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

“The world cannot afford a situation in which the Security Council is deeply divided on such an important issue which may have implications for all peace operations.”
2002-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4563 (2002) · source
“It would be most unfortunate if the premature termination of UNMIBH's mandate were to set back that process. It would be perceived throughout the Balkans as a diminution of the international community's commitment to stability in the region. More generally, I remain convinced that United Nations peacekeeping is an indispensable tool for the international community's promotion of global peace and security. I appeal to members of the Security Council to intensify the high-level negotiations, including in capitals, of the past weeks so as to find a solution acceptable to all concerned that respects the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and treaty obligations of Member States.”
2002-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4563 (2002) · source
“Key programmes, including the control of the borders by a professional State Border Service - a key instrument for fighting contraband activities and illegal immigration - will be left uncompleted. Further, the long-planned handover to the European Union Police Mission scheduled to take place at the year's end, when UNMIBH would have successfully completed its mandate, will be severely compromised. I take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all men and women in UNMIBH for their exemplary work, and to the nations which have generously contributed their civilian police officers to this critical and complex mandate. The people of Bosnia and Herzegovina are beginning to reap the fruits of the international community's assistance after the country was ripped apart by war from 1992 to 1995.”
2002-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4563 (2002) · source
“Today, the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) comes to an abrupt end for reasons that are unrelated to the vitally important work that it is performing to implement the Dayton Peace Agreement. The United Nations Mission has made a universally recognized contribution to the re-establishment of the rule of law and political stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina by transforming a 40,000-strong wartime militia into a 14,000-strong professional police force. But the State and its institutions are still fragile and are under pressure from nationalist forces. Unless an agreement can be reached on an orderly wind-down of the Mission, the police in Bosnia will be left unmonitored, unguided and unassisted.”
2002-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4563 (2002) · source
“As Secretary-General, I am proud of the part the United Nations has played in that struggle, and I am especially pleased that we are now in this last phase. I pledge that this will mark not an end, but a new beginning, and that the United Nations stands ready to play its full part alongside the independent nation of East Timor.”
2002-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522 (2002) · source
“This will include close cooperation with Indonesia, in order to ensure timely agreement on the delimitation of the border, on the situation of the remaining refugees in West Timor and on cooperation in prosecuting those accused of the serious crimes committed in 1999. Confidence is vital, and the best way to provide it is to continue the strong partnerships that have brought East Timor this far. I trust this will continue throughout the mandate of UNMISET, and beyond. I hope to be present in person for the independence ceremonies on 19 and 20 May, and I must say I look forward to that historic night with some excitement. It will mark the climax of the East Timorese people's historic struggle to assert their right of self-determination, which I have no doubt will be celebrated in song and story for centuries to come.”
2002-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522 (2002) · source
“That support will be reduced gradually over two years, as the role of the United Nations becomes one of providing normal development assistance. I am confident that the Timorese will continue to develop their own sources of revenue and to manage their resources prudently, in keeping with their track record thus far. But East Timor will continue to need financial and budgetary assistance. Moreover, sustainable growth will require investment from the private sector, both domestic and foreign. I urge all Member States to do their utmost to encourage it. Good relations with its nearest neighbours will be essential to East Timor's future stability.”
2002-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522 (2002) · source
“The Government of East Timor faces enormous tasks before - and, above all, after - 20 May. It must not be left alone. The international community must ensure that the investment it has made does not go to waste. It will still have a crucial role to play in helping the Timorese to consolidate their new institutions. That is why I very much hope the Council will approve the detailed proposals for a follow-on peacekeeping presence contained in my report. In the initial stages, this mission - called the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) - will provide support in three areas that are critical for the stability and viability of the new State: public administration, law and order, and external security.”
2002-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522 (2002) · source
“After the swift restoration of order by the international force, authorized by this Council, the United Nations itself was given a mandate of unprecedented scope under resolution 1272 (1999), adopted on 25 October 1999. Since then, peace has been secured, and basic governmental structures and laws have been put in place. A sense of normality has returned. Children are attending schools, roads are being built, buildings reconstructed, health systems established, and new businesses are opening up every day. The citizens of East Timor have turned out in overwhelming numbers to vote in the Constituent Assembly and presidential elections. Most encouragingly, in the last few months increasing numbers of refugees have returned. But all this is only the start.”
