central role in securing an end to the war.”
2003-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4726 (2003) · source
“As a result, we fail to see any need for a further resolution until all the provisions of resolutions 1284 (1999) and 1441 (2002) have been exhausted. In conclusion, we wish to remind the Council that the peoples of the world are opposed to this war. Recently, the heads of State or Government of the African Union, the Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement and other international organizations reiterated their support for the full implementation of all relevant Security Council resolutions, and, at the same time, reiterated their opposition to a war against Iraq. Together with millions of people around the world, they want to see that Iraq is peacefully disarmed of any weapons of mass destruction.”
2003-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4717 (2003) · source
“South Africa indicated its willingness to interact further with the Secretary- General, UNMOVIC and the IAEA and to communicate to them such detail about the visit as may be considered necessary. We wish to reaffirm our full confidence in the work of Mr. Blix and Mr. ElBaradei and to support the professional work that they do. We believe that the Council can strengthen the work of the inspectors by endorsing a programme and a timeline for inspections, which Mr. Blix has already offered to present to the Council. We believe that any timetable developed without taking into account the programme of the inspectors can only lead to an unnecessary ultimatum for war. Furthermore, we believe that a deadline by the Council would be counterproductive and contradict both resolutions 1284 (1999) and 1441 (2002).”
2003-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4717 (2003) · source
“As the Council is aware, President Thabo Mbeki has reported to the Secretary-General on the visit to Iraq by a South African team of experts in the nuclear, biological, chemical and missile disarmament fields. South Africa sent its experts after several members of the Security Council had sought to draw a comparison between our own voluntary disarmament process and Iraq's compliance in terms of Security Council resolutions. President Mbeki reported that, despite the difference in South Africa's experience with disarmament, our team stressed to the Iraqis the importance not only of taking the necessary steps to disarm, but also of building confidence in the credibility of their process through full compliance in terms of resolution 1441 (2002).”
2003-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4717 (2003) · source
“For us, the fundamental issue is the peaceful disarmament of Iraq. Resolution 1441 (2002) is about disarming Iraq through inspections. It is not a declaration of war. Neither is the use of military force the best way to bring about democracy or to improve human rights in any country. The Security Council has recently heard from Mr. Hans Blix, Executive Chairman of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), and from Mr. Mohamed ElBaradei, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), that Iraq has been actively cooperating and that substantial progress has been made during the past month. The Al Samoud 2 missiles are being destroyed as we speak, and Iraq is in the process of accounting for past biological and chemical weapons programmes.”
2003-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4717 (2003) · source
“Our overall concern is premised on the belief that the members of the Security Council, who act on behalf of all Members of the United Nations, should discharge their duty in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations. The devastation of war - which threatens the lives of innocent civilians whose voices are rarely listened to, and which is also staring into the eyes of the young men and women who are called upon to serve on the front lines - should always be a matter of last resort. War should not be a means of attaining objectives that contradict the Charter of the United Nations. The Security Council must uphold the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Member States, in conformity with the Charter, and must remain sensitive to cultural, ethnic and religious differences.”
2003-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4717 (2003) · source
“We have to remind ourselves that the founders of the United Nations were motivated by an abhorrence of war and by a commitment to resolving international conflicts peacefully and through collective action. The Charter of the United Nations states that the Organization was founded "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind". It is that objective that we should keep central to our deliberations as we carefully progress in finding solutions to the current crisis so that we can ensure that weapons of mass destruction are completely removed from Iraq and so that we can thereby avoid war.”
2003-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4717 (2003) · source
“For us in Africa, the impact of this pending war will indeed be crippling. It is for that reason that we appreciate the opportunity to share our views with the Council at this critical time. The decision that the Security Council is about to take will undoubtedly transcend the immediate issue of Iraq. It appears to us that we are no longer debating the situation in Iraq and that country's full compliance with Security Council resolution 1441 (2002), but that we are currently defining a new international order that will determine how the international community addresses conflict situations in the future. This is an extremely serious issue that needs our careful consideration and that will have far-reaching implications as we progress into this new millennium.”
