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

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“While I am relieved to hear of reports that some military forces have been withdrawn and some restrictions eased, the overall situation remains of serious concern, especially with regard to the unknown predicament of the large number of individuals who were arrested without due process. I hope that those detained will be released without further delay. Now more than ever before, the Government of Myanmar should take bold actions towards democratization and respect for human rights. The national reconciliation process must be accelerated and made as broad-based, inclusive and transparent as possible. A serious and comprehensive political dialogue between the Government and the political opposition is indispensable.”
2007-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5753 (2007) · source
“We meet at a time when events in Myanmar are attracting unprecedented world 2 attention. My Special Adviser, Mr. Ibrahim Gambari, just returned from a short mission yesterday and will brief the Council shortly. I asked Mr. Gambari to convey to the senior leadership in Myanmar very clear messages from me, on which Mr. Gambari will elaborate in his briefing. I am deeply concerned about the recent events in Myanmar and the reports of continued human rights violations. I must reiterate that the use of force against peaceful demonstrators is abhorrent and unacceptable.”
2007-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5753 (2007) · source
“(spoke in French) Along the continuum from conflict prevention to peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding in Africa, I am committed to ensuring that the United Nations plays its role to the fullest extent possible.”
2007-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5749 (2007) · source
“As underscored at the high-level meeting I convened yesterday, decisive international action to address global warming is crucial. It is particularly important for Africa, as the impact of climate change will fall disproportionately on some of its poorest countries. Equally pressing is the need to make development work in Africa. Fighting extreme poverty is key to preventing conflict. That is why I recently launched the Millennium Development Goals Africa Steering Group, together with the African Union, the 07-51572 World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the European Commission and other partners. The aim is to galvanize international action to reach the goals on the continent by 2015.”
2007-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5749 (2007) · source
“Efforts to prevent conflict require much fewer resources than do peacekeeping operations. Next month, I intend to propose to the General Assembly a significant strengthening of the Department of Political Affairs to make more effective use of my good offices. I count on the Council's support. I also seek its continued assistance in our efforts to consolidate peace in fragile post-conflict countries in order to help prevent a relapse into violence. The Peacebuilding Commission has so far helped bring increased international attention to recovery efforts in Burundi and Sierra Leone. We anticipate more referrals, including of African countries, for the Commission's consideration. Climate change brings additional challenges to Africa, including in peace and security.”
2007-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5749 (2007) · source
“(spoke in English) That is why the United Nations is working to strengthen its partnerships with regional organizations, such as the African Union (AU). The goal is to enhance the capacities to address conflicts. Together we must respond in a more timely and complementary manner to the crises in Africa. The hybrid operation for Darfur represents an unprecedented partnership between the United Nations and the African Union. It is an expression of our collective commitment to end the tragedy of Darfur. More broadly, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations is working with the AU to develop an African standby force to help maintain durable peace on the continent as a whole. But we must invest more in prevention and mediation so that disagreements do not develop into violence.”
2007-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5749 (2007) · source
“I thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this important discussion. Ensuring peace and security for the people of Africa is not only at the very core of the United Nations agenda; it is also a top priority for me personally. I wish to act with a strong sense of urgency. I want to emphasize the importance of results, action and delivery. Many African countries are confronted with daunting peace and security challenges. But encouraging signs are emerging. Progress has been achieved on several fronts. The successful conduct of elections in Sierra Leone is the most recent manifestation of the positive trends. The Governments 2 and peoples of Africa must be commended for their determined efforts to address the challenges. But African peacemakers alone cannot tackle the continent's conflicts.”
2007-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5749 (2007) · source
“By some estimates, there has been a 40 per cent decline in armed conflict around the world since the 19905. Recent research credits expanded United Nations peacemaking, peacekeeping and conflict prevention activities as a major factor behind this decline. That is encouraging. But, it is not good enough. Violent conflicts continue to inflict immense suffering on countless people, mostly civilians around the world. For those victims and for the sake of future generations, we have an obligation to take more seriously the challenge of prevention. There must be sustained international political will to reinforce preventive action in its broadest sense. And there must be adequate resources invested for the diverse and complex tasks that prevention entails.”
