Security Council resolution 1733 (2006) [on Secretary-General Kofi Annan]
Symbol: S/RES/1733(2006)
Date: 2006-12-22
Meeting record: S/PV.5607
Subjects: UN. Secretary-General (1997-2006 : Annan)|Charter of the United Nations (1945)|TRIBUTES|INTERNATIONAL SECURITY|DEVELOPMENT|HUMAN RIGHTS|PRINCIPLES|FRIENDLY RELATIONS AMONG STATES
Notes: Issued in: Resolutions and decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2006-31 July 2007 - S/INF/62 - (SCOR, 61st year).
Summary: Acknowledges the contribution of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to international peace, security and development, his exceptional efforts to solve international problems in economic, social and cultural fields, as well as his endeavours to meet humanitarian needs and to promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all; expresses its deep appreciation to Secretary-General Kofi Annan for his dedication to the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter and to the development of friendly relations among nations.

United Nations                                                                  S/RES/1733 (2006)
               Security Council                                                Distr.: General
                                                                               22 December 2006




               Resolution 1733 (2006)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 5607th meeting, on
               22 December 2006

                    The Security Council,
                    Recognizing the central role that Secretary-General Kofi Annan has played in
               guiding the Organization in the discharge of his responsibilities under the Charter of
               the United Nations,
                     Further recognizing his sustained efforts towards finding just and lasting
               solutions to various disputes and conflicts around the globe,
                    Commending the reforms that he has initiated and the many proposals that he
               has made on the restructuring and strengthening of the role and functioning of the
               United Nations system,
                     1.   Acknowledges the contribution of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to
               international peace, security and development, his exceptional efforts to solve
               international problems in economic, social and cultural fields, as well as his
               endeavours to meet humanitarian needs and to promote and encourage respect for
               human rights and fundamental freedoms for all;
                    2.   Expresses its deep appreciation to Secretary-General Kofi Annan for his
               dedication to the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter and to the
               development of friendly relations among nations.




06-68062 (E)
*0668062*

Texto español (official Spanish version): Naciones Unidas                                                                S/RES/1733 (2006)
               Consejo de Seguridad                                           Distr. general
                                                                              22 de diciembre de 2006




[Start1]




               Resolución 1733 (2006)
               Aprobada por el Consejo de Seguridad en su 5607ª sesión,
               celebrada el 22 de diciembre de 2006

                    El Consejo de Seguridad,
                    Reconociendo el papel fundamental que el Secretario General Kofi Annan ha
               desempeñado al frente de la Organización en cumplimiento de sus responsabilidades
               con arreglo a la Carta de las Naciones Unidas,
                    Reconociendo además sus constantes esfuerzos por encontrar soluciones justas
               y duraderas a diversos conflictos y controversias en todo el planeta,
                     Encomiando las reformas que ha iniciado y las numerosas propuestas que ha
               presentado para reestructurar y fortalecer el papel y el funcionamiento del sistema
               de las Naciones Unidas,
                    1.   Reconoce la contribución del Secretario General Kofi Annan a la paz, la
               seguridad y el desarrollo internacionales, sus extraordinarios esfuerzos por resolver
               problemas internacionales en las esferas económica, social y cultural y su empeño
               en atender las necesidades humanitarias y promover y alentar el respeto de los
               derechos humanos y las libertades fundamentales de todas las personas;
                    2.    Expresa al Secretario General Kofi Annan su profundo agradecimiento
               por su dedicación a los propósitos y principios consagrados en la Carta y al
               desarrollo de relaciones de amistad entre las naciones.




06-68065 (S)
*0668065*

Texte français (official French version): Nations Unies                                                                    S/RES/1733 (2006)
               Conseil de sécurité                                              Distr. générale
                                                                                22 décembre 2006




               Résolution 1733 (2006)
               Adoptée par le Conseil de sécurité à sa 5607e séance,
               le 22 décembre 2006

