YouSaid · the spoken record

Mahbubani

lines on the record: 1,011
first: 1999-09-11
most recent: 2004-05-10
sittings or episodes: 106
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Peter Hain, the United Kingdom's Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. Indeed, immediately after the meeting he tried to summarize what he thought were its conclusions. This is what he said. First, he concluded that there was a broad consensus on the need to institute regular and more structured consultations and coordination within the Council and the OAU and the regional bodies. I suppose Mr. Essy's presence here is one concrete result. Secondly, he also felt that there was a need for greater political engagement from the Council in conflicts in Africa to meet especially its peacekeeping needs more quickly and effectively. Thirdly, emphasis was given to the vital importance of preventive action to address the root causes of conflict, including better early warning and exchange of analysis.”
2002-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4460Resumption1 (2002) · source
“Indeed, the very third sentence of your paper reads, "Since both organizations" - the OAU and the United Nations - "aim at finding solutions to disputes/conflicts, it is of vital importance that their actions complement one another for effective results." (5/2002/46, annex, first paragraph) If I heard the Ambassador of Cameroon correctly through the interpretation, I thought at one point he also said that there seems to be an inverse ratio between meetings and results. Clearly, that is an area that we need to focus on. We did some research for this debate, and I noticed that the last time the Council debated the situation in Africa - and I think the Ambassador of Cameroon reflected on this, too - was in December 1999, when the meeting was chaired by the then- Council President, Mr.”
2002-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4460Resumption1 (2002) · source
“Allow me to begin by congratulating Mauritius on organizing this debate. The high level of participation and interest shows that it is timely, and we certainly agree with the comment made by the Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Louise Frechette, when she said earlier today that it is good to have this meeting chaired by a success story from Africa. I would also like to welcome my old friend Minister Amara Essy and to wish him all the best as he undertakes his historic transformation. As he said, this will not be the Organization of African Unity (OAU), part 2; this will be the African Union - a different body. The Council has covered a wide area in the debate so far, and I notice that many of our colleagues have tried to answer the many questions that you, Mr. President, have posed. But we would just like to focus on one key word: results.”
2002-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4460Resumption1 (2002) · source
“The Rambouillet accords were signed on 18 March 1999; the three-year time frame would take us to 18 March 2002, which is about two months from now. Perhaps it would be helpful if we could be enlightened on whether any discussions are taking place on the convening of such an international meeting. I do not know whether Mr. Guehenno has any information on that point.”
2002-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4454 (2002) · source
“What are the benchmarks we need in order to move from one step to the next? What are the rough time frames? What would be the impact on the structure and the size of the Mission? For example, in the context of the latest restructuring of UNMIK, should the benchmark of provisional autonomy be met by some downsizing of the Mission? That is why we emphasize the point about UNMIK devolving some responsibilities to the newly elected Kosovo Government. Finally, we note also that resolution 1244 (1999) calls on UNMIK to facilitate "a political process designed to determine Kosovo's future status, taking into account the Rambouillet accords" (para. 11 (e)). Those accords, as we know, call for the convening of an international meeting three years after entry into force to formulate a mechanism for a final settlement for Kosovo.”
2002-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4454 (2002) · source
“Clearly, UNMIK and KFOR have a lot more to do before the mandate under resolution 1244 (1999) is fulfilled. More important, a precipitate withdrawal would reverse what has been achieved in Kosovo and would squander the resources and efforts expended on the province. Worse still, another conflict could be ignited, destabilizing not only Kosovo but the Balkan region as a whole. Therefore, we emphasize that the international presence in Kosovo must be gradually withdrawn in a way that bolsters and does not undermine the progress that has been painstakingly achieved. But of course, that does not take away from the fact that it would be useful for the Council to know how the international presence would be eventually downsized and eventually withdrawn. What are the steps forward we can take?”
2002-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4454 (2002) · source
“That is also a way to ensure that the Council maintains regular oversight and that we impose discipline on a system by ensuring that we have benchmarks to assess how we are progressing. That brings me to my third and last point - a point which I actually raised at the last public meeting on Kosovo, held last November. To be on top of things, the Security Council must also have a clear exit strategy for Kosovo. As we all know, the Council has taken a fundamental decision that exit strategies must always be well managed; the only way to manage them well is to start thinking about them as soon as possible. That has to be done for Kosovo as well, and we hope it will be done reasonably soon. Let me emphasize one point to avoid misunderstanding: we are not calling for the quick withdrawal of the international presence in Kosovo.”
