YouSaid · the spoken record

Lavrov

lines on the record: 2,533
first: 1994-09-23
most recent: 2023-09-20
sittings or episodes: 322
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

“I would be very grateful if the Secretariat could finally carry out a comprehensive analysis of what is happening with regard to the implementation of Security Council resolutions on Iraq. And, secondly, what is happening generally in Iraq and whether what is happening generally in Iraq and around Iraq is in accordance with Security Council resolutions. I would very much like to know in which specific Security Council resolution the term "no-fly" zone is actually used. In what specific resolution does it say that force from the air can be used over 60 per cent of the Iraqi territory?”
2000-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4152 (2000) · source
“And how, in general, are the activities of the United Nations in northern Iraq carried out? Who crosses the Iraqi border, and how? In our resolutions we reaffirm each time the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq. I think the Secretariat of the United Nations, which is present in northern Iraq, has some kind of information as to how these resolutions are implemented vis-a-vis Iraqi Kurdistan. We heard that the Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations had submitted the letter of his Foreign Minister to the effect that his territory had been attacked again. We do not discuss these questions. We think this is the reality, and it has nothing to do with the resolution that we quite rightly reaffirm each time in our meetings.”
2000-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4152 (2000) · source
“Of course, these are important questions, and I think it is very useful for us to discuss them today - not because I want to engage in confrontation or get into an argument about it here, butjust because unless we discuss these matters openly, honestly and in the presence of our colleagues who are not members of the Security Council, then we would just be pretending that there are resolutions and there are realities. I think we need to have a comprehensive consideration of all aspects of the Iraqi situation that I mentioned at the end of my previous statement. We would like to know about many things. We would like to find out, for example, who specifically works in Iraqi Kurdistan. Which non-governmental organizations are operating there? Diplomats of which countries are visiting Iraqi Kurdistan without requesting visas to visit Iraq?”
2000-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4152 (2000) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I do apologize for asking for the floor again, but I should like to continue this discussion that has developed and which relates to the implementation of Security Council resolutions on Iraq. Some of my colleagues have just said in response to my statement that their use of force against Iraq - which has continued all along and which has intensified in the last year and a half - is based on a resolution of the Security Council. We have also heard an accusation against Baghdad in the discussion, namely, that it does not approve certain contracts to supply goods from a given country.”
2000-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4152 (2000) · source
“We note that this specific paragraph achieved balance in the end. In view of that, the Russian delegation decided to go along with the consensus on the resolution. In conclusion, we wish to note that with the adoption of this resolution, the humanitarian crisis in Iraq will not be overcome. Although the measures undertaken in the humanitarian programme are meaningful and necessary, the only way to radically improve the situation is through the speedy lifting of economic sanctions. For this we need the Security Council to comprehensively consider all aspects of the Iraq situation and all reasons which impede a comprehensive implementation of resolution 1284 (1999), particularly regarding the disarmament and monitoring parts. We hope that the Security Council will do this in the foreseeable future.”
2000-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4152 (2000) · source
“In that case, these questions must include the negative impact of the bombings by the United States and the United Kingdom against civilian targets and the economic infrastructure of Iraq. As we found out today from the statement made by the Minister of Defence of the United Kingdom, the intensity of these bombings has grown by a factor of 30 since December 1998. We also had problems with operative paragraph 2, which we believe unjustifiably stresses the supply of food and medicine. Of course, these are important goods, but we think that areas such as oil and energy and the development of the transport infrastructure are just as important. Unless the crisis in these sectors of the Iraqi economy is overcome, we cannot hope for any improvement in the supply of food and medicines to the Iraqi people.”
2000-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4152 (2000) · source
“We agree with many other delegations about the need for an in-depth analysis of the impact of economic sanctions on the humanitarian situation in Iraq. But we consider that the wording of the resolution in that connection is rather vague and detracts from that specific goal. We would prefer that this provision of the draft resolution, as was initially intended, focus on the negative impact of sanctions in bringing that to light. But this paragraph, I repeat, was formulated in a rather general way and we think that the group of independent experts should deal precisely with the consequences of sanctions. If, in their purview, there are other things that do not directly relate to the sanctions issue, these issues must be considered as a whole, without any exceptions.”
