YouSaid · the spoken record

Wehbe

lines on the record: 606
first: 1997-03-06
most recent: 2003-09-04
sittings or episodes: 78
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

“First, we must recognize that targeted sanctions are more difficult to implement than collective sanctions. We must not lose sight of their collateral effects, particularly on those sectors of the population that are not being targeted. Secondly, we must recognize that the political will of Member States - beginning with that of Security Council members - is instrumental for the effective implementation of sanctions. That political will must be reflected in a determination to establish just and fair measures that respect human rights and conform to international humanitarian law.”
2003-02-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4713 (2003) · source
“It has become clear, however, that at least some of the current sanctions regimes, as well as the composition of the committees entrusted with their implementation, have caused humanitarian suffering in some societies, large sectors of which - including women, children and the elderly- are innocent. If we are talking about improving the system of sanctions, we must address the means to bridge that wide gap. The final report of the Stockholm Process makes some important points, relating to the selection of targeted sanctions, the means necessary to enhance the role of the United Nations in implementing targeted sanctions, and support to enable Member States to implement targeted sanctions. The report goes on to make a number of policy recommendations. Here, we would like to stress a number of important points relating to this question.”
2003-02-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4713 (2003) · source
“At times they have brought about the exact opposite of the intended result. Those research institutes and other parties therefore began to discuss ways and means of making sanctions more influential by defining their objectives. Switzerland was the lead country in this effort. Germany then volunteered to continue the process. The Stockholm initiative was the third step towards bringing the process to fruition and suggesting ways of enhancing the ability of the United Nations system and of Member States to implement targeted sanctions. Here, we must pay tribute to Uppsala University for its valuable efforts, the result of which is before us in the report under consideration today. The Security Council has used sanctions as a way of carrying out one of its main tasks: the maintenance of international peace and security.”
2003-02-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4713 (2003) · source
“Mr. Wehbe (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): I should like at the outset to welcome His Excellency Mr. Hans Dahlgren, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Sweden. We are familiar with his great contributions to the work of this Organization. I would also like to thank him for presenting the final report on the Stockholm Process on the Implementation of Targeted Sanctions - the result of intensive work incorporating the ideas of people known for their expertise in the field of the implementation of sanctions. I would also like to thank Mr. Danilo Tiirk, the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, for the enlightening points that he raised in his statement. Sanctions have long been a priority subject for many Governments, universities and research institutes because of the absence of proof of their usefulness.”
2003-02-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4713 (2003) · source
“I would like to express my gratitude to Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock for all of his efforts as Chairman of the Committee. We promise the next Chairman of the Committee - our neighbour in the Council, Ambassador Arias, Permanent Representative of Spain - that we will continue that cooperation.”
2003-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4710 (2003) · source
“Everybody has the right to talk about terrorism except Israel; Israel is the symbol and embodiment of terrorism. Israel must stop its occupation of our territory; it must stop its settlers; it must stop violating our rights. We have said before and will say again that occupation is terrorism - it is the apex of terrorism. Occupation is occupation, and occupation is terrorism. We support the fight of all people against occupation, even though some have claimed that such fights constitute terrorism. Let me reaffirm that Syria will continue its close cooperation with all countries to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and it will make every effort to support the Counter- Terrorism Committee with a view to fully implementing resolution 1373 (2001) in all its aspects.”
2003-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4710 (2003) · source
“Is not that terrorism? The problem is that Israel thinks only about its own children, its settlements and its occupation and about the need to maintain that occupation. The representative of Israel referred to the Israeli occupation soldiers who escort the poor Israeli children to their schools. But Palestinian children are being killed in cold blood every single day, with Israeli tanks at their doors to stop them from going to school. But killing them is not enough. According to Israeli logic, they are not human beings. A four-month-old child, Iman Hajjo, was killed when four bullets penetrated her little head, shattering it completely. We all watched as the child Mohamed al- Durra was killed by the Israeli occupation forces. Is that life or death? Is not that terrorism?”
