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

“The Security Council is still waiting for the report of the joint investigation, which we are all expecting will shed light on the true circumstances of these acts and on their perpetrators. One year after the events occurred, the lack of progress on the matter is fuelling all kinds of suspicions and speculation that could call into question the desire of the parties to bring the investigations to a successful conclusion. In that regard, my country urges all the parties to engage in an inclusive, transparent and non-politicized way. It goes without saying that any obstruction or opacity in the progress of the investigations would be detrimental to its credibility and trustworthiness in the current context.”
2023-09-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9424 (2023) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): We are once again meeting today on the issue of the sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines off the Baltic Sea on 26 and 27 September 2022. Those were malicious acts against energy infrastructure that sparked Council members’ outrage and condemnation. The extent of the material damage, the environmental repercussions of the underwater explosions, the short-term economic losses resulting from interim navigation and overflight conservation measures, as well as the long-term losses resulting from the fact that the installations were rendered inoperable, are considerable and have created legitimately high expectations that we will see the investigations that have been done produce conclusions.”
2023-09-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9424 (2023) · source
“In conclusion, I would like to commend the extraordinary work of humanitarian personnel, who often work in difficult situations, at times risking their lives in hostile environments. Less than one month after we marked World Humanitarian Day, I reiterate my country’s support and gratitude to the people whose job it is to assist those most in need and restore hope to the most vulnerable.”
2023-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9418 (2023) · source
“In that regard, I would like to underscore the importance of climate financing through innovative mechanisms, as well as the need to increase the role of the United Nations in the area of taxation, specifically through international financial transactions. I would like to conclude by reminding everyone of the basic principles of respect for international humanitarian law and compliance with Council resolutions, in particular resolution 2417 (2018), on food insecurity and armed conflict, and resolution 2573 (2021), which condemns the use of starvation as a weapon of war. I also want to remind members that no situation justifies the use of famine as a weapon of war and that warring parties are obliged to facilitate the access of humanitarian workers to all areas and all people in need. Aid to the suffering should never be politicized.”
2023-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9418 (2023) · source
“United Nations specialized agencies and other humanitarian partners could also increase the resilience of their programmes by developing a partnership approach with communities and population centres benefiting from aid — for example, in areas facing protracted conflict — by promoting the consumption of products grown or processed by those communities. The idea of a resilience index for humanitarian response should be made systematic for long-term crises. Another way of strengthening the private sector’s participation in humanitarian responses is to increase its means of harnessing the financial resources at its disposal through innovative mechanisms.”
2023-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9418 (2023) · source
“As part of the efforts to explore new financing and participation mechanisms, private companies, but also other non-State actors, such as non-governmental organizations, research institutes and think tanks, can be effective partners in providing data, human or technical capacity-building and monitoring resources with a view to preventing conflicts or natural disasters. Science must be leveraged for the benefit decision-making, including through early-warning mechanisms for risk management. We need to go beyond the framework of traditional donors in order to make better use of all the private-sector resources that could be used for the benefit of humanitarian assistance.”
2023-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9418 (2023) · source
“It is necessary to respond to pressing needs while investing in economic recovery. While it has become commonplace for United Nations humanitarian aid programmes to include financial services for populations as part of their modus operandi, that type of aid would benefit from being systematized and oriented towards the implementation of projects designed to strengthen the resilience of populations, particularly with regard to women, and with the aim of putting value into and fostering local know-how. In that regard, the strengthening of synergies between United Nations specialized agencies and the private sector must be supported as part of the sharing of responsibilities.”
2023-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9418 (2023) · source
“That is particularly true in situations of natural disasters and climate crises, but also in situations of armed conflict, in which there are myriad negative impacts on basic infrastructure and means of production. According to the latest joint report by UNICEF, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the WFP, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the World Health Organization, between 691 million and 783 million people suffered from hunger in 2022, an increase of 122 million as compared to 2019. Africa, where one in five people suffer from hunger, remains the hardest- hit region. That persistence of hunger in certain regions, such as Africa, West Asia and the Caribbean, demonstrates the limits of an approach based solely on the provision of basic food aid.”
2023-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9418 (2023) · source
“Private actors are key partners in that regard, in a global context in which hunger is rife and food insecurity and malnutrition continue to gain ground. The response to those persistent challenges must be built in cooperation with international and regional financial institutions, within the framework of partnerships aimed at boosting economies and restoring the production capacities necessary to enable countries to take their destiny back into their own hands. That entails a commitment to strengthening the humanitarian-peace-development nexus by taking a long-term approach in carrying out humanitarian responses and bearing in mind that effectively helping a community, village or country involves responding to emergencies, while at the same time providing those affected with the ability to prevent and adapt to crises.”