2007-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5735 (2007) · source
“It is important to note that we are on track to realize the Millennium Development Goals in most developing countries - but not in Africa. Why? We need fresh thinking and new approaches to lifting our poorest nations out of poverty. Part of that means dealing with the conflicts and problems of governance that affect so many African countries. Equally crucial is the need to build peace in countries emerging from conflict - Burundi, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, Liberia. In those and other fragile post-conflict countries, peacebuilding is in fact prevention, since it is designed to prevent a relapse into war. We are working with the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights Commission to support reconciliation and confidence- building, end impunity and consolidate the peace.”
2007-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5735 (2007) · source
“The United Nations is assisting in all those areas, through its own programmes and through support to regional organizations like the African Union. Conflict prevention and sustainable development reinforce each other. That is why it is crucial that we make progress in our race to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. That means reinforcing and accelerating our efforts to reduce extreme poverty, combat disease, promote universal primary education, ensure environmental sustainability and advance gender equality. Empowering women is not only a means to achieving lasting development, it is also critical to the promotion of peace and security, as 3 underlined in resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security.”
2007-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5735 (2007) · source
“The most difficult conflicts occur when a variety of factors come together; for example, when tensions over issues of identity within a community are combined with unequal access to political and economic resources. Africa is particularly affected by those problems, perhaps because of the manner in which its colonial borders were drawn up. In order to prevent or resolve such conflicts, we must promote tolerance of diversity within societies. The solutions should be as inclusive and representative as possible. That means providing advice on constitutional frameworks. It means promoting human rights and the rule of law, helping to organize elections and building democratic institutions. It means training police and pursuing efforts to stop weapons smuggling.”
2007-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5735 (2007) · source
“In that regard, I would like to inform you that I am going to visit the Sudan in early September, from 3 to 6 September. I want to go and see for myself the very difficult conditions under which the forces will operate. I also want to know first-hand the plight of those they seek to help. Let me emphasize from the outset that this is not a trip about breakthroughs; rather the visit is about consolidating the progress to lay the groundwork for forward movement. In Juba, I plan to underscore the commitment of the United Nations to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the North and the South, the cornerstone of peace in the Sudan. I also wish to show solidarity with colleagues who are working under very difficult conditions in the field. In today's world, prevention must go beyond mere diplomacy.”
2007-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5735 (2007) · source
“The goal is to strengthen our collective capacities to address Africa's peace and security challenges. With the Council's adoption of resolution 1769 (2007) on Darfur, we have entered a new era in United Nations-African Union cooperation. The African Union-United Nations hybrid operation is an unprecedented undertaking and it reflects the international community's commitment to end the suffering in Darfur. The United Nations and the African Union are also collaborating closely in pushing forward the political process in Darfur. Again, peacekeeping is only a start; there must be a political solution, but that has taken too long. The tragedy of 07-49195 Darfur reminds us how much more needs to be done before we complete our transformation from a culture of reaction to one of effective prevention.”
2007-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5735 (2007) · source
“In the next few months, I will also present proposals for strengthening the capabilities of the Department of Political Affairs, with the goal of making more effective use of my good offices. I believe in engagement and dialogue, not confrontation. It is better to respond proactively, before a crisis fully develops. I count on the Council's support as we move forward in this endeavour. Already, the Department has moved to create a standing team of mediation experts. It is establishing a comprehensive data bank of peace agreements and lessons learned on peacekeeping. It is undertaking proactive mediation efforts in such places as the Sudan and northern Uganda. Regional organizations can contribute. Again, I point to the Sudan, where the United Nations is working with the African Union.”
