YouSaid · the spoken record

Spatafora

lines on the record: 452
first: 2003-07-03
most recent: 2008-07-30
sittings or episodes: 70
sources: un-security-council

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“Allow me to conclude by quoting from a farewell letter that my wife and I received from the United Nations African Mothers Association, an important association that is very close to our hearts. The letter, signed by the President of the Association, 08-44376 Mrs. Kumalo, the wife of the Permanent Representative of South Africa, recalls that "in Africa we say mountains never meet, but people who have ever crossed each others' path are likely to meet again". With those words, I say farewell to all of my friends here, and I urge them to take care of themselves and of their loved ones. I will not forget them.”
2008-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5946 (2008) · source
“What is at stake is our credibility and our relevance, and I am grateful to all my colleagues here for how we have managed to make some progress along the path before us in preventing the progressive irrelevance and marginalization of this Council, a situation in which all of us in the international community at large would be losers. For me, these 19 months in the Security Council have been months in which I have learned a lot. I have been indeed fortunate to work together with the entire Council on so many challenging and sensitive issues along a common path towards our common and shared objectives. I will take with me a lot of memories and, I suppose, a lot of nostalgia too.”
2008-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5946 (2008) · source
“There should be no surprise that Article 25 of the Charter concerning the binding nature of the decisions of the Council, is fading from our radar screen. The listening culture that I was referring to implies that we have to make every possible effort to understand each other. To do so is a sign of strength, not of weakness. If we listen and understand, it will be easier to work together with equal dignity and mutual respect, which are building blocks towards effectiveness and results- oriented action. We must never lose sight of the fact that what matters most at the end of the day is to be able to deliver and have an impact on the ground, so that the Security Council will make a difference and be perceived as doing so.”
2008-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5946 (2008) · source
“Ibelieve that the best way for the Council to be successful in addressing the issues before it, however difficult and sensitive they may be, is first of all to strengthen its listening culture. That listening culture should be more open and receptive to the feelings and values prevailing among the members in general and among interested parties in particular. We sit here around this table on behalf of all United Nations Member States, and if we do not nurture within the membership at large a perception of ownership of the Security Council's proceedings, then it will be difficult at the end of the day to have implementation and compliance, because implementation and compliance will be there only if ownership is preserved at the same time.”
2008-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5946 (2008) · source
“I thank you very much, Mr. President, for your words. To you and to all my colleagues and friends around this table go my most sincere thanks for the friendship and the cooperation that have been offered me. Thanks to all the members of the Council, my experience in the Security Council has been very rewarding. There have been a lot of challenges and achievements. There has also been, unfortunately, a lot of frustration when we have not succeeded in delivering what the outside world, especially those who are the most vulnerable and those who suffer on the ground, was expecting from us and from the United Nations. There is indeed an ever-increasing demand by the people of the world for a more effective Security Council action and presence. Expectations to that end are very high and important challenges are ahead of 2 this Council.”
2008-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5946 (2008) · source
“In conclusion, allow me to reiterate our thanks to the Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Djibouti and express once more Italy's trust in their Government, as well as in Government of Eritrea, and in the governing will and capacity to agree on a way out of this crisis using the tools of diplomacy and cooperation.”
2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source
“That is why we strongly support the urgent launch of a fact-finding mission by the Secretariat, which would provide essential elements for this Council to develop its position and approach to the issue. We feel that it is equally important that the Security Council President bring to the attention of the international media the perceptions, assessments and concerns that have been expressed by members of the Council. Here, we fully recognize our position in the language that has been proposed to the presidency by the French delegation, which we thank. We fully recognize ourselves in those elements.”
2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source
“Adopting a bottom-up approach, looking at events from the ground and lending the strongest possible support to the good offices or mediation offices offered by the African Union and the Arab League should be retained as essential elements of our involvement. Cooperation with regional and subregional organizations and Governments will be particularly crucial in the coming weeks, as we will need to acquire a more accurate and detailed picture of the situation. The first account of events, as we have heard, confirms the seriousness of current tensions between the two countries. The crisis indeed has the potential to become a threat to regional stability. However, a number of elements will need to be further investigated and brought to light.”
