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 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 the associated countries, Cyprus and Malta, align themselves with this statement. I should like first of all to thank Mr. Jacques Klein for his statement, which, as always, was remarkably precise, well-structured and replete with instructive ideas for the future. He very usefully S/PVAZAS supplemented the comments made by the Secretary- General in his report.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“He should know that other countries are also generous. The 15 countries of the European Union, which, like the United States, have approximately 29 per cent of gross national product worldwide, will give $4.5 billion to the United Nations - about $1 billion more than the United States. We will talk about this issue more during the course of the day. All of the countries of the European Union want an agreement - a good agreement - on the two United Nations budgets. We will be tackling these negotiations in a constructive spirit in the conviction that agreement will be possible next week if everyone around the table demonstrates flexibility. I shall now turn to the briefing given by Mr. Jacques Klein. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“Mr. Levitte (France) (spoke in French): I should like to welcome Senator Biden. Like all members of the Council, I am pleased to see him sitting at the table. We welcome him to the Security Council. He is sitting in the midst of an Organization that is doing better. We have a Secretary-General whose exceptional success is acknowledged by all. We had a Millennium Summit that charted a course for the future. Reforms are under way. Senator Biden mentioned the reforms proposed by the Brahimi Panel. Those reforms are important if we want peacekeeping operations to be successful. For that to be possible we need a little money, which means an increase in the United Nations budget. We pay tribute to the commitment and generosity of the United States. I took note of the figure of $3.5 billion that the Senator put forward for next year.”
2000-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4245 (2000) · source
“To the contrary, in its resolution 1269, the Security Council has endorsed the principles so forcefully put forward by the General Assembly in its 1994 Declaration.”
2000-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4242 (2000) · source
“In particular, there is a need to distinguish between the fight against terrorism and the fight against organized crime. If there are links between these two phenomena, they must be addressed in different ways. The 1994 Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, annexed to General Assembly resolution 49/60, and more recently Security Council resolution 1269 (1999) have reaffirmed that terrorist acts could constitute a threat to international peace and security. That threat justifies the Security Council taking a position on the question of terrorism, as in the cases referred to in the Legal Counsel's statement. In so doing, the Council is not acting as a substitute for the General Assembly, which maintains its role of defining the principles guiding the fight against terrorism.”
2000-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4242 (2000) · source
“For its part, France is actively participating in the work of Europol, which since 1 July 1999 has been charged with making use of information collected in the fight against terrorism. The French delegation also recalls that the European Union has established in-depth cooperation with other States in order to combat terrorism, in particular within the framework of the Barcelona process, with the coastal countries of the Mediterranean. As regards the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the Centre for International Crime Prevention, in Vienna, we believe it would be useful to increase information exchanges between it and United Nations Member States. In this context, the French delegation recalls that, to be effective, the fight against terrorism must take into account the specific nature of terrorist acts.”
2000-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4242 (2000) · source
“The significant concrete results achieved within the framework of the United Nations are linked to the chosen approach, which gives pride of place to pragmatism, the search for consensus and a sectoral consideration of problems. We remain dedicated to that approach. We think, however, that the elaboration of a comprehensive convention on international terrorism- as foreseen in General Assembly resolution 54/110, which was based on a draft introduced by India - is desirable. Such a convention, which would not replace the existing sectoral conventions, would make it possible to fill the remaining gaps, while preserving the gains of these conventions. Beyond the drawing up of legal instruments, international cooperation must be based on an intensive exchange of information.”
2000-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4242 (2000) · source
“The French delegation calls upon the States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings, as well as the Convention on the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism. The latter Convention, the result of a draft introduced by France, tackles the pivotal issue raised by the question of financing for terrorist groups. It establishes effective means, relying in particular on cooperation from financial institutions. Moreover, we favour the rapid conclusion of the draft convention on the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism, which would complement the existing conventions in a useful manner.”
