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

“If the voters confirm the current leadership in the elections in Serbia and Yugoslavia, then what are we going to do? Are we then going to recommend a violent overthrow of the regime? Or are we going to say that we have to wait another four years before we involve Yugoslavia in an effort to find an integrated, regional solution? Let me conclude with what I began with this morning: Yugoslavia is a full-fledged member of the Dayton process. It is a full-fledged participant in the agreements set out in resolution 1244 (1999). Yugoslavia is a full-fledged participant in the settlement principles with respect to Prevlaka adopted by the Security Council. Implementing those resolutions without Yugoslavia is impossible. I would call upon all of us to predicate our positions on the fact that those decisions must be implemented.”
2000-02-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4105Resumption1 (2000) · source
“If we are speaking openly here, and openly criticizing the Belgrade regime, then it would probably be fair to also fairly assess the neighbouring countries. This is because there continues to be an illegal inflow of arms and drugs across the border, first and foremost into Kosovo, as the mass media sometimes remind us. But we should not forget about this in the Security Council when we are trying to follow and integrated, regional approach to the problems of the region. That integrated, regional approach requires that we speak the truth about everything that is happening there. If we take the position of blaming only one regime for everything, then the entire integrated approach becomes hostage to such an analysis. But let me repeat what I said earlier today.”
2000-02-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4105Resumption1 (2000) · source
“Life is always more complicated and does not allow everything to be foisted upon one individual or one regime. Mr. Bildt said that President Milosevic is preparing to take certain actions against Montenegro, and we have also heard just recently that it was precisely President Milosevic who provoked the unrest that occurred in Mitrovica, in Kosovo. But no one is denying that those incidents, which are continuing, are the fault of extremists and were provoked by former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army - which, even though it has ceased to exist on paper, has given birth to certain new groups with new names, groups that are making incursions into other regions of Serbia from Kosovo, and so forth.”
2000-02-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4105Resumption1 (2000) · source
“I heard a confirmation of the fact that it is impossible to interact with Milosevic' s Government because that Government is headed by individuals who have been indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. I already had an opportunity to state that in our view the activities of the Tribunal have been politicized to a certain extent. If, for example, the Tribunal were to indict someone else in the region, or in other countries, or if it should indict one of the leaders of the opposition in the Yugoslavia - and there have been hints in the mass media that such things were possible - how would we then react? Would we all then be hostages to the decisions of the Tribunal? That would most likely be a very simple solution. But at the same time, it is too simplistic.”
2000-02-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4105Resumption1 (2000) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I apologize for asking for the floor once again, but I wanted to comment on the reply that Mr. Bildt gave to some of my questions, inter alia, with respect to his assessment of the prospects for interaction with the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. As Council members may recall, I asked whether the Security Council resolutions could possibly be implemented, whether a regional and comprehensive approach to the Balkans could possibly be ensured if we deliberately isolate the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. To be frank, I did not hear any reply to that question.”
2000-02-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4105Resumption1 (2000) · source
“All my colleagues who have spoken before me have underscored that the main responsibility for achieving a settlement falls to the parties that have affixed their signatures to the Lusaka Agreement. It is precisely their readiness to fulfil in good faith the obligations they assumed - especially as regards compliance with the ceasefire - that will determine how the international community will in the future decide to act to promote the settlement of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In that connection, it is promising that at the Lusaka summit that took place yesterday the parties to the Lusaka Agreement confirmed their resolve to ensure the complete and early implementation of the Agreement. It is important to make this a reality as soon as possible.”
2000-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4104 (2000) · source
“We fully stand behind those who warn against excessive expectations for the deployment of the peacekeeping operation in that country. The situation is so complicated that it would be not only naive but also dangerous to rely on its settlement by external forces, even if those forces are United Nations forces. In that context, the Russian Federation underscores the general understanding reached in the Security Council that MONUC will not take measures to force the parties to peace, nor to force the disarmament of irregular armed groups in the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, either in this phase or in subsequent phases of the operation.”
