YouSaid · the spoken record

Nana Effah-Apenteng

lines on the record: 398
first: 2004-07-20
most recent: 2007-03-28
sittings or episodes: 50
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

“To conclude, there is need for a more systematic and sustained follow-up to the strategic shift that has occurred in contemporary thinking about peace and security. African States have long recognized that substantial progress in the areas of good governance, democracy, security sector reform, rule of law, economic reform and social justice, among other areas, is a prerequisite for durable peace and stability. If the AU is to fulfil its Chapter VIII responsibility as a pillar of the global security architecture, then it must be encouraged and supported to pursue a strategy of pre- emption that addresses the underlying causes of conflict and instability in our region in a holistic manner. Short of that, the African renaissance is unlikely to materialize this century.”
2007-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5649 (2007) · source
“Certainly, the internal dynamics of both organizations have impacted on their relationship with each other, and not always positively. These factors need to be carefully considered, if realism is to prevail in the partnership between the United Nations and the AU. Ghana is proud to be among the countries that have so far signed on to the African Peer Review Mechanism, and in 2005 we submitted ourselves before a panel for a critical review of our internal situation. We believe that it is only through recognizing our individual national failings and taking the necessary steps to correct them that Africa will emerge stronger and more resilient. We hope the United Nations will take an active interest in and support the African Peer Review Mechanism so that it can make a strong contribution to peace and security in Africa.”
2007-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5649 (2007) · source
“Consequently, while my delegation fully supports the politically expedient principle of African leadership in peacekeeping on the continent, we wish to caution against stretching that idea too far lest it become another paralysing dogma. Even if co-deployment between the United Nations and regional bodies represents the most viable alternative to traditional peacekeeping, what should be the overriding objective in such situations is the interest of the innocent civilian victims of conflict, especially women and children, who deserve adequate protection from the international community. On the other hand, let me hasten to add that decision-making within the United Nations itself has occasionally been held hostage by vested interests that are not necessarily limited to the most powerful Members.”
2007-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5649 (2007) · source
“It also has much to do with the extent to which the AU can transcend any negative constraints on its capabilities resulting from its internal political dynamics. Furthermore, it is essential for the AU to pay close attention to the implications of the integrated approach to United Nations peace operations that is emerging as the preferred model. It has been demonstrated time and again that the international community is most effective when it unites behind a common diplomatic endeavour and backs it with the necessary political will to enforce its decisions. Unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect world; the interests of nations frequently clash and rarely converge, thereby preventing timely and decisive action, even in the face of unspeakable atrocities and acute human suffering affecting millions of people.”
2007-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5649 (2007) · source
“In the same breath, we must denounce any tendencies that would diminish the prospects for achieving a new era of peace and stability in Africa. In this connection, we welcome the admirable efforts being made by the African Union and various subregional bodies, such as the Southern African Economic Community, the Economic Community of West African States, the Intergovernmental Authority of Development and their counterparts to strengthen their peacemaking capability, with the support of the United Nations and other international actors. It must be emphasized, nonetheless, that the effectiveness of the AU as a partner in peacemaking does not depend solely on its ability to mobilize adequate financial and logistical support.”
2007-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5649 (2007) · source
“The grave instability and dire humanitarian situation in various parts of our continent sometimes lead us to question whether the vision of an African renaissance, so well articulated in the New Partnership for Africa's Development and in the Constitutive Act of the African Union, has been wholeheartedly embraced by our Governments and peoples. Two thirds of all United Nations peacekeeping forces are still deployed in Africa. The intolerable deprivations suffered by our people have, in several respects, become a major preoccupation of various United Nations specialized agencies. In these circumstances, we are duty-bound to speak out forcefully in defence of those principles and values that will help us realize our shared vision.”
2007-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5649 (2007) · source
“Therefore, it is of vital importance that we do our utmost to build a strong partnership between the AU and the United Nations, so that the two organizations can complement each other's efforts in a manner that reflects their need for each other in the management of conflicts in Africa. Already, some of the institutional structures of the AU, including the Peace and Security Council, are substantially modelled on the United Nations, which should facilitate increased cooperation and coordination between them.”
2007-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5649 (2007) · source
“In the endeavour to realize a new era of peace and stability in Africa, the United Nations is an indispensable ally. Indeed, even if Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter had not explicitly prescribed a role for regional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security, the imperatives of our history and the current situation on our continent would still have dictated the need for a close and symbiotic relationship between the United Nations and the AU. That is evident from the substantial investments that the world body continues to make in the peace and developmental process in Africa. The adoption of Burundi and Sierra Leone by the Peacebuilding Commission is an example of the sort of sustained engagement expected of the United Nations in our region.”
