YouSaid · the spoken record

Vassilakis

lines on the record: 733
first: 1994-04-21
most recent: 2006-12-20
sittings or episodes: 111
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

“We believe that the Nairobi Summit took place at a truly historic juncture for the region of the Great Lakes. It provides us all with a unique opportunity to chart the course towards peace, security and development for millions of people who have known little else than oppression, violence and poverty. The Security Council should express its support to that ongoing process, and for that reason we fully subscribe to the draft presidential statement prepared by Tanzania, for which we thank that delegation.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5603 (2006) · source
“We firmly believe that ending impunity in the Great Lakes region, as well as establishing the foundations for sustainable economic development, addressing humanitarian and human rights issues, supporting institution-building, combating corruption and strengthening the rule of law and good governance, will contribute to the promotion of peace and stability in the region. In that respect, the International Criminal Court, the Peacebuilding Commission, the Bretton Woods institutions and the United Nations system in general could prove to be valuable. We would like to commend the efforts of all the participants in the Nairobi Summit, in particular Tanzania and South Africa, the joint African Union- United Nations Secretariat and Special Representative Ibrahima Fall.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5603 (2006) · source
“The Security Council, as well as the United Nations system in general, including the Peacebuilding Commission, should also concentrate on facilitating solutions for several key issues of the region, such as combating the illegal exploitation of natural resources. In that respect, we are ready to support proposals for special mechanisms, taking into account existing initiatives such as the Kimberley Process for diamonds and the Forest Law Enforcement and Governance for illegal logging.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5603 (2006) · source
“In that respect, the Security Council, besides following closely the post-transitional phase in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Burundi, could also focus on the regional context by better assisting the disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, reintegration and resettlement of ex-combatants, as well as by improving monitoring and strict implementation of the arms embargo, especially as regards small arms. The Council should direct peacekeeping operations to pay special attention to strengthening border security, in particular in view of the spillover effect of the Darfur crisis into Chad and the Central African Republic.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5603 (2006) · source
“The Second Summit of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, held in Nairobi last week, is the culmination of efforts put forward by all interested parties in that direction. The Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region, adopted at the Summit, constitutes a milestone in the cooperation between the States of the region. We believe that it is now crucial to implement the protocols and programmes of action included in the Pact, through the regional follow-up mechanism. The countries of the area must demonstrate their political will in implementing the mechanism and making the Special Fund operational. The international community should stand ready to assist African countries in that endeavour.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5603 (2006) · source
“There has been a remarkable national reconciliation in Rwanda; a successful organization of elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with overwhelming participation by the Congolese people and the election of democratic legislative and executive authorities; peaceful and democratic elections in Burundi that led to a new President and Government; and the ceasefire agreement between the Lord's Resistance Army and the Government of Uganda. Today, the countries of the area, as well as the international community, have gradually realized that achieving peace, stability, security and development in the Great Lakes region should entail a strong regional dimension.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5603 (2006) · source
“I would like to thank Special Representative Ibrahima Fall for his comprehensive and thorough briefing on the Second Summit of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region. Our thanks go also to Ambassador Mulamula for her statement, along with our best wishes for success in her new job. Greece fully associates itself with the statement to be made later on by the Permanent Representative of Finland on behalf of the European Union. The region of the Great Lakes has been the scene of recurrent ethnic violence and interrelated crises in recent years. On many occasions they presented a considerable challenge to the international community's capacity for crisis response and management. However, in recent years, considerable, albeit painstaking improvement has taken place.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5603 (2006) · source
“Finally, I would like to thank all the members of the Working Group and of my own team for their commitment, dedication and collaboration in bringing this important work to fruition. We would like also to thank the members of the Secretariat for their support and advice during our tenure, in particular Ms. Loraine Rickard-Martin, Mr. James Sutterlin, Ms. Tatiana Cosio and all the other colleagues who work with them.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5601 (2006) · source
“The best practices adopted by the Informal Working Group, which will be endorsed by the Council, constitute an important step forward towards more transparent, fair and effective implementation of the sanctions regimes. The adoption of these best practices by the Council and their consistent and uniform implementation by the Sanctions Committees and the panels of experts will improve the effectiveness of sanctions and will enhance the legitimacy of the Security Council and its subsidiary bodies. I would like to mention one of the points agreed upon by the Working Group: the need to ensure that, as the Council increasingly imposes sanctions regimes and establishes committees and expert groups, the Secretariat has the necessary resources to do its work effectively.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5601 (2006) · source
