YouSaid · the spoken record

Quinlan

lines on the record: 1,257
first: 2009-06-26
most recent: 2014-12-30
sittings or episodes: 160
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

“Small arms are the worst weapons of mass destruction in terms of the numbers of civilians killed and injured every day, and the life of an illicit firearm can span generations. We can only really curb armed violence through a treaty that includes small arms and light weapons and ammunition. We recognize that the treaty will present implementation challenges for many, but that should not be an argument against a strong and legally binding outcome. Australia is supporting approximately 50 delegates from developing countries to attend the Conference so that the outcome takes their interests into account. We stand ready to provide assistance for treaty implementation.”
2012-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6790 (2012) · source
“The results are being circulated, and the key outcomes included agreement on the importance of missions devoting sufficient attention and resources to building host Government capacities; a recognition of the importance of building rule of law and security sector institutions that are trusted and responsive; and a recognition of the need, which has been mentioned by other speakers this morning, in relation to transitions to begin planning for full handover of protection of civilians responsibilities very early. Transition processes need broad national ownership, should emphasize capacity development, and need to involve strong coordination with other partners. My second issue is the forthcoming United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty, which begins next week.”
2012-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6790 (2012) · source
“The protection of civilians is the primary responsibility of the host Government, and a peacekeeping mission should not be there forever. The protection of civilians will therefore only be sustainable in the long term through strengthening national capacities and institutions. That was the subject of the fifth workshop on the protection ofcivilians Australia co-hosted with Uruguay two weeks ago.”
2012-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6790 (2012) · source
“There has been much progress recently in ensuring that peacekeepers know how to fulfil their mandates to protect civilians - that they have the necessary training and guidance, in addition to resources and capabilities.We would like to echo the Secretary-General's recommendation that Member States utilize the new Department of Peacekeeping Operations/Department of Field Support protection of civilians modules fully. We encourage the Secretariat to continue to refine them based on feedback from the field. We are encouraged to hear about and we strongly support the development of protection of civilians operational guidance. My own country is continuing to support the African Union in that area to develop its own protection of civilians guidance.”
2012-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6790 (2012) · source
“We also share the strong concern of others about the other situations that have been mentioned this morning, including in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, the Sudan and South Sudan. I would like to focus my remarks, however briefly, on the distinct body ofwork on the protection ofcivilians that has evolved in the United Nations in recent years. As has been said, we must rebuild consensus about that work on the protection of civilians. The protection of civilians is intrinsic to the purpose and the identity of the United Nations. We must recall that it is also a legal concept, rooted firmly in international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law. I would like to highlight three protection of civilians issues that require sustained attention. The first is the protection of civilians in peacekeeping operations.”
2012-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6790 (2012) · source
“We thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this debate. We also thank the Secretary-General, Ms. Amos, Mr. Simonovie and Mr. Spoerri for their statements. Of course, we also thank Minister for Foreign Affairs Caballero for Guatemala's leadership on the protection of civilians. I would also like to associate Australia with the statement just delivered by the representative of Switzerland on behalf of the Group of Friends of the Protection of Civilians. The situation in the Syria has rightly and inevitably been an important focus this morning. The deliberate targeting of civilians in the conflict is unacceptable and violates international norms and law. Those responsible must be held to account. My own country supports calls for strong action in Syria under Chapter VII of the Charter.”
2012-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6790 (2012) · source
“We urge Syria, in the strongest terms, to ensure the effective operation of the mission, and we urge all parties to honour the ceasefire. We must also be concerned about the approximately 40,000 Syrians who have fled to neighbouring countries. My own country will continue to play a practical role in helping to meet the immediate needs of the Syrian people and those who have had to flee, including to Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. To conclude, the situation in Syria is plainly dangerous and that is obvious to all of us. The atrocities committed within the country are unacceptable. The regional implications are growing. The Council has unanimously recognized the need for it to monitor very closely how its own resolutions are being implemented or how they will not be implemented or are not being implemented.”