2007-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5649 (2007) · source
“It is our view that, beyond the requirements of a strong African peacekeeping capability necessary for containing immediate dangers, we cannot afford to resign ourselves to a mindset that accepts perpetual conflict as the natural course of events in our continent. Our cherished vision of an African renaissance is, indeed, inseparable from the Millennium Development Goals that represent the international consensus on the pre-conditions for achieving lasting peace and security, especially in the most volatile parts of the world. Therefore, much as we attach great importance to capacity-building in peacekeeping, we consider the far less costly strategy of conflict prevention to be the path to the empowerment of African States so that we can become the true masters of our destiny.”
2007-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5649 (2007) · source
“Madam President, it is my pleasure to welcome you and to commend your delegation for organizing this debate during this historic occasion of South Africa's presidency of the Security Council. Ghana remains deeply committed to President Thabo Mbeki's vision of an African renaissance that would enable our continent to assume its rightful place of honour and dignity in the twenty-first century. This is the context in which my delegation wishes to situate its contribution to this morning's debate, which, inevitably, raises a number of cross-cutting issues already reflected in the Outcome Document of the 2005 World Summit, including the 10-year plan for capacity-building and peacekeeping in relation to the African Union (AU).”
2007-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5649 (2007) · source
“However, I hope the Council will pay attention to the issue of selectivity - which has been raised by some of our colleagues during the course of the debate - if the international community is to succeed in checking the spread of and eliminating weapons of mass destruction.”
2007-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5647 (2007) · source
“Ghana has joined the consensus on Security Council resolution 1747 (2007) because we believe in the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Although the resolution that has just been adopted imposes sanctions on Iran, we are heartened by the fact that it leaves the door open to negotiations and that the stipulated measures are reversible. We continue to believe and hope that there will be a diplomatic solution to the protracted negotiations on the Iranian nuclear programme. Finally, my delegation wishes to use the occasion to appeal to all States to live up to their international obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons: non-proliferation, the right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy and nuclear disarmament. We recognize the sensitivity of the issue.”
2007-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5647 (2007) · source
“It is significant that the forthcoming Third Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan will be held in Pakistan, as the meeting will afford the two countries an opportunity to enhance their cooperation in combating the insurgency and, more importantly, to give a much-needed boost to security, governance and development cooperation throughout the region. We have every confidence that, with the formation of the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board and the Policy Action Group, the prospects for sustained progress in Afghanistan could not have been better enhanced. Against that backdrop, our delegation looks forward to the early adoption of a resolution that will extend the mandate of UNAMA in line with the Secretary-General's recommendations.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“They deserve all the support they can get in seeking to fashion for themselves a safe and secure environment. Obviously, the people know very well that without security there can be no meaningful development, and vice versa. The challenge, therefore, is to prevent the current situation from evolving into an intractable vicious cycle that allows widespread impoverishment and deprivation among the population to feed into the insurgency. Ghana further supports regional initiatives aimed at improving relations between Afghanistan and its neighbours within the framework of the 2002 Kabul Declaration and the New Delhi Declaration of November 2006.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“Only a strong central authority that enjoys the confidence of the population can reconcile the nation and effectively implement the objectives contained in the internationally-backed Afghanistan Compact and allied initiatives, such as the interim Afghanistan National Development Strategy and the National Drug Control Strategy. It has long been obvious that failure to reign in the illegal trade in narcotics and arms and to suppress the terrorists and extremists who are bent on destabilizing Afghanistan shall impact negatively on global peace and security. It is thus heartening to learn about the brave initiatives undertaken by various local communities in some of the most volatile areas in the country to contain the insurgency and improve their circumstances.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“In that connection, we commend the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the International Security Assistance Force as well as the numerous non-governmental organizations that are extending invaluable support to the Government and people of Afghanistan. At the same time, we do recognize that ultimately the people of Afghanistan must be the masters of their own destiny. That is why the gravity of the governance issues raised in the Secretary-General's report cannot be overstated. We urge the Afghan authorities and their international partners to endeavour to address them with the utmost sense of urgency.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“Hence, the brutal assassination of the head of the Kandahar Department of Women's Affairs in September 2006 and all other acts that are calculated to obstruct the progress of Afghanistan must be unreservedly condemned and wholly rejected for what they represent in today's world. In launching the Action Plan on Peace, Justice and Reconciliation in December 2006, President Karzai took a brave step forward, and he deserves every encouragement and support if he is to implement the plan effectively. While we strongly deplore the loss of innocent lives resulting from the ongoing violence, we heartily welcome the steady progress being made in laying the foundation for a modern, united and prosperous State that would be at peace with itself and with its neighbours.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“At the outset, I wish to express my delegation's appreciation of the statements made by Special Representative Tom Koenigs and by Mr. Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, whose assessment of the situation in Afghanistan we fully share. The international community has a shared interest in the transformation of Afghanistan into a peaceful and stable democracy. Therefore, it is imperative that our approach to the current crisis be based on moral clarity and a steadfast commitment to the values of openness, tolerance and social inclusion.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“We also support the recommendation of the regional parliamentary meeting for the Great Lakes region that the international community, notably the United Nations and the AU, continue their support for peace and reconstruction of the Great Lakes region.”
