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): My delegation welcomes the resolution that we have just adopted, reaffirming the Council's commitment to the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and to peace and stability in the Sudan. But that commitment also obliges us to raise another issue that could have negative repercussions for initiatives to promote peace and stability. I am referring specifically to the decision of the Government of the Sudan to expel and suspend humanitarian and development assistance organizations. That decision has left the Three Areas and eastern Sudan with very little support for humanitarian recovery and reintegration activities. The provision of humanitarian aid for development in those areas is essential if the Comprehensive Peace Agreement is to be successfully implemented.”
2009-04-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6116 (2009) · source
“These assessments would bring a measure of accountability, both to those who commit grave violations against children and to those of us who are responsible for making the perpetrators accountable. We encourage the Office of the Special Representative to ensure that its reports go beyond the compilation of statistical information and help to identify with greater clarity trends and patterns of violations, as well as to promote a strategic vision to find solutions to each one of them.”
2009-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6114 (2009) · source
“This follow-up of the Working Group's recommendations should also be accompanied by measures and sanctions, as other delegations have affirmed this morning, to make them effective when necessary. In this respect, we agree with the report's recommendation that cases be referred to the Security Council sanctions committees as a means of deterrence. Moreover, we believe that the use of complementary mechanisms to support national judiciary institutions, such as the International Criminal Court can also be a valuable tool in the fight against impunity. Finally, we deem it necessary that each report include an assessment of the progress or deterioration of each specific situation.”
2009-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6114 (2009) · source
“My country considers that these plans must include a component for dealing in a comprehensive and sustained way with victims of violations, including access to basic services in key areas such as education and health, with a gender-sensitive approach and special attention to particularly vulnerable groups such as children with disabilities. This response calls for the imperative participation of various United Nations agencies and is key in preventing other violations. Thirdly, my delegation considers it indispensable to follow up more systematically on the recommendations of the Working Group, which must serve as true indicators of progress in successive assessments of each situation.”
2009-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6114 (2009) · source
“It is clear that to ensure the viability of this approach it is necessary, on the basis of international law, to clearly define the limits of each grave violation, set forth jurisdiction and identify the most effective response by the various United Nations organs. My delegation welcomes the Council's intention to take action in response to this concern within the next three months. The second area of importance for Costa Rica is that of the action plans. For us, it appears necessary to carefully review the factors that have limited their application until now. It is also necessary to determine how timely and appropriate it is to use this tool to respond to other grave violations.”
2009-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6114 (2009) · source
“Costa Rica does not believe it appropriate to establish artificial hierarchies, as has been done up to now, subordinating the triggering of the monitoring and reporting mechanism only to the recruitment of children. In our opinion, such narrow and outdated criteria put other violations in the background when there is an absence of recruitment, and they become neglected. Costa Rica would support the implementation of a progressive approach that would trigger the monitoring and reporting mechanism on the basis of two additional grave violations: the killing and maiming of children and sexual violence.”
2009-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6114 (2009) · source
“We firmly affirm that the lack of systematic follow-up of the recommendations of the Working Group has limited the potential scope and efficiency of the Working Group. Costa Rica believes that now is the ideal moment to take stock of the Group's work and to review, update and strengthen the framework established in Security Council resolutions 1539 (2004) and 1612 (2005), particularly in the following areas. First, the number of violations that may trigger the monitoring and reporting mechanism must be expanded. On that issue, my delegation considers that all six grave violations established in resolution 1612 (2005) are equally grave and we believe that they must all receive due and balanced consideration on the part of the Working Group.”
2009-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6114 (2009) · source
“The use of new tools has already brought very positive progress to the fight against the recruitment of children. Throughout the world, parties to conflicts have reached agreements to halt the recruitment of children and secured the demobilization and reintegration of child recruits subject to abuses and violations of their rights. Nevertheless and in spite of those achievements, we still face major challenges in addressing the issues that affect children in conflicts. The limited number of situations where plans of action have been implemented, according to the report of the Secretary-General, is a major concern for Costa Rica, as is the limited scope of the existing mechanisms that deal mainly with the recruitment of children and relegate other grave violations to secondary consideration.”
2009-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6114 (2009) · source
“In particular, my delegation thanks the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict for her presentation of the Secretary-General's annual report (S/2009/ 158) and for her recommendations for making the efforts of the Working Group more effective and efficient. We have also heard the harrowing testimony of Grace Akallo. Her words should spur us on to work to protect girls and boys around the world. The creation of the monitoring and reporting mechanism and the establishment of the Working Group have focused the attention of the Council and of the Organization in general on the plight of children in situations of armed conflict, an issue that has become prominent in our discussions and concrete analysis of specific situations.”
