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

“Many of them are children, women, the elderly, refugees and displaced persons; in other words, the most vulnerable groups of the population. Political and humanitarian personnel of United Nations missions, the International Committee of the Red Cross and non-governmental organizations also fall victim to armed conflict. The primary responsibility for protecting civilians in all circumstances is vested in the States and parties to an armed conflict. However, international efforts undertaken, including those undertaken by the Security Council, can have a powerful, positive impact on the performance of this task. We consider the resolution to be adopted after today's discussion as a significant step in the right direction.”
2000-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4130 (2000) · source
“Among our highest priorities in this regard is to step up efforts for a more effective use of early warning capabilities and preventive diplomacy, deployment and disarmament, including combating illicit trafficking in small arms. In the context of our discussion, we should specifically highlight the principle of the peaceful settlement of disputes between States and the role of the General Assembly and Security Council in accordance with Chapter VI of the Charter. Russia, like many other States, is fully aware from its own experience of the meaning of war and of the suffering it brings to peoples. Despite the efforts of the international community, armed conflicts continue to cause death and suffering for many thousands of people on our planet, particularly innocent civilians.”
2000-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4130 (2000) · source
“It also entails the primary responsibility of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security, the strict observance of international rules of conduct by all States and the implementation of norms and principles of international law, including international humanitarian law, by all parties to an armed conflict. The problem of protecting civilians in armed conflict is multifaceted and requires a comprehensive approach. Hence, it is fundamental to eradicate war from human society, to prevent and put an end to conflicts. This, inter alia, is the thrust of Russian initiatives designed to elaborate a concept of the world in the twenty-first century and to define the legal basis for the use of force in international relations in our globalizing world.”
2000-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4130 (2000) · source
“The goal of civilian protection, as well as the humanitarian aspects of international peacekeeping missions, is becoming increasingly important. We welcome the current debate and express our gratitude to the Secretary-General for his report, his recommendations and his statement made today. Russia's position on this item is based on the need for an effective, adequate international response to all crises, including those of a humanitarian nature. This response should be in strict compliance with the norms of international law and the provisions of the United Nations Charter.”
2000-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4130 (2000) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation)(spoke in Russian): We are pleased, Mr. Minister, that you are with us once again directing the work of the Security Council. We are also happy to welcome to this Chamber the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr. Jakob Kellenberger. We thank him for his contribution to the work of the Council today. Today, on the eve of the fifty-fifth anniversary of the end of the Second World War, consideration by the Security Council of issues related to the protection of civilians in armed conflict is of particular significance. The Russian Federation follows with great attention the relevant activities of the United Nations, including those of the Security Council and other bodies.”
2000-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4130 (2000) · source
“We welcome the report to the Security Council of the Panel of Experts established pursuant to resolution 1237 (1999), and we participated actively in drawing up the draft resolution that we will be adopting today. Based on the recommendations of that Panel, it will help us to achieve the goals that we have set for ourselves. We believe that implementation of the draft resolution will contribute to improving the effectiveness of control over the sanctions against UNITA, and it will help to close off the channels used by the leadership of that organization to preserve their ability to continue the war - a war that UNITA has imposed on the people of Angola.”
2000-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4129 (2000) · source
“There is a conscious, carefully premeditated policy to evade the sanctions introduced by the Council, which were designed to deprive the UNITA military machine of the financial, material and technical input that it needs. Given these circumstances, therefore, it is of paramount importance to strengthen the effectiveness of control over the current sanctions regime against UNITA. The active efforts being made by the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 864 (1993), and the efforts of the Chairman of that Committee, Ambassador Fowler, have already had an important positive impact on ensuring greater respect for the sanctions against UNITA.”
