YouSaid · the spoken record

Tatham

lines on the record: 248
first: 2011-07-27
most recent: 2015-02-06
sittings or episodes: 35
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

“We welcome the way in which the Court has developed gender-sensitive approaches to witness support and outreach in partnership with local women's organizations and resources. But the United Kingdom cannot fail to acknowledge the Special Court's serious and challenging financial circumstances. Funding shortfalls risk the completion of appellate proceedings in the Taylor case. Funds are needed urgently. Longer term, the Residual Special Court requires secure and sustainable funding in order to continue to protect witnesses, manage the detention of those convicted, and protect the archives. The United Kingdom is considering all funding options for the Special Court and the Residual Special Court, and we urge other members of the Council, and indeed all Member States, to do so as well.”
2012-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6844 (2012) · source
“Our support for the Special Court will remain strong long after the Taylor appeal and the high-profile work of the Special Court has come to an end. But the achievements of the Special Court do not begin and end with Charles Taylor in The Hague. The United Kingdom commends the Special Court in Freetown for successfully completing three important trials of eight former rebel leaders and conducting five contempt proceedings. Furthermore, the Special Court's invaluable role in building the capacity of the Sierra Leonean legal system will certainly be a lasting legacy, as will the Court's vital outreach programmes, which have made its work accessible to many people in Sierra Leone and Liberia, contributing to reconciliation and raising awareness on important issues such as child soldiers and sexual violence in armed conflict.”
2012-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6844 (2012) · source
“The Special Court's prosecution of Charles Taylor sends a strong message that the international community will not allow serious crimes to be committed with impunity. It signals that the reach of international justice is long and patient. Since its inception in 2002, the United Kingdom has been a leading supporter of the Special Court. United Kingdom funding has reached approximately $44 million and accounts for some 20 per cent of the Court's voluntary contributions to date. That includes a contribution of almost $1 million in March. We reaffirm our commitment to imprisoning Charles Taylor in the United Kingdom if the Appeals Chamber upholds his conviction and if the President asks us to do so.”
2012-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6844 (2012) · source
“We do not underestimate the complexity and significance ofthe appellate proceedings in the case against Charles Taylor. The United Kingdom strongly believes that the completion of the trial of Charles Taylor by the Special Court was a landmark for international justice. As the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom at the time said, the trial proceedings played an important role in helping the people of Sierra Leone come to terms with the past and consolidate national reconciliation. It is heartening to hear from the President of the Special Court that the people of Sierra Leone and Liberia feel so strongly that the Special Court has contributed to bringing peace to their countries.”
2012-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6844 (2012) · source
“Today, as we have heard from the President and the Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, that vital task is almost complete. The United Kingdom congratulates the Special Court for its significant achievements. And we would like to thank the President of the Court and the Prosecutor for their briefings. We are also grateful to Guatemala for convening this meeting during its presidency of the Council. Like Guatemala, the United Kingdom believes that it is important and timely to take stock of the progress made by the Special Court - to acknowledge how much it has achieved and to better understand the tasks that remain. The United Kingdom looks forward to September 2013, when the Special Court is due to become the first modern war crimes tribunal to successfully complete its mandate.”
2012-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6844 (2012) · source
“In September 2000, with the adoption of resolution 1315 (2000), the Council demonstrated its commitment to the fight against impunity and the restoration of peace and security in Sierra Leone. Given its deep concern that serious violations of international humanitarian law had been committed in Sierra Leone, the Council was determined to bring those responsible to account, in accordance with international standards of justice, fairness and due process of law. The Council requested the Secretary-General to work with the Government of Sierra Leone to establish an independent special court to prosecute those persons bearing the greatest responsibility for the commission of those crimes, including those leaders who threatened the peace process in Sierra Leone.”
2012-10-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6844 (2012) · source
“We hope that both Pristina and Belgrade will underpin their EU progression with a spirit of cooperation and constructive reconciliation when the EU-facilitated dialogue resumes.”
