YouSaid · the spoken record

Levitte

lines on the record: 1,215
first: 2000-03-21
most recent: 2002-11-12
sittings or episodes: 146
sources: un-security-council

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“The second aspect that we think is very important and that we have developed systematically with all our interlocutors, as well as in all our public statements, is the area of human rights and humanitarian rights. We have strongly emphasized that we must make progress in these two areas. Roberto Garreton, the Special Rapporteur, will visit the country more frequently. As I said, we will deploy human rights and humanitarian observers with all MONUC contingents. We have encouraged the non-governmental organizations and the religious leaders to publicize the massacres of which they become aware, because secrecy is often the accomplice of these massacres. The very fact that information is circulating is a deterrent.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“It is that two-way traffic that we will be able to restore, thanks to the riverine unit and thanks to the establishment of a commission that, with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Kamel Morjane, will be able to bring together representatives of the Government, of the Rassemblement congolais pour la democratic (RCD-Goma) of the FLC and of the two neighbouring countries concerned - the Central African Republic and the Republic of the Congo. This must all be achieved with everyone's cooperation. It is a major development. There should be no obstacles impeding the achievement of this development so anxiously awaited by millions of Congolese.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“More importantly, when the delegation was in Mbandaka, on the banks of the Congo River, we were able to announce the arrival on 7 June of the Uruguayan riverine unit. This is a major development, because it made it possible for us to announce the reopening of the river to commercial navigation. It should be known that in this country that no longer has road or rail infrastructure the rivers are the only means of transportation. It is a major and very positive development because until three years ago the city of Kinshasa was dependent on food products from Kisangani for its survival, and conversely, the clothes, salt and soap in Kisangani came from Kinshasa.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“In the economic field, we were able to publicly announce some 40 small quick-impact projects that will be carried out in areas where MONUC contingents are deployed. It should be pointed out that when MONUC moves in, security and confidence are restored. In most cases the population has literally doubled in the span of a few weeks in the small communities where MONUC contingents are deployed. If confidence is restored, in addition to security, the economy will also be restored. It was in this spirit, thanks to the mobilization of the international community in Kinshasa - the ambassadors there, the United Nations agencies and the representatives of the Bretton Woods institutions- that we were able to put together these 40 small projects, which are funded and will be carried out in the weeks to come.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“We were able to spend an entire morning in dialogue with the political parties, while there were demonstrations in the streets of Kinshasa, with banners and slogans, for the first time in two and a half years. The political parties are now authorized to express themselves in public. We have heard the political parties, civil society and religious leaders express their hope that this inter-Congolese political dialogue can be held on Congolese territory. Of course, we must still identify the venue, but we have received this message and it is important to convey it. Apart from those two aspects of the Lusaka Agreement, the Security Council delegation was determined to make progress in two areas that we thought were very important: the economic area and the human rights area.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“Secondly, in order to properly prepare this initial meeting, Mr. Masire's representative in Kinshasa, Professor Ould Lebatt, and Ambassador Mogwe will travel through the 11 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to prepare this dialogue, to identify in every province particularly representative individuals beyond the representatives enrolled in office, if I may say, which are the Government and the armed groups who have signed the Lusaka Agreement, as well as the political parties in Kinshasa. Finally, one last particularly encouraging development. On the eve of our arrival in Kinshasa, President Kabila announced the abolishment of decree 194, which had forbidden any activity by political parties.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“We heard directly from General Mwaniki, Chairman of the Joint Military Commission, that he is working on an initial programme involving several thousand militia members, combatants, and he hopes to be able to convey this programme to us in the days or weeks to come. In addition to these military aspects, it is very important that we see progress in the inter-Congolese political dialogue. There is no automatic link between the two, but we feel, as does the Political Committee, that these two approaches should move forward in parallel. Otherwise the entire peace process will be unbalanced. From that point of view, the two meetings that we had with former President Masire, facilitator of the dialogue, were very encouraging. First, a date was set for the opening of the preparatory dialogue, the preparatory conference. The date is 16 July.