YouSaid · the spoken record

Al-Sabah

lines on the record: 182
first: 1996-09-27
most recent: 2023-09-20
sittings or episodes: 17
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“The Council could also benefit further from meetings held in various formats to discuss matters that could threaten international peace and security. Besides that, it has traditional tools such as peacekeeping operations and sanctions imposed on individuals and entities at its disposal, and those could be used in a more efficient manner to achieve the purposes of preventive diplomacy. After reviewing these preventive tools in the Security Council, I cannot help wondering how many crises the Council could have avoided, prevented or de-escalated had it used the tools available to it in accordance with the Charter and actively pursued preventive diplomacy.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“The accumulated experience and lessons learned are sufficient to enable the Security Council to take innovative measures and steps in helping to maintaining international peace and security, and certainly there is nothing preventing the Council from taking innovative initiatives and measures for conflict prevention and mediation. In the concept note circulated to Council members (S/2019/456, annex) we have identified some steps that could support conflict prevention and mediation efforts, including sending a small delegation of Council members to undertake mediation efforts between parties to conflicts, a practice that the Security Council has adopted in the past. Field visits by the Council to conflict zones could cover prevention and mediation.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“They must also address the issues of living conditions, good governance and respect for human rights, among other things, and must therefore work fast to ensure that disputes do not escalate. Different views must be taken into account, and work must be done behind the scenes to gain the trust of all the parties to a conflict by adopting an honest, neutral and clear approach, free of private agendas, with a view to achieving a comprehensive and sustainable resolution of the conflict. I want to commend the Secretary-General and his Special Envoys and Representatives and their teams for their efforts to resolve conflicts around the world, often without media attention.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“The Secretary-General has made mediation a priority, and we commend the fact that he has established a High-level Advisory Board on Mediation as a tool for conflict prevention, which we should all support, as it will unquestionably save us a great deal of trouble, sorrow, pain and resources, including financial resources. Billions of dollars are spent every year to contain crises through peacekeeping operations or to address their consequences and implications, including on the humanitarian front. The challenges that many mediation efforts confront are local, regional and international, and sometimes all of them at once. Mediation efforts must therefore be comprehensive and deal with the root causes of conflicts and their various political, security, development, economic and social aspects.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“Tomorrow, as part of our efforts to form a similar model of cooperation, Kuwait will hold a meeting on cooperation between the Security Council and the League of Arab States. We believe that it is timely, given the turmoil and instability that a number of Arab countries are currently facing. As part of our discussion today, we should highlight the important role of the Secretary-General, based on Article 99 of the Charter, which confers on the Secretary- General an inherent right and responsibility to play a role in preventing conflicts through his good offices or those ofhis Special Envoys and Special Representatives in any conflict zone.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“It gives the Council the right to call on parties to conflicts to resolve their disputes by the aforementioned means and to investigate any dispute or situation that might lead to international friction or give rise to a dispute, in order to determine whether its continuation is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security. In Chapter VIII, the Charter encourages the peaceful resolution of local conflicts through arrangements with regional and subregional organizations, as they have historical knowledge of such conflicts and geographic proximity to them. In that regard, I would like to commend the important cooperation between the Security Council and the African Union in addressing a number of the issues confronting the African continent.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“In the past few years, the frequency of the crises confronting our world has increased. They have become more complex and intertwined than ever before, but it is certain that we could have addressed some of them earlier and prevented their escalation had we used the tools available to the Council in an effective way. The Charter of the United Nations provides us with many tools that encourage conflict resolution by peaceful means, especially Chapter VI, which puts steps in place for resolving any dispute between parties through negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration and judicial settlement, or by resorting to regional agencies and organizations as well as other peaceful means of their choice. Chapter VI also stresses the importance of the preventive role of the Security Council.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“"To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace." The State of Kuwait has called this meeting today to provide the Council with an opportunity to evaluate its role in conflict prevention and mediation and to look at ways to strengthen that role with a view to addressing security, political and humanitarian crises in their early stages before they escalate, get complicated and become threats to international peace and security.