2012-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6757Resumption1 (2012) · source
“We must prevent a two-State solution from slipping away. There must be an immediate end to settlement expansion and an early resumption of direct talks. Turning very briefly to the situation in Syria, we welcome the Council's unanimous support, through resolution 2043 (2012), to deploy a United Nations observer mission to monitor a ceasefire and to support the full implementation of Special Envoy Annan's six-point plan. It is essential that we continue to speak with one voice against the serious atrocities that we have been witnessing. But we have to be hard-headed about that. The Syrian Government has yet to implement its obligations regarding the actions of its troops and the removal of heavy weapons. Violence continues, and very little progress has been made on the ground. Denial of humanitarian access is just unacceptable.”
2012-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6757Resumption1 (2012) · source
“We also call on international and regional donors to continue to assist the Palestinian Authority to ensure its financial viability, even during times of tight global financial circumstances. It is essential that the decisive gains made in building Palestinian institutions not be reversed, if we are genuine about a Palestinian State. We admire the efforts of the Palestinian leadership to create a strong base for statehood, and my own country will continue supporting the Palestinians in those efforts, including through our multi-year partnership agreement. We will also soon sign a new multi-year partnership with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East with increased funding. The stagnation in the Middle East peace process between Israel and Palestine is, as we know, just not sustainable.”
2012-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6757Resumption1 (2012) · source
“The most recent decisions are contrary to commitments made by the Israeli Government itself. It is also imperative that violence of any kind targeting civilians, including rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza, must stop. But, while we recognize Israel's legitimate security concerns, more must be done, and quickly, to ease the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Australia is greatly concerned that, if direct negotiations do not commence soon, the prospects for peace and a two-State solution will simply disappear. An early resumption of direct talks, on the basis of the 1967 boundaries and with agreed land swaps, is needed urgently and we encourage both sides to resume talks on that basis.”
2012-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6757Resumption1 (2012) · source
“We share the hope expressed by Under-Secretary-General Pascoe this morning that this exchange of letters will provide an opening for peace, but we have to recognize that the window is closing very quickly - closing on the Palestinian inalienable right to self-determination and on the best prospect for Israel's long-term security. As the Quartet noted in its statement of 11 April (SG/2182), the situation on the ground is increasingly fragile. The Quartet has repeatedly called on the parties to refrain from unilateral or provocative actions that prejudge the outcome of negotiations, but Israeli settlement activity remains a very serious concern. My own country has consistently called for this activity to cease. Our Foreign Minister did so again on 10 April. Settlements are directly corroding the viability of a two-State solution.”
2012-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6757Resumption1 (2012) · source
“I thank you, Madam President, for convening this debate. Australia, like all of us, shares the world's frustration with the lack of progress in the Middle East peace process. Oslo was in 1993, and the historic Arab Peace Initiative in 2002, 10 years ago. Like many, we welcomed the Quartet statement of 23 September 2011, but progress is stagnant. We applaud the efforts of King Abdullah and Foreign Minister Judeh of Jordan to kick-start direct dialogue, and we encourage them to continue despite the obstacles. We also welcome the meeting last week in Jerusalem between the senior Palestinian delegation, led by chief negotiator Erekat and Prime Minister Netanyahu, and Mr. Netanyahu's commitment to responding within two weeks to the letter delivered to him from President Abbas.”
2012-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6757Resumption1 (2012) · source
“The joint financial management board will quickly need to focus quickly on strengthening Somali public financial management institutions. In conclusion, as we were reminded by the Permanent Representative of Somalia just a few minutes ago, there have been many conferences on Somalia over the past 20 years, and the consequences of the failures of those conferences are clear. The international community must not let the tentative progress of recent months dissipate. We look forward to the forthcoming Istanbul conference in June, and especially its focus on longer-term economic prospects. Much work remains to be done, but we really must ensure that 2012 becomes what we all say it should be - not just a window of opportunity, but an actual turning point in Somalia's history.”
