YouSaid · the spoken record

Cohen

lines on the record: 977
first: 2008-01-22
most recent: 2023-10-24
sittings or episodes: 157
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

“Promoting women's equal and meaningful inclusion and participation across efforts to restore security, promote democracy and good governance and support economic development are not women's issues. They are vital national security issues. This month we celebrated one year since the United States became the first country to translate this agenda into a comprehensive national law with the passage of the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017. A cornerstone of implementation of that landmark legislation will be the development of bold new strategies on women, peace and security, anchored in the United States' national security strategy and long- standing commitment to women's empowerment.”
2018-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8382 (2018) · source
“I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for organizing today's open debate, and the Secretary-General for his briefing and strong commitment to supporting women's meaningful participation with regard to issue of peace and security. I also thank the Executive Director of UN-Women and the Ministers of the Netherlands and Sweden for their important contributions to today's discussion. The United States is committed to exercising leadership in terms of implementing the global women and peace and security agenda. The effort requires action from Member States and the United Nations itself. Today I would like to discuss how we are working to advance women's participation in peacemaking and security issues, as well as how we are furthering women's economic empowerment.”
2018-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8382 (2018) · source
“The dire situation that the Under-Secretary-General described is yet another reminder that this war and the suffering of the Yemeni people can end only at the negotiating table, not on the battlefield.”
2018-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8379 (2018) · source
“The United States contributions to the World Food Programme operations have also been vital. However, as the Under-Secretary-General said, we can and must do more. And so we are. In addition to continued humanitarian relief, we are expanding non-humanitarian assistance to address the consequences of conflict, including supporting efforts to enhance the Central Bank of Yemen's ability to function, so that it can begin to address Yemen's deteriorating economic situation and the currency depreciation that has made it even harder for Yemenis to afford to survive. We will continue all those efforts, and hope that all parties will also recognize and help to respond to the suffering. At the same time, there is simply no alternative to a political solution.”
2018-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8379 (2018) · source
“In that regard, we urge parties to consider all possible measures to further mitigate and reduce unnecessary suffering from the conflict. We thank the United Nations for its efforts to maintain a de-confliction mechanism in that context to allow aid and commercial goods to flow despite the fighting. We share the Under-Secretary-General's assessment that humanitarian assistance, especially in the past year, has been critical in staving off the worst outcomes and mitigating Yemeni suffering. The United States is one of the largest donors of humanitarian assistance to Yemen, having provided more than $1.2 billion in humanitarian aid since fiscal year 2017, including food, medical care, safe drinking water, shelter, psychosocial support and supplies to fight the spread of disease.”
2018-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8379 (2018) · source
“But unless the fighting stops and there are immediate efforts to stabilize the Yemeni rial, then the suffering of those who are already severely food insecure in Yemen will continue to worsen. In that regard, no one has worked harder or more tirelessly to bring about a political solution than Special Envoy Griffiths. He has our full support and we need him to succeed. Until we achieve a political solution, we implore all the parties to take the measures necessary to protect civilians and critical civilian infrastructure and to ensure unfettered access for humanitarian goods and personnel and the movement of essential commercial goods. The parties must adhere to their obligations under international law and recognize that damage to ports and other civilian infrastructure will further drive food insecurity.”
2018-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8379 (2018) · source
“Let me add our voice to those thanking Under-Secretary- General Lowcock for his deeply concerning, sobering and important briefing today. We are very grateful for his hard work and the work that his team does on the ground in Yemen every day. The stories behind the huge number of people affected by the crisis have become all too familiar: babies ravaged by hunger, too weak to cry, and parents choosing between critical medical care for a child or food for their family. Now, as the Under-Secretary- General argued, continued deterioration and newly acute risk are apparent in every grim update, most recently in the reports of over 20,000 newly displaced people in northern Yemen, due to fighting in the area. There are alternatives to that situation. The suffering of the Yemeni people is not inevitable.”