2009-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6114 (2009) · source
“Mr. Urbina (Costa Rica) (spoke in Spanish): At the outset, allow me to thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mexico for her presence among us today and for convening this important debate. My country highly values the work of the Mexican delegation in the presidency of the Security Council and Mexico's leadership of the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict. We also thank Ms. Ann Veneman, Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund, and Mr. Alain Le Roy, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations for their presentations.”
2009-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6114 (2009) · source
“The young and abundant work force needs training and employment before it falls into despair and fuels instability in the country once again. Next week's donor conference must be firmly focused on economic and social development and on ensuring the sustainability of the progress made. In Haiti today, there are all the ingredients for success and learning. For the Haitian people, the international community's assistance is an opportunity to overcome old ills that have hampered their development. For the international community, Haiti is an opportunity to learn to work on the many aspects of complex situations, making sustainable peace and development possible for the many millions of human beings still living in despair throughout the world.”
2009-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6101 (2009) · source
“We await swift institutional reform and the simplification of a costly electoral calendar that is also a destabilizing factor. We trust that soon the laws will be reformed to facilitate the participation of the valuable Haitian diaspora in the development of their country and to allow for a more dynamic role for foreign investment in Haiti. Development in Haiti also depends on economic actors. With the necessary conditions for investment, Haitian entrepreneurs - those who live in the country and those who maintain links with their native land - must embark on the path to economic modernization. Agriculture, the basis of the Haitian economy today, must overcome its stagnation and very low levels of productivity, moving towards the goal of food security. A national development strategy for human capital is needed.”
2009-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6101 (2009) · source
“They are at the vanguard that has the primary obligation to lead the whole nation to higher levels of progress. The Government of Haiti, under the leadership of President Preval and Prime Minister Pierre-Louis, the parliamentary authorities and the political parties must comply with their responsibilities in building a political and institutional environment that fosters modernization and development. The Haitian political system cannot continue to be the factor that limits and delays the country's progress. All political actors, including civil society, have endorsed their commitment to the process that Haiti is undergoing today. With the support of the international community, the Haitian State must move forward in providing basic services, in particular health and education, as well as environmental rehabilitation.”
2009-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6101 (2009) · source
“We believe that the problem of sustaining what has been achieved and what is being built is the major challenge that we, the international community and Haiti, face together. The lack of economic and social development is still the greatest challenge of the Haitian society and one where the assistance of the international community has brought about only very limited progress. Even though it is true that there have been positive growth rates in recent years, it is also true that they were limited. A society as poor as Haiti's should grow at significantly higher rates. Costa Rica believes that the ultimate responsibility for sustainable peace and development lies with the Haitian people and their political, economic and cultural leaders.”
2009-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6101 (2009) · source
“I could continue with a long list of questions that justify everything that is being done in Haiti with the assistance of MINUSTAH, but we believe that the fundamental, and most important, questions still have not been definitively answered. How much of what has been achieved can be preserved if international cooperation is reduced? Will the achievements in security be maintained? Will the Haitian Government be able to keep a 14,000-strong police force properly equipped and free from corruption? Who will build the necessary infrastructure for the justice institutions? Where will the salaries and equipment necessary for its operation come from without international assistance? Could Haiti organize the eight electoral processes that its laws require in the next thirty-six months?”
2009-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6101 (2009) · source
“And the Council knows full well that actions of the international community that have not been sustainable in the past have time and time again forced Haiti to return to battles considered already won. How can we not acknowledge the significant progress in security? Who could deny the importance of improving control of a territory used by drug traffickers, a vulnerable border or territorial waters used for illegal purposes? How can we deny the value of institutional development in administering justice? Who could not be aware of the beneficial work to reduce the risks and to increase the ability to deal with natural disasters? How can we object to the importance of legislation and robust electoral institutions that guarantee the vote, if we aspire to a political democracy?”
2009-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6101 (2009) · source
“As a result of the growing number of peacekeeping operations, the limited economic and human resources available and the complex multidimensional challenges that we face, the Assembly, the Secretary-General and this Council have been discussing peacekeeping operations. In that context, Haiti emerges as a bridge that should help us to better understand the role of the international community in building a world free from want and also free from fear. My delegation believes that MINUSTAH is doing all that is necessary to help Haiti in its struggle for stability and economic and social development. But, in our opinion, the Government of Haiti and the Stabilization Mission do not seem to be combining actions in such a way as to guarantee the sustainability of the progress achieved.”
