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

“We commend UNAMA’s work in combating the illicit trade, accumulation and diversion of small arms and light weapons and their ammunition, and of explosive materials. On the economic front, despite the degree to which the situation has stabilized, most of the factors that have adversely affected the economy since August 2021 persist, including the sharp drop in development assistance, the difficulties related to international financial operations and their impact on the banking sector. The freezing of Afghan assets has contributed to creating a significant financial crisis that is affecting the population. Coupled with the mistrust of donors and banking institutions, the sanctions are increasing the precariousness of the situation for the population.”
2022-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9227 (2022) · source
“The 12 December attack on a Kabul hotel in one of the capital’s main commercial areas, resulting in civilian casualties, is unacceptable. We condemn the attack and call on the de facto authorities to step up their efforts to combat terrorism and meet their obligation to protect the population. The illicit drug trade, along with frequent clashes between the opposition and security forces, the presence of foreign forces on Afghan territory and continued border tensions, is increasing the volatility of the situation on the ground. Furthermore, the civilian population continues to suffer the deadly consequences of the use of improvised explosive devices. The continued cooperation of Afghanistan’s neighbours will be vital to the quest for peace and stability and to prevent the situation in the region from deteriorating further.”
2022-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9227 (2022) · source
“At the same time, that marginalization prevents the population as a whole from rallying to support Afghanistan’s development and stability. The Council should be an epicentre for supporting and mobilizing the resilience of women suffering in regions plagued by instability. We commend the efforts of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs, the United Nations country team and Afghan and international non-governmental organizations to promote women’s rights and their inclusion in society. The security situation on the ground in Afghanistan is fragile. We are concerned about the security breaches related to the armed opposition and attacks by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan.”
2022-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9227 (2022) · source
“Afghanistan is a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which recognizes the right of every child to education regardless of gender. It is incumbent on the country’s de facto authorities to ensure respect for the right to education by allowing girls to attend school at every level. It is unacceptable that generations of young Afghan boys and girls who are the adults of the future may grow up thinking that the marginalization of women in society is normal. We must continue our efforts to support the resilience of Afghan women and convince the Taliban that the marginalization of women and girls, who make up half of the Afghan population, deprives the country of significant economic actors able to play a major role in the country’s growth, which is in crisis.”
2022-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9227 (2022) · source
“On the political front, the restructuring of the State apparatus and the establishment of institutions by the Taliban continues. Efforts to promote dialogue and the return of Afghans in exile through the Commission for Return and Communication with Former Afghan Officials and Political Figures are noteworthy. However, despite the various measures taken, the lack of representation of the diversity of the Afghan people, both ethnically and socially, in the political landscape persists. Very little progress has been made during the reporting period. The inclusion of women in governance structures is not advancing. Girls’ education and their access to secondary education are crucial, and the international community must continue to advocate boldly for them.”
2022-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9227 (2022) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): I thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ms. Roza Otunbayeva, and the Under-Secretary- General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Martin Griffiths, for their informative briefings. I also thank Ms. Mahbouba Seraj for her contribution. I wish to congratulate you, Madam, on India’s outstanding work as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011). The most recent report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security (S/2022/916) is damning. There has been little to no progress on the political, security, economic or humanitarian tracks in Afghanistan. Ms. Seraj’s poignant testimony was compelling in many ways.”
2022-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9227 (2022) · source
“That is why we welcome today’s step in the right direction, which also sends a strong message of solidarity to the Congolese people, who find themselves at a particularly difficult juncture in their history. In conclusion, I would like to encourage Council members to continue to overcome their differences and interests in order to support the dynamic and the peace process under way in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and, in particular, to preserve the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
2022-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9226 (2022) · source
“We are confident that the lifting of the prior notification requirement will dismantle all obstacles to the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s ability to provide a full and more effective response to the armed groups responsible for plundering resources and committing atrocities against the civilian population in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Those armed groups are heavily equipped and have no constraints nor respect for any embargo. Today’s adoptions constitute real progress in allowing the Congolese authorities to fulfill all of their responsibilities. The Council has come to understand that restricting the room for manoeuvre of a Government led by democratically elected authorities facing major security challenges is not a good thing.”
2022-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9226 (2022) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): Gabon voted in favour of the two resolutions adopted today (resolutions 2666 (2022) and 2667 (2022)). Our vote is a show of support for the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ms. Bintou Keita. Above all, our vote is an expression of our constant plea to ensure that the Council’s actions are in line with the legitimate aspirations of the Congolese people for security.”
