YouSaid · the spoken record

Byrne Nason

lines on the record: 1,154
first: 2018-04-16
most recent: 2022-07-29
sittings or episodes: 170
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 threat of terrorism, armed conflict and violence continues to loom over the Somali people, as well as over the country’s institutions. I deeply regret that the most vulnerable are suffering the most, as incidents of conflict-related sexual violence and grave violations against the most vulnerable — children — are on the rise. I echo the Secretary-General’s call for accountability for those violations, whoever carries them out. Somalia’s leaders at the local and national levels must do all they can to end that unacceptable scourge. It is their duty. As elections and the struggle for power continue, it is vital that the Government prevent killings, arbitrary arrests and detentions, as well as other actions to repress freedom of expression and political participation.”
2021-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8907 (2021) · source
“Their participation and representation are preconditions for lasting peace. While recognizing efforts made thus far, Ireland still regrets that Somalia missed the 30 per cent target for the Upper House elections. However, as we know, there is now an opportunity, with the elections to the House of the People, where the overall target could be met. We join the call for Somalia’s leaders to now identify which 85 seats will be reserved exclusively for women candidates. Ms. Siyad’s remarks this morning underlined the critical nature of acting urgently on that issue. Her own reference to “limited and insignificant” progress is really concerning. I think we have to do better and end what she described as women’s misery and struggle in trying to ensure political participation.”
2021-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8907 (2021) · source
“There is an opportunity now to aim for the completion of all elections, including the Presidential elections, by the end of January. It is clear that technically and financially and from a security perspective, Somalia’s leaders can achieve that. Any further delays risk cost over-runs, interference from Al-Shabaab and upsetting the delicate political balance that now exists. Those are risks we do not need to face. We urge the Federal Government and member states’ leaders to reconcile their differences and give renewed impetus to the crucial State-building work that will ensure a brighter future for Somalia. As Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohamed said during her visit to Somalia and again to the Council (see S/PV.8867), women’s participation in political, social and economic life is a game changer.”
2021-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8907 (2021) · source
“I thank Special Representatives Swan and Madeira for their briefings. I also welcome my colleague, the Permanent Representative of Somalia. I wish to thank Ms. Siyad in particular for her powerful and very frank remarks to us this morning. The finalization of elections to the Upper House of Parliament in Somalia is welcome and gives momentum for the next and, admittedly, more complex phase of elections for the lower house. The quicker that process is completed, the sooner Somalia’s leaders will be able to refocus on the expectations of their own people for a peaceful, prosperous and stable Somalia. The collaboration we have recently seen between the President and Prime Minister is encouraging and we call for that to continue.”
2021-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8907 (2021) · source
“In conclusion, the inescapable reality that faces us all, individually and collectively, is that the contemporary challenges we face do not fit neatly into preordained, predefined boxes. The effects of climate change do not stop at the doors of this Chamber. Human rights do not belong only in Geneva. Those challenges cut right across all aspects of our work, from development and human rights to peace and security. We have heard today that the United Nations system is ready to step up and step in — not just ready to react to conflict, but to prevent it. It is incumbent upon all of us around this table to do the same. Millions of vulnerable people are relying on us, and we would be in dereliction of our duty if we were to let them down.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source
“We strongly believe that we should not underestimate the Court’s potential role in determining disputes between States that might otherwise have led to conflict. However, in our view, the Court remains underutilized as a resource for the peaceful adjudication of disputes in accordance with international law. It is our view that the Court’s role in preventing conflict could be bolstered by greater interaction between the Council and the Court. Ireland believes the Council should consider, where appropriate, the possibility of seeking the Court’s input in the form of advisory opinions. The Council could also recommend that States with a dispute on its agenda resolve the legal aspect of their dispute before the International Court of Justice.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source
