YouSaid · the spoken record

Amde

lines on the record: 309
first: 2018-09-13
most recent: 2022-12-14
sittings or episodes: 42
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

“If it had gone according to the plan we envisioned, the ceasefire would have allowed us to embark on rebuilding and reconstruction in the region and repair and reconnect the infrastructure and economic apparatuses disrupted by the TPLF. In addition, the children in Tigray would have already begun preparations for the school year for 2014, according to the Ethiopian Calendar — 2021 in the Gregorian calendar — which is set to begin in September. We would have also liked to see the members of the TPLF, who had signalled their willingness for peace, successfully advance their position and convince their peers to abide by the law and follow the path of peace.”
2021-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8843 (2021) · source
“Nevertheless, despite numerous provocations, the Ethiopian Government had exercised maximum restraint until the group attacked and looted military barracks. Over the past nine months, as the Government had sought to uphold the constitutional order, the TPLF refused to disarm and surrender to law-enforcement authorities, doubling down on its destructive agenda. The unilateral humanitarian ceasefire declared in June and the subsequent withdrawal of the National Defence Forces from Tigray were supposed to bring calm to the region and its people and provide space for the TPLF leadership to reconsider its ruinous course. Our plan was to allow for a peaceful farming season in Tigray. It was supposed to pave the way for the uninhibited flow of humanitarian assistance for people in need.”
2021-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8843 (2021) · source
“We must recall that it was the sustained popular protests that dislodged the TPLF from political power in 2018, ushering in a period of promise for transition, The TPLF was dislodged not only from power but also from the hearts and minds of the Ethiopian people, owing to the non-evolving and destructive ideology that it seeks to preserve in the Ethiopian body politic. The people of Ethiopia transcended those political elites that stand for division over unity, oligarchy over equal opportunity and favouritism over merit. When it lost power, the TPLF retreated to Tigray, taking our people there hostage. For, as the saying goes: “For those accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression”.”
2021-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8843 (2021) · source
“In a previous discussion (see S/PV.8812) on the situation of my country, I tried to give members of the Security Council a broader perspective on the problem that we are facing. The current state of affairs in Ethiopia did not transpire overnight. It was in the making long before the TPLF unleashed its attack on the ENDF northern command in the dark hours of 4 November. The genesis of the current conflict dates back at least three decades. Since 1991, the TPLF has maintained hegemonic control over the political, security and economic life of the Ethiopian people. During that time, the TPLF has faced resistance at every turn in all corners of Ethiopia.”
2021-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8843 (2021) · source
“I thank you, Mr. President, for allowing my country’s participation in this meeting. I also thank the Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, for his briefing, and I acknowledge the presence of Under-Secretary-Genera1 Martin Griffiths. On World Humanitarian Day last week, the Secretary-General emphasized the situation in my country. The Government of Ethiopia appreciates the Secretary-General’s good-faith engagement. We appreciate his call for ending the suffering of the Ethiopian people. The same objective will continue to drive the efforts of the Government of Ethiopia, as has been the case in the past nine months following the treasonous and unforgettable attack against the northern command of the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).”
2021-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8843 (2021) · source
“What we really need at the moment is the support, understanding and solidarity of the international community. That is why I want to conclude by appealing to international partners and friends of our country to continue scaling up humanitarian support to meet humanitarian needs across Ethiopia. The meeting rose at 4.45 p.m.”
2021-07-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8812 (2021) · source
“There is unfinished grieving and mourning, such as with regard to the Mai Kadra massacre by the TPLF youth group and the suffering of the people of Wollega in Tigray, who have been evicted from their ancestral land over the past 30 years. Therefore, there needs to be proper closure. The political culture of impunity should have closure. We know that overcoming our own challenges is what exults us as a nation. What would alleviate us as a nation is our commitment and the commitment of our people to stand for peace. We might be poor, but we also have hope. We are people with cherished values. For Ethiopia, hope is still alive. In conclusion, I hope the Council will look at the situation in my country in the right perspective, understand the magnitude of the challenges we face and recognize the important step we have taken in that regard.”