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“Robinson and Mr. Ban Ki-moon for their valuable and enlightening briefings on our topic today. We begin today's meeting on conflict prevention and mediation, under the agenda item of the maintenance ofinternational peace and security, by quoting the first paragraph of Article 1 of the Charter of the United Nations, which sets out the purposes of the United Nations as follows.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“I also thank The Elders for their presence with us today, for we will surely benefit from the wisdom and expertise that they have acquired over decades of hard work in various decision-making positions as they have striven to improve the lives of millions of people around the world. Among them we have an advocate for women's rights, human rights and a former President of her country. We also have a former Secretary-General of the United Nations, who succeeded in putting in place the goals for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We also have a leader who was able to make peace and end 50 years of conflict in his own country, for which he was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. I welcome Ms. Mary Robinson, Mr. Ban Ki-moon and Mr. Juan Manuel Santos Calderon, and I would like to thank Ms.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“I thank Mr. Ban for his briefing. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kuwait. At the outset, I thank Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for his valuable briefing and assure him that the State of Kuwait fully supports him in his efforts to improve the mechanisms of the United Nations and enhance their efficiency with a View to reducing the risks and threats confronting our world today. We especially support his call for a surge in diplomacy and the enhancement of conflict prevention and mediation measures as part of his reforms of the pillars of peace and security to render them more coherent and comprehensive.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“In accordance with rule 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Her Excellency Ms. Mary Robinson and His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2019/456, which contains a letter dated 31 May 2019 from the Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting a concept paper on the item under consideration. I wish to warmly welcome the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Antonio Guterres, and give him the floor.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“The State of Kuwait will use all of its capacities and make every effort to support those endeavours in order to promote international cooperation and build the capacities of other countries to protect civilians and alleviate humanitarian suffering. In that regard, I once again express my thanks and appreciation to all those who cooperated and helped us in adopting today's resolution, which ensures that Kuwait and the rest of the world will not forget the issue of missing persons in armed conflict. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I now give the floor those other members of the Council who wish to make statements”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“We will contribute to joint humanitarian action, in line with the established and steadfast foreign policy of the State of Kuwait, as a tool for conflict prevention and for helping to anchor the foundations of stability, dialogue and mediation by addressing all current and emerging crises and global instability. We will be guided by international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, as well as international resolutions. Fulfilling our international obligations based on responsibility, partnership and international solidarity is the best way to tackle all the challenges that we face. We commend all parties and organizations for the role they play in mitigating conflict-related threats and building peace among countries and parties to conflicts.”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“We commend the Council for following up on this issue, in line with its relevant resolutions. We also commend the Iraqi Government for its cooperation and serious efforts to finalize this issue in the framework of the meetings held by the Tripartite Commission and its Technical Subcommittee, chaired by the ICRC. We thank the ICRC for its efforts, determination and assistance to all parties in order to ascertain the fate of missing persons and alleviate the suffering of their families and relatives. We renew our commitment to doing our best to strengthen the efforts of the international community to maintain international peace and security and support peacebuilding and comprehensive development in the context of preventive diplomacy.”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“The resolution adopted today by the Council will contribute to raising international awareness and to bridging the gaps in the issue of missing persons in armed conflict. It encourages relevant national, regional and international humanitarian organizations to take the necessary measures to facilitate search operations and appropriately manage relevant information on missing persons in order to determine their fate, while ensuring the necessary political will and cooperation among all parties to a conflict. The State ofKuwait has tragic experience regarding this humanitarian issue. We are pursuing our efforts to determine the fate of our missing nationals since the war that liberated Kuwait from the Iraqi invasion in 1991. The fate of 236 of 605 missing persons has been determined.”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“We must commit to using these tools and practices in all negotiations in order to build trust in the political process after a conflict, leading to peace agreements, peacebuilding and lasting peace. Parties to a conflict must therefore provide all necessary information on the fate of missing persons in order to ensure family reunification or to determine the location of their remains, in line with agreed international and humanitarian norms. Furthermore, impunity is prohibited and those responsible for causing persons to go missing, for hiding related evidence or for covering for the perpetrators of crimes against humanity must be held to account. Committing to international humanitarian law will pave the way for peace.”