2023-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9418 (2023) · source
“My country has shouldered its share of the burden by contributing $2 million to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees towards the humanitarian response plans for two countries of the Central African region that are bearing the full brunt of the consequences of the crisis in the Sudan. It is clear that additional efforts are needed from donors in order to cover the extent of the needs. To date, only 30 per cent of all needs are funded. We are a long way off, especially if we consider that in many of those humanitarian situations, the prospects for conflict resolution, development financing and resource mobilization in the context of strengthening adaptation to climate change are dwindling. Multilateral humanitarian action requires adequate, sufficient and predictable funding if it is to be effective.”
2023-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9418 (2023) · source
“Among those forgotten situations are the African countries of the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and the Lake Chad basin, which are at the crossroads of multifaceted crises that are hampering their economic growth, undermining their resilience to internal and external challenges and forcing them to resort to external humanitarian aid. In that context, the resources needed for investment are difficult to mobilize. We welcome that Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths released $125 million on 5 September from the Central Emergency Response Fund in aid of 14 countries through the Fund’s underfunded emergencies window.”
2023-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9418 (2023) · source
“Wherever wars and climate disasters strike, humanitarian workers must respond to an array of negative consequences that cause suffering to civilian populations, including hunger, thirst, lack of medicines, disrupted schooling, family separations, sexual violence and other human rights violations. Unfortunately, as we can clearly see, we the scale of humanitarian needs is rising at the opposite pace to that of available funding, which is struggling to be mobilized. When funding is allocated to situations, it can sometimes be to the detriment of certain wars that have been all but forgotten because they are too far away, too old and have become almost commonplace, no longer attracting priority funding.”
2023-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9418 (2023) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): I would like to thank Albania for convening this important open debate. The briefings delivered by Ms. Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), Mr. Jared Cohen and Mr. Michael Miebach were particularly informative on the role of the private sector in responding to the alarming global humanitarian situation. We are witnessing a worrisome and unprecedented deterioration of humanitarian conditions in many regions across the globe. We know that more than 360 million people around the world need humanitarian aid, and we are also aware of the significant shortfall in funding to cover urgent needs, amounting to nearly $55 billion.”
2023-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9418 (2023) · source
“The belligerents must step up their efforts to prevent the risk of diversion of conventional weapons by using existing regional and international instruments and mechanisms, in particular the Arms Trade Treaty and the International Tracing Instrument. We call on all parties to prioritize dialogue and to engage in negotiations in good faith, in order to silence the weapons and lay the foundations for lasting peace and peaceful coexistence.”
2023-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9415 (2023) · source
“It is an illusion on both sides to envisage peace on the basis of a military victory. The acquisition of new stockpiles of weapons risks further shattering the peace and prolonging the conflict, with more serious humanitarian consequences. I take this opportunity to underscore and recall our common commitment, which is the spirit of the Charter of the United Nations, that is, to protect the peoples of the world from the scourge of war. In saying that, I reiterate my country’s opposition to war. We remain convinced that the most effective way to limit the circulation of arms is to put an end to war. To prolong this conflict is to condemn the region to long- term insecurity.”
2023-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9415 (2023) · source
“It goes without saying that more weapons for belligerents means more death and destruction and undoubtedly greater risks of proliferation and insecurity in the medium term for the entire region and beyond. Massive rearmament of belligerents in Ukraine undermines the considerable efforts made by the international community in favour of disarmament and the non-proliferation of weapons of all kinds. The increase in the flow of weapons to the region — whether for offensive or counter-offensive reasons — clearly carries the risk of aggravating the situation. The uncontrolled flow of arms and munitions will undoubtedly fuel belligerence and frustrate mediation efforts, making it even more difficult to find a negotiated solution. Of course, the first victims will continue to be innocent civilians.”
2023-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9415 (2023) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General Izumi Nakamitsu for her edifying briefing. I listened carefully to the statement of Mr. Szamuely. The issue that brings us together today is a recurrent one on the Security Council’s agenda. Arms deliveries continue to increase, and new military alliances are announced, amplifying the risks of escalating violence in a war that has already claimed thousands of innocent civilian victims and untold destruction to vital civilian infrastructure. We are deeply concerned by the intensification of hostilities, at a time when many voices around the world are calling for de-escalation, a cessation of combat and a focus on constructive dialogue to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict.”
