YouSaid · the spoken record

Secretary-General

lines on the record: 2,998
first: 1995-09-26
most recent: 2021-05-16
sittings or episodes: 363
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

“I hope that members of the Council will forgive me for not being able to deliver this briefing myself. I have lost my voice, or most of it. In any case, Mr. Pascoe was with me every step of the way. I know that members will not want to hear my unpleasant-sounding voice, so Mr. Pascoe will share with the Council what I would have said if I could. I look forward to speaking with the Council again as soon as possible. 09-21519”
2009-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6072 (2009) · source
“We also need to turn quickly to the process of rebuilding what has been destroyed in the fighting. The United Nations stands ready to assist in and support that process. An immediate and durable ceasefire is the first step. However, we also all know that more will be needed and that a political way forward is required to deliver long-term security and peace. My visit to the region next week will focus on helping to ensure that the ceasefire is implemented and that urgent humanitarian assistance reaches those in need and on encouraging the diplomatic efforts currently under way.”
2009-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6063 (2009) · source
“For the past two weeks, people around the world have observed with grief and horror the escalating violence and suffering in Gaza and southern Israel and have looked to the United Nations to put an end to the fighting. I am heartened and relieved at the adoption by the Council today of a resolution to bring an end to that tragic situation. The Council's decision signals the will of the international community. It must be fully respected by all parties to this conflict. The resolution calls for an immediate and durable ceasefire in and from Gaza. That will open the way for 09-20414 the United Nations to resume urgently the delivery of humanitarian aid, food and medical supplies. All parties in Israel and Gaza will need to respect that humanitarian effort.”
2009-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6063 (2009) · source
“We must also see the urgent continuation of negotiations for a political solution to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, which we worked so hard for in 2008 but did not achieve. This Council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. I hope that the Council will act swiftly and decisively to put an end to this crisis.”
2009-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6061 (2009) · source
“This must include a plan to ensure that the crossings operate as envisaged in the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access and that smuggling from any direction is addressed. Third parties will need to provide assistance, both on the ground and in terms of diplomatic support, to supervise and safeguard all the various elements of a ceasefire. Gaza's enormous social relief and reconstruction needs will have to be addressed. A consolidated account of the current humanitarian needs, including the urgent appeal by UNRWA, has been issued by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. I urge all Member States to respond promptly and generously to this appeal. We urgently need to achieve Palestinian unity and the reunification of Gaza with the West Bank within the framework of the legitimate Palestinian Authority.”
2009-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6061 (2009) · source
“My envoys and I have been working to facilitate the emergence of a consensus, and I will continue my efforts with regional and world leaders, including many already gathered here in New York. I am gratified by the most recent initiative by President Mubarak and President Sarkozy for a way out of the current impasse. I also intend to travel next week to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory and to regional capitals. But I do not believe we can wait until then to end the Violence. We must achieve that now. To do so, there must be an immediate ceasefire, that is durable and respected fully by all sides. Immediate humanitarian measures, including open crossings for humanitarian assistance, should be ensured. In addition, Viable international mechanisms will be required to ensure that borders are properly functioning.”
2009-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6061 (2009) · source
“Entire families, including women and children, have perished in the Violence, as have United Nations staff and medical workers. There are no shelters for the vast majority of the civilian population. Food and fuel supplies are insufficient. A million people have no electricity. A quarter of a million have no running water. The only answer is an end to the Violence. Whatever the rationale of the combatants, only an end to violence and a political way forward can deliver long-term security and peace. I have been actively engaged with regional and world leaders to bring the violence to a speedy end. I 3 stressed to President Bush today the importance of acting immediately, and I had valuable consultations with Arab leaders yesterday and today, including President Abbas.”
2009-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6061 (2009) · source
“Three United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) schools, set up by the United Nations as places of refuge for civilians fleeing the fighting, have been hit in adjacent Israeli strikes. The third strike, at a school in the Jabaliya refugee camp, has killed dozens of civilians. These attacks by Israeli military forces, which endanger United Nations facilities serving as places of refuge, are totally unacceptable and should not be repeated. Equally unacceptable are any actions by Hamas militants that endanger the Palestinian civilian population. Today's events underscore the dangers inherent in the continuation and escalation of this conflict. I call once again for an immediate ceasefire. In the midst of this fighting, the civilian population of Gaza faces a humanitarian crisis.”
