YouSaid · the spoken record

Niehaus

lines on the record: 161
first: 1998-06-06
most recent: 2002-06-27
sittings or episodes: 21
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

“Thus, the new vision, which is both wide-ranging and integral, corresponds to a set of needs which, although they have existed for some time, received attention and were included in the new concept of the maintenance of international peace and security with the end of the cold war. But it also corresponds to what could be described as a new set of potentials and possibilities that emerged after 1989. In that connection, the majority of conflicts that pose a threat to international peace and security indisputably involve political, economic and social situations that, once the strictly military aspects are resolved, require responses and solutions that are in keeping with their specific characteristics.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3954 (1998) · source
“Today, the great majority of Members of the United Nations agree that the restricted concept I have mentioned has been superseded and that we have now evolved into the second stage outlined at the beginning of the decade. In truth, what six years ago seemed a mere intellectual discussion has now become a reality and is gradually being included in the new doctrine being implemented by the United Nations and, more concretely, the Security Council with regard to international peace and security. This evolution, which has brought us to a "second generation" in the maintenance of peace and security, has not occurred in a vacuum, and, as always happens, is a response to reality itself.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3954 (1998) · source
“The Secretary-General included in that innovative agenda the concept of post- conflict peace-building as a specific area of action for the United Nations, designed to put together and regulate all the measures to consolidate cooperation between parties, national or international, that previously had been pitted against one another, and to develop the social, economic, juridical and political infrastructure needed to prevent a return to violence and to lay down bases for sustainable and lasting peace. As a result, we could and should say that peace- building is not a whimsical invention or an unfounded political proposal; rather, it is a deep-rooted concept with sufficient juridical and political legitimacy to become a subject to which the United Nations, and particularly the Security Council, must give attention.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3954 (1998) · source
“Since 1989, as I have stated we seen the traditional concept replaced or enlarged, depending on one's point of view; a slow process has begun of devising and assimilating a broadened interpretation of the content and scope of "the maintenance of international peace and security". It was in the context of this new vision of international relations that the Secretary-General, at the Council's request, outlined in the Agenda for Peace, published in 1992, the five major action areas where he thought the United Nations should be able to use the powers given it by the Charter on these fundamental matters in the new and changing international arena.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3954 (1998) · source
“For 45 years after the establishment of the United Nations, a restrictive interpretation of the scope of the responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, given by Member States to the Security Council and set forth in paragraph 1 of Article 24 of the Charter, restricted multilateral action to monitoring and verifying compliance with agreements on the cessation of hostilities between two or more States. The internal logic of the super-Power rivalry justified the adoption in both the work and the practice of the Security Council of this self- limitation, which was removed from reality and, as some have said, reduced the Council's principal function to the bare minimum, to the detriment of, and ignoring, the will of the founding fathers of 1945.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3954 (1998) · source
“Since the end of the cold war the international community has simultaneously taken part in and witnessed an accelerated process of broadening the concepts, contents and interpretation of the multilateral peace and security agenda. In less than 10 years our Organization has gone beyond the limited and limiting interpretation that prevailed in the previous stage of hegemonic confrontation as regards the scope of that terminology and its operational consequences.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3954 (1998) · source
“Mr. Niehaus (Costa Rica) (interpretation from Spanish): I should like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for your decision, Mr. President, to convene this open meeting of the Security Council to consider the question of the maintenance of peace and security and post-conflict peace-building. Your initiative is a step in the right direction of promoting transparency and the participation of all Member States in the work of the Security Council. It is also significant encouragement for this principal body of our Organization to have a wide-ranging and democratic discussion of a topic that has become essential to its principal function of maintaining international peace and security.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3954 (1998) · source
“It is for these reasons that we have participated actively in the negotiations and consultations that led to the draft resolution before us for consideration. We believe that it is the obligation of the Security Council to take a well-defined approach to this conflict, but above all we feel that it is the responsibility of this body to promote and support a joint position on resolving the Afghan problem. This text is a step in the right direction, and for that reason we lend it our full support.”