2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source
“To the extent that we will be able to catalyse and sustain that positive dynamic, fully and promptly placing the United Nations political machinery at the disposal of the parties, as expressed in our presidential statement of 12 June, we will have paid a significant service to our common cause of advancing the role of the Security Council as an instrument of conflict prevention, as mandated by Article 34 of the United Nations Charter. In addition, as recalled by Article 33 of the Charter and shown by the African experience on a number of occasions, the key to conflict prevention ultimately lies in the hands of interested Member States, as has already been stated by others.”
2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source
“Mahmassani, and the representative of the African Union because their role, as has been stated already, will be crucial in the future. I mentioned the importance of the dialogue around the table. In fact, Italy's expectation is that this meeting - and this is important - will serve as the beginning of a renewed engagement by both parties to exercise restraint and resolve their differences through dialogue, international law and diplomacy, thereby demonstrating their attachment to peace and security in the wider region.”
2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source
“I thank Mr. Honwana for his briefing. I join others in extending a very warm welcome to Prime Minister Dileita and to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Djibouti. We strongly appreciate that they have come from Djibouti to give us first-hand accounts. I wish to thank Prime Minister Dileita and the Permanent Representative of Eritrea, Ambassador Desta, for their decision to take part, together around this table, in this important and extremely timely meeting, in order to convey their national perspectives to this Council and to clarify their respective positions. As we have heard, there are conflicting perceptions and positions, but it is important that those conflicting positions he expressed around a table, not on the ground. I thank the Permanent Observer of the League of Arab States, Mr.”
2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source
“President, thanks to your delegation we had the privilege last week of hearing important representatives of broader public opinion, who reminded us of the reality of the conflict and of what is expected of the Security Council. Following that meeting, I am even more convinced that the worst thing we can do is to become accustomed to the lack of progress and give in to the sense of frustration and fatigue that I mentioned earlier. We must accept responsibility, individually and collectively, for resolving the crisis and not let this sense of fatigue prevail, both for the sake of the people of Darfur and for the sake of the credibility of the United Nations.”
2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5922 (2008) · source
“I would also like to support what was said by the Special Envoys about the crucial need to ensure the participation of civil society. This is particularly important in a situation in which, because of the fragmentation of the rebel movements, on which Ambassador Eliasson has put the accent, it is difficult to understand who is representing whom. The representation issue is particularly serious ahead of next year's national elections. Italy has in fact chosen to direct much of its aid to Darfur to civil society, most recently through a contribution of $3 million to the Darfur Community Peace and Stability Fund. Finally, Mr.”
2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5922 (2008) · source
“The result of the situation is there for everybody to see. I think we should honestly assess our performance and renew our collective capacity to address each track of the Darfur crisis with the same determination, but with the necessary individual focus. Italy sees merit in the proposal mentioned by Special Envoy Salim of a high-level meeting on Darfur, put forward during the recent informal consultations held in Geneva on 4 and 5 June. However, the meeting would have to be well prepared in advance. What is needed now is leadership, direction and a new strategy, not just brainstorming. The time for brainstorming has passed. As I said before, we should also be clear on whether we want to adapt our strategy or to improve its delivery. But the idea is worth studying, and my delegation is ready to engage in any further work on it.”
2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5922 (2008) · source
“It is our responsibility not to betray the small hope that, one hopes, remains, and we must ensure that there is follow up. The Security Council has been limited in its action on Darfur by a sort of hesitation to openly and resolutely address each problem on its own terms. Too often we around this table have been constrained by the self-imposed attitude that we must be comprehensive at all costs. We have not been strong enough in addressing the Government's responsibilities regarding UNAMID or the protection of civilians because of the Government's valid concerns with respect to the political process. At the same time, we have refrained from using all the means at our disposal to persuade the rebel movements to join the peace process, because we did not want the Government to see this as a reward for its behaviour.”
