Fwd: [hr-wsis] Mello

[Meryem Marzouki <marzouki@ras.eu.org>]

Hi Rik,

I'm forwarding to you a proposal from Diana Bronson, representative of 
the International Centre on Human Rights and Democratic Development, a 
HR caucus member.
Do you agree with this alternative proposal, which sounds very relevant 
to me ?
Best regards,
Meryem

Début du message réexpédié :

> Resent-From: hr-wsis@iris.sgdg.org
> De: dbronson@ichrdd.ca
> Date: Ven 30 mai 2003  21:10:12 Europe/Paris
> À: hr-wsis@iris.sgdg.org
> Objet: [hr-wsis] Mello
> Répondre à: hr-wsis@iris.sgdg.org
>
>
>
>
>
> Friends
>
> I have attached the  transcript for the press conference where Sergio 
> De
> Mello was named to run to run the UN's operations in Iraq and it is 
> clearly
> stated that Bertie Ramcharan will be acting High Commissioner during 
> his
> four-month absence.    I suggest we aim in the letter for the 
> involvement
> of the OHCHR, ask for Ramcharan's attendance at prep com 3 and De 
> Mello's
> personal involvement at the Summit in December.   It strikes me that it
> would be odd for human rights organizations to request he leave the
> desperate situation in Iraq -- where phone lines are not even working 
> --
> to attend a prep com on information technology.   We are interested 
> not in
> his personal involvement, but it the involvement and centrality of the 
> UN
> human rights system:  the Commission, the treaty bodies, the special
> rapportuers etc.
>
> The relevant quote from Kofi Annan is this
>
>
> No one has more experience in this area than Sergio Vieira de Mello, 
> and I
> think for us to really get organized and become operational and 
> effective
> immediately I needed someone who can hit the ground running and help 
> us set
> up the operation at its early stages, so Sergio will be there for four
> months and will then return to his assignment in Geneva. In the 
> meantime,
> Bertie Ramcharan will serve as Acting High Commissioner. I hope Sergio 
> will
> have the support of all the Member States, and I am confident he will 
> work
> well with the coalition Authority in Baghdad and with all the other 
> groups
> in Iraq.
>
>
> Along with others, we have decided not to submit to meet the 31 may
> deadline but rather  will try and get something better in the coming 
> weeks.
> As many of you know, we have a draft essay on human rights and 
> information
> technology under production.
>
> Best regards to everyone.  It is great to see some energy in this 
> caucus.
>
> Diana
>
>    (Embedded      (Embedded image moved to file: pic26500.gif)      
> (Embedded
>   image moved                                                      
> image moved
>    to file:                                                         to 
> file:
>  pic06334.gif)                                                    
> pic19169.gif)
>
>
>
>
> (Embedded image moved to file: pic15724.gif)
>
>  xxxxxxxxxx  TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI  
>  xxxxxxxxxx
>                                      ANNAN AND
>                          SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR IRAQ,
>                           SERGIO VIEIRA DE MELLO, 27 MAY
>
>
>
>
>
>
>                                                           27 May 2003
>
>
>
>
>
>  The Secretary-General: Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen.
>
>  Last week the Security Council came together in Resolution 1483 to
>  chart the way forward for post-conflict Iraq. The Council has called
>  on the United Nations to assist the Iraqi people, in coordination
>  with the Authority, in a wide range of areas, including humanitarian
>  relief, reconstruction, infrastructure rehabilitation, legal and
>  judicial reforms, human rights and return of refugees, and also to
>  assist with civilian police. These efforts are going to demand a lot
>  from us and from the international community.
>
>  I have asked Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello to serve as my Special
>  Representative. He will lead the United Nations effort in Iraq for
>  the next four months.
>
>  You saw him at work in Kosovo and in East Timor, running a complex
>  mission there. I don't think he needs an introduction. He has an
>  exceptional and unique experience in running these operations and is
>  also known as a good team builder and a consensus builder. I think
>  he is someone who will hit the ground running.