2007-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5637 (2007) · source
“The international community should complement these efforts by supporting regional peacebuilding projects that address the plight of returnees, stem the flow of small arms and light weapons, check the activities of mercenaries in the region, promote demining techniques and curb the illegal exploitation and illicit trading of natural resources. Finally, we commend the international community, including the joint United Nations-African Union (AU) secretariat and its team of experts, led by the Secretary-General's Special Representative and the Group of Friends of the Great Lakes Region, for their contribution to the successful completion of the two conferences in December 2006 and February 2007.”
2007-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5637 (2007) · source
“For its part, the international community should continue to monitor closely the peace talks between the Government and rebel groups in Uganda and support the implementation of the outcome of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, especially as demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants are seen as crucial in the efforts toward the region's progress in the areas of good governance and economic recovery. In this regard, we commend the rebel groups in eastern Congo for agreeing to disarm, and we urge the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to intensify its efforts at retraining ex-combatants and reintegrating them into the national armed forces.”
2007-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5637 (2007) · source
“The regional leaders 07-26496 should also endeavour to convert the Conference into a regional peacebuilding forum for the prevention, management and peaceful settlement of conflicts. In View of the current unstable situation in eastern Congo and northern Uganda, there is an urgent need for leaders of the Great Lakes region to cooperate on cross-border security and trade, with the aim of spurring development after decades of civil conflict. Dialogue should become the only medium for resolving conflicts.”
2007-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5637 (2007) · source
“While commending the efforts of the legislators in moving the process of ratification and implementation of the Pact a step forward, it is worthwhile to mention that all of these good intentions require the commitment and political will of the regional leaders to succeed. The leaders should rise above their national and sectional interests and put the interests of the Great Lakes region first. The parliamentarians must see themselves as uniquely placed to encourage their respective member States to harmonize their national legislation for the implementation of the various protocols. Regional ownership of the process is essential for peace and sustainable development of the region. A key element of full ownership of this endeavour will require joint and coordinated efforts of neighbouring countries and regional institutions.”
2007-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5637 (2007) · source
“This entire process will also require the sensitization of the people, as well as strengthening relations between civil society, Governments and parliaments. The parliamentarians of the Great Lakes region also committed themselves to establishing a regional parliamentary forum in order to encourage dialogue and to contribute to the mobilization of internal and external resources for the implementation of the programme. It is important to heed the call for States to honour their financial contributions to the budget of the secretariat of the Great Lakes if the Pact is to succeed.”
2007-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5637 (2007) · source
“It was the hope of the Council that the signing of the Pact would turn the region from a state of desolation engendered by a long period of instability, violent conflict, insecurity, carnage, widespread violation of fundamental human rights and underdevelopment into a state of sustainable peace, security and socio-economic development. In this connection, we are encouraged that a regional parliamentary meeting of the Great Lakes region, which took place in Kinshasa, supported the Pact, which was signed at the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region in December 2006 in Nairobi. We are also delighted to note that the parliamentarians acknowledged their role in contributing to the early ratification and implementation of the Great Lakes regional peace pact.”
2007-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5637 (2007) · source
“At the outset, let me thank Mr. Ibrahima Fall, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region, for his briefing and commend him for the good work he has been doing, which has contributed immensely to peace, security and development in that region. On behalf of my delegation, I would like to extend our best wishes to him in his next assignment after the end of this month, when the mandate of his current assignment expires. Barely three months ago, this Council had the opportunity to congratulate the Governments and 07-26496 people of the Great Lakes region on their signing the Pact on Security, Stability and Development in that region and called upon the regional leaders to commit themselves to the implementation of all aspects of that agreement.”