2002-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4454 (2002) · source
“But I frankly think that as Kosovo moves towards greater self-government there is a need to have regular reviews for the extension of UNMIK. Indeed, the latest report of the Secretary-General on Kosovo states that "UNMIK is reaching a critical stage in the implementation of its mandate and has made substantial changes in both structure and focus to encourage and support provisional self- government while upholding the provisions of resolution 1244 (1999). The next phase will require careful management and the continued, strong commitment of the international community." (S/2002/62, para. 44) I think that the Security Council clearly needs to be at the centre of the exercise to determine how that is done. One way to do this is through a formal review of the operations of UNMIK, as we do with other peacekeeping operations.”
2002-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4454 (2002) · source
“The case of Kosovo is unique because the operation just goes on in perpetuity. We are very puzzled about his, so, actually, we did something unusual. We wrote to some of the members of the Council that were present when the decision was made to create the peacekeeping operation in Kosovo to ask them why they decided to have that perpetuity instead of a regular annual review. Unfortunately, as we all know, the Security Council does not keep records of any kind of explanation for the decisions that are made. But the best answer we got was that, at that time, the members of the Security Council were so relieved that this problem had been transferred from outside the Security Council into the Council that it was decided that, having got hold of it, the Council should keep it in perpetuity.”
2002-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4454 (2002) · source
“I certainly endorse the point that she has made that perhaps UNMIK could look into various means of educating the population and telling them that they can live in a multi-ethnic environment and that they do not have to live in ethnically coherent enclaves. Let me now move to my second point. We think that it would be appropriate, especially now, for UNMIK to be treated like any other United Nations peacekeeping operation in terms of management by the Security Council. We understand from reading resolution 1244 (1999) that the mandate given to UNMIK is for perpetuity, without any formal periodic reviews. By the way, this is rather unique. Every other peacekeeping operation - in Africa, Asia and, indeed, throughout the world - always has a formal annual renewal before it proceeds.”
2002-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4454 (2002) · source
“A democratic, multi-ethnic and economically vibrant society in Kosovo is the only solution to the Kosovo problem. The key is therefore to get UNMIK to gradually hand over the appropriate responsibilities to the Kosovo leadership. Before I move on to my second point, let me also add that I completely agree with the observation made by our colleague from Mexico when she referred to Mexico's multi-ethnic background, and how one can, in a sense, live in peace in a country with different ethnic groups. I am pleased to confirm that Singapore too, like Mexico, has a multi-ethnic background, although we do not have 56 ethnic groups. But, as our colleague from Mexico has emphasized, the key is education.”
2002-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4454 (2002) · source
“For that to happen it is necessary for the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to try to devolve as many of its responsibilities as possible to Kosovo leaders, except, of course, core civilian functions. That must be, in a sense, the direction in which the United Nations must go. The leaders of Kosovo must be allowed to show that they can exercise due responsibility and care in governing the province, even in a limited way. As I said earlier, that is the direction in which all of us want to go. In this way we hope that the elected leaders will also gain the confidence of the people of Kosovo, both the majority and the minorities. Hopefully, over time mutual trust between the leaders and the people can be built up, as well as among the various ethnic communities. We hope that will lead to reconciliation.”
2002-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4454 (2002) · source
“A continent where for centuries countries used to fight over their borders - and, indeed, where millions died fighting over those borders - is now becoming truly a borderless world and, frankly, with the launch of the euro, that borderless world has been carried to a great new height. That is ultimately the happy destination that Kosovo and its neighbours can enjoy. Our challenge is to see how we can help Kosovo reach that happy destination as quickly as possible. It is therefore in this light that we raise a few questions and make some suggestions about where we go from here. Clearly, the first point to emerge - even in listening to my colleagues from Norway and Mexico - is clearly that after the elections we have to move Kosovo towards greater self-governance and, in a sense, towards greater autonomy.”