2022-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9226 (2022) · source
“On the sensitive issue of the return of human remains to their families in Israel and Palestine, we call on the parties to prioritize the matter and to create a climate of trust in favour of a lasting peace. In conclusion, we welcome the efforts of Special Coordinator Wennesland for peace in the Middle East, particularly the ongoing dialogue that he is conducting with various Israeli and Palestinian leaders, and with regional and international partners, to address the dangerous trends in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.”
2022-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9224 (2022) · source
“We therefore call on the parties to exercise restraint and refrain from any belligerent rhetoric that would undermine the quest for peace, and instead to commit to holding a frank and constructive dialogue for the benefit of both the Israeli and the Palestinian peoples. Gabon reaffirms its commitment to a two-State solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security within the recognized 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine. We call on the international community to mobilize to fund bodies such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the World Food Programme so as to tackle the Palestinian people’s growing humanitarian needs.”
2022-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9224 (2022) · source
“The cycle of violence and bloodshed is untenable. It is imperative that the Council strive to put an end to that cycle and create the conditions for a lasting peace in the region. In Gaza, despite the ongoing risk of escalation, we note the prevailing fragile calm with the maintenance of the ceasefire, thanks to the efforts of the United Nations and regional partners, as well as the measures taken by Israel to alleviate pressures and further facilitate economic activities. The fragility of the political and security dynamics, particularly in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, remains concerning.”
2022-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9224 (2022) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): I would like to thank the Special Coordinator, Mr. Tor Wennesland, for his informative briefing on the implementation of resolution 2334 (2016). The twenty-fourth quarterly report of the Secretary- General is shocking. Six years after the adoption of resolution 2334 (2016), it is clear that its implementation has fallen well short of our expectations. The settlement activities, the seizures and demolitions of property and the expropriations of Palestinians have continued. The violations and violence against civilians and acts of terror have intensified, while their perpetrators have not been held to account. The clashes between Palestinians and the Israeli security forces have continued with an unprecedented of level of violence, making 2022 the deadliest year since the intifada of 2005.”
2022-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9224 (2022) · source
“The international community should be more determined to take urgent measures that are commensurate with the threat, within the context of broader governance involving all segments of society. That would deprive terrorists of the ideological propaganda they use to radicalize and manipulate vulnerable communities.”
2022-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9221 (2022) · source
“Gabon believes that the efforts of the international community must be guided by regional and subregional organizations that better understand the situation on the ground. However, they can be effective only if they have real capacity. It is up to us therefore to provide those organizations with the necessary tools for building resilience. In that regard, I must underscore the linkage between peace, security and development and the need for a holistic approach in the fight against the root causes of terrorism. In conclusion, I would like to underscore the crucial nature of our fight against terrorism as an absolute necessity for the peace, security and development of our States.”
2022-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9221 (2022) · source
“We must also continue our efforts to adopt an international convention on international terrorism, which would provide the most tangible illustration of the fact that our States and the peoples of the world unanimously condemn the threat of international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It is therefore important that we conduct an ongoing review of current sanctions regimes to ensure that they are tailored to the changing terrorist threat, in particular by better targeting the perpetrators of terrorist acts and their support structure. Respect for the rule of law is crucial in that exercise, as we minimize the adverse effects and potential collateral damage of sanctions on communities that are likely to be unfairly affected.”
2022-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9221 (2022) · source
“Similarly, we must dry up the sources of financing for terrorist networks through consolidated partnerships in the areas of intelligence on online monetary transactions; the illicit exploitation of natural resources; the fight against the circulation of small arms and light weapons; and combating human trafficking and kidnapping for ransom perpetrated by armed groups. The United Nations must redouble its efforts, increase its avenues for action and firmly support peace initiatives and operations, in particular African initiatives. We must present a united front on counter- terrorism, and everyone must be fully committed.”
2022-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9221 (2022) · source
“Among these gaps are health crises, such as the coronavirus disease pandemic, and humanitarian crises, which are becoming increasingly complex owing to the effects of climate change, coupled with the rise in poverty and inequality inherent in recurring political and socioeconomic crises. Our collective action against terrorism therefore requires a comprehensive approach and appropriate measures to address the socioeconomic challenges facing affected countries, including education and training of youth; strengthening the authority of the State, particularly in fragile States; and improving the living conditions of disadvantaged populations.”