2003-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4710 (2003) · source
“The records of the United Kingdom Foreign Office are replete with evidence of that. The killing of Count Bernadotte, the United Nations peace mediator, at the hands of Israeli terrorist gangs is well known. Recently, United Nations officials have been killed in the West Bank and Gaza. It appears that Israel cannot understand that occupation is terrorism. It has killed more than 2,180 Palestinians during the past two years alone. Thirty Palestinians have been killed in the past day and a half- that is one Palestinian killed every hour. An entire army is practising terrorism. What does it mean consistently to demolish the houses of Palestinians, throwing thousands of innocent children into the rain, snow and cold of the winter? What does it mean to demolish a house yesterday while four people were still living in it - killing all of them?”
2003-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4710 (2003) · source
“It appears that the representative of Israel' s ignorance of the principles and methods of international action, of Security Council debate, of how the Council discusses the items before it and of the work of its subsidiary bodies has blinded him to the truth. He thus resorted to cheap tricks when we were discussing such a serious issue in the work of the Council. Does the representative of Israel seriously believe that he can mislead Council members and the international community? I do not believe so. Palestinians in Syria, about whom the representative of Israel spoke, estimated to number more than 400,000, are the victims of Israeli terrorism. The entire world sees and hears about Israeli terrorist practices. In 1948, Israel was founded on terrorist organizations.”
2003-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4710 (2003) · source
“The countries of the world elected Syria almost unanimously to membership of the Security Council, in appreciation of Syria' s role in international political life and in the Middle East. For some 14 months, Syria has done everything possible to enhance the work of the Council, especially in combating terrorism. States members of the Security Council are well aware of Syria' s effective and rich contribution in fighting terrorism. Council members and other States Members of the United Nations, contrary to allegations by the representative of Israel, know full well the effective role that Syria plays in that regard. Let me caution that the greatest danger to the international campaign against terrorism is the Israeli terrorist approach to combating terrorism.”
2003-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4710 (2003) · source
“Mr. Mekdad (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): It is difficult for anybody to take the floor after Ambassador Greenstock' s valuable remarks. However, the statement by the representative of Israel makes it hard for me not to say a few words. Syria has always been proud of having been among the first countries to combat terrorism, and of having been successful in doing so. It is also very proud that it cooperates with all countries of the world - in the North, South, East and West - to combat and eliminate terrorism. High-level officials in more than one country have affirmed that Syria' s cooperation with them in combating terrorism has saved lives.”
2003-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4710 (2003) · source
“Building the Kosovo of the future will be impossible unless the memories, pain and suffering of the past are set aside and we focus on a future that includes the integration of all Kosovars regardless of their ethnic and religious background. It is through that integration that the people of Kosovo will guarantee peace and progress for future generations.”
2003-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4702 (2003) · source
“There is also a need to enhance the Mission's role, so that it may lead Kosovo and its people to peace. The positive political developments in Kosovo - including the debate on decentralization, the strengthening of the rule of law, the building of a well- functioning and sustainable police force and fighting organized and cross-border crimes - can all lead to greater stability in Kosovo and will ultimately pave the way for a favourable economic environment that will encourage investment and economic and financial growth. That will in turn positively affect the return of displaced persons and refugees to their homes and property, thereby making it possible for them to contribute to building the future of Kosovo. In conclusion, my delegation hails the efforts of Mr. Steiner and UNMIK to bring about peace and stability in the province.”
2003-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4702 (2003) · source
“That message, which was in fact confirmed by the Security Council's mission to Kosovo last December, was one that we have stressed repeatedly to all the parties concerned. My delegation welcomes the extension of UNMIK's authority throughout Kosovo. Last November, the Mission extended its presence to the northern part or Mitrovica, thanks to the agreement reached between the Mission and the then Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. My delegation would like to stress the need to work within a regional context in order to reach a solution to the question of Kosovo. Nevertheless, we encourage dialogue between Belgrade and UNMIK. We call for the strengthening of that dialogue, which in the past produced positive results that cannot be ignored. We would also like to stress that there is still an urgent need for UNMIK's work to continue.”