2018-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8379 (2018) · source
“We are also carefully considering the Secretary-General's recommendations for changes to MINUSCA's mandate and look forward to a conversation about the best means to achieve our common goals. The people of the Central African Republic have already seen multiple peace agreements signed, followed by collapse. They have heard about programmes to demobilize, disarm and reintegrate former combatants, which enriched the few, but not the many. They have seen previous attempts at security sector reform fail and they continue to rely on humanitarian aid to survive. Whatever we agree in the next mandate renewal, it should be based on the lessons that we have learned from the past to help the Central African people seize a brighter future. We look forward to working with the Council and our United Nations counterparts in that effort.”
2018-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8378 (2018) · source
“However, in order for the African Initiative to be successful, every actor must commit to transparency and coordination. As I said at the high-level ministerial meeting on the Central African Republic peace process, the Central African people have seen previous dialogues that produced agreements, but not results. We must all work together in good faith to change that narrative and to support President Touadera and his Government as they strive for peace, justice, accountability and the prevention of future atrocities. For our part, the United States will financially support the African Initiative. We are working in partnership with the EU, MINUSCA and Central African officials to ensure that peace talks address the underlying causes of armed conflict.”
2018-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8378 (2018) · source
“The official opening of investigations by the Special Criminal Court this month marks an important step forward in the fight against impunity and ensuring justice for victims. There are still many challenges to overcome. We are particularly concerned about the situation around Bria, with attacks on civilians in August and September and the kidnapping last week of United Nations police officers. Our collective goal should be a political solution for durable peace and recovery. The United States believes that the African Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic represents the best path to achieving that goal and enabling the conditions for the extension of State authority to promote development.”
2018-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8378 (2018) · source
“There is no doubt in our minds that MINUSCA is making a positive difference in the lives of Central Africans. There has also been notable progress in restoring State authority and building the capacity of the Central African Government, including the Forces armees centrafricaines (FACA) and internal security forces. The fact that there are now four FACA battalions, and more to come, trained by the European Union (EU) and deployed around the country, proves that the Central African Republic is on a positive trajectory. We further commend the progress of the Central African Government, assisted by MINUSCA and other international partners, in operationalizing the Special Criminal Court.”
2018-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8378 (2018) · source
“One year ago, the United States joined other Security Council members to support an increase in the troop ceiling of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) by 900 military personnel, thereby reaffirming the depth of our commitment to the peace and security of the Central African Republic. Despite notable delays in receiving those troops, MINUSCA continued to make progress on its mandated tasks, which resulted in significant gains in the security and stability of the Central African Republic. That became clear to us when a United States delegation visited Bangassou earlier this month - something that would have been impossible year ago. They heard first-hand accounts of the positive impact MINUSCA has had there.”
2018-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8378 (2018) · source
“I too thank each of our three briefers today for their presentations and for the work that they have done in support of peace and security in the Central African Republic over the past year. We would also like to extend our thanks to Ambassador Adom for his exceptional leadership in bringing the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013) to Bangui earlier this month for a trip that was enlightening and instructive for everyone. We particularly note his leadership in sharing Cote d'Ivoire's positive experience with a post-conflict arms embargo.”
2018-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8378 (2018) · source
“We implore all parties to take that timeline seriously and show the world their commitment to a peaceful and stable Mali through the rapid implementation of the key provisions of the road map stipulated in this year's mandate.”
2018-10-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8376 (2018) · source
“This year's mandate asked MINUSMA to continue to support the Government of Mali in stabilizing key population centres in the north, centre and other areas where civilians are at risk. We call on the Government and the Mission to protect civilians and strengthen community outreach mechanisms so as to end the intercommunal violence that is propagated by self- proclaimed self-defence groups. We also call on the Malian forces to respect human rights and comply with applicable international law in all aspects of operations, and we urge the Government to continue to pursue accountability for those responsible for past human rights violations and abuses. Council resolution 2423 (2018) is clear - signatory parties must show significant progress or face changes to MINUSMA after the expiration of its current mandate.”