2021-07-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8812 (2021) · source
“In contrast, I would like to make it clear that the political pressure and hasty bilateral coercive measures against Ethiopia are unacceptable and violate basic tenets of international law. Excessive pressure will push this ancient country of 110 million people to the precipice and deprive it of any possibility of recovery. The people of Ethiopia are indeed watching and should not perceive that our pronouncements are pushing them to the abyss and endless political division. For Ethiopia, this is a moment of introspection, a genuine revisiting of our successes and challenges. The main issue is how to heal our wounds.”
2021-07-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8812 (2021) · source
“In that connection, the Ethiopian Government is developing a road map for inclusive dialogue to ensure lasting peace and stability. I want to reaffirm my Government’s resolve to ensuring accountability for human rights abuses and crimes committed in the Tigray region. We will make sure that impunity is not tolerated. We remain committed to working with all bilateral and multilateral partners through genuine partnership and an understanding that the Government of Ethiopia is more than capable of overcoming those challenges. We encourage Council members to play a constructive role in supporting the Ethiopian Government in the implementation of the humanitarian ceasefire. We again thank Council members that have welcomed that positive gesture.”
2021-07-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8812 (2021) · source
“In the same vein, we take our responsibility to ensure accountability and remedy those problems with maximum seriousness. For absolute clarity, I would like to reaffirm my Government’s firm commitment to those core responsibilities of the State. There certainly are internal as well as external factors that play into the security challenges we are facing. The external security threats against us — through no fault of provocation on our part — are complicating our internal political dynamics and distracting us from key national priorities. I wish to implore the Council to act with full awareness of the external challenges Ethiopia is facing. Following the organization of peaceful and successful national elections this month, efforts are now geared towards building a strong, united and democratic country.”
2021-07-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8812 (2021) · source
“Ethiopia faced the inevitable journey of addressing the political underpinnings of what we had experienced last November when our defense forces were attacked from within. The immediate need lies in creating an environment for the delivery of much-needed humanitarian assistance. In that regard, the Government will continue to exert maximum efforts and allocate the available resources to that end. We welcome and appreciate the concern expressed by Council members for our compatriots in Tigray who have regrettably sustained the burden of the law enforcement operation due to the cowardly tactics of the TPLF group. It is important to underline that the wounding and suffering of any Ethiopian is unacceptable. The shortcomings in preventing that suffering are not something that the Government belittles.”
2021-07-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8812 (2021) · source
“We believe we have now created a space for unfettered humanitarian assistance and the proper conduct of the agricultural planting season. In addition, we will augment humanitarian efforts in the region, including the distribution of food and non-food items from warehouses across Tigray. The National Disaster Risk Management Commission and the five humanitarian agencies deployed in all woredas of the region are set to resume functioning. Furthermore, we are in the process of adapting the humanitarian assistance guidelines and coordination mechanism to the new developments. Public services will also resume once we create a situation for the safe operation of the infrastructure and its operators.”
2021-07-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8812 (2021) · source
“The TPLF group that we were pursuing continued its belligerence to protect a few individuals. In furtherance of its agenda, it began conscripting young and elderly civilians, women and men, to fight highly trained and armed men of their country. That exposed people in Tigray to a military confrontation they were not prepared for. Furthermore, it posed a risk for disruption to the agricultural season. The group’s ethnically charged tactics of pitting the people against the Government have also been found to be detrimental to our innate social fabric. As a result, the Government of Ethiopia, as the bearer of the primary responsibility to protect its people, made a difficult political decision to suspend active military operations in favour of safeguarding the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Ethiopian State.”
2021-07-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8812 (2021) · source
“On 28 June, the Government of Ethiopia decided to cease the active military engagement of the Ethiopian National Defense Force in the Tigray region. That decision for a humanitarian ceasefire was reached after a concerted deliberation with various stakeholders and partners. We hope that magnanimous and far-sighted decision will not be wasted by the irresponsible conduct of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) group, which the Government of Ethiopia opted to tolerate for the sake of the people of Tigray and to alleviate the humanitarian situation in the region. The decision to cease military operations is hoped to create a conducive environment for humanitarian operations in Tigray. It will also pave the way for an inclusive national dialogue.”
