YouSaid · the spoken record

Simonovie

lines on the record: 206
first: 1997-12-19
most recent: 2019-10-28
sittings or episodes: 19
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

“In that respect, I would like to emphasize that post-conflict peace- building represents a form of prevention of the recurrence of conflict. In view of our experience - also confirmed by the words of both ministers - for peace to be sustainable there is a need for a comprehensive approach. Every speaker today emphasized that regional and subregional comprehensiveness is absolutely necessary to end conflicts and to prevent their recurrence. However, I would like to add that comprehensiveness includes other elements as well. Peacekeeping should be accompanied from the outset by political and humanitarian measures and should be immediately succeeded by peace-building, including the strengthening of security and the rule of law, and economic recovery.”
2002-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4577 (2002) · source
“I thank the United Kingdom for its strong support and leadership in fostering the cooperation of which I have spoken. In order to stay within my time limit, I will refer briefly to lessons learned in Sierra Leone from the particular viewpoint of the Economic and Social Council. First, it is quite clear from the example of Sierra Leone that even the most difficult situations are solvable if there is enough commitment and enough resources. Secondly, although we have recently allocated almost $700 million for peacekeeping in Sierra Leone for the next 12 months, it is quite clear that peacekeeping has proved to be much cheaper than conflict. From Foreign Minister Koroma, we were able to hear some data on the material costs of the conflict in Sierra Leone. However, conflict prevention is much cheaper than peacekeeping itself.”
2002-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4577 (2002) · source
“On Monday the Economic and Social Council established its ad hoc advisory group on African countries emerging from conflict. After receiving requests from interested countries, additional ad hoc advisory groups dealing with individual countries or regions will be established. It is envisaged that the ad hoc groups of the Security Council and of the Economic and Social Council will work together closely. Finally, during the course of this month, we had a semi-informal meeting of three Presidents: the Presidents of the General Assembly, of the Security Council and of the Economic and Social Council. There was a firm commitment to continue such coordination and semi-informal meetings. One of the issues on which we certainly want to cooperate is the issue of peace-building and sustainable peace and development in Africa.”
2002-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4577 (2002) · source
“Mr. Simonovie: On behalf of the Economic and Social Council, I cordially welcome the convening of this workshop, the range of issues on its agenda, the breadth of participation, and its format, which favours interaction. I would also like to use this opportunity to note that during the United Kingdom presidency of the Security Council, the level of cooperation between the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council has been unprecedented. Ambassador Greenstock, in his capacity of President of the Security Council, has addressed the Economic and Social Council. I was invited here today to the Security Council workshop. I am also invited to participate in the work of the Security Council's Ad Hoc Working Group on Africa, which will be addressing the issue of Guinea-Bissau during the course of next week.”
2002-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4577 (2002) · source
“Fully respecting that its constitutional arrangement is a matter for the three constituent peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina and of all its citizens, we sincerely hope that its new constitutional arrangement will truly reflect the equal rights of the three constituent peoples on all of its territory as a prerequisite for the successful return of refugees, for the protection of human rights, stability and sustainability, and for further successful inclusion into European integration processes.”
2002-03-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4484 (2002) · source
“This cooperation, like every process, has its ups and downs, good periods and periods of missed opportunities. It is crucial that the general trend of bilateral relations remain positive. Just yesterday, the Croatian Deputy Foreign Minister visited Sarajevo and had a very constructive dialogue with the Bosnian leadership, while the Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina will be visiting Zagreb later this week. Let me conclude. Bosnia and Herzegovina is crucial to Croatia as our neighbour, as the homeland for Bosnian Croats, as our economic partner and as our friend. Therefore, Croatia is willing to fully support international efforts to facilitate a sovereign, stable and sustainable Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2002-03-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4484 (2002) · source
“He is still at large and, together with Ratko Mladic, should remain at the priority list of The Hague Tribunal. The presence of Radovan Karadzic in Bosnia and Herzegovina constitutes a permanent threat to the stability of the country and creates a danger that has to be dealt with. The lack of success - or the lack of political will - to arrest Karadzic also negatively reflects on the credibility of SFOR and undermines international efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina overall. I reiterate what I have said on previous occasions: there can be no sustainable Bosnia and Herzegovina with Karadzic and Mladic at large. Croatia will continue to broaden the scope of bilateral cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina, with which we share a wide range of common interests.”
