YouSaid · the spoken record

Taula

lines on the record: 150
first: 2014-01-29
most recent: 2017-02-21
sittings or episodes: 28
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

“Most importantly, progress has been made towards a functioning Federal Government, with the prospect of a democratic transition this year. This has come at a truly awful cost to Somalia, its neighbours and the AU, and significant challenges lie ahead. Sustained political attention will be required to deal with each of those challenges, and the Council must maintain its focus on Somalia. We support the analysis presented by Special Representative of the Secretary-General Michael Keating and wish to highlight five points. First, we agree that this year's elections are critical. They need to be Somali-led and ensure that the Somali people are fully involved and feel ownership of the political process. We welcome the agreement reached at last week's Somali Leaders Forum in Mogadishu on the details of the electoral model.”
2016-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7674 (2016) · source
“We welcome His Excellency President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and greatly value the opportunity for the Council to hear directly his perspectives on the situation in Somalia. We also thank Mr. Keating and Ambassador Tete Antonio for their updates. Somalia was one of the defining issues when New Zealand last served on the Security Council. Two decades later, Somalia is in a much better position, but it remains an important item on our agenda, with far- reaching implications for regional peace and security and the fight against terrorism. We welcome the progress achieved through the bravery and commitment of soldiers and other personnel from the African Union (AU), neighbouring countries, international partners and Somalia itself. As a result, Al-Shabaab has been weakened. There were no successful instances of piracy in the past year.”
2016-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7674 (2016) · source
“The draft resolution we have is primarily about implementing and enforcing the standards that the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations and the General Assembly have agreed or acknowledged already. We can and must provide for more effective responses to sexual exploitation and abuse in United Nations peacekeeping. We owe it to the victims, to ourselves, to the peacekeepers who have given their lives, and to the values on which the Organization was founded.”
2016-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7642 (2016) · source
“Fifthly, we need a better process and division ofroles on investigative duties. No national legal system would build in a lO-day delay to begin investigation, as set for the United Nations if a troop- or police-contributing country is unable to investigate. Finally, we believe that it is beyond question that the Council has both a right and an obligation to engage on this issue. New Zealand fully respects the competence and role of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations and the Fifth Committee, but we strongly disagree with the suggestion that the Council is not responsible for the consequences of the mandates it approves or for the actions of the personnel it deploys.”
2016-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7642 (2016) · source
“Secondly, we must remove the obstacles around making complaints and ensure better management of all complaints received. Processes for dealing with victims need to be centrally coordinated and managed more carefully and confidentially. Thirdly, victims need to receive the support, assistance and responses that they deserve. Many aspects of the approach in the 2008 United Nations Comprehensive Strategy on Assistance and Support to Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse should simply be baseline work for any United Nations mission. Fourthly, the United Nations needs to get more serious about systems and resources for vetting peacekeepers. The current policy is limited to screening senior leadership only, and the United Nations needs to invest much more in order to go further than that.”
2016-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7642 (2016) · source
“At the heart of our response must be the victims of abuse and their right to respect, support and accountability. An effective response to serious crimes and human rights violations will also go some way towards restoring the credibility of United Nations peacekeeping missions in the communities they are sent to protect. Council members have been working on a draft resolution to address these shortcomings. New Zealand thanks the United States for its initiative. The Security Council can support action in several key areas. First, we must support the Secretary-General's commitment to repatriating those contingents that demonstrate a widespread or systematic pattern of sexual exploitation or abuse or a consistent failure to adequately follow up on allegations.”
2016-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7642 (2016) · source
“We need to create a genuine culture of zero tolerance - a culture where there is clear accountability, both for abuse and for its prevention, reporting and prosecution; a culture where the fear of reputational damage from acknowledging allegations does not override the responsibility to respond effectively; a culture where the real stigma lies not with the allegations themselves, but in failing to adequately report and respond. New Zealand understands that there are no quick and easy solutions and that there are many practical and operational challenges. We can address this problem only if all concerned - the Council, the wider United Nations system and troop- and police-contributing countries - work together collaboratively to find solustions.”