2018-10-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8376 (2018) · source
“The pact for peace, which was finalized this week, the completion of the presidential elections and the establishment of President Keita's Government provide cause for some cautious optimism in reinvigorating the peace process. But the work must not stop here. The Government of Mali and the signatory parties must use that momentum to make clear and swift gains in implementing the key provisions of the road map. Increased reports of violent extremist attacks against MINUSMA peacekeepers, Malian and international security forces, and especially civilians, as well as the growing humanitarian crisis in the centre of Mali, are extremely unsettling. The heartbreaking story this week from the village of Telly that gunmen had killed approximately a dozen civilians reminds us of the urgency of finding an enduring solution.”
2018-10-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8376 (2018) · source
“That includes the latest troop-contributing countries, Canada and Jordan. The United States is grateful to all troop contributors to the Mission, and we honour their collective commitments and sacrifices to the effort to stabilize Mali. We also commend MINUSMA'S efforts this past summer in supporting the presidential elections. We are concerned, however, by reports of some troop-contributing countries not being deployed with all the equipment that they had committed to bringing. That heightens the risk to their units and to the overall Mission, and we call on troop-contributing countries to follow through on their equipment commitments. We share the Secretary-General's view regarding the political progress made in Mali since MINUSMA's mandate renewal in June.”
2018-10-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8376 (2018) · source
“I thank Under-Secretary-General Lacroix for today's briefing. Implementing the mandate of United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) is an incredibly challenging task. A large part of that mandate - with a force of more than 12,000 personnel in a country the size of Mali - takes the right leader, and MINUSMA found that leader in Major General Jean-Paul Deconinck. He completed his command on 2 October, and we are grateful for his leadership during his time as Force Commander. We welcome the new Force Commander of MINUSMA, Lieutenant General Dennis Gyllensporre, and thank him for his commitment in taking on such a challenging assignment. Most importantly, we want to thank the soldiers, police and civilians of MINUSMA, who risk their lives every day to support the Mission in Mali.”
2018-10-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8376 (2018) · source
“We remind the Council that resolution 2254 (2015), which was adopted without opposition in this Chamber, explicitly supports a nationwide ceasefire to accompany and reinforce the initial steps towards political transition. The United States has been clear; any military escalation in Idlib or beyond remains unacceptable and would gravely threaten efforts to find a peaceful political solution to this crisis. The Syrian people have been silenced for too long. We have a unique opportunity to forge a political solution to one of the most bloody and destructive wars of our lifetime. This moment of opportunity will not last long, based on all that we have seen in Syria over the past years. I urge my colleagues to resist further delays and take this historic opportunity.”
2018-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8373 (2018) · source
“Special Envoy De Mistura should set a date for the first meeting of the committee, issue invitations and move ahead with talks, and he should do so without delay. While some in this Chamber are in no hurry to move forward on the political process, there are 6 million refugees who cannot return home without progress on the 2254 process. The constitutional committee is only a very early step towards this. There are 3 million Syrian civilians in Idlib whose fate also hangs in the balance. The Syrian and Russian jets are grounded, for now. The heavy weapons have been removed from Turkey and Russia's demilitarized zone, for now. The ceasefire in Idlib has given us a window of opportunity, but it is a window that could close at any minute.”
2018-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8373 (2018) · source
“There will be no progress on the new Syrian constitution, no progress towards free and fair parliamentary and presidential elections, and no progress on a political solution. This moment of calm and opportunity, which has created the time and space for political progress, could well evaporate. The United States does not share the view that a November launch of the committee is rushed or premature. Quite to the contrary, delay risks disaster. We have the lists of participants. The Security Council has had the road map for a political settlement since it adopted resolution 2254 (2015), in 2015. The Special Envoy has every authority to convene the committee and tells us that he is ready to do so. We believe that he should.”
