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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“We also support the idea of gradually extending the Sierra Leonean certification regime to all neighbouring countries and to the subregion. The second recommendation aims at better monitoring of exports of small arms by producing countries. Strengthening customs controls, with appropriate support from the international community, is a priority in this regard. Much of the report is devoted to the role Liberian authorities are playing in the conflict in Sierra Leone and the ongoing support they have been giving to the rebel movement: providing it with weapons, buying its diamonds and giving refuge to some ofits officials.”
2001-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4264 (2001) · source
“I shall mention only one name - Victor Bout - who supposedly has a fleet of over 50 aircraft and who has been implicated in many illegal trafficking operations throughout Africa, supporting the most reprehensible movements, such as RUF and UNITA. It is high time the international community acted as one and put an end to this kind of activity. All countries must cooperate to this end. France particularly welcomes two general recommendations in the report. It is our deepest hope that specific follow-up action will be taken on them. The first deals with broadening the certification regime for Sierra Leonean diamonds. The Experts hope that this regime can serve as a model in the framework of the so-called Kimberley process. We support that idea.”
2001-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4264 (2001) · source
“Above and beyond the responsibility of Liberia, which we all hope will change its errant ways of the past, we should all give thought - and this includes members of the Security Council, members of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and of African subregional organizations, countries that buy diamonds and countries that sell weapons - to how to put a stop to the organized criminals who profit from and take advantage of the Sierra Leonean conflict and, unfortunately, other conflicts in Africa. These criminals often act, as can be seen clearly from the report, without the knowledge of the competent national authorities, who, because of lack of resources or lack of political will, are not able to control what they do. The same names crop up time and again in one report after another.”
2001-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4264 (2001) · source
“For us, it is a fundamental point of principle that reports that in one way or another implicate States should be dealt with in a two-way debate that is transparent and open to all. This is also an important opportunity for members of the Security Council and all Members of our Organization to enter into a dialogue in which all can participate and give their views. Before turning to the content of some of the recommendations made by the Panel of Experts, I would like to tell Council members that France greatly appreciates the content ofthis report. The work that has been done by the Experts is serious and comprehensive. The information seems to us better supported than that of some reports presented last year. The report demonstrates clearly that there is a complex and confusing network of support for the Revolutionary United Front (RUF).”
2001-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4264 (2001) · source
“Mr. Levitte (France) (spoke in French): I would like to thank Ambassador Chowdhury for presenting the report of the Panel of Experts, and I congratulate the members of the Panel of Experts, who are sitting behind him here in the Chamber. First of all, I would like to say that my delegation associates itself fully with the statement to be made by the Ambassador of Sweden later in this debate on behalf of the European Union. We are pleased that the report of the Panel of Experts set up by resolution 1306 (2000) to study the question of the trade in diamonds and arms in connection with Sierra Leone is today being taken up at an open debate of the Security Council.”