2007-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5735 (2007) · source
“If we do not deal with the root causes of conflict - and offer sustainable solutions - we will be left with peacekeeping missions without end. In 1998, my predecessor developed a plan to deal with these issues. He sought to identify the causes of conflict and to provide recommendations for the promotion of peace and development in Africa. But much has changed since then. Shortly, I will submit to the sixty-second session of the General Assembly my report on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa. In it, I will recommend a comprehensive review of the 1998 recommendations. The review will cover the commitments made, the actions taken, the progress achieved and the lessons learned.”
2007-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5735 (2007) · source
“At the same time, a greater investment in prevention could save us considerable pain and expense - in Darfur, in Somalia, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in northern Uganda, in Western Sahara and elsewhere. We must devote more resources to conflict prevention. We must also strengthen our capacity for mediation. It is only through political settlements that conflicts can be resolved. Conflicts have grown ever more complex. Sustainable solutions, therefore, require increasingly complex, multifaceted approaches. The United Nations system already contributes significantly to the prevention and resolution of armed conflict. Yet the 07-49195 increasing complexity of the demands placed upon us has stretched the capacity of the Organization. We need to develop new approaches. We need to address the underlying causes of conflicts.”
2007-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5735 (2007) · source
“It is a pleasure to join the members of the Security Council today for this open debate on conflict prevention and resolution, particularly in Africa. Thank you, Mr. President, for your initiative. I should like to officially welcome Ambassador Ripert of France and Ambassador Sawers of the United Kingdom, who have joined the Council and the United Nations as new Permanent Representatives. I am confident that their wide experience will make very valuable contributions to all the work of the United Nations, including that of the Council. Since the time I assumed office as Secretary- General, I have made it clear that the resolution of Africa's most difficult conflicts is a top priority of my agenda.”
2007-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5735 (2007) · source
“The United Nations looks forward to working in close partnership with the leaders and people of Iraq to explore how we can further our assistance under the terms of this resolution. I take this opportunity to express my profound appreciation and respect to the people and Government of Iraq for their courageous efforts to make their country more stable, democratic and prosperous. As we remember our colleagues who died in Baghdad four years ago, I also take this opportunity to pay tribute to the brave men and women who continue to serve the United Nations in Iraq. As we move forward, their safety and security will remain a paramount concern.”
2007-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5729 (2007) · source
“I am pleased to take part in this important meeting of the Security Council this morning on the situation concerning Iraq. I welcome the Council's decision today to renew and strengthen the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq through the unanimous adoption of resolution 1770 (2007). The United Nations is deeply committed to helping the people of Iraq, and I am pleased to have the opportunity now to enhance, where possible, our contributions in crucial areas such as national reconciliation, regional dialogue, humanitarian assistance and human rights. A peaceful and prosperous future is for Iraqis themselves to create, with the international community lending support to their efforts.”
2007-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5729 (2007) · source
“The Special Envoys of the United Nations and the African Union have stepped up their efforts and will be meeting with the parties in Arusha later this week. It is crucial that the Arusha meeting yield positive results, so as to pave the way for negotiations and, ultimately, a peace agreement. Only in this way can we end the Violence and destruction that have afflicted Darfur for more than three years. We will build peace through negotiations for a political settlement and sustain peace on the ground with our peacekeepers. I look forward to working closely with the members of the Council, with the African Union and with all Governments concerned as we advance towards our shared goal.”
2007-07-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5727 (2007) · source
“Member States, especially troop- and police-contributing countries, must provide every support. Additional capable troops must be committed. Support systems must be put in place. Command structures must be established. National Governments know from their own experience that this takes time. But time is not on our side. Equally fundamental will be the unequivocal and continuous support of the Government of the Sudan. If the Government is not a good-faith partner in this initiative, the operation will fail. We have the same expectation of the rebel movements. As we recognize the importance of today's resolution and redouble our collective efforts to strengthen peacekeeping in Darfur, we must also acknowledge that it is only through a political process that can we achieve a sustainable solution to the conflict.”
