YouSaid · the spoken record

Barbara Woodward

lines on the record

1,082

first

2020-12-08

most recent

2023-12-29

sittings or episodes

263

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

1. “We are also concerned that the Mission’s mandate to protect civilians will be discontinued from October. The resolution sets an objective of withdrawal by 31 December, but it also requests that the Secretary- General keep the Council regularly informed on progress. We believe the Council should stand ready to revise that timeline, if needed, to allow time for a safe and orderly withdrawal. MINUSMA’s withdrawal will be a major logistical undertaking, and it will not be without risk. The resolution underlines Mali’s obligation to cooperate with the United Nations during MINUSMA’s exit process and to respect the status-of-forces agreement until its departure. MINUSMA’s freedom of movement must be upheld for the safety and security of its personnel. In that regard, we urge Mali to end restrictions on MINUSMA’s imports.”

   2023-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9365 (2023) · source

2. “We are particularly concerned about the impact that MINUSMA’s withdrawal could have on the future of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali emanating from the Algiers process. We underline the obligations of all signatory parties to adhere to the agreement. As part of MINUSMA’s transition plan, we urge the United Nations to consider establishing an appropriate entity to support ongoing dialogue and implementation. Nevertheless, the United Kingdom welcomes the adoption of the resolution today (resolution 2690 (2023)), which emphasizes the need for MINUSMA to withdraw in a safe and orderly manner. We regret, however, that it was not possible to adopt a resolution allowing for a more prudent withdrawal timeline and a mandate that would have enabled MINUSMA to continue providing support during its drawdown.”

   2023-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9365 (2023) · source

3. “I join others in thanking France for its work on this file. I also pay tribute to Special Representative Wane and the dedication and service of United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) personnel. We offer our condolences to those who paid the ultimate price. As we know, the transitional Government of Mali requested MINUSMA’s departure. The United Kingdom would not have chosen to withdraw MINUSMA at this moment, when Mali and the wider Sahel are facing increasing instability and humanitarian needs. We do not believe that partnership with the Wagner Group will deliver long-term stability or security for the Malian people.”

   2023-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9365 (2023) · source

4. “We will continue to stand with the people of Ukraine as they win a just and sustained peace that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, in line with the Charter of the United Nations.”

   2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9364 (2023) · source

5. “Putin has poured tanks, rockets, anti-aircraft missiles and every kind of weaponry into the hands of unaccountable mercenary forces, recruited from the ranks of gangsters and convicts. A year ago, Russia denied the Wagner Group’s existence. Now Yevgeny Prigozhin’s rebellion has publicly destroyed Putin’s case for the war in Ukraine. The Wagner Group’s march to Moscow showed us just how quickly Russians can leave Ukraine when they choose to. Thirdly, without a doubt, diplomatic efforts will be essential for peace, and we note the various ongoing efforts towards peace, including African leaders’ recent visit to Kyiv and Moscow this month. The United Kingdom fully supports President Zelenskyy’s 10-point peace plan. The only path to sustainable peace is for Putin to withdraw his troops and end the bloodshed now.”

   2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9364 (2023) · source

6. “Russia is part of the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, and it knows that the reporting system in that regard is among the most rigorous used by the United Nations. The report is shocking. A permanent member of the Council is listed alongside terrorist groups, such as Al-Shabaab and the Islamic State, for committing grave violations affecting children in situations of armed conflict. Russian forces have been responsible for the killing, abduction and rape of children as young as 4 years old. Ninety times, Russian forces used children as human shields. Every Russian should feel shame about what their army has done in Ukraine. But the Russian army does not fight alone.”

   2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9364 (2023) · source

7. “For Ukraine, this is a war of survival; for Russia, this is a war of choice. Secondly, let us remind ourselves how Russia has decided to fight its war of choice — the shelling of civilian homes; human wave attacks, ordered forward at gunpoint; atrocities left in the wake of its retreating forces; hundreds of civilians arbitrarily detained, more than 90 per cent of them reporting torture or ill- treatment by Russian captors. On Tuesday, Russian missiles struck a pizza restaurant in Kramatorsk, taking 10 more innocent lives. Among those killed in the attack were two twin sisters, Yuliya and Anna Aksenchenko. They were just 14 years old. This week, the Secretary-General published his report on children and armed conflict (S/2023/363).”

