YouSaid · the spoken record

Mezode

lines on the record: 39
first: 2001-01-23
most recent: 2002-10-22
sittings or episodes: 2
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 hope that positive results will be achieved through the recommendations and resolutions of the past meeting. Participants understood the efforts made by my country to contribute to preserving peace in the subregion. I hope that in six months their meeting will help them to gauge the progress achieved.”
2002-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4630 (2002) · source
“The Central African Republic does not for the moment have the resources to alleviate the social situation: the payment of salaries, pensions, grants and so on. Those observations recurrently appear in the reports of the Secretary-General on the situation in the Central African Republic. It would be a grave risk not to integrate those observations into the framework of strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations system and Central Africa in the maintenance of peace and security. The United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa met in Bangui last August. Today we are pleased to hold the presidency of this Committee and will continue to do so until the next meeting, which will again be held in Bangui.”
2002-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4630 (2002) · source
“However, the Security Council constantly calls for the international community and international development institutions and organizations to focus attention on the Central African Republic. We are grateful for what has already been done. But it is possible to do a little more, it being understood that in the medium and long term it is the Central Africans alone, in partnership, who will bring about the development of their own country. The task of socio-economic reconstruction today needs a stable and peaceful environment so that the fight against poverty can produce results through the dynamic of lasting sustainable development. Peace, democracy and stability must be founded on a peaceful social situation. To claim otherwise would be unrealistic.”
2002-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4630 (2002) · source
“With respect to the international economic and financial organizations, as well as the international community at large, I would like to recall that the Central African Republic is a post-conflict State. There was very real destruction to social and economic infrastructure and loss of human life following the mutinies and the recurring coups d'etat. Observers who have visited the Central African Republic since 1997 can bear witness to that. The various post-conflict Governments of the Central African Republic have always expressed their firm resolve to emerge from conflict, but the fact that we are a post-conflict country is not always taken into account when the situation in our country is assessed.”
2002-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4630 (2002) · source
“My second observation concerns the existence of those mechanisms within the various regional, subregional or continental organizations, such as the African Union, CEN-SAD and the Economic Community of Central African States. Some of those mechanisms have sometimes been criticized for a certain inertia, which is due to the fact that the relevant documents have not been ratified. As for the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa (COPAX), the National Assembly of the Central African Republic will be discussing it during its present session. However, I would like to add that those mechanisms must work in concert to be more effective, because the task is immense.”
2002-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4630 (2002) · source
“That Summit's communique was the subject of a statement (S/PRST/2002/28) by the Security Council at its 4627th meeting, held on 18 October 2002. We are happy to note that the Council welcomed the final communique. You should know, Mr. President, that I bear a message for you in that connection. I would like to note that the outcomes of all those special and regular meetings affirmed the need for the creation of a mechanism for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts and the need to make it operational. But it is often difficult to make such mechanisms operational because they lack the required resources.”
2002-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4630 (2002) · source
“On 4 and 5 December 2001, the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) took note of the conclusions of the Khartoum Summit. On 16 January 2002, the Brazzaville Summit decided to create an ad hoc commission on the Chad-Central African crisis. The eighth ministerial-level ordinary session of the Central Organ of the OAU Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution met at Tripoli on 26 January 2002 and urged the Security Council to consider the possibility of urgently deploying a peacekeeping force to consolidate peace and security in the Central African Republic. Finally, on 2 October 2002, there was the Summit of CEMAC heads of State and delegation on the Chad-Central African crisis.”
2002-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4630 (2002) · source
“One country, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, spontaneously responded, sending equipment to the loyalist troops so that they could resist and repulse the attackers. They also sent a contingent to protect the President, who in the opinion of all observers was undeniably elected by universal suffrage. That action was welcomed by all. With respect to the coup d'etat of November 2001 and its consequences, summit meetings were held by various regional and subregional organizations. The Community of Sahelo-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) met on 3 December 2001 and decided to create a force to maintain peace and security in Central Africa, following consultations between the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity (OAU).”
