YouSaid · the spoken record

Sacirbey

lines on the record
379
first
1992-11-13
most recent
2000-10-26
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32
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un-security-council

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  1. “Sarajevo suffered the heaviest shelling within the last year only after being designated a "safe area", Zepa has become virtually a ghost town after being shelled by Serbian forces in recognition of its designation. In the meantime, Gorazde has been a safe area for almost two months or more, and it has not. received a single relief convoy. And now, when it is being subjected to genocidal assault, not a single United Nations observer has braved Serbian obstructions to enter and fulfil this Council's mandate. Ultimately, we fear that United Nations forces will be mostly defending ghost towns or succumbing to the evil will of Serbian forces.”

    1993-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3228 (1993) · source

  2. “The North Atlantic Treaty Organization exclaims that it does not even understand the proposed mandate. Secondly, will the designation "safe area" be defined to allow for any semblance of a normal life? If we look at the example of Srebrenica as a "safe area", life is neither safe nor normal for its citizens, who are crammed into a mostly destroyed town with no water, electricity, medicines, doctors or even adequate food. It is an open concentration camp, where disease, hunger and despair have replaced shells and bullets as the tools of genocide. Most unfortunately, it is the United Nations that has unwittingly become the custodian of this modern-age leper colony. Thirdly, what comfort can the citizens of Bosnia have in the resolve of United-Nations-mandated forces to defend "safe areas"?”

    1993-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3228 (1993) · source

  3. “Imagine: if the legal authorities of any nation decreed that only citizens living in a few disjointed communities would receive the benefit of legal protection, that all others outside the designated safe communities would be prohibited the means of self-defence and that this arrangement would be indefinite, what would be the reaction of the citizens to this incomprehensible scenario? More to the point, what do you think would be the message to, and the reaction of the well-armed criminal element? But how accurate is the term "safe area", even with respect to the six towns so designated? First, the Secretary~General's report of last week, requested by this Council, says that the mandate to make these areas safe is not realistically possible.”

    1993-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3228 (1993) · source

  4. “It is especially tragic that this draft resolution will most likely have a greater impact in giving true meaning to the term "non-safe area" than to the designation "safe area": by decreeing its protection to only the towns specifically designated as "safe areas"; by effectively restricting the Government's right, through a continuing arms embargo, to defend areas not designated as "safe areas" and by allowing this to go on for an indefinite period, with no programme for a real, lasting peace, the Security Council has, at least implicitly, declared an open season on the unfortunate majority of our towns and citizens, who do not happen to fall into "safe areas".”

    1993-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3228 (1993) · source

  5. “There is another, much larger set of names, such as Maglaj, Vares, Travnik, Banja Luka, Velika Kladusa, Zenica, Stolac, Kakanj; these and countless other towns and villages, by exclusion, must be the new 'non-safe areas" of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

    1993-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3228 (1993) · source

  6. “Mr, SACIRBEY (Bosnia and Herzegovina): Mr. President, let me first congratulate you on your assuming the leadership of the Security Council for this month of June. Early on, you are facing what is obviously a very difficult task. Both you and I can only hope that it will become easier. Also at this time, let me congratulate my Slavic colleague, the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation, Mr. Yuliy Vorontsov, for his able leadership during the month of May. With the full realization that this is not 1984, there is a new Orwellian vocabulary being introduced with respect to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1993. We all now know the names - Sarajevo, Srebrenica, Tuzla, Bihac, Zepa and Gorazde -- because by the grace of the Security Council these towns have been defined as "safe areas".”

    1993-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3228 (1993) · source

  7. “It is indeed ironic that, on the fiftieth anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising and the betrayal of those doomed souls, another people threatened with genocide is still awaiting the necessary response. Genocide and aggression: efforts to evade these words are a continuing exercise in avoidance of responsibility. There can be no authority without responsibility.”