2012-03-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6729 (2012) · source
“We all know that sustainable development in coastal communities is critical to diminishing the lure of piracy. We must find ways for fisheries management to be effective, which needs to be a particular focus for us in the Istanbul conference. Australia has committed over $60 million to Somalia since March 2011 as part of a broader response of $150 million to the Horn of Africa. That assistance is not just to meet basic needs, but is increasingly being directed to building long-term resilience, which is the key to the future. As the focus shifts from humanitarian support to longer-term development assistance, we welcome the establishment of a local stability fund. The London conference rightly identified Somalia's ability to manage revenues and aid flows as vital to securing sustainable international assistance.”
2012-03-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6729 (2012) · source
“Later in 2012, in just a few months, we will host a counter-piracy conference in Perth, an Indian Ocean city, which will consider ways to assist affected countries in addressing underlying drivers and root causes. The conference will draw on lessons learned from counter-piracy efforts in South-East Asia and also focus on the emerging piracy challenges in the Gulf of Guinea. Clearly, A vital element in the fight against piracy is ending impunity. We welcome the initiative to establish a regional anti-piracy prosecutions intelligence coordination centre in Seychelles, with which we will be cooperating closely, as well as the commitment of Mauritius, Seychelles and Tanzania to accepting suspected pirates for prosecution. Addressing piracy requires a focus on both sea and land.”
2012-03-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6729 (2012) · source
“We welcome the excellent cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union, including in the development of the new strategic concept, as well as the enhanced cooperation with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. We particularly commend the Governments of Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti and Kenya for their contributions to AMISOM, and hope that the Mission can quickly reach its new authorized troop strength. Australia is pleased to have made some practical contributions, including of information technology, technical support and a further $2 million last month. We will be making an additional contribution shortly. Piracy, like terrorism, is not only a symptom but also a cause of Somalia's instability. Australian forces will continue their active participation in the anti- piracy coalition.”
2012-03-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6729 (2012) · source
“We anticipate continued progress at the next National Consultative Constitutional Conference to be held this month, and welcome its proposed focus on fundamental rights. In order to ensure the space for political progress, effort clearly must be made to consolidate and build on security gains, create a functioning justice system and to uphold the rule of law. International support for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in that context and for Somalia's emerging security forces is therefore fundamental. We welcome resolution 2036 (2012) expanding AMISOM. and providing more sustainable, flexible and predictable funding.”
2012-03-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6729 (2012) · source
“We welcome in particular measures to ensure women's participation in the political process. It is vital that the process be inclusive and that the way be left open for Somalis to lay down their arms and join in the process. With a significant Somali community in Australia, we welcome efforts to ensure inclusion of the diaspora. Expectations are clear; substantial progress must be made before August. Further obfuscation or delay simply cannot be tolerated. The international community has a crucial role to play in facilitating the process through the good offices of the United Nations and the African Union. Special Representative Mahiga clearly outlined the path ahead this morning, and we thank him for his clarity.”
2012-03-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6729 (2012) · source
“Australia welcomes the opportunity to participate in today's important debate and thanks the United Kingdom and you, Mr. President, for its initiative, including through the London conference, in which Australia participated. Many today have already spoken of a window of opportunity in 2012, and Australia shares that guarded optimism. But as we all know, if Somalia is to truly turn a corner towards peace and stability, rapid, sustained and coordinated action from all stakeholders will be required. Progress will first and foremost depend on the Somali political leadership and on the Somali people themselves. Developing governance structures that are broad-based and representative is clearly a fundamental first step. The Somali National Consultative Constitutional Conferences in Garowe have made important progress.”
2012-03-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6729 (2012) · source
“The Timorese have much to celebrate in this historic tenth anniversary year, and we congratulate them on their achievements. We all have much to learn from that success. Finally, I would like to thank South Africa as the new Chair of the Core Group on Timor- Leste for its very hard work in drafting and coordinating the draft resolution to renew UNMIT's mandate. I also thank Brazil for its effective leadership of the Group last year. My own country looks forward to continuing to work with the Group under its new chair.”
