YouSaid · the spoken record

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219

first

1992-11-13

most recent

2002-07-19

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7

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un-security-council

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1. “Rather than setting up a single mechanism, I would like to speak of a "ladder of options", a ladder of which the deployment of international police or military forces would be the step of last resort. Let me elaborate on this issue. In what I would define as normal situations, adherence to certain basic principles of the OAU Convention is sufficient to ensure that camps are not used for military purposes: for example, locating them away from borders, or prohibiting the circulation of arms. In situations in which it may be difficult for host Governments to implement the required principles, international assistance is needed in building their capacity to enforce law, for example through the provision of equipment and other logistical support for police forces.”

   1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source

2. “The mixed nature of groups hosted in refugee camps - refugees coexisting with fighters, criminals and ge'nocidaires - has been the greatest challenge to the work of my Office throughout the Great-Lakes-region crisis. I am concerned that this trend will expand further if no measure to deal with mixed groups in a rapid and effective manner is designed and implemented soon. I have already highlighted this major problem, in the course of the consultations of the Security Council last Tuesday. Maintaining the civilian character of refugee camps is the responsibility of host Governments, as clearly stipulated by the 1969 Organization of African Unity (OAU) Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa. However, different situations may require a variety of responses.”

   1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source

3. “Not only are forced population displacements a grave violation of human rights, they are also a factor which threatens the stability, and ultimately the peace and prosperity, of entire regions. The uprooting of hundreds of thousands of Rwandans between 1994 and 1997 sent dangerous shockwaves through the entire Great Lakes region and beyond. I should also mention the current crisis in Sierra Leone, which has displaced almost half a million people; the continued displacement of almost 300,000 Burundians; and the unresolved crises in the Horn of Africa. Given the exhaustive nature of the Secretary-General' s report, making any further points on the matters it raises would be redundant. I would however like to draw the attention of the Security Council to one issue which I consider of fundamental importance.”

   1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source

4. “I am pleased to have the opportunity to comment on the Secretary-General's report on Africa, a comprehensive, timely and insightful document. With 7 million people of concern to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Africa continues to be the continent with the largest total number of refugees and internally displaced persons. Since the end of the cold war and the settlement of some long-standing conflicts, however, my Office has been increasingly involved in repatriation operations. Today, despite many problems, solutions are foreseeable for many refugee problems in Africa. The report recognizes that addressing and resolving refugee problems is an indispensable contribution to peace and stability in the continent.”

   1998-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3875Resumption1 (1998) · source

5. “To avoid the worst scenarios, we need, first, the holding and spreading of the present cease-fire; secondly, a renewed commitment by the parties to respect safe pasrage of relief goods and non-disruption of public utilities; thirdly, immediate deployment of UNPROFOR, and flexibility in application of its mandate to provide extensive support in logistics; fourthly, massive bilateral and multilateral provision of resources; and, fifthly, pressure on all concerned, inside and outside he region, to keep borders open for those fleeing to survive, and urgently in this connection to receive all detainees. I thank the Council for its continued support.”

   1992-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3134 (1992) · source

6. “However, 3,000 others in the Manjaca camp alone will most regrettably have to continue to wait because they cannot be received elsewhere, even for transit purposes. At the Ministerial Meeting on Humanitariun Aid to former Yugoslavia, which I convened on 29 July, UNHCR launched a comprehensive humanitarian response to the crisis in the former Yugoslavia. It has been followed by regular meetings to mobilize international support. I intend to convene another high-level meeting in early December review the humanitarian situation in all its aspects. We will continue to do whatever we can to bring relief to the victims, where necessary with the help of UNPROFOR, and to the affected countries in the region. But let there be no illusions. UNHCR alone cannot prevent massive suffering and deaths during the winter.”

