YouSaid · the spoken record

Churkin

lines on the record: 3,923
first: 2006-05-16
most recent: 2017-02-02
sittings or episodes: 536
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

“It would be interesting to know whether such a draft resolution will contain a provision establishing a no-fly zone over Sana'a, which, even before the tragedy at the funeral, was subjected to random strikes on more than one occasion. I think the time has come to review the penholdership on Yemen. We have new members preparing to become members of the Council in 2017, and we think that they could take upon themselves the responsible and objective penholding of the Yemen file in the Security Council. Let me return to the situation in the country. Despite the ceasefire announced by the Special Envoy, it is being violated on both sides. The first violations came just several hours after the statement made by Ismail Ahmed. We hope to see the road map on settling the Yemen crisis prepared by the Special Envoy.”
2016-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7797 (2016) · source
“It was not simply broadly general, but it was openly weak in its discussion of an air strike, which, according to the information cited, was made against a funeral procession in Sana'a on 8 October. It was not stated who made the strike, even though the coalition has already accepted the responsibility. There was not a call for an investigation to punish those responsible. We were not in a position to support that draft, considering that, given the atrocities committed, the toothless text would have been an insult for the Yemenis. After that, the delegation of the United Kingdom announced they were preparing a draft resolution on Yemen, which has not yet seen the light of day.”
2016-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7797 (2016) · source
“It is known, for example, that the United Kingdom has been one of the major suppliers of various kinds of weaponry in the region, which are then used against the Yemenis. Since March 2015, according The Guardian and The Independent, London has sold more than Â£3 billion, or $5 billion, in weapons into the region. That is not a small amount of money to be made from war. Those weapons also result in the loss of civilian lives. The question then arises: How can a country with a clear material interest in extending the military conflict be a penholder for the Yemen file in the Security Council? Let us take the most recent draft press statement prepared by the so-called penholder.”
2016-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7797 (2016) · source
“Fully four fifths of the 26 million people in Yemen require urgent humanitarian assistance. The country has more than 3 million internally displaced people. Approximately 14 million people are experiencing food shortages, and the infrastructure essential for daily life - medical, educational and other needs - are in ruins. Under the pretext of preventing violations of an arms embargo, there has been a ground, air and sea blockade of Yemen, which impacts first and foremost the peaceful population. There is now an acute lack of food, medicine and other basic necessities. We would not want to exploit the issue of civilian losses, including from air strikes; however, it is impossible not to mention the cynical double standards that we are encountering.”
2016-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7797 (2016) · source
“I shall now make a statement in my national capacity as the representative of the Russian Federation. We would like to thank the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed; the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. O'Brien; and the Regional Director of the World Food Programme, Mr. Hadi, for their briefings. We are surprised that what is taking place in Yemen has not resulted in a frenzy in the mass media, or indeed in the Security Council. Oddly, it is not being covered at the same level as the Syrian problem. We must stress that the scale of the humanitarian situation in that country on a number of parameters is even worse than that in Syria and can only be qualified as catastrophic.”
2016-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7797 (2016) · source
“In accordance with rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of Yemen to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Mr. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen; Mr. Stephen O'Brien, Under-Secretary- General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator; and Mr. Muhannad Hadi, Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, World Food Programme. Mr. O'Brien is joining us via audio-teleconference from Bahrain. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I give the floor to Mr. Ould Cheikh Ahmed.”
