YouSaid · the spoken record

Pleuger

lines on the record: 791
first: 2003-01-14
most recent: 2006-03-14
sittings or episodes: 125
sources: un-security-council

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“With regard to the security sector throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the high-level meeting in New York a week ago developed a common understanding on the way forward and identified the most urgent tasks for the transitional national Government in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the international donor community to ensure that the transition stays on track and that elections can be held on schedule. Secondly, the peace process in Burundi seems to be on the right course with the opening of a dialogue between the Burundian Government and the Palipehutu-Forces nationales de liberation. The Security Council has welcomed this development and is looking forward to its next stage. In due course, the Council will have to decide on the question of an enlarged United Nations role in the Burundian peace process.”
2004-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4911 (2004) · source
“We express our condolences to the Kenyan Government and we hope that those responsible for the crime will be brought to justice swiftly. One decisive element of peacekeeping in eastern Congo is the weapons embargo for North and South Kivu and Ituri, set forth in Security Council resolution 1493 (2003). The arms embargo must be strengthened in order for it to have a deterrent effect. We hope that the Security Council will soon be in a position to reach a decision on this matter.”
2004-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4911 (2004) · source
“During President Kabila's visit to Berlin on 6 February, the German Government acknowledged the efforts of the transitional national Government in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and underlined its willingness to continue to support the peace process there bilaterally as well as within the frameworks of the European Union, the United Nations and the international financial institutions. Still, there are many obstacles that must be overcome before sustainable peace is achieved in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Security in the eastern Congo has improved following the success of Operation Artemis and the subsequent increase of the strength and capabilities of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Let me say that we are deeply saddened by the death of a Kenyan military observer in Ituri.”
2004-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4911 (2004) · source
“I would like to join other delegations in thanking Mr. Kalomoh for his introduction of the report of the Secretary-General. We would like to thank you, Sir, for convening this important meeting, because we welcome this opportunity for an in-depth discussion of the situation in the Central African subregion. The current political climate in Central Africa offers the region the historic opportunity to claim at last its rightful place as a major economic and political force on that continent. In addition to the statement that Ambassador Ryan of Ireland will shortly deliver on behalf of the European Union presidency, which we fully endorse, allow me to highlight four short points that we believe to be of major importance in this context. First, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is making great strides towards political stability.”
2004-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4911 (2004) · source
“Where such political will is weak or non-existent, it may be one of the most delicate and challenging tasks for the United Nations to inspire among local policy-makers and conflict-torn populations the confidence necessary to make the policy choices that hold the promise of a just and more prosperous future. Indeed, the United Nations has a unique legitimacy to do so.”
2004-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4903 (2004) · source
“We applaud the thorough outreach activities undertaken in Sierra Leone, and we hope that such activities can avoid the recurrence of situations in which a defendant finds an audience for his twisted claim that he is the victim and the judges are the villains. Against that backdrop, it is an important challenge for all of us to ensure that transitional justice mechanisms in Iraq will meet with broad popular support. The last point leads me to my final observation. None of the goals contained in the paramount goal of reconciliation - neither justice nor reconciliation nor development - can be achieved without the firm political will of local decision-makers.”
2004-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4903 (2004) · source
“Secretary-General Kofi Annan was right in reminding the Council in his statement during the debate on justice and the rule of law that there are international standards to be adhered to. The International Criminal Court was created precisely for the purpose of ensuring criminal accountability for these crimes should national jurisdictions fail to do so. Thirdly, it should be recalled that judicial and non-judicial mechanisms need local acceptance and legitimacy. Before such mechanisms are established, interested segments of a victimized society should be consulted. Once the mechanisms are operating, they need to be engaged in ongoing outreach efforts.”
2004-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4903 (2004) · source
“First, experiences in Sierra Leone and Timor-Leste have made it quite clear that the way in which courts and reconciliation mechanisms interact with and complement one another should be well-defined. In that regard, it is important to ensure that both mechanisms, taken together, cover the whole spectrum of injustices committed during a conflict, without leaving an impunity gap. Closing the impunity gap has been high on the international agenda, and reconciliation mechanisms, if properly combined with judicial mechanisms, can play an important role in that regard. Secondly, those bearing the greatest responsibility for war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity and other serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law must not escape punishment.”