2007-07-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5727 (2007) · source
“We must now move forward, in all haste, to build on their work. We must put in place the complex and vital peacekeeping operation which the Council authorized today. The Council is familiar with the administrative, logistical and serious operational challenges that must be overcome to establish the hybrid mission. We must dedicate ourselves fully to deploying a mission that will make a clear and positive difference in the lives of the people of Darfur. They have a right to expect nothing less. Preparations for the operation have been under way since early this year. Today's resolution will give 07-44445 even greater momentum to our efforts. If we are to meet the ambitious goal established by the resolution and assume authority in Darfur by the end of the year, the Council must remain engaged.”
2007-07-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5727 (2007) · source
“I am honoured to address the Security Council after its adoption of this historic and unprecedented resolution. By authorizing the deployment of a hybrid operation for Darfur, the Council is sending a clear and powerful signal of its commitment to improve the lives of the people of the region and close this tragic chapter in the Sudan's history. Today's resolution is the culmination of a serious and painstaking collaboration within the Security Council. I commend Council members for their efforts. The adoption is also the result of sincere and intensive cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union. As we open this new chapter, I pay tribute to the men and women of the African Union Mission in the Sudan, who have given their all in the service of peace - some paying the ultimate price.”
2007-07-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5727 (2007) · source
“I personally look forward to engaging with Member States on these issues and hope that, through discussions in various forums, we can develop a broad consensus on the way forward.”
2007-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5663 (2007) · source
“And, of course, the economic costs and losses of all of those scenarios would impede the ability of countries to reach the Millennium Development Goals. Those are, of course, only possible scenarios. But we cannot sit back and watch to see whether they turn into reality. The entire multilateral machinery needs to come together to prevent that from happening. We must focus more clearly on the benefits of early action. The resources of civil society and the private sector must be brought in. And the Council has a role to play in working with other competent intergovernmental bodies to address the possible root causes of conflict discussed today. The Secretariat stands ready to assist all entities engaged in the pursuit of their respective mandates.”
2007-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5663 (2007) · source
“That, in turn, could weaken the institutional capacity of the State to resolve conflict through peaceful and democratic means, to ensure social cohesion and to safeguard human rights. Extreme weather events and natural disasters, such as floods and drought, increase the risk of humanitarian emergencies and, thus, the risk of instability and dislocation. Migration driven by factors such as climate change could deepen tensions and conflicts, particularly in regions with large numbers of internally displaced persons and refugees. Scarcity of resources, especially water and food, could help transform peaceful competition into violence. Limited or threatened access to energy is already known to be a powerful driver of conflict; our changing planet risks making it more so.”
2007-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5663 (2007) · source
“Projected changes in the earth's climate are thus not only an environmental concern; they can also have serious social and economic implications. And - as the Council points up today - issues of energy and climate change can have implications for peace and security. This is especially true in vulnerable regions that face multiple stresses at the same time - pre- existing conflict, poverty and unequal access to resources, weak institutions, food insecurity and the incidence of diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Consider the following scenarios - all alarming, though not alarmist. The adverse effects of changing weather patterns, such as floods and droughts, and related economic costs, including compensation for lost land, could risk polarizing society and marginalizing communities.”
2007-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5663 (2007) · source
“I firmly believe that today all countries recognize that climate change, in particular, requires a long-term global response in line with the latest scientific findings and compatible with economic and social development. According to the most recent assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the planet's warming is unequivocal and its impact is clearly noticeable, and it is beyond doubt that human activities have been contributing considerably to it. Adverse effects are already being felt in many areas, including agriculture and food security; oceans and coastal areas; biodiversity and ecosystems; water resources; human health; human settlements; energy, transport and industry; and in terms of extreme weather events.”
