YouSaid · the spoken record

Allen

lines on the record: 1,072
first: 2017-08-15
most recent: 2020-12-07
sittings or episodes: 159
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

“Key medical supplies are routinely removed from convoys. In 2019, there were precisely zero road convoys from Damascus to the north-east of Syria. In areas controlled by Al-Assad, we see humanitarian aid withheld from towns and communities deemed insufficiently loyal to the regime. We therefore place little faith in promises by the Syrian authorities, but we do call upon them again to meet their humanitarian obligations and we call on their Russian protectors to make them do so. For the sake of the innocent people dying in Syria, there is no alternative to cross border access. The United Kingdom remains the third-largest donor to the United Nations-led humanitarian response across Syria. We have allocated $152 million this financial year to projects implemented by organizations delivering cross-border aid, primarily into north-west Syria.”
2020-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8734 (2020) · source
“The Russian Federation has said that we can trust the authorities in Damascus to deliver aid throughout Syria. Well, let us examine that claim. It is, of course, welcome that, in recent hours and days, the Syrian authorities have granted authorization for humanitarian delivery. But we have heard promises before; what matters is what actually happens on the ground, and in that respect we need the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to provide regular and granular data to the Security Council on the Syrian regime’s performance when it comes both to cross-line humanitarian aid and that within the areas controlled by the authorities. The Secretary-General’s report makes clear that responses to requests are delayed for months; even when approval is given, under half are permitted to proceed.”
2020-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8734 (2020) · source
“Since the loss of the Al-Yarubiyah crossing in the cross-border mandate, those living in areas of north-eastern Syria not under the control of the Syrian authorities have been denied the medicines and medical items they so desperately require. Without access through Al-Yarubiyah or the provision of a credible alternative, medical facilities will see their stocks of vital medicines dwindle, putting their continued operation and the Syrian patients who depend upon them at risk. As many have said, a particular area of concern is reproductive health stocks. We note with great concern the forecast that stocks in the north-east could be depleted by the end of March, preventing vital procedures such as caesarean sections — a preventable tragedy for Syrian women — and, more widely, supplies will run out by May.”
2020-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8734 (2020) · source
“Accountability will come, no matter how long it takes. I also wish to say as well that we look forward to the report of the Secretary-General’s board of inquiry, and we urge Secretary-General to make those findings public. We need there to be an immediate cessation of hostilities. We strongly support the Turkish Government’s efforts to re-establish the ceasefire agreed in 2018. We also stand behind the Secretary-General and his Special Envoy for Syria in their efforts to stop the violence and save those many lives now in peril. Turning to the north-east, I thank the Secretary- General for his report (S/2020/139) on the implementation of resolution 2504 (2020) and on alternatives to the Al-Yarubiyah crossing, as requested in that resolution. The report makes clear that there is no alternative.”
2020-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8734 (2020) · source
“I would simply note that yesterday the Russian Ambassador to London stated in a media interview that terrorists made up 1 per cent of the population of Idlib. Even were that the case, I would simply say that international law does not permit anyone to attack the 99 per cent to handle 1 per cent. We remain appalled that civilian infrastructure continues to be attacked. On Sunday, the White Helmets reported that Russian warplanes hit a children’s and women’s hospital in Balyoun, in Idlib. As the United Kingdom’s Minister for the Middle East said on Monday, “The United Kingdom has condemned and continues to condemn these flagrant violations of international law and basic human decency”. Let me remind all military forces on the ground, especially their commanders, that following political orders is no defence against war crimes.”
2020-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8734 (2020) · source
“They have no shelter. They are forced to sleep in the open air. Children are literally freezing to death. At the last humanitarian session, we said that over 358,000 people had been displaced since the first of December. That number is now over 948,000, 80 per cent of whom are women and children. I say to my fellow Council members that we should be under no illusion that this is the worst humanitarian situation thus far in this terrible conflict. The continued attacks not only directly cause civilian suffering, but they also hamper the aid effort, amplifying the scale of this disaster. The representative of Russia also talked about terrorism, and he urged us in a different context not to exaggerate problems.”