“The joint investigation of OHCHR with the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission into human rights violations in Tigray, including sexual violence, is another important example of the interplay between human rights and the subjects of most acute concern to the Security Council. We believe that the relationship between human rights and the Council should be constructed around an inclusive understanding of prevention. That understanding must recognize the key role of human rights in early warning and in building national resilience. Critical to that relationship are the voices of human rights defenders, women leaders and civil society. We need to listen and learn from their testimonies. Importantly, we need to take action. My third point concerns the role of the International Court of Justice as a key tool for conflict prevention.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source
“Bodies and entities such as the Third Committee of the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), treaty bodies and Special Rapporteurs all play an important role in the maintenance of international peace and security. Indeed, the entirety of the human rights architecture is, in our view, inextricably linked to the work we do here in the Security Council. Many of the items on our agenda today are also under discussion in the Human Rights Council. That is no coincidence. Further mechanisms created by the Human Rights Council, such as the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Myanmar, are key to ensuring accountability.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source
“That should go hand in hand with a genuine commitment to ensuring that peacebuilding activities, and in particular the valuable work of the Peacebuilding Fund, are adequately and sustainably financed. My second point is the need to foster a more coherent relationship between human rights and the Security Council. Let us be clear: violations of human rights are obvious harbingers of conflict to come. When we protect and defend human rights, we create bulwarks against conflict. That is why, in Ireland’s view, respect for human rights belongs at the Security Council. Put simply, human rights are a peace and security issue.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source
“To address those challenges, we see it as critical for humanitarian, development and peace support actors to work in a coordinated manner. The Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), through its convening role, is uniquely placed to facilitate that work — indeed, it is already doing so. The PBC is providing the Council with very broad-based advice on specific country and regional situations, such as the Central African Republic and the Great Lakes region, as well as themes relevant across a lot of our work. What is needed now is for the Council to discuss that advice and to heed it where we can. We welcome the Secretary-General’s recommendation in Our Common Agenda to expand the Commission’s role to additional settings.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source
“However, far too often the positive impact of our work is diminished by a siloed and sometimes disjointed approach. The messages of our briefers today share a common thread: our challenges are too great to tackle alone. They convey the reality that, just as we Member States need to work in lockstep, so, too, must the organs of the United Nations. I want to highlight three points that Ireland believes are critical to achieving that goal. First, we need to invest in prevention. Too often, the Security Council is in crisis-response mode. We know that issues such as food insecurity, poverty and gender inequality are often precursors to conflict. We know that their intersection with climate change further aggravates existing tensions.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source
“I would like to thank our briefers — Secretary-General Guterres, President Shahid, our dear friend and colleague Ambassador Kelapile and Judge Donoghue — for their interventions this morning. It is really reassuring to have such staunch supporters of multilateralism surrounding us at the table today. Their powerful words remind us of why we are here and reinforce our common purpose to alleviate suffering and build peace across the globe. The ambitious vision of the Charter was to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. Sitting around this symbolic horseshoe table, we should always carry the weight of that vision on our shoulders. There are times when we come together that the optimism and spirit of cooperation of our forebears shines through. When that happens, we know that we can save lives.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source
“In addition to our troop contribution to MINUSMA, we will continue to work bilaterally, through the European Union and the United Nations, and with partners across the region to pursue peace and security.”
2021-11-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8903 (2021) · source
“I commend the G-5 Sahel member States for their efforts in that regard and thank the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for its support. That work is imperative to the future of the Force; so, too, is accountability. We encourage the Force to increase efforts to gather and share information on the impact of operations and, crucially, to differentiate national operations from those of the Joint Force. Adherence to the human rights due diligence policy is vital. The continued vigilance of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in that regard is also welcome. Ireland remains deeply committed to supporting the countries of the Sahel in in their efforts.”
