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

“Our experience with regional 3 integration - at least in West Africa - clearly shows that the legacies of colonialism and the cold war continue to cast their shadow on the outlook, traditions and ethical standards of key institutions in the security sector, including the military, the police, customs and the intelligence agencies. It is imperative, therefore, that we address the subject of security sector reform from a perspective that is in harmony with the determined efforts being made by the African Union to achieve lasting peace and stability on the continent, based on social inclusion, democratic governance and sustainable development. At this point, perhaps it would help to shed a little more light on our position by referring to some important decisions adopted by African leaders in the recent past.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632Resumption1 (2007) · source
“It is thus inextricably linked to other stabilization and reconstruction priorities, such as transitional justice; the rule of law; human rights; disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programmes; equal and full participation by women in national affairs; and the problem of children in armed conflict. The chronic instability that has characterized most of the post-independence era in Africa raises fundamental questions about the role of the security sector in the political economy of the continent, given its profound impact on the overall development of African countries.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632Resumption1 (2007) · source
“I, too, wish to commend your delegation, Mr. President, for organizing this debate. We are also pleased to see all the foreign ministers and dignitaries who are here today. Their presentations have substantially enriched our understanding of the complex challenges that must be addressed in order to implement credible security sector reforms, especially in those countries that are still struggling to recover from the harrowing experience of internal conflict. The issue of security sector reform (SSR) is gaining increasing importance on the international plane, because it is seen as cutting across a wide range of policy areas, from peace and security to economic and social development.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632Resumption1 (2007) · source
“We are confident that the Government and the people of Timor-Leste will work with UNMIT in laying the foundation for realizing the modern, independent and prosperous democratic State for which many Timorese citizens laid down their lives.”
2007-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5628 (2007) · source
“I wish to commend the Prime Minister for his eloquent, frank and passionate appeal for the continued engagement of the international community in Timor- Leste. We share his assessment that building a nation almost from scratch is a tall order. The international community should not leave Timor-Leste in the lurch. We are therefore sympathetic to the request for an extension of UNMIT's mandate for another year. We also support the request for the deployment of an additional formed police unit, which, we are informed, Portugal is ready to provide if requested, to strengthen security for the critical electoral process.”
2007-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5628 (2007) · source
“Even though, in the final analysis, the primary responsibility for their country's future lies in the hands of the people of Timor-Leste, they deserve all the support that the international community can extend to them. So far, the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste has distinguished itself as a reliable partner, and we commend its leadership and staff on the breadth and depth of their endeavours. The activities of UNMIT reflect the interconnected nature of the problems of security, human rights, displaced persons, gender mainstreaming and poverty alleviation faced by Timor-Leste. They are all as vital as the need to ensure that next year's elections meet international standards, not least regarding the active involvement of women in the political process.”
2007-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5628 (2007) · source
“It is our hope that the Commission of Notables that is addressing the petitions of those affected will conclude its work in due course, so that the issue can be settled once and for all. On the other hand, impunity must not be condoned and we trust that those fugitives who escaped from Becora Prison will be accorded due process and dealt with, as appropriate, under the law. We believe the overriding consideration must be equal treatment of all citizens before the law. The various mechanisms that have been set up to handle these delicate matters must be given the necessary support in order to complete their tasks in a responsive and impartial manner. In particular, they must be encouraged to take on board the reservations expressed by opposition groups, such as Fretilin, about the report of the Independent Special Commission of Inquiry.”
2007-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5628 (2007) · source
“These include, among other challenges, tackling delicate security issues, reintegrating the internally displaced persons, holding national elections - which will be the first since independence in May 2002 - and, above all, implementing the recommendations contained in the report of the Independent Special Commission of Inquiry, especially those aspects relating to political accountability and justice for the events of April and May 2006. As has been rightly observed in the Secretary-General's report (S/2007/50), justice is an essential precondition for sustainable national reconciliation. In that connection, we remain concerned about the fate of the 594 dismissed soldiers who are still living on a stipend paid by the Government.”
2007-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5628 (2007) · source
“We are therefore pleased to see highlighted in today's discussion the determined efforts being made by the Government and the people of Timor-Leste to reconcile their nation and redirect their energies towards the vital tasks of consolidating democracy and the rule of law and building a sound economy. By drawing on their time-honoured traditions in peacemaking to resolve their differences, the Timorese people have demonstrated their resilience and resourcefulness. We encourage them to employ the same wisdom and resolve in meeting the many difficult challenges that lie ahead.”