2020-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8734 (2020) · source
“I would like to welcome you, Sir, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany to the Council today. I thought he was totally right. As he said, it is ever more difficult to put the human suffering in Idlib into words. It is so true, as we see the terrible human consequences of the escalating violence committed by the Syrian regime and Russia in Idlib province. The representative of Russia asked why humanitarian agencies were finding it so difficult to protect the desperate people out in the open air at the moment. The answer is because they are being bombed, they are being shelled, they are being attacked. It is extremely difficult indeed to provide assistance to people in those circumstances. The intensity and pace of the Syrian and Russian campaign mean that civilians who are able to get out of the way in time have nowhere to go.”
2020-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8734 (2020) · source
“We look forward to engaging with all Security Council members and all States parties to achieve a successful outcome at this year’s Review Conference and help ensure that the non-proliferation Treaty remains effective and central to ensuring our collective security for many years to come.”
2020-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8733 (2020) · source
“With regard to its second pillar, the NPT has played an unparalleled role in curtailing the nuclear arms race. Historic predictions were made of 10 or even 20 nuclear-armed States. Today, there remain fewer than 10. Concerning the third pillar, the global peaceful use of nuclear energy allows us to address some of the biggest challenges, from climate change to economic growth. As a direct result of the NPT, we have been able to harness nuclear power to improve the lives of our citizens, for example, in the areas of food, agriculture, health care and, as I mentioned, climate change. For those and other reasons, the United Kingdom continues to believe that the non-proliferation Treaty, approaching its fiftieth anniversary, remains essential to the maintenance of a safe and secure world.”
2020-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8733 (2020) · source
“We all have a responsibility to work towards a safer, more stable world in which States with nuclear weapons feel able to relinquish them. Concerning the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which others have raised, the United Kingdom has been clear that we will not sign or ratify the Treaty. Instead, the United Kingdom will continue to promote the step-by-step approach, work for the universalization of the NPT and the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, and promote the early commencement and conclusions of negotiations on a fissile material cut-off treaty in the Conference on Disarmament. We must also ensure that the NPT Review Conference gives proper regard to the achievements that it has made possible under its second and third pillars.”
2020-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8733 (2020) · source
“Fourthly, with regard to peaceful uses, P-5 States have been working together to enhance the peaceful uses of nuclear technology. We all fully support the Technical Cooperation Programme of the International Atomic Energy Agency to ensure that the benefits of nuclear technology are accessible to those who need them most. Nevertheless, we do not underestimate the challenges surrounding the Review Conference. We know that some States feel that progress on nuclear disarmament has been slow. The United Kingdom continuously engages with a wide range of States and takes those concerns seriously. The United Kingdom’s view is that any meaningful discussion on disarmament must take into account the wider security environment, which is increasingly difficult.”
2020-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8733 (2020) · source
“Secondly, we have coordinated the process involving the Council’s five permanent members (P-5) since the Preparatory Committee, continuing the excellent work that took place under the Chinese leadership. The United Kingdom hosted a P-5 Directors General conference in London from 12 to 13 February and welcomed there Ambassador Gustavo Zlauvinen and other members of the Bureau for a fruitful exchange of views. P-5 discussions at that conference covered all three pillars of the NPT and included improving transparency and P-5 cooperation on a range of initiatives. Thirdly, in the light of our focus on transparency, the conference included a day for civil society and think tanks to engage with P-5 officials and discuss those important issues.”
2020-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8733 (2020) · source
“We want to ensure that the upcoming 2020 Review Conference of the Parties to the NPT allows us to hold full and frank discussions with the greatest number of States parties on all pillars of the NPT, reflects on the successes made so far, and sets a collective direction for the future. Our ambition is that the State parties agree a consensus outcome. Let me highlight four of the United Kingdom’s contributions to a successful Review Conference. First, we will submit a final national report, setting out how we have implemented the NPT across all three pillars during this cycle. We submitted a draft version during the 2019 NPT Preparatory Committee and have hosted a series of feedback sessions with a wide range of State and civil society representatives and academics.”