2002-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522 (2002) · source
“It may have seemed improbable to some at that time that East Timor would become a viable State within two and a half years. But I believe history is about to confound the sceptics. Credit for this should go first and foremost to the East Timorese people, who have shown great courage and perseverance in rebuilding their country. They have risen to every challenge that has confronted them and have unfailingly demonstrated their commitment to democracy. There are still daunting challenges ahead, but with a determined and dedicated leadership in place, and a strong constitutional foundation, I believe they can now face the future with confidence. We, the international community, can also take pride in the contribution we have made.”
2002-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522 (2002) · source
“We are approaching a historic moment for East Timor and, indeed, for the United Nations. It is with considerable emotion that I join you in welcoming the elected leaders of the people of East Timor - President-elect Xanana Gusmao and Chief Minister Mari Alkatiri - who will participate in this debate, and to whom, in less than one month's time, the United Nations will joyfully hand over full responsibility for the destiny of their country. Since the tragic events of September 1999, which followed the democratic decision of the East Timorese people to seek independence, the United Nations has been working hard to build a sustainable national administration, in close partnership with Member States and, most importantly, with the East Timorese themselves.”
2002-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522 (2002) · source
“Third-party mediation is needed more than ever, as the parties are unable on their own to find a way out of the present situation. In this connection, I strongly welcome President Bush's decision to send Secretary Powell to the region. The road back to the negotiating table will not be easy or smooth. But all sides can take the first steps by exercising maximum restraint so as to reverse the current dangerous deterioration of the situation. Resolutions 1397 (2002) and 1402 (2002), taken together, provide the vision for a permanent settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the immediate security and political steps needed to move beyond the present crisis. Our efforts need to focus on implementing those resolutions.”
2002-04-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4506Resumption2 (2002) · source
“In this connection, I have been in contact over the last 24 hours with leaders in the region. Also, my Personal Representative in Lebanon, Mr. De Mistura, and the Force Commander of UNIFIL, yesterday met with Council members who have representatives in Beirut, as well as with the Lebanese leadership, about the situation. Let me conclude by saying that the building blocks of peace, once broken down, are not easily rebuilt. Recent events have had a further, severely corrosive, effect on mutual confidence. On both sides, bitterness and despair are at an all-time high. We all need to cling to the conviction that, in the end, however long it takes, there will one day have to be a peaceful settlement of this conflict.”
2002-04-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4506Resumption2 (2002) · source
“There seem to be efforts coming from Lebanese territory to deliberately create instability along the Blue Line. In addition to recent attacks by Hizbullah across the Blue Line, this morning Hizbullah elements assaulted a patrol of military observers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). It needs to be made clear to Hizbullah and others who may be involved that attacks across the Blue Line - whether into northern Israel or into occupied Syrian territory - are violations of Security Council resolutions, and are not acceptable. I strongly urge those with influence to ensure adherence to the Council resolutions on this subject. The Government of Lebanon will be aware that it is responsible for any hostile actions undertaken from its territory.”
2002-04-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4506Resumption2 (2002) · source
“But there is at least one recent positive development. The promise represented by the Arab League's Beirut Summit marked a significant turning point. We need to ensure that the Saudi initiative, endorsed by the Arab League, does not founder. Let us hold onto and nourish that vision amid the encircling gloom and the worrying rise in regional tension. Here, I would like to express very serious concern over events along the Blue Line. I recalled in the Council recently that Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon was in compliance with resolutions 425 (1978) and 426 (1978), and was recognized as such by the Council itself. We must make sure that all sides respect the Blue Line. Escalation along the Blue Line could have serious consequences for peace and security in the region - beyond Israel and Lebanon - as we know from the past.”
2002-04-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4506Resumption2 (2002) · source
“I would like to take this opportunity to call on the Government of Israel to give the "quartet" full access to the compound of Chairman Arafat and to the Chairman himself. Together with General Zinni's mission, the "quartet" arrangement could be used as an effective instrument to pursue implementation of 1402 (2002). There have been persistent reports about limitations placed on access by humanitarian and medical workers to those Palestinians in urgent need of assistance. It is imperative that humanitarian workers and agencies such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Red Crescent Society and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East be granted full access to persons in those affected areas. There is plenty of reason for pessimism.”
