YouSaid · the spoken record

Ban Ki-Moon

lines on the record: 39
first: 2018-02-21
most recent: 2021-04-19
sittings or episodes: 3
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

“I once again thank the Viet Nam presidency for convening this high-level open debate and inviting me to brief the Security Council today. Again, I count on your leadership.”
2021-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/394 (2021) · source
“As the coronavirus disease pandemic continues, it is now more important than ever to pursue multilateral and multilayered solutions to the security problems that we face, borne out of robust partnerships with the United Nations, its Member States and, particularly, regional organizations all working together. As regional conflicts continue to both emerge and deepen, the United Nations can no longer deal with all these crises on its own. This is why I believe that a partnership approach can best bear fruit for both conflict prevention and resolution. Now is the time for the Security Council and its regional partners to not only act together, but act decisively to prevent the worst — in Myanmar and beyond.”
2021-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/394 (2021) · source
“The Security Council has the responsibility to protect Myanmar’s civilian population in a context where the atrocities being committed may constitute crimes against humanity. The principle of the responsibility to protect should be seriously considered in ways that are appropriate to the Myanmar context, using a range of tools at the Council’s S/2021/394 disposal. Given the gravity and urgency of the situation, I believe the Secretary- General himself should use his good offices to engage directly with the Myanmar military to prevent an escalation of violence. The task ahead is daunting. It will require the collective and coordinated efforts of the United Nations, ASEAN and the wider region to avert catastrophe and instead help return Myanmar to the path of a peaceful, democratic transition. Let me conclude.”
2021-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/394 (2021) · source
“As a minimum, they should agree that a high-level ASEAN delegation will visit Myanmar to engage with all the relevant parties. It is equally vital that the Security Council move beyond statements to collective action, as has been stated by countries around the world. After the ASEAN special summit, the Council should monitor the situation closely to take follow-up actions. The Security Council cannot neglect its basic obligation to prevent a situation in which so many innocent people are being killed from deteriorating. As the former Secretary-General, I urge the Council to take immediate actions to halt the violence and bloodshed and initiate a process to restore peace and democracy in Myanmar. In particular, the permanent members should focus their attention on actions that can be taken to respond to the situation in Myanmar.”
2021-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/394 (2021) · source
“The principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign States should not be used as a pretext for inaction in the face of serious human rights abuses. ASEAN must make it clear to the Myanmar military that the current situation is so grave that it cannot be regarded only as an internal matter. The military’s use of lethal force and the gross violations of human rights being perpetrated against civilians are not compatible with the ASEAN Charter. Those actions are clear violations of international law and constitute a threat to the peace, security and stability of the region. According to news reports, General Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar will attend the ASEAN special summit on Myanmar, to be held in Indonesia on 24 April. I urge ASEAN leaders to take immediate and concerted actions at the summit.”
2021-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/394 (2021) · source
“I have been exploring with leaders in the region, as well as members of The Elders, a group of global leaders founded by Nelson Mandela, possible ways to help find a solution to the crisis. Based on those consultations, I recently made a request to the Myanmar authorities to visit the country, meet with all parties and try to help de-escalate the situation and find a route towards constructive dialogue. Unfortunately, my request was not accepted. The Myanmar authorities informed me that “the proposed visit will not be convenient at this moment due to the recent domestic situation”. To deal with the Myanmar situation, an effective and regional-led approach requires both unity and action. But, to date, ASEAN has been divided in its response to the situation in Myanmar.”
2021-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/394 (2021) · source
“I am still proud to have convened the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General on Myanmar in 2007, which helped spark democratic openings. After the deadly Cyclone Nargis caused unparalleled human suffering in Myanmar in 2008, no one could engage with the junta and time was slipping away to provide urgent humanitarian aid. Through concerted diplomatic efforts, I was able to gain entry to the country and scale up United Nations actions to the required level. I had a series of meetings with General Than Shwe and then Prime Minister General Thein Sein, who later became the President of Myanmar. That was possible only thanks to the full engagement of ASEAN in the process. Now, at a more decisive moment of need, I am sincerely appealing to ASEAN leaders to step up together with the United Nations to help the people and the country of Myanmar.”