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“We are totally convinced that its many important dimensions require the attention of the international community and should be dealt with at all stages of a conflict and beyond through clear and tested practices. International human rights law and international humanitarian law have identified the tools that we need to use in order to protect communities and civilians, as well as to ensure all their rights and a life of freedom and dignity, free of violations and humanitarian suffering. These tools include the identification of solutions pertaining to the issue of missing persons in armed conflict. Missing persons are the main victims of any war or conflict.”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“We meet today as the international arena is confronting increasing challenges that threaten international peace and security. Those challenges have become more complexed and intertwined over the years. Countless civilians are impacted by conflict and other forms of violence that affect civilians and have dangerous humanitarian implications that require comprehensive and sustainable solutions, the absence of which may prolong conflict and represent an obstacle to security and stability. One of the humanitarian challenges addressed in international norms and laws is the issue of missing persons in armed conflict, which has a tragic effect on the lives of affected civilians and their families.”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“It seeks to promote the institutional and normative framework for protecting civilians, as well as international efforts to address the issue of missing persons in armed conflict. This is in line with the attention that the Council has focused on the issue of protecting civilians over the past 20 years and with the humanitarian resolutions it has adopted, free of political considerations. The most recent of these is the resolution we have adopted today with the aim of preventing any persons from going missing as a result of conflict. I commend the briefings by the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mr. Peter Maurer, and the Director for Operations and Advocacy of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Ms. Reena Ghelani, which have enriched today's discussion.”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“I thank Mr. Maurer for his briefing. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kuwait. It is my pleasure to participate today in this meeting on the important humanitarian issue of missing persons in armed conflict. I welcome the adoption of resolution 2474 (2019), drafted and submitted by the State of Kuwait. The resolution has human and humane significance because it addresses an issue that is close to the hearts of the people of Kuwait. It is aimed at promoting international efforts to address the issue of missing persons in armed conflict. I also thank all members for supporting us during the negotiations on the resolution. The resolution has important human and humanitarian aspects.”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2474 (2019). I now give the floor to Ms. Ghelani.”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“Members of the Council have before them document S/2019/475, which contains the text ofa draft resolution that has been sponsored by the countries that appear on the list that is also before Council members. The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now. A vote was taken by Show ofhands. In favour: Belgium, China, Cote d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, France, Germany, Indonesia, Kuwait, Peru, Poland, Russian Federation, South Africa, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“In accordance with rule 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Ms. Reena Ghelani, Director for Operations and Advocacy of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and Mr. Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Mr. Maurer is joining the meeting via video- teleconference from Geneva. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I Wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2019/458, which contains a letter dated 3 June 2019 from the Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting a concept paper on the item under consideration.”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“In accordance with rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of the following countries to participate in this meeting: Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Palau, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, the Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay. There being no objection, it is so decided.”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“The State of Kuwait firmly believes in multilateralism under the United Nations umbrella, as well as the principles and obligations agreed upon in the Charter. Preserving the NPT is the responsibility of all States. In May 2020 the international community will meet in New York to take part in the upcoming Review Conference. That requires stepping up our efforts and working together as of today, showing the sincere political will to ensure the success of the Conference by demonstrating maximum flexibility in our positions to reach an agreement on measures that will contribute to achieving our goals of a world free of nuclear weapons.”
2019-04-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8500 (2019) · source
“At the same time, we emphasize that Israel must join the NPT and subject all its nuclear facilities to the monitoring and inspection of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) given that Israel is the only country in the Middle East that has not yet joined the NPT. Today's discussion on the NPT is not limited to the threat posed by nuclear weapons. It also includes one of the key pillars of the Treaty, namely, the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The State of Kuwait underlines that all States parties have the right to carry out research and studies as well as to possess and use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. That inherent right is completely in line with the legal obligations of States and agreements concluded with the IAEA.”
