YouSaid · the spoken record

Wenaweser

lines on the record: 709
first: 2002-07-25
most recent: 2023-12-07
sittings or episodes: 107
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

“Today's discussion deals with an essential aspect oflong-term reconciliation and thus, ultimately, of conflict prevention, which puts it squarely within the competence not only of this body, but also of other United Nations bodies. The Human Rights Council in particular has done related work, through its resolutions on the right to the truth. Indeed, it has created a mandate for the promotion of truth and justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence. There is no doubt that the way we deal with the past has a significant impact on how we shape the future. It has been said that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. But the question before us is a more complex one.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“The veto as such is part and parcel of the Charter of the United Nations, which we have all ratified, but it is essential that it not be used contrary to the very purposes and principles contained in that Charter, and that a minimum of accountability be provided in this respect. We have repeatedly called on the permanent members to commit to refraining from the use of the veto in situations involving genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. We welcome the initiative of France to bring this topic to the attention of the international community. Now is the time to make concrete progress towards such a code of conduct. We look forward to discussions among the permanent members on this suggestion and will continue to work through the ACT group to contribute to its success.”
2013-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7052Resumption1 (2013) · source
“While we appreciate the efforts of Luxembourg and Australia in drafting the recent presidential statement on the humanitarian situation in Syria (S/PRST/2013/15), we regret that the Council was not able to adopt a resolution on this topic. The Council has also failed in its responsibility to promote accountability for the war crimes and crimes against humanity that have been and continue to be perpetrated by all sides in that conflict. Liechtenstein was one of 58 States that had called on the Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the ICC. Nine months later, we are still waiting for the Council to take this issue up. The Syria crisis also best illustrates that the use of the veto and the extensive threat of its use continue to stymie its work.”
2013-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7052Resumption1 (2013) · source
“This should remind us of the need to revisit the Council's working methods in dealing with such requests. The Council's decision-making process on article 16 deferrals should be informed and made on the basis of a thorough discussion involving all stakeholders. The implementation of article 16 of the Rome Statute is as much a concern of all States parties to the Statute as it is of the members of the Council. We therefore encourage the Security Council to enter into a dialogue with States parties, especially on the question of criteria to be considered in deciding whether to defer cases before the ICC. The situation in Syria, now in its third year, has laid bare the Council's shortcomings. The Council has been unable to play its role on nearly all issues, save that of chemical weapons.”
2013-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7052Resumption1 (2013) · source
“One year ago, together with Costa Rica and Jordan, we encouraged the creation of a new subsidiary body or the re-tasking of the Informal Working Group on Tribunals. Since then, the need for such a platform has only become more pressing as requests to the Council relating to ICC issues are in the headlines on a daily basis. Partially due to this shortcoming, the Council has again failed to take up the Court's decisions of non-cooperation in the Darfur situation. The failure of the Council to effectively follow up its own referrals undermines the credibility of both bodies. We have seen the recent request by Kenya that the Security Council defer the cases in the Kenya situation for 12 months, pursuant to article 16 of the Rome Statute - an issue that will be taken up by the Council shortly.”
2013-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7052Resumption1 (2013) · source
“We also consider the informal, interactive dialogue between the Council and the ICC Prosecutor is also a useful format, allowing for a more fluid exchange of information and a less limited conversation. While we welcome these events and thank the delegations that have initiated them, we are disappointed about the lack of follow-up. As often seems to be the case in the workings of the Council, positive innovations are difficult to institutionalize. The Council began this year well by expressing its commitment to effectively following up issues of cooperation with international tribunals, including the ICC. Unfortunately, the Council has not lived up to this promise so far. The Council still lacks the proper forum for interaction with the ICC and on related issues.”
2013-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7052Resumption1 (2013) · source
“Liechtenstein is a member of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) group and and aligns itself with the statement delivered by the representative of Switzerland. We would now like to raise a few specific points relating to the Council's work on accountability and the veto, from the perspective of its working methods. During the past year, the Council has made some progress in improving its interaction with the International Criminal Court and on related issues. The open debate of October 2012 on peace and justice (see S/PV.6894), with a special focus on the role of the International Criminal Court (ICC), was a good opportunity for the wider membership to express its views on the Council's relations to that key institution of international criminal justice.”
2013-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7052Resumption1 (2013) · source
“As in other areas, we have noted a lack of consistency when it comes to the inclusion of concerns raised by the issue of women and peace and security in the Security Council's work. It is important that the Council consistently implement the provisions of resolution 1325 (2000) and the follow-up resolutions in all its resolutions on country situations.”