2004-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4903 (2004) · source
“In the Council's ministerial meeting on justice and the rule of law, held on 24 September 2003, Germany suggested the establishment of a rule-of-law task force in the Secretariat. Given the close relationship between issues of justice and reconciliation, I suggest that they be dealt with jointly by such a task force. A starting point in addressing post-conflict reconciliation issues must be that no post-conflict situation is equal to another and that there are no one- size-fits-all solutions. But, on the other hand, the opposite is also true: the wheel does not need to be reinvented on every occasion, and there are certainly a few standard parameters and model procedures that can usefully be defined and applied. Among those standard parameters, let me mention three that are of particular importance.”
2004-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4903 (2004) · source
“Lakhdar Brahimi, would be to promote throughout the international community efforts that lay the foundation for further reconciliation in a more peaceful and more prosperous Afghanistan. A real challenge for the United Nations will be the ability to deliver its expertise and its assistance in a coherent, coordinated and effective manner. In the interest of quality and cost-effectiveness, consideration may be given to the establishment of a Secretariat unit that has the necessary conceptual and operational know-how in the area of promoting national reconciliation in post-conflict situations and that can coordinate the various actors engaged in that field throughout the United Nations system.”
2004-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4903 (2004) · source
“Specific activities to achieve these goals include programmes as diverse as the creation of tribunals and truth and reconciliation commissions, assistance in organizing and holding free and fair elections, assistance in drawing up a new, integrative constitution, joint demilitarization and demining, as well as the complete range of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes for ex- combatants of former civil war enemies, and the mobilization of international financial and technical assistance for post-conflict economic and social reconstruction plans. In declaring its readiness to host a Bonn II conference on Afghanistan, Germany follows that same holistic approach to national reconciliation. Indeed, the purpose of the conference, in line with suggestions by Special Representative Mr.”
2004-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4903 (2004) · source
“The United Nations has broad experience in addressing each of these areas, ranging from the establishment of justice and reconciliation mechanisms to assistance in building democratic institutions and the promotion of a common development perspective based on greater participation and shared benefits.”
2004-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4903 (2004) · source
“Not only punitive justice but also restorative justice is required to mend these relationships." These two quotations, we feel, quite rightly make the point that justice and reconciliation - or punitive and restorative justice - ultimately serve the same purpose: to heal the wounds of a conflict-torn society, first, by acknowledging and establishing accountability for the wounds that have been inflicted on victims; secondly, by creating a just and inclusive social and political order that offers guarantees for the peaceful resolution of future conflicts and against the recurrence of past conflicts and social injustices; and thirdly, by restoring a sense of common purpose among a hitherto divided population.”
2004-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4903 (2004) · source
“Populations in post- conflict situations are faced with the real and present danger that the dry grass of past anger and resentment will burst into flame again and, fanned by the winds of poverty, frustration and joblessness, soon become an uncontrollable fire. Punishment will help to heal past wounds and provide some consolation to victims, but focus also needs to be maintained on the damaged relationships between individuals at a grass-roots level.”
2004-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4903 (2004) · source
“He said: u if the international community limits its response to post-conflict situations to the creation of traditional criminal justice mechanisms such as courts, focused on delivering retribution and meting out punishment, then it will fail to respond to many of the expectations that victims and 'victim societies' have concerning mechanisms of post-conflict justice, in particular reparation, a full accounting of what happened and national reconciliation." (S/PV.4835, p. 5) Patrick Burgess, former Legal Counsel of the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation in Timor-Leste, described the challenge in even more evocative terms: "Punishment of those most responsible is not the complete picture.”
2004-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4903 (2004) · source
“After the debate held in September 2003 on the role of the United Nations in promoting justice and the rule of law, today's debate will again highlight the wish of the Council - and indeed of the entire United Nations membership - to ensure that peacekeeping and peace-building efforts can be sustainable. In the Council's debate on justice and the rule of law, Mr. Guehenno clearly expressed what is at stake.”
2004-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4903 (2004) · source
“First of all, I should like to thank Mr. Kalomoh, Mr. Malloch Brown and Ms. McAskie for their briefings initiating today's debate. I present my remarks in anticipation of a more comprehensive statement to be made later by the representative of Ireland on behalf of the European Union. We fully endorse that statement. Germany welcomes Chile's initiative to hold this open debate on the role of the United Nations in post- conflict national reconciliation. The fact that you are presiding, Madam President, demonstrates the importance that you attach to this subject.”