   2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9364 (2023) · source

8. “I thank Under-Secretary-General Nakamitsu and Mr. Radchenko for their briefings. I would like to make three points. First, the Government of the United Kingdom has been clear about the military support that it has provided for the defence of Ukraine. The bravery and endless determination of Ukrainians are their own, but we are proud to support them in their fight to be free. We are not just providing weapons. Approximately 17,000 Ukrainian soldiers have received training in the United Kingdom since the start of Russia’s invasion. We will also support Ukraine when peace has been won to rebuild their country, as we did at the Ukraine Recovery Conference last week, where the international community made more than $60 billion worth of commitments. Ukraine continues to need our support.”

   2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9364 (2023) · source

9. “We welcome all efforts that contribute to delivering on its promise, and we call on the regime to meaningfully engage in the process to deliver lasting peace for Syria — as Deputy Special Envoy Rochdi said, with real diplomacy and real solutions.”

   2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9363 (2023) · source

10. “The indiscriminate air attacks on a vegetable market in Idlib this week, which the Syrian authorities have confirmed that Russia was involved in, are reported to have killed nine civilians and injured many more. Our condolences go to their families and our sympathy and good wishes to the injured. That shows a total disregard for the welfare of the Syrian people. We call on all the parties to abide by international humanitarian law and protect the civilian population. Finally, we know that only sustainable and inclusive peace can end the suffering of the Syrian people and bring stability to the region. Resolution 2254 (2015) is the framework for delivering that.”

    2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9363 (2023) · source

11. “As Under-Secretary-General Griffiths reminded us, the Secretary-General has repeatedly stated that the extension of the Security Council’s cross-border authorization for at least 12 months is a moral and humanitarian imperative, and has underlined that all three crossings, at Bab Al-Hawa, Bab Al-Salam and Al-Rai, are essential to an effective United Nations response. The United Nations has repeatedly emphasized the value that the certainty and predictability of a Council mandate provides, including for donors. That is why we join the calls on the Council to extend and expand the Council’s cross-border authorization ahead of 10 July. Let us be clear. This is not a maximalist approach but a humanitarian one. Secondly, attacks on innocent Syrians should stop and there should be a nationwide ceasefire.”

    2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9363 (2023) · source

12. “And as this 12-year conflict continues, we see three ways in which the Council can respond to support the Syrian people. First, as we heard, we need to ensure predictable and sustained humanitarian access to 4.1 million people in north-western Syria. When I visited the Türkiye-Syria border earlier this month, front-line humanitarians, the United Nations, non-governmental organizations and local authorities told me consistently and repeatedly that they needed more access and for longer periods of time. We welcome the progress of a cross-line convoy of 10 trucks last week, the first since January, but nothing can replace the scale and scope of the indispensable cross- border operation. I saw that myself. Sixty trucks filled with life-saving supplies crossed the border on the day of my visit alone.”

    2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9363 (2023) · source

13. “I too thank Deputy Special Envoy Najat Rochdi and Under- Secretary-General Griffiths for their valuable briefings. As we heard, the needs in Syria are at their highest levels ever. As the 12-year conflict continues, the United Kingdom has continued to respond to those humanitarian needs. Our pledge of $190 million in Brussels brings our total to more than $4.8 billion to date. Last year that also included $64 million for early recovery, including irrigation-facility rehabilitation, agricultural training, apprenticeships and business grants — in all, 495 early- recovery projects across all 14 governorates of Syria. I look forward to hearing Russia announce its contribution in due course, following the recent announcement that the Russian Government spends $2 billion a year on the Wagner Group.”

    2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9363 (2023) · source

14. “Russia’s destruction adds more pressure to the global economy, already suffering from conflict, climate change and the coronavirus disease pandemic. The world needs peace. But Ukraine will never have peace while Russian forces remain on its territory. We therefore call on Russia to withdraw its forces from Ukraine and end this illegal war of aggression. At the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London this week, my Prime Minister paid tribute to Ukraine’s incredible spirit — a spirit of strength and defiance, but also of ingenuity and innovation. We will stand with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes for them to win a just and sustained peace that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in line with the United Nations Charter.”