2002-03-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4484 (2002) · source
“We firmly believe that the recently opened trial against Slobodan Milosevic, the former President of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, marks the beginning of a new era for our region. It is closing a chapter for hundreds of thousands of those in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo who lost their loved ones and had to continue to live with the bitter memories. The trial of Slobodan Milosevic will also serve to benefit a better understanding of the course of events in the former Yugoslavia and, consequently, to benefit reconciliation among the people of South-East Europe. Unfortunately, last week's attempts by the Stabilization Force (SFOR) to apprehend Radovan Karadzic, another notorious war criminal, were not successful.”
2002-03-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4484 (2002) · source
“It is our hope that these will provide a smooth transition from the "Dayton" Bosnia and Herzegovina, aimed at stopping the conflict and pragmatic life-saving, towards a "European" Bosnia and Herzegovina - a sustainable State, corresponding to European standards of good governance, the rule of law and the protection of human rights. On the same note, we see acceptance in the Council of Europe only as a first step towards the further and deeper inclusion of Bosnia and Herzegovina into European integration. Hopefully in the near future, Bosnia and Herzegovina will start negotiating a stabilization and association agreement with the European Union - the type of agreement that Croatia recently signed. My Government stands ready to share our experiences of that process.”
2002-03-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4484 (2002) · source
“Further efforts need to be made towards implementing the Constitutional Court's decision on the equal rights of all three constituent peoples throughout the whole territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We simply cannot expect the authorities in Sarajevo to implement all the requirements stemming from membership in the Council of Europe, while at the same time still struggling for the bare survival of an ethnically divided State. My Government would like to see the parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina working together to bring about an evolution of the present constitutional arrangement so that it can respond to the new political environment and the new challenges arising from it. We hope that the forthcoming elections in October will represent another step in the development of a sustainable, European-oriented Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2002-03-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4484 (2002) · source
“However, one of those events will have special importance for the future of the country: the admission of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Council of Europe on 2 May. That is going to accelerate democratic processes, the rule of law and the protection of human rights - developments that we in Croatia have experienced since the moment we joined the organization in 1996. Throughout the whole process of accession, Croatia was one of the staunchest advocates of the need for Bosnia and Herzegovina to join the Council of Europe. We are delighted to see this process coming to an end, and we wholeheartedly congratulate our neighbour on this well-deserved success. If Bosnia and Herzegovina wants to fully embrace European standards with regard to the protection of human rights, it will have to adapt its institutional structure.”
2002-03-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4484 (2002) · source
“On the other hand, it will be possible for the United Nations to continue its presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina by monitoring human rights through the Special Representative of the Commission on Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Mr. Cutileiro, whose future mandate will be discussed during the forthcoming session of the Commission in Geneva. With regard to the United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka - which, in its administrative aspect, is linked to UNMIBH - my Government believes that its mandate should, in its own right, expire by 15 July this year. This year will be filled with important events for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and I have already briefly mentioned some of them.”
2002-03-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4484 (2002) · source
“The United Nations has decided that, at this particular moment, its presence is needed more elsewhere than it is in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The proposal has been made that it should be replaced by a regional organization. The European Union acted quickly, deciding to take over. In our View, that decision was the most appropriate. Taking into account Bosnia and Herzegovina's European aspirations, it is appropriate that the European Union should continue the daunting task of carrying out police reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We wish the European Union every success in its endeavours. As Bosnia and Herzegovina's neighbour and friend, and as aspirants to future European Union membership, we stand ready to provide assistance, if needed.”
2002-03-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4484 (2002) · source
“But his will and determination to perform his task prevailed over all difficulties. I would like to assure his successor, Lord Ashdown, that Croatia is committed to continue to contribute to the stability and prosperity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and that he will be able to rely on our help while performing his role. I have known Jacques Klein, and successfully cooperated with him, in various capacities for many years. His contribution to the success of the two completely different United Nations missions in South- East Europe - the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium in Croatia, and UNMIBH in Bosnia and Herzegovina - represents an unprecedented accomplishment.”