2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5922 (2008) · source
“I shall not elaborate on this, as Ambassador Sawers has already done so and I fully agree with what he said. Whatever our strategy, it must remain within those milestones. Of course, as Ambassador Kumalo said, we have to be sure that all the pieces are in place; we must not be selecting, picking and choosing here and there. What I am not so sure about is whether I can agree with Ambassador Kumalo when he says that we have to be humble enough, when we hear the appeals for help, to say that we are not in a position to help. I do not know ifI would be comfortable with that. Yes, there is frustration and fatigue, but what is important is that there is still hope. I think we must not remove the oxygen from that hope. If we give the perception that for the moment we cannot help, that hope might fade, which I would not like to see.”
2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5922 (2008) · source
“Since the various tracks - political, security and peacekeeping, humanitarian, rule of law and impunity - are interrelated and mutually reinforcing, lack of progress in one has a negative impact on the others. Breaking this vicious circle should be our priority. In this we will require a higher degree of cohesion and unity among Security Council members. I wonder also whether what Mr. Salim said was exactly the right point, that there is "a need to rethink the strategy on the way forward" (supra). I will come back to that. Is it a question of rethinking the strategy or is it a question of shortcomings in the delivery of the strategy that we have. We will have to think about that. Of course, I think that any new strategy has to remain within the six milestones described by Ambassador Eliasson.”
2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5922 (2008) · source
“I warmly welcome Special Envoys Jan Eliasson and Salim Ahmed Salim back to New York, and I thank them for the very lucid briefings, as well as for their tireless efforts to achieve peace in Darfur. In fact, what we have seen today is a very disturbing and gloomy picture - indeed, the word "gloomy" was used by Mr. Salim. And as Special Envoy Eliasson put it, "this intractable conflict is still unfolding" (supra). We understand that there is frustration and fatigue there. I think that we have to prevent frustration and fatigue from overcoming us in the Security Council as well. We have to react, and we have to prevent. Like others, we regret that despite all the efforts there has been no real progress in the political process for Darfur since the Addis Ababa conclusions of November 2006.”
2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5922 (2008) · source
“I would like to conclude by quoting Benjamin Disraeli: "Success is the child of audacity". Let all of us around this table be audacious, supporting the way forward as outlined by the Secretary-General, in order to safeguard and consolidate peace and stability and to give Kosovo, Serbia and the whole region a chance to move forward towards a more stable and prosperous future in the European Union.”
2008-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5917 (2008) · source
“At the same time, the United Nations should redesign its role while preserving certain fundamental functions, such as that of facilitating the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, so that solutions may be found to pending issues. Italy reaffirms its commitment to contributing to the international effort in Kosovo and to regional stability. We will continue to work with the United Nations to be one of the main contributors to the Kosovo Force, and we favour an enhanced role for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). In addition, we will be one of the main participants in EULEX since we firmly believe that a stronger European Union role in Kosovo will pave the way towards the future integration of this country within the EU.”
2008-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5917 (2008) · source
“The European Union welcomes the [United Nations Secretary-General's] report on UNMIK [the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo] and his intention to reconfigure the international civil presence in Kosovo. This would facilitate the deployment of EULEX Kosovo [the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo] throughout Kosovo". With the European Union enabled to play an enhanced role in Kosovo through the EULEX mission, within the framework of resolution 1244 (1999), it will be possible to achieve major progress in the field of minority rights with specific regard to the Serb minority in Kosovo, including protection of its religious and cultural heritage. The European Union must develop its role in areas of the police, justice and customs.”
2008-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5917 (2008) · source
“Italy fully shares the Secretary-General's assessment that "the objectives of the United Nations would be best obtained through an enhanced operational role for the European Union in the area of the rule of law under the umbrella of the United Nations, headed by my Special Representative". (S/2008/354, para. 13) The European Union is ready to play that role in Kosovo. It will complement the work of the United Nations in the maintenance of international peace and security and make available its resources and long- standing expertise in the Balkans. Significantly, just today, the European Council concluded as follows - I will quote just a few excerpts: "[T]he European Union remains committed to playing a leading role in ensuring the stability of Kosovo .”
