YouSaid · the spoken record

Urbina

lines on the record: 774
first: 2007-10-23
most recent: 2010-03-19
sittings or episodes: 103
sources: un-security-council

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“Mr. Urbina (Costa Rica) (spoke in Spanish): Costa Rica considers it of the greatest importance that the Security Council has reached the requisite unanimity to respond to a major challenge to international peace and security. We have confirmed this perception with the unequivocal backing for the resolution we have just adopted. It seems to my delegation that the text voted on by the Council makes measured use of the instruments at the disposal of the international community to respond to that major challenge. We trust that the Council's action today will reactivate the strengthening of the international non-proliferation regime and provide a major boost to the encouraging announcements of new steps in the field of global disarmament.”
2009-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6141 (2009) · source
“Lastly, my delegation believes that the process of revising the Constitution continues to be important problem. In that regard, we are grateful for the information provided to us today by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. We urge her Government to make progress in that process.”
2009-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6137 (2009) · source
“Costa Rica acknowledges the worthwhile efforts made by the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL) in order to finalize the Joint Vision of the United Nations system. We trust that the political and development criteria will serve as a key step in the process to consolidate peace in the country, and in particular to provide support for the implementation of the Agenda for Change. Likewise, we hope that the special high-level meeting of the Peacebuilding Commission to be held on 10 June will produce the expected outcome and secure the necessary financing. Costa Rica joins the Secretary-General in encouraging the Government and people of Sierra Leone to take advantage of their significant natural resources in order to create a strong economy as part of the effort to achieve sustainable development.”
2009-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6137 (2009) · source
“Costa Rica also acknowledges the positive signals emanating from the Government and the Anti-Corruption Commission, as well as the measures taken against members of drug trafficking networks. We once again urge the Government and political factions in Sierra Leone to continue to work on those and other cross-border problems by taking a comprehensive approach and with the support of regional bodies and the entire United Nations system. We also commend the progress made in the functioning of the National Human Rights Commission. At the same time, we respectfully call on the Government to continue its work to strengthen the observance and promotion of human rights, especially those of women and girls.”
2009-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6137 (2009) · source
“First of all, with regard to reconciliation and national unity, following the regrettable events in Pujehun and Freetown last March, which led to a political crisis, my delegation commends the committed and mature attitude of the officials of the two major political parties intended to halt the violence in Sierra Leone and achieve national unity. That has also ushered in a constructive dialogue on fundamental issues in consolidating the progress achieved with regard to democracy. We hope that that very commendable step will be followed by the establishment of independent mechanisms to investigate the incidents of political violence and the alleged acts of sexual violence that occurred during the crisis, with a view to preventing impunity.”
2009-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6137 (2009) · source
“Mr. Urbina (Costa Rica) (spoke in Spanish): Like other delegations, I too would like to begin by acknowledging the presence of Her Excellency Mrs. Zainab Hawa Bangura, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sierra Leone, as well as to thank her for her statement. I would also like to thank Mr. Michael von der schulenburg, Executive Representative of the Secretary-General, and Ambassador McNee, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Sierra Leone country- specific configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission, for their statements. My delegation would like to underscore some points that are of particular attention for us.”
2009-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6137 (2009) · source
“However, that should not be to the detriment of the rights of the accused to due process as provided in the statutes governing the Tribunals. In that vein, my delegation welcomes the establishment of judicial timetables and working groups in order to speed up the trials, and we encourage the Tribunals to continue to carry out reforms that will permit completion of the trials and make the best use of available resources.”
2009-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6134 (2009) · source
“My delegation considers it important that the continued impartiality of justice be guaranteed and that all citizens allegedly responsible for crimes be prosecuted and brought to justice before the international justice system. With regard to residual functions of the Tribunals, our delegation supports the Council's presidential statement issued as document S/PRST/2008/47, which emphasized the reduced nature of those functions and the need for a small, temporary and efficient mechanism whose functions and size would diminish over time. The residual mechanism must be authorized to try known criminals who have yet to be brought to justice. For our delegation, it is important that both Tribunals redouble their efforts to reduce the delays vis-a-vis the original time frames.”
2009-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6134 (2009) · source
“Costa Rica values the measures to build national capacity undertaken by both international Tribunals. Those measures will facilitate the referral of minor cases to the competent national jurisdictions and enable the Tribunals to focus their work on the indictment and prosecution of high-level leaders suspected of being the parties primarily responsible for crimes falling within their jurisdictions. Along those lines, we wish to ask Prosecutor Jallow if he is considering beginning trials against other parties that participated in the Rwandan conflict, who are accused of crimes that took place during the time period the Tribunal is charged with investigating.”
