YouSaid · the spoken record

Laher

lines on the record: 187
first: 2008-06-04
most recent: 2013-01-23
sittings or episodes: 27
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

“The committee will guide high-level integrated strategies nationally to prevent substance abuse. In conclusion, international cooperation, including bilateral and regional treaties on extradition and mutual assistance in criminal matters, is a key tool to fighting organized crime. In that regard, we need a comprehensive, integrated approach that strengthens coordination among the countries of origin, transit and destination, as well as taking into account the principle of common and shared responsibility.”
2011-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6565 (2011) · source
“We welcome the collaborative efforts of UNODC, the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States to address this problem in West Africa. Similarly, my delegation hopes that the regional programme for southern Africa can further enhance our region's ability to fight the scourge of drug trafficking and abuse. We also hope that consultations, as well as the implementation of that programme, will be finalized soon. South Africa is in full agreement with UNODC's recommendation to adopt a comprehensive and cross- disciplinary approach and strategy in dealing with the challenge of organized crime and illicit trafficking. In that regard, in 2010 the South African Government established an inter-ministerial committee for combating substance abuse.”
2011-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6565 (2011) · source
“My delegation shares the views expressed by the Secretary- General, speaking at the African Union Summit in January 2010, in which he noted that criminal networks are very skilled at taking advantage of institutional weaknesses on the ground. In that regard, we strongly support UNODC's appeal for the reinforcement of the criminal justice institutions of weak States. As most transnational trafficking is regional and intercontinental, planning integrated drug control strategies at all levels is essential. South Africa welcomes the role played by UNODC in creating regional programmes. Such programmes are important because they assist countries with technical support in their fight against the world drug problem and strengthen partnerships between UNODC, regional bodies and Member States.”
2011-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6565 (2011) · source
“In the response to the scourge of piracy, we have seen the benefits of an international collaborative response. Such collaboration in our collective fight against piracy must be replicated in addressing other forms of transnational crime, and in our fight against drug trafficking. The success of the Kimberley Process in stopping the flow of blood diamonds illustrates how strategic measures, through our collective collaboration at the international level, can reverse the negative impact of such crimes. The production of, and trafficking in, illicit drugs has the potential to fuel violence, fear and insecurity, thereby undermining the authority of the State.”
2011-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6565 (2011) · source
“We strongly support the four areas of UNODC's response, as identified by the Executive Director in his statement, that is, strengthened international collaboration, building regional capacity, reinforcing the criminal justice system and, finally, adopting a comprehensive cross-disciplinary strategy. Those four areas present a realistic, action-oriented response to the increasing challenge of transnational organized crime and drug trafficking. Drug trafficking and transnational crime are growing concerns that can threaten countries' security. We have seen how in cases such as Afghanistan and the West African region the drug trade is used to fuel conflicts. Likewise, we have seen how piracy along the coast of Somalia has become a continuing factor in fuelling instability on land.”
2011-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6565 (2011) · source
“We also wish to express our delegation's appreciation to Mr. Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), for his briefing. At the outset, I would also like to offer our delegation's deep condolences to the families of the four members of UNODC who lost their lives last month while on duty in Bolivia. The world drug and crime problem continues to be an immediate and continuing threat to people in many parts of the world. It has a negative impact on socio-economic development, since it affects the public health, security and well-being of all humanity. Tackling the problem requires support and more cooperation on the part of the international community. Drugs and crime threaten development, create instability and jeopardize the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.”
2011-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6565 (2011) · source
“We encourage further discussions, through cooperation, in order to promote mutual confidence in a sustainable long-term solution, with a view to facilitating the work of the IAEA on Iran's nuclear programme. We therefore encourage all parties concerned to avoid any actions that could derail progress towards finding a sustainable solution to the matter. We also support the View that continued dialogue will and can contribute to a peaceful resolution to the issues at hand. South Africa strongly calls on all parties to resume constructive dialogue in that regard.”