2021-07-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8812 (2021) · source
“The very first requisite for that onerous responsibility is to encourage dialogue and prevent escalation through constructive engagement and the reinforcement of achievements. This meeting has been called at a time when the Government has taken bold measures and political decisions to meet the needs and well-being of its people affected by the law enforcement operation in Tigray. That measure should have encouraged our friends to give support and de-escalate the unhelpful pressure. Equally, we wish to express our appreciation to everyone for recognizing our resolve for peace behind the difficult initiative we have taken. Since the Council held the informal interactive dialogue on the humanitarian situation in Ethiopia, there are critical developments that deserve the Council’s recognition and constructive outlook.”
2021-07-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8812 (2021) · source
“Let me begin by congratulating you, Mr. President, on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of July. I assure you of my delegation’s full support. My country, Ethiopia, is undergoing a significant transformation that requires delicate and context- driven handling of its domestic affairs. In our bilateral meetings with members of the Council and the informal dialogue we had last month, we exchanged views and concerns — all of which the Government of Ethiopia approached and acted upon in a constructive manner. Therefore, I am surprised by the rationale in calling for this open meeting. We are fully cognizant of the responsibility of the Council to work towards international peace and security.”
2021-07-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8812 (2021) · source
“Let me take this opportunity to underline Ethiopia’s commitment to multilateralism, counter-terrorism collaboration and regional partnerships to address the structural root causes of extremism and terrorism.”
2020-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8743 (2020) · source
“A number of repressive laws, such as the charities and societies proclamation, the anti-terrorism law, the national election law and the mass media proclamation, have been revised and fundamentally amended to close gaps in the implementation of counter-terrorism measures. Measures have also been taken towards establishing a system of accountability for serious human rights abuses and accelerating the reform of the criminal justice system and the security service to make them independent of political control and influence. We understand that we must not remain complacent as a result of our modest successes. My Government is committed to building a just and equal system of governance that genuinely upholds the rights of citizens and ensures that the benefits of economic development are equally shared by all of our citizens.”
2020-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8743 (2020) · source
“It continues to possess a significant capacity to raise revenue and conduct lethal attacks. To eliminate that threat once and for all, we must continue to support the African Union Mission in Somalia, invest in strengthening the capacity of the Somali National Army and redouble our support for the Government of Somalia in this pivotal election year. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development is coordinating a regional response to the threat of terrorism through its comprehensive regional strategy, in line with the Secretary-General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism. International partners should reinforce their efforts through technical support and capacity-building, including in areas involving strategic communications. Finally, Ethiopia is currently engaged in considerable legal, economic and political reforms.”
2020-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8743 (2020) · source
“Stronger regional cooperation is needed in the areas of information- and intelligence-sharing and mechanisms for joint-border management. Such cooperation could also take the form of regional economic integration, the development of joint infrastructure projects and investment corridors. The Horn of Africa has turned a page for the better. Countries in the region are engaged in robust cooperation to consolidate peace and promote economic and social development, including through a comprehensive plan to combat and neutralize terrorism and other common threats they face, such as arms and human trafficking and drug smuggling. The international community must encourage and support those efforts. Al-Shabaab continues to inflict destruction in Somalia and remains a serious threat to the wider region.”
2020-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8743 (2020) · source
“The United Nations should continue to reinforce its partnership with the African Union (AU) and other regional and subregional organizations through dialogue, technical support and joint activities to respond to terrorist threats. The United Nations-AU partnership on the Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020 — one of the flagship projects under Agenda 2063 — must be further strengthened and expanded to other areas in line with all the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals. Climate change is further exacerbating competition over increasingly scarce resources, leading to communal conflicts and creating opportunities for terrorists to exploit. The effects of both terrorism and climate change transcend national boundaries. We need robust inter-State cooperation to deny the merchants of terrorism safe havens.”