“The possible humanitarian consequences of the targeted sanctions should also be evaluated. The implementation of targeted sanctions is also an important factor for the effectiveness of these measures. The more implementable the sanctions, the more impact they will have on the target. At the same time it is important that Member States, which have that primary responsibility to implement sanctions, particularly neighbouring States, take the appropriate measures for such implementation. Finally, I believe that the greater the international and regional consensus regarding the targeted sanctions, the more likely it is that such measures will be complied with by the target. We have seen lately that targeted measures that are not supported by Security Council members have not been implemented by the State or non-State targeted actors.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5601 (2006) · source
“For that reason, it is important that targeted sanctions comply with certain principles and criteria that should be implemented by the Security Council when deciding to impose sanctions, by its Sanctions Committees and by the panels of experts that assist the latter in monitoring the implementation of targeted measures. These include, for example, accuracy in identifying information concerning individuals and entities to be targeted, fair and clear procedures concerning their listing and delisting, the use of the highest evidentiary standards to substantiate findings by the panels of experts when drafting their reports, et cetera. In addition, it is important for the Council to ascertain, before imposing sanctions, whether or not that instrument is the appropriate one to be applied in view of the specific circumstances at hand.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5601 (2006) · source
“Targeted sanctions are a non-military means that the Council uses today to address situations that threaten international peace and security, such as terrorism, or to support the implementation of peace agreements. They are directed against political leaders and other non-State actors whose actions constitute a threat to international peace and security to apply pressure and change behaviour in general. Such measures, if applied effectively, are preferable to the general economic or trade sanctions that the Council has imposed in the past, as they directly affect decision-makers and have minimal humanitarian impact. They can also deter the continuation of such threats to peace and security.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5601 (2006) · source
“It sets out the best practices adopted by the Informal Working Group with respect to sanctions design, implementation, evaluation and follow-up, Committee working methods, monitoring and enforcement, and methodological standards and reporting formats for expert groups. I am pleased to note that this report will also be endorsed by the Council when it adopts the draft resolution that has been tabled this morning. I consider these developments to be of major importance, as they demonstrate the determination and the will of the Council to improve its sanctions regimes and maximize their effectiveness. Lately the Council has very frequently used the instrument of sanctions in carrying out its responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5601 (2006) · source
“Sitting in New York and making decisions is one way of acting, but is, in my view, less effective. I shall now brief the Council on the work of the Informal Working Group on the General Issues of Sanctions. I assumed the chairmanship of that Working Group for the year 2006. After a year of hard work on the part of its members, pursuant to its mandate to develop general recommendations on how to improve the effectiveness of United Nations sanctions (S/2000/319), the Working Group fulfilled its current mandate and approved some extremely important best practices with respect to all aspects of sanctions. These results are reflected in the report of the Working Group that has become a document of the Council.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5601 (2006) · source
“The humanitarian crisis can be resolved only through a series of robust measures, some of which, such as the reinforcement of AMIS, have already started to be implemented. Sanctions must be one part of an overall solution. They can be effective only if they have the full political support of the members of the Security Council. The Council should be in a position to implement its own decisions and should try to avert a more serious humanitarian crisis with spill-over effects in the region. Sanctions can be a powerful weapon in this respect, but only as a result of consensus among the members of the Council. In my view, the Committee Chairmen should visit the countries involved more frequently. They will surely have more influence by the mere fact of their presence.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5601 (2006) · source
“There are expressed fears that this might create problems of implementation of the targeted measures by Member States. In an effort to address these concerns, the Committee subsequently posted the customary sanctions list on its website, which included the additional relevant information on the four individuals that the Committee had in its possession. I would also like to underline the importance of continued cooperation of the Committee and its panel with the African Union (AU) and AMIS. In this respect, I recall that there have been written and face- to-face exchanges between the Chairman of the Committee, the panel and the AU. The situation for thousands of refugees and displaced persons in Darfur has considerably deteriorated. The DPA and other ceasefire agreements continue to be violated.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5601 (2006) · source
“The divergence of views among Committee members concerning the recommendations of the panel of experts also exists with regard to the question of the identification of individuals to be designated for targeted sanctions. So far the members of the Sanctions Committee have not been able to designate any individual on its lists, due to lack of the unity of purpose and political will necessary to take a decision and to designate individuals on its lists. The four individuals that have been designated for targeted sanctions - travel ban and assets freeze- have been identified not by the Sanctions Committee but by the Security Council through resolution 1672 (2006), adopted on 25 April 2006. However, this resolution did not include sufficient identifying elements on the designated persons, despite the relevant provisions of its guidelines.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5601 (2006) · source