2009-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6101 (2009) · source
“I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his report on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) (S/2009/129) and his Special Representative, our friend He'di Annabi, whom I thank for his work as Head of MINUASTAH and ask to convey our gratitude to the whole Mission. I would also like to thank him for his support during the Council's visit to Haiti. My delegation believes that Haiti offers a significant opportunity for success and a valuable chance to learn for the United Nations. It is a novel and complex case on account of the challenges that it poses and the tasks that it entails.”
2009-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6101 (2009) · source
“Mr. Urbina (Costa Rica) (spoke in Spanish): In taking the floor for the first time at a Council meeting under your presidency, Sir, I would like to congratulate you and your delegation. I am sure that your abilities and leadership will ensure the necessary guidance for the success of our work. I also thank Ambassador Shalgham, Ambassador Dabbashi and the delegation of Libya for their commendable work in the Council presidency for the month of March. I welcome the presence among us of the Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States, Ambassador Ramdin, and of Ambassador Merores, the Permanent Representative of Haiti.”
2009-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6101 (2009) · source
“The international community must continue to show its commitment by supporting the parties and facilitating their goal of reaching a permanent solution to the conflict and of two States coexisting in peace and security. To that end, we call for fulfilment of the commitments adopted in the peace process on the basis of the Madrid principles, the Road Map, the resolutions of this Council and the Arab Peace Initiative. Similarly, we recognize the work of all agencies and organizations of the United Nations, in particular that of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100 (2009) · source
“Costa Rica commends the efforts of the Secretary-General to mandate the Board of Inquiry to investigate the incidents that affected United Nations personnel and installations in Gaza during the recent conflict, and we hope to receive its results in the near future. We believe it important for the credibility of our Organization that all acts of hostility against United Nations installations and its personnel be investigated and that the responsibility for such acts be assigned. We hope that the Security Council will be part of the solution leading to a last peace between Israel and Palestine and to an environment of peace in the Middle East.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100 (2009) · source
“It is imperative for Palestinian factions to find common ground, which will make it possible for them to work in a constructive fashion and provide their people with the hope for a life lived in peace and safety. We know that, among the efforts to improve the situation in the Middle East, those being made by the League of Arab States are decisive. We hope that, at the coming Doha summit, there will be strengthened initiatives to reach lasting peace in the region, leading to the consolidation of an independent Palestinian State, the strengthening of Israel's security and creative coexistence benefiting both peoples.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100 (2009) · source
“Costa Rica is pleased welcomes the international agreement signed on 13 March in London by representatives of nine countries, in which an action plan was established to respond to the ongoing concerns about the smuggling of arms into Gaza. Costa Rica is also concerned at each new settlement built in occupied Palestinian territories. The Council should stress the need to put an end to the continued expansion of illegal settlements. We are not unaware of, and the new Government of Israel should not ignore, the broad consensus in the international community on the need to put a halt to the growth of illegal settlements that go against the commitments that have been made. Intra-Palestinian reconciliation is of great importance for the return to a peace process in which all Palestinian political actors will take part.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100 (2009) · source
“Today it is important to call once again for full respect by the parties for their obligations under international law and international humanitarian law. Accordingly, normalization of border crossings is a major objective. Although there has been an improvement in the entry of basic necessities in recent weeks, the levels of goods entering Gaza are still much lower than those of July 2008. The levels of humanitarian assistance continue to be far lower than what is urgently needed. The opening of the crossings is vital, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2 of resolution 1860 (2009). It is also important to put a halt to the illicit traffic of weapons and ammunition and to prevent them from entering Gaza freely.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100 (2009) · source
“The National Early Recovery and Reconstruction Plan for Gaza presented by the Palestinian Government is a general framework to reactivate the Gaza economy, which should guide the actions of the international community. In this context, the commitments made during the Sharm el-Sheikh conference of 2 March are a major contribution towards the reconstruction of the territory, which has lost 14 per cent of its infrastructure and 75 per cent ofits arable land. However, the beneficial effects of these contributions for the reconstruction of Gaza will not translate into sustainable results as long as the negotiations are not resumed and as long as no concrete agreements are reached on substantive issues, leading to permanent political solutions, including a permanent ceasefire.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100 (2009) · source