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“There were undeniably thousands of Burundian Front pour la defense de la de'mocratie (FDD) militia who left the Democratic Republic of the Congo with their weapons to return to Burundi, thus doing more to transfer the war than to resolve the conflict. Similarly, during our stay in Rwanda, there were incursions along the border by hundreds of former Rwandan Armed Forces (ex-FAR) and Interahamwe, and so we repeated to all of the heads of State concerned that it was crucial for us to be able to receive, under the auspices of the Joint Military Commission, very specific plans providing for disarmament and demobilization, then reintegration or resettlement of the "negative forces".”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“When we met with President Museveni in Kampala, he very clearly indicated that in three weeks all Ugandan forces will have left Congolese territory, with three exceptions: a battalion will remain in Bunia for the present; a battalion will remain in Buta; and finally, forces from six battalions will remain deployed in the Ruhenzori mountains along the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The final point concerning the military aspects in general is the disarmament, demobilization, reintegration or resettlement of the so-called negative forces. Events are not exactly in line with the Lusaka Agreement at present.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“The step following disengagement is naturally the stage of withdrawal of foreign forces, all foreign forces. The objective is total and complete withdrawal. The Security Council has its own interpretation in resolution 1304 (2000), but everyone's concern is to move towards this withdrawal. It is reassuring to say before this Council that the ministers present at the Lusaka meeting, as well as the heads of State whom we met, all reaffirmed their agreement and their common objective, which is a total withdrawal of all foreign forces. The date of 22 February 2001 as a D-day from which the timetable is calculated was confirmed. In fact, it should be stressed that the disengagement and withdrawal of certain forces has already begun. President Mugabe confirmed the withdrawal of several thousand Zimbabwean forces from Congolese territory.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“The Political Committee of the Lusaka Agreement and the Security Council obtained through their joint action a firm announcement on the part of Jean-Pierre Bemba, on the one hand, and the Political Committee, on the other. The message is simple and unambiguous: on Friday, 1 June, the FLC forces will withdraw from the zones they are currently occupying to the agreed positions. This is set out in the written communique adopted jointly by the Political Committee and the Security Council delegation following our meeting, so that things would be clarified. There was a parallel and unconditional decision to send humanitarian observers to Bquateur Province, as elsewhere throughout the Congo, in order to improve the human rights and humanitarian situations.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“We played together, as they say in sports, like a team passing the ball well and in an unfailing harmony. Beyond these comments, what were the results that our mission was able to achieve? We achieved results in the military sphere, which is obviously the first area to be taken into consideration. For four months the ceasefire has been holding, which is a first success; yet we have to strengthen it and move it forward. Beyond the ceasefire, the next stage is disengagement. Before we arrived, United Nations observers were able to confirm implementation of the agreement on the ground, except in Equateur Province, where the Front de libe'ration du Congo (FLC) lead by Jean-Pierre Bemba had made demands that were not in accordance with the commitments that were signed and endorsed.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“Indeed, it also provided for real negotiations between partners on sensitive issues to make progress towards peace. At times we had to remind all the parties of their commitments and their obligation to respect international law, human rights and humanitarian law. If we can play this positive role, I think it is largely because of two traits that bring us together around this table: first, the duty of complete impartiality towards all of the parties to the conflict; and second, a strong unity joining all the members of the Council on the approach to be followed. I believe that our interlocutors were forced to acknowledge our impartiality and were certainly struck by the unity of our delegation. At this stage I would like to thank all of the ambassadors who were part of the delegation.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“This is a question of helping the parties to implement their commitments by sending observers to monitor respect for those commitments on the ground, along with contingents to ensure the safety of the observers and the security of facilities, and to set up riverine units to make real progress in the economic sphere. It is therefore not at all a matter of imposing anything, and certainly not a matter of imposing peace. Rather, this is a matter of helping the parties to implement their own commitments. Beyond that, it is also a question of helping the parties to resolve their own differences in the interpretation of the agreements they themselves have negotiated. I believe that is an important role. Our mission was not simply to observe events. At times it took the form of a true contribution to bridging differences.