2000-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4242 (2000) · source
“To fight international terrorism we must equip ourselves with instruments for effective cooperation, while respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, and at the same time combat the political and human tragedies that contribute to instability, which in turn nourishes terrorist groups. In this regard, the United Nations plays a critical role. The French delegation would like in particular to emphasize the importance of the work being carried out in the General Assembly on measures to eliminate international terrorism. We recall the importance of the various sectoral conventions that have been drawn up in this framework. The entry into force of all these international instruments will be decisive for international cooperation against terrorism.”
2000-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4242 (2000) · source
“Mr. Levitte (France) (spoke in French): Allow me to thank the Legal Counsel, Mr. Hans Corell, for his very clear account of the actions undertaken by the United Nations to combat international terrorism. The French delegation, like many that have already spoken, would like first to reaffirm its absolute S/PV.4242 and unconditional condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, regardless of the cause invoked or the perpetrators. Terrorist acts always contribute to unravelling the very fabric of society and to jeopardizing the bases of democracy and human rights.”
2000-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4242 (2000) · source
“At a time when the Secretary-General was engaged in a dialogue with the Iraqi authorities to renew cooperation between Iraq and the United Nations, on the basis, in particular, of the implementation of resolution 1284 (1999), it was particularly important that the Security Council not overlook its responsibilities with regard to the management of the humanitarian programme. The Council has responded by renewing the programme for a ninth phase and by including meaningful improvements. It is now up to the Council to proceed to a further phase of its work by clarifying anything that is ambiguous or obscure in resolution 1284 (1999), an indispensable prerequisite to its implementation. The French delegation will act accordingly in the weeks to come.”
2000-12-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4241 (2000) · source
“We will have to come back to this important question, for the principle of paying the arrears is set out in the draft resolution. Nor has any concrete measure been included to decrease the high level of holds, which has been deemed unacceptable by the Secretary-General. We believe that this is regrettable, because the question of holds is the principal obstacle to the smooth functioning ofthe programme. Finally, the Council will have to take a further decision very soon to authorize Iraq to give financial aid to the Palestinians from the escrow account.”
2000-12-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4241 (2000) · source
“The draft resolution also calls upon the Secretary- General, in consultation with the Iraqi Government, to make the necessary arrangements to find resources for the maintenance and operation of Iraq's oil installations. These funds will enable the Iraqi Government to increase its oil production capacity while safeguarding the environment and ensuring the safety of its personnel. This measure is therefore a positive one, for it will bring about a sustainable increase in Iraq's oil income, which is the only source of funding for the humanitarian programme. However, we regret the fact that there are several shortcomings in the draft. No decision has been taken about the payment of Iraq's arrears to the United Nations from the escrow account, which is not a humanitarian account but a bureaucratic instrument.”
2000-12-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4241 (2000) · source
“Mr. Levitte (France) (spoke in French): The Security Council will be extending the humanitarian programme in Iraq for a ninth phase. France will vote in favour of the text for two reasons. First, France is deeply committed to the continuity of the programme, for the long-suffering Iraqi population, after 10 years of sanctions, needs it badly. Furthermore, this text contains a number of positive measures that will make it possible to increase the resources available to the population. Additional funding from the Compensation Fund and the programme services account will be immediately allocated to humanitarian projects, in conformity with existing procedures.”
2000-12-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4241 (2000) · source
“The European Union greatly welcomes the appointment by the Government of Guinea (Conakry) of a resident ambassador and the appointment by Senegal of a charge d'affaires. The European Union hopes to see greater understanding among all the countries of the region and, in this context, the implementation of more efficient monitoring of trafficking in small arms, in keeping with the spirit and the letter of the Moratorium on the Import, Export and Manufacturing of Small Arms adopted by all the countries of the Economic Community of West African States in Bamako.”