2000-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4152 (2000) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): The Russian delegation voted in favour of the draft resolution, because of the need to continue the United Nations humanitarian programme in Iraq. We consider it important that the resolution establishes the level of appropriations for the rehabilitation of the oil sector in Iraq at $600 million, and includes a new notification regime for water and sanitation contracts and medicines. We regret, however, that the text does not reflect a number of other important proposals to ease the humanitarian crisis in Iraq. I refer in particular to restoring civil air communications with Iraq and to repaying Iraq's debt to the United Nations and to other international organizations.”
2000-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4152 (2000) · source
“We regard the start of this broad dialogue about the future of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as one of the most important tasks. We understand the desire of most of the parties to hold the dialogue in Congolese territory, whether it be in the capital or elsewhere. We think this question can be resolved by the Congolese parties themselves, with the participation of the international facilitator of the inter-Congolese national dialogue, the former President of Botswana, Mr. Masire. In conclusion, I would hope that our united efforts will succeed in achieving the restoration of peace to the long-suffering land of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and that the recommendations of the mission will help to that end.”
2000-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4143 (2000) · source
“At all stages of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Russia has believed that an integral part of efforts to find a settlement must be the settling of the problem of the disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and resettlement of members of armed groups, including the ex-Rwandan Armed Forces and the Interahamwe militia. We have always said that this question must be resolved peacefully and voluntarily. Detailed discussion of this matter, together with members of the Political Committee in mid-June, as is being proposed by Ambassador Levitte, could help us to move ahead in finding a solution. Another key condition for finding a settlement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the holding - pursuant to the Lusaka Agreement - of the inter- Congolese national dialogue.”
2000-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4143 (2000) · source
“We agree with the mission's view that developments in Sierra Leone should not be allowed to cloud the international community's responsibility to assist in the settlement of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. At the same time, we fully support the mission's recommendation that before the appropriate decision is taken the Secretary-General should speak once again to each of the Lusaka parties, at the highest level, with regard to assisting deployment of peacekeeping forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2000-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4143 (2000) · source
“In our opinion, the argument that fighting using that kind of artillery, as a result of which about 100 Congolese civilians were wounded, is not strictly speaking a violation of the ceasefire in our opinion is faint consolation, for such incidents at any point could lead to the resumption of fighting on a broad scale throughout the country. We attach priority importance to swift implementation of the agreements between the Ugandan leadership and the Rwandan leadership on the demilitarization of Kisangani. Respect for the ceasefire, the signing with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo of the status-of-forces agreement, and the desire - seen in contacts with the Security Council mission - of all those involved in the conflict for swift deployment of phase II of MONUC must be accomplished in practice.”
2000-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4143 (2000) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): The Russian delegation has carefully studied the report of the Security Council mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo that visited the region of this conflict from 4 to 8 May 2000. We join in the positive assessment of the work by members of the mission under the leadership of Ambassador Holbrooke in pursuance of the Security Council mandate. The main outcome of the mission, in our view, is the confirmation by all parties to the conflict of their commitment to settling the conflict by peaceful means on the basis of the Lusaka Agreement. It is encouraging that the ceasefire agreement is being respected by all parties so far. Against that background, we are particularly concerned over the clashes that occurred on 8 May in Kisangani between the Ugandan and the Rwandan forces.”
2000-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4143 (2000) · source
“In addition to the general aim of promoting the post-conflict social and economic rehabilitation of Tajikistan, the mandate of the new United Nations office should include such important elements as technical and financial assistance for the process of reintegrating former participants in the hostilities, completion of their demobilization, creation of civilian employment for former military personnel, disarmament of the population and the return of remaining refugees. Today, as the Republic of Tajikistan embarks on a path leading to the ultimate establishment of civil accord and peace, Russia is ready to offer all possible assistance for post-conflict peace-building in Tajikistan.”