2001-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4264 (2001) · source
“From this perspective, the Government's announcement that, as of February, it intends to repay all arrears from the year 2000 is good news. Similarly, the release in early January of 62 detainees held since the banned rally of 19 December was another positive signal. We hope that, in light of recent tensions, structural reform will resume, beginning with reform of public finances in order to stabilize the financing of the civil administration. It is in this spirit of peace-building that the Security Council's dialogue with the Central African authorities must continue. The presence here today of a high-level representative of the Central African authorities, Minister Agba Otikpo Mezode, is particularly welcome and I welcome him very warmly here today.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“The second focus of efforts must be civil peace. Peace-building has now replaced peacekeeping. Central Africans are once again fully in charge of their own fate. France entirely agrees with the assessment made by the Secretary-General in his report that "It is up to the Central Africans themselves to summon the political will and work towards national reconciliation". (S/2001/35, para. 36) Among all the political actors who must participate in that national reconciliation, the Central African authorities have a particular responsibility. It is incumbent on them above all to make decisions conducive to allaying existing tensions. Two measures are of the highest priority. First, the dialogue with the opposition must be revived and, secondly, all arrears of wages must be paid as soon as the budget permits.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“France, for its part, has fully honoured the pledges it made in 2000 and will continue to honour all of its commitments. France is the principal bilateral donor, accounting for more than 18 per cent of total official development assistance. In terms of civilian operations, this represents $18 million in 2000. More than 82 volunteers are present in the field. Among its main projects in military cooperation, France has helped to equip two companies of the Central African army, one in Bouar, the other in Bria. Work has begun to deploy a third motorized police unit in Bambari. The principal objective of these decentralization efforts is to achieve security and the revival of economic activity in the provinces of the Central African Republic. International assistance, however, is not all that is required.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“We can thus only be gratified at the decision of the World Bank to disburse to second tranche of $5 million of the fiscal consolidation credit. The International Monetary Fund's recent decision on the reduction of indebtedness is also a step in the right direction. I am gratified at this opportunity to share our views with eminent representatives of the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank. I believe this is a good example, which we should follow on other occasions. The Security Council must increasingly serve as the forum to craft integrated strategies for peace-building. There should be no pause either in bilateral assistance. The commitments undertaken here in New York in May 2000 must be honoured in full.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“Four years of intense efforts are at stake: those of the Inter-African Mission to Monitor the Implementation of the Banguie Agreements, until April 1998; those of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic; and, finally, those of the United Nations Peace-Building Support Office in the Central African Republic, since February 2000. These efforts enabled the Central African Republic to appear - and I paraphrase the words of the Secretary- General in a previous report - as an island of relative stability in a war-torn region. To emerge from this difficult situation in the Central African Republic, two complementary types of efforts are required. The first area continuing international assistance, which is indispensable.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“France, along with the other members of the Council, would like to know, as soon as possible, the results of the mission carried out by the Special Envoy of the Secretary- General, Mr. Amara Essy, who last December went to assess the consequences of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the situation in the Central African Republic. These tensions threaten the process of civil peace and national reconciliation that was initiated four years ago and which led to the signing, in January 1997, of the Bangui Agreements. It is, unfortunately, the Central African people who would be the primary victims of any return to the dark years of 1996 and 1997. But the international community itself would stand to lose a great deal were the process of reconciliation in the Central African Republic to be blocked.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“Undeniable progress has been achieved in the past four years and continues to be achieved, thanks to the presence of the United Nations in the Central African Republic. Recent achievements include disarmament and the restructuring of security forces. The Central African Republic, situated as it is in one of the most unstable and fragile regions of Africa, is undoubtedly one of the success stories ofthe United Nations in the past few years. Nevertheless, the situation in the Central African Republic remains unstable and fragile. The breakdown in the political dialogue, the recurrent strikes and the economic difficulties that have been mentioned are all causes of concern. The conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo can explain these difficulties to some extent, but it does not explain the entire situation.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“Mr. Levitte (France) (spoke in French): I should like to thank the Representative of the Secretary- General, Mr. Cheikh Tidiane Sy, for his statement, which clearly sets out the current situation in the Central African Republic. I should like also to thank for their statements Mr. Frederick Lyons, Acting Deputy Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and Mr. Mats Karlsson, Vice-President for External Affairs and United Nations Affairs of the World Bank. IfI may, I should like also to pay tribute in particular to Mr. Anil Kumarsingh Gayan, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mauritius, for his presence and for his particularly wise statement.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“Members of the Council have been made somewhat aware of it, and I appeal to Ambassador Holbrooke that, for once, he not use his veto power. The draft resolution reads as follows: (spoke in English) "The Security Council, "Recognizing the exceptional contribution that Ambassador Richard Holbrooke made to the United Nations and to the improvement of relations between the United States of America and the United Nations Organization in only 17 months, "Emphasizing the crucial importance of this relationship for both parties, "Would warmly welcome a decision to maintain Ambassador Richard Holbrooke in his current capacity for the next four years." (spoke in French) I submit the draft resolution to our Council, and I yield the floor.”