2002-03-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4484 (2002) · source
“At the outset, I would like to welcome Ambassador Wolfgang Petritsch, High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Ambassador Jacques Klein, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH). I would also like to welcome Mr. Javier Solana, Secretary General of the Council and High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union, whose presence here is a clear sign of the European Union's commitment to ensuring the stability and prosperity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On number of occasions during his mandate, Mr. Petritsch found himself in virtually impossible situations - Bosnia and Herzegovina has a reputation for being the ultimate challenge for international officials.”
2002-03-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4484 (2002) · source
“At the same time, Croatia will continue to support the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the efforts to develop democracy and preserve the equality of all the constituent peoples. In this respect, the admission of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Council of Europe can be an important contribution, and should therefore be speeded up. We will do our utmost to provide help and assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina because we need a stable neighbour - a partner we can count on in our joint quest for a European future.”
2001-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4303 (2001) · source
“However, we do not conceive the project of implementation as a static notion, but rather as a dynamic one. It requires an appropriate evolution of joint institutions, which must ensure genuine representation and protection of all three constituent peoples throughout the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. All problems must be resolved within these joint institutions through a democratic process. This is the road to a democratic and self-sustainable Bosnia and Herzegovina. Croatia stands ready to facilitate this process. Following the elections in the Republic of Croatia in January last year, Croatia's assistance to the Croatian people in Bosnia and Herzegovina changed in terms of method and substance. It became transparent and oriented towards economic, cultural and social programmes instead of military ones.”
2001-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4303 (2001) · source
“On the eve of the elections in October last year, my Government expressed its concern about some of the regulations of the Provisional Election Commission. Croatia approached the officials of the Organization for Security and Development in Europe (OSCE) and advised them that the adopted regulations were contrary to the Constitution of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the spirit of Dayton. We expressed our concerns that the Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina could perceive these regulations as a threat to their genuine representation in joint institutions. Croatia feared that, if those regulations were to be implemented, they could backfire and radicalize the Croatian community in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Unfortunately, we were right. Croatia believes that the Dayton goals must be implemented.”
2001-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4303 (2001) · source
“They can only rely on the functioning institutions of the Bosnian State, that is, the institutions that reflect fully the decision of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding the equality and constitutionality of all three constituent nations throughout the entire territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina can lend their trust only to a political system that guarantees them the preservation of their national, cultural and religious identity, and allows them to be genuinely represented in all joint institutions. These are also the very goals ofthe living Dayton Peace Accords. Have they been achieved? Have the measures undertaken by the international community facilitated their achievement?”
2001-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4303 (2001) · source
“A striking indicator that something is not right is the systematic departure of the Croatian population from Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has continued even after Dayton. Altogether, in the past ten years the proportion of the Croat population in Bosnia and Herzegovina dropped from 17 to 10 per cent. The Croats form the smallest constituent nation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They live in ethnically mixed territories of Bosnia and Herzegovina and they do not have their own entity. Consequently, they cannot rely on the same factors as the other two constituent nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina for protecting their identity and interests, such as size or having a separate entity.”
2001-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4303 (2001) · source
“My Government views the High Representative's intervention as an act directed only against individuals, and not as an action directed against the Croatian community in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole. We see it as a reaction against radical methods being used, and not as a step against the legitimate interests of the Croatian community in Bosnia and Herzegovina as recognized by Dayton. We do hope that the Croatian people in Bosnia and Herzegovina will also see it in this way. Leaving aside the radical and inappropriate reaction by some political forces, the existence of real problems and legitimate fears held by the Croatian community in Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot simply be ignored.”
2001-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4303 (2001) · source
“The Mostar Declaration leads the Croatian community in Bosnia and Herzegovina onto the road of isolation and, thereby, furthers marginalization. This course of action, can by no means, be of any benefit to them. At the same time, it is damaging both for the interests of Bosnia and Herzegovina and for Croatia. As a matter of principle, ultimatums are not the method that we approve of now, or in the future, when it comes to dealing with sensitive issues. This principle applies equally to all parties, including international actors involved in settling political problems in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We understand the reaction of the High Representative to the Mostar Declaration.”