2018-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8373 (2018) · source
“Let us therefore be clear about what Al-Assad is up to. This is not a last-ditch attempt at diplomacy. This is another obvious attempt to delay the United Nations effort to forge a political consensus and a political solution. There can be only two purposes for these delaying tactics, neither of which speak well of the motives of Al-Assad and his Russian friends. Either they are attempting to create an unbalanced committee that will rubber-stamp the regime's positions, or they are attempting to forestall the vital work of the committee, which is the critical work of establishing self-government for the Syrian people. Let us remember what is at stake if the Syrian regime and the Russian Federation delay the creation of the committee.”
2018-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8373 (2018) · source
“Many of them are experts in the law and the process of drafting a new constitution, and, just last month, Turkey and Russia announced an agreement in principle on lists ofpossible members of the committee, but now the Al-Assad regime is objecting to those lists. They now want veto power over the United Nations process. They have at the eleventh hour invited the Special Envoy to Damascus next week for new consultations after months of not engaging. We welcome Special Envoy De Mistura's offer to brief the Council on his Damascus trip as soon as possible, and we hope that such briefing will take place before the end of this month. The Syrian representative to the United Nations has told the Council that Damascus rejects Russia's own Sochi declaration that launched the constitutional committee. Syria rejected Russia's diplomatic initiative.”
2018-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8373 (2018) · source
“Today there is a consensus in the Security Council that a constitutional committee should be convened in Geneva immediately by the United Nations Special Envoy, as he wishes to do. We join in this consensus. Our Syria small-group partners have also rallied behind that idea. Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom support the creation of such a group to map Syria's political future without delay, but it is starting to look as though our concerns may have been warranted. We see the Al-Assad regime using the same delaying tactics that have stalled the political process in Syria for years. The Special Envoy has worked hard to prepare a diverse and credible list of Syrians to serve on the constitutional committee. The candidates are drawn from all parts of Syrian society.”
2018-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8373 (2018) · source
“We had doubts about whether Russia intended to support a political transition in Syria and whether the proposed constitutional committee was a way for Russia to assert its influence over Syria rather than to blaze a path to peace, because, frankly, Al-Assad, Russia and Iran have the most to gain from pursuing a military end to the Syrian war. De-escalation zones have been established and ignored by Russia and the Al-Assad regime. Accountability has been resisted. Villages have been levelled. Humanitarian assistance has been denied. Weapons of mass destruction have been used. So yes, we had concerns. In the eight months since the announcement, the United States has consulted with other Security Council members. We felt that if there were an opportunity to move towards a political solution, we should do everything possible to make it work.”
2018-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8373 (2018) · source
“That committee will lay the groundwork for free and fair elections in Syria, supervised by the United Nations and open to all eligible Syrians, including those who were forced to flee their country during the present conflict. The United States has worked long and hard for this progress in Syria, as have some others on the Security Council. That said, the United States did not always support Russia's January proposal for such a committee. We had concerns that that initiative would undermine the Geneva process. We had concerns about Russia's good faith.”
2018-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8373 (2018) · source
“I thank Special Envoy De Mistura for his briefing and his hard work to prepare for political progress in Syria. We have before the Security Council today a very rare thing - a brief window of opportunity to advance a political solution in Syria. We should take it. History will be unforgiving if we fail to do so. The United States has sought every opportunity to prevent the Al-Assad regime and its Russian and Iranian allies from pursuing a military end to the conflict in Syria. We have long called for a credible, inclusive constitutional committee that will begin the essential work of drafting a new Syrian constitution.”
2018-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8373 (2018) · source
“As members of the international community, States must do more to strengthen the implementation of United Nations sanctions regimes that seek to eliminate trade in natural resources that contribute to conflict. If we work together to cut off those flows and support cooperative efforts to improve the oversight of natural resources, together we can help prevent natural resource-related issues from contributing to conflict.”