2013-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7044 (2013) · source
“Against that background, we welcome the Peacebuilding Commission's recent declaration on women's economic empowerment for peacebuilding. We have noted with great interest the Mediation Support Unit's commitment to increasing its efforts to include more women in mediation processes and the increased female capacity in that respect. We believe that it is important that the United Nations lead by example to advance this agenda. The appointment of Mary Robinson as the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region of Africa is therefore a very important step in that respect. We welcome the Special Envoy's active engagement to involve women and ensure their participation in mediation efforts.”
2013-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7044 (2013) · source
“My delegation is therefore pleased to see that resolution 2122 (2013), adopted earlier today, builds on the core elements of resolution 1325 (2000) and contains key commitments for several stakeholders to the full participation of women. Women's full participation - including in peacekeeping operations, national reconciliation processes and mediation - enhances the effectiveness and sustainability of development efforts and contributes to the prevention of conflict. But women continue to be underrepresented at all levels of decision-making. Their interests are often not, or insufficiently, reflected in peace agreements. Out of 10 peace agreements signed in 2012, only three included provisions on women and peace and security.”
2013-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7044 (2013) · source
“Where national justice systems are unable to deliver justice, the ICC can play an important role pursuant to the principle of complementarity. It can also assist in domestic proceedings by providing information and evidence. The Court also provides direct assistance to victims on the ground through its Trust Fund for Victims, which Liechtenstein continues to support. Like other speakers before us in the debate, we remain of the view that the grave situation in Syria merits referral to the International Criminal Court by the Council. The need to protect women and girls must not overshadow the participation pillar of the women, peace and security agenda.”
2013-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7044 (2013) · source
“Accountability, human rights and the rule of law are recognized preconditions for successful political transition and development, but women are too often denied full and equal access to justice. States must offer effective and universally accessible national judicial systems and provide all victims with support, protection and redress. The needs of vulnerable groups, such as women with disabilities and indigenous women, among others, require special attention. The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has significantly contributed to ending impunity for gender-based crimes, and its Prosecutor has declared the issue of sexual violence to be one of the priorities of her work. Indeed, 18 of the persons currently accused in the Court's cases are charged with sexual crimes.”
2013-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7044 (2013) · source
“Women and children continue to be disproportionately affected by armed conflicts and their aftermath. We have witnessed, in particular, an alarming increase in sexual violence, which is often used as a method of warfare. It has disastrous long-term consequences, not only for the victim, but also for the affected communities. Liechtenstein is proud to give its support to the sexual and gender-based violence work of the Justice Rapid Response initiative and is among the 124 States that have endorsed the United Kingdom initiative to end sexual violence in conflict. A pervasive culture of impunity continues to be a major challenge in the area of women, peace and security.”
2013-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7044 (2013) · source
“We therefore hope that the Security Council will draw the necessary lessons from the past 20 years and continue to make accountability for the worst crimes under international law a priority in its work.”
2013-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6977 (2013) · source
“Given the high importance that the Council appears to attach to issues of accountability, they should also be reflected more prominently in the mechanisms through which it communicates with the public, in particular its annual report, the most important tool in that respect. A better reflection on the website would also be helpful. Having the necessary mechanisms in place is one prerequisite for the Council to continue effective accountability work - political will, of course, is another. The creation of the ICTY 20 years ago was the dawn of the age of accountability. At the heart of this age of accountability is also a realization that issues are intricately linked with international peace and security.”
2013-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6977 (2013) · source
“Finally, from the perspective of the Council's working methods, the existence of the Informal Working Group on International Tribunals is noteworthy. It is an important space in which to discuss the interaction between the Council and the international justice mechanisms it has created. We believe, however, that the Security Council should take a broader approach and establish ways of discussing other accountability issues, be they in a purpose-designed working group or in the framework of the Informal Working Group on Tribunals, not least in the light of the institutional linkages between the Council and the ICC.”
2013-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6977 (2013) · source
“They range from hybrid tribunals of the sort employed in Sierra Leone and Cambodia to entities that work entirely within the affected country's legal system, such as Guatemala's Commission against Impunity and the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. If a permanent effect is intended, as it should be, investing in national mechanisms also gives the best return for the money invested. International justice and local solutions are not mutually exclusive. Indeed, given the principle of complementarity, such solutions can even be used in conjunction with an ICC referral or in cases where the Court already has jurisdiction, to the benefit of both the ICC and the national processes. This would allow the Court to step in should the local or hybrid solution prove to be unsatisfactory, or indeed unavailable.”