2001-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4303 (2001) · source
“As long as some of the three constituent peoples are excluded from exercizing their rights in Republika Srpska, the integrity and self-sustainability of Bosnia and Herzegovina remains unrealistic. The Republika Srpska has led its own life as an ethnically, almost pure, para-State of Serbian people, whilst the Federation has been struggling to maintain a proper balance between its lesser Croat and larger Bosniac population. The Croatian Government regrets that some of the political grievances of the Croatian population in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been addressed in an inappropriate manner by some of its elected representatives. Primarily, I refer to unilateral decisions taken by some Croatian political actors at their recent gathering in Mostar.”
2001-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4303 (2001) · source
“At the same time, Dayton did not provide any guidance as to how to manage this inbuilt conceptual contradiction in the Peace Agreement. It thereby froze the lines of confrontation between the Republika Srpska and the Federation to a certain extent, legitimizing the borders drawn by force. In this regard, Dayton remains unfinished business. Besides refugee returns, the crucial test of implementing both the letter and the spirit of Dayton as a living document lies in the full implementation of the decision of the Constitutional Court on the constitutionality of all three constituent peoples, as well as in bringing the Constitution of the Republika Srpska and the structure of its Parliament into line with the spirit of Dayton and the Constitutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Federation.”
2001-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4303 (2001) · source
“The constitutional structure of Bosnia and Herzegovina must continue to develop and evolve with the dynamics of the country's political, economic and social life. For a long time, Croatia has been drawing the attention of the international community to the main contradiction within Bosnia and Herzegovina's constitutional structure: namely, the integrity of the country on the one hand, and its de facto partition, on the other. Dayton tried to reconcile the peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina via pledges to create joint institutions which, in turn, were to secure their respective basic interests and preserve the values of a multi-ethnic society. The pledge to reverse ethnic cleansing and to restore the pre-war demographic composition fed people's hopes and raised expectations.”
2001-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4303 (2001) · source
“Despite the fact that the international community spent more then $5 billion trying to sort things out in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the economic development and substantial growth have not yet taken place. The present constitutional arrangement in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the one that could have been agreed upon by all sides at the time when it was negotiated. Even though it has not been fully implemented, it served the primary purpose of the Peace Accords: to stop the bloodshed. Today, the major task that the international community and the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina face is to prevent the constitutional structure of the country from becoming its permanent source of instability.”
2001-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4303 (2001) · source
“It is an appropriate time to assess where we stand now, where are we going and what we can do to speed up the attainment of a self-sustainable Bosnia and Herzegovina. The major problems in Bosnia and Herzegovina remain refugee returns, economic revitalization and proper functioning and development of its institutions. So far, no substantial refugee returns have occurred, particularly in regard to minority returns in Republika Srpska. Just as an illustration, only 1 per cent of Croats have returned to their homes in Republika Srpska since 1995. As time goes by, fewer and fewer people, especially Croats, see their future in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They have already settled in neighbouring or third countries, and they are losing hope.”
2001-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4303 (2001) · source
“Moreover, Croatia's aspirations towards European integration are greatly influenced by developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatian foreign policy has often been evaluated in terms of its policy towards Bosnia and Herzegovina. Both countries rely heavily on each other's traffic infrastructure and are important trade partners. It is therefore self-evident why my Government firmly supports a stable, politically and economically self-sustainable Bosnia and Herzegovina. Croatia supports a Bosnia and Herzegovina that will be able to take its place in the European integration processes. However, we recognize that these goals still lie a long way ahead. Croatia is unsatisfied with the progress made so far, and is concerned with the present state of affairs.”