    2023-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9357 (2023) · source

15. “Last week, Russia rejected pleas from the United Nations to assist those in desperate need in the aftermath of the catastrophic destruction of the Kakhovka dam. This is a war of choice for President Putin. He has shown contempt and disregard for Russia’s obligations under the United Nations Charter. He is indifferent to the cost to Ukrainians, to Russians and to the world. He fires missiles at Kyiv even as world leaders visit Moscow seeking to build peace. He supplies his armies from United Nations-sanctioned States such as Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, further undermining global security. He continues to hold the world’s food to ransom by holding up grain shipments under the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The World Bank has estimated that Ukraine’s reconstruction needs are over $400 billion.”

    2023-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9357 (2023) · source

16. “I thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her briefing. It has been nearly 500 days since Russia’s illegal and barbaric full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Let us again take stock of its impacts. Russia’s air strikes have reduced towns and cities to rubble. More than 9,000 civilians have been killed, including more than 500 children. Many thousands have been injured. Millions have been displaced, unable to return to their homes. Families have been torn apart, with children taken from their parents and sent to far- flung corners of Russia. Wherever Putin’s Government has attempted to take control of Ukraine, it has shown its true colours: a pattern of torture, killings and brutal repression of human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

    2023-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9357 (2023) · source

17. “We urge all partners to join us in supporting Somalia in making further progress against those benchmarks in order to enable the arms controls on the Government to be lifted. We support President Mohamud’s efforts to degrade Al-Shabaab militarily, financially and ideologically. Through the Council, and as a committed long-term partner and friend to Somalia, the United Kingdom will continue to stand with Somalia on its journey to peace and prosperity.”

    2023-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9356 (2023) · source

18. “We encourage the international community to continue to support Somalia so that a sustainable, affordable and accountable security sector will be able to take full responsibility for Somalia’s security as the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) draws down by the end of 2024. The Security Council has an important role to play, supporting ATMIS in delivering its critical functions and planning a strategic drawdown, and meeting Somalia’s needs as the country assumes responsibility. We welcome the Federal Government of Somalia’s commitment to strengthening weapons and ammunition management. The benchmarks in resolution 2662 (2022) were recommended by technical experts to prevent weapons from reaching Al-Shabaab.”

    2023-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9356 (2023) · source

19. “That brings me to my third point, on security and counter-terrorism. The United Kingdom commends the momentum gained from Somalia’s operations against Al-Shabaab. As President Mohamud made clear, enduring progress will be measured by the ability to hold and stabilize those liberated areas. I therefore encourage Somalia to continue working with the United Nations and partners to coordinate the stabilization efforts and prioritize investment in reconciliation as a foundation for long-term progress. Alongside its hard-won security gains, Somalia has continued to take critical steps to prepare for its security transition.”

    2023-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9356 (2023) · source

20. “So, we cannot afford to be complacent about the scale of humanitarian need. As the Special Representative of the Secretary-General said, it affects 50 per cent of the population. Secondly, we welcome President Mohamud’s commitment to and progress in advancing political reforms and, if I may say, education reforms as well. The United Kingdom supports State-building efforts in Somalia, including the process of democratization, and recent local elections in Puntland represent an important milestone on that journey. An inclusive, consultative process, in line with the constitutional review, is necessary for those reforms to succeed. We encourage all the parties, including Puntland, to engage constructively to that end. Inclusive politics at all levels will also be important in the fight against Al-Shabaab.”

    2023-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9356 (2023) · source

21. “I want to start too by welcoming President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to our meeting today and thanking him for his important briefing. I want to thank also to Special Representative of the Secretary-General Laing, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia Souef, and Executive Director McCain for their valuable briefings. Somalia, as we know, faces many interconnected challenges, and we welcome and commend progress that it has made. Let me make three points. First, on the humanitarian side, we are relieved that the system-wide scale-up averted famine and that the arrival of rains has ended the protracted drought. But climate shocks and continued conflict will leave millions displaced and facing crisis levels of food insecurity.”

    2023-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9356 (2023) · source

22. “While the Taliban continue on their current path, progress towards international recognition will not be on the table. Sanctions relief will not come. We recognize that continued engagement predicated on those fundamentals is the only way forward. The Secretary-General’s meeting of special envoys in Doha was a good first step. And we too look forward to the independent review led by Ambassador Feridun Sinirlioğlu. Afghanistan cannot be self-reliant when 50 per cent of its population is excluded from society, and history has shown that there can be no stable or durable peace when large swathes of society and ethnic groups are excluded.”

