YouSaid · the spoken record

Biang

lines on the record: 1,385
first: 2021-12-09
most recent: 2023-12-21
sittings or episodes: 203
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

“In that regard, the many challenges posed by terrorist movements to international peace and security require continued vigilance and exemplary cooperation in order to strengthen the capacities of fragile States, in particular with regard to mastering the new information technologies that Da’esh is using with formidable expertise to expand its criminal activities. That is indeed a fundamental requirement, as terrorist groups continue to establish themselves in areas in which the authority and capacity of States are insufficient or lacking. The Security Council is the place in which to reaffirm the commitments we made in the Delhi Declaration and the need to implement its relevant recommendations. Terrorist networks are constantly changing and are clearly resilient, despite the mobilization of the international community.”
2023-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9257 (2023) · source
“Of particular concern is Da’esh’s ability to mobilize vast resources, making it possible to acquire stockpiles of small arms and light weapons that fuel instability and violence on the African continent, especially in the Sahel; the Lake Chad basin, including the Great Lakes region; and Southern Africa. The Secretary-General’s most recent report (S/2023/76) notes the correlation between the structural security, social and economic difficulties experienced by some countries, particularly in Africa, and the dangerous rise of Da’esh’s activities.”
2023-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9257 (2023) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): I wish to congratulate Malta on taking the initiative to convene today’s debate on the threat that terrorism continues to pose to international peace and security. I thank Under-Secretary-General Voronkov, Acting Executive Director Chen and Ms. Praxl for their enlightening briefings. Between January and September of last year, more than 1,000 terrorist attacks were perpetrated in Africa, killing 7,816 people and injuring 1,772 more. According to data provided by the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism, each of the continent’s five regions has had its share of casualties among civilians, security forces and officials.”
2023-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9257 (2023) · source
“Many signs are signalling a trend towards a war of attrition. The prospects for dialogue between the parties are slow to emerge. Neither of the parties seem ready to sit down at the negotiating table. On the contrary, each side is sharpening its weapons, refining its tactics and toughening its rhetoric. Meanwhile, Ukraine is being torn apart, with tens of thousands of refugees, in addition to internally displaced persons and huge economic losses. In just a few months, the cost of rebuilding the country increased from $350 billion to $700 billion, according to the latest estimates. The economic repercussions of this war, which have an impact on most of the world’s nations directly or indirectly, have exacerbated pre-existing vulnerabilities. It is time to envision an end to this war and to stop its barrage of death and destruction.”
2023-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9254 (2023) · source
“We condemn all such attacks and underscore once again the obligations of the parties under international law. My country also condemns the use of weapons with indiscriminate effects, such as cluster munitions, anti-personnel mines and guided weapons, which primarily target civilians. Despite the outpouring of solidarity shown since the beginning of the war through the provision of multifaceted assistance, the humanitarian needs in Ukraine have yet to be fully addressed. The recent visit to Kyiv by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi demonstrated the magnitude of the needs that have arisen because of the ever- increasing bombings. There is also a need for ever- higher funding, as Under-Secretary-General Griffiths just confirmed in highlighting the scope of the funding needed to meet the humanitarian response plan.”
2023-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9254 (2023) · source
“In paying tribute to the valiant humanitarians who risk their lives in the trenches and devastated ruins to keep the flame of hope alive for the sake of humanity, we once again call on the parties to the conflict to strictly respect international humanitarian law and urge them to grant unhindered access to those in need of humanitarian assistance. Humanitarian assistance must never be subject to politicization or bargaining. We call on the parties to strictly adhere to their international commitments to protect civilians, especially children, women and vulnerable persons, and to refrain from any attacks that target civilian infrastructure. The allegations of sexual violence being committed and used as a weapon of war are particularly alarming.”