2007-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5628 (2007) · source
“We look forward to working closely with them in the interest of the people of Timor-Leste. Ghana has always followed with keen interest the peace and reconstruction efforts in Timor-Leste. We welcome all the positive developments that have occurred in the country since the destabilizing events of April and May 2006 and commend the entire leadership for their foresight and courage. We believe their experience offers vital lessons to developing countries, such as ours, that are equally engaged in the arduous task of nation-building. In the course of 50 years of national independence, Ghana has suffered many setbacks and has learned that there is no surer path to national unity and stability than through good governance, the rule of law and a vibrant economy.”
2007-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5628 (2007) · source
“At the outset, I wish to join previous speakers in welcoming the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Mr. Jose Ramos-Horta, and to express my delegation's appreciation for his statement. Let me also congratulate Mr. Atul Khare on his appointment as Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Timor- Leste and thank him for his in-depth assessment of the situation in that country. I assure the Special Representative of Ghana's full support in the discharge of the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) and wish him great success in his very challenging role. I take this opportunity further to extend our goodwill and best wishes to our South African colleagues as they assume the role of lead country on Timor-Leste.”
2007-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5628 (2007) · source
“We doubt whether the quantum of money so far pledged, although commendable, is commensurate with the tasks and urgent needs in post-conflict countries. Finally, we recognize that the Peacebuilding Commission can only facilitate peace; it cannot build it. Although adequate financial resources are crucial to successful peacebuilding, it is the will and determination of the Governments and the peoples concerned to preserve the peace and change the course of their own history that ultimately constitute the most decisive factor and the best guarantee of sustainable peace and development.”
2007-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5627 (2007) · source
“While we share the view that the Peacebuilding Commission cannot be expected to assume the responsibilities of an elected Government, we also believe that the nature of its operations requires an appreciable level of involvement in order to win the confidence and trust of its clients. After all, it is expected to play the role of a coordinating body that leverages national and international resources. The presence of the Commission must be felt throughout the receiving State, as the traumatized population needs to be assured that the international community remains fully engaged in finding solutions to their problems. Needless to say, in order to meet the challenges of effective peacebuilding, the Peacebuilding Commission needs adequate resources.”
2007-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5627 (2007) · source
“The Peacebuilding Commission, as it develops, should also pay due attention to the regional and subregional dimensions of peacebuilding, seeking to reinforce regional organizations in their peacebuilding efforts and to utilize their expertise. It is also our candid view that, as a newly created body, the Commission has an ideal opportunity to incorporate a gender dimension into its mandate and its work from the start. In consonance with resolution 1325 (2000), the Peacebuilding Commission should seek to involve women in all aspects of the peacebuilding process.”
2007-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5627 (2007) · source
“It is therefore well placed to blaze a new trail in international cooperation by drawing on the knowledge, expertise and experience accumulated by the United Nations, donor agencies, international financial institutions, women, non- governmental organizations and civil society over the years so as to develop programmes that can effectively address the often complex and interrelated problems which are peculiar to each post-conflict situation. It is precisely because each conflict is sui generis that we think the Peacebuilding Commission should be encouraged to have technical meetings in the countries concerned with a view to better appreciating and understanding the internal or local situation.”
2007-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5627 (2007) · source
“Indeed, the Peacebuilding Commission offers a unique opportunity to test the efficacy of the growing preference for an integrated approach to United Nations missions and, probably, to point the way towards improved foreign aid management. Since the Peacebuilding Commission is not a donor agency, we should all participate in decisions relating to the disbursement of its resources. Everything must be done to avoid the known pitfalls of donor practices, which have been criticized for duplication of effort, politicization and lack of local ownership, as well as for high administrative costs. The Commission is expected to take a broad approach in its work and to bring together all relevant actors in order to serve as a forum for dialogue and cooperation between national actors and the international community.”
2007-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5627 (2007) · source
“In this regard, we should avoid creating unnecessary bureaucratic layers and procedures and focus more on the delivery or implementation of agreed national strategies. As has been evident from some of the statements made today - especially the passionate appeal by the representative of Sierra Leone - we should strive to reduce the time lag between approval and disbursement of resources. Previous speakers have rightly highlighted the organic relationship that must exist between the Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission and, by extension, the other organs of the United Nations, especially the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. It cannot be otherwise, because of the inextricable link between peace, security and development.”