2000-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4104 (2000) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): The Russian Federation supports activating the role of the United Nations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The deployment of phase II of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) in accordance with the draft resolution to be adopted today is designed to assist in settling the largest conflict of modem-day Africa, in which many of the States of the continent have become involved. We are convinced that if the parties render the necessary assistance to MONUC in implementing its mandate, the Mission will make a significant contribution to achieving peace in that country. By the same token, we realize the complexity of the nexus of the varied interests that are today intertwined in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2000-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4104 (2000) · source
“On the whole, the problem of clear coordination between international personnel deployed to zones of conflict is extremely important, especially since the number of actors in field operations is very large and includes not only United Nations personnel, but also the staff of other organizations, including non-governmental organizations. We are convinced that after adopting today's useful presidential statement, the Security Council will in the future follow most attentively the question of the proper protection of United Nations personnel and will adequately respond to all instances in which the lives and health of these people are threatened.”
2000-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4100 (2000) · source
“We also consider that one of the practical ways to improve the security of United Nations personnel could be to include anti-terrorism experts in the staff of the various missions. This is particularly important when United Nations and associated humanitarian operations are conducted in areas of heightened terrorist risk. Such experts could assume coordinating functions in the anti-terrorist effort, within the general and overall security plans that are developed and elaborated for each United Nations and humanitarian operation.”
2000-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4100 (2000) · source
“A significant role in strengthening the legal basis for improving the security of international personnel is to be played by the resolution on the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel adopted by the General Assembly at its fifty- fourth session. At the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly we are expecting a comprehensive report of the Secretary-General on this item. Many practical proposals have already been made today on how to improve the security of these personnel, and, like Ambassador Dejammet, we consider it essential for all the specific proposals made by Ms. Frechette and Ms. Bertini to be considered most thoroughly.”
2000-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4100 (2000) · source
“As has already been mentioned today by my colleagues, the Security Council has repeatedly pointed out that it is the responsibility of the States and the parties involved in a conflict to ensure the proper conditions for the work of international personnel and the punishment of those responsible for attacks against these personnel. We consider it appropriate and important for the Council to reaffirm this position. There is an indisputable need for a solid legal basis for the protection of such personnel. We welcome the entry into force of the 1994 Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel. The Government of Russia is taking the necessary steps to accede to this international instrument; the complete package of instruments necessary for Russia's ratification of the Convention is before the national Duma.”
2000-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4100 (2000) · source
“The CIS Collective Peacekeeping Forces in Tajikistan are made up almost entirely of Russian troops. About 1,700 Russian soldiers are deployed in the zone of the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia, and the achievement of a stable ceasefire and the prevention of large-scale fighting in both these regions were achieved by Russia at a very high price. In the years of the operation of Russian peacekeepers in Abkhazia, Georgia, over 70 of our servicemen have died and over 200 have been injured as a result of armed provocation or terrorist acts.”
2000-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4100 (2000) · source
“All these events attest to the need for urgent measures to be taken for the practical defence of international personnel. In sharing the general concern over the problem of safety of international personnel, we are not speaking only on the basis of hearsay. Russia, from its own, direct experience has come to grips with the tragic consequences of this problem. Russia is actively involved in United Nations peacekeeping operations, and it also bears the brunt of the peacekeeping burden in the settlement of numerous conflicts in the territory of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). This activity is carried out in cooperation with the United Nations in strict compliance with the provisions of Chapter VIII of the Charter, and it is confirmed by relevant Security Council resolutions.”
2000-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4100 (2000) · source
“In all these operations, there were incidents of violence against peacekeepers and the staff of international organizations. The degree of danger to which they are exposed in what would appear to be the most innocuous circumstances - that is, as they carry out purely humanitarian tasks - is borne out by the recent attack on peacekeepers who were accompanying children on their way to school. This occurred in Kaminica, in Kosovo. Similarly, there was the attempt by Albanian extremists to storm the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo headquarters in Mitrovica, also in Kosovo, and the fire set to the office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in the Albanian part of that same city.”
