YouSaid · the spoken record

Ould-Abdallah

lines on the record: 125
first: 2005-02-25
most recent: 2010-05-12
sittings or episodes: 11
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

“I also note with appreciation the encouragement for the idea that the international community has to move back to Mogadishu to be closer to the victims and to be more effective. We cannot continue to address Somalia by remote control. Fourthly, the vast support for the Istanbul Conference on Somalia is most encouraging and will strengthen the Government of President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and his peace efforts with all Somalis ready to talk stability and to set aside their arms. Finally, I call on all parties engaged in the process to help the timely and effective disbursement of stipends to members of parliament and to soldiers. Lack of payment is at the root of much of the crisis that the Government is living through. Regular payment or the lack thereof has a critical impact on stability within Somalia.”
2010-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6313 (2010) · source
“Mr. Ould Abdallah: Thank you, Sir, for presiding over this meeting and for giving me the opportunity to speak once again. First of all, I appreciate your kind words and those of Council members addressed to me, my colleagues, my Office and the Secretary-General. Secondly, I note with great appreciation the Council's renewed and practical interest in the situation in Somalia and in the progress made, which needs to be consolidated. We need to continue to support this Government, whatever difficulties it may have within the country. Without a Government there will be no progress. Thirdly, I would note in particular positive support for the increased integration of the United Nations system in order to help it to be better informed and more effective in delivering its various forms of assistance.”
2010-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6313 (2010) · source
“In this year, when the country celebrates its fiftieth anniversary of independence, the support of the Secretary-General, the Government of Turkey and the entire Security Council is much needed and is very welcome by the Government, the Somali people and the region.”
2010-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6313 (2010) · source
“If we do not make the right commitments and take the right action in Somalia now, sooner or later the situation will force us to act, and at a much higher price. One of the most effective actions we can take in Somalia is to support the Government in a concrete manner and, at the same time, ask it to deliver effectively. On the other hand, those countries and individuals who behave like salesmen touting peace conferences for every country in conflict, including Somalia, can only damage the prospects for peace and stability by inciting extremists the world over to be more radical and by granting them veto power over the future of the peoples. The Istanbul Conference will provide us with an exceptional opportunity to show that Somalia has true friends ready to make a difference.”
2010-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6313 (2010) · source
“In addition to addressing security issues and global threats, including piracy, the Conference will also provide a platform for the Somali private sector, international business and Governments to launch new initiatives for reconstruction and job creation. Those are indeed significant challenges, although they can be overcome with adequate action. Through public and private partnerships, we can begin to make a difference in the international perception and image of Somalia and, consequently, in the lives of its people. This is the place to reiterate that if we want to make a decisive difference, there is no alternative to moving the international community to Mogadishu to be closer to the victims. Remote control from Nairobi is not leading to progress.”
2010-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6313 (2010) · source
“As I indicated earlier, I have always said that the peace process is based on three interrelated pillars: reconciliation, security and development. They should be addressed simultaneously. In those three areas, it is widely recognized that one of Somalia's main assets is its vibrant business community, both inside and outside the country. That community can be a force for good, and we should help it to work constructively. Istanbul will provide an exceptional opportunity to do so. The Conference is, first and foremost, a show of political solidarity with the Somali people, who have suffered so much and have been taken hostage by various groups and individuals. The Conference is also a message of hope to Somalis that they are not alone.”
2010-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6313 (2010) · source
“With all international agencies working together, harmonizing their thinking and actions, the international community can integrate its policies and strengthen its results. Furthermore, once Governments, development agencies, business associations and non-governmental organizations act together, they can help to bring about a major move away from past practices of managing the status quo. In that context, the Istanbul Conference comes at the right time. It shows Somalis and their leaders that there are persons, countries and organizations that are genuinely ready and committed to working with them for peace and stability. Along with the Secretary-General, I would like once more to thank the Government of Turkey for its important initiative.”
