YouSaid · the spoken record

Mclay

lines on the record: 508
first: 2009-06-30
most recent: 2015-04-23
sittings or episodes: 72
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

“We commend the efforts of members of the international community that have provided relief assistance to those in the greatest need. New Zealand therefore takes this opportunity to express solidarity with the people of Iraq as they deal with the crisis. We specifically offer New Zealand's support to the newly formed Government of Prime Minister Al-Abadi. We welcome his stated commitment to an inclusive Government, which will be fundamental to addressing the root causes of Iraq's recent internal challenges. The New Zealand general election takes place tomorrow, Saturday 20 September. That imposes constitutional limits on our ability today to respond further, in the manner of some others.”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7271 (2014) · source
“New Zealand thanks you, Madam President, and Secretary of State Kerry for having convened this very important debate. I place on record New Zealand's continued and deep concern about the situation in Iraq. Like others, we have been outraged by the brutal actions of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). We have been appalled by the loss oflife, the large-scale displacement ofinnocent civilians and the widespread abuse of human rights, all of which deserve the strongest condemnation. We have been shocked by the resulting humanitarian crisis. Since June, New Zealand has made two humanitarian contributions, through the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, as Secretary of State Kerry mentioned earlier, to assist those displaced by the violence in Iraq.”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7271 (2014) · source
“New Zealand may be geographically far from West Africa, but we are determined to play our part to ensure that the Governments and people of the subregion, in particular Guineans, Liberians and Sierra Leoneans, have the international support they require - indeed, the international support they deserve - to control the outbreak and to prevent the further spread of this latter- day plague. We will do our bit.”
2014-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7268 (2014) · source
“I should mention that, despite the constraints of our present constitutional position, while we have been here, I have received advice that my minister has approved a further significant financial contribution to the WHO. Last month, trained New Zealand nurses deployed to the affected subregion to contribute to response efforts, working with the team led by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). In addition to that deployment of practical expertise, New Zealand has provided funding to the IFRC, UNICEF and WHO, including the additional contribution I have just mentioned.”
2014-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7268 (2014) · source
“The African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council has also, of course, authorized the AU's first- ever humanitarian mission to the affected countries, which is a commendable act of African solidarity. That and any other regional responses must be strongly supported. New Zealand has heard loud and clear the message that what is needed is an international mobilization of significant financial contributions, resources and expertise. New Zealand is in the midst of a general election, to take place tomorrow, New Zealand time. However, one of the first tasks of our new Government will be the urgent consideration of a range of options of what we can do to further contribute to the international response.”
2014-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7268 (2014) · source
“We also welcome the United Nations action on Ebola over recent weeks, including the Secretary-General's announced emergency mission and the establishment of an Operations Crisis Centre. We thank Ms. Chan for her detailed outline of the World Health Organization's (WHO) international response plan. The international response to stop further Ebola transmission and to prevent a wider spread of the virus must be swift, it must be action-orientated, and it must enjoy the highest level of political support. That level of political support is, I suggest, demonstrated by the widespread attendance at today's meeting. New Zealand is grateful to those countries that have already made significant contributions and to those who have made further pledges today, including support for the WHO, UNICEF, Medecins Sans Frontieres and others.”
2014-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7268 (2014) · source
“The Ebola virus continues to have a devastating impact on West Africa - most notably in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone - and it requires a massively scaled and coordinated international response, 20 times greater than we have at the moment, as we were told a little earlier. That is required to support affected and at-risk countries. Back on 8 July, in this Chamber, we heard the then- head of the United Nations Office for West Africa, Special Representative of the Secretary-General Said Djinnit, warn of Ebola's alarming spread, despite some initial successes in containment (see S/PV.7213). New Zealand welcomes the continuation of such briefings from regional offices, which allow for emerging threats like this to be brought to the Council's attention.”
2014-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7268 (2014) · source
“Member States often thank the Council presidency for convening an important meeting, but that comment is uniquely appropriate and uniquely meaningful for today's open debate. New Zealand compliments the United States on its initiative in convening this critical discussion about a crisis that is unprecedented in scale, impact and potential to threaten international peace and security. We note with approval the first resolution adopted in respect of a health emergency (resolution 2177 (2014)), which New Zealand was pleased to sponsor. It is not necessary to repeat the obvious, save one alarming key fact.”