2021-11-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8903 (2021) · source
“Protection of civilians, respect for the rule of law, human rights and international humanitarian law are essential to achieving sustainable peace. Ensuring and demonstrating the safety of civilians is vital in rebuilding trust between populations and national and regional security forces. The greater inclusion of women, including at senior levels, can significantly enhance the effectiveness of those operations. More must be done to improve women’s representation within the Joint Force at all levels. We welcome progress made by the Joint Force in integrating human rights into its structures and operations. If not underpinned by human rights, counter- terrorism and peacebuilding efforts are ineffective at best and counterproductive at worst.”
2021-11-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8903 (2021) · source
“We salute the efforts of civil society and, indeed, the Economic Community of West African States in working to address such challenges, which we know are of constant and daily concern. We also raise additional concern in relation to the closure of schools, which undermines educational opportunities for an entire generation of children in the region. In particular and depressingly, a whole generation of young girls are being deprived of the opportunities they need so as to grow into the educated young women that Ms. Sinaré spoke of who can support their societies, not just at the community level but also at higher and official levels, in addressing challenges. A strategically focused and operationally effective G-5 Sahel Joint Force has a key role to play.”
2021-11-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8903 (2021) · source
“During the Security Council’s recent visit to the region, we met with political and civil society leaders and heard first-hand how conflict is exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the Sahel. That crisis is compounded by multiple challenges, including climate change and food insecurity. We know that millions of ordinary Sahelians have been forced to flee their homes. Security incidents, attacks and kidnappings are a tragic daily reality for civilians in the region. Access to basic social services, livelihoods and assistance remains a critical challenge. As we heard today in Ms. Sinaré’s eloquent testimony, women in the Sahel face many difficult challenges, from underrepresentation at the official and political levels to the ongoing and increasing risks of sexual and gender-based violence.”
2021-11-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8903 (2021) · source
“We take note of reports of improved protection of civilians in the cross-border region. Given the high number of civilian deaths, we encourage further work in that regard. We welcome the options proposed by the Secretary-General to support the G-5 Sahel Joint Force. The sustainability of the Joint Force depends on sustainable and predictable funding. We look forward to working constructively in the Council to find a solution. In that regard, the voices of the G-5 Sahel member States are vital. A shared vision for the future of the Sahel, and of the Joint Force itself, is an integral part of meaningful progress. (spoke in English) Military action alone will never be enough to end insecurity in the Sahel. The root causes of instability must be addressed through a holistic and integrated approach.”
2021-11-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8903 (2021) · source
“Ms. Byrne Nason (Ireland) (spoke in French): I would like to begin by reiterating the expression of condolences by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland to the victims and families who were affected by the heinous attack in the Niger last week. That incident highlights the urgent need for enhanced efforts to protect civilians across the Sahel. I would like to thank Mr. Lacroix and Ms. Sinaré for their briefings this morning. I particularly welcome the presence of Ambassador Baroud at this meeting. Regional cooperation is essential to achieving peace and security in the Sahel. We recognize the continued efforts of the States of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel) in promoting peace and security in the region, supported by contributions from the European Union.”
2021-11-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8903 (2021) · source
“I just want to ask Under-Secretary-General Lacroix if he could say a little more to us about which areas of the recently launched A4P+ initiative he would like to see UNPOL prioritize and how we in the Council can assist him in that work.”
2021-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8901 (2021) · source
“In particular, we believe that that should focus on the bridge-building role that UNPOL can play between the United Nations and local communities on the ground, as well as on training and coordination. In conclusion, we believe that we must highlight the critical role that UNPOL can play in the protection of the most vulnerable — children. That requires specialized predeployment and in-mission training, as well as appropriate comprehensive child-sensitive prevention and protection responses. We see the enhanced coordination between police components and child protection advisers, as well as the inclusion of gender and women protection advisers in missions, as of particular importance in delivering on that.”
2021-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8901 (2021) · source
“While States bear primary responsibility for the protection of their populations, the Council also has a responsibility to encourage and support Governments in developing and implementing national strategies to do that job. For that to happen, we need the full participation of local communities and stakeholders, especially women, youth and civil society. We need a continued focus on human rights. It is vital that we view the reconfiguration of the United Nations presence in the field as a strategic process that enables and supports long-term peacebuilding efforts. That means considering and integrating the roles and responsibilities of UNPOL in early transition planning.”