2003-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4717 (2003) · source
“My delegation would like to congratulate Guinea on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of March. Your stewardship, Mr. President, comes at a most difficult time for the Council and indeed for the whole world. We hope that your leadership and wisdom can bridge the divisions that prevail in the Council. My delegation associates itself with the statement made by Malaysia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. We come before the Security Council under the gathering clouds of war. Millions of people around the world have openly rejected this war and believe, as we do, that it is not necessary. A war against Iraq will be deadly and destabilizing and will have far-reaching political, socio-economic and humanitarian consequences for all the countries of the world.”
2003-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4717 (2003) · source
“We believe that resorting to war without fully exhausting all other options represents an admission of failure by the Security Council in carrying out its mandate of maintaining international peace and security.”
2003-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4709 (2003) · source
“We believe that the Security Council must redouble its efforts to bring about a peaceful resolution to the situation in Iraq, in line with international law and the provisions of the United Nations Charter. The United Nations is the most authoritative voice in a world of complex multilateralism and interdependence. It is an Organization founded on the need to preserve international peace and security. We should not allow its legitimacy and credibility to be undermined by this issue. When the Security Council passes resolutions, those resolutions are binding on all Member States. Security Council resolutions must be enforced without exception. We would hope that a Member State attempting to abide by Security Council resolutions would be encouraged to do so.”
2003-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4709 (2003) · source
“Although questions have been raised about how long the inspections should be allowed to continue in Iraq, we recall that there are no time limitations stipulated for inspections in resolution 1441 (2002). As Mr. Blix stated on 14 February, UNMOVIC has been on the ground in Iraq for only 11 weeks, during which the inspectors have been at full operational strength for only two weeks. Mr. Blix stated that the time frame would depend on which task one has in mind: the elimination of weapons of mass destruction and related items and programmes, disarmament, or monitoring to verify that no new proscribed activities occur. Mr. Blix pointed out that monitoring was essential and that it would remain an open-ended and ongoing process until the Council decides otherwise.”
2003-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4709 (2003) · source
“None of the information provided thus far would seem to justify the Council abandoning the inspection process and immediately resorting to the threatened "serious consequences". The Security Council has yet to fully utilize the inspection mechanisms of resolution 1441 (2002) that would make for more robust and intrusive inspections. As a result, the Council has recently received several offers from Member States that have included the deployment of additional inspectors, surveillance aircraft and mobile customs teams to check for prohibited goods entering Iraq. We would urge the Council to fully explore all those practical options, which may assist in enhancing the success of the inspection process.”
2003-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4709 (2003) · source
“He informed the Security Council that "We have to date found no evidence of ongoing prohibited nuclear or nuclear-related activities in Iraq." (S/PV.4707, p. 9) However, the IAEA's investigations are continuing. The message that has emanated from the 14 February debate in the Security Council is that the inspection process in Iraq is working and that Iraq is showing clear signs of cooperating more proactively with the inspectors. Significantly, the inspectors have also had the opportunity to verify the accuracy of the information that has been provided by several countries. There are still countries that claim to have information on Iraq that could be helpful to the inspectors, and we would urge the Security Council to encourage such countries to share that information with the inspectors as soon as possible.”
2003-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4709 (2003) · source
“More than 200 chemical, and over 100 biological, samples have been collected at different sites, and the results to date have been consistent with Iraq's declaration. He made the important point that many materials related to Iraq's previous weapons programme remain unaccounted for but that one must not jump to the conclusion that proscribed weapons exist. We call on Iraq to cooperate fully and answer all questions raised by Mr. Blix. We welcome the cooperation Iraq has already given to the inspectors, and we hope that it will continue. Mr. ElBaradei reported to the Council that since the IAEA had already neutralized Iraq's nuclear weapons programme by December 1998, the focus of its current activities has been on verifying whether Iraq revived its nuclear programme in the intervening years.”