2000-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4238 (2000) · source
“The European Union calls on the Government of Guinea-Bissau to pursue a policy of open, inclusive dialogue allowing for the establishment of real national reconciliation. Guinea-Bissau needs peace. Guinea- Bissau also needs unity. We hope that this message can be heard by all. In this respect, the European Union will be particularly sensitive to priority actions intended to ensure respect for human rights and public freedoms. It also stresses the need to accept and preserve political, cultural and religious diversity. In conclusion, I wish to return to the regional dimension of the Guinea-Bissau crisis. The European Union notes with interest the initiatives taken by the Senegalese and Guinea-Bissau Governments to limit the border incidents that occurred between June and September 2000.”
2000-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4238 (2000) · source
“The European Union believes that in this new context, priority must be given to ensuring that such events do not recur and that Guinea-Bissau and the international community relaunch as soon as possible the process of demobilization, disarmament and, above all, reintegration of military and paramilitary forces and of former combatants. Now that a census has been completed of the former combatants and the paramilitary forces, a census of the armed forces must be taken expeditiously and transparently, so as to include in the 2001 budget a ceiling for troop strength that is realistic and financially viable. This is a prerequisite for the early conclusion of the demobilization programme.”
2000-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4238 (2000) · source
“Changes in leadership and an in-depth reorganization of current practices must be accompanied at all levels by this necessary effort at recovery. The new civil authorities in Guinea-Bissau had to cope last week with irresponsible behaviour on the part of some of the military forces. This was not entirely unforeseeable. The self-proclaimed military junta, led by General Mane, had not actually completed the process of its dissolution, in spite of the holding of legislative and presidential elections. The European Union welcomes the fact that the great majority of the military forces have sides with the democratically elected Government of President Kumba Yala, as well as the support expressed by the people.”
2000-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4238 (2000) · source
“The European Union believes that this assistance must include debt forgiveness and budgetary support, which would enable the Government of Guinea-Bissau to finance basic social services and ensure that salaries can be paid for a period of several months. Projects aimed at relaunching economic activities could also be implemented. For its part, the Government of Guinea- Bissau must, as soon as possible, determine what its requirements are in terms of technical assistance in order to ensure that this international assistance is properly managed. The European Union hopes to see a national effort aimed at remedying dysfunctions such as excessive per diems, overly numerous administrative missions and too many non-budgeted expenses.”
2000-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4238 (2000) · source
“We must not lose sight of the fact that Guinea-Bissau's gross domestic product fell by 28 per cent in 1998, and that remunerated public or private employment has become scarce. The restoration of democratic sovereignty against a background of destroyed or pillaged facilities, failing telecommunications systems, depopulated administrations and public finances drained by the cost of maintaining the armed forces is a challenge that is almost impossible to meet without adequate international support. We must therefore consider and provide qualitatively and quantitatively appropriate assistance as soon as possible, with adjusted conditionalities.”
2000-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4238 (2000) · source
“His work, his courage and his determination also indisputably helped to achieve a successful holding last week in dealing with the threats of the destabilization of democracy. While it is useful to begin considering right now the extension of UNOGBIS's mandate beyond March 2001, inter alia to promote the successful conclusion of the demobilization process, there must also be a massive and determined commitment on the part of the donors in order to meet the upcoming deadlines, which are decisive. For the European Union, this commitment cannot- at least provisionally - be based on the usual financial criteria and on classic ratios. Conditionalities must take account of the post-conflict situation.”
2000-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4238 (2000) · source
“Specifically, the disbursement of the promised funds was probably too slow to promote the stabilization of the post-conflict situation and the success of the democratic experience resulting from the elections of November 1999 and January 2000. The security situation in Guinea-Bissau today is facing serious risks of internal destabilization, as last week's events showed once again, and possibly even of regional destabilization. The appointment of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the establishment of the United Nations Peace-building Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS) in June 1999 played a decisive role in the successful conclusion of the electoral process, which could not have taken place without the personal and sustained involvement of Mr. Nana Sinkam.”