2007-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5637 (2007) · source
“That is a challenge we must strive to overcome if we are to save humankind from a catastrophe of unprecedented and unimaginable magnitude. Finally, we support the draft presidential statement that the President's delegation has kindly prepared.”
2007-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5635 (2007) · source
“Moreover, such bodies can place the fulfilment of the resolution on the regional agenda and thereby promote its universal adherence by all States in the region. While we support the current engagement with some of those bodies, we call on the Committee to extend such partnerships to other regional groups. Finally, the coming months will be critical for the Committee, since its report to the Council at the end of its mandate will determine whether its efforts meet the general expectations of the international community. However, its success will also be a reflection of the commitment of Member States to abide by their obligations. We should work together collectively to keep the world's most dangerous weapons from the hands of the most dangerous individuals and groups.”
2007-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5635 (2007) · source
“My delegation also welcomes the recognition by the Committee of the need to forge close partnerships with regional organizations, such as the European Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Caribbean Community, the Organization of American States, the League of Arab States and the African Union. Those institutions have the appropriate mechanisms for the pooling of resources for the implementation of such obligations under resolution 1540 (2004) as border controls and illicit financial networks within the regional context. Given their respective characteristics, they are able to develop more effective and contextually-driven means to fulfil the obligations of resolution 1540 (2004), rather than simply transplanting measures from States with different values and cultures.”
2007-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5635 (2007) · source
“The organization has a wealth of experience and expertise which could be of tremendous assistance to the Committee and the implementation of the resolution. IAEA and OPCW could also assist in ascertaining the implementation of obligations by States during field visits by its experts to countries. In the same vein, the 1540 Committee could also benefit from the useful information and expertise of the World Customs Organization regarding good customs practices, dual-use goods, labelling requirements, and how best to accomplish non-proliferation goals without disrupting global trade.”
2007-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5635 (2007) · source
“Again, not only has its safeguards regime provided a degree of security in itself, but its efforts to address safety and security - especially security measures put in place under the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material - have enhanced control over nuclear materials and facilities. Moreover, the Agency is considering offering legislative assistance to support States in their development of a comprehensive nuclear law governing a range of control measures, including nuclear safeguards and physical protection, a cardinal obligation under resolution 1540 (2004). It is also imperative that the current relationship with OPCW be strengthened within the realm of chemical weapons aspects under resolution 1540 (2004).”
2007-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5635 (2007) · source
“The resolution recognized that crucial factor when it called, among other things, for the intensification of cooperation with international and regional organizations on the issue. We are therefore pleased to note that, in the Committee's new work programme, priority has been placed on that relationship. The Committee's role as a clearing house for assistance has grave limitations that should be addressed through active partnership with IAEA, since the latter also provides assistance to States on the prevention of nuclear materials and related technologies falling into the hands of non-State actors and offers legal and technical advice to States on adherence to and implementation of international instruments relevant to enhancing protection against nuclear terrorism.”
2007-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5635 (2007) · source
“The ideal of international control over the spread of weapons of mass destruction to non-State actors requires a strategy that would counter the current challenges in order to remove the limitations to universality. The resolution recognized that reality and provided tools that should be used effectively for that purpose, such as the provision of assistance to less endowed States. It is my delegation's strong View, however, that despite its tireless efforts, the 1540 Committee with its current mandate lacks the capacity to provide the requisite assistance needed to attain the long-term lofty goal of full implementation of all the provisions of the resolution by all States. It would need the support of relevant international and regional organizations that have the technical expertise in that sphere, such as IAEA, OPCW and WCO.”
2007-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5635 (2007) · source
“After all, the crux of the resolution is for States to ensure that adequate measures have been instituted to address the threat of non-State actors' acquiring and using weapons of mass destruction. If we do not focus our attention on its implementation, the resolution may remain a mere declaration as States make minimal efforts at compliance, while achieving little improvements in global control over the proliferation of the world's most heinous weapons. We will, however, be the first to admit that, given the gamut of control elements within resolution 1540 (2004) and the disparate resources among countries, even a satisfactory universal level of implementation will take years, if not decades, to accomplish.”