2007-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5627 (2007) · source
“In our View, therefore, the most important role of the Peacebuilding Commission will be to identify, to prioritize and to target its limited resources with a view to addressing those fundamental problems. In this way, the Commission can be a worthy partner and help national Governments to adopt the best practices in governance that are so critical to long-term reconciliation and stability and ensure a seamless transition from conflict to the promotion of sustainable peace and development. As a member of the Organizational Committee, Ghana recognizes that the Peacebuilding Commission, like any new body or agency, will have teething problems. However, we are of the considered view that we need to agree early on our modus operandi.”
2007-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5627 (2007) · source
“We are very pleased, therefore, that the Organizational Committee held meetings during which Burundi and Sierra Leone were selected as pioneers in post-conflict peacebuilding under the auspices of the Peacebuilding Commission. They deserve all the support they can get in their recovery efforts because, as pilot projects, their success will impact on the future of the Commission. The danger of relapse is all too real and ever- present in societies that are still emerging from conflict. In a climate of high expectations and lurking distrust, the transition from peacekeeping to post- conflict recovery poses enormous institutional challenges that can easily overwhelm any Government. Above all, we must understand that as long as the underlying causes of conflict remain unaddressed, we could be on shaky ground.”
2007-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5627 (2007) · source
“We all clearly have a stake in the Peacebuilding Commission, whose creation is but one important step in the implementation of the institutional reforms needed to enable the United Nations to respond to the needs identified in the 2005 World Summit Outcome for an institutional, systematic and seamless connection between peacekeeping and post-conflict peacebuilding. Only an effective Peacebuilding Commission can ensure that the huge investments made by the international community in peace and stability in those volatile parts of the world will achieve the most positive, sustainable and irreversible outcomes. The success of the Commission will certainly bring encouragement and hope to millions of people - especially those in Africa 4 caught in the vicious cycle of conflict and poverty.”
2007-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5627 (2007) · source
“At the outset, I, too, would like to commend the delegation of the Russian Federation for having organized this debate, which affords us the opportunity to highlight the importance and review the performance of the Peacebuilding Commission. In this regard, we are grateful to the various officials and the representatives of Sierra Leone and Burundi for their briefings and statements. I associate myself with the statement to be made later by the representative of Jamaica on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.”
2007-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5627 (2007) · source
“That is the only way to bring an end to the situation in Myanmar. We hope that the authorities in Myanmar will respond positively to the minimal requirements of peace, as outlined in the rejected draft resolution.”
2007-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5619 (2007) · source
“In that regard, we are also convinced that the interests of humankind can best be served by the United Nations when the various organs and subsidiary bodies are more devoted to complementing each others' efforts. We should not overlook the fact that, in recent times, this Council has dealt with many intra- State conflicts. Above all, in their endeavours, the various United Nations organs must never lose sight of the underlying principles and objectives enshrined in the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is for those reasons that Ghana voted in favour of the draft resolution urging the military authorities in Myanmar to cooperate with the Secretary-General's good offices and open up the political space for an inclusive national dialogue among all stakeholders.”
2007-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5619 (2007) · source
“As an elected member of the Security Council, Ghana is highly sensitive to the need to respect the jurisdiction and competence of each organ of the United Nations. We recognize that only an orderly and disciplined United Nations can carry out effectively and impartially the mandate entrusted to it by the Charter. Ghana was mindful of all that when, after careful consideration, we decided to vote in favour of the inscription of the situation in Myanmar on the agenda of the Security Council. Indeed, we are of the view that the maintenance of international peace and security in today's radically changed world necessarily involves addressing complex challenges that are cross-cutting and interrelated. We believe that there is no other route to a peaceful and secure world built on freedom, justice and prosperity for all.”
2007-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5619 (2007) · source
“It behoves the Council also to look for more creative ways of actively engaging and involving in its work the wider membership of the United Nations, the non-members, which are expected to comply with its binding resolutions and decisions, including the generic legislation of the Council. Such an approach, we believe, will bring more effectiveness and success to the Council's work. Lastly, we believe that the time has come to expand the membership of the Council.”