2001-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4259 (2001) · source
“President, have admirably found the words to express the gratitude all of us feel for Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. Those who have spoken before me have had their own words to say, all with a great deal of emotion and friendship, in expressing our gratitude to a truly exceptional ambassador. We are here in a body that has a tradition of adopting resolutions. It seems to me that, given the importance of this event and the urgency imposed by the calendar by virtue of the fact that today is the last meeting at which our friend Richard Holbrooke will participate, I would like to ask the indulgence of the Council and of the President to propose for immediate adoption by the Council - for once putting aside the sacrosanct 24-hour rule - of a draft resolution, which I would now like to read out in English.”
2001-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4259 (2001) · source
“The international meeting proposed by France will be held from 30 November to 1 December 2001. The second meeting of the steering committee to make preparations for the meeting will be held from 24 January at Geneva. Allow me to thank the Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS and Director-General Brundtland of the World Health Organization for their ongoing assistance in preparing for that meeting. It is my hope that this, the first year of the new millennium, will at long last be marked by a translation of our words into actions so that we can save the millions upon millions of lives that are today at stake in developing countries. France will spare no effort to pursue that goal. I would like to introduce a point of order at this stage of our debate. You, Mr.”
2001-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4259 (2001) · source
“How do we do that? During the first debate on this major issue, held a year ago on the initiative of Ambassador Holbrooke, France proposed to hold an international meeting devoted to the subject of access to treatment. That meeting will bring together donors, recipients, the pharmaceutical industry and, of course, patients' groups. Its goal will be to find lasting solutions to the problem of comprehensively reaching sick persons in the developing world through concrete projects and specific partnerships designed to benefit those millions of sick people who today have absolutely nothing to help them to survive. France believes that such an international meeting should be among the operational outcomes of the upcoming special session of the General Assembly on AIDS.”
2001-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4259 (2001) · source
“Apart from its effects on the health of entire populations, that threat has also served to roll back development and to imperil the stability and security of entire countries, and even of whole regions. Despite the slow progress achieved in the areas of research and drug development, it has nevertheless been possible to thwart somewhat the advance of the epidemic, particularly in the countries of the North. The main problem confronting us today is as follows. The tens of millions of persons ill from HIV/AIDS live mostly in the South, while the drugs currently available to save millions of lives are generally in the North. There is something morally unacceptable in this dichotomy. It is the duty of the international community to find a response to this current situation of the sick being in the South while the medicines are in the North.”
2001-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4259 (2001) · source
“Mr. Levitte (France) (spoke in French): France associates itself in advance with the statement to be made later in our debate on behalf of the European Union by the Ambassador of Sweden, the current President of the European Union. On behalf of France, I would like to thank Jean- Marie Guehenno and Dr. Piot for their statements and for their actions. France is among the delegations that recognize and welcome the progress achieved. We have also just heard about new progress made, and we express our gratitude to them for it. Everyone agrees that more progress is needed, but let us welcome what has already been achieved. We are faced with what is probably the most serious epidemic threat to afflict humanity since the Middle Ages.”
