YouSaid · the spoken record

Van Oosterom

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1,049

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2013-08-19

most recent

2019-10-29

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159

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un-security-council

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1. “The Kingdom of the Netherlands especially welcomes the creation of a high council on governance, justice and anti-corruption, and particularly the establishment of a specialized anti-corruption court. The formation of these new bodies will strengthen Afghanistan's anti-corruption investigations. The Kingdom of the Netherlands has been a long- time partner of Afghanistan, and has contributed significantly in the fields of peace, justice and development. We remain committed to supporting Afghanistan throughout the transformation decade. In the run-up to the NATO Summit in Warsaw and the Brussels conference, the Netherlands is planning its post-2016 engagements, combining the three D5 of defence, development and diplomacy.”

   2016-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7722 (2016) · source

2. “We welcome the fact that the Quadrilateral Coordination Group reiterated its commitment to the peace process on 18 May. The Netherlands stands ready to support reconciliation efforts if so desired. On the way ahead, the international community has been engaged in Afghanistan, in collaboration with the Afghan Government, for over a decade. Together, we have seen some very positive results in terms of development. Service delivery of health care and education has improved drastically since 2001. Women and girls actively take part in social life, and Afghanistan has witnessed a sharp increase in girls enrolling in schools. The Government of National Unity has shown its commitment to advancing its anti-corruption agenda.”

   2016-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7722 (2016) · source

3. “I would therefore like to commend the courage of the Government and the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces in their efforts to provide security to the Afghan people. The continued support of the international community, including that of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, remains necessary in view of the threat. In this context, we recall the 20 May decision of the Foreign Ministers of participating countries to extend the Resolute Support Mission beyond 2016. With regard to the peace process, recent civilian casualties have increased. This demonstrates the urgent need for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan. Durable peace can be achieved only through Afghan- led reconciliation supported by an inclusive regional process. We therefore commend the continued commitment shown by the region to the Heart of Asia process.”

   2016-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7722 (2016) · source

4. “We wish him all the best in Africa and will welcome incoming Special Representative Tadamichi Yamamoto in due course. Let me address three issues: security, peace and the way ahead. On security, the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Afghanistan states unequivocally that the overall security situation has deteriorated since the beginning of the year. Only yesterday, as others have noted, at least 20 people were killed and many more wounded in attacks in Kabul and Badakhshan. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we offer our condolences to Nepal, Canada and Afghanistan. The increase in casualties among the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces is worrisome.”

   2016-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7722 (2016) · source

5. “Mr. Van Oosterom (Netherlands) (spoke in French): In honour of your presidency, Sir, allow me to thank you in French for the opportunity to speak at this debate on behalf of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. (spoke in English) I align myself with the statement to be made by the observer of the European Union. I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his detailed and thorough report (S/2016/532), Special Representative of the Secretary-General Haysom for his briefing, and the Permanent Representative of Afghanistan for his statement. I express particular appreciation for the efforts, dedication, and commitment of Special Representative Haysom in support of the people of Afghanistan under sometimes very challenging conditions.”

   2016-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7722 (2016) · source

6. “We are ready to work in partnership, for only through genuine cooperation can we overcome the scourge of terrorism, for peace, for we all long for a world free from terrorism; for justice, which we owe to the victims of terrorism; and for development, in order to contribute to addressing the root causes conducive to terrorism.”

   2016-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7670Resumption1 (2016) · source

7. “Last week in Geneva we discussed the Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism and soon we will review the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. I hope that my statement and those of others today will contribute to the implementation of the Plan of Action and provide valuable input for the debate on the review. But only after the review has been completed will the real work start. Like Confucius said, ifI may quote one of China's biggest philosophers, it is in the details of one's daily behaviour that true virtue is manifested. We all have to make it happen in our daily lives. In conclusion, let me reiterate that the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as a partner for peace, justice and development, stands ready to act accordingly.”