2007-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5635 (2007) · source
“Thus, nothing short of universal adherence is expected and acceptable. Having successfully endorsed an elaborate work programme, we hold the View that 2007 should be a year of implementation if we are to make substantial progress. Given the tremendous efforts still required, it is vital that the Committee adopt strategies that would enhance efforts towards fulfilling its mandate. As the Committee pursues efforts to ensure the submission of first reports by all Member States, it is our candid view that equal attention should be focused on implementation, since resolution 1540 (2004) is also suffering from an implementation deficit within and between countries.”
2007-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5635 (2007) · source
“Three years since its inception, the Committee established pursuant to the resolution has made significant strides in the discharge of its onerous responsibility. Through its outreach programmes and participation in workshops and seminars, it has sensitized the international community, increased awareness of the importance of the resolution, and encouraged and assisted countries to fulfil their obligations. The Committee's efforts have yielded positive dividends, with about 135 countries having submitted their first reports and 85 identified as providing additional information. While we welcome that positive development, we should be mindful of the fact that the resolution enjoys universal support and was adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter, which obliges all Member States to comply faithfully and fully with its provisions.”
2007-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5635 (2007) · source
“The fear of terrorists' acquiring and using weapons of mass destruction has become more serious given the current growing interest in civilian nuclear programmes. It is against that backdrop that my delegation considers resolution 1540 (2004) to be a landmark document that addresses a formidable challenge to global security in the twenty-first century. Although it is not a panacea for containing weapons of mass destruction proliferation, the resolution seeks to close a critical gap by preventing the acquisition of such weapons by non-State actors. The maximum gains that resolution 1540 (2004) seeks to achieve can be realized only through adherence to and implementation of its provisions.”
2007-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5635 (2007) · source
“At the outset, let me congratulate you, Sir, for organizing this debate, considering the importance of the issue to the core mandate of the Security Council, namely, the maintenance of international peace and security. Let me also thank Under-Secretary-General Tanaka for his presentation and the representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the World Customs Organization (WCO) for their briefings. Although the international community's resolve to overcome the twin scourge of terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction has yielded some modest results, it has failed to assuage concerns over that foremost threat to global peace and security.”
2007-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5635 (2007) · source
“Once again, we cannot overstate the need - not only among the United Nations entities, but also among all relevant international actors involved in post-conflict security sector reform assistance - to coordinate their efforts and thereby function as a whole. That was evident when we debated the direction of the Peacebuilding Commission, and it seems obvious that the same challenges have emerged in today's discussions in terms of the actions that must be pursued in order to remove the obstacles to peace and stability and make real progress in poverty alleviation and sustainable development.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632Resumption1 (2007) · source
“Security sector reform in any country should also be recognized as a long-term process that must be adequately funded if it is to be successful and sustainable. We are aware of the importance of security sector reform in the countries currently undergoing post- conflict reconstruction, such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and others. We hope that we shall have the opportunity to review the progress made in those countries to enable us to assess the impact of the strategies that have been put in place to address their respective security challenges. We also welcome the creation by the Secretariat of an inter-agency working group on security sector reform to identify current United Nations engagement in that area.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632Resumption1 (2007) · source
“A holistic approach to security sector reform must therefore not be limited to building the capacity of security and justice institutions, promoting management and oversight mechanisms and tackling SSR-related issues such as DDR and transitional justice; it should also strive to fully empower the population, particularly vulnerable groups such as women. That brings to the fore the imperative of an integrated but flexible United Nations approach that enables national authorities, regional organizations, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and civil society to work together purposefully in addressing the security needs of the countries in question. In that regard, it should be borne in mind that each case is sui generis and there can be no one-size-fits-all solution.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632Resumption1 (2007) · source
“That is why the Economic Community of West African States, for instance, has been increasingly active in the field of security sector reform. Besides, the weak character of most State institutions, such as public services, the legislature, the judiciary and law enforcement agencies, and the low capability of civil society groups in most African countries tend to pose special challenges. Again, while national ownership is a sine qua non for successful security sector reform, it cannot be achieved without a reasonably literate population that understands its civil rights and responsibilities and can thus play a meaningful role in national affairs. Where the overwhelming majority of the population is not even aware of its rights or simply lacks the means to ensure respect for them, those rights tend to be at the mercy of the security forces.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632Resumption1 (2007) · source