2007-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5663 (2007) · source
“I would like to quote from the most recent of those reports: "Environmental degradation has the potential to destabilize already conflict-prone regions, especially when compounded by inequitable access or politicization of access to scarce resources. I urge Member States to renew their efforts to agree on ways that allow all of us to live sustainably within the planet's means." (A/60/89], para. 22) Allow me to renew and amplify that call. Compared to the cost of conflict and its consequences, the cost of prevention is far lower - in financial terms, but also, and most importantly, in terms of human lives and quality of life.”
2007-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5663 (2007) · source
“This can lead to a breakdown of established codes of conduct, and even to outright conflict. At the 2005 World Summit, Member States renewed their commitment to promoting a culture of prevention of armed conflict. They also pledged to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations to that end. The Security Council adopted resolution 1625 (2005) on conflict prevention, particularly in Africa, and reaffirmed the need to address the root causes of armed conflict. In a series of reports on conflict prevention, my predecessor, Secretary-General Kofi Annan, pointed to the threats emanating from environmental degradation and resource scarcity.”
2007-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5663 (2007) · source
“Thank you, Madam, for the opportunity to address the Security Council on this serious and timely topic. Throughout human history, people and countries have fought over natural resources. From livestock, watering holes and fertile land, to trade routes, fish stocks and spices, sugar, oil, gold and other precious commodities, war has too often been the means to secure possession of scarce resources. Even today, the uninterrupted supply of fuel and minerals is a key element in geopolitical considerations. Things are easier in times of plenty, when all can share in the abundance, even if to different degrees. But when resources - whether energy, water or arable land - are scarce, our fragile ecosystems become strained, as do the coping mechanisms of groups and individuals.”
2007-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5663 (2007) · source
“Let me also thank the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom for convening an Arria formula meeting on this topic last week. Above all, I am grateful to all members of the Council for their commitment to discharging effectively the serious responsibilities facing the Council.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632 (2007) · source
“We must provide peacekeepers with the standards, guidance and training they need to provide consistent and quality assistance to national authorities. We must ensure that mission leaders have the knowledge and staff expertise to direct personnel in carrying out complex support tasks, and we must provide capable and responsive support to field missions in security sector reform, in accordance with Security Council mandates. Finally, we must closely coordinate United Nations support for security reform in post-conflict environments with ongoing efforts to develop integrated peacebuilding strategies. I look forward to working with all Member States in pursuit of that important goal. Again, let me express my appreciation, Sir, for your initiative in holding this debate and for the thorough way in which Slovakia has prepared for it.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632 (2007) · source
“Because of its universality and its legitimacy, the United Nations has a particular contribution to make. I am heartened that the Security Council has taken note of those lessons. Increasingly, peacekeeping mandates reflect the perspectives of security sector reform. Examples of tasks covering current United Nations peace operations include taking forward security sector reform in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, carrying out institutional reforms and the constitution of integrated security forces in Burundi, strengthening Sierra Leone's security sector, and supporting the restructuring of the defence and security forces in Cote d'Ivoire. From now on, our overall task must be to ensure that United Nations peacekeepers are provided with the guidance and support they need to carry out those tasks effectively and efficiently.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632 (2007) · source
“Fourthly, and finally, we have learned that building sustainable security after conflict goes beyond the scope of any one actor. Even in the United Nations itself, there are many capacities scattered across the system it. We must coordinate those fully as part of an effective response. But the United Nations is only one actor. To build sustainable security, many others must be engaged: Member States, regional organizations, Bretton Woods institutions and others, each of which brings specific insights and expertise. All those diverse efforts are needed, even if the combination of actors and tasks will differ in each context, and all of them need to be carefully coordinated. In many countries, the United Nations supports national Governments with such coordination.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632 (2007) · source
“We have learned to our cost, in Haiti, Timor Leste, Sierra Leone and Liberia, that without effective, well-governed security institutions in place, the maintenance of peace is short-lived. Sustainable security involves strengthening institutions and processes. It calls for capable management, sustainable funding, and effective oversight. That is why, in police reform, we no longer focus only on mentoring and monitoring individual police officers. Through such initiatives as the standing police capacity, we also work to support national authorities in building sustainable law enforcement institutions. We work closely with interior and justice ministries, with finance and public administration bodies, and we work with human rights ombudsmen and community groups.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632 (2007) · source