2000-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4140 (2000) · source
“Together with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and our other CIS partners, we are ready to strengthen efforts to counter international terrorism and extremism. We fully share the Secretary-General's conclusion that the international community should continue to provide support to Tajikistan, which has now embarked upon the enterprise of post-conflict peace-building. Here, we support the Secretary-General's intention to inform the Security Council of the objectives of a United Nations office for Tajikistan, to be established following the withdrawal of UNMOT upon the expiry of its mandate, on 15 May 2000. There should be no break in the United Nations presence in Tajikistan.”
2000-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4140 (2000) · source
“We know that a great deal remains to be done to consolidate peace and stability in Tajikistan. We note with satisfaction that the report of the Secretary-General states that actions laid down in the General Agreement but not yet carried out in full will in fact be completed by the relevant Government organs. In that connection, we support such measures taken by the leadership of Tajikistan as the integration of former participants in the hostilities into the country's military structures and the removal from the population of weapons, ammunition and other illegal possessions. Russia also supports recent measures by leaders of the Republic of Tajikistan to improve the situation in the country and in the Central Asian region as a whole.”
2000-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4140 (2000) · source
“Russian peacekeepers within the collective peacekeeping forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), in close cooperation with UNMOT, have made a substantive contribution to stabilizing the situation, to promoting and ensuring the safety and security of United Nations and other international personnel in Tajikistan, to the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and to the implementation of the General Agreement. Over the past several years, together with their Tajik colleagues, Russian border troops have carried out an important task, helping to stabilize the situation on the Tajik-Afghan border by raising a barrier to the illegal traffic in narcotic drugs and in weapons, and by putting an end to the activities of terrorists, extremists and other subversive elements from the territory of neighbouring Afghanistan.”
2000-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4140 (2000) · source
“Petrov has said, the basis of success has of course been the goodwill of the former parties to the conflict, their political courage, their realism and their ability to subordinate their own ambitions to the interests of the people. I wish, through the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Tajikistan to the United Nations, Ambassador Rashid Alimov, who is participating in today's meeting, to congratulate all Tajiks on this important gain, which will have defined the peaceful, democratic development of Tajik society. Russia has played an active role at all stages of the inter-Tajik settlement process and, along with Iran and its Central Asian partners, has become one of the key guarantors of the implementation of the General Agreement.”
2000-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4140 (2000) · source
“Russia welcomes the success that has been achieved in the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Tajikistan. The implementation of the major provisions of the General Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and National Accord in Tajikistan, signed on 27 June 1997 at Moscow under United Nations auspices, is an important achievement not only by the Tajik people but also by the United Nations. The success of the peace process was advanced by the activities of UNMOT, the Contact Group of guarantor States and international organizations, and donor States, which have played an extremely positive role at various stages of the inter-Tajik settlement process. As Mr.”
2000-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4140 (2000) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank Mr. Ivo Petrov, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Tajikistan and head of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT), for participating in today's meeting and, most important, for the work he and his colleagues are carrying out in Tajikistan. Today's meeting of the Security Council and the statement which you, Mr. President, will be making at its conclusion are unusual events. They will aim at summing up the many United Nations peacekeeping efforts in Tajikistan, including the work of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan, and at reaffirming the international community's unswerving support for the Tajik people on its difficult path to peace and national reconciliation.”