2020-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8743 (2020) · source
“The Security Council has continually emphasized the need for the full implementation of international legal frameworks and sanctions regimes by all Member States. That is indeed vital for the strengthening of global cooperation. However, it is equally important that stakeholders recognize that developing countries continue to face huge difficulties in properly implementing those legal frameworks. We believe that tangible capacity-building and technical assistance are needed for the effective implementation of international legal frameworks and to help Member States stay one step ahead in countering the ever-evolving terrorist threat. The rise of terrorism and violent extremism in Africa continues to cause enormous loss of life and widespread destruction.”
2020-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8743 (2020) · source
“Accordingly, our strategies and efforts to combat terrorism and extremism must be holistic and comprehensive. Those efforts should be deployed in tandem with proactive steps to promote socioeconomic development, especially employment for youths, as well as effective poverty reduction and intercommunal violence-prevention strategies. Young people are often portrayed as the unfortunate victims or perpetrators of terrorism. However, as we have seen across Africa, young people are at the forefront of demanding change and better opportunities. They are our strongest partners in socioeconomic development. We must listen to their hopes and worries about the future. Most important, we must ensure that women and youth are actively and meaningfully involved in decision-making at all levels of society.”
2020-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8743 (2020) · source
“We express our solidarity with the people and the Government of the Sudan. The enormous challenges we face in the fight against terrorism should compel us to forge meaningful international cooperation to counter and prevent violent extremism. However, it is important to note that the root causes of radicalization and extremism are very much local. Terrorists thrive where there is social exclusion and socioeconomic marginalization of minorities and disadvantaged groups, and where State authority is either weak or inexistent. The rise of intolerant speech and hate-filled narratives, disseminated through the Internet and social media, also contribute to increasing social and political polarization, at times leading to communal conflicts. Unless we deal with those and other underlying causes, our efforts will always come up short.”
2020-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8743 (2020) · source
“Let me begin by warmly congratulating you, Mr. President, on your country’s assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of March. We also appreciate your thoughtful invitation to hear from African voices on today’s very important topic. We thank Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo, Ambassador Fatima Mohammed and Mr. Abdoulaye Dieye for their insightful briefings. We welcome the adoption earlier today of presidential statement S/PRST/2020/5, on the issue of countering terrorism and extremism in Africa. Terrorism is a global menace. Terrorists continue to adapt their tactics, generate financing, wreak havoc and retain considerable sway across national boundaries. May I take this opportunity to denounce, in the strongest terms, the assassination attempt on the Prime Minister of the Sudan.”
2020-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8743 (2020) · source
“To conclude, the global concerns and realities of our time require us to reaffirm, with one voice, our solemn commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. The ban on inter-State war in the United Nations Charter has so far contributed to forestalling another world war. In these trying times, we must once again resolve to maintain that trajectory. It will not be easy, but we must show greater wisdom and not be deterred by temporary waves of populism and unilateral tendencies that could undermine the multilateral system and the international law that it is based on. Let me take this opportunity to underline Ethiopia’s unwavering commitment to the enduring tenets of the United Nations Charter and to playing its part fully, as it has done for more than seven decades.”
2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source
“In the Horn of Africa, sweeping political reforms and the region-wide rapprochement initiated by my country has rekindled hopes for lasting stability and a new era of regional cooperation. There is now positive momentum and a range of possibilities for progress towards regional economic integration. The Security Council has recognized those positive developments. That recognition must be followed by concrete support as the countries of the region strive to advance peace and prosperity. Countries in the region must be encouraged to deepen and institutionalize the political and economic reforms that they have initiated, including through the lifting of unilateral embargoes and by de-securitizing the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.”
2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source
“In our contemporary context, that entails addressing the root causes of conflicts, which increase the vulnerability of States. Such causes include political, economic and social exclusion, particularly of young people, women and marginalized groups; high rates of unemployment; rapid urbanization; deficits in governance; the mismanagement of diversity; and the competition for increasingly scarce natural resources. Those challenges are further exacerbated by weak State institutions and the lack of capacity to deliver for a population that increasingly demands its rights and the efficient delivery of public services. The complex and protracted nature of today’s conflicts means that domestic crises are often not contained within national borders and the resulting spillover may take the form of mass migration or a refugee crisis.”