2019-04-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8500 (2019) · source
“The peoples of our region are still awaiting the implementation of resolution NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I), annex, on establishing a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction, adopted at the 1995 Review Conference, which led to the indefinite extension of the NPT. The State of Kuwait and all other Arab countries reaffirm that the 1995 resolution shall remain valid and in force until its objectives have been achieved. The responsibility for its implementation rests with all States parties to the NPT, in particular the nuclear-weapon States, including the three co-sponsoring ones.”
2019-04-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8500 (2019) · source
“We also reiterate our steadfast commitment to the NPT and the achievement of its universality, in order to preserve and promote the international NPT regime. We recall the outcomes of previous Review Conferences, including the outcome documents of those held in 1995 and 2000, as well as the 2010 Action Plan. Notwithstanding our commitment and the commitment of all States parties in supporting the Treaty, its regime continues to face great challenges in achieving the Treaty's objectives. Forty-nine years after the Treaty's entry into force, the world continues to face the threat of nuclear weapons and their proliferation.”
2019-04-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8500 (2019) · source
“We are meeting again at a high-level after few months of participating in the Security Council's high- level meeting in September 2018 (see S/PV.8362), to reaffirm the threat of nuclear proliferation, stress the high priority given by the Council to the NPT and address this menace to humankind, based on the Council's responsibility to prevent conflict and maintain international peace and security. In that regard, I would like to reiterate the principled and firm position of the State of Kuwait regarding NPT issues. We condemn the use of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction at any time, any place and by whomsoever. We consider such use to be a serious violation of international law.”
2019-04-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8500 (2019) · source
“Over the past months, the issue of nuclear non-proliferation has seen a momentum that is not witnessed since the high-level meeting of the Security Council in 2009 at which resolution 1887 (2009) was adopted (see S/PV.6191). The resolution reaffirms that the NPT remains the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and the main pillar in efforts aimed at denuclearization and the peaceful use of nuclear energy. That momentum continued through the 2010 NPT Review Conference, where an agreement was reached that led to the Action Plan that gave the peoples of the world a glimpse of hope that concrete measures would be achieved in terms of ridding the world of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.”
2019-04-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8500 (2019) · source
“Sheikh Al Sabah (Kuwait) (spoke in Arabic): To begin with, I would like to commend the initiative of your country's delegation, Mr. President, to convene this formal public meeting under the agenda item "Non-proliferation". This meeting is being held before the convening of the next Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), to be held in May 2020. I would like to extend my thanks to Mr. Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and Mrs. Izumi Nakamitsu, Under-Secretary- General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs for their informative briefings.”
2019-04-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8500 (2019) · source
“In conclusion, I reaffirm that the State of Kuwait stands fully ready to work towards ensuring accountability and justice, as well as our commitment to the basic principles of international law, especially international humanitarian law.”
2019-04-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8499 (2019) · source
“The State of Kuwait will continue its close cooperation with interested stakeholders to spread the culture of respect for, and the implementation of, international humanitarian law. The Charter of the United Nations aims "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind". Unfortunately today, seven decades after its signing, the scourge of war continues to cause sadness and sorrow throughout many of the world's societies and States. We must never forget the Preamble of Charter, which states that the peoples of the United Nations are determined "[t]o ensure, by the acceptance ofprinciples and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest".”
2019-04-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8499 (2019) · source
“As Member States, we shoulder the responsibility of implementing them more comprehensively by adopting specific and pragmatic measures, including the exchange of expertise and best practices among States and the coordination of efforts in terms of adhering to international humanitarian law. In that regard, we note that the State of Kuwait supports the political declaration proposed by the Republic of France on the protection of medical personnel in conflict zones. At the national level, the State of Kuwait carries out a number of capacity-building and training activities in the area of international humanitarian law. We recently hosted the eighth regional workshop on international humanitarian law for Arab judges, in collaboration with the Kuwait Institute for Judicial and Legal Studies and the International Committee of the Red Cross.”
