YouSaid · the spoken record

Salam

lines on the record: 964
first: 2007-07-19
most recent: 2017-10-18
sittings or episodes: 144
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

“This is another form of ethnic cleansing carried out by Israel since its establishment. Another aspect of this policy is the fact that Israel has prevented Palestinians from celebrating Jerusalem as a culture capital for the Arab world. It complements the following statement made by Mr. Michel Sleiman, President of Lebanon, during the debate on a culture of peace in the General Assembly last November: "Therefore, Jerusalem, the city of peace, where believers in the monotheistic religions 09-27993 come together, would not realize its historic mission unless the injustice imposed on its sons and on the Palestinian people as a whole is redressed and the occupation is ended." (A/63/PV46, p.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100 (2009) · source
“Those included an image of a child as a target in the sight of a gun with the logo "The smaller they are - the harder it is", or drawing of a pregnant woman as a target in the sight of a gun with the logo "One shot - two kills" or the image of an Israeli soldier blowing up a mosque or a Palestinian woman weeping at a cemetery. This is merely a small sample of the morality that Mr. Barak talks about. While Israel was spreading destruction in Gaza, it was also continuing to build the racist separation wall and intensifying settlement activities in the West Bank. As soon as military operations ceased in Gaza, tractors and bulldozers returned to destroying Palestinian houses in occupied Jerusalem in a clear policy aimed at completing the Judaization of the city, and removing its original inhabitants.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100 (2009) · source
“Indeed, we have heard and read that the Israeli army intends to investigate some of those practices, but that does not alter the fact that this is a sample of the conduct of soldiers in an army that the Israeli Defence Minister, Ehud Barak, after reviewing those testimonies, still described as "the most moral army in the world". As to the morality of that army's members, I refer to an article by Uri Blau, also published in Haaretz on 20 March 2009, in which he described certain drawings and logos that the soldiers had chosen to put on their T-shirts after graduating from training courses or returning from combat duty.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100 (2009) · source
“As has been mentioned, on 20 March 2009, the Israel newspaper Haaretz published a complete transcript of that testimony. For example, one soldier stated that instructions to his unit were, upon entering any house, to start shooting indiscriminately against anyone on the grounds that anyone remaining in Gaza was a terrorist. However, the residents of Gaza were never able to leave because of the blockade. Another soldier reported how the soldiers wantonly destroyed property. Other soldiers reported how snipers shot at civilians, women and children, without any qualms.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100 (2009) · source
“Confusing those two principles will only undermine the principle that created the need for an Organization such as the United Nations and, prior to that, the League of Nations. It takes us back to a world controlled by the law of the jungle and the logic of force. Returning to international humanitarian law, which must govern the relationship between Israel and the areas that it occupies, the principles of that law require the occupying Power to ensure the safety of the population of those areas and the protection of their property. After briefly enumerating various frequent violations by Israel in that regard, I shall only mention a few examples of the testimony of Israeli soldiers who were invited to Oranim College in Kiryat Tivon to evaluate their experiences in the war in Gaza.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100 (2009) · source
“The Court responded to Israel's claim of the right of self-defence by saying that the right cannot also cover threats originating within, rather than outside, the areas under its control. The right to self-defence also requires the existence of necessity and parity. Those two conditions have never been fulfilled whenever Israel has used force, as noted by the Secretary-General, who has repeatedly condemned Israel's excessive use of force. In fact, international humanitarian law governs all occupied areas. That is the principle established by international law and set out in the Hague Conventions and the Fourth Geneva Convention. When Israel invokes the right to self-defence in Gaza and Lebanon it is in fact engaging in "self-help" by cherrypicking its own rights.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100 (2009) · source
“Allow me to recall how, in the past several years, every time that the security situation has deteriorated in Gaza, Israel has flooded the Council with a series of letters, most recently at the beginning of this month, in which it claims the right to exercise self-defence. It is true that Israel withdrew its troops from the Gaza Strip in 2005, but it has maintained complete control over all its land and sea boundaries and airspace. Thus, from the standpoint of international law, Gaza has remained an occupied land. Needless to say, the right to self-defence, which Israel invokes to justify its use of force, contradicts the reality of the occupation. That was the opinion of the International Court of Justice in the case on the status of the separation wall.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100 (2009) · source