2002-04-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4506Resumption2 (2002) · source
“As we are seeing, this approach is only spurring on the Israeli Government in its present course; it also unites the Israeli public behind the military option. We should not forget that it was not so long ago that this same Israeli public was supportive of peace efforts by a large majority. Under direct assault from the Israeli military, Chairman Arafat and the Palestinian security services are seriously limited in their ability to contain terrorism. However, even now, Chairman Arafat has the capacity to exercise political leadership - to set the course for the future of his people. Terrorism is never justified. The Palestinian leadership must acknowledge this and the Palestinian public must accept this.”
2002-04-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4506Resumption2 (2002) · source
“But, the military route taken by the Government of Israel will not pacify the Palestinians. Nor do I see how this approach can bring peace and security to Israel. Only a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement can do so. If we have learned anything from history, it is that it is a grave mistake for the more powerful party to believe that power alone will ultimately subdue the weaker party. In fact, what we are witnessing is an increase in the resolve and unity of the Palestinians, as well as increasing public anger across the Arab and Islamic world and beyond. I am not arguing that the spiralling violence is to be blamed on one party alone. The Palestinian Authority seems to believe that failing to act against terrorism and inducing turmoil, chaos and instability will cause the Government and people of Israel to buckle. They will not.”
2002-04-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4506Resumption2 (2002) · source
“There is an urgent need to comply with all provisions of international law, particularly those that ban indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force as well as the humiliating treatment of a civilian population. Forcing Chairman Arafat into exile would be reckless. He is the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and his exile would only lead to even more violence and chaos. Deportation is specifically prohibited by the Fourth Geneva Convention. It would be a miscalculation of monumental proportions to believe that removing Chairman Arafat from the political scene and dismantling the Palestinian Authority would create conditions where Israel can achieve security for itself. I understand the bitterness, anger and disillusion felt by Israelis.”
2002-04-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4506Resumption2 (2002) · source
“We all need to intensify our efforts to see that those resolutions are implemented without further delay. Israeli actions since the adoption of Security Council resolution 1402 (2002) do not bode well for stabilizing the situation and renewing political talks. On the contrary, the Government of Israel appears to be moving in the opposite direction to that prescribed by resolutions 1397 (2002) and 1402 (2002) - a sure path to further escalation. Israel has justified its acts as self- defence and counter-terrorist measures. However, we need to be very clear that self-defence is not a blank cheque. It is important to understand that responding to terrorism does not in any way free Israel from its obligations under international law; nor does it justify creating a human rights and humanitarian crisis within the occupied Palestinian territory.”
2002-04-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4506Resumption2 (2002) · source
“The situation in the Middle East - between Israel and Palestine and across the Blue Line - continues to deteriorate. All parties risk making serious miscalculations about the effect that their actions will have on one another. Such miscalculations can all too easily draw the region into greater and greater danger, whether intended or not. My purpose in addressing the Security Council today is to call on all members of the international community to consider urgently how best to intercede with the parties to persuade them to draw back from their present course. In the Palestinian-Israeli arena, Security Council resolution 1402 (2002) provides the elements needed to begin to de-escalate the present crisis, and resolution 1397 (2002) provides the framework for a permanent settlement.”
2002-04-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4506Resumption2 (2002) · source
“At times like these it is possible to lose sight of the fact that there is a path away from violence and war. Via the Mitchell recommendations, the parties should move quickly to achieve the two-State vision expressed in Security Council resolution 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002, which is based on the principle of land for peace, and Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). In your debate this evening, I would urge you to consider not only the alarming deterioration of the situation on the ground, but also how the international community can help ensure that your resolutions - particularly resolution 1397 (2002) - can become a reality, and how the international community can help the parties get back to the table.”
2002-03-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4503 (2002) · source
“Both sides need to adopt policies that reinforce the prospects for a political process leading to peaceful settlement, and eschew actions that make peaceful settlement through negotiations more difficult. I call on both Prime Minister Sharon and Chairman Arafat to exercise responsible leadership at this time. I would urge that they make every effort to take advantage of the outcome of the Arab League Summit in Beirut, which outlined a widely welcomed vision for full peace in the region. United States Special Envoy Zinni has put forward ceasefire proposals that should be accepted by the Palestinians. Israel should halt its assault on the Palestinian Authority. Destroying the Palestinian Authority will not bring Israel closer to peace.”