>
>  Obviously, I have to admit it was a rather difficult decision for me
>  to name a sitting High Commissioner as my Representative in Iraq,
>  even on a temporary basis, particularly as human rights has been on
>  top of my own agenda and it is absolutely important to this
>  organization. It was not an easy decision, but it also reflects the
>  important challenge that we need to take on.
>
>  No one has more experience in this area than Sergio Vieira de Mello,
>  and I think for us to really get organized and become operational
>  and effective immediately I needed someone who can hit the ground
>  running and help us set up the operation at its early stages, so
>  Sergio will be there for four months and will then return to his
>  assignment in Geneva. In the meantime, Bertie Ramcharan will serve
>  as Acting High Commissioner. I hope Sergio will have the support of
>  all the Member States, and I am confident he will work well with the
>  coalition Authority in Baghdad and with all the other groups in
>  Iraq.
>
>  I will now invite Sergio to say a few words.
>
>  Mr. Vieira de Mello: Thank you, Secretary-General, for your kind
>  words and for your renewed confidence in me.
>
>  The people of Iraq, as we know only too well, have suffered and have
>  suffered enough. It is time that we all -? the Iraqis first, the
>  coalition Authority and the United Nations ?- come together to
>  ensure that this suffering comes to an end and that the Iraqi people
>  take their destiny into their own hands, as the Security Council
>  resolution calls for, as quickly as possible. We must not fail.
>
>  It will not come to you as a surprise, as the Secretary-General just
>  indicated, that I consider the development of a culture of human
>  rights in Iraq as fundamental to stability and true peace in that
>  country. You may have read me in recent weeks, writing to that
>  effect in the media. I believe, on the basis of my experience, that
>  respect for human rights is the only solid foundation for durable
>  peace and for development. I shall place particular importance, as
>  agreed with the Secretary-General, on the need to ensure women's
>  rights and their full participation in the consultative processes ?-
>  not least the political one ?- that lie ahead.
>
>  As the Secretary-General said, the decision to appoint me to this
>  relatively short-term assignment was not easy for him and for me,
>  which is why we kept it to a relatively short duration, in order to
>  lay the foundations of the United Nations role in that country. But
>  I will leave behind, as he pointed out, a very strong team in Bertie
>  Ramcharan and the senior management in my Office, and I will remain
>  in very, very close touch with them.
>
>  I think I will stop here, and we will take your questions.
>
>  Question [UNCA President]: Thank you, Secretary-General, for coming
>  here today, and Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello, as well.
>
>  I would like to abuse my role, if I may, Sir, by asking a question
>  about housekeeping before I ask a substantive question about Iraq.
>  The housekeeping question has to do with a briefing that the United
>  Nations Correspondents Association wanted to have on Friday of last
>  week, which we were prevented from having because of pressures by
>  one of the Member States.
>
>  Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stands
>  solidly in defence of the principle of freedom of the press. I was
>  hoping to get an assurance from you, Sir, that in the future you
>  would be able to rely on this Article in defending our right to meet
>  with whoever we choose. If I could get your answer to that, and then
>  I will ask you a question about Iraq.
>
>  The Secretary-General: Let me say that we have always respected that
>  right. And I think you in this room are very much aware of the
>  practice and my own approach towards that issue. While we respect
>  your rights, I think as an Organization we also have certain
>  principles. I think you have to respect those principles just as
>  much as we have to. I think the explanation you got was that the
>  event you planned conflicted with the "one China" policy, that you
>  had an individual who was coming here to discuss with you Taiwan's
>  relationship with the World Health Organization and its efforts to
>  become an observer. That, quite frankly, you will have to admit, was
>  not in line with the United Nations policy. So, this was an
>  exceptional and unique situation. In the past, we have not
>  interfered, and in the future we will not interfere.
>
>  Question: Obviously, this is not the place for a debate on the
>  issue, and we will be taking this up in the future. I thank you for
>  your answer.
>
>  To move on to the issue of Iraq, resolution 1483 (2003) is silent on
>  the issue of human rights, silent on the proposals by the occupying
>  powers to establish military courts. I was wondering if you are
>  distressed or upset in any way by that omission.