2016-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7797 (2016) · source
“I believe that, as President of the Council, I can express the certainty that United Nations humanitarian personnel will continue their difficult work in Syria, as Mr. O'Brien said. In my national capacity, however, I cannot fail to note that it is clear from Mr. O'Brien's response that he has no information supporting the contention that Russian and Syrian forces have been bombing over the past seven days, just as he has no information that chemical weapons have been used in eastern Aleppo at any point in time. I just want to point that out for the record. I now resume my functions as President of the Security Council. I suggest that after the discussion we have just had there is no need to continue with consultations. We have had a briefing and consultations at the same time. The meeting rose at 5.20 pm.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“1 shall now make a further statement in my national capacity as the representative of the Russian Federation. I thought my colleague's memory was a little better than that. Was three paragraphs all that the event deserved? This is in fact the second version produced in the wake of our comments. But in any case, it was not a serious effort. We can talk about that another time. I hope, finally, that we can use the same format to talk about what is going on in Yemen and Iraq, in a useful discussion. Look, here we have Uruguay, setting a courageous example, always speaking first in public meetings. Let us discuss things. On 31 October, Mr. Ismael Ahmed will be here and we can talk about what is going on in Yemen in a public meeting. I now resume my functions as President of the Council.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“Let us hold a briefing on the situation in Iraq and those bombings in which Mr. O'Brien can undoubtedly give us a demonstration of his oratorical talent. Just the other day in Yemen, as we all know, 200 people in a funeral procession were killed and 500 more were injured when it was bombed. The British delegation issued a draft statement expressing regret. Regret. They could not even bring themselves to condemn it. When we told them that was not strong enough, they were very happy to abandon the whole thing. Almost 1,000 people killed or injured, and all they have is regret. How about that for standards? Many of us will have to ask forgiveness for sins in Syria, in Iraq and many other situations that we are acquainted with. I now resume my functions as President of the Council”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“A couple of months or more ago, the coalition, supposedly with French planes, made a strike on Manbij in northern Syria. It was reported that more than 100 people died - an entire village was destroyed. Ambassador Power promised that there would be an investigation. We heard nothing. As for what happened there or who did the bombing, we heard nothing. Recently, two Belgian planes, also from the coalition, bombed a Kurdish village. Six people died and some were injured. The Belgians say it was not them. So who was it? Ask the coalition. So why are they so upset about our bombing and say nothing about their own? Not to mention what is going on in Iraq, where there are reports that injust the past few days almost 50 civilians died and 100 people were wounded near Kirkuk.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“Indeed, 20 people are dying every week, and 50 or 60 are being injured, on top of which they are under severe psychological strain. I am sorry that Samantha Power is not here. A few days ago, in a separate conversation with her, she said that the United States was working on the issue. They are working on it, and nothing is happening. There has been no improvement. That means that their prote'ges in eastern Aleppo are not doing their bidding, and that they do not know how to stop this horror. Who are they to criticize us and the Syrian Government, who are trying to suppress this breeding ground where terrorists and the other insurgents in eastern Aleppo are endangering its citizens? Nor should we be talking only about eastern Aleppo when we discuss Syria - and, incidentally, the humanitarian situation, civilian deaths and so forth.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“I completely agree that of course both living in and leaving the city is frightening. We proposed to the United States that our armed forces could be stationed together with American forces on the Castello Road, which could then be freely used both for humanitarian convoys' access to eastern Aleppo and for leaving the city. The United States turned that down. What about that attitude from the humanitarian contingent - "What shall we do? What shall we do?" We said what we could do - have Russian and American soldiers standing together on the Castello Road. No, they said, "You do it". Let the Russians put themselves in danger and be shot at by terrorists? We will not do that. That is just dishonest. Ambassador Power rightly emphasized the fact - and we have discussed it at times - that the residents of western Aleppo are also under fire.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“These things are showing up everywhere on the Internet, which means that the leaflet was dropped yesterday or today. And even Ambassador Power explained that they were dropping them from Russian and Syrian planes.But our military command says that for the past seven or eight days our planes have not been within 10 kilometres of Aleppo. That must mean that American planes were dropping them, right? Or that the whole thing is a false rumour, of which there are a great many on the Internet, and who knows where else. Presenting such stuff to the Security Council and expecting it to be taken seriously is simply ludicrous. I operate on the belief that we are more serious than that here. Ambassador Power says that the citizens of eastern Aleppo were not leaving because they are terrified of what awaits them. That is understandable.