   2016-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7670Resumption1 (2016) · source

8. “We congratulate Morocco on assuming this post earlier this week and we thank Turkey as outgoing co-Chair for their hard work during the past years and the excellent cooperation we had together. The GCTF has been active in helping to implement the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and our members have made available hundreds of millions dollars for counter-terrorism capacity-building in other countries. The GCTF supports activities like the Border Security Initiative, which aims to assist countries at risk in the Horn ofAfrica and the Sahel. The GCTF presented this week its strategic plan of action in The Hague. In this plan, the GCTF reiterates its commitment to fighting terrorism in close cooperation with the United Nations and its Member States.”

   2016-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7670Resumption1 (2016) · source

9. “The fact that those approaches go hand in hand was aptly identified in the concept note prepared for this debate, for which I already commended you, Sir. Let us not forget that, at the end of the cycle, reintegration is a key issue. My third point is on resource mobilization. Targeting the life cycle of radicalization requires resources, and resources are not limited to financial ones. The biggest resources we have are resilience of a community, of a nation, of our youth and the combined energy and courage of our whole communities to defend our common values. We in the Netherlands are trying to be active in fostering and promoting these resources and this resilience. We are doing so as co-Chair of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), together with Morocco, our fellow co-Chair.”

   2016-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7670Resumption1 (2016) · source

10. “The efforts of the United Nations and other forums should be focused on addressing the entire life cycle of radicalization, from the first steps on the road towards terrorism, where radicalization manifests itself, all the way through to the final stages of the cycle. Our approach must address the whole cycle: prevention, protection and prosecution, but we must do so appropriately. For example, the abuse of the Internet by terrorists in order to target our youngest, most vulnerable citizens with messages of hatred and violence is a complex challenge. We need to address that challenge firmly, while upholding the fundamental human rights of the freedom of expression and the freedom of information.”

    2016-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7670Resumption1 (2016) · source

11. “We share the horror, we share the grief, we share the anger about terrorist attacks, their cowardly perpetrators and their tragic consequences. We need to do more than just share information, however. We must also implement the well-known resolutions adopted by the Council, resolutions 1267 (1999), 1373 (2001), 2178 (2014) and 2253 (2015). Now is truly the time for action rather than words. Only by cooperating, sharing and implementing the Council resolutions fully can we stop the terrorists and secure our homelands. At the same time, we must continue to reflect upon the tools at our disposal. We should remember that those tools were devised to defend our freedom, our human rights, our way of life. My second point is the so-called life cycle of radicalization.”

    2016-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7670Resumption1 (2016) · source

12. “We must work closely together at all levels, internationally, in multilevel forums and international organizations like INTERPOL, and at the United Nations, as well as regionally through institutions like the European Union, the African Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Allow me also to highlight, quoting our Indonesian colleague, the importance of the Regional Counter-Terrorism Centre, established in Indonesia for that purpose. We must also work better together on a bilateral basis, for even though we come from diverse backgrounds, we face a common enemy in terrorism. We are proud of the Centre just mentioned, as the Netherlands worked together with Indonesia on a bilateral basis to help set it up. In our view, terrorism can be countered only by working together on the basis of what we share.”

    2016-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7670Resumption1 (2016) · source

13. “Together with our partners, we will continue to combat terrorism in our countries, in our cities and in our communities. The Netherlands aligns itself with the statement made by the observer of the European Union. In my national capacity, I would like to add a few remarks on the need for cooperation, on the life cycle of radicalization and on resources. In view of the time constraints, I will read out a shortened version of my statement, and my full statement will be available through a link on my Twitter account. On the importance of cooperation, the recent attacks serve as a grim reminder ofthe need for such cooperation and the need for the sharing of information.”

    2016-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7670Resumption1 (2016) · source

14. “I thank you very much, Mr. President, and in honour of the Chinese presidency of the Council for this month and having lived in Beijing for four years, I will try to express my thanks in my best Chinese. (spoke in Chinese) I thank you, Mr. President. (spoke in English) At the outset, I would like to express our deep appreciation to the People's Republic of China for organizing this important open debate and for the excellent concept note (S/2016/306, annex). Today's debate is timely in our view, given the terrorist attacks that continue to wreak havoc upon societies around the world. We will not be silenced by those attacks. We will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the countries that have fallen victim to those horrible acts.”