2009-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6061 (2009) · source
“Israeli sources have confirmed the deaths of five soldiers and another 50 are injured, in addition to four civilians killed and dozens injured by the more than 500 rockets launched in the last 11 days, some of which have struck homes and schools. As this conflict has escalated, I have repeatedly condemned indiscriminate rocket attacks by Hamas and the excessive use of force by Israel. I have called for an immediate end to the violence, and I have warned that if these appeals went unheeded, civilians were inevitably going to continue to be killed in large numbers. Today, at United Nations facilities in Gaza, that is exactly what has happened.”
2009-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6061 (2009) · source
“These attacks have caused damage and destruction both to Hamas militants' facilities and to public infrastructure, mosques, schools and homes. Hamas militants have continued to fire rockets at Israel, most recently reaching 30 kilometres from Tel AViV. Three days ago, in a further escalation, Israeli troops entered the Gaza Strip. There have been fierce clashes in heavily populated areas, including in and around Gaza City and in refugee camps. 09-20097 According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health and media sources, over 570 Palestinians have already been killed and over 2,700 injured. United Nations teams are unable to confirm figures due to the dangerous situation on the ground, but objective assessments, including those based on Visits to hospitals, suggest that the numbers are credible.”
2009-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6061 (2009) · source
“As the Council meets to address the grave crisis in Gaza, I welcome the leader of the Palestinian people, President Mahmoud Abbas, who is recognized by the members of this body as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. His presence, and that of high-level representatives of members of the Security Council, as well as of Arab and other Member States, is a reminder that we must move from debate to action, and must do so immediately. The situation on the ground demands nothing less. The Israeli military operation, with the stated purpose of bringing an end to rocket attacks by Hamas militants and a change in the security conditions in southern Israel, is in its eleventh day. Israel has intensified its air bombardment and sea attacks into Gaza.”
2009-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6061 (2009) · source
“Even as this crisis rages, let us never forget the underlying issue: there must be an end to occupation, an end to conflict and the creation of a Palestinian State. Let us not lose sight of our goal: two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the region, based on Security Council resolutions Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003) and 1850 (2008), the principle of land for peace, the Madrid terms of reference and the Arab Peace Initiative. This conflict must end, and it must end once and for all.”
2008-12-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6060 (2008) · source
“I urge all members of the international community, in particular those in the region, to exert what influence they have on the parties to end this violence now. Yesterday, at the Quartet meeting, I stressed the need for decisive action. I welcome the efforts under way, including by Arab and European 3 leaders. But I must repeat: not enough has been done, and more is urgently required. There must be an immediate ceasefire that is fully respected by all parties. This must create new conditions on the ground that ensure at last that crossings into Gaza Will be reopened, that rocket attacks and weapons smuggling will end, that we will pursue political dialogue, and only political dialogue, to reunite Gaza with the West Bank, and that the root cause of this suffering - the absence of Israeli- Palestinian peace - is ended.”
2008-12-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6060 (2008) · source
“However, the Karni crossing and the Karni conveyor belt, which UNRWA urgently requires to open to bring in Wheat grain supplies, remain closed, as do the Nahal Oz fuel pipelines. There remains a shortage of wheat grain, which exacerbates a shortage of bread in a situation in which two thirds of Gaza's population were already reliant on some kind of food aid prior to this escalation. Fuel shortages have led to the closure of the Gaza power plant and power shortages for up to 16 hours a day. To address the shortages of food and fuel, the Nahal Oz and Karni crossings must be opened. Unless there is an immediate end to the violence, the humanitarian situation will deteriorate significantly.”
2008-12-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6060 (2008) · source
“I also pay tribute to the efforts of donor countries which have come forward and pledged their support. Pursuant to assurances given to me by Prime Minister Olmert and Foreign Minister Livni of Israel and the continuing close cooperation between United Nations agencies and Israeli authorities on the ground, some humanitarian aid is passing through the Kerem Shalom crossing. Today, a total of 84 truckloads, including 34 for humanitarian aid agencies, entered Gaza. As a result, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is opening seven emergency distribution centres with a skeleton staff to distribute recently donated wheat flour starting tomorrow.”