2022-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9221 (2022) · source
“We need to pursue and consolidate our cooperation through information-sharing, the training of security and intelligence personnel, and, where appropriate, support for counter-terrorism operations that weaken terrorist groups, particularly along common borders, where very often State capacity and authority are limited. On the African continent, the Accra Initiative, which seeks to provide a coherent response that combines a military approach with long-term interventions to address governance deficits, is a benchmark approach in this regard. We must tailor our response with coherence, because fragmented responses fuel the interests of terrorist groups, which exploit systemic flaws in order to ferment the soil for violence.”
2022-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9221 (2022) · source
“In the face of this scourge, we must agree on a number of cardinal principles, including, first, zero tolerance for all forms and manifestations of terrorism and extremist violence; secondly, the anchoring of our actions in strict adherence to international law and respect for the rule of law and relevant international instruments and protocols; thirdly, protection of our actions from any form of politicization through impeccable impartiality; and fourthly, the delegitimization of any justification for terrorism. Terrorism is not caused by deficits in governance, but it continues to unravel and destabilize governance plans and efforts in developing countries and feeds at the needy table of societal fragilities.”
2022-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9221 (2022) · source
“Above all, we must ensure that the current polarization in the world does not lead to a weakening of multilateralism from which terrorist groups and their affiliates could dangerously benefit. Above all, we must emphasize the need for a holistic approach that takes into full account the precarious socioeconomic conditions that make many disillusioned youth easy targets for radicalization and recruitment into terrorist organizations.”
2022-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9221 (2022) · source
“Our action must be equally determined, multidimensional and based on the principles of multilateralism. African leaders understand this. On 28 May 2022, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union, meeting in Malabo, adopted an important declaration in which they reaffirmed their commitment to combating all forms and manifestations of terrorism and extremist violence on the continent. This declaration strengthens the many regional initiatives to combat terrorism. Gabon welcomes the measures taken in the binding normative framework to fight international terrorism and the measures to make international cooperation closer. But we must do more.”
2022-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9221 (2022) · source
“Governments are increasingly under pressure from populations fed up with growing insecurity, especially since political and economic measures seem to fall short of the urgency and firmness required to fight this scourge. It is a war that puts the limited capacities of countries to the test and destabilizes entire regions. Between January and September of this year, 1,093 terrorist attacks were perpetrated in Africa, killing 7,816 people and injuring 1,772. According to these figures from the African Centre for Studies and Research on Terrorism, each of the five regions of the continent has had its share of victims among civilians, security forces and officials. This transnational threat is formidable, and no Government or organization can fight it alone. Concerted action at national, regional and global levels is crucial.”
2022-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9221 (2022) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): I wish to convey my condolences to Ireland on the death of the Irish peacekeeper who fell on the field of operations in Lebanon. I would like to congratulate India for its outstanding presidency and for initiating today’s debate on the threat that terrorist acts continue to pose to international peace and security. I thank Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov and Executive Director Weixiong Chen for their inspiring briefings. I also thank Ms. Anjali Kulthe for her moving testimony. Terrorist networks are constantly evolving and are clearly resilient, despite the international community’s mobilization against them. Terrorist threats are increasing in magnitude and geographic reach, spreading to all the regions of the world.”