2023-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9254 (2023) · source
“This February, we will mark 12 months since the war in Ukraine began — 12 months of deadly war that have shaken and posed serious challenges to the entire international system; 12 months of humanitarian dis- tress that have made death, destruction, fear and exodus the backdrop of daily life for people in cities and in the countryside; and 12 months during which humanitarian personnel have shown remarkable courage in providing assistance and protection and in meeting the urgent needs of the population in terms of medical care, water, food, electricity generators and other basic necessities. In Ukraine and in the countries hosting refugees, hu- manitarian aid also includes cash donations and educa- tional assistance to children with a view to mitigating the effects of war on the schooling of young children.”
2023-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9254 (2023) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): I would like to express my compassion to the many people who are working in the rubble of the earthquake that hit Türkiye and Syria this morning and which has already claimed thousands of lives. I thank Under-Secretary-General Martin Griffiths for his update on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.”
2023-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9254 (2023) · source
“In any case, and by way of conclusion, the Security Council must be able to strengthen its integrated approach across the entire spectrum of peace and security, humanitarian aid and development in order to promote human-centred solutions, without prejudice to sovereignty or jeopardizing international peace.”
2023-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9250 (2023) · source
“In the light of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and conflict-related development deficits, it is incumbent upon the Security Council to consider the prospects for closer collaboration with the United Nations development system in order to ensure that the Sustainable Development Goals remain within the reach of conflict-affected countries. Among the promising prospects to be explored is the closer collaboration of the Council with the Peacebuilding Commission and possibly also the Economic and Social Council, which could help mobilize greater global development responses to the urgent challenges of conflict prevention and post-conflict peacebuilding.”
2023-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9250 (2023) · source
“The Council must find responses to the security implications of the contemporary drivers of conflict and insecurity, including pandemics and the environmental challenges due to climate change. That must lead us to enhance the role of the Security Council by promoting an integrated and coherent system-wide approach to addressing those multifaceted challenges. In that indispensable task, we must be able to learn lessons from the complex and ever- worsening situations and the persistent development challenges facing many countries, while revisiting the tools of our collective security system.”
2023-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9250 (2023) · source
“Given the increasing interdependence of parts of the international community and the changing linkages among political, socioeconomic, health and environmental contexts, it seems irrelevant to address the challenges of peace and security and of development in isolation from each other. It is clear that insecurity affects all nations and peoples to different degrees, as the least developed countries and the most vulnerable groups are often more prone to hardship and crisis. The United Nations must therefore remain at the centre of efforts to safeguard the fundamental principles of international law, while promoting peace and security and development for all.”
2023-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9250 (2023) · source
“Those overlapping and interconnected challenges can be effectively addressed only through comprehensive and coherent strategies. The Council bears the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, but in order to fulfil its mandate more effectively, it must work closely with other United Nations organs and bodies to address the root causes of conflict in a holistic and systemic manner. Those root causes include social, economic and political inequalities; economic stagnation and decline; acute levels of unemployment and abject poverty; weak governance structures; health and environmental challenges; and the fears, uncertainties and economic drivers of conflict that emerge in crises.”
2023-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9250 (2023) · source
“It is now universally recognized that peace and security are inextricably linked to development. Indeed, many countries experiencing armed conflict also face obstacles to their sustainable development because their institutional and governance capacities are easily overwhelmed. Conversely, countries struggling with persistent underdevelopment face security challenges and remain prone to fractures in their social fabric, while negative forces such as terrorism and violent extremism, intercommunal violence and organized crime flourish in such contexts. The emergence of contemporary risk factors such as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the ever-increasing threat of climate change have added a further intractable complexity to that difficult security landscape.”
2023-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9250 (2023) · source
“Peacebuilding is the stage after a peace agreement has been signed or widespread violence has ended. It involves a comprehensive effort to prevent the resumption of hostilities. In that sense, it is closely linked to post-conflict reconstruction and the resilience of social, political and economic capacities to counteract the drivers of fragility. It goes without saying that investing in education and infrastructure, empowering local communities and strengthening the role of women and young people are key pillars of the sustainable peace agenda. Within the United Nations system, the peacebuilding architecture was established to act as a bridge to promote an integrated and coherent approach to advancing the sustainable peace agenda. Nevertheless, the contemporary factors of conflict and security only compound that already difficult task.”