2001-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4303 (2001) · source
“First of all, let me thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this discussion, and High Representative Petritsch for his comprehensive report. Let me also greet the new Permanent Representatives of Tunisia and especially of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who arrived in New York just at the most appropriate time. Croatia remains vitally interested in developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The fact that Croats are one of the three constituent peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina is far from being the only reason for our interest in that country. The stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina bears direct relevance for the stability and, moreover, the prosperity of Croatia itself. The shape and the length of our country's border with Bosnia and Herzegovina alone supports this argument.”
2001-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4303 (2001) · source
“The Republic of Croatia wishes to reiterate that its primary interest and commitment remains the maintenance of peace and overall security in the area, for the benefit of all citizens of Macedonia as well as all peoples of South-eastern Europe. It remains very important, for the long-term stability of South-eastern Europe, to clarify the tragic events of the recent past, to establish responsibility for them and to break the cycle of impunity by punishing the persons responsible, first of all Mr. Milosevic, for committing war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. At the same time, it is absolutely crucial to depart from the tradition of using violence to achieve political aims and to accept dialogue as the only legitimate means for resolving the remaining differences and disputes.”
2001-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4289 (2001) · source
“At the same time, we salute the restraint demonstrated by the authorities of the Republic of Macedonia. Unified and determined action on the part of the international community to prevent any further deterioration of the situation in the region - still corrupted by the negative legacy of the former Milosevic regime - remains indispensable. The sufferings of the Albanian population in Kosovo should not be forgotten, but violence only breeds more violence. Together with their brethren elsewhere in the region, the Albanians in Macedonia must strive, as the majority of them do, to protect their rights and interests through democratic institutions. In such efforts they enjoy our full support.”
2001-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4289 (2001) · source
“We welcome the presence of Macedonia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kerim, at this meeting. The Government of the Republic of Croatia condemns the extremist attacks and expresses concerns about the possible escalation of violent conflict in Macedonia. Accordingly, the Croatian Foreign Ministry issued a statement yesterday voicing concern that such attacks are destabilizing the security situation in Macedonia and impairing the process of normalization in Kosovo, thereby leading to the deterioration of relations in the entire region. We regret deeply the loss of life resulting from these terrorist acts. We condemn the incidents along the northern border of Macedonia as well as the threats directed at representatives of the international community in the area.”
2001-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4289 (2001) · source
“Therefore, I see great value in a potential joint follow-up meeting of the two councils on this or related matters in the near future. We must make an effort to build closer ties in order to address the converging agendas of world peace and world development.”
2001-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4272Resumption1 (2001) · source
“If we ask the Secretariat to anticipate and respond to peace-building needs in a well-orchestrated, timely and, therefore, efficient manner, we must provide it with the capacity to do so. Besides its role as an advocate for and guarantor of peace-building implementation, the Council can actively reach out to other principal United Nations bodies. In this regard, the role of the Economic and Social Council complements that of the Security Council. Indeed, the Economic and Social Council, with its broad agenda concerning the eradication of poverty and economic and social development, remains best equipped both to identify in a timely manner and to act pre-emptively upon these very causes of new or recurrent conflicts.”
2001-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4272Resumption1 (2001) · source
“This of course rests upon three important pillars: cooperation of the post-conflict society, sustainable political will on the part of the international community and an adequate bureaucratic capacity of the United Nations in general and the Secretariat in particular. The United Nations system has a proven record of cooperation in peace-building activities with intergovernmental regional organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations. This is certainly fertile ground for future expansion of cooperation, and the Security Council can play an important role in this effort. However, we must recognize that the United Nations Secretariat needs capacity to coordinate these efforts with its partners, as well as among its own agencies. In some areas of expertise the Secretariat lacks the minimum standing capacity.”
2001-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4272Resumption1 (2001) · source
“In closing, I would like to make a few observations and suggestions regarding a need for a shared comprehensive strategy for peace-building for the Security Council to ponder. First, I commend the Council for incorporating disarmament, demobilization and reintegration components in several past and ongoing peace operations. This is useful and should become a standard bracket in each applicable peacekeeping mandate, as early on as possible. Likewise, the provisions regarding refugees and displaced persons, demining and other stimuli for effective economic recovery, as well as provisions on strengthening the rule of law and democratic institutions, must be anticipated and mandated by the Council in a timely fashion.”
