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

“As is well known, Afghanistan is an observer of the SCO and has been so since 2015. In 2015, at the Ufa summit, it officially requested membership in the organization. To lend additional momentum to this process, we believe it would be useful at this stage to re-establish the SCO- Afghanistan contact group mechanism. Significant potential in bolstering cooperation in counter- terrorism and counter-narcotics also lies in cooperation between Afghanistan and the Collective Security Treaty Organization.”
2016-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7771 (2016) · source
“It is especially important to step up the efforts of the international community in combating the Afghan drug trade. We note the growing global understanding of the importance of the regional context for an Afghan settlement as well as the increase in the number of platforms focusing on this issue. We believe that it is important that in such platforms' activities regional players should play the decisive role. In that context, we believe that the Istanbul Process, which was also known as the Heart of Asia Process, must generate new ideas, rather than duplicate the work of already successfully operating regional organizations. We are convinced that efforts in assisting Afghanistan must make progress mainly through tried and tested structures, first and foremost of which is the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).”
2016-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7771 (2016) · source
“Many tasks that were taken up by the International Security Assistance Force before the onset of summer remain uncompleted as well. We hope that keeping 8,400 American military personnel in the country through to the beginning of 2017, instead of the earlier-planned 5,500, troops as well as the agreements adopted at the Warsaw NATO Summit will lead to positive changes in the area of security. The key to a sustainable situation, in our view, lies in training and equipping Afghan national security forces so that they can independently safeguard law and order in the country. Narcotics, manufactured in huge quantities in Afghanistan, threaten the stability of the whole region and beyond. The flow of opiates substantially fuels the financing of terrorism.”
2016-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7771 (2016) · source
“The main task in the reconciliation process, namely, to draw the Taliban into the peace negotiations, has not been achieved. The Quadrilateral Coordination Group format on organizing direct negotiations between Kabul and the Taliban has not been able demonstrate any positive results to date. A similar picture emerges in the negotiations with Hezb-i-Islami Gulbuddin, the Afghan extremist Islamic party headed by Hekmatyar. There is little likelihood of a resumption of direct negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan authorities by the end of the year. We believe that the main responsibility for current developments in the field of security and the training of Afghan soldiers and law-enforcement agents lies with the United States and its NATO allies, which have not to date achieved the stated goals.”
2016-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7771 (2016) · source
“We expect that the organizers of those crimes will be punished harshly, and that the Afghan authorities will undertake all the necessary measures to ensure security. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those killed and wish a speedy recovery to the victims. We support the policy of the Government of Afghanistan aimed at achieving national reconciliation. We stand ready to provide assistance in making progress in the negotiations process, including on our flexibly approaching the issue of possible easing of the sanctions regime of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011), on the Taliban, if this does not clash with the national interests of the Afghan State.”
2016-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7771 (2016) · source
“We are particularly concerned by the spread in the influence and the growth in the numbers of the so- called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and its drive to gobble up other armed opposition groups, mainly in the north of the country. If that process is not thwarted, then by next year we could face an even more redoubtable force. In that regard, we were surprised by the fact that in agreeing to the presidential statement on Afghanistan (S/PRST/2016/14)adopted today, our American colleagues refused to include into the text any wording on the growing threat of ISIL. Russia expects a more active use of force by the United States to suppress ISIL fighters in this country. We strongly condemn the brutal terrorist attacks that have repeatedly struck Kabul and other Afghan cities during the past three months.”
2016-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7771 (2016) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We are grateful to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Mr. Tadamichi Yamamoto, for his comprehensive briefing on the situation in Afghanistan. We wish him every success in his new important post. We carefully listened to the remarks of the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Mr. Mahmoud Saikal. The situation in Afghanistan, despite all the efforts invested, does not evoke optimism. We note the deteriorating trend in the area of security. Fighting has intensified in various parts of the country. The elimination of the Taliban leader, Mullah Mansoor, has led to a strengthening of the influence of the irreconcilable radicals, first and foremost the Haqqani Network, which has served only to exacerbate the situation.”