2009-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6134 (2009) · source
“The accomplishments of the Tribunals have shown that peace and justice are not at odds with one another, but that justice contributes actively to the sustainability of peace. Furthermore, the establishment of the Tribunals helped to raise awareness of the need for a permanent International Criminal Court, which is now a reality. As we move towards the end of the Tribunals' work, it is more necessary than ever for all Member States, in particular those in the respective regions of the Tribunals, to cooperate with them. Costa Rica calls upon all States to strengthen their collaboration with the Tribunals. The primary legacy of the Tribunals in the fight against impunity should be the strengthening of national judicial systems. A sustainable justice system is the best guarantee of lasting peace.”
2009-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6134 (2009) · source
“My delegation has no need of his criteria for assessing the status of the permanent and elected members of this Council, or for appreciating the work of the Secretariat. Today, I welcome the presence among us of Presidents Patrick Robinson and Dennis Byron and of the Prosecutors of the International Criminal Tribunals. I thank them for their briefings and recognize the efforts of both Tribunals to fulfil the completion strategies, pursuant to resolutions 1503 (2003) and 1534 (2004). Costa Rica believes that the establishment of the international Tribunals was a fruitful decision, ratifying the Council's intention to put an end to impunity for violations of international humanitarian law and human rights. It offered justice to the victims of such crimes and created an important deterrent.”
2009-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6134 (2009) · source
“Mr. Urbina (Costa Rica) (spoke in Spanish): I should like to start by welcoming the presence among us of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkey and the Prime Minister of Croatia. I should also like formally to welcome the Turkish presidency of the Security Council and to reaffirm the support and cooperation of my delegation for its work. I would further thank the Russian Federation for its organization and conduct of our work last month, which was tarnished only by the discourteous and antidemocratic attitude of its Permanent Representative when he abruptly ended our meeting of 28 May, before my delegation was able to respond to his unwarranted rebukes of a statement I had made on the need to improve the Security Council's working methods in the preparation of its missions.”
2009-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6134 (2009) · source
“The Council should adopt clear standards guiding everything related to Council missions. In order to help the work of the Council and the establishment of objective rules that will enable all of us to grasp the situation, my delegation will address a letter to the President of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions so that the Working Group can prepare a set of standards to be circulated to the members.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6131 (2009) · source
“They resulted in a transparent process of early negotiation of the terms of reference, which were agreed upon by all the delegations through broad participation and with adequate time for discussion. In our view, all missions of the Council should be prepared in this fashion. But that was not the case for Africa. For that mission, some of the terms of reference were adopted very shortly before the departure date and, although most of the suggestions were ultimately accepted, the process did not benefit from the transparency or the necessary time for reflection enjoyed by the earlier mission. The two situations to which I have referred arose because both were ruled by unwritten regulations that can be interpreted arbitrarily, to say the least. That should end.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6131 (2009) · source
“What we find unacceptable is the denial of room for experts while there seem to be no apparent restrictions on security staff and journalists, or worse yet, that they participate at the discretion of the Secretariat. Again, the quality and the work of the Council are ensured by the delegations, not by security personnel or members of the press. All discrimination in that respect should cease. The second issue on which I would like to comment has to do with the double standards, again, applied by the Secretariat to the members of the Council. As the Council knows, my delegation led the mission to Haiti this year. The preparation for that mission required intensive work by my delegation, with unwavering support from the Secretariat, for which we are grateful.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6131 (2009) · source
“Given the rationale provided for the second response, my delegation and the other two interested delegations agreed not to take our experts. Nevertheless, to our surprise, during the mission to Africa, we were able to note the presence of security officers for a specific delegation. In order to avoid a misunderstanding and unnecessary discussion, I would like to say that my delegation understands the need for some delegations to take security staff on Council missions. Not only do we understand that necessity, but we support the inclusion of such security personnel in the travelling group. We also understand the need for members of the media to accompany us. What we do not understand is the exclusion of experts of missions that work in the Council.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6131 (2009) · source
“Initially, the Secretariat replied that it could not agree to that request because the presence of our expert would diminish the space allocated to members of the press. We considered that argument unacceptable. The basic purpose of the Council missions is to contribute to the work of the Council, and it is the delegation that ensure the quality of the Council's work, not the press. In a second instance, the same staff member also rejected the inclusion of our expert and those of at least two other delegations that wanted to take experts, invoking an unwritten rule according to which only the heads of delegation for each of the visited countries would have the right to bring in experts and would, of course, have to cover the costs involved.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6131 (2009) · source