2000-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4140 (2000) · source
“We have no doubt that UNAMSIL - which, once fully deployed, will become the largest United Nations peacekeeping contingent - will be able to stabilize the situation in the country. This will create the necessary conditions for the Council calmly to consider the various options for overcoming the crisis in Sierra Leone. Without excluding any options, we continue to believe that no peacekeeping operation, including a peace- enforcement operation, can replace a political settlement of the conflict, which is possible only if the parties have the political will.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4139 (2000) · source
“The mandate given UNAMSIL in Security Council resolution 1289 (2000) allows sufficiently strong measures to be taken to ensure the safety of international personnel in the country and of the Government of Sierra Leone. Of key importance here is the effective exercise by the military contingent of its mandate. In this connection, we attach paramount importance to the speedy increase of the numbers of UNAMSIL to 11,100 soldiers and officers, as approved in resolution 1289 (2000). Russia and the United Nations are currently addressing the practical issues of providing an airlift to Sierra Leone for additional units being made available to UNAMSIL and of sending a number of Russian military helicopters to Sierra Leone.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4139 (2000) · source
“At the same, we deem it necessary to remind the RUF leaders that the amnesty provided for in the Lome Peace Agreement does not extend to crimes committed after its signing. Events in Sierra Leone have challenged the peacekeeping operation which the Security Council authorized in support of implementation by the parties of the commitments they freely agreed to in the Lome Agreement. The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) has suffered losses. United Nations peacekeepers have been captured by bandits, as has been a Russian military observer. We convey our condolences to the families of those who have given their lives for peace in Sierra Leone, which has suffered so terribly. We firmly demand the release of detained United Nations and other international personnel.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4139 (2000) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): The Russian Federation shares the concern over developments in the situation in Sierra Leone. The activities of the fighters of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) have brought the peace process in that country to the brink of collapse. Today, when the air is heavy with renewed fighting in Sierra Leone, stirring up memories within the international community that have not even had time to fade - memories of acts of inconceivable cruelty with which the eight-year history of the conflict is rife - we call on the leadership of the RUF to think again, to cease violating the Lome Peace Agreement and, together with other political forces in the country, to help overcome the consequences of this conflict.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4139 (2000) · source
“In conclusion, I would like once again to underscore that the Mission was extremely useful. It made it possible to learn about the situation in the field. It made it possible to agree upon important findings. We hope that the members of the Security Council will support those findings in their entirety, because it is important to ensure a comprehensive approach to the implementation of resolution 1244 (1999). Our delegation will do its utmost to that end.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4138 (2000) · source
“If we want to fully implement resolution 1244 (1999), we must know what the environmental situation is in those regions to which displaced persons are to return. Of course, we also need to know the situation in those regions where people are already living and are engaged in farming and other activities. On the whole, the Security Council of course needs more and more detailed information about what is going on in Kosovo. In this connection, I must mention the recent media stories - in particular coming out of Germany - about the fact that, for some reason, a report of Finnish forensic experts who were working in Racak is being kept secret. We would like such things to be brought to the Security Council's attention, and we will be taking steps to learn about the findings of that report.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4138 (2000) · source
“As of this date there are 3,000 anti- personnel landmines and 3,400 anti-tank mines in Kosovo, as well as a great deal of unexploded ordnance, including 3,000 cluster bombs. This is a very serious problem, which, it goes without saying, must be addressed. There is also a problem connected to the use in Kosovo, in the course of the military actions by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), of weapons containing depleted uranium. We know that the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (HABITAT) set up a special panel that dealt with the environmental impacts of NATO's military action in Kosovo, and we know that its findings are very alarming. We would like that panel to continue its work so that the Security Council could be apprised of its findings.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4138 (2000) · source
“We also touched upon it in the course of our talks with representatives of UNMIK and KFOR in Pristina, and they tell us that this question will be resolved without involving Belgrade; it will be resolved by UNMIK and KFOR finalizing a joint declaration. We find such an approach inappropriate. We call once again for the establishment of a normal agreement on the status of KFOR and UNMIK with the leaders of the host country. In the course of the briefing given by the representatives of the humanitarian component in Kosovo we also heard that the problem of the return of displaced persons and refugees and the overall problem of returning to normalcy is being impeded by the large number of landmines in Kosovo.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4138 (2000) · source