2013-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6977 (2013) · source
“That means in particular that future ICC referrals should be financed by the United Nations membership as a whole, especially given that those costs are significantly lower than they would be under any new ad hoc mechanism. Thirdly, for international criminal justice to be effective, there must be ownership in the affected countries. The best way of achieving that is to strengthen national capacities where countries are willing to fight impunity themselves, but lack the means to do so. The experience of the past 20 years has shown that the international community has numerous possible ways to help national justice processes in countries seeking to come to terms with past crimes.”
2013-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6977 (2013) · source
“Secondly, there must be a solid financial basis for international criminal justice mechanisms. The fact that all States Members of the United Nations were obliged to fund the ad hoc Tribunals, for which we have all paid just about $4 billion, was an indispensable part of their functioning. The experience with other international criminal justice mechanisms clearly shows that voluntary funding models do not work. Not only are such tribunals pretty much constantly in financial difficulties, which can delay judicial work, but the voluntary funding can also lead to questions concerning their judicial independence. Any serious accountability work undertaken by the Council in the future should therefore have a solid financial foundation.”
2013-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6977 (2013) · source
“First, international criminal justice requires diplomatic support and follow-up on the part of the relevant States and institutions. That is particularly important where arrests of indictees are concerned, since they can be carried out only by Member States and will not happen unless States muster the political will and join forces to do so. The history of the ICTY illustrates very clearly that arrests do not happen unless States decide to put their political weight behind the enforcement of arrest warrants. With regard to the International Criminal Court, the Council acknowledged this in adopting its most recent presidential statement on the protection of civilians (S/PRST/2013/2). In concrete cases, however, such follow-up is still often insufficient or lacking altogether.”
2013-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6977 (2013) · source
“We firmly believe that the Council should continue to be a key player in ensuring accountability for the most serious crimes under international law. Part of that work will be carried out pursuant to the Council's referral power under the Rome Statute, but there are many other ways in which it - and, indeed, other United Nations organs - can work effectively to ensure accountability, particularly by enhancing the capacity of States that are willing to fight impunity through their national judiciaries. It is very likely, and in our View desirable, that the era of ad hoc Tribunals will soon come to an end. The Council has moved on to different types of accountability work and should continue on that path. But it is essential that we draw some key conclusions from the chapter written by the ad hoc Tribunals.”
2013-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6977 (2013) · source
“Without any doubt, the experiences and lessons learned from the ad hoc Tribunals are of great significance to the work of other international tribunals, as in the case of the ICC. However, it is too early to assess the full legacy of either Tribunal, given that some of the most prominent cases are still in the trial phase. At the same time, especially in recent months, their work reminds us that the worst crimes under international law are difficult to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, and that every defendant has the right to due process. If some aspects of the work of the Tribunals continue to be the subject of controversy, that should not cloud our overall judgement or diminish their historical importance.”
2013-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6977 (2013) · source
“In so doing, it asserted itself as the key player it is today in the area of accountability, including through its referral power under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ad hoc Tribunals, in turn, made history through their judicial work, for example, with the first trial against a former head of State before an international tribunal, as well as through ground- breaking cases such as the Akayesu verdict, which established sexual violence as a form of genocide. The Tribunals have also been important for victims, whose sufferings have been acknowledged and whose dignity has, in some measure, been restored. The International Criminal Court built on that experience and enhanced the capacity of the Court by ensuring victims a participatory role in its proceedings.”
2013-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6977 (2013) · source
“I have the honour to speak today on behalf of Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Jordan, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor-Leste and Uruguay, as well as my own country, Liechtenstein. The establishment of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) was a milestone in the history ofinternational criminal justice. In that way, the Council acknowledged for the first time that accountability for the most serious crimes under international law is an integral part of the maintenance of international peace and security.”
2013-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6977 (2013) · source
“The initiative to request today's debate originated with the Accountability, Coherence, Transparency Group (ACT), which is dedicated to enhancing the Security Council's working methods. While we appreciate this opportunity to speak, we find it unfortunate that Council was not able to accede to the request of 17 States to hold this important discussion in the context of an open debate, especially given the twentieth anniversary, in late May, of the establishment of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). This is a good opportunity to reflect on the work and impact of the ICTY, on the Council's future work on accountability and on the lessons that the experience with the ad hoc Tribunals has taught us.”