2004-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4903 (2004) · source
“At the administrative level, the Mano River Union secretariat should be strengthened expeditiously in order to provide a framework for enhanced cooperation. The United Nations, as well as the donor community and other interested parties, that is, the European Union, should look into the possibility of accompanying and supporting this process. The stabilization of the West African subregion requires the joint efforts of the United Nations system, the donor community and the States in the region. Let me stress at this juncture, however, that no efforts from third parties and no amount of resources poured into the region can substitute for the full and unequivocal commitment of the national Governments of the region to peace, development, respect for human rights, the rule of law and democracy.”
2004-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4899 (2004) · source
“The United Nations peacekeeping missions in Liberia and Sierra Leone, the United Nations Office in Guinea- Bissau and the Mission in Cote d'Ivoire should develop a coherent approach to regional and cross-border issues. The potential of logistical and other assistance should also be explored in order to benefit from the effects of synergy and to make the best use of limited peacekeeping resources. We welcome the steps taken so far, and we hope that further efforts will be made. Fifthly, political dialogue in the Mano River Union peace process should be revitalized. We encourage the Mano River Union States to revitalize their cooperation. We welcome the first steps that have been taken, such as the visits undertaken by President Bryant to Guinea and to Sierra Leone.”
2004-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4899 (2004) · source
“ECOWAS peacekeepers have played a key role in the stabilization of cote d'Ivoire and in Liberia. ECOWAS, in our view, needs the international community's support to increase its capabilities with a view to fully enabling it to take the lead in conflict- prevention and mediation efforts in West Africa. The United Nations is certain to benefit from ECOWAS'S intricate knowledge of the specific problems of the subregion. In this respect, we look forward to the recommendations of the joint mission to ECOWAS headquarters of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Office for West Africa and the European Commission. Fourthly, cooperation among the United Nations missions in West Africa must be further developed.”
2004-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4899 (2004) · source
“The Governments in the region, international organizations and mechanisms, the international donor community and other stakeholders must identify shared objectives and areas of cooperation and undertake a division of responsibilities. Only a coordinated approach can reduce duplication of efforts and help to use the limited resources available more efficiently. Thirdly, cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) needs to be strengthened. We have said so before, and it is worth repeating: the positive role ECOWAS continues to play for peace and security in West Africa cannot be overestimated. The mediation of ECOWAS, at the highest political level, prevented a major crisis after the military coup in Guinea-Bissau.”
2004-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4899 (2004) · source
“Poor governance; disrespect for human rights; a culture of impunity; the illegal exploitation of natural resources; poverty and unemployment, especially of young people; the spread of small arms; the use of child soldiers; and the use of mercenaries all are cross-border issues. They all are interrelated and cannot be treated in isolation from one another. Without a comprehensive strategy that takes into account the complex and diverse root causes of conflict as well as their equally complex symptoms, lasting peace in West Africa is difficult to envisage. Secondly, a multidimensional strategy requires integrated and coordinated efforts.”
2004-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4899 (2004) · source
“First of all, I should like to thank Mr. Kalomoh for the introduction of the Secretary-General's report. The Security Council mission to the West African subregion concluded that a regional approach was necessary in order effectively to address the continued existence of regional factors of instability. Without attempting to repeat the points that the representative of the European Union - Ambassador Ryan of Ireland - is going to make shortly, and which we fully support, I should like briefly to touch upon five points with regard to the regional approach which was dealt with in the Secretary-General's report, in chapter III, more or less. First, a regional approach requires a multidimensional strategy.”