2016-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7642 (2016) · source
“Zero tolerance of sexual exploitation and abuse has been our mantra for the past decade, and yet despite this, and despite the many policies, standards and procedures that have been put in place to address this since Prince Zeid's landmark report (see A/59/710), we continue to see new allegations emerge against peacekeepers and to learn of new victims of crimes that are, at times, of an horrific nature. This is despite the considerable high- level attention directed to this issue, including by the Secretary- General himself, over the past year. We are not lacking a clear problem definition, or policies and standards. What we are lacking appears to be the political will to implement and enforce these standards. Too often, a blind eye is turned to allegations and no action is taken to hold those responsible to account.”
2016-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7642 (2016) · source
“This failure is inflicting a terrible cost on the people that our peacekeepers are responsible for protecting. The reputation and effectiveness of the Organization are being damaged. These allegations represent more than isolated, individual instances of wrong doing, and they are not restricted to one or two missions. They represent a systemic failure that all of us - the Secretariat, contributing countries and Council members - have a responsibility to fix. Continuing to muddle through with our current business-as-usual approach is simply not an option.”
2016-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7642 (2016) · source
“We thank the Secretary- General for his helpful briefing and engagement on this important issue. We also welcome his report (A/70/729) and its recommendations, and the appointment of Jane Holl Lute Special Coordinator. Let me begin by acknowledging the vital work carried out by peacekeepers serving with missions mandated by the Council, and by paying testament to the courage and commitment they display in carrying out their role in trying and dangerous circumstances. As mentioned, Council membes saw this directly in recent days on their visit to West Africa. But today we must be frank in also acknowledging that our systems for preventing, monitoring and responding to instances of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations peacekeeping personnel are failing.”
2016-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7642 (2016) · source
“An example of that is the progress made on avoiding technical breaches of the arms embargo through more consistent advance notifications of imports under the arms embargo. We also welcome the Committee's recent initiative to develop an implementation assistance notice on arms. That is a practical initiative that has the potential to be very useful in clarifying obligations, particularly for those Member States not on the Council. Finally, on Eritrea, we are hopeful that 2016 could be a positive year for engagement with the Committee and the Monitoring Group. We believe a visit to the region by the Committee - something that was discussed last year - would be a helpful step. We are ready to support such efforts.”
2016-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7626 (2016) · source
“Resolution 2244 (2015), adopted last year, touched on illegal fishing. That issue remains of concern and we are ready to support the Federal Government's efforts to establish and enforce an appropriate legal regime as contemplated by the resolution. Security sector reform efforts and depriving Al-Shabaab of financing are also priorities. The Somalia sanctions regime must be implemented by Somalia and other States Members of the United Nations, including its neighbours. But to be truly effective a range of other actors also have important roles to play, including the African Union Mission in Somalia and multinational partnerships like the Combined Maritime Forces. Continued outreach by the Committee and the Monitoring Group with those partners is needed to ensure that sanctions are fully implemented.”
2016-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7626 (2016) · source
“One important example is in the area of natural resources. Generous maritime and mineral wealth present a great opportunity for Somalia, but they also present a possible driver of conflict, in the absence of an effective regulatory framework. This risk is exacerbated during the federalism process. The Council will need to remain alert to how it can support Somalia in its stewardship of its natural resources, drawing on the expertise of the Monitoring Group, the United Nations presence on the ground, and partners. That role includes support for governance of natural resources, but also extends to assisting Somalia in channelling its natural resource wealth into State-building and other key issues, for example, ensuring full and regular payment to soldiers in the Somali National Army.”
2016-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7626 (2016) · source
“We very much welcome this open briefing, which we believe increases transparency and helps implementation. The Somalia sanctions regime has transformed over its long history since the 1990s, and it now fulfils an important role in supporting Somali State-building goals. As we said in last week's debate (see S/PV. 7620), sanctions are not imposed in isolation. The sanctions regime can assist in achieving the political, security and humanitarian goals in Somalia, namely completing Vision 2016, accelerating the fight against Al-Shabaab and addressing Somalia's humanitarian needs. When the Council discusses Somalia in 2016, in what is a precarious year for the country, we must include discussion of sanctions, and we must take into account the valuable information contained in the Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group's reports.”