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“That is the same sort of arrangement we have set up among the partners of the region, the Political Committee for the Lusaka Agreement and the Security Council. In fact, that partnership was sealed when the United Nations and the Security Council gave the green light to deploy on the ground the contingents of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) and the observers. From that moment on, we are forced to succeed together; otherwise we will fail together. We are partners for peace. My last comment is to once again clearly specify the role of the United Nations in the region.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“My third comment is to stress that with respect to last year's mission - and there were three of us on this year's mission who also participated in the mission last year - the atmosphere between the parties and the United Nations was radically different and, in fact, much more positive and trusting. The meetings were always constructive. We concluded that in fact a negotiating structure had been set up little by little, one that was without a doubt an optimal one. In that context, I would like to refer to what happened about 12 years ago, when we were trying to find a way out of the crisis in Cambodia. At the time, we set up a conference that was including the countries of the region and the Security Council and that had co- chairmen.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“My second comment is to underscore the feeling we all had that there is today a real window of opportunity for the Democratic Republic of the Congo to move towards peace. The young President Joseph Kabila has a lot to do with that. There is also a widespread feeling in the region that there is no military solution to that war, and a feeling of weariness in the light of fighting that no longer makes much sense. Quite simply, our objective was to help the parties that negotiated the Lusaka Agreement and those that negotiated the Arusha Agreement on Burundi to turn the page on war and, what is more difficult, to build lasting peace between them.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“Made up of 12 Ambassadors, the mission was an especially large one and, lasting 10 days, particularly long. We visited eight countries and met at length with 10 heads of State and two facilitators - President Masire for the inter-Congolese dialogue and President Mandela for Burundi. Beyond that, we had occasion to meet with representatives of political parties and civil society, with religious leaders and, of course, with leaders of the armed groups, both in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Burundi. On behalf of the Security Council delegation, I would like to convey my warm thanks to all the people we met, whose warm reception of our mission was truly in keeping with Africa's great tradition of hospitality.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“Mr. Levitte (France) (spoke in French): The conclusions and recommendations drawn up by the 12 Ambassadors who were part of the Security Council mission are available in English, prior to being available in all the official languages. I will address four points in my presentation. First I will make general comments about our mission; secondly, about the results we were able to achieve for the Democratic Republic of the Congo; thirdly, about the initiatives that should be taken for the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the days and weeks to come; and, finally, about the situation in Burundi. Let me begin with general comments. Members will recall that this is the second mission in a year by the Security Council to the Great Lakes region, and the fourth meeting in the course of a year with the Political Committee for the Lusaka Agreement.”
2001-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4323 (2001) · source
“Some of them have chosen not to state their position today, and I appeal to those not present in the Chamber and which have been implicated to demonstrate the spirit of cooperation shown by the Ministers who are here today. Above and beyond this report, I think that we should all keep in mind the key objective that the Security Council wishes to achieve in the Great Lakes region. Our goal is to put an end to the conflict. Our goal is the restoration of peace - peace with security for all. Ultimately, our objective is a return to economic development. All of this requires the implementation of the Lusaka Agreement. The United Nations is resolved to lend its fullest support to that goal, but, of course, it is the actions of the parties themselves that will make it possible to advance in that direction.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317 (2001) · source
“We welcome their spirit of cooperation, and, in the same vein as my colleague from Ireland, we would also like to welcome the announcement by Minister Mbabazi of the creation in Uganda of an independent commission of inquiry. I welcome also the statement made by the Minister of Finance of Burundi. All of the countries involved must demonstrate this same spirit of dialogue. For our part, we are listening attentively and objectively to them. At the end of the three months, when we have the additional report, we will consider in this Chamber possible further measures, which may be necessary if the progress that we hope to see towards ending the looting of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has not been achieved. All of the States involved must demonstrate a spirit of dialogue.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317 (2001) · source