2016-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7771 (2016) · source
“Resolution 1244 (1999) remains fully in force and remains the mandatory international legal basis for a settlement of the situation in the province.”
2016-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7760 (2016) · source
“Ignoring Russia, which is a permanent member of the Security Council, is simply unacceptable. We also demand that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo include that episode in his quarterly report. In conclusion, we would like to underscore that, given the unstable internal political and security situation and the ongoing inter-ethnic conflicts and given the deadlock in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and the problems regarding the implementation of agreements reached between the parties, we are convinced of the need to maintain a strong United Nations presence in the province and to adequately finance the operation. Regular consideration of the situation of Kosovo by the Council also remains very important.”
2016-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7760 (2016) · source
“Within the framework of visits to Pristina by the Russian Ambassador to Belgrade, our colleagues requested, through the United Nations Mission in the province, the organization of contacts with the commanders of the Kosovo Force (KFOR) for an exchange of views regarding a settlement of the Kosovo problem. After stating that such a meeting required authorization from NATO Headquarters in Brussels, the KFOR command structure ended up not being able to find any time to meet with the Russian party. We deeply regret that the KFOR leadership has drifted away from dialogue with Russia regarding Kosovo. We would like to underscore that NATO forces are present in the province in accordance with resolution 1244 (1999) and are operating under a Security Council-approved mandate.”
2016-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7760 (2016) · source
“We would again like to draw attention to the fact that, as a result of the weakness of the law-enforcement structures and the security system as a whole, the province constitutes to be a grey zone at the very heart of Europe, used as a safe harbour and transit corridor, not only by organized criminals, but also by radical Islamists. It also facilitates the use of the province's territory by extremist groups to recruit and train fighters. Kosovo is among the top three European sources of individuals fighting for Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). If any measures have been undertaken to end that situation, they are clearly insufficient. We would also like to draw the Council's attention to the following.”
2016-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7760 (2016) · source
“Such actions can only cause concern, inter alia in the light of the current prosecutions for serious crimes carried out by the Kosovo Liberation Army. With regard to the special international tribunal created for that purpose, its initial work continues to be unjustifiably delayed, allowing the potential suspects and the accused to gain time so that they can identify and neutralize any witnesses to their actions. We expect that the new structure will learn from the mistakes of the past and operate decisively and effectively, holding to account all those guilty, regardless of their position in the political hierarchy.”
2016-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7760 (2016) · source
“We consider unacceptable recent statements in Pristina claiming that the United Nations Mission in Kosovo is allegedly an instrument for Russian influence. We view such statements as attacks not only on the Mission, but also on the United Nations as a whole. We have noted the attempts by Kosovars to delay as long as possible the process of extending the mandate of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), despite the seemingly good relations between Brussels and Pristina. The ratification of the relevant law did not occur until three days after the expiration of the previous mandate. Despite a significant narrowing of EULEX functions in Kosovo, Pristina continues relentlessly to try to deprive that entity of its remaining executive authority and transfer it to the Kosovo authority.”
2016-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7760 (2016) · source
“Such initiatives are not provided for under resolution 1244 (1999) and represent a dangerous "improptu" on the part of the Kosovo authorities. Also of concern is the direction of discussions in Kosovo with regard to the so-called agreement on territorial delineation with Montenegro. Increasingly, nationalist calls are heard in favour of unifying all Albanian lands, including those in Serbia, Macedonia, Greece and Montenegro, and the creation of a "greater Albania". The core of such a pseudo-Albanian State, based on the words of high-level politicians in Pristina and Tirana, will be formed by a comprehensive integration between Kosovo and Albania. We urge restraint from such rhetoric, fraught as it is with a further exacerbation of ethnic confrontations, not just in Kosovo but in the region as a whole.”
