YouSaid · the spoken record

Van Walsum

lines on the record: 588
first: 1999-01-21
most recent: 2000-12-12
sittings or episodes: 88
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“If a permanent Council member uses or threatens to use its veto, it is duty-bound to explain to the world why it is blocking action by the Council. The right of veto is an extraordinary privilege accorded to only five members of the United Nations. It goes without saying that it should never be exercised for reasons which are extraneous to the issue of international peace and security that is before the Council. The instruments the Council can employ in preventing armed conflict are partly to be found in Chapters VI and VII of the United Nations Charter. Council members should not feel restricted to those alone. After all, peacekeeping operations are not mentioned in the Charter, and they have become a major tool in the Council's hands.”
1999-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4072 (1999) · source
“In the context of conflict prevention, the Council cannot avoid addressing the internal situation of States wherever negative developments are apt to degenerate into large-scale atrocities and massive dislocation of civilians. This cannot be rejected on grounds of domestic jurisdiction. As the Secretary- General has made clear, ethnic cleansers and mass murderers are not protected by the United Nations Charter. In discussing the role of the Security Council in conflict prevention, one cannot escape the hotly debated issue of the veto. As the Netherlands Foreign Minister said in his intervention at the opening of the General Assembly, no matter when or how the debate on the veto will end, those who can wield it should exercise maximum restraint, in particular in situations of humanitarian emergency.”
1999-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4072 (1999) · source
“Against that background, a rigid interpretation of Article 2, paragraph 7, would preclude adaptation to this reality and, in effect, make all the Charter's provisions on the prevention of armed conflict ineffectual. Rarely have we come across more convincing evidence that Article 2, paragraph 7, cannot possibly be the alpha and omega of the Charter today. One of the most telling indicators of impending conflict is the occurrence of rampant human rights violations. Such abuses reflect a breakdown of the rule of law and can be a prelude to violent domestic conflict with consequences for international peace and security. For that reason, the Security Council should treat the reports of the Human Rights Commission and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights as potential early warning documents.”
1999-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4072 (1999) · source
“These are contained in Chapter I of the Charter and include the venerable Article 2, paragraph 7, which stipulates that nothing shall authorize the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State. The current session of the General Assembly has witnessed an impassioned debate on the enduring validity of that provision. Without wishing to stoke up a similar debate in this Council, we cannot help pointing out that everything the Charter has to say with regard to the prevention of armed conflict in Chapters VI and VII and in Article 99 appears to have been drafted with conflicts between States in mind, while the overwhelming majority of present-day conflicts on the Council's agenda are of an internal, domestic nature.”
1999-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4072 (1999) · source
“Of fundamental importance, therefore, is the attitude of the 15 Member States on the Security Council. It is they who make or break the relevance of the Council to the maintenance of international peace and security. In this regard, the Charter has assigned a special responsibility to the permanent five, but it also singles out the non- permanent ten in that it expects them to have been elected with due regard to their contribution to the maintenance of international peace and security. Yet, positions are sometimes taken which stand in the way of effective Security Council action. All Council members subscribe to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.”
1999-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4072 (1999) · source
“The cost of an armed conflict in humanitarian, societal and economic terms will always exceed the outlay for even the most intricate preventive action. So why is it that so many opportunities are being missed in the field of conflict prevention? Conflict prevention by the Security Council rests on three pillars: early warning, early attention and early action. The Council has to be warned about an impending crisis early enough for it to be able to act; it has to give sufficient and timely attention to the case, and then it has to act effectively to prevent the conflict from erupting. The problem nowadays is not a lack of early warning of impending crises, but rather the follow-up to it, a point which was also made by the Secretary-General in his report on conflict, durable peace and sustainable development in Africa.”
1999-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4072 (1999) · source
“The Netherlands warmly welcomes the initiative of the Slovenian presidency to devote an open debate to the role of the Security Council in the prevention of armed conflicts. We regard conflict prevention as the core of the duties the Security Council is called upon to carry out on behalf of the United Nations membership. It lies, naturally and manifestly, at the heart of the Netherlands' integrated approach to the Council's agenda. The following remarks are complementary to those which will be made later on by the representative of Finland on behalf of the European Union, with whose statement the Netherlands fully associates itself. It is self-evident that preventing an armed conflict is preferable to dealing with it after it has broken out.”