2013-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6977 (2013) · source
“Quite to the contrary, extending the mandate would help ensure that listings under other sanctions regimes are in full conformity with the respective criteria established by the Council itself, while addressing due-process concerns that may hamper implementation by States Members of the United Nations. The group of like-minded States would be glad to provide any assistance necessary to consider such steps, in the interest of strengthening fair and clear procedures, and in the interest of effective sanctions implementation. We look forward to a constructive engagement with the Security Council in that regard.”
2013-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6964 (2013) · source
“The renewals of the Somalia and Eritrea sanctions regime in August 2013 and of the Liberia sanctions regime in December 2013 could provide useful opportunities to make such progress. We therefore respectfully call on Council members to consider that step. In making that request, we would like to emphasize that the Ombudsperson process is ultimately a mechanism to ensure the proper implementation of Security Council decisions. Extending the mandate would not allow the Ombudsperson to question the way in which the Council designs sanctions regimes, nor to overturn the criteria for listing established by the Council.”
2013-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6964 (2013) · source
“More important, the underlying principles should apply across the board: every individual or entity put on a Security Council sanctions list should have the right to be informed of the reasons for listing, the right to be heard and the right to an effective remedy. Security Council sanctions regimes that grant fair and clear review procedures will benefit from improved credibility and effectiveness. The good news is that we do not need to re-invent the wheel. We believe that the Ombudsperson process should, on a case-by-case basis, be gradually extended to other appropriate sanctions regimes, in particular those with broad criteria for listing. We are of course fully aware that each sanctions regime and its underlying political situation is unique, and that some sanctions regimes are more suitable for such an extension than others.”
2013-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6964 (2013) · source
“How can we explain a situation where a person delisted from the Al-Qaida list appears on another list, is subject to the sanctions of that other regime, yet deprived of any meaningful recourse to verify the rightful inclusion on that particular list? We believe that the time has come for the Security Council to consider these questions and to improve the remedies available to individuals and entities targeted by other sanctions regimes, addressing them on a case-by- case basis. The urgent attention given to the Al-Qaida sanctions regime was justified in the light of the nature and size of its list, and in the light of numerous judicial challenges. But such challenges are also under way with respect to other sanctions regimes.”
2013-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6964 (2013) · source
“In his opinion on the Kadi II case, he recently considered that "the listing and delisting procedures within the [Al-Qaida] Sanctions Committee provide sufficient guarantees to presume that the decisions taken by that body are justified". We look forward to the European Court of Justice's final ruling in that case. The Ombudsperson process is a success story. Within a few years, it has gone from being a necessary initiative to a well-established safeguard for due process. But there is an inevitable next question: what about other sanctions regimes? How can we explain that fair and clear procedures are available to persons who have been found to be associated with the terrorist group Al-Qaida, but not to other individuals and entities who may find themselves, rightly or wrongly, on other sanctions lists?”
2013-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6964 (2013) · source
“Kimberly Prost. She continues to fulfil her mandate with remarkable integrity and commitment and has made a substantial contribution to the fairness and effectiveness of the Al-Qaida sanctions regime. The fact that the Sanctions Committee has so far resolved 27 cases on the basis of her recommendations, and that 16 new cases are pending, speaks volumes about the quality of her work. The Ombudsperson process and the improved listing and de-listing procedures have significantly contributed to the accuracy and fairness of the Al-Qaida sanctions list. That has already been noted by relevant actors, such as the Advocate-General of the Court of Justice of the European Union.”
2013-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6964 (2013) · source
“Let me thank you, Mr. President, for giving me the floor in order to speak on behalf of the group of like-minded States on targeted sanctions, namely, Austria, Belgium, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. As is well known, our group aims to support efforts by the Security Council to enhance the fairness and transparency of its various sanctions regimes, thereby contributing to their credibility and effectiveness. We commend the concrete actions taken by the Security Council so far to address serious due-process concerns regarding the Al-Qaida sanctions regime. In particular, the Council has done the right thing by establishing and subsequently strengthening the Ombudsperson process. We would like to reiterate our full support for the work of the Ombudsperson, Ms.”
2013-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6964 (2013) · source
“To minimize civilian harm, parties to a conflict and States supplying arms should track weapons and stockpiles and secure them after conflicts have ended in order to limit their transfer to other conflicts. We call on the international community to assist States in post-conflict situations, such as Libya, to effectively secure stockpiles, clear ordnance, institute risk education and establish victims' assistance programmes.”