2016-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7760 (2016) · source
“Pristina is attempting to justify its unconstructive approach by putting its own, less significant conditions, mostly economic in nature, ones that require considerably more time for comprehensive analysis and assessment. Those who end up falling hostage to such shady and dubious manipulations are the ordinary people, who continue to suffer from all possible types of discrimination on the part of the Pristina institutions. By way of illustration, allow me to recall the campaign launched in Serbian-speaking municipalities aimed at replacing Serbian forms of identification documents with Kosovar ones. Those refusing to do so have experienced difficulties in accessing services that require proof of identity, as well as in crossing administrative borders and lines.”
2016-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7760 (2016) · source
“More robust guarantees, including legal ones, are needed, and they should be enshrined in Pristina's list of obligations. The situation around the unfinished Christ the Saviour Church in Pristina, which could serve as a symbol of religious tolerance, persists. Instead of rapidly resolving that long-lasting problem, the Kosovo authorities have launched excavations within its perimeter to find hidden, buried remains of Albanians repressed by Serbs, which, by the way, as was expected, never turned up. The unfinished structure has been repeatedly desecrated by vandals during that process. The dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina is in a deep freeze. The Kosovo authorities brazenly demonstrate their unwillingness to fulfil key agreements providing for the creation of a community of Serb municipalities in Kosovo.”
2016-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7760 (2016) · source
“The consequences of that are unceasing attacks on them by Kosovars, including with the use of Molotov cocktails. Towards the end of June, similar incidents took place during the celebration of a historical event of great importance for Serbs, the Battle of Kosovo. Manifestations of aggression are regularly experienced not only by tourists and pilgrims but also byjournalists and those refugees and internally displaced persons who dare to return to their homes. All of that is almost completely ignored by the authorities. There is concern regarding the fate of Serb religious and historico-cultural facilities and heritage sites in Kosovo. The transfer of responsibility for their protection from the relevant international presences to the Kosovo Police has not resolved the issue of their security and safety.”
2016-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7760 (2016) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We welcome the participation in today's meeting of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Mr. Ivica Daeie, and share his considerations and views. We would also like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Zahir Tanin, for his briefing on the activities of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). Mr. Tanin's statement confirms that the situation in the province is far from being normal. In a great many respects the trend is of course towards a deterioration. Naturally, there was no objectivity in the statement of Ms. Citaku, as is often the case. The situation in the province remains unstable. We are again forced to note the continuing poor level of security for Serbs in Kosovo.”
2016-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7760 (2016) · source
“The Ukrainian party has deliberately moved away from conscientiously implementing the Minsk agreement and is counting on a military solution to an internal Ukrainian conflict.”
2016-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7758 (2016) · source
“Mr. Safronkov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I apologize to all of those present in the Chamber, Minister Lajcak and Ambassador Lodhi, for requesting the floor again. I will be very brief. Today's meeting was supposed to be a serious, substantive discussion on strengthening international efforts to prevent weapons of mass destruction from falling into the hands of terrorists. In his statement, the representative of Ukraine made a deliberate attempt to devalue today's discussion by bringing up baseless accusations against Russia. I believe they came, understandably, as a complete surprise to most of those present in the Chamber. There is no room for such conduct in the Security Council. Theirs was a classic attempt to justify their own actions and to shift responsibility for the problem onto others.”
2016-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7758 (2016) · source
“The emergence of ISIL's industrial capacities for manufacturing chemical weapons and the threat of their proliferation across the whole of the Middle East attest to the timeliness of Russia's initiative to elaborate just such an international convention on combating acts of biological and chemical terrorism.”