2008-12-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6060 (2008) · source
“All parties must address the serious humanitarian and economic needs in Gaza and take necessary measures to ensure the continuous provision of 08-67507 humanitarian supplies. Without the violence stopping, it is extremely difficult to get food to people who need it. It is too dangerous for civilians to leave their homes to seek urgent medical treatment, buy supplies and assist people in distress. Conditions for parents and children in Gaza are dangerous and frightening. I wish to pay tribute to United Nations staff in the area, who are working hard under deeply adverse conditions to address urgently the humanitarian situation of Gazans. I am pained at the death, injury and damage that United Nations personnel and premises, as well as others associated with our programmes, have sustained.”
2008-12-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6060 (2008) · source
“Four Israelis have died since Saturday and over 30 more have been injured. Schools have closed and daily life in southern Israel is extremely difficult, as Israelis live in constant fear of rockets, which have hit homes and schools. Let me be clear: I condemn unequivocally and in the strongest possible terms the ongoing rocket and mortar attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian militants. But I also condemn the excessive use of force by Israel. All parties must fully uphold international humanitarian law. It is the civilian populations that are bearing the brunt of this escalation, and there must be swift and decisive action by the international community to bring to an end their suffering.”
2008-12-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6060 (2008) · source
“The parties must step back from the brink. All this violence must end. As a result of the crisis and the violence, conditions for 1.5 million people in Gaza today are nothing short of terrifying. The people of Gaza are living under heavy bombardment, which has targeted Hamas facilities, smuggling tunnels and other Hamas infrastructure, as well as the former Palestinian Authority security structure, government buildings, residential homes, mosques and businesses. More than 300 people lie dead, among them at least 60 women and children. Over 800 are wounded. In southern Israel, there has been a continuous stream of rockets fired from Gaza by Palestinian militants. Longer-range rockets have been used by militants, hitting major Israeli cities, with hundreds of thousands of people now in range.”
2008-12-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6060 (2008) · source
“A dramatic crisis in Gaza and southern Israel has now reached its fifth day. 08-67507 The civilian population, the fabric of Gaza, the future of the peace process, stability in the region and goodwill among people throughout the world: all are trapped between the irresponsibility displayed in the indiscriminate rocket attacks by Hamas militants and the disproportionality of the continuing Israeli military operation. We will be further threatened if the conflict continues or escalates to a new phase of deadly violence. I am profoundly troubled that the call of this Council, issued nearly four days ago, for an end to the violence has gone unheeded. I wish to underline in the strongest possible terms the world's call for an immediate ceasefire that is fully respected by all parties. This must be achieved now.”
2008-12-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6060 (2008) · source
“I am particularly disturbed by the continuing disunity within the Government's leadership. Without an effective and unified Government to support, there is little that the United Nations and, indeed, the international community, can do in Somalia. I urge the country's leaders to put their differences aside and place the future of the Somali people first. As the international community, today we must send a positive political signal to the Somali people and the African Union that we are willing to provide the security path that will complement the political compromises reached through the Djibouti process. We must act before it is too late.”
2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6046 (2008) · source
“In the interim, the Secretariat has designated a focal point in the Office of Military Affairs of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations for information-sharing on anti-piracy operations. We must be mindful that piracy is a symptom of the state of anarchy which has persisted in Somalia for over 17 years. This lawlessness constitutes a serious threat to regional stability and to international peace and security. Our anti-piracy efforts must be appraised in the context of a comprehensive approach which fosters an inclusive peace process in Somalia and assists parties to rebuild security, governance capacity, address human rights issues and harness economic opportunities throughout the country. I appeal to the leaders and people of Somalia to give peace a chance and to put the 17-year war behind them.”