2016-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7626 (2016) · source
“We urge all parties to approach the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and of resolution 1737 (2006) with the same positive intent and good faith that led to the agreement being reached. New Zealand is acutely aware of the challenges faced by Member States in implementing complex sanctions regimes such as the one designated in resolution 1737 (2006). Council members and Member States will all require guidance to manage expectations and clarify obligations under resolution 2231 (2015) and the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. We invite the 1737 Committee to consider how best to provide such guidance.”
2015-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7522 (2015) · source
“We also urge the Panel of Experts to continue with its programme work, which is based on the premise that they are conducting business as usual until such time as Iranian obligations are met. We note that, with adoption day approaching, the 1737 Committee, along with a joint commission established under the Plan of Action, will have a significant role to play in authorizing exemptions to current sanctions to facilitate Iran meeting its commitments. However, we also note that only transactions formally exempted through the appropriate process will be considered legitimate. Member States have a responsibility to adhere to all sanctions regimes, and Council members in particular have a responsibility to demonstrate leadership in that regard.”
2015-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7522 (2015) · source
“We also thank the Permanent Representative of Spain for his briefing and for his leadership of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006). New Zealand welcomes the mandate of the Committee and now more than ever urges the Committee and its Panel of Experts to continue their good work. New Zealand joins others in acknowledging the critical juncture we are at with regard to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and Security Council resolution 2231 (2015) and in addressing the Iranian nuclear issue. During this time it is essential for the credibility of the Council and the Plan of Action that the integrity of the sanctions regime against Iran remain intact. We acknowledge the fact that the Committee and the Panel of Experts are in an unusual position, but the Council position should be clear.”
2015-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7522 (2015) · source
“Some of those discussions were initiated by Council members, others by the Secretariat. We see that both as good use ofthe Council's time and as a way to ensure the Council's close monitoring of situations. These can become substantive discussions, and it is part of efforts to improve our working methods. We would be interested in considering how to make optimal use of the time available under "Other matters", and for there to be more transparency when topics have been raised for discussion in advance. Finally, we congratulate you, Madam President, on your presidency. We consider the month to have been very well run and we have appreciated the tone and interactivity of the discussions. For the coming month, we wish the Russian Federation every success with its presidency.”
2015-08-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7516 (2015) · source
“In the Consultations Room, in addition to the scheduled programme of work, we believe Council members should talk about matters as the need arises. One of the most dynamic discussions we have had since joining the Council was a discussion in July on the Secretary-General appointment process. We know there are different Views within the Council, which is one of the reasons that we raised it. We appreciated the Secretary-General briefing members in person on his response to the latest allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse. We encourage strongly such updates by the Secretary- General on issues of high importance. One of the features we saw in July and this month has been the value of discussions under "Other matters" 4 for example, of Burundi and Guinea- Bissau.”
2015-08-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7516 (2015) · source
“We are not naive about the dynamics that persist among permanent members and the difficulty in reaching consensus, but we believe that an inclusive approach to decision-making maximizes the chances of achieving unity and of having the Council speak with one voice. New Zealand supports looking at how to improve the Council's decision-making practices. During our presidency, we encouraged interactive and frank discussions on a range of topics, including in informal formats outside of the United Nations. We convened a working breakfast for Permanent Representatives at the start of July and hosted a separate informal discussion where we encouraged members to speak freely about Council decision-making.”
2015-08-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7516 (2015) · source
“The unanimous adoption of the resolution 2231 (2015) on 20 July (see S/PV.7488), endorsing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran's nuclear programme, demonstrated this fact, on an issue of great importance to international peace and security. On 17 August, we adopted a critically important presidential statement on Syria (S/PRST/2015/15), expressing support for the United Nations Special Envoy's approach on the way forward (see S/PV.7504). It was an all too rare example of the Council coming together on an issue of the highest priority. To achieve unity and the strongest outcomes, all 15 Council members should be able to contribute fully. Each of us has interests and perspectives that can add value.”