2000-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4100 (2000) · source
“The Council has repeatedly addressed this issue specifically, as it is doing today, and yet there are serious reasons why it should once again examine this important problem thoroughly and draw the necessary practical conclusions. The United Nations is usually called upon to deploy its operations in situations that represent a real danger for the personnel involved in them, and we note with great alarm that, during the course of their work, United Nations personnel, associated personnel and humanitarian personnel are with increasing frequency becoming the victims of terrorist acts, murder, abduction, kidnapping and hostage-taking. We need only look at what happened recently in such hot spots as Kosovo, Sierra Leone and East Timor.”
2000-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4100 (2000) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): First of all, I should like to welcome you, Sir, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Argentina, as you preside over today's meeting of the Security Council. I should also like to wish you every success as head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Argentine Republic, a country with which Russia enjoys traditional bonds of friendship. We are also grateful to the delegation of Argentina for taking the initiative to convene the Council to consider this very important set of issues relating to the protection of United Nations personnel, associated personnel and humanitarian personnel in conflict zones. Ensuring the security of such personnel has become an integral part of all Security Council resolutions dealing with peacekeeping operations.”
2000-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4100 (2000) · source
“In this endeavour, we will be guided by the assessments and views of President Mandela, who, given his status and his prestige, is indeed a key player in the talks.”
2000-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4091 (2000) · source
“We strongly condemn attacks by armed groups on Bujumbura and other populated areas, which cause civilian deaths. We also express our concern over the continuing practice of forced displacement of civilians into camps under military guard. The tense situation requires measures to stimulate negotiations involving all political forces in that country. We confirm our view that the principal responsibility for peace in Burundi lies with the Burundians themselves, and we call for an intensification of efforts to achieve this goal within Burundi itself and also within the international, and particularly the subregional, context. From this standpoint, Russia will support strengthening interaction between the Security Council and the regional participants in the peace process.”
2000-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4091 (2000) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We will join our colleagues who have spoken about President Nelson Mandela. Russia welcomes the designation of President Mandela as the international Facilitator in the Burundi peace talks. We hope that this will help us to get beyond the standstill in the political process. We would urge all Burundi parties to cooperate closely with the international Facilitator, with a view to a swift and positive conclusion of the process for a peaceful settlement of the conflict. Russia has consistently advocated solving the internal conflict in Burundi through negotiations involving all parties involved in it. We would call on all the Burundian parties to refrain from acts of force, which could torpedo the results that were achieved with such difficulty during the Arusha process.”
2000-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4091 (2000) · source
“"Members of the troika remain gravely concerned over the fate of the crews and passengers of Russian and Ukrainian commercial airplanes shot down or otherwise lost under suspicious circumstances over territory then controlled by UNITA and call upon the Government of Angola and all concerned parties to cooperate in ascertaining the fate of the missing and obtaining the release of survivors by UNITA."”
2000-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4090 (2000) · source
“"On the occasion of the first anniversary of the downing of two United Nations planes in Angola, members of the troika call on the Government of Angola to facilitate United Nations access to the crash sites sufficient to allow for investigation and the full repatriation of the remains of our colleagues killed in these incidents. "Members of the troika note also with deep concern that over 18 months have passed since the tragic loss of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Alioune Blondin Beye, and that the United Nations and the families of the deceased have yet to receive a final report on the tragic events of 26 June 1998 and thus call upon the Government of C6te d'Ivoire to produce a report of its findings as soon as possible.”