2004-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4899 (2004) · source
“The Council is united in its condemnation of the illegal recruitment of children and the unspeakable acts committed against them in armed conflict. Very importantly, we are being supported by a number of first-class non-governmental organizations, in particular the Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict and the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers. In addition, we are being supported by highly committed individuals in the United Nations system. In short, we have reached a critical mass and can now really move things forward. Let us seize this opportunity together.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“One of the most shocking developments in recent conflicts is the appalling prevalence of sexual violence, as so vividly described by Carol Bellamy just this morning. Systematic rape as a weapon of war, often combined with murder and mutilation, as well as contemporary forms of slavery - especially the abduction of children as sex slaves - are not covered by the current list. The vast majority of victims of these crimes are girls. An extension of the list to other violations would not only give us a more accurate picture, but would also help to heighten our awareness of the gender aspects of this issue. Although it is not easy in this context, let me end on a positive note. Despite all the obstacles, Germany does believe that the Council can make a real difference.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“For instance, when a peace mission is established, we should ask ourselves: What are the requirements for child protection? Do we need child- protection advisers? What are the requirements for disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation or resettlement programmes from a child- protection perspective? What are the special needs of girls? The Council has been making progress here, but our job of mainstreaming is far from complete. Lastly, we continue to need a list of violators annexed to the Secretary-General's report to the Council. We also believe that the call for an extension of this list to other egregious violations is justified. Let me make one point to illustrate this.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“We know that targeted measures are a highly complex and politically charged issue. However, we should not continue to treat this as a taboo subject in the Council. Otherwise, we will never be able to arrive at a methodology that excludes exactly those feared side-effects that lead sceptics in the Council to oppose them in the first place. And let me address myself to my more sceptical colleagues: Let us not forget what we are addressing here. We are facing some of the most vicious crimes imaginable, committed on a large scale. Fourthly, the Council should enhance its efforts to integrate child-protection issues into its deliberations on concrete conflict situations. There is no conflict that does not affect children. Therefore, every conflict on the Council's agenda should be examined from a child- rights perspective.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“In concrete terms, we support the suggestion to appoint a United Nations focal point at the country level to make clear to all actors in the field who is responsible. We also support changes at Headquarters that ensure that this agenda becomes a true joint effort. We are looking forward to the Secretary-General's report on the United Nations response to this issue. Thirdly, conflict parties that do respond positively should be rewarded with technical and other assistance. Conflict parties that do not comply, however, should be penalized. Such measures, both positive and negative, must be targeted. We strongly support the Secretary- General's recommendations, inter alia, on travel restrictions, restrictions on the supply of arms and on other military assistance.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“These range from more systematic monitoring and reporting, to curbing the flow of small arms and the illicit exploitation of natural resources, to more child-sensitive disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programming. We would like to focus on the following key issues, which should also be important elements of the draft resolution we will hopefully adopt shortly. First, we must reinforce the Council's message to unresponsive parties to conflicts that they have to meet their obligations. We should set clear time limits for action plans for demobilization and child protection. Secondly, we must take action that makes it clearer who is in charge of what within the United Nations system. United Nations action must be made more cohesive.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“We are convinced that the ICC is, even now, exerting its much- desired preventive influence, and we are equally convinced that it will play a highly important role in ending the culture of impunity. However, this must not stop the Council from using its own powers to hold accountable those responsible for the gravest crimes and human rights violations. The Council has now arrived at a crossroads; we now have to decide whether we want to continue to appeal, condemn and entreat, or to act. We strongly advocate for the latter option. We must not allow this debate to become an annual ritual of hand-wringing indignation without measurable effect. Many excellent recommendations have been made by the Secretary-General and by many non- governmental organizations.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“On the positive side, we see some encouraging action within the United Nations system and by non-governmental organizations to use resolution 1460 (2003) as a strong advocacy tool. On the other hand, we see little overall improvement on the ground. Instances where there was some positive development - for example, in Sri Lanka - are rare. And there are the many instances where there was no positive development at all, or even a worsening of the situation, for example in northern Uganda, in Ituri in north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and in Myanmar. On a more hopeful note, we are starting to see a positive impact from the threat of prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC). In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for example, this possibility is becoming more and more widely known.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“The cooperation between UNICEF and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General was excellent on the child protection component of the United Nations mission to Liberia, and we hope that this will serve as a model for future cooperation. I would also like to state that Germany fully associates itself with the statement to be delivered by Ambassador Ryan of Ireland, on behalf of the European Union, later in this discussion. In January of last year, adopted a resolution that was widely seen as a sign of hope for the hundreds of thousands of child soldiers and many more children victimized by armed conflict, because the Council had gone further than ever before, not only in condemning outrages against children but also in taking tangible action against these crimes. One year later, we feel a mixture of hope and frustration.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“No other delegation has done more to put this issue of child protection, especially the issue of child soldiering, high on the Council's agenda. I would like to assure you, Mr. Ambassador, that we will again be enthusiastic supporters of your efforts to pass a new Council resolution that will be even stronger than resolution 1460 (2003), a resolution that, in the words of Olara Otunnu this morning, will, hopefully, serve as "triggers for action". We also thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Otunnu, and the Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Carol Bellamy, for their opening remarks and the work they have done so far to advance the protection of children associated with armed conflict.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“Madam President, let me first of all, like other speakers, welcome you to the chair of this discussion. It shows the importance that you attach to this issue under discussion in the Council, and we appreciate that very much. In this debate almost exactly one year ago, I spoke about helpless outrage at unimaginable atrocities being a common feature of our age. I also mentioned that this Council, with the powers vested in it by the United Nations Charter, is one of the few bodies that does not have to confine itself to helpless outrage. One year later, we have arrived at a crucial juncture, and I will come back to that in a moment. But first, let me express our heartfelt thanks to the Ambassador of France, Jean-Marc de La Sabliere, and his delegation for their strong leadership on this issue.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“If there are clear indications of massive arms flows into regions with heightened political tensions, the Council, acting under its mandate to secure international peace, should carefully scrutinize the situation and take the necessary action. The imposition of an arms embargo sooner, rather than later, might help to keep things under control. Likewise, the Council may want to consider the freezing of funds used by non-State actors to acquire small arms in large quantities. In any case, preventing uncontrolled flows of small weapons into areas of tension is one of the most important tools of conflict-prevention, of de- escalation and of post-conflict peace-building.”