“In this context, we recognize the importance of acts of solidarity with the affected peoples, especially the intervention of Egypt which little by little has contributed to reducing tensions and has played a fundamental role in reaching the first agreements. For Costa Rica, the humanitarian situation in Gaza calls for particular attention. A high percentage of the population there depends on humanitarian assistance. The United Nations must have all the facilities needed to provide humanitarian assistance and to carry out its programmes with no obstructions. Besides that, Gaza's reconstruction and normalization of life for its population are of great importance to us.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100 (2009) · source
“Mr. Urbina (Costa Rica) (spoke in Spanish): Mr. President, I would like to begin by thank you and your delegation for holding a large number of public meetings. We believe that in the eyes of the membership of the Organization, this is a healthy practice. I would also like to thank Mr. Pascoe for the briefing he gave us and to welcome the presence of the representatives of Israel and Palestine. The last time that the Council debated the situation in the Middle East, the population of Gaza was experiencing dramatic days. Today, we face a different scenario, characterized by relative calm. Despite that, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is still deplorable, and my delegation must once again condemn the terrorist attacks against the territory of Israel and the air attacks on Gaza.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100 (2009) · source
“Mr. Urbina (Costa Rica) (spoke in Spanish): My delegation supports the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and voted in favour of the resolution. Nevertheless, we wish to state our regret over the weakening of the language through the failure in the operative part explicitly to address our concern over the increase in civilian casualties, as the Security Council has done in previous resolutions. We know, of course, that insurgents are primarily responsible for civilian casualties in Afghanistan, but this Council has repeatedly called on all parties to respect the provisions of international humanitarian law and human rights, and to take every possible precaution to ensure the protection of the civilian population in that country.”
2009-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6098 (2009) · source
“Costa Rica avails itself of the opportunity provided by the presence of President Tadie and Minister Hyseni to call on the Governments of Serbia and Kosovo to work to ease these natural tensions arising from the painful events of recent years. Only the development of mutual respect and the fruits of peaceful coexistence can provide the basis for a coexistence that benefits the communities of Serbia and Kosovo. I would like to conclude by recognizing once again the work of UNMIK and the cooperation that EUFOR provides to the international community in order to establish a lasting peace in the Balkans. We are certain that continued European assistance will also contribute to the prosperity of the peoples in that region.”
2009-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6097 (2009) · source
“Likewise, the creation of the Kosovo Police, in compliance with the constitutional precepts adopted in June, is a step towards order that should be perceived not as a threat towards any minority, but rather as an opportunity to build inter-ethnic institutions that contribute to peace. The deployment of the European Union-led peacekeeping force (EUFOR) and its achievement of full operational capacity with respect to the rule of law in the framework of resolution 1244 (1999) are milestones in a process that should lead to the creative and productive coexistence of all communities in Serbia and in Kosovo. For my delegation, the ongoing obstacles to this coexistence are cause for concern. The lack of understanding between groups of different ethnic origin can be overcome only by the efforts of both Governments.”
2009-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6097 (2009) · source
“Mr. Urbina (Costa Rica) (spoke in Spanish): I would like to begin by welcoming the presence here of President Tadic' of the Republic of Serbia and of Minister Hyseni of the Republic of Kosovo. I would also to thank Mr. Zannier for his briefing on the report of the Secretary-General (S/2009/149). For Costa Rica, the development of the situation in Kosovo should be seen in the context of a process that leads to a peaceful settlement of the dispute engendered by the declaration of independence by the Kosovar authorities. In this sense, Costa Rica welcomes the reconfiguration of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), in accordance with the statement we adopted in November (S/PRST/2008/44).”
2009-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6097 (2009) · source
“The Sudan must remember that it is obliged to protect its population, that it must honour the commitments it has made and that it must consider revoking the decision to expel international humanitarian organizations. The Sudanization of relief is not credible. Replacing the assistance provided by nearly 8,000 humanitarian workers organized to do so is no easy task. Finally, I am grateful for the efforts of the United Nations, the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur and the World Food Programme, which are exploring ways to meet the urgent humanitarian needs in the Sudan and to prevent further damage.”
2009-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6096 (2009) · source
“On 8 March, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated that 1.5 million people no longer had access to food or health services; that drinking water, basic sanitation and hygiene services would no longer be provided to 1.16 million; that food would no longer be distributed to 1.1 million; and that 4,000 children would no longer receive assistance to address malnutrition. The expulsion of 13 humanitarian organizations that were providing services in the country has paved the way for a great collective tragedy through the intentional abandonment of many people. Preventing those people's access to humanitarian assistance could result in their deaths, which could constitute another violation of international humanitarian law.”