2002-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4630 (2002) · source
“That presentation convinced the Security Council, which made an appeal for support of the Government's plan of action in the area of peace, security and stability and for relaunching the economy of the Central African Republic, the only solution for generating sustainable resources to meet the cost of sovereignty and to ensure social peace. I have reiterated this here and in the General Assembly on many occasions. The coup d'e'tat of 28 May 2001 was unanimously and harshly condemned by States and international organizations. We acknowledge that. But on the ground, it was necessary to save the institutions of the Republic. In accordance with the Constitution, the President of the Republic, our head of State, launched an appeal.”
2002-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4630 (2002) · source
“A presentation was submitted requesting support under two headings: support for the restructuring of the defence and security forces and support for the financing of our autonomous development, including the reintegration of military personnel to be demobilized and of young and adult arms traffickers, as well as support for the host communities. But today we must also look to the recruitment of young Central Africans, who must be educated in a republican spirit. At that time, the amount required was calculated to be approximately $47 million over a period of four years in the first area and $8 million in the second area. That amount would have to be increased today.”
2002-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4630 (2002) · source
“First, the work of national reconstruction remained fragile and limited in its effects due to two recurring factors: lack of security, related to a particularly unstable subregional environment; and the spread of poverty, the result of an economy unable to generate sustainable growth because its foundations had been decayed by the scourges of corruption, poor administration and diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Secondly, the country's security situation was the most disabling handicap to the process of peace and democracy, as well as poverty eradication, because of the profound military-political cr1s1s.”
2002-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4630 (2002) · source
“The Council will recall that MINURCA worked effectively in the peacekeeping process and in the successful organization of the legislative and presidential elections of 1998 and 1999. Following the positive developments brought about by MINURCA and continued by BONUCA, the then head of Government decided to come to New York on a working visit on 15 and 16 May 2000, when a special meeting was organized at the initiative of the Secretary-General. In his speech, the head of Government made the following observations.”
2002-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4630 (2002) · source
“The first of these stemmed from recurring political and military mutinies by a portion of the army in 1996 and 1997; the second from two coup attempts. The first of these was a military ethnic attack that took place in May 2001 and had tragic consequences; the second took place in November 2001, and it almost led to a conflict involving the entire subregion. With regard to the crises in 1996 and 1997, I will simply say that the support of the international community was decisive, first through the Inter- African Mission for the Implementation of the Bangui Agreements, and then through the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA), whose positive actions are being continued in an outstanding manner by the United Nations Peace-building Office in the Central African Republic (BONUCA).”
2002-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4630 (2002) · source
“Mr. Mezode (Central African Republic) (spoke in French): I would like first of all to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month. You have been demonstrating great leadership in the exercise of your functions. I would also like to congratulate your predecessor. I also want to welcome your excellent initiative to convene this public meeting of the Security Council on the subject of cooperation between the United Nations system and the Central African region in the maintenance of international peace and security. I am particularly pleased because my country has benefited, and continues to benefit, from the support of the United Nations system. The Central African Republic has, indeed, experienced many crises, in the settlement of which the Security Council has been involved.”
2002-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4630 (2002) · source
“I should like to thank the United Nations, the Security Council, the international and non- governmental organizations and the friends and partners of the Central African Republic. The statements that we have heard today will comfort us and encourage us to do better. We are willing to do so. I hope that Radio Ndeke Luka, which is the civic education vehicle for BONUCA, will be able to obtain cassette recordings of today's statements so that all of us in the Central African Republic can listen, time and again, to the wisdom that has been expressed here today. I should like to thank you, Mr. President, and the Council for your generosity and attention.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“Ministers are always being monitored, so they are not able to do that. Thus, no one is above the law. I assure the Council that, in order to face up to all of these difficulties - all the situations with which the Security Council is rightly concerned- the Government intends to shoulder the full burden of its responsibility and to respect its commitments, as we repeat the simple but powerful words of Boganda, the father of our nation. He said, "Let us not say a great deal, but let us work very hard", and "We cannot feed a people with politics". We ask the Council to be understanding. The Council will see that, if we are given the means to help us make a start, and a little time, the Central African Republic will become a haven of peace-the Switzerland of Africa - as it was known to be some 30 years ago.