2012-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6822 (2012) · source
“The United Kingdom welcomes the thorough and vigorous work being carried out by the EULEX Special Investigative Task Force, which is looking into the allegations relating to organ trafficking made in the Marty report. We remain strongly of the view that EULEX is the right body to take that work forward. It has the necessary authority and jurisdiction, and it has established close cooperation with key stakeholders, including the authorities in Albania and Serbia. We are confident in its capacity and determination to take that important work forward. The United Kingdom will continue to support the irreversible progress of both Kosovo and Serbia towards EU membership. We look forward to their EU perspectives being embedded further in the Commission's enlargement package this autumn.”
2012-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6822 (2012) · source
“Security is an important factor for returnees but, in our view, the overriding considerations are socio-economic, including access to employment and education. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees attributes a recent drop in returns to the lack of available land for returnees and the limited number of houses being built. It is essential that funding be maintained to support the continuation of the returns process, both by the Kosovo Government and by the international community. The United Kingdom is the largest bilateral donor, having contributed Â£400,000 to returns projects during 2012. We encourage others to offer their support.”
2012-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6822 (2012) · source
“In that regard, we welcome the opening of the northern Mitrovica administrative office, a crucial first step towards providing practical support to Kosovo citizens in the north. We hope that the international community will demonstrate its support for sustainable governance in northern Kosovo by assisting Pristina in consolidating that initiative. The United Kingdom is concerned about recent ethnically motivated violence. The incidents during Saint Vitus Day celebrations were unacceptable. Visible measures aimed at preventing inter-ethnic incidents will be key to engaging the Kosovo-Serbian community in the north. We welcome efforts by the Special Representative to focus on returns and the challenges faced by minorities in Kosovo.”
2012-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6822 (2012) · source
“Attempts to inhibit their freedom of movement - and instances of this are set out in the Secretary-General's report - are of course unacceptable. It is the responsibility of Pristina to identify a way forward, but that responsibility has to be supported by Belgrade in line with the EU conditions set in December 2011 for a visible and sustainable improvement of relations with Kosovo. We want to see an approach from both sides, and from all members of the new Government in Serbia, that creates space for compromise and cooperation. That must be supported by action to address the illegal parallel structures that exist in the north. The Kosovo Government must demonstrate its commitment to minorities across Kosovo. It must set out its strategy for the north, including a socio-economic vision.”
2012-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6822 (2012) · source
“Pristina must also maintain its active commitment to those agreements and put in place the measures necessary for implementing the agreement on cadastre records. We support the development of the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue to address key political challenges, including northern Kosovo. On the situation in northern Kosovo, Pristina and Belgrade must engage with each other in order to tackle key outstanding issues. It is important that they act responsibly, cooperating with both the European Union Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) and the Kosovo Force (KFOR). The United Kingdom is grateful for the professional way in which EULEX and KFOR have continued to carry out their mandates in demanding circumstances.”
2012-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6822 (2012) · source
“It is understandable that the election period in Serbia and the subsequent business of Government formation have created a hiatus in the process of EU-facilitated dialogue. With the formation of the new Government in Serbia, however, we hope to see a resumption of the EU-facilitated dialogue with Kosovo as soon as possible - and, indeed, not just resumption but, to use the Special Representative's word, reinvigoration. It is crucial that Belgrade implement technical agreements already reached on regional cooperation, the freedom of movement and, in particular, integrated border management. I welcome to the commitment to that end that we have just heard from Prime Minister Dacie, and hope to see rapid follow-up.”
2012-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6822 (2012) · source
“There continues to be steady progress in Kosovo on the political level, as reflected in the International Steering Group's decision to work towards an end to supervised independence in September. That step recognizes the positive steps Kosovo has taken over the past four years, especially its adoption of laws complying with and implementing the Comprehensive Settlement Proposal. Of particular note are the laws on Prizren and Velika Hoca, the appointment of a language commissioner and moves to appoint a director for a new Serbian TV channel, RTK2. The momentum created by Kosovo's desire to end supervised independence must be maintained through its European Union (EU) accession path. Regional cooperation and good-neighbourly relations are an integral part of EU accession.”