2003-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4709 (2003) · source
“In that regard, we are pleased that Iraq has accepted an offer from South Africa of experts who led our country's programme to destroy our nuclear, chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction and the missiles for the delivery of those weapons. I am also pleased to announce that that team is on its way to Iraq as we speak. On 14 February 2003, both Mr. Hans Blix, Executive Chairman of UNMOVIC, and Mr. Mohamed ElBaradei, Director General of the IAEA, told the Council that they detected increased and substantive cooperation by the Government of Iraq. They testified that access to inspection sites was prompt and without prior knowledge of the sites that the inspectors visited. Mr. Blix stated that UNMOVIC has so far not found any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.”
2003-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4709 (2003) · source
“At that time, the Ministers stated: "We wish to encourage Iraq and the United Nations to intensify their efforts in search of a lasting, just and comprehensive solution to all outstanding issues between them in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions." The Non-Aligned Movement has noted the offer by several States to strengthen the inspection process. We believe this is in line with resolution 1441 (2002), which, in paragraph 2, mandates "an enhanced inspection regime with the aim of bringing to full and verified completion the disarmament process". The resolution also requests all Member States to give full support to the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the discharge of their mandates.”
2003-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4709 (2003) · source
“Through the adoption of that resolution, the Security Council unanimously decided to establish an enhanced inspection regime with the aim of bringing the disarmament process to full and verified completion. The stated purpose was, in the words of resolution 1441 (2002), "to afford Iraq a final opportunity to comply with its disarmament obligations under relevant resolutions of the Council" (para. 2). The Non-Aligned Movement fully supports the intentions of resolution 1441 (2002). Even before the resolution was adopted, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Non-Aligned Movement called on Iraq to abide by all relevant Security Council resolutions.”
2003-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4709 (2003) · source
“We, the 115 States Members and 15 observer States of the United Nations that belong to the Non- Aligned Movement, called for this meeting because we believe that the Security Council is engaged in a crucial debate which has important repercussions for the entire international community. The Non-Aligned Movement has always understood resolution 1441 (2002) to be about achieving verifiable disarmament in Iraq through inspections that would avoid leading us into a situation of war. From the outset, we understood that the inspections were designed as a necessary intrusive instrument to ensure the elimination of proscribed Iraqi programmes. To us, resolution 1441 (2002) was, and still is, about ensuring that Iraq is peacefully disarmed.”
2003-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4709 (2003) · source
“I should like to congratulate Germany on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of February. We would also like to thank Security Council members for having scheduled this open debate. Above all, we wish to commend the Security Council for its continued transparency in addressing the situation between Iraq and Kuwait. Before I begin my statement, I would like, on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, to express our condolences to the people of South Korea and the people of the United States with regard to the tragedies that recently befell them.”
2003-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4709 (2003) · source
“This misconception of the peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is based on the Lusaka Agreement and which continues to preoccupy this Council, raises questions about some of the equally ambitious conclusions this Council is being asked to endorse. Finally, it gives us no pleasure to come and contradict a Panel that the Security Council has appointed. However, we believe that it is important for the Council to act on facts, rather than on incomplete or even false information. When the Security Council speaks, the whole world listens. For this reason, it is important that the Council rely on accurate and factual information when it makes its decisions.”
2002-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4642 (2002) · source
“The Council will understand that South Africa regards this in a serious light, not only because of its imputations, but also because of the role that South Africa continues to play, both in its national capacity and as the Chair of the African Union, in achieving lasting peace, security, stability and prosperity for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its people. Perhaps one of the most sweeping statements in the Panel's report is contained in paragraph 65. In the last sentence of that paragraph, the Panel dismisses the fundamental premise on which the Lusaka Agreement is based - the security concerns of parties to the Agreement - and which the Security Council itself has welcomed as a basis for peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2002-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4642 (2002) · source
“I understand that my statement is critical of the final report and that it brings into question the approach and methodology that have been adopted in its compilation. It is our hope, however, that the Council will take these concerns into account in its consideration of this report and of any new mandate that may be given to the Panel. We suggest humbly that the Council provide clear and specific guidelines on the functioning, approach and operating standards of any future mechanism it may decide to establish with regard to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2002-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4642 (2002) · source
“Although we support the objectives of the OECD, we do not understand how the Panel can use this mechanism as a means of accountability when we are not signatories to the Guidelines. The report's statements about South Africa, South African companies and South African individuals consequently do not appear to be substantiated by hard evidence or information, nor does the Panel draw any distinction between legal and illegal activities of companies in its report. In our interaction with the Panel, the South African authorities underlined the difficulties that are experienced when dealing with the vagueness of certain queries received. It was pointed out that the provision of more detailed and accurate information would assist the South African authorities in addressing issues raised.”