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“We certainly do not need their thanks, but Secretary of State Kerry talked for weeks about how there had to be seven days with no bombing. It must be a pretty important point if the United States Secretary of State talks about it for weeks. And does it seem a proof of objectivity in a United Nations report (S/2016/873) when that fact goes completely unmentioned in the report? When a United Nations Under-Secretary-General says that bombings occur daily, hourly, and on top of that adds that they are practically dropping chemical weapons on the heads of the citizens of Aleppo, is that a standard of objectivity? Excuse me, that is not objectivity, it is deception. Turning now to the leaflet that was shown. That is certainly a very controversial fact.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“1 shall now make a statement in my national capacity as the representative of the Russian Federation. I regret that Ambassador Power left the Chamber. Lately, she has tried to avoid direct polemics with me in public, and I am sorry about that, particularly since I will have to say a few words in response to her attacks 011 US. Ambassador Power unfortunately resorted to a method she likes. She distorts Russia's position, presents it in some absurd way and then criticizes her own absurd rendering of that position. I noticed that Mr. O'Brien said not a word in his statement about the fact that for more than seven days now, neither Russia nor the Syrian air force has been bombing Aleppo. She says that we want to be thanked for that.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“I would simply like to say that we cannot accept the criticism that we did not follow procedure yesterday. We invited everyone to speak after the end of the discussion, and the Ukrainian delegation should also respect the interests of all delegations that have put their name on the speakers' list to have an opportunity to speak on the agenda item that was discussed yesterday. However, let us focus on the main topic we are discussing today.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“I want to apologize to the representative of Ukraine, who was on the list right after the United Kingdom. But my eye accidentally jumped to France and I gave the floor to the representative of France, which I do not regret. I now give the floor to the representative of Ukraine.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“We have observed with regret that when such regimes are introduced, the terrorists, as well as a number of organizations that cooperate with them, are able to regroup, gather strength and re-emerge at a new level of militant activity. If a project could be launched that would enable us to fight the terrorists on a large scale while improving the humanitarian situation and putting us on track for a political settlement, we would all be extremely grateful. I now resume my functions as President.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“We are grateful to the delegation of New Zealand for its attempt to find a position that the members of the Security Council could unite around and that could somehow enable all of us to take a step towards a political settlement in Syria and to relieve the humanitarian situation there. But any such attempt must respond to a fundamental question - how do we continue the fight against terrorism within the parameters it proposes? In our view, the fundamental positions - which we all agree on; they are affirmed in unanimous Council resolution - are that the terrorists in both Syria and Iraq must be deprived of their safe havens, and that the ceasefire regime should not apply to the terrorist organizations Jabhat Al-Nusra and ISIL. That means that whatever ceasefire regimes are instituted, we must always continue to fight the terrorists.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“We cannot agree with the conclusion of the Secretary-General's report (S/2016/873) that it is impossible to make progress on the political track until the cessation ofhostilities is restored. That runs counter to Security Council resolution 2254 (2015), which includes no such link. A political settlement should be the top priority, for the United Nations Secretariat as well as for the Security Council. The same applies to the fight against terrorism. And our approaches to solving the fundamental issues should be united rather than fluctuating according to the geopolitical mood in one capital or another. In conclusion, I would like to say a few words about New Zealand's initiative.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“Despite the promises of some members of the International Syria Support Group to work with the terrorists of Ahrar Al-Sham, the Shiite enclaves of Al-Fu'ah and Kafraya are still on the list of the most problematic areas. We have not succeeded in getting Turkey to open the Nusaybin-Qamishli border crossing, as a result of which assistance to Hasakah province has had to be supplied by air. In discussing the humanitarian situation in Syria, we cannot fail to mention the effect of the unilateral economic and trade sanctions against Damascus. Their victims are the ordinary Syrians who are suffering under the siege as a result of the continuing deterioration of the country's socioeconomic infrastructure, which was of a very high standard before the start of the conflict.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“It is that practice, of which the end to the blockade of Darayya is a successful example, that will enable us to normalize situations through direct agreements with local residents. However, at the moment the only insurgents being evacuated are irreconcilable militants, mostly from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Al-Nusra, who are not ready to lay down their arms. The peaceful civilians are staying at home. What forced displacement are we talking about? It appears that someone would like to see the humanitarian situation in the difficult cities remain in limbo. Does somebody want to play along with the insurgents and strengthen their position? That is a two-faced attitude that has nothing to do with caring for people.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“In general, the Government has displayed goodwill and constructiveness, and we have been working very productively with it on this. We are still open to cooperating with United Nations humanitarian agencies on every issue related to assisting those in need. At the same time, we are still awaiting some genuine effort of the opposition and its sponsors, who so far have done nothing but create obstacles, disrupt humanitarian operations and threaten humanitarian personnel. In future, we believe it would be advisable to introduce humanitarian pauses only with firm guarantees from the United Nations as to its readiness for a medical evacuation. The negative attitude to local pacification on the part of some of our partners and, unfortunately, some United Nations representatives is incomprehensible.