“As regards the readiness of the Belgrade authorities to cooperate, we know that they have received representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights, Mr. Jiri Dienstbier, and they are ready for further contacts. We also know that the representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Pristina regularly visits Belgrade, and we think that if UNMIK is seriously interested in resolving this missing-persons problem, it should work more actively on it in its contacts with representatives of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Two last questions, one of which concerns the lack of an agreement regarding the status of the international presence in Kosovo. We have raised this question before.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4138 (2000) · source
“As Ambassador Chowdhury and Ambassador Duval pointed out, representatives of the Kosovo Albanians and of the Kosovo Serbs and the official representative of the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia brought this problem to the attention of the mission. It goes without saying that this is a serious, painful and sensitive problem. However, we are convinced that the key to solving this problem, as well as to resolving many other issues regarding Kosovo, is finally establishing normal working relations with Belgrade. We all know that the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia have not rejected cooperation as a means of resolving these problems. At the same time, they want the fate of many thousands of Serbs who are among the missing in Kosovo to be clarified.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4138 (2000) · source
“I referred earlier to the problem of the return of the agreed contingents of the Yugoslav Army and police, which has not been resolved. The political process to determine the future political status of Kosovo is being delayed. We are mentioning this for one simple reason: all of these matters are mentioned in resolution 1244 (1999). It is clear that this resolution is far from being implemented. It is equally clear that we need to pay these problems particular attention in our further efforts to implement this resolution. Today a great deal of attention has been paid to the question of missing persons.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4138 (2000) · source
“Matters of property ownership are very dangerous and may have an adverse impact on the situation in Kosovo, including the efforts for a political settlement, as is noted in the Mission's report. Therefore, we would strongly request that all the plans that are being made in UNMIK regarding privatization should not be kept secret from the Security Council. We also note the problem, directly connected with the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, of establishing foreign offices or missions in Kosovo. We would like to obtain information about the basis on which such offices are established. At any rate, as far as we know, no one has seen any regulations on that matter. We hope that the Secretariat will be providing us with that information in our future work.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4138 (2000) · source
“We note that since that time UNMIK has stopped issuing such birth certificates, but we would call upon the UNMIK and Secretariat leadership not to allow such violations of the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the future and to resolve all issues related to the functioning of this province of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in consultation with the Belgrade authorities. This is of particular significance for a problem such as that of property ownership in Kosovo. We have heard that UNMIK is preparing some kind of book on privatization and, again, is doing so without consultation with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia authorities.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4138 (2000) · source
“In that work, doubtless, we must take account of the negative experience of the past, when all of UNMIK's activities in administering Kosovo were not agreed with the official representatives of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. We have referred to these facts on numerous occasions: taxation, licence plates for automobiles and the release of identity documents. We reiterate that, in the past, UNMIK issued birth certificates in which citizenship was indicated as Kosovar. We have been raising this question for a long time in the Security Council, and so far no one has been able to deny that fact.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4138 (2000) · source
“In other words, everything that UNMIK is now doing must correspond to that provision of the resolution and must ensure the functioning of Kosovo with substantial autonomy within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. At present, that is not happening. We hope that the situation will change after the creation of the joint committee, and we think that this proposal, put forward by the UNMIK leadership and supported by the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, is very useful. The mission noted this in the report, and we expect that in a very short time the joint committee will be set up and will begin its real work on resolving specific tasks.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4138 (2000) · source