2023-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9250 (2023) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): I thank Japan for the initiative to convene this important debate on peacebuilding and sustainable peace. I thank the Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Amina Mohammed, for her insightful description of the relevant challenges and the trajectory of the international community towards sustainable peace. I also thank the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, as well as Ms. Diago Ndiaye, for their enlightening briefings. Peacebuilding and the sustainability of peace are components of a multifaceted process involving a wide range of actors from the international community working together to support resilience and facilitate the national ownership of peace, including political processes to promote sustainable peace and well-being.”
2023-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9250 (2023) · source
“In conclusion, Gabon wishes to reaffirm its full support for the efforts of the Prosecutor and his Office and encourages the Sudanese authorities to continue to fully cooperate with the Office of the Prosecutor. That partnership remains vital for the effective implementation of resolution 1593 (2005).”
2023-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9249 (2023) · source
“As part of efforts to deliver justice for alleged crimes committed in 2003, we have no doubt that the Office of the Prosecutor will take into account the delicate political situation in the Sudan. To that end, the swift restoration of constitutional order will facilitate greater cooperation between the Court and the Sudanese authorities. However, we must not lose sight of the fact that the Sudan is at a pivotal point in its history, requiring special understanding, and that there are several priority decisions to be made with regard to the country’s stability and security, responses to humanitarian challenges and, of course, accountability and justice for the atrocities that were committed.”
2023-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9249 (2023) · source
“We applaud capacity- building for investigators and the inclusion of Arabic- speaking experts in the team, which is valuable as it also guarantees the principle of legality and establishes trust specifically with victims and witnesses. Of course, the effectiveness of those various measures continues to hinge on improvements in the political and security situation in the Sudan, which, as we know, is faced with manifold security, political and economic challenges. We commend international efforts, specifically the trilateral mechanism, which consists of the African Union, the United Nations and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. We call upon all parties to demonstrate responsibility and restraint in order to ease tensions and put an end to the violence that claims new victims in Darfur.”
2023-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9249 (2023) · source
“We welcome the partnerships that have been created or envisaged among the ICC and States parties, non-State parties, civil society organizations and regional and subregional organizations to strengthen legal cooperation on outstanding and recent cases, with evidence linked to new suspects or related cases. We emphasize the importance of paying special attention to civil society representing the victims and the survivors of the conflict in Darfur, as well as to the protection of witnesses. We encourage the Prosecutor to continue to take steps to improve the effectiveness and delivery of services, while noting that his visit to camps for displaced persons has helped to strengthen dialogue with those affected.”
2023-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9249 (2023) · source
“Of course, that agreement must be implemented to help the Court to renew its strategy in order to continue its investigations into allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity, within the expected time frames and with respect for the principle of legality and in the spirit of mutual and extensive dialogue with the Sudanese authorities. We support all initiatives facilitating the Court’s update and follow-up on commitments made by the Sudan in the context of that agreement with the aim of building upon the initial momentum and envisaging additional support measures, including the allocation of essential resources.”
2023-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9249 (2023) · source
“Significant progress has been made in the case against Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, including the charges brought against him, which is an important milestone. Gabon welcomes the reassessment of the strategy of the Office of the Prosecutor, which is geared towards accelerating criminal cooperation in order to improve the coordination of investigations and prosecution, as well as legal assistance. We recall the commitments made by the Sudanese authorities to fully cooperate with the Court in support of its work, of course without renouncing their principal judicial jurisdiction or their national sovereignty. The fact that, on 12 August 2021, the Sudanese authorities agreed to sign an agreement that establishes the modalities of the vital cooperation between the Sudan and the Office of the Prosecutor remains an important step.”