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“After asking for Russia's help in implementing their poorly thought-out initiatives, they have been unable to come through on their part of the job when it mattered. That exceedingly unprofessional approach has sometimes cost us dearly as well. On 20 October, three officers from the reconciliation centre in Hmeymim were injured in the course of their duties as they prepared for the medical evacuation. On 24 October, Mr. O'Brien made a statement in which he attempted to distribute responsibility for the failure of the evacuation measures equally between the Aleppo local council, the insurgents and the Government. In that connection, it should be recalled that Damascus had raised objections only regarding the artificial linking of the issues of the medical evacuation and the supply of medicines.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“Its work with the opposition groups and local council in the city was neglected. Nor did the United Nations put the needed pressure on the sponsors of the illegal armed groups to ensure that they cooperated with humanitarian personnel. At the same time, attempts began to shift the blame for the problem onto someone else. Completely unsupported claims were made that the wounded were supposedly afraid to leave eastern Aleppo for fear of some kind of reprisals from the Syrian Government. They began asking us for additional security guarantees for the evacuees, ignoring the fact that they had long ago been given those assurances already. Yet another real opportunity to normalize the situation in Aleppo has been missed. The deficiencies of the United Nations personnel are disappointing.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“The illegal armed groups, along with the local council in Aleppo, have once again demonstrated that they prefer to use residents as bargaining chips and human shields to hide behind. By the way, that obvious fact is never reflected in either the Secretary-General's reports or Mr. O'Brien's briefings. The outside sponsors embedded in groups in eastern Aleppo have been either unable or unwilling to exert a positive influence on the insurgents and convince them to stop shelling, release civilians or leave themselves. Moreover, the groups continue to receive arms and ammunition, including TOW anti-tank missiles and American-produced man- portable air defence systems. We have to regretfully conclude that the United Nations did not properly think through its operation for transporting the sick and wounded.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“The armed opposition that is mixed up with the terrorists has blocked the humanitarian corridors and has been directing fire along them. Jihadists have been organizing show executions. Taking advantage of the lull, the insurgents have begun to regroup and prepare for active offensives aimed at breaking through the front line. The Al-Nusra fighters and their associates have rejected Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura's offers for a guaranteed exit from Aleppo. As early as 21 October, the field commander of the Harakat Nour Al-Din Al-Zenki, without waiting for the end of the humanitarian pause, announced the beginning of the decisive battle for Aleppo, and a press release issued jointly by representatives of the Syrian National Coalition and the Free Syrian Army attacked the United Nations humanitarian initiative sharply.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“Instead of enabling us to conduct a medical evacuation, the illegal armed groups began demanding that painkillers and antibiotics be delivered to eastern Aleppo and that wounded militants get medical help. The Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria 4 which has lately virtually abandoned the fundamental direction of its work on a political settlement and has of its own volition switched over to a parallel track - played along with this. Frankly, we do not understand who is running the United Nations effort in Syria. Is it Mr. O'Brien or Mr. Egeland? Mr. Egeland gives everyone the impression that it is in fact he who is heading up the humanitarian work in this crucial area. And the United Nations staff in Syria are in total turmoil.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“In order to enable militants to leave the city and travel towards the Turkish border or Idlib unhindered, two corridors were opened in the area of the Castello road and the Souq Al-Hai market. The Syrian army command withdrew its forces at a distance from the exit corridors so that the fighters could safely leave Aleppo and avoid possible provocations. How have events unfolded since then? Four days later, United Nations representatives suddenly announced that only two people had agreed to leave the city. And then those two apparently changed their minds. So what became of the 200 sick and wounded who we had been assured were in dire need ofassistance and for whose sake Russia had been asked to stop the air strikes?”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“The specific explanation given was that it would take seven no-fly days to sort the moderates from the terrorists. The Russian and Syrian moratorium on military flights over Aleppo is now in its eighth day, while the moderates and the terrorists have still not been separated. We hope that the Lausanne-format discussions can provide some movement in that direction. During the humanitarian pause, an attempt was made to organize the medical evacuation that the United Nations humanitarian staff have constantly claimed to be so essential. Buses and medical vehicles were prepared to transport the sick and wounded. For civilians who wanted to leave the city, six humanitarian corridors were equipped with stations providing hot food and first aid. Additional beds were set up in hospitals in western Aleppo.