2022-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9221 (2022) · source
“We must make it our priority to build a shield of actions and initiatives to guard against and prevent, within and between the nations of the world, any predation of resources, any predation of dignity and humanity, in order to restore to the peoples of the world their aspirations for security, prosperity and greater freedom. In conclusion, I would like to emphasize our need to respond to present and future generations. We owe them a response that is commensurate with their fears, their needs and their legitimate aspirations to live in peace with enriched prospects. That response cannot wait any longer.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220 (2022) · source
“Thirdly, we must build a new social contract, a new global compact between generations, between the rulers and the ruled, between the global and regional spheres, with a special focus on youth, women, civil society and the private sector. In that new social contract for the future, bridges must replace walls everywhere. Education must push back the shackles of ignorance and intolerance everywhere. Multilateralism must prevail over unilateral postures. And the logic of dialogue must always prevail over antagonism. It is an illusion to think that humankind will survive with bubbles of security and prosperity surrounded by an ocean of insecurity and poverty. The inevitable alternative to peace and prosperity for all will inevitably be the endangerment of all and collective decay.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220 (2022) · source
“As President Ali Bongo Ondimba recently recalled at the General Assembly rostrum (see A/77/ PV.6), Africa will wait no longer. At the time of reckoning, we will remember every instance of support, but also every show of indifference and every manoeuvre to keep Africa as a mere power play. Secondly, we need to redefine our rules and mechanisms to adequately deal with the evolution of insecurity and terrorism. As far as rules are concerned, we must ensure inclusiveness and solidarity and leave no room for double standards, including the policy of solidarity with variable geography. Furthermore, we must deliberately tackle the root causes of conflicts and crises. In terms of our mechanisms for action, our response must be robust, when needed, and proportionate to the challenges on the ground.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220 (2022) · source
“Similarly, other nations have legitimate claims to a permanent seat at the main and decisive table of the Security Council. Let us put aside this distressing fact. We are convinced of the urgency to act in order implement three fundamental concepts that we believe will make the multilateral system for credible and inclusive. First, we must reform the Security Council without delay. It must be representative of today’s reality and of current and future challenges. As an African, I hope that this reform will give priority to the African common position and its legitimate claim, as reflected in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration. Africa will not wait indefinitely for the convulsions of an intergovernmental reform process that to our peoples appears to be an insurmountable stumbling block.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220 (2022) · source
“We need to update our international institutions, our mindsets, our perceptions of sustainable peace, shared prosperity and living together. We need to reinvent solutions to contemporary threats, including climate change and the insecurity of cyberspace. We must address the crisis of international solidarity that fuels the underlying economic, humanitarian, health, climate and food crises. We cannot meet these challenges of the present century with the tools of another century. A continent like Africa, the second-most populous continent, which is estimated to account for at least a quarter of the world’s population by 2050 and which today accounts for about 70 per cent of the Security Council’s agenda, has no permanent seat where its important issues are decided.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220 (2022) · source
“More than 75 years later, the world has completely changed. The international context has completely changed. The geopolitical landscape has completely changed. The nature of warfare has literally been transformed. Technology has completely changed our daily lives. Yet the structure of our institutions remains essentially unchanged, especially with respect to our collective security. The democratic values demanded and promoted by most States at the national level have not yet been translated to the global level in the composition and functioning of the main centres and epicentres of the current international order. It is as if democracy were good for States and unsuitable for international organizations with a universal vocation. To meet the challenges of the future, our security architecture should reflect current and future realities.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220 (2022) · source
“We have a broad architecture of peace and collective security. We have the ambitious 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other road maps. The fact is that we have tools that are far from deficient. The question is how to make them more relevant, efficient and appropriate. How do we reform our Organization to make it more effective in providing security and dignity to the peoples of the world? We should always remember that the United Nations was created with the clear purpose of saving future generations from the scourge of war, as is stated at the beginning of the Charter of the United Nations. This was the brilliant idea of the victors of the Second World War, who were joined by some 50 other States in San Francisco in adopting the Charter, which today forms the bond that holds our coexistence together.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220 (2022) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): I congratulate India on its initiative in convening this important debate, which has given us an excellent opportunity to mobilize our ideas with a view to reaching a critical mass that will enable us to shape our common future within the multilateral system. I thank the Secretary- General and the President of the General Assembly for their enlightening guidance for our debate. The United Nations is a great idea, a fantastic experiment. I would not dare to imagine the world without the United Nations. It would undoubtedly resemble a vast hunting ground where nations are either the hunters or the hunted. One might wonder whether in some respects we are not approaching that bleak image. But regardless of that, thanks to the current United Nations system, we have an international order founded on rules.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220 (2022) · source
“Finally, I would like to thank Member States, including those neighbouring South Sudan, for their engagement with the Committee and their participation in the Committee’s meetings this year. I encourage Member States to continue to strengthen their cooperation with the Panel of Experts and the Committee.”
2022-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9219 (2022) · source
“On 17 August, the Committee heard a presentation by the Coordinator of the Group of Experts on the Group’s workplan for the mandate renewed by resolution 2633 (2022). On 18 November, the Committee heard a presentation by the Coordinator of the Panel of Experts on the Panel’s progress report, submitted pursuant to paragraph 18 of resolution 2633 (2022), and considered the recommendations contained therein. Since the beginning of 2022, the Committee has received two requests for exemptions to the arms embargo, both of which have been granted. In addition, three requests for exemptions to the travel ban and assets freeze have been received, all of which have been granted.”