    2016-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7670Resumption1 (2016) · source

15. “Our focus will be on the implementations of the reforms as agreed in the Self-Reliance through Mutual Accountability Framework for the further development of Afghanistan. My third point is on the role of UNAMA. This morning the Council renewed the mandate of UNAMA. I would like to underline the commitment to and the continued support of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for the role played by UNAMA in Afghanistan, and we thank UNAMA for its continued constructive role in coordinating the international community efforts and in fulfilling its political mandate. In conclusion, the Kingdom of the Netherlands will remain committed to Afghanistan throughout the transformation decade in the context of increased development, we will continue to support Afghanistan Afghan ownership and leadership. In the spirit of and 115 people.”

    2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source

16. “We are committed to fulfilling our part in the longer-term development of Afghanistan. We are currently planning our national post-2016 engagements in the fields of defence, development and diplomacy in the run-up to the NATO Summit in July in Warsaw and the Brussels conference in October. For both conferences, which are very much interlinked, it is crucial that both the Afghan Government and the international community demonstrate their commitment to Afghanistan's future. This applies both to progress for the necessary reforms, on the one hand, and the necessary international support, on the other. The Kingdom of the Netherlands wishes to further work together with Afghanistan and partners within the international community.”

    2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source

17. “For example, the service delivery of health care and education has improved drastically since 2001. Women and girls are actively part of social life, and Afghanistan has witnessed a sharp increase in girls enrolling in schools. In addition, the Government of National Unity recently took steps to strengthen protection services for women. The Kingdom of the Netherlands welcomes the emergency fund for the medical treatment of female victims of violence that was launched on 31 January by President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai. We welcome the extra funding in the State budget for additional prosecution units to address violence against women. The Kingdom ofthe Netherlands has been a longtime partner of Afghanistan, having contributed significantly in the fields of security, justice and development.”

    2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source

18. “Political unity in the Afghan Government will help create stability and a positive perspective for the Afghan people. Durable peace can be achieved only through Afghan-led reconciliation, supported by a regional process. Commendable efforts in that directionhave recentlybeen made by Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as within the quadrilateral talks among Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United States and China, which we hope will lead to direct talks with the Taliban. The Netherlands stands ready to support reconciliation efforts, if so desired. My second point concerns the road to Warsaw and Brussels. The international community, including my country, has been engaged in Afghanistan for over a decade now, in close collaboration with the Afghan Government. Together we have seen some very positive results in terms of development.”

    2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source

19. “On the security situation and the peace process, the report of the Secretary-General states very clearly that the security situation deteriorated even further in 2015. It also indicates a substantial increase in casualties among the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF). We commend the efforts of the National Unity Government and the ANDSF in providing security to the Afghan people, but we need to address the critical shortcomings. Continued international support, including by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is needed in strengthening the security forces. The number of civilian casualties has seen an increase as well, as reported by UNAMA last month. We deplore all casualties, of course. They indicate all the more that a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan is urgently needed.”

    2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source

20. “I thank you very much, Mr. President, and in honour of your presidency this month, I will try to say this in your language. Obrigado, senhor Presidente. I thank you for the opportunity to speak at this debate on behalf of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which aligns itself with the statement just made by the observer of the European Union. I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his detailed and thorough report (S/2016/218) and Special Representative Haysom for his briefing. I also would like to thank my dear friend Ambassador Saikal for his statement. I will address three issues: first, the security situation and the peace process; secondly, the road to Warsaw and Brussels; and thirdly, the role of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).”

    2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source

21. “Let me conclude by reiterating our strong support, as a partner of the United Nations for peace, justice and development, for the United Nations peacebuilding architecture.”

    2016-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7629 (2016) · source

22. “We support the Ambassadors of Angola and Australia in their efforts made on behalf of that draft resolution. The next points I am going to make were also just made by our colleague from Sierra Leone, namely, that peacebuilding activities are currently hampered by a lack of funding. In order for the Peacebuilding Fund to contribute substantively to peacebuilding efforts, it must be able to rely on more donors than the ones that are bearing the burden now. Aside from the Netherlands being a large donor, we advocate for more and more reliable funding and backstopping of special political missions, peacebuilding, conflict prevention and mediation, in the Fifth Committee and other forums.”