2001-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4272Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Over a million mines are still scattered on Croatian soil. Therefore, the already invested political, human and financial resources of the international community in Croatia should be coupled with development assistance if the desired results are to be achieved. Investment in peace, followed by investment in development, is part of the same continuum. The establishment of truth about a conflict and the punishment of perpetrators of conflict-related grave breaches of humanitarian law are other prerequisites for the re-establishment of peace and security. On the global level, the establishment of the International Criminal Court should serve to aid and expedite the healing and reconciliation process.”
2001-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4272Resumption1 (2001) · source
“In that report the Secretary- General obliquely stated that successful peace-building requires a mutually reinforcing political strategy and assistance programme, incorporating human rights considerations and humanitarian and development programmes. The importance to peace-building of the mutual reaffirmation of these two approaches cannot be overemphasized. The post-war reconstruction and reconciliation in Croatia are processes that necessarily take time, but can be accelerated through international support. Many displaced persons and refugees have returned, even though the economic and social situation in war- affected areas remains difficult, with soaring unemployment rates. There is a significant shortage of capital for new investment, job creation and specific projects, in particular demining.”
2001-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4272Resumption1 (2001) · source
“In addition to these, the host societies often have to grapple with a number of other difficulties, usually on shoestring budgets. Post-conflict societies exhibit all the characteristics of weak societies, regardless of whether they have a weak or strong State. Their infrastructure is destroyed or damaged, they suffer from depopulation or overpopulation in certain regions, the people are needy, resources are scarce; human rights are not efficiently protected and painful memories are still fresh. Unfortunately, we know of these ills first-hand. Croatia is still grappling with some of them while trying to help others that are much worse off in the region. In this regard, we sincerely hope that we can all heed the call issued by the Secretary-General in his report "Renewing the United Nations: a programme for reform" (A/51/950).”
2001-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4272Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Relatedly, engaging only in a selective few peace-building activities or in a discontinuous fashion can also be proved to outweigh the costs of devising and executing a comprehensive and sustained effort in peace- building. Finally, in terms of cost bearers, in the era of the globalization of markets in goods, services and, increasingly, labour, one can argue that costs of non- intervention in peace-building are borne by both the post-conflict society and the international community. The costs involved in managing the refugee outflows, their temporary or permanent resettlement and the spread of crime, infectious diseases and other maladies are just some examples that come to mind from the perspective of the international community.”
2001-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4272Resumption1 (2001) · source
“I thank you, Mr. President, for organizing today's open debate. I wish also to commend you for following the example set by your predecessor, Singapore, and circulating a background document for today's debate. I hope that such a procedure will be endorsed as a common practice by future Presidents ofthe Council. I found the document helpful, but most of all enticing, as it spelled out clearly the twofold objectives of today's debate: to reaffirm the political will of the international community and to make progress towards defining a common approach to peace-building. It has been proved time and again, by the recurrence of conflicts in Asia, Africa and Europe, that the costs of not engaging in a timely and comprehensive manner in peace-building can quickly outpace the costs of investments in peace.”
2001-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4272Resumption1 (2001) · source
“Such a decision will be based on an enabling strategy to reinforce sustainable peace and thus focus energies on returning prosperity to a once thriving tourist industry of the Dubrovnik area and the Bay of Kotor. I thank you again, Mr. President, for bringing a much needed spotlight to the often missing link between the end of the mission and the mission's objectives.”
2000-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4223Resumption1 (2000) · source
“Part of this project should be carried out under the auspices of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe. We have faith that the new democratic authorities in Belgrade will continue with their constructive approach towards their neighbours, including in this matter as well. We are grateful to the Secretary-General for having recognized, despite the crudeness of the UNMOP mandate, other acts of normalization on the ground. We feel that the time is ripe for the Security Council to advance a comprehensive "exit strategy" for this United Nations operation. It is time for the Council to assist the process of normalization further by recognizing the repeatedly certified fact that the security situation in Prevlaka has been stable for years now and by imposing a clear deadline for the termination of the mission.”