2007-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5615 (2007) · source
“But it should be noted that, despite the Council's important role in the maintenance of international peace and security, it is only one of the many organs and the wide array of international bodies and entities dealing with some aspects of the threats that have been identified. It is of cardinal importance, therefore, that, in discharging its obligations under the Charter, the Council endeavour to foster a genuine partnership with some of those entities, such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union and the European Union, which have so far proved active in this field.”
2007-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5615 (2007) · source
“We are also encouraged by the adoption by the General Assembly in 2005 of an international instrument to identify and trace illicit small arms. However, our commitment to dealing with the threats posed by such weapons has been seriously undermined by the failure of the 2006 United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action. Our confidence has also been shaken by the failure of the Council, despite the strenuous efforts made by some of its present members and States that were members in the immediate past, to agree on a draft resolution on this issue last year. On balance, it is evident that the Security Council has played a commendable role in dealing with both imminent and potential threats to international peace and security.”
2007-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5615 (2007) · source
“Despite recent controversy related to the issue of nuclear proliferation, the NPT still enjoys near-universal membership, and we remain convinced of its viability and integrity as a sure way of containing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. A related issue is the threat that the proliferation of small arms poses to international peace and security. With a reported circulation of about 40 million worldwide, small arms have become the real weapons of mass destruction in many countries, especially - paradoxically - in Africa, where such weapons are not manufactured. We welcome the Council's efforts in encouraging Member States to fully support the recommendations contained in the Programme of Action adopted at the July 2001 United Nations Conference.”
2007-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5615 (2007) · source
“Combating organized crime therefore becomes essential in fighting hideous trans- border crimes such as trafficking in human beings. Preventing the spread and use of weapons of mass destruction by States and, more importantly, by non-State actors is imperative to ensure a more secure world. The challenge lies in taking effective measures to reduce the demand for such weapons and curb the supply of materials as well as the technology for their production. We therefore regret the failure of the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) to adopt any agreement.”
2007-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5615 (2007) · source
“However, much more remains to be done in providing technical assistance to help Member States comply with those resolutions and implement the strategy that has recently been adopted by the General Assembly. Moreover, we are so close to, yet so far from, completing the cycle by concluding a comprehensive convention on international terrorism. Transnational organized crime also has the potential to heighten the risks posed by all the other threats. Terrorists, for instance, use organized criminal groups to move money, men and materials around the globe. Governments and rebels sell natural resources through organized criminal groups to finance wars. In the process, the capacity of States to establish the rule of law is weakened.”
2007-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5615 (2007) · source
“Terrorism, a constantly mutating phenomenon, represents an assault on the fundamental principles of law, human rights, and the peaceful settlement of disputes, on the basis of which the United Nations was founded. In accepting that terrorism cannot be justified, irrespective of the reasons behind it, we must be careful not to ignore grievances such as political oppression and alienation, which breed terrorism. For the international community to defeat terrorism and the threat it poses, we must act with unflinching determination to resolve the political disputes and long-festering conflicts which generate support for terrorism. We recognize that the Security Council has played a commendable role in this field through its landmark resolutions 1267 (1999), 1373 (2001), 1540 (2004) and 1624 (2005).”
2007-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5615 (2007) · source
“We acknowledge the substantive progress that has been made through United Nations peacekeeping operations, especially in Africa, and in laying a foundation to deal effectively with conflicts. To consolidate peace throughout Africa and in conflict- ravaged countries in other areas, it is imperative to emphasize that a coordinated, coherent and integrated approach must be taken to post-conflict peacebuilding, with a view to achieving sustainable development. We believe that this is precisely what the Peacebuilding Commission is supposed to help us achieve. Unquestionably, global terrorism is one of the foremost threats to international peace and security today.”
2007-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5615 (2007) · source
“Combating poverty and improving education and health care will save millions of lives as well as strengthen the capacity of States to combat terrorism, organized crime and prevent other threats. If development is deemed so crucial to security, then more determined and focused efforts should be made to monitor the implementation of internationally agreed goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). We encourage the appropriate United Nations organs, departments and agencies to redouble their efforts in helping Member States to achieve those goals. It has long been recognized that in dealing with conflicts, more emphasis should be placed on conflict prevention.”