2023-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9415 (2023) · source
“We will also continue to emphasize the urgent need for unimpeded access to humanitarian aid for populations in need, while at the same time encouraging all initiatives aimed at bringing the parties to the negotiating table to explore ways out of the conflict, which has lasted for far too long.”
2023-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9414 (2023) · source
“My country reaffirms its commitment to respect for the territorial integrity of every State and underscores the importance of the parties adhering to the General Assembly resolution of 12 October 2022 (resolution ES-11/4). We once again call on the parties to prioritize dialogue and negotiations to end the war and achieve peaceful coexistence. In that regard, it is imperative for the warring parties to refrain from taking any position or action likely to exacerbate tensions and fuel the escalation of violence. My country stresses that the Charter of the United Nations, which is the glue of our very coexistence, must remain the guiding light for all parties vis-à-vis the sovereignty and territorial integrity of every member of the international community.”
2023-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9414 (2023) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): I thank Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča for his briefing. In the current context of intensifying fighting along various fronts of the war in Ukraine, the decision to organize local and municipal elections in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson territories on 10 September 2023 is not likely to ease tensions, much less boost prospects for an end to the war. After 18 months of deadly fighting and destruction, the efforts of the warring parties and the international community must focus on de-escalation in order to put an end to the suffering of the people on the ground and to the war’s repercussions, the shockwaves of which are affecting several countries around the world.”
2023-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9414 (2023) · source
“They also contribute to the safety and security of personnel and facilitate interaction with local communities. In that regard, I commend the International Organization of la Francophonie, which has been supporting French- speaking participation in peacekeeping operations for almost two decades now, particularly through capacity- building for contingents from Francophone countries. Finally, I want to pay tribute to the Blue Helmets deployed around the world, who demonstrate such commitment and courage, and to honour the memory of those peacekeepers who have died in the line of duty.”
2023-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9413 (2023) · source
“For Gabon, that United Nations-African Union cooperation, in line with the principle of subsidiarity, offers a concrete solution to the issues of preventing conflicts, managing the challenges linked to terrorism, especially in the Sahel, and building peace in the Horn of Africa in particular. I want to reiterate my country’s commitment to the promotion of women’s participation in peacekeeping operations and to the digital transformation of those operations, as well as to the Secretary-General’s initiatives of Action for Peacekeeping Plus and the New Agenda for Peace. I also want to call for a greater inclusion of multilingualism and interculturality in peacekeeping operations. Language skills are factors that can boost the performance of missions and help build trust with host countries.”
2023-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9413 (2023) · source
“In the light of the challenges facing United Nations operations, peacekeeping operations led by the African Union or hybrid configurations, such as the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, are key elements that could represent the future of the maintenance of international peace and security in Africa. There is therefore an urgent need to define a more effective partnership between the United Nations and the African Union that can be consolidated with appropriate, predictable and reliable funding for the African Union’s peace and security efforts.”
2023-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9413 (2023) · source
“Of course, in order to be more effective, we need to improve the processes for preparing peacekeepers for deployment. Secondly, it is essential to listen to the countries concerned and the populations who legitimately aspire to the restoration of peace by providing unified and diversified responses that can enable fragile States to emerge from the multidimensional cyclical crises they face. The African Union’s willingness to contribute to resolving the security crises undermining the continent can no longer be questioned and has been demonstrated on numerous occasions.”
2023-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9413 (2023) · source
“The hasty departure of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, only 10 years after its deployment, at a time when the country is still facing major security challenges; the questioning of the presence of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, considering the persistent insecurity in the east of the country; and the increase in public complaints about peacekeeping missions, not to mention violence against peacekeepers, are all realities that are sounding alarm bells and forcing us to learn lessons and reconfigure our solutions. First, it is essential to develop innovative mandates that are adapted to specific theatres of operations.”
2023-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9413 (2023) · source
“In a number of countries in Africa and other regions of the world, peacekeeping operations have made a significant contribution to overseeing peaceful political transitions, reducing hostilities, promoting reconciliation and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes and in some cases helping to establish the rule of law. However, the complexity of new threats to international peace and security — such as those posed by terrorism and violent extremism, cybercrime, the pillaging of resources and climate change — has gradually atrophied the performance of peacekeeping operations and highlighted the limits of mandates, which are often out of touch with the realities on the ground.”