1999-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4072 (1999) · source
“It is possible that this way of functioning, and this speed, are acceptable to the permanent five, but we, the elected members, simply cannot go on telling the other United Nations Members, which elected us, that we are content to sit and wait for white smoke to emerge from the "H-5" chambers. I use the expression "H-5" because in my delegation we have started to call the permanent five "the hereditary five", which makes a better contrast with the elected ten. We have been happy to go along with the roll-over for two weeks, but for two weeks only, because we hope that this will be a way to keep the pressure on the permanent five to complete their work on an omnibus draft resolution on Iraq within that period.”
1999-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4070 (1999) · source
“The Amorim panel issued its report on 30 March, and soon after that my delegation, together with that of the United Kingdom, introduced a draft resolution on this matter. Since then, counter-proposals have been made. We have been too intimately involved in the process for us to underestimate the difficulties, but we cannot conceal the fact that my delegation is far from happy with the way the Iraq file is being handled in the Security Council today. While the permanent five have been struggling with this issue for almost six months, we, the non-permanent members, have had no more than approximately one progress report per month, courtesy of the United Kingdom delegation.”
1999-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4070 (1999) · source
“Delays in taking the necessary measures also occur in the field of privatization, almost always as a result of political quarrels among the communities. One example is the case of the Privatization Bureau in Mostar, which refuses to review privatization decisions taken hastily during the war, for fear that irregularities might come to light. Because of this attitude, the World Bank's adjustment loan for the private sector destined for the Federation narrowly escaped being blocked. The Bosnian leadership must not resign itself to these shortcomings. We expect it to muster all its courage and to set an example for all the subsidiary levels of government in the State by embarking on genuine cooperation for the benefit of all the inhabitants of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“This involves creating a minimum of goodwill and tolerance by implementing confidence- building measures, such as receiving delegations of potential returnees, but it also concerns the creation of legal conditions and the provision of financial means to solve practical matters. Improvement on this score is needed, as was illustrated by the fact that the new property law was adopted only after instructions had been issued by the High Representative. Another example is inadequate budgeting for return projects while institutions that could generate revenue - for example, a State border service - are slow in getting off the ground. In this connection, we have noted and welcomed the reference to the State border service in the New York Declaration.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“The Netherlands regards the return of minority refugees to their places of residence as the core of the Dayton Agreements. The spontaneous return of minority refugees, which is just now gaining momentum, is a sign of hope and should not only be welcomed but also be financially supported. In this regard, we welcome the efforts of the High Representative to persuade the European Commission and other donors to continue providing flexible funds for this purpose. However, if the Bosnian authorities at the national, cantonal and local level do not provide the facilities to make the return process possible, our common goal will not be attained.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“Mr. President, We join other delegations in thanking you and your delegation for having taken the initiative to convene this important meeting. The Netherlands delegation welcomes the Joint Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is encouraging to see that despite the many difficulties that still exist among the entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Presidency has come to the Council today as one. We also welcome the New York Declaration, which Members of the Joint Presidency have issued on the occasion of their appearance before the Security Council. We interpret their joint presence in this Chamber as a testimony to their commitment to the enhancement of the functioning of the common institutions. Only with properly functioning common institutions will Bosnia and Herzegovina be able to deal with the tasks that lie ahead.”
1999-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4069 (1999) · source
“In conclusion, I wish to confirm that the Netherlands associates itself with the statement the representative of Finland will deliver on behalf of the European Union.”
1999-11-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4067Resumption1 (1999) · source
“We hope the parties concerned will soon be able to identify a successor to Mr. Nyerere so that a dangerous vacuum may be avoided. All parties must gear their efforts towards an early resumption of the negotiations. The Netherlands stands ready to continue its support for the Arusha peace process. The situation in Burundi is cause for broader concern because of its potentially dangerous implications for the entire region. The Arusha process and the Lusaka process are intertwined: they are dependent on each other's success. There is no hope for peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo if there is no prospect of stability based on reconciliation in its neighbouring countries to the east.”