“By a unanimous decision of the Council, we will be extending the Panel's mandate for a three-month period. Over the next three months the Panel will keep us informed. It will further expand its knowledge of this very important issue, and, in three months' time, it will present to us a fresh appraisal of the situation. In the Panel's work and in the mobilization of the international community, it will be important to ensure that, beyond the United Nations, the multilateral institutions concerned and the countries involved all participate fully in this endeavour. We would like the Council to work in a spirit of dialogue with all of those involved. From this standpoint, I should like to welcome not only the presence of the Ministers around this table but also the statements that they have made. We must listen attentively to one another.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317 (2001) · source
“One conclusion must be drawn. Not only does the looting of resources feed the conflict; today we may even ask ourselves whether looting has itself become a motive for the continuation of the conflict. The Security Council must henceforth take into account this facet of the deadliest conflict currently besetting the African continent. All of us recall the figures put forward by New York's International Rescue Committee: 2.5 million deaths since 1998, 200,000 of which were directly related to combat. These figures are appalling. They demand action and mobilization on the part of our Council and of all the parties. The Council's responsibility is to work with all of the parties concerned to help end the looting, and this report will help us do so.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317 (2001) · source
“Numerous elements had already surfaced in the press, and non-governmental organizations had also attested to the situation in various ways. But this is the first time that an overall picture of the looting of the resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been provided to us. That picture is extremely disquieting. I would like to commend the work done by Ms. Ba-N'Daw and the other experts. The report of the Panel is courageous and well documented. It should be stated clearly that we know that the safety of the experts was at times under threat. This is a matter of concern for the whole Council. With regard to methodology, the Panel strictly followed the mandate given to it by the Security Council. This explains the large number of States investigated pursuant to the broad interpretation given to the concept of illegality.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317 (2001) · source
“Mr. Levitte (France) (spoke in French): I thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this meeting on a subject of particular importance. France's best wishes go out to the United States presidency of our Council this month. I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his lengthy presence among us this morning. I would also like to welcome very warmly the Ministers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, who are also present in the Chamber. As my colleague from Ireland has said, the Ambassador of Sweden will in a short while set out the views of all the countries of the European Union. As my colleague has done, I too would like to add some comments in my national capacity as representative of France. The information contained in the Panel's report is not, in fact, entirely new.”
2001-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4317 (2001) · source
“It is also a question those actors will have to deal with on a priority basis in the context of their national dialogue. These are a few specific points illustrating that it is only one step from principle to action, a step that we will be taking in our upcoming visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312 (2001) · source
“Beyond these actions sharply focused on protecting civilians and providing them with justice, there are two other actions we must take. The first is to develop economic projects with the involvement of the MONUC contingents, and the second is the development of humanitarian activities. In that regard, before departing we will have to listen to the recommendations of Mr. Oshima, who is present here. Finally, a difficult topic we will have to address is the question of how to administer areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo that have been evacuated by foreign troops. This is a question we will have to ask ourselves, and one that we will have to raise in particular with the political actors in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312 (2001) · source
“We must therefore endow MONUC with a rapidly growing number of observers whose sole mandate is to monitor the human rights situation. Finally, I believe that we should not rule out the possibility of bringing to justice those responsible for the most significant crimes and massacres that have taken place in that unfortunate country. Will it be necessary to set up a special tribunal, as in the case of Sierra Leone? Should we follow the Cambodian example? I would tend to be inclined to follow the Cambodian model, but this is a matter that we will have to be consider once we are in the field: how to provide justice to the Congolese people and how to bring to justice the perpetrators of the most significant crimes against the civilian population.”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312 (2001) · source
“Garreton, a second thing we can and should do is to encourage non- governmental organizations and all other actors that can, through their presence in the field, contribute to an awareness of events. In that regard, I would like to pay tribute to Human Rights Watch, which has done a tremendous job. There is no substitute for exposing concealed crimes. Thirdly, we must no doubt strengthen the presence of human rights specialists within MONUC. Mary Robinson has said the same, and she is quite right. There are not enough MONUC personnel to carry out every aspect of the mandate we have entrusted to them, especially as the mandate does not allow the soldiers and observers we are sending to the field to take the time to look into the human rights situation in depth.”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312 (2001) · source