2019-04-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8499 (2019) · source
“In addition, we commend the unanimous adoption by the Security Council of resolution 2379 (2017), which calls for the establishment of an independent team to investigate the crimes perpetrated by the group known as Da'esh and hold it accountable for the heinous acts it committed in Iraq. Those and similar mechanisms are important to guarantee an end to impunity. Ensuring accountability and prosecuting persons having violated human rights and international humanitarian law are key to achieving sustainable peace. This morning's discussions at the Arria Formula meeting on the protection of humanitarian and medical personnel, which you convened, Mr. President, demonstrate the importance of adhering to international law.”
2019-04-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8499 (2019) · source
“We nevertheless commend the efforts of the General Assembly and the Security Council in adopting the measures necessary to ensure accountability with regard to many of the items on the Security Council's agenda, including the establishment of the Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011. The State of Kuwait was one of the sponsors of General Assembly resolution 71/248, which established the Mechanism. We also support the establishment of an independent mechanism to hold accountable those who have committed crimes against the Muslim Rohingya minority in Myanmar.”
2019-04-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8499 (2019) · source
“It is also important to guarantee accountability for war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. We must condemn all human rights violations by any party to conflict and ensure that those who target civilians in any way are held accountable. Unfortunately, impunity is one of the main features of today's conflicts, which has served to encourage the commission of the most blatant violations of every basic principle of international humanitarian law, international human rights law and the relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions.”
2019-04-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8499 (2019) · source
“Moreover, United Nations peacekeeping forces have a responsibility to protect civilians by taking the necessary measures to guarantee such protection within their mandated tasks for camps of internally displaced persons and ensure medical evacuation for the wounded, as well as strengthening the capabilities of national police forces to enable them to perform their duties. The perilous security environment in which some United Nations forces operate may require that they use force in self-defence. It is therefore important for United Nations forces to abide by all the relevant international rules, including international humanitarian law where applicable. Furthermore, parties to a conflict and international organizations working in the field must respect international humanitarian law.”
2019-04-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8499 (2019) · source
“First of all, the United Nations, in general, and the Security Council, in particular, have an important and pivotal role to play in guaranteeing adherence to international humanitarian law and in promoting the rule of law. That is accomplished by ensuring the full implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions, especially in the context of protecting civilians in armed conflict, and by adherence to international humanitarian law on the part of parties to a conflict and the international organizations working on the ground.”
2019-04-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8499 (2019) · source
“In Syria, where the crisis is entering its ninth year, we have witnessed the most reprehensible violations of international humanitarian law, through the continued and deliberate targeting of civilians and their property, as well as public facilities. Moreover, we have witnessed the ongoing obstruction of the efforts of humanitarian agencies and organizations delivering aid to those who need it regularly. How can we end those violations and alleviate the considerable humanitarian suffering in conflict areas? The answer to that question is the essence of today's discussion, namely, we need to promote the rule of law and respect humanitarian principles during armed conflict. However, the more important question is, how will we achieve that?”
2019-04-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8499 (2019) · source
“Such prolonged occupation has had a permanent negative impact on the daily lives of the Palestinian people for decades, in violation of the principles of international law and the relevant Security Council resolutions. That was clearly stated in the conclusions of the independent international commission of inquiry on the protests in the occupied Palestinian territory, which found that Israeli soldiers committed violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law during the demonstrations in connection with the Great March of Return. As confirmed by the commission, some of those violations are tantamount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
2019-04-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8499 (2019) · source
“As we heard earlier in the briefing made on behalf of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, international humanitarian needs have reached record levels. For example, as we meet today, more than 130 million people throughout the world are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection. The Israeli occupation of the Arab territories, including Palestinian land, which has lasted for more than five decades, is considered a blatant violation of international norms and conventions. Israel's practices and policies are a blatant violation of international law. They include the expansion of existing settlements and an unprecedented level of construction of new ones.”