1998-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3952 (1998) · source
“But that alone will not suffice, because the Afghan crisis involves external actors with ties to and interests in the struggle, whose identity we all know and who must be held accountable. I refer here to those that have promoted and backed internal groups - politically and materially - and to those that have sinned by omission by not using their particular influence and weight to put an end to the conflict. Costa Rica wishes to take this opportunity to demand of those countries, all of which are Members of the United Nations, that they commit themselves to, and act in accordance with, a constructive policy aimed at a cessation of the conflict, an end to intolerance, and respect for human rights in Afghanistan.”
1998-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3952 (1998) · source
“Nevertheless, Costa Rica wishes to draw attention to two issues of particular importance that have international implications which go beyond Afghan borders and in whose connection the Taliban's responsibility has been noted. I refer here to the shelter and protection that it has offered, and continues to offer, to foreign terrorist groups on the one hand, and its active participation in drug-trafficking activities on the other. These are extremely sensitive matters for the international community. The Taliban's involvement is unacceptable and must cease as soon as possible and unconditionally. As we have said, the principal responsibility for resolving the Afghan problem lies with the factions within that country, in particular the Taliban.”
1998-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3952 (1998) · source
“We believe that an appropriate solution to the Afghan problem must address this issue and that, although some have attempted to minimize its importance or regard it in relative terms, it must continue to command the Security Council's attention. Furthermore, we demand once again of all factions, and of the Taliban in particular, that they cease any and all activities contrary to international humanitarian law, in particular those aimed at hindering and impeding the delivery of aid to the civilian population. All of these matters in and of themselves are of extreme importance in resolving the internal situation in Afghanistan.”
1998-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3952 (1998) · source
“An effort of this nature requires credibility and confidence among all parties. In this connection, we believe it essential for the Taliban to shoulder the responsibility it bears with respect to the murder of international humanitarian workers and of diplomats from Iran. This extremely serious matter requires a prompt and transparent investigation to clarify responsibilities and identify the real perpetrators of those murders. Likewise, Costa Rica deems it imperative to demand of the Taliban that it put an end to its policies and actions that violate human rights, in particular with respect to discrimination against women and girls.”
1998-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3952 (1998) · source
“Given such a disquieting picture, and although practically everything has been said about the Afghan situation, my delegation deems it imperative to issue a renewed and strong appeal to all internal and external parties to the Afghan conflict to take, once and for all, responsibility for finding an early and negotiated settlement to the armed conflict that has beset that country for decades. We demand of the Afghan factions, and of the Taliban in particular, that they put an immediate end to military confrontation and conclude a ceasefire. Given the present circumstances, that will be possible only as a result of negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations, through its Special Envoy and with the unswerving and active support of the "six plus two" group, which we would ask to redouble its efforts to that end.”
1998-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3952 (1998) · source
“Nonetheless, confrontation in Afghanistan has in recent months not only persisted but escalated and worsened owing to, inter alia, new military offensives by the Taliban forces; a stepping up of ethnic and religious persecution; gender-based discrimination; the use of Afghan territory to shelter terrorist groups; an increase in the cultivation, production and trafficking of illegal drugs; and the deteriorating standard of living of the civilian population.”
1998-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3952 (1998) · source
“Mr. Niehaus (Costa Rica) (interpretation from Spanish): Rarely do we find among international society such clear and broad agreement as we are witnessing today with respect to the situation in Afghanistan. We all share a logical and rational political and legal vision as to the origins and substance of the Afghan crisis, the assigning of specific responsibilities and obligations, and ways and means of settling the conflict.”
1998-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3952 (1998) · source
“It is for this reason that Costa Rica, in keeping with the position jointly stated by the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, supports the extension of the Mission's mandate on the terms set forth by the Secretary- General in his report. We will consequently vote in favour of the draft resolution before us, which we are honoured to co-sponsor.”
1998-11-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3949 (1998) · source
“The report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Civilian Police Mission in Haiti points out the important work that that body is carrying out in that country and its significant contribution to guaranteeing and promoting the establishment and consolidation of the National Police and judicial institutions as professional democratic institutions entrusted with guaranteeing the judicial security necessary for the reconciliation of the Haitian people. From another standpoint, that report also shows us the need for all bodies and specialized agencies of the United Nations to continue to provide their active cooperation on a multidisciplinary, coordinated and integrated basis in this major effort at peace-building by establishing efficient democratic institutions and just and sustainable economic and social conditions.”