“That is also a task for the Kosovo Police Service, which is now being trained, and I am sure that here as well we must urgently resolve the question of the return of the Yugoslav police to Kosovo in the numbers agreed earlier. Another problem that causes us concern is the implementation of the provisions of resolution 1244 (1999) that are connected with respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Paragraph 10 of that resolution states that the international civil presence in Kosovo is established with a View to provide an interim administration for Kosovo under which the people of Kosovo may enjoy substantial autonomy within the framework of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4138 (2000) · source
“In addressing the situation in Kosovo and the problem of the return of internally displaced persons and refugees there, we must bear in mind also that, on the basis of our observation, a pessimistic frame of mind prevails among the minorities in Kosovo. If the situation in the security sphere does not improve radically by the summer, many members of minorities intend to leave Kosovo in order to find some normal and tranquil place to live before the beginning of the school year. Therefore, the task of bringing about a radical change in the security situation is a priority, both for KFOR and the international police, which must be beefed up to the authorized level.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4138 (2000) · source
“It is no coincidence that the Security Council mission's report calls for a very thorough approach to the beginning of registration so as to prevent any further artificial disruption of the demographic balance, which has already been disrupted very seriously. We also did not receive a reply to the question about the situation regarding the use of the territory of Kosovo for drug trafficking. The UNMIK leadership told us that that problem did not exist. However, we, and I am sure many other colleagues, are familiar with the information provided by non-governmental organizations according to which about 40 per cent of all heroin used in Western Europe travels through Kosovo.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4138 (2000) · source
“While the return of Serbs and other minorities to Kosovo may be slowed by the lack of measures on the part of UNMIK to prepare the necessary conditions for that return, the return of Albanians from Western Europe is taking place on a regular basis. In our talks a concern was expressed that among those Kosovo Albanian returnees there are many people who had been arrested in Western European countries for the commission of crimes who were then actually sent back to Kosovo. That process has to be followed very, very closely. Nor did we receive a reply to our question regarding how many people who had not resided in Kosovo in the past came to Kosovo after the deployment of the international presence. It is essential to give greater attention to that question.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4138 (2000) · source
“We hope that the request that the mission members made regarding the need for more detailed information to the Security Council on compliance with the arms embargo will be met. Given the lack of proper security, the problem of the return of internally displaced persons is not being resolved. According to various assessments there are many such people - between 200,000 and 300,000. Unfortunately, our question about when UNMIK will be prepared to implement that provision of resolution 1244 (1999) is one to which we did not receive a satisfactory reply. It was explained to us that conditions are not yet ripe for such a return, but we did not see that there was even a general concept of a return of displaced persons to Kosovo. I think this is a serious omission on the part of the UNMIK command.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4138 (2000) · source
“We also noted the importance of the problem of controlling the activities of the Kosovo Protection Corps. Unfortunately, in spite of our requests, when we were in Kosovo we were not shown the report that was prepared by the UNMIK human rights group on the activities of the Kosovo Protection Corps. We hope that is not a secret report and that the Secretariat will be presenting it to us for consideration. We continue to be convinced that the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) has not been fully disarmed. There is an enormous amount of weaponry in Kosovo. In that connection, monitoring the borders in accordance with resolution 1160 (1998), for the purpose of compliance with the arms embargo, is a priority task.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4138 (2000) · source
“It is therefore clear to our delegation that UNMIK and KFOR cannot, for the time being, guarantee security for all in Kosovo, as provided for in resolution 1244 (1999). Of particular concern is the fact that representatives of the international presence are subjected to attack. For the time being, we find no way of punishing those who are guilty of that. I can recall that the murderer of a Russian staff member of UNMIK escaped from jail four times. At the moment, we do not know whether or not he has been arrested for a fifth time. The international presence also does not enjoy full freedom of movement in Kosovo. At any rate, this applies to the Russian contingent, which has not been able to deploy in the area of Orahovac. This is a serious infringement of the international presence.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4138 (2000) · source
“However, I myself did not hear an answer to the question of whether there will be a repetition in Mitrovica of the sad experience that occurred in Pristina, Pec', anilane and Prizren when, under the slogan of a "multi-ethnic city", the minorities were in fact expelled. I also wish to point out that in assessing the statistics in terms of the drop in crime we must bear in mind that the number of such crimes as arson and abduction is not going down. Since the deployment of the international presence in Kosovo, 900 persons have been abducted and, as we have been told, the results of the investigations of those crimes are still not known. Instances of arson, which number 10 per day, also attest to the fact that this is not a simple crime, but one aimed at intimidating, with a clear political overtone.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4138 (2000) · source