“With regard to the recent Council mission to four African countries, I wish to comment briefly on two circumstances that, in our opinion, should be changed. The first relates to the right that every delegation should have to obtain the expertise it deems necessary to better carry out its work in the Council, and the second to the process of negotiating the terms of reference of the mission. In both cases, I am sorry to say, there are double standards vis-a-vis the members of the Council: the permanent members on the one hand and the elected members on the other. I shall briefly describe the circumstances that lead to that conclusion. With all due prior notice, my delegation indicated to the Secretariat its interest in taking an expert on the mission, fully paying all expenses.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6131 (2009) · source
“Mr. Urbina (Costa Rica) (spoke in Spanish): As indicated in informal Council consultations, I should like to make a brief statement. The existence of unwritten standards whose interpretation remains at the discretion of the Secretariat does not contribute to orderliness or productivity in the work of the Security Council. No Member of the Organization is unaware of how Costa Rica, as well as Jordan, Liechtenstein, Singapore and Switzerland - the so-called Small Five group - have worked to improve the Security Council and its methods of work. The circumstances that compel me to take the floor at this meeting relate to working methods, transparency in the decisions that affect the practical work of the Council and, in particular, the legal equality of the rights and obligations of Council members.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6131 (2009) · source
“We welcome the entrenchment of the rule of law in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is one of the five goals set up by the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council. The firm commitment to the rule of law, and particularly in cases of war crimes, deserves special praise. The adoption of the War Crimes Strategy is welcome, as is cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal. Transparency and cooperation with the Court and adherence to the principles of law are very important elements of the fight against impunity. In that vein, we would like to highlight our concern for human rights and the humanitarian aspects of the situation. We believe that the situation of refugees and internally displaced persons deserves special attention.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6130 (2009) · source
“My country is carefully monitoring compliance with these agreements and finds it advisable not to force the deadlines if the political conditions for this transition are not sufficiently mature. Respect for agreed institutions is indispensable. We urge the High Representative to redouble his efforts with all actors to establish a political climate that will facilitate the adoption of the necessary legislation before the 2010 elections and the constitutional reforms equally necessary to consolidate the stability achieved. My delegation welcomes the adoption on 26 March 2009 of the first constitutional amendment since the Dayton Peace Agreement. It is a healthy sign of a system that values ethnic, cultural and political diversity.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6130 (2009) · source
“But a way has been shown by political movements that have committed to dialogue, and there is a route leading to constitutional reforms to consolidate the democratic foundations and modernize the political structures of the country. Unilateral positions are not acceptable if they jeopardize the efforts made towards that end. Sensitivity and openness to dialogue must prevail in the attitudes of all political forces without exception. We note with concern some pockets of resistance that complicate the job and mandate of the High Representative and imperil the decisions of the Peace Implementation Council. According to those decisions, there are five objectives and two conditions that must be met before the transition from the Office of the High Representative to the Special Representative of the European Union can be completed.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6130 (2009) · source
“First of all, it has not been easy to leave behind a conflict that cost so much sacrifice in human lives, nor has it been easy to create a multi-ethnic and multinational State. The Dayton Peace Agreement and all the subsequent agreements and declarations of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) are a solid, consistent framework that points an unambiguous way forward towards peace and political stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Secondly, we are aware of the fact that it is hard to bring all positions into agreement towards the achievement of a political system and dynamic endorsed by all participants.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6130 (2009) · source
“Mr. Urbina (Costa Rica) (spoke in Spanish): At the outset, my delegation would like to welcome His Excellency Mr. Nikola Spiric', Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We would also like to welcome Mr. Valentin Inzko, the new High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Special Representative of the European Union. We are very grateful to him for his detailed report (see S/2009/246) and welcome his efforts to orient and coordinate initiatives related to the implementation of the Peace Agreement. We recognize a healthy dose of realism in his report, in which he recounts the positive advances and the current limitations in the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In that regard, my country would like to make the following specific observations.”