2012-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6720 (2012) · source
“Under the agreement, Australian aid focus on strengthening services such as health and education; on improved governance and security, including through continuing institutional support to the PNTL; and on promoting economic growth through agricultural and infrastructure development. Particular attention must continue to be paid by all of us to youth unemployment. In concluding, Busan was also the venue where Timor-Leste, as leader of the Group of Seven Plus of fragile and post-conflict States (g7+) launched a new deal for engagement in these States, demonstrating the importance of joint partnership rather than just money in assisting such countries. Timor-Leste's leadership of the g7+ is a very strong statement of how far it has come in its first 10 years as an independent country and Member of the United Nations.”
2012-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6720 (2012) · source
“Ongoing dialogue between the Government, UNMIT and bilateral and multilateral partners will be needed to ensure that smooth transition, in which strengthening key institutions, such as the Policia Nacional de Timor-Leste (PNTL) in particular, will be a decisive part. This morning's Member State consultations were very important in that regard. We look forward to continuing those consultations with our fellow partners. In that context, the long-term Strategic Development Plan of the Government itself must remain the cornerstone of international assistance. Last November in Busan, my own Government signed a partnership agreement with Timor-Leste in the margins of the High-level Meeting on Aid Effectiveness that aligns our development assistance with the Strategic Development Plan.”
2012-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6720 (2012) · source
“Looking ahead, Australia welcomes the Secretary-General's intention to report to the Council 60 days after the formation of the new Government. His assessment will be a critical element in finalizing decisions on the final pace of UNMIT's drawdown, as well as on the possible roles and functions for the United Nations in Timor-Leste after the departure of the peacekeeping mission. We are pleased that work has started on this planning, and underscore the importance of the incoming Government of Timor- Leste reaching a timely decision on the future shape of a United Nations presence in Timor-Leste. I note President Ramos-Horta's comments today about the emerging consensus on that. An important factor in those decisions is the success of the very innovative and welcome Joint Transition Plan, for which we commend both the Government and UNMIT.”
2012-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6720 (2012) · source
“That preparation is obviously critical. The ISF, of course, stands ready to provide support to Timorese security services and United Nations police in the very unexpected event that such a need should arise. We all know that elections are often unpredictable and tightly fought. We have been encouraged by commitments made across the political spectrum in Timor-Leste to participating peacefully and in a democratic spirit. We would also like to commend Timor-Leste for increasing the number of female candidates for Parliament from one in four to one in three on all political party lists - a better record than my own country, I should say. That will help to give the women of Timor-Leste an even greater say in how their country is governed.”
2012-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6720 (2012) · source
“That will ensure UNMIT support at the political level, as well as support from the United Nations police throughout the full election cycle, including after the formation of a new Government. It will be important for decisions on the pace of the withdrawal of UNMIT staff following the mid-year parliamentary elections to take full account of the conditions on the ground, as well as of the wishes of the Government of Timor-Leste. The elections, as we know, will be a test for the institutions and people of Timor-Leste, but Australia has confidence in the electoral authorities' capacity to conduct effective elections. We know that a great deal of preparatory work with the support of the United Nations police and the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) provided by New Zealand and Australia are under way to secure election security.”
2012-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6720 (2012) · source
“Timor-Leste has made remarkable progress in recent years, including an impressive growth rate of 10 per cent in its gross domestic product expected this year, a strong petroleum fund underpinning the prospects of long- term and sustainable economic development, and important efforts to build the country's infrastructure. We recognize, of course, that the challenge of improving standards of health and education in particular is ongoing, as is building the institutions that underpin democracy. Nonetheless, we share an optimistic view of Timor-Leste's future as the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) prepares to wind down at the end of the year. My own country supports the renewal of UNMIT's mandate until the end of 2012.”
2012-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6720 (2012) · source
“Thank you, Mr. President, for convening this significant meeting and for inviting Australia to participate. I especially want to welcome President Ramos-Horta's presence today, despite his difficult family circumstances, and to say how much his personal contribution to the emergence of an independent and - as we have heard and know - increasingly vibrant Timor-Leste is admired in Australia. I can assure him and all the citizens of Timor-Leste that for my own country Timor-Leste will never be just a corner of the world. I also thank Special Representative Ameerah Haq for her report and for all her work and that of her team. As we know, 2012 will be an historic and pivotal year for Timor-Leste, with elections and its tenth anniversary on 20 May.”