2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6046 (2008) · source
“I am particularly impressed by the actions of Member States and international organizations to pool their efforts and resources to fight piracy and armed robbery at sea. I want to extend my thanks to the European Union, NATO and individual Member States that have contributed in this regard. The need to coordinate and fortify these efforts remains ongoing. My Special Representative for Somalia convened an international conference on piracy from 11 to 12 December to further discuss this issue. My Legal Adviser stands ready to assist States in trying to find a solution to the practical, legal and jurisdictional issues involved. As requested by the Security Council in its resolution 1846 (2008) of 2 December, I will submit recommendations on ways to ensure the long-term security of international navigation off the coast of Somalia.”
2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6046 (2008) · source
“through, inter alia, the provision of financing, logistical support, necessary training and equipment and other reinforcements facilitated by the United Nations and Members States is a more realistic option at this time. At the same time, we are continuing contingency planning for the deployment of a full-fledged United Nations peacekeeping operation at the appropriate time and under the right conditions, as requested by the Council. I will soon provide a detailed report to the Security Council, covering these proposals. I share the deep concern of Member States at the escalation of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia. I welcome the actions this Council has just taken to deal with the issue.”
2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6046 (2008) · source
“Finally, the Council could explore the possibility of establishing a maritime task force or adding to the current anti-piracy operations a peak reaction component. This would have the capability to launch operations into Somalia in support of the activities of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia and AMISOM. operations. Our objective is to stabilize Somalia and find a durable solution to the crisis in that country. I recognize that some members of the Council have other suggestions for dealing with the security crisis in Somalia, including putting the AMISOM forces under a United Nations peacekeeping operation now. That is not our preferred option. We are of the view that strengthening AMISOM.”
2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6046 (2008) · source
“As we are liquidating the United Nations Mission in the Sudan, we have already identified assets that could be donated to AMISOM with the approval of the General Assembly. Secondly, the Security Council should consider ways to build the capacity of the Somali parties themselves to restore security, import the Djibouti talks into Somalia and carry forward the peace process. This could include the provision of training through international partners for the joint Government- Alliance forces established by the Djibouti agreement, as well as capacity-building for the police, judicial and corrections sectors. Such efforts would be conducted under an overall security sector reform strategy, which could be nationally owned, with the United Nations assuming a coordinating role.”
2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6046 (2008) · source
“In the absence of adequate pledges for a multinational force, I intend to propose to the Council three concrete measures that would provide the necessary security arrangements in support of the Djibouti peace process. If successful, these would pave the way for the deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping operation, in keeping with Security Council resolution 1814 (2008). First, we should provide the African Union with substantial and credible resources to reinforce AMISOM, including the means to deploy the additional battle units pledged by Rwanda and Burundi. I will also suggest that all resources pledged for a multinational force be redirected to AMISOM, if a multinational force does not materialize. Financing will be a major concern, and we will have to explore with Member States creative approaches to mobilize the funds needed.”
2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6046 (2008) · source
“The challenges are huge, but humanitarian agencies continue to deliver relief supplies, including in conflict areas. If the security situation deteriorates, access to humanitarian assistance will only get worse. I have repeatedly stated that the most appropriate response to the complex security challenges in Somalia is a multinational force rather than a typical peacekeeping operation. Such a force should have the full military capabilities required to support the cessation of armed confrontation, to stabilize Mogadishu and to defend itself. I have approached 50 countries and three international organizations to request contributions to a multinational force. The response has not been encouraging. No Member State has offered to play the lead nation role.”
2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6046 (2008) · source
“Humanitarian access remains severely restricted and the level of insecurity for humanitarian workers and the local civilian population is unacceptably high. During this year alone, an estimated 250,000 people were displaced from Mogadishu. The overall number of internally displaced persons stands at 1.3 million and an average of 5,000 Somali refugees arrive every month in the refugee camps in Kenya. The number of people in need of assistance and livelihood support in Somalia now stands at 3.2 million. The delivery of such assistance remains a logistical challenge, not least because of piracy, which has increased the cost of transporting supplies. I am deeply concerned about the direct targeting of aid workers and United Nations staff, which has led to the deaths of four United Nations staff members between September and December.”