2004-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4896 (2004) · source
“These are first and foremost these are the responsibility of Member States themselves. Regional organizations may also play an important supportive role. The Programme of Action on Small Arms, mapped out at the 2001 United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, provides excellent guidance in this respect, and numerous organizations, including the United Nations Development Programme, national aid organizations and non-governmental organizations are prepared to provide know-how and funds for this purpose. The Group of Interested States in Practical Disarmament Measures, chaired by Germany, tries to make its own modest contribution towards that end.”
2004-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4896 (2004) · source
“Germany therefore intends to actively support the work of the open-ended working group on marking and tracing, which is about to convene. The Council will no doubt profit from such an instrument, which will facilitate the implementation of arms embargoes. Likewise, efforts to find ways to regulate arms brokerage, which has the full support of Germany, should be continued and intensified. Internationally approved standards on brokerage would also work as a useful tool towards more effective arms embargoes. In line with the increased awareness for the need of the prevention of armed conflicts, which the Council acknowledged in resolution 1366 (2001), I would like to recall the importance of two elements: first, the elimination of surplus weapons stocks; and secondly, strict governmental control over licit weapons.”
2004-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4896 (2004) · source
“Member States that might be countries of origin or transfer of weapons shipments must be aware of their responsibility under international law to guarantee arms embargoes through measures to control and, if necessary, interdict arms shipments by non-State actors. When monitoring the effectiveness of arms embargoes, the Council has to observe all segments of illicit arms shipments, notjust the receiving end. Efforts are underway in the General Assembly to work out an international instrument on marking and tracing small arms, which will be extremely useful in monitoring illicit arms flows. Germany applies strict national standards on licensing small arms transactions and transfers and has a transparent reporting policy for such licenses.”
2004-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4896 (2004) · source
“The Council must consider this whenever it is working on a mandate for a peacekeeping operation. Guarding and possibly reducing existing stocks, however, is but one side of the coin. These measures will remain of little effect unless the influx of new weapons is prevented. The Council therefore must continue to intensify its arms embargo policy when it is preparing mandates for peace operations. However, embargoes serve their purpose only if everyone observes them meticulously. Effective measures must be taken in the field to control possible points of entry for weapons shipments. Peacekeeping units may play an important role in this context.”
2004-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4896 (2004) · source
“Another probably more sustainable approach would be to provide incentives that are more in line with the goal of transforming combatants' military life into civilian life. This can be done by exchanging weapons for development or by providing ex-combatants with opportunities to earn their livelihood through community-related work. Therefore, ways and means to create work for ex-combatants need to be found. This is a top priority in peacekeeping in order to keep ex-combatants away from arms. Furthermore, we also need to focus on arms stocks, be they of weapons collected from ex- combatants or of weapons held in army depots. Stock- taking, guarding depots and, if necessary, destruction of weapons are essential pre-conditions for successful peacekeeping.”
2004-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4896 (2004) · source
“Perhaps less obvious, but of equal importance for the work of the Council, may be a third area: the prevention of armed conflict through disarmament measures. Let me briefly touch on these three areas. As a consequence of the increasing complexity of peacekeeping, the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants has become a standard element in almost every peacekeeping mandate the Council has issued in the past few years. There are various approaches to the disarmament of ex- combatants. One approach has been to offer payments for giving up weapons. Such an approach may work in limited cases where there is no likelihood of renewed weapons purchases.”
2004-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4896 (2004) · source
“My delegation aligns itself with the statement of the European Union, which will be delivered later by the Irish Presidency. We welcome the report of the Secretary-General (S/2003/l2l7), and we also welcome this debate on a subject that has quite a peculiar relationship to international peace and security because small arms, unlike weapons of mass destruction, are mainly held by private individuals, and yet they kill more human beings than any other type of weapon. There are two key areas where small arms and light weapons have played a prominent role in past deliberations of the Security Council: the disarmament of ex-combatants as part of peacekeeping missions and the imposition of arms embargoes.”