    2016-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7629 (2016) · source

23. “Security sector reform and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration are the main components of building peace. The police component in missions should be further developed. Resolution 2185 (2014), on the role of police in peace operations, underlines the fact that police organizations are the primary link between the Government and the community in the field of security. They also provide an essential element of the transition to stabilization. In conclusion, I would like to refer to the draft resolution on the peacebuilding architecture now being negotiated in the General Assembly. In our view, the draft resolution should give a clear and actionable mandate to the Secretary-General aimed at overcoming silos and addressing the fragmentation within the United Nations system.”

    2016-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7629 (2016) · source

24. “Only this morning we hosted a meeting between the United Nations Development Programme and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations to enhance their cooperation on the ground on rule- of law implementation in post-conflict situations. We must build bridges between the silos within the United Nations. The third point on peace operations - during or after a conflict, a coherent United Nations strategy should focus on joint goals and deliverables, on the basis of a shared conflict analysis and with complementary roles for political, military, police and development instruments. In that context, we also see a close link between peace, justice and development. In addition to supporting physical safety and political dialogue in conflict-affected States, the restoration of trust in the maintenance of law and order is of equal importance.”

    2016-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7629 (2016) · source

25. “The high-level thematic debate in the General Assembly in May provides us with an opportunity to reflect on concrete ways of enhancing coherence within the United Nations system on the issues of peace and security. In addition, to prevent and effectively end conflicts the Security Council has a range of possibilities at its disposal. We welcome a more effective use of existing mechanisms, such as horizon scannings and briefings by Special Advisers and other bodies such as the Peacebuilding Commission, the Peacebuilding Support Office and the Department of Political Affairs. Furthermore, we believe that Resident Coordinators and Special Representatives should be accountable for the efforts of the United Nations during the entire cycle of conflict.”

    2016-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7629 (2016) · source

26. “It was implemented in 14 countries, including Pakistan, Uganda, Somalia and Liberia. It is an example of a coalition of stakeholders working towards the same goal: to give children and youth the tools to support peace in their country. With regard to coherence, the Kingdom of the Netherlands considers it of the utmost importance that the peacebuilding review be linked to the Secretary- General's review of peace operations, the review of resolution 1325 (2000) and the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development (General Assembly resolution 70/ 1). Linking the recommendations of those crucial reviews and processes should ensure maximum coherence of United Nations actions.”

    2016-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7629 (2016) · source

27. “In our view, women's participation, as it has already been said today, is a condition for peace. We need to invite women to participate on panels and at negotiating tables, and we support the initiative of Mr. De Mistura to establish an independent women's advisory board in his Office. The Kingdom of the Netherlands strives to support partnerships for peacebuilding in practice. Since 2012, UNICEF has implemented an innovative programme known as the Peacebuilding, Education and Advocacy Programme, with the help of the Peacebuilding Support Office, and the Netherlands helped to make that programme possible. That partnership combined educational activities with academic development with a view towards peacebuilding and advocacy under national ownership, in conjunction with political efforts.”

    2016-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7629 (2016) · source

28. “Furthermore, the King of the Netherlands welcomes the report (see S/2015/490) of the Advisory Group of Experts, which provides clear recommendations for improvement and reform in the practices of peacebuilding, and we pay tribute to the work, words and wisdom of Ambassador Gert Rosenthal and thank him very much. I will focus on three points: partnerships, coherence and peace operations. When it comes to partnerships, peacebuilding can only be durable and inclusive if we view it as a partnership that involves all of those who have a stake in peace. We need not only the participation of the belligerent parties, but also that of local communities, local Governments, women, youth, business communities, regional organizations and non-governmental organizations.”