2000-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4090 (2000) · source
“"Members of the troika agree that the United Nations Office in Angola (UNOA) has a valuable role to play in exploring effective measures for restoring peace, assisting the Angolan people in capacity-building, humanitarian assistance and the promotion of human rights, and coordinating other activities, including compliance with sanctions against UNITA. "Members of the troika underscore the importance of a rapid conclusion of a status of mission agreement for UNOA and urge the Government of Angola and the United Nations Secretariat urgently to reach agreement so that UNOA can begin to function, as outlined in Security Council resolution 1268 (1999).”
2000-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4090 (2000) · source
“The troika notes that, for the year 2000, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Unit for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance have issued a consolidated appeal for humanitarian assistance to Angola for $258 million. "Members of the troika affirm their support for the work of the Committee on sanctions against UNITA, under the leadership of Ambassador Fowler, and call upon regional organizations such as the Southern African Development Community, the Economic Community of West African States and others to render support for its activities, and continue to urge all States strictly to enforce sanctions against UNITA.”
2000-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4090 (2000) · source
“"Members of the troika encourage the Government of Angola to enhance the protection of human rights for all Angolan citizens in accordance with the Constitution of the country and note the importance of creating the conditions for open political debate and the development of a democratic society in Angola. "Members of the troika underscore the important role of a free media in promoting Angola's ongoing democratic development and encourage the Government of Angola to respect the free press and its practitioners. "Members of the troika call upon the international donor community to continue to assist the Government of Angola to fulfil its primary responsibility for addressing the needs of its people, including the victims of the continuing humanitarian crisis.”
2000-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4090 (2000) · source
“"Members of the troika condemn UNITA's ongoing attacks on civilian populations within the Republic of Angola and note with grave concern the escalation of the fighting into Namibia. The troika calls upon UNITA fighters to lay down their arms and encourages the Government of Angola to provide mechanisms for the demobilization of former UNITA combatants. "Members of the troika, in this connection, welcome recent statements by Angolan President J ose Eduardo dos Santos acknowledging the need for a political dialogue involving all those committed to peace, and reaffirm the importance of the continuation of the Government of National Unity and Reconciliation.”
2000-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4090 (2000) · source
“"Members of the troika share the assessment of the Secretary-General that the overall situation in the country could only benefit from an improved human rights environment and from the persistent efforts to eliminate human rights violations. "Members of the troika condemn the human rights violations perpetrated by UNITA upon innocent civilians and remind UNITA of its responsibility to respect the human rights of Angolans. "Members of the troika encourage all those within the UNITA leadership committed to bringing the current conflict to a peaceful conclusion to work constructively with the Government of Angola to create the conditions conducive to genuine reconciliation and open democratic dialogue and cooperation.”
2000-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4090 (2000) · source
“"Members of the troika remain deeply concerned by the tragic humanitarian situation of millions of Angolans as a result of the ongoing conflict that has ravaged the country. "Members of the troika reaffirm that the primary cause of the continuing conflict in Angola is the failure of the Uniao Nacional para a Independencia Total de Angola (UNITA) under the leadership of Mr. Jonas Savimbi to comply with its obligations under the Lusaka Protocol and relevant resolutions of the Security Council, in particular its failure to delimitarize and its resistance to extension of State administration. "Members of the troika note that immediate and full compliance with all provisions of the Lusaka Protocol remains the fundamental expectation of the international community.”
2000-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4090 (2000) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): First, I would like to associate myself with those words of welcome that you addressed to the Vice- Minister of External Relations of Angola, and I would also like to thank Under-Secretary-General Prendergast for his briefing, as well as Ambassador Fowler for the information that he gave us today. I am certain that everything that we have seen and heard today will greatly help the Council in its efforts to ensure the implementation of our own decisions. As coordinator of the troika of observer States for the implementation of the Angola peace process - Portugal, the United States and the Russian Federation - I have been authorized to make the following statement.”