2022-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9219 (2022) · source
“To date, the Committee has met six times in informal consultations. On 14 February, the Committee heard a presentation by the Coordinator of the Panel of Experts on the Panel’s workplan for the mandate renewed by resolution 2577 (2021). On 22 April, the Committee heard a presentation by the Coordinator of the Panel of Experts on the final report of the Panel (see S/2022/359), submitted pursuant to paragraph 17 of resolution 2577 (2021), and considered the recommendations contained therein. On 22 June, at a briefing for Member States, the Committee heard a presentation by the Coordinator of the Panel of Experts on the final report of the Panel, submitted pursuant to paragraph 17 of resolution 2577 (2021). On 1 July, the Committee was briefed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict.”
2022-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9219 (2022) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): In my capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2206 (2015), concerning South Sudan, I have the honour to inform the members of the Security Council of developments since my predecessor’s last briefing to the Council, on 15 December 2021 (see S/PV.8931). In my statement, I will provide a brief overview of developments in the Committee since the beginning of 2022. With regard to the appointment of the Panel of Experts, following the consensus reached on the proposed list of experts pursuant to resolution 2577 (2021), the Secretary-General appointed the five experts to the Panel on 20 January. On 22 June, the Secretary- General reappointed the same five experts pursuant to resolution 2633 (2022).”
2022-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9219 (2022) · source
“In conclusion, we reiterate our full support to the Mechanism and call for mobilizing serious efforts to ensure that its important work will continue unhindered and with the effective collaboration of the international community. In addition to fulfilling its essential mandate, its work is dedicated to the quest for truth and justice and constitutes a moral bulwark against arbitrary action and mass atrocities.”
2022-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9217 (2022) · source
“The Mechanism has now reached a crucial phase, and its credibility and effectiveness will continue to depend largely on the assistance that States provide, especially their support to the Prosecutor to facilitate the arrest of the fugitives at large. If they are not arrested and then tried according to the required legal procedures, the Mechanism’s purpose and effectiveness will be called into question. The fight against impunity must remain an imperative for the international community. We encourage the States concerned to cooperate closely with the two branches of the Mechanism in order to maximize the collection of the evidence needed to begin the difficult criminal investigations that can determine the facts of the serious crimes that have been committed.”
2022-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9217 (2022) · source
“We encourage the Office of the President to use that strategy to raise awareness within the international community, primarily the Security Council, on salient, complex issues such as the tracking of fugitives, the trial proceedings of highly sensitive cases, technical assistance to national courts, the monitoring and execution of sentences and the protection of victims and witnesses as well as of the archives. Significant progress has been made in the context of pending judicial proceedings, notably the conclusion of the Marie Rose Fatuma et al. case, which serves to encourage us to redouble our efforts to settle the two remaining and ongoing trials, concerning the cases of Prosecutor v. Félicien Kabuga and Prosecutor v. Jovica Stanišić and Franko Simatović, whose complexity we acknowledge.”
2022-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9217 (2022) · source
“We commend the efforts made by the Mechanism during the reporting period to carry out its residual functions in accordance with resolution 1966 (2010), despite the many challenges it has encountered since the health crisis caused by the coronavirus disease began. We welcome the strategy implemented by the Office of the President, which is essentially aimed at strengthening the Mechanism’s efficiency and its working methods. In our view, that approach appears to be the right one for enabling a targeted transition towards the Mechanism’s completion of its residual functions in accordance with resolutions 1966 (2010) and 2637 (2022). To that end, we welcome the road map and all measures taken to achieve that objective.”
2022-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9217 (2022) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): I would like to thank you, Madam President, for your initiative in organizing today’s meeting on the progress report of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals. I would also like to thank the President of the Mechanism, Ms. Graciela Gatti Santana, and the Prosecutor, Mr. Serge Brammertz, for their briefings in the context of the twenty-first progress report on the work of the International Mechanism for the period from mid-May to mid-November. I welcome the representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Rwanda and Serbia to today’s meeting. And, as Chair of the Informal Working Group on International Tribunals, I would like to reiterate our congratulations to the President of the Mechanism on her appointment.”
2022-12-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9217 (2022) · source
“We recall the crucial role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan as the official custodian of the Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem and reiterate our support for the King of Morocco, as Chair of the Al-Quds Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, in preserving the special status of the holy city as a symbol of the common heritage of humankind and the three monotheistic religions, as well as a place of dialogue and mutual respect. Respect for the status quo of the holy sites is also a requirement for the peaceful coexistence of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. Finally, we commend the efforts of Mr. Tor Wennesland, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. The diplomatic efforts to revive a sustainable peace process in the region must continue.”