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“But, as I said, on sad, non-political occasions, they sometimes visit. Mr. Goumba, one of the radicals, went to the home of the late Mrs. Patasse to pay tribute to her remains. This was a gesture of understanding, because in our tradition, when there is a death, we cease quarrelling and meet together, which calms the situation to some extent. Again, contrary to what has been said, freedom does exist, as I said earlier. It is not ideal, but we are all doing our best. Democracy and the rule of law also dictate that everyone accept what we call the principle of the primacy oflaw. This may sound a little pretentious, but anyone having an elected or administrative responsibility must obey the law. One cannot flout the law just because one is a representative - still less if one is a president or a minister.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“To conclude, there are no militias of the Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People (MPLC) or of the governing party in Bangui. This is somewhat like the Loch Ness monster: much is said about it, but no one has actually ever seen it, just as no one has ever been able to find these militias or to count their numbers. This is all part of the strategy to spread disinformation and slander the Government. Reference has been made here to a lack of dialogue between the opposition and the Government - between the opposition leaders and the President of the Republic. But, as I have already said, the appointed institutions have always expressed their willingness to act. It is true, as has been said here, and from reading from what has been written, that the President was annoyed to meet with the opposition leaders in June and July.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“Some of these newspapers say, for instance, that it was the trade unions that broke off the dialogue with the Government. Another publication even said that the opposition parties are saying "nyet" to President Patasse. All this corroborates what some have said here. The burden is shared here, and the other side also bears responsibility for refusal to engage in dialogue. When one sees our newspapers, he will realize that quite a few countries would envy the freedom we have to say whatever we want and to criticize, even vilify, the President, ministers and members of Parliament. Freedom of expression exists and thrives in our country. There has been neither censorship nor closings of media outlets, either national or international ones. There have been no police visits of any sort to the headquarters of political or professional groups.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which oversees human rights, is carrying out very intensive activities in my country. The official, who is a woman, visits the few remaining prisons in Bangui, as well as police detention centres. She speaks quite freely, not as a civil servant, of the fate of detained persons. There is not a single political prisoner among the approximately 1,100 prisoners we have. With regard to freedom of expression, I said a few moments ago that parliamentary debates are broadcast in their entirety in both French and Sango. This means that representatives may speak freely to criticize or say whatever they wish. The media publishes whatever they want to. I have brought a few copies of opposition newspapers with me.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“Instead, it means that the team in place should complete its mandate and organize free, fair and democratic elections that bring about genuine political transition. Any process that deviates from this classic pattern would distort the democratic ideal, which is a justified aspiration of people. This seems basic, but it must be clearly understood if we are to avoid any upheaval or divisions along ethnic, tribal, regional or even religious lines. We are convinced of the need for effective rule of law. Despite what has been written and said, human rights have never been of as much concern to our leaders as they are now. The many seminars organized by non-governmental organizations, BONUCA, and the Government itself bear witness to that fact.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“What is urgent for the people and Government of the Central African Republic is to consolidate democratic achievements. The essential national expectation with regard to the issues at hand is for stabilization of a State that is reborn from the ashes of the mutinies that severely challenged national unity. What is important for us is for there to be a resumption of economic activity that generates our own resources to meet the immense needs and desires of our population, in addition to the assistance we hope for from the international community. We in the Central African Republic are convinced that the success and consolidation of our fledgling democracy does not imply the succession of new teams in accordance with an illegitimate timetable.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“That is the logic that some parties are using in their strategies to win power. It is also a logic that calls for them to occupy the streets constantly by infiltrating and taking over student, union and any other demonstrations that may take place. It also sometimes includes relying on examples taken out of their social or political contexts from such places as Yugoslavia, Cote d'Ivoire and even Poland, where Lech Walesa was able to take power; he was a trade unionist too. Under this logic, trade unionists in our country believe they should take power. We in the Central African Republic firmly believe that the urgency of the situation does not call for closing ourselves off nor for seeking methods that are supposedly perceived as authentic.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“But it is essential to understand that the state ofthe country and the national effort that must be made to achieve concrete and realistic solutions are constantly being jeopardized by the irresponsible activities of certain corrupt politicians who since independence have fostered tendencies towards anarchy. Those trends can be found both in the majority and in the opposition and present a major obstacle to the campaign to fight corruption and to extend good governance, the latter being one of the Government's current projects to revive the economy. Democrats everywhere must understand that if taking and managing power is not carried out in keeping with electoral rules, any number of temptations can arise-including thinking that the course of events can be altered in the streets.