2000-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4090 (2000) · source
“I would very briefly like to say that we do agree with the need for comprehensive support for the African initiative being taken by the Organization of African Unity and at the level of subregional organizations not only to deal with the specific problems of refugees and internally displaced persons, but also with efforts to resolve conflicts. As many colleagues have said, that is the underlying cause of the existence of refugees and internally displaced persons. The Security Council, of course, has a special responsibility in the settlement of conflicts, and we will be ready to do our utmost to support the efforts of the African countries themselves through concrete action. In this regard, we will be guided by this willingness during consideration in the Council of specific conflict situations in Africa.”
2000-01-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4089 (2000) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): Not that serious. Like other colleagues who have spoken before me, I welcome Mrs. Ogata. I would like to thank her very much for her briefing, which was a very comprehensive confirmation of the existence of serious problems on the matter of Africa's refugees and internally displaced persons. We have heard yet another analysis of those problems, as well as her appeal to the Security Council to make its contribution to resolving those problems. I fully agree with her appeal. I also agree with what has been said by many of my colleagues, namely, that the time has now come to move on to real action. We believe that, within its competence, the Security Council can and must make its contribution to resolving those problems.”
2000-01-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4089 (2000) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): Unfortunately, It was not just a matter of holidays; there was also a lot of hard work. But I will tell you afterwards what I was dealing with.”
2000-01-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4089 (2000) · source
“At this stage, it is important that, despite all the disagreements on the draft resolution before us, it has been possible to avoid a split in the Council, which would have been fraught with unilateral, and possibly even forcible actions, and to confirm the key role of the Council in the political settlement of the most important problems of the world today. As a permanent member of the Security Council, Russia will continue to do its utmost to strengthen that role.”
1999-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4084 (1999) · source
“Baghdad must meet the demands of the United Nations that it eliminate its weapons of mass destruction programmes. In response, the Security Council must lift sanctions. Judging from existing objective assessments, Iraq is already no threat to international and regional peace and security. In any event, no concrete proof has been submitted to the Council in recent years. It is now up to the Security Council to act objectively and in an unbiased way. The very near future will reveal whether the collective good will of members of the Security Council can lead to strict and fair implementation of its own decisions, or whether the work of the Council on the issue of Iraq will once again slide into a politicized track. Depending on what happens, Russia reserves its right to determine its future position on this matter.”
1999-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4084 (1999) · source
“It is unacceptable, however, to allow the recreation of a situation in which the fate of an entire country was in the hands - or, to put it gently, under the inadequate leadership - of the former Special Commission. From our past experience, we know that efforts may eventually be made in the Security Council to pressure Baghdad, to require it urgently to implement the provisions of this draft resolution and to threaten it with the imposition of additional measures. We issue this warning from the start: The fact that we are not blocking the adoption of this imperfect draft resolution should not be taken to indicate that we are obliged to play along with attempts to impose its forcible implementation. Our position remains unchanged.”
1999-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4084 (1999) · source
“These changes offer an opportunity to break the Iraqi stalemate, in which the Secretary-General could play a very special role. Much will depend on the specific parameters of the new monitoring body; on who will lead it; on whether it is able to free itself from the pernicious heritage of the self- immolating Special Commission and to work honestly under the Security Council's control; and on how professionally and realistically the remaining key disarmament tasks and financial modalities for the suspension of sanctions are prepared. How these practical matters arising from the draft resolution are resolved will directly determine the position of Baghdad. We are not trying to shield Iraq. We believe that it must resume cooperation with the United Nations.”
1999-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4084 (1999) · source
“We must not forget that certain countries still have their own agendas with respect to Iraq that may be at variance with the collective position of the Security Council. The Council never authorized the establishment of "no-fly zones", from which the civilian population of Iraq suffers to this day, nor did it authorize subversive acts against the Iraqi Government. It would seem that if we all seek truly new approaches in the Council to a long-term settlement in the Gulf, such illegal unilateral actions must end. Unfortunately, that has not happened. In these circumstances, Russia cannot support the draft resolution before us today. We have decided, however, not to hinder its adoption since, at our insistence, serious changes have been introduced into the text.”