2014-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7268 (2014) · source
“Issues such as reintegration, as mentioned earlier by the representative of Uruguay; forced suicide attacks, as mentioned just a moment ago by the representative of Afghanistan; abductions; casualty reporting; the impact of explosive weapons with wide-area effect; and overall accountability measures, among others, also deserve attention and further consideration. New Zealand is committed to the protection of children affected by armed conflict. It will only be with a shared sense of that duty that we will bring an end to the unconscionable violations against those whom Indonesia earlier described as a blessing from God.”
2014-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7259 (2014) · source
“Likewise, hospitals and medical facilities must not be targeted or used for military purposes. New Zealand's Defence Force operates under a structured framework around the use ofschools, all underpinned by core principles, including the protection of civilians and children, and respect for children's rights to education. New Zealand endorses the development of the Lucens Guidelines and encourages other States do likewise. We stress the need to address violations and abuses against children in all mediation efforts and peace agreements. Mandates for all relevant peacekeeping operations and special political missions should include robust child protection provisions, and child protection advisers should be deployed to any conflict that severely impacts children.”
2014-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7259 (2014) · source
“Effective action to eliminate violations against children must start at the national level. We must give priority to developing a culture that deplores the direct involvement of children in conflict, and condemns all violations against children. The United Nations itself must foster that culture, particularly on the front line. As a first step, New Zealand calls for mandatory child protection training for all United Nations peacekeepers that will stay with them throughout their military service and should be a key influence on culture and attitudes after they return home. New Zealand condemns the intentional targeting and military use of schools, teachers and students. It is unacceptable that any child should be denied his or her right to education, and no family should ever fear sending its child to school.”
2014-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7259 (2014) · source
“We remain concerned by the number of persistent perpetrators, and repeat our call for the Secretary-General's annual report to detail how long each persistent perpetrator has appeared on the list. There has been some good progress towards ending the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict. We commend the work of the Special Representative's Office and other partners, and alongside Morocco we acknowledge those Governments and non-State actors that are progressing action plans to end that practice. Nonetheless, engagement with non-State actors must be intensified further, given that they are the majority of those recruiting and using children in armed conflict. We welcome the strengthening of partnerships between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations, but more work remains to be done there as well.”
2014-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7259 (2014) · source
“New Zealand thanks Special Representative of the Secretary-General Zerrougui, Under-Secretary-General Ladsous and Ms. Brandt ofUNICEF for their particular presentations. We commend Sandra Uwiringiyimana for so bravely sharing her experiences; and we acknowledge Forest Whitaker's very real contribution to the Children, Not Soldiers campaign. The report of the Secretary-General before us (S/2014/339) makes solemn and disturbing reading. Globally, armed conflicts continue to take a significant, disproportionate and grave toll on children; that should be of alarming concern to every single United Nations Member State. New Zealand therefore urges State and non-State actors to stop violations and to hold perpetrators to account.”
2014-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7259 (2014) · source
“You have helped lay a solid foundation for the next very necessary steps. You have, in the words of your Ambassador, indeed saved the best until last.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“We must therefore improve the partnership with those regional organizations across the whole spectrum of the Council's agenda. New Zealand is unequivocal in its support for such partnerships. The annual consultations with the African Union Peace and Security Council are useful, but they do not offer the kind of opportunity for detailed discussion that is necessary when a crisis situation is emerging, and they do not allow for ongoing follow- up. Genuine engagement requires commitment, both from the Council collectively and from its individual members. There is much that has been left undone on those issues, as the Rwanden presidency knew when it insisted that the Council debate this topic. We therefore thank you, Sir, and your delegation for the efforts you have made here today.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“With the trend towards deploying peacekeeping operations to deal with asymmetric challenges where there is no real peace to keep, interested and invested regional partners can play even more important roles. New Zealand's experience with its own regional organizations dealing with such problems is very much in line with that outlined to us a moment ago by Mr. Paet. They usually have a better understanding of the issues; they often know the players, maybe even personally; they can generate a force rapidly; and they can use all those attributes to set and implement robust mandates that complement regional political efforts. Too often, the Council and United Nations peacekeeping have come too late in support of regional efforts, as we have seen recently in Mali and again in the Central African Republic.