2023-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9413 (2023) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): I thank Under-Secretary-General Lacroix for his briefing on peacekeeping around the world. The effectiveness of peacekeeping operations has been tested for a number of years, while the vital need to adapt them to today’s many security challenges has become clear. It is particularly important in the circumstances to make a clear diagnosis of the strengths and limitations of peacekeeping operations and to reinvent them with concrete and appropriate solutions in order to be able to respond effectively to the specific realities of each situation on the ground. As the backbone of the United Nations security strategy, peacekeeping operations have long been an important asset, particularly in terms of the protection of civilians, the promotion of the rule of law and conflict prevention and peacebuilding.”
2023-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9413 (2023) · source
“To that end, it requires necessarily the cessation of hostilities, the restoration of State authority over the entire Syrian territory and an inclusive good-faith dialogue involving all segments and actors of Syrian society, including women, young people and minority groups. To conclude, we reaffirm our full support for Special Envoy Pedersen and his relentless efforts, including his step-for-step process towards ending the conflict that has been tearing Syria apart for more than 12 years and taking a toll on its people, who continue to pay a heavy price. All the parties involved and the international community as a whole must do everything possible to bring this conflict to an end.”
2023-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9403 (2023) · source
“It may also contribute to the promotion of improved relations among Arab countries, acting as a bridge between diverse regional actors. We are convinced that resolution 2254 (2015) remains the main road map for achieving a political solution to the crisis in Syria while respecting the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. The A3 remains convinced that the solution to the conflict in Syria lies in the hands of the Syrians themselves and that peace can be achieved through a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned genuine, comprehensive and inclusive dialogue that produces consensus. That process must be carried out under the auspices of the United Nations. Needless to say, a political solution to the conflict is the only desirable alternative.”
2023-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9403 (2023) · source
“As the world witnesses the persistence of hostilities, particularly in northern Syria, we reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire, in the interests of the Syrian people and the stability of the region. The A3 holds the view that the presence of foreign military forces undermines regional and international security, and we reiterate our position that Syria should not be used as a battleground for geopolitical rivalries. The strong commitment and good faith of the countries in the region are essential. In that regard, we reiterate our appreciation for Syria’s return to the League of Arab States. We believe that that path encourages a diplomatic strategy for resolving the Syrian conflict by signalling a willingness to engage with Syria.”
2023-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9403 (2023) · source
“In that regard, we welcome the proposal by the contact group of the League of Arab States to hold the next meeting of the Constitutional Committee in Oman as a step in the right direction and call for consensus among key stakeholders on the various proposed venues for the resumption of the Committee’s meetings as soon as possible. The A3 underscores the need for the parties to build trust and deepen discussions on substantive issues in order to improve the prospects of a fruitful dialogue within the Constitutional Committee. Gabon, Ghana and Mozambique therefore urge all the parties to set aside their differences and give new impetus to the political process. The threat posed by terrorist acts and the prevalence of arrests, forced disappearances and torture continue to undermine efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict.”
2023-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9403 (2023) · source
“I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the three African members of the Council (A3), namely, Ghana, Mozambique and my own country, Gabon. We thank Special Envoy Geir Pedersen for his important update and commend his efforts in search of peace and stability in Syria. We listened with attention to the briefing by Ms. Lubna Alkanawati. The A3 expresses its concern about the paralysis of the country’s political process, despite the consensus on the importance of reconvening the meetings of the small body of the Constitutional Committee.”
2023-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9403 (2023) · source
“I wish to conclude by reiterating Gabon’s call for restraint, a cessation of hostilities and dialogue, stressing the need to respect international law, particularly international humanitarian law, and for ensuring the protection of the rights of the Palestinian people while guaranteeing Israel’s security. We urge the parties to respect the relevant Council resolutions, in particular resolution 2334 (2016), and to implement the commitments made in Aqaba and Sharm El-Sheikh.”
2023-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9400 (2023) · source
“Without that financial support, vulnerable civilian populations risk losing access to health-care services, education and food. Such a situation would only dramatically increase social unrest on the ground, as well as poverty and violence, particularly gender-based violence, including in refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. With regard to the inter-Palestinian dialogue, we welcome the decision taken by the political authorities on 30 July following a meeting in Egypt, which was attended by the President of the Palestinian Authority and the leader of Hamas, to form a committee with the aim of putting an end to the 17-year division of the occupied territories.”