1999-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4084 (1999) · source
“A clarification was introduced to the effect that progress on the remaining disarmament tasks - and not their Virtual completion - would be grounds for assessing the conditions necessary to the suspension of sanctions. The wording about control of the financial aspects of the suspension, which essentially predetermined the continuation of the sanctions regime in another guise, was removed. The reference to Chapter VII of the Charter was spelled out more clearly so as not to provide any legal grounds for unilateral actions of force against Iraq contrary to positions held in the Security Council. We note all of these shifts that have been made by the sponsors. At the same time, we note all of the deficiencies of the draft resolution and some hidden dangers that remain.”
1999-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4084 (1999) · source
“To suspend sanctions, it is sufficient simply to note progress being made in the remaining disarmament areas. It was also unacceptable to have a provision in the draft about the need for Iraq to demonstrate full cooperation with the new monitoring body. We have always stressed that the wording "full cooperation" is extremely dangerous. Nobody has forgotten that it was under the pretext of an absence of full cooperation from Iraq that the former Special Commission provoked large- scale strikes by the United States and Great Britain against Iraq in December last year, circumventing the Security Council. Faced with the firm stance of several Security Council members, the sponsors corrected these very harmful provisions of the draft. The discredited argument about full cooperation was removed.”
1999-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4084 (1999) · source
“Additional measures were prepared with a view to speeding up the solution of problems relating to missing persons and Kuwaiti property. At the same time, the draft resolution submitted by the United Kingdom, right up until the last moment, remained ambiguous on crucial issues, primarily on the criteria for suspending sanctions. Vague wordings on that matter in the draft provided certain members of the Council an opportunity to interpret the draft in such a way as to require virtually full completion of the key disarmament tasks by Iraq and then, on that pretext, to postpone suspension endlessly. However, in strict pursuance of the earlier decisions of the Security Council, the completion of such disarmament tasks would entail the final lifting of sanctions.”
1999-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4084 (1999) · source
“As a result of lengthy discussions, including at the ministerial level, it proved possible to bring positions closer together on a number of issues. There is agreement on the establishment of a new monitoring body, which, unlike the former Special Commission, would be based on the norms contained in the Charter of the United Nations and on collegial methods of work and would be truly answerable to the Security Council. For the first time the Council's willingness is set forth, as a first step, really to suspend sanctions. There was agreement on radical improvements in the humanitarian programme for Iraq in the period up to the suspension of sanctions, although of course it should have been possible long ago to resolve many problems in that area by lifting unjustified holds on contracts in the sanctions Committee.”
1999-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4084 (1999) · source
“This was promoted to a large extent by the French, Chinese and Russian draft resolution submitted in June this year, whose provisions were spelled out in the joint Russian-Chinese document of 9 September. The heart of the document was the conclusion of Amorim's panels to the effect that conditions now existed for shifting the whole Iraqi disarmament dossier onto the ongoing monitoring system, along with the View that the remaining disarmament problems could be resolved successfully within that framework. Another very important criterion contained in Amorim's recommendations was the need to ensure that the Security Council resolution on the new monitoring system should be acceptable to Iraq, because without cooperation from Iraq, any plans or projects would just remain on paper.”
1999-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4084 (1999) · source
“The advocates of such actions, whether or not they wanted to, in fact brought the situation to a repetition of what it had been when the leadership of the former Special Commission, under no form of control whatsoever, virtually passed its own verdict on the implementation of Security Council resolutions, constantly accusing Baghdad of violating its obligations to eliminate programmes of weapons of mass destruction. But it never provided any specific proof of a threat emanating from Iraq. It is good that members of the Security Council were not taken in by such attempts; thanks to the efforts of Russia, China, France and other members of the Security Council, the discussion focused on seeking a response to the key issue of how to resume international monitoring in Iraq and at the same time lessen and then halt the sanctions.”