2003-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4702 (2003) · source
“Ongoing efforts to establish a multi-ethnic civil service continue to be of importance, despite the emergence of obstacles pertaining to the limited number of minority candidates, security concerns and tension among various ethnic minorities. Like previous speakers, we are concerned about information regarding continuing attacks against religious sites. We call for a halt to all such acts, which are unacceptable regardless of the religious values, teachings or criteria involved. My delegation would like to emphasize the importance of the principle outlined by Mr. Steiner, namely, "standards before status". That principle is at present of great importance in order to guarantee participation by all communities in the political life of Kosovo and to overcome ongoing ethnic differences prior to discussing Kosovo's future status.”
2003-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4702 (2003) · source
“My delegation would once again like to thank the Norwegian delegation, and Mr. Kolby in particular, for the efforts made last year, including during the Security Council mission to Kosovo. My delegation would like also to welcome the report of the Secretary-General (S/2003/ll3) submitted pursuant to Security Council resolution 1244 (1999). My delegation commends the efforts made by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to change the political dynamics in that country, to provide incentives to eliminate parallel structures and to encourage all communities to participate in common institutions. The report of the Secretary-General notes the emergence of Kosovo's two Provisional Institutions of Self-Government: the Assembly and the Government.”
2003-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4702 (2003) · source
“Mr. Mekdad (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): My delegation would like to begin by thanking you, Mr. President, for having convened this meeting on the situation in Kosovo. My delegation would also like wholeheartedly to thank Mr. Steiner, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo, for his complete and detailed briefing on recent developments there. We thank him in particular for his accurate summary of the situation in the province as presented in the six-page handout that has been distributed to us. We agree with his analysis of the situation and his emphasis on the need for social integration in Kosovo with a view to enabling the people there to move towards a future in which they can all actively and positively contribute to building the province.”
2003-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4702 (2003) · source
“"The world's peoples look forward to our deliberations, hoping for a peaceful settlement to the Iraqi question - a settlement that will save the lives of thousands of Iraqis and other people should the military option, outside the framework of international legitimacy, be exercised. Let us all work for peace, because we can attain peace if we have the good faith, the determination and the political will to do so. Those elements are to be found in most members of the Council, which was entrusted by the Charter with maintaining international peace and security. That is what Syria and the other Arab countries are trying to bring about, and it is what we hope the Council and the rest of the international community will also work towards."”
2003-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4701 (2003) · source
“Syria has also worked with Iraq's neighbouring countries, which have expressed readiness to cooperate with the Council in efforts to arrive at a peaceful settlement of the Iraqi question. The deliberations held in Istanbul proved that Iraq does not constitute a threat to its neighbours. The message of Iraq's neighbours to the world was "no" to war and "yes" to peaceful solutions based on the implementation of Security Council resolutions. That message is extremely significant, because it comes from a region that has suffered under the scourge of many wars and that is still suffering from the continued policy of occupation and destruction against the defenceless Palestinian people, its property and its legitimate rights.”
2003-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4701 (2003) · source
“In parallel, the Council must take necessary measures to lift the sanctions imposed on the Iraqi people under paragraph 22 of resolution 687 (1991) and must activate paragraph 14 of that resolution, which calls for the declaration of the Middle East as a zone free from all weapons of mass destruction - nuclear, bacteriological and chemical - without excepting any State, including Israel, which alone has acquired all of those lethal weapons. "Syria has made strenuous efforts, and has engaged in regional and international contacts at the highest level, so that we can arrive at a peaceful solution to the Iraqi question, based on implementation of resolution 1441 (2002).”
2003-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4701 (2003) · source
“In return, the inspectors' pursuit of their work, objectively and in a way that respects the sensitivities of the Iraqi people, would definitely build trust between the two parties, which is a desired goal. "Therefore, Syria calls upon the Security Council to continue to support the work of the inspectors and to give them sufficient time to carry out their task. Syria emphasizes Iraq's commitment to continue to cooperate actively with the inspectors and to provide everything required under resolution 1441 (2002).”