2012-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6720 (2012) · source
“Last week, my own country announced another contribution of $10 million to assist with that, in addition to a $100-million programme that we recently launched to focus on resilience, including agricultural productivity and community resilience, particularly in West Africa. To conclude, Australia remains committed to continuing to work with all partners to make a secure and sustainable future for the people of the region a reality. We pledge to do more.”
2012-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6717Resumption1 (2012) · source
“Towards concluding, the Council has regularly reaffirmed the strong nexus between security and development. We all need to recognize - and cannot pretend that we do not - that there is an urgent priority to quickly mobilize programmes to ensure that unemployment, particularly youth unemployment, lack of education and poverty do not continue to feed violence and extremism. As we know, those vulnerabilities are a toxic combination. We must also, of course, address the urgent humanitarian needs facing the Sahel region, but longer- term resilience to meet food security challenges, in particular, is vital.”
2012-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6717Resumption1 (2012) · source
“In terms of our own assistance, we have particularly focused on seeking to improve mutual legal assistance between Francophone and Anglophone countries and on developing, with the AU, a series of transnational crime guides. Briefly, in relation to piracy, I might note that Togo's concept note for today's meeting (S/2012/83, annex) explains the need to examine how pirates of various regions interact and what kind of problems that can mean. As part of the effort to better understand the root causes and to draw from experience across different regions, Australia will host a conference on piracy later this year, certainly by mid-year, which will specifically compare, or seek to compare, the experiences of counter-piracy cooperation in the Indian Ocean, South-East Asia and West Africa.”
2012-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6717Resumption1 (2012) · source
“My written statement includes a fair amount of detail, but I would mention - only as examples - a few of the efforts that are needed in the region: our active work, for example, with the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate to enhance border control capabilities; our strong efforts against money laundering; our active role in preparing for the arms trade treaty, to be negotiated in July. That is obviously a vital instrument for Africa and, of course, we need to do much more to implement the Programme of Action on Small Arms and an effective and quick disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme across North Africa, arising out of the Libyan problems.”
2012-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6717Resumption1 (2012) · source
“We support the strengthening of the United Nations system's security capacity and presence on the ground in the region, and are interested in the Secretary-General's proposal this morning for specialized police units within peace operations to work alongside national units to build capacity and tackle crime. We also support the recommendation of an overarching framework to bring together all affected countries in the Sahel to address those challenges. Australia seeks to play its own part in such issues.”
2012-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6717Resumption1 (2012) · source
“We need to build the capacity of Governments to tackle transnational organized crime and terrorism by strengthening national institutions and facilitating information and intelligence exchange, coordination and joint operations. We must also support regional security strategies and mechanisms. Here, of course, the role of the Economic Community of West African States is critical. Given that there is no one subregional organization that covers all the Sahel, the roles of the African Union (AU) and the United Nations are, obviously, particularly important.”
2012-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6717Resumption1 (2012) · source
“The exacerbating impact of the effects of climate change - as recognized by the assessment mission to the Sahel - compounds those challenges. The assessment mission report (see S/2012/42) clearly spells out necessary actions, and we must note them. They include multisectoral reintegration initiatives for returnees, with a strong focus on conflict prevention, social cohesion and protection. Programmes that focus on youth unemployment are vital. In the long term, conflict prevention programmes need to address access to justice, particularly given the weak rule of law structures in the areas of return. More broadly, across West Africa and the Sahel, national Governments need support to secure their national borders, including against the transfer of weapons, and to implement national programmes to destroy illegal arms.”
2012-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6717Resumption1 (2012) · source
“Such crimes obviously thrive in environments where there are challenges to governance, where Governments, law enforcement agencies and judiciaries lack the capacity to pursue and prosecute criminals, and where unemployment, including of the youth, is such a serious problem. The challenges confronting the Sahel are particularly acute. Existing challenges have been exacerbated by the Libya crisis, with resultant flows of weapons and the influx of returnees. More broadly, as the representative of Mauritania has just starkly reminded us, the region faces existing threats of regional drug trafficking, piracy and terrorism. Today, we have heard worrying warnings about the links between organized crime and terrorist groups.”