2000-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4223Resumption1 (2000) · source
“As we have witnessed elsewhere, such policies failed disastrously but were finally defeated just a few months ago. Nevertheless, Croatia has never given up the goal of re-establishing normality and bringing prosperity to the entire area under the United Nations monitoring mandate. Together with our Montenegrin neighbours, we have jointly committed ourselves to a peaceful resolution of the security issue of Prevlaka at the highest level. Moreover, we have drawn concrete and actionable plans to attract investors to this pristine part of the Croatian and Montenegrin coastal area to build complementary tourist resorts on both sides of the international border. We have also agreed to jointly fund the construction of the customs and other border- crossing facilities at Prevlaka.”
2000-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4223Resumption1 (2000) · source
“In such a manner, the Council did not waver from its course and did not send confusing signals or block the process of normalization in its tracks, but it was able to recognize the encouraging steps on the ground and thus strengthen the process so that it could run its course to successful completion. Croatia is currently hosting the United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP), the last remaining United Nations operation on its soil. Since 1992 the Prevlaka area has been under the United Nations monitoring mandate. Over the years, the attempts by the parties, even at the local level between the Croatian and Montenegrin authorities, to resolve the security issue of Prevlaka have been frustrated by the unrelenting refusal of the former Milosevic regime to let go of its expansionist policies.”
2000-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4223Resumption1 (2000) · source
“We are also convinced that credit is due to the Security Council. The proper initial formulation of the United Nations mandate and its subsequent modifications to fit the evolving realities on the ground were part of a well- defined strategy to usher in the final objectives: peaceful reintegration and sustainable peace in Eastern Slavonia. Because the Security Council has neither lost sight of nor appeared hesitant regarding this objective, it was able to act in an anticipatory and flexible fashion in the evolving process of the implementation of the desired objectives.”
2000-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4223Resumption1 (2000) · source
“The follow-on mission of 180 civilian police monitors, for a single period of nine months, was authorized by a Security Council resolution of 19 December 1997, at Croatia's own request. Another element, both welcomed and encouraged by the Security Council and later monitored by a regional security organization, was the development and implementation of the Republic of Croatia's national strategy of peaceful reintegration of the region. From today's perspective, one can claim that UNTAES had all the right prerequisites in place, most importantly the cooperation of the host country. Therefore, the argument goes, UNTAES was both a unique and not particularly challenging operation. We respectfully disagree. We feel that the United Nations should be given credit for its part in the job well done.”
2000-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4223Resumption1 (2000) · source
“In this case, the finality of the mandate provided both focus and discipline to anticipate and then carry out a number of mandated tasks, most notably the disarmament programme. This initiative was not only launched early in the operation but also was completed swiftly and in parallel with the innovative manner of the weapons buy-back scheme. Of equal importance were the other two elements of the three-prong UNTAES success strategy: follow- on security assistance and political missions that ensued upon the termination of the United Nations operation, and national strategy and policy measures regarding the rehabilitation and reintegration of the former combatants.”
2000-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4223Resumption1 (2000) · source
“In this regard, Croatia takes pride, together with the United Nations, for having persevered in carrying out a comprehensive strategy for a successful termination of the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (UNTAES). To recall, at the time when UNTAES was launched, the mandated area of its operation in Croatia was still under occupation. From the outset, the Security Council set a clear, credible and realistic mandate, based on and corresponding to the 1995 agreement of the parties involved. Thus, in its resolution of 15 November 1996 the Council confirmed the two-year deadline for the termination of the Mission.”
2000-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4223Resumption1 (2000) · source
“So far, a number of these lessons have not been necessarily recommended for implementation, let alone implemented. In this regard, we, too, consider today's exercise an important contribution to filling in a missing link in the Brahimi report on the reform of United Nations peace operations, a link that cannot be provided by the report's call for "clear, credible and achievable mandates". (S/2000/809, annex 11], para. 4) In our view, as derived from our experience of having hosted five peace operations in our country, we are convinced that the Security Council's mandates must also favour and advance the end objectives of achieving self- sustainable peace. This goal, of course, requires a well- thought-out strategy and unwavering commitment by all the parties involved.”
2000-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4223Resumption1 (2000) · source