2003-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4701 (2003) · source
“Do they truly warrant a destructive war against Iraq? This is an important question. Through statements by its senior officials, Iraq has expressed its readiness to continue to cooperate, to enhance cooperation and to make extra efforts to find acceptable solutions for existing problems in order to ensure that the inspectors can carry out their tasks as established by the Security Council. "That requires that both parties - Iraq and the inspectors - build a common denominator of trust based on Iraq's cooperation with the inspectors, so that they can carry out their task as soon as possible, on the understanding that that will be in the interests of all concerned parties.”
2003-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4701 (2003) · source
“At a time when our Council is adopting one statement after another to save innocent people in many parts of the world, it is truly odd that we can discuss going to war against Iraq, which no longer occupies the territories of others or threatens it neighbours, and at a time when Israel still occupies Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian territories in violation of the Charter and resolutions of the United Nations and periodically threatens its neighbours. "Syria has been kept informed of the work of the inspectors and of Iraqi cooperation with those inspectors. Those who believe that inspections in any part of the world can be free of occasional problems and obstacles are completely mistaken. Nevertheless, after listening to the reports of Mr. Blix and Mr. ElBaradei, we ask whether the obstacles to which they referred are insurmountable.”
2003-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4701 (2003) · source
“"Syria still believes in the possibility of arriving at a peaceful settlement that spares Iraq war and spares the region the dangerous repercussions of such a war. Such a settlement would guarantee the implementation of resolution 1441 (2002); it would save the lives of thousands of potential innocent victims in Iraq, as well as those of the soldiers who have crossed continents, bringing them safely back to their families. "Our commitment to peace is compatible with the approach of the Security Council, which in December 2002 adopted a presidential statement on the protection of civilians in armed conflict (S/PRST/2002/41) and a few days ago adopted a resolution on the protection of children in armed conflicts (resolution 1460 (2003)).”
2003-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4701 (2003) · source
“Thinking that war is one of the options before the Council is in itself proof of our collective failure to peacefully implement resolution 1441 (2002). We believe that the Council can still make great efforts to reach a peaceful solution to the question of Iraq compatible with the Security Council's mandate to maintain international peace and security. "Syria believes that the existence of the option of war is proof not only of the Council's failure to fulfil its duties but also of the failure of the international system, which at this stage should rely more than ever on the Charter of the United Nations as an indispensable point of reference in ensuring that peace prevails all over the world.”
2003-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4701 (2003) · source
“It is no secret that Syria joined the consensus on that resolution after receiving guarantees and clarifications from permanent members of the Council that voting in favour of the resolution meant proceeding seriously towards a peaceful resolution regarding Iraq's disarmament of all weapons of mass destruction and that the resolution was not a pretext for waging war against Iraq. The fact that some members of the Council speak about the need to adopt a second resolution is, in our view, further confirmation of those clarifications and guarantees. "Nevertheless, two months after the adoption of the resolution and the resumption of inspections, which have made reasonable progress and have not yet met with any insurmountable obstacles, our region is at a grave crossroads, teetering between peace and war.”
2003-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4701 (2003) · source
“Since time does not permit me to discuss the content of the statement, we believe that the way to ascertain the facts and to reach a conclusion with respect to irrefutable evidence is to transmit such information to the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). We urge all Member States that have accurate information on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction to submit such information to the inspectors so that they can assess its accuracy and inform the Council accordingly. We hope that they will not be inundated with information or opinions that do not stand up to the facts in order not to confuse them or distract them from the tasks entrusted to them by the Council. "The Council unanimously adopted resolution 1441 (2002).”
2003-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4701 (2003) · source
“I express my confidence that your presiding over our deliberations will lead us to a just settlement of the issues on our agenda and, in particular, a peaceful settlement to the question of Iraq based on the implementation of Council resolution 1441 (2002), which is our common objective. "It is also my pleasure to thank France, a friend of Syria, for successfully presiding over the Council's deliberations last month. We thank France for its efforts, in more than one place in the world, to favour peace over war. "We listened attentively to the information and opinions presented by Mr. Colin Powell, Secretary of State of the United States of America.”