2020-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8733 (2020) · source
“I thank Mrs. Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, and Ambassador Zlauvinen for their briefings. Over the past 50 years, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) has minimized the proliferation of nuclear weapons, provided the framework to enable significant levels of nuclear disarmament and allowed States to develop secure, safe and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. It has played a crucial role in providing the basis for our discussions on Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The United Kingdom is committed to the NPT review process and will work with all partners for a positive outcome.”
2020-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8733 (2020) · source
“Somalia and its international supporters face a huge task in the coming years in delivering inclusive national elections and a transition to Somali-led security. The United Kingdom will continue to stand firmly alongside Somalia, the United Nations and the African Union in those efforts. But without substantial progress, both on elections and on consensus-building between the different levels of Government, there is a risk that our next discussion on Somalia will be a much more difficult discussion. So, let us do everything we can to prevent that from happening.”
2020-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8731 (2020) · source
“We call on the international community to provide more funding for the humanitarian response and to step up efforts to build resilience and long-term climate-mitigation initiatives in Somalia. I note that in the past 12 months, the United Kingdom has given over $400 million to the various humanitarian, political and security requirements in Somalia. Finally, let me pay tribute to the United Nations for its continued support under the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia. We pay tribute to the ongoing commitment and sacrifices of AMISOM troop-contributing countries and, of course, the Somali national security forces in their fight against Al-Shabaab. They are brave and tenacious men and women who are fighting for the security not only of Somalia but of the region and us all.”
2020-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8731 (2020) · source
“Rapid progress on security reforms is vital, including commitment to the delivery of a Somali-led transition plan and the implementation of a national security architecture. It is crucial that the drawdown of troops of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) happen in line with the threat assessments on the ground. This approach was not taken last time and it had a negative impact, so better consultation is important. We remain concerned about the ongoing climate- and conflict-induced humanitarian crisis. The current desert locust crisis in Somalia and the wider region is extremely worrying and the United Kingdom is coordinating closely with partners to limit the locust infestation and mitigate the impact of crop losses through surveillance and spraying operations.”
2020-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8731 (2020) · source
“We are concerned that a divided Galmudug with multiple claims to leadership will be harder to govern, and compromise must be made to avoid the risk of instability and conflict. We also urge all parties in Jubaland to ease tensions and address differences through dialogue and compromise. Let me turn to security and security reform. We are at a critical juncture in discussions on the long-term future of international support to Somali security and how we can support Somalia in taking the lead. The Council mandated an independent review of Somali security after 2021, and we urge regional partners to engage in consultations with Somalia, the United Nations and the African Union to help deliver a joint and unified solution for a post-2021 security model in Somalia.”
2020-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8731 (2020) · source
“We believe that it is primarily through dialogue and cooperation between the Federal Government of Somalia and the federal member states that a resolution can be reached. That is simply essential to achieving a peaceful and agreed process for the transition of power. Elections are a crucial step towards a political settlement in Somalia and a broader constitutional review. We therefore call on the Federal Government and the federal member states to engage constructively and urgently in consensus building in order to agree on how the electoral model will be implemented. In order to ensure broader stability in Somalia, we urge all stakeholders in Galmudug state to engage in dialogue on local reconciliation so as to preserve the significant efforts and progress of the last seven months.”
2020-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8731 (2020) · source
“These questions need to be answered in order to make the electoral law technically implementable and fundable if we are to deliver peaceful, inclusive, credible and transparent one-person one-vote elections, in line with the provisional Constitution of Somalia. We regret that the National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC) is unable to operate freely in all federal member states. The NIEC is an independent and impartial technical body empowered by the Constitution, and we call on Somali authorities at all levels to cooperate fully with the NIEC, to admit the registration of political parties and to take steps to ensure media freedoms. That is an example of one of the problems currently facing us in Somalia.”
2020-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8731 (2020) · source
“But that is only the first step. There are essential aspects of the elections that are still unresolved, and we are concerned about spoilers trying to push the process off track. It is therefore vital that the Somali Parliament take urgent steps to make progress on the passage of the amendments to the Political Parties Law, which will allow parties to register for the elections and to address other unresolved questions in the electoral law, including the definition of constituencies, the allocation of seats to constituencies, how the 30 per cent quota of seats for women — to which Somalia has committed — will be implemented and the management of seats in Banaadir and Somaliland.”