2008-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5917 (2008) · source
“Nevertheless, shortcomings still exist, and the objective of harmonious multi-ethnic coexistence has not yet been reached. An extra effort - an extra mile - to reach this goal must be made. As the Secretary-General rightly stated in his report, "the process of full reconciliation and integration of Kosovo communities will be a long-term one" (S/2008/354, para. 2). The international community must remain engaged in Kosovo as long as necessary and must provide strong support in that regard. It is encouraging to read in the report of the Secretary-General that both Pristina and Belgrade recognize the need to find a solution to continue the international civil presence in Kosovo. Additionally, Council members have confirmed their interest in adjusting the operational role of the United Nations in the light of the evolving circumstances.”
2008-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5917 (2008) · source
“Let me first express our warmest welcome to President Tadic' and President Sejdiu and thank them for their statements. I would also like to extend a warm welcome to the Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, to whom goes our deepest and most sincere appreciation for his efforts and good offices with the parties and the key stakeholders at a politically very delicate juncture. Italy fully supports the realistic, wise, balanced and forward-looking way forward that the Secretary- General has outlined in his so important and meaningful report (S/2008/354). The uncertainty of recent months is to no one's benefit, least of all that of the ethnic minorities we are trying to protect, who need, more than ever, a stable environment. Kosovo has considerably advanced on the path of stabilization and in building up its democratic institutions.”
2008-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5917 (2008) · source
“We also welcome its role regarding the issue of the disputed internal boundaries. It is our hope that the United Nations agencies will have a more incisive presence on the ground so that the United Nations can provide effective leadership in coordinating international contributions. Finally, we encourage the Iraqi Government to take further measures to address the situation of Iraqi refugees abroad and of internally displaced persons and to facilitate their return to their homes.”
2008-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5910 (2008) · source
“We welcome the upcoming the provincial elections as a meaningful towards further consolidating the democratic process. In another positive development and in the spirit of building overall relations within the framework of the expanded neighbours process, a number of countries in the region have recently decided to open embassies in Baghdad and to appoint ambassadors to Iraq. We believe that debt relief, in accordance with Paris Club terms, is crucial at this juncture, and we strongly hope that the countries of the region promptly finalize the necessary agreements, thus giving a tangible sign of their support for the reconstruction and stabilization of Iraq. Italy has always fully supported the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) and its broader mandate provided by resolution 1770 (2007).”
2008-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5910 (2008) · source
“Italy has undertaken a renewed and consistent commitment to the re-establishment of the Iraqi security forces within the framework of the NATO training mission, whose mandate has recently been extended to the new national police force. We also greatly welcome the positive steps made in the area of national reconciliation, in particular the General Amnesty Law and the revision of the de-baathification law, and the progress in rebuilding the Iraqi society and economy. We welcome the 2008 budget and improvement in executing the budget, as shown at the recent international Conference in Stockholm, where Iraq indicated sources of co-financing and technical assistance that will indeed help activate the country's own enormous resources as a priority for economic partnership with the international community.”
2008-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5910 (2008) · source
“Italy welcomes the progress made the Iraqi Government in rebuilding an autonomous defence and security capacity, and the recent actions it has taken against Al-Qaida terrorist elements and to re-establish legitimate State authority, which had been tainted by illegal militias and armed groups. In that regard, it is our hope that the Iraqi Government will follow through on its decision to disband all militias, which are an element of instability that threatens to impair the Iraqi Government's ability to take full responsibility in the field of security. We applaud MNF-1's ongoing contribution to the re-establishment of Iraq's security capacity.”