2003-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4701 (2003) · source
“Mr. Wehbe (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): Allow me at the outset to extend our sincere condolences to the Government and the people of the United States of America following the tragic disaster that befell the space shuttle Columbia. It is my privilege to read out the text of a statement by Mr. Farouk Al-Shara', Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Syrian Arab Republic. It was impossible for him to participate in person in our important deliberations. "It gives me pleasure to congratulate you, Sir, on your country's assumption of the presidency of the Council for the month of February.”
2003-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4701 (2003) · source
“We shall continue to cooperate with the Counter- Terrorism Committee and all other sincere international efforts to realize that noble objective. "Once again, I wish you success in your efforts in the service of our common good."”
2003-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4688 (2003) · source
“"Important proposals have been advanced in our region - and even outside it - stressing that it is extremely important to counter violence while Israeli settlements and occupation persist. Therefore, working seriously to arrive at a just and comprehensive solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict will effectively contribute to the efforts to fight international terrorism. "Syria, which has been a victim of terrorism since the 1980s, succeeded in harnessing the country's potential to address and to eradicate terrorism. It worked within the League of Arab States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the United Nations to fight international terrorism. Towards that goal, Syria undertook bilateral cooperation with many States.”
2003-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4688 (2003) · source
“However, that goal has so far remained elusive due to Israel's refusal to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons on the pretext that it is waiting for the conclusion of peace between it and its neighbours. Successive Israeli Governments have made such a peace truly elusive through their refusal to withdraw from the Arab territories occupied since 1967. "If the international community truly wishes to separate terrorism from weapons of mass destruction and to fight both in parallel, we now have a very precious opportunity that we must not waste. Let us work together to fight both in parallel through the initiative of Syria: a call for international conferences to define terrorism and to make the Middle East a zone free of weapons of mass destruction, without the exception of any State.”
2003-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4688 (2003) · source
“Syria has contributed to the negotiations currently under way in the General Assembly on a comprehensive draft convention against terrorism that asserts the international community's understanding of the legitimate struggle against foreign occupation - a right that was guaranteed by the Charter of the United Nations - and condemns as terrorism all acts of violence outside occupied territories. Syria believes that we should reach agreement on that common ground. Otherwise, we cannot truly be serious about fighting terrorism. "Secondly, since 1989 we have called for the declaration of the Middle East as a zone free of nuclear, bacteriological and chemical weapons of mass destruction. Many Arab and Islamic countries in the region have joined us in that appeal, and my country has worked towards that objective during recent years.”
2003-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4688 (2003) · source
“In other words, we have to diagnose the phenomenon so that we can address it and eradicate it. "There are increasing concerns about the possible link between terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. The draft presidential statement before the Council makes clear reference to that potential link. We in Syria share the concern about a possible link between terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, especially in the region of the Middle East, where both terrorism and weapons of mass destruction are a threat. For that reason, for more than two decades Syria has called attention to the gravity of this situation. "First, Syria has called for the convening of an international conference under the auspices of the United Nations to define terrorism and to distinguish between terrorism and a people's struggle for freedom.”
2003-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4688 (2003) · source
“"There is no doubt that resolution 1373 (2001) constitutes the cornerstone of our efforts to fight international terrorism. We must pay tribute to the efforts of the Counter-Terrorism Committee under the chairmanship of Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock. Syria has cooperated with the Committee both through its membership on the Committee and through the reports it submitted in full to the Committee. We hope that the Committee and its new bureau will continue to supervise all aspects of the implementation of that resolution. "However, have all the measures taken so far been reassuring? The seriousness of international terrorism calls for collective efforts to make the issue a top priority of the international community so that we do not stop at addressing the issue in a superficial and temporary manner. We must look at the causes of terrorism.”