“I think that the first thing is to strengthen the international presence charged with observing and investigating the facts on the ground, including, unfortunately, the massacres, particularly in the eastern part of the country. From this perspective, there is one man who is already doing a great deal, Mr. Garreton, whom Mrs. Mary Robinson mentioned. We should hear him a third time before going to the field because his testimony before our departure would be extremely valuable, and he must be given the means to visit the area more often. It is not right that the Geneva office not be in a position to fund more visits by Mr. Garreton to the field. Beyond the work done by Mr.”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312 (2001) · source
“The limits are particularly narrow, but I am convinced that we can do better and more than we have done so far. How can this be brought about? Our goal is to restore peace, territorial integrity and sovereignty for the inhabitants of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. From this point of View, it is clearly important not to stop with disengagement but to move towards the withdrawal of foreign troops and the demobilization of negative forces, and to put an end to the pillaging of the natural resources of that country. Specifically, in order to provide protection for the civilian population, over and above putting an end to the fighting, there are things we can and must do.”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312 (2001) · source
“Because we are in the process of deploying contingents there right now, and the Security Council is going to carry out an important mission there at a crucial moment. Also, because that is, without a doubt, one of the deadliest conflicts for civilians. According to estimates of observers, there have been between 1 million and 2 million civilian victims. How, specifically, when confronted with this tragic situation, can our Council better ensure the protection of some 50 million Congolese citizens, particularly those living in the areas of conflict? This is a very concrete problem that faces us, and we must bear in mind the limitations of the mandate that our Council has given to the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC).”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312 (2001) · source
“Mr. Levitte (France) (spoke in French): Thank you, Mr. President, for having organized this debate. Mary Robinson has expressed brilliantly what we are all thinking. I fully subscribe to what has been said by previous speakers. The Ambassador of Sweden, speaking on behalf of the European Union, will make the general comments called for by the two Security Council resolutions that we have already adopted and the two reports of the Secretary-General on this important topic. Rather than repeat what earlier speakers have said around this table today, I would like to try to think with my Council colleagues about how the principles that brought us together today can be applied to a specific issue. I am thinking of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Why is this?”
2001-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4312 (2001) · source
“But it will provide an opportunity also to take a more general look at the situation in south-eastern Europe. As other speakers have rightly observed, the degree to which the international community is united on this matter is striking in terms both of its assessment of the situation and of its determination to safeguard the stability, territorial integrity and sovereignty of all the States of the region; this echoes the unity the Council displayed with the adoption of resolution 1345 (2001). It is encouraging and reassuring to hear the entire international community speak with one voice to encourage the forces of integration as they confront groups advocating territorial fragmentation and ethnic factionalism.”
2001-04-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4309 (2001) · source
“But it is essential that elected officials in Kosovo do even more: that they forcefully and resolutely make their voices heard to condemn ethnic violence and to promote harmony. The international community has made a great effort to help Kosovo and its population, and it is only normal that we should expect everyone, and in particular those elected representatives, to do everything in their power to prevent violence, thus contributing to the success of the task entrusted to UNMIK, to KFOR - and to those very representatives, elected by their own people. All these points will be made at the ministerial meeting of the contact group, to be held the day after tomorrow in Paris. That meeting will offer a good opportunity to take stock of positive developments since the last ministerial meeting, which was held in Rome last August.”
2001-04-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4309 (2001) · source
“Guehenno was right to highlight it. We share his assessment of the meeting between President Kostunica and Mr. Haekkerup, and we are pleased that a positive relationship is developing between the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the authorities in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Here, the opening of an UNMIK office in Belgrade is a step forward; it will facilitate needed dialogue on a day-to-day basis. My fourth comment addresses ethnic violence, which, as many members of the Council have said, remains the crux of the matter. We are please to note the good cooperation between UNMIK and the Kosovo Force (KFOR) in keeping the extremists on the sidelines.”