2009-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6130 (2009) · source
“Towards that end, during my visits to Washington and Vienna last December and again this month as the 1540 Committee Chairman, I was able to meet senior staff of the OAS, OSCE and the IAEA to discuss new steps to improve the Committee's relations with those organizations. I intend to carry out similar consultations with other organizations, for example, the World Customs Organization, in the near future, in order to strengthen their cooperation with the Committee to support their roles in facilitating States' implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). Improving the cooperation between international organizations, States and the Committee is also among the major objectives of the comprehensive review taking place during the rest of this year.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128 (2009) · source
“They have been referred to Member States and organizations that may be in a position to provide the requested assistance, and some offers have already been made. On cooperation with other bodies and organizations, our joint statement as Chairmen of the CTC, the Al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee and the 1540 Committee provides more information on the progress that our Committees have made in strengthening our cooperation during the past six months. We expect to continue these joint efforts in inviting intergovernmental organizations to contribute to promoting the objectives of the three Committees.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128 (2009) · source
“(spoke in French) With regard to assistance, as encouraged in resolution 1810 (2008), the Committee is intensifying efforts to further develop its clearing-house function for channelling assistance to Member States by matching, as appropriate, assistance requests with offers of assistance. The number of specific assistance requests submitted under the Committee's recently distributed assistance template has now reached six, comprising five from Member States and one from a subregional organization, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), on behalf of its region. Those requests concern assistance in drafting legislation, organizing workshops on border and export controls and appointing a regional 1540 implementation coordinator.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128 (2009) · source
“In February 2009, a 1540 Committee expert participated in a workshop in Tashkent devoted to the implementation of the resolution in Uzbekistan. We appreciate the initiative taken by the Government of Uzbekistan and the Center for Nonproliferation Studies of the Monterey Institute of International Studies in organizing this event, which facilitated intensive dialogue with officials from different ministries. It should be noted that a similar dialogue with officials from the Dominican Republic was made possible in tandem with a UNODC-sponsored meeting of the Caribbean countries held there in February 2009.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128 (2009) · source
“Such events included international and regional workshops on the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) organized by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW); a European Union-sponsored meeting on the CWC and non-proliferation; an OSCE meeting on security cooperation, including non-proliferation initiatives; an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) symposium on nuclear security; a conference of the Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Centre of Excellence; OAS meetings on non-proliferation, resolution 1540 (2004) and counter-terrorism; and meetings of the Financial Action Task Force. Fourthly, there were country-specific events. The 1540 Committee has participated in country-specific workshops of particular relevance to the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004).”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128 (2009) · source
“Those conferences and workshops covered subjects ranging from the broad issue of implementation of the international instruments on non-proliferation and counter-terrorism to a direct focus on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), and from the various non-proliferation measures in the nuclear, chemical or biological area to a sharper focus on specific issues such as proliferation, financing, illicit trafficking and maritime security.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128 (2009) · source
“In addition to the common strategy workshops for non- reporting and late reporting African States, organized by the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC/TPB), the UNODC/TPB co-organized workshops on the implementation of the international instruments dealing with counter-terrorism with other regional bodies, such as with the League of Arab States in Cairo in November 2008, the Organization of American States (OAS) in the Dominican Republic in February 2009 and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Bucharest in March 2009. The 1540 Committee expresses appreciation to UNODC and the regional bodies and host Governments for their valuable role in organizing these workshops. Thirdly, other organizations organized meetings.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128 (2009) · source
“The third, held in Port Vila, Vanuatu in late April and early May, was organized for United Nations Member States in the Pacific Islands region. The Committee expresses its appreciation to the host countries and to the sponsors of those events: the European Union and the Government of Norway, who were joined by the United States in the case of the Brazil and Qatar workshops and the United Kingdom in the case of the Qatar workshop, and by New Zealand for the workshop in Vanuatu. Secondly, regional workshops were organized in collaboration with other United Nations bodies.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128 (2009) · source
“Since November 2008, the Committee has continued to engage in several types of outreach activities, summarized as follows. First, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) has organized regional workshops specific to the 1540 Committee. There were three such regional workshops on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), focusing on building the capacity of Member States with respect to border and export controls. The first was organized for the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR) countries in see Paulo, Brazil, in late November 2008. The second workshop, held in Doha, Qatar in March 2009, was organized for the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the neighbouring area.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128 (2009) · source