   1992-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3134 (1992) · source

7. “I see it as an attempt to "de-cleanse the ethnic cleansing", but it will be a most difficult task clearly linked to progress towards a political settlement. Finally, let me bring to the Council's renewed attention the pressing issue of the release of detainees in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the absence of other viable solutions, the international community must be willing to share the burden of receiving this moat vulnerable group of people. Although vecently some encouraging offers have been made, there is still a serious shortfall of secured places abroad. Tomorrow, Saturday, some 700 detainees frcem the Manjaca camp will hopefully be released and transferred under the auspices of ICRC to UNHCR's care in Croatia, pending their departure to other countries.”

   1992-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3134 (1992) · source

8. “I have said it before: Croatia and the neighbouring countries need more help. Admission to safety is at stake. I sincerely hope the day will come when refugees and displaced persons on ali sides will be sable to return to their homes. In the case of Croatia and the United Nations protected areas, I shall work on the return of the displaced persons, a mandate given to UNHCR ia Security Council resolution 752 (1992). Recently, in the context of the Quadripartite Mechanism propos :d by President Cosic and President Tudjman in their Joint Declaration of 30 September, we have started a complicated negotiations process. This scheme was an important achievement of the Co-Chairmen of the International Conference. The retur. of refugees is clearly both a humanitarian and a political endeavour.”

   1992-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3134 (1992) · source

9. “New displacement has also occurred as a result of the recent fighting between Bosnian-Croatian and governmental forces, which fortunately now seems to have subsided, and the Serbian offensive in central Bosnia. The fall of the town of Jaice led to the flight of an additional 40,000 people. Together with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the advanced British troops, the authorities in central Bosnia and in the region of Herzegovina are trying their very best to provide shelter, but existing accommodation faciiities are increasingly etratched ta the limit. At the aama time. manu refugees have difficulties in being admitted to Croatia, which is already carrying a tremendous refugee burden.”

   1992-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3134 (1992) · source

10. “I take part in the condemnation by the entire international community of this abhorrent practice, emphasizing the right of people to say where they are, in conditions of full security, and stressing the responsibility of everyone to ensure respect for this right. The presence of international organizations on the ground, and their humanitarian commitment and assistance, have made a difference. Without their presence, the situation might be far worse. But it is not enough. The uprooting of people is one of the aims of this conflict. Through the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, there is now a focal point for reporting human rights abuses, although an enforcement mechanigm seems to be lacking. I hope that the deployment of UNPROFOR, especially in north-west Bosnia, will help prevent the worst human rights abuses.”

    1992-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3134 (1992) · source

11. “The difficulties which we originally faced from numerous requests for approval from the Committee to deliver assistance to over half a million refugees and displaced persons have now been satisfactorily resolved by the sanctions Committee, and I am very grateful for its recognition of our special needs, as exemplified by the recent blanket approval for the joint UNHCR-WFP request. We are awaiting the written response which will enable us to continue our urgent programme in Serbia and Montenegro. Meanwhile, displacement continues. "Ethnic cleansing" goes on, resulting daily in groups of people fleeing across minefields and front lines in their desperate search for safety in central Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

    1992-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3134 (1992) · source

12. “In addition to vur @aily airlift to Sarajevo, we have now attained a capacity to deliver some 1,100 metric tons a day with 107 trucks. We need another 181 trucks to reach a daily delivery capacity of 3,200 metric tons. We need UNPROFUR to enhance security and to augment our logistical and trucking capacity. Without it, we will not be able to deliver the relief required to avert a major disaster in the impending winter. In the carrying out of the numanitarian task in the former Yugoslavia, the question has arisen of how to strike the right balance so that sanctions serve as a political too? but do not become a lethal waapon against the weak. As we have recently informed the sanctions Committee, the cost of the Humanitarian Assistance Project in Serbia and Montenegro is estimated at some $97.3 million.”