2021-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8901 (2021) · source
“We know from experience that the move from a peacekeeping to a peacebuilding presence is most successful when the process is inclusive — that means including women — nationally owned, financially supported and, crucially, when there is a strong focus on the protection of civilians. Resolution 2594 (2021), on United Nations transitions, places a particular focus on the need to enhance States’ capacity to protect their own civilians, emphasizing the importance of quality security sector reform. That is an area where UNPOL has a pivotal role to play through training and support, with a focus, of course, on ensuring compliance with international law.”
2021-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8901 (2021) · source
“I also want to take this opportunity to commend UNPOL for its work in conflict prevention and post- conflict peacebuilding. The work of UNPOL in deterring violence, defusing tensions, while addressing deficits in training and mentoring, and advising host State police allows for the development of effective, legitimate and credible mechanisms and structures that can help societies on the ground and communities to rebuild. UNPOL can also play a critical role in transitions contexts. As we have said before, when the time comes for peacekeepers to leave or for a peacekeeping operation to be reconfigured, the wider United Nations system needs to be ready to step up and to step in.”
2021-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8901 (2021) · source
“We acknowledge that UNPOL has made significant strides in relation to gender, with women making up more than 14 per cent of deployed officers, but the truth is that we can and must do better. That means looking beyond the numbers, addressing the structural barriers that we have heard about in the briefings earlier and creating enabling environments for women’s participation. We know that continued efforts to combat gender stereotypes will help advance us further along the road towards better gender balance in policing. The mainstreaming approach to women and peace and security, set out in the Action for Peacekeeping Plus (A4P+) initiative, offers UNPOL the opportunity to both enhance its role in peacekeeping and advance gender equality more broadly.”
2021-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8901 (2021) · source
“From their working with communities in Abyei to preventing gender- based violence and working with national police forces in Mali, we know that they operate in challenging environments. Their work is sincerely appreciated, and we thank them for their continued commitment. Their contributions to the advancement of the overall women and peace and security agenda are fully recognized. Indeed, they act as real role models for women in policing everywhere. Ireland has been a proud peacekeeping nation for more than 60 years. That includes more than 30 years contributing to UNPOL, including through our current deployment to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. We put a premium on our policing contributions.”
2021-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8901 (2021) · source
“We know the essential contribution women make as United Nations police and the important role that the United Nations police (UNPOL) plays in enhancing the protection of women on the ground, importantly enabling women’s participation in peacemaking and peacebuilding. I would like to say a sincere thank you to Under- Secretary-General Lacroix, as well as to the Police Commissioners, for their insightful and informative briefings. I am delighted to once again to see Ms. Boughani, with whom we met during our recent visit to Mali. We receive regular reports of the important work that the Commissioners and their teams carry out on the ground. Their work is critical.”
2021-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8901 (2021) · source
“I thank Mexico for convening today’s briefing. I want to also thank Mexico for the important focus that your country, Madam President, is putting on women and peace and security. Ireland is truly proud to work together with Kenya and Mexico in forming a trio of presidencies committed not just to highlighting but to amplifying and mainstreaming the women and peace and security agenda in the work of the Council. Highlighting and giving priority to the importance of women’s participation, particularly in peacekeeping and peacebuilding, is key to that initiative. United Nations policing is no different.”