2007-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5615 (2007) · source
“Nor must we lose sight of the widening gap between the rich and poor, both within and among nations, which is bound to have a destabilizing effect on international peace and security. In short, threats to international peace and security cannot be dealt with piecemeal through a patchwork of initiatives that merely address the symptoms without really touching on the root causes. The realities of today require that the Council pursue its mandate within a comprehensive conceptual framework of peace and security. It is through such an approach that the Security Council can provide leadership that is inspiring, effective and credible in the process of tackling the problems that threaten to compromise the survival of humankind. Development must be an important component of our collective security system.”
2007-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5615 (2007) · source
“In the process of trying to eliminate the traditional threats, the international community has been confronted with new, and, in some cases, more dangerous ones, which threaten our common well-being and survival. Understandably, our immediate priority must be to deal with ongoing conflicts and imminent threats such as terrorism and all forms of extremism. We must also remain focused on the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, small arms and light weapons, as well as gross abuses of human rights, including ethnic cleansing and genocide. Equally critical are the problems of global warming and the weaponization of outer space, which are serious potential threats and must be kept on our radar.”
2007-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5615 (2007) · source
“Mr. President, may I first congratulate you and the other members of the delegation of the Russian Federation on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month and also commend you for having organized this debate on contemporary threats to international peace and security. Also, permit me once again to congratulate the new Secretary-General on his assumption of his high office and to express my delegation's appreciation for his presence here with us for the first time in the Council and for his statement. We wish him success in his new assignment. Globalization has thrust upon the global community new and multifarious threats to international peace and security of a scope and intensity that could never have been anticipated by the founding fathers of the United Nations.”
2007-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5615 (2007) · source
“Needless to say, the determination of the leadership to transform the region into an area of lasting peace, stability and prosperity will require sustained and coordinated support by all parties involved, including the countries of the region, the African Union, the United Nations and the Group of Friends, co-chaired by Canada and the Netherlands, as well as other international partners. The Security Council should remain supportive of this undertaking. To that end we support the plea for an extension of the term of office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, who has been doing excellent work, for another year. We also wish Ms. Mulamula success in her new assignment.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5603 (2006) · source
“The future of the countries in the region must be built on good neighbourliness and regional cooperation. Reviving the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries could prove promising for fostering and strengthening regional economic integration. We applaud the Peacebuilding Commission for approving $25 million for Burundi for post-conflict reconstruction. We hope that sometime in the future, when all is settled in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Peacebuilding Commission will also consider the case of that country. We also wish to appeal to the leadership in the area to show commitment and determination in ensuring the speedy and effective implementation of the Pact.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5603 (2006) · source
“It is essential to take decisive actions against corruption, ensure respect for human rights and fight the climate of impunity and politically driven justice prevailing in the wider region. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Court have a central role to play in the efforts to bring to justice those responsible for serious human rights violations and war crimes. The disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, repatriation or resettlement of the various armed groups is a cardinal component of the plans for stabilizing the whole region. It is important that the international community not disengage too rapidly and that an adequate United Nations presence be maintained in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Burundi.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5603 (2006) · source
“Such exploitation constitutes a violation of the States' right of permanent sovereignty over their natural resources and represents a serious source of insecurity, instability, tension and conflicts in the region. In this connection, we urge member States to seriously consider putting in place useful mechanisms such as the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. This Scheme has proved to be quite useful in containing the illegal exploitation and smuggling of diamonds and, hopefully, in effectively limiting the financing of conflicts. It is important that political systems are democratic and inclusive, and that they engender a climate of trust and participation by all. Good governance and the rule of law will create an environment conducive to reconstruction.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5603 (2006) · source
“The Great Lakes region, the Democratic Republic of the Congo in particular, is endowed with enormous natural resources. Therefore, given stability, the area could see tremendous development. The successful conduct of the elections and the smooth transition in Congo and the other countries in the region - Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda - provide them an atmosphere conducive to continuing their political and economic reconstruction processes towards the establishment of stable and democratic societies and modern State institutions, based on the rule of law. We also welcome the fact that the States of the region have agreed to put in place regional rules and mechanisms for combating the illegal exploitation of natural resources.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5603 (2006) · source
“The Great Lakes region has suffered a long period of conflicts with devastating consequences. An area that had over a decade become a theatre of internecine conflicts that have led to all sorts of violence - including forced internal and external displacement of people, most of whom were already in a state of desolation - now seems to be gradually returning to normalcy. In this regard, we welcome the signing of the Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region in Nairobi on 15 December 2006. The desire of the regional leaders to settle disputes through negotiation, good offices, investigation, mediation, conciliation or any other political means based on a mechanism mutually agreed upon is highly commendable.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5603 (2006) · source
“At the outset allow me to commend you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting on the situation in the Great Lakes region. I also wish to thank Mr. Ibrahima Fall and Ms. Liberata Mulamula for their presentations. Let me also take this opportunity to express my delegation's appreciation to the Government of Kenya for hosting the Second Summit of Heads of State and Government of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region. The Conference, which was convened under the auspices of the United Nations and the African Union, offered member countries and other international partners the opportunity to exchange views on ways to transform the region into an area of sustainable peace and security, political and social stability, shared growth and development.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5603 (2006) · source
“And closely related to that is whether the authorities in Belgrade and the Kosovo Serbs can be brought around to accepting an independent and sovereign Kosovo with the levers of power firmly in the hands of an Albanian majority. Ghana does not have easy answers to those questions.”