“Worse still is the fact that Israel has essentially violated the provisions of international law, which governs the conditions for the use of force, always under the pretext that the United Nations Charter, specifically Article 51, gives Member States the right to self-defence in the case of armed aggression until the Security Council takes the measures necessary to maintain international peace and security. Since Article 51 is an exception to the general rule provided by Article 2, paragraph 4, of the Charter, which prohibits the threat or use of force, we must interpret Article 51 in the narrowest sense. Contrary to that, throughout its history Israel has tried to cover up its aggressive acts by suggesting that Article 51 justifies them.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100 (2009) · source
“Mr. Salam (Lebanon) (spoke in Arabic): At the outset, I should like to thank Mr. Pascoe for his comprehensive briefing. There are so many war crimes against Gaza and its residents for which Israel is responsible. The irrefutable evidence includes the high number of civilian casualties, targeted hospitals, destroyed schools and property, and the recent testimony of Israeli soldiers who committed atrocities in that war, documented reports of which have been issued by several bodies and non-governmental organizations, as Mr. Pascoe mentioned. I shall return to that topic later. All those actions are grave violations of international humanitarian law - the rules that govern conduct during war and its outcome, including occupation.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100 (2009) · source
“In the name of the peace that the people of our region have longed for since the establishment of the United Nations itself and in order for the Organization to rise to the level of the legitimate expectations we all have of the United Nations, we appeal to the Council not to allow this new opportunity to become another lost opportunity.”
2008-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6049 (2008) · source
“The Lebanese army deployed forces in the south and cooperates fully with UNIFIL, and we have welcomed the recommendations of the independent group for the evaluation of conditions along the borders. We continue with technical cooperation to strengthen monitoring mechanisms in order to control the borders. We have abided by the choice of a comprehensive and just peace based on the Arab Peace Initiative. We therefore choose to see the glass as half full, in the form of the Security Council adoption of resolution 1850 (2008). The Council now has the opportunity to assume the role that we wish for it - the role actually required by the Charter of the Organization.”
2008-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6049 (2008) · source
“Israeli officials continue to issue various threats against my country, including the statement of the Israeli Prime Minister, in which he threatened to destroy Lebanon, as well as statements by the Minister of Defence and military officials, which were the subject of a letter from my Government to the Secretary-General denouncing such statements as challenges to the international community and the work of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the area south of the Litani River. The Council is well aware of Lebanon's commitment to and fulfilment of its international obligations, especially those emanating from resolution 1701 (2006).”
2008-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6049 (2008) · source
“It is time for the United Nations, based on the provisional demarcation line determined by its own expert, to launch a new diplomatic initiative that allows the restoration of the land to its rightful owners and puts an end to the occupation. Additionally, Israel still refuses to provide maps showing the locations of millions of cluster bombs that they dropped in South Lebanon, bombs that daily cause suffering and claim hundreds of victims, including children.”
2008-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6049 (2008) · source
“The total number of violations by Israel of Lebanese airspace over the last four months was more than 1,100 violations. The Secretary-General of the United Nations has denounced those actions in paragraph 8 of his most recent report (S/2008/715) on the implementation of resolution 1701 (2006) and called them a violation of Lebanese sovereignty and of that resolution. We call for an immediate cessation of those violations. After the Lebanese Government had approved and accepted the proposal of the United Nations concerning the Israeli withdrawal from the northern part of al-Ghajar village, which gave Israel three months to respond, the response was to continue to violate Lebanese sovereignty and the contents of resolution 1701 (2006). Also, the Shaba'a farms and the Kfar Shouba Hills are still under Israeli occupation.”