2002-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4454 (2002) · source
“Of course, we are aware that to achieve that there will be many serious problems in the short term. Indeed, Mr. Guehenno referred to the very tragic killings on 17 January. Actually, we are also disappointed to hear that the elections for President have not yet taken place. But while we should bear in mind these short-term problems, we should perhaps also balance that by bearing in mind that the long-term future of Kosovo and its people has to be bright. It has to be bright because they have the good fortune of being situated in the very fortunate continent of Europe, where we are, in some ways, seeing what may perhaps be the greatest social and political experiment ever undertaken in the history of man.”
2002-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4454 (2002) · source
“Before going into the latest events, it may perhaps be useful to step back and look at the big picture a little, and perhaps to bear in mind that Kosovo is a somewhat unusual peacekeeping operation. It functions, in some ways, more like a trusteeship operation. The United Nations is, in a sense, holding Kosovo in trust before a final political solution is found~ of course, on the basis of resolution 1244 (1299). But we all know that today no territory can be held in trust forever. I think one common condition that all of mankind wishes to enjoy is the sense of control over our lives, the sense of being in charge. This must be, in a sense, the direction that we should be heading in, and it must be clear that whatever we do must take steps towards that goal.”
2002-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4454 (2002) · source
“We, too, would like to begin by thanking Under-Secretary-General Jean-Marie Guehenno for his usual comprehensive briefing. We would also like to thank the Secretary- General for his report and, like our colleagues, we would also like to pay a special tribute to Mr. Hans Haekkerup, who demonstrated wise and effective leadership at a crucial time for Kosovo. Obstacles were overcome and steps forward were made. Our only regret is that Mr. Haekkerup is not here to say goodbye to us and to share with us his farewell reflections. We are of course pleased to hear that a letter will be on its way shortly to Mr. Haekkerup's successor, but I gather that the press revealed the name of his successor to most of us before we were told officially.”
2002-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4454 (2002) · source
“I should like to end by quoting once again from the Secretary-General's remarks: "Through the work of this Committee, Member States are, for once, really using this Organization in the way its founders intended - as an instrument through which to forge a global defence against a global threat." (supra)”
2002-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4453 (2002) · source
“Indeed, in an article published in this month's issue of Foreign Aflairs, Sir Michael Howard writes that "it is fundamentally 'a battle for hearts and minds' without hearts and minds one cannot obtain intelligence, and without intelligence terrorists can never be defeated." In maintaining transparency through frequent consultations with non-member States, the Counter- Terrorism Committee plays a crucial part in ensuring that our struggle against terrorism enjoys the full support of Member States. Indeed, in organizing a concerted response to the global threat of terrorism, we are actually acting in the spirit in which the United Nations was created.”
2002-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4453 (2002) · source
“(supra) In conclusion, we would like to stress that, in dealing with terrorists, we face a shadowy and elusive quarry. Countering terrorism must be a global endeavour. The terrorists have built up a complex international network. In our mission to defeat international terrorism, a Vigorous, sustained and global strategy is needed. A concerted effort, coordinated by the Counter-Terrorism Committee with the rest of the United Nations organs and relevant international organizations, is one key way to eradicate this global cancer. It may also be helpful to bear in mind that the struggle against terrorism is unlike a war against drugs or crime in one crucial respect.”
2002-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4453 (2002) · source
“Where they are allowed to grow and ferment because the majority fails to act, they have pernicious effects on the rest of humanity. Indeed, Singapore's Minister of State for Community Development and Sports, Mr. Yaacob Ibrahim, said the following about the role of the majority: "The majority were insecure about the pace of change in the modern world, and about their economic livelihoods. Extremists took advantage of these psychological insecurities to push their violent solutions." Hence, in our efforts against terrorism, we should reflect on what psychological insecurities we may need to address in order to prevent the eruption of violent solutions. As the Secretary-General said earlier this morning when he addressed the Council, "Terrorism is a weapon of alienated, desperate people, and often a product of despair".”
2002-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4453 (2002) · source
“Our security agency then requested copies of the tape and notes, which we received on 28 December 2001 - which is, of course, long after the 15 individuals had been arrested. I know that members of the media are watching our proceedings today. I hope that they will rely on their fact-checkers when they report this story in future. We will prevail against terrorism only through closer and deeper coordination between our law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Beyond practical cooperation, we should also be aware of the context in which terrorism flourishes. We do not wish here to start a debate about the root causes of terrorism, but it may be useful to put our current efforts against terrorism in perspective. The rise of extreme groups has been a problem throughout history. They did not start recently.”