2006-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5588 (2006) · source
“And the only way to do so is to become involved in the process of institution-building that is shaping the future of their homeland. At the same time, we find the pattern of hostility among Albanian youth towards the Serbs particularly disturbing, as it does not augur well for harmonious existence between the two communities in future. We urge that conscious efforts be made to instil in the youth of the various ethnic groups the values of tolerance and unity. Otherwise, the current efforts will indeed amount to nothing but token gestures. For us, therefore, the critical question today is whether at this point in time Kosovo has the internal strength and resilience to withstand the pressures of the conflicting claims on its future status.”
2006-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5588 (2006) · source
“Although the progress made so far does not measure up to expectations with respect to the 13 priorities for standards implementation, it is not for want of trying. In the absence of a strong political will to engage their Albanian counterparts, the Kosovo Serbians have impeded progress. In that connection, the continuing refusal of the Serbian minority to participate in the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government - in spite of the various overtures made by the Government, coupled with the institutional mechanisms being put in place to ensure accountability and respect for the rights of all minorities - is a major challenge. We urge the Kosovo Serbs and the authorities in Belgrade not to dismiss those positive overtures as cynical manipulations of the final status process without subjecting them to a practical test.”
2006-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5588 (2006) · source
“06-6573] We believe the current strategy contains the right elements, with its emphasis on the creation of functioning democratic institutions that can effectively entrench the rule of law, ensure the freedom of movement in a safe and secure environment and facilitate the return of displaced persons, not to mention the creation of a vibrant economy for the well- being of the people of Kosovo. We are encouraged in that regard by the actions undertaken by UNMIK and the Office of the Special Envoy during the reporting period, both to meet the institutional needs of Kosovo and to engage the parties on the issues of decentralization, cultural and religious heritage and community rights.”
2006-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5588 (2006) · source
“In that regard, let me state that Ghana attaches equal weight to the two conflicting claims, and believes that all possibilities for a negotiated settlement of the current impasse must be explored, in conformity with the principles of international law. In addition, we are mindful of the fact that there can be no lasting peace and stability in Kosovo unless the final status process results in an outcome that guarantees respect for the rights of all ethnic groups in Kosovo and also encourages their effective and meaningful participation in public affairs within a democratic dispensation.”
2006-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5588 (2006) · source
“We too welcome the participation of Special Representative Riicker, Prime Minister Ceku and Ms. Sanda Raskovic-Ivic in today's debate regarding the future status of Kosovo. It is indeed the desire of the delegation of Ghana to be a part of the consensus that will finally emerge in the Security Council on the future of Kosovo. Nonetheless, we recognize that this remains an exceedingly complex issue, given the wide gulf that persists between the parties. The dilemma is how to resolve the claim to self-determination by the majority Albanian population of Kosovo, on the one hand, and the Serbian Government's anxiety to preserve the territorial integrity of the Serbian State, on the other, as reflected in the provisions of the new Constitution, adopted in October this year.”
2006-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5588 (2006) · source
“The Security Council bears an onerous responsibility in the search for comprehensive peace in the Middle East and must continue to work assiduously, in concert with others, towards the settlement of the Palestinian problem, which is at the core of the Middle East question, on the basis of its own resolutions, the Arab peace initiative and a revitalized road map. It therefore behooves the international community to encourage the parties to compromise and learn to live side by side, as envisaged in the two-State solution. Finally, Sir, we thank your delegation for preparing the draft presidential statement, which we fully support.”
2006-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5584 (2006) · source