2012-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6822 (2012) · source
“I should like to start by thanking the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Farid Zarif, for his briefing today, for his work and for the work of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) as a whole. I would like to welcome to the Council His Excellency Mr. Hashim Thaci, Prime Minister of Kosovo. I would also like to welcome His Excellency Mr. Ivica Dacic', Prime Minister of Serbia, to today's Council meeting, and to congratulate him on his appointment. The United Kingdom looks forward to working closely with the new Government in Serbia. The United Kingdom is grateful for the Secretary- General's comprehensive report (S/2012/603).”
2012-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6822 (2012) · source
“One final point: with the push for integrated missions and an increasing focus on peacebuilding, it is important that we do not neglect the centrality and mandates of both protection of civilians and maintaining and supporting security. Security, after all, provides the foundation for successful peacebuilding. It is important, too, not to lose sight of the fact that the primary responsibility for the protection of civilians lies with the host States and that Force Commanders engage closely with hosts in order to build national capacity. I wish to thank you, Mr. President, for this valuable and timely briefing. I look forward to the forthcoming interactive discussion.”
2012-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6789 (2012) · source
“We have heard from Force Commanders about the challenge of the protection of civilians and the fact that in order to fulfil their mandate to protect civilians, forces need more agility and more mobility, but at the same time face a shortage of air assets and problems over freedom of movement. I agree with those Council members who have emphasized the importance of mobility and flexibility. In that context, I was interested by the point made by General Prakash, who made the case for basing contributions on the standard battalion of infantry. I would like to ask Force Commanders how they see the balance between flexibility and mobility on the one hand and the need for consistency and standardization on the other.”
2012-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6789 (2012) · source
“That cooperation related to the temporary sharing of resources and some intelligence-sharing between the political teams of the United Nations Mission in Liberia and the United Nations Operation in C6te d'Ivoire. What we did not see so clearly was local-level cooperation between those peacekeeping missions' military components and national security forces designed to prevent incursions across borders and share intelligence. I would therefore like to ask Force Commanders if there is more that missions can do to track the movement of armed groups over borders and improve local capacity to monitor and act on such movements, working coherently with all local actors.”
2012-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6789 (2012) · source
“I was struck by how this latter example highlighted the importance of robust early-warning systems. I would be interested to hear to what degree Force Commanders see the need to adopt a robust approach in their missions, and to what level they feel empowered to take this kind of approach. Do they, for example, see national caveats constraining the response by certain contingents? Better inter-mission cooperation is key to improvements in peacekeeping and, as some colleagues have pointed out, to the greater efficiency that helps reconcile the pressures for peacekeeping resources on the one hand and budgetary rigour on the other. The Council was able to see first-hand the benefits of this during its recent Visit to West Africa.”
2012-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6789 (2012) · source
“In order to be effective in complex peacekeeping environments, United Nations missions must have the capacity and will to deter those who would derail the peace process or threaten civilians and United Nations peacekeepers. The Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations has previously expressed its support for peacekeepers to demonstrate a deterrent posture in defence of themselves and their mandates. The Secretary-General has often set out the benefits of a robust approach in his reporting to the Council on particular missions. We have seen how effectively this has worked in, for example, Abyei. We have also heard this morning from General Obi about the valuable proactive and upstream work carried out by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan during very difficult circumstances in Jonglei several months ago.”
2012-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6789 (2012) · source
“There can always be improvement in the Council's access to military advice, particularly the insight provided by Force Commanders today and in meetings with troop-contributing countries in advance of mandate renewals, to help strengthen the Security Council's deliberations. We need to consider if more can be done to improve the Council's understanding of the operational demands placed on troops and police by the peacekeeping resolutions that we draft. I would therefore welcome views from Force Commanders on what steps could be taken to better incorporate military advice into mission planning and ensure that such information is fed to the Council in a sustained rather than episodic manner.”