    1992-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3134 (1992) · source

13. “Ta sum, Sixicily aeuiral Humanitarian access is often hampered by political considerations, military objectives and hostile behaviour. The full deployment of the additional UNPROFOR troops is therefore of the utmost importance. We are very grateful for the cooperation we have received from UNPROFOR's Bosnian command team and from troops already in place. But not all troops have yet arrived, whereas others have been prevented from obtaining full access to their area of deployment. Nevertheless, if we are to look for possible sanctuaries for the refugees and the displaced, they will have to be linked with the presence and capacity of UNPROFOR. The problem of access to those in need is compounded by the still inadequate response to UNHCR's call for additional trucks.”

    1992-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3134 (1992) · source

14. “However, security conditions for the indispensable road convoys to the city, and to many other areas, remain fragile. Harassment and delays at checkpoints and indiscriminate fighting have continued to be major obstacles. During October a UNHCR convoy was deliberately targeted on the Mostar road. Although th.s route remains our priority access to Sarajevo and to the hundreds of thousands of displaced and destitute people in central Bosnia, I have decided for security reasons, and in order to maximize the aid effort to Sarajevo, to use the Belgrade route as well. This has met with some opposition from the Bosnian side, although not a single relief item is bought in Serbia. Only a few days ago a first convoy to the Government-held enclave of Srebrenica in eastern Bosnia was prevented from proceeding by angry local people om the Serbian side.”

    1992-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3134 (1992) · source

15. “Through the Working Group on Humanitarian Issues, I held extensive meetings in September, October and earlier this month with the Bosnian parties, first to remind them of their commitments under the Programme of Action on Humanitarian Issues, agreed upon in London in August. 'hese include a halt to ethnic cleansing and the unconditional release of all detainees. Secondly, we have discussed the priorities of assistance and the best ways to react. all populations in need. Repeated assurances were obtained for the safety of the airlift to Sarajevo and of road convcys and for the transit of released detainees to Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro. However, the odds on the ground remain enormous. The resumption on 3 October, after one month's sus,ension, of the vital airlift to Sarajevo was a positive development.”

    1992-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3134 (1992) · source

16. “We cooperate with the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Food Programme (WFP), the Department of Humanitarian Affairs, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and many others, including non-governmental organizations. We are deeply grateful for the support received from the donor community - the European Community and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, among others. We are embarked on a genuine, enormous collaborative effort.”

    1992-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3134 (1992) · source

17. “The strategy of the international community remains to assist the victims as close as possible to their homes, either ir Bosnia and Herzegovina itself or in the neighbouring countries. I have constantly urged the world community to help these countries in a spirit of international burden-sharing, for their burden is indeed very, very great. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is closely linked with the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia, in which I serve as Chairman of the Working Group on Humanitarian Issues.”

    1992-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3134 (1992) · source

18. “In this context I should like to express my gratitude for the warm words expressed by the Co-Chairmen with regard to the work of our staff. It will mean a great deal to our personnel in the field. In the Republics of former Yugoslavia there are 3 million refugees, displaced persons and people trapped in besieged cities and regions. In Bosnia and Herzegovina 1.7 million persons are in need of external assistance. The numbers are rising daily in a horrendous spiral. Although all populations are affected, it seems as though the Muslims are clearly paying the highest price. It is an unacceptable nightmare. My priorities have beea assistance for survival and admission to safety of those who are compelled to flee from war and persecution. They have gained added urgency with the onset of winter.”

    1992-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3134 (1992) · source

19. “Mrs. OGATA: I am very grateful for the opportunity to address the Security Council. Fierce tensions and conflicts around the world are leading to new and tragic flows of refugees. But rarely have the violations of human rights and humanitarian law, violence and destruction reached the levels we are currently witnessing in the former Yugoslavis. While the international community continues its efforts to help to resolve the political crisis in the former Yugoslavia, my Office, as lead agency for humanitarian aid, is trying, with more than 300 dedicated staff mamhaeces an Che aeaumd and tbamathas with Tnwase as Vee weet Geum ae Vege ese Dawes protect and bring relief to all those who suffer from the dramatic consequenzes of war and persecution.”

    1992-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3134 (1992) · source