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“We believe that the systematic destruction of the social and economic infrastructure that began in 1991-1992 and worsened with the mutiny of 1997 has become even more serious with the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its perverse effects. The increased precariousness of the infrastructure that resulted from the May 2000 fuel crisis - among whose perverse effects have been complications in our dealings with financial institutions on the second year of the programme- added to our foreign debt. Finally, the logic of political recovery implemented by extremist parties constitutes today the true framework of the worsening of the crisis in the Central African Republic. The Government has never deprived civil servants of the rights they claim.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“In other words, instead of making payments from the budget for the current year, 2001, the budget in place made it possible to make payments for the 1999 and 2000 arrears. This means that payments due in the current year are deferred to the following year, thereby making it possible to pay salaries regularly or even monthly. It was only with the emergence of the fuel crisis in May - a perverse effect of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo - that civil servants had to live for two or three months without being paid. But we cleared up the 1999 arrears last September. Everything has been said. The comments were objective and the suggestions relevant. I do not wish to go on too long, but I would like to make some concluding comments to the Council.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“These five months plus the 12 months that were passed on as a result of the mutinies add up to 17 months, which will soon be 16, since in the next 10 days we will be paying salaries that will finish off the three months just referred to here. In sum, when I left Bangui on Saturday, the Government had already paid - on Friday, 19 January, and Saturday, 20 January - three months' back salaries to civil servants. Today, 1999 has been entirely paid off. I would like to clarify what has been written and said about civil servants not having been paid for an entire year. That is inaccurate. Up until the crisis of May 2000, we had been making monthly payments on salary backlogs under a system that may have seemed a bit unorthodox.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“Nonetheless, the Government paid staff salaries at the end of every month until May 2000, but it had no further means for tackling the thorny problem of paying the 12 months' arrears that followed the mutinies. I would like to recall as well that when it came to power, the new regime inherited 13 months' arrears. However, as has been said here, with debrouillara'ise - or some call it corruption - prevailing in the country, many Central Africans succeeded in getting their salaries arrears from 1993 paid. Today accounting for the civil servants who have not been reimbursed for their arrears from 1993, we arrive at a total of 9 billion CFA francs, which is the equivalent of five months' back salaries inherited from the previous Government.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“After those two years of mutiny during which almost everything was destroyed and there was no fundamental authority, the Central African Republic found itself 12 months in arrears on civil servants' salaries. Despite the goodwill and intentions that were expressed here and there, no emergency plan was devised to address the tremendous needs. The wait- and-see policy adopted in response to the mutinies was pursued until 1999, because we had two major events: the legislative elections in 1998 and the presidential elections in 1999. These two elections were considered to be risky, and thus donors and other economic actors did not take steps to intervene.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“The President of the Republic, whenever there is a national event - be it happy or sad - invites all the political and opinion leaders, including his predecessors. Some attend, but the extremists continue to hide behind their refusal to enter into dialogue. The crisis experienced by the Central African Republic during the last six months is a social crisis rooted in events of 1991-92, when the fight for multi- party politics took place. This period was characterized by several series of strikes, by paralysis. It was quickly followed by the presidential campaign, in which there was excessive tribalization even in the administration and the defence forces. Those who witnessed the events of 1996 and 1997 - that is, the mutinies - were able to see the extent of the violence provoked on all sides by this excessive tribalization of social life.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“The most recent verdicts provide vigorous proof of this. However, the Government should have intervened, because a crime had been observed: the refusal to comply with a ban on meetings, which had been issued because of the risks posed. But the Government allowed the justices to say what was just. And their ruling, of which the Council has been informed, supports the policy of trying to calm the situation - and this without the intervention of the Government. Civil society also plays a role, and sometimes with disturbing partisanship. As for the Government, it never stops reiterating that it is open to dialogue, to openness. The head ofthe Government, Mr. Anicet Doleguele, repeats this constantly.