2002-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4453 (2002) · source
“When it became clear that the group members had begun active preparations to conduct bomb attacks in Singapore, our security agency moved to pre-empt their actions. The operation to round up the group members began on 9 December 2001, with the last member arrested on 24 December. While the operation was in progress, our security agency briefed its foreign intelligence partners about the case on 14 December 2001. It was at that briefing that our security agency was informed by its foreign intelligence partners that a videotape and some debriefing notes pertaining to a planned terrorist operation in Singapore had been discovered in the house of a senior Al-Qaeda leader in Afghanistan.”
2002-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4453 (2002) · source
“Some media reports created the impression among their audience that it was the discovery of the videotape in Afghanistan by the United States authorities that led to the arrest of the Jemaah Islamiyah. This gave the wrong impression. The Singapore authorities are not aware of any information received from foreign sources which led to the arrest of the 15 persons for terrorism-related activities in Singapore. Indeed, the arrest of those 15 terrorists in Singapore was not based on the video or on any other information provided by foreign liaison sources. It may be useful for us to spell out the chronology of these events. The group was uncovered by our security agency following the surveillance of individuals with suspected links to Al-Qaeda several months ago.”
2002-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4453 (2002) · source
“We believe that these and other regional efforts are building-blocks for coordinated international action against terrorism. In this debate we would also like to share with our colleagues a recent experience that we had in Singapore, which, I think, has been reported widely. International terrorism is not a problem that began on 11 September 2001, and no one is immune. Singapore has always been alert to the possibility of terrorist attacks. Last month, our security agency broke up and arrested a terrorist group that was planning attacks against Americans and American assets in Singapore. Unfortunately, there was significant misreporting of what happened.”
2002-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4453 (2002) · source
“For instance, we participated in the Ministerial Conference on Transport and Environment in Tokyo just this past week. We also look very much forward to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) high-level meeting in Montreal next month. At the regional level, Singapore is an active participant in the yearly Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Chiefs of Police Conference. During those meetings, law enforcement agencies of ASEAN members share intelligence on wide-ranging issues and develop important networks for joint enforcement actions against perpetrators of crime and terrorist acts. Indeed, when the Permanent Representative of Brunei speaks later, he will give further information on what ASEAN has been doing in this area.”
2002-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4453 (2002) · source
“12) In this regard, while the Counter-Terrorism Committee remains crucial in coordinating global action against terrorism, each and every Member State~ and, frankly, each regional organization i also has an important role to play in rooting out and destroying the driving forces behind international terrorism. Singapore is a small country lacking in natural resources and therefore heavily reliant on cross- boundary flows of goods, services, technology and people. We recognize that security, once measured by the strength of a nation's army, is now a matter of protecting innocent individuals against the risks of living in an open, global community. That is why we have taken an active part in counter-terrorism discussions, no matter where they take place.”
2002-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4453 (2002) · source
“Where these are lacking, the Committee will have to step in to direct States to the relevant organizations for assistance. One point that we would like to emphasize in today's debate is the importance of practical cooperation in combating terrorism. Indeed, at the Council's last ministerial meeting on counter-terrorism, on 12 November 2001, our Minister for Foreign Affairs, Professor Jayakumar, noted that two common threads had emerged from the discussions on terrorism in the various regional and international forums held since 11 September. First, there had been a clear, universal condemnation of terrorism; and second, a clear resolve to make common cause against it. He stressed that "The challenge now is to translate statements of outrage and declarations of resolve into coherent and coordinated international action." (S/PV44I3, p.”
2002-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4453 (2002) · source
“After the initial assessment, certain States may still require assistance in specific areas. In some cases, the Council, on the basis of information provided by this Committee, may have to consider further action to ensure full compliance with resolution 1373 (2001). A counter-terrorism expert once observed that fighting terrorism is like being a goalkeeper. You can make a hundred brilliant saves, but the only shot that people remember is the one that gets past you. In this regard, therefore, the Counter-Terrorism Committee can be considered a special coach for those tending goal in Member States. While the Committee cannot directly prevent terrorist attacks, it is its job to ensure that all States implement the necessary legislation, regulations and framework to prevent another September 11.”