2010-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6313 (2010) · source
“That approach would certainly be better for all than the current situation, in which licensing money is apparently paid to certain individuals but fails to reach the legitimate authorities. I invite serious reflection and action on this matter. Meanwhile, inside Somalia the humanitarian situation remains horrendous, despite the laudable work of the World Food Programme and other agencies, including UNICEF. It cannot and should not be tolerated. At the same time, we should not ignore the fact that continued impunity is fuelling this tragedy. The humanitarian and human rights situations are part and parcel of the same problem and should be addressed simultaneously. Shedding more light on the humanitarian and human rights crisis is a key ingredient in the long march towards peace in Somalia.”
2010-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6313 (2010) · source
“The international maritime presence - Operation Atalanta, NATO and other national navies - has certainly served to deter some pirates, has succeeded in arresting others and is most welcome. However, there is consensus that much more could be done. First, we need to support, strengthen and empower the TFG and other authorities, in particular through employment schemes for youth in affected communities. Secondly, we should also consider a new initiative. Those countries known to be fishing in Somali waters should agree to pay a licensing fee, with the revenue generated put into a form of escrow account. The revenue collected would be used by the authorities after clearance by the account's Somali and international management.”
2010-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6313 (2010) · source
“There should be a temporary halt in the spending of funds and energy on strategies and road maps in order to allow a re-examination of our achievements. The TFG has succeeded in reaching out to other groups committed to peace and stability. An agreement has been signed with Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama'a - a key religious and resistance movement - that could provide a blue print for future agreements. I would like to reiterate here that the door to peace is open to all Somalis wishing to end the agony of their country. A memorandum of understanding signed with Puntland on piracy-related issues is also of significant importance. Piracy is a criminal activity that is increasingly being carried out far from Somalia's coastline and is encouraged by the payment of huge ransoms.”
2010-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6313 (2010) · source
“Where the international community can help is in providing equipment and salaries, at least for one year, for those forces that have been properly trained. The memorandum of understanding signed recently between the African Union, IGAD and my office in Nairobi should contribute to facilitating that undertaking. 10-35930 On the political front, despite working under difficult conditions, the TFG needs to show strength in unity, determination in action and a common purpose in its policies. It should prioritize its actions, concentrating on those that are essential for the population and leaving aside less urgent ones. For its part, the international community can help by implementing its commitments, especially in the disbursement of pledged resources.”
2010-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6313 (2010) · source
“In that context, the new Somali Army Chief of Staff, a well-respected career officer, needs strong and unwavering support from his Government and must be helped to organize his work and his forces without excessive internal or external interference. His colleagues heading the police force deserve similar assistance. It the context of training, I would like to add that I am grateful to France for having initiated the first training operation with Djibouti last year. Likewise, the African Union Mission in Somalia, which now numbers just under 7,000 and still needs many more battalions, should be strengthened and, at the same time, helped to carry out its duties of protecting federal institutions and assisting the needy.”
2010-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6313 (2010) · source
“During the Brussels conference, the Secretary-General was able to count on strong support from the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the League of Arab States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and several countries, in particular Japan, Norway and the United States. Such support, and that of others, is equally needed today for a successful Istanbul Conference. As a follow-up to Brussels, more troops are being trained inside and outside Somalia. The ongoing training in Uganda is a joint operation between Africa, the EU and the United States, with 2,000 troops being prepared in two batches.”
2010-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6313 (2010) · source
“10-35930 One important example in support of the third option is the Secretary-General's engagement with the Government of Turkey to co-convene next week's Istanbul conference on Somalia. Despite some suggestions that it is either too early or too late for such a high-level gathering, we should all recognize that, after years of anarchy, there will never be a right time in Somalia. We have to act now. The Istanbul conference comes one year after the Secretary-General convened the Brussels conference, at which $213 million were pledged to help the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) make progress in strengthening their security.”
2010-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6313 (2010) · source
“Mr. Ould Abdallah: During my first presentation on Somalia to this Council on 17 December 2007 (see S/PV.5805), I proposed three options for addressing the situation: business as usual, a total withdrawal from Somalia, or simultaneous action in the political, security and development fields. I would like, in that connection, to thank the Secretary-General and Under- Secretary-General Lynn Pascoe for their continued understanding and support for Somalia. In particular, I welcome their confidence that the United Nations should and can move beyond the status quo to really make a difference in the future of Somalia and to strengthen the Organization's image in Africa and beyond.”