“According to the panel, those individuals have allegedly violated arms embargoes, impeded the peace process, violated international humanitarian law and committed offensive military overflights. Their names have been included in a confidential annex to the panel' s third report. This has raised the concern of some members of the Committee, who emphasized that the panel should take political sensitivities into account and be more attuned to the ongoing diplomatic initiatives to address the situation in Darfur. However, other members considered that the panel has produced a high-quality report despite the volatile environment in which it has conducted its work. At the same time Security Council resolution 1713 (2006) extended the mandate of the panel by one year and requested that a fifth expert be appointed.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5601 (2006) · source
“The Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) is not being implemented, as not all of the rebel groups have signed it, and the Janjaweed and other rebel groups and militias have not been disarmed, in flagrant violation of the Agreement. There is also expressed fear that the signatories of the DPA will attempt to implement the Agreement through force, with severe consequences on the lives of innocent civilians. Based on its own information and on information provided by the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS), the United Nations Mission in Sudan and non-governmental organizations, the panel has, as in the past, provided the Sanctions Committee with findings concerning specific individuals whom the Committee may wish to consider for designation for targeted sanctions.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5601 (2006) · source
“The Committee has been actively engaged in an interactive discussion during informal consultations with its panel of experts concerning their reports to the Security Council. The latest report contained information about the deteriorating humanitarian crisis and the continuing attacks against civilians and humanitarian personnel. The report also provided information about gross violation of the arms embargo by all the parties to the conflict. Weapons and military supplies are transferred to Darfur without the formal approval of the Sanctions Committee as called for in the resolution. In addition, weapons are delivered from neighbouring Chad into North and West Darfur, given the inadequate border- control situation in Sudan, posing a significant threat to peace and security in Darfur and the region.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5601 (2006) · source
“That has to do both with their determination to support the maintenance of international peace and security and the credibility of the Security Council itself. I shall now turn to the Sanctions Committee on Sudan, established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005), which imposed targeted sanctions against those who violate the arms embargo, impede the peace process, violate international humanitarian law or are responsible for offensive military overflights. In my View, the question of implementation of resolution 1591 (2005) cannot be seen in isolation from the overall problem of Darfur and the complexity of that crisis. The Sanctions Committee has thoroughly discussed the three reports of its panel of experts regarding the situation in Darfur and has adopted only a few of its recommendations.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5601 (2006) · source
“In this final, transitional period it is important that all the parties demonstrate the necessary political will to implement the road map and lead the country to fair elections by October 2007. That is the only way to guarantee durable peace and stability. Ivoirian parties must refrain from all actions that jeopardize the road to peace and stability, reject violence and intimidation and concentrate on taking concrete steps to implement the road map without further delay. Sanctions, if properly used and backed by all the States of the region, would be a useful tool and could help Cote d'Ivoire emerge from the current cr1s1s. In addition, the political will of the members of the Security Council is indispensable in respect of the implementation of the Council's own resolutions.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5601 (2006) · source
“Finally, the Group recommended that the UNOCI arms embargo inspection process should be reviewed and improvements should be made to its methodology. UNOCI has confirmed that it has taken steps towards improving its inspection processes. In that respect I wish to state that the members of the Sanctions Committee - whom I thank wholeheartedly for their work, cooperation and support - were, on the whole, united in agreeing on the group's recommendations. The Committee has decided to follow up on the actions it agreed to take with regard to the Group's observations and recommendations. The conflict in C6te d'Ivoire has now entered a new and more critical phase.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5601 (2006) · source
“The final report of the Group (S/2006/735) found no evidence of gross violations of arms embargoes, but listed a number of problems that it believed could be used to violate the sanctions. It is important to note also that the Group investigated the importation of small arms and ammunition into cote d'Ivoire by a criminal network using international courier firms. It also found continued evidence of diamond production in Cote d'Ivoire and illicit export, especially to Ghana and Mali. As regards the three Ivorian individuals designated for targeted sanctions in February 2006, the Group found that neighbouring States had not disseminated information about the targeted Ivorians to their local authorities at border posts at the time of the Group's inspection.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5601 (2006) · source