2000-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4129 (2000) · source
“Because of his uncontrollable lust for power, hundreds of thousands have paid with their lives and borne the full weight of the humanitarian crisis in the country - a country whose subsoil could, indeed, yield prosperity for its people. Foreign citizens have often been victims of his organization, including those who have gone - some under the United Nations flag - to help the Angolan people in their time of trial. For more than one year, UNITA has been holding prisoner citizens of the Russian Federation, one of whom has died. All these facts make clear that, in UNITA, the Security Council is faced with outright contempt for the will of the international community.”
2000-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4129 (2000) · source
“Given these circumstances, we must further increase pressure on the military and political leadership of UNITA so as to make it comply with the demands of the international community, first and foremost to halt the fighting and return to the track of a political settlement. Furthermore, we sympathize with the position of the Angolan leadership. We are pleased to welcome the Minister for External Relations of Angola to the Council Chamber today, and we sympathize with his position. Jonas Savimbi has so often broken his promises and agreements and acted in bad faith that he has now lost the right to participate in this process and can have no political future. Jonas Savimbi and his entourage have shown their indifference to the fate of the Angolan people.”
2000-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4129 (2000) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We are happy to see you, Mr. Minister, once again sitting in the President's chair. The protracted armed conflict in Angola is cause for very serious concern, for us and for the entire international community. As a member of the troika of observer States for the implementation of the Angola peace process, Russia confirms its consistent position that responsibility for the continuation of the conflict lies entirely with the leadership of UNITA, headed by Jonas Savimbi, who is refusing to comply with his commitments under the Lusaka Protocol and the demands contained in Security Council resolutions.”
2000-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4129 (2000) · source
“We expect the adoption of the agreed draft presidential statement in the Security Council to help ensure better and greater coordination with the international community on all aspects of the Afghanistan problem, in the interests of finding a swift political settlement to the situation there.”
2000-04-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4124 (2000) · source
“The Security Council must remain constantly aware of the issue of Afghanistan and take necessary measures to help the situation in the country evolve. We support the work of the new Personal Representative of the Secretary-General, Francesc Vendrell, and of the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan. We welcome the resumption of the work of the "six plus two" group, which is the main international mechanism helping the United Nations in its efforts to find a peaceful settlement to the conflict in Afghanistan. The Organization of the Islamic Conference is doing useful work in coordinating United Nations activities.”
2000-04-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4124 (2000) · source
“In the framework of the "six plus two" group, Russia has actively supported the initiative to coordinate efforts by neighbouring States of Afghanistan to counter this drug threat. We are grateful to the United Nations International Drug Control Programme for taking practical steps to strengthen the so-called security zone around Afghanistan. We are expecting an increase in assistance to Russian border units that are protecting the Tajik-Afghan border and trying to staunch the flow of drugs across that border. The international community must speak out about the Taliban' s continuing disregard of demands for a halt to violations of international humanitarian law and of human rights, including discriminatory policies against women and girls. The United Nations must continue to play a key role in resolving the situation in Afghanistan.”
2000-04-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4124 (2000) · source
“This in itself offers serious grounds for raising the question of tightening the targeted sanctions imposed earlier by the Security Council against the Taliban. The Security Council must also do more to ensure that the Taliban implement the other demands contained in the Council's resolutions. We are seriously disturbed about the growing drug threat from Afghanistan. According to estimates, up to 40 per cent of the heroin that enters Europe and North America comes from Afghanistan. Incidentally, there are reports that Kosovo is the main channel for drugs moving from Afghanistan into Europe. Drugs from Afghanistan are also moving to other regions of the world, including central Asia and Russia.”
2000-04-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4124 (2000) · source
“This kind of problem has arisen for a number of our partners in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and together with them we are taking coordinated action, inter alia through establishing a single anti- terrorist centre in the CIS. Against this backdrop we are particularly disturbed by the Taliban's refusal to comply with the Security Council's demand that it turn over the international terrorist Usama bin Laden, by its open collusion with extremist and terrorist elements operating in territories of other States, and by the training in Taliban-controlled territory of mercenaries to carry out terrorist activities in neighbouring and other countries. Such actions by the leadership of the Taliban represent a blatant challenge to the entire international community and flagrant interference in the internal affairs of other States.”