2021-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8901 (2021) · source
“We must continue to provide platforms and listen to civilians, such as Lourdes Tibán Guala, earlier today, who have an amplified voice, in the Council, and show us that the Council can meet its responsibility to strive to protect those who are most affected by its work. As our President noted in his recent message to you, President López Obrador, Ireland shares with Mexico a common wish to “advance the role of women in peace processes, advocate for the peaceful settlement of disputes, ensure respect for the rule of law and promote the protection of vulnerable groups and civilians in armed conflict”. I am therefore grateful to you, Mr. President, that today’s open debate today allows for a refreshing and, at times, provocative discussion that reflects our shared aspirations.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“Other speakers have reminded us of the alarming array of humanitarian crises and human rights violations in conflict settings on our agenda today. It is a grim reminder that the Security Council is not effectively addressing the root causes of conflict. In the past month alone, in the Chamber, we have discussed acute humanitarian emergencies in Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Mali and beyond. In order to remain credible — I would argue in order to meet our responsibilities — the Council must work better with other parts of the United Nations system, notably the Peacebuilding Commission, the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“We should be under no illusion that the glaring examples of poverty, exclusion and inequality we see around us, exacerbated by the coronavirus disease pandemic and ever-increasing climate risks are not contributing to international insecurity. The exclusion of women, too, in peacebuilding contexts is deeply damaging. The evidence shows that women’s participation in peace processes leads to better outcomes in the substance and quality of peace agreements, as well as their durability. As the Council has heard before, in all peace and political processes that the United Nations leads or co-leads, women’s participation must be full, equal and meaningful. We know that well in Ireland from our own experience.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“Ireland believes that a coordinated and partnership- based approach across the humanitarian-development- peace nexus will enable us to anticipate and respond to emerging threats before they lead to conflicts on our agenda. It can help us to extinguish the sparks that might otherwise become flames. It can also help us hold ourselves to account against the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. We have also seen in countries, such as Timor-Leste, a positive example of how suitable anticipatory actions, early response and inclusive political engagement can generate robust peace. As is often stated, there is no peace without development and no development without peace.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“As others have said today, the adverse effects of climate change are being felt across the globe, from the Sahel to small island developing States. It leads to sea level rise, displacement and competition over resources, thereby contributing to instability and increasing tensions. As we discussed here just last month, under Kenya’s presidency, the Great Lakes region is facing a host of complex and interlinked crises (see S/PV.8884), including persistent violence and insecurity, illegal exploitation and trade of natural resources, a cycle of conflict and hunger, staggeringly high levels of food insecurity and malnutrition, as well as extreme poverty, exclusion and inequality. Failing to address those issues is nothing less than an abdication of our responsibility.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“In our view, it is not just the right thing to do, but the smart thing to do. We know that on average, early preventive action to avert war and mass atrocities can cost as much as 60 times less than late response and military intervention. Daily, at this very table, we deal with the result of the Security Council doing too little, too late. Whether in relation to climate-related risks, the collapse of food systems, endemic corruption, which you, Mr. President, highlighted in your remarks, exclusionary politics or the human rights and protection landscape, we truly need to recognize what is now increasingly so obvious — non-traditional challenges are increasingly and rapidly impacting not just peace and security; they are also a drag on our capacity to address those challenges.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“Let us admit that today the Security Council does not effectively address the root causes of conflict. Today’s debate and your own thoughtful statement, Mr. President, highlight the gaps and the urgent critical need to further the preventive agenda of the Council and ensure that, as the Security Council, we avoid the struggle under way now to move beyond simply reacting to crises. The value Ireland places on that issue is reflected in how we approach our role at this table. It is reflected in how we approach our work on climate and security, conflict and hunger, women and peace and security, human rights and peacekeeping. We believe that the Council must take those issues into the heart of our agenda to ensure effective prevention and transitions to peace, particularly in contexts where we move from peacekeeping to peacebuilding.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“I would like to thank Mexico and you personally, President López Obrador, for being with us today and for bringing this important item to the Council. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his insightful briefing. I thank, in particular, Ms. Lourdes Tibán Guala for the powerful messages she gave us at the beginning of the meeting. We listened attentively to those messages. Ireland’s own President, Michael D. Higgins, in his recent statement celebrating 200 years of Mexican independence, noted the striking parallels in the histories of Mexico and Ireland, which include colonization, emigration, poverty and exclusion. Those are features that mark both of our histories but also unite Irish and Mexican people. They also form a particularly relevant backdrop for our discussion here today.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“We cannot wait any longer to act on these five important steps. Ethiopia has been an inspiring example of peace and stability in Africa. Ireland’s relationship with Ethiopia is one of our oldest and closest on the African continent. We remain deeply committed to supporting Ethiopia and its people. It is also shocking and tragic that the entire country now risks being overrun by violence and conflict. This unnecessary war must end now. All sides in Ethiopia must turn the tide towards peace and now steer the country back to where the people of Ethiopia deserve to be: on a hopeful pathway to peace.”