    2016-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7629 (2016) · source

29. “1 align myself with the statement made on behalf of the European Union earlier today. I will read out a shortened version of my statement in view of time constraints. The full version will be made available on my Twitter account. Let me also thank the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for organizing this timely debate. It is fitting that a neighbour of Colombia has invited Member States to reflect on the importance of peacebuilding. The recent history of that country shows that it takes political courage and perseverance to overcome obstacles to sustain sustainable peace in a country. The comments just made by our colleague from Sierra Leone are another positive example in that context. Let me also thank Ambassador Macharia Kamau and Mr. Skoog for their briefings this morning.”

    2016-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7629 (2016) · source

30. “We will continue to work together with all Member States until those goals have been attained for the peoples and nations of the world. For we believe those goals together embody the core values of the Charter of the United Nations, which were codified to address the needs and desires of humankind on his journey towards a better future.”

    2016-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7621 (2016) · source

31. “We also work together with other countries, especially in Africa, to train their peacekeeping units and we call upon all Member States to contribute to peacekeeping missions with high-quality capabilities, in order to improve the effectiveness of peacekeeping missions. The effectiveness of peacekeeping should furthermore be enhanced by implementing the recommendations of the report of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations (S/2015/446). In conclusion, as the Dutch philosopher Spinoza said, peace is not an absence of war; it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence and justice. As I have stated before, the Kingdom of the Netherlands is the United Nations partner for peace, justice and development.”

    2016-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7621 (2016) · source

32. “My third point concerns peacekeeping missions. In order to maintain international peace and security, the Charter of the United Nations allows for collective measures. By accepting the Charter, all Member States promise to give the United Nations assistance in any action it takes. As Member States, we must fulfil that promise, especially when it comes to peacekeeping. Over the years, peacekeeping missions have been deployed in more and more complex situations. Our military, police and civilians experience that on a daily basis in the Missions in which we are active, such as the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.”

    2016-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7621 (2016) · source

33. “We condemn situations where the civilian infrastructure, especially hospitals and schools, are systematically targeted by parties to conflict. Sovereignty should never be used as a shield by States to prevent mass atrocities from being addressed. As former Secretary-General Kofi Annan stated, sovereignty was never meant as a license for Governments to trample on human rights and human dignity. The international community has been standing by while people suffer horribly. The concept of the responsibility to protect provides guidance on what we could and what we should do. We urge the permanent members of the Security Council to refrain from using their vetoes in cases of mass atrocities and to use all means at their disposal to increase their interaction with human rights actors and improve the situation at hand.”

    2016-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7621 (2016) · source

34. “The upcoming seventieth anniversary of the International Court of Justice in April will be a good occasion to reiterate the value and achievements of that institution. As the host country of that principal judicial organ of the United Nations, we encourage all States to recognize the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice. My second point is on human rights. The promotion of human rights is a cornerstone of the United Nations. Unfortunately, the current reality in the world shows that we must do much more to realize our ambitions. Large-scale violations of human rights, happening on a daily basis in Syria as we speak, deserve action by the international community. The principles of the Charter and international humanitarian law need to be upheld at all times.”

    2016-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7621 (2016) · source

35. “International law is even more important when disputes occur. The peaceful settlement of disputes, recognized as one of the purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, makes an invaluable contribution to a more just and secure world. In The Hague in the Netherlands, we host both the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration. And to emphasize the importance we attach to those institutions in The Hague, let me highlight the presence in my delegation of the mayor of The Hague, Mr. Van Aartsen, who is present in the Chamber today. Both institutions I mentioned - the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration -fulfil a crucial role in realizing the ambitions of Article 33 of the Charter on the pacific settlement of conflicts.”

    2016-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7621 (2016) · source

36. “The Kingdom of the Netherlands would like to thank the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for convening today's debate and for providing the Member States with the opportunity to re-emphasize the importance of the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his important comments at the outset of our discussion today. I align myself with the statement made by the observer of the European Union earlier. In my statement, I will focus on three issues that, in our view, lie at the heart of the maintenance of peace and security: the peaceful settlement of disputes, human rights and peacekeeping missions. First, on the peaceful settlement of disputes, the international legal order is the foundation upon which friendly and lasting relations between States are built.”