2003-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4688 (2003) · source
“"Syria stresses the role that the United Nations must play in mobilizing the efforts of all Member States to counter international terrorism, based on the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. Such principles acquire further significance when our world is facing greater dangers and risks. "The United Nations, and the Security Council in particular, took serious measures to fight international terrorism after the tragic events in the United States of America. We all condemned those attacks. Regrettably, terrorism did not start with those events. Unfortunately, neither did it end with them. In today's world, justice is mixed with injustice, freedom with oppression and principles with double standards. Briefly but more significantly, truth is mixed with falsehood.”
2003-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4688 (2003) · source
“De Villepin my deep appreciation for this initiative. "Our region is now living in a dangerous situation. Syria and some of the countries neighbouring Iraq that would be directly and dangerously affected by potential events in Iraq are currently striving to reach a peaceful settlement to the problem of Iraq. Such efforts are linked to the Security Council's efforts to implement its resolutions, particularly resolution 1441 (2002). It is for those reasons that I was prevented from joining my Foreign Ministers colleagues in this meeting. I hope that your efforts will succeed in resetting priorities for combating international terrorism, particularly as terrorism does not target any specific country, religion or people.”
2003-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4688 (2003) · source
“Mr. Wehbe (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): I wish to convey to you, Sir, to the Ministers, to the Secretary-General and to the representatives of member States the best wishes of Mr. Farouk Al-Shara, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Syrian Arab Republic. As he could not be present today, he has asked me to deliver the following statement on his behalf. "I am pleased to see France, a country that has ties of friendship with Syria, presiding over the Security Council for this month. I welcome the initiative of Mr. De Villepin, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of France, to convene this meeting at the level of Foreign Ministers to discuss an important issue: cooperation in the combat against international terrorism. In a telephone call last Wednesday, I personally expressed to Mr.”
2003-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4688 (2003) · source
“Secondly, the haste of the negotiations which led to a vote on the draft resolution did not allow Syria enough time to study the Goods Review List, considering the complex technical nature of these goods, the examination of which requires a high level of technical expertise and adequate time. Therefore, Syria was unable to vote in favour of the draft resolution. We could not fully examine its implications so as to ensure that it would not have an adverse impact on the interests of the Iraqi population.”
2002-12-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4683 (2002) · source
“Mr. Wehbe (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): The Syrian Arab Republic delegation abstained in the voting on resolution 1454 (2002), just adopted by the Council. Here, we would like to make a number of points. First, when voting in favour of resolution 1447 (2002) calling for the extension of the oil-for-food programme, Syria took into account the need to alleviate the suffering of the Iraqi people and the need to meet its needs, especially basic humanitarian needs. Syria feels that Iraq's cooperation with the United Nations weapons inspectors and its positive approach to resolution 1441 (2002) should inevitably lead to the lifting of the sanctions imposed on that country and not to the sanctions regime being complicated by the addition of further restrictions under the pretext that certain goods can be of dual use.”
2002-12-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4683 (2002) · source
“We must place on record the fact that this draft resolution and the condemnation therein of the occupying Power, Israel, in its criminal acts, is unrelated to ongoing international efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive peace. Although the Security Council was unable to adopt the draft resolution because of the negative vote of a permanent member, Syria will persevere in supporting the Security Council in its tireless efforts to maintain international peace and security, ensure respect for international law, and prevent the killing of United Nations personnel engaged in humanitarian missions anywhere in the world. These principles lie at the heart of our foreign policy.”
2002-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4681 (2002) · source
“However, most regrettably, we were unable to include the amendments proposed by one delegation, because they fell outside the framework of the draft resolution and were inconsistent with the desired objective, and because they attempted to equate the butcher and the victim. This is very strange. Indeed, the delegation concerned voted against the draft resolution today, thus depriving the majority of members of the Security Council - 12 members - of their desired goal: to maintain the unanimity of the Council. Regrettably that was denied them. The delegation that voted against the draft resolution also prevented the international community from sending its message to Israel, the occupying Power.”