“Should such a regime continue to be armed to the teeth in the face of its crimes against humanity? Can it be trusted to honestly and impartially carry out the demobilization and disarmament of the very forces that it has unleashed in pursuit of its agenda? The persistence of those tendencies reflects a certain deficit in the political commitment within the international community to achieve comprehensive and credible security sector reform in developing countries. The factors that have aggravated the growing militarization of some African societies are indeed complex. In View of the obvious interdependence of States, as manifested in cross-border trade and the movement of persons across borders, it is not only the countries that are emerging from conflict at which reform of the security sector must be targeted.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632Resumption1 (2007) · source
“Unfortunately, since their adoption, the phenomenon of private militias has grown by leaps and bounds, alongside the illicit trade and proliferation in weapons. Indeed, the imperative of the global effort to combat terrorism underscores the need to fashion a strategy that tightens up both the national and international regulatory frameworks for the security sector. Surely, if one of the central objectives of security sector reform is to concentrate force in the hands of the sole and legitimate authority of the State, then that imposes enormous responsibility on all Governments. When the State's monopoly on force becomes perverted through the emergence of a dictatorial regime that tramples on the rights of its citizens and even perpetrates ethnic cleansing and genocide, how should the international community respond?”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632Resumption1 (2007) · source
“There is also the growing menace of the private militias and military contractors that have often been deployed to guard mining operations against marginalized indigenous groups, not to mention those that have been recruited, armed and organized by central Governments either to terrorize their own populations, to wage proxy wars against neighbouring States or to do both. As far back as in 1972, African leaders adopted the Convention for the Elimination of Mercenarism in Africa, which is complementary to the United Nations International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries. The two Conventions contain principles that are directly relevant to the problem of implementing credible security sector reform at the national level in order to enhance global peace and security.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632Resumption1 (2007) · source
“Unless that challenge is met, the search for a comprehensive, coherent and coordinated United Nations strategy will prove elusive. Moreover, many of the problems that threaten to derail ongoing security sector reform programmes in our region transcend the immediate needs of the post- conflict societies directly concerned. For instance, how does the widely accepted notion of the right of the State to exercise a monopoly on the use of force - which underlies most DDR programmes - square up with the loose international regulatory framework that permits the illicit trade and proliferation in small arms and light weapons in volatile regions?”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632Resumption1 (2007) · source
“In that regard, we welcome the significant efforts that have been made recently by development partners to adapt their technical assistance programmes in the area of security to the changing reality in Africa. We expect the United Nations as well to fashion a reform strategy that will facilitate the attainment, where possible, of the objectives that Africans have set for themselves. A better appreciation of the history of the continent and a deeper understanding of the dynamics of its political economy are required in order to form a meaningful partnership in security sector reform. Ghana believes that security sector reform not only is an integral part of the peacekeeping and post- conflict peacebuilding, but also confronts us with the need for clarity and consistency in defining the objectives of such reform.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632Resumption1 (2007) · source
“The implications range from the very conception and composition of the security sector to related issues, such as the size of the military and of its budget, civil- military relations, training and orientation and the nature of technical cooperation with donor countries, not to mention issues such as compliance with a code of ethics, including the observance of human rights, especially by police and intelligence agencies. It is important to stress that, for the sort of radical shake-up required to realign the security sector with the ambitions reflected in those Declarations, the initiative must first come from African leaders themselves. After all, we know from experience that the performance of the security sector is closely related to, and invariably shaped by, the conduct of leaders in their exercise of the powers of State.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632Resumption1 (2007) · source
“Consistent with that position, African leaders subsequently adopted the Lome Declaration on the Framework for an OAU Response to Unconstitutional Changes of Government, in which they unequivocally condemned and rejected any unconstitutional change of Government and reaffirmed the commitment of African peoples to respect for the rule of law based on the people's will, expressed through the ballot and not by the bullet. Those decisions have far-reaching implications for the security sector in African countries, since the overarching objective of security sector reform is to ensure that security institutions effectively perform their statutory functions - that is, providing security and delivering justice to the State and its people - in an environment consistent with democratic norms and the principles of good governance.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632Resumption1 (2007) · source
“Significantly, in July 1990, on the eve of the end of the cold war, the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) adopted its landmark Declaration on the Political and Socio-economic Situation in Africa and the Fundamental Changes Taking Place in the World. After taking stock of the continent's fortunes over three decades, they concluded that its development would be held back as long as an atmosphere of lasting peace and stability did not prevail in Africa. The Declaration further recognized that it was only through the creation of stable conditions that Africa could fully harness its human and material resources and direct them to development.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632Resumption1 (2007) · source