    2023-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9354 (2023) · source

23. “We call on other Member States to step up their funding, noting that the United Nations revised humanitarian appeal for $3.2 billion for Afghanistan for 2023 is currently only 14 per cent funded, according to tracking by the Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs. Secondly, the international community should remain united in its message to the Taliban. We have set out our expectations in consecutive Security Council resolutions on humanitarian access, cutting ties with terrorists, respect for human rights and inclusive governance. And in April we unanimously adopted resolution 2681 (2023), condemning restrictions on the rights of women and girls. Lastly, those clear expectations should be matched by clear consequences.”

    2023-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9354 (2023) · source

24. “The Taliban have issued more than 50 decrees restricting the rights of women and girls and have impeded the ability of the United Nations to deliver humanitarian assistance in a time of dire need. The trajectory is negative, and our options are limited. The Afghan people remain our priority. So how can we collectively navigate the months ahead? First, our commitment to providing support for Afghans remains resolute. We support United Nations efforts to provide assistance despite the challenging context, while holding firm on the principle that there should be no delivery of aid without the inclusion of women. The United Kingdom has contributed well over half a billion dollars to address the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan since April 2021.”

    2023-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9354 (2023) · source

25. “I thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Otunbayeva for her clear briefing and Ms. Shabana Basij- Rasikh for her extraordinary update shining a spotlight on the importance and potential of girls’ education, and for giving us hope in the possibility of seeing Afghanistan spiral upwards towards hope. But as we all know, since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021 the situation for the Afghan people has been defined by humanitarian suffering, economic hardship and a relentless assault on human rights. The statistics speak for themselves. Two thirds of the Afghan population are in need of humanitarian aid in 2023. Economic output has fallen by more than 20 per cent since 2021. More than 2 million girls between the age of 7 and 11 are unable formally to access secondary- school education.”

    2023-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9354 (2023) · source

26. “During my visit, Libyan people told me that they want to engage actively, freely and safely in the political sphere. They want to exercise their right to vote and work towards a better future, to move beyond — as the Special Representative said — slogans that prolong the status quo and are detrimental to the Libyan people. The United Kingdom will continue our work to ensure that those aspirations are fulfilled, including through our support to the Special Representative and his efforts towards peace and stability.”

    2023-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9351 (2023) · source

27. “I therefore return from my visit with clarity about the importance of Council members and the international community supporting Special Representative Bathily in his work to facilitate an effective political process for positive change through a clear road map to successful elections and beyond. In that context, the United Kingdom takes note of the 6+6 committee’s work to agree draft electoral laws. However, the reception to their announcement demonstrates the need for broader political agreement between Libyan power-holders, and we welcome the Special Representative’s commitment to convene stakeholders to reach agreement in order to make the draft law implementable. That is the only way we can overcome the issues preventing elections and then make progress towards long-term stability.”

    2023-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9351 (2023) · source

28. “As we have heard so clearly from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, this is not just an abstract point about politics and governance. I visited a World Health Organization (WHO) health-centre project, to which the United Kingdom has contributed over $2.5 million of funding. I want to thank the WHO and the staff for facilitating my visit and for their work to bring physical and mental health support into primary health-care services in Libya. That is important work. But the point is that the political impasse directly impacts the health-care system and Libyans who need health care, antenatal checks, dental treatment, primary care and so on. These hospital services, health care provision and long-term investment that Libya can well afford are stalled because of the political impasse.”

    2023-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9351 (2023) · source

29. “I would like to start by thanking Special Representative of the Secretary-General Bathily, Ambassador Ishikane and Ms. Imneina for their briefings today. I visited Libya earlier this month to meet the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the team of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya. I want to thank them for their engagement and tireless efforts to support Libya on its path to peace and stability. During my visit, I also met Libyan people to hear and understand their concerns. The clear and consistent message was the urgency of moving the political process forward and for political leadership to deliver the stability and security the people of Libya want and deserve.”