2023-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9249 (2023) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): I thank you, Mr. President, for organizing today’s debate on the thirty-sixth report of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the situation in Darfur pursuant to resolution 1593 (2005). I thank Prosecutor Karim Khan for his update on the activities of the Court and welcome the participation of the representative of the Sudan in today’s meeting. We note of the ongoing judicial proceedings as part of the investigations conducted by the ICC during the reporting period with a view to concluding outstanding trials, as we believe that they will help to meaningfully shore up international criminal justice and build peace nationally, regionally and internationally.”
2023-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9249 (2023) · source
“In conclusion, the A3 reiterates its solidarity with the Syrian people in their quest for lasting peace and stability. The firm and good-faith commitment of Syria’s neighbours is essential for achieving that.”
2023-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9248 (2023) · source
“We therefore call on the parties to continue to ensure the safe passage of cross-border convoys and their personnel. The A3 welcomed the unanimous extension by the Security Council on 9 January (see S/PV.9237) of the authorization of humanitarian aid through the Bab Al-Hawa crossing for an additional six months, until 10 July. Accordingly, resolution 2672 (2023) authorizes the work of that crucial mechanism, which provides vital assistance to 2.7 million people in need every month — approximately 65 per cent of those in need in north-west Syria. The extension of the cross-border mechanism is all the more vital for the Syrian people as there has been no substitute for it to date, both in terms of size and impact. We reaffirm our commitment to respecting the Syrian Arab Republic’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.”
2023-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9248 (2023) · source
“We also urge the parties to exercise restraint and to shoulder their responsibilities by committing themselves to renewing the dialogue and cooperating to consolidate the bundle of bilateral agreements reached by the main actors in the region into a nationwide ceasefire for the sake of the people of Syria. We note with interest the progress made in cross- border operations throughout Syria following the United Nations update of its plan to progressively increase access and scale up assistance to those in need in order to complement the cross-border mechanism’s response. A total of 10 convoys have been dispatched between August 2021 and January 2023, with a gradual increase both in the truckloads and the number of people reached.”
2023-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9248 (2023) · source
“We therefore urge all parties to respect international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution, and to always ensure that civilians and civilian objects are spared in all military operations. We fear the risk of escalation and a further deterioration of the situation. It is extremely urgent to restore relative calm on the ground. To that end, renewing the political process is of vital importance. We take this opportunity to commend Special Envoy Pedersen for his continued efforts, in a difficult context, to advance a step-by-step confidence-building process in accordance with resolution 2254 (2015) and to convene a ninth session of the Syrian-led, United Nations-facilitated Constitutional Committee.”
2023-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9248 (2023) · source
“We note with satisfaction that in 2022, donors contributed $517.6 million to partially or fully fund early-recovery projects in the 14 governorates. We call for the lifting of sanctions that could impede access to essential medical supplies, medical support related to the COVID-19 pandemic or food aid in Syria in order to prevent sanctions from having unintended negative humanitarian consequences, in accordance with Council resolution 2664 (2022). The A3 notes with deep concern that hostilities, air strikes and bombings continue along the front lines and in pockets across the country. Those hostilities are causing high numbers of civilian casualties, including women and children, in violation of international humanitarian law. In north-western Syria alone, 138 civilians were killed and 249 injured between January and November 2022.”
2023-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9248 (2023) · source
“It is estimated that slightly more than 4 million people, 80 per cent of whom are women and children, out of a population of 4.6 million, are in need of humanitarian assistance to meet their most basic needs. We are particularly sensitive to the plight of women and girls, who continue to be disproportionately affected by the crisis. They face gender-based violence, forced and early marriages and limited access to livelihoods. Of the 8.5 million people in need of assistance for gender-based violence, more than 55 per cent are women and 37 per cent are girls. To meet the ever-increasing needs, while the overall level of funding for the humanitarian response plan for Syria remains low, the A3 calls for greater solidarity and increased humanitarian funding, including for early-recovery and livelihoods projects.”