2015-08-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7516 (2015) · source
“We thank Nigeria for scheduling today's meeting and we join colleagues in expressing condolences over the passing away of the Force Commander of United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti. We Wish to comment today on the Security Council's work in August and in July, when we had our presidency. We see the wrap-up sessions as an opportunity to critically examine how the 15 Council members can work together more effectively to deliver better results from the broader United Nations membership that we represent. Over the last two months, not everything has gone the way we would have liked. But we have seen some striking examples of what the Council can do when we achieve unity.”
2015-08-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7516 (2015) · source
“Reporting needs to be both more consistent and of higher quality, providing a frank assessment of progress, key obstacles and options for addressing them. In conclusion, we believe that resolution 2151 (2014) was a very important step. But we need to work harder to make SSR more effective, and therefore improve the environment for sustainable peace and security.”
2015-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7508 (2015) · source
“We see merit in the Council's considering empowering Special Representatives of the Secretary-General to more directly support nationally owned security sector reform policy and implementation frameworks. We also support the concept of SSR compacts between missions and host Governments. Those could both encourage host country engagement and tie the achievement of SSR benchmarks to the ultimate exit strategy of a mission. We also stress the importance of women's full and effective participation in SSR processes. Given the critical nature of SSR to the ultimate success of a mission, we believe Council oversight should be improved. In order to support that, we would like to see more meaningful reporting on SSR and regular mission reports.”
2015-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7508 (2015) · source
“We need to look carefully at how SSR is mandated in peace operations, particularly in the context of the peace operations review and its recommendations concerning phased mandates. We believe that it is important for SSR to be embedded in mandates from the start, including when peace agreements are being conceived and negotiated. New Zealand acknowledges the development of the United Nations 2011 policy framework for defence sector reform, and its continued implementation. While components of SSR do not work in isolation, it is critical to develop accountable, professional and effective security forces that support and adhere to the rule of law.”
2015-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7508 (2015) · source
“As this is an inherently long-term challenge, it is important that we better coordinate Council-mandated SSR activities with related efforts by other parts of the United Nations system and other international actors and bilateral donors. As noted in the concept note for this briefing (S/2015/614, annex), Special Representatives of the Secretary-General could have a greater role to play in this regard. Although there is a heavy focus on SSR in many peacekeeping missions, SSR functions are now also being mandated across the spectrum of United Nations peace operations, from prevention to post-conflict stabilization, for example in the SPMs?? Special Programming Missions?? in Libya and Somalia and United Nations offices such as United Nations Office in West Africa.”
2015-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7508 (2015) · source
“I wish to thank you, Madam President, for having convened this meeting and for Nigeria's long-standing engagement in security- sector reform (SSR). I also thank Assistant Secretary- General Titov for his update and the progress made since the adoption of resolution 2151 (2014), as well as Special Representative of the Secretary-General Bangura and Assistant Administrator Nakamitsu for their briefings. New Zealand considers effective SSR to be critical for sustainable peace. We recognize SSR as a strategic, long-term process, and we have seen some successes, such as in Timor-Leste and Sierra Leone. But we acknowledge that each situation is different and that tailored approaches are required. There is also a need to learn lessons from where SSR efforts have fallen short, for example in South Sudan, as noted by Mr. Titov.”
2015-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7508 (2015) · source
“New Zealand strongly supports those reviews and believes that through them we can strengthen the United Nations management of peace operations and peacebuilding.”
2015-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7472 (2015) · source
“Thirdly, missions tasked with targeted capacity- building can play an important role, but face challenges in ensuring effectiveness and sustainability of outcomes. There is much we can learn from recent experience - for example, regarding options for rapidly sourcing the necessary expertise as well as mechanisms for enabling meaningful national ownership and more sustainable outcomes. Fourthly, transition management should proceed in partnership between the United Nations and the host Government in close consultation with bilateral, regional and international partners and development actors. The focus of such efforts has to be in-country. Finally, we note the broader review of the peacebuilding architecture and the reviews of peace operations and resolution 1325 (2005).”