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“New Zealand believes that, if the recommendations in the Prodi report (see S/2008/813)) cannot be adopted in their entirety, then it is incumbent on the Council to agree variations of those recommendations that meet the needs of all parties and ensure systematic and reliable United Nations support for regional peacekeeping initiatives. Today's debate is not just about financing. Regional and subregional organizations have important functions across the full spectrum of the Council's mandate, from early warning, conflict prevention and conflict management to conflict resolution to tackling root causes, as well as oversight of developments in peacekeeping operations.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“Ofeven greater concern is the fact that regional peacekeeping still lacks predictable and sustainable financing. We are therefore disappointed by the failure of resolution 2167 (2014) to resolve the funding and capacity issue. We recall that, 11 months ago in S/PRST/2013/12 of6 August 2013, Council members agreed that it was time to enhance the predictability, sustainability and flexibility of financing for regional organizations when they undertake peacekeeping under a United Nations mandate. It is a serious matter that, almost a year later, the Council as a whole has still failed to resolve that issue. The issue must not be put in the "too hard" basket for another 11 months.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“New Zealand is concerned that, despite the efforts of all troop-contributing countries, the system of peacekeeping is still dangerously exposed. United Nations peacekeeping is overstretched. The deployment of missions is too slow and uncertain. And, as we have seen recently in South Sudan, even existing missions are being taken by surprise by the re-emergence of conflict. The adoption of resolution 2167 (2014) is therefore very timely. We congratulate you, Mr. President - and indeed, the whole Council - on raising the level of decision-making on peacekeeping to that of a formal resolution. But New Zealand is still concerned that so much of the initial work on halting conflict and restoring peace is too dependent on peacekeeping by regional organizations, which are often poorly equipped to undertake those tasks.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“New Zealand joins those who have paid tribute to all United Nations peacekeepers. We particulary mourn those who have died in the course of their duty. I also acknowledge Rwanda's very considerable contribution to peacekeeping. It is a tribute that Rwanda is now the sixth largest United Nations troop contributor, which is yet another example of the meaningful contribution made by small States to the United Nations. We also acknowledge, with real appreciation, the burden carried by Rwanda and many other African countries in their support for United Nations, hybrid and regional peacekeeping operations in Africa, including in Somalia, South Sudan, Darfur, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali and the Central African Republic .”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“It should be clear to all now that a continuation of the status quo is untenable. New Zealand calls on both parties to return to the negotiating table to work towards a meaningful and permanent two-State solution. A credible political horizon is vital, including a sustainable end to the blockade of Gaza. The pattern of conflict has gone on too long, and the cost to innocent civilians is just too high. The violence only sows more seeds of resentment and revenge, which will damage both sides and the wider international community. We will reap the product of what is now occurring in years to come. In short, New Zealand endorses and supports the Secretary-General's plea this morning to stop the fighting, start the dialogue and tackle the causes of this conflict.”
2014-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7222 (2014) · source
“To provide that urgent assistance, New Zealand has agreed, and will very shortly be advising of, a further financial contribution to United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, thus responding to the Secretary-General's statement this morning urging that Member States do so. Prime Minister Key said that New Zealand strongly supported international efforts to obtain an immediate ceasefire and joined the Council's continuing call for an end to hostilities, adding that New Zealand had been "deeply disappointed that, to date, ceasefire initiatives have failed". We urge all parties to continue efforts to de-escalate the situation. The latest incidents reinforce the importance of a sustainable resolution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.”
2014-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7222 (2014) · source
“The rapidly escalating toll in death and injury is, as my Prime Minister said, appalling and unacceptable. There is an urgent need for immediate steps to prevent further civilian casualties. New Zealand urges all parties to take the necessary measures to protect civilians, including through further humanitarian pauses. There is also a need for broader measures to alleviate the ongoing humanitarian situation on the ground. In particular, urgent assistance is required for overwhelmed medical services and for the unprecedented number of displaced civilians * people who, in the words of my Prime Minister, have nowhere to go - numbers that are already double those displaced during the 2009 crisis and are still growing rapidly.”
2014-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7222 (2014) · source
“New Zealand is deeply concerned about the recent escalation of violence and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, in a conflict that could and should have been avoided. Yesterday, my Prime Minister, The Right Honourable John Key, made a motion in the New Zealand Parliament expressing that concern as well as grave concern at the appalling and unacceptable number of civilian casualties. The motion, which was adopted unanimously, also gave strong support to international efforts to obtain a ceasefire and to end hostilities so that both parties could return to negotiations. It is clear that the parties have fallen short of their obligations to protect civilians, including through indiscriminate firing into civilian populations. That undermines basic precepts of acceptable international behaviour.”
2014-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7222 (2014) · source
“This Security Council must pay close and continuing attention to the crisis, and it must ensure that progress is swiftly made, that human dignity is respected and that the perpetrators of this violent criminal act are brought to justice.”
