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

“But ISIS is evolving, moving away from being an overt organization to being a networked covert organization cultivating growing numbers of affiliates around the world. This year the 1267 Committee designated ISIS facilitators in South-East Asia and an ISIS leader in the Sahel, among others. Such affiliates can bring the scourge of ISIS to new hotspots. It is important that the 1267 Committee expeditiously designate ISIS affiliates to prevent them from taking up the mantle of a diminished ISIS core. We welcome the appointment of Daniel Kipfer Fasciati as the new Ombudsperson for the 1267 Committee and look forward to working with him. The threat of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) is increasingly relevant today.”
2018-10-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8364 (2018) · source
“Let us first congratulate Bolivia on assuming the presidency of the Security Council. We wish you every success in the month ahead, Mr. President. Let me also thank the Chairs of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da'esh), Al-Qaida, and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities; the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004); and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) for the strong cooperation of their committees and Groups of Experts. We have come a long way at the United Nations in helping to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations.”
2018-10-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8364 (2018) · source
“However, we must think critically about efficiently managing our scarce resources and applying them appropriately to the tasks at hand. We must also question whether or not all ofthose tasks remain appropriate and necessary. Peacekeeping missions, even ones that generally work well, must have exit strategies and adapt to the changing circumstances and realities of the situation on the ground. For UNISFA, it means a reconfiguration towards realistic police and troop allocations, a strong civilian presence and renewed commitment by the parties to finding a permanent solution to the outstanding issues. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to the representative of South Sudan.”
2018-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8357 (2018) · source
“We agree with the Secretary-General that a strong civilian component is necessary for UNISFA to operate effectively and create the space to resolve underlying political issues. The civilian component would assist both sides and all communities in maintaining stability, preventing intercommunal conflict and implementing past agreements. We appreciate the role of the African Union High-level Implementation Panel in facilitating the settlement of the Abyei dispute. We urge the Panel to continue its mediation efforts to reach an agreement on Abyei's final status and to continue encouraging the parties to implement past agreements. In missions that generally work well, such as UNISFA, we must give credit where it is due. Therefore, I thank Ethiopia and others that provide personnel and resources to the mission.”
2018-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8357 (2018) · source
“The Security Council should not, and the United States will not, indefinitely support a Mechanism that remains underutilized and is not making progress on resolving the political issues at the root of UNISFA's JBVMM. support mandate, especially if the parties are unwilling to fully commit to the political process and disregard Security Council benchmarks. We agree with the Secretary-General that a reorientation towards a police-style mission is necessary in order to solidify the peace and stability that the Ethiopian peacekeepers have worked so hard to secure. The establishment of the Abyei police service and the provision of a full-spectrum police service remain essential steps in maintaining stability, while also enabling UNISFA's eventual withdrawal.”
2018-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8357 (2018) · source
“The improved security situation in the Abyei Area and other border areas no longer demands the current level of military personnel. Thanks to the firm benchmarks established by the Council, there has been some progress in the past year to operationalize the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (J BVMM). However, the parties have not met all of the benchmarks outlined by the Council, as other speakers have pointed out. More than half a decade since its creation, the JBVMM. has still not realized its full potential. We regret the fact that the parties have not convened a Joint Political and Security Mechanism meeting and that progress on other benchmarks appear stalled. We urge the parties to take steps to meet the benchmarks laid out in resolution 2412 (2018) before the deadline of 15 October.”
2018-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8357 (2018) · source
“The mission's efforts to stabilize the Area and to work with local communities to strengthen ties, resolve disputes and increase peace and security have greatly contributed to the general calm in the contested Area between the Sudan and South Sudan. It is now time to ensure that we can reconfigure the mission to reflect the new realities on the ground and better address its existing security and administrative concerns, as the Council unanimously endorsed in the recent mandate renewal. Our analysis of the Secretary-General's reconfiguration recommendations is that they are a good start to align UNISFA with realities on the ground, but they do not go far enough. We believe that significant security gains in recent years warrant a reduction in the overall number of uniformed personnel in the mission.”
2018-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8357 (2018) · source
“I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of the United States. I thank Under-Secretary-General Lacroix for his briefing and for the explanation of the recommendations for the reconfiguration of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). I also thank Special Envoy Haysom for his briefing. Let me take this opportunity to express our gratitude for all of his contributions as Special Envoy of the Secretary- General for the Sudan and South Sudan. We are sorry to lose his skills and knowledge on the portfolio but we wish him the best of luck in his next role with the United Nations in Somalia. The United States appreciates UNISFA's successful work to stabilize Abyei, and specifically commends Ethiopia for its contributions.”
2018-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8357 (2018) · source
“In accordance with rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of South Sudan and the Sudan 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. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, and Mr. Nicholas Haysom, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Sudan and South Sudan. 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/2018/778, which contains the text ofa letter dated 20 August from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council. I now give the floor to Mr. Lacroix.”
2018-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8357 (2018) · source
“We need urgent actions to address the egregious access denials, rent-seeking impediments by the Government and the violence that endangers humanitarians. Refugees and internally displaced persons must not be forced to return if they feel unsafe. The end of fighting must not mean a call for forced repatriation. Above all, we support the aspirations of the people of South Sudan to lead lives unburdened by fear and to experience peace, pluralism and prosperity. In a recent interview, the Archbishop of South Sudan, Justin Badi Arama, put it best: "peace is not something on paper; peace is something which is deeper". It is now time for the leaders of South Sudan to demonstrate that their commitments on paper can lead to a genuine peace and a prosperous future for the people of South Sudan. I now resume my functions as President of the Council.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8356 (2018) · source
“The United Nations Mission in South Sudan has played, and will continue to play, a vital role in keeping the peace in South Sudan. In this fragile and uncertain transition to peace, it is important that the UNMISS mandate continue to focus on the protection of civilians, while properly configuring the Mission to address evolving risks and realities on the ground. The United States notes with deep appreciation and deep concern the dire conflict-induced humanitarian situation in South Sudan. An estimated 7 million people currently require humanitarian assistance, and over 4 million of them are children. For the third year running, South Sudan remains one of the most dangerous environments * if not the most dangerous environment - for aid workers in the world.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8356 (2018) · source
“We must continue to demonstrate that we will take action against individuals or entities who threaten the peace, security or stability of South Sudan, if these agreements are to have any chance of successful implementation. The United States will also prepare sanctions on additional individuals or entities who engage in corrupt activity. We call on regional leaders and financial institutions to ensure the proceeds from corrupt activity do not flow through their jurisdictions and to freeze assets connected to illicit transactions. There must also be accountability for the crimes of recent years. The establishment and activation of the AU hybrid court for South Sudan is long past due. That is an urgent priority. We call our AU partners to make the court a reality, as called for in the latest Agreement.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8356 (2018) · source
“The United States supports the continued engagement of the region to facilitate the implementation of the Agreement and acknowledges the role of the Sudan and Ethiopia in hosting recent negotiations. We urge the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) member States and the African Union (AU) to intensify their involvement in monitoring progress on implementation and to hold the parties to account. Violations of the Agreement should be highlighted, and those responsible need to face consequences. The United States calls on all nations to implement the United Nations arms embargo that the Security Council adopted just over two months ago.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8356 (2018) · source
“How can we explain the ongoing detention of political prisoners, including Peter Biar Ajak? There has to be a radical change in the behaviour of South Sudan's leaders and a demonstrated commitment to peace, inclusivity, financial accountability and good governance before we, as the Security Council, should welcome any agreement. Otherwise, we are turning a blind eye to past failures. The implementation of the latest Agