YouSaid · the spoken record

Prodi

lines on the record: 82
first: 2007-09-25
most recent: 2013-12-12
sittings or episodes: 7
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

“Mr. Prodi: I am very grateful to be here and grateful that I have been asked to say a few words even if that had not been planned; I take this as a great sign of respect and gratitude for the work that the African Union-United Nations panel on modalities for support to African Union operations has done. At the outset, I should like to thank all the members of the panel for their efforts and the results that they achieved. I am deeply grateful for the quality of the individual contributions that all members of the panel made and for the intense work of the United Nations staff. Mr. Le Roy has already presented the main results to the Council, and I do not want to repeat them. I should like simply to speak of one simple concept. Peacekeeping is only one of the great African issues, which include development, health and infrastructure.”
2009-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6206 (2009) · source
“It is too important. We have to work better together, and we have to find more efficient instruments for cooperation. All of us must be engaged in developing the African Union's capacity. The support of African Union member States is as critical as the material support of non-African States Members of the United Nations. Ownership must belong to Africa, but all Member States, particularly those with interests in Africa, need to be committed to supporting the process. It is clear that there cannot be development without peace, but it is also clear that peace in Africa affects not only Africa's future but the future of all of us. This report should therefore be seen as a significant step in a longer process that will require further consultation and work for the development of its recommendations.”
2009-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6092 (2009) · source
“That idea also requires additional consideration in order to define the detailed modalities and to determine how it can work in synergy with existing mechanisms such as the African Peace Facility, which was created and supported by the European Union. In conclusion, I would emphasize that some of the recommendations can be implemented relatively easily, in particular those dealing with strengthening the political relationship between the United Nations and the African Union. Some of them are already moving forward as part of an ongoing process. Others require much more detailed analysis than was possible to do under the panel. The panel conducted the bulk of its work when the consequences of the current economic downturn were not yet fully expressed. Nonetheless, it is important that support for the African Union increase in the future.”
2009-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6092 (2009) · source
“The African Union is expected to take over full responsibility in a short period of time, and thereafter have full ownership of the fund. Moreover, it should be stressed that, from the very beginning, the African Union will be in charge of defining priorities and projects in the area of capacity- building. In various meetings with the heads of State or Government of countries interested in supporting the role of the African Union in peacekeeping, I have found a generally positive attitude with regard our proposal for a multi-donor fund dedicated to long-term capacity-building. I understand that the engagement of a Prime Minister is different from that of a Minister for Finance, but it was very a very encouraging development.”
2009-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6092 (2009) · source
“The very concept of a multi-donor fund implies that all those that have an interest in a peaceful Africa shall be called on to contribute financial, human and technical resources in order to build that capacity. New donors were encouraged, are encouraged and will be encouraged to start and increase their contributions. If, as we hope, a large multi-donor fund is successfully established, its size and complexity will require expertise that is found in very few international institutions. I know that this is debated, but that is why, in the start-up phase, we recommend the involvement of the United Nations Development Programme. However, in order to ensure the progressive empowerment of the African Union, the headquarters of that structure will be initially located in Addis Ababa.”
2009-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6092 (2009) · source
“The panel was sensitive to the wide range of different views on that proposal, and it expressed the opinion that it is time for the United Nations to expand all aspects concerning the role of the African Union in resolving peace and security issues - of course, in coordination with the efforts of the United Nations. Similarly, the recommendations concerning the need for logistical support require much closer examination. In particular, there is an opportunity to break with some of the traditional approaches of the past and to take advantage of more innovative ideas that avoid the need to stockpile large quantities of equipment, which is something that is increasingly important in the current economic climate. In relation to long-term capacity-building, the panel recommended the establishment of a multi-donor trust fund.”
2009-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6092 (2009) · source
“Developing a shared vision is one thing; implementing, clearly, is another. That requires partnership underpinned by credible capability, and that requires huge resources. The panel examined a range of possible options by which greater financial predictability could be built and sustained in the long term. The technical details of that proposal must be further developed in the near future. The recommendation that United Nations legislative bodies approve the use of assessed contributions under certain criteria recognizes the importance of the United Nations/African Union relationship, as well as the advantages to be gained by exploiting the African Union's comparative advantage in quickly deploying a bridging operation until conditions are established for longer-term United Nations engagement.”
2009-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6092 (2009) · source
“That can be achieved only once the Commission is properly staffed by skilled personnel provided by the African Union's member States. Inevitably, it is military capability that catches the headlines in terms of the development of the African Standby Force, but the report underlines the point that peace on the African continent cannot be achieved through the deployment of military force alone. Capacity needs to be developed across a wide range of activities, such as intelligence, early warning, conflict prevention, post-conflict reconciliation and reconstruction. Here, I repeat, there is a need to develop a shared vision. As recently stated by the current President of the African Union, Muammar Al-Qadhafi, if Africa does not develop a common political view it will never be in charge of its peaceful destiny.”
2009-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6092 (2009) · source
“If the African Union Commission and the United Nations Secretariat aim to develop the level of cooperation necessary to support effective mutual synergy, they must be able to work together in a much more structured way. To that end, the panel recommends the creation of a mechanism through which the respective organizations could exchange views on a more regular basis. Various potential models exist that can be used in order to implement that process without creating new structures. The ability to work together can be constrained by the limited resources of the African Union Commission. Improving coordination is therefore not sufficient. It is necessary, but not sufficient. It has to be supported by the institutional capacity that will increase African ownership of the process.”
2009-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6092 (2009) · source
“The joint meetings that have already taken place represent a major step forward, but the panel is keen to encourage a more regular exchange through which greater continuity of approach could be cultivated and a shared vision truly established. At the level of the African Union Commission and the United Nations Secretariat, the panel recognizes the great progress made and the solid basis for cooperation that has been established, both in terms of supporting operational deployments and long-term capability-building. Nonetheless, there is still significant room for improvement. Limiting operational support to individual missions is understandable, but it does not necessarily promote sustained and efficient cooperation.”
2009-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6092 (2009) · source
“Achieving this objective requires improved coordination, new mechanisms and brand-new instruments. Thanks to the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), significant progress has been achieved in many fields, from conflict prevention to the deployment of peacekeeping missions and the development of long-term capacity. We must ensure further progress in this direction. The APSA cannot operate in isolation, and the report emphasizes the importance of establishing a shared vision between the United Nations and the African Union when addressing issues of mutual concern. That implies new, strong coordination between the two Councils.”
2009-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6092 (2009) · source
“We have come a long way in the past few years, and I acknowledge the enormous progress that has been made by the African Union and the regional economic communities of Africa. We can all learn from that process. However, that process needs to be consolidated so that it can truly enhance the capacity of the African Union to contribute to global security and enable it to play a front-line role in international efforts to bring peace to the continent. 09-2716] Indeed, the ability of the African Union to respond to continental crises within the context of a broader international framework requires significant capabilities. Developing those capabilities requires the permanent support of the international community, including less traditional partners and donors. We must do it in spite of the present competition for scarce resources.”
2009-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6092 (2009) · source
“The African Union is to play its full part. It must have the means to support future short-term operational deployments, and also the capacity to develop the essential capabilities necessary for the long-term. In addressing the high-level meeting chaired by former President Mbeki, in April last year (see S/PV.5868), I underlined the need for closer cooperation between the international and the regional levels and the need for more effective responses by the international community in crisis situations. We are in a new era in which the scale and complexity of the challenges demand increased cooperation between all actors. Addressing those challenges calls for effective relationships, improved coordination and a clear understanding of each other's strengths and weaknesses.”
2009-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6092 (2009) · source
“Yet the complexities inherent in that statement are such that it is often difficult to reconcile the need for regional engagement with the capabilities available. The responsibility of regional actors to address issues of peace and security in their own regions is indisputable. This is not to say that the African Union or the regional economic communities should replace the United Nations. That is clear. Rather, the principles of the United Nations Charter must be reinforced and a framework must be developed in which our collective response can ensure an appropriate answer to any given circumstance. It was with this in mind that the panel approached its work and, in delivering its report, I hope that we can move towards a more systematic approach in our response to the challenges to peace and security in Africa.”
2009-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6092 (2009) · source
“Mr. Prodi: I am truly thankful for the opportunity given me, as Chairman of the African Union-United Nations panel on modalities for support to African Union peacekeeping operations, to present the results of our work. Allow me to first address two basic issues. First, I deeply acknowledge both the quality of the individual contributions that each member provided during the intense work of the panel and the generous support received from United Nations staff. I am particularly thankful to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Secondly, it has been clear from the very beginning that while the terms of reference of the panel were framed in technical terms, the issues have strong political implications. The foreword to the panel's report (8/2008/813) clarifies the link between peace and development. No peace means no development.”
2009-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6092 (2009) · source
“The Secretary-General's report makes a number of proposals that we endorse. We will not fail to offer our ideas and resources in the pursuit of that process.”