                    Le Conseil de sécurité,
                     Ayant à l’esprit le rôle central que le Secrétaire général, M. Kofi Annan, a joué
               à la tête de l’Organisation en s’acquittant de la mission que la Charte des Nations
               Unies lui a confiée,
                     Ayant également à l’esprit les efforts soutenus qu’il a faits pour apporter des
               solutions justes et durables à divers différends et conflits dans le monde entier,
                     Se félicitant des réformes qu’il a opérées et des nombreuses propositions qu’il
               a faites dans le sens de la restructuration du système des Nations Unies et du
               renforcement de son rôle et de son fonctionnement,
                    1.   Prend note de la contribution que le Secrétaire général, M. Kofi Annan, a
               apportée à la paix, à la sécurité et au développement internationaux, des efforts
               exceptionnels qu’il a déployés pour résoudre les problèmes internationaux dans les
               domaines économique, social et culturel, et de l’action qu’il a menée pour répondre
               aux besoins humanitaires et promouvoir et encourager le respect des droits de
               l’homme et des libertés fondamentales de tous;
                    2.  Exprime sa profonde gratitude au Secrétaire général, M. Kofi Annan,
               pour son dévouement aux buts et principes énoncés dans la Charte et au
               développement de relations amicales entre les nations.




06-68063 (F)
*0668063*

Русский текст (official Russian version): Организация Объединенных Наций                                                   S/RES/1733 (2006)
            Совет Безопасности                                    Distr.: General
                                                                  22 December 2006




            Резолюция 1733 (2006),
            принятая Советом Безопасности на его 5607-м заседании
            22 декабря 2006 года

                Совет Безопасности,
                 признавая центральную роль, которую играл Генеральный секретарь Кофи
            Аннан в деле руководства Организацией при выполнении им своих обязанно-
            стей в соответствии с Уставом Организации Объединенных Наций,
                 признавая далее его неустанные усилия, направленные на отыскание
            справедливых и долговременных путей урегулирования различных споров и
            конфликтов во всем мире,
                высоко оценивая начатые им реформы и большое число внесенных им
            предложений относительно перестройки деятельности и укрепления роли и
            функционирования системы Организации Объединенных Наций,
                 1.   отмечает вклад Генерального секретаря Кофи Аннана в обеспече-
            ние международного мира, безопасности и развития, его исключительные уси-
            лия, направленные на решение международных проблем в экономической, со-
            циальной и культурной областях, а также его инициативы по удовлетворению
            гуманитарных потребностей и поощрению и содействию обеспечению уваже-
            ния прав человека и основных свобод для всех;
                 2.  выражает глубокую признательность Генеральному секретарю Ко-
            фи Аннану за его приверженность целям и принципам, закрепленным в Уставе,
            и развитию дружественных отношений между государствами.




06-68064 (R) 221206 221206
*0668064*

中文文本 (official Chinese version): 联合国                                               S/RES/1733 (2006)
               安全理事会                               Distr.: General
                                                   22 December 2006




               第 1733(2006)号决议
               2006 年 12 月 22 日安全理事会第 5607 次会议通过

                 安全理事会，

                 确认秘书长科菲·安南履行《联合国宪章》规定的职责，在领导联合国工作
               中发挥了中心作用，

                 还确认他作出了不懈的努力，为全球各地种种争端和冲突谋求公正、持久的
               解决，

                 赞扬他倡导的改革以及他就调整和加强联合国系统的作用和职能所提出的
               许多建议，

                 1.   感激秘书长科菲·安南对国际和平、安全与发展作出贡献，为解决经济、
               社会和文化领域的国际问题付出非凡的努力，为满足人道主义需求及促进和鼓励
               对人人共享的人权和基本自由的尊重而全力以赴；

                 2.   表示深切感谢秘书长科菲·安南全心全意维护《宪章》所确立的宗旨和
               原则，为各国间友好关系的发展作出无私的奉献。




06-68061 (C)
*0668061*

النص العربي (official Arabic version): ‫)‪S/RES/1733 (2006‬‬                                                                        ‫ﺍﻷﻣــﻢ ﺍﳌﺘﺤـﺪﺓ‬
‫‪Distr.: General‬‬
‫‪22 December 2006‬‬                                                                   ‫ﳎﻠﺲ ﺍﻷﻣﻦ‬