2012-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6717Resumption1 (2012) · source
“I would first like to thank Togo for its leadership in convening this debate and, in particular, President Gnassingbe for his presence today and you, Mr. Minister, for your presence this afternoon. As everybody has recognized today, the challenges facing West Africa and the Sahel clearly demand a much greater international focus. The Secretary-General's warning this morning of the fear of a humanitarian crisis of the magnitude of that affecting the Horn of Africa should be a wake-up call for us all. Transnational crime takes various forms that are all too often viewed as separate phenomena. However, in truth, as we know, transnational crimes tend to feed off and reinforce each other.”
2012-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6717Resumption1 (2012) · source
“In conclusion, following the Bonn and Istanbul Conferences, we hope that the message from the international community, including from my own country, to the Government and people of Afghanistan is clear: we are not only with you as the transition process unfolds, but we will also be with you long after 2014, as you put Afghanistan on the path from transition to transformation.”
2011-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6690 (2011) · source
“We will see through our primary mission of training the Afghan National Army 4th Brigade in Uruzgan province, consistent with the security transition, and we will keep under consideration a continued Australian Special Forces presence in Afghanistan beyond 2014, if that is the wish of the Afghan Government. We announced in November that we will begin negotiations on a long-term framework agreement with Afghanistan, for cooperation well beyond 2014. That will include development assistance as well as security, political, economic and cultural cooperation.”
2011-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6690 (2011) · source
“It is obvious that cooperative action will be essential to meet Afghanistan's economic challenges, particularly through prioritization and reform by the Afghan Government and by the international community actually delivering its commitments on- budget as part of the Kabul process. My own country, Australia, is itself in the top 10 of Afghanistan's development partners, and we will remain so. Afghanistan is currently the fourth largest recipient of Australian aid, and we will be increasing that over coming years. As the ninth largest troop contributor, our commitment remains serious.”
2011-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6690 (2011) · source
“Effective cooperation among Afghanistan's neighbours is an indispensable part of the international community's efforts to strengthen Afghan institutions, and thereby to promote regional stability. It will also be essential to ensure a transparent and suitably prioritized economic and development agenda and, most critically, for the international community to develop long-term partnerships with Afghanistan beyond 2014 that underwrite that effort. UNAMA's efforts will be vital, including through its honest-broker political role between the Government of Afghanistan and the international community and its support for the strengthening of electoral processes and the rule of law in Afghanistan. Ensuring the success of the 2014 and 2015 elections will be vital to solidifying democracy.”
2011-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6690 (2011) · source
“We support the establishment of a broad- based peace dialogue and endorse the Secretary- General calls for concerted efforts to forge a national consensus, including with civil society, to achieve that. The renewed focus on engagement at the provincial and district levels that has emerged from the Loya Jirga is particularly welcome. Renewed efforts at the reintegration of insurgents who are prepared to lay down their weapons remain especially urgent. It will also be important to sustain the momentum of the regional process agreed in Istanbul in November, including through confidence-building measures. We applaud Turkey's determination to help in that regard.”
2011-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6690 (2011) · source
“It has successfully laid the groundwork for the concrete discussion of two key issues in coming months, namely, the sustainment of the Afghan National Security Forces and coordinated development assistance, particularly at the Tokyo conference in July 2012. It is only concrete discussion, not just discussion, that can be decisive. We were pleased that Bonn explicitly acknowledges the crucial and increasing role to be played by the United Nations in Afghanistan as we move beyond security transition to the more fundamental task of economic transformation. We welcome the Secretary-General's most recent report (S/2011/772*) on UNAMA and agree with its key findings.”