2001-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4259 (2001) · source
“In this regard, the discussions on the content of the substantial autonomy provided for in resolution 1244 (1999) must take place among Kosovars under the authority of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General; I should like to thank Mr. Guehenno for his comments in this connection. It is also desirable that the views of other parties involved be taken into consideration at the appropriate time. In this regard, we welcome UNMIK's proposal to open an office in Belgrade.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“We encourage them to continue to take political and economic steps for the Albanian minority in south-east Serbia. France will play its part in the European Union effort to promote economic development in southern Serbia. I should also like to raise the issue of the general elections. The elections must be organized when, and only when, conditions have been met. It is essential for preparations for the vote to be impeccable and, in particular, that everything be done to ensure that all the communities can participate, which means that minorities must be registered in advance, particularly the Serb community. Moreover, the nature and the functions of the bodies to be elected must be clearly defined in advance.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“As was noted in the most recent report of the Secretary-General, extremists are seeking to put obstacles in the path to coexistence among communities and progress in establishing a democratic and pluralistic society. This cannot be tolerated. I should like to say a few words about violence in the Presevo Valley. In its presidential statement of 19 December, the Security Council strongly condemned intolerable actions by terrorist groups in that zone. We must support the Kosovo Force (KFOR) and UNMIK in their resolve to do everything possible to put an end to such actions. We welcome the cooperation between KFOR and the Belgrade authorities aimed at remedying the situation, and we also welcome the restraint shown by the Yugoslav authorities.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“Kouchner was able to implement the basic elements of resolution 1244 (1999) and to restore confidence and dignity to Kosovo society. I should like to assure his successor, Mr. Haekkerup, that we have full confidence in him and will provide full support to him as he continues to implement resolution 1244 (1999). Improving security remains the top priority of the international community's action in Kosovo. In this regard, I should like to recall the last statement made by Mr. Kouchner before he left Pristina, in which he said that the spirit of revenge must be eradicated. All the inhabitants of Kosovo have the same right to security, access to public services and respect for their dignity. Each also has the right to have his or her voice heard by peaceful and democratic means in public debate.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“Mr. Levitte (France) (spoke in French): The Permanent Representative of Sweden will shortly be expressing the views of the European Union on the situation in Kosovo. France subscribes to the statement that he will make. I should like simply to offer a few additional comments. Last Saturday, after a remarkable stint of 18 months at the head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Mr. Bernard Kouchner passed the baton to Mr. Hans Haekkerup. Those 18 months involved an enormous amount of particularly difficult work - 18 months of rebuilding Kosovo, laying the foundations of a pluralistic democracy, re-establishing security, promoting coexistence among communities and organizing municipal elections under excellent conditions. Thanks to his resolve and courage, Mr.”
2001-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4258 (2001) · source
“With 98 deaths and hundreds of wounded, France is, after India, the country that has given the greatest number of lives to the service of peacekeeping. Today France is participating in 10 United Nations operations and in two additional operations authorized by the Security Council - in Bosnia and Kosovo. In all, more than 8,700 military staff and 200 police are participating directly in the implementation of Security Council mandates. These few statistics are enough to demonstrate that France has good reasons to understand the concerns of troop contributors, and, along with all the members of the Council, France wishes to respond to these concerns as effectively as possible.”
2001-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4257Resumption1 (2001) · source
“This idea should be examined with an open mind, while remaining aware - as I have just said regarding the meeting of 4 October - that what matters is not so much the formal machinery as the use to which it is put. In conclusion, I would like to respond to troop- contributing Member States - I am thinking in particular of India, which made a brilliant statement, and Jordan and some others - that lamented that there are members of the Council that have not committed themselves to contributing troops under the same conditions as other States. The French delegation did not take this criticism personally. France has participated in many United Nations peacekeeping operations. In 1993, it was even the leading contributor worldwide, with more than 9,000 personnel engaged.”
2001-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4257Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Secondly, the information provided by the Secretariat concerning the situation and the possibilities was the same information that had been given to the Council members the day before during consultations. Thirdly, an interactive, candid and substantial dialogue - without pointless formalities - ensued between the Council members and the troop contributors. If all the meetings with troop contributors were to proceed in this manner, I think that many of the frustrations expressed today would fade away. Several Member States have suggested that subsidiary bodies of the Council be established to better organize consultation between the Security Council and the troop contributors.”
2001-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4257Resumption1 (2001) · source
“I listened closely to the criticisms that several Member States made earlier concerning the often pro forma and not very useful character of these meetings. I understand their frustrations, and I must say that I share their opinions. For my part, over the past few months I have argued in favour of organizing, more and more systematically, private meetings with the troop-contributing countries, along the lines of the meeting that the Council held on 4 October for the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL). That was an exemplary meeting in our opinion, because three conditions were met. First, the members of the Council and the main troop contributors were represented at a level of high responsibility.”