2021-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8899 (2021) · source
“Meanwhile, continued military actions and mobilization now threaten the very stability and territorial integrity that are vital for Ethiopia and the region. Today our messages are to all parties, and they are clear and simple. First, it is paramount that all parties immediately facilitate the provision of life-saving humanitarian aid to those who desperately need it, in line with international humanitarian law. Secondly, we need an immediate end to the fighting. Civilians must be protected. Thirdly, we need all parties to the conflict to embrace negotiations towards a lasting political resolution. Fourthly, the chilling hate speech, dehumanizing language and incitement to violence must end. Accountability is imperative. Fifthly, we need an inclusive and Ethiopian-led national dialogue that embraces all regions and stakeholders.”
2021-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8899 (2021) · source
“Indeed, let me be clear: civilians have borne the brunt of violence, international humanitarian law and human rights norms have been cast aside, while life-saving aid has been blocked from reaching starving and sick people. In recent days, the situation has become even more grave. Humanitarian operations across northern Ethiopia have effectively ground to a halt. Military operations have escalated. A state of emergency has been declared, suspending the basic rights of Ethiopian citizens. More people have been displaced. Lives and livelihoods have been lost. We have also witnessed increasingly shocking incidents of hate speech and dehumanizing language that risk inciting the worst type of violence against individuals or groups within Ethiopian society. We cannot stand by and allow this to continue. Too many lives are at stake.”
2021-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8899 (2021) · source
“For the good of their country, the fighting needs to stop, and the talking needs to start. We are one year on from the beginning of this crisis. Today we must ask ourselves if we, as the Security Council, have done enough to prevent a catastrophe — a catastrophe that is causing untold harm to the people of Ethiopia. As each month passes, we have seen the situation deteriorate. For the futures of ordinary people in Ethiopia are being stripped away. As we heard last week from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, there have been shocking human rights abuses committed during this conflict. Women, men and children have been raped in horrific fashion.”
2021-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8899 (2021) · source
“That African leadership in New York is also manifest at African Union (AU) headquarters, where we saw the AU Peace and Security Council meet just today, and, importantly, also on the ground, where it matters most to the people of Ethiopia. We depend on regional leaders, in particular High Representative Obasanjo. We rely on regional organizations, including the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, which have a crucial role to play in engaging with all sides, supporting mediation efforts and ultimately assisting Ethiopia to find a solution to this crisis. We welcome the efforts that are taking place as we speak. We call on everyone in Ethiopia to embrace this opportunity. Time is of the essence. The people of Ethiopia are putting their faith in their country.”
2021-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8899 (2021) · source
“That is why, when I consider this conflict, my abiding feelings are of shame and frustration — shame because, as the Council, we around this table have stood by as this crisis intensified over the past year, causing immeasurable suffering for millions of Ethiopians, and frustration, because the Council’s voice matters on this issue, and it has the power to deliver change. We remained silent for too long. But today I want to commend our African colleagues, with whom we worked to gain agreement at last on a Council statement last Friday (SC/14691) — a Council statement that calls squarely for an immediate ceasefire.”