>
>  More specifically, there have been reports today that the United
>  States is now considering establishing a death row for its camp in
>  Guantanamo, and I am wondering what your reaction to that is.
>
>  The Secretary-General: Let me say that the resolution does talk
>  about promoting human rights, so human rights is covered. But on the
>  legal and judicial issue, I think we are going to have lots of work
>  to do. That is one of the areas that I am sure my Representative
>  will have to tackle with the coalition Authority, and discuss this
>  issue on the ground.
>
>  Concerning the Guantanamo Bay development, I have not seen the
>  details of it, and I would hesitate to comment on it at the moment.
>
>  Question: There are critics in the Middle East who are very strongly
>  criticizing the United Nations, first, for in their eyes
>  legitimizing the results of an illegal war -- which you yourself
>  described as illegal -- in resolution 1483 (2003). Secondly, it has
>  proved once again that the United Nations is unable to stop the
>  unilateral action of a powerful State if it wishes to do so.
>
>  My question concerning the special envoy is, why so short? Why only
>  four months? Why not longer?
>
>  The Secretary-General: On your first question, let me say that this
>  is an issue that the Council debated and considered for a long
>  period. There have been divisions, and we cannot overlook that.
>  Those divisions and issues -- positions of principle that
>  governments and individuals took -- are a matter for the record. I
>  do not think that the resolution that the Council adopted last week
>  is going to change the history of the recent past. However, the
>  Council has given us a solid and a legal basis for our operations in
>  Iraq, and I think at this stage that all the Council members are
>  focused on what they can do to help Iraq and the Iraqi people -- and
>  I think that should be our focus and our emphasis. I think if we
>  pursue our actions on that basis, we will be able to make a
>  difference.
>
>  On the question of the duration of Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello's
>  appointment, obviously, as I said, he has an important assignment in
>  Geneva. Yet he was uniquely qualified for this, and I have asked him
>  to go and help establish the United Nations presence ?- establish a
>  relationship, mount the operation. He will be replaced at the end of
>  the four months. I had to use him in a similar vein in Kosovo, as
>  some of you may remember, and at that time, I limited it to two
>  months. This time it will be four months. Iraq is a much more
>  complex operation.
>
>  Question: I think the forthcoming interim Government is going to be
>  an important one for the Iraqi people. People are wondering how the
>  leader of the interim Government, as well as the cabinet members,
>  will be decided on or selected. I hear that the Special
>  Representative of the Secretary-General is going to assist in
>  establishing the interim Government. Are you going to make
>  suggestions, and the Americans will decide who is going to be the
>  head, and the cabinet members? Would you explain the role of the
>  Special Representative?
>
>  Mr. Vieira de Mello: I think I will be in a better position to
>  answer your question after I have reached Baghdad and had an
>  opportunity to consult, as I said, with a broad spectrum of Iraqi
>  leaders and opinion-makers, as it were. I am not privy to the
>  intentions of the Authority in terms of establishing this Iraqi
>  interim administration ?- transitional administration. I will do my
>  best, however, on behalf of the Secretary-General and the Security
>  Council to make sure that the interests of the Iraqi people come
>  first.
>
>  The Secretary-General: And you should also remember that everyone is
>  agreed ?- and it is in the Council resolution -? that the Iraqis
>  should be responsible for their own political future. They are going
>  to be very much at the centre of this. We will be there to assist
>  and to work with them; we are not going to impose any leaders on
>  them.
>
>  Question: You are apparently reluctant during this process to
>  delineate the role that the United Nations could or should play in
>  Iraq. But after the Security Council has spoken, the United Nations
>  has ended up with quite a broad and long-ranging mandate. How close
>  does the resulting role come to what you think the ideal United
>  Nations role should be? Secondly, since Mr. Vieira de Mello's
>  appointment is only for four months, are you preparing a successor?
>  Who might that be?