2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6046 (2008) · source
“This represents a first step in importing and entrenching the Djibouti peace process into Somalia. As we have said on numerous occasions, the responsibility to bring peace and stability to Somalia rests primarily with the Somalis themselves. However, continuing feuds within the Transitional Federal Government and the recent division between the President and the Prime Minister with regard to the former's duties can jeopardize the peace process and affect the functioning and stability of the Government. At the same time, I urge the armed groups in Somalia that have cited Ethiopia's withdrawal as a condition for ending the fighting now to lay down their weapons and join the Djibouti process.”
2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6046 (2008) · source
“There is a credible political process underway in Somalia called the Djibouti process, which has been nurtured by my Special Representative Ahmedou Ould Abdallah. Somali parties agreed on 25 November to expand the Transitional Federal Parliament by 275 seats. The parties also agreed to extend the transitional period, which ends in September 2009, by two years. The enlarged Parliament is expected to elect new Somali leadership. They have also agreed to set up a joint force to form the backbone of a united security force. The return of the leader of the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia, Sheikh Sharif, and 39 of his followers to Mogadishu from their two-year exile is a promising move. Reports indicate that they were warmly received by Somalis.”
2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6046 (2008) · source
“The African Union is scheduled to discuss the renewal of the AMISOM. mandate at the ministerial meeting in Addis Ababa on 22 December. If they do not renew the mandate, the AMISOM. forces are likely to depart before the Ethiopian forces are withdrawn. We are, however, encouraged by an indication given by both Burundi and Rwanda that they are prepared to deploy additional battle units to AMISOM. if the essential resources are made available. All eyes are on the discussion in this Chamber to gauge the determination of the international community to respond to this danger. Our actions today will be critical to the African Union's decisions on Somalia next week. I should now like to discuss briefly the latest political developments in Somalia.”
2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6046 (2008) · source
“Today's meeting comes at a critical juncture in the continuing tragedy of Somalia. Ethiopia's statement to me in a letter of 25 November that it plans to withdraw its troops from Somalia by the end of this year is consistent with the Djibouti Agreement but could easily lead to chaos. In response to the risk of a deterioration in the security situation and concerns expressed by the African Union, this body and the African Union must work closely together to provide additional support to the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) to enhance its capacity to defend itself and to continue to hold the strategic areas in Mogadishu, while efforts to build Somali security structures under the Djibouti process continue. Prime Minister Meles has reiterated to the Ethiopian Parliament his intention to completely withdraw the troops in two weeks.”
2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6046 (2008) · source
“All of us - Israelis and Palestinians, the regional countries and the Arab League as whole, the Quartet, including the incoming United States Administration, and this 08-65213 Council - must maintain our unity and redouble our efforts. As Secretary-General of the United Nations, I am deeply and firmly committed to the goal of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the region, based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002), 1402 (2002) and 1515 (2003), the principle of land for peace, the Madrid terms of reference and the Arab Peace Initiative, and I hope the Council acts today to help set us firmly, finally and irreversibly on the path to peace in the Middle East.”
2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6045 (2008) · source
“We all regret that this is not the case and we know we still face many hurdles, but a serious process is under way. We must ensure that what has been started is seen all the way through to its conclusion. We know what that conclusion must be. The occupation that began in 1967 must end. All people in the Middle East should be able to enjoy peace and full security. Palestinians must see the establishment of a State of Palestine, alongside Israel, to coexist with it in peace and security, and Israel and the Arab world must come to live together in a comprehensive regional peace. As we enter 2009, we must stabilize the situation on the ground in the West Bank and Gaza and ensure that all tracks of the process are intensified.”
2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6045 (2008) · source
“This is a very important meeting for the cause of peace in the Middle East and for the central role of the Security Council in achieving it. For the 13 months since Annapolis, Israelis and Palestinians have been negotiating continuously on all the core issues between them. The Palestinian Authority has been pursuing genuine measures of self-empowerment in the West Bank, improving security and economic life for its citizens in the framework of increased Israeli- Palestinian partnership. The international community has been devoting new efforts with the parties to secure the implementation of Road Map commitments on the ground. We had hoped by now to be marking the conclusion of a peace agreement and turning our sights towards its implementation.”