2000-04-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4124 (2000) · source
“The Government of the Islamic State of Afghanistan has more than once expressed its readiness for such talks. We are seriously disturbed at the increase in outside interference in internal Afghan affairs, particularly by the direct involvement in fighting on the Taliban side of thousands of foreign fighters and mercenaries. We appeal to all neighbours of Afghanistan immediately to take measures to prevent their territories from being used to provide military support to the Afghan parties. There is growing support by the Taliban for international terrorism and extremism. Russia itself has faced large-scale manifestations of this within its own territory.”
2000-04-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4124 (2000) · source
“The Taliban's belief that it can resolve the Afghan problem by force and its claim to ethnic and religious domination of the country are indeed doomed to failure. Only a political settlement, though direct talks between the parties under the auspices of the United Nations, taking account of the interests of all groups and sectors of Afghan society, can put an end to this conflict. It is only by establishing, on the basis of such talks, a broad-based and multi-ethnic government that we can ensure the rights of all Afghan people and that their country can move ahead towards peace, national concord and prosperity. The Security Council must issue a strong warning to the Taliban about the need to halt preparations for the resumption of a large-scale offensive and to begin serious peace talks.”
2000-04-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4124 (2000) · source
“The Taliban is to blame for the situation in the country in all respects, which is extremely unfortunate and disturbing. The Taliban continues to flagrantly violate resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly and apparently has no intention of abandoning its illegal and destructive policies. The Council must react to such developments. We strongly condemn the continuing escalation by the Taliban of the fighting there, which is postponing still further any hopes for a peaceful settlement of the situation in Afghanistan and which is bringing even greater suffering to the people of that country. We are outraged by the continuing policy of attacks by the Taliban on United Nations personnel, as happened recently in Kandahar.”
2000-04-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4124 (2000) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I should like at the outset to join in conveying condolences to the delegation of Tunisia in connection with the death of President Bourguiba. We would like also to join in thanking Ambassador Chowdhury and the entire delegation of Bangladesh for the work they did in March. In addition, we are pleased to see you, Mr. Minister, preside over the Security Council today. We have listened with great interest to the briefing provided by Mr. Renninger. We believe that it will help us in our consideration of the matter before us today. We are also grateful to Ambassador Listre for the information on the useful work being done by the Committee he chairs. The Security Council's consideration today of the situation in Afghanistan is very timely indeed.”
2000-04-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4124 (2000) · source
“There is only one way out of this impasse, as the Council agrees: sanctions must be suspended in the context of a resumption of disarmament monitoring in Iraq in keeping with resolution 1284 (1999). In connection with the humanitarian programme, we must not forget that, ultimately, only comprehensive implementation of resolution 1284 (1999) can prevent the disintegration of civil society in Iraq. How, specifically, we implement the disarmament part of that resolution - and what political backdrop will be created for that implementation - will to a great extent determine the solution of other problems we are currently discussing.”
2000-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4120 (2000) · source
“In those circumstances, it is hardly likely that it will be possible to deploy a new disarmament monitoring system in Iraq - something that is crucial to implement the decisions of the Security Council and to ensure that Iraq no longer poses a threat to regional peace and security and that it will not in the future resume its programme of weapons of mass destruction. The humanitarian programme, for all the importance we attach to it, cannot radically change the situation; at best, it has limited effects. We are convinced that there can be no significant improvement in the humanitarian and socio-economic situation in Iraq under the sanctions regime.”
2000-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4120 (2000) · source
“Nor does the notion that these air strikes were in retaliation for actions by Iraqi anti-aircraft defences hold water: our data show that facilities unrelated to anti-aircraft defence systems are being hit. The bombs endanger United Nations personnel, who in a number of cases had to be evacuated from the areas where they were working because of the air strikes. We consider that the air strikes, along with actions, circumventing the Security Council, to undermine the Iraqi regime, create a very negative political backdrop for efforts to speedily resume cooperation between the United Nations and Baghdad, including in the area of disarmament. I believe it is inadmissible to call upon Iraq to cooperate while at the same continuing to bomb Iraqi territory.”