2015-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7472 (2015) · source
“We believe that broader engagement with women will have far-reaching, positive effects on peacebuilding efforts and that this should go beyond extractive engagement. There are important lessons to be learned from recent and current drawdowns. We would like to highlight four. First, we believe peacebuilding is a process, not an event, which must accompany and not simply follow peacekeeping. The goals, milestones and priorities should be aligned as much as possible. Secondly, effective transition planning must be linked to peace operations mandates and therefore must be considered at the earliest stages of mission planning. Measurable benchmarks can play a helpful role in objectively assessing progress, although those must be jointly owned and flexibly applied.”
2015-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7472 (2015) · source
“We thank the representatives of Brazil and Sweden. New Zealand welcomes this opportunity to discuss the annual report of the Peacebuilding Commission (S/2015/ 174). We support the report's recommendations, in particular those focused on increasing the interactivity between the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) and the Security Council. New Zealand believes there is great value in improved information flows between the two bodies, especially in order to improve the management of United Nations mission transitions. Most importantly, there should be more effective cooperation and coordination by United Nations actors on ground. We look forward to discussing these ideas further this afternoon. New Zealand also commends the report's recommendation that a strategy be developed to strengthen gender perspectives in country-specific engagement.”
2015-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7472 (2015) · source
“Be that as it may, today sanctions remain in place. They place obligations on States Members of the United Nations and, as such, the work of this Committee remains extant. While we welcome the prospect of an agreement, until such time as one is reached the Committee must continue to monitor and improve the enforcement of existing sanctions, just as the Panel of Experts must continue to investigate violations and clarify obligations to Member States. Finally, we encourage all parties involved in the negotiations to sustain the commitment and the political will required for a positive, peaceful and lasting solution.”
2015-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7469 (2015) · source
“We thank the Permanent Representative of Spain, as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006), for his briefing. New Zealand commends the Chairman's work and that of the Committee and its Panel of Experts in maintaining oversight of this complex sanctions regime. Today's briefing is somewhat overshadowed by an air of expectation around the P5+l negotiations with Iran in pursuit of a comprehensive agreement on Iran's nuclear programme. New Zealand acknowledges the efforts of the parties to the negotiations. We reiterate our support for the process and hope that negotiations will be concluded in keeping with the original intent. We appreciate that the negotiations are sensitive for the key parties involved, but trust that these sensitivities will not stand in the way of a comprehensive outcome.”
2015-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7469 (2015) · source
“In this regard, we appreciate the Prosecutor's suggestion that a judicial contact group be established to better coordinate the provision of material and legal support to the Libyan authorities. I wish to end by again recognizing the presence here today of the Libyan Permanent Representative, which we view as a testament to Libya's determination to maintain a positive dialogue with the Court.”
2015-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7441 (2015) · source
“A lasting agreement that assists the return of the Tawerghans to their land after four years would send an important message to other groups in Libya that reconciliation, including at a national level, is achievable. We recognize that the ability of the Prosecutor to expand investigations into other alleged crimes is hampered not only by the security situation but also by a lack of resources. The Council needs to think seriously about what it can do to support the mandates it gives to the Court. The Security Council should not approach these biannual briefings as simply a compliance exercise. It is a chance to share constructive, concrete ideas for ways the Council, the wider United Nations system and international partners can support Libya's efforts to bring justice to victims.”
2015-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7441 (2015) · source
“It is important - not only for meeting Libya's obligations, but for the credibility of the final judgment - that domestic proceedings against Al-Senussi progress expeditiously and in line with due process requirements. As for SaifAl-Qadhafi, we note the Pre-Trial Chamber's finding on non-compliance in December and join the Prosecutor in encouraging Libya to reach out to the Court to resolve any issues that prevent it from surrendering Al-Qadhafi. We appreciate the Prosecutor's consistent raising of the plight of internally displaced persons, in particular the acute situation of the Tawerghans, who have not yet been able to return to their land. We welcome the framework agreement struck between the municipalities of Misrata and Tawergha on the margins of the United Nations-facilitated talks.”