1998-11-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3949 (1998) · source
“In this context, the role of the United Nations in Haiti goes beyond the simple and traditional concept of assistance to development. Its role is to ensure and promote the establishment and consolidation of efficient and democratic institutions of judicial security that can evolve into a stabilizing factor to guarantee that there will be no regression and that authoritarianism and division - possibilities that can become odious realities when we note the lack of will among some sectors of the Haitian political leadership - will not re-emerge in society.”
1998-11-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3949 (1998) · source
“The situation in Haiti constitutes a clear example of the need for organized international participation from the standpoint of guaranteeing and building peace and thus preventing a return of conflict and instability. We are all aware of the statistics on human development in Haiti: a life expectancy at birth of 54 years; a literacy rate of 44 per cent; a school attendance rate of 39 per cent; and a real gross domestic product of $896 per capita. These cold but dramatic numbers show us that there is sufficient reason to justify the obligation of the international community to continue comprehensively assisting the people of Haiti in the laudable effort they have been carrying out for several years to promote a new political, economic and social model.”
1998-11-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3949 (1998) · source
“It has nevertheless been experience and reality themselves that have been responsible for promoting this new concept of peacekeeping that today is part and parcel of the abundant set of values that the Council has progressively established in carrying out its primary responsibility under the Charter. The lessons learned by the international community, especially from conflicts in developing countries, have motivated the United Nations to approach these situations from a larger perspective that facilitates and promotes solutions to the economic and social problems that are at the root of most situations that threaten international peace and security.”
1998-11-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3949 (1998) · source
“Mr. Niehaus (Costa Rica) (interpretation from Spanish): Article 24 of the Charter of the United Nations confers upon the Security Council the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. In the light of the very purposes of our Organization, established in Article 1, this is a proactive and comprehensive responsibility, never reactive or limited, for it states that the United Nations should take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace. This constitutional foundation would be a sufficient argument to justify the raison d 'etre of the multidisciplinary operations authorized by the Security Council aimed at promoting peace-building.”
1998-11-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3949 (1998) · source
“In this connection, I should like to take the opportunity to reaffirm my delegation's support for the valuable and tireless efforts that the Secretary-General has made and is still making and to urge him to continue his work in the hope that dialogue and negotiation will make it possible to achieve a political solution to the current crisis. For all of those reasons, Costa Rica sponsored and, of course, will vote in favour of the draft resolution before us.”
1998-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3939 (1998) · source
“Costa Rica hopes that Iraq will proceed to comply with its international disarmament obligations, honour its word as given in the Memorandum of Understanding of 23 February and resume cooperation with the Special Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency without conditions. Costa Rica also hopes that the Government of Iraq will demonstrate clearly and unequivocally to the international community its willingness to resolve the current situation and to take firm steps that will enable the Council promptly to embark on the comprehensive review.”
1998-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3939 (1998) · source
“This new challenge by Iraq to the authority of the Security Council not only disregards the obligations that it entered into with the international community, but also calls into question the willingness and readiness that it expressed in the Memorandum of Understanding that it signed with the Secretary-General on 23 February this year. That Memorandum established ample scope for political dialogue, which has now been ignored by Iraq for the sole purpose of securing further concessions in the process of implementing Council resolution 687 (1991). That is why the delegation of Costa Rica cannot accept or consider valid the attempt to justify Iraq's decision on the basis of a failure to understand because of an alleged lack of clarity in the letter that the President of the Security Council addressed to the Secretary-General on 30 October.”
1998-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3939 (1998) · source
“That unswerving position on the part of my delegation is based on the fact that we have repeatedly noted a persistent course of action on the part of the Government of Iraq to avoid full compliance with those obligations, through excuses and evasions designed to secure new rules of the game that could diminish its responsibilities under those Council resolutions. The decision taken by the Government of Iraq on 31 October to cease cooperation with the United Nations Special Commission, together with its continued restrictions on the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency, are a further example of that dangerous course of action and give us good reason to doubt the Iraqi authorities' willingness to comply.”
1998-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3939 (1998) · source
“Mr. Niehaus (Costa Rica) (interpretation from Spanish): On several occasions during its current membership of the Security Council, the delegation of Costa Rica has expressed its firm conviction that the logical and viable solution to the constant crises that have arisen in the context of the relationship between the United Nations and Iraq lies in the full implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions. Time and again, whenever the Iraqi authorities have pushed that relationship to the limit, Costa Rica has stressed that Iraq must comply with the disarmament obligations imposed on it by those resolutions, as an indispensable condition for the lifting of the sanctions imposed.”