“That is also confirmed by various reports on Cote d'Ivoire, such as the reports of the Secretary-General, as well as the monthly reports of the United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire on the monitoring of the arms embargo and the monitoring of public incitement of hatred and violence through the media; these have identified individuals responsible for the situation who could be subject to targeted measures. The Sanctions Committee members, however, did not demonstrate the unity of purpose and political will necessary to take a decision and designate new individuals on its list. With respect to the arms and diamond embargoes, the reports issued by the Group of Experts established by resolution 1643 (2005), are well drafted and substantiated, and I commend the Group of Experts for its professional approach to its work.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5601 (2006) · source
“During those meetings, I explained the real purpose of targeted sanctions and the concern of the Council about the political developments concerning the holding of elections. I made it clear that the Committee was ready to apply such measures, without further delay and in a non-discriminatory manner, against all those who did not implement the agreements and who incited hatred or violence and committed human rights violations and abuses. However, despite the calming effect that the targeting of the aforementioned individuals had on the situation on the ground for a short period of time, violence resumed in the country, and the political situation, in spite of the many efforts by the African Union, has reached a new stalemate.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5601 (2006) · source
“It should be stressed that this decision came only after the Council had issued several warnings to all the parties to the conflict that it would not tolerate acts which put the peace process at risk; there was also a shift in the aforementioned position of the African Union concerning the need for and timing of the imposition of sanctions. In addition, I myself, in October 2005, made a visit to C6te d'Ivoire, previously endorsed by the Security Council, with the aim of putting pressure on the Ivorian parties to implement their obligations under the relevant peace agreements and Security Council resolutions. I met with all of the signatories to the agreements as well as with State officials, representatives of State organizations and non-governmental organizations.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5601 (2006) · source
“Although the measures were imposed by resolution 1572 (2004), the Committee did not designate any individuals subject to the measures until February 2006, following the request of the African Union and the mediator to withhold any action that would have a negative effect on the peace process. However, on 7 February 2006 the Committee designated, on the basis of consensus, three individuals on its list of targeted sanctions, following the outbreak of violence against United Nations personnel in September 2005. The aim of such action was to help restore peace and stability in the country, which had been seriously jeopardized by the above events, and to avert similar disturbing events in the future.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5601 (2006) · source
“That resolution also stated that any obstacle to the freedom of movement of the United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) and the French forces, as well as any attack against UNOCI, the French forces, the High Representative for the elections or the International Working Group, constituted a threat to the peace and national reconciliation process. A Group of experts was also set up to monitor the implementation of those targeted measures. As I stated earlier, the major concern of the Council in relation to targeted sanctions in Cote d'Ivoire has been their impact on the peace process.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5601 (2006) · source
“The Council has adopted a series of resolutions regarding the conflict, and has used sanctions as a tool in support of the peace process as well as of the important regional initiatives, particularly those of the African Union, which aim at bringing peace and national reconciliation to the country. The targeted measures imposed through the relevant Security Council resolutions consist of an arms embargo, travel restrictions and an assets freeze on designated individuals and entities whose actions seriously jeopardize the peace process or violate human rights or incite hatred through the media. Those measures were subsequently reinforced by new Security Council resolutions, in particular resolution 1643 (2005), which, inter alia, imposed an embargo on the import of all rough diamonds from Cote d'Ivoire.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5601 (2006) · source
“I take this opportunity to share with you some personal observations concerning the two Sanctions Committees that I have had the honour to chair for the past two years, namely, the C6te d'Ivoire Sanctions Committee and the Sudan Sanctions Committee. As Chair of the Informal Working Group on General Issues of Sanctions during the past year, I would also like to brief the Council on the work of that Working Group during that period, in which it accomplished the successful fulfilment of its current mandate. Let me begin with the Sanctions Committee on Cote d'Ivoire established pursuant to paragraph 14 of resolution 1572 (2004). The ongoing conflict in Cote d'Ivoire has been at the heart of the Council's attention for the past two years.”
2006-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5601 (2006) · source
“In closing, I would like to thank the members of the Security Council for their close cooperation and their understanding of the difficulties of a particularly complex problem - especially, if one takes into account the sensitivities involved in this particular 06-66340 case, which has deep roots in history and is tightly interwoven with larger geopolitical realities.”
2006-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5593 (2006) · source
“But we should always bear in mind that no step is too small if it is in the right, forward-looking, direction. Step-by- step approaches could lead to major breakthroughs. We all agree that the present status quo is unsustainable. The two communities have also agreed on the basic form of the reunification of the island: a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. We now have to build upon what has already been achieved. The 8 July agreement gives us a platform on which to work carefully to prepare the ground so that we can achieve the necessary progress that will allow the entire political process to move forward and lead to a comprehensive, permanent and durable settlement: a settlement that respects international legality and conforms with both the relevant United Nations resolutions and the norms and principles of the European Union.”