2019-04-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8499 (2019) · source
“In the light of the current international situation, with ongoing armed conflicts in several regions of the world, the issue of promoting the rule of law, in particular international humanitarian law, has become more important than ever before. The four Geneva Conventions and their Protocols Additional thereto provide the legal framework for humanitarian protection in wars and armed conflicts. However, it is also important to realize that, although the Conventions have been universally ratified, regrettably they are not adhered to or respected as required. The world has continued to witness neglect and blatant disregard concerning the texts of those Conventions in recent times. Amid fighting and bloodshed, which have regrettably become the headlines of many of today's conflicts, we are witnessing record levels of humanitarian suffering.”
2019-04-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8499 (2019) · source
“Sheikh Al Sabah (Kuwait) (spoke in Arabic): Allow me to begin, Mr. President, by congratulating you and the Federal Republic of Germany on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of April. I would also like to congratulate and thank His Excellency Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian and the friendly Republic of France for the able stewardship of the Council in March. I also thank today's briefers - Mr. Peter Maurer, Mr. Mark Lowcock and Ms. Naz Modirzadeh - for their comprehensive and enlightening briefings on what could be considered one of the most important current issues, namely, promoting the rule of law and providing humanitarian protection in line with international humanitarian law. As members know, the year 2019 marks the seventieth anniversary of the 1949 Geneva Conventions.”
2019-04-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8499 (2019) · source
“In conclusion, we stress that we will continue to support the efforts of various United Nations organs in the areas of crises and disasters management, peacebuilding and addressing climate change and its impact on security, given the multifaceted nature of the phenomenon. That requires broad discussion in the context of sustainable development, because we believe in addressing the phenomenon with common but differentiated responsibilities in the area of climate-change mitigation and adaptation, in line with national priorities and capacities in order to meet the aspirations of all our peoples.”
2019-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8451 (2019) · source
“We have also extended a helping hand to peoples of countries facing natural disasters and countries emerging from conflict. That includes emergency relief as well as development and reconstruction programmes. We have assumed our international responsibility in addressing and mitigating natural disaster-related crises. In fact, climate change affects food security, biodiversity, sustainable development, peace and security, the air and water. More than ever, we need to take additional steps and technological measures, adopt new patterns of behaviour and be more ambition in implementing Sustainable Development Goal 13.”
2019-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8451 (2019) · source
“We have spared no effort at the local, regional and international levels, in particular since the start of negotiations on the historic Paris Agreement, which we have ratified. The State of Kuwait has paid particular attention to renewable energies and to diversifying energy resources through the use of wind and solar power. That will help meet 15 per cent of the State's energy needs by 2020. The oil sector has also developed strategies to manage greenhouse-gas emissions, with a view to reducing them in order to improve the efficiency of environmentally friendly energy. Kuwait has also promoted international cooperation and collective work as part of the collective emergency response at the governmental and public levels in the area of humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation.”
2019-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8451 (2019) · source
“They result in the deaths of 3 million people a year and leave many injured and in distress, a number that reached 1.4 billion people over the past two decades. Climate change is one of the root causes of the challenges and difficulties in the African continent, particularly in the region of Lake Chad basin and the Sahel. It has exacerbated socioeconomic difficulties in a way that has fuelled conflicts and competition over scarce resources, which has had an impact on security and stability in the region. International attention to climate change has been accompanied by similar attention from the State of Kuwait. The reality is that, like other countries, we are affected by climate change. Therefore, my country, Kuwait, has shared in the efforts of the international community to address the impact of climate change.”
2019-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8451 (2019) · source
“Important agreements were made at the Conference to promote transparency and information-sharing on plans and programmes aimed at reducing emissions and increasing financial support to developing countries and those that are most affected by climate change, so as to help them adapt, work towards natural-disaster reduction and continue to implement the guidelines related to the historic Paris Agreement, which will enter into force in 2020. United Nations estimates show that natural disasters related to climate change are on the rise. They account for 77 per cent of the natural disasters that have occurred over the past two decades. The international community is facing considerable challenges in addressing the emergencies caused by such disasters.”
2019-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8451 (2019) · source