“Since the last joint briefing in November 2008, 25 conferences and workshops have been attended by the Chairman or members of the Committee and by the experts assisting the Committee. The Committee's outreach has been worldwide, covering meetings in Africa, Asia and the Pacific region, Europe, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean. The purpose of such participation has ranged from raising awareness to the encouragement of submitting national reports on the status of implementation, and from sharing the experiences and lessons learned in seeking solutions to explaining technical issues in the resolution and encouraging the use of methods and tools to facilitate the preparation of implementation plans or assistance requests.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128 (2009) · source
“The modalities of the review, to be completed no later than 31 January 2010, were circulated in document S/2009/170 of 1 April 2009. In order to implement its 2009 programme more efficiently, the Committee has established four working groups open to all its members. They focus on the following topics: first, national implementation and monitoring, including the comprehensive review; secondly, assistance; thirdly, transparency and outreach; and fourthly, cooperation with international organizations and subsidiary bodies, including the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) and the 1267 Committee. (spoke in English) Outreach activities have been intensified to encourage and promote the full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004).”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128 (2009) · source
“Moreover, the programme seeks to strengthen the Committee's role of facilitating technical assistance in the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) by developing further its clearing-house function in matching offers and requests for assistance and by encouraging and taking advantage of voluntary financial contributions to assist States in addressing their needs. A major focus of the Committee's work in 2009 will be to organize a comprehensive review of the status of implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). The review will assess the evolution of risks and threats in the areas covered by the resolution, address specific critical issues that have not yet been addressed, and identify new approaches for the implementation of the resolution.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128 (2009) · source
“The programme seeks first to increase the Committee's knowledge of the status of implementation by encouraging non-reporting States to submit a first report and other States to provide additional information reflecting progress towards a full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004); secondly, to pursue the Committee's dialogue with States on such progress and to organize and participate in outreach events at the national, regional and subregional levels; thirdly, as Ambassador Mayr- Harting mentioned, to enhance the Committee's cooperation with other international bodies, including the Security Council's Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1373 (2001); and, fourthly, to engage actively with States and relevant international, regional and subregional organizations for the purpose of sharing experiences and lessons learned.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128 (2009) · source
“Mr. Urbina (Costa Rica) (spoke in Spanish): As Chairman of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), I am pleased to brief the Security Council on the main activities of the Committee during the six months since the last joint briefing held on 12 November 2008. Among the main aspects, I would like to refer to the adoption of the Committee's annual programme of work and on outreach activities, assistance and cooperation with relevant organizations. In accordance with paragraph 9 of resolution 1810 (2008), the Committee completed preparation of its programme of work covering the period from 1 February 2009 to 31 January 2010. The programme, which was circulated as a Security Council document, calls for intensification of ongoing activities and for developing new activities.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128 (2009) · source
“This political process must make it possible to build a better society in which the conditions necessary for national unity are to be found. Costa Rica will support all efforts to that end and encourages Ms. Landgren, as the representative of the United Nations, to continue the good offices that will ensure progress on pending issues.”
2009-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6119 (2009) · source
“Consolidating a multiparty political system that is inclusive, transparent, democratic and respectful of human rights is an objective that will favour peace and reconciliation. My delegation shares the concerns of the delegations of Austria and Burkina Faso with regard to the reintegration of minors, the issue of human rights and the fight against impunity. We also hope that particular attention will be paid to situations that could jeopardize the peace process, in particular, situations that concern the integration and rehabilitation of ex-combatants into the Army as well as situations regarding human rights. Political players who possess the means to resolve the current crisis must work in a greater spirit of cooperation.”
2009-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6119 (2009) · source
“In View of recent political events, my delegation calls upon the parties, in the interests of stability, to strengthen the political dialogue which has come about at the cost of so much sacrifice. We have reached a crossroads where the political and military actors must continue to work together in a spirit of compromise that will enable them to carry out the agenda agreed to at the time of the extension of the mandate of UNMIN last January. My delegation is of the View that it is crucial for the parties to place national interests first and foremost and that their conduct be in keeping with the commitments expressed in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2006 and in conformity with the will of the people as expressed in last year's elections.”
2009-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6119 (2009) · source
“Mr. Urbina (Costa Rica) (spoke in Spanish): I would like, Sir, to start by congratulating you and your delegation on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council. I would reaffirm my delegation's cooperation in every way necessary. We would also like to commend the Mexican delegation and Ambassador Heller for their work last month in the presidency of the Security Council, for which we are very grateful. My delegation is grateful for the briefing given by Ms. Landgren. We are pleased to welcome her to the Security Council for the first time, and we support her efforts at the helm of United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) to ensure a successful outcome to the reconciliation and peace processes in Nepal. We would also like to also state our gratitude to Mr. Ian Martin for his endeavours.”