2002-03-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4503 (2002) · source
“Horrific terrorist acts - or attacks, if you wish - against Israeli civilians - first in Netanya and then in Jerusalem - have been carried out. Such attacks are aimed at undermining any prospect for political settlement. I understand the anger of the Israeli Government and people over those attacks. The intention of such attacks, which I have consistently and unreservedly condemned as morally repugnant, is to subvert the possibility of any peaceful settlement. Terrorism will not bring the Palestinian people closer to the establishment of an independent Palestinian State. Yet I have also consistently voiced criticism over Israel's use of disproportionate lethal force, especially in civilian populated areas, in response to those attacks. Such use of force will bring neither peace nor security to Israel.”
2002-03-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4503 (2002) · source
“I have just returned from Beirut, where Arab leaders made a historic decision to embrace Crown Prince Abdullah's peace proposal, which confirmed the possibility of peace in the Middle East and proposed a way forward. And just prior to the Arab League Summit, the Security Council itself passed one of its most significant resolutions on the Middle East, resolution 1397 (2002), which affirmed the vision of two States - Israel and Palestine - living side by side within secure, internationally recognized borders. The international community must do everything possible to advance these efforts. We should not allow terrorism and extremism to prevail over the pursuit of political settlement. I am deeply alarmed at the rapid escalation of the violence in the Middle East that we have witnessed over the past two days.”
2002-03-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4503 (2002) · source
“In closing, let me say that the recent initiative by Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia sets out a clear and compelling vision for peace in the Middle East based on the bedrock of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). I appeal to the leaders of the Arab world not to give up on the search for peace, but rather to unite in support of this vision, showing the world and the parties that there is an alternative to war. I call on Mr. Arafat and Mr. Sharon immediately to take the necessary political, security and economic steps on the ground that can help realize this vision. Finally, I call on the Security Council to lend its full authority and influence to the vital cause of peace.”
2002-03-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4488 (2002) · source
“More urgently, you must stop the bombing of civilian areas, the assassinations, the unnecessary use of lethal force, the demolitions and the daily humiliation of ordinary Palestinians. Such actions gravely erode Israel's standing in the international community and further fuel the fires of hatred, despair and extremism among Palestinians. To the leaders on both sides - Prime Minister Sharon and Chairman Arafat in particular - I say: you can still lead your peoples away from disaster. You have accepted the Tenet understandings and the Mitchell recommendations as the basis for negotiations. Today, more than ever, you must recognize that security and a political settlement are indivisible. One cannot exist without the other. Many of your friends stand ready to support you if you seize this opportunity.”
2002-03-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4488 (2002) · source
“The alternative for both sides is continued bloodshed, delaying even further the prospects for an end to the occupation and the violence. At this time, I feel I must speak directly to the people and leaders of both sides. To the Palestinians I say: you have the inalienable right to a viable State within secure, internationally recognized borders, but you must stop all acts of terror and all suicide bombings. The deliberate and indiscriminate targeting of civilians is morally repugnant. It is doing immense harm to your cause by weakening international support and making Israelis believe that it is their existence as a State, and not the occupation, that is being opposed. To the Israelis I say: you have the right to live in peace and security within secure, internationally recognized borders, but you must end the illegal occupation.”
2002-03-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4488 (2002) · source
“I am particularly disturbed by suicide attacks which deliberately target civilians, spreading fear and anxiety throughout the general population. Against this backdrop, I very much welcome the decision of the United States to send General Zinni back to the region. Both Chairman Arafat and Prime Minister Sharon have taken steps to facilitate his efforts. Mr. Arafat has finally arrested all those suspected of involvement in the assassination of Rehavam Zeevi, the Israeli Tourism Minister. Mr. Sharon has wisely given up his demand for seven days of calm before beginning negotiations. I hope both leaders will engage constructively with General Zinni in a renewed and intensified dialogue on the political, security and economic dimensions of the peace process.”