2023-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9400 (2023) · source
“Despite some easing of restrictions on access to Gaza, the blockade must be lifted by Israel in accordance with resolution 1860 (2009) in order to facilitate unimpeded access for the delivery of humanitarian aid. On 17 August, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs announced that a primary school for Palestinian children had been demolished in the West Bank region of Ein Samiya, just a few days before the start of the new school year. According to UNICEF, three schools have been demolished across the West Bank in the past 12 months. We call for schools to be sanctuaries. We also reiterate our call for maintaining funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.”
2023-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9400 (2023) · source
“They are clear violations of international law that must be stopped. As for the absurd practice of detaining the remains of those killed, we call for them to be returned to their families in Palestine and Israel, respectively. It is essential to respect the status quo of Jerusalem’s holy sites and the crucial role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan as their official custodian. We deplore the increase in violence targeting the Christian community in Israel, particularly in their places of worship and cemeteries. It is important for the international community to ensure that the Israeli-Palestinian crisis does not sow the seeds of antagonism between the three monotheistic religions. The situation in Gaza remains fragile, even though the latest ceasefire is being respected to a certain extent.”
2023-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9400 (2023) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): I would like to thank the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Mr. Tor Wennesland, for his briefing. Since our previous meeting on 27 July (see S/PV.9387), security incidents involving civilians have continued. The terrible toll cited by Special Coordinator Wennesland in his briefing is particularly shocking in terms of the number of victims and deaths. We condemn all acts of violence, which hamper the construction of a lasting peace between Palestinians and Israelis and push the prospect of a two-State solution further away. The continued expansion of settlements, demolitions and expulsions — particularly in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem — constitute another major obstacle to building a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.”
2023-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9400 (2023) · source
“For several months now, we have been noting with concern a hardening and radicalization of positions, reflected in an unprecedented escalation of military deterrence, marked by the increased frequency of missile launches on a scale that raises fears of the irreparable, including nuclear risk. This climate of high tension is a threat not only to the Korean peninsula as a whole, but also to international peace and security. On every occasion, my country has clearly expressed its opposition to missile diplomacy and the outrageous rhetoric supporting it. We reiterate our call once again for all parties to give priority to dialogue and negotiation on the basis of international law, with a view to ending the threat to the Korean peninsula.”
2023-08-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9398 (2023) · source
“We condemn any impediment to human rights and reject any attempt to politicize human rights issues or to treat them in a lopsided manner, because human rights are universal, indivisible and inalienable. Accordingly, my country’s position is unambiguous with respect to the fact that human rights situations, including those concerning the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, must be addressed within the Human Rights Council and the Third Committee, which are the competent forums par excellence within the United Nations system for examining human rights violations. The second concern is the need to resolve the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s military situation through diplomatic channels.”
2023-08-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9398 (2023) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): I would like to thank the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Türk, and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Ms. Elisabeth Salmón, for their respective briefings. I listened carefully to Mr. Ilhyeok Kim’s briefing. We welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea at today’s meeting. I would like to highlight two concerns that seem essential to us. The first is that my country is committed to the unconditional respect of human rights wherever they are threatened, and that all situations in which human beings are deprived of their fundamental rights, including economic rights, must be the subject of sustained attention.”
2023-08-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9398 (2023) · source
“That will require the parties to demonstrate responsibility by refraining from resorting to military threats, inflammatory rhetoric or hate speech aimed at stirring up historical fears. In conclusion, I want to call on all parties to capitalize on the positive developments in May and July in order to move resolutely towards peace and a normalization of relations between the two countries. My country commends all the facilitators involved in the process and encourages the regional initiatives aimed at promoting the construction of a lasting peace.”
2023-08-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9397 (2023) · source
“To that end, discussions aimed at a political settlement must continue with a view to preventing any resurgence of large-scale armed conflict and ultimately achieving a complete, definitive and irreversible resolution of the conflict. We call on the parties to implement the existing agreements and to continue their negotiations on the basis of the framework set out in the tripartite agreement of 10 November 2021, as well as subsequent joint declarations, in order to reach agreement on crucial outstanding issues, in particular the signing of a peace treaty and the demarcation of borders. Whatever happens, there is clearly an urgent need to reduce tensions along the border and pave the way for successful results from the forthcoming negotiations in Brussels.”
2023-08-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9397 (2023) · source
“My country reiterates that the humanitarian situation must be addressed as a matter of priority, urgently and without any politicization. The parties must adhere strictly to their obligations under international humanitarian law and in particular should not hinder the access of humanitarian personnel or the movement of people and goods. Access to the Karabakh region must absolutely be guaranteed in order to prevent the daily lives of its residents from becoming even more precarious. It is also essential to ensure that the sick are able to receive their treatments without any break in care, and that all medical evacuations, where necessary, are carried out under satisfactory conditions. My country remains convinced that the crisis between Azerbaijan and Armenia must be resolved through dialogue, in compliance with international law.”