2002-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4453 (2002) · source
“However, neither of these committees matched the breadth and depth of the mandate of the Committee on Counter-Terrorism, which, frankly, has taken the Council into uncharted territory. Because it is leading us into this uncharted territory, it is actually even more important that both members and non-members of the Council remain fully engaged in its work. Right now the Counter-Terrorism Committee is mandated to monitor the implementation of resolution 1373 (2001) by all States. But as we all know, this resolution is very wide-ranging and, hence it has been given a very powerful mandate. We have begun phase one of our work, which is to assess the reports submitted by Member States. Unfortunately, not all Member States have met the deadline for submission. We hope that they will provide their reports as soon as possible.”
2002-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4453 (2002) · source
“This was an activity for which the Security Council had a unique mandate for which no other body could assume responsibility. However, since 11 September, we have, of course, now taken on new responsibilities, and the traditional definitions of "threats to international peace and security" no longer hold. Whereas terrorism was previously an item discussed primarily in the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly, it is now a major agenda item of this Council. As a subsidiary organ of the Council, the Counter-Terrorism Committee, as we have discovered, is actually sui generis. The closest precedents to such a Committee could be the committee set up by resolution 421 (1977) on South Africa or the one established by resolution 446 (1979) on occupied Arab territories.”
2002-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4453 (2002) · source
“We certainly join our colleagues in commending him for the sterling work he has put in as the Chair. I think he has successfully carried out a very difficult balancing act of ensuring that the work of the Committee remains transparent, and at the same time, of course, also remains efficient and effective. As we all know, he has worked very hard. Indeed, if he puts up a case to his Government to double his salary, I will personally support it! We are certainly fully committed to the work of the Committee. We know that since 11 September 2001, the Security Council has taken on significant additional responsibilities. In the past, Mr. President, if you had suggested one or two key areas of unique Council responsibility, we would have mentioned, for example, peacekeeping operations.”
2002-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4453 (2002) · source
“President, we would like to praise you for the format you have adopted today in calling on three speakers from the Council and three non- member speakers. I think you are symbolically demonstrating the importance of both working together on this issue. Thirdly, I would also like to say that my delegation associates itself fully with the statement to be made later by the Permanent Representative of Brunei Darussalam on behalf of the Association of South-East Asian Nations. Here, I guess we are echoing the appeal that Ambassador Greenstock just made on the importance of regional cooperation. Turning now to my remarks, I would like to begin by thanking Ambassador Greenstock for his clear and useful statement made on behalf of the Counter- Terrorism Committee.”
2002-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4453 (2002) · source
“Mr. President, I hope you will permit me to make a few introductory comments before I go to the body of my remarks. First, we would like to join our colleagues in paying a tribute to Ambassador Jorge Navarrete. In his short time here, he has made a difference. He led a masterful campaign to get Mexico elected to the Council, even though the odds were initially against him. Also, during his short stay here, he has demonstrated that it is important for every ambassador not just to defend his national interests but also to defend the other hat he wears as a common stakeholder in the United Nations community. And this is what Ambassador Navarrete has done in trying to strengthen that community, especially the Security Council. We will miss him. Secondly, Mr.”
2002-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4453 (2002) · source
“A new spirit of camaraderie exists among the elected members, thanks to Ireland and the leadership of Ambassador Richard Ryan. We now look forward to working with Bulgaria, Cameroon, Guinea, Mexico and Syria before we ourselves depart a year from now.”
2001-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4445 (2001) · source
“In conclusion, we should stress that our list can in no way be definitive or authoritative. Our key purpose is to generate a thoughtful and reflective discussion, which we hope will lead to an improvement in the Council's work on these files. We have also not touched upon the hardy perennials, including Cyprus, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), Somalia, and so on and so forth. In each of them, there was a mixture of good news and bad news. But, clearly, the Council needs to do a review of long-standing files to either rejuvenate them or close them. Finally, we would also like to join our colleagues in thanking Bangladesh, Jamaica, Mali, Tunisia and Ukraine for their splendid contributions over the past year.”