“Of course, we could all become convinced that Pristina is beginning to look like a living city, and efforts are being made there to return to normalcy, establish an infrastructure, and so on. But the question is: who can live normally in that city? There are practically no Serbs left there, just as there are practically no Serbs in Prizren, anilane and Pee. For all intents and purposes, those towns were subjected to ethnic cleansing, and now they are in essence ethnically cleansed. Of great significance for that situation is the problem around Mitrovica. We are wholly in favour of Mitrovica becoming an integrated and multi-ethnic city.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4138 (2000) · source
“Those minorities also noted that they can carry out a dialogue among themselves but that as soon as it comes to a dialogue with representatives of the majority, then serious difficulties crop up immediately. That finding is reflected in the mission's report. Terrorist acts continue. Churches are bombed, and there are instances of killing. In this connection we must of course be very cautious vis-a-vis the statistics that the UNMIK command provides regarding the stark drop in the level of crime in Kosovo. The United Nations Police Commissioner, Mr. Sven Frederickson, recognized that the drop in the level of crime can to a large extent be explained by the reduction in the number of representatives of minorities in the main areas of settlement.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4138 (2000) · source
“However, the purpose of our mission was to see how resolution 1244 (1999) was being implemented, and, clearly, in so doing, while recognizing the positive elements, we did identify the problems that persist. Therefore, as we consider the report today and we think about how the Security Council might activate the process of implementing resolution 1244 (1999), I find it absolutely necessary to focus first and foremost on the problems and shortcomings. In that regard, I would like, as Ambassador Duval has done, immediately to address the security problem. All the minority representatives with whom we met in Kosovo said with one voice that they do not feel safe, that they do not have freedom of movement, and that they experience discrimination in employment, access to health care and in a number of other areas.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4138 (2000) · source
“Kouchner, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMIK, to General Ortufio, Commander of KFOR, and to their staffs for their assistance and support." That is the entire text of paragraph 36 as it was agreed by all members of the mission in Pristina. Apparently, the editors here in New York have tried to improve it in some way, but the text that we now find in the official document does not reflect the agreed position of the mission. We greatly appreciate the efforts being made by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the Kosovo Force (KFOR) and their entire staffs, under the most difficult conditions, to promote a full and comprehensive implementation of Council resolution 1244 (1999). The mission report indicates the positive results that have been reached in some areas.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4138 (2000) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I, too, would like first of all to associate myself with the words of gratitude addressed to Ambassador Chowdhury, who so skilfully and steadfastly guided our mission. Like all our colleagues participating in that mission, we concur with the findings in the report and, on the whole, we consider that the report reflects in a balanced and open way the current situation regarding the implementation of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999). The only exception to that is paragraph 36, the last paragraph of the report, which was agreed by us in Pristina in another form. I will now read out the wording that was agreed: "The Mission wishes to express deep gratitude to Mr.”
2000-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4138 (2000) · source
“We support the strengthening of cooperation and coordination between the Security Council and the above-mentioned organs on the understanding that in civilian protection just as in other issues there is a "division of labour" based on the provisions of the United Nations Charter and other international legal instruments. Bearing this in mind, Russia is open to a broad dialogue aimed at reaching agreement on specific ways to mobilize the additional potential of international political and legal means for the protection of civilians in armed conflict.”
2000-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4130 (2000) · source
“It will serve the purpose of enhancing protection of civilians as well as international personnel and will be a serious warning for those who violate international humanitarian law in the course of armed conflicts. Last year marked half a century since the adoption of the Geneva Conventions on the protection of victims of war. Unfortunately, despite the fact that the vast majority of States have become parties to the Conventions, there is still too wide a gap between the provisions contained therein and their implementation during armed conflicts. The problems in this sphere should continue to be addressed in the United Nations General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other bodies directly involved in the protection of civilians in armed conflicts.”
2000-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4130 (2000) · source