2023-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9248 (2023) · source
“At the same time, the country is in the grip of a severe economic crisis that is now at its worst level since 2021. That is compounded by difficulties in accessing basic services, the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the resurgence of the cholera epidemic. As a result, Syrians struggle on a daily basis to meet their basic needs. Indeed, more than half of the Syrian population struggles to feed itself, and 6 million people need assistance during a particularly difficult winter. The people of north-western Syria are among the most vulnerable and depend on humanitarian assistance provided through the United Nations cross- border mechanism.”
2023-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9248 (2023) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): I have the honour to make this statement on behalf of the three African members of the Security Council (A3) — Ghana, Mozambique and my own country, Gabon. We thank Special Envoy Geir Pedersen and Deputy Director Ghada Mudawi for their briefings on the most recent political and humanitarian developments in Syria. We welcome the participation of the representatives of the Syrian Arab Republic, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Türkiye in this meeting. The A3 is very concerned about the humanitarian situation in Syria, which remains alarming. The needs on the ground continue to grow. In 2023, more than 15 million people will need humanitarian assistance, up from more than 14 million in 2022, the highest level since the conflict began in 2011.”
2023-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9248 (2023) · source
“As long as it lasts, it will continue to unravel the prospects for coexistence in the region and beyond and will make post-conflict reconstruction even more difficult. We urge the various actors to seriously consider silencing the guns and giving diplomacy a chance. The latest agreements on cereals and contacts on prisoner exchanges are encouraging signals that should serve as a basis for a constructive dialogue that can lead to a cessation of hostilities. I would like to conclude by reiterating my country’s constant appeal for de-escalation and the lowering of tensions in order to create favourable conditions for negotiating an end to the war. Weapons can in no way bring about a solution. There can be no other possible outcome than a peace agreement allowing for peaceful coexistence.”
2023-01-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9245 (2023) · source
“On the contrary, each side is sharpening its weapons, honing its tactics and hardening its rhetoric. All the military projections concerning the state of the forces present on the battlefield, all the strategic calculations seem to boil down to a war of attrition and ignore the human cost of the war. How many more deaths are needed? How many more public buildings, bridges, hospitals, schools — how many more innocent victims and how many more refugees will have to be pushed into the destitution of displacement camps and onto the icy roads of exodus? How much distress and bloodshed will it take before the parties decide to negotiate? Eleven months after the outbreak of war, the Council can neither remain silent nor indulge in the logic of war. We must find the means to put an end to this war.”
2023-01-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9245 (2023) · source
“History has shown us in a brutal and cruel way to what extent hatred and rejection of the other can lead humankind into the abyss of violence, exacerbated by the instrumentalization of the sacred and the religious. I would like to stress that freedom of religion or belief is guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as by the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief. All parties must respect the relevant provisions of international instruments, both in times of peace and in times of war. My country is very concerned about the lack of prospects for negotiations to end the conflict. Neither side seems ready to sit down around the table to consider an end to the belligerence.”
2023-01-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9245 (2023) · source
“My country amply highlighted them in its statement in the Security Council on Friday (see S/PV.9243), as we have been doing since the beginning of the war. Clergy are also affected in the now-total war being waged by the parties to the conflict, and churches must make decisions in areas beyond those that are strictly religious or belief-based. That is reminiscent of the darkest episodes of history, in which religion was used to support a political or geopolitical ideology, enabling the warring parties to justify the unjustifiable and to fuel the deadliest of wars. Several States in the world owe their geography and the limits of their territories to those episodes, drawn in the ink of the blood of many innocent victims.”