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“In every debate, the Chairmen of the parliamentary groups, depending on the importance of the project or issue, have 15 to 20 minutes. If we total the statements, the opposition has 75 minutes of air time every day, since all the debates are broadcast in their entirety via the national radio - and some are broadcast on television as well. Added to this are the individual statements, each of which is 10 minutes long. And given the allure of microphones and the camera, everyone wants to speak, and the opposition representatives do not forgo the opportunity, even if it is only to repeat themselves, to incite violence or to slander others. None of these representatives has been harassed in any way, despite the fact that they say anything and everything. The judicial branch also functions independently.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“This is the case with the essentially legitimate protest movement being organized by the trade unions that represent civil servants and Government officials. In my country we call this political theatre. But we would turn to the neutral observers of the Central African situation and ask them what our country, the Central African Republic, really needs in the present situation: civic education or political theatre? There should not be a political crisis in the Central African Republic. Why is this? Simply because 95 per cent of the republican institutions provided for by the 14 January 1995 Constitution have already been established and they are functioning normally and well. Let us look at a few examples, in particular the National Assembly. It is composed of six parliamentary groups, five of which are of the opposition.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“It is true that, since the middle of the year 2000, in the capital of the Central African Republic there have been demonstrations inspired by the extremist political parties, which have lost their popularity and are desperately grasping at methods to revive themselves, as well as seeking short cuts to a transfer of power. In their reckless search to take and exercise the power that they were not able to obtain through the free elections - which were supervised, barely a year ago, by the international community - these extremist political parties are leaving no stone unturned, inventing or provoking incidents when they do not exist, and seizing on whatever incidents do occur and making political issues out of them.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“I will also pay tribute to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the island of Mauritius, and I share his relevant analysis of the situation in Africa as a whole and in particular in my country. I would like to renew my sincere compliments to the Ambassador of France and to recall the significant role played by his country in the restoration of peace and the establishment of democracy in the Central African Republic. By giving wise advice to all parties, BONUCA and France continue to work tirelessly to consolidate what has been achieved, and the same can be said for most of the major countries that are represented in the Central African Republic.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“In his toast on 1 December 2000, the national holiday of the Central African Republic, President Ange-Felix Patasse declared that there was no political crisis in the Central African Republic; there was a social crisis. This is not to minimize the social crisis, but to call attention to the level of confusion. I do not know whether this is traditional in this forum, but ifI may, I would like to commend the objectivity and the comprehensive nature of elements of the report of the Representative in Bangui. His conclusions capture completely the expectations of the people of the Central African Republic and of their Government. How can we remain unmoved when hearing the eminent personalities who have addressed this forum and expressed their genuine and sincere concern for the problems of the people of the Central African Republic?”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“I have come above all solemnly to reaffirm that our authorities, in the interests and on behalf ofthe Central African people, remain faithful to the indispensable option of preserving national peace and unity and of consolidating our democratic achievements, despite the logic of confrontation tirelessly pursued by some extremist political leaders. Given the tremendous risks posed by the strategies of rupture and destabilization to the process of consolidating the achievements of our fledgling democracy, it is absolutely indispensable and urgent that we submit to the Security Council, in total objectivity and without seeking to evoke superficial emotion, our correct interpretation of the prevailing situation.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“President, that your country, Singapore, and its valiant people - occupying a particularly choice place in the concert of nations at the dawn of the twenty-first century - will continue to contribute effectively to the consolidation of peace throughout the world. He has also charged me with conveying the enormous gratitude of the Central African Republic to the international community, international organizations, the Organization of African Unity, the European Union, the International Organization of la Francophonie and to our friends and partners for their invaluable and tireless contributions to restoring and securing the peace and to establishing conditions for genuine and lasting stability and economic revival in my country. I have not come solely to discuss our profound gratitude.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source
“Mr. Mezode (Central African Republic) (spoke in French): At the outset, I shall have to beg the Council's indulgence, being so moved by the wealth of analyses and reflections I have heard in this Chamber. As the Security Council, under your leadership, Sir, is meeting on the situation in my country, following the issuance ofthe Secretary-General's latest report and following up on the activities of the United Nations Peace-building Support Office in the Central African Republic (BONUCA), I wish to convey the greetings of Mr. Ange-Felix Patasse, Head of State, Government and the people of the Central African Republic. He sincerely hopes, Mr.”
2001-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4261 (2001) · source