YouSaid · the spoken record

Tachie-Menson

lines on the record: 79
first: 2005-05-26
most recent: 2008-07-17
sittings or episodes: 12
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 completion strategy of the Tribunal is crucial to its mission to end impunity for the most serious crimes. It is for that reason that we take note with great interest of the procedural reforms and administrative arrangements instituted to reduce the length of trials. That has led to the expeditious disposal of cases - with the Appeals Chamber handing down 114 decisions, which is a record number in the circumstances. In addition, 107 proceedings against accused persons have been completed since 2004. We consider that the referral of cases to domestic jurisdictions is one of the effective tools at the Tribunal's disposal in the execution of its completion strategy, as it reduces the Tribunal's workload.”
2007-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5697 (2007) · source
“First of all, let me join other members in thanking the Presidents and Prosecutors of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) for their detailed reports. The professionalism, commitment and resourcefulness of the Judges and Prosecutors and the dedication to duty shown by the staff of the Tribunals have contributed greatly to the unique role they are playing in the development of international humanitarian law. Regarding the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, we are happy to note that, six months after the last report of the President and Prosecutor, steady progress has been made towards the Tribunal's completion strategy.”
2007-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5697 (2007) · source
“On the completion strategy, we hope that with the streamlining of the Court's procedures, a mode of operation for the targets dates will be met. We feel that the Council should consider extending the period to enable the trial of high-level fugitives who are still at large to take place.”
2006-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5594 (2006) · source
“We agree with the report's prognosis that the failure to secure the arrest and trial of six high-level fugitives who are wanted for the gravest crimes within the target date of the completion strategy may undermine the legacy of the Tribunal as far as the fight against impunity is concerned. The fact that some high- level fugitives are still at large is a matter of great concern to my delegation. Certainly, the fugitives cannot be hiding without some sort of assistance or tacit support from certain quarters. We call on the relevant States to exercise the necessary political will and to do whatever is in their power to bring those fugitives to justice. There can be no closure to the traumatic period in which those fugitives played an ignoble role if the culprits are not brought to justice.”
2006-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5594 (2006) · source
“On that point I wish to reiterate the position of my delegation that unreasonably lengthy trials bogged down by delays and complicated rules of procedure do not project the required image of transparency and efficiency. The Tribunal's outreach programme, which has brought to the population of the affected areas insight into the workings of the Tribunal, will no doubt play an important role in the healing and reconciliation process. By demystifying the Tribunal, the outreach programme has assisted in remedying the sense of remoteness of the judicial process that may be felt by victims in affected communities.”
2006-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5594 (2006) · source
“It is important that the genocide trials, which form the core of the Tribunal's mandate, be completed within the timeframe established in the completion strategy. We hope that a shift of focus from investigations and arrests to trials will enable the Tribunal to complete its work on time. With regard to the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the assessment in the reports by the President and the Prosecutor indicate the steady progress that has been made in the disposal of cases since the last report to the Council. We are also pleased to note that the proposals of the working groups on speeding up trials and on appeals are being implemented, hence the hectic pace of the cases being handled by the Tribunal.”
2006-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5594 (2006) · source
“We are confident that all this puts the ICTR on course to meeting its completion strategy. To that end, the Tribunal must continue to receive the necessary resources. In that connection, we welcome the referral of less serious cases to national jurisdictions. Those referrals are not only essential to easing the Tribunal's work load, but also necessary in helping with the capacity-building of the domestic judicial system, and at the same time infusing a sense of ownership of the judicial proceedings among the local communities. If the psychological wounds of the genocide are to heal, the participation of local communities in the judicial process can act as a catalyst. On the issue of genocide, the Tribunal's efforts, which culminated in the completion of investigations, are to be commended.”