2021-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/394 (2021) · source
“According to rights monitoring groups, more than 700 people, including 50 children, have been killed by security forces since the 1 February military takeover of Myanmar. I condemn the brutal use of lethal force against civilians and the detention of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, as well as thousands of protesters. The worsening situation in Myanmar represents a pivotal moment to showcase the utility of cooperation between the United Nations and its regional partners in maintaining peace and security and saving human lives. While serving S/2021/394 S/2021/394 as Secretary-General, I was actively engaged on the situation in Myanmar and its democratic transition from the very start of my tenure.”
2021-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/394 (2021) · source
“I worked side by side with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the African Union (AU), the League of Arab States (LAS), the Organization of American States, the European Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and other key regional organizations, including attending the majority of ASEAN, LAS and AU summit meetings. As a result of their geographical proximity and intimate knowledge of local dynamics, regional and subregional organizations are also essential United Nations partners in providing early-warning assessment of atrocity crimes. I believe that today’s Security Council debate is well timed, as both the United Nations and its regional partners now have a fleeting window to cooperate through strong action to halt the ongoing atrocities in Myanmar and prevent a further escalation of violence.”
2021-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/394 (2021) · source
“In that context, I commend the prioritization of prevention by Secretary- General Guterres and urge all members of the Security Council to scale up their support for his efforts in addressing the root causes of conflict and enhancing the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. During my decade-long tenure as Secretary-General of the United Nations, I worked tirelessly to enhance cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations with a view to scaling up conflict prevention and resolution.”
2021-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/394 (2021) · source
“At the same time, the United Nations, and multilateralism more broadly, has faced immense difficulties over the past few years in holistically addressing such crises, as some countries have unfortunately prioritized nationalism and isolationism over cooperation and partnership. Against that troubling backdrop, the role of cooperative partnerships between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations, as envisioned under Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, is all the more critical to helping to ensure the maintenance of international peace and security. In particular, regional and subregional organizations have unique and prominent roles to play in enhancing dialogue and confidence-building in conflict prevention and its resolution.”
2021-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/394 (2021) · source
“It is my great honour and privilege to speak to the Security Council today. My deep gratitude goes to Viet Nam for its initiative to hold this timely high-level open debate, as well as for extending an invitation for me to brief the Council today. Taking this opportunity, I extend my congratulations to President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on his inauguration on 5 April and wish him great success in the future. My special thanks also go to Secretary-General António Guterres and the other briefers who have shared their insights and expertise on this important topic. Today the international community collectively faces a plethora of monumental challenges. Those include, but are not limited to, an ongoing and deadly global pandemic, both long-standing and emerging conflict and security crises and a deepening climate emergency.”
2021-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/394 (2021) · source
“Even during the COVID-19 crisis, the ideals of sustaining peace and the underlying spirit of the twin resolutions — which empowers the crucial role of local communities, women and young people — should be further built upon. Indeed, I believe that the United Nations and its Member States have a generational opportunity to use this concept to help build back better, further catalyse greater inclusivity and steer humanity and our planet towards a more peaceful and sustainable and future. The United Nations must elevate its efforts to harness this pandemic as a gateway to a brighter world.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“An increased focus on the role of regional organizations in providing an effective forum for the prevention, early detection and response to potential conflicts is also important moving forward. There are also opportunities to make peacebuilding more inclusive by using digital technologies to bring together a much wider range of people — young people, women, people from remote areas or marginalized communities who might not be able to travel to traditional peace conferences. But this will work only if we can urgently address the digital divide, which is now ever-more important as a result of pandemic-induced lockdowns.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“Building on its work in support of West African countries during the 2014 Ebola outbreak, when I was Secretary-General, it should be encouraged to better fulfil its role in a few key areas. These include raising awareness of country-specific situations, bringing about integrated support and allowing United Nations actors to carve out political space and identify entry points for peacebuilding with an in-depth understanding of the operating contexts and priorities of specific countries. I welcome the PBC’s work to promote women and youth in the peacebuilding process, proving how a more inclusive, whole-of-society approach will ultimately yield better outcomes.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“However, it is also serving as an opportunity to promote greater discussions and activities on emerging threats such as pandemics, inequality and climate change in the peacebuilding process. In that regard, I am confident that the 2020 review on the United Nations peacebuilding architecture will assess the achievements made since 2015 and suggest ways to prevent the current global health crisis from reversing the hard-won peace gains. The pandemic has also shown that the United Nations must work more effectively with various partners, including regional organizations, international financial institutions, the private sector and civil society. The Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) is well positioned to help synergize such multi-stakeholder partnerships by making full use of its distinctive convening power.