2008-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5910 (2008) · source
“I would like first of all to warmly welcome His Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iraq, Mr. Hoshyar Zebari, and to thank him for his presence here today and for what he has told us. He has, indeed, offered us a very clear picture of where we stand today. The big picture is before us and, as he has told us, it is a positive picture. Under-Secretary-General Gambari is right: hope and confidence now appear to be well rooted. I would also like to thank you, Mr. President, for your briefing on behalf of the Multinational Force in Iraq (MNF-I) and to thank Under-Secretary-General Gambari and Assistant Secretary-General Sach for their very informative briefings.”
2008-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5910 (2008) · source
“Finally, Italy fully supports a response by the Council to the Prosecutor's briefing in the form of the draft presidential statement presented by Costa Rica, which reaffirms resolution 1593 (2005) and the duty of all parties to the conflict in Darfur to cooperate fully with the ICC. We fully support that draft text.”
2008-06-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5905 (2008) · source
“What I ask myself - and what I think all of us have to ask ourselves - is whether we are in the process of modifying the United Nations Charter by acquiescence, because what is now at stake is a modification of Article 25, an erosion day by day through acquiescence. And we know that acquiescence is a source of international law. So let us not be responsible for such an erosion. Fighting impunity has rightly become one of the priorities of the international community, but that principle, which is at the core of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, has yet to be translated into consistent practice. Darfur is a major test case of our ability, as I said before, to pass from words to actions, and I call on all stakeholders to make sure that this opportunity is not missed.”
2008-06-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5905 (2008) · source
“08-3674} As recalled by my Belgian colleague, on 31 March the European Union issued a declaration on the occasion of the third anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1593 (2005), calling on the Government of Sudan to cooperate unconditionally with the International Criminal Court and to surrender the two individuals for whom it has issued arrest warrants. Italy too calls on the Government of Sudan and all other parties to the conflict in Darfur to comply with their obligations under all Council resolutions. Members will not be surprised if I recall here Article 25 of the Charter, which says; "The Members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council in accordance with the present Charter".”
2008-06-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5905 (2008) · source
“That resolution must be fully implemented - and of this there has to be a strong awareness - including its provision that "the Government of the Sudan and all other parties to the conflict in Darfur shall cooperate fully with and provide any necessary assistance to the Court and the Prosecutor pursuant to this resolution". (para. 2) We are strongly concerned by the report we heard of continued lack of cooperation and by the fact that the arrest warrants have not yet been executed. Moreover, one of the individuals on the investigations still holds a prominent position in the Government.”
2008-06-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5905 (2008) · source
“Since the establishment of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the Security Council has consistently made it clear that massive human rights violations are per se a threat to peace that must be addressed by punishing individual perpetrators, as Foreign Minister Stagno Ugarte has so eloquently recalled. On that basis, as we know, the Council referred the situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court under resolution 1593 (2005) in March 2005.”
2008-06-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5905 (2008) · source
“They are addressing the accountability gap, but to whom are we accountable? We are accountable to the women who are subject to the crimes that the Prosecutor has described. We are accountable to the children. We are accountable to those who suffer, as the Prosecutor has told us. It is therefore a question of consistency with the principles to which we have subscribed in the Charter of the United Nations, in the preamble of which we reaffirm our faith in the dignity and worth of the human person. As the Prosecutor said, given our responsibility and accountability, we have to move from principle to action. Therefore, we have here, in the words of the Prosecutor, an historic opportunity.”
2008-06-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5905 (2008) · source
“We share the Prosecutor's view that bringing to justice those who are responsible for serious and continued violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law will greatly contribute to peace in Darfur. Peace and justice are precisely what the victims are seeking and what the population of Darfur is expecting after more than 40 years of conflict. We can no longer fail to heed their call. What is at stake is our credibility as an Organization and as States Members of the Organization. What is at stake is our responsibility. What is at stake is our accountability. Today, now, a few hundred yards from here, a round table is taking place that has been organized by the United Nations Development Fund for Women on resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security.”