2012-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6789 (2012) · source
“As a Council we need to be acutely aware of our responsibility to give missions clear, focused and realistic mandates. We need to keep a careful eye on any temptation to bridge Council differences through blurred or unclear mandate language. The constructive ambiguity ofa drafting fix in the Council can sometimes solve problems in New York but create them in the field. I am speaking near to the end of this debate, and I am conscious that there have been many questions. I do not want to pile on many more, but there are a few points on which I would welcome the views of the Force Commanders.”
2012-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6789 (2012) · source
“The United Kingdom welcomes this opportunity to have a productive dialogue with Force Commanders, and I thank you, Mr. President, for sustaining this valuable initiative for the third year in succession. I thank also the Force Commanders for having provided us with very important and insightful perspectives from the field. The Security Council should focus on delivering mandates that empower peacekeepers to do their jobs, primarily in support of the restoration of peace and the protection of civilians. We recognize and deeply appreciate the valuable role of peacekeepers and the risks that they are exposed to, as evidenced by the recent tragic deaths in C6te d'Ivoire. We pay the sincerest tribute to peacekeepers and their work, to their bravery and their commitment. I would like to echo a point made by several colleagues.”
2012-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6789 (2012) · source
“We would encourage Libya's neighbours to continue to cooperate with the ICC, including with regard to Abdullah Al-Senussi, who is being held in Mauritania.”
2012-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6772 (2012) · source
“With regard to NATO, we emphasize the demonstrable lengths that NATO went to in order minimize the risk of civilian casualties, as recognized by both the Prosecutor's report and the report (A/HRC/19/68) of the Commission of Inquiry of 8 March. All NATO airstrikes were meticulously planned, including using precision guided munitions and intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance to strike legitimate military targets. NATO cooperated fully with the Commission of Inquiry report and has looked into each credible allegation of harm against civilians that has been brought to its attention. The authorities of the United Kingdom have played a part in the ICC's investigation so far by providing the fullest support to the Prosecutor and his team of investigators, as and when requested.”
2012-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6772 (2012) · source
“Their efforts have played an important part in challenging impunity and bringing accountability to a country where it has been sadly lacking for some time. We welcome Libya's continued cooperation with the ICC in relation to the arrest warrant issued against Saif Al-Islam Al-Qadhafi for suspected crimes against humanity. We note that the Libyan authorities have submitted an admissibility challenge setting out the ongoing Libyan investigations into his alleged crimes. We note with interest, as set out in the Prosecutor's report, the Libyan actions taken to investigate Saif's case. He must face justice before an independent court of law.”
2012-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6772 (2012) · source
“The international community recognizes the constraints on Libyan Government action after 42 years during which Al-Qadhafi hollowed out State institutions. We stand ready to provide assistance, including through the United Nations Support Mission in Libya. As we have said before, the developments in Libya should give all Governments reason to pause before using violence against their own people. The international community will ensure that responsible individuals within such Governments are held to account, either in their own courts or international courts such as the International Criminal Court (ICC). Impunity is no longer tolerable. The United Kingdom is a strong supporter of the ICC. We note the detailed work of the Prosecutor and his Office during visits to Libya over the past six months and thank him and his staff.”
2012-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6772 (2012) · source
“Libya's leaders have consistently made clear their commitment to upholding the rule of law and human rights as part of a peaceful Libya, the wealth of which is shared among its people. We urge the Libyan authorities to ensure that they meet those public commitments. In that regard, we welcome their close cooperation with the Commission of Inquiry of the United Nations Human Rights Council and the progress towards bringing detention facilities under Government control. To make further progress, the Libyan authorities should continue to screen all detainees and release those who are held without due cause. They should investigate and hold to account all those guilty of abuses and press forward with the implementation of the Commission of Inquiry's recommendations.”