2023-01-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9245 (2023) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): We would like to thank the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights for the information that she has brought to our attention. We listened carefully to the briefing delivered by Metropolitan Anthony. For the past eleven months, the eyes of the world have been focused on Ukraine, and every day they see the scale of destruction and the shelling of civilian infrastructures, along with the attendant distress it has brought to the daily lives of men, women and children, who must choose between dying in the rubble and ruins or fleeing their home, city or country. What purpose would it serve to recall the appalling humanitarian consequences of the daily fighting that is taking place in Ukraine?”
2023-01-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9245 (2023) · source
“We also take this opportunity to reiterate the need to step up mine action efforts, including the identification, marking and clearance of dangerous areas. In conclusion, Gabon reiterates its appreciation to Special Envoy Hans Grundberg for his tireless efforts, through dialogue, to reach a new truce agreement and eventually a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Yemen. That is the only way to ensure a return to lasting peace and restore the well-being of the Yemeni people.”
2023-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9244 (2023) · source
“We welcome the World Bank’s additional $150 million contribution to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in order to build resilience and address the rising food insecurity of Yemen. That increased support will be allocated to the Yemen Food Security Response and Resilience Project, which is jointly implemented by three United Nations bodies, in order to scale up efforts to recover the livelihoods of people in rural areas, boost household food production and provide emergency assistance to vulnerable Yemeni households. In that regard, we call on the international community to make greater efforts to address the financing gap in order to support Yemen’s economy and public services, including its schools and hospitals.”
2023-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9244 (2023) · source
“We are also very concerned about the devastating effects of malnutrition, especially in the governorates of Hajjah, Al-Hudaydah, Sa’dah and Amran. The winter has also made the humanitarian situation worse for vulnerable people, including internally displaced persons. At least seven newborns died recently in tents in the central governorate of Ma’rib because of the extreme cold. Another six newborns died in Al-Ma’acher camp owing to the chronic lack of adequate heating and shelter. We also note with regret the ongoing restrictions on the movement of women humanitarian workers, which has made their working environment more difficult. We therefore urge the parties to ensure safe and unhindered access to humanitarian sites and to respect international humanitarian law.”
2023-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9244 (2023) · source
“We are following very closely the ongoing talks on renewing the truce in the country and call on all stakeholders to demonstrate responsibility, flexibility and compromise by engaging in good faith in an inclusive, frank and constructive dialogue whose main focus is to ensure the well-being of the Yemeni people. In that regard, we commend all the actors in the region for their efforts to find a way to facilitate negotiations. My country remains very concerned about the welfare of children, who along with women are the main victims of the conflict that has devastated the country. According to a UNICEF press release published in December, more than 11,000 children have been killed, maimed or wounded in Yemen, and nearly 4,000 have been recruited among those fighting on the ground.”
2023-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9244 (2023) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): I would like to thank Special Envoy Hans Grundberg and Under-Secretary-General Martin Griffiths for their informative briefings and express our support for their work on the ground. I also welcome the participation in today’s meeting of the Permanent Representative of Yemen. Since the expiration of the truce in October 2022, a new phase of uncertainty has begun in Yemen, despite the relative calm that has been seen on the ground. My country reaffirms the need to reach a new truce and remains convinced that a peace agreement can be reached between the parties. We note with interest the intensive diplomatic efforts being made in the region in order to find a solution.”
2023-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9244 (2023) · source
“As we approach the critical threshold of 12 months of relentless warfare, the rhetoric of excessive weaponry that seems to prevail on both sides bodes well for a hardening of the fighting. There is every reason to believe that the coming spring will be like this winter, a season of even more violent offensives. It is time for the meetings of the Council to be considered as, and directed towards, a solution-oriented outcome. It is time now more than ever for the channels of diplomacy to be activated to end this deadly war. My country calls on all parties to put all their energy into the search for a political solution in order to end the cycle of suffering and distress. We must use diplomacy and dialogue to end the war in Ukraine.”