2008-06-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5905 (2008) · source
“Italy fully appreciates the very difficult environmental circumstances in which the Prosecutor and his staff are conducting their investigation and wishes to renew its full confidence in him and his staff. More than three years have elapsed since resolution 1593 (2005) was adopted, and we are being told once again that serious crimes continue to be committed against civilians in Darfur by all parties in a climate of impunity * total impunity. Today's briefing is a source of deep concern for us. On the one hand, it reconfirms the need for a more robust and effective approach to the conflict in Darfur encompassing the humanitarian, security, political and rule of law dimensions. However, the pursuit of such a comprehensive approach cannot be grounds for further postponing full compliance with resolution 1593 (2005).”
2008-06-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5905 (2008) · source
“First of all, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to the Foreign Minister of Costa Rica, Mr. Bruno Stagno Ugarte. This is, for many of us, an opportunity to welcome Mr. Ugarte back to the Council for a day. As Permanent Representative of Costa Rica, Bruno Stagno left a very clear footprint that we are still following today. I think that, with his statement today, he has also left a deep footprint. I also offer a warm welcome to the new Permanent Representative of Belgium, Ambassador Jan Grauls. We welcome him among us as a member of the family. I wish to express my very sincere thanks to Mr. Luis Moreno-Ocampo, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, for his very clear, focused and appalling briefing. Let me reiterate Italy's full and strong support for the International Criminal Court and the work of the Prosecutor.”
2008-06-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5905 (2008) · source
“Finally, Italy would like to recall that the Tribunals' legacy is under serious consideration by this Council. There have been numerous meetings of the informal working group on international tribunals, chaired by Belgium, and many delicate issues have been or are being discussed. I am confident that, with the active contribution of the entire Council, important decisions will soon be made to reaffirm the purpose for which the Tribunals were established - to punish those responsible for the most heinous international crimes in the former Yugoslavia and in Rwanda.”
2008-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5904 (2008) · source
“Any support from the international community for that process, including by strengthening the judicial capacity of the relevant States to conduct criminal trials for international crimes, is thus more than welcome. In that regard, Italy commends the assistance extended to the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) by the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, as recalled in the report of the President of the ICTY. Concerned mainly with the dissemination of best practices in judicial and prosecutorial activities within national courts, such assistance will contribute substantially to consolidating at the local and international levels the achievements of international judicial institutions in the field of international criminal law.”
2008-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5904 (2008) · source
“Of course, in pursuing the completion strategies, the Council should avoid giving the impression that it intends to promote expeditiousness at the price of fairness. Fairness must be the overriding concern of any judicial institution, the ad hoc Tribunals being no exception. I am confident that the Tribunals will make every effort to finalize the numerous pending cases as efficiently as possible, continue the referral of intermediate and lower-ranking cases to competent national jurisdictions, and facilitate the judicial activities on appeal. On the other hand, it is also essential to increase capacity-building activities in the countries most directly impacted, in terms of both the judiciary's proceedings and of outreach, which could have an enormous impact on the civilian population and on the future of those States.”
2008-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5904 (2008) · source
“It is imperative that pending arrest warrants be executed promptly to avoid further delays in the completion strategies. The mission of the Tribunals to help bring lasting peace to communities ravaged by heinous atrocities necessarily means bringing perpetrators to justice. The message must not be sent that time plays in favour of the culprits. On the future of the completion strategies, Italy believes that the Council must be vigilant in avoiding undue delays in the administration of justice. The ability of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) to respect the schedule presented in December has run into some impediments. I am pleased to note that a new schedule has been prepared and, although the task is daunting, I hope that the ICTR manages to meet the Council's expectations that the schedule will be respected.”
2008-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5904 (2008) · source
“Italy commends the tangible progress made in pursuing the completion strategies through the strong commitment of the Tribunals, their judges, their prosecutors and their staffs. I should like in particular to congratulate Prosecutor Brammertz, who took office on 1 January and is appearing before the Council in that capacity for the first time today. We endorse and fully support the statement that will be delivered later by the Permanent Representative of Slovenia on behalf of the European Union. I will therefore limit myself to making some additional remarks. With increasing concern, we note that cooperation with the Tribunals in securing the arrest and surrender of the remaining fugitives has not improved. Cooperation is now more crucial than ever.”