2010-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6313 (2010) · source
“However, failure to actively intervene to restore stability to that country is already threatening the effectiveness of the international community in addition to costing vast amounts in resources. Failure to act now in a decisive manner can only increase that cost dramatically.”
2010-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6259 (2010) · source
“The last recommendation I would like to make is that these recommendations will be more effectively implemented once the United Nations bodies working on Somalia operate, as in other United Nations political and peacekeeping missions, in an integrated and harmonized manner. Security Council resolution 1863 (2009) has addressed this question. I believe the leadership at the Secretariat will ensure that this is put into action in the next few weeks. At the same time, the move by the United Nations and the international community from Nairobi to Mogadishu should be accelerated. To help the Somalis, especially the victims, we have to be with them on the ground. I realize that the Security Council has numerous critical issues to address. Somalia is only one of them.”
2010-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6259 (2010) · source
“This is not only fair and a boost to the morale of the troops on the ground, but it will send the right message of interest from the international community to potential troop-contributing countries. The fourth recommendation is that the Council should address vigorously the role of spoilers. It should encourage or pressure spoilers, both internal and external, to cease supporting violence. A clear and effective message, backed by concrete action, would demonstrate that those who fund extremists - creating misery for innocent civilians and violating international law in ways that include the widespread recruitment of child soldiers and threatening peace and stability in the whole region - will no longer enjoy impunity. The protection of civilians is an obligation long ignored in Somalia.”
2010-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6259 (2010) · source
“The Government needs to be helped to gradually become more effective in delivering services to the population and a more able partner to the international community. Specifically, the international community should provide more vigorous moral, diplomatic and financial assistance. Assistance delayed is assistance denied. In the face of the mounting danger, sitting on the fence is no longer an option. Thirdly, working more closely with the subregional organization IGAD and the African Union, along with the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Conference, has become imperative. The African Union Mission in Somalia deserves, as a matter of emergency, support through an increase of troop allowances to the international level, their timely disbursement and payment for critical equipment.”
2010-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6259 (2010) · source
“As a contribution to the Council's debate, I would like to propose the following recommendations as crucial measures towards improving the situation. The first is for the international community to depart from the past practice of undertaking uncoordinated efforts and individual diplomatic 3 initiatives, including the convening of reconciliation conferences and meetings one after another. A common policy objective must be supported. In that context, the Djibouti Agreement should remain the means through which the combined efforts of the Somalis and their international partners achieve progress. The second recommendation is to fully support the Government. The Security Council should send a strong and clear message to the extremists by strengthening the Government in a practical manner.”
2010-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6259 (2010) · source
“At the same time, the Government lacks the resources to fund even some of the most basic requirements needed to function, such as regularly paying salaries, including those of parliamentarians and the security forces. By contrast, the opponents of the Government and allied extremists receive unlimited and unchecked financial support. The crisis in Somalia has persisted for almost 20 years. Conditions will never be totally perfect for intervening in an optimum way. Therefore, we cannot afford to keep managing the status quo while waiting for the perfect conditions. We should start somewhere. The Djibouti Agreement provides the international community with a practical entry point, and the Government is the body through which to channel resources provided by the international community.”
2010-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6259 (2010) · source
“For example, at the Brussels donors conference on Somalia in April 2009, chaired by the Secretary-General, $213 million were pledged. However, what has been disbursed is too small to have had the desired impact. In fact, since its formation, the Government has been operating with limited external resource disbursements. The only direct financial contributions were made by a small group of committed countries through a mechanism managed by a well-known international auditing firm. Another donor Government has innovated with payment directly through the Central Bank of Somalia. Over the past 10 to 15 years, the international community has spent more than $8 billion in various forms of assistance for Somalia. Although this is a vast amount, it addressed primarily the symptoms of the crisis and may have exacerbated the overall situation.”