2008-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6045 (2008) · source
“08-63699 It is more apparent than ever that the United Nations, too, has become a deliberate target. Yet, those tragedies have deterred neither our will nor our ability to serve the international community. The United Nations will continue its vital work wherever and whenever needed.”
2008-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6034 (2008) · source
“The awful paradox is that the voices of terrorists often garner more attention than those of the people who bear the brunt of their cruelty. This is only the beginning of our efforts to correct that imbalance, give a human face to the victims of terrorism and thereby build a culture that rejects terrorism. In closing, Sir, let me remind you that we meet just two days shy of the first anniversary of the bombing of the United Nations offices in Algeria. That horrendous attack took the lives of 17 of our colleagues and injured some 40 more. It was all too reminiscent of the attack on the United Nations compound in Baghdad more than five years ago. Just a few weeks ago, a suicide bomber attacked the United Nations compound in Hargeisa, Somalia, killing two staffers.”
2008-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6034 (2008) · source
“In some countries, the United Nations might be the only acceptable source for political reasons. In others, the United Nations may add value simply by giving legitimacy to bilateral or regional programmes, because the United Nations has determined that they meet international norms and standards. We are also using the convening power of the United Nations in this struggle. At last month's High- level meeting on the culture of peace, leaders and senior officials from more than 70 Member States, representing diverse faiths and communities, rejected the use of religion to justify the killing of innocent people and acts of terrorism, violence and coercion. In September, I convened a symposium here at United Nations Headquarters that placed a much-needed spotlight on the plight of victims.”
2008-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6034 (2008) · source
“They have sought to promote the universal norm that terrorism is never acceptable. They have adopted important legal instruments and law-enforcement measures and addressed the economic and social dimensions of terrorism. The Assembly's adoption of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in 2006 was a landmark decision that demonstrated the unanimous and unequivocal commitment of the international community. United Nations mechanisms, such as the Counter- Terrorism Implementation Task Force and subsidiary bodies of the Security Council, are also important parts of the picture. United Nations agencies, such as the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization, provide advice and technical assistance.”
2008-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6034 (2008) · source
“So, those who believe that terror is a means by which they can achieve their goals must be shown that they will fail. The best response to a caustic and malevolent ideology is a strong assertion of collective resistance. We need to defend the human rights that terrorism so brutally violates. We need to defend the values enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the sixtieth anniversary of which we commemorate tomorrow. The United Nations has a responsibility to lead the international community's efforts to confront this menace, which no cause or grievance can justify. As a universal organization, with independent and impartial standing, the United Nations is uniquely placed to play that role. Indeed, the Security Council and the General Assembly have strongly condemned terrorism time and 08-63699 again.”
2008-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6034 (2008) · source
“I thank the Government of Croatia for convening this timely meeting and I welcome His Excellency President Mesie, President of Croatia, chairing this meeting in person. Terrorism is a global scourge. The carnage it inflicts is appalling and morally reprehensible. It seeks to foment distrust between States and peoples. It tries to tear societies apart, undermine institutions and weaken the bonds that tie communities together. The awful attacks in Mumbai two weeks ago are only the most recent example of mad, misguided individuals run amok. Terrorism is a leading threat to international peace and security. Combating it must be one of the main priorities of the international community. Those armed with planes and guns today could well arrive with more potent force tomorrow.”
2008-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6034 (2008) · source
“Thus, it is critical that the Security Council provide the same support to enhance the structures, processes, tools and resources required for mediation as for peacekeeping and peacebuilding activities. I am grateful for this opportunity to share some thoughts with the Council and look forward to working closely with all Council members in that important endeavoun”
2008-09-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5979 (2008) · source
“In 2008, the MSU established a stand-by team of mediation experts that can be deployed anywhere in the world in a matter of days. In the first half of 2008, the MSU provided support to some 15 peace processes. It is also supporting the Southern Africa Development Community, the Economic Community of Central African States and the African Union to strengthen their mediation capacities. However, the funding for MSU in the regular budget is meagre, and MSU has no funds for programme activities. Without prejudicing the role of the General Assembly in deciding budgetary matters, I urge the Council to ensure that mediation efforts have the requisite resources. Past experience suggests that an effective and coordinated mediation effort throughout the conflict cycle is necessary for effective peacekeeping and peacebuilding.”