2008-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6049 (2008) · source
“That is in addition to the continued blockade of Gaza and the subjection of its residents to the policy of collective punishment, which has been denounced internationally. The least that can be said of all of those practices is that they have escalated an already dangerous situation. Israel continues to head in the opposite direction to peace, not only through its practices in Palestine and the continued occupation of the Golan, but also in my country. Despite the passage of more than two years since the adoption of resolution 1701 (2006), which ended the systematic destruction of Lebanese villages, infrastructure and civilian facilities in the summer of 2006, Israel continues its stubborn refusal to fulfil all its obligations under that resolution. It continues to violate the sovereignty of Lebanon.”
2008-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6049 (2008) · source
“Even more dangerous is the increased violence of settlers, as occurred, for example, in the bloody events in Hebron, where settlers burned houses and fired weapons at Palestinian civilians. All these practices are not only grave violations of international law, but also, and more specifically, of Israeli commitments under the Road Map. In this context, we heard the recent statement by the Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tzipi Livni, where she brought to mind something similar to the policy of transfer. I would also mention the decision of the Israeli authorities to detain for 30 hours Mr. Richard Falk, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 and to remove him forcibly and prevent him from carrying out his mission as mandated by the United Nations itself.”
2008-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6049 (2008) · source
“While the international community and the Group of Arab States, based on the Arab Peace Initiative, are seeking a political process that restores the land to its rightful owners and guarantees peace for everyone, Israel continues in the opposite direction. The situation on the ground provides ample evidence of that. Israel allows continued construction and expansion of settlements. The number of new housing units in the settlements this year alone has grown by 3,000 units. Also, Israel continues its policy of confiscation of land and water resources in the West Bank. Israel continues its construction of the separation wall, in contravention of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, and continues to dismantle and divide the West Bank through hundreds of checkpoints and barriers.”
2008-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6049 (2008) · source
“It is important to note that the resolution mentions and reminds us of the main terms of reference for the establishment of a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, in particular the United Nations resolutions, the principles of the 1991 Madrid Conference and the Arab Peace Initiative, but, most importantly, it reactivates the role of the United Nations, and specifically the Security Council, in order to achieve the desired peace, a just and comprehensive peace. While we welcome the planned Moscow conference, we must also note that the resolution lacks a specific timeline for the achievement of peace and also lacks a clear call to put an end to Israeli occupation and a clear denunciation of Israeli practices against Palestinian civilians.”
2008-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6049 (2008) · source
“Mr. Salam (Lebanon) (spoke in Arabic): Today, we meet once more for the monthly briefing of the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East and primarily the question of Palestine. The most significant aspect of our meeting today is that the Council, after a long absence, acted to adopt resolution 1850 (2008) two days ago, which the Council has sought as a new framework for the negotiation track that started in Annapolis. The resolution was adopted despite its shortcomings, in the hope that it will provide the proper momentum.”
2008-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6049 (2008) · source
“We reaffirm that cooperation among the Commission, the Lebanese authorities and the investigation on logistical matters regarding the security of the Commission and its personnel will continue. Finally, we wish to thank all Member States that have supported the work of the Commission. Whenever the Commission makes progress in searching for the truth, we come closer to the time when the Tribunal can begin its work so that we can achieve justice and breathe life into the ancient Roman maxim that truth is the mother of justice.”
2008-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6047 (2008) · source
“In addition, we commend the Commission for its efforts to base its work on concrete evidence, in accordance with the highest norms of international law. We hope that the Security Council will respond positively to the request that it extend the Commission's mandate from 31 December 2008 to 28 February 2009 in order to ensure a smooth transition between the investigation and the commencement of the Special Tribunal's work, when Commissioner Bellemare will begin his duties as Prosecutor. We look forward to the commencement of the Special Tribunal's work upon the completion of the transitional phase. We wish to thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his continued efforts to support the progress of justice for Lebanon and the Lebanese.”