2002-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4642 (2002) · source
“During the meeting with the Panel, the South African authorities specifically raised with the Panel their serious concerns about its queries regarding South African companies operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, without any indication as to their participation in the illegal exploitation of the natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. South Africa underlined the fact that unsubstantiated queries by the Panel about the activities of companies operating legally and above board in the Democratic Republic of the Congo could be interpreted as casting unwarranted aspersions on their activities. In this context, I should also like to note the fact that South Africa is not a signatory to the OECD Guidelines.”
2002-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4642 (2002) · source
“Anglovaal, Banro Corporation, Carson Products, Mercantille CC, Saracen, Swanepoel, Track Star Trading 151, Zincor, Iscor and Orion Mining Inc. have never been mentioned in any of the Panel's previous reports, and no information related to their business activities or conduct has ever been shared with the South African Government, nor has any of those companies ever been the subject of an inquiry addressed to the South African Government by the Panel. On 14 June 2002, the South African Government was requested by the Panel to provide a list of all South African and South-African-registered companies operating in or with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2002-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4642 (2002) · source
“In annex III to the report, the Panel lists those business enterprises that it considers to be in violation of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. Twelve South African companies are listed under annex III. Although no substantiating evidence for those listings is provided, the report states that "Countries which are signatories to those Guidelines and other countries are morally obliged to ensure that their business enterprises adhere to and act on the Guidelines." (S/2002/II46, para. 177) With regard to the specific companies mentioned, South Africa has never been approached by the Panel regarding a company by the name of African Trading Corporation.”
2002-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4642 (2002) · source
“The information provided by the South African authorities confirmed that a national of the Democratic Republic of the Congo had been arrested at Johannesburg International Airport in December 2001 with 13 diamonds in his possession. The Panel was informed that the individual had appeared in court, but that the case had been postponed until June 2002. It was further explained to the Panel that, since the court case was still pending, no additional information could be provided. That was the only information provided to the Panel regarding a seizure of diamonds with a connection to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In the information provided to the Panel, it was not possible to indicate the origin of the diamonds.”
2002-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4642 (2002) · source
“On 14 June 2002, the South African Government provided a detailed description of the role and the functions of law enforcement agencies in South Africa. In addition, the Government provided the Panel with details of relevant legislation utilized in curbing smuggling and organized crime. The Government stated, however, that the South African law enforcement agencies are not aware of any significant or organized groups that are engaged in smuggling or other illegal activities involving diamonds, gold, coltan or other natural resources originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Panel had asked the South African Government for examples of actual cases of smuggling made by the South African law enforcement agencies originating from the DRC and countries involved in the conflict.”
2002-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4642 (2002) · source
“The report goes on to state that South African officials confirmed the seizure of a sizeable clandestine shipment of diamonds from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but it provides no details. Also stated is that none of the authorities in those countries gave any indication that Congolese resources traded through their territories should or could be regarded as conflict goods, and that almost none of the countries proposed any meaningful measures to help curb trade in Congolese commodities that are tainted by criminality and militarization. In September 2001, the Expert Panel approached South Africa regarding procedures followed by South African law enforcement agencies in combating smuggling activities and organized crime, as well as a chart clarifying the division of authority and the responsibilities of various authorities.”