    2023-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9351 (2023) · source

30. “I thank him and his colleagues at the IAEA for their bravery and ceaseless efforts to support nuclear safety and security in Ukraine, together with the Ukrainian Government. We continue to support the IAEA’s work in Ukraine and its efforts to ensure the safe and secure use of nuclear technology around the world. We recognize Director General Grossi’s efforts to maintain safety at the Zaporizhzhya plant, including through his five principles, as part of a solution that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty. I also pay tribute to the bravery, professionalism and resilience of Ukrainian staff at the plant, who continue to work tirelessly under duress. The situation at Zaporizhzhya is entirely of Russia’s making. Russia can resolve this situation at any time. It should withdraw its troops from the plant and from all of Ukraine.”

    2023-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9334 (2023) · source

31. “Supply chains and associated logistics continue to be severely affected by the conflict, and off-site power supplies remain vulnerable. New imagery shows that Russian forces have established sandbag fighting positions on the roofs of several of the six reactor buildings. That indicates that they have integrated the actual reactor buildings of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant into tactical defence planning. Russia’s actions have violated all of Director General Grossi’s seven pillars of nuclear safety and security. We have always been clear that as long as Russia’s illegal control of the plant continues, its safe and secure operation cannot be ensured. As the Director General said, the situation simply cannot go on.”

    2023-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9334 (2023) · source

32. “I thank Director General Grossi for his briefing. Since the start of its full-scale invasion, Russia’s reckless actions at nuclear facilities across Ukraine have threatened the safety of Ukrainians and the international community. Let me be clear, Russia’s control of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant is illegal and continues to pose a serious threat to the facility’s safe and secure functioning. The February report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed the continued presence of military personnel and activity across the site and described a situation that is “dangerous, precarious and challenging”. Unauthorized military vehicles and stores sit in turbine halls. Landmines in the vicinity of the plant endanger Ukrainian operating staff and delay maintenance work.”

    2023-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9334 (2023) · source

33. “But the people of Syria deserve more than that. They deserve answers on the whereabouts of loved ones who have been detained and/ or are missing. As the Special Envoy said, that is a core issue that affects all Syrians on all sides of the conflict. And progress on that issue is essential for rebuilding trust with the Syrian people and putting in place the conditions needed for refugees to safely choose to go home. We also need effective action to stem the illegal captagon trade, to demonstrate that regional stability comes above the billion-dollar income the regime currently derives from it. For a stable region, we need a sustainable end to this conflict. Resolution 2254 (2015) is the framework to deliver that lasting peace for the people of Syria. We call on the Syrian regime to engage meaningfully in that process.”

    2023-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9333 (2023) · source

34. “That includes 15.1 million people in need because of the impact of 12 years of war, including 4.1 million people in the north-west of Syria who faced a crisis on top of a crisis when the devastating earthquake hit in February. We welcome the extension of access across Bab Al-Salam and Al-Rai earlier this month, and we applaud the United Nations efforts there, but last-minute agreements for short-term periods are not workable. As the Secretary-General has said and the Special Envoy reminded us today, humanitarians need to plan effectively with predictable access in order to deliver the indispensable, as Ms. Mudawi said, assistance to people who are, as she said, in life-and-death need. So the extension of the Council’s mandate for Bab Al-Hawa for at least 12 months, as all three of our briefers said today, is critical.”

    2023-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9333 (2023) · source

35. “I join others in thanking Special Envoy Pedersen, Ms. Eltahir Mudawi and Ms. Aveline for their informative briefings. It is clear, from the Special Envoy’s remarks, that the last month has seen significant developments in Syria, so now is the time to redouble our efforts for an inclusive and accountable end to the conflict, so that Syrians enjoy peace, Syria no longer exports instability to the region and refugees can return in safety and with dignity. Resolution 2254 (2015) provides the framework to deliver sustainable and lasting peace for the people of Syria. Last week, the United Nations and international community came together to focus on the protection of civilians (see S/PV.9327).”

    2023-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9333 (2023) · source

36. “At the Ad Hoc Committee of the General Assembly for the announcement of voluntary contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to be held in June, it will be vital for the international community to put the Agency on a sustainable footing if we are to protect the delivery of critical services to millions of Palestinian refugees. UNRWA is crucial to stability throughout the region. As its Foreign Secretary stated on 14 May, the United Kingdom will support all efforts to promote dialogue and create a pathway towards a just and sustainable peace. The first step on that pathway is clear. Both sides must honour the commitments that they made in good faith in Aqaba and Sharm El-Sheikh.”