2009-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6096 (2009) · source
“Through this meeting we are calling upon the international community and upon world public opinion to mobilize in order to prevent the future growth of what is already a significant crisis and the future implications of actions taken in response to judicial circumstances that have nothing whatsoever to do with the lives of these hundreds of thousands of people, whose very existence is now under threat. The magnitude of the crisis has yet to be seen, thanks to the effectiveness of the efforts of the humanitarian organizations that have now been expelled. Tomorrow, malnutrition, hunger, disease and the deaths of many of these people will bring home to us the true scope of this crisis.”
2009-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6096 (2009) · source
“Mr. Urbina (Costa Rica) (spoke in Spanish): I too wish to thank Mr. Rashid Khalikov for his briefing this afternoon. My country welcomes the convening of this meeting. We are not seeking to punish a regime that is sinking in its own errors and needs no one's help to do so. The only purpose of this meeting is to ensure visibility for a humanitarian crisis of great magnitude - for a humanitarian situation that is endangering the health and very lives of hundreds of thousands of human beings.”
2009-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6096 (2009) · source
“We support the Mission's work; it is a vital element in bringing stability to Somalia and creating a space in which dialogue and reconciliation efforts can continue. Finally, I express our satisfaction at the progress in cooperative efforts to combat piracy off the Somali coast, especially because of the importance of those efforts in ensuring the delivery of humanitarian assistance. We hope that the international community's commitment to address the crisis brought about by the proliferation of piracy will heighten the attention the international community must devote to addressing the root causes of the crisis in Somalia and to fostering efforts to achieve peace.”
2009-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6095 (2009) · source
“It is urgent that all endeavours to ensure free access of humanitarian assistance and to improve the safety and security of humanitarian personnel - who are helping more than 3 million people in Somalia, who are dependent on this aid * continue. We remind all parties to the conflict that they are obliged to abide by the provisions of international law, in particular international humanitarian law. Fighting impunity is a high priority because of continued human rights violations, the blocking of humanitarian assistance, attacks on international staff distributing aid and ongoing attacks against the civilian population. It must be part of the strategy to put an end to the crisis in Somalia. My delegation recognizes the will of African countries to strengthen AMISOM.”
2009-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6095 (2009) · source
“The precarious security situation in Somalia is a matter of concern for my delegation, in particular when we consider the increase in attacks on personnel of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). We hope that progress in implementing resolution 1863 (2009) and carrying out measures to strengthen AMISOM. will lessen the Mission's vulnerability and enhance its effectiveness in the field. In that connection, we support the Secretary-General's appeal to the international community, with a donors conference in View, to support current activities aimed at the establishment of a joint security force in Somalia. My delegation condemns attacks against the civilian population and regrets the increased number of civilian deaths, many of whom have died when caught in the crossfire in attacks directed against AMISOM.”
2009-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6095 (2009) · source
“The task of establishing broad-based legitimate political institutions is urgent; it is a sine qua non for moving forward on the path to overcoming the crisis in Somalia, which will be possible only on the basis of a long-term strategy embracing the humanitarian, political, security and development facets of the Somali crisis. Here, we welcome as a step in the right direction the election of Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed as President of Somalia and the subsequent appointment of Mr. Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke as Prime Minister. We are confident that they will both be able to enjoy sufficient legitimacy to foster an inclusive political process, which can contribute to reconciliation and lay the foundations for national reconstruction.”
2009-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6095 (2009) · source
“This also requires the cooperation of all segments of Somalia society who are committed to the Djibouti process and the firm support of the international community. Together, we must seek to broaden the base of the Djibouti agreement, involving the largest possible number of stakeholders who are now outside the process, as President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has been doing. Those are difficult factors in settling the Somali crisis; they will certainly demand the commitment of national and international actors for many years to come.”
2009-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6095 (2009) · source
“Mr. Urbina (Costa Rica) (spoke in Spanish): Let me begin by expressing my thanks to Mr. Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, for his briefing this morning. I wish also to welcome the presence of Mr. Mohamed Abdullahi Omaar, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Somalia, and to thank Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union, for his statement. In Somalia we are witnessing one of the world's most tragic humanitarian crises and one of the most challenging political situations for the international community. There have been no easy solutions for the crisis in Somalia. The situation requires a holistic approach which, it is now clear, must take account of the complexity of the problem and make use of a variety of tools to overcome this unique crisis.”