1999-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4084 (1999) · source
“The chance to prepare such comprehensive approaches appeared after the work of the three panels chaired by Ambassador Amorim, who submitted to the Security Council carefully weighed and realistic recommendations. In April this year, Russia advocated the adoption of a draft resolution that would have approved those recommendations and instructed the Secretary- General to prepare practical steps for implementing them. That initiative was blocked by those who wanted to do things in the old way and to continue using the burden of anti-Iraq sanctions in order to attain their own unilateral goals, going beyond the scope of United Nations decisions on post-crisis settlement in the Gulf region.”
1999-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4084 (1999) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): For a year, the work of the Security Council on the matter of Iraq has been deadlocked. The blame for that lies with the force used by the United States and Great Britain against Baghdad, circumventing the Security Council. That action was provoked by the biased and tendentious report of the former Special Commission on the lack of full cooperation by Iraq with the disarmament inspectors. At that time, many members of the United Nations, including Russia, gave their principled assessment of that illegal action and advocated an essentially new approach to the Iraqi issue based on strict compliance with the resolutions adopted by the Security Council and the Charter of the United Nations.”
1999-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4084 (1999) · source
“We would very much like to see, as soon as possible, concrete steps taken to organize that dialogue. Finally, I would like once again to reaffirm Russia's support for the holding, under the auspices of the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity, of an international conference on peace and security in the Great Lakes region. Of course, a consensus among participating countries on the objective of such a conference would first be necessary. But it is clear to us that the agenda for such a conference could not be confined to the question of providing assistance in the rehabilitation of the region. We believe that it must have a very strong political component, which would make it possible to consider the key issues of the strengthening of peace and security in the region as a whole.”
1999-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4083 (1999) · source
“Incidentally, Russia has debts - arrears on the Somalia operation. But these are the only arrears that Russia has vis-a-vis the United Nations, and we are committed to paying them. About an hour ago, I gave the Secretary-General a check for $25 million in payment of our arrears under UNOSOM. I say this because the question of financing United Nations peacekeeping operations is very closely related to the matter we are discussing today. It is necessary to bear this point in mind in dealing with the specific aspects of a future operation in the Congo. I should like also like to support those who have drawn attention today to the particular importance of the swift organization of a national dialogue in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as provided for in the Lusaka Agreement.”
1999-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4083 (1999) · source
“There are lessons we must learn, and one of them, particularly with respect to Somalia, is that when the Security Council authorizes an operation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it will be necessary to find countries that are willing to provide contingents. But it is not just a question of the security of the contingents and the need to minimize risks to the extent possible. We must also be sure that the contingents will be paid and that the costs of United Nations peacekeeping activities will be provided for. We know that in the case of Somalia, the United Nations has not yet paid the troop-contributing countries, and there still remain outstanding debts related to the United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM). Just because Somalia was a mistake does not mean that one does not have to pay for one's mistakes.”
1999-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4083 (1999) · source
“Right now I believe that there are two decisive factors: the willingness of the parties to the conflict to comply in good faith with their commitments, and their cooperation with the United Nations, primarily with respect to practical matters relating to the work of the technical survey team. Many here have spoken about double standards, which, in View of the experience of Srebrenica and Somalia, is understandable. My delegation would not use the very tragic experience of Somalia and Srebrenica as a pretext. It would not be right if those two failures were to stand in the way of further United Nations peacekeeping operations.”
1999-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4083 (1999) · source
“I would recall, as my colleagues have, that Security Council resolution 1279 (1999) lays the foundation for the swift deployment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo of up to 500 United Nations military observers, who would require the necessary support elements. The Security Council thereby has clearly stated its willingness to proceed with this deployment, on the basis of subsequent recommendations from the Secretariat that would take account of the conclusions of the technical survey team currently in the area. We are deeply concerned at the fact that the technical team - through no fault of its own - has not been able to complete its work on time. But its conclusions and the relevant recommendations of the Secretary-General will, we trust, enable the Security Council to take the appropriate decision.”
1999-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4083 (1999) · source