2006-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5594 (2006) · source
“I wish to thank the Presidents and Prosecutors of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), not only for their detailed reports, but also for their resourcefulness, professionalism and commitment to duty under difficult conditions, which have contributed to justice and a large measure of peace and stability in two troubled regions of the world. We appreciate the integral role being played by the ICTR in the reconciliation and reconstruction process in Rwanda. It is undeniable that the Tribunal has made an invaluable contribution to the restoration of democracy and the rule of law by bringing to justice to the victims of the genocide. We are also impressed by the progress being made with regard to the prosecutions and trials of the accused persons.”
2006-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5594 (2006) · source
“The abuse of refugee status by some illegal aliens does more than just raise the question of the denial of this most basic right - recognized under international humanitarian law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - to vulnerable groups. UNHCR has to work with States to combat the gradual erosion of refugee rights under the guise of law enforcement and anti-illegal-immigration measures. It is also important that Member States live up to their obligations and commitments under the 1951 Convention on Refugees.”
2006-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5353 (2006) · source
“That definition is the basis of international refugee law. In this era, one in which conflicts can cause massive refugee flows that overwhelm the facilities of host countries, the tolerance level is very low. Illegal migration is another complicating factor. There is, therefore, a tendency on the part of some Governments overburdened with the reality of illegal migration to consider refugee issues in the same light. The challenge for UNHCR is to seek the cooperation of Member countries in ensuring recognition of the fact that the problem of refugees is a distinct human rights issue, and not one of migration.”
2006-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5353 (2006) · source
“The question now is how well placed UNHCR is to handle these new challenges. UNHCR's core mandate is to lead and coordinate action, to protect refugees and to resolve refugee problems worldwide. Two main objectives can be distilled from this core mandate: to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees and to ensure that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe haven in another State. At the heart of this mandate is the following issue: Who is a refugee? The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol define a refugee as a person who is outside the country of his or her nationality and is unable or unwilling to return to it, owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reason of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular group or political opinion.”
2006-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5353 (2006) · source
“I should like first of all to thank the High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Antonio Guterres, for his comprehensive briefing. The achievements of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), established in December 1950, are unequalled. It is, without doubt, the biggest and most effective humanitarian agency in the world. Working with countless agencies and non-governmental organizations, it has given hope to millions of vulnerable people displaced by war, famine and natural disasters. Today, 19.2 million people receive assistance from that Office. The number of vulnerable people in need of assistance, and the list of areas needing humanitarian relief, are almost endless. These include the Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Haiti, Kosovo and Afghanistan, to mention only a few.”
2006-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5353 (2006) · source
“We therefore support the request of the Government of Timor-Leste that the United Nations consider establishing a political office to continue the work of UNOTIL after the expiration of its mandate. While noting the achievements that have been made so far, we cannot overlook a very sensitive issue confronting not only the Government and the people of Timor-Leste but also the international community at large: the report of the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation. My delegation condemns violence and gross violations of human rights. We feel, however, that, in pursuing justice, the Government of Timor-Leste and the Government of Indonesia should be encouraged to engage in constructive dialogue to find a way forward on this issue.”
2006-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5351 (2006) · source
“Similarly, we align ourselves with the recommendation made by the Secretary-General in his report (S/2006/24) regarding the request for support from the international community for the general elections to be held in 2007, which will be an important milestone in the consolidation of the system of democratic governance. That Timor-Leste has taken its proper place and role in the international community is a tribute not only to the resilience and determination of the Government and the people of Timor-Leste but also to the efforts of the United Nations Office in Timor-Leste (UNOTIL) and to the international donor community, including the financial institutions. On that point, my delegation is of the opinion that an international presence and international support are necessary to sustain the process of nation-building.”
2006-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5351 (2006) · source
“Criminal law and civil procedures are being strengthened through the enactment of new legislation. Various capacity-building programmes are in place to revitalize the bureaucracy and the institutions responsible for governance and human rights. The police services are also being rebuilt. Those institutional reforms and renewal programmes need to be continued. The present situation of calm and stability is a manifestation of the effectiveness of the existing partnership. What is happening in Timor-Leste is a shining example of what can be achieved through post- conflict peacebuilding. In that regard, we wish to recommend an increase in assistance for the legislative and judicial sectors in view of the critical role that institutions in those spheres have to play in the entrenchment and sustainability of good governance and the rule of law.”