2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source
“Partnership forms the foundational basis for a more resilient global and regional security architecture that will enable the United Nations to respond to the aspirations of “We, the peoples”. While we need to deepen and institutionalize cooperation between the United Nations and AU, we must also be willing to go beyond the current focus on peace and security and pursue robust collaboration in other areas. As the primary organ entrusted by the Charter with the responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, the Security Council must embrace the changing global dynamics and recommit to pursuing robust political solutions through meaningful partnerships with regional and subregional organizations. The Charter attaches great importance to prevention.”
2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source
“The question then is how we make this premier multilateral Organization fit for purpose in the twenty-first century. We believe that bolstering partnerships at all levels is critical to revitalize the United Nations system. Member States must show serious commitment to the reform of the United Nations. We should use the occasion of the seventy-fifth anniversary to develop and strengthen partnership and cooperation, particularly with regional and subregional organizations. In that regard, the United Nations-AU strategic partnership has shown promising potential, including in the context of the implementation of the African Union’s goal of silencing the guns by 2020.”
2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source
“Today, we are facing unprecedented challenges and threats, ranging from terrorism and violent extremism to transnational organized crime, unilateralism, protectionism and the weaponization of digital technology, including the use of social media for nefarious purposes. The rise of poverty and inequality, the spread of pandemic diseases, the impact of climate change and other socioeconomic challenges continue to have serious ramifications for our collective security. The need for revitalized multilateralism has never been greater. However, to remain effective, functional and relevant in the face of highly dynamic global events, the post-war international system must continually reform and evolve. That is why we need a renewed commitment to the multilateral system and the efficacy of the United Nations system.”
2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source
“It has had its share of challenges and shortcomings. However, in spite of those challenges — or maybe even because of them — it remains the only truly global multilateral body dedicated to safeguarding international peace and security, promoting respect for human rights and ensuring sustainable development for all. In peacekeeping, the United Nations continues to make enormous contributions. As a leading troop- contributing country, my country has, over the years, deployed more than 90,000 troops in more than 11 United Nations and African Union (AU) missions to safeguard international peace and security. Currently, there are more than 8,000 Ethiopian troops and police officers serving in a number of missions. There has, of course, been a groundswell of change in the global geopolitical landscape since the founding of the United Nations.”
2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source
“In 1945, Ethiopia was one of the only four African States to sign the Charter of the United Nations to establish a new world order based on international law and cooperation. It has indeed been an indispensable multilateral forum for advancing collective security and promoting sustainable development. Nearly 75 years later, the grand principles laid down by its founders — sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non-intervention and the peaceful settlement of disputes — remain pertinent and immutable. Its primary purposes, as defined in Article 1 of the Charter, also remain as relevant today as they were in 1945. In the intervening decades, the United Nations has recorded remarkable advances and progress in fostering peace, security and international cooperation.”
2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source
“Allow me to begin by thanking Viet Nam for convening this important debate on upholding the Charter of the United Nations. Let me join others in congratulating the newly elected members of the Security Council and wishing them success during their tenure. We thank the outgoing members, including two of the three African members of the Council — Côte d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea — as well as Kuwait, Peru and Poland for their important contributions to the work of the Council. The topic that you have chosen, Mr. President, could not be more relevant in the context of the current state of affairs in the international arena and the role that the United Nations and the Security Council play in that regard.”
2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source
“In that regard, we urge members of the Security Council to further strengthen United Nations- AU partnership around peace and security as a platform for conflict prevention and mediation on the continent.”