2002-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4681 (2002) · source
“We all are parties to that Convention, which must be respected and implemented by all, without double standard. If the Security Council - the United Nations body with primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security - is unable to put an end to such Israeli practices because of the protection given Israel by one permanent member, that will open the door wide to further flouting of international humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention. Syria, along with the other members of the Security Council, undertook the necessary consultations this past week. We took all proposed amendments, which were put forward by the majority of members of the Security Council, back to the Group of Arab States, in order to ensure the adoption of the draft.”
2002-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4681 (2002) · source
“The purpose of that warehouse is to feed the Palestinian people - a people who are in dire need of food. Even that warehouse was attacked in order to deprive the Palestinian people of food. The international community is in agreement that the killing of international personnel and the destruction of United Nations facilities is a red line that no party is allowed to cross. We do not believe that Israel should be allowed to be an exception to that rule. We do not believe that it is permissible in any way to give Israel the right to kill United Nations personnel without accountability or sanction. So far it has killed more than 14 international staff members. The Fourth Geneva Convention sets out the obligations of occupying Powers.”
2002-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4681 (2002) · source
“Mr. Wehbe (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): When the Syrian Arab Republic introduced, on behalf of the Group of Arab States, the draft resolution now contained in document S/2002/ 1385, we understood that it dealt with issues that enjoyed unanimous support - issues of concern to the international community and the various bodies of the United Nations, including the Security Council. The objective of the draft resolution was to put an end to the killing by the occupying Power, Israel, of United Nations personnel, which escalated sharply last month. From another angle, it aimed at compelling Israel to stop attacking United Nations buildings or warehouses, including that belonging to the World Food Programme, which has a warehouse in the occupied Palestinian land.”
2002-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4681 (2002) · source
“The draft resolution repeats the name of Israel at a time when Israel is practising the worst forms of terrorism and daily committing crimes against humanity in the occupied Arab territories, the latest of which killed 10 innocent Palestinian civilians in the Boreij refugee camp on 6 December and five innocent civilians in Gaza this morning - on the very day when we are about to vote on this draft resolution - not to mention the fact that Israel has killed three United Nations international civil servants during the past two weeks alone. Those considerations oblige us to vote against the draft resolution.”
2002-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4667 (2002) · source
“Secondly, Syria reiterates its condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reaffirms its commitment to Security Council resolution 1373 (2001) and its commitment to combating international terrorism. Finally, Syria will vote against the draft resolution before us because it cannot accept its repeated mention of Israel in a manner that is not in keeping with the wording of the resolutions on Bali and on Moscow.”
2002-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4667 (2002) · source
“During the consultations on this draft resolution, Syria expressed its wish that its sponsors would take into consideration our view that the draft resolution be amended along the lines of the resolutions adopted on Bali and on Moscow. Regrettably, our efforts and those of many other Council members to that effect did not yield the desired results. In order to further clarify our position, we wish to emphasize the following. First, Syria unreservedly condemns the terrorist attack perpetrated in Kikambala, Kenya, which led to the deaths of a number of innocent civilians and reaffirms its sincere solidarity with the Government and the people of Kenya in the face of such terrorist attacks.”
2002-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4667 (2002) · source
“It was our hope that a draft resolution on the events that occurred in Kenya would be unanimously adopted by the Council, and that it would be on the pattern of the two aforementioned resolutions, rather than having its scope expanded to include elements that imply direct intervention in the internal affairs of the country where the events took place. are concerned also about the unacceptable political references that reflect negatively on the situation in the Middle East region, including the situation in the occupied Arab territories. Such references do not accord with our understanding of, or position on, the situation. Nor does the attempt to link Israel to efforts to combat terrorism; this exploits the international campaign against terrorism.”
2002-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4667 (2002) · source
“Mr. Wehbe (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): The Syrian Arab Republic will vote against the draft resolution before us because the sponsor of the draft resolution insists on using language that deviates from the main purpose of the draft resolution, which is to condemn the act of international terrorism carried out in Kikambala, Kenya, which led to the death of a number of innocent civilians. We would like to state that Syria was among the first to support the two earlier Security Council resolutions, resolutions 1438 (2002) and 1440 (2002), which condemned the tragic events in Bali and in Moscow respectively.”
2002-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4667 (2002) · source