2004-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4896 (2004) · source
“Such an assessment will have to weigh the proportionality between duration and effects, and between the effects of the imposed sanctions on the Iraqi people and the political effects on the regime of Saddam Hussein and the region. Such an assessment could provide some answers to questions of general importance relating to sanction regimes, such as the regime imposed against Saddam Hussein, but also others. The questions are: did the sanctions achieve their goals and was it justified to continue applying them over such a long period of time, without principal reassessment by the Security Council? I am convinced there would be merit in examining such questions in order to keep the instrument of sanctions sharp, efficient and justified and an important tool in the arsenal of the Security Council.”
2003-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4888 (2003) · source
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all members of the Committee and in particular to OIP under its Executive Director, Benon Sevan, and to the Secretariat's sanctions branch for Iraq, headed by Mr. Wan, for their close and amicable cooperation. Without their support and commitment, we would not have been able to close this chapter of United Nations activities in this manner. While the importance of the oil-for-food programme for the survival of the Iraqi people has been highlighted repeatedly in the last few weeks, a final assessment of the sanctions against the former Iraqi regime still needs to be written.”
2003-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4888 (2003) · source
“We hope that this has contributed to the integrity of the transfer of responsibilities from OIP to the Coalition Provisional Authority and to the necessary continuity in the transitional period, thus avoiding the disruption of the delivery pipeline and a possible humanitarian emergency situation. I should also mention that the 661 Committee, after adoption of resolution 1483 (2003), likewise fulfilled its additional new task pursuant to paragraphs 19 and 23 of that resolution. On 11 June, the Committee adopted guidelines to identify individuals and entities whose financial assets should be transferred to the Development Fund for Iraq. On 26 June, a first list of respective individuals was adopted by the Committee and on 21 November a list of respective entities followed.”
2003-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4888 (2003) · source
“As chair of the 661 Committee, we have tried to ensure maximum transparency in this transitional process. This required permanent coordination between all actors - OIP, Coalition Provisional Authority, United Nations agencies and the experts of the Committee - and regular updates to members of the Council. Regular informal meetings of the 661 Committee, sometimes several times per week, several times including representatives of the Coalition Provisional Authority from Baghdad and always including the various United Nations agencies and OIP, were organized in order to achieve an optimal flow of information.”
2003-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4888 (2003) · source
“Confronted with the interruption of the programme in March, the Committee, upon request of the Security Council, negotiated the content of Council resolution 1472 (2003), which would allow humanitarian emergency deliveries out of the existing pipeline of approved contracts. This resolution was adopted on 28 March and, for the first time, after months of division in the Council, achieved consensus among Council members on an issue related to Iraq. After the war and the adoption of resolution 1483 (2003) on 22 May, the Committee was tasked with supervising the transitional process leading to the termination of the humanitarian oil-for-food programme on 21 November and to the transfer of all responsibilities from the Office of the Iraq Programme (OIP) to the Coalition Provisional Authority.”
2003-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4888 (2003) · source
“Germany chaired this Committee in two crucial stages of its history: first in 1995 and 1996, when the oil-for-food programme was originally designed in order to alleviate the negative repercussions of a comprehensive sanctions regime on large parts of the Iraqi population and economy; secondly, in 2003, when the focus of the Committee was substantially shifted from its usual business in the past, due to the war- related interruption of the programme in March, followed by the end of the former regime, the lifting of sanctions in May and the termination of the humanitarian oil-for-food programme on 21 November.”
2003-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4888 (2003) · source
“Mr. Pleuger: I appreciate very much that the obituary comes first. This will be the last report on the work of the 661 Committee, which was terminated, according to resolution 1483 (2003), on 21 November 2003, after 13 years of a comprehensive sanctions regime. As a subsidiary organ of the Security Council, the Committee had to execute the political decisions of the Council as manifested in the relevant Security Council resolutions. The mandate of the 661 Committee thus comprised two major elements: the implementation and supervision of the sanctions regime against Iraq and of the humanitarian programme, oil-for-food.”
2003-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4888 (2003) · source
“The task will be to accommodate the needs of the various ethnic communities while not creating further institutional barriers to reconciliation. Since effective decentralization will be so important to achieving the standards, it is essential to implement it soon. Next year will be a critical one for Kosovo. Pristina, Belgrade and, above all, the people of Kosovo, have much to gain if the standards are achieved quickly.”
2003-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4886 (2003) · source