2006-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5593 (2006) · source
“The Cyprus problem is a long-standing and complicated one. But, despite many, and quite intensive, efforts over the years, unfortunately, 32 years after the Turkish military invasion, its resolution remains elusive. We remain hopeful that the lessons drawn from our past efforts will not be in vain and that, instead, they will guide us - all of us - in the search for a functional and workable solution acceptable to all and desired by all. This will lead to a better future for all of the citizens of Cyprus and will contribute to peace and stability in the entire region. A Cypriot-owned solution through a Cypriot- owned process with the invaluable assistance of the international community: that is the way forward. We know it is a difficult way. There might be setbacks, and patience will be a quality in great demand.”
2006-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5593 (2006) · source
“We all understand very well the magnitude of the ever- increasing global demands on United Nations peacekeeping resources, and we are mindful of the need to ensure that UNFICYP does not stay one day more than is absolutely necessary. We sincerely hope that that day will come very soon. In the meanwhile, though, and in the absence of a comprehensive 2 settlement and the withdrawal of all occupation troops from the island, UNFICYP is necessary, and the contribution of the United Nations is highly appreciated and, of course, never taken for granted. Greece shows that appreciation in practical terms as well, by providing, on a voluntary basis, a substantial amount of money for UNFICYP. That contribution and the one third share of the expenses contributed by the Government of Cyprus amount to 50 per cent of the Force's yearly budget.”
2006-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5593 (2006) · source
“Today is the last time that Greece will participate, in its capacity as a non- permanent member of the Security Council, in a meeting on an issue of the utmost importance for my country: Cyprus. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to express my country's most heartfelt appreciation, first of all, to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and to the Department for Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and the Secretariat in general for all their hard work and their contribution to maintaining stability on the island, which is so necessary for the promotion of any solution. We also thank greatly all troop-contributing countries for their continued presence.”
2006-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5593 (2006) · source
“We therefore welcome the fact that the international community has realized the need for a certain flexibility in the timeframe that allows for a more genuine status process and gives the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government, among others, the necessary time to press on with their efforts on standards implementation.”
2006-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5588 (2006) · source
“We cannot but stress once more the need for the involvement of the Kosovo Serbs and the importance of their engagement with the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government. The participation of the Kosovo Serbs in those Institutions is key in serving their own best interests, and we therefore urge Belgrade to encourage them in that direction. Finally, with reference to the political process for the determination of Kosovo's future status, I would like to reiterate my country's position that the best possible and most sustainable outcome of the future status process is a mutually acceptable solution.”
2006-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5588 (2006) · source
“We understand that Belgrade made an offer on the provision of electricity and that currently UNMIK and Belgrade are very close to agreeing on how that offer could be accepted. We would appreciate further information on those talks, as we very strongly support any initiative that improves the everyday life of the population of Kosovo. As the Secretary-General also mentioned in his report, concerns still remain with regard to the low number of minority returns. The limited results cannot be attributed solely to the lack of economic opportunity. We cannot ignore the fact that the perception, or the reality, of security and freedom of movement remains the elementary factor that determines progress in that area.”
2006-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5588 (2006) · source
“However, we note that there seems to be no substantial progress on decentralization beyond the first three pilot projects, although originally there were supposed to be five, and we call on all parties involved to take the process forward. We fully support the principled stance of the Secretary-General with regard to the strong condemnation of violence. We express our concern with regard to the recent explosions on railway tracks in central Kosovo and reports on the setting up of checkpoints by masked gunmen. We note that attacks against religious sites have decreased and reiterate that such incidents should have no place whatsoever in a modern and democratic society. Positive developments have marked the economic sector as well, aiming at attracting foreign investment and establishing the Central Banking Authority of Kosovo.”
2006-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5588 (2006) · source
“The effective fulfilment of the standards, which should by no means be limited to the 13 points mentioned above, is central in achieving a sustainable multi-ethnic and democratic Kosovo, living in peace and stability. The recent adoption of legislation such as the laws on freedom of religion, the use of languages and cultural heritage is a significant development, and we look very much forward to their full implementation. Progress made in the functioning of the Ministries of Justice and Internal Affairs marks positive steps. We emphasize that the prevalence of the rule of law is key to a working democracy.”