“The purpose of this consultation is to obtain a comprehensive picture of security needs and perspectives - of the most pressing security concerns for local communities and how they believe those concerns can best be met. The same underlying principle has come to shape one of the unique aspects of United Nations peacekeeping - that among its contributors are a number of countries that have successfully made the transition from conflict to sustainable peace. The participation of those troops and police contributors brings valuable insights and perspectives to United Nations efforts to support national authorities. The third lesson the United Nations has earned is that sustainable security goes beyond reintegrating soldiers and units, or training and equipping individual police officers.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632 (2007) · source
“That is why United Nations peace operations should rest on the principle that there must be a peace to keep, and why the United Nations efforts are focused on supporting national authorities in their efforts to establish sustainable security. We have also come to recognize that national ownership in post-conflict environments is not a static entity. Rather, it evolves as leaders and communities are brought into the peacebuilding process. The wider the scope of local ownership, the more sustainable security will be. That principle guides our efforts in Kosovo, where the United Nations family is engaged with a wide range of State authorities and local 3 Government entities, and where we are conducting a province-wide consultation on security sector reform.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632 (2007) · source
“We are making progress on this front. We are developing our mediation capacities to support peacemaking and peace negotiations. And we have elaborated comprehensive, system-wide integrated DDR standards and programmes, which increasingly form an integral component of early peacebuilding efforts. Those early frameworks help lay the groundwork for sustainable security reform. A second lesson we have learned is that security cannot be restored and maintained in a vacuum. In supporting efforts to achieve peace, it is vital that we address the needs and perspectives of the State and the communities within it. National ownership is the key to sustainable peace.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632 (2007) · source
“A basic degree of security is one of the most visible and immediate dividends for communities, providing them with the opportunity to reclaim their lives and dignity. In this way, it is also a condition for initiating efforts towards long-term development. We have learned that the ability of our peacekeepers to provide basic security at an early stage is shaped by how well security issues are addressed in the peacemaking phase. Today, we have a better understanding of how early decisions in peace agreements - particularly in the context of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR)- impact subsequent efforts to establish sustainable security structures and processes. Our aim must be to ensure that peace agreements and DDR programmes contribute to, rather than impede, the restoration of sustainable security.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632 (2007) · source
“For the United Nations, security sector reform aims to achieve effective, accountable and sustainable security institutions that operate under a framework of the rule of law and respect for human rights. In this way, security sector reform embraces values and principles that lie at the core of the United Nations: commitment to the rule of law, commitment to the protection of human rights and commitment to the State as the cornerstone of international peace and security. The practical involvement of the United Nations in security sector reform has been shaped by decades of peacekeeping in post-conflict environments. From 07-24428 that experience, four fundamental lessons have come to shape our thinking. First, security is a crucial and immediate condition for peacebuilding after conflict.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632 (2007) · source
“I am pleased to join members for this debate on a theme that lies at the heart of the Security Council's responsibilities in the maintenance of international peace and security and, in particular, in assisting the re-establishment of sustainable peace after violent conflict. I am grateful to His Excellency Jan Kubis, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Slovakia, for bringing us together under this rubric. Security sector reform is a relatively new term for many of us. Yet it stands for issues that have long preoccupied our Organization: the search for sustainable security and the recognition that security is also a precondition for setting countries on the path to development.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632 (2007) · source
“That will be a top priority for me in the coming weeks. Again, let me say how very much I look forward to working with the Council in the years ahead.”
2007-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5615 (2007) · source
“I see all of those as a continuum and the role of the United Nations as one that must be coordinated, comprehensive and consistent. To that end, we need to look at the organizational structures of all departments and offices related to peace and security and find ways to strengthen our capacities. To meet the growing demands of globalized operations, we must identify ways and means to build a staff which is truly mobile, multifunctional and accountable and which lives up to the highest ethical and professional standards. The draft presidential statement before the Council calls for a strategic approach to the assessment of conflict situations and the planning and management of peacekeeping operations. It will provide an important guideline for me in building such improved capacities and enhancing the delivery of our common objectives.”