                                                                          ‫ﺍﻟﻘﺮﺍﺭ ‪(٢٠٠٦) ١٧٣٣‬‬
            ‫ﺍﻟــــﺬﻱ ﺍﲣــــﺬﻩ ﳎﻠــــﺲ ﺍﻷﻣــــﻦ ﰲ ﺟﻠــــﺴﺘﻪ ‪ ٥٦٠٧‬ﺍﳌﻌﻘــــﻮﺩﺓ ﰲ ‪ ٢٢‬ﻛــــﺎﻧﻮﻥ‬
                                                                 ‫ﺍﻷﻭﻝ‪/‬ﺩﻳﺴﻤﱪ ‪٢٠٠٦‬‬
                                                                                 ‫ﺇﻥ ﳎﻠﺲ ﺍﻷﻣﻦ‪،‬‬
            ‫ﺇﺫ ﻳﺴ ﹼﻠﻢ ﺑﺎﻟﺪﻭﺭ ﺍﻟﺮﺋﻴﺲ ﺍﻟﺬﻱ ﻗـﺎﻡ ﺑـﻪ ﺍﻷﻣـﲔ ﺍﻟﻌـﺎﻡ ﻛـﻮﰲ ﻋﻨـﺎﻥ ﰲ ﺗﻮﺟﻴـﻪ ﺍﳌﻨﻈﻤـﺔ ﰲ‬
                                                  ‫ﺍﻻﺿﻄﻼﻉ ﲟﺴﺆﻭﻟﻴﺎ‪‬ﺎ ﲟﻮﺟﺐ ﻣﻴﺜﺎﻕ ﺍﻷﻣﻢ ﺍﳌﺘﺤﺪﺓ‪،‬‬
            ‫ﻭﺇﺫ ﻳــﺴﻠﹼﻢ ﻛــﺬﻟﻚ ﲜﻬــﻮﺩﻩ ﺍﻟﺪﺅﻭﺑــﺔ ﰲ ﺳــﺒﻴﻞ ﺍﻟﻮﺻــﻮﻝ ﺇﱃ ﺗــﺴﻮﻳﺎﺕ ﻋﺎﺩﻟــﺔ ﻭﺩﺍﺋﻤــﺔ‬
                                                    ‫ﳌﺨﺘﻠﻒ ﺍﻟﱰﺍﻋﺎﺕ ﻭﺍﻟﺼﺮﺍﻋﺎﺕ ﰲ ﺷﱴ ﺃﳓﺎﺀ ﺍﳌﻌﻤﻮﺭﺓ‪،‬‬
            ‫ﻭﺇﺫ ﻳﺜﲏ ﻋﻠـﻰ ﺍﻹﺻـﻼﺣﺎﺕ ﺍﻟـﱵ ﺑـﺪﺃﻫﺎ ﻭﻋﻠـﻰ ﺍﳌﻘﺘﺮﺣـﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻌﺪﻳـﺪﺓ ﺍﻟـﱵ ﻗـﺪﻣﻬﺎ ﺑـﺸﺄﻥ‬
                                             ‫ﺇﻋﺎﺩﺓ ﺗﺸﻜﻴﻞ ﻣﻨﻈﻮﻣﺔ ﺍﻷﻣﻢ ﺍﳌﺘﺤﺪﺓ ﻭﺗﻌﺰﻳﺰ ﺩﻭﺭﻫﺎ ﻭﺃﺩﺍﺋﻬﺎ‪،‬‬
            ‫‪ - ١‬ﻳ‪‬ﻘ ـﺪ‪‬ﺭ ﺇﺳــﻬﺎﻡ ﺍﻷﻣــﲔ ﺍﻟﻌــﺎﻡ ﻛــﻮﰲ ﻋﻨــﺎﻥ ﰲ ﺍﻟــﺴﻠﻢ ﻭﺍﻷﻣــﻦ ﺍﻟــﺪﻭﻟﻴﲔ ﻭﺍﻟﺘﻨﻤﻴــﺔ‬
            ‫ﺍﻟﺪﻭﻟﻴــﺔ‪ ،‬ﻭﺟﻬــﻮﺩﻩ ﺍﻟﻔــﺬﺓ ﺍﳌﺒﺬﻭﻟــﺔ ﳊــﻞ ﺍﳌــﺸﺎﻛﻞ ﺍﻟﺪﻭﻟﻴــﺔ ﰲ ﺍ‪‬ــﺎﻻﺕ ﺍﻻﻗﺘــﺼﺎﺩﻳﺔ ﻭﺍﻻﺟﺘﻤﺎﻋﻴــﺔ‬
            ‫ﻭﺍﻟﺜﻘﺎﻓﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﻓﻀﻼ ﻋﻦ ﻣﺴﺎﻋﻴﻪ ﺍﻟﱵ ﻗﺎﻡ ‪‬ﺎ ﻟﺘﻠﺒﻴﺔ ﺍﻻﺣﺘﻴﺎﺟﺎﺕ ﺍﻹﻧـﺴﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﻭﻟﺘﻌﺰﻳـﺰ ﻭﺗـﺸﺠﻴﻊ ﺍﺣﺘـﺮﺍﻡ‬
                                                               ‫ﺣﻘﻮﻕ ﺍﻹﻧﺴﺎﻥ ﻭﺍﳊﺮﻳﺎﺕ ﺍﻷﺳﺎﺳﻴﺔ ﻟﻠﺠﻤﻴﻊ؛‬
            ‫‪ - ٢‬ﻳﻌﺮﺏ ﻋﻦ ﻋﻈﻴﻢ ﺗﻘﺪﻳﺮﻩ ﻟﻸﻣﲔ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻡ ﻛﻮﰲ ﻋﻨـﺎﻥ ﻟﺘﻔﺎﻧﻴـﻪ ﰲ ﺧﺪﻣـﺔ ﺍﻷﻏـﺮﺍﺽ‬
                                     ‫ﻭﺍﳌﺒﺎﺩﺉ ﺍﻟﱵ ﳚﺴﺪﻫﺎ ﺍﳌﻴﺜﺎﻕ ﻭﰲ ﺗﻨﻤﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﻼﻗﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻮﺩﻳﺔ ﺑﲔ ﺍﻷﻣﻢ‪.‬‬