2015-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7441 (2015) · source
“We recognize the enormous strain this puts on the Libyan authorities, which is why it is important for the Council and the United Nations - through the United Nations Support Mission in Libya and Special Representative of the Secretary-General Leon - to work with the Libyan authorities to support their efforts. Despite the aforementioned challenges, we are pleased that the Prosecutor continues to receive cooperation from the Libyan Prosecutor-General and that the memorandum of understanding is still being implemented. This groundwork should help to ensure that the cases against Saif Al-Islam Al-Qadhafi and Abdullah Al-Senussi proceed as quickly as possible and to support Libya in meeting its obligations under the Rome Statute and resolution 1970 (2011).”
2015-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7441 (2015) · source
“While the urgent political and security challenges in Libya are uppermost in the Security Council's mind, we pursue them with a longer-term vision. A successful conclusion to the United Nations-led political process is central to creating the conditions necessary for a lasting peace in Libya. To ensure sustainable peace, the international community must partner with Libya and support it in rebuilding justice institutions and strengthening the rule of law. As Ambassador Dabbashi has recognized repeatedly, accountability for past crimes and effective transitional justice are central to these efforts. The present violence and absence of State control in Libya makes the pursuit of justice particularly difficult.”
2015-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7441 (2015) · source
“We also thank Ms. Bensouda. New Zealand appreciates this opportunity to engage with the Prosecutor on the situation in Libya. We share the deep concern expressed about the continued violence and political crisis in the country, and the impact of the crisis on Libya's neighbours, the States of the Sahel and the wider region. The Prosecutor has highlighted that atrocities continue unabated. We also share the Prosecutor's deep concern about grave crimes against civilians in Libya committed in the name of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. The Security Council has spoken as one about its commitment to work with Libya to combat this terrorist threat and to hold those responsible for such attacks accountable.”
2015-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7441 (2015) · source
“We believe the potential exists for a greater role for Council subsidiary bodies to help facilitate more active Council roles in conflict prevention. Similarly, the Council would be much better placed to respond to threats if it had more effective processes for engaging with regional organizations. That has been a focus of some efforts on the part of Council members, but further improvement and greater consistency of engagement are required.”
2014-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7285Resumption1 (2014) · source
“Adapting the Council's working methods to that end is vital. In recent years, relevant tasks have become more pre-programmed, more formal and more concentrated in a few penholder hands. It is also unfortunate that the practice of horizon-scanning does not appear to have taken hold this year. We recognize that some States have concerns about that format and welcome continued attempts to improve the concept. Regardless of the name or form given to the concept, the Council should have mechanisms whereby it can regularly look ahead and plan for emerging threats to peace and security, so as to promote early and effective responses. Discussions on emerging crises are often likely to be very sensitive, and are not always best suited to formal Council meetings.”
2014-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7285Resumption1 (2014) · source
“Wrap-up meetings and informal briefing sessions have also become the norm over the past year. The challenge now is for all Council members to ensure that those sessions are used for substantive exchanges of views that improve the Council's performance and practice. As we have said in previous debates this year, more must be done to enable the Council to perform its most neglected responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations, those that come under Chapter VI concerning conflict prevention and the peaceful settlement of disputes. We welcomed the Council's consideration of conflict prevention in August (see S/PV.7247) and the resolution that followed. The Security Council has developed many tools for action under Chapter VII, but is much less well adapted for peaceful action under Chapter VI.”