2007-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5615 (2007) · source
“The Security Council has acted by adopting important resolutions on these issues, but a great deal remains to be done. It is essential that the international community work as one to address these challenges. I am committed to strengthening and consolidating the work of the United Nations in this direction. In such an endeavour, I shall try to play the role of harmonizer and bridge-builder and work to restore trust between Member States and the Secretariat. The Council has acted on the reform agenda in areas ranging from the establishment of the Peacebuilding Commission to strengthening working methods, while also acting on counter-terrorism and sanctions. I will make it my priority to strengthen the ability of the United Nations to play its role to the fullest extent in conflict prevention, peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding.”
2007-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5615 (2007) · source
“Over the past years, the United Nations has sought to strengthen the three pillars of this institution - those of security, development and human rights, all underpinned by the rule of law - in order to build a more peaceful, more prosperous and more just world for succeeding generations. We have important achievements to build upon, from the Peacebuilding Commission to the Human Rights Council and the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, as well as the responsibility to protect. But we must also do more to invigorate disarmament and non-proliferation efforts. This will require strengthening the disarmament and non-proliferation regimes themselves, as well as addressing the special challenges posed by the cases of Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.”
2007-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5615 (2007) · source
“The same is true of HIV/AIDS and the other pandemics, which not only take a huge human, social and economic toll on countries that can least afford it, but also pose threats to peace and stability in the devastation that they wreak on capacity and governance. The same is true of extreme poverty, which breeds a hopelessness that allows for neither mercy nor dignity and which is preyed upon by zealots and extremists to further their agendas and ambitions. Achieving our goals for development around the world is essential to build lasting peace and security. The same is true of egregious human rights violations, weakened governance and failure to uphold the rule of law in various parts of the world.”
2007-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5615 (2007) · source
“So I am glad to join you today for this discussion on a range of issues that no country can resolve on its own - issues which present threats to the security of people around the world and to the entire international community. Responding to such threats is, after all, one of the primary purposes of the United Nations and a particular responsibility of the Security Council. As the President of the Council pointed out, recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome, the threats that we face in this century are multifaceted and interconnected. This is true whether we are considering the threat of terrorism, a faceless enemy that knows no boundaries, or weapons of mass destruction, which present a unique existential threat to all of humanity. Both demand urgent, sustained and comprehensive attention from the international community.”
2007-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5615 (2007) · source
“This means rededicating ourselves to the work of the Quartet in resolving differences between Israel and Palestine - differences which carry such a unique symbolic and emotional charge for people far beyond the physical boundaries of the conflict. It means supporting Lebanon in everything from its physical reconstruction to its quest - as yet incomplete - for a peaceful, democratic and fully independent future. And, in the wider reaches of the region, it means continuing our efforts to address the political and security challenges of Afghanistan and Iraq. By the same token, we must keep working for a conclusion to the uncertainty that still hangs over the status of Kosovo, which if unresolved threatens to cast a shadow over regional stability in South-Eastern Europe.”
2007-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5615 (2007) · source
“In the coming days, weeks and months, I will coordinate closely with leaders in Africa and beyond, and I will work through my Special Envoy for Darfur to secure the constructive engagement of the Sudan, African Governments and the international community as a whole. At the same time, we must stay the course in other parts of the continent. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we must ensure that recent positive developments enabled by our largest peacekeeping operation are consolidated so that lasting peace and stability take hold in the heart of Africa. I look forward to discussing these and other issues with leaders at the African Union summit to be held in Addis Ababa at the end of this month. Equally, I will strive to inject new momentum into our search for peace and stability in the Middle East.”
2007-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5615 (2007) · source