1999-11-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4067Resumption1 (1999) · source
“The neutrality and impartiality of humanitarian assistance must be respected and everything possible must be done to guarantee the safety of those who deliver this assistance. While we appreciate that a degenerating security situation may call for exceptional measures, we do not believe that the forced regrouping of the rural population is an acceptable response. At any rate, we wish to remind the authorities concerned that, by virtue of this policy, the Government of Burundi has assumed full responsibility for the safety and well-being of those who have been regrouped against their will. The untimely death of President Nyerere and the subsequent interruption of the Arusha peace process could not have occurred at a more inopportune time. The Arusha peace process must be resumed as soon as possible.”
1999-11-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4067Resumption1 (1999) · source
“A year ago, when the Netherlands joined this Council, Burundi was often referred to as a shimmer of light in a region of darkest conflict. Regional sanctions were subsequently lifted, and it was expected that by the end of this year the Arusha peace process would result in an overall settlement. Today I cannot but express the Netherlands' extreme concern about the present situation in Burundi. Extremist forces have gained new ground, and in this atmosphere two United Nations staff were recently killed, one of whom was a Dutch national. The perpetrators of these murders must be brought to justice. Amidst these deteriorating security conditions, the humanitarian situation continues to worsen. We call upon all parties to respect the relevant rules of international humanitarian law.”
1999-11-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4067Resumption1 (1999) · source
“What needs to be investigated is whether crimes were committed during these operations. No military action, no matter how justified, is exempt from that scrutiny. Finally, we would like to wish Ms. Del Ponte every success in the performance of her duties.”
1999-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4063 (1999) · source
“Our obvious focus on the non-compliance of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, whose President has been indicted by the Tribunal, should not diminish our concern at Croatia's failure to comply with the request of the Prosecutor to hand over documents on Operations Flash and Storm. Although we acknowledge that Croatia has a better record than the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Croatia should reconsider its position and comply without delay. These matters cannot remain unresolved. Would Ms. Del Ponte be in a position to tell the Council a little more about her discussions with the Croatian authorities on this matter? Does the Government of Croatia realize that this issue will not simply go away? The Croatian insistence that Operations Flash and Storm were legitimate is beside the point.”
1999-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4063 (1999) · source
“In our view, the Tribunals play a particularly important role in the maintenance of peace, justice and reconciliation. They also serve as a trial ground where we are learning important lessons for later use in the establishment of the International Criminal Court. For the Prosecutor to be truly independent, she must be able to perform her duties without hindrance, relying on the full support and cooperation of all States. In this respect, the Netherlands regrets that certain States and entities have consistently failed to meet their responsibility to cooperate with the Tribunal.”
1999-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4063 (1999) · source
“Mr. President, the Netherlands joins you and other members of the Council in welcoming Ms. Del Ponte and thanking her for her informative briefing. It really goes without saying that we support her, as we strongly support both the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. As was emphasized by Ms. Del Ponte and other speakers, one of the main issues that the Council should address is State non-compliance with article 29 of the Statute of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. The Netherlands has taken note of President Kirk McDonald's letter of 2 November to the President of the Security Council, including the shockingly long list of reports in the annex to that letter.”
1999-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4063 (1999) · source
“However, the United Nations should make sure that the process of handing over responsibilities to the East Timorese is carefully calibrated to correspond with the actual emergence of local capacity. Prematurely dumping responsibilities in the lap of the East Timorese people would be tantamount to abandoning them. At the same time, we must ensure that the military resources on the ground are commensurate with the developing security challenges in East Timor. A possible downsizing of the military force in East Timor, provided for in the current draft resolution, should take place only if and when security conditions permit. Along with the United Kingdom, we fully endorse the statement made by the representative of Finland on behalf of the European Union.”
1999-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4057 (1999) · source
“When we speak of the responsibility and tasks of the United Nations in East Timor to be exercised through the Transitional Administration, we should not forget that it is vitally important to involve the East Timorese themselves. The Netherlands is pleased to note that the draft resolution stresses the need for close consultation and cooperation with the East Timorese people. It is also important and logical that the civil United Nations Administration in East Timor focus on building the local capacity of the East Timorese to assume responsibility for their own democratic self-government. The United Nations, which in the current stage is the indispensable Organization, should, of course, endeavour to make itself superfluous.”