2010-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6259 (2010) · source
“In fact, a closer evaluation of the situation demonstrates what we already know - that Somalia has long been a threat not only to itself, but also to the wider world, with piracy being only the latest costly reminder. Even more worrying is the extremists' deep conviction that the crisis in Somalia is not important to the larger international community. This perceived lack of engagement provides them with 10-20953 a strong incentive to keep fighting. As a consequence, a line has been crossed in relation to security threats to many countries inside and outside Africa, including members of this Council, exposing their vulnerabilities. The second challenge is that, despite a massive consensus of support for the Government from the international community, that backing has yet to be translated into the necessary material assistance.”
2010-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6259 (2010) · source
“Here, it should be understood that the extremists responsible for the violence include many foreigners who seek not only to overthrow the Government by force, but also to oppose the establishment of any authority. Their ultimate objective is either to maintain a permanent state of anarchy or to establish a militant State. Their ambitions go well beyond Mogadishu and Somalia. Neither of these objectives - anarchy or a militant regime - represents the desire of the Somali people, whose basic wish, like that of all people the world over, is to have peace and a Government that protects them and delivers services. Moreover, the objectives of the extremists pose a real threat to the neighbouring countries, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region and countries afar.”
2010-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6259 (2010) · source
“To prevent the situation from deteriorating further and spilling over into the region and further afield, we should join the dots. In Somalia, the international community still has some good cards; it should play them right. That will allow it to overcome two main challenges. The first is the absence of a concrete commitment and a determined international policy towards Somalia and its present leadership. Continued hesitation and the absence of effective action have encouraged the extremists and, at the same time, weakened the Government, which is frequently attacked by well- supported extremist groups. These groups have made it clear that their agenda is global and that Somalia is an easy and convenient entry point.”
2010-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6259 (2010) · source
“The Government's accomplishments include establishing itself in the capital, drawing up a budget for the first time in years, presenting its priorities and plans to the international community, recruiting and 10-20953 training security forces, and keeping its political legitimacy over violent and extremist groups. At the same time, the Government has remained open to all Somalis who are ready for dialogue and reconciliation. The United Nations fully backs this peaceful approach, which is already making progress on the ground with some patriotic Somali groups. After years of conflict, the situation in Somalia will not change overnight. However, the country is moving from being a failed State to being a fragile State. That represents progress.”
2010-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6259 (2010) · source
“Mr. Ould Abdallah: I would like to begin by offering my sincere condolences to all the victims of the terrible earthquake in Haiti. I thank you, Mr. President, for giving me this opportunity. Concerning Somalia, recent well-publicized international and regional developments have shone a new, stronger spotlight on the country. The crisis, which has become a tougher challenge than ever, can no longer be ignored. Indeed, the conflict is no longer local or even regional. It is global. Since my last briefing to the Council (see S/PV.6173), the Government of Somalia has made significant progress, despite repeated armed assaults to overthrow it by externally funded extremists.”
2010-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6259 (2010) · source
“So there is a need for more discussion among Somalis in Somalia, but the so-called panacea of international conferences held externally could do more harm than help. We must always operate first and foremost under the principle of "do no harm". Reconciliation efforts should be done in Somalia. That is what is good for the country and good for the United Nations. I thank the presidency of the Council, as well as its embassy in Nairobi with which we work very closely, as we do with the Council here.”
2009-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6221 (2009) · source
“It needs to be strengthened, and this is why I am grateful to the countries I mentioned earlier, which have provided immediate assistance, not only humanitarian, but with cash to pay police. That can strengthen the Government and help it continue the dialogue it is having with the opposition. The Secretary of State for Defence is from the opposition. Many members of the Government are from the opposition. We have to continue our work - as we did in Burundi, Liberia and everywhere else - implement the Djibouti agreement and call for new reconciliation. A new conference could weaken the Government and encourage the radicals and the business around them. By that, I mean piracy. Our problem is that many people are against peace. It prevents them from enjoying lucrative profits.”