>
>  The Secretary-General: Good try. No, let me say that the resolution,
>  indeed, does give us a broad mandate, and each situation is unique.
>  When one refers to an ideal United Nations mandate ?- it is
>  difficult to describe an ideal United Nations mandate. First of all,
>  this is a unique situation. It is the first time we are working on
>  the ground with an occupying Power, side-by-side, trying to help the
>  population in the territory. Therefore, there are certain things
>  that we will have to work out on the ground. We have to define and
>  work out our relationship with the coalition Authority or the
>  occupying Power, and also our relationship with occupied Iraq. As he
>  said, we are going to be in touch -? he will be in touch -? not only
>  with the coalition but with a broad range of authorities. Some of
>  the activities are very clear. The humanitarian mandate is very
>  clear. We have a direct responsibility for it and we are going to
>  carry it out as we are doing.
>
>  In other areas, we have to work in partnership with the coalition
>  and, of course, with Iraqi civil society and leaders. And, of
>  course, these relationships will have to be worked out on the
>  ground; we cannot decide it here before Mr. Vieira de Mello gets in.
>  As he indicated earlier, most of it he will have to work out on the
>  ground. But as far as the resolution is concerned, I think we can
>  work with it. I think it gives us specific areas of responsibility,
>  and we are going to carry on with it.
>
>  Mr. Vieira de Mello will be replaced in four months, and I will
>  announce his successor in due course ?- but not today.
>
>  Question: This might be a little unrelated, but it is in the news.
>  On the Road Map, reportedly one of the 14 conditions or reservations
>  Israel has made is that the only part of the Quartet that will
>  oversee the implementation on the ground will be the United States,
>  and not the other three. Being one of the other three, will you
>  insist that the United Nations will be in it? Also, what do you
>  think of Israel's acceptance of the Road Map?
>
>  The Secretary-General: I think it is a very encouraging development
>  that Israel has accepted the Road Map. The Prime Minister has
>  indicated that he has some questions that he is going to pose later.
>  But the fact that he has accepted it is a positive development. And
>  the Quartet, and the international community, has the basis for
>  moving forward in assisting the two parties to resolve their
>  conflict.
>
>  As to the suggestion that Israel will only accept the United States
>  as a party on the ground ?- I take it to monitor the Road Map ?- it
>  is something that we will tackle as we move forward. But I think
>  that all the partners are concerned to see effective action. We want
>  to see progress; we want to see an end to this painful conflict. And
>  we will, I am sure, accept any arrangement that will help us achieve
>  that objective.
>
>  Question: The sanctions were lifted in the name of the Iraqi people,
>  and now Mr. Vieira de Mello has been appointed in the name of the
>  Iraqi people. Who are these Iraqis? Have they been consulted? And
>  secondly, there are 300 million Arabs and 1 billion Muslims in the
>  world. Why not one of them, with all due respect to Mr. Vieira de
>  Mello?
>
>  The Secretary-General: Let me, first of all, correct you. I did not
>  say that Mr. Vieira de Mello had been named in the name of the Iraqi
>  people. I said that Sergio Vieira de Mello has been named to go and
>  work with the Iraqi people, to assist them, and it is their
>  interests and their concerns that should be forefront in our minds.
>
>  As to your second question, I have a great deal of respect for all
>  religions. It was not a religious factor. I think that, as we move
>  forward and the team is formed, you will see that your question will
>  be answered.
>
>  Question (interpretation from French): How does Mr. Vieira de Mello
>  envisage the work that lies ahead with the coalition? Could he tell
>  us something about this four-month mandate?
>
>  Mr. Vieira de Mello (interpretation from French): On the four-month
>  mandate, I believe the Secretary-General has just responded. I have
>  other full-time functions in Geneva. It was not easy to reach an
>  understanding on the duration of the mission, so it seemed to us
>  that four months was a reasonable duration that would not put my
>  other functions in Geneva at risk. You are well aware of the
>  importance of those functions, although, my mission in Iraq also
>  relates to the protection of human rights, you will agree to that.