2011-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6563 (2011) · source
“We remain concerned about the lack of progress with regard to Iran's compliance with the relevant IAEA and Security Council decisions - which are mandatory decisions - and we will continue to encourage Iran to continue its cooperation with the Agency and clarify the outstanding issues in order to restore confidence in Iran's peaceful nuclear programme. We believe that it is important that Iran take the steps required to build confidence in the nature of its nuclear programme. Once the IAEA verification activities in Iran have placed the international community on the right path to finally resolve the outstanding issues, it is important that this process should be fully supported. South Africa encourages the peaceful resolution of the matter surrounding Iran's nuclear programme.”
2011-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6563 (2011) · source
“South Africa continues to closely follow developments concerning Iran's nuclear programme, and attaches great importance to the important role played by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with regard to Iran's implementation of its safeguards agreement, and the Agency's continuous verification of Iran's declared nuclear material. South Africa believes that the IAEA needs to be continuously equipped with the appropriate tools to, first, provide international confidence that declared nuclear material is fully accounted for; secondly, that the IAEA is able to verify that nuclear capabilities are being used for peaceful purposes only and; thirdly, to provide assurances regarding the absence of undeclared nuclear materials and activities.”
2011-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6563 (2011) · source
“South Africa thanks the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006), Ambassador Nestor Osorio of Colombia, for his 90-day report on the activities of the Committee, and we pledge our full support. We also welcome the recent extension of the mandate, through resolution 1984 (2011), of the Panel of Experts of the Committee. The work of the Committee is an important part of the wider disarmament and non-proliferation goals that South Africa adheres to. We have often stated our concern that the existence of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, continues to pose a threat to the future of humanity. In that regard, we have also often stated that disarmament and non-proliferation are interlinked and must be pursued in conjunction with one another.”
2011-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6563 (2011) · source
“He reminded us that "After so much bloodshed and loss and so many outrageous acts of inhuman brutality, it will take an extraordinary effort of will for the people of Bosnia to pull themselves from their past and start building a future of peace". This is the final element that my delegation wants to highlight, namely, political will. We want to encourage all parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina to recommit themselves to the full implementation of their commitments under the Peace Accords and agreements. South Africa will remain dedicated in its task as a member of the Security Council to support Bosnia in those efforts.”
2011-05-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6529 (2011) · source
“We call on all parties to redouble their efforts in that regard. The fourth element is reconciliation. This should be the ultimate aim of continued dialogue. Essential for reconciliation is the commitment by all parties to fight impunity by brining to justice those accused of committing war crimes. This process must be executed in an impartial manner and by the judicial instruments agreed to by the various parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reconciliation is undermined by rhetoric and inflammatory actions aimed at undermining the Bosnian State. In conclusion, I want to quote President Clinton's statement when the Dayton Accords were completed, in 1995.”
2011-05-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6529 (2011) · source
“The purpose of constitutional reform is to establish strong and representative State structures that supersede all other structures. The third element is the need for dialogue between the parties, as none of what I have mentioned can be achieved without dialogue among the various ethnic groups and entities. Dialogue among the various structures and the High Representative is also crucial. Dialogue is essential for the adoption of the final Constitution. It will also facilitate the completion of the five objectives and two conditions, which, in turn, is required for the High Representative to complete his work and for Bosnians to take full responsibility for their country. Our delegation is concerned about the fact that no progress has been made in the implementation of those commitments.”
2011-05-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6529 (2011) · source
“It is crucial that the political leadership and the international presence remain focused on recognizing the balance brought about by Dayton and the subsequent political structures, and that they exert all efforts to ensure that this balance is respected and maintained. This is especially important in the completion of the Government formation process. We are reminded of the fact that the Dayton Accords were supposed to be replaced by a permanent constitution in Bosnia, and we call on all parties involved to again start focusing on constitutional reform, which is the second element required for sustainable peace. No one is served by actions that take the country backwards from the constitutional reforms already agreed.”