2001-04-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4309 (2001) · source
“Guehenno has mentioned the desire for participation by representatives of the Serb community. In this context, we are encouraged by the fact that Mr. Haekkerup received encouraging signs in Belgrade. We believe Belgrade has an important part to play in the context of the process led by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. My second comment relates to the general elections. As Jean-Marie Guehenno has said, these constitute an important, indeed indispensable, phase in the process of ensuring that democracy takes root in Kosovo, and minority participation is thus indispensable. The elections must be prepared with painstaking care; we are encouraged to note that much has already been accomplished on the ground. My third comment is that Mr. Haekkerup's visit to Belgrade last Thursday was a very positive development; Mr.”
2001-04-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4309 (2001) · source
“Mr. Levitte (France) (spoke in French): The Ambassador of Sweden, Pierre Schori, will shortly express the views of the European Union. I would like to respond to the excellent statement made by Jean- Marie Guehenno while developing a few points, which I hope will in no way contradict the perspective he has defined so well. My first comment is on the matter of substantial autonomy. It is very important that work in this area proceed under the best possible conditions in order to give shape to this essential element provided for in resolution 1244 (1999). It is therefore well that Mr. Haekkerup should be working on this in close coordination with the representatives of all the communities in Kosovo. The objective should be to provide a clear-cut definition of the competencies to be transferred to the future provisional institutions. Mr.”
2001-04-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4309 (2001) · source
“We had an interesting meeting here in this room with the participation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). I think that following the useful exercise in Dili on 29 March, it is in this spirit that we have to prepare for the Canberra meeting on 14 and 15 June, making sure that the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the IMF and the UNDP not only attend, but also fully carry out their share of the effort now and in the months and years to come. I would be happy to hear what Mr. Annabi has to say in this connection.”
2001-04-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4308 (2001) · source
“Annabi has to say in this connection - when it comes to the armed forces I think that we could start planning for a gradual withdrawal after the Constituent Assembly is elected and as the date of independence draws near. I think that it is very important that the beneficial presence of the United Nations not gradually become some sort of occupying force. I took note of what Mr. Annabi said a moment ago; it is easy to perceive the path from being helpful to being frustrating, a gradual slipping which could be a concern for the whole international presence. As my final point, going beyond the United Nations force, beyond UNTAET, I would like to talk about the participation of the entire international community in the effort that will be required to help the Timorese.”
2001-04-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4308 (2001) · source
“As Sir Jeremy Greenstock has told us, there will be a report on 30 April, and Security Council resolution 1338 (2001) asks the Secretariat to look beyond the date of 30 August as regards the size, structure and manner of deployment of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET). I would like to underscore how important it seems to us that the Secretariat should start now with preparation for the post-election period, so that after the Constituent Assembly is elected the international presence can be scaled down when that is possible, in a phased and gradual manner. On the one hand, it is clear that we already have the police sector, and a United Nations presence will be necessary for a relatively long period. The recent incidents bear witness to this fact. On the other hand - and I would like to hear what Mr.”
2001-04-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4308 (2001) · source
“Finally, I have a question about the possibility of resorting to a procedure that Mr. Annabi is very familiar with and that we used in Cambodia. In Cambodia, if I remember correctly, we used an on-site registration procedure for refugees who had not yet been able to return so that they could participate in what was also a historic election at that time. So, these are my questions concerning the refugees presently in West Timor. My second line of questioning relates to the future, the post-election period. Obviously, everyone will have to remain there until 30 August, but preparing for the future is a matter of planning.”
2001-04-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4308 (2001) · source
“The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that there are 80,000 to 100,000 of them. Out of a total East Timorese population estimated at 800,000, one can easily see that the inclusion or not of this number of people will make a difference in the election results. I would like to ask Mr. Annabi, in this connection, whether the Secretariat feels it would be possible to accelerate the return of these refugees in such a manner as to enable them to participate in the electoral process. If, as seems probable, all the refugees cannot be resettled before the elections are held, perhaps, as the Indonesian Government has proposed, we might consider a return of United Nations personnel to West Timor, with sufficient security conditions. In that scenario, what conditions have yet to be met?”