    2023-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9328 (2023) · source

37. “Israel must also tackle increasing settler violence and coercion — which on Monday resulted in the forcible transfer of the Palestinian population from Ein Samiya — and desist from settler expansion, which is illegal under international law. Finally, the United Kingdom also strongly supports the historic status quo governing Jerusalem’s holy sites and values the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s important role as custodian. The United Kingdom remains firm in its belief that a negotiated two-State solution, based on the 1967 lines and with Jerusalem as a shared capital, is the only way to ensure lasting peace and security and prosperity between the parties.”

    2023-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9328 (2023) · source

38. “Nineteen Israelis, residents and tourists, including Lucy, Maia and Rina Dee, have already been killed in terrorist attacks in 2023. The Palestinian Authority must also reassert control over Area A and take steps to tackle terrorism. A solution to the conflict will not be found until both Israel and the Palestinians tackle inflammatory rhetoric and incitement, as they agreed to do in Sharm El-Sheikh on 19 March. Yet only last week we heard racist slogans and slurs from President Abbas and from Israeli participants in the Flag Day march in Jerusalem. Such rhetoric and incitement, including by both Israeli and Palestinian political leaders, undermines the cause of peace.”

    2023-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9328 (2023) · source

39. “We urge all parties to honour the ceasefire and prevent further loss of life. The United Kingdom supports Israel’s right to self-defence. But Israeli conduct must always be in line with international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, humanity, proportionality and military necessity. We were concerned about reports of at least 12 civilian deaths, including of six children, in Israeli strikes on Gaza. This month we have also seen further deaths in the West Bank, where Israeli security forces have killed 110 Palestinians this year, including militants and civilians. If killing continues at that rate, 2023 will be the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank since United Nations records began in 2004. Israeli security forces must show restraint in their use of force and investigate civilian casualties.”

    2023-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9328 (2023) · source

40. “I would like to start by thanking Special Coordinator Wennesland and Ms. Hary for their informative briefings. The security situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories has deteriorated further, to the detriment of Israelis and Palestinians alike. In Gaza, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other militant factions fired 1,748 rockets at Israel. Indiscriminate rockets from Gaza caused the deaths of an Israeli and four Gazans. The United Kingdom unequivocally condemns the indiscriminate firing of rockets against civilians, and indeed all forms of terrorism. The Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and militant factions in Gaza and is grateful for the support of Egypt, Qatar and the United States.”

    2023-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9328 (2023) · source

41. “Because it wants to conquer a sovereign country and annex its territory. That is why the missiles are still falling on Kyiv. Russia can end the war at any time by withdrawing its troops. Until then, we will help Ukraine defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity and uphold the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.”

    2023-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9325 (2023) · source

42. “The cost of this war is felt around the world. Its impact on food and commodity prices is severe. We welcome the continuation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and call on Russia not to hold up the movement of ships under that deal as a pressure tactic. As States Members of the United Nations, we want to focus on other priorities, on which the world desperately needs us to work together, such as delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals. Instead, Russia’s war has made those Goals harder to reach. In conclusion, I listened carefully to the Russian delegation. It is trying to persuade the world not to provide defensive support to Ukraine. The reason for that is blindingly obvious. Russia wants to overrun the Ukrainian military, as it has tried and failed to do since February 2022. Why?”

    2023-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9325 (2023) · source

43. “Last week we announced the provision of Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine. We have also provided a range of air defence systems, including advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles. Those defensive weapons can defeat Russian cruise missiles to help Ukraine defend its skies and its people from Russia’s indiscriminate attacks. The Russian representative also mentioned depleted uranium. The British army has used depleted uranium in its armour-piercing shells for decades. It is a standard component and has nothing to do with nuclear weapons or capabilities. Russia knows that, but it is deliberately trying to spread disinformation. I therefore want there to be no doubt that we are providing all our military support to Ukraine in accordance with international law and with robust measures in place to prevent any illicit transfers.”