2000-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4120 (2000) · source
“We are particularly concerned about reports of strikes against facilities that are being used in the United Nations humanitarian operation, in particular against food- distribution warehouses and against metering stations along oil pipelines. According to these analyses, 42 per cent of these air strikes have resulted in human casualties. Over the past year, 144 innocent civilians have died and 466 people have been wounded as a result of these air strikes. Our data show that 57 people have been killed and 133 wounded in southern Iraq, and that 87 people have been killed and 313 wounded in the north. Claims that these strikes were not directed against civilian targets do not hold water. Facts - including facts from international experts - attest to the contrary.”
2000-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4120 (2000) · source
“We call upon the delegations concerned to review their approach and fully implement the deliveries contained in Security Council resolutions. Today we cannot fail to react to another problem that has been pointed out. The socio-economic and humanitarian situation in Iraq is worsening because civilian facilities in Iraq are constantly the targets of air strikes by the United States and Great Britain. This is happening in the so-called no-flight zones established unilaterally, without the United Nations taking any decision, and which encompass almost 65 per cent of Iraq' s territory. Our data show that United States and United Kingdom aircraft invaded Iraqi airspace nearly 20,000 times between December 1998 and mid-March 2000.”
2000-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4120 (2000) · source
“According to Secretariat data, in the Committee to date humanitarian contracts are being blocked to the tune of $1,747 million. Completely artificial pretexts are trumped up in order to place on hold contracts to deliver acutely needed equipment to rehabilitate electrical power stations, medical equipment, vehicular transport and communications resources. The situation with regard to holds is obviously artificial in nature. This is borne out by the fact that contracts from certain countries are put on hold, whereas requests for deliveries of similar goods from other countries are endorsed without any problem. Continuing this practice devalues any efforts the United Nations is proposing to make to ease the consequences of the humanitarian crisis in Iraq.”
2000-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4120 (2000) · source
“We believe that the sanctions Committee should work more actively in order to minimize the time needed to implement all procedures regulating the implementation of the humanitarian operation. There are also some shortcomings in the work of experts from the Saybolt Company and Cotecna, as well as the Banque nationale de Paris, who do not always carry out quickly the necessary measures, something that is crucial to ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of goods to Iraq. The blocking by certain delegations of humanitarian contracts in the sanctions Committee continues to pose a serious threat to the implementation of the humanitarian programme. I have already spoken of holds being placed on contracts for spare parts, a problem that is also typical in the case of humanitarian goods.”
2000-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4120 (2000) · source
“This involves primarily speeding up and simplifying procedures for the consideration and endorsement of humanitarian contracts. We deem it necessary to reach agreement on the classification of humanitarian goods in the medical and agricultural sectors as soon as possible. Requests for the delivery of such goods to Iraq would be approved bypassing the sanctions Committee. We also call on the Secretary-General and all interested parties to work out practical measures as soon as possible to utilize cash components in Iraq to buy goods and train local staff. We agree with the concerns repeatedly expressed by the Secretary-General about the fact that certain problems have not yet been resolved, such as shifting unused resources from the 13 per cent account to the 53 per cent account under joint purchases of food and medication.”
2000-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4120 (2000) · source
“I therefore would like to reiterate that, apart from the fact that we are doubling the sum allowed for buying spare parts and equipment, we should also draw attention to the problem of the holds in the sanctions Committee. We take note of the fact that the Secretariat has prepared draft procedures for the work of the group of oil experts, whose duties will include the approval of contracts for the export to Iraq of spare parts and equipment. We expect the sanctions Committee to endorse those procedures very soon. Much also remains to be done for the practical implementation of other measures envisaged under the humanitarian part of resolution 1284 (1999). Almost four months after its adoption, we must note that the implementation of those measures has been slow, to put it mildly.”