2011-05-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6529 (2011) · source
“It is therefore with deep concern that we have taken note of recent developments in Bosnia, which hold the potential to undermine its unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. As the country lies at the very heart of Europe, such a development would damage peace and stability in the Balkans and must be avoided at all costs. It is our View that the peace and stability in Bosnia are dependent on a number of elements. The first is that all parties, including the international community, must respect the rule of law and the legal instruments that underlie the political structures in the country.”
2011-05-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6529 (2011) · source
“South Africa welcomes the High Representative for Bosnia Herzegovina to the Security Council and thanks him for his briefing, which we have taken note of with concern. The Dayton Peace Accords are a peace experiment aimed at achieving, as President Clinton said at the time, "unity in diversity". In commemorating its fifteenth anniversary last November, Secretary Clinton in her statement reminded us that "the Dayton Agreement is a cornerstone of peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina today. It has provided a framework for rebuilding the nation's infrastructure, returning refugees and displaced persons to their homes, and helping citizens resume a normal life." These are assessments that my delegation agrees with and strongly supports.”
2011-05-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6529 (2011) · source
“In conclusion, we believe that the current developments in the Arab world will undoubtedly have a bearing on the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the broader Arab-Israeli conflict. In our search for a solution to the Palestinian question, it is now clearer than ever that we must not lose sight of the broader regional question to which Palestine is inextricably linked. We therefore call on the Council and other stakeholders to accelerate efforts towards the holistic resolution of the Middle East crisis, including the Lebanese and Syrian tracks.”
2011-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6520 (2011) · source
“We condemn the recent attacks from both Gaza and southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of civilians, including school children. We urge the parties to exercise restrain and to refrain from using indiscriminate missile and other forms of air attacks, which further exacerbate tensions in the area and bring further untold suffering to ordinary civilians. Israeli military attacks earlier this month on Gaza, which led to civilian deaths, should be condemned. We urge Israel to exercise restraint in defending itself, to ensure that its actions do not harm innocent civilians. South Africa also joins those calling for the release of the Israeli Staff Sergeant, as well as the many Palestinian political prisoners held in Israeli jails.”
2011-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6520 (2011) · source
“In that regard, in order to ensure justice, it is vital for the parties to implement the recommendations of the Goldstone report (A/HRC/12/48). South Africa also stresses the urgency of reconstruction in Gaza. We call upon the international community to exert serious efforts to compel Israel to allow for the entry of all necessary construction materials for at least the repair of destroyed and damaged humanitarian infrastructure and United Nations facilities, including schools of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, in order that dignity can be restored to the people of Gaza. We also stress the necessity of sustained commercial activity, including both imports and exports, to promote the economic recovery of livelihoods, businesses and industry in Gaza.”
2011-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6520 (2011) · source
“We urge the international community to continue to support those initiatives. With regard to Gaza, we remain deeply concerned about Israel's continued blockade. The international community's demand that Israel end the illegal blockade that has exacerbated the suffering of ordinary civilians must be adhered to. The blockade and the restrictions being imposed are in violation of international humanitarian law, including article 23 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, as well as contrary to the will of the international community as expressed in resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1515 (2003) and 1860 (2009). We reiterate the call for accountability for crimes committed during the 2008-2009 Gaza conflict.”
2011-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6520 (2011) · source
“Those parameters essentially include an agreement on the borders of the two States based on the 4 June 1967 lines, security arrangements, a just, fair and agreed solution to the refugee question and the fulfilment of the aspirations of both parties for Jerusalem. We urge the Quartet, of which we as the United Nations are an essential part, to convene soon to proceed on that basis. Intra-Palestinian unity is essential to move the peace process forward. We encourage all efforts to achieve that important objective. In that regard, we welcome the ongoing negotiations between Fatah and Hamas and hope that they will yield a positive result. We also welcome the Palestinian announcement to hold elections before September. South Africa welcomes the Palestinian institution- building efforts under the leadership of Prime Minister Fayyad.”