1998-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3939 (1998) · source
“For this reason, we do not believe that the Security Council should, in any case, authorize missions with military troops whose limits and powers are not clearly pre-established or whose mandate may be conditioned to the subsequent decision of other organs or groups of States. The Security Council alone can determine whether there has been a violation of its resolutions, adopted in the exercise of its mandated powers. Only the Security Council can authorize the use of force to ensure compliance with its resolutions, in exercise of its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. I wish to conclude by repeating that these comments on the law will not stand in Costa Rica's way to lending its support for the draft resolution before us, bearing in mind its profound ethical and humanitarian meaning.”
1998-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3937 (1998) · source
“Any action which implies the use of force - with the very limited exception of the right of legitimate defence - thus requires clear authorization by the Security Council for each specific case. We believe these principles to be implicit in the primary responsibility of the Security Council with respect to the maintenance of international peace and security and in the absolute prohibition of the use of force in international relations. The Security Council cannot, nor should it, transfer to others or set aside its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.”
1998-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3937 (1998) · source
“Nevertheless, having said this, we would like to state some of our misgivings, which are of a legal nature, with regard to certain aspects of this draft resolution. A goal such as this one, which is ethically and morally unquestionable, deserves to be achieved by means of international law. We are not objecting to the goal of the draft resolution, but to its form and lack of clarity, in light of our firm position on absolute respect for international law and the tenets of the Charter. We believe that any Security Council resolution must be strictly in keeping with international law and with a sound political concept. The adoption of any measure which implies the use of force or military troops must meet all the legal, political and strategic requirements of the Charter and be based on practical experience.”
1998-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3937 (1998) · source
“Thus, the delegation of Costa Rica believes that it is necessary and indispensable for the Security Council to authorize the dispatch of an international observer mission to verify compliance with the obligations agreed to by the Yugoslav authorities in the 16 October agreement. Moreover, no longer is this question merely a political one. What we have here is a moral and ethical imperative for the international community. Inasmuch as this moral objective leaves no room for doubt, and in that an international presence in Kosovo would take on a high moral character, Costa Rica would never fail to lend its support to a multilateral action aimed at such a noble purpose. That is why we are supporting the draft resolution we have before us.”
1998-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3937 (1998) · source
“Hence, we cannot fail to express our satisfaction at the signing last 16 October of an agreement between the Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Yugoslavia, with the purpose of establishing a verification mission in Kosovo entrusted with the monitoring of compliance with the demands stipulated in resolutions 1160 (1998) and 1199 (1998), as well as the commitments agreed to by the Yugoslav authorities to comply with the terms of such resolutions. We believe that the Verification Mission will be a key instrument in guaranteeing the peace process in Kosovo, in preventing new violations of human rights and for international humanitarian law in the region.”
1998-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3937 (1998) · source
“Through these resolutions, we demanded that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the authorities of the Albanian community in Kosovo enter into dialogue without any preconditions, with a view to putting an end to the crisis and finding a negotiated political solution to it. Moreover, we have demanded that the Yugoslav authorities cease all military action in Kosovo which affects the civilian population and that they withdraw all security forces which are being used to repress that population.”
1998-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3937 (1998) · source
“Mr. Niehaus (Costa Rica) (interpretation from Spanish): Costa Rica has consistently and firmly continued to condemn attacks against the Albanian civilian population in Kosovo, the violation of that population's most fundamental rights and the savage destruction of unarmed small towns and hamlets. Time and again, we have expressed our repudiation of the policy of ethnic cleansing undertaken by the authorities of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. We are in favour of an international position of political firmness vis-a-vis the Belgrade Government. In the face of the suffering of the Kosovo population, my delegation voted in favour of Security Council resolutions 1160 (1998) and 1199 (1998).”
1998-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3937 (1998) · source
“But this does not exonerate the international community, or the Security Council in particular, from the obligation to ensure respect for these basic norms and to promote better living conditions and improved security for the victims of armed conflicts. Only when we have done this will the sun of justice shine upon us from on high, enlightening those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death, and guiding us along the path of peace.”