2012-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6772 (2012) · source
“Let me, too, thank the Prosecutor for his report on the situation in Libya. Libya is getting back on its feet. Civil society is flourishing and the economy is restarting with the approval of a national budget and the reopening of the stock market. Registration programmes for revolutionary fighters are being rolled out. The determination and sacrifice of the Libyan people have brought the prospect of the first democratic elections in more than a generation. The international community continues to play a role supporting the political transition, providing technical assistance to meet Libya's needs. The Transitional Government and the National Transitional Council are leading the process of building a new, peaceful and prosperous Libya.”
2012-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6772 (2012) · source
“We look forward to the Security Council renewing European Union F orce- Operation Althea executive mandate for an additional year in the autumn.”
2012-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6771 (2012) · source
“That Office will nevertheless retain a crucial role in upholding the Dayton Agreement until the 5+2 conditionality is met. In the meantime, the executive powers of the Office remain a crucial safeguard. We must not lose patience or rush into significant changes prematurely. The United Kingdom strongly supports High Representative Inzko's assessment that the executive mandate of the European Union Force-Operation Althea continues to provide critical reassurance to the Bosnian people and that it plays a central role in supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina's own efforts to maintain a safe and secure environment. International safeguards against instability remain essential alongside a strong EU presence.”
2012-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6771 (2012) · source
“Bosnia and Herzegovina case, so that Bosnia and Herzegovina's EU stabilization and association agreement can enter into force. We fully support the European Union's strategy for Bosnia and Herzegovina. EU Special Representative and Head of Delegation Peter Sorensen has done an excellent job. We commend his collaborative relationship with High Representative Inzko. There is no reason that the Office of the High Representative and the EU cannot work together in a complementary fashion, and every reason that they should do so. The European Union should provide the incentives to lead Bosnia and Herzegovina forward and, in response to genuine progress, increasingly take the lead in the country, with the Office of the High Representative gradually reducing its presence.”
2012-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6771 (2012) · source
“We also note the rising tensions related to municipal elections in October, in particular in Srebrenica and Mostar, and call on leaders from all parties and ethnic groups to refrain from divisive rhetoric that increases tensions and instead serve the interests of all people and promote reconciliation. Twenty years since the start of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is important to remember the appalling human cost of that war and to commemorate its victims. But we must also recognize that Bosnia and Herzegovina today has much to be proud of and, looking forward, it is clear that 2012 is a year of opportunity for the country. In order to realize that, we need to see urgent progress towards implementing the judgement in the Sejdic-Finci vs.”
2012-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6771 (2012) · source
“As the High Representative makes clear, it is early days in the life of the new Government, and progress remains fragile. Promises were made and not delivered on in the past. There are still signs of politicians putting their nationalist political agendas above the needs of the country and its citizens. Of particular concern are statements challenging the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, references to the dissolution of the State and attempts to refer to entities as States. Such statements are unacceptable and go against the interests of the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Those threats are a stark reminder of the continued importance of the High Representative's role in upholding the General Framework Agreement for Peace.”
2012-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6771 (2012) · source
“The Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina has made it a priority to secure the entry into force of the stabilization and association agreement with the European Union. It also hopes to lodge a formal application for EU membership this year. Both are achievable if the remaining criteria are met. We join the High Representative in encouraging political leaders to demonstrate their commitment by delivering reforms through hard work and compromise. We also welcome progress towards the completion of some of the five objectives and two conditions necessary for the closure of the Office of the High Representative. We urge the full implementation of political agreements on the registration of defence property and State property.”
2012-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6771 (2012) · source
“I, too, welcome High Representative Inzko to the Security Council and thank him for his report (see S/2012/307). The United Kingdom would like to express its gratitude to the High Representative for the tireless and principled efforts he has undertaken to ensure the implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace and to promote stability and reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We welcome the High Representative's assessment of recent developments and join him in welcoming Bosnia and Herzegovina's tentative steps forward on both European Union (EU) and NATO paths. In February, we finally saw the formation of a new State-level Government, focused on the common goals of EU accession and economic stability. We quickly saw positive results, with the passage of laws on State aid and the census.”