2018-10-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8372 (2018) · source
“For example, the United States supports the Kimberley Process as a constructive international initiative that fosters transparency in the diamond trade and has contributed to a marked reduction in - in fact, almost the complete elimination of- the trade of conflict diamonds since its establishment. We support meaningful reform of the Kimberley Process to ensure its long-term health and relevance. Specifically, at this year's plenary session we will seek an expanded definition of a conflict diamond to include diamonds linked to conflict or Violence, regardless of the perpetrator. Finally, United Nations sanctions regimes remain a critical tool for addressing the destabilizing impact of the trade in illicit resources.”
2018-10-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8372 (2018) · source
“The money has been used not to feed the people but rather, again, to enrich elites and extend the conflict, including attacks on innocent civilians. In the cases of Venezuela, Iran and South Sudan, the destabilizing effects of natural resources are not the result of the activity of external armed groups, multinational companies or foreign interests; rather, they are the direct result of decisions taken by the leaders of those countries to engage in corruption and/ or use the proceeds from their natural resource wealth to fund destabilizing activities that threaten international peace and security. There are steps we can take as a Council to improve our chances of ensuring that natural resource wealth translates into greater prosperity.”
2018-10-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8372 (2018) · source
“Iran has used the proceeds of its oil and gas trade to build missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction, increase internal repression, finance terrorism and fund destabilizing activities in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq. For these reasons, we are working with countries that import Iranian crude oil to cut their purchases substantially, and we are pleased that so many countries and companies are moving to stop such imports. In South Sudan, the Government has been collateralizing future oil sales to secure foreign loans in violation of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, signed in 2015, and the revitalized peace agreement signed last month.”
2018-10-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8372 (2018) · source
“In Venezuela's mining regions, illegal and unregulated mining is now resulting in rapid deforestation and pollution, without regard for the environment or the indigenous populations. We have no doubt that the proceeds from this illicit mining are lining the pockets primarily of Maduro and those closest to him. The effects of the crisis in Venezuela extend far beyond its national borders and the resulting humanitarian crisis has placed the burden on the entire region. Similarly, in Iran we see the country's rich endowment of natural resources siphoned away from activities that could benefit the Iranian people and used both to enrich Iran's elite and to fund Iran's destabilizing activities abroad.”
2018-10-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8372 (2018) · source
“Nowhere are the dangers - indeed, threats to peace and security - posed by the mismanagement of natural resources more apparent than in Venezuela, where millions of citizens of that once wealthy country have been driven into poverty by the rapacious corruption of a kleptocratic regime. Instead of serving as a source of wealth to improve the livelihoods of Venezuela's citizens, the State-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. exists today primarily as a vehicle for embezzlement and looting by Maduro and his inner circle. This has created a situation of scarcity and economic instability that has generated massive refugee migration flows. With its oil sector in decline, Maduro's regime has turned to another valuable resource to plunder, Venezuela's gold deposits.”
2018-10-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8372 (2018) · source
“Ithank you, Sir, for calling this meeting on today's important topic. We would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his briefing and participation in today's meeting. The link between natural resources and conflict is complex, and the United States shares the concern that in many instances, as noted by the Secretary- General, the poor management of natural resources by Governments can contribute to corruption, conflict and violence. It is unfortunate that today's Council briefing has been deliberately framed to ignore internal State mismanagement of natural resources. Despite the potential for natural resource endowments to bring prosperity and social development when properly managed, we unfortunately see far too many examples of countries where natural resource wealth does not translate into improved livelihoods for citizens.”
2018-10-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8372 (2018) · source
“No one wants to see innocent people convicted for a murder they did not commit or those guilty walk free. We encourage the Secretary-General to renew the Follow- up Mechanism to accompany Congolese authorities in seeking justice for Michael and Zaida.”
2018-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8370 (2018) · source
“In North Kivu and Ituri, MONUSCO is providing life-saving logistic support to the Ebola response, protecting convoys and ensuring that humanitarian workers can operate safely in difficult conditions. That health crisis will require our full attention and ingenuity to halt Ebola's spread. When the time is right, we will be the first to celebrate MONUSCO's closure, as called for by President Kabila Kabange in his address, but today it is too soon to celebrate. Finally, we note that Congolese authorities have started the trial on the murder of two United Nations experts, Michael Sharp and Zaida Catalan, who were killed while investigating human rights violations in the Kasais. We want to remind the Congolese authorities of the importance of a thorough investigation and fair trial without the pressure of artificial timelines.”