    1993-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3201 (1993) · source

  8. “As importantly, the following measures will in fact save lives now and in the longer term: first, by all necessary means either take firm control of or neutralize heavy weapons; secondly, interdict supply lines from Serbia and Montenegro penetrating our nation; and, thirdly, clarify that the arms embargo does not apply to the defence forces of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. If these steps are deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to currently Mandated United Nations personnel and their current mission, then the Government of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina clearly requests that Such missions be appropriately modified and that such United Nations personnel take precautionary measures, and if necessary, withdraw.”

    1993-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3201 (1993) · source

  9. “Tourniquets and band-aids are an appropriate temporary response to some wounds to stop the bleeding, but they become irrelevant when new and ever more vicious wounds are allowed to be inflicted. Indefinitely applied, temporary assistance can become gradually counter~productive if it is used to mask the necessity for longer-term remedies. We fully endorse the new draft resolution on Bosnia and Herzegovina being introduced by the non-aligned caucus. Its provisions are the only hope for peace or a negotiated settlement because it solely addresses the cause of the war against our nation and can thus bring about the necessary environment for an end to unilateral aggression.”

    1993-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3201 (1993) · source

  10. “The United Nations cannot be allowed to assist aggressors in accomplishing their goals and achieving political legitimacy. We call upon the Security Council and the Secretariat to ensure that its directives under resolution 819 (1993). are fully implemented and enforced. In fact, if there is deemed to be a surrender of the Bosnian forces in- Srebrenica then this is also a surrender by the United Nations to the. forces of aggression. It has become clear that the current mandate of United Nations operations in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina is not adequate or appropriate. We commend and thank the brave men and women who are valiantly trying to provide assistance under the banner of the United Nations.”

    1993-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3201 (1993) · source

  11. “The Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina strongly endorses the terms of resolution 819 (1993) in its objective to create a safe area in and around the town of Srebrenica. We are also appreciative of the motivations of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) in their efforts with respect to Srebrenica. None the less, we caution that military and humanitarian personnel cannot be assigned the obligation of political decision-making. It may be a convenient means for some members of the Security Council to avoid responsibility, but it perverts the very principles of the United Nations. Under its current mandate, in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina UNPROFOR can only accommodate the stronger aggressor at the expense of the weaker victim.”

    1993-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3201 (1993) · source

  12. “The community of nations has come together in the United Nations and nations have individually subjected themselves to the rule of law to secure greater peace and security. Nations do not restrain their sovereignty to be subjected to the political whims of the powerful in interpreting international law selectively. A new world order cannot be defined on the basis of the economic and strategic interests of a few. The efforts of the non-aligned caucus and other members of the Security Council in promoting the swift adoption of resolutions 819 (1993) and 820 (1993), and in calling for a more legally and ethically responsible answer to genocide and aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina, are most consistent with the soul of this noble body, the principles of international law and the raison d'etre for restrained sovereignty.”

    1993-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3201 (1993) · source

  13. “Now that the Vance-Owen plan has seemingly lost its utility in masking the failure of the international community to fulfil its obligations, those who most promoted the plan, with authority, now find it so convenient to betray its vision. Ironically, we, who most vividly saw the plan's flaws, cling to it as a necessary vehicle to a brighter future. The following is unavoidable, and efforts to avoid it have exacerbated the problem; Serbia and Montenegro have undertaken aggression against the Republic of Bosnia ana Herzegovina. The International Court of Justice has defined it as genocide. The Security Council has failed to fulfil its responsibility to stop the aggression and genocide.”

    1993-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3201 (1993) · source

  14. “Obviously, that is the reason why certain members of the Council avoid the use of these two words. It is tragically comical how resolutions and statements are drafted that describe the acts but so faithfully and meticulously omit the damning words. These two words are the reality of Bosnia and Herzegovina, no matter what attempts are made to exclude them from any resolution or statement pertaining to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Even the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia was co-opted to deflect the legal implication of these words and to redefine the aggression and genocide against the perple of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It became a priority to recharacterize the problem to suit the solutions that were being offered instead of modifying the solutions to actually address the unavoidable problem.”