2013-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6917Resumption1 (2013) · source
“Keeping track of all civilian harm in a centralized database and analysing it to improve tactical directives, the establishment of rules of engagement and the training of troops can help to minimize civilian harm and ensure compliance with international law. We welcome the establishment of a tracking system initiated by the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, which, when combined with tactical directives focused on civilian protection, has reduced Civilian casualty rates. Using such data, warring parties can acknowledge civilian harm and offer amends to those who have suffered losses in the appropriate form. The use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the existence of remnants of explosive ordnance pose a deadly threat to civilians.”
2013-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6917Resumption1 (2013) · source
“In addition, we believe that it is crucial to discuss accountability issues with the Syrian national coalition, primarily in order to demand that those who have taken up arms to fight the current regime fully respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, but also to encourage any future Government to submit the situation in Syria to the jurisdiction of the ICC, in accordance with article 12, paragraph 3, of the Rome Statute. That would demonstrate the opposition's commitment to accountability and to the protection of civilians and, over time, would end impunity for those crimes in Syria. In any armed conflict, the warring parties must assess the impact of their combat operations on the civilian population.”
2013-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6917Resumption1 (2013) · source
“Serious violations of human rights, amounting to crimes against humanity and large-scale war crimes, continue to be committed, as documented by the independent international commission of inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic. Liechtenstein has therefore joined 57 other States of all regions to call on the Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court. We repeat that call today, which was supported earlier by both the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights.”
2013-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6917Resumption1 (2013) · source
“While accountability at the domestic level must be the goal, international components can play a key role, and there is much room for new ideas, including mixed and hybrid models that give assistance to States. The International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala is an example of that. It illustrates that the Council, while certainly a crucial actor in that respect, is not the only one. We support an ongoing dialogue to further develop the relationship between the Council and the ICC and hope that the Council will soon be able to accept the invitation from the Dutch Government to visit the legal institutions in The Hague. The situation in Syria poses a very serious challenge to the protection of civilians agenda and the credibility of the Security Council.”
2013-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6917Resumption1 (2013) · source
“As illustrated in the Secretary-General's report (S/2012/376), however, the Council's role in promoting accountability and eliminating impunity for the most serious crimes under international law goes far beyond ICC referrals, which will always remain the exception. Promoting accountability implies in particular that the Council must neither mandate nor endorse amnesties or one-sided exemptions from criminal jurisdiction, which may seem expeditious in the short term but are ultimately often detrimental to both peace and justice, as the developments in Yemen have shown. The Council should also put greater emphasis on accountability at the national level, including through capacity-building, in accordance with the principle of primary domestic competence in that respect.”
2013-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6917Resumption1 (2013) · source
“We commend your delegation, Mr. President, for convening this open debate and for placing the issue of accountability at the core of your concept paper (S/2013/75, annex). Indeed, the Council is increasingly called to task in that area. Much emphasis in this discussion has been placed on the Council's competence to refer situations to the International Criminal Court (ICC). We appreciate the recent discussions about how to improve the Council's referral practice, including in the area of financing and exemption clauses. The Council is taking an important step in the right direction today by committing to follow-up action in the case of referrals.”
2013-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6917Resumption1 (2013) · source
“Finally, I would be remiss ifI failed to mention the need to conclude the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism as part of our comprehensive approach. In implementing the Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy, the various intergovernmental organs, Secretariat offices and expert groups dealing with counter-terrorism efforts have been successful, mainly because they have placed results and pragmatism above ideology. Who is to say that we will not one day be able to do the same in the negotiations on that overarching legal instrument? After more than a decade of negotiations, it is time to make a last push for a pragmatic solution - or otherwise to abandon the effort.”
2013-01-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6900 (2013) · source
“Governments must also consider the extent to which extreme countermeasures may plant the seed of further terrorist violence or otherwise undermine the principles of rule of law and good governance. In that regard, we wish to commend the Security Council for its continued effort to strengthen fair and clear procedures for sanctions listings regarding the individuals and entities associated with Al-Qaida. The Council has come a long way in improving legal remedies for those who - rightly or wrongly - are affected by sanctions, in particular through the extensive mandate of the Ombudsperson, Ms. Kimberly Prost. Now is the time for the Council to apply the lessons of that process to other sanctions regimes, and thereby underline its commitment to the rule of law.”