2002-03-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4488 (2002) · source
“In addition, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other agencies are reporting growing disregard on the part of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) for the safety of medical and ambulance personnel who are attempting to treat and evacuate wounded from conflict zones. Only last week, a United Nations staff member was killed in a clearly marked ambulance of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. On the other side, the Palestinians have played their full part in the escalating cycle of violence, counter-violence and revenge. Palestinian groups have carried out a series of attacks on Israeli military and civilian targets. They have attacked IDF checkpoints S/PvtMSS and settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. Kassam II rockets have been launched against civilian areas in Israeli towns.”
2002-03-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4488 (2002) · source
“On the Israeli side, out of some 350 fatalities, well over 50 have occurred in the same 10 days. I grieve, as we all must, for the families of those who have lost their lives or have been maimed or wounded. I grieve for Israel and Palestine. In giving the Council my assessment of the situation on the ground, I would like to start by saying that I am profoundly disturbed by the increasing use of heavy weaponry by Israel in civilian areas. It has made life even more difficult and precarious for Palestinian civilians, who were already subjected to severe physical and economic hardships. Large-scale military operations in pursuit of Palestinian militants - involving ground troops, attack helicopters, tanks and F-l6s - have taken place throughout civilian areas and refugee camps in the West Bank and Gaza, causing large-scale loss of life.”
2002-03-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4488 (2002) · source
“Three weeks ago, I briefed the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East. I warned then that we were nearing the abyss. Since that day, the toll of the dead and wounded, particularly among innocent civilians, has risen to levels that can be described, without exaggeration, as appalling. Israeli-Palestinian tensions are at boiling point. The situation is the worst in 10 years. Escalation has been met with escalation with little and, in some cases, no regard for innocent civilian lives. Acts that are disproportionate in scale and indiscriminate in their effect are occurring on an almost daily basis. The scale of the carnage is horrifying. Since the beginning of the current crisis in September 2000, there have been some 1,200 fatalities among the Palestinians. More than 180 of them have occurred in the last 10 days.”
2002-03-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4488 (2002) · source
“The next phase of capacity-building in law enforcement, including improving judicial and penal systems, will therefore be carried out in the context of the European Union. The United Nations stands ready to cooperate closely with the European Union, the Office of the High Representative and others concerned to ensure timely planning and a smooth transition. Ultimately, it is the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina who must take control of their own destiny and build a peaceful, prosperous future as a successful multi-ethnic State. It is my hope that they will find support and inspiration in the many countries around the world which have made their diversity their greatest asset, with opportunities for all in a climate of tolerance and mutual respect.”
2002-03-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4484 (2002) · source
“By the end of 2002, UNMIBH will have completed the peacekeeping phase of police restructuring. However, there will still be challenges to face for the Bosnians themselves and for the international community committed to helping them. Among these, in the area of the police, are low salaries and poor housing conditions, lack of funds and continued political interference in the work of law enforcement agencies. There will undoubtedly continue to be a need for international monitoring and assistance in order to sustain the progress that has been made. I therefore welcome a recent decision by the European Union to establish a post-UNMIBH follow-on police mission to commence on 1 January 2003.”
2002-03-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4484 (2002) · source
“Specifically, UNMIBH has transformed and reduced the police force from a 40,000-strong war-time militia to a 16,000-strong professional police force. In addition, each police officer has been trained in human rights; selected groups have been trained in drug control, organized crime and crowd control; two multi- ethnic police academies have been established, in Sarajevo and in Banja Luka; and, at present, the State Border Service covers 75 per cent of the country's borders and has reduced illegal immigration through Bosnia and Herzegovina by two thirds. Of course, UNMIBH has not been alone in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but is part of a broader international effort - including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the European Union- which will continue.”
2002-03-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4484 (2002) · source
“His presence here today signals the priority that the European Union attaches to the future of Bosnia. The United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) is well on track to completing its core mandate by the end of 2002. I believe that the Council can be very satisfied with the work of UNMIBH as an advocate of reconciliation and as an agent of the rule of law - and, of course, with what it has achieved already. It has improved and integrated the police, while serving as a voice for coexistence, tolerance and cooperation at all levels of society. Through all those efforts, UNMIBH's civilian and police officers have done much to give the people of Bosnia faith in a better, peaceful and united future.”