2000-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4238 (2000) · source
“The return to peace and sustainable development requires that a solution be found to structural problems. These problems are not only of a political nature - such as the relationship between the civil and the military authorities, which has up to now been sensitive and complex, and the differences that exist within the Government; they are also of an institutional nature - such as issues related to the coordination of the Government team, the general lack of public services, and the dubious management of public finances; and of an international nature. The European Union acknowledges in this respect that the support of the donors, be they multilateral or bilateral, has lacked a consistent and coordinated strategy.”
2000-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4238 (2000) · source
“With the return of democracy, the people of Guinea-Bissau had many high expectations: the restoration of civil peace and good governance, economic and social reconstruction, secure borders and the gradual strengthening of civil institutions vis-a-vis the former military junta. At this stage, however, we cannot but acknowledge that these objectives have been only partially achieved. In spite of the successful holding of legislative and presidential elections at the beginning of the year, which gave the new institutions unarguable legitimacy, the multidimensional nature of the crisis situation affecting Guinea-Bissau has magnified its complexity and has made it imperative that it be managed in a coordinated and truly integrated manner by all the partners concerned.”
2000-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4238 (2000) · source
“Mr. Levitte (France) (spoke in French): 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 - and the associated countries Cyprus and Malta align themselves with this statement. The European Union would like at the outset to thank you, Madam President, for organizing this debate, which is a concrete and dynamic illustration of the challenges related to the consolidation of peace and the management of post-conflict situations. We listened with great interest to the comprehensive and detailed briefing given by the Vice-Prime Minister, Mr. Faustino Fudut Imbali, for which we express our deep appreciation.”
2000-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4238 (2000) · source
“Such a civilian observer component, as distinct from military observers, could perhaps play a useful role within MONUC in assessing the situation and ensuring liaison with civil society. Naturally, the conditions for deploying such civilian observers- in particular with regard to security- would have to be examined carefully. Ilistened to the comments of our colleague from Canada, and I, too, would like to hear Ms. McAskie's opinion on that matter. I would also be interested to hear her thoughts about my comments regarding the possibility of deploying civilian observers within MONUC in order to play a supplementary role.”
2000-11-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4237 (2000) · source
“In the light of our debate today, we will have to consider whether MONUC can also play a role in better evaluating the humanitarian situation and thereby contribute to the assistance effort. In this regard, we believe that it would be desirable to strengthen the civilian component of the United Nations mission. In several conflict situations, the United Nations has incorporated a civilian component into its on-site missions, particularly in missions with both a civilian and military aspect, such as was the case until 1998 in Angola. It is also the case in Afghanistan at present, where there are civilian observers as part of the United Nations Special Mission in Afghanistan.”
2000-11-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4237 (2000) · source
“I should like to say once again what I have often said during our debates: we must not give up. How could we give up, after hearing Carolyn McAskie's comments? In the coming days, the Security Council will be called upon to decide, on the basis of recommendations to be made by the Secretary-General, what support MONUC can provide to the settlement process. France believes that we must continue to pursue our efforts. Here, I would like to endorse a point that our Argentine colleague has just forcefully underlined: MONUC must retain the resources envisaged for it last February so that it can fully play its role, and these resources must be effectively deployed.”
2000-11-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4237 (2000) · source
“We must therefore give the Congolese humanitarian support to help them meet their immediate needs, and in this spirit we encourage the actions of the United Nations agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and non-governmental organizations. As part of the European Union, France is also providing assistance through the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO), which this year has set up a programme to provide health care and assistance to displaced persons. However, we must also contribute to a political settlement of this conflict. That is the responsibility of our Council. Efforts to implement the Lusaka Agreement and the relevant Security Council resolutions have encountered many difficulties, but the United Nations must continue to pursue those efforts.”
2000-11-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4237 (2000) · source
“I do not mean to join in a battle of figures here, but two essential points must be recalled: first, the victims of conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo number in the hundreds of thousands, unfortunately; and, secondly, the deaths result, on the one hand, from the violence committed against civilians and the resultant displacement of populations, and, on the other hand, from the interruption of assistance caused by instability in the area and the lack of access to these populations. Thus the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has tragic humanitarian consequences. We must be aware that this crisis is political and military. The current situation is deeply rooted in the tragedies of the Great Lakes region over the last decade. The immediate cause of the conflict is the crisis that was triggered in August 1998.”