2000-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4120 (2000) · source
“It is gratifying that the Security Council is finally prepared to respond to the recommendations of the Secretary-General and to double the financial resources being allocated to Iraq to buy spare parts and equipment for its oil industry. We hope that the appropriate decision will be taken in the coming days. It is important, however, that the new sum to be endorsed - that is, $600 million every six months - really gets to Iraq and that the contracts for spare parts and equipment not be blocked in the sanctions Committee, otherwise there would be no point to that decision. I would like to draw the Council's attention to the fact that according to Secretariat data there are now many contracts for spare parts on hold in the sanctions Committee - specifically $43 million for phase IV, $125 million for phase V and $174 million for phase VI.”
2000-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4120 (2000) · source
“Under those conditions, the steps being taken in the framework of the United Nations humanitarian programme can barely ensure the physical survival of the people, although, on the whole, the programme is the only lifeline making it possible not to break ties with the outside world. As members are aware, the main pillar of the Iraqi economy is the extraction and export of oil. A reduction or suspension in oil exports could lead to even more dire humanitarian consequences. We agree with the Secretary- General's assessment, based on the views of the group of oil experts that visited Iraq, of the catastrophic state of the oil infrastructure in Iraq. One of the reasons for this is the lack of spare parts needed for the rehabilitation of Iraq's oil industry.”
2000-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4120 (2000) · source
“Mortality rates among the most vulnerable groups of the population have reached threatening proportions, as stated in the reports of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). A more detailed picture of the situation is provided by many publications and by the evaluations of people who work, or have worked, directly in Iraq. Like other members of the Security Council, I believe, I have received a letter from Mr. Dennis Halliday, who used to be the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq. Although he has retired, he still continues to draw attention to the tragic situation in that country.”
2000-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4120 (2000) · source
“The total impoverishment of the population - which obviously falls short of generally recognized health standards - serious employment problems, the impossibility of having a normally functioning educational system and other problems have led to a situation where an entire generation of Iraqis has been physically and morally crippled. They are in essence outcasts of the world community. The industrial infrastructure of Iraq has been damaged, including the water supply and the energy and communications sectors. The few remaining means of transportation cannot provide for the sustainable distribution of food and medicine. The epidemiological situation in the country poses a threat on a regional scale.”
2000-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4120 (2000) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I wish to begin by expressing our gratitude to the Secretary-General for his report and for his introduction of it today. I also wish to commend the work of the Office of the Iraq Programme and to pay tribute to all its personnel working in Iraq in very difficult conditions. The report of the Secretary-General, which is based on a broad range of facts, shows clearly that the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe in Iraq is inexorably leading to the disintegration of the very fabric of civil society there. The economic consequences of the many years of sanctions have been reflected in all aspects of the lives of the people of the country.”
2000-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4120 (2000) · source
“For its part, Russia, as one of the leading participants in the Bosnian settlement, will continue to make an active, practical contribution to the peace process on the basis of complete, scrupulous implementation of the Dayton and Paris agreements. Moreover, that should be the clear focus of the activities of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo as well. It is my understanding that before this meeting was called to order there was discussion of the President making a statement to the press following the adjournment of the meeting. Frankly, my delegation is not clear about the outcome of that discussion. We consider this to be too important a topic; I think that any statement must be agreed upon by all members of the Security Council.”
2000-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4117 (2000) · source
“Unless we control such forces decisively, these attacks on Dayton will lead to further exacerbation of the situation: tension will inevitably spill over the borders and will result in a deteriorating situation in Kosovo, Albania and Macedonia. Any attempt to impose solutions that are not acceptable to the representatives of even one of the three peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina could lead to an outburst of discontent at the centrifugal tendencies that are on the increase in Bosnia and to greater tension throughout the country's territory. We are convinced that Dayton's potential is far from exhausted, and that a review of Dayton now would cause more problems than it would resolve. Thus, we do not consider it to be a good idea even to talk about the possibility of revising the Peace Agreement.”