2022-11-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9203 (2022) · source
“On the political front, Gabon reaffirms its commitment to a two-State solution whereby Palestine can live in peace and security along secure and recognized borders, based on the 1967 lines, and with East Jerusalem as its capital. We call on the parties to resume negotiations in good faith with a view to restoring confidence and giving the Palestinian and Israeli peoples a chance in their aspirations to live in peace.”
2022-11-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9203 (2022) · source
“The settlement activities, evictions and demolitions of Palestinian homes must stop. On the thorny issue of the return of human remains to their families, we call on the parties to prioritize a solution that can create a climate of confidence for a lasting peace. With regard to the humanitarian situation, we remain concerned about the risk of disruption to aid from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), as civilian populations remain highly dependent on it, particularly in the Gaza Strip, due to the blockade. In that regard we urge that the blockade be lifted, in accordance with resolution 1860 (2009), and that the international community continue its efforts to fund UNRWA.”
2022-11-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9203 (2022) · source
“On 14 November, a young Palestinian woman near Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, also lost her life. More recently, an elementary school was demolished by Israeli forces in Masafer Yatta. Those are real tragedies that should not be trivialized. Refusing to trivialize the cycles of violence also applies to attacks suffered by Israelis, such as that which resulted in the death of three Israelis on 15 November in the industrial area of the Ariel settlement, as well as the two bombing attacks in Jerusalem on 23 November. We condemn all such attacks and acts of violence. The cycle of violence and bloodshed is unsustainable, and the perpetrators must be held accountable before the law. We call on all the parties to exercise restraint and refrain from bellicose rhetoric that impedes the quest for peace.”
2022-11-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9203 (2022) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): I thank Special Coordinator Tor Wennesland for his briefing. We are concerned about the persistent insecurity vis-à-vis Israel and Palestine. I would like to focus on the following three aspects: the security, humanitarian and political dimensions. With regard to the security situation, violence has intensified in recent months in the occupied West Bank and Israel. Tensions and stresses are mounting in Jerusalem, and the positions of the parties are becoming more extreme. Children and women are paying a heavy price in terms of the indiscriminate violence affecting civilian populations. A 15-year-old Palestinian was killed on 9 November during an Israeli army operation to secure a visit by Israeli politicians to a religious site in the occupied West Bank.”
2022-11-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9203 (2022) · source
“In conclusion, I would like to call on the political authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to show their commitment to State-building in a spirit of dialogue and consensus. We welcome the role of the European Union Military Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina in supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina on the path to peace and political stabilization. We are paying close attention to the effects of the measures taken by the High Representative to establish a Government so as to extricate the country from the political impasse that has lasted since 2018.”
2022-11-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9179 (2022) · source
“Measures taken to better acknowledge the victims of the war are to be welcomed because they promote reconciliation. The blockages in the budget preparation for the year 2023 must be resolved. They are stumbling blocks that deprive the State of its income and undermine its action. The considerable immigration of young people is a matter of concern for Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is deprived every year of the vital forces it needs for State-building. My country urges the political leaders to find concerted political solutions to the various challenges that undermine State-building. Any action that weakens State institutions by depriving them of their means of action undermines peacebuilding efforts.”
2022-11-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9179 (2022) · source
“The functioning of the State remains dependent on the implementation of the Dayton Accord, to which the various political entities must adhere. Those agreements provide a balanced road map to be followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the participation of all of its components. Gabon believes that the differences that might arise from the implementation of those agreements must be resolved by consensus. The implementation by all of the decisions of the Constitutional Court is a vital necessity for strengthening the rule of law. We urge all parties to avoid rhetoric or unilateral initiatives and fait accompli policies that could complicate the path to economic and political stabilization and regional integration. Additional efforts must be made to foster community living and cohesion.”
2022-11-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9179 (2022) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): The general elections of 2 October took place against a backdrop of tension and community conflict, which was fuelled by divisive rhetoric. We take note of the numerous measures taken to enable the holding of the elections and to facilitate the functioning of institutions, including appointing judges to the Constitutional Court, facilitating interactions between the two houses of Parliament and strengthening citizen participation in the legislative process. We urge the political actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina to engage in dialogue in order to reach a concerted solution for coexistence in a community that respects diversity and on the basis of equal representation in State institutions.”
2022-11-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9179 (2022) · source