2019-10-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8633 (2019) · source
“In addition to empowering local communities, we are anchoring our peacebuilding initiatives on indigenous traditions such as the use of elders' councils and religious leaders, with the objective of reaching national consensus. We recognize that those efforts will not succeed without the active participation of women and youth. We would once again like to reiterate that, despite significant progress in recent years, these regional and national conflict-prevention objectives cannot be met by Africans alone, not least because ofa lack ofmaterial and financial resources. The international community, particularly the Security Council, whose primary function is the maintenance of international peace and security, should actively support national, regional and subregional efforts, based on the view that prevention is better than cure.”
2019-10-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8633 (2019) · source
“Ethiopia is committed to the implementation of the African Union's Peace and Security Architecture, as well as its flagship vision of Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020, both of which emphasize conflict prevention and the pacific settlement of disputes on the continent. In our subregion, Ethiopia has championed the goals of IGAD's Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism, which aims to prevent violent conflicts through structured and consistent early warning and early response. At the national level, over the past year and a half, Ethiopia has prioritized building peace, including by setting up a Cabinet-level ministry to ensure the implementation of peacebuilding measures in order to strengthen the rule of law and bolster the capacity of our security sectors.”
2019-10-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8633 (2019) · source
“The meaningful participation of youth in peacebuilding activities will deny armed and terrorist groups such as Al-Shabaab the chance to thrive by exploiting development and governance gaps. In some of the conflict zones on the African continent, the total absence of State structures and functioning institutions, as well as corruption and maladministration, have pushed a sizeable number of young people to considerjoining those terrorist groups. It is therefore critical to continue to invest in youth empowerment and to bolster State capacity and good governance initiatives at the local level, including in ungoverned spaces.”
2019-10-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8633 (2019) · source
“We again witnessed that conflict prevention and resolution are less costly, bringing hope, nurturing cooperation and giving us the momentum and serenity to reflect on wars being destructive and peacebuilding life and harmony. We believe that inclusivity and building national consensus are a foundation for successful conflict prevention in intra-State disputes. Peace endures when development is inclusive, when citizens' security is guaranteed, when women and young people are actively involved in decision-making and when barriers to their economic advancement are removed. We have seen the power and potential of young people as agents of positive change all across our region, most recently in Ethiopia and the Sudan, as well as across West African countries. We must listen to young people - their hopes, aspirations and concerns.”
2019-10-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8633 (2019) · source
“It therefore goes without saying that both the humanitarian and material losses resulting from conflicts are too great. That is why they should be stopped or minimized through conflict prevention, mediation and preventive diplomacy, which are by far the best tools we have at our disposal to avert the outbreak of crises. We recently witnessed the significance ofmediation in our region. The collective wisdom of the Sudanese people and the endeavours of the African Union, Ethiopia and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) resulted in facilitating peace and stability in the Sudan - blessed be the peacemakers.”
2019-10-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8633 (2019) · source
“At this juncture, I wish to recall that discussions in the Council are not showing satisfactory progress on the importance ofstrengthening the AU Peace and Security Architecture, including on the need for sustainable and predictable funding for AU peace support operations through mechanisms such as United Nations-assessed contributions. On balance, the use of preventive diplomacy by the United Nations system - particularly the Secretary- General's good offices - remains indispensable but underutilized in avoiding and containing crisis situations. The Security Council must also do more to support and promote national and regional conflict- prevention efforts. That is highly important given that the nature ofmodern conflicts tends to be transnational, especially where borders are porous, as is the case in many parts of Africa.”
2019-10-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8633 (2019) · source
“Ethiopia strongly believes that conflict prevention and mediation are critical tools for sustaining peace and development. Preventing the outbreak of conflicts and their recurrence are also the central pillars of the African Union Peace and Security Architecture. We believe that the fundamentals of cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union also he in the need to promote conflict prevention and in the primacy of political solutions, which centre on properly implementing the objectives of the Peace and Security Architecture, including through projects such as the African Continental Early Warning System, the targeted activities of the AU Mediation Support Unit and the work of the AU Panel of the Wise.”