2011-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6690 (2011) · source
“The deliberate insurgent strategy of targeted - and high profile - attacks, concerns about Afghanistan's financial and economic capacities, and doubts in the minds of some Afghans about the international community's continued presence have all dented public confidence among the Afghan people. It is therefore important that this year is ending with a number of significant and more positive indicators of progress, in particular renewed activity by the National Assembly, agreement on the International Monetary Fund programme for Afghanistan, the Loya Jirga in November and the Bonn Conference on 5 December. The Bonn Conference has further consolidated the foundation for the international community's long- term commitment to Afghanistan, which must extend beyond 2014.”
2011-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6690 (2011) · source
“I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General Ladsous and Deputy Foreign Minister Ludin for their statements this morning. I would also like to convey the deep gratitude of my Government for the dedication and leadership that the outgoing Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Staffan de Mistura, has given to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) over the past two years. I would also like to welcome the incoming Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Mr. Jan Kubis. The year 2011 has been a difficult one for Afghanistan.”
2011-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6690 (2011) · source
“They could include a better reflection, in the outcome of meetings and the Council's annual report, of what non-Council members say. We welcome Portugal's initiative in the recent meeting on new challenges to peace and security (S/PV.6668) of allowing the briefers a chance to respond to the comments from Council members. To conclude, we have here a very simple linear equation. Increased transparency and consultation increase effectiveness and further enhance the legitimacy of this body in the eyes of all of us Member States. That, of course, strengthens the Council's pre-eminent role in global peace and security.”
2011-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6672Resumption1 (2011) · source
“We endorse much of what has already been said by others, including about more open meetings; more information on the work of sanctions committees; more engagement with regional and subregional organizations, such as the African Union; more use of Arria Formula meetings and informal dialogues; making draft resolutions and presidential statements available to non-members at an early stage; and enhancing efficiency through the better harnessing of technology. Of course, the Council's efficiency and effectiveness also depends in part on the performance of us, the non-members. It is necessary for us to take full advantage of the opportunities open to us; we should do so actively and dynamically, but above all we should have something to say. We would welcome reforms to make these debates less formulaic and more productive.”
2011-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6672Resumption1 (2011) · source
“Mission-specific groups can also be an important conduit to the Council; the core group on Timor-Leste, of which we are a member, is a good example. My third point concerns interaction between the Council and the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC). While there has been good progress, there is much more that can be done to achieve a more dynamic and organic relationship between the two. We welcome the participation of the PBC Chair and the chairs of the country-specific configurations in Council meetings and informal dialogues. We believe that the Council could do more to draw on the expertise of the PBC, particularly during the renewal of mission mandates.”
2011-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6672Resumption1 (2011) · source
“We have also encouraged the Council to issue a standing invitation to the Executive Director of UN-Women and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict. 11-61406 The second issue I want to raise is improving consultation with troop- and police-contributing countries. These are an important mechanism to ensure that peacekeeping mandates are informed by knowledge of ground realities, and that expectations are realistic and well understood. Such consultation is also important throughout the lifecycle of a mission and in planning transitions. Consultative meetings need to be structured and scheduled well in advance. We welcome the initiatives adopted in its presidential statement of 26 August (S/PRST/2011/l7) to improve these processes.”
2011-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6672Resumption1 (2011) · source
“The recent debate on climate change and security signalled responsiveness to challenges that affect small island States in particular. Of course, the Council should not stray into the prerogatives of other organs, but the Council is of course responsible for maintaining international peace and security. We now understand that challenges to this can be complex and non-traditional. Having up-to-date information and analysis on new security challenges and discussion of their implications is essential to the Council's preventive role. In order to enhance the Council's capacity for prevention, we support the suggestion of regular briefings from the Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities.”
2011-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6672Resumption1 (2011) · source
“There have been good developments on working methods to welcome, but as we know there remains much to do. I will mention three issues. The first relates to conflict prevention. As the security challenges facing the globe evolve, it is vital that the Council make best use of the tools already at its disposal to prevent conflict. To do so, it needs to be able to act in an informed manner. In this context, we join others in welcoming the practice of regular briefings by the Department of Political Affairs, with a focus on horizon-scanning and early warning. These should be maintained. We also commend the Council's willingness to consider complex thematic issues relating to some of the globe's most demanding challenges.”
2011-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6672Resumption1 (2011) · source