2001-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4257Resumption1 (2001) · source
“For instance, throughout the existence of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA) the Group of Friends of the Central African Republic, which brings together all these different categories of countries, has made it possible to share information and to have a shared understanding of the stakes and objectives of the mission, of the situation on the ground and of the relationship with the Central African authorities. I am convinced that the existence and work of this Group have been one of the factors in the success of MINURCA. Secondly, the meetings between all the Council members and all the troop contributors are the standard approach to such a partnership.”
2001-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4257Resumption1 (2001) · source
“As the Brahimi report forcefully recalls, "The Security Council and the Secretariat also must be able to win the confidence of troop contributors that the strategy and concept of operations for a new mission are sound." (S/2000/809, para. 52) We know well that such confidence can be cultivated only through a genuine partnership between the Council which decides on mandates, in keeping with its responsibilities under the Charter, and the troop-contributing countries, which implement these mandates. There are several possible approaches to seeking such a partnership. I would like to recall first the very useful role that groups of friends play when such groups are open and when they bring together the members of the Council, the main troop contributors, the countries of the region and possibly foreign donors as well.”
2001-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4257Resumption1 (2001) · source
“I will not reprise in detail the reasons why it is indispensable to enhance consultations between the Council and the troop-contributing countries at every stage of the preparations for and conduct of peacekeeping operations. Such cooperation in fact makes it possible to increase the unity of purpose of operations and cohesiveness in their conduct. This cooperation must promote a shared understanding of the objectives and of the risks involved, as well as of the strategies to be implemented to successfully carry out peacekeeping operations. The willingness of troop- contributing countries to commit their troops in the field depends on such cooperation.”
2001-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4257Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Mr. Levitte (France) (spoke in French): France associates itself fully with the statement made earlier today by the Permanent Representative of Sweden on behalf of the European Union. I would like to review briefly some of the items that in our judgement are essential to understanding the stakes involved in this issue, from the Security Council's point of view. First of all I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for having organized this debate two months after the adoption of resolution 1327 (2000). The views expressed by the troop-contributing countries earlier today provide us with a good idea of the best way to put into practice the commitments we made under that resolution.”
2001-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4257Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Coming as it does less than a month after the Zagreb summit, which proclaimed the European orientation of all the countries in the region, it represents a very positive and encouraging development. Mr. Minister, today, on behalf of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, you have signed the Rome Statute, which creates the International Criminal Court, thereby demonstrating the standing commitment of the new Yugoslav authorities to respect international humanitarian law and the fight against impunity. Mr. Minister, the European Union wishes to assure the Yugoslav authorities, through you, of its support for their action in favour of stabilization, democratization and reconciliation in South-East Europe.”
2000-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4249 (2000) · source
“The new Yugoslav authorities have worked actively on the realization of this programme. Even though extremist nationalism continues to rear its head here and there, democracy has now become established in the region. Continuing intolerance, violence and ethnic hatreds are becoming increasingly a memento of the past. The establishment at the regional level of diplomatic relations between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Bosnia and Herzegovina on 15 December was one of the most long-awaited measures. After years of conflict and suspicion, this decision, which the European Union welcomes, will help to set the seal on reconciliation in the Balkans.”
2000-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4249 (2000) · source
“Svilanovic, when he returns to Europe -in fact to Paris, where President Kostunica will visit, giving him an opportunity to receive the signs of friendship from France-will be able to confirm this fact to the highest Yugoslav authorities. On 1 November, Mr. Svilanovic set out before the United Nations the principles which would be governing the action of the new Yugoslav authorities. He proclaimed his country's pledge to comply with the Charter, emphasizing in particular that the consolidation of democracy and reconciliation between the peoples of the region would be among the top priorities of President Kostunica and his Government. He also expressed the hope of a rapprochement between South-East Europe and the European Union. Major steps have been accomplished to date.”
2000-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4249 (2000) · source
“The Kosovo Force is continuing to reinforce its presence in this sector and is also active in fighting crime country-wide, in conditions which are, at all times, difficult and sometimes at the cost of the lives of some of its members. President Kostunica has called on the people to respect the laws and not to fall into the trap of extremists who seek to increase tension. The international community must throw all its weight into ensuring that this message is heard by the people. It must also make it absolutely clear to the agitators that they will be unable to rely on its tolerance and understanding. The European Union therefore welcomes the presidential statement on which the Security Council has today agreed. This statement is a clear message of the international commitment to the fight against violence and the search for dialogue. Mr.”