    2016-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7621 (2016) · source

37. “The seventieth anniversary of the United Nations provides an excellent opportunity to reform the working methods of the Security Council and to ensure that it can operate truly in the spirit of the Charter. It is up to all ofus, members and non-members alike, to seize this moment. In that spirit, and speaking in my national capacity as the representative of an aspiring member ofthe Security Council for the 2017-2018 term, I would like to pledge the commitment of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the principles of transparency, inclusiveness and effectiveness, on and off the Council, as a partner for peace, justice and development.”

    2015-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7539 (2015) · source

38. “We therefore recommend that all current and future Council members - indeed, all States Members of the United Nations - support and implement the proposals of France and Mexico, as well as the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency group, to support timely and decisive action by the Security Council aimed at preventing or ending the commission of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes. We need a Security Council that is transparent in its working methods and inclusive towards non-Council members and other United Nations organs and that acts effectively and decisively for the maintenance of international peace and security, in particular when faced with mass atrocities.”

    2015-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7539 (2015) · source

39. “The Peacebuilding Commission might also play a useful role for countries transitioning off the agenda of the Security Council. With respect to effectiveness, let me recall the pressing need for the Security Council to take action in the case of mass atrocities. Increasingly, we see civilian populations at risk of mass atrocities. The Council has a duty to use its powers to prevent and halt these atrocities. However, on several occasions this Council failed to exercise its responsibility due to the use ofthe veto. In the case ofrisk of mass atrocities, the use of the veto is irreconcilable with the fundamental purposes and principles of the United Nations. It delegitimizes both the Council and the United Nations as a whole. What remains is an image of the United Nations as an organization incapable of fulfilling its core responsibilities.”

    2015-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7539 (2015) · source

40. “In addition, both the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations and the Advisory Group of Experts for the 2015 Review of the Peacebuilding Architecture underline that, in order to achieve sustainable peace, all United Nations actors must come together in a much more coherent way. Building sustainable peace is a long-term endeavour that requires attention throughout the whole conflict cycle and beyond the immediate aftermath of a crisis. From this point of View, we could benefit from closer cooperation between the Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission. The Council could draw upon the Commission's advice regarding peacebuilding dimensions of mandates. This would help ensure that the mandates, benchmarks and reviews of peace operations reflect the longer view required for sustaining peace.”

    2015-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7539 (2015) · source

41. “In a similar vein, greater involvement of troop-contributing countries and police-contributing countries when discussing specific peace operations would contribute to greater support for the mandates of such operations and, therefore, to a more effective fulfilment of those mandates. Other options include regular public briefings by special envoys and special representatives of the Secretary-General and public horizon-scanning briefings by the Secretary-General. The latter option would also increase the Council's ability to operate in a proactive and preventive manner.”

    2015-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7539 (2015) · source

42. “We encourage the Council to contribute further to the transparency of the selection process through the implementation of resolution 69/321, as well as by organizing meetings open to the wider membership and civil society, such as Arria Formula meetings, with candidates for the position of Secretary-General. With regard to inclusiveness, we would welcome increased cooperation between members and non-members of the Council, in order to widen support for the Council's decisions among the general membership and beyond. This is of particular importance when the Council discusses situations that affect the interests of a country that is not a member of the Council.”

    2015-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7539 (2015) · source

43. “Let me share our views regarding three aspects of working methods: transparency, inclusiveness and effectiveness. With respect to transparency, and with regard to strengthening the relationship between the Security Council and the General Assembly, the process of the selection and appointment of the next Secretary- General is of eminent importance. Significant steps were made with the adoption of General Assembly resolution 69/321, such as the decision to request the Presidents of the General Assembly and the Security Council to start the process of soliciting candidates for the position of Secretary-General through a joint letter addressed to all Member States. In this regard, let me acknowledge the individual efforts made by both permanent and non-permanent members of the Security Council.”