2016-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7758 (2016) · source
“That is precisely why Russia, at the Conference on Disarmament, took the initiative of proposing the elaboration of an international convention against chemical and biological terrorist attacks. Such a new convention could combine the elements agreed upon by the international community during the past few years. In particular, it should include provisions regarding the criminalization of acts falling within its scope, determine jurisdictions, define the appropriate level of judicial response and implement the principle of extradite-or-prosecute, and so on. It is clear that the conventional concepts of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation are gradually diluting. In essence, this field is taking on a new shape and acquiring new dimensions, namely, counter-terrorist ones.”
2016-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7758 (2016) · source
“Of course, all such actions should be under the leadership and control of State structures. Russia is interested in strengthening the non-proliferation regime and will spare no effort to that end. We have repeatedly heard of the use by fighters of ISIL and other groups of industrial chemicals and even military toxins. There are reports regarding terrorist access to the technologies and infrastructure necessary for the manufacture of chemical weapons. The threat of chemical and biological terrorism is growing and is increasingly transcending borders. The pressing need to bolster the fight against acts of terrorism is so high that the toolkit of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), despite its important role, is simply insufficient.”
2016-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7758 (2016) · source
“It is unacceptable that non-State actors should be provided assistance in accessing weapons of mass destruction. We concur with the view that there is a need to more actively use national and regional components in the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). Best practices must be studied and educational seminars for focal points must be organized. Their value added is obvious. At the end of June, Russia organized just such an event in Kaliningrad, under the aegis of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. The response of the participants was most positive. The capacities of regional and international organizations must be enlisted, and their plans of work should be tailored to States' requests. We also advocate the involvement of academia and the business community.”
2016-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7758 (2016) · source
“It is clear that there continues to be broad scope for improvements within the framework of the current mandate, which requires no radical changes. The resolution enshrines the concept of cooperation, not coercion. That notion should be safeguarded. We understand the need to find new responses to new challenges. We support the strengthening of the counter-terrorism component of non-proliferation. In the light of the continuing terrorist activity by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and other terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria, the significance of resolution 1540 (2004) only grows. Reports regarding non-State actors gaining access to chemical weapons require detailed investigation and a response by the Security Council.”
2016-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7758 (2016) · source
“Resolution 1540 (2004) is yet another pedestal of non-proliferation. It is a reliable bulwark against weapons of mass destruction falling into the hands of non-State actors. Achieving its full-fledged and universal implementation is a pressing objective for the international community. Our discussions here today will serve as a significant contribution to the current comprehensive review of the implementation of the resolution. We note the positive momentum in the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) during the period covered. We understand that not all steps have been taken and that a great deal of work lies before us, but it is important to continue in this spirit without artificial pressure, mindful of the capacities of individual States.”
2016-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7758 (2016) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We welcome the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, as President of the Security Council. We are grateful for his convening of this meeting on the issue of non-proliferation and Security Council resolution 1540 (2004). We listened very carefully to today's briefings, and we thank the Spanish chairmanship of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) for its active and focused leadership of that subsidiary body of the Council. The global non-proliferation architecture is based on three components: the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Chemical Weapons Convention and, of course, the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. The Russian Federation participates very actively in all of them.”
2016-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7758 (2016) · source
“We call upon all those who have any influence on the opposition to convince them to adopt a negotiating position that will allow them to truly move forward to a political settlement. Without that, and without effectively combating terrorism, the necessary radical improvement in the humanitarian situation in Syria is impossible.”
2016-08-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7757 (2016) · source
“Nevertheless, no steps to avoid the death of civilians have been taken by the coalition. On 28 July, coalition air strikes against Al-Ghandour led to the death of 28 civilians, including seven children, and left 10 more wounded. Since then, and for the second time, we have been discussing the humanitarian situation in Syria, but not a word has been said about the events and the participation of the opposition. We would like to call on our Western partners to stop their rhetoric and to look in the mirror more often, look at what they are doing and what the people they sponsor are doing. If they do that, then maybe the tragedy will end. In conclusion, it is necessary to continue efforts to encourage parties to reach a peaceful solution on the basis of international agreements.”