                                                                                                               ‫)‪06-68060 (A‬‬
                                                                                                  ‫*‪*0668060‬‬

Draft resolution (S/2006/1011):
United Nations                                                                           S/2006/1011
            Security Council                                                Distr.: General
                                                                            20 December 2006

                                                                            Original: English




            Draft resolution

                 The Security Council,
                 Recognizing the central role that Secretary-General Kofi Annan has played in
            guiding the Organization in the discharge of his responsibilities under the Charter of
            the United Nations,
                  Further recognizing his sustained efforts towards finding just and lasting
            solutions to various disputes and conflicts around the globe,
                 Commending the reforms that he has initiated and the many proposals that he
            has made on the restructuring and strengthening of the role and functioning of the
            United Nations system,
                  1.   Acknowledges the contribution of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to
            international peace, security and development, his exceptional efforts to solve
            international problems in economic, social and cultural fields, as well as his
            endeavours to meet humanitarian needs and to promote and encourage respect for
            human rights and fundamental freedoms for all;
                 2.   Expresses its deep appreciation to Secretary-General Kofi Annan for his
            dedication to the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter and to the
            development of friendly relations among nations.




06-68050 (E) 221206
*0668050*

Meeting record:
United Nations                                                                                                     S/PV.5607
               Security Council                                                                                                   Provisional
               Sixty-first year

               5607th meeting
               Friday, 22 December 2006, 10 a.m.
               New York




President:     Mr. Al-Nasser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         (Qatar)

Members:       Argentina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       Mr. Mayoral
               China . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     Mr. Wang Guangya
               Congo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     Mr. Ikouebe
               Denmark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       Ms. Løj
               France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    Mr. De La Sablière
               Ghana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     Nana Effah-Apenteng
               Greece . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    Mr. Vassilakis
               Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   Mr. Oshima
               Peru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    Mr. Voto-Bernales
               Russian Federation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            Mr. Churkin
               Slovakia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      Mr. Burian
               United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland . . . .                                Sir Emyr Jones Parry
               United Republic of Tanzania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                 Mr. Mahiga
               United States of America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .              Mr. Wolff


Agenda

               Tribute to the outgoing Secretary-General




               This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the interpretation of
               speeches delivered in the other languages. The final text will be printed in the Official Records
               of the Security Council. Corrections should be submitted to the original languages only. They
               should be incorporated in a copy of the record and sent under the signature of a member of the
               delegation concerned to the Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Service, room C-154A.