2008-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6047 (2008) · source
“For all those reasons, today's meeting is an important event not only for the families of the 08-65611 martyrs and victims, but also for all Lebanese citizens, who have the right to a secure, dignified life far removed from terrorists and terrorism. With regard to the content of the eleventh report of the Commission submitted by Commissioner Bellemare, my delegation cannot fail to welcome the progress made in the investigations and the new information received by the Commission, which will enable it to determine the identities of additional persons related to the terrorist network that carried out the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. We welcome the finding that that crime is linked with others being investigated by the Commission.”
2008-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6047 (2008) · source
“The Lebanese Government of National Unity, formed after the adoption of the Doha Agreement and the holding of our presidential elections, highlighted in its statement to Parliament its commitment to the international tribunal established under Security Council resolution 1757 (2007) to prosecute the crime of the assassination of the martyred Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and his colleagues and other assassination attempts and to administer justice, rather than seek vengeance and politicization. That commitment was reaffirmed by President Michel Sleiman in his address to the General Assembly on 23 September. Today's meeting also follows the Secretary-General's declaration on 30 November that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon is fully prepared to begin its work on 1 March 2009.”
2008-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6047 (2008) · source
“This meeting also coincides with the third anniversary of the assassination of Lebanese Member of Parliament Gebran Tueni and the first anniversary of the assassination of Brigadier General Francois al-Hajj, and is being held only two months before the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and a number of his colleagues. It was following that event that, for the first time, we addressed the Security Council to seek support for our efforts to find the truth and put an end to the impunity of the perpetrators. Since then, we have sought only to find the truth and to administer justice, because we believe that that is the best and most effective way to prevent terrorists from continuing their crimes.”
2008-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6047 (2008) · source
“However, this meeting has a particular meaning for Lebanon because it coincides with the international celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in the drafting of which Lebanon had the honour to participate. Included among those rights is the right to life, liberty and security of person - a basic right that cowardly terrorists tried to undermine by assassinating a number of my country's leaders and other innocent civilians through a sinister and criminal plot involving a series of explosions.”
2008-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6047 (2008) · source
“Mr. Salam (Lebanon) (spoke in Arabic): I should like at the outset to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the current month and the delegation of Costa Rica on a successful Council presidency last month. I thank Commissioner Bellemare for his report to the Council on the progress made in the work of the International Independent Investigation Commission and for his detailed briefing today. I take this opportunity to 08-6561] express to him and his team my great appreciation and that of my Government for their efforts. Some might consider that the format of this meeting, at which the Council hears briefings by Commissioner Bellemare, has become a routine affair.”
2008-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6047 (2008) · source
“Fuad Siniora, to write to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 22 August, warning that the current ongoing violations by Israel of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006), coupled with recurring statements containing the threat of the use of force and coercion against Lebanon, raised serious concerns about Israeli intentions. Mr. Siniora urged him to address firmly Israel's defiance of its obligations to fully abide by the letter and spirit of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 (2006). Against this background, I am confident that the Council will understand why I would like to thank it for the important resolution adopted today. It carries an unequivocal and renewed commitment to the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of my country.”
2008-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5967 (2008) · source
“Moreover, it is surprising that Mr. Ehud Barak, Defence Minister of Israel, continues to refuse to meet General Graziano, the Commander of UNIFIL, to discuss the situation on the Lebanese border and the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 (2006). "I've been asking for a meeting with Barak for six months, but they keep putting me off", Graziano is reported to have said, according to the Israeli daily Haaretz. On 22 August 2008, Haaretz also reported that Graziano has been complaining that he has not been able to meet Israeli Chief-of-Staff Ashkenazi either. More disturbing, however, is the fact that Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Olmert, have recently been launching a series of alarming threats against Lebanon under various pretexts and allegations. This prompted our Prime Minister, Mr.”
2008-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5967 (2008) · source
“What else can we conclude when Israel continues to violate Lebanese airspace on a daily basis, as stated by the Secretary-General in his seventh report on the implementation of resolution 1701 (2006) (S/2008/425); when Israel persists in its refusal to hand over to the United Nations the maps of the deadly cluster bombs it has planted in the fields and farms of southern Lebanon; when Israel does not withdraw from the northern part of Al-Ghajar village; and when a solution to the Shabaa Farms issue, as proposed by the Lebanese Government in its seven-point plan, has not yet been reached? Accordingly, can there still be any doubt about the identity of the party that must be held responsible for obstructing the full implementation of resolution 1701 (2006). Indeed, res ipsa loquitur - the thing speaks for itself, says the legal adage.”