2009-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6221 (2009) · source
“Other countries - Algeria, Djibouti, Kenya and Yemen - have contributed in their own way. That is how the Government has been able to resist armed and funded external aggression. I would also like to take this opportunity to encourage the millions in the Somali diaspora in Europe, America and Australia to do all they can to help bring peace and security to their country of origin, so that they can have a place that they would happily call home. Finally, in terms of the political situation and peace in Somalia, I would like to remind all those who advise - and they should advise, as advice is always important - that the Government is legal and legitimate and has, on its own, survived armed and foreign-supported aggression for two months. AMISOM. has helped, I should add.”
2009-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6221 (2009) · source
“They are doing a great job under difficult circumstances. Pledges made in Brussels to support them should be fulfilled without delay. And we must acknowledge the role played in this regard by the African Union Commission and its Chair, Libya, with which my Office has an excellent working relationship. I offer many thanks for something new: countries that have initiated and put into effect a mechanism - not to analyze the crisis in Somalia, to say that it is bad or good and so on - but to pay effectively and to help. Working with an international auditing firm, they help with the mechanism. But very few countries - China, Libya, Norway and the United States of America - have contributed. They have contributed, not with analyses but by helping the Government to deliver.”
2009-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6221 (2009) · source
“That is a fact, so there is little point in training more officers if we are not sure of being able to provide them with salaries, equipment and the means to make their living. If we cannot do that, they will take it from the streets. They will turn to extortion. I have to be honest with the Council - this is a problem. How can we train if we are not sure we can pay to equip? Thirdly, training without stipends will simply make them, as I said, more effective and violent on the street. We have to help the Government to be capable of delivering, to take responsibility vis-a-vis its population and to be able to be our partner. To be fair, the burden of providing security in Somalia, especially in Mogadishu, should not be left to AMISOM. alone, and I mean to the troops from Uganda and Burundi.”
2009-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6221 (2009) · source
“Mr. Ould Abdallah: At the outset, I would like to thank all those who have had such kind words of support for my Office and me and, in particular the Permanent Representatives of the United Kingdom and France, who I am meeting today for the first time. Everyone agrees that in order to address the issue of piracy, land security needs to exist. There is no dispute on that point. However, how do we achieve that goal? To do so, first of all, donors must, in my opinion, deliver financial and other assistance to the Somali Transitional Federal Government, as pledged in Brussels last April. The difference between pledges and effective delivery is stark. We have to deliver what has been promised. Secondly, it is vital that the salaries of police officers be paid. The police in Somalia have not been paid in 16 months.”
2009-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6221 (2009) · source
“In conclusion, I would like to stress that any long-term effort to address lawlessness at sea must be complementary to the current political, security, recovery and development efforts already being undertaken by the United Nations and the African Union Mission in Somalia. In this regard I welcome the intention of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia to coordinate its initiatives with the International Contact Group on Somalia. Piracy is a symptom of wider problems ashore in Somalia. The only sustainable solution will be effective governance, the establishment of the rule of law and security institutions and the creation of alternative livelihoods in Somalia for stable and inclusive economic growth. In the present Government we have a credible and legitimate partner with whom to work to achieve this.”
2009-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6221 (2009) · source
“INTERPOL is also working with a number of Governments, including the United States and the United Kingdom, on maritime piracy financial investigations, and will host a maritime piracy conference early next year. I would like also to welcome the proposal made by the regional body, the Intergovernmental Authority 3 on Development (IGAD), to establish a blockade of known ports that are supporting piracy. I believe that that measure should send a clear message to the criminals behind the small ports - because some port facilities are in fact small and harmless - that they cannot keep defying the law and getting away with it.”
2009-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6221 (2009) · source
“In addition to the United Nations working closely to contain and combat the root causes of piracy, the United Nations has been closely working with INTERPOL, whose law enforcement strategy to combat maritime piracy is threefold: to increase intelligence-sharing, build regional police capacity and cooperate with other international and regional organizations. The goal is to support efforts to identify, arrest and prosecute pirates, trace and seize ransom monies and disrupt criminal networks. The first priority has been promoting information-sharing with all police and non-police organizations, including the United Nations and naval and shipping industry partners. The INTERPOL I-24/7 global secure communications network is designed to facilitate this type of collaboration, and INTERPOL is helping to expand access to I-24/7 in the region.”