2001-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4445 (2001) · source
“The peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains fragile, as that country continues to be a subject of plunder, as documented by the Kassem report, which we heard during your presidency. Clearly, new thinking is needed in the Great Lakes region. The fifth moderately successful file is on the procedural front. Despite an agreement in principle to reform the annual report of the Security Council to the General Assembly, little progress has been made on the new format, primarily because the informal working group on documentation and other procedural questions rarely meets. There is one logjam, but the question is how we are to deal with the analytical portion of the report. We have thought of a simple proposal, which we will put forward at the next informal meeting.”
2001-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4445 (2001) · source
“The unanimous adoption of Security Council resolution 1382 (2001) on 29 November was a step in the right direction. But there is now enormous pressure on the Council to reach agreement on the Goods Review List by 30 May 2002. The Council is also committed to a comprehensive settlement of the issue, including any clarification necessary for the implementation of resolution 1284 (1999). Whether the Council can deliver on this may well be one of its biggest challenges in 2002. The fourth moderately successful file is the Great Lakes. The picture on the Great Lakes is mixed. There was a successful Security Council mission in May, ably led by Ambassador Jean-David Levitte. President Mandela pulled off the impossible, securing an agreement to create a new transitional government in Burundi. The difficulties remain with the implementation.”
2001-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4445 (2001) · source
“United Nations flights are jeopardized because they cannot fly directly. The Border Commission lacks funds - a classic case of being penny-wise and pound-foolish. The second moderately successful file is Kosovo. The Kosovo-wide elections were a success. But they have not brought Kosovo one step closer to any final resolution. There is no exit strategy. There are not even regular reviews of the mandate of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). We face the danger of the "Cyprusization" of the Kosovo file. The third moderately successful file is Iraq. Iraq is clearly the second most difficult file of the Security Council. I think we all know which is the first. Iraq has divided Council members for years.”
2001-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4445 (2001) · source
“On the procedural front, the fifth file is the Working Group on Sanctions. The Working Group, under the chairmanship of Bangladesh, was scheduled to complete its work on 30 November 2000, 13 months ago. Bangladesh did a great job in that Working Group. But all the elected members which participated in the Working Group will be leaving the Council in 10 days' time. The institutional memory will leave with them. Let me now turn to the moderately successful files, of which four are substantive and one is procedural. The first moderately successful file is Eritrea and Ethiopia. On balance, the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) is a United Nations peacekeeping success story. The Governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia deserve commendation for complying with fundamental obligations. But there remain serious problems.”
2001-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4445 (2001) · source
“Despite the efforts of the Secretary-General's envoy and the work of the Group of Friends - and in this regard I am glad that Ambassador Chowdhury, speaking earlier, noted that the work of the Group of Friends should become more transparent and accountable 4 there has been no movement. Indeed there have even been adverse developments. When will the Council admit that all its efforts have failed because of the lack of unity? The fourth unsuccessful file is Angola. Angola presents a similarly depressing story. The humanitarian and human rights situations have continued to deteriorate. UNITA remains defiant. In my notes, I was going to say there has been no good news lately from Angola, but as we all know, this morning Ambassador Gambari finally delivered some good news, which we hope will be built upon.”
2001-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4445 (2001) · source
“But I also agree with Ambassador Greenstock in this regard, that we came up with useful ideas at the lunch with the Secretary-General on Wednesday, 19 December. The second unsuccessful file is Western Sahara. Despite spending hundreds of millions of dollars on the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, which we believe costs $50 million a year, and the enormous efforts of the Secretary-General's envoys, negotiations have stalled. A number of recent developments seriously threaten the ceasefire regime. The Council must manage this issue very carefully in accordance with the relevant resolutions. The third unsuccessful file is Georgia.”
2001-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4445 (2001) · source
“First, a level playing field was created for all 15 members on the speakers list with the decision to go for balloting or lottery. I thank Jamaica for that. We agree with Ambassador Greenstock that we can improve on it by having the lottery earlier. Secondly, Ambassador Greenstock's 15 + 15 series of lunches, which he referred to, have generated many useful ideas for improving the Council's work. Let me turn now to the unsuccessful files. Here, again, there are four substantive and one procedural files. The first unsuccessful file is the Middle East. This needs no elaboration. The Council could not find a role for itself whereby it could fulfil its primary responsibility to handle a serious threat to international peace and stability.”
