I am very pleased that the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, is with us today to present the report of the International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur. I will leave it to her to give a full description of the report’s findings and recommendations. But let me stress that this repor…
Let me thank the General Assembly, and in particular the Group of Asian States, for making this meeting possible. Above all, let me once more offer my condolences to the countries affected by the tsunami disaster, and pay tribute to their people for the courage and solidarity they have displayed ove…
Members of the General Assembly received last week the report of the High- level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, entitled “A more secure world: our shared responsibility”. I think it is an excellent report. It provides a new and comprehensive vision of collective security for the twenty-fir…
Concern for the well- being of families dates back to the earliest days of the United Nations. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims the family to be the “natural and fundamental group unit of society ... entitled to protection by society and the State” (resolution 217 A (III), article…
Allow me to start by thanking the Council’s wise President, Mr. Danforth, for bringing us here to Nairobi. It was his initiative that brought us here.
It is fitting that the Council should have taken the rare and highly symbolic step of meeting here in
Africa. The Council has come to Nairobi prima…
For nearly four decades, Yasser Arafat expressed and symbolized in his person the national aspirations of the Palestinian people. He was one of those few leaders who was instantly recognizable by people in any walk of life all around the world.
President Arafat will always be remembered for having …
Mr. President, let me start by warmly welcoming you to New York and to the Security Council and expressing appreciation for your having convened this open debate. It could not be more timely.
A few weeks ago, in the General Assembly, I said that reintroducing the rule of law, and ensuring confidenc…
By the adoption of this resolution, the Security Council has taken an important step and has demonstrated its continued support for the transitional process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Council’s decision to expand the strength of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democr…
The tragedy in Darfur is one of the greatest challenges the international community faces today. The whole world is watching this tragedy unfold, and it is watching us. No one can be allowed to sidestep or ignore their responsibility to protect the innocent civilians. Our urgent task is to do everyt…
Let me start by commending you, Sir, for taking the initiative to hold this open debate on civilian aspects of crisis management. This debate is extremely timely and the presence of so many foreign ministers is very welcome.
Yesterday, in the General Assembly, I stressed the importance of the rule …
It is good to see so many countries represented here at such a high level. I know this reflects your understanding that, in these difficult times, the United Nations is — as was stated four years ago in the Millennium Declaration — “the indispensable common house of the entire human family”.
Indeed…
I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for having organized this important debate in the Security Council. It is also good to welcome you to New York. It is not every day that we have a Prime Minister presiding over a Security Council meeting.
In April 2003, when the Council last met to discuss …
Madam Minister and President, let me start by saying how pleased we are to see you in our midst today and to congratulate you and your delegation on organizing this timely debate. Given its subject, I am very glad that civil society representatives will participate in it.
The partnership between th…
The Council is meeting today to hear a formal briefing from my Special
Adviser, Lakhdar Brahimi, on the process leading to the announcement of the Iraqi interim Government on 1 June 2004. I know that his assessment carries great weight with all Security Council members. But before he addresses the …
I would like to thank the German Government for taking the initiative on this very important issue. The economic dimensions of armed conflict are often overlooked, but they should never be underestimated. The role of business, in particular, can be crucial, for good and for ill.
Private companies o…
I would like to welcome the Ministers who are present, including the French Minister Delegate for Cooperation and Francophonie, who is in the Chair, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ghana. I also welcome Mr. Chambas, the Executive Secretary of the Economic Community of West African States (EC…
The Secretariat briefed the Council this morning on the deplorable events of the past two days in Kosovo. The overall security situation throughout Kosovo is still highly unstable. The number of fatal casualties now stands at 31. I cannot emphasize strongly enough my deep disappointment and sadness …
I would like to commend members of the Security Council for adopting this resolution in support of the peace process in Côte d’Ivoire.
Côte d’Ivoire has come a long way from the crisis that erupted in September 2002. The conclusion of the Linas-Marcoussis peace Agreement in January 2003 was an impo…
The Council has before it my latest report on the situation in Afghanistan. Since its release, an important and very encouraging
development in the implementation of the Bonn peace process has occurred: the adoption on 5 January by the Constitutional Loya Jirga of Afghanistan’s new Constitution.
T…
We meet three days after the capture by Coalition forces of Saddam Hussein. His capture is not just a symbol of the downfall of the former regime in Iraq. It is also an opportunity for a new beginning in the vital task of helping Iraqis to take control of their destiny — of helping them to create a …