2009-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6221 (2009) · source
“The programme is being expanded to other regional States through the conduct of legal assessments and the delivery of assistance and, in partnership with UNDP, will develop the prisons - and later the prosecutors and police investigators - in some entities within Somalia, such as Somaliland and Puntland, to create the conditions in which pirates convicted outside Somalia can be returned home to serve their prison sentences. The United Nations plans to implement high-impact interventions, primarily in Puntland. Civilian policing performance and infrastructure - especially communications - in the strategic corridor from Bossaso to Galkayo through Qardho and Garowe will be and should be strengthened. After that, by the middle of next year, Puntland authorities should roll out police services to the rural and coastal areas.”
2009-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6221 (2009) · source
“Therefore, UNODC and the Office of Legal Affairs here at Headquarters are leading on the best 09-61200 alternative: ensuring trial within a sound legal framework in other regional States. Through the delivery of support directly to the police, prosecutors, courts and prisons of Kenya and Seychelles, UNODC is creating the conditions in which the arresting States are content to pass suspects over for trial and improving overall criminal justice and standards.”
2009-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6221 (2009) · source
“IMO and its member States have long recognized that piracy is a symptom of the lack of effective Government and the rule of law ashore. With this aspect in mind, IMO has been working actively, in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna and other United Nations bodies, INTERPOL and navies, to develop regional States' capacities to enforce the law at sea and, in particular, to counter piracy and armed robbery against ships in waters off the coast of Somalia. On the prosecution of suspected pirates caught by the international naval forces operating off the coast of Somalia, UNODC has been providing assistance to regional States. Although all agencies agree that the ideal solution to the trial of pirates is a fair and effective court system in Somalia, that goal is still out of reach.”
2009-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6221 (2009) · source
“Piracy's root causes are being addressed by my Office and my colleagues in the United Nations system, whose joint action focuses on establishing sustainable peace, effective governance, creating capable rule of law and security institutions, and - as far as possible - offering the Somali people lawful alternatives to piracy and banditry. I would like to address these issues in more detail. The report before the Council (S/2009/590) highlights the role played by IMO in promulgating guidance for Governments, seafarers and the global maritime industry in suppressing piracy and armed robbery against ships, and in developing and implementing a regional strategy for the western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. This is the essence of the Djibouti Code of Conduct, which has been signed by 10 States of the region.”
2009-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6221 (2009) · source
“This 09-61200 fight must be part of an overall plan which includes building regional capacity, on the one hand, and dealing with the root causes, on the other. In addition to various bilateral initiatives being undertaken by Member States, regional capacity- building is also being carried out through the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a specialized United Nations agency steering the implementation of the Djibouti Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct aims to establish a cooperation framework among regional States combating piracy at both the operational and the legal levels. This covers interdicting ships suspected of piracy, information- sharing among regional States, and the prosecution of suspected pirates.”
2009-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6221 (2009) · source
“At the same time, the number of pirate attacks has in no way diminished; the threat remains and, in some ways, is becoming more entrenched as more sophisticated methods are being adopted and attacks are taking place further out at sea. However, this is a further financial cost to the pirates and their criminal business - a risk they are nevertheless still ready to take because they see it as worthwhile. We have to recognize that the international maritime presence has dealt a serious blow to the financial profitability of this criminal activity. Therefore the approach to combating piracy cannot be limited to the containment of the problem by international naval forces alone, no matter how successful - and I do consider it to be successful.”
2009-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6221 (2009) · source
“The deployment of naval ships and military aircraft to suppress piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia, as well as better self-protection of ships transiting the area, have considerably reduced the number of successful incidents in the region, especially in the Gulf of Aden. This expanding maritime presence is playing a critical role in stabilizing the situation at sea, and there is no doubt that the number of successful attacks would increase again if these military assets were reduced. The naval escorts protecting World Food Programme shipments are providing crucial protection for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Somalia.”