2008-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5868 (2008) · source
“The Facility has already enabled the achievement of significant results, such as in Somalia, where we are using it to train the Somali security forces and to rebuild the public administration. The United Nations centres in Italy - such as the Staff College in Turin and the Logistics Base in Brindisi - will remain available to Africa as tools for education, training and capacity-building, in the spirit of the suggestions made by the Secretary-General in his report. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate our readiness to strengthen cooperation - in ways to be jointly identified - between the United Nations and the African Union, including in the area of financing. I am fully aware that this is a key point to which African leaders attach great importance, as we have heard in earlier statements.”
2008-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5868 (2008) · source
“I fully endorse the statement that the Slovenian presidency will deliver shortly on behalf of the European Union. Allow me to offer a few closing remarks about what Italy can do to continue lending a hand. When I was the President of the European Commission, it was my responsibility to launch the European Peace Facility for Africa. As Italy's Prime Minister, I decided last year to introduce an Italian instrument to support the African Union and its peacekeeping efforts, particularly in the Horn of Africa. I signed the agreement with the President of the Commission, Mr. Konare, which promotes African ownership in full complementarity with its European counterpart facility.”
2008-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5868 (2008) · source
“Together with the African Union, they have helped to identify a political solution in Kenya and are working to find a rapid solution to the profound crisis in Zimbabwe, which we are following with great concern and which I hope will be resolved as soon as possible, because that country needs a working democracy. In building a more solid African institutional framework, the structures for coordinating all the regional organizations must also be strengthened. The European Union and the African Union launched a joint strategy in Lisbon last December. It was a historic outcome in which I believe, and I worked on it both in Brussels and in Rome. Now we must make it operational and concrete because it is a new and essential instrument.”
2008-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5868 (2008) · source
“That represents important progress which deserves to be studied carefully by Africa. Simply averring the will to handle one's own continental crises is not enough. The African Union has to follow through on that will resolutely. That is the only way for asserted ownership to become actual ownership. A continent that rightly aspires to play a global role should aspire to equip itself with the instruments needed to set its house in order. I am greatly encouraged by what I see - an Africa that is not just seeking assistance, but is, rather, playing a front-line role in international efforts to bring peace to the continent. We see this also in the great efforts, which we fully support, of all the African subregional organizations.”
2008-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5868 (2008) · source
“As I see it, the African Union can make ever-greater progress if its follows the best practices of comparable political and institutional realities. I should like now to refer to a few working points. I believe that the African Union, with the assistance of all of us, should continue down the path on which it has embarked to create permanent structures that will enable it to manage crises in political, military and civil terms. I repeat, in political, military and civil terms. Of course, there is a problem of resources not unlike the one we face in Europe, where we have increased the European Union budget for civilian missions, strengthened our missions' command capacity and set up a mobilization and rapid reaction system for crisis situations. More is still needed, but 10 years ago that would all have been unthinkable.”
2008-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5868 (2008) · source
“In Africa there are numerous partnerships between the United Nations and the African Union, such as in Darfur. In Asia, the comprehensive approach to Afghanistan is grounded in the need for complementarity between the United Nations and other regional organizations. We have all come to agree on one basic principle, namely, that the closer the cooperation between the international and the regional levels, the more effective the actions of the international community in crisis situations. I would now like to consider the African Union, which is the most interesting political reality of the African continent. As I said last year in my addresses to the Addis Ababa Summit in January and to the Security Council meeting on Africa in September, we have to keep working and to step up our efforts.”
2008-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5868 (2008) · source
“Mr. Prodi (Italy) (spoke in Italian; English text provided by the delegation): I wish to begin by thanking President Mbeki for this initiative. Strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations, particularly the African Union (AU), is a critical issue that I care about deeply. This initiative therefore has our full support. We have already travelled a long way down the road of cooperation between international and regional organizations. There are positive examples throughout the world. In Europe, the United Nations, the European Union (EU) and NATO have played, and continue to play, a vital role in stabilizing the Balkans. In the Mediterranean, we have a successful joint United Nations-EU mission in Lebanon.”
2008-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5868 (2008) · source
“I truly hope that this can be done before the end of the year. Italy is working to ensure that it will spark the development of a truly European policy. To honour the millennium commitments that we undertook here in New York and that have such a great impact on Africa, I have already indicated my willingness to sit at a table next year and see where we are in the achievement of these goals. I am convinced that those who have more to give should make a special commitment. Here, the Group of Eight (G-8) can and must play an important role. I pledge here and now to make this a central theme of Italy's presidency of the G-8 in 2009.”