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“We need to address the inequalities in our own societies and the gaps in social protection. We see that this virus has flourished disproportionately among marginalized communities, such as migrants without access to decent health care or those working low-wage jobs — whether in the global South or in the richest countries in the world. In this regard, this experience must remind us that inclusive, just, peaceful societies — as envisaged by Sustainable Development Goal 16 — are the best way to deliver public health. This pandemic also demonstrates the genuine utility of sustaining peace and proves the benefits of enhancing the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. The COVID-19 crisis may be limiting United Nations peacebuilding operations.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“United Nations responses to the current pandemic should be in line with conflict sensitivity, which enables us to address patterns of systematic exclusion and the other root causes of conflicts. In addition, one of the major peacebuilding goals at the moment should be to strengthen the socioeconomic capacities of local communities and populations. I commend Secretary-General António Guterres for his leadership in maintaining momentum on sustaining peace, even during the pandemic. I also strongly support his plan to emphasize the global responsibility to build back better by strengthening health systems, eradicating extreme poverty, reducing inequalities and investing in resilient societies. The experience of this crisis should also spur us to change our priorities and our understandings of what threats and values really matter.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“In 2016, the Security Council and the General Assembly adopted historic joint resolutions on peacebuilding (resolution 2282 (2016) and General Assembly resolution 70/262), which, together with the Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, serve as the United Nations blueprint in assisting conflict-affected countries through peacebuilding efforts. The key messages from these landmark resolutions centre on the importance of prioritizing prevention, addressing the root causes of conflict and devising long-term, guiding strategies. This has offered an opportunity to increase the United Nations focus on preventing conflicts so that the systemic causes of conflicts, rather than just the symptoms, are holistically addressed. I believe these lessons learned can also be applied to our current response to COVID-19.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“But some will find ways to benefit; militant groups can recruit more easily when young people are desperate for any source of livelihood. And with more than 1.5 billion children missing school during lockdowns around the world, Save the Children has warned that 10 million kids may never return to school. This tragedy of lost opportunities will increase the scope for disaffection and radicalization in fragile societies. With these stark realities in mind, today’s debate is a timely opportunity to explore various ideas on how to dynamically respond to the current crisis and bolster international efforts to sustain peace in the post-COVID-19 era.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“For example, we already see Lebanon’s political and economic crisis being compounded by the economic effects on COVID-19 on tourism and trade, while Iraq’s budget is stretched thin because of the collapse in oil prices. I take this opportunity to extend my deepest condolences to the families and the people of Lebanon for the tragic loss of lives and terrible destruction caused by the recent explosion of chemicals. The World Food Programme has warned of the rising risk of famines in conflict zones. For instance, in the Sahel, there are alarming estimates that more than 50 million more people will face a food crisis because of the combination of conflict and COVID-19. The humanitarian impact is simply appalling.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“Meanwhile, as the pandemic places States under huge pressure, some see opportunities to ramp up attacks — from the surge in violence by Boko Haram and other militant groups in Nigeria, to growing mob violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to murders by cartels in Mexico. Some groups use health care itself as a weapon, and civilian suffering as a tool. In recent years in Syria and Yemen, we have seen hospitals repeatedly bombed, and in these countries and others, we have seen hunger deployed as a weapon of war. Unfortunately, we are still in the early stages of this pandemic. Beyond the direct health effects, the economic impacts will be both long-lasting and severe, with ripple effects for many fragile and conflict-affected States.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“The delayed decision by the Council further aggravated the current volatile global security situations in the midst of the global fight against COVID-19. The impact of COVID-19 on conflict-affected settings has been much worse than initially thought. This is true not only in terms of the immediate health and humanitarian ramifications, but also in the areas of social cohesion, governance and the rule of law. Global solidarity has been loosened, while multilateralism has been under threat. This jeopardizes ongoing international efforts to sustain peace, or may even cause a reversal in hard-won peace and security gains to date.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“It is truly astonishing that, in response to this pandemic, the world has placed billions of people under lockdown, closed international borders, suspended trade and migration and temporarily shut down a whole variety of industries — but has not managed to suspend armed conflicts. I welcome the unanimous adoption of resolution 2532 (2020), which called for a humanitarian ceasefire for 90 days around the world. My fellow Elders and I strongly supported this initiative by Secretary-General Guterres. However, valuable months were wasted in arguments over the details of the text. That has weakened the message that the Security Council needs to send to all warring parties: now is the time to confront our common enemy.