2018-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8370 (2018) · source
“Two weeks ago, on the floor of the General Assembly, President Kabila Kabange called for the end of MONUSCO (see A/73/PV.7). We share that goal, but our focus is on the execution and on the timing. As the report of the Secretary-General (S/2018/882) documents, MONUSCO is essential for civilian protection in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Armed groups continue their attacks and human rights violations, especially against civilians in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. We recognize the efforts of the United Nations to repatriate or relocate former combatants from Rwanda and South Sudan, even as we remain deeply concerned about attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces, which appear to be increasing in frequency and lethality.”
2018-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8370 (2018) · source
“Build consensus around the electronic voting machines and develop a back-up procedure to ensure voters can still vote even ifthe machines malfunction or fail to be delivered to all voting stations. Train sufficient poll workers on voting equipment and processes. Those are actions that the Congolese Government, and the Commission in particular, could take today to address the concerns of Congolese voters. The goal for 23 December 2018 is free, fair and credible elections. One way to safeguard that is through elections observers. We encourage the Independent National Electoral Commission to speedily begin to welcome and accredit election observers in coordination with the African Union, the Southern African Development Community and Congolese civil society.”
2018-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8370 (2018) · source
“Although the Commission has had an extra two years to organize this election, we remain deeply concerned about the specific choices that it has made, in that they are likely to lead to widespread problems on election day. We believe that Congolese officials intend to hold elections on 23 December, but we are not the people who need to be convinced. The Congolese people need to know that they will have the chance to exercise their vote in a credible election. Now is the time to build that confidence. End the detention of political prisoners and implement fully the December 2016 agreement. Develop a logistics plan to deliver elections materials in time. Release the voter registry in an electronic, searchable format.”
2018-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8370 (2018) · source
“We agree with the Electoral Commission officials that another electoral delay is not acceptable and appreciate their focus on maintaining the 23 December date. The Congolese people have already waited two years to cast their votes. With that in mind, we will continue to support the efforts ofthe United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO)to establishcontingencyplansto distribute voting materials if the Congolese Government makes a last-minute request. We encourage MONUSCO to be transparent with the Congolese Government regarding deadlines for requesting that assistance. However, we recall that it is not MONUSCO's responsibility to organize Congolese elections, it is the responsibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2018-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8370 (2018) · source
“I thank Ms. Zerrougui, Special Representative of the Secretary- General for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Mr. Djinnit, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region, for their briefings today. We deeply appreciate their updates, especially in these final two months before elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Following the Security Council's trip to Kinshasa, our focus remains on the state of elections preparations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We are particularly glad that the Security Council met with the President of the Independent National Electoral Commission, who had not been able to join us for the August Council briefing (see S/PV.8331).”
2018-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8370 (2018) · source
“Colombia has emerged as a strong democratic partner for the United States, a partner in building a freer and more democratic western hemisphere. We are excited to witness the birth of a new Colombia, and we are committed to helping it achieve a peaceful and prosperous future.”
2018-10-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8368 (2018) · source
“In his speech to the General Assembly, President Duque Marquez said the crisis was a question of self- determination of the Venezuelan people. We could not agree more. The Maduro Moros regime has robbed the Venezuelan people of control over their lives and their future. The people of Colombia and their Government have responded with great generosity to the approximately 1 million Venezuelans who seek food, medicine and shelter in their country. The United States has helped with nearly $55 million in humanitarian aid, but real relief for both the Venezuelan and the Colombian peoples will not come until after the Maduro regime. That day cannot come soon enough. The United States stands with President Duque Marquez and all Colombians as they seek to build a more peaceful future.”