2011-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6520 (2011) · source
“These actions change facts on the ground and make agreement on final status issues much more difficult to achieve. The inability of the Council to adopt a resolution condemning such action despite the overwhelming support for it is unfortunate. We nonetheless call on Israel to respect the myriad resolutions adopted by the Council and immediately cease the construction of illegal settlements. We had hoped that today's debate would have taken place after a meeting of the Quartet, whose outcome we had hoped would have been critical to the resumption of direct negotiations. We had expected the Quartet to take up its responsibility and draw parameters within which the parties could constructively engage.”
2011-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6520 (2011) · source
“What is clear is that the status quo in which the rights of people have gone unfulfilled for decades cannot continue. In that light, the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be resolved. The two peoples deserve to live in peace and security. The September deadline by which we hope to achieve a viable, independent and contiguous Palestinian State is almost upon us. Yet, the parties do not seem any nearer to returning to the negotiating table to achieve that goal. A return to negotiations by both sides is critical. However, Israel's continued disrespect for the decisions of the Security Council, and the United Nations in general, by continuing to build illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, remains an obstacle.”
2011-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6520 (2011) · source
“My delegation would like to express its appreciation to Under-Secretary- General Lynn Pascoe for his briefing to the Council. My delegation would also like to associate itself with the statement to be delivered by the representative of Egypt on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. As we gather here today to consider the situation in the Middle East, we cannot ignore the uprisings that have engulfed the region and the Arab world in general. These developments have so far resulted in the fall of long-standing regimes in Tunisia and Egypt. The authorities in other countries in the region are being challenged by their populations. The international community will certainly gather some important lessons from this historic chapter.”
2011-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6520 (2011) · source
“We have also cautioned against actions that could be undertaken that would minimize the capacity of the IAEA to perform its verification work in Iran. We take note of the recent statements of the E3+3, which emphasize diplomatic dialogue. South Africa strongly encourages all parties to resume constructive dialogue in that regard.”
2011-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6502 (2011) · source
“South Africa remains deeply concerned about Iran's lack of compliance with the relevant Security Council resolutions. We note, inter alia, that contrary to the resolutions of the IAEA Board of Governors and Security Council, Iran has not suspended its enrichment-related activities. My delegation urges Iran to comply with the Council's resolutions and cooperate with the Agency so as to clarify the remaining outstanding issues and restore confidence in Iran's peaceful nuclear programme. South Africa has repeatedly stated that it would not want to see any country denied its rights under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. We have said that the call on Iran to suspend enrichment activities should not be a goal in itself.”
2011-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6502 (2011) · source
“South Africa thanks the Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006) for his 90-day report on the activities of the Committee. We pledge our support for the Committee's work. South Africa shares the concerns regarding the threats posed by the use or threat of use of weapons of mass destruction. Due to their reach and indiscriminate nature, those weapons threaten not only individual countries but also the international community as a whole. South Africa has closely followed developments in Iran's nuclear programme and welcomes the vital role played by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with regard to Iran's implementation of its Safeguards Agreement and the Agency's continuous verification of Iran's declared nuclear material.”
2011-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6502 (2011) · source
“In conclusion, we would like to reiterate that the Security Council has the responsibility to ensure that the powers it grants to the multinational force are exercised in a manner consistent with the decisions of the Council and that Iraq's natural resources and the funds in the Development Fund for Iraq are used for the benefit of its people.”
2008-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6016 (2008) · source
“We are pleased that the United Nations is able to play a positive role in assisting with national reconciliation, internal and regional political dialogue, resolving boundary disputes and providing constitutional and electoral support, as well as humanitarian, reconstruction and development assistance. Therefore, South Africa continues to support the presence of UNAMI in Iraq under its current mandate, in line with our commitment to multilateralism and conflict resolution. South Africans, for their part, have been sharing their experiences in conflict resolution and national reconciliation with their Iraqi counterparts through the Helsinki II process. We hope that our national experience could offer hope for a better life for the million of Iraqis during this difficult time of their history.”