2008-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5967 (2008) · source
“Let me also mention the appreciation of my Government for the technical support provided by the two Lebanon Independent Border Assessment Team (LIBAT) missions and assure the Council that it will continue to give due consideration to the LIBAT reports. 3 We need to acknowledge the fact that resolution 1701 (2006), two years after its adoption, has not been fully implemented.”
2008-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5967 (2008) · source
“We would also like to take this opportunity to commend UNIFIL for its remarkable work; to praise the wise and courageous leadership of its Commander, General Graziano; and to thank all troop-contributing countries and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. In two days' time, it will be the second anniversary of the adoption of Council resolution 1701 (2006). During those two years, the Lebanese Government has reaffirmed time and again its commitment to the full implementation of the resolution in its entirety and to working closely with UNIFIL in pursuit of security and stability in its area of operations. What greater evidence of the seriousness of that commitment could there be than the deployment of the Lebanese army in the south promptly after the adoption of resolution 1701 (2006)?”
2008-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5967 (2008) · source
“At the outset, I would like to extend my congratulations to you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the current month. I would also like to recognize your predecessor, the Permanent Representative of Viet Nam, for his effective stewardship of the Council last month. First and foremost, my Government would like to thank, through you, Mr. President, all members of the Council for the decision taken today to renew for another year the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). I am sure you are aware how important today's Council decision is to my fellow Lebanese citizens, who have been the victims of repeated Israeli aggressions since the 1978 invasion, which led to the adoption of Security Council resolution 425 (1978) and to the creation of the first UNIFIL.”
2008-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5967 (2008) · source
“We would like to thank donor States for their contributions to the budget of the Commission and the ongoing work of the Secretariat in that area. 08-4326] Once again, it is quite clear that there is no stability in our region and no security for its people. Indeed, there will be no peace for the people in our region except on the basis of respect for the provisions of international law and the implementation of resolutions of international legitimacy and legality, especially those of the Security Council.”
2008-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5940 (2008) · source
“Lebanon aspires through international legitimacy and resolutions to retrieving its occupied land and to restoring stability in the South. It looks to international legitimacy to bring about justice and to put an end to the immunity of criminals who have tried to terrorize Lebanese citizens and destabilize their security and their country. With regard to the ongoing special investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, Mr. Daniel Bellemare continues his work as Commissioner of the United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission. The administrative and logistical steps taken to establish the Special Tribunal for Lebanon have advanced through some very important stages.”
2008-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5940 (2008) · source
“We emphasize here the importance of immediate and unconditional withdrawal from the northern part of the village of Ghajar and of finding an appropriate solution for the Israeli occupation of the Shaba'a Farms. Returning to Mr. Barak's assertion that resolution 1701 (2006) would not be implemented, that remark proves Israel's intention not to implement it. Unfortunately, that is consistent with Israel's history, since it is known for ignoring international resolutions and refusing to implement them. The latest violation of resolution 1701 (2006) is Israel's continued disruption of the communication network in southern Lebanon and the distribution of letters threatening and intimidating civilians. We have already reported those new violations of the security and freedom of Lebanese citizens to the Council.”
2008-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5940 (2008) · source
“More than 20 violations a day - an unprecedented number - were reported by the Secretary-General in his seventh report on the implementation of resolution 1701 (2006). Civilians in southern Lebanon are still held hostage by mines and cluster bombs that were planted by Israel. After two years of calls for maps showing where those bombs have been laid, Israel has offered only two years of flagrant refusal and objections. Who will return six-year old Ali Dakduk to his mother and his family after he was killed by deadly Israeli cluster bombs? Who will stop the series of deaths caused by Israel in the houses, fields and farms of southern Lebanon? Dozens of innocent civilians have been killed by such bombs. Israel continues its occupation of the village of Ghajar, the Shaba'a Farms and the Kfar Shouba Hills.”