2014-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7221 (2014) · source
“The integrity of the crash site must be preserved, and bodies must be accorded proper respect, as must personal effects, including passports. Those who loot bodies or who play with the toys that have fallen from the hands of children are beneath contempt. The victims are not being treated with appropriate dignity. Such callousness is insulting to the victims and brings further and unnecessary suffering to grieving families. It is utterly unacceptable. Reports that bodies are now being removed to Amsterdam are welcome, but that is the dignified treatment they merited days ago, not just now. Resolution 2166 (2014) demonstrates the international community's resolve that things need to move and they need to move now. The relevant authorities must be allowed to go about their appointed tasks unfettered and without any interference.”
2014-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7221 (2014) · source
“That means that the crash site is a crime scene, but reports indicate that access has been denied by local separatists and that they have removed evidence, including the black boxes that are so critical to air accident investigations. Now it appears that they have been handed over, but they should never have been touched by unauthorized personnel. Even worse has been the removal of the bodies of victims. We call on those people to cooperate with international authorities immediately and unreservedly, particularly to allow a full, safe and unfettered corridor of access to the site. We also call on Russia to use its influence with those groups to ensure that progress is made, and that it is made immediately.”
2014-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7221 (2014) · source
“New Zealand strongly supports the resolution's call for an independent investigation led by Ukraine in close coordination with International Civil Aviation Organization experts and other international experts, not least the Netherlands in the role that was outlined for us a short time ago by Foreign Minister Timmermans. We now appear to be in a situation where some of that cooperation is now at hand. But we must still wait to see the extent to which it eventuates. There is increasing evidence that the crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH-17 was not an accident, that it was a criminal act, punishable under national and international law, and those responsible must be brought to account. We specifically call on all countries involved to act in accordance with their international legal obligations.”
2014-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7221 (2014) · source
“New Zealand welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 2166 (2014) by the Security Council. We were pleased to have been a sponsor and compliment Australia on the leadership it has shown on the issue. It was imperative that the Council send a strong and united message that the international investigation into the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH-l7 must proceed without delay, that the integrity of the crash site be preserved and that respect and dignity be accorded to those who have died. It is, as Foreign Minister Bishop has said, a decisive step.”
2014-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7221 (2014) · source
“This morning families in New Zealand and many other countries are waking up to the tragic reality that they have lost loved ones to a conflict that threatens international peace and security and demands the ongoing attention of the Council.”
2014-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7219 (2014) · source
“We call in particular for protecting the integrity of the crash site. New Zealand welcomes the calls for such an investigation - from the Secretary-General, the Security Council and many others. The circumstances of this tragedy, the catastrophic nature of its occurrence and its occurrence in a conflic zone mean that the international community, in particular those like New Zealand and others that have lost nationals, has a right to demand such an investigation. Any party with relevant informaton that can help in that process must offer its proactive assistance and cooperation. Perpetrators must be brought to justice: no qualifications, no ifs, no buts, no maybes. The situation in Ukraine has now gone beyond dangerous. It now kills people from other parts of the world with no direct involvement in the local conflict.”
2014-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7219 (2014) · source
“I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for convening this debate and for allowing New Zealand to make this statement. I will be brief, but discussion of an international incident that brings death to New Zealanders demands some comment. New Zealand joins with others in expressing its deepest sympathy to the families, friends and colleagues of all those who have died. We also express our solidarity with our close friend Malaysia - indeed, with all the countries whose people have died. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all at this incredibly sad time. We express outrage at the mounting evidence that this totally unnecessary and avoidable tragedy resulted from a surface-to-air missile strike. If that evidence is confirmed, this is a grave crime that demands an international, thorough, credible and independent investigation.”
2014-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7219 (2014) · source
“New Zealand acknowledges, and is sensitive to, the concerns of troop- and police-contributing countries in respect of the recent peacekeeping developments. Significant changes in peacekeeping, whether they be broad trends on the enhanced use of technology, robust mandates or significant changes in mission mandates, must only be made with consultations with troop- and police-contributing countries. There are already general undertakings from the Council regarding that engagement with troop- and police-contributing countries, and the future challenge for Council members is to implement those undertakings in a consistent and satisfactory manner.”
2014-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7196 (2014) · source
“We saw limited robust United Nations action in Cote d'Ivoire in 2011 and, much more recently, we have seen how robust United Nations capacity can save lives in South Sudan. Those new peacekeeping trends also mean that the Council must do better in recognizing the role and competence of regional and subregional organizations. New Zealand has seen and learned the value of regional involvement in peacekeeping from within its own region. Supporting and working more effectively with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the Economic Community of West African States, the Economic Community of Central African States and the African Union is an important challenge that must be addressed.”