    2023-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9325 (2023) · source

44. “The United Kingdom calls on other States not to provide Russia with military assistance. We have repeatedly urged Russia to end the war, respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, cease attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure and withdraw its troops from Ukraine. Ukraine did not want or provoke this war. The Ukrainian people want peace, but they face a choice between annihilation and taking up arms in self-defence. They have done so in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. We therefore support Ukraine in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity in line with the Charter. We share its goal of securing peace in line with the Charter. As my Prime Minister has made clear, we will continue to respond to Ukraine’s requests for the means to defend itself against Russia’s aggression.”

    2023-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9325 (2023) · source

45. “I join others in thanking Mr. Ebo for his briefing. Four hundred and forty-nine days into the Russian Federation’s illegal and full-scale war, Russia continues to attack Ukrainian cities, hospitals and schools — the country’s civilian infrastructure — killing and injuring innocent families in their homes or forcing them to flee, with 8 million people now displaced as a result of Russia’s attacks. Last night, for the ninth time this month, Russia rained down another barrage of missiles on Ukrainian cities in blatant disregard for human life. Russia is deploying more and more powerful weapons. It is sourcing weapons for Putin’s illegal war from States such as Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in blatant violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions.”

    2023-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9325 (2023) · source

46. “And while I welcome the efforts of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in securing unrestricted humanitarian access, we are continuing to see impediments to the free movement of women, to independent monitoring and assessment and to the fair selection of service providers. As we have heard, the humanitarian response is already facing severe funding challenges. Those impediments pose additional and entirely avoidable burdens on the humanitarian effort, and ultimately on the people of Yemen.”

    2023-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9323 (2023) · source

47. “The recent Saudi and Omani delegations to Sana’a represented valuable steps towards reaching a comprehensive ceasefire, and I urge the parties to engage constructively and in a spirit of compromise. Our focus should be on accepting that all Yemenis should have access to all sources of revenue. An inclusive peace process, under United Nations auspices, is the only pathway to end the dreadful war. I am also reassured by the unity that the Council continues to demonstrate, and which Mr. Grundberg referenced. I hope that we can continue to work together on our common goal of finding peace in Yemen. Finally, I want to echo the concerns of Ms. Wosornu. In spite of the relative peace in Yemen over the past year, 21.6 million people, or two thirds of the population, remain in dire humanitarian need.”

    2023-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9323 (2023) · source

48. “And I think none of us here wants to be fundraising for the $20 billion required to clean up if we are unable to avert a catastrophic spill. The United Nations requires $43 million to complete the operation. I again encourage contributions so that we can reach a lasting solution to that ticking time bomb for the environment, global trade, millions of local livelihoods and the delivery of life-saving aid in Yemen. Secondly, the United Kingdom welcomes the positive work done by all parties to build on the truce-like conditions in Yemen over the past year. We call on all the parties to continue engaging constructively and creatively and to negotiate in good faith towards lasting and inclusive peace for the Yemeni people.”

    2023-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9323 (2023) · source

49. “Let me start by thanking Special Envoy Grundberg for his briefing and for his team’s very hard work. I also thank Ms. Wosornu and Ms. Al-Eryani for their briefings. I would like to begin by welcoming the strong progress towards resolving the major threat posed by the FSO SAFER oil tanker and the risk of more than a million barrels of oil leaking into the Red Sea. In recent days, as we heard from Ms. Wosornu, both the replacement and service vessels have arrived near the site, and crucially, following the joint United Kingdom- Dutch fundraising event earlier this month, the United Nations has announced that it has sufficient funding to start the emergency operation to transfer oil from the vessel. But, as Ms. Wosornu said, there is more work to be done.”

    2023-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9323 (2023) · source

50. “The deal has been critical to lowering global food prices and getting urgently needed grain to countries that need it most. As the World Food Programme has said, grain deliveries to any country drive global prices down. We therefore urge Russia to stop threatening to leave the Initiative and instead agree to a sustained and stable deal. Meanwhile, Russia continues to block and delay ship inspections. Such obstruction harms global food security by delaying shipments, restricting supplies and keeping prices high for food-importing countries. Lastly, the United Kingdom is fully committed to holding Russia to account for its illegal actions in Ukraine. We will continue to support independent investigations into the atrocities committed in Ukraine, as part of a just and sustained peace.”

    2023-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9321 (2023) · source