2021-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8899 (2021) · source
“I want to start by thanking Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo and, in particular, High Representative Obasanjo, for their very important briefings. In the context of what we have just heard and the excellent work that the High Representative is already doing despite the uncertainties we heard from Under- Secretary-General DiCarlo, we want to believe that we may just be beginning to see possible pathways emerging for an end to this crisis. We certainly share the view that we dare not miss the window of opportunity for peace.”
2021-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8899 (2021) · source
“That will enable Bosnia and Herzegovina to take a decisive step towards overcoming the dismal legacy of the past and realize its full potential as a sovereign State within the European family of nations.”
2021-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8896 (2021) · source
“We regret the fact that there has been no move towards an agreement on those issues before the country moves into full election mode in 2022. Achieving those much needed reforms will require all sides to show leadership and engage in a sincere and constructive way. In addition, progress is required on the 14 key reform priorities, set out in the European Commission opinion, in particular on the rule of law. That is essential for restoring citizens’ trust in the judicial system. Bosnia and Herzegovina will move forward on its EU path only when it delivers on that critical mass of reforms. Bosnia and Herzegovina has much challenging work ahead of it, but we hope that its leaders will resume the dialogue needed to tackle, step by step in a pragmatic way, the issues facing the country.”
2021-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8896 (2021) · source
“We call on all parties to uphold and respect equality and inclusion as key principles that will underpin a stable prosperous future for Bosnia and Herzegovina and enable women to rightfully participate in decision-making in all its dimensions. Despite existing legislation, we know that the participation of women in politics remains low. We urge the authorities to ensure the development of effective mechanisms for the implementation of quotas to enhance women’s political representation. We call once again on the High Representative to focus on that important issue of gender equality and for reporting on the issue to be included in future reports of the Office of the High Representative. Progress is needed on the reform of the electoral framework to meet European standards and guarantee that all citizens can exercise their political rights.”
2021-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8896 (2021) · source
“Bosnia and Herzegovina has been able to make significant achievements over the past quarter of a century in building up its institutions of Government and developing its economy and society. It has shown that the political path can work for all people of Bosnia and Herzegovina. That must continue. Elected representatives, working together with the national leadership, must cooperate to address the needs of citizens. Ireland fully supports Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European Union (EU) perspective. We call on all parties to work towards common goals, to address the challenges created by COVID-19 and to step up the pace on implementing the reforms needed for EU accession. That means addressing the needs of all citizens.”
2021-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8896 (2021) · source
“We call on all parties to repudiate such rhetoric and refrain from any further unilateral actions that seek to undermine Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are concerned in particular about the glorification of war criminals. There can be no place in the modern Bosnia and Herzegovina for the glorification of war criminals and the denial of genocide. Like all of us, Bosnia and Herzegovina has faced serious problems as a result of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, but the political deadlock and paralysis of State institutions is compounding the frustration of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s citizens and is a factor driving so many young people to leave the country.”
2021-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8896 (2021) · source
“The High Representative has provided a clear and detailed assessment of the deeply concerning political deadlock and blockages in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ireland remains fully supportive of the Office of the High Representative and encourages all parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina both to respect and engage, to the fullest extent, with the High Representative and his Office. We would particularly encourage greater progress in fulfilling the 5+2 agenda. The delivery of that agenda remains the agreed prerequisite for the closure of the Office of the High Representative. We remain greatly concerned about the divisive, negative rhetoric, which only deepens existing divisions and diminishes the prospects for reconciliation.”
2021-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8896 (2021) · source
“I would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, on assuming your important functions as our President for this month. I thank your predecessor Ambassador Kimani for his deft handling of the presidency in the month of October. I also thank his team. I would like to begin by emphasizing our strong support for a single, sovereign, united and multi-ethnic Bosnia and Herzegovina and for the Office of the High Representative and the European Union Military Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR-Althea). We are pleased that resolution 2604 (2021) authorizing EUFOR-Althea, in which Ireland is proud to participate, was adopted this afternoon. I would like to thank High Representative Schmidt for his report.”
2021-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8896 (2021) · source