2020-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8731 (2020) · source
“Let me start with one of the most positive elements to arise recently and congratulate the Government of Somalia on reaching the major milestone of eligibility for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, and let me commend the cooperation between the Federal Government and the federal member states on the financial reforms that have enabled them to reach this milestone. It is vital now that this cooperation between the Federal Government and the federal member states deepens and extends to political and security reform, which will allow Somalia to fulfil the criteria necessary for debt relief. Let me also welcome the recent enactment of the electoral law, which President Farmajo has noted was “a chance to execute democratic rights for one-person one-vote in the forthcoming 2021 elections”.”
2020-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8731 (2020) · source
“I would like to thank our briefers. I thought Dan Smith’s briefing was particularly interesting. It is a helpful reminder that it is rarely the case in States like Somalia that all of a country’s problems can be fixed through a top-down political process in smoke-filled rooms in the capital city and that actually a bottom-up community-based wider contextual understanding is important. I thought Mr. Smith’s point around the need for the Security Council to think about conflict prevention is something that we struggle with sometimes. Thinking climate risk is part of that. The data input is also a very important aspect; I hope we can take that forward collectively.”
2020-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8731 (2020) · source
“That would take us far too long, but I would just say to the Russian representative that tackling terrorism can never be and is not an excuse or a reason for widespread attacks on civilians or for breaching international law. In conclusion, the terrorist threat is constantly evolving, and we must be ready to adapt our tools. However, one constant remains that human rights and counter-terrorism are mutually reinforcing and not contradictory goals. The Council has developed a robust and balanced counter-terrorism framework through its resolutions. We should continue our collective efforts to ensure that the measures we take do not contribute to exacerbating future challenges.”
2020-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8716 (2020) · source
“I would just say that I was a little surprised to hear my Chinese colleague say that the Security Council was not an appropriate forum for the discussion of Xinjiang. At the Security Council meeting on 25 September 2019, under the Russian presidency, State Councillor and Minister for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi proactively raised the situation in Xinjiang and described China’s actions as both “preventive counter-terrorism” and “implementing the United Nations Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism” (S/PV.8626, p.13). He spoke third that day, after the representatives of Kuwait and Belgium, neither of whom had raised Xinjiang in their interventions. It was therefore China’s choice to place the issue on our table here. I do not wish to revisit yesterday’s meeting (see S/PV.8715).”
2020-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8716 (2020) · source
“We recognize, of course, that China may have terrorism concerns, but it is our view that its actions are disproportionate and indiscriminate and, moreover, that they will be counterproductive in the long-term because they risk exacerbating ethnic tensions and creating conditions that lead to radicalization and terrorism. I note that Under-Secretary-General Voronkov visited China and went to Xinjiang, although he did not have access to the camps, and that such a visit was not on CTED’s agenda. We therefore encourage China to agree an early date for a visit by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Bachelet and to guarantee her free and unfettered access to Xinjiang.”
2020-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8716 (2020) · source
“Indeed, the council has repeatedly stressed the importance of human rights in counter-terrorism and determined early on through policy guidance in 2006 that human rights is an important component of CTED’s work. We also commend United Nations entities for their many initiatives in ensuring that measures to prevent violent extremism integrate human rights and gender as cross-cutting issues. We continue in that context to have strong concerns with regard to the human rights situation in Xinjiang, including the extrajudicial detention of more than 1 million Uyghur Muslims and other minorities in so-called political re-education camps, systematic restrictions on Uyghur culture and the practice of Islam, and extensive and invasive surveillance targeting minorities, much of which has been revealed in the Chinese Government’s own papers.”
2020-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8716 (2020) · source
“It is important that those visits not be simply for show, but produce detailed reports and recommendations, which can aid our counter- terrorism approaches. The United Kingdom has sadly faced two attacks in recent months from Da’esh-inspired terrorism. I want to pay tribute today to members of the public and police in the United Kingdom who confronted those terrorists and prevented greater harm. The United Kingdom will ensure that we take measures to tackle all forms of terrorism, including from the extreme right wing. As we continue to review our own report from CTED, we expect that all visited States will work towards the finalization of their reports. The Secretary-General’s report rightly highlights the importance of respect for human rights in effective counter-terrorism policies.”
