At the outset, we would like to associate ourselves with our colleagues in expressing our condemnation of the bombing that took place in Grozny. We express our condolences to the families of those who lost who lives and our sympathies to those who were wounded.
Thank you, Mr. President, for conveni…
After the events of 11 September 2001, it is not possible to realistically discuss the threat of the proliferation of weapons of
mass destruction (WMD) without reference to terrorism. The global threat of WMD proliferation and the nexus between WMD proliferation and terrorism are of real and grave …
At the outset, Mr. President, I hope you will permit me to make a small procedural suggestion. In the past, during significant debates, the Council would, from time to time, allow non-Council members to speak first. I hope that that practice will be considered in due course when we have significant …
In the interests of saving time, I will not read out the full text of my explanation of position, as I believe the text will be circulated shortly.
At the outset, I would like to express my appreciation to you, Mr. President, for putting forward this important draft resolution, entitled “Follow-up …
Let me begin by offering you my congratulations on organizing this joint debate. It is clear from the speeches we have heard so far that there is new energy regarding this issue and I think you, Sir, have done more than anyone else to revive a subject that has been drifting around the United Nations…
The hour is late. I will not read out the text of my remarks, but I hope that members of the Council will refer to the text when they reflect on the situation in Timor-Leste. What I propose to do instead is to summarize my remarks in four points.
The first point that I would like to make is to, of …
Mr. President, I apologize to you for speaking at great length, yesterday, on the report of the Security Council. I will try to be briefer today, as I speak about the question before us.
There are two reasons why we can be briefer today. One is, of course, that we have spoken on this subject for al…
I begin by thanking and congratulating the President of the Security Council, Ambassador John Negroponte, for presenting the report of the Security Council this morning. In his typical style, it was short, succinct and focused. We were also very pleased to hear from him that the Council has continue…
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Asian Group. We warmly congratulate The Honourable Julian Hunte, Minister of External Affairs, International Trade and Civil Aviation of Saint Lucia, on his election as President of the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, and we assure him of our…
The first Security Council resolution calling for the disarmament of Iraq, resolution 687 (1991), was passed on 3 April 1991. The most recent Council resolution on Iraqi disarmament, resolution 1441 (2002), was adopted unanimously on 8 November 2002. Throughout this 12-year period, we hoped that Ira…
This is the first time that I have addressed the Council since our term ended. It gives me great personal pleasure to congratulate an old friend and colleague on the assumption of the presidency. As you know, Sir, you are presiding at a crucial moment in the Council’s history; we have full confidenc…
Ten minutes to summarize two years: that is quite a challenge. I may have to piggyback to save time and say that I completely endorse what Ambassador Koonjul and Ambassador Corr have said about the wonderful work done by the Colombian presidency — by you and your team, Sir. I also endorse what they …
At the outset, let me state that Singapore fully supports cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations; certainly, we support cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe. Hence, we deeply regret the fact we have had to call for a vote on the draft …
It is depressing once again to be standing here addressing an empty Hall. In the General Assembly, that seems to be the norm nowadays. But I am consoled by the thought that, at yesterday’s commemorative ceremony, we had a full house and full support. In that regard, I want to thank Ambassador Don Ma…
I, too, would like to join our colleagues in welcoming an old friend, Ambassador Kamalesh Sharma, back here. One of his great assets is that he enjoys great confidence in the United Nations community here. I am sure that this confidence will prove to be an asset to him in the field. I also have one …
Today’s event reminds me of a similar one in January 2001, when we saw the departure of another Security Council superstar, named Richard Holbrooke. I remember that at that meeting it was, I think, Ambassador Levitte who tabled a resolution calling on the Security Council to persuade the United Stat…
To avoid any misunderstanding at any point in time about my
remarks, let me stress at the outset that we fully support the Secretary-General’s report entitled “Strengthening of the United Nations: an agenda for further change” (A/57/387). We also support his call for a strategic decision on this ma…
As I look around the Hall, I must confess that I regret the poor turnout we have this morning. When we walk in the corridors, the most frequent complaint we hear is that the Security Council is not open and transparent. Here, at a time when we have an opportunity to discuss the Security Council, the…
First of all, I would like to thank Mr. Kalomoh for introducing the report. I also want to begin by saying that today’s meeting is, in some ways, a historic one. This, we believe, is the first time that Council members will be discussing openly the annual report before submitting it to the General A…
When the Secretary-General spoke to us earlier this morning, he ended with this sentence: “Let us rebuild a centre that can hold” (supra). I think he was referring to the rebuilding of a centre in the Middle East, but his remarks might apply to the Security Council as well, which, as we know, has no…