06-67910 (E)
*0667910*

S/PV.5607


     The meeting was called to order at 10.20 a.m.               Ladies and Gentlemen, as we pay a special tribute
                                                           to the Secretary-General at the end of his successful
Adoption of the agenda                                     term, it is befitting to reflect in retrospect on the past
                                                           decade, one that saw global crises and challenges to the
     The agenda was adopted.
                                                           international community.
Tribute to the outgoing Secretary-General                        The time the Secretary-General spent in office
                                                           was a period marked by new and special threats,
     The President (spoke in Arabic): I welcome the
                                                           challenges and changes in the international arena. As a
presence of the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr.
                                                           global leader with creative vision, Mr. Annan rose
Kofi Annan, at this meeting.
                                                           steadfastly to the challenge and contributed to
       The Security Council will now begin its             numerous global efforts to face those threats and
consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is    changes.
meeting in accordance with the understanding reached
                                                                Mr. Annan guided this international Organization
in its prior consultations.
                                                           through the dawn of the new millennium. A remarkable
      Members of the Council have before them              event that marked that juncture was the adoption by the
document S/2006/1011, which contains the text of a         Millennium Summit of what came to be known as the
draft resolution prepared in the course of the Council’s   Millennium Development Goals. Those goals set by
prior consultations. It is my understanding that the       Member States immediately became top priorities for
Council is ready to take a decision on the draft           the Secretary-General, who contributed more than any
resolution.                                                one else to their realization.
     There being no objection, it is so decided.                 Mr. Annan was at the helm of this international
                                                           Organization during the past decade, which coincided,
     May I take it that it is the wish of the Security
                                                           more or less, with the timespan between the
Council to adopt draft resolution S/2006/1011 by
                                                           Organization’s golden and diamond jubilees. As one
acclamation?
                                                           would expect, that period was marked by a great many
      There being no objection, I declare the draft        reviews, assessments and re-evaluations of the United
resolution adopted by acclamation, as resolution 1733      Nations. At the organizational level, the decade was
(2006).                                                    characterized by intensive and considerable attention to
                                                           reform in all its aspects. To his great credit, Mr. Annan
     It is so decided.
                                                           led the reform movement with quiet deliberation and
    I shall now make a statement on behalf of the          introduced many initiatives aimed at strengthening the
Council.                                                   United Nations system and enhancing its capacity to
                                                           meet the major challenges of our time.
     Mr. Secretary-General, it gives me great pleasure
to express to Your Excellency, on behalf of all Security        Mr. Annan received wide recognition for his
Council members, our profound gratitude for the            dedication to the purposes and principles enshrined in
dedicated service and commitment you provided to the       the Charter of the United Nations. His sustained efforts
United Nations as you discharged your awesome              towards the maintenance of international peace and
responsibility under its Charter during your 10-year       security, towards finding lasting solutions to various
tenure as Secretary-General. We should also like to        complex disputes and conflicts around the globe, and
express our appreciation for the high professional and     towards the development of friendly relations among
personal qualities and moral leadership that you           nations, are just a few examples.
brought to the United Nations as the world’s top
                                                                 During his tenure as Secretary-General, Mr.
diplomat.
                                                           Annan endeavoured relentlessly to solve the economic,
      We should further like to recall your active and     social, cultural and environmental issues facing our
efficient support to the work of the Council and the       world today. His great concern was to meet the
efforts you expended to further its objectives and for     humanitarian needs of people affected by both natural
that, Mr. Secretary-General, we express our deep           and man-made disasters. He contributed significantly
gratitude.                                                 to the promotion and protection of human rights and


2                                                                                                             06-67910