2020-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8716 (2020) · source
“It is important to win over hearts and minds, and failure risks reversion to terrorism in the future. I know that Under-Secretary- General Voronkov very strongly supports the role of civil society in tackling terrorism. Following the recent CTED visit to Beijing, we commend it for completing assessment visits now to all permanent members of the Council, as well, of course, to many of its current, previous and — I dare say it — future members. We welcome CTED’s constructive engagement in facilitating those visits and that of those Members of the United Nations. The United Kingdom, for its part, invited a second follow-up CTED visit in October last year, covering a robust and comprehensive agenda.”
2020-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8716 (2020) · source
“We were therefore pleased that recent resolutions reflect new methods of terrorist financing and links of criminality, and welcome the increased focus on the protection of principled humanitarian action. We encourage the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the United Nations Office of Counter- Terrorism to continue developing their work on that aspect. The Secretary-General’s report illustrates the complex and multiple roles of women and the need to ensure gendered analyses and responses. We heard today the brave testimony of Ms. Freij and the invaluable contributions of women on the front lines. Ms. Freij reminded us not only of the importance of ensuring that there is a security response to terrorism, but also that there is a need to build societies’ resilience, including through civil society.”
2020-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8716 (2020) · source
“In that regard, we welcome the unanimous renewal in September of the mandate of the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (UNITAD) and very much support its work on supporting victims and collecting critical evidence to hold Da’esh accountable for its horrific crimes. On the subject of repatriations, the United Kingdom works with all concerned to facilitate the return of unaccompanied or orphaned children, where feasible. Each case is considered on an individual basis, subject to national security concerns. As we adopt our tools, so do the terrorists.”
2020-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8716 (2020) · source
“With the appointment of the successor to Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi and the emergence of strong affiliates and supporters from West Africa to South-East Asia, their core narrative or brand continues. The United Kingdom will continue to work with coalition partners to bring an end to Da’esh once and for all. The United Kingdom has been clear that individuals who have fought for or supported Da’esh must face justice and accountability in the most appropriate jurisdiction, which is often in the region where crimes took place. We continue to pursue all available avenues with international partners and reaffirm the need to implement resolution 2396 (2017).”
2020-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8716 (2020) · source
“Let me, as always, thank our briefers — Under-Secretary- General Voronkov, Executive Director Coninsx and Ms. Freij — for their briefings today. I would also like to thank the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1526 (2004) and 2253 (2015) concerning the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh), Al-Qaida and the Taliban and associated individuals and entities for its very strong contribution to the Secretary-General’s report (S/2020/95). Let me say that we agree with the assessments set out in the report. Al-Qaida remains a destabilizing influence, and while Da’esh has lost territory, it remains a considerable threat, both militarily and politically.”
2020-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8716 (2020) · source
“The international community, including ASEAN, must remain united on the need for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to return to negotiations with the United States and must continue upholding United Nations sanctions agreed by the Council on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea until that country delivers concrete steps towards de-nuclearization. In conclusion, ASEAN is a dynamic, growing region. Economically, it has been predicted that ASEAN will become collectively the fourth largest economy in the world by 2030. It is our hope that by 2030, ASEAN economic might and potential will be matched also by its contribution to regional and global peace and security. The United Kingdom, for our part, stands ready to work towards that goal in partnership.”
2020-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8711 (2020) · source
“We welcome ongoing negotiations between ASEAN members and China to achieve a rules-based, cooperative and effective code of conduct in the South China Sea that is consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). We underline the importance of States complying with their international law obligations, particularly UNCLOS. Finally, on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, we are concerned at Kim Jong Un’s recent declaration that he no longer feels bound by the moratorium on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests.”
2020-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8711 (2020) · source
“More broadly, the United Kingdom welcomes ASEAN’s continued engagement on the Rohingya crisis, and we encourage ASEAN to focus on overseeing the implementation of the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State to help create conditions for the safe, voluntary and dignified return of Rohingya and build trust between Myanmar and the refugees in Cox’s Bazar. We urge the AHA Centre to work closely with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Rakhine and hope that there will be other opportunities for the Council and ASEAN to engage on how we make progress towards a lasting resolution to that crisis. Regarding the South China Sea, we call on all coastal States to take steps that reduce tensions and support maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability and safety in the region.”