1998-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3932 (1998) · source
“Here we reaffirm the relevance of the provisions of the statute of the International Criminal Court declaring attacks on humanitarian personnel to be war crimes. We regret that the Security Council as a whole was unable to include in the statement to be read out by its President later today explicit reference to this important progressive development in international law, owing to the reluctance of some members. Belligerent States and other parties bear the primary responsibility to guarantee full respect for international humanitarian law and to permit the distribution of humanitarian assistance to refugees and displaced persons who need it, as well as to guarantee the safety and security of humanitarian personnel.”
1998-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3932 (1998) · source
“Moreover, all parties must give humanitarian organizations access to refugee and displaced- persons camps, not only to provide assistance but also to assess the living conditions of the inhabitants. The valuable work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in this area has been universally recognized, and we take this opportunity to reiterate to Mrs. Ogata Costa Rica's full support for her work and for her unquestioned leadership. Fifthly, there should be no impunity for those who attack the security and safety of humanitarian personnel. The belligerent parties must take all measures necessary to prevent attacks on such personnel and in the event that these occur to punish those responsible with a View to avoiding further attacks.”
1998-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3932 (1998) · source
“We recognize that humanitarian personnel have the right to self-defence in the event of unjustified attack, but we believe in avoiding the use of force to the extent possible, with a view to preserving the conditions that are indispensable for impartiality and neutrality. In every case, we condemn the taking of these heroic humanitarian personnel as hostages and their murder as an act of reprisal. Fourthly, we believe that the situation of refugee and displaced-persons camps must be given greater attention. It is unacceptable that some camps should be used as bases for combatant groups or that they should become the site of battles among factions. We believe that all parties must respect the neutrality of refugee and displaced-persons camps; under no circumstances can these be regarded as legitimate targets for attack.”
1998-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3932 (1998) · source
“Thirdly, we believe that additional measures must be taken to facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance and to ensure the safety of those providing it. In our view, a range of measures is needed, ranging from ratification of international conventions guaranteeing the protection of those providing humanitarian assistance and the recently adopted statute of the International Criminal Court to the adoption of concrete mechanisms and other tools for ensuring the physical safety and integrity of assistance providers and of their bases of operation and their means of communications and transport.”
1998-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3932 (1998) · source
“In this connection, we are pleased to note that this Council has begun calling on parties explicitly to comply with those norms and principles. We also believe that all parties must respect the international law on refugees and, in accordance with those norms, must permit access for humanitarian assistance to all persons in need. Secondly, we agree with the Secretary-General that there must be an increase in international solidarity in response to the humanitarian needs of refugees and displaced persons. Costa Rica, which took in refugees during the crisis in Central America, is fully aware of the economic, social and political burden involved in receiving such populations in need, and we can testify to the indispensable role of international cooperation to lighten the burden.”
1998-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3932 (1998) · source
“The first step to attaining this lofty ideal is to protect innocent civilians from the impact of armed conflict, preventing them from becoming direct targets of military action and providing them with at least the most basic living conditions during crisis situations. In this context respect for international humanitarian law, humanitarian assistance to refugees and displaced persons and protection for those providing such assistance becomes particularly relevant. First, we believe it essential that the parties to a conflict respect international humanitarian law, both customary and treaty law, in particular the norms of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the 1977 additional Protocols thereto. Furthermore, we believe that all parties must respect the principles and norms of human rights under all circumstances.”
1998-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3932 (1998) · source
“We maintained that Security Council actions should necessarily be extended so as to promote and ensure respect for human rights and provide better living conditions for victims of armed conflicts. Our experience over the past year has strengthened my delegation's position on this matter. Security and peace are not matters for States alone. In the final analysis, States are fictitious creatures with no more reality than that given to them by the people who live in them. Security, peace and order are worth nothing if the people who make up those States exist in the most abject living conditions and their fundamental rights are flouted. The true objective of international peace and security is the happiness of human beings, who should be allowed fully to develop all their capacities in freedom and justice every day of their lives.”