2001-04-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4308 (2001) · source
“Mr. Levitte (France) (spoke in French): I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for having made this meeting rather livelier than those in the past. There is still a great deal to be done, but you have definitely set the course. I would like to thank Hedi Annabi for the information on the positive developments. It seems that things are going slowly but well for the setting up of the structures of a State that will be able to stand on its own feet. France will contribute its share, in particular in providing the training for the diplomats that the young State will need. The next important stage is the election of the 88 members of the Constituent Assembly on 30 August. In that connection, I wish to associate myself with the questions that have been asked concerning the situation of the refugees who are still in West Timor.”
2001-04-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4308 (2001) · source
“In conclusion, I would like once again to pay tribute to all of our partners and to the representatives of the parties to the conflict, as well as to those of the Arab countries. Over the past few days, we have done a remarkable job together. Let us continue together, so that the United Nations can play its full role in the service of ajust peace.”
2001-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4305 (2001) · source
“Despite almost unanimous support, our draft resolution does not yet have all the backing necessary for effective action on the part of the Council. That is why we decided not to submit it to a vote, and to continue to try to muster the support that we are lacking this evening. With respect to the text presented by our partners from the non-aligned countries, the four European members decided to abstain, despite the great merits of the draft. We abstained primarily because of the alternative approach that we chose together. This evening's vote does not in any way change France's policy in the Middle East - its commitment to all those who are suffering today and who want to build their nation and their State in peace.”
2001-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4305 (2001) · source
“Our second conviction is that the Security Council cannot, on an issue as difficult as this one, make its voice heard and assist the Secretary-General in influencing the course of events unless it is united. It is in this spirit that the four European members of the Council worked with all of their partners. The result is here tonight, in the shape of a draft resolution which we are submitting officially. This draft is substantial and balanced. If it were to be adopted, it would give Kofi Annan and the parties to the conflict a clear perspective of the path to be followed in order to put an end to the violence and to end all of the measures that are keeping the Palestinian people under unbearable constraints, with a view to the resumption of the peace negotiations.”
2001-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4305 (2001) · source
“Mr. Levitte (France) (spoke in French): For several very long days, the 15 members of the Security Council have worked in a particularly constructive spirit on the most difficult issue on its agenda: the conflict in the Middle East. They have done so by maintaining a positive and constant contact with the parties concerned. All of the members of our Council share two convictions. Because today there is no mediation, because peace negotiations are at a standstill and because the cycle of violence is increasingly spiralling out of control, the United Nations must act. It is doing so through the actions of its Secretary-General, who is currently taking part in the Amman summit. However, Mr. Kofi Annan cannot act under optimal conditions unless he receives a very clear mandate from the Council.”
2001-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4305 (2001) · source
“We welcome the authorization by the Commander of KFOR, pursuant to that decision, of deployment of Yugoslav forces in Zone 1 of the ground safety zone. We are gratified that the deployment has proceeded without incident. We must thwart the extremists who, in and around Kosovo, are seeking to undermine prospects for reconciliation, peace and development. This is a shared objective of the international community. Whatever the causes advocated by these isolated groups, their acts of violence will not be tolerated in the Council. The presidential statement to be read out later will make this very clear. Mr. Haekkerup can convey to all of the democrats in the region our message of solidarity with them.”
2001-03-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4296 (2001) · source
“As to Presevo, we welcome the ceasefire agreement concluded on 12 March between the Yugoslav armed forces and the armed Albanian groups. We call on the parties to respect that agreement and to move quickly to dialogue on a comprehensive and lasting political settlement of the crisis. The international community must support that process, in particular by enhancing its humanitarian, economic and social assistance to the region. Humanitarian projects are already being undertaken by the European Union. On 9 March, the North Atlantic Council adopted a decision authorizing a phased and conditional return of Yugoslav forces to the ground safety zone, with the ultimate aim of eliminating it. This is a step in the right direction.”
2001-03-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4296 (2001) · source