2000-11-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4237 (2000) · source
“Garreten's report lists of massacres of the civilian population and inter-ethnic confrontations in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We also bear in mind information transmitted to us by non-governmental organizations. I refer particularly to the report issued in June 2000 by the American organization International Rescue Committee, which estimated that from August 1998 to May 2000 the conflict had caused the death of more than 1.7 million persons in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo alone.”
2000-11-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4237 (2000) · source
“In two weeks we will be making decisions on United Nations action in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Council must be in a position to express a view when it has examined all the aspects of the question. The humanitarian aspects are, in our view, essential. As Ms. McAskie has rightly emphasized, the situation is tragic. In addition to Ms. McAskie's briefing, we also bear in mind the information provided by the Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mr. Garreten, whom the Security Council heard in October during an "Arria" meeting. Mr. Garreton gave a briefing on human rights violations throughout the country, emphasizing in particular that the most basic right, the right to life, was scorned, particularly in the eastern part of the country. Mr.”
2000-11-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4237 (2000) · source
“Mr. Levitte (France)(spoke in French): I wish to thank Ms. Carolyn McAskie, acting Emergency Relief Coordinator, for her accurate and detailed briefing, which is very useful for our Security Council because it sheds light on a misunderstood or little known aspect of the tragedy being experienced by the Democratic Republic of the Congo: the humanitarian situation. Therefore, I also wish to thank you, Mr. President, for having taken the initiative of organizing this Security Council meeting on this vital question. Our debate today is an important stage in the work being done by the Security Council this month on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It clarifies our reflection on the international community's attitude to the conflict in this country.”
2000-11-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4237 (2000) · source
“It is ready to shoulder its responsibilities." I should like, following this quotation from the declaration by the European Union, to emphasize, once again, something that is clear - that there is no alternative to the quest for peace. Violence must come to an end and the peace negotiations must resume on the basis of resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), as well as the Oslo Accords. The Security Council can play a useful role with the consent of the parties to contribute to the search for peace. The Secretary-General, last Friday, received from the Council a mandate to consult with the parties on the possibilities for, and the acceptable modalities for, an observer mission of the United Nations. It is our fervent hope that an agreement can rapidly be reached. The events in recent days show that this is both necessary and urgent.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“"The European Union asks the fact-finding commission - created following the Sharm el- Sheikh summit, and in which the European Union is represented by Mr. Javier Solana - to begin its work on the ground as soon as possible. "It supports the United Nations Secretary- General's endeavours to explore with the parties, the terms and conditions of the deployment of an observer mission, in accordance with the mandate given by the Security Council. "It continues to support President Clinton's efforts and personal commitment in the search for peace. "The aim naturally remains the resumption of the dialogue and peace negotiations, the only way out of the current crisis. The protagonists know this. The top priority is the cessation of violence. "The European Union is ready to contribute to this.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“"It asks the Israeli authorities: "to withdraw their armed forces to the positions they occupied prior to 28 September and to put an end to the restrictions imposed on the movement of people and goods in the Palestinian territories; "to lift the financial sanctions imposed on the Palestinian Authority; "in cases where the intervention of the security forces appears absolutely indispensable, to use only non-lethal methods, in accordance with the appeal issued by the United Nations Secretary-General. "It asks the Palestinian Authority: "to do its utmost to end the violence; "to give strict instructions to the security forces in order to stop the attacks against the Israelis, in accordance with the announcement made by President Arafat.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“On 20 November the 15 Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the European Union met and adopted a declaration the terms of which I wish to recall for the Council: "For weeks, every day has seen more deaths, Palestinian or Israeli. That is not tolerable. The European Union appeals to the sense of responsibility of both sides, urging them not to respond to provocation. "The lack of progress achieved in the peace process, including on the settlements' problem, lies at the heart of the Palestinian people's frustration and of the Violence. "The European Union exhorts the Israeli and Palestinian leaders immediately to honour in full the commitments they made in Sharm el- Sheikh five weeks ago now and in Gaza on 2 November.