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“He should understand that he is not here to tell a brilliant story but to deliver a report on the realities of a situation. He spoke as if the residents of eastern Aleppo were sitting there in the expectation that a chemical weapon might explode over their heads at any moment. Let him produce just one fact in support of that, or leave this kind of storytelling to the sort of novel he might end up writing one day. For three days, starting on 20 October, a 11- hour humanitarian pause was instituted daily and subsequently extended by a day. However, the situation in Aleppo has been exacerbated by the fact that the long-promised separation of the moderate opposition from Al-Nusra has still not materialized. The American side has not fulfilled its obligation in that regard.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“Planes have been flying no closer to the city than 10 kilometres, and the moratorium on flights is now in its eighth day. Mr. O'Brien did not have a word to say about the moratorium. His statement implied that the air strikes had not stopped for a single day and might even be continuing as we speak. If he has evidence that any air strikes occurred, let him by all means produce it. In other words, if he disagrees that there have been no air strikes for the past eight days, I ask him to produce it. If he has no such evidence contradicting the fact that there have been no air strikes for eight days, that renders his entire statement dishonest. He spoke of eastern Aleppo as though it were under continual attack from chemical weapons. I would ask him to produce a single fact about this.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“Negotiations are continuing with the commanders of armed groups in the governorates of Homs, Hama, Aleppo and Quneitra. Russia is providing Syrians with humanitarian assistance in alignment with the Government and social organizations. Our foreign partners have joined our efforts. Many tons of food and medical equipment have been supplied, including with the participation of the Russian reconciliation centre in Hmeymim. Russia continues to do everything in its power to relieve the situation of the residents of Aleppo, whose eastern districts have been held hostage by armed groups led by the terrorist group Jabhat Al-Nusra. Last week, in response to a United Nations appeal and as a gesture of good will, a decision was made to halt all Russian and Syrian air force flights in the region of Aleppo starting on 18 October at 10 am. local time.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“O'Brien's statement today compels me to make some critical comments, particularly his supercilious smile when he suggested that United Nations staff are infallible. I do not think there is anything to smile about. If we needed to be preached to, we would go to church. If we wanted to hear poetry, we would go to a theatre. When we invite United Nations staff, especially senior Secretariat officials, to the Security Council, we expect objective analysis of what has happened, which is clearly not what we got from Mr. O'Brien. I have various things to say that were not covered in his somewhat verbose statement. Thanks to the active work of Russian experts, the number of Syrian settlements now included in the ceasefire has increased to 847. Almost 70 opposition groups have said that they will accede to the cessation of hostilities.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“I shall now make a statement in my national capacity as representative of the Russian Federation. That means I will have to discuss Mr. O'Brien's statement. My colleagues on the Council may have noticed that Russia tries not to criticize the leadership of the United Nations. We take great pains in our efforts to work with the United Nations humanitarian staff, especially those on the ground. We understand how hard and dangerous their work is and what difficult conditions they often have to operate in Syria, where they are in constant contact with our embassy, which does everything it can to help them to obtain practical results in their humanitarian efforts on Syrian territory. But Mr.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“In accordance with rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite Mr. Stephen O'Brien, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2016/873, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of Security Council resolutions 2139 (2014), 2165 (2014), 2191 (2014) and 2258 (2015). I now give the floor to Mr. O'Brien.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“I thank Mr. Laassel for the briefing that he made on behalf of Ambassador Hilale. I shall now give the floor to the member of the Council who wishes to make a statement.”
2016-10-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7787 (2016) · source
“In accordance with rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of the Central African Republic to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Mr. Herve Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations and Mr. Abderrazzak Laassel, Chair of the Central African Republic configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission and Deputy Permanent Representative of Morocco. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document 8/2016/824, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in the Central African Republic. I now give the floor to Mr. Ladsous.”
2016-10-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7787 (2016) · source
“The representative of the Syrian Arab Republic has asked for the floor to make a further statement. I now give him the floor.”
2016-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7785 (2016) · source
“We believe we will be able to preserve both the multilateral formats and today's draft resolution (S/2016/847), which, as I said, we did not expect to be adopted and viewed it merely as a political demonstration. It was aimed at preserving those multilateral formats and hence what was valuable in the Russian-American agreements. While they have not been implemented, we think they can be. I would like to assure the Council that some very complex work is continuing, both multilaterally and bilaterally, and we all hope fervently that the situation in Syria can be normalized, which would undoubtedly improve the situation in eastern Aleppo. We hope that will happen as soon as possible. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic.”