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“It is my honour to deliver these remarks at this high-level open debate of the Security Council on “Pandemics and the challenges of sustaining peace.” I take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to Her Excellency Mrs. Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, for inviting me to take part in this important briefing. My special gratitude also goes to today’s briefers, Secretary-General António Guterres and New York University Center on International Cooperation Director Sarah Cliffe. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered unprecedented global turmoil over the past six months. This includes over 735,000 deaths and staggering socioeconomic disruption.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“Throughout my years as Secretary-General, I witnessed the unique power of sports in contributing to peace and development in many places around the world. I am happy to have seen such positive energy once again in my country during the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. In that regard, I would like to commend Mr. Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, for his visionary leadership in facilitating the North Korean athletes' participation in the Games, particularly that of the joint women's ice-hockey team. Once again, I would like to thank the President and the members of the Security Council for inviting me to address the Council, during which I look forward to an active exchange of thoughts and ideas.”
2018-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8185 (2018) · source
“The denuclearization of the Korean peninsula would also help to spur the establishment of wider peace and stability in North- East Asia, thereby setting the stage for greater regional development and prosperity. That process also requires the whole-hearted support of the United Nations, and I count on the Security Council in moving the whole process to that end. We need genuine and strong commitment from both South and North Korea to engage in dialogue, while supported by the United States, China, Japan and Russia. The current reconciliatory atmosphere must be nurtured through the continued engagement of both the South and North Korean authorities. The United States can also play a crucial role in engaging with North Korea, as was suggested by President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea.”
2018-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8185 (2018) · source
“In that regard, the participation of North Korean athletes in the XXIII Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, has aroused much hope and expectation around the world. I warmly welcome the recent resumption of inter-Korean dialogue and the resulting reconciliatory atmosphere between the two Koreas that was created before, and has existed during, the Olympic Games. We must keep alive that hard-won and newly created momentum for dialogue, so that the narrow window of opportunity it has provided will be able to lead to a more meaningful and genuine dialogue process towards reconciliation, peace and the ultimate denuclearization of North Korea.”
2018-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8185 (2018) · source
“Six of the 10 different resolutions adopted since its first nuclear test, in 2006, were adopted in the past two years alone. Firm and unified actions by the Security Council will be essential until North Korea's nuclear weapons and programmes are completely, verifiably and irreversibly dismantled. In that regard, I urge the authorities of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to fully abide by the relevant Security Council resolutions. At the same time, I urge all Member States to do their part in helping to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue through diplomatic efforts. Only by seeking solutions to all these problems through peaceful means can we uphold the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.”
2018-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8185 (2018) · source
“As we all know, today the Korean peninsula is faced with serious challenges as a result of the continued nuclear tests and long-range ballistic missile launches conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. At the end of last year, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea announced its "completion of State nuclear force" and proclaimed itself a "nuclear State." That is a serious threat to international peace and security and clearly violates all the relevant Security Council resolutions and the regime established by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. In fact, the Security Council has responded with tough measures, including increasingly stronger sanctions, to deter the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's nuclear development.”
2018-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8185 (2018) · source
“We must remember that multilateralism cannot be upheld by one Member State alone or a group of States. The United Nations, especially the Security Council, must continue to endeavour to strengthen that driving ideal, while overcoming whatever challenges may loom over the horizon. In that regard, I must emphasize that the entire United Nations membership should faithfully and thoroughly implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, while coping with other new challenges, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, among others. In that connection, as Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has stated, I believe that the situation on the Korean peninsula is currently our most serious and imminent challenge.”
2018-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8185 (2018) · source
“During my tenure as Secretary- General, in June 2013, I established the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel to address such issues. I am pleased to see that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission are working in triangular cooperation to advance that important effort. Towards the end of my second term as Secretary- General, in April 2016, the Security Council and the General Assembly adopted twin resolutions (resolution 2282 (2016) and General Assembly resolution 70/262) on the review of United Nations peacebuilding architecture. The resolutions expressed deep concern about the high human cost and suffering caused by armed conflict. Today, not only do international peace and security issues remain at a critical juncture, but multilateralism is also at stake.”