2007-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5749 (2007) · source
“The fund will operate in close coordination with the fund that already exists at the European level, because it is clear that our contribution must necessarily form part of a European strategy. Europe must take the lead on defending peace and security in Africa, as well as on facing other global challenges that know no borders. Europe is still Africa's leading partner in trade, investment and development assistance. But this is no longer sufficient: we must strengthen and, in some cases, create institutional, cultural and political cooperation. In short, we have to move from a strategy for Africa to a partnership with Africa. In this perspective, the upcoming Africa-Europe summit can no longer be postponed. It should mark an important step towards a strategic partnership between equals, based on mutual commitments and responsibilities.”
2007-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5749 (2007) · source
“To promote peace and security, Italy has decided to support African capacity also through a bilateral African Peace Facility, a fund that will allow us to support - and, I underline, at the request of Africa - the efforts of the African Union and the leading subregional organizations in favour of peace and security; rapid-action interventions aimed at consolidating their institutional and operational structures; conducting joint United Nations-African Union actions; strengthening the logistical capacities of actions decided upon by the African Union; and dedicating special attention to training human resources in preventive diplomacy, peacekeeping and post-conflict rehabilitation. The Sudan and the Horn of Africa will have top priority.”
2007-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5749 (2007) · source
“But, as in the case of Darfur, in Somalia too we must be committed to closer cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union. The International Contact Group for Somalia, which met in Rome a few days ago, sent a strong appeal along these lines. Mr. President, you have asked us for concrete responses to the challenges facing Africa. What I consider useful and realistic is to give high priority to what Africa is requesting: peace, security, support for alleviating poverty and fostering growth - continent- wide cooperation.”
2007-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5749 (2007) · source
“It has taken on a pressing dimension for Italy because of our special relationship with this country, which is suffering a political, humanitarian and security crisis. There are some hopeful signs. The national reconciliation process seems to have begun, and the international community is being called upon to consolidate it, with a view towards restoring democratic normalcy in the country through the reconstruction of Government institutions and of the country itself. Security Council resolution 1772 (2007) of last month moves in this direction. I believe, however, that an additional, collective effort must be made for the emergence of a comprehensive strategy inspired by the principles of ownership and partnership. Italy is financially committed to supporting the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).”
2007-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5749 (2007) · source
“This is why, in my recent meeting in Rome with President Al-Bashir, I asked him for a strong signal to assure the success of the political negotiations scheduled to take place in Tripoli in late October. Mr. Al-Bashir assured me of his commitment to a unilateral ceasefire upon the resumption of the negotiations. This is an important signal, but we must all work together to ensure that the Tripoli meeting arrives at lasting solutions. Italy is also continuing its efforts to organize a meeting of the Intergovernmental Authority of Development to refocus international attention on the stabilization of South Sudan. Somalia is another dramatic case that demands a rapid response and a sense of urgency.”
2007-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5749 (2007) · source
“If we are successful - and I am convinced that we shall be - it will constitute a key formula for the future. Darfur is a test case for the international community's ability to identify appropriate responses. Italy is ready to do its part. I have already indicated to the Secretary-General Italy's commitment to the joint mission, in terms of both finances and logistical air support for troop transportation, in addition to training programmes for the personnel that will be deployed there. Let us be clear: the hybrid mission responds primarily to security demands. Yet, there are other demands that are of crucial importance to solving the crisis: political, humanitarian, and those related to the country's economic development.”
2007-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5749 (2007) · source
“In my many meetings with African leaders, the message that I have heard is for a relationship between equals to address the challenges in Africa, as well as the global challenges. I will now respond to some of the specific questions raised by the African leaders. I wish to focus on two particular challenges: Darfur and Somalia, two grave crises that have been unresolved for far too long, and that require greater and more timely efforts. I have seen some signals pointing in the right direction. The launch of the Hybrid Operation in Darfur is an important new development that moves in the direction of recognizing Africa's responsibility in Africa - which we call ownership - and the offer of cooperation from the international community - which we call partnership.”
2007-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5749 (2007) · source
“President Sarkozy has raised very important questions on peace and security in Africa. I wish to clarify two points immediately. First, we must be clear which Africa we are talking about. The Africa that I see is a continent that is transforming its potential into reality. Just look at its progress towards achieving regional integration, strong economic growth, democratic political reforms, an enhanced strategic role, the courage with which many of its leaders have spoken out against the death penalty, and the demographic growth that will soon bring Africa's population up to the levels of China or India. In short, Africa is now a protagonist and no longer just an object of international relations. Secondly, rather than continue to discuss what we can do for Africa, let us try to reflect on what Africa at this moment is asking us to do.”
2007-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5749 (2007) · source