2002-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4642 (2002) · source
“In paragraph 139, the report identifies South Africa as one of 11 African States through whose territory goods originating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are likely to pass. The Panel further states that it submitted questions to all of those countries and held substantive discussions with government representatives from five of them. The Panel inquired about relevant legislation, investigations into the flow of the commodities, measures taken to curb those flows, other possible action to be taken and those Governments' needs for assistance. According to the report, virtually none of the countries that responded to the Panel's questions had conducted any investigations or adopted any specific procedures for the identification or inspection of the transiting of commodities from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2002-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4642 (2002) · source
“It should also be noted that the issue of Mr. Shefer's arranging for Zimbabwean officers to be trained in diamond valuation in Johannesburg has never been raised with the South African Government by the Panel. The question of Mr. Shefer and Thorntree Industries is similarly raised in paragraph 58 of the report. In paragraph 52, the report states: "Mr. Al-Shanfari instructed his security chief to smuggle diamonds from the Sengamines concession to Johannesburg, South Africa, and deliver them to Ken Roberts, the chief executive of Serengeti Diamonds." That information has never been shared with the South African Government, nor has it ever been the subject of an inquiry addressed to the South African Government by the Panel.”
2002-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4642 (2002) · source
“Shefer's company, Tandan Holdings, has a 50 per cent stake in Thorntree Industries, a joint venture diamond-trading company with ZDF." On 14 June 2002, the South African Government was requested by the Panel to provide information concerning the trading - whether openly or clandestinely - of Congolese diamonds in South Africa or the transport of Congolese diamonds through South Africa by the Minerals Business Company (MBC). It was stated by the Panel that the South-African-owned or -based company Thorntree Industries reportedly has an agreement with MBC to trade its shipments of Congolese diamonds. On 31 July 2002, the South African Government informed the Panel that it had no information to verify the allegation concerning the transport through South African territory of diamonds bought by Thorntree Industries.”
2002-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4642 (2002) · source
“However, the Panel chose not to divulge that information, other than to use it as supposed evidence in its report. I should like to use this opportunity to address some of the issues that have been raised by the Panel with regard to South Africa, to South African-based companies and to individuals. In paragraph 31, the report states: "Also working with ZDF is a convicted criminal based in South Africa, Nico Shefer, who has arranged for Zimbabwean officers to be trained in diamond valuation in Johannesburg. Mr.”
2002-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4642 (2002) · source
“Yet Governments are supposed to further investigate allegations of interest to panels without being given basic information. In other words, we would hope that panels are there to assist Governments in carrying out the requirements of relevant Security Council decisions. The South African Government met several times with the Panel. The Panel expected the South African authorities to conduct further investigations and to undertake any steps that might be necessary. However, South African Government authorities were expected to conduct an investigation with either little or no information. The Panel's report shows that the Panel had in its possession much information that could have been of assistance to further investigations.”
2002-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4642 (2002) · source
“South Africa would urge that the Security Council require the Panel to further investigate and substantiate the allegations and recommendations made in the report. We believe that the Panel's report contradicts the aims and the intentions of the Security Council. As a matter of principle, my delegation is of the view that, when the Security Council establishes bodies to assist in the follow-up work of the Council, those bodies must follow clearly established guidelines in conducting their work. These should include close cooperation and consultations with Governments. It is therefore not acceptable that an expert panel, given an opportunity to meet with Government authorities, withholds information on matters that are of concern to the Governments involved.”
2002-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4642 (2002) · source
“The Security Council is well aware of the commitment the South African Government has made towards achieving a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as that in the wider Great Lakes region. My Government believes that the achievement of peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is essential for contributing to the renewal of the African continent and the achievement of the goals of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). However, we would like to inform the Security Council that South Africa is disappointed with the content of the final report presented to the Council by Ambassador Mahmoud Kassem. We are disappointed in the methodology the Panel used in gathering its information and in the conclusions and recommendations the Panel sets out in its report.”
2002-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4642 (2002) · source
“We believe that the work of the Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo complements peace efforts in the Great Lakes region. The report of the Panel of Experts (S/2002/ 1146) is useful in highlighting the impact of the illegal exploitation of the natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in fuelling the conflict in the Great Lakes region. All the agreements reached in resolving the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will not be implemented as long as there is a belief that war is more profitable than peace.”
2002-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4642 (2002) · source