    2015-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7539 (2015) · source

44. “1 am honoured to deliver this statement on behalf of Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Let me first express appreciation to Spain for organizing this important open debate. As the United Nations marks its seventieth anniversary, we are faced with a conflict-ridden world, numbers of displaced persons and refugees unheard of since the Second World War, and a global terrorist threat emanating from an increasing number of non-State armed groups. Today's crises, more than ever, call for a Security Council with its doors wide open to the outside world and its concerns. Against that backdrop, the Council's working methods should be adapted with the need for an effective, inclusive and transparent Security Council in mind. Improvements have been made in the past, but there is still much to be done.”

    2015-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7539 (2015) · source

45. “We will take into account the progress made by the Government of Afghanistan, and we underline, just as our Japanese colleague did earlier, the importance of self-reliance. We indeed hope that self-reliance will be achieved in this new era ofincreased Afghan ownership and leadership. It is in that spirit of partnership focusing on supporting peace, justice and development that we will continue to support Afghanistan and its people. IfI may, I would like to end on a personal note and pay tribute to the work of Ambassador Tanin, both for his efforts in his national capacity and in his efforts aimed at reforming the Security Council. I wish him all the best and have to say that I will miss him as a friend.”

    2015-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7526 (2015) · source

46. “In particular, I would like to compliment UNAMA on the high quality of its work in Afghanistan in the field of human rights, which is recognized globally as an example of best practices for its robust methodology and constructive engagement with all parties to the conflict, as is also mentioned in the review. We also strongly support the recommendation to further emphasize the normative mandate of the United Nations in improving human rights and the rule of law in Afghanistan. In conclusion, the Kingdom of the Netherlands has been a long-time partner of Afghanistan. We have contributed significantly in the fields of security, justice and development, and we will stand by the Afghan people in the years to come. We are currently examining our appropriate involvement after 2017.”

    2015-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7526 (2015) · source

47. “It is an important accomplishment that the report was compiled through good coordination among the entities in Afghanistan, the donor countries and, most important, the Afghan Government. The Netherlands supports the recommendations formulated in the report. We welcome the emphasis on having the United Nations continue its work to strengthen its good offices and the request to increase joint programming among United Nations entities. That is a responsibility that extends beyond UNAMA alone. I would like to underline the Kingdom of the Netherlands' continued support for the coordinating role played by UNAMA to that effect.”

    2015-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7526 (2015) · source

48. “Furthermore, as the report of the Secretary-General on UNAMA highlights, the National Unity Government has made some significant progress in furthering good governance by improving accountability and reducing corruption. Also, the Special Electoral Reform Commission managed to achieve impressive results in a short time. However, a lot still needs to be done in order to ensure that future elections are fair, transparent and inclusive. The Netherlands will remain Afghanistan's partner in supporting that effort. Thirdly, with regard to to the functioning of the United Nations in Afghanistan, we are happy to have received the report ofthe Tripartite Review Commission (S/2015/713, annex), which examines the role, structure and activities of all United Nations entities in Afghanistan.”

    2015-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7526 (2015) · source

49. “We express our appreciation for the initiative of the Governments of Afghanistan, the United States of America and China to organize a high-level side event on Afghanistan's peaceful reconstruction and regional cooperation during the upcoming week of high-level meetings. Secondly, with respect to development assistance and good governance, the Kingdom of the Netherlands is satisfied with the outcome of the recent senior officials meeting in Kabul, in particular with the more concrete deliverables in the self-reliance through mutual accountability framework, such as the establishment of prosecution units for dealing with violence against women in all provinces, as well as the implementation of the Afghan national action plan pursuant to resolution 1325 (2000).”

    2015-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7526 (2015) · source

50. “The Kingdom of the Netherlands offers its condolences to the Afghan Government and its people for the lives lost in the many recent attacks by insurgent groups. We welcome the positive step of the direct talks between the Afghan Government and the Taliban held in Pakistan this past summer. In the long run, lasting stability and peace is possible only through reconciliation. We hope that the Afghan-led peace talks can resume quickly and continue to have the required support of the region. The recent Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan in Kabul was an example of fruitful regional cooperation, as is the Heart of Asia Process.”

    2015-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7526 (2015) · source