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“Mr. Levitte (France) (spoke in French): The Security Council is meeting once again this evening to express the extreme concern of the entire international community at the unleashing of increasingly uncontrollable violence, which inexorably leads the Palestinian and Israeli peoples into a never-ending spiral of hatred, repression, vengeance and death. Inexcusable acts of murderous violence, disproportionate repression, more and more victims - basically on the Palestinian side. Every day the escalation increases one more step. On behalf of France and on behalf of the entire European Union I wish to express condolences to the families of all the victims. I also wish forcefully to say that there is nothing inevitable about the continuation of this tragedy. It is possible to put an end to it. An end must be put to it.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“I want Mr. Bernard Kouchner to know how much admiration and affection the French men and women present in this Chamber have for him as a man who all his life, through his work - for the past year and a half in Kosovo - has served the ideals of the Charter with generosity, with enthusiasm and with effectiveness. Sometimes the work of one individual can make a difference. Bernard Kouchner, in Kosovo, has demonstrated that magnificently, and we thank him.”
2000-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4225 (2000) · source
“Despite the obstacles that remain to be overcome, the United Nations is resolute in its support for the Special Representative in his tireless determination to attain that goal. Democratic change in the region will make progress easier. The threads of dialogue can be taken up afresh among men and women of goodwill. Gestures of peace can now proliferate. Avenues of vital cooperation can be explored anew. The return home of the human rights campaigner Flora Brovina is among the first significant manifestations of the new circumstances, which will open the way to an early solution to the overall issue of prisoners and missing persons. Let us hope that these encouraging developments will continue. They will thus enable us to fulfil our aspirations and construct Kosovo on foundations of law and justice. Let me conclude on a more personal note.”
2000-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4225 (2000) · source
“Those who have an interest in thwarting reconciliation among Kosovars of all backgrounds continue their provocative acts. The murder of four members of the Ashkali minority who had returned to their village, mentioned by Mr. Kouchner in his briefing, was a recent abhorrent example that must be most strongly condemned. But impunity will not prevail. The provocateurs will not have the last word. They will be found and will have to answer for their actions, as Mr. Kouchner has promised. All the inhabitants of Kosovo should be able to live together on their shared land. That means the return of Serb, Roma and other minority refugees. A multi-ethnic, democratic and prosperous Kosovar society, united in respect for the rights and identity of all, is now, more than ever before, the express aspiration of the international community.”
2000-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4225 (2000) · source
“A new and important step was taken towards the implementation of resolution 1244 (1999), which remains the keystone of the international community activities in Kosovo. The consolidation of democracy, the establishment of the rule of law and respect for minority rights remain among UNMIK's highest priorities. In connection with the local elections, we welcome Mr. Bernard Kouchner's intention to nominate representatives of the Kosovo Serbs to certain municipal councils and subsequently to organize by-elections. Generally speaking, all the initiatives undertaken by the United Nations Mission to enable members of the Serb community and of other minority groups to live at home in peace and security should be hailed. However, although less frequent, manifestations of intolerance remain.”
2000-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4225 (2000) · source
“It made every effort to encourage responsible Kosovars, whatever their ethnic origin, to participate together in this task. It did not persevere in vain. I would like to congratulate the Special Representative on the preparations for and conduct of the municipal elections held in Kosovo on 28 October. The Kosovo Force and UNMIK have worked together to ensure security. The elections attested to the favourable developments that we have witnessed in recent months. The ballot took place in an atmosphere of calm marked by a remarkably high turnout and attested to the sense of responsibility of the people, who carried out their civic duty in an orderly manner and with dignity. The Administration will be closer to the people and be able to listen better to its concerns.”