2009-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6221 (2009) · source
“Mr. Ould Abdallah: I should like to start by thanking the Council for its continued interest in and attention to the situation in Somalia, and specifically to the issue of piracy there. I should like to make it clear from the beginning that piracy is, first and foremost, a very successful business with outlets in the region and beyond. It is therefore very important that we see it as it is - a criminal activity. Following the adoption of resolution 1846 (2008), we have been working with a number of organizations within the United Nations system, our colleagues in Vienna and here at Headquarters, and other United Nations entities, including the World Food Programme and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to follow up events in Somalia.”
2009-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6221 (2009) · source
“We know all too well that all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. People all over the world strive for peace, security and dignity. The people of Somalia are no exception. They have been denied this modest aspiration for the past 20 years. Last year's Security Council visit to Djibouti was a tremendous boost to the region. If the Council can help to restore stability to Somalia, that would go a long way towards elevating further the United Nations reputation in Africa. It seems to me that now is the time for action.”
2009-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6173 (2009) · source
“The international maritime presence has been a remarkable show of solidarity with Somalis on the part of a large number of nations, and has been effective. The maritime presence should continue, while support for the establishment of a Somali coastguard is being provided. At the same time, the question of addressing the problems on land, particularly the issue of youth employment, must been taken up as a matter of urgency. Somalia is indeed a very difficult case, to say the least, but challenges always arise and should not be a reason for inaction. The international community should never surrender its obligation towards the people of Somalia. Effective action is needed now because, if not now, when? If the Council does not act, then who will?”
2009-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6173 (2009) · source
“Given their proximity to, knowledge of and interest in Somalia, IGAD member States should be recognized as having a leading role on Somali issues. Fourthly, the time has come for the United Nations to show that it is serious about moving to Somalia. Our temporary presence in Nairobi has lasted 15 years, which is far too long. We can work effectively for peace with the Somalis and address pressing humanitarian needs only if we are close to the victims of famine, violence and myriad abuses. My Office and other leading United Nations agencies, including humanitarian ones, along with concerned diplomats and non-governmental organizations, should move to Mogadishu. The establishment of a green zone, similar to those elsewhere, would facilitate this process. Fifthly, we must continue to provide support against piracy.”
2009-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6173 (2009) · source
“In the short and medium term, there are concrete steps that can be taken by this Council. First, while the Government has made important strides, it still requires immediate support, political and financial, to improve the situation. The authorities in Puntland and Somaliland also need resources to ensure that stability endures. Secondly, immediate and concrete support must be extended to the African Union Mission in Somalia. The African Union troops have shown remarkable courage and dedication, in solidarity with the Somali people. They deserve the backing of all Council members. Thirdly, support for the subregional organization IGAD and the African Union in their decisions on Somalia would be most helpful.”
2009-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6173 (2009) · source
“Likewise, I condemn the looting of United Nations offices in south-central Somalia, as well as efforts to silence the media through intimidation, extortion and the targeted killing of journalists. The question of justice must be seriously addressed. Fighting impunity and various abuses against civilians should remain high on the agenda. In this regard, the international community should help the Somalis decide the way forward. This is why my Office is organizing a meeting on that issue towards the middle of next month. Moreover, the Monitoring Group based in Nairobi is active in trying to identify those who might face sanctions. Before I conclude, allow me to stress that past failures should not discourage us from taking future action to promote stability.”
2009-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6173 (2009) · source
“They have been forced to flee their homes again and again and suffered endless abuses of their human rights. Their suffering must be ended if they are to live normal lives, as people do in many other African countries. In this context, I condemn the abduction of all innocent Somalis and foreigners who are being held for ransom, and call for their unconditional release. I appeal to all those, Somalis and non-Somalis alike, who can help, directly or indirectly, to do so by telephone, e-mail and every other means of making contact in order to help free the unfortunate hostages. It is impossible to see how such inhuman actions could help Somalis or the image of Somalia in any way.”
2009-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6173 (2009) · source