2002-03-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4484 (2002) · source
“Let me say how happy I am, Mr. Minister, to see you in the Chair and once again to welcome you to New York and to United Nations Headquarters. This meeting signals an important moment of transition and consolidation in Bosnia. I would like to begin by paying tribute to the High Representative for the Implementation of the Peace Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Wolfgang Petritsch, whose effective leadership helped secure the gains made by the international community over the last few years. I know he and my Special Representative, Mr. Jacques Paul Klein, worked well together, and I want to thank him for that cooperation as well. I would also like to salute the tireless efforts of my friend Javier Solana towards maintaining the momentum for peace and reconciliation throughout the Balkans.”
2002-03-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4484 (2002) · source
“I truly believe that it is imperative for the Security Council and the wider international community to work in a concerted manner with the parties towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peaceful settlement of the conflict in the Middle East. As the Council knows, I and my representative have throughout been in very close contact with leaders on both sides, in the region and among the international community. However, in light of the gravity of the situation, I have asked my Special Coordinator, Terje Roed-Larsen, to intensify his consultations with the parties and with members of the "Quartet", as well as with regional and international actors. The outlook is bleak. But the present course of events is not irreversible. There is a high road - which the parties themselves were on not so long ago - as well as a low road.”
2002-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4474 (2002) · source
“Unless both parties have a political horizon on which their hopes for peace and an improved livelihood can be based, there will be no enduring ceasefire. It is imperative that both parties exercise maximum restraint, particularly with regard to attacks against civilians. It cannot be overemphasized that both parties must adhere to their obligations under international law to protect the basic rights of civilians, including the right to security. The lack of mutual confidence between the two sides makes a third party role essential. The breakdown of trust is so total that neither side will believe the other when it comes to the implementation of agreements.”
2002-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4474 (2002) · source
“This is to be welcomed, and such ideas should be considered promptly and thoroughly, both by the parties and by the international community. A reduction in the violence is the most immediate priority. But I have become more and more convinced that trying to resolve the security problem on its own cannot work. Security cannot be dealt with in isolation; it has to have a context. It has to be addressed alongside key political issues, particularly the question of land, and economic and social issues, including the increasingly critical, desperate conditions of the Palestinians. Failure to address these issues together will only spawn new and perhaps deadlier exchanges of reciprocal violence.”
2002-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4474 (2002) · source
“Let us not forget that the parties have agreed, in principle, that there is a way out - namely, the Tenet understandings and the Mitchell recommendations. Taken together, these documents defined an array of security, economic and political measures that would have moved the parties back to the table to negotiate the fundamental issues that divide them. However, "in principle" is not "in practice". In fact, as we know, the parties have not implemented either of these plans. If Tenet and Mitchell have not failed, they can certainly not be said to have succeeded. Clearly, the situation that is now unfolding requires urgent steps, moving beyond a discussion focused on how to pursue Tenet and Mitchell. New thinking and imaginative new ideas are now being proposed from several quarters.”
2002-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4474 (2002) · source
“Eighteen months after the beginning of the second intifada, the cost to both Israelis and Palestinians grows ever higher in terms of human suffering, bitterness, disillusion and mistrust. The key problems remain occupation; security - the need to end Violence, including terrorism; and economic deprivation and suffering. These are interlinked problems, encompassing the political, security and economic domains. Yet even at this darkest of hours, there is still room for hope. In the midst of the bitterness and the despair, with clamour on both sides for revenge and for ever more desperate and reckless measures, there is a path back to the negotiating table - if the parties choose to take it.”
2002-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4474 (2002) · source
“The news from the Middle East is grim. Day by day, the toll of dead and wounded on both sides mounts. Day by day, the bitterness and mutual distrust between Israelis and Palestinians intensifies. Increasingly, the Israeli- Palestinian conflict risks sliding towards full-fledged war. Truly, we are nearing the edge of the abyss. During the past seven days there have been more than 60 deaths on both sides. Unless something happens to change the dynamic, it is all too likely that violence will escalate still further. Particularly S/PVA474 alarming is the growing belief, among both Palestinians and Israelis, that there can be no negotiated solution to the conflict. As we all know, hopelessness and despair tend to lead to more extreme measures, with tragic consequences for the region.”