2008-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5904 (2008) · source
“As this is the first time that I am taking the floor in this Chamber under your presidency, Sir, I want to express my most sincere and warm congratulations to you on your assumption of the presidency for this month. I am sure it will be very successful, and you can count on our full support. At the same time, I offer my very warmest congratulations to Ambassador Sawers, now co-leading the mission in Africa, and the United Kingdom delegation on having so effectively and fruitfully conducted their presidency. Let me also join other speakers in thanking President Pocar and President Byron, as well as Prosecutor Brammertz and Prosecutor Jallow, for their presentations to the Council.”
2008-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5904 (2008) · source
“And then we must react and find ways of being effective operationally and not just through statements. We do not have the luxury of wasting time when innocent lives are at stake.”
2008-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5898 (2008) · source
“Once again, I welcome the joint study being conducted by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and Department of Peacekeeping Operations, mentioned in the report of the Secretary-General. Secondly, on access, we have greatly appreciated the update received on the enhanced mechanism for the monitoring and reporting system. More systematic and timely reports by the Emergency Relief Coordinator to the Council on serious access constraints are necessary. We need an effective system of proactive monitoring and prevention, and here I would like to underline the term "proactive". The attention of the Council must be drawn to the different types of access constraints - which do not necessarily mean violations, as has been highlighted - as soon as they arise.”
2008-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5898 (2008) · source
“There should be no new mechanisms, just, as underlined by Under-Secretary- General Holmes, an informal gathering, a "light" tool for that enhanced operational and ground-centred approach I was just referring to. It will make the difference if it will give an added value to this ground- centred approach. I call on my colleagues: let us deliver on such proposed action and try to sit down at the same table. Discussing together is the best way of achieving our goal. Once again, what is at stake is our credibility in delivering. I have just two final remarks on other operational tools. First, on peacekeeping, United Nations operations must be clearly mandated to ensure the protection of civilians and subsequently report on it.”
2008-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5898 (2008) · source
“In operational terms, the most recent report of the Secretary-General (S/2007/643) was very clear, precise and focused on which actions we need to take in the following weeks and months. We are strongly in favour of the proposal regarding an informal forum for consultations on protection concerns at the expert level among Council members. Here I will not repeat what was so eloquently clarified by Ambassador Holmes. I definitely think that that informal mechanism for consultations would enable us to facilitate a systematic consideration of the protection of civilians in the Council's deliberations, specifically when considering the establishment, assessment and renewal of peacekeeping mandates.”
2008-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5898 (2008) · source
“In fact, as I was saying, the Under-Secretary-General paints a very disturbing and troubling picture of conflict situations throughout the world, including constraints and denials of access of humanitarian personnel to vulnerable people caught in conflict and negative developments in the conduct of hostilities, among which is the scourge of sexual violence. We are convinced that when used as a method of warfare and when it deliberately targets the civilian population or is part of a widespread attack against civilian population, sexual violence in situations of armed conflict is a threat to international peace and security, and therefore the business of this Council. It is time that we fulfil our responsibility and move from merely denouncing those crimes to taking concrete action to end them.”
2008-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5898 (2008) · source
“First of all, resolution 1674 (2006) reaffirms the principle of the responsibility to protect, a "cardinal achievement" (S/2007/643, para. 11) of our Organization and one that must be read and operationalized in a non-confrontational manner. In general terms, concerning the protection of civilians in armed conflict, I feel that the briefing of the Under- Secretary-General requires us, for our part, to look at the issue with a ground-centred operational approach, as he has done. We must never lose sight of the fact that what matters most at the end of the day is if and how we are able to deliver and have an impact on the ground in bringing relief to those who suffer. I think that is why the briefing of Under- Secretary-General Holmes is so disturbing: because it questions how much of an impact we are able to have.”
2008-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5898 (2008) · source