2008-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6016 (2008) · source
“Moreover, the dire humanitarian situation, particularly that experienced by refugees, continues to have a negative impact on Iraqi and regional stability. It should be emphasized that the multinational force operates in Iraq under a United Nations mandate. Consequently, its actions have a direct bearing on the credibility and reputation of this body and its ability to act as an honest broker in facilitating national reconciliation and an all-inclusive political process in Iraq, as well as constructive dialogue with its neighbours. My delegation remains concerns about recent incidents in Syria and elsewhere where the national borders of sovereign nations are violated and innocent civilians are harmed and sometimes killed in contravention of international law.”
2008-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6016 (2008) · source
“As the report of the Secretary-General (S/2008/688) indicates, high levels of violence continue and some important groups remain outside the political process. The Secretary-General also reports on the humanitarian plight of refugees and the serious human rights situation, particularly the violations of human rights of civilians and detainees. That continues to be a grave concern of my Government, and we call on all parties, including the multinational force, to ensure that human rights and international humanitarian law are respected. Persistent reports of high civilian casualty rates in military operations and of thousands of civilians being detained without being charged or afforded legal due process highlight the urgent need for greater compliance with international and Iraqi law.”
2008-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6016 (2008) · source
“We thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Mr. Staffan de Mistura, for his briefing on the activities of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). We also thank the representative of the United States, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, for briefing us on the activities of the multinational force in Iraq. We welcome the relatively positive developments that have taken place over the last few weeks in Iraq. They include enhanced cooperation among political groups in Iraq and between Iraq and neighbouring countries, as well as an extension of the authority of the Iraqi Government. The recent adoption of the provincial election law is also encouraging. However, fundamental challenges remain.”
2008-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6016 (2008) · source
“My delegation wishes to assure the senior officials of the Tribunals of our continued support towards achieving their mandate.”
2008-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5904 (2008) · source
“We call upon all States to fulfil their responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations and effect the arrest warrants of the Tribunals. We are particularly concerned that the ICTY Prosecutor indicates that cooperation is unsatisfactory in respect of the willingness to arrest Ratko Mladic, Radovan Karadzic, Stojan Zupljanin and Goran Hadzic. The States of the former Yugoslavia where the individuals accused by the ICTY are suspected to be hiding have a particular responsibility to cooperate fully with the ICTY. It is gratifying that the decisions we have taken in the past to alleviate the pressure of the workload of the Tribunals by extending the service of ad litem judges, in the case of the ICTR, and by increasing their number, in the case of the ICTY, have had the desired effect.”
2008-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5904 (2008) · source
“We wish to highlight that it is important that there should be capacity-building in national justice systems in order to ensure that they are able to absorb the cases to be referred to them and for the Courts to have the confidence that judicial systems, such as that of Rwanda, will be able adequately to dispense justice. We welcome the recent steps that have been taken by the Government of Rwanda to improve its criminal justice system and encourage it to continue upon that path. We note that the matter of referrals is an important factor in the ability of the Tribunals to meet their completion strategies. With regard to the ICTY, we remain concerned that, since the Prosecutor's last report, none of the fugitives has been arrested. Some of those fugitives are high-level accused who deserve to be prosecuted.”
2008-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5904 (2008) · source
“We applaud the efforts of the ICTR Prosecutor to transfer files and refer cases to competent national jurisdictions. We are cognizant of the fact that, after an indictment has been confirmed, only the Chamber is authorized to make a decision to refer the indictment to a national jurisdiction. We welcome the request of the ICTR Prosecutor to the Chamber to transfer five cases, including the case of one fugitive, to Rwanda. In that regard, we have noted the decision of the Chamber not to allow referral of the cases to Rwanda, and we respect that decision.”
2008-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5904 (2008) · source
“My delegation wishes to thank Judge Fausto Pocar, President of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), and Judge Dennis Byron, President of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), for their statements introducing the respective reports of their Tribunals. We are also grateful to the respective Prosecutors of the ad hoc Tribunals for their informative statements on the steps they are taking to implement the completion strategies. This being the first report of Mr. Serge Brammertz as Prosecutor of the ICTY, we wish to convey our warm welcome to him and wish him well in his new capacity. My delegation is pleased with the steps that the Tribunals are taking to ensure that they achieve the completion strategies.”
2008-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5904 (2008) · source