2023-01-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9243 (2023) · source
“Numerous attacks have targeted energy, health and water infrastructure, directly affecting the survival of civilian populations, forcing them to flee from the emergency and making more complex the delivery of humanitarian aid to millions in need. The number of people in need of humanitarian assistance has increased significantly as temperatures have fallen. We commend the outstanding efforts of humanitarian organizations in Ukraine and in refugee-hosting countries to provide assistance in the form of food, cash, medical care, electricity generators, clean water and other basic services. We call once again on the belligerents to respect their commitments under international humanitarian law and to refrain from using weapons whose indiscriminate effects inflict atrocious suffering on civilians.”
2023-01-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9243 (2023) · source
“According to the latest United Nations statistics, this war has already produced more than 6 million internally displaced persons in Ukraine, nearly 5 million refugees, nearly 7,000 civilian deaths and more than 11,000 injuries. In addition, there are allegations of rape and sexual violence, infiltration, human trafficking, especially of children and women, including the disruption of schooling for children and psychological traumas that extend beyond the conflict. The use of weapons of mass destruction, in particular drones and other explosive weapons with wide-area effects, as well as cluster munitions and anti-personnel mines, has greatly increased the toll of the war in Ukraine.”
2023-01-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9243 (2023) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): I thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for her briefing. I welcome the participation in this meeting of the First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Poland, our colleague the representative of Lithuania and the Head of the European Union delegation to the United Nations. Since the most recent Security Council meeting on the war in Ukraine (see S/PV.9208), there has been no lull on the ground. There is no respite for the people. The harshness of the fighting in Soledar and Bakhmut is a matter of concern. The civilian population is being subjected to regular bombardments, caught in an unbearable vice for the control of every inch.”
2023-01-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9243 (2023) · source
“In the light of this continuous reinvention, we must be ready to act collectively, and the Security Council must be able to reform itself without further delay. Ensuring our coexistence and sustainably shaping our common future are at stake.”
2023-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9241 (2023) · source
“Unless socioeconomic rights are promoted, our goal of building an institutional framework that respects the rule of law at the national and international levels will be difficult to achieve. In conclusion, let me underscore an important point. The rule of law at the international level does not mean encouraging maintaining the status quo. Like many other human endeavours, international law and the international order that it underpins are perfectible and must constantly be adapted to changing realities over time. The reliability of the framework of international rules must be constantly consolidated by constructive updates and broadening its scope in order to respond effectively to humankind’s contemporary challenges.”
2023-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9241 (2023) · source
“And, in the face of the rising nuclear threat, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and, more recently, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty were adopted. Similarly, we must overcome current challenges, including climate change, the loss of biodiversity, international terrorism, the predatory exploitation of developing countries’ natural resources and health- and cyber-related threats, all of which are becoming increasingly serious challenges to the aspirations of the world’s peoples for security, dignity and prosperity. All calls for strengthening the rule of law must also take into account the need to build economic capacity in fragile countries.”
2023-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9241 (2023) · source
“After witnessing the loss of 75 million civilian lives during the Second World War, States adopted in 1949 the Fourth Geneva Convention, dedicated to the protection of civilians in times of international armed conflict. When they saw the peoples of the world rise up against, oppose and rebel against the practices of colonialism, States declared the right of peoples to self-determination, which facilitated the process of decolonization. When non-international armed conflicts took precedence over others, States adopted the Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts, extending the benefits based on the same fundamental human needs to that type of conflict.”
2023-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9241 (2023) · source
“Each and every segment of humankind must be protected by international law, with the knowledge that there is no contradiction between State sovereignty and international law. The obligations that States commit to within the framework of international conventions are not incompatible with their sovereignty. History teaches us that the way humankind applies international law depends on the nature and the scope of the problems facing it. Confronted by the cruelty and inhumanity of slavery during the nineteenth century, States adopted binding legal instruments in 1890 and 1926 to prohibit it and work together to eliminate its practice.”
2023-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9241 (2023) · source