2019-10-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8633 (2019) · source
“At the outset, I wish to congratulate South Africa on having assumed the presidency of the Security Council for the month of October. Our delegation wishes to assure you, Mr. President, of our fullest support and cooperation during your tenure. Let me once again thank you, Mr. President, for having organized this critically important debate. We hope that it will rekindle our aspirations for strong cooperation between the United Nations Security Council and the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council, especially in building capacity for preventive diplomacy. We thank Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Ambassador Mulamula and the two civil society representatives - Ms. Linda Vilakazi and Ms. Naledi Maite - for their comprehensive briefings and reflections.”
2019-10-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8633 (2019) · source
“In conclusion, I would like to reiterate our support for the Secretary-General's call on Member States to ensure that mitigation measures are put in place to prevent the six grave violations reported. We also support all measures that strengthen the accountability of perpetrators of crimes against children. I reaffirm Ethiopia's fullest commitment to continuing its work with relevant actors, both here in the United Nations and in the African Union, in order to extend and streamline the protection of children in armed conflict.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“We give utmost priority to providing support and treatment to victims of incidents, and we are entirely opposed to any impunity. I note that we have made some positive gains in our region. The signing in September 2018 ofthe Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan has had a considerable impact. The subsequent decrease in hostilities is contributing to improved humanitarian access, particularly to children and women. It is in that context that we would like to encourage the Special Representative of the Secretary- General to explore mechanisms to further strengthen the cooperation of her Office with the African Union Peace and Security Council, including consultative meetings aimed at ensuring the full implementation of plans of action signed with parties to an armed conflict.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“We strongly believe that such investigations must be consistent with the objectivity, accuracy and reliability criteria established by resolution 1612 (2005). It is our conviction that children must be protected from indiscriminate attacks as well as the impact of crossfire incidents during fighting in densely populated rural areas and urban centres. In that regard, Ethiopia subscribes without any exception to the principle of primary consideration for the protection of children and their interests. We take the importance of children's right to protection very seriously. Criminalizing the recruitment and use of children is part of our national legal system as well as our African conventions, not to mention our international obligations.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“Ethiopia is also ready to take corrective measures and learn from shortfalls by conducting in-depth investigations of any allegations against its forces serving in peacekeeping missions and to take action where appropriate. However, it is important that alleged incidents involving any peacekeepers be substantiated by complete investigations. Similar allegations have been investigated by AMISOM. in the past, and the investigators concluded that, "There are reasonable grounds to doubt that the alleged incidents took place unless any additional and convincing evidence comes forward". Conclusions like that strongly underline the need to base investigations on concrete evidence and for relevant United Nations agencies to work closely with peacekeeping missions and the troop-contributing countries concerned before publishing allegations.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“Let me re-emphasize that our troops are guided by the rules of engagement elaborated within the framework of our obligations under international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols I and II. We have also put in place a mechanism to ensure accountability in order to address any violations by troops deployed to any mission. Such a framework has, over the years, enabled us to properly and effectively address any protection challenges. I also wish to add that, as one of the largest refugee-hosting countries, Ethiopia continues to provide international protection to refugee children, including unaccompanied minors who have been forcibly displaced as a result of grave violations by parties to armed conflicts.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“As a major troop-contributing country to United Nations peace operations and African Union-led peace support operations, Ethiopia places great emphasis on deploying troops who have been adequately trained, vetted, equipped and instructed. We ensure that our peacekeepers in various operations, including the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), respect international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Ethiopian peacekeepers fully understand that disciplinary and judiciary powers will be exercised over them in the case of any violation. They operate within and abide by the broader principles of international humanitarian law and the principles of distinction and proportionality in all their operations.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“Their violent acts mean that the sisterly countries of Somalia and Nigeria remain among the most affected in terms of the recruitment and use of children for crime. That situation continues to pose real protection challenges for United Nations peacekeeping missions, as well as African-led peace support operations. In that context, I would like to underscore that Ethiopia attaches great importance to the protection of civilians, including the protection of children in armed conflict. The Government of Ethiopia is committed to the full implementation of obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law. We are also committed to the full implementation of resolution 1379 (2001) and subsequent resolutions on children and armed conflict.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source