2016-08-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7757 (2016) · source
“Unfortunately, some members of the Security Council at times conduct their discussions improperly, dishonestly, making provocative insinuations in the Council with regard to Russian Air Force operations, but they do not mention their own illegitimate actions. As is well known, on 19 July, aircraft of the coalition led by the United States bombed a town in the area of Manbij, with more than 90 strikes, resulting in the deaths of dozens of people and injuries to hundreds of others, including women and children. Armed groups of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces besieged the town, with street fighting in residential areas, and no assistance was given to the Syrian population. The only way they could get out on 19 July was to pass through the firing directed against them, and approximately 200 people were killed.”
2016-08-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7757 (2016) · source
“What work is being done with supporters of Ahrar Al-Sham to have them cease their actions and implement the Istanbul four towns agreement and allow aid to enter areas that are besieged? Have they demanded that the opposition put an end to preventing civilians from leaving eastern Aleppo through the humanitarian corridors set up under the Russian initiative? The Islamists are not allowing the civilian population to leave and are targeting the corridors. Rather than putting practical pressure on the fighters, some are putting up a media curtain around the terrorist and criminal activity taking place.”
2016-08-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7757 (2016) · source
“The difficult situation facing the civilian population in Syria is the result of a long-running war, and it can be ended only through political means. But how is the situation any better for, for example, the civilian population in Yemen? It is clear that weeping over some tragedies while fuelling others is a deliberate approach utilized by certain capitals. What have those who talk loudly about the humanitarian situation in Syria done in order to resolve it? We do not hear any accounts from them of what has been done to achieve specific results in that country. Where is the pressure on the opposition to stop the use of such horrible methods for waging war and the use of hellish explosive devices and suicide bombers? When has the opposition been called upon to enact a ceasefire, in Damascus for example?”
2016-08-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7757 (2016) · source
“We stress that focusing efforts on countering terrorism does not mean that we should underplay the importance of providing humanitarian aid or prevent it from happening. I would like to recall that, working with the Syrian Government, we have established six humanitarian corridors for the peaceful population, who, if they wish, can leave eastern Aleppo. However, in order to ensure a lasting resolution to the humanitarian situation in Aleppo, it is vital not to allow the use of the humanitarian channels to supply terrorists with fighters, munitions and weapons. Unfortunately, we have encountered such misuse in the past, when, during pauses, extremists have resupplied and restocked their stockpiles. Therefore, we also need to strengthen control over freight movements across the Turkish- Syrian border.”
2016-08-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7757 (2016) · source
“We must ensure that the moderate opposition is uncoupled from the ISIL and Jabhat Al-Nusra terrorists. Back in February, our American colleagues promised to do that, but they have not yet done so. Jabhat Al-Nusra has changed its name to Jabhat Fateh Al-Sham, but nothing has changed in substance. In that respect, we are very concerned at the statement of the so- called High Negotiations Committee welcoming this step, which shows there are links between them and terrorists. The Security Council has, on many occasions, taken decisions according to which those who are on the side of terrorists or support them should themselves be considered terrorists. That is a basic principle.”
2016-08-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7757 (2016) · source
“According to data from the Russian centre for reconciliation of opposing sides in Hmeymim, the number of towns that have joined the reconciliation process has now increased to 444. In the past 24 hours, agreements were signed with representatives of five towns in the provinces of Latakia and Homs. The number of armed groups that have indicated their commitment to the cessation of hostilities has remained unchanged at 69. The agreement has been respected in most provinces of the Syrian Arab Republic. However, its full implementation continues to be impeded by terrorist organizations such as Jabhat Al-Nusra, ISIL and those cooperating with those terrorist groups. It is still obvious to us that radically altering the humanitarian situation in Syria will be impossible unless we continue the fight against the terrorists.”