2009-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6119 (2009) · source
“But the Security Council has unfortunately not endorsed these conclusions of the Secretary-General, which appear in his last two reports (S/2008/251, S/2009/200 and Corr.1). We voted in favour of the resolution in order to lend support to the work of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ross, and we hope that he will be guided in his performance by the words of the Secretary-General, which, leaving aside the economic and political interests of the moment, represents the generous moral voice of humanity.”
2009-04-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6117 (2009) · source
“This is a topic that appears in the Secretary- General's 2008 report (S/2008/251), in paragraph 71, where he stated, "I would like to repeat my call to the parties to remain engaged in continuous and constructive dialogue with the Office of the United Nations 09-31958 High Commissioner for Human Rights with a view to ensuring respect for the human rights of the people of Western Sahara." This appeal, along with an important statement to the effect that the United Nations remains resolutely in favour of respect for those same human rights standards appears in paragraph 66 of this year's report (S/2009/2OO and Corr.1), where the Secretary-General says, "I would like to reiterate that the United Nations remains committed to upholding international human rights standards, and I repeat my call to the parties to remain engaged in continuous and constructive dialogue with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, with a view to ensuring respect for the human rights of the people of Western Sahara in the Territory and in the refugee camps ...".”
2009-04-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6117 (2009) · source
“We brought the arguments and elements we wanted to see reflected in the text. We are very sorry that our concerns have not been reflected in the resolution. We are aware of the efforts of the parties and their commitment to move ahead, some to a greater extent than others. That is why we put forth, as a last resort, a proposal whose sole purpose was to ask for a report on the efforts of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to work with the parties to ensure respect for human rights in Western Sahara. As we said during the consultations, Costa Rica has not invented human rights in the Sahara.”
2009-04-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6117 (2009) · source
“We know from our own experience that the foundation of mediation is political will to arrive at an agreement and that this political will has to be based on absolute respect for the Charter of the United Nations, together with a legitimate sense of commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights. Costa Rica considers that the full respect for and guarantee of human rights is an essential prerequisite to the resolution of this and other conflicts, and not an obstacle, as some seem to think. This position of my country is a clear one, and we have manifested it with great transparency, respect and with complete respect for the rules of negotiation in this Council. That is what we did throughout all the consultations and meetings of experts that took place.”
2009-04-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6117 (2009) · source
“Mr. Urbina (Costa Rica) (spoke in Spanish): My country voted in favour of resolution 1871 (2009) to extend the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara because we believe that it is important to lend unanimous Security Council support to the plan presented to us by Mr. Ross, Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, in whose management we have confidence. However, we are not satisfied with the text of the adopted resolution. As you know, Sir, from your own experience, Costa Rica has been an active advocate of peaceful dispute settlement processes. Our President was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize precisely because of an effort on his part that brought peace to Central America and rendered the United Nations efforts successful.”
2009-04-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6117 (2009) · source
“That is why we understand that, when it refers in its ninth preambular paragraph to "the events of March 4 and 5 2009", the resolution adopted today is referring to the decision to expel humanitarian and development assistance organizations. I conclude by reiterating that the issue of humanitarian assistance should not be linked to others of a political or judicial nature. The Government of the Sudan continues to be duty-bound to comply with the decisions adopted by the Council and with the commitments it has undertaken under various international agreements and instruments. Furthermore, it is obliged to protect its population and to comply with the norms of international law, in particular international humanitarian law.”
2009-04-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6116 (2009) · source
“That is why, in my delegation's View, it was only natural that the resolution renewing the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan should have 09-31939 included in its preambular and operative paragraphs the Council's rejection of the measures taken by the Government of the Sudan against humanitarian and development assistance organizations, given the negative implications that that decision could have for humanitarian assistance and the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. We wanted that reference to be retained in the resolution's tenth preambular paragraph and in its operative paragraph 13, as it was in all negotiated drafts until the final one. Nevertheless, we voted today for a text that no longer contains those references.”
2009-04-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6116 (2009) · source
“That was the understanding of the Council when it considered this issue in its consultations on 6, 20 and 26 March, following briefings by the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, the Director of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Under- Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. John Holmes.”
2009-04-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6116 (2009) · source