2020-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8711 (2020) · source
“I want to touch briefly on three specific issues facing ASEAN and its wider neighbourhood, namely, Myanmar, the South China Sea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. On Myanmar, the Council will soon discuss the accountability issue further, following the International Court of Justice order and the report of Myanmar’s own independent commission of inquiry last week. For now, I reiterate that the United Kingdom encourages Myanmar to comply with the Court’s legally-binding provisional measures and to implement the commission’s recommendations.”
2020-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8711 (2020) · source
“At the nexus of those two issues — women in peacekeeping — we welcome in particular the commitment of Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs Marsudi to pursue reforms of national and United Nations policies that will increase the number of women in peacekeeping and strengthen their role. With regard to climate change, ASEAN States recognize that climate change increasingly poses threats to our individual and collective security. The United Kingdom and Italy, as the Chairs of the twenty- sixth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) in Glasgow later this year, are looking forward to working with ASEAN partners to secure ambitious COP26 outcomes and to accelerate actions to reduce emissions, protect our environment and adapt to the consequences of climate change.”
2020-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8711 (2020) · source
“On peacekeeping, we welcome the fact that ASEAN States contribute 5,000 peacekeepers currently serving in United Nations peace operations and that they have all endorsed the Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) initiative. We hope to work together more on future training partnerships, including through the A4P light coordination mechanism, to further develop peacekeepers’ critical capabilities and implement all eight pillars of the A4P. Concerning women, peace and security, we welcome the establishment of the ASEAN Women for Peace Registry and ASEAN member States’ efforts to ensure that women are at the negotiating tables during peace processes.”
2020-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8711 (2020) · source
“We have bilateral defence relationships with nearly every ASEAN member, and the Royal Navy has maintained an almost unbroken presence in the region for the last two years. That is say nothing about our wider people-to- people links, partnerships on trade and investment, development, science and innovation. Since ASEAN’s establishment, the organization has played a key role in maintaining peace and security in South-East Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific region. But ASEAN also makes a tangible and valuable contribution to global peace and security. I want to touch on three areas of particular relevance to the Council’s work, namely, peacekeeping; women, peace and security; and, of course, climate change.”
2020-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8711 (2020) · source
“I am grateful to Secretaries-General Guterres and Dato Lim Jock Hoi for their briefings. The United Kingdom has a strong and long- standing relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). We have been party to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia since 2012, and just last year we appointed our first dedicated ambassador to ASEAN, John Lambe. We work together closely on issues that matter to our mutual peace and security. The United Kingdom is an ASEANAPOL dialogue partner. We second United Kingdom staff to work on humanitarian assistance at the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management and on cybersecurity at the ASEAN Cyber Centre.”
2020-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8711 (2020) · source
“It is particularly distressing that there have been at least 50 attacks on health-care facilities, health-care workers and ambulances since April last year. All parties to the conflict must comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law. The Berlin Conference was a vital step in bringing together key international players. They agreed to support the United Nations-led political process and they pledged to respect the United Nations arms embargo. However, as Special Representative Salamé just highlighted, the situation on the ground is extremely worrying. The risks in Libya are high. It is vital that the international community and the Council show unity and put momentum in support of UNSMIL and the United Nations-led political process. There is no alternative solution.”
2020-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8710 (2020) · source
“We also support UNSMIL’s work to convene the political forum and to establish the Libyan expert economic commission. Both initiatives will provide opportunities to address the political and economic questions that lie at the core of the conflict. We condemn the blockading of oil terminals in the east of Libya, which has led to the declaration of force majeure by the National Oil Corporation. The consequent loss of oil revenue will lead only to the further suffering of Libyans. The report of the Secretary-General (S/2020/41) underlines the worsening human rights situation in Libya. Let me, at this point, echo Special Representative Salamé’s call for clarity on the whereabouts of Siham Sergewa.”