2000-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4117 (2000) · source
“We stress anew that the activities of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia should be depoliticized and that detention of those indicted on the basis of Tribunal warrants should not take place without the consent of the States in whose territory they are located. We are categorically against the use of force to hunt down indictees. We cannot fail to be concerned at demonstrations of Bosniac extremism, in particular recent statements by Mr. Izetbegovie describing representatives of the Serb and Croatian peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina not merely as political opponents but as outright enemies of the Bosniacs. Such statements only confirm our fears; they whip up inter-ethnic hatreds and undermine the basis of the Peace Agreement for Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2000-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4117 (2000) · source
“We think that pending problems need to be resolved as soon as possible, regarding achieving a proper level of cooperation between the two entities - not just in the Bosnian State organs, but also in terms of relations between the entities and leading international structures in Bosnia, particularly the Office of the High Representative, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) as a whole. Here we cannot fail to note our concern at the situation in Breko and Mostar. It is important to deal with the resurgence of political extremism in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2000-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4117 (2000) · source
“Annabi's statement and the report of the Secretary-General (S/2000/215) rightly took note of some fundamental aspects of the process of developing Bosnian statehood: strengthening democratic institutions and law and order; the creation of a functioning independent judicial system; the reorganization of the Bosnian police on a genuinely multi-ethnic basis; the establishment of a unified Border Service; the speedy adoption of an election law; the return of refugees and internally displaced persons; guarantees of the rights of all communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina; market reforms; and fighting corruption and crime.”
2000-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4117 (2000) · source
“We are therefore concerned that of late we have increasingly been hearing statements by some Bosnian politicians who represent various communities of that country, offering proposals for "correcting" or "polishing" the Dayton peace plan. We View that approach as counter-productive. Mr.”
2000-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4117 (2000) · source
“In our View, it is extremely important that all the parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina recognize the need for scrupulous adherence to the Dayton Agreement as the basis for building a stable democratic society. Clear evidence of such recognition was the signing of the New York Declaration last November by the members of the Joint Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina; the thrust of the Declaration is consistent implementation of the basic Dayton document without arbitrary adjustments. The implementation of the Dayton approach is the key condition for realizing efforts to find a long-term effective settlement in Bosnia.”
2000-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4117 (2000) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We are grateful to Mr. Annabi for his statement. Although the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina gives no grounds for any particularly optimistic forecasts, nor should it produce a pessimistic mood. Forward movement, while slow, continues. The main thing is to make the process of a Bosnian settlement irreversible and sustainable; to seek the consolidation of multi-ethnic statehood for Bosnia and Herzegovina through the building of democratic foundations and the observance of the rights of all the peoples of that country; and to encourage the Bosnians themselves to shoulder primary responsibility for the future of their State.”
2000-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4117 (2000) · source
“These areas include illegal supplies of arms, petroleum products, the export of diamonds, the handling of UNITA's assets and so forth. We are ready to work closely and actively on this issue with the Chairman of the sanctions Committee and all of our partners in the Security Council. We feel sure that we will all continue to make progress on this work and to conduct ourselves with the utmost seriousness.”
2000-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4113 (2000) · source
“It is clear that substantive consideration of the report will take place once members of the Security Council have studied the document. It is also clear that the report has to be studied in the capitals, but even at this stage we can say that the information contained in the report does confirm the need for the Council's sanctions Committee to continue working vigorously, with a view to taking further steps so as to more successfully implement the relevant decisions of the Security Council. We believe that the most serious attention should be given to the Panel's recommendations on stepping up the sanctions Committee's efforts, inter alia, in enhancing the effectiveness of the current sanctions regime as regards all the areas set forth in the Security Council resolutions.”