2018-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8185 (2018) · source
“In addition, after losing its territories of terror in the Middle East, we cannot dismiss the possibility of ISIS moving on to settle in vulnerable places such as Libya. The division among member States of the Gulf Cooperation Council is also of serious concern. In that regard, I highly commend the mediating role played by His Highness Sheikh Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir of Kuwait. Exposure to the spread of terrorism and violent extremism is especially alarming in places like the Sahel region in Africa. As extreme poverty, terrorism, the illicit arms trade and human trafficking are all prevalent in a volatile cross-border environment, we must bolster our collective actions to address such vulnerabilities.”
2018-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8185 (2018) · source
“In the Middle East, we must now be prepared for the post-Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham (ISIS) era. The Security Council must focus more on northern Syria, the ongoing civil war in Syria, tension in the Golan Heights and the continuing Syrian crisis of refugees and internally displaced persons. Those issues could resurface, seriously threaten regional stability and lead to further conflicts among States in the region. Such instability could lead to exacerbating tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and bring Israel and Iran closer to direct conflict. Violence between Israel and Hizbullah in Lebanon and other regional threats could also have the potential to spin out of control as a result of deteriorating regional security.”
2018-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8185 (2018) · source
“The failure of some national leaders to fulfil their responsibilities to their own peoples significantly undermines the role of the United Nations in resolving conflicts. That can also lead to some Member States neglecting their responsibility to protect their own citizens, while hiding behind the concepts of national ownership and State sovereignty. Those political leaders often create dire political and economic instabilities where innocent civilians bear the bulk of the suffering. We have learned by now that, in order to hold such leaders accountable, the Security Council should not limit itself to simply calling for actions in rhetoric or statements. The Council must act on those situations. Having said that, I would like to touch on several international and regional conflicts.”
2018-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8185 (2018) · source
“Addressing the root causes of conflict and working towards preventing conflicts before they escalate, alongside national and international stakeholders, will ultimately make the Council, and the Organization, stronger as a result. In order to effectively respond to non-traditional and transnational security challenges such as climate change, terrorism and violent extremism, nuclear proliferation and cross-border insecurity, the Security Council should undergo reforms to be more flexible in its decision-making process. Reform of the Security Council is long overdue. We must also remind ourselves of the fact that the primary responsibility for preserving peace and security lies with Member States themselves.”
2018-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8185 (2018) · source
“Furthermore, if it were not for the United Nations, the international community would not have been able to make significant gains on eradicating extreme poverty, promoting public health and scaling up access to education. Who else would have been able to provide legitimacy for the actions that the Security Council takes in addressing conflicts today? The primary responsibilities vested in the Security Council to maintain international peace and security are therefore needed now more than ever. In that regard, I value the Council's improved working relations with the other interconnected pillars of the United Nations system, and also its increased focus on the concept of sustaining peace.”
2018-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8185 (2018) · source
“They include climate change, tens of millions of refugees, violent extremism, terrorism and nuclear proliferation, to name just a few. At the same time, the fourth industrial revolution, represented by enormous technological advancements - such as in the areas of artificial intelligence, nanotechnology and biological engineering - has brought about dramatic changes in the shape and form of our daily lives. They will also have a significant impact on the security environment of the future world. Under those dramatically changing circumstances of today's world, some are questioning the role and effectiveness of the United Nations as a whole. However, those critics may also agree that, without the United Nations, the international community could have never succeeded in preventing another world war in the past 70-plus years.”
2018-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8185 (2018) · source
“Mr. Ban Ki-moon: As this is my first time back at the United Nations and addressing the Security Council as a former Secretary-General of the United Nations, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the President of the Security Council, His Excellency Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, for having invited me to take part in this important meeting. I also commend the Government of Kuwait for its successful presidency of the Security Council in the month of February. The world we live in today is completely different from what it was seven decades ago, when the United Nations was founded. While we have seemingly moved on from the era of large-scale war between States, today we face an increasing number of emerging global challenges.”
2018-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8185 (2018) · source