2014-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7196 (2014) · source
“Neutral observer missions still have their rightful and important place. Many others in this debate have already pointed out that the Brahimi Report reminded us that there are times when the United Nations cannot stand aside. There are times when it must act, and we should never forget that the Charter recognizes that collective action is a central role of the United Nations. It is not correct to suggest that the recent robust mandates in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali and the Central African Republic are entirely new. Indeed, for over a decade, robust civilian protection mandates have been a reality for most peacekeeping missions. Fortunately, force rarely needs to be used, but the capacity and the authority to act are important deterrents.”
2014-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7196 (2014) · source
“In addition, the Fifth Committee must find an equitable and fair solution to the issue of troop reimbursements for troop-contributing countries. Peacekeeping must continue to evolve to meet changing circumstances and new challenges. New Zealand supports the evolution, over recent years, of multidimensional mandates. When designed sensibly, with good oversight, quick impact projects, adequate resources and a strategy for progressive transition to peacebuilding, such operations can be a very positive United Nations contribution to restoring international peace and security. New Zealand fully understands the concerns expressed about the difficulties inherent in the robust mandates that have recently been approved by the Council. However, the solution is not to simply retreat to the peacekeeping of the past.”
2014-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7196 (2014) · source
“However, right now, that same United Nations peacekeeping is under very serious stress due to unprecedented demand, the complexity of new security threats, undiagnosed root causes, lack of effective early warning from the field, insufficient inclusion of troop- contributing countries and other major stakeholders and, not least, the risks of premature transitions out of peacekeeping mode. All of that suggests that the Security Council, as the legal decision maker on peacekeeping, must do a lot better. However, responsibility for the stress runs wider, as does responsibility for the solutions. The Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations of the General Assembly has too often been locked in an unproductive struggle, and that has been a lost opportunity for delivering the policy support that peacekeeping needs.”
2014-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7196 (2014) · source
“Thank you, Mr. President, for convening this very important debate. At the outset, New Zealand recognizes those brave military, civilian and police personnel who risk their lives in United Nations peacekeeping operations, and we pay particular tribute to those who have been killed in those operations. United Nations peacekeeping is a global partnership, and New Zealand regards peacekeeping as one of the greatest achievements of the United Nations. The blue beret is a powerful symbol of the international community's commitment to peace and security.”
2014-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7196 (2014) · source
“And, given the constantly evolving nature and scope of all the global and regional WMD proliferation threats that the Committee has to address, it will be vital to ensure that the Committee's priorities and activities remain strictly relevant to those threats. But ultimately, only continuing stringent verification and, as the representative of Mexico emphasized, the complete elimination of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons will ensure security for all. New Zealand has long called for the elimination of all such weapons, and that remains our foremost objective, as it is, we know, of many other like-minded countries.”
2014-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7169 (2014) · source
“Last year's confirmed use of WMDs against a civilian population in Syria was a stark reminder of the horrific power of those weapons and justifies even greater political support to efforts to prevent their proliferation. We can today say that so far, our combined efforts appear to have been successful in keeping such weaponry out of the hands of non-State actors. That is what resolution 1540 (2004) is all about. But when it comes to such powerful and horrific weapons, phrases such as "so far" and "appear to have" are quite simply not good enough. We cannot afford to relax our vigilance or our efforts. Looking forward, the comprehensive review of the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), to be reported to the Council by the end of 2016, will provide a very useful stocktaking to help identify where we need to focus our future efforts.”
2014-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7169 (2014) · source
“We have put resources - more than $7 million since 2004 - into the Group of Eight Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, the Nuclear Security Summits, the Proliferation Security Initiative and the additional security and non-proliferation programmes run by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. New Zealand is also looking to include a practical resolution 1540 (2004) implementation component in the tabletop exercise it will host for Asia-Pacific regional partners in September 2015, in connection with the Proliferation Security Initiative. But it is an understatement to say that challenges still remain.”
2014-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7169 (2014) · source
“But even more significant has been the collective political will of States to apply considerable effort and resources to securing existing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and to place effective controls on the materials contributing to their manufacture and use - as, for example, was outlined somewhat earlier by the representative of Kazakhstan. New Zealand takes this opportunity to recognize the strenuous efforts undertaken by some of the smallest States Members of the United Nations, for which compliance on almost any issue requires considerable resources and attention. We have played our own part in those efforts. New Zealand is one of the 47 countries providing assistance to others in implementing the requirements of resolution 1540 (2004), both bilaterally and in partnership with the United Nations and with others.”
