I should like at the outset to welcome the presence of the Secretary-General. That presence illustrates the gravity of the situation that we are discussing today and of which the Security Council is quite rightly seized. I should also like to thank Professor Gambari for his briefing on his mission t…
We live in an increasingly complex world of ever more diverse challenges. Actions taken in isolation are no longer enough. Given such complexity, the United
Nations should not only be a bulwark against arbitrary actions in international relations but also, above all, the vehicle for effective respo…
First of all, Mr. President, I would like to thank you very much for convening this briefing. I would like also to thank our colleague Miguel Ángel Moratinos Cuyaubé, in his capacity as Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), for his briefing on the acti…
At the outset, I should like to say that I am very happy that we adopted resolution 1778 (2007) this morning. I can also announce that Belgium will participate in the joint peacemaking mission in Chad and the Central African Republic. Why? Because I believe that Africa, more than any other continent…
Like my other European colleagues, in my following comments, I align myself with the statement to be made by Portugal on behalf of the European Union later today.
Belgium welcomes the direct contacts particularly in Jericho between the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Olmert, and the Palestinian Preside…
First of all, I would like to thank you, Sir, in your role as President of this Council, for taking the initiative to organize this open debate on the issue of conflict prevention and resolution, in particular in Africa — a region that, as you know, is particularly close to our hearts. We welcomed t…
Belgium welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 1773 (2007). As a troop contributor, Belgium obviously fully supports the resolution, which extends the current mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for a 12-month period, until 31 August 2008. In our view, it is unden…
Belgium voted in favour of this resolution. We welcome the adoption today of resolution 1769 (2007) on the situation in Darfur. We are convinced that it marks a decisive moment in the activities of our Council in response to the crisis which has struck Darfur. By mandating the first hybrid peacekeep…
First of all, I would like to thank our colleagues from the United Kingdom, South Africa, Peru and France for their briefings, and to congratulate them on the great
expertise that they demonstrated in leading this important visit by the Council to Africa.
My country, which, as the Council knows, a…
Belgium voted for the resolution under consideration. Through this resolution, the Security Council confirms the consistent stance that has governed its continuous commitment to stability and peace in a sovereign and independent Lebanon. The duty of justice and the fight against impunity are essenti…
For the sake of brevity, I would like only to highlight the main elements contained in the comprehensive briefing that the
Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999) has prepared for the Council, which is annexed to my statement and will be posted on the Committee’s website.
At the o…
At the outset, I wish to thank the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. John Holmes, for the realistic and detailed report on his mission to the two countries being considered.
First, I wish to make some comments on the situation in Somalia. Belgium is still very concerned about th…
May I begin by thanking Mr. Schwarz-Schilling, the High Representative, for his statement and report. I also wish to thank Mr. Nikola Špirić, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, for his statement.
Belgium aligns itself with the statement to be made by our German colleagu…
On 2 May, I had the opportunity to brief the Council on the Security Council mission on the Kosovo issue, in my capacity as Head of the Mission. At that time, I recalled the nature and the objectives of the mission. I also briefly commented on some of the highlights of its programme.
After last wee…
It is the usual practice that, shortly after a Security Council mission returns to New York, the head of the mission briefs the Council. I will keep this briefing short. I will not give a comprehensive overview of all the meetings and field trips, but I will focus on some highlights of the mission’s…
I thank Mr. Pascoe for his briefing.
Let me begin with a few comments on the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. We are now in an interim phase. The year 2006 saw the situation deteriorate, while 2007 has given us reason for hope. Direct dialogue between the parties has resumed with regular summit meeti…
I would like to thank you, Madam President, for having taken the initiative of organizing today in the Security Council a debate on the threats that can be posed by climate change to stability and security. The meeting of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that has just completed its work…
Thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this debate. I also thank the Under-Secretary-General, Mr. Holmes, for his report on his recent mission to Africa.
We would first like to make a few comments on the situation in Darfur. Belgium is extremely concerned by the worsening of violence and tensions…
I first wish to thank you, Madam Minister, for having taken the initiative to organize this public debate on the relationship between the Security Council and regional organizations, particularly, today, with the African Union. I also welcome the presence here with us of the Minister for Foreign Aff…