2000-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4249 (2000) · source
“Hans S/PVAZA') Haekkerup, here and now, of the European Union's full support. Action to combat violence should remain a priority for the Secretary-General's new representative. The fact is that men and women in Kosovo continue to be killed because of their ethnic background or the moderate opinions voiced by them in political debates. Furthermore, in the Presevo Valley, extremist groups of Albanian origin have killed police officers of Serbian origin. They seek to maintain a state of instability by harassing the forces of law and order. The reaction of the Kosovo Force to this provocation has been to increase the number of control points and step up its patrols at the borders of the ground safety zone. These measures have led to the seizure of weapons and the arrest of dozens of suspects.”
2000-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4249 (2000) · source
“At our meeting on 16 November, in the presence of the Secretary-General's special representative, I had occasion to mention the impressive achievements of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)in this area over the last year and a half. The holding of non-violent and remarkably well organized municipal elections in Kosovo on 28 October, with the help of the Kosovo Force and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, was a major feather in the cap for UNMIK. Mr. Kouchner should be congratulated on his exceptional efforts in this regard. We would like to give him the most sincere congratulations of our 15 countries on the completion of his term of office. I should like to assure his successor, Mr.”
2000-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4249 (2000) · source
“I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, as well as Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, also associated countries, align themselves with this statement. I should like first of all to warmly welcome the presence among of us of Mr. Svilanovic, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, who is representing his country today at the Security Council table. In the case of Kosovo, I should remind the meeting that, for the European Union, the full implementation of resolution 1244 (1999) must be the be all and end all of international community action.”
2000-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4249 (2000) · source
“But France considers that, in the light of the ongoing efforts of the Secretary-General and of the resumption of bilateral negotiations, this is not the most suitable time; we would have preferred to await the outcome of the ongoing discussions before proceeding any further. For that reason, and that reason alone, my delegation will abstain in the vote on the draft resolution before the Council. In no way is France giving up the possibility of sending observers, which we consider to be more necessary than ever before. Just as we have always done in the past, we shall continue to make every effort to promote peace in the Middle East.”
2000-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4248 (2000) · source
“(S/PV.4226 (closed)). On that basis, the Secretary-General initiated contacts with the parties, and last Friday he informed us that he intended resolutely to pursue them. On 8 December, at Nice, the European Council, on a French initiative, spoke out along the same lines. The bilateral dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian leaders has resumed, and it will continue in coming days at Washington. Mr. Vedrine's recent visit to the region contributed to that outcome. In that context, France wonders about the timeliness of adopting this evening the draft resolution upon which we are to vote. I wish to stress that France has no difficulty with the substance of the text, and I wish to thank the non-aligned members of the Council, with which we have worked in the most constructive spirit.”
2000-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4248 (2000) · source
“Mr. Levitte (France) (spoke in French): Several weeks ago, France proposed that an observer mission be sent to the Palestine territories to contribute to ending the violence and to protecting civilians. The violence has claimed far too many victims, most of them Palestinians. I want to repeat here how moved we are by that tragic toll, and that we condemn the excessive use of force. Over the past few weeks, France, along with the United Kingdom, has tenaciously argued in favour of an agreement on creating an observer mission. On 17 S/PVAZAS November, on the basis of a French proposal, the Council unanimously entrusted Mr. Kofi Annan with "the task of conducting consultations with the two parties to examine the possibility of, and define acceptable modalities for, the presence of United Nations observers in the territories".”
