We wish to pay special tribute to all the international personnel on the ground in Bosnia, and in particular to the High Representative, Mr. Carl Bildt, who, along with others, has helped to ensure the substantive progress towards peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina that we celebrate today…
Botswana is delighted that the Security Council has reached consensus on the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Haiti (UNSMIH) until 31 May 1997. The contribution that UNSMIH is making to the betterment of the lives of the ordinary people of Haiti is beyond doubt: viol…
I am pleased to address the General Assembly on the subject of cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity (OAU). This question was first considered by the General Assembly as far back as 1965 and has, in the course of time, assumed more importance. Despite all the g…
My delegation welcomes the annual report of the Security Council to the General Assembly (A/51/2), which is being submitted pursuant to Article 24, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations. We wish to express our gratitude to the President of the Security Council for his introductory remark…
The subject under discussion is of great interest to my delegation. Botswana has been a practising democracy in a subregion that has hitherto been characterized by political repression and racial bigotry. For much of the past, our democracy was threatened by the existence of oppressive regimes aroun…
The authorization of the deployment of a multinational force for the Great Lakes region is probably the most important decision to be taken by the Security Council on the situation in that area. The draft resolution the Council is about to adopt strikes a delicate balance between what is desirable a…
As I am taking the floor for the first time, allow me to congratulate the President on his assumption of the presidency of the fifty-first session of the General Assembly.
I would also like to congratulate Ambassador Hisashi Owada of Japan, Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee of the General Assembly f…
The human tragedy which befell the people of Afghanistan in the late 1970s continues unabated to this day. The conflict in that war-ravaged country is no closer to resolution today than it was 17 years ago. Yes, the nature of the war has changed over the years, but the killings, the untold suffering…
My delegation associates itself with the statement made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Zimbabwe, Mr. Mudenge, Chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) ministerial delegation to the Security Council, as well as those of my colleagues from southern Africa who have spoken b…
I am delighted to extend to the President and his country, Malaysia, the sincere congratulations of the Government and the people of Botswana on his assumption of the presidency of the General Assembly at its fifty-first session. His record as an accomplished diplomat has the admiration of my delega…
The recent Summit meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was an important milestone in the search for peace in Liberia. The outcome of the meeting reflects the unity of purpose of the States of the subregion and their resolve to help Liberians find a permanent political so…
The recent military usurpation of power from the democratically elected Government in Burundi completed what the Burundi Army had intended to do as far back as 1993. Several reasons, some contradictory, others self-serving, have been advanced to justify this coup. I believe that it is not difficult …
During the meeting at which resolution 1054 (1996) was adopted, on 26 April 1996, my delegation expressed the hope and the belief that the Government of the Sudan would comply fully with the demands of resolution 1044 (1996). We expressed confidence in the ability of the Sudan to avoid an escalation…
My delegation is grateful to you, Mr. President, for the timely initiative you have taken in choosing this very important subject for our orientation debate today. Anti-personnel mines are the scourge of human society in most, if not all, conflict situations. They are a cowardly and indiscriminate i…
Let me begin by extending to our colleagues in the delegation of the United States our condolences with regard to the pilots who lost their lives in February.
We are today addressing a very sensitive and delicate technical subject. We have had to decode and digest information from charts and graphs…
My delegation is deeply disturbed by the stalemate in the peace process in Abkhazia, Georgia, which is due primarily to the unwillingness of the Abkhaz side to make concessions on the future status of Abkhazia within the Republic of Georgia. The United Nations and the Russian Federation, as facilita…
Mr. President, your great country, France, is well known for its contribution to refining the art of diplomacy. You therefore have the full confidence and support of my delegation as you discharge
Every single day that goes by matters a great deal to the people of Angola, and for the prospects for …
In this twilight of your presidency, Sir, I welcome the opportunity this meeting offers me to congratulate you, as this is the first time that I have spoken in an open meeting of the Security Council since you became its President. I therefore speak to celebrate your presidency and the manner in whi…
The delegation of Botswana is deeply troubled by the large-scale fighting in Tajikistan. The parties are clearly unwilling to meet the conditions set out in the resolutions of the Security
My delegation will vote in favour of the draft resolution before us. UNMOT is doing a good job under very tryi…
Let me first of all convey to you, Sir, the congratulations of my delegation on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council this month. I wish you every success in your work. I also wish to thank Ambassador Qin Huasun of China for the excellent manner in which he guided the work of the…