>
>  Working with the Authority is part of the rules of the game. They
>  are responsible for the administration of the country until there is
>  a new order. As the Secretary-General has said and as the resolution
>  says, we all hope that that new order will come soon. It is
>  imperative that the Iraqi people take the destiny of their country
>  in their own hands. We will contribute to that, working with the
>  Authority, working with the other components of the international
>  community: the diplomatic community in Baghdad, the neighbouring
>  countries ?- because Iraq cannot be dealt with in isolation from
>  those countries ?- and with all the representatives of civil and
>  political society in Iraq.
>
>  Question: Mr. Secretary-General, you have said that human rights is
>  at the top of your agenda, and you, Mr. Vieira de Mello, have
>  pointed to the importance of promoting women's rights. May I ask you
>  what, specifically, do you think the United Nations can do to
>  further women's rights in Iraq, especially when we hear now about
>  various conservative clerics who want to turn back the clock and
>  limit women's roles?
>
>  Mr. Vieira de Mello: I think experience has shown that an assertive
>  policy in the promotion of the full range of the human rights of
>  women ?- be they civil, political, or economic, social and cultural
>  ?- can only lead to peace, stability, development and tolerance. So,
>  we will do our utmost ?- within, obviously, the limitations of our
>  own mandate ?- to bring that about among the components of Iraqi
>  society and to assist the Authority, which is charged to do the
>  same.
>
>  The Secretary-General: I think your question also implied that you
>  are concerned that Iraqi women, who have had relative freedom, may
>  lose ground and that one should do everything possible to ensure
>  that that does not happen and, if possible, that their interests and
>  rights are protected. We do share that objective and I think that
>  will be one of the efforts Mr. Vieira de Mello will be making with
>  the Iraqi authorities and with others on the ground.
>
>  Question: Mr. Vieira de Mello, when will you actually be hitting the
>  ground running in Baghdad, and with what size of staff? What will be
>  the makeup of that staff? And what is to prevent you hitting the
>  ground running as a lame duck and with people basically saying:
>  "Well, he is only going to be here four months. If we don't like
>  him, we'll just deal with his successor"?
>
>  Mr. Vieira de Mello: First of all, the United Nations is not absent
>  from Iraq. We already have a sizeable presence in that country that
>  is doing a fabulous job in very, very difficult circumstances. I am
>  speaking of the humanitarian community.
>
>  Secondly, I intend to "hit the ground", as you put it, on Monday
>  morning at the latest, with a relatively small team, because the
>  conditions in Baghdad are still not ideal, both in terms of
>  accommodation and office space, not to speak of security. But that
>  will be reinforced in different, successive waves until we reach the
>  ideal size, which I still need to determine, of our mission in
>  Baghdad.
>
>  As far as being a lame duck, I don't think I was a lame duck in
>  Kosovo when I served for two months in the initial phase. We won't
>  have time for that. I am going there with my team to do immediate,
>  important and urgent work and you will see that we won't be lame
>  ducks in any way or fashion.
>
>  Question: Mr. Vieira de Mello, could you tell us what you actually
>  plan to do next Monday, next week, when you get there? Specifically,
>  you must have some ideas of what you would like to do. Also, could
>  you tell us what your ideas are about doing a Bonn-style large
>  political conference so that there would really be a great input
>  from the Iraqi people in trying to decide on their political future?
>
>  Mr. Vieira de Mello: Your second question is difficult and you will
>  easily understand that I cannot answer that now. Let me get there
>  and let us see how we can contribute to that happening.
>
>  Now, as far as I am concerned, as I hit the ground, priority number
>  one will be to establish contacts with the representative Iraqi
>  leaders, representatives of the media, of civil society -? and there
>  are many. Iraqi society is rich and that richness has been
>  suppressed brutally for the last 24 years. But they are there ?-
>  they are there or are returning as we speak ?- and they are my
>  priority. Number two: establish good working relations with the
>  Authority, with the coalition members. Number three: visit all the
>  provinces, because Iraq is not limited to Baghdad and I think it is
>  important that I pay attention to what Iraqis in all the 18
>  provinces actually feel and aspire to in terms of their future.