2014-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7285Resumption1 (2014) · source
“We also welcome the confirmation that all Council members can be penholders, and the commitment that has been made to enhancing the participation of all members in drafting Council documents. Those commitments are significant because they relate to issues over Council practice in recent years that have generated such concern, prime among them the fact that most Member States are locked out of the substance of Council deliberations. However, the notes are a challenge to the Council to act rather than an end in themselves. They must be implemented if any kind of practical change is to flow from them. This year we have been pleased to see more frequent and flexible use of meeting formats such as Arria Formula meetings, which have helped Council members to consult more widely on sensitive but pressing issues.”
2014-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7285Resumption1 (2014) · source
“We are pleased that there is a regular opportunity in the Council's programme to consider working methods in this way, but we remain of the view that an annual discussion is insufficient. We believe that more frequent, transparent discussion that includes the wider membership and is accompanied by follow-up and monitoring is required. The notes that have been agreed on by the Council under Argentina's stewardship in the past year are very positive steps. We particularly welcome Council members' renewed emphasis on the importance of early and regular consultation with troop- and police-contributing countries, and the important role that the Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations can play in that regard.”
2014-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7285Resumption1 (2014) · source
“We thank Argentina for convening this important open debate and congratulate you, Madam President, on your energetic and productive chairing of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions. We also thank the Ombudsperson of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999), Ms. Kimberly Prost, and the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Ms. Fatou Bensouda, for their briefings today. In the interests of time, I shall deliver an abridged version of my statement. The full version will be circulated, including a discussion of the issues raised in the concept paper (S/2014/725, annex) and support for the French initiative on the veto.”
2014-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7285Resumption1 (2014) · source
“The Peacebuilding Commission and the Council's Ad Hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa could play a helpful role by cooperating closely. They could help the Council to understand the particular historical risk factors that point to conflict and to support local development of reconciliation mechanisms to address the factors that underpin tensions and division. New Zealand looks forward to further follow-up work in understanding what history can contribute to the Council's work both in identifying the risk of conflict and in avoiding it in future.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“New Zealand recognizes that in the past the Council has frequently affirmed the importance of national reconciliation but all too often that aspect is missing in mandates. We therefore warmly welcome the innovative suggestions made by Jordan and are supportive of the Council developing appropriate mechanisms. Like all Council tools, such mechanisms must be tailored to national needs and circumstances. In our Pacific region, in recent years, New Zealand and our regional partners helped to provide a secure environment in Solomon Islands to enable the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate the causes of conflict there in order to foster national unity. That process recognized the importance of local ownership. The Council should make more use of reconciliation processes.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“New Zealand urges the Council to employ more flexible working methods so that it can be more nimble in its consideration of situations that present the risk of conflict and more inclusive in terms of participation. Whatever the format, the time needs to be made so that Council members and those that are affected or that can help are better able to assess where threats to international peace and security are emerging and what early response might help. Addressing the historical roots that lead to conflict is not just a way of quickly identifying a potential problem. It is also critical to devising solutions that will be sustainable. A key element in enduring peace is national reconciliation. It is therefore most welcome that you, Mr. President, have brought reconciliation processes into focus today.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“However, learning from history should not be limited to absorbing lessons from past decades. There is much to learn also from recent history. Lessons learned from the delayed action over the crisis in Mali should have better informed Council action on the situation in the Central African Republic. Past conflict is tragically an all too common indicator of future conflict. Many thematic debates in the Security Council in recent years have underlined the importance of the Council's role in conflict prevention and peaceful resolution but that thematic narrative is often poorly implemented. The Security Council has developed many tools for Chapter VII action but is much less well adapted for peaceful action under Chapter VI. Adapting the Council's work to that end is vital.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“New Zealand very much appreciates the initiative in proposing this debate. So often Council members have to respond to immediate crises. There are too few opportunities to step back and view the wider picture and even rarer is the chance to look at the historical factors that shape the present security environment. Yet we all know that those who ignore history tend to repeat it. It is timely that this debate occurs in the year when we will reflect on the commencement not only of the First World War but also of the genocide in Rwanda. In 1993, perhaps if Council members had reflected more on the history of Rwanda, they might have been better prepared to recognize and deal with the underlying tensions and so prevent the crisis and the tragic collective failure to respond that followed in 1994.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source