2006-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5351 (2006) · source
“I wish first of all to welcome the President of Timor-Leste, His Excellency Mr. Xanana Gusmao. We are very grateful to him for his address to the Council. Our thanks go also to the Special Representative of the Secretary- General for his briefing. My delegation is impressed by what has been achieved with regard to national reconstruction in Timor-Leste since the election of the President in 2002. Timor-Leste was a country that lost an estimated 100,000 to 180,000 people in the brutal internal conflict that took place between 1975 and 1999. From the ashes of that conflict has arisen a new State with an accountable Government, which, in partnership with the international community, is gradually building State institutions from the local to the national levels.”
2006-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5351 (2006) · source
“Such situations invariably undermine the objective of promoting sustainable security. Against that backdrop of an imperative need for concrete peacebuilding measures in contemporary peace operations so as to mitigate costly relapses into cycles of conflict, my delegation associates itself with the emerging consensus within this Organization to effectively and coherently put in place an institutional remedy to assist in ensuring a seamless transition from war to lasting peace. The ultimate goal should be to move beyond the simple extension of temporary relief to traumatized populations to meeting their expectation of an enabling environment for the attainment of sustainable peace.”
2005-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5187Resumption1 (2005) · source
“We cannot overemphasize the need for concerted international action to strengthen the enfeebled capacity of Governments and ensuring security sector reforms aimed at improving civil-military relations in countries emerging from conflict situations, with a view to creating a culture of peace and stability and promoting the rule of law. In this regard, another issue which merits serious consideration by the proposed Peacebuilding Commission is the need for the expeditious granting of assistance for reconstruction processes to meet the immediate requirements of deprived populations. A major inhibiting factor over the years has been the lack of early access to substantial development aid, with its attendant adverse effect on long-term reconstruction and development.”
2005-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5187Resumption1 (2005) · source
“We add our voice to that of the Council in calling for the further promotion of an integrated approach in that regard with the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union, as well as other key international partners and civil society organizations. The establishment of a Peacebuilding Commission is, therefore, of paramount importance to Africa. Ghana's strong support of the proposed Commission was reflected in its decision to jointly host, with the Danish Government, a recent meeting in Accra to deliberate on the concept.”
2005-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5187Resumption1 (2005) · source
“This would ensure that all policies and programmes adopted in peacebuilding would promote the full interests and participation of women, gender equality and respect for women's human rights. I would like to recall that our experiences in West Africa reveal that certain sister States such as Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau could have benefited from the existence of an effective institutionalized peacebuilding mechanism. We share the Council's belief, stated in its presidential statement (S/PRST/2005/9) of 25 February 2005 in connection with its consideration of the agenda item entitled "Cross-border issues in West Africa", that action on cross-border and subregional issues should take place as part of a wider strategy of conflict prevention, crisis management and peacebuilding in the subregion.”
2005-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5187Resumption1 (2005) · source
“Thus, in view of the fact that it usually takes some time before resources can be mobilized for demobilization, disarmament and reintegration (DDR) programmes at the end of a conflict, the proposed institution of a peacebuilding fund could play a crucial role in post-conflict peacebuilding and assist in the implementation of DDR programmes. My delegation would further like to recognize the gender perspective in peacebuilding. The vital contribution of women in promoting peace, and their role in peacebuilding processes in particular, should not be overlooked. We wish to encourage all relevant initiatives geared towards the full participation of women in all stages of peace operations as part of the requisite gender mainstreaming.”
2005-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5187Resumption1 (2005) · source
“Given the developmental role of the Commission, the involvement of regional and international financial institutions is also an imperative. In fairness, we would like to note that the acknowledged gap between relief and development has been to a degree narrowed down, albeit modestly, by the recent inclusion of funds for disarmament and demobilization as part of the assessed budget. That notwithstanding, serious gaps continue to impede efforts aimed at the reintegration of ex-combatants and displaced persons, the training and deployment of indigenous police forces, judicial reform, and other essential elements of peacebuilding.”