>
>  Question: Mr. Vieira de Mello, have you in your long travels with
>  the United Nations ever been in Baghdad and can you compare it to
>  your experiences in East Timor, which certainly put you on the map
>  for the United Nations in terms of nation building? The big
>  difference is that you were like the mayor, governor, first de facto
>  president of that island, and now a quite different situation. Can
>  you compare the experiences?
>
>  Mr. Vieira de Mello: I was in Baghdad as a child with my father when
>  he was posted in the region, and I have visited once since, but that
>  was a long time ago.
>
>  Secondly, I find it always dangerous to compare one experience with
>  another. Certainly, East Timor, Kosovo, Cambodia, Afghanistan and
>  Sierra Leone have taught us many lessons which can be applied in the
>  case of Iraq, but the two situations are completely different and
>  I'll have to determine how the lessons I've learned and the
>  Organization has learned could apply to this particular mandate in
>  Iraq.
>
>  Question (interpretation from French): Mr. Vieira de Mello, could
>  you give us your assessment of the present situation, the problems
>  that seem to you to be most urgent, most difficult to manage in the
>  immediate term?
>
>  Mr. Vieira de Mello (interpretation from French): I believe that, in
>  the immediate term, it is obvious that the question of law and order
>  is of priority. Security has not yet been fully restored and it is
>  impossible to deal with the rest and to build what we want to build:
>  democratic institutions, a real culture of human rights and a
>  political process, making it possible for the Iraqis to govern
>  themselves as soon as possible -? it's impossible without security.
>
>  Question: Mr. Secretary-General, a lot has been written about the
>  allegedly diminished role of the United Nations pre- and
>  post-conflict. What is your reaction to these kinds of comment?
>
>  The Secretary-General: I really will have to say that I obviously
>  don't know the basis of the definition that before the conflict the
>  United Nations was not active. I think all of us saw the intensive
>
>  activities in the Council and the debate that led to the divisions
>  we've all talked about -? the debate and the divisions that cut
>  across old, traditional lines. So I think the Council, in a way, and
>  the United Nations did before the war what it was supposed to do.
>  The Council acted the way it should have. The fact that they did not
>  come to a common consensus, and the war took place without the
>  Council's approval, did not mean that the Council did not do its
>  work. The Council did debate; the Council really took the issue
>  very, very seriously. And since the war, the discussions that led to
>  resolution 1483 (2003) were also extremely difficult. But I think
>  that, if I understand you correctly, you are implying -? as others
>  have implied ?- that the United Nations should have been able to
>  stop the war, and it was not in the capacity of the United Nations
>  to do that.
>
>  Question (interpretation from French): Mr. Secretary-General, there
>  has been a great deal of criticism regarding the fact that, despite
>  your very strong attitude towards the war on Iraq, there was not
>  enough strength to stop the war. What can you say in response to
>  this type of criticism?
>
>  The Secretary-General (interpretation from French): Obviously,
>  Security Council members discussed and are still discussing this
>  issue. The Council was fully seized of the matter. The decision was
>  theirs to make, not mine. My position was clear: I would have
>  preferred a peaceful solution. But that was not possible, and I
>  believe everyone knows that. That's why today we have a mandate to
>  help the Iraqi people, and we will do everything possible to help
>  them.
>
>  Spokesman: Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen.
>
>
>
>                                * *** *
>
>
>
>
>
>
> SITE MAP | SEARCH | INDEX | DOCUMENTS | TREATIES | MEETINGS | NEWSROOM 
> |
> DATABASES
>
> Diana Bronson
> Coordinator/Coordonnatrice
> Globalization and Human Rights Programme
> Programme mondialisation et droits humains
> Rights and Democracy/Droits et Démocratie
> 1001, boul. de Maisonneuve est, Bureau 1100
> Montréal, Québec
> H2L 4P9
> tel:  514 283 6073
> fax:  514 283 3792
> www.ichrdd.ca
> dbronson@ichrdd.ca