2006-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5588 (2006) · source
“I join others in welcoming the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Mr. Joachim Rucker, and thank him for his presentation. I welcome the presence of the President of the Coordinating Centre of the Republic of Serbia for Kosovo and Metohija, Ms. Sanda Raskovic-Ivic, and I also welcome Prime Minister Ceku's presence among the delegation of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). Greece associates itself with the statement to be delivered shortly by the Permanent Representative of Finland on behalf of the European Union. Greece welcomes the progress made in the implementation of the standards, in particular of the Contact Group's 13 priorities for standards implementation, and stresses the need for the continued commitment of the Provisional Institutions of Self- Government in that regard.”
2006-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5588 (2006) · source
“Greece wishes to reaffirm its attachment and commitment to the realization of the vision of two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and within secure and internationally recognized borders. The proposals contained in the Secretary-General's report constitute a sober and informed insight as to how progress in that direction may be advanced. The parties to the conflict, the countries of the region, as well as the Security Council should explore all possibilities open to them. It is our profound hope that we will not have to receive a similar report in 10 years' time, and it is our sincere conviction that the peoples of the region and the international community as a whole can ill afford to allow more time to elapse without making significant and substantial progress towards peace.”
2006-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5584 (2006) · source
“The behaviour and rhetoric coming out of one country of the region tends to have a direct impact on the behaviour and rhetoric of another, and developments in one country have a bearing on developments in another. Given the situation's inherently regional dimension, the United Nations is the most suitably placed forum wherein a solution ought to be sought and supported by all. The United Nations does indeed have a permanent responsibility towards the question of Palestine until it is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory manner on the basis of international legitimacy, and that responsibility applies as equally Vis-a-vis the Palestinians and the Arab populations as it does to the Israeli people and to the State of Israel.”
2006-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5584 (2006) · source
“There is much that is contained in the report that the Security Council should reflect upon. For our part, we would like to emphasize that the Arab-Israeli conflict, of which the Palestinian issue is at the core, and that all attempts to find a solution to it should not overlook the wider regional picture and the dynamics involved in that context. When viewed from a wider regional perspective, a number of issues emerge and come to the surface that go a long way towards explaining the behaviour of all respective parties. From that perspective, what becomes evident is that the countries of the region all have a key role to play and all share in the responsibility for creating the necessary climate conducive to promoting progress in the peace process.”
2006-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5584 (2006) · source
“In trying to evaluate and to assess what has transpired in the Middle East during the two years that Greece has served as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, and to give our appraisal of where things stand and where they may go from here, we find that the report of the SecretaryzGeneral more than adequately covers most of the observations we would have made and coincides to a very large extent with our evaluation of the situation. In that regard, we share the Secretary-General's assessment of the reasons behind the lack of significant progress in the implementation of the road map. Both sides have indeed failed to live up to their obligations under the first phase of the road map, and we also note with interest the Secretary-General's observations regarding the role of the Quartet in the whole process.”
2006-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5584 (2006) · source
“I would like to thank you, Sir, for organizing today's thematic debate of the Security Council on sustainable peace in the Middle East, under the leadership of the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar. I would also like to thank and commend the Secretary-General for submitting to the Security Council his insightful report on the Middle East and for providing the Security Council with his highly pertinent and significant observations on that matter.”
2006-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5584 (2006) · source
“Even though our tenure on the Security Council is coming to an end, Greece will continue to support and to actively follow all efforts aimed at assisting Iraq's fledgling democracy to flourish and to thrive so that we may quickly see a prosperous, unified, pluralistic Iraq in which there is full respect for the human rights of all Iraqis and for the rule of law - an Iraq that will be at peace with itself and with all its neighbours, and a valuable partner in the international community.”
2006-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5583 (2006) · source
“There must be help towards creating a national compact to complement the International Compact and to assess and reassess the posture of the Iraqi security forces in countering and preventing terrorist attacks and criminal activities, including possibly by broadening the scope of existing initiatives to include, inter alia, either the permanent members of the Security Council, as suggested in the report, or even the newly established Peacebuilding Commission.”
2006-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5583 (2006) · source
“While we share many of the observations contained in the report of the Secretary-General, what will be required before we can continue to build upon what has been achieved so far - for much has been achieved in Iraq over the past three years, notwithstanding the security situation - is an in-depth analytical understanding of the reasons that lie behind the increase in sectarian violence and insurgent and terrorist attacks, as well as in criminal activities. An in- depth look into what is fuelling sectarian violence and what is causing insurgent and terrorist attacks and into what is allowing criminal activities to thrive may help to reveal what are the most appropriate instruments to put into play to help address those challenges effectively.”
2006-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5583 (2006) · source