2005-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5187Resumption1 (2005) · source
“Also, for the Commission to achieve general acceptance, it should be of an advisory nature and not have decision-making powers. Furthermore, my delegation endorses the Secretary-General's proposal that, in the event of the establishment of the Peacebuilding Commission, the Commission should report to the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council sequentially, and not jointly, to avoid duplication and confusion. In terms of the Commission's composition, my delegation would prefer equal regional representation from the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council. In addition, officials from the relevant United Nations departments, agencies, funds and programmes, as well as representatives of national authorities and regional or subregional organizations could be invited to participate in its meetings and activities.”
2005-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5187Resumption1 (2005) · source
“In that connection, given the development and security components of all post-conflict peacebuilding efforts, we cannot but concur with the proposal to place the Peacebuilding Commission under the joint authority of the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council but to establish it by the authority of the General Assembly. For us, whatever decision is taken on the location of such a body should take into account all of the development and security elements, as well as the need for inclusiveness, maximum participation, genuine partnership and a balanced assessment of the security and humanitarian dimensions of post-conflict situations. In that connection, we support the Secretary-General's view that the mandate of the proposed Commission should be mainly focused on post-conflict peacebuilding.”
2005-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5187Resumption1 (2005) · source
“In our opinion, the idea of the creation of an authoritative intergovernmental mechanism capable of establishing a substantive link between security and development and of ensuring the development of an integrated mission plan, with adequate coordination among the various intergovernmental and national donor agencies, warrants universal support, as it would buttress efforts towards optimizing synergies for recovery and reconstruction. The intricate link between development and security has been generally acknowledged.”
2005-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5187Resumption1 (2005) · source
“In this connection, it has been rightly observed that there is a need to ensure, right from the outset of peace initiatives, effective coordination, coherence and continuity among the various elements of the overall strategy of such operations - in particular between peacekeeping operations on the one hand and possible transitions into peacebuilding operations on the other. Since attempts to secure a lasting peace in the aftermath of most violent conflicts around the globe necessarily requires sustained support from the United Nations and its development and humanitarian partners, efforts should be enhanced to encourage closer cooperation among all relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, regional and subregional organizations and the private sector to achieve the desired objectives.”
2005-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5187Resumption1 (2005) · source
“That positive reaction is a clear testimony of Member States' recognition of the need to address the shortfalls in United Nations peacekeeping operations, particularly during the post-conflict period. Peacebuilding has in recent years emerged as an increasingly indispensable aspect of the various elements that constitute international peace operations. It is now widely acknowledged that, to achieve genuine closure of violent conflict situations, concerted efforts need to be made to put in place structures that would effectively dissipate lingering tensions.”
2005-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5187Resumption1 (2005) · source
“It is in this regard that my delegation welcomed the reports of the High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change and the report of the Secretary- General and their identification of the fact that there is a fundamental institutional gap within the United Nations system with respect to forestalling a State in crisis from plunging into war or to assisting it in ensuring that the transition is made from war to peace. My delegation also concurs, in principle, with the Panel and with the Secretary-General's recommendation that a Peacebuilding Commission be established to effectively address that gap. It is heart-warming to recognize that the proposal enjoys widespread support among Member States.”
2005-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5187Resumption1 (2005) · source
“Mr. President, I would like to commend you at the outset for having convened this meeting, which offers the Council an invaluable opportunity to undertake an assessment of the agenda item under consideration, and for your effective steering of the affairs of the Council this month. The Security Council, in conformity with its Charter mandate, has considered and authorized United Nations peacekeeping operations. That responsibility has been discharged commendably, given the United Nations success story in such operations. Despite the accomplishments registered, there is no doubt that the peacekeeping story has not been wholly glorious - a manifestation of the fact that this organ has on certain occasions failed to carry out its responsibilities effectively.”
2005-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5187Resumption1 (2005) · source