2000-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4248 (2000) · source
“We must not give up when faced with this unacceptable situation. Resolute measures are expected of the Bosnian authorities to end it. In particular, the presence of State Border Service units should not be confined to only four points of entry into the country. Moreover, operations targeted against mafia networks and known sources of criminal activities must be stepped up. Significant progress has been made in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but considerable challenges remain. Day after day, Mr. Jacques Klein and the entire UNMIBH staff work tirelessly to fulfil their mandate, so that these challenges can finally be met. I assure them once again of the European Union's encouragement and unanimous support in their continuing mission.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“It is responsible in the first place for advising the local police, developing cooperation of the Bosnian police with the judicial system and seeing it through its S/PV.4245 transformation into a structure that fully respects democratic values. This mission is decisive. It contributes to the process of stabilizing the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole. The confidence that Bosnian citizens can have in the institutions of their country will largely depend on its success. We must therefore ensure that this task can be continued, without any interruption, until it is completed. Another important police issue is the strengthening of the State Border Service. The report ofthe Secretary-General clearly describes the worrying increase in human trafficking and the increase in criminal activities of all kinds in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“However, in that country, much effort and determination on the part of the international community will be required before the anticipated outcome can be achieved. In its field, UNMIBH is making an excellent contribution to this long-term endeavour. The United Nations Mission has an appropriate mandate. Under the leadership of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, it is working effectively, in keeping with the very clear guidelines laid down in advance. I commend its work, which is totally satisfactory. Within UNMIBH, the International Police Task Force is playing an essential role, and doing it very well.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“Bosnia and Herzegovina will need to make the necessary adjustments in order to benefit fully from all of the opportunities offered by that stabilization and association process. It is clear that the assistance provided by the international community in support of peace cannot alone resolve all the problems. It is in the interests of extremist nationalists to perpetuate a siege mentality and keep people locked into ethnic division. The yoke imposed by these men of the past must therefore be thrown off. During this year, through the ballot box, the Balkan peoples have made considerable progress along this path. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the effects of the democratic changes in the region will be positive, even if the multi-ethnic parties did not make the expected breakthrough in the recent general elections.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“At this stage, for Bosnia and Herzegovina alone, as can be seen from the report of the Secretary-General under consideration today, 625 of the 1,776 members of the International Police Task Force of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina are European Union nationals. This figure accounts for 35 per cent ofthe members ofthe Task Force. At the political level, the European Union restated its commitments regarding South-Eastern Europe at the Zagreb Summit on 24 November. The final Declaration of the Summit, which was distributed as an official Security Council document, reaffirms the European perspective of the countries in the region participating in the stabilization and association process launched by the Union. This is true in particular for Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“Again by way of comparison, personnel supplied by the State that makes the largest contribution - aside from the European Union - account respectively for 21 per cent and 17 per cent of the total number ofthose troops. With regard to the civilian police, the Union has set itself the objective of being in a position, by 2003, to deploy up to 5,000 police officers in peace operations throughout the world. I believe that this is a very important point, and I am stressing it for the benefit of Senator Biden. One of the weak points of peacekeeping operations has often been the lack of police officers. Over the next three years, therefore, the European Union will be able to provide up to 5,000 police officers.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“By comparison, the contribution of the largest non- European Union donor accounts for less than 3.5 per cent of the total. That difference is to be expected; it is natural that the countries of the European Union should accept to bear the bulk of this burden, as the situation is of primary concern to them. The States members of the European Union have also taken into their territory hundreds of thousands of refugees driven from their countries by conflicts in the Balkans. Very large amounts of money were required to make that hospitality possible. With regard to military personnel deployed on the ground, European Union member States supply 60 per cent of the troops in the Stabilization Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina and 63 per cent of the Kosovo Force troops.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“The Special Representative of the Secretary- General clearly demonstrated - if there was any need to do so - the extent to which the active support ofthe international community is crucial for the consolidation of the rule of law, the development of good governance and the strengthening of stability in South-Eastern Europe. It is with this in mind that the European Union has, for 10 years, been providing massive aid to the countries of the Balkans. If we add up development assistance, budget financing and humanitarian aid, between 1991 and 1999, more than $15 billion have been allocated to these countries by the European Union and its member States. This figure represents more than 65 per cent of the total amount allocated by the international community to South-Eastern Europe.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source