2001-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4445 (2001) · source
“But this major investment must now be protected. We must ensure successful elections next May. The fourth successful file is Afghanistan. Afghanistan began 2001 as a forsaken country receiving single-issue focus by the Council. After 11 September, the decisive intervention of the United States-led military coalition, exercising the right of self-defence under Article 51 of the Charter, paved the way for a new Afghanistan to emerge. Mr. Brahimi was the midwife at the difficult labour in Bonn. So far, the delivery has been successful. But babies require great care to avoid the usual perils of infant mortality. Successful file number five is in the procedural area. On the procedural front, two success stories stand out.”
2001-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4445 (2001) · source
“If we mismanage our exit strategy from East Timor, as we did perhaps in the Central African Republic and Somalia, we will jeopardize the only real success story of the Security Council in recent times. Indeed, at his year-end press conference, when Secretary-General Kofi Annan was asked what he was optimistic about, he replied, "East Timor and Sierra Leone". The third success story is therefore Sierra Leone and Liberia. The story here is simple. Compare Sierra Leone in the year 2000, when United Nations peacekeepers were held hostage by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), with 2001, when United Nations peacekeepers disarmed the RUF. The sanctions on Liberia obviously helped, and the billion dollars Member States have paid for the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone have been well spent.”
2001-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4445 (2001) · source
“If there are any doubts about that, let us imagine what the world would have done after 11 September if the Security Council did not exist. We also feel that the Counter-Terrorism Committee has done impressive work, and that Ambassador Greenstock has been deservedly and universally praised for his chairmanship. The second successful file is East Timor, Of all the issues on the agenda of the Security Council, only one promises a full and complete recovery: East Timor. In 2001, the Council adopted an important presidential statement spelling out exactly what would be needed to preserve a success story, that is, a continuing peacekeeping mission comprising military, civilian police, and civilian components, all of which would be provided assured and assessed funding from the peacekeeping budget.”
2001-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4445 (2001) · source
“The Security Council has 15 members: five permanent, five departing this year and five departing next year. Using this numerical structure of 15, we would like to suggest that the Council had five successful, five unsuccessful and five moderately successful files this year. I shall first speak of the successful files. The first successful file is terrorism and the Counter-Terrorism Committee. The adoption of resolution 1373 (2001) clearly represented one of the high points of the Security Council in its entire history. With one resolution, 189 nations were obliged to comply with far-reaching anti-terrorism moves. Without the Security Council, this could not have happened. This event, more than anything else, demonstrated the usefulness and indispensability of the Security Council.”
2001-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4445 (2001) · source
“Let me join our colleagues in offering you, Mr. President, our warmest congratulations on a successful presidency. We also want to thank you for this wonderful gift of the songs of Habib Koite, who we understand is Mali's greatest singer. We also agree with your opening observation that these wrap-up sessions are useful for reflection. I certainly agree also with what Ambassador Valdivieso said, that we can build and develop on them. And I agree with him that we can do more advertising, but ultimately there is a market test. If we are sufficiently reflective and thoughtful, I think the audience will appear. As this is the last wrap-up session for the year, we thought that it might be useful to do a wrap-up for the year, and not just the month.”
2001-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4445 (2001) · source
“This is just a procedural suggestion that I hope our colleagues will agree with. I thought that, as a gesture of courtesy, we might allow the departing members of the Council to speak first, in alphabetical order. If the President agrees with my suggestion, after we have heard the departing members - with the possible exception of the President, who may want to speak last - then the rest of us can raise our hands to speak.”
2001-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4445 (2001) · source
“I must thank Ambassador Gambari for coming to speak to us almost immediately, right off the plane, because we know he landed yesterday; we knew it was a tremendous imposition for him to come speak to us right away, but if the jet lag is not troubling him too much, if he has other creative thoughts, I hope he will share them with us.”
2001-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4444 (2001) · source
“One, of course, is that we will hear directly from a party that has played a positive role, and, secondly, we hope that having a dialogue with them will further enhance their capacity to play an even more constructive role in the political process. I wonder whether Ambassador Gambari would like to comment on that suggestion. Finally, Ambassador Chowdhury referred to the last report of the Secretary-General, where the Secretary-General said that the complexity of the situation clearly requires what he called "creative ways" to solve the problem.”
2001-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4444 (2001) · source