2009-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6095 (2009) · source
“Still in the area of human rights, my delegation trusts that greater efforts will be made to protect women and to implement other gender policies. Finally, we highlight the work of UNAMA in coordinating the efforts of the international community. We agree with the Secretary-General that the coordination of those efforts under UNAMA's leadership is indispensable to achieve the objectives set forth in the mandate. We reiterate our support for UNAMA and support the recommendation of the Secretary-General that its mandate be renewed for 12 months.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“In particular, we deplore the fact that children continue to be principal victims of the escalating conflict and that there are still attempts by armed groups to recruit children. We call on all parties to exert greater efforts to adopt measures to reduce civilian casualties to a minimum, in accordance with international humanitarian law, international human rights norms and Security Council resolutions 1746 (2007) and 1806 (2008). Costa Rica would like to see that concern reflected in the draft resolution that is being negotiated. The Council cannot allow UNAMA, the International Security Assistance Force or the Afghan authorities to be weakened by leaving out a commitment to protect civilian victims of the conflict, in particular victims of the insurgents.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“The presidential elections to take place in August will be a key step towards strengthening democracy in Afghanistan, and the international community must support and be engaged in that process. My delegation welcomes the establishment, as part of the UNAMA political component, of an office which will work with political actors to guarantee a favourable climate for free, impartial and broadly participatory elections. Among other positive signs, we recognize the forecasted reduction in poppy production for 2009, progress in security sector reform and the continuing improvement in political relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. My delegation is concerned by the increase in civilian casualties, the attacks against humanitarian personnel and schools and the use of civilians as human shields.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“Today, my delegation recognizes the prime role of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy and the priorities established at the Paris Conference as the foundation for peacebuilding and development for the Afghan people. As the Special Representative said, the situation in Afghanistan calls for a comprehensive approach and a national vision. Besides military measures, this should include the promotion of good governance, the rule of law and development and economic growth opportunities for the population. We also believe that the Government and the people of Afghanistan should claim ownership of the processes to achieve those ends and that international efforts should be strengthened to improve security conditions and the capacities of the Afghan authorities in those areas.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“Mr. Urbina (Costa Rica) (spoke in Spanish): I wish to begin by thanking Mr. Kai Eide, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), for his briefing and for the wealth of information he has provided the Council this afternoon. I also welcome the presence of Ambassador Tanin; it is a pleasure to have him among us today. For eight years the United Nations has been strongly supporting the Afghan people and their efforts to build a durable democracy, promote socio-economic development and achieve sustainable peace. Challenges remain today, and a difficult security situation may be expected in the coming months. It is important that the international community maintain and strengthen its commitment to Afghanistan.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“It is therefore important that the Haitian authorities promote national consensus, not only to ensure stability and political security, but also in order to establish a solid basis for Haiti's socio-economic development. The draft report of the mission will soon be distributed to Council members for their review. It contains a detailed analysis of the mission's activities and the conclusions it reached in the areas that were covered in today's briefing.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6093 (2009) · source
“In that context, it must be emphasized that the Haitian authorities stated on repeated occasions that South-South cooperation is an area of growing interest to them. The mission was also able to see that the continued participation of regional and subregional organizations such as the Organization of American States and the Caribbean Community is important to ensure Haiti's integration within the broader context of Latin America and the Caribbean and in order to strengthen the commitment of its partners in the hemisphere. I do not wish to conclude without the mission's conclusion that the international community has a commitment to Haiti's success.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6093 (2009) · source
“On the subject of regional cooperation, the Council mission had the opportunity to meet with members of the core group and was able to note the decisive role it played in ensuring effective coordination between MINUSTAH and the diplomatic and donor communities. Throughout the mission, Council members observed the high degree of commitment of Latin American countries to Haiti. As well as fully participating in peacekeeping by contributing troops and police, the countries of the region continue to lend support to the country's socio- economic development through bilateral and multilateral support, specific development programmes and quick-impact projects carried out in the MINUSTAH framework.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6093 (2009) · source
“In that context, the proposals of Professors Paul Collier and Jeffrey Sachs and the United States legislation establishing preferential access for Haitian exports - the Haitian Hemisphere Opportunity Through Partnership Encouragement Act (HOPE II) - are all essential initiatives to activate Haiti's economy and bring about long-term economic security. The forthcoming donor conference, to be held in Washington, D.C., convened by the Inter-American Development Bank was also viewed as a major opportunity for Haiti to enjoy access to additional funds for its recovery and reconstruction. The Council mission noted that the contribution of the diaspora to Haitian development, which is today contingent on pending reform to allow dual citizenship, must also be reviewed.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6093 (2009) · source