    1993-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3201 (1993) · source

  15. “Mr, SACIRBEY (Bosnia and Herzegovina): I should like to commend you, Mr. President, on the capable manner in which you have provided leadership to the Council. I should also like to express my appreciation to the non-aligned caucus for its determined efforts and my admiration to its current coordinator, His Excellency Ambassador Diego Arria, for his most capable statesmanship. Genocide and aggression are two powerful words in any language or tone, They convey images that shock and frighten civilized mankind. These are the images of present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina. They also underlie powerful legal considerations. There is an obligation on the part of the community of nations to take concrete steps to halt immediately the actions those words represent.”

    1993-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3201 (1993) · source

  16. “Self-defence through legitimate and lawful authorities or through international mechanisms encourages respect for constitutional principies, humanitarian standards, the rule of law and order and, ultimately, reconciliation, It makes peace a reality, rather than an uncertain and far-off goal.”

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

  17. “They cannot substitute for an appropriate response or the victims' right to self-defence, Finally, we should not allow ourselves to slip into generalities and broad brushstrokes that delegitimize the victim and those upholding principles of democracy, tolerance and law and order. In so Going, we not only allow the victim to be continually exposed and fragmentation to be encouraged, but we also allow weaponry and the brutality of war to become the basis of peace. From the victims' perspective, self-defence does not increase conflict, but rather reduces the brutal and murderous consequences of aggression directed at Civilians.”

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

  18. “If this body will not take direct steps to stop this crime and implement the measures adopted by it, then it should yield and fully recognize our sovereign and absolute right to self-defence. We continue to be committed to a humanitarian effort designed to reduce the suffering. We continue to be committed to a process designed to draw our population together towards the centre, represented by an internationally sponsored constitutional framework and unequivocally endorsed by our Government. None the less, these latter efforts cannot substitute for resolute defence against an aggression directed at civilians.”

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

  19. “When the Special Rapporteur, Prime Minister Mazowiecki, reports that "ethnic cleansing" does not appear to be the consequence, but rather the goal, of this aggression, that a segment of our population is virtually threatened with extermination and that, since the London Conference, "ethnic cleansing" has in fact intensified, then I believe he reports of a continuing crime against our country and people that cannot be negotiated, the continuing suffering of our country and people that cannot be negotiated: the reports of a crime that cannot be stopped simply through prosecution. The first step - the only step - in dealing with any crime is to stop it. This crime continues, to our collective shame.”

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

  20. “We do not need any further resolutions, commitments and conferences: all we need is the implementation cf what already is on paper. We have seen and even allowed the infringement of our sovereignty at various steps in this process in order to facilitate a final solution and save our lives. This infringement does not come without obligations for those who have sponsored it. Our country is still under aggression and our citizens are the targets.”

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

  21. “Unfortunately, these efforts will not be enough by the estimates of the benefactors themselves, for 400,000 of our citizens will die this winter just from starvation, exposure and disease. Nor are we to expect that our citizens will be satisfied to be deemed indefinite recipients of humanitarian relief. More to the point: are we to facilitate the flow of humanitarian relief to feed our citizens, while we take no resolute action to stop those who would murder them - ethnically cleanse them? Certainly, we fully endorse all measures intended to relieve the humanitarian nightmare and, most notably. the creation of temporary safety zones - and I emphasize "temporary". But all these positive steps must be augmented by the third and most important element still dreadfully and, I might add, shamefully lacking - implementation and enforcement.”

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

  22. “It is a safe conclusion that those who undertake "ethnic cleansing" and who ignore this body's resolutions will not be moved by constitutional principles. They may feign their commitment to these principles or may even be induced by promises of amnesty, but ultimately the constitutional principles promoted will be undermined under this process. The effort to deliver humanitarian relief to our citizens is taking on substantial dimensions. The United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Committee of the Red Cross, various Member States and non-governmental organizations are all to be commended and we thank them ali for their efforts, laced with bravery and human generosity.”

