The United States is deeply concerned by the situation in the Middle East. We approach the tenth anniversary of the Madrid Conference in October against the backdrop of the most serious confrontation between Israelis and Palestinians in a decade. Palestinians and Israelis have been traumatized by al…
I thank the Foreign Minister of Colombia for coming to New York to join us today and to preside over this open meeting of the Security Council. I congratulate him and his colleagues on Colombia’s assumption of the presidency of the Council. I want also to acknowledge the presence of the Secretary-Ge…
I would like to thank Mr. Vieira de Mello for his briefing of the Council and in particular for the professionalism, dedication and simply good service of him and his colleagues in East Timor. I would also like to thank Mr. Ramos-Horta for his comments this morning, including the affirmations he has…
I want to thank the Under-Secretary-General for the briefing. It is good to have an update and to check on the progress being made since our trip to Kosovo last month. Indeed, it is clear that while there is still much work to be done, there is progress being made, and we are gratified to hear that.…
I, too, wish to second the warm comments made by my colleagues around the table about Ambassador Morjane. I will not repeat them, but I do want to pay tribute to the outstanding work of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) under his leadership, whic…
I would like to thank the Deputy Secretary-General for her introduction of this important report. On the sixth anniversary of Srebrenica, it is right that we pause for a moment to reflect on the important mission of the United Nations and the need for continued and improved efforts to preserve peace…
On behalf of the United States delegation, as host country, I would like to extend my condolences to the Government, the delegation and the people of Bangladesh on the passing of Mr. Humayun Rasheed Choudhury. Mr. Choudhury was widely known as a consummate diplomat and public servant. He served with…
The United States worked hard to adopt a different sort of draft resolution today, one that would have benefited the Iraqi people and the Gulf region. We could have, and the Council should have, done better, and we all know why that was not possible. Our proposal is simple: lift the controls on pure…
On behalf of the United States of America, in its role as host country to the United Nations, I warmly welcome the reappointment of Mr. Kofi Annan as Secretary- General of the United Nations. As members may recall, President Bush heartily endorsed Mr. Annan’s second term as Secretary-General on the …
Ten years after the Iraqi regime invaded, occupied and brutalized Kuwait, it is useful for the Council to remind itself of how we got to where we are now and of what we can do together to change an unsatisfactory situation. On 2 August 1990 and for the six months it took for the United Nations to re…
I will keep my remarks very brief, because I think the report of the Council mission basically says it all. As Under-Secretary-General Guéhenno noted in his comments, the mission sent clear messages to its interlocutors. In my view, and in the view of my authorities, it was very useful. I want to co…
I too want to join in welcoming you, Mr. President, to the Security Council today and for making yourself available for this important meeting. This is a topic of great importance to all members of the United Nations community. I want particularly to thank the Secretary- General and the Deputy Secre…
I want to thank the Special Representative for that exceptionally thoughtful and thought-provoking briefing, which I think sets out a very interesting context in which to look at the future of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) and of Bosnia and Herzegovina, quite apart fr…
The ongoing reform of United Nations human resources management is robust with today’s milestone consensus. It enables the Secretary-General to implement the results-based management programme under way for a more effective, efficient and accountable Organization.
The most valuable asset for any or…
First, I would like to join colleagues in welcoming the Foreign Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mr. Okidundu, to this meeting of the Council. We would like to thank the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Affairs, Mr. Guéhenno, for his report to the Council.
We are also pleas…
I would like to take this opportunity first of all to commend Ambassador Valdivieso for the critical leadership he has provided to the Council’s sanctions Committee. We rely on him for his leadership and expertise. I would also like to thank Ambassador Menkerios and congratulate him and his Committe…
The United States is pleased to join the consensus today in the adoption of the Firearms Protocol. We offer our sincere appreciation to Ad Hoc Committee Chairman Lauriola, Ambassador Abe of Japan and the Secretariat for their dedication and perseverance in getting this Protocol completed.
The Unite…
I wish to thank you, Mr. President, Deputy Secretary- General Fréchette and High Commissioner Robinson for their statements.
My Government has long believed that the safeguarding of civilians from the devastating effects of armed conflict is at the very heart of the United Nations Charter. In exami…
We are very grateful for the briefing just provided by Under- Secretary-General Guéhenno. We would like to congratulate the Secretariat on the progress achieved in establishing the Temporary Security Zone and, in particular, on the work done by Special Representative Legwaila in dealing with the two…
I think the Under-Secretary-General’s briefing and the discussion are interesting because they show that, while there are some differences and some new nuances in approach, the fundamental question that is still before us is whether unresolved issues in Kosovo and in the region will be solved or att…