2000-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4225 (2000) · source
“The European Union is playing a decisive role in this. Tens of thousands of houses have been rebuilt, obsolete industries have been gradually brought up to standard, a budget for Kosovo has been established and a suitable legal framework is promoting the recovery of economic activity. In all sectors - housing, education, health, transport and infrastructure - the results are there to see. At that time, administrative structures were no longer in existence. The old structures, subservient to the parochial interests of a regime that had flouted the rights of its people, had melted away in the turmoil. New structures had to be built in accordance with the principles of the rule of law. UNMIK ensured that this happened. It worked methodically to set rules and to create an administrative machinery from scratch.”
2000-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4225 (2000) · source
“With his team, and in particularly difficult conditions, he has relentlessly implemented the mandate entrusted to him by the Security Council. He has made resolution 1244 (1999) come to life. I wish to salute here his tenacious efforts, which are now bearing fruit. Let us recall that, in 1999, hundreds of thousands of Kosovars had been cast onto the roads or had chosen the path of exile, far from their homes. Most have now returned to the towns and villages from which they came. One year after the exodus, it has been possible to conclude the activities of the humanitarian pillar of UNMIK. The economy had been shattered and many houses destroyed. This was the "year zero" for Kosovo. Today, private initiatives have reinforced the massive international aid effort to ensure that reconstruction is successfully completed.”
2000-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4225 (2000) · source
“Mr. Levitte (France) (spoke in French): 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 the associated countries Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, align themselves with this declaration. I would like to begin by paying warm tribute to the Secretary-General's Special Representative and to the United Nations Interim Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK) for the tremendous amount they have achieved in Kosovo over the past 18 months or so. When he took up his duties, Mr. Bernard Kouchner was confronted with a profoundly traumatized and divided society in Kosovo, a collapsed administration, a dramatic humanitarian situation and an economy in ruins.”
2000-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4225 (2000) · source
“At the end of this long statement- and I do apologize for its lengthiness - I am not going to draw specific conclusions because, Mr. President, you asked us all to draw conclusions jointly from this debate. But I thank you again for having taken the initiative of bringing us together on this important subject because the very image of the United Nations depends on our capacity to successfully manage exit strategies for peacekeeping operations, which our Council is mandated to lead to success.”
2000-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4223 (2000) · source
“This brings me back to the first question I asked about the underlying motives of the parties to a conflict. Why do people take up arms? What can be done to prevent them from taking up arms again? Depending on the situation, real alternatives need to be offered in terms of jobs and resources, or effective power sharing should be guaranteed. The effort to restore peace and security could be futile unless we tackle what feeds conflicts: traffic in precious materials, which finances arms trafficking and could well be one of the main reasons for the conflict. The Council recently explored this dimension in several African conflicts and took action accordingly. These efforts should be continued and intensified. An upcoming resolution of the General Assembly will make it possible to deal with this aspect.”
2000-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4223 (2000) · source
“But we should also think about this as an example of a successful transition between international organizations that have managed to establish good coordination between themselves. Sixthly and lastly, an exit strategy must include a set of complementary objectives and instruments seeking the same goal. There is no point in seeking to enforce a peace agreement if thought is not given to the fate of the combatants. Hence, the crucial importance of a demobilization, disarmament and reintegration programme for former combatants, which was one of the keys to the success of the United Nations Observer Mission in Mozambique and one of the reasons for the failure of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission and the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola.”
2000-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4223 (2000) · source
“UNTAES successfully carried out the peaceful transfer of state authority in Eastern Slavonia to Croatia. Mindful of the need to continue in a lighter and more specific way, the Security Council decided, upon the expiration of the UNTAES mandate, to establish for nine months a Civilian Police Support Group. The assessments at the end of that period recognized progress made without concealing reasons for dissatisfaction, even of concern. This is why the international community handed over control to the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) police-monitoring programme. An OSCE mission is still in Croatia. This is an example of an exit strategy that is very gradual and in keeping with the complexity of the tasks to be carried out.”
2000-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4223 (2000) · source