2002-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4474 (2002) · source
“In conclusion, I know that everyone is looking forward to hearing from Lakhdar Brahimi, and I want to end here. He and his team have done remarkable work. Indeed, everywhere I went on this visit, United Nations staff were a constant source of inspiration. Despite extremely arduous conditions, their commitment is steadfast, and the breadth of their work is truly breathtaking. They are playing a key role in helping the people of Afghanistan to seize this unique moment of opportunity, and they merit our continued support.”
2002-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4469 (2002) · source
“Towards that end, I renewed my offer of good offices, should both parties wish to avail themselves of them. Another subject of great concern in Iran and Qatar, and in my talks with Secretary Powell on the margins of the Tokyo conference, was the downward spiral of violence between Israelis and Palestinians. We need to find a way to get the parties back to the negotiating table, where all issues should be addressed- terrorism as well as the occupation. Without this wider political context, and without some alleviation of the humanitarian plight of the Palestinians, I fear that progress will be nearly impossible and the risk of further violence all too great. Mr. Larsen briefed the Council last week on this issue, and I will continue to do my utmost in helping to find new ways to break what is clearly a very dangerous impasse.”
2002-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4469 (2002) · source
“Both Iran and Pakistan pledged to work with each other and with Afghanistan's other neighbours as we move ahead. Such a regional approach holds great promise, and I intend it to be a major pillar of United Nations strategy in confronting this challenge. I also had a chance to talk in Islamabad with President Musharraf about relations between India and Pakistan. The President was very concerned about the military build-up and expressed his readiness for dialogue. He also reiterated his commitment, made in his courageous speech of 12 January, to take strong measures against extremist armed groups. For my part, I stressed the need not only for immediate military de-escalation, but also for a sustained and determined dialogue aimed at resolving this situation, so that there will not be another crisis in a few weeks' or a few months' time.”
2002-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4469 (2002) · source
“President Musharraf also promised to take action against any Taliban or Al Qaeda personnel found in Pakistan and to ensure that Pakistani territory would not be used by Afghans interested in subverting the central Administration in Kabul. The President also made it clear that a stable Afghanistan was in Pakistan's national interest and that of the wider region. Iran, too, is committed to strengthening the authority of the Interim Administration. Iran, which like Pakistan has hosted many refugees for many years and has long had trade and other contacts with Afghanistan, also recognizes the national interest in a stable Afghanistan. The Iranian authorities also said they would not tolerate the presence of Taliban or Al Qaeda personnel on its territory.”
2002-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4469 (2002) · source
“Without resources, the Administration will quickly lose credibility and will be unable to extend its authority elsewhere in the country, thereby undermining the chances of success for the longer-term peace process. Mr. Brahimi will brief the Council in greater detail about each of these issues. One key element in Afghanistan's recovery will be the support of its neighbours. President Musharraf, for his part, was firm in his commitment to working with the Interim Administration and the United Nations. He invited Chairman Karzai and other members of the Interim Administration to visit Pakistan, and I conveyed that message to the Afghan authorities.”
2002-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4469 (2002) · source
“Ogata, who chaired the meeting, is here with us this morning. At the same time, as we analyse the pledges, we can see some critical gaps. The conference focused on long-term needs, but the Afghan Interim Administration needs money today, for example, to pay the salaries of public servants. Indeed, help is desperately needed right now. The international community must rise to the challenge today and then stay engaged for the long haul. Security was the number one preoccupation of everyone we met in Afghanistan. Indeed, the security situation remains precarious and, without security, reconstruction will not be possible and donors will not be able to disburse the money they have so generously pledged. The second main concern was the need for the Interim Administration to have the resources to pay public servants.”
2002-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4469 (2002) · source
“In Iran, I met with Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, as well as with President Khatami, Foreign Minister Kharrazi and the Speaker of the Parliament. Finally, I met with the Emir of Qatar. With respect to Afghanistan, as I said, we will get more information from Mr. Brahimi, but the situation there was, of course, the main focus of my discussions throughout the region. I was greatly encouraged in Tokyo by the donations that were pledged - $4.5 billion for five years - and expressed strong support for the political process emanating from Bonn. Chairman Karzai stressed his firm commitment to transparency and accountability in the use of all aid and made clear his understanding that the role of the international community is to help the Afghans help themselves. I see that Mrs.”
2002-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4469 (2002) · source