2020-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8710 (2020) · source
“It is essential that these commitments are adhered to. It has been only 11 days since Berlin, but it is clear from Special Representative Salamé’s briefing that the Libyan people are in grave peril and that the situation has become more fragile and more dangerous. Libya stands on the brink of disaster, and we are gravely concerned by reports of breaches of the arms embargo in recent days. Member States have obligations to abide by the arms embargo imposed by the Security Council. We are also deeply concerned by reports of increased fighting over recent days, which underlines the urgency of the Joint Military Commission’s 5+5 meeting, convened by UNSMIL, to agree to a permanent ceasefire. It is essential that both sides commit to participating in these talks without delay.”
2020-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8710 (2020) · source
“Let me start by thanking the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Mr. Ghassan Salamé, for his briefing and for the ongoing efforts of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to broker an end to the conflict in Libya. I would like to assure Special Representative Salamé of the United Kingdom’s full and unwavering support and appreciation for his untiring efforts in this regard. Let me also thank Germany for hosting the Berlin Conference and for all its efforts to bring international leaders together in order to create the right environment for a ceasefire and a resumption of the political process. Let me start with Berlin. We particularly welcome the conclusions document agreed in Berlin, which includes a commitment by all to refrain from interfering in the conflict or in the internal affairs of Libya.”
2020-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8710 (2020) · source
“It is outrageous that we continue to talk about attacks against civilian targets in the north-west, despite the repeated concerns expressed by the United Nations, members of the Council and the ongoing investigation of the Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic. The United Kingdom reiterates that all parties, including those around this table, must uphold international humanitarian law and further calls for the Commission of Inquiry’s findings to be made public. The only hope for Syria is for the regime to reverse its behaviour and commit to a political process that promotes reconciliation and avoids further needless conflict, repression and death. Their Russian protectors must get the Syrian authorities back to the table.”
2020-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8708 (2020) · source
“Instead, I would suggest that a double standard is when one says that they are concerned about humanitarian issues while bombing the country. The Syrian authorities, emboldened by the support of the Russian Federation, have refused to pursue any course of action other than a military one. They have used the fight against terrorism to justify continued, disproportionate attacks against areas heavily populated by civilians and to justify attacks against civilian objects such as schools, hospitals and marketplaces — a practice of which the Council demanded the immediate cessation in resolution 2254 (2015). Right now, despite the announcement of various ceasefires, air strikes continue in Idlib where, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, more than 358,000 people have been displaced since December.”
2020-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8708 (2020) · source
“At that meeting in August, we set out the immediate steps that the Syrian authorities could take to make an important gesture of reconciliation. We would remind the Syrian authorities of our call for them to immediately release all those arbitrarily detained, to provide lists of detainees and their location to the United Nations, and to grant the International Committee of the Red Cross access to detention facilities. Speaking of humanitarian issues, I found the earlier comments about Western double standards to be rather strange. The United Kingdom has given over $4 billion in humanitarian aid since 2012 and the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany fund over 60 per cent of the United Nations humanitarian response plan across all of Syria, including regime-held areas.”
2020-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8708 (2020) · source
“After years of hard work by the United Nations Special Envoy to negotiate the composition and rules of the Constitutional Committee, in November we all welcomed the announcement that an agreement had been reached and that the Committee would convene in Geneva. It was a historic moment that would open the door to the entire political process, and yet it is with deep disappointment — despite the best efforts of the Special Envoy — that, after two meetings, the regime is yet again refusing to engage. On other aspects of resolution 2254 (2015), there has been a similar lack of engagement. Despite the Security Council meeting in August to highlight the specific issue of detainees (see S/PV.8593), no progress has been made.”
2020-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8708 (2020) · source
“The Security Council has met month after month for over four years to support the efforts of the Special Envoy to find a political solution pursuant to resolution 2254 (2015). The success of that process depends on the genuine will of all parties to find a solution, as well as efforts to make progress on all aspects of the process in tandem. Yesterday, the United Kingdom hosted envoys from the Syria small group, alongside Mr. Nasser Al-Hariri. We were all in agreement that a genuine political settlement remains the only solution to the Syrian conflict, but it is clear to the United Kingdom that the key ingredient to such a solution — the genuine will of the Syrian regime — is missing.”
2020-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8708 (2020) · source