1999-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4057 (1999) · source
“As is stated in the draft resolution, we welcome the commitment of the Indonesian Government to allow the refugees and displaced persons in West Timor and elsewhere in Indonesia who wish to do so to return to East Timor, but we also attach the greatest importance to the following paragraph, which was already mentioned by the previous speaker, and we would like to emphasize the importance of that paragraph in full. It is the responsibility of the Indonesian authorities to ensure the safety and security of all refugees and the civilian and humanitarian character of the refugee camps and settlements, in particular by curbing the violent and intimidatory activities of the militias there.”
1999-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4057 (1999) · source
“The Netherlands welcomes the People's Consultative Assembly's decision to revoke its earlier decree incorporating East Timor into Indonesia. We join other delegations in expressing our admiration for the sense of responsibility and realism that the People's Consultative Assembly of Indonesia has displayed in this matter. We cannot praise Indonesia, however, without at the same time reminding it of its continuing responsibility for the fate of the East Timorese refugees in West Timor and elsewhere in Indonesia.”
1999-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4057 (1999) · source
“There are no further speakers on my list. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The meeting rose at 5.55 pm.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“I thank the representative of Nigeria for his kind words addressed to me. Before inviting him to resume his seat at the side of the Council chamber, I call on the representative of Canada.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“The next speaker is the representative of Nigeria. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“I thank the representative of Uganda for his kind words addressed to me. The next speaker inscribed on my list is the representative of Pakistan. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“I thank the representative of Zambia for the kind words he addressed to me and to my predecessor. The next speaker is the representative of Uganda. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“The next speaker on my list is the representative of Zambia. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement now.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“I thank the representative of Swaziland for his kind words addressed to me. The next speaker on my list is the representative of Uruguay. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement now.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“The next speaker inscribed on my list is the representative of Swaziland. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“I thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Comoros for his kind words addressed to me. The next speaker inscribed on my list is the representative of Cuba. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“I thank the representative of the United Arab Emirates for his kind words addressed to me and to my predecessor. The next speaker inscribed on my list is the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Comoros, His Excellency Mr. Souef Mohamed El-Amine. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“The next speaker on my list is the representative of the United Arab Emirates. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“I thank the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for his kind words addressed to my delegation. The next speaker inscribed on my list is the representative of Morocco. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“I thank the representative of Japan for his kind words addressed to me. The next speaker on my list is the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“I thank the representative of Belgium for the kind words he addressed to my delegation. The next speaker is the representative of Japan. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“I thank the representative of the Republic of Korea for the kind words he addressed to my delegation. The next speaker inscribed on my list is the representative of Belgium. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“The next speaker inscribed on my list is the representative of the Republic of Korea. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“I thank the representative of Portugal for his kind words addressed to me. The next speaker inscribed on my list is the representative of Indonesia. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“I thank the representative of Egypt for the kind words he addressed to me. The next speaker inscribed on my list is the representative of Portugal. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“The next speaker on my list is the representative of Egypt. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement now.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“The next speaker inscribed on my list is the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica, His Excellency The Honourable Seymour Mullings, MP. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“The next speaker inscribed on my list is the representative of Finland. I invite her to take a seat at the Council table and to make her statement.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption3 (1999) · source
“I thank the representative of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya for the kind words he addressed to me and to my predecessor. The next speaker is the representative of South Africa. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption2 (1999) · source
“I thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ghana for his kind words addressed to me. The next speaker inscribed on my list is representative of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption2 (1999) · source
“I thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Mozambique for his kind words addressed to me and to my predecessor. The next speaker on my list is the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency The Honourable James Victor Gbeho. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement now.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption2 (1999) · source
“I thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Senegal for his kind words addressed to me. The next speaker inscribed on my list is the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Mozambique, His Excellency Mr. Leonardo Santos Simao. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement.”
1999-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4049Resumption2 (1999) · source