2018-10-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8368 (2018) · source
“When President Trump put out the Global Call to Action on the World Drug Problem, during a high-level week event, Colombia was one of the first countries to answer the Call. Our Colombian friends stand shoulder to shoulder with us in fighting the epidemic of addiction that afflicts us all, and we understand what a difficult fight it is. The United States is working to reduce the demand for illicit drugs. Colombia is working hard to reduce the supply, but they must do more. Cocaine production surged last year, a trend that must be reversed if we are going to achieve our joint goal of cutting coca cultivation and cocaine production in Colombia in half by the end of 2023. Finally, the future ofthe peace process in Colombia depends on that country's ability to continue to deal with the massive influx of desperate Venezuelans.”
2018-10-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8368 (2018) · source
“Expanding equal justice in Colombia means ensuring accountability for serious crimes committed during the years of armed conflict. It also means doing more to investigate and prosecute the killing of human rights defenders. We are encouraged by the early efforts of President Duque Marquez to protect social leaders and others who are vulnerable in Colombia today. The literal silencing of those important voices undermines the peace process. Another goal that will help determine the success of peace in Colombia is doubling down on the fight against drug trafficking and the criminality and corruption that flow from it. The news in that regard is good, but progress is incomplete.”
2018-10-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8368 (2018) · source
“President Duque Marquez said it well when he introduced himself to the General Assembly a couple of weeks ago (see A/73/PV.8), identifying himself as a member of a new generation of Colombians committed to uniting his country around common goals. The continuing success of peace in Colombia is caught up in the achievement of those goals. One of the goals mentioned by the President is economic and social growth based on democratic institutions - and, indeed, the Colombian Government is extending governance, justice and economic opportunity throughout the country. It is providing security infrastructure and public services to the rural regions that were most affected by the war. That work is critical to the peace process.”
2018-10-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8368 (2018) · source
“I thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Jean Arnault for his important and detailed briefing today. We warmly welcome Foreign Minister Trujillo Garcia and the other Colombian guests. The historic peace accord that ended half a century of fighting in Colombia brings us together today. The United States welcomes the unanimous renewal of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia last month. We join the Security Council in our enthusiastic support for peace in Colombia, but the success of the peace process is, in turn, dependent upon other areas of progress. Nevertheless, we believe that this is truly a time of rebirth for Colombia.”
2018-10-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8368 (2018) · source
“The Secretariat and many Member States often do not have the localized knowledge necessary for adequately addressing the terrorist threat in all parts of the world. That is why we continue to advocate for a whole-of-society approach, meaning stronger engagement with civil society and non-governmental organizations. Working with both United Nations and non-United Nations actors, including non-governmental organizations and civil society actors, helps the United Nations and Member States leverage the full array of expertise and perspectives needed to better identify and address fast-changing and diverse terrorist threats. Our counter-terrorism Committees must ensure that our counter-terrorism analysis and efforts are not counterproductive to our international commitments to human rights and to the rule of law.”
2018-10-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8364 (2018) · source
“Last year we updated the mandate of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) to strengthen coordination between the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the General Assembly counter-terrorism bodies on counter-terrorism issues. In response, CTED and the OCT released a joint report (S/2018/435, annex) setting out practical steps to ensure the incorporation of CTED's recommendations and analysis into the work of the OCT. The report is a model to improve cooperation and ensure that expert country assessments define United Nations counter-terrorism technical assistance. Given the diverse threats we face around the world, ongoing collaboration and information-sharing between the Committee's expert bodies remain integral to minimizing overlap and ensuring accurate threat assessments that lead to action.”
2018-10-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8364 (2018) · source
“This year has seen the devastating consequences of chemical-weapons use by State and non-State actors in Syria and the United Kingdom, and last year we witnessed a horrific murder in Malaysia by VX. We collectively cannot allow the international norm against the use of such dangerous weapons to break down, especially when non-State actors are becoming increasingly violent and desirous of obtaining WMDs. The three Committees and other relevant parts of the United Nations system, including the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (OCT), must work together more closely to better synchronize their activities and cut down on duplication.”
2018-10-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8364 (2018) · source