1998-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3932 (1998) · source
“Mr. Niehaus (Costa Rica) (interpretation from Spanish): My delegation is pleased that this open debate on protection for humanitarian assistance to refugees and other victims of armed conflict is taking place. It will allow us to take another look at some of the cardinal principles that we believe must guide the actions of the Security Council and our Organization. In May last year, during the first debate on this issue, my delegation advocated a new concept of conflict resolution. We maintained that conflict management and resolution by this Council must be based on a new concept of security, centred on the human being, and rejected the prevailing concept of peace and security seen from an exclusively military standpoint.”
1998-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3932 (1998) · source
“Costa Rica supports the recommendations of the Secretary-General and will vote in favour of the draft resolution before us, by which the Council would extend the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA), as currently composed, until 15 September 1998.”
1998-08-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3916 (1998) · source
“The main job of the international community is strongly to encourage a dialogue that will lead the parties to engage in direct talks that will make possible a solution of the Angola crisis with respect for human rights and in conformity with the fundamental principles of the Organization. We are pleased to note that the Secretary- General has appointed a new Special Representative, Mr. Issa Diallo, and we hope that he will succeed in his work and that the efforts and devotion of Maitre Beye will not have been in vain. In any case, such success will depend on the parties, particularly UNITA, adopting a frank, constructive attitude and a determination to achieve a solution to the conflict in Angola.”
1998-08-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3916 (1998) · source
“My country has frequently joined the rest of the international community in calling upon the parties to the Angolan peace process to live up to their agreements; the refrain, while repetitive, remains relevant, and it is our duty today to call upon UNITA and its friends abroad immediately and unconditionally to comply with the Lusaka Protocol and the "Acordos de Paz". The humanitarian situation in Angola continues to be of concern to my delegation. The level of violence has given rise to a larger number of internally-displaced persons and is making it very difficult to provide humanitarian assistance, because the international organizations themselves are threatened and harassed, which hampers their humanitarian efforts.”
1998-08-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3916 (1998) · source
“My country firmly believes in the peaceful settlement of disputes, but we know that this is possible only with political will and trust among the parties, which unfortunately is absent in the Angolan situation. The situation is deteriorating daily; we have gone from having simply to condemn UNITA to having also to condemn violations of human rights perpetrated by the Angolan National Police. This results from the increased violence and the continued refusal of UNITA to negotiate, to implement the Lusaka Protocol and the "Acordos de Paz", or to extend state administration to remaining areas.”
1998-08-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3916 (1998) · source
“The international community has been involved throughout this long period, during which there have been attempts to establish a government of national unity and to help the Angolan people to become an active member of the international community. Despite the international community's constant threats and measures, this has not been possible. Responsibility for this negative result lies with UNIT A and with those from outside the country who support UNITA activities through the trade in precious minerals. The terms of the most recent sanctions, imposed by resolution 1176 (1998), state clearly that no financial assistance should be given to UNITA. For positive results to be obtained, it is imperative that these sanctions should be implemented and fully observed by all States Members of the United Nations.”
1998-08-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3916 (1998) · source
“Mr. Niehaus (Costa Rica) (interpretation from Spanish): It has been more than 10 years since the United Nations began what we might call its long, frustrating and exhausting presence in Angola. The many resolutions, presidential statements and statements to the press have yielded absolutely no positive results. Today we face an extremely grave situation in which there is not even a focused political dialogue. There have been martyrs, such as Maitre Beye, who devoted and indeed gave their lives to the noble cause of the reconciliation of the Angolan people. I take this opportunity to express our undying thanks to Maitre Beye and his colleagues.”
1998-08-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3916 (1998) · source
“Internally, the number of displaced persons has reached a figure of more than 30,000. We hope that the efforts of the international community and humanitarian aid agencies will help reduce these alarming figures.”
1998-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3902 (1998) · source
“We also support the recommendation of the Secretary-General that the human rights component of the office of the Special Envoy be enhanced, that it form part of the mission and, furthermore, as indicated in the draft resolution before us, that it help the Government of Sierra Leone enhance its human rights institutions. In conclusion, I should like to express my country's concern about the situation of refugees and internally displaced persons in Sierra Leone. Every day an increasing number of civilians flee to camps in Guinea and Liberia and the number of refugees increases. According to reports of the Department of Humanitarian Affairs, as many as 300 people set off for Guinea every day to seek refuge, and it has been calculated that 150,000 people have already sought refuge in Guinea and Liberia.”
1998-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3902 (1998) · source