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

  23. “This is not a condemnation of the Geneva co-Chairmen or their efforts, nor is it a lack of appreciation for the efforts made by all those endeavouring to deliver humanitarian relief. The problem is that the most important element of the solution is still lacking, and by its very absence makes a negotiated and humanitarian effort at best marginal and ultimately, at worst, irrelevant. The constitutional framework proposed cannot be appreciated by the intended beneficiaries unless, first, the rule of law is resolutely established and, if necessary, enforced against those who violate even the most basic precepts of humanitarian law, including the Geneva and genocide Conventions. Proper constitutional principles do in fact have their source in respect for human rights and principles of law.”

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

  24. “Finally, the London Conference launched the Geneva Conference, co-sponsored by the Secretariat of the United Nations and the European Community. The Geneva Conference most notably and positively proposed a constitutional framework for a nation, stressing secular democracy, no Givisio.. along ethnic lines, tolerance, coexistence and a decentralized government. Ail those parties loyal to the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina have unequivocally accepted this framework. Despite the commendable and universal principles outlined in the constitutional framework, the aggression from the air and ground, the sutfering and, most alarmingly, the "ethnic cleansing", continue.”

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

  25. “The aggression has not been stopped; and the above-mentioned resolutions not beiug honoured by Serbian and Montenegran troops, paramilita:y forces and weapons continuing to violate our sovereignty and our civilian population, and human rights abuses continuing unabated - the forum was eventually moved in August to the London Conference. The London Conference reiterated the resolutions adopted by the Security Council. It also heralded a solemn, direct and unequivocal commitment from the Belgrade regime and its surrogates in Bosnia and Herzegovina to observe a no-fly zone; not to use food, water, electricity and heating fuels as weapons; not to pursue "ethnic cleansing"; and to close all concentration camps. Most of these commitments, most of these provisions, have not been honoured.”

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

  26. “of Bosnia and Herzegovina all troops, paramilitary forces and heavy weapons in our territory; secondly, the enacting of Chapter VII economic and diplomatic sanctions against Serbia-Montenegro; thirdly, the facilitation of the flow of humanitarian relief through the deployment of United Nations Protection Force troops, maiziy at Sarajevo; fourthly, the empowerment of individual States under resolution 770 (1992), acting unilaterally or jointly, to use all means necessary to ensure delivery of humanitarian relief to all the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina; and, fifth, calls to stop all human rights abuses, and in particular "ethnic cleansing", by Serbian and Montenegran forces.”

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

  27. “Most of them will die as indiscriminate victims of "ethnic cleansing", without any opportunity to defend themselves - all this while the future of our Republic is debated and resolved from one international forum to another, and with no assurance that the death and suffering will end before there are virtually no more of us left to die or suffer. Now, let there be no mistake: this process of negotiations has produced some very desirable results. In the Security Council a significant number of positive resoiutions have been adopted, including, first, demands upon Serbia-Montenegro in May 1992 to stop its aggression and to withdraw, disband or place under the control of the Government.”

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

  28. “I am deeply honoured by this opportunity to address this body and its membership, for which I have tremendous respect, to be an advocate for a victimized people, to represent a sovereign Republic, which is defending the principles of democracy, tolerance and coexistence and to speak on behalf of all those individuals - too many of them - who will not survive this struggle and celebrate peace. It is mostly for these unfortunate individuals that I address you with such urgency of mission. Every day 20, 50, 100 or 200 of these precious individuals will unnecessarily pass from our midst.”

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

  29. “May I commend yor, Mr. President, for your stewardship of this lofty body and your efforts to bring this debate before it. I should also like to thank Ambassador Merimee for his leadership in October. Finally, I should like to express my appreciation to Mr. Cyrus Vance, Lord Owen, Mrs. Ogata and Prime Minister Mazowiecki for their comments and endless efforts. Frankly, I find it very difficult to know where to start, with so many tragedies and priorities to deal with. I suspect that many of you are of the view that you already know what I will say here today. I also suspect, though, that some of you will be surprised to know that today is the first time ever, including six months of membership in the United Nations, that my Republic has had an opportunity to present its case orally before the Security Council.”

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