2023-08-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9397 (2023) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): I thank Ms. Wosornu for her briefing and welcome the presence in today’s meeting of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Armenia, as well as the representatives of Azerbaijan, Türkiye and the European Union. We are concerned about the humanitarian situation of the civilian populations living in the Karabakh region. According to the latest report of the International Committee of the Red Cross, they are facing shortages of food, medicines and medical equipment, basic hygiene products and essential services. The situation is particularly urgent for vulnerable people — children, the sick, pregnant women and the elderly — whose survival depends almost exclusively on humanitarian aid.”
2023-08-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9397 (2023) · source
“In conclusion, the A3 underscores the need for the parties to prioritize the interests of the people of Yemen over and above any other interests. As we have said before, attempts to re-arm during this period of relative calm would not serve the cause of peace. Continuous fighting is neither beneficial to the parties nor in the interests of the people of Yemen. The eventual solution to the crisis is political, so we encourage the parties to be flexible and negotiate directly in good faith. They need to make concessions, strive to find common ground to renew and extend the truce agreement and ultimately find a lasting and comprehensive solution to the crisis.”
2023-08-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9396 (2023) · source
“We extend our condolences to the family of the victim and the WFP for the tragic loss of human life. On a positive note, the A3 welcomes the release of five United Nations defence, safety and security staff, who had been kidnapped in the southern governorate of Abyan for more than a year. We rejoice even more because good news is rare in the context of a war in which civilians, including United Nations personnel, are targeted. The A3 remains convinced that an inclusive political process, including women, that is owned and led by Yemenis is at the heart of a lasting resolution to this crisis. We therefore encourage the international community to support that process, under the leadership of Special Envoy Grundberg.”
2023-08-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9396 (2023) · source
“Millions of women and children in Yemen face severe malnutrition due to a lack of aid. That situation is very worrisome. In hospitals, people are still fighting for their lives in the face of widespread hunger and food shortages. Children, unfortunately, remain the most vulnerable victims. Furthermore, Gabon, Ghana and Mozambique remain concerned about the devastation caused by landmines and other explosive devices among civilian populations, especially children. Those remnants of war pose a danger to the daily movement of people. In the same vein, we are saddened by the killing of the World Food Programme staff member in Turbah, in the Taiz governorate. The A3 strongly condemns such cruel targeting of humanitarian staff and calls for enhanced measures to safeguard the safety and security of all humanitarian personnel.”
2023-08-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9396 (2023) · source
“We are deeply concerned about the underfunding of the humanitarian response plan in Yemen and its serious consequences. As the country is facing one of the worst humanitarian crises of our times, the World Food Programme (WFP) is compelled to reduce food rations to millions who depend on them on a daily basis. We make an urgent appeal to the donor community to shore up support to the country’s humanitarian response plan, which is currently 70 per cent underfunded, to enable every Yemeni in need of support to receive it. The A3 wishes to highlight the funding shortfall of approximately $2.9 million faced by the United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism for Yemen, which is said to be operating at partial capacity and will have to suspend operations at the end of September if nothing is done about its financial position.”
2023-08-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9396 (2023) · source
“A Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned inclusive political process under the auspices of the United Nations remains the surest path to peace. In addition, the role of regional stakeholders and international actors in the endeavour is critical. The latter must actively use their influence to help the ongoing peace process. Any initiative in that direction will have our full support. Gabon, Ghana and Mozambique therefore acknowledge the constructive role being played by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman in the Yemeni peace process. We also commend Special Envoy Grundberg for his efforts towards bringing a peaceful end to the conflict and pledge our unflinching support to him as he strives to accomplish his mission.”
2023-08-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9396 (2023) · source
“If the conflicting parties in the country showcase their determination and commitment to stop fighting, genuinely seek peace and fully cooperate with the international community for the sake of their people, a solution to the country’s crisis will be found sooner rather than later. While the A3 has no illusion about the complexity of the Yemeni crisis, it is of the firm belief that a long- term solution to the crisis depends on the willingness of the parties to make political compromises in the interest of the people of Yemen. The current period of relative calm offers them a huge opportunity to advance the negotiation process. They must therefore seize the present momentum to engage constructively in the ongoing dialogue for a breakthrough towards ending the crisis.”
2023-08-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9396 (2023) · source