2016-08-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7757 (2016) · source
“Last week, poor families in the town of Marmarita, Horns province, received 2 tons of humanitarian aid, 6 tons was given to a home for children in Aleppo and an airdrop provided 17 tons of United Nations aid to the town of Deir ez-Zor, which has been besieged by the terrorists. Work is under way to define the parameters for humanitarian pauses, including a 48-hour ceasefire in Aleppo, together with the participation of United Nations specialized agencies. Nevertheless, we strongly believe that the humanitarian pauses must not be used by fighters to replenish their resources and regroup, as has taken place in the past. We hope that the sponsors of the opposition will be able to ensure that those groups show willingness to negotiate and respect the conditions of any future agreements. We continue to work for intra-Syrian reconciliation.”
2016-08-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7757 (2016) · source
“The Syrian Government, under very difficult military conditions caused by a war that is being waged by terrorist groups and other illegal armed groups incapable, or unwilling, to dissociate themselves from them, is doing everything it can to ensure that the civilian population has a more or less normal life. It is doing this despite the unilateral economic sanctions. We can only call heroic the work of the Syrian Red Crescent. Significant work has been undertaken by specialized United Nations agencies and through bilateral cooperation with new countries that have become involved. Russia continues to provide active humanitarian support to the Syrian people.”
2016-08-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7757 (2016) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I would like to begin my statement with the idea that Mr. O'Brien used to finish his statement. Mr. O'Brien said that the humanitarian tragedy was the consequence of a political failure. We can only agree with that idea. Did they think of the consequences when they invaded Iraq, which led to the formation of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)? Did they think of the humanitarian consequences when they created a spiral of violence in Syria, or when they filled the country with weapons, not shying away from giving support to terrorists, who turned into the main anti-Government forces? The humanitarian situation continues to be very difficult.”
2016-08-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7757 (2016) · source
“We trust that the Secretary-General will present well-planned and realistic options for Member States to consider. One of them is improving the Fund's peacebuilding toolkit and also improving its attractiveness for potential donors.”
2016-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7750 (2016) · source
“We think that improving the knowledge of the Commission itself about the situation on the ground is important, especially during periods when there is a change in the form of United Nations assistance - for example, on the eve of the withdrawal of a peacekeeping operation. We would urge the Commission to cooperate with the United Nations peacebuilding offices and other field presences. We consider the recent PBC visit to West Africa - Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia and Sierra Leone - to have been a useful step. When we are talking about peacebuilding, it is difficult not to mention the importance of the predictability and sustainability of financing for such projects. Ofcourse, the use of funds must be transparent and accountable.”
2016-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7750 (2016) · source
“Otherwise, existing problems are just going to be exacerbated. This point needs to be fully applied with regard to the draft resolution on Burundi now being discussed in the Security Council. The ideas in that document on Burundi need to be clarified. We cannot just move words around. The Peacebuilding Commission has been playing a most important coordinating and advisory role in peacebuilding in the United Nations. We trust that, based on the review of its activities, the Commission's effectiveness will improve, and that the Security Council, the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council will seek its advice more often.”
2016-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7750 (2016) · source
“At the same time, the behaviour of a number of members of the configuration has been worrisome. Instead of discussing the institutional development issues facing the country, they were calling for a reduction in programme assistance. We were astonished during discussions in the Security Council on possible assistance to Burundi, including to the police sector, when some countries categorically rejected the idea of providing assistance to local law- enforcement agencies for improving police skills. We think that such approaches are wrong. United Nations mechanisms should not be used to exert political pressure on the Government. The proposals of the international community should be based on a well-thought-out and realistic plan and should enjoy the full support of the host country.”
2016-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7750 (2016) · source
“The appalling results are clear. Currently, South Sudan is not ready for peacebuilding - the fire, which is having a significant impact on countries and the region, needs to be extinguished. Another example is Burundi. The Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) country-specific configuration on that country has been working for almost 10 years. It has set up a number of significant peacebuilding projects. The PBC has organized such important activities as the December 2014 round table in Bujumbura with the participation of Government representatives and international partners. The Burundians themselves gave the PBC's work its best rating while the Permanent Representative of Switzerland was the Chair. They invited him to Bujumbura on numerous occasions at the highest level.”