2000-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4113 (2000) · source
“It is clear that enhancing the effectiveness of the sanctions regime offers great potential for stepping up pressure on the military and political leaders of UNITA, who are responsible for the breakdown of the Lusaka process. There is a direct link between violations of the sanctions regime and the continuing threat the region poses to international peace and security. This is the standpoint from which we are looking at the report that has been submitted to the Security Council, which contains extensive factual information about sanctions violations and specific recommendations on how to step up monitoring of the implementation of the sanctions. Like other delegations, we are very carefully analysing the information contained in the report, and we are also looking at how in practical terms the recommendations could be adopted.”
2000-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4113 (2000) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): First of all, like my colleagues I would like to say that I am pleased by the presence at today's meeting of the Minister for External Relations of Angola, His Excellency Mr. De Miranda. We also join in the thanks expressed here today to the Panel of Experts and its Chairman, Ambassador Mollander, for the work they have done. We are also grateful to the Chairman of the sanctions Committee, Ambassador Fowler, for his introduction of this report to the Security Council. As can be seen from this preliminary discussion today, members of the Security Council are united in their assessment of the situation in Angola and also in their assessment of the role to be played by Council sanctions in settling the conflict.”
2000-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4113 (2000) · source
“Russia is open to the idea of working to develop criteria and legal frameworks for activities of the international community, including enforcement activities in cases of extreme humanitarian situations. However, such work should be carried out collectively, and firmly rooted in the United Nations Charter, thus enabling us to provide agreed decisions whose legitimacy would not be subject to doubt. For these reasons, the Russian delegation supports the adoption of a presidential statement today on the humanitarian aspects of issues before the Security Council.”
2000-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4109 (2000) · source
“This means first and foremost involving the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and all other divisions of the Secretariat here in New York in the planning and preparation stage of peacekeeping operations having a humanitarian component. The experience of recent years has shown that the prevention and settlement of humanitarian crises has a direct bearing on the maintenance of regional and international stability. But it is also clear that we cannot end violations of international humanitarian law by taking actions that themselves violate the Charter of the United Nations. Arbitrary military measures that sidestep the Security Council - including those taken under the pretext of preventing so-called humanitarian catastrophes - are not acceptable and can only worsen crises.”
2000-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4109 (2000) · source
“Humanitarian assistance should in no way be used as an instrument for exerting political influence on any of the parties to a political conflict, and it should be provided exclusively on the basis of the principles of neutrality and impartiality. The activities of international humanitarian organizations and of the relevant non-governmental organizations should not violate the sovereignty of the host Governments and should not be at odds with the political efforts being made to resolve a given conflict. This is an incontrovertible rule for the coordination of the peacekeeping, humanitarian-assistance and development- assistance efforts of United Nations organs and agencies. Russia supports the expansion of the practice of consultations and cooperation between the Security Council and humanitarian organizations.”
2000-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4109 (2000) · source
“While not equating the functions of the Security Council with those of humanitarian organizations, we are convinced that, under the current circumstances, the Security Council must lend active political support to the activities of these organizations, and that humanitarian work in general must be backed up by the authority of the Security Council. We support the inclusion in documents adopted by the Council of provisions that require parties to conflicts to respect international humanitarian law, ensure the safety of international humanitarian personnel and allow unimpeded access to all those in need of assistance.”
2000-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4109 (2000) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): First of all I would like to join others in welcoming you, Mr. President, and in expressing gratitude to Bangladesh, to Ambassador Chowdhury and to the entire delegation of Bangladesh for preparing today's meeting. Russia regards the humanizing of international relations as one of the most important aspects of establishing a non-violent world, which is one of the strategic goals of Russian foreign policy in the twenty-first century. In this context, we believe that in the mandates of multifunctional peacekeeping operations approved by the Security Council, the important place being assigned to minimizing the human suffering associated with armed conflicts is absolutely justified. This work includes assisting victims of violations of international humanitarian law.”
2000-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4109 (2000) · source