2008-09-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5979 (2008) · source
“08-51564 Many peace processes have benefited from the ability of the Secretary-General to speak to all relevant parties, even when no other actor was willing or able to take such an initiative. Often those efforts appear neither on the Council's agenda nor in the press. They are undertaken discreetly by my envoys or by United Nations staff. That low visibility often achieves success, but it comes at a price for the Organization. Very often we struggle to convey to a sceptical world the breadth and depth of our efforts. Pursuant to the 2005 World Summit Outcome (General Assembly resolution 60/1), a small Mediation Support Unit (MSU) was established within the Department of Political Affairs to provide operational support to peace processes and be a repository of knowledge for mediators.”
2008-09-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5979 (2008) · source
“The Security Council, neighbouring countries, groups of friends and Member States must stand behind the mediator in support of a chosen strategy. My own good offices are always on offer to parties that wish to avail themselves of an honest broker, who can help them stay or return to what is sometimes a difficult path to peace. That role, which successive Secretaries-General have played in cases such as Iran, Iraq, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nigeria, Cameroon and Afghanistan, is a critical tool for the international community in settling a dispute. Such good offices can be useful when intergovernmental bodies are deadlocked or the parties actively resist intergovernmental involvement. In 1997, the East Timor question was resolved when Indonesia accepted the offer of the good offices of the Secretary-General to mediate.”
2008-09-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5979 (2008) · source
“The Council has had a positive impact on peace processes when it has used, or been prepared to use, its leverage. Targeted sanctions greatly supported the mediation efforts in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Angola. The third contribution is when the Council supports one clear chief mediator. By authorizing the mediator with the best comparative strength for a particular situation or a particular phase of the process, the Council greatly enhances the chance of success. While the mediator must consult all concerned parties, he or she must be fully supported by all partners. Competing mediators only encourage forum shopping. The fourth contribution is when the Council gives the process space, if that is what is needed. Once the Council has agreed on a strategy, it is often important to allow the mediator space and time to work with the parties.”
2008-09-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5979 (2008) · source
“Increasingly, our regional partners are asking us not only to support them in specific cases but to help them build their own mediation capacity, which we are gladly doing. The Security Council plays a central role in mediating and settling disputes, as laid out in Articles 33 and 36 of the Charter. From experience, I believe that its most important contributions come when it is unified. A successful outcome is most likely when the Council agrees on common principles for solving the conflict. Conversely, risk of failure is high when there is no common vision or when Council members and other key Member States hold contradictory positions. The Council's second most important contribution is when it is prepared to use its leverage.”
2008-09-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5979 (2008) · source
“We talk less of other situations where discreet diplomacy has enabled parties to resolve a dispute before conflict breaks out, thus helping the countries and the international community to avoid the loss of countless human lives among civilians and soldiers, as well as considerable expenditure. Today, I ask the Council and all Member States to invest further in our mediation activities, so that we will be better able to exercise that discreet diplomacy and find ourselves less often facing that Rubicon, the crossing of which inevitably leads to unspeakable suffering and enormous expenditure in terms of peacekeeping. (spoke in English) The United Nations does not claim a monopoly on the settlement of disputes. Very often we play a supporting role while regional players take the lead, as in Kenya and Zimbabwe.”
2008-09-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5979 (2008) · source
“I commend the Republic of Burkina Faso for organizing this important debate. There is no nobler mission for the United Nations than helping to settle conflicts by peaceful means. On numerous occasions the United Nations has shown that it is capable of helping parties to find specific solutions to their disputes. The situations that are most frequently discussed are those that culminate in a comprehensive peace agreement. Often they lead to a United Nations peacekeeping operation. At times, we are obliged to deploy peacekeeping troops rapidly in order to save lives, even before peace has been restored. In such situations vigorous mediation efforts are indispensable to prevent further bloodshed and to ensure that the Blue Helmets are not deployed indefinitely.”
2008-09-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5979 (2008) · source
“I shall keep extending my full support to the Security Council and its members for their tireless efforts to make this indispensable organ more efficient, transparent and inclusive.”
2008-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5968 (2008) · source