2016-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7750 (2016) · source
“International partners did not scrimp on providing multibillion dollar assistance to the country, but they did not stop to think whether that was being spent effectively, including in terms of the peacebuilding and State-building challenges facing the country. There was a lack of due attention paid to the reasons for the political and war-related instability in South Sudan, which is rooted in the decades-long bitter civil war. The signs of an impending armed conflict appeared several months before December 2013. We are not going start judging the reasons for the absence of a response to those signs on the part of international partners - whether there were systematic blunders in analysing and predicting the military-political situation, or a distortion and suppression of facts based on political and propagandistic considerations.”
2016-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7750 (2016) · source
“For instance, some of the consistent shortcomings that led to the deterioration of the situations in the Central African Republic and South Sudan include the lack of due attention to meeting peacebuilding challenges that had a direct link to the root causes of the conflict, the maintenance of stability and security and the promotion of national reconciliation. It may be that priorities for these countries were not sufficiently clear or justified, while national resources were not properly used and other United Nations players saw their remit encroached upon. Furthermore, with regard to South Sudan, we saw what was essentially an accountancy-based approach to peacebuilding.”
2016-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7750 (2016) · source
“Taking into account the needs of their society, Governments determine their corresponding peacebuilding priorities, and all domestic stakeholders recognize their shared responsibility for peace. The United Nations and international partners are called upon, when necessary and with the consent of the host party, to provide assistance focused first and foremost on the building the capacity of States themselves to overcome conflict and its aftermath. Unfortunately, achieving sustainable peace in a post-conflict State is much more complex than writing and adopting resolutions. Despite some success stories in United Nations peacebuilding, there have also been examples of significant failures.”
2016-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7750 (2016) · source
“These documents are comprehensive and distil specific guidelines for international cooperation in that area. Today, when conflicts are often domestic in character, we welcome the understanding that the concept of sustaining peace is based on addressing the root causes of conflict, national reconciliation and ultimately recovery and reconstruction. Another critical element is ensuring that the country has a vision for its future development. It is clear that sustainable results in a peaceful settlement can be achieved only if it enjoys the broad support of the people. United Nations Member States unanimously agree that peacebuilding processes must be based on national ownership. That is our View.”
2016-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7750 (2016) · source
“In considering topics of concern to Africa in the Security Council and other United Nations agencies, the Russian delegation firmly believes in the principle that Africa requires African solutions. We therefore pay special attention to the views of the African Union and the subregional organizations of the continent, favouring the establishment of effective cooperation between them and the United Nations. However, much remains to be done. We believe that the potential for peacebuilding cooperation between the United Nations, the African Union and subregional organizations has not been fully tapped. In April, the Security Council and General Assembly adopted identical resolutions concluding the review of the United Nations peacebuilding architecture.”
2016-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7750 (2016) · source
“We welcome the initiative of the Japanese delegation to hold this important meeting, and we thank you, Sir, in particular for having invited such important speakers who have made such substantive briefings. We believe that the positions of African representatives are very important in discussions on peacebuilding within the United Nations. We have learned from experience that any peacebuilding document drafted in New York will remain a mere piece of paper if it is not based on the specific situation in a country, an understanding of the root causes of a conflict, experience from the region itself and a realistic assessment of how goals can be achieved.”
2016-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7750 (2016) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I do not agree with a number of the observations made by Ms. Power, but I would simply like to note that she rightly pointed out that it is important to distinguish between the moderate opposition and Jabhat Al-Nusra, which is exactly what we are saying. As for the rest, I am not going to engage in dispute, as I would like to end on a positive note and I want to hear from our colleague the Rermanent Representative of Syria.”
2016-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7744 (2016) · source