2014-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7169 (2014) · source
“The approach of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) has been a critical factor in overcoming the initial misgivings and concerns that were held and expressed by many Member States. Its efforts to engage constructively with Member States on their capacity needs and to coordinate assistance with other relevant national capacity-building priorities, rather than imposing a punitive, one-size-fits-all approach, should be applauded; so too should its proactive attempts to capture the synergies between implementation of the resolution and other development and capacity-building needs - an approach that has been particularly important for small States with limited institutional capacities.”
2014-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7169 (2014) · source
“I thank you, Madam President, for convening this debate. Ten years ago, resolution 1540 (2004) filled what was then a very significant gap in multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation regimes - the lack of any coherent and consistently applied global framework for preventing humankind's most destructive weapons from falling into the hands of non-State actors. At that time, we hoped that despite the less than ideal circumstances surrounding its negotiation and adoption, resolution 1540 (2004) would be effective in filling that gap and that it might do so in a manner sensitive to the differing circumstances and capacities of individual Member States. And so we are pleased that, 10 years later, we can judge resolution 1540 (2004) to be a success. What, might we ask, has underpinned that success?”
2014-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7169 (2014) · source
“We must all therefore approach the SSR challenge openly and inclusively, while constantly reviewing whether the process is working and adapting our efforts accordingly. With that commitment, and working with those who have practical, on-the-ground regional experience, we can certainly make the progress on security sector reform that is recorded in today's draft resolution.”
2014-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7161Resumption1 (2014) · source
“New Zealand therefore agrees with Egypt that a core objective must be to assist national political leadership of SSR, and bringing international technical assistance to the national, regional and subregional level, where local actors can apply it to their unique local situation. New Zealand therefore joins Turkey and Egypt in urging that the Council avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, it should focus on enabling national authorities to undertake their own, inclusive SSR processes. Recent history demonstrates that no one has a monopoly of wisdom on managing SSR processes. Particularly, we have learned that what works at one time, in one place, will not always work at a later time. If SSR fails and there is a return to violence, then the loss of investment by the host country and by the wider international community can be huge.”
2014-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7161Resumption1 (2014) · source
“New Zealand is an active contributor to SSR, particularly in the justice sector, both bilaterally and through United Nations missions. That experience has taught us valuable lessons about managing the difficult transition from providing SSR programmes through peacekeeping missions to longer-term assistance through bilateral support, as was the case with our policing assistance to Timor-Leste after the withdrawal of the United Nations mission in 2012. For us, that Timor-Leste experience also underscored the importance of national ownership as a prerequisite for successful SSR. Indeed, the United Nations discussions on SSR rightly acknowledge that the success of SSR processes depends on the sustained political will of the country concerned.”
2014-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7161Resumption1 (2014) · source
“However, considerable scope still remains for the Council to coordinate more effectively with, and to learn from, regional and United Nations country team partners in order to ensure that assistance is tailored to specific national needs and realities, and that gains can be sustained beyond the life of a given mission. The Peacebuilding Commission, with its country-specific configurations, has particular competence in that regard, so the Council needs to find new and better ways of working in close partnership with the Commission. SSR is often a complex, politically charged process that entails significant risk; however, in some situations, it can represent the single most important investment that international partners can make in a country's future.”
2014-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7161Resumption1 (2014) · source
“The Security Council has a critical role to play in laying the foundations for those efforts; but other bilateral and United Nations partners also play very important roles. It is therefore vital that the Council is able to coordinate more effectively with those actors. SSR extends beyond peacekeeping, and it must be considered across the entire peacebuilding continuum. SSR challenges occur in a wide variety of settings, from fragile and conflict-affected States with ineffective security sectors, through to States emerging from conflict and seeking United Nations support for the next phase of their development.”
2014-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7161Resumption1 (2014) · source
“It is progress that has required acknowledgment of the nature and significance of the SSR challenge; it is progress that has required development of a more comprehensive, coherent and coordinated normative framework; and it is progress that has required practical operational tools for the United Nations effective work in that area. The engagement of local actors, the importance of close cooperation with regional organizations, the need for the involvement of all stakeholders, including women, and the key, underpinning need for a rule of law environment are all rightly stressed in today's draft resolution. SSR is a long-term process - hence the progerss that the draft resolution records - one that requires both concerted commitment from national authorities and sustained engagement by international partners.”
2014-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7161Resumption1 (2014) · source