2012-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6771 (2012) · source
“We also note the recent and welcome enactment of legislation by Albania's Parliament that will allow the Task Force to autonomously conduct investigative activities on Albanian territory. In conclusion, the United Kingdom continues to support Kosovo and Serbia's irreversible progress towards joining the European Union. We urge them both to make the most of the opportunities provided by the European Union this year to enable them to move along their respective paths. We also look forward to the continued constructive engagement of Belgrade and Pristina in the EU-facilitated dialogue, which provides a space for both Governments to propose creative solutions in the development of their relationship.”
2012-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6769 (2012) · source
“I encourage all those who exercise influence in northern Kosovo, including the Government of Serbia, to work actively to deter violence and to give consistent backing to both the Kosovo Force and EULEX in the exercise of their legitimate mandates to guarantee security and freedom of movement. We welcome the thorough work being done the EULEX Special Investigative Task Force looking into allegations made in the Marty report. Serious allegations have been made, and it is inevitable that any investigation will be complex and lengthy. In that context, we do not believe it appropriate or warranted to talk about the slow pace of investigations. We urge the Government of Kosovo's continued cooperation with the investigation.”
2012-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6769 (2012) · source
“The approaching end of supervised independence will be an important milestone for Kosovo. It is essential that Kosovo use this historic moment to demonstrate its continued commitment to the full implementation of the comprehensive settlement plan, including respect for the culture and for the implementation of the rights of minority communities. That is particularly true for the Kosovan Serb community in the north. It is now for the Government of Kosovo to truly engage on this issue, bringing the rule of law, education and employment to all its citizens. The freedom of movement continues to be a challenge in the north. We welcome the progress made in opening Gates 1 and 31, but the majority of traffic continues to use the illegal bypasses. Efforts need to be made to close them.”
2012-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6769 (2012) · source
“We welcome the efforts of Special Representative Zarif in liaising with the Government in Belgrade to reach agreement not to hold or recognize any local elections in Kosovo. The United Kingdom welcomed the peaceful holding of Serbian presidential and parliamentary elections for dual nationals in Kosovo on 6 May. We are grateful to Secretary-General Zannier and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) for their patience and for the crucial role they played. We support their continued involvement in the second round of elections on 20 May. The OSCE agreement demonstrated how the Governments in Belgrade and Pristina can work constructively with each other and the international community to ensure that the rights of their dual nationals are protected.”
2012-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6769 (2012) · source
“It is a valuable opportunity to focus on the important reforms required, particularly in the economic sector, which will be crucial to Kosovo's development and the promotion of trade. We welcome the inauguration of the National Anti-Corruption Council and hope that it receives full support for its mandate. The Government of Kosovo also needs to take ownership of reforms in the areas of the judiciary, the rule of law and administrative capacity. Driving forward those initiatives using the tools available through the European Union Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) would provide huge benefits to Kosovo. We share the Secretary-General's concerns about the rising tensions in the run-up to Serbia's elections. We witnessed an unfortunate series of arrests and incidents on the ground, accompanied by unhelpful rhetoric on both sides.”
2012-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6769 (2012) · source
“I welcome the further expressions of commitment to that dialogue that we have just heard from the Foreign Ministers of Kosovo and Serbia. That dialogue has produced a number of practical agreements, which the United Kingdom commends. However, we are concerned that Belgrade has yet to sign the protocol on integrated border management. We would also urge both Governments to implement the agreement facilitating regional cooperation and to accept the decision of the host in international meetings concerning the placement of the footnote. It is absolutely essential that the agreement is implemented to enable the countries of the Western Balkans to work together to address the challenges facing the region. We encourage Kosovo to engage proactively with the EU feasibility study.”
2012-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6769 (2012) · source
“I would like to start by thanking the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Kosovo, Mr. Farid Zarif, for his briefing today. I also welcome to the Council His Excellency Mr. Enver Hoxhaj, the Foreign Minister of Kosovo, and His Excellency Mr. Vuk Jeremic, the Foreign Minister of Serbia. The United Kingdom is grateful for the Secretary-General's comprehensive report (S/2012/275). On the political level, there has been steady progress over the reporting period. The number of recognitions continues to rise. We have seen both the launch of the feasibility study by the European Union (EU) on Kosovo and the announcement of EU candidate status for Serbia. The engagement of Belgrade and Pristina in the EU-facilitated dialogue has been a crucial vehicle for progress for both countries.”
