YouSaid · the spoken record

Mahmasani

lines on the record
8
first
2003-02-18
most recent
2003-02-18
sittings or episodes
1
sources
un-security-council

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  1. “It is clear that this is what the people of Europe want." It is clear by now that this is what the peoples of the world want. Let us not fail them.”

    2003-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4709 (2003) · source

  2. “The option of war represents a failure of the Security Council and a collapse of the present international system, as well as a challenge to the United Nations Charter, which is the sole safety valve for protecting countries, particularly the weaker ones, and for preserving international peace and security. To preserve the peace in the Arab region and throughout the world, we call on everyone to reject the option of war and to give the inspectors sufficient time to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Iraqi question. The statement adopted by the European Union summit in Brussels said, in part: (spoke in English) "The Union's objective for Iraq remains full and effective disarmament We want to achieve this peacefully.”

    2003-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4709 (2003) · source

  3. “Amidst the cloud of war hanging over the region, the Council of Foreign Ministers of the League of Arab States met in Cairo on 16 February and confirmed the Arab countries' rejection of any act of aggression against or threat to the peace and security of any Arab State. They considered any such threat to be a threat to collective Arab security. The Council of Foreign Ministers also rejected any political plan or policy to impose changes on the region, to interfere in its internal affairs or to ignore the legitimate interests of the peoples of the region. We hope that the end of the cold war late in the last century will not signal a prelude to the onset of hot wars in the new century, beginning with a war on Iraq.”

    2003-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4709 (2003) · source

  4. “Israel continues to occupy Arab territories and pursues a policy of destruction of the Palestinian people. For the past 22 years, it has rejected the implementation of Security Council resolution 487 (1981), which calls on Israel to submit its nuclear programmes and facilities to the IAEA safeguards regime. For the past 12 years, it has rejected the implementation of paragraph 14 of resolution 687 (1991), which calls for the creation of a zone free from weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. Why do we condone Israel's behaviour and why do the inspection teams not head there to eliminate its weapons of mass destruction? Why, I ask, are there such double standards?”

    2003-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4709 (2003) · source

  5. “The insistence on waging war against Iraq at a time when the inspectors are striving to verify that country's disarmament of its weapons of mass destruction raises the question as to whether the war is actually intended to disarm Iraq of such weapons or to achieve other objectives. The countries of the Middle East - with the exception of Israel of course - call for a halt in the preparations for war against Iraq. International polls indicate a worldwide rejection of war. Seventy-seven per cent of the British reject war and 59 per cent of Americans call for the inspectors to be given more time. From Sydney to New York, millions have demonstrated against the impending war in Iraq. The imminent threat to the peace and stability of the Arab nation is Israel's arsenal of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and their delivery systems.”

    2003-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4709 (2003) · source

  6. “ElBaradei in his report include the following: (spoke in English) "We have to date found no evidence of ongoing prohibited nuclear or nuclear-related activities in Iraq." (S/PV.4707, p. 9) (spoke in Arabic) In the light of the conclusions reached by the inspectors, who are the only legitimate authority entrusted with the verification and submission of evidence to the Security Council, there is no justification for waging war against Iraq. Therefore we ask: why a war? What are the imminent danger and sudden threats that would justify it? The inspectors are pursuing their inspections throughout Iraq. The eyes of the Security Council are on Iraq. Satellites and reconnaissance aircraft fly through the skies of Iraq. Where, therefore, is the danger posed so starkly by Iraq as to warrant a war within weeks?”

    2003-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4709 (2003) · source

  7. “The reports of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) presented by Mr. Blix and Mr. ElBaradei on 14 February confirmed some progress in the inspections process. They also confirmed Iraq's cooperation, which leads us to stress the need for those operations to continue until such time as the Iraqi file can be closed and the sanctions can be lifted, in accordance with paragraph 22 of resolution 687 (1991). Mr. Blix reported that: (spoke in English) "The situation has improved. ...(S/PV.4707, p. 2) "All inspections were performed without notice and access was almost always provided promptly. (ibid.) 4c "So far, UNMOVIC has found no such weapons [of mass destruction]". (ibid., p. 3) (spoke in Arabic) The conclusions reached by Mr.”

    2003-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4709 (2003) · source

  8. “Mr. Mahmasani (League of Arab States) (spoke in Arabic): Allow me to join preceding speakers in congratulating you, Mr. President, and in thanking your predecessor, the Ambassador of France, and also Mr. Blix and Mr. ElBaradei. The Arab Summit convened in Beirut last March adopted a resolution in which it categorically rejected any attack against Iraq or any threat against the peace and security of any Arab State. Such an attack was considered a threat to collective Arab national security. The resolution also welcomed Iraq's commitment to respecting the independence, sovereignty and security of the State of Kuwait, and it called upon Iraq to cooperate in order to find a rapid solution to the issue of prisoners of war and detainees, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of international legitimacy.”

    2003-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4709 (2003) · source