2013-01-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6900 (2013) · source
“It can be difficult to determine exactly what that entails in a particular situation, especially as some applicable rules of international law are rather general in nature and require a Government's actions to be proportional to its goals and to balance competing rights and interests. However, some practices that are currently applied systematically are clearly ruled out by international law. The United Nations should do more to highlight such violations and share best practices in that regard. Nevertheless, the main responsibility rests with individual Governments. They must ensure that the rule of law is not an afterthought to its counter-terrorism efforts, but rather its guiding light.”
2013-01-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6900 (2013) · source
“Furthermore, the Liechtenstein unit continues to assist other countries in establishing and training their financial intelligence units, recognizing that capacity- building is key to our global effort to curb the financing of terrorism. Despite the comprehensive nature of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, police and military action is frequently at the forefront of the response to terrorism. Such action is often undertaken in extreme circumstances and on the basis of sweeping anti-terrorism legislation. Indeed, it is the duty of every State to protect its residents from indiscriminate violent attacks. At the same time, every effort must be made to ensure that a Government response to terrorism remains within the confines of applicable human rights law, as well as applicable rules of international humanitarian law.”
2013-01-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6900 (2013) · source
“Effective action to counter the financing ofterrorism is a key tool for weakening the operational capabilities of terrorists. It is a top priority of Liechtenstein's overall commitment to ensuring that its financial centre is not abused for any type of criminal activity. The key to success in that area is strong domestic legislation requiring all financial intermediaries to exercise due diligence, backed up by Government institutions - such as financial intelligence units -with the necessary resources and capabilities to follow up reported suspicious transactions. In its 12 years of existence, the Liechtenstein financial intelligence unit has been the backbone of our domestic effort in that regard, in cooperation with its international partners.”
2013-01-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6900 (2013) · source
“Liechtenstein strongly condemns all forms of terrorism and reaffirms its commitment to contributing to the fullest extent to the international fight against terrorism in all its aspects, including through cooperation with the relevant United Nations bodies. We welcome initiatives to make the United Nations counter-terrorism work more effective, and share the view that a comprehensive and holistic approach is the only way to tackle terrorism in a sustainable manner. Indeed, the 2006 United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy is based on that notion, and we agree that there is a need to implement all of its four pillars evenly. In the interest of time, I will address only a few subtopics of the Strategy in my statement today.”
2013-01-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6900 (2013) · source
“We believe that a code of conduct regarding the use of the veto would be useful, with a clear emphasis on its use in situations involving genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. We encourage the Council, in particular its permanent members, to commence this discussion.”
2012-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6870 (2012) · source
“To this end, my delegation, together with the delegations of Costa Rica and Jordan, has submitted a letter (S/2012/860) to you, Sir, asking that the Council take such a step as a concrete follow-up to the open debate held in October. The use of the veto is a central aspect of the way in which the Council carries out its work or, more frequently, fails to do so. The past year has given ample evidence to this effect. The veto as such is part and parcel of the Charter of the United Nations, which we all have ratified. But it is essential that it not be used contrary to the very purposes and principles of the Organization and that a minimum of accountability be provided in this respect.”
2012-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6870 (2012) · source
“We organized a workshop with the International Peace Institute on the same topic earlier this month, and hope that other States, members of the Council or otherwise, will show an active interest in this important subject. A substantial part ofthis discussion, while by far not all of it, will naturally revolve around the International Criminal Court, given the competencies assigned to the Council under the Rome Statute. As a first small step in this direction, we believe that a subsidiary body - preferably an existing one - should be designated as the place where relevant topics, including notifications from the Court on non-cooperation, can be discussed.”
2012-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6870 (2012) · source
“Two decades after the establishment ofthe first ad hoc tribunal, it often seems that the Council finds itself in uncharted territory in this respect. At the same time, the accountability needs and the relevant pressure on the Council are increasing, as is illustrated in connection with the widespread and systematic crimes committed against the civilian population in Syria. There is a clear need for the Council to engage with the rest of the membership in an in-depth and comprehensive discussion of the role that it can play in this respect. The open debate that Guatemala organized on this topic in October (S/PV.6849) was a significant step, while just a first one.”
2012-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6870 (2012) · source
“While this is certainly not the place to discuss the reasons, we would like to recall the annex to the draft resolution, which should serve as a yardstick in our discussions on the Council's working methods. It continues to reflect the agenda that the Security Council should deal with, according to the membership that it represents. This is true even for most of those who were not willing to support the draft resolution, as they advanced reasons of procedure rather than substance to explain their reluctance. If the Security Council is serious in its resolve to advance its working methods, it has now been given a detailed menu for doing so. Of particular relevance in the work of the Council is the area of accountability.”
2012-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6870 (2012) · source