2012-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6769 (2012) · source
“We applaud how Ireland has set about the task, with a programme and priorities that promote those principles of human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy, good governance and the rule of law on which the OSCE is founded.”
2012-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6715 (2012) · source
“We urge all OSCE participating States, first, to redouble their efforts to meet their existing human dimension commitments fully, and secondly, to recognize the need to extend those commitments further. We must review issues such as the protection of journalists and the freedom of expression in digital media and cyberspace. The continent of Europe has experienced enormous political change over the past 30 years, driven by the will of the people for greater freedoms and true democracy. It is the duty of all responsible Governments to listen and respond appropriately and fully to the demands of the people whom they serve. The role of chairmanship-in-office of the OSCE is both a great honour and a heavy responsibility.”
2012-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6715 (2012) · source
“We regret that implementation in this area is incomplete. It is clear that more effort is needed within the OSCE to update and revitalize those key instruments, and we very much welcome the intention of the Irish Chair to support such an effort. The United Kingdom currently has the honour to hold the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. We fully appreciate the expectations that come with this rare opportunity to lead the Council of Europe's work for six months. The overarching theme of our chairmanship is the promotion and protection of human rights, mirroring the importance we attach to the human dimension work of the OSCE.”
2012-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6715 (2012) · source
“Of course, each conflict is different, with its own history and circumstances, but important lessons can be learned from successful and unsuccessful efforts at conflict resolution and prevention. We echo the thoughts of the Chairperson- in-Office that sharing the successful experience of conflict resolution in Northern Ireland may help reveal some common ground for fresh ideas and renewed impetus. We therefore welcome and look forward to the planned conference in Dublin in April to look at those issues. We will be ready to engage fully and at high level in that event. The United Kingdom also remains committed to the conventional arms control and confidence and 12-22841 security building regimes across Europe, which contribute greatly to transparency and predictability, and therefore to European stability.”
2012-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6715 (2012) · source
“For example, freedoms of the media need to be updated to reflect the huge changes in information technology of recent years. We recognize that consensus in this sensitive area will be difficult to reach, but we are confident that Irish leadership, building on the excellent work of the Lithuanian OSCE chairmanship in 2011, can take us further forward. I welcome the emphasis on freedom of expression online in the address that we have just heard from the Chairperson. As the Chairperson-in-Office has just pointed out, conflicts within the OSCE space remain unresolved. We very much welcome Ireland's intention to place particular emphasis on the need to advance the resolution of such conflicts.”
2012-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6715 (2012) · source
“I should like to extend a warm welcome to the Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland, Mr. Gilmore, to the Council today in his capacity as Chairperson-in- Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). I thank him for his briefing. The United Kingdom fully supports the priorities set out by the Chairperson-in-Office today. The promotion and protection of human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law are cornerstones of the OSCE. Greater effort is needed by all OSCE participating States to ensure that they not only fully meet the commitments they have freely entered into, but that they also recognize that commitments need to keep pace with developments in the real world.”
2012-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6715 (2012) · source
“Nevertheless, as the report of the Secretary-General makes clear, it is crucial that Kosovo maintain its focus on reform. The United Kingdom shares the hope expressed by Assistant Secretary-General Mulet that 2012 can be a year in which opportunities are seized. In our View, that will mean a particular, sustained and full commitment by both sides to the EU-facilitated dialogue. The United Kingdom continues to believe that Kosovo's future belongs in the European Union, along with all other countries in the western Balkans. We will work assiduously to help the government of Kosovo achieve that goal, and we remain committed to the work of the United Nations and the EU in Kosovo in support of that aspiration.”
2012-02-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6713 (2012) · source