                                                                                                              S/PV.5607


fundamental freedoms for all, so that peoples of the        role in Sierra Leone. And I thank the Council for all the
world can enjoy living in greater freedom.                  work it has done for peace and security around the
                                                            world.
      In a few days, the current Secretary-General will
pass the baton on to his successor, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon,               In my 10 years as Secretary-General, I have quite
who, I am confident, will also perform an exemplary         often allowed myself to make some critical remarks
job and bring bold perspectives, new ideas and critical     about this Council, particularly about its composition. I
and vital initiatives to the United Nations and the         still hope that such composition will be modified, since
international community. We pledge and commit our           I am convinced that, with a more democratic and
strong support to him, as we have done over the years       representative character, the Council will gain even
to Mr. Annan.                                               greater legitimacy, and its authority will be more
                                                            widely respected.
      Mr. Secretary-General, we extend to Your
Excellency our warmest wishes for further                         I have also occasionally criticized the Council’s
advancement, health and prosperity, and wish you the        actions, or, more often, its failure to act. And I have
best of luck as you leave the United Nations and            tried, following the excellent example of the Brahimi
continue your invaluable contribution to the resolution     Report, to tell the Council what it needs to know, not
of issues of concern to both the Organization and the       what it wants to hear.
global community.
                                                                  Yet I know that the “primary responsibility for
    I now give the floor to His Excellency Secretary-       the maintenance of international peace and security”,
General Mr. Kofi Annan.                                     with which the Charter endows the Council, is not an
                                                            easy one to bear. In fact, it is much easier to criticize
      The Secretary-General: Mr. President, let me
                                                            the Council from outside than to take decisions in it. In
thank you for those very kind words. And I thank you
                                                            spite of that, the Council’s members have generally
also for proposing the resolution that the Council has
                                                            listened to me with surprising good grace.
just passed, by which, needless to say, I am deeply
honoured.                                                         And I must also recognize that the work of the
                                                            Council has been greatly strengthened during the 10
     Barring unforeseen crises in the next nine days —
                                                            years of my service. The mandates it has given us have
which in this Council, of all places, one should never
                                                            been more coherent, more robust when required, and
rule out — today’s meeting will be my last meeting
                                                            often matched with something like the necessary
with you as Secretary-General. I must thank the
                                                            resources required. And its members now follow up on
Council, not only for using this meeting to pass such a
                                                            their decisions with greater vigilance, demanding full
generous resolution, but also for making it coincide
                                                            reports from me and my colleagues on the missions
with another decision that you are about to adopt,
                                                            they have mandated, and sometimes going to see for
namely the resolution to extend the mandate of the
                                                            themselves on the spot how things are going.
United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone
(UNIOSIL).                                                        The Council has also passed some very important
                                                            thematic resolutions — I think especially of resolution
      Sierra Leone is definitely one of the success
                                                            1325 (2000) on the role of women in the prevention
stories of our work together. But those of us who
                                                            and resolution of conflicts and in peacebuilding — and it
remember the anxious days of May 2000 know well
                                                            is generally much more cognizant of the need to prevent
that that was far from being a foregone conclusion. But
                                                            conflict, rather than wait to react after it occurs.
today Sierra Leone is an example of what can be
achieved by the United Nations and its Member States               We have all learned from some bitter experiences
working closely together. The country is stable but still   that we cannot afford to uncritically accept a
fragile. It needs our continued help in building            Government’s word when it assures us that all is well
effective State institutions, especially those dealing      in its country, or that it has the situation under control.
with security, human rights, justice, and the preparation   We have also learned that the Council needs to be fully
for next year’s elections, which will be a critical         briefed on issues of human rights, since gross
moment in the consolidation of peace. So, I thank the       violations of human rights not only occur during
Council for agreeing to prolong the United Nations          conflict but are often the harbingers of conflict.



06-67910                                                                                                             3

S/PV.5607


      There is certainly no room for complacency. As I        incremental. Many conflicts have been peacefully
said last week, it is painful for me to leave office with     resolved. Many have been at least brought under
the Middle East in such a fragile and dangerous               control, with hope for better times on the horizon. And
condition.                                                    I believe — though this is much harder to prove — that
                                                              many have been prevented.
      I do fervently hope that we are now at last close
to rescuing the people of Darfur from their agony. The              At all events, it remains the sacred and exalting
reports I have received from my envoy in Khartoum,            duty of this Organization to save succeeding
Mr. Ould Abdallah, encourage me to think we may               generations from the scourge of war. It has been my
tomorrow receive a green light from President Bashir          privilege to share this effort with the Security Council,
for a full ceasefire, a renewed effort to bring all parties   both in success and in failure. I now relinquish that
into the political process, and deployment of the             task, with relief but not without regret. And I pray that
proposed hybrid African Union-United Nations force to         the Security Council will have ever greater success in
protect the population. We will, however, need to see         the future.
the document that Mr. Ould Abdallah will bring.
                                                                   The President (spoke in Arabic): I thank the
      But after so many disappointments, I must say           Secretary-General for his statement.
that I take nothing for granted. What I do know is that
                                                                   The Security Council has thus concluded the
the Council will continue to work, ably helped by my
                                                              present stage of its consideration of the item on its
successor, on these and many other crises. But there is
                                                              agenda.
no cause for despair, either. While change for the worse
is often dramatic, change for the better is generally              The meeting rose at 10.45 a.m.




4                                                                                                               06-67910

Voting Summary
Yes: 015 | No: 000 | Abstentions: 000 | Non-Voting: 000 | Total voting membership: 015
ARGENTINA
CHINA
CONGO
DENMARK
FRANCE
GHANA
GREECE
JAPAN
PERU
QATAR
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
SLOVAKIA
UNITED KINGDOM
UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
UNITED STATES