2016-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7785 (2016) · source
“I think the representative of Uruguay made an important point about the fact that it is the terrorists are to blame while it is the civilians who are suffering. I would take that argument further - it is the politicians who are to blame, as they try to realize their grandiose plans all over the world while civilians suffer. And they do not even try to admit to the catastrophic mistakes, if not crimes, that result from their policies, fanning the flames of conflict and fomenting chaos in many parts of the world. Finally, the representative of Angola expressed alarm that what is going on could mean the collapse of the International Syria Support Group. We do not agree.”
2016-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7785 (2016) · source
“How about putting an end to interfering in the affairs of other sovereign States? Just give up these colonial customs and leave the world in peace. The situation would improve in a great many parts of the world. The argument made by the United States is that more action is needed. We completely agree. It took our Minister for Foreign Affairs and the United States Secretary of State several months to work out an agreement, but the United States could not implement it or manage to separate the moderate opposition from terrorists. It could not even ensure the withdrawal of opposition groups from the Castello road so as to provide better conditions to get humanitarian aid to eastern Aleppo. Yes, more action is needed.”
2016-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7785 (2016) · source
“I shall now say a few words in my national capacity. I will be very brief because we are still going to be hearing from another speaker. The representatives ofthe United States ofAmerica and the United Kingdom, as usual, stuck to their provocative rhetoric. We are used to that free-flowing discourse and shall not react to it. Attempts to insult us do not upset or distract us from what is most important. But I do have two topics I would like to touch on. The representative of the United Kingdom made an emotional appeal for putting an end to this immediately. Indeed, how about it? How about immediately putting an end to supporting various thugs around the world- terrorists, extremists and all the other amateurs exacerbating the situation in one country or another?”
2016-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7785 (2016) · source
“Members of the Council have before them document S/2016/847, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by the Russian Federation. The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now. A vote was taken by show ofhands. In favour: China, Egypt, Russian Federation, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) Against: France, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Senegal, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Angola, Uruguay The President (spoke in Russian): There were 4 votes in favour, 9 against and 2 abstentions. The draft resolution has not been adopted having failed to obtain the required number of votes.”
2016-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7785 (2016) · source
“We know that New Zealand attempted to develop a draft resolution that would have been a happy medium between the two approaches before us today, and we regret that some influential members of the Council did not allow that draft to go forward.”
2016-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7785 (2016) · source
“In favour: Egypt, France, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Senegal, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Uruguay Against: Russian Federation and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) Abstaining: Angola and China The President (spoke in Russian): There were 11 votes in favour, 2 votes against and 2 abstentions. The draft resolution has not been adopted, owing to the negative vote of a permanent member of the Council. I now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make a statement after the voting.”
2016-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7785 (2016) · source
“I shall first put to the vote the draft resolution contained in document S/2016/846, submitted by Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America. A vote was taken by show ofhands.”
2016-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7785 (2016) · source
“Russia will nonetheless continue to work to achieve a settlement in Syria with all interested international and regional stakeholders. The amount of fighting overall in eastern Aleppo has been falling. Yesterday, for example, almost no combat missions were flown. We hope that trend will continue. I now resume my functions as President of the Security Council.”
2016-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7785 (2016) · source
“de Mistura's initiative. Our draft resolution emphasizes how crucial it is to achieve full, unconditional compliance with resolution 2254 (2015) on every front - political, humanitarian and counter-terrorism. We continue to believe that we should work to make progress in all those directions simultaneously, with no attempts at mutual coordination or preconditions. The inter-Syrian political process, which the radical opposition, with the direct connivance of its foreign sponsors, has been blocking since May, must be relaunched as soon as possible. We realize that our draft resolution will not get enough votes today. Some will be guided by anti-Russian sentiments, others by false notions of prestige, and some will simply not have the courage.”
2016-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7785 (2016) · source
“It establishes the fundamental priority of distinguishing the moderate opposition from Jabhat Al-Nusra and urges ISSG members to require all parties to cease conducting joint combat operations with terrorists and to separate from them and officially adhere to the cessation of hostilities. It points out that in order to make progress with humanitarian efforts, the fighters should stop blocking traffic on the Castello road, in accordance with the 9 September agreement. The draft resolution welcomes Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura's initiative of6 October aimed at normalizing the situation in Aleppo. It requests that the Secretary- General submit a detailed plan for its implementation for the Security Council's approval. Incidentally, in another of its major shortcomings, the French-Spanish draft resolution completely ignores Mr.”
2016-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7785 (2016) · source