2008-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5940 (2008) · source
“In exchange of prisoners was another step towards the full implementation of resolution 1701 (2006), and here we would like to emphasize the continued technical cooperation between Lebanon and the United Nations in monitoring the Syrian-Lebanese borders, where an independent working group for the observation of the border has been installed. Lebanon views the full implementation of resolution 1701 (2006) as crucial despite the fact that the Minister of Defence of Israel, Mr. Ehud Barak, has stated that the resolution has not and will not be implemented. It is true that the resolution has not been implemented, but it is true because Israel has not implemented many of its provisions. For example, Israel continues to violate Lebanese airspace.”
2008-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5940 (2008) · source
“In these two years, very important steps were taken concerning the deployment of the Lebanese army in the South and cooperation with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in order to establish security and stability in the South. The last of those steps was the exchange of Lebanese prisoners of war held in Israeli prisons for the two Israeli soldiers, whom Lebanon returned under the auspices of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. To Mr. Ban we offer great thanks and our deepest gratitude. A lot has been said about those exchanges. What is important is the return of Lebanon's citizens and the turning of a painful page in our history. National solidarity has been demonstrated through the reception of the prisoners of war and the remains of the fallen.”
2008-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5940 (2008) · source
“Michel Sleiman, to visit Syria on the basis of an invitation from President Bashar Al-Assad to discuss all fraternal matters and pending issues between the two countries. That announcement was made at a meeting of the two Presidents in Paris hosted by President Nicolas Sarkozy on the resumption of diplomatic relations, a matter which the two countries must follow up. Two weeks ago was the second anniversary of the Israeli war against Lebanon, waged to recover two soldiers who had been abducted. In two weeks, it will be the second anniversary of the adoption of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006).”
2008-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5940 (2008) · source
“On 21 May, through an initiative of the League of Arab States under the auspices of Qatar, the Lebanese leadership reached an agreement in Doha. On 25 May, General Michel Sleiman was elected President of the Republic by the Lebanese parliament. His presidential speech was welcomed by all Lebanese in Lebanon and abroad. That was great news for the country. Last week, a national unity Government was formed by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and will be presented soon through a ministerial declaration. Work on parliamentary elections will soon begin. In order to pursue dialogue and promote the sovereignty of the State, it will be necessary to negotiate some controversial issues. We note the intention of the President of the Republic, Mr.”
2008-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5940 (2008) · source
“In Paris on 13 July, the Israeli Prime Minister was optimistic about reaching an agreement with the Palestinians, but Palestinian land is still being torn apart, the Gaza Strip is still under siege and its people are still being collectively punished. The policy of the confiscation of lands in the West Bank, the establishment of checkpoints and the separation wall still go on. Worst of all, settlement activity continues; hence the Arab Group's initiative to submit a draft resolution to the Council aimed at stopping Israeli settlement activities, which are the main impediment to the peace process. We call on the Security Council once again to uphold the values and norms of international law and the rule of law by adopting the draft resolution. From Lebanon, I bring good news.”
2008-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5940 (2008) · source
“In 2002, Arab leaders launched the Arab peace initiative at the Beirut Conference, emphasizing the same outcome at the various successive summits. The 2003 road map added another term of reference for the Palestinian-Israeli path, followed by the Annapolis Conference, which renewed hopes of reaching a peaceful agreement between the Palestinians and Israelis before the end of this year. There have thus been many initiatives, but what is required are not miracles; what is required will continue to be an obligation to commit to the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, the implementation of international resolutions and the adoption of the Arab peace initiative.”
2008-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5940 (2008) · source
“We had great hopes that this year would end with the announcement of the independent Palestinian on Palestinian soil, with its capital in East Jerusalem, and with the enablement of the Palestinians to exercise their right to return, which is the basic condition for the establishment of a comprehensive and just peace in the Middle East. That was the hope, but what is the reality? The twentieth century witnessed a number of serious attempts to achieve comprehensive peace. In 1991, the Madrid Conference was held under United States and Soviet auspices. It was followed by the Oslo Agreement between the Palestinians and the Israelis. A number of agreements and understandings followed. We are almost at the end of the first decade of the twenty-first century and the attempts are still continuing.”
2008-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5940 (2008) · source
“Mr. Salam (Lebanon) (spoke in Arabic): At the outset, I would like to extend my congratulations to you, Sir, on assuming the presidency of the Security Council this month. I would like to thank your predecessor, the representative of the United States, for his efforts during the United States' presidency of the Council last month. I would also like to express my great appreciation for the briefing by Mr. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary- General for Political Affairs, concerning developments in the Middle East, particularly regarding the question of Palestine. This year, the situation in the Middle East brings many things to mind. It is the sixtieth anniversary of the Palestinian disaster and the forced displaced of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.”
2008-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5940 (2008) · source
“The delegation of Lebanon takes note of Mr. Bellemare's request that the Commission's mandate be renewed. Let me assure the Council that my Government will look most favourably on the matter.”
2008-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5863 (2008) · source
“We would also like to reiterate the commitment of the Government of Lebanon to ensuring full protection for the headquarters and members of the Commission. Fourthly, having read last year's report of the Secretary-General to the Security Council (8/2007/525) on the important progress made in the steps to establish the Special Tribunal for Lebanon - including the signing of the headquarters agreement, the selection of judges, the appointment of the Registrar, the establishment of the administration and the collection of a large number of necessary financial contributions - we would like to welcome the reference in Mr. Bellemare's report regarding the completion of the necessary steps for the transitional period prior to the establishment of the Tribunal and for the transfer of evidence and other judicial matters.”
2008-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5863 (2008) · source
“Secondly, we welcome the concrete results achieved by the Commission on the basis of the evidence it continues to collect, in particular as that has enabled the Commission to ascertain that the assassination of former Prime Minister Hariri was carried out by a criminal network, that some parts of that network are linked to a number of other crimes covered by the Commission's mandate, that that network was in place prior to Prime Minister Hariri's assassination and that elements of the network are still in place and continue to operate. Thirdiy, we would like to draw the Council's attention to the fact that the Commission is continuing to cooperate with Lebanese judicial authorities ~ whether with regard to exchanges of information, the holding of meetings, evaluating evidence or preparing for future stages of the current investigation.”
2008-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5863 (2008) · source
“First, we pay tribute to the Commission, in the person of its Commissioner and members, for carrying out their work in difficult security conditions and for the success they have achieved in more than doubling - from 123 to 256 - the number of the Commission's requests for assistance to Lebanon and 5 other States. We also welcome the Commission's flexibility with regard to those requests for assistance, as well as for seeking assistance from the largest number of international forensic laboratories in order to achieve results as soon as possible.”
2008-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5863 (2008) · source
“On behalf of the Government of Lebanon, I should like to reiterate our congratulations to him on his assumption of office. Allow me also to express our sincere appreciation of his sense of leadership and the great professionalism he has demonstrated since taking over the Commission at the beginning of this year. I should also like to convey our most heartfelt thanks to all of those working in the Commission for their excellent work. With regard to the substance of Mr. Bellemare's statement and the Commission's tenth report, which has now been transmitted to the Council, I should like to make the following observations on behalf of my delegation.”
2008-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5863 (2008) · source
“President, know more than any other, as your great country, South Africa, has had a leading experience, together with Bishop Desmond Tutu, in stressing the importance of truth in overcoming the pains that your people have suffered. As truth, as former President Nelson Mandela said, helped your country to find common understanding of its path, we also hope that truth will help us reach a common understanding of this chapter in the history of our country. Our seeking to set up the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, a tribunal with an international character, has always sought justice in order to deter terrorists from perpetrating their crimes in order to restore stability and security to our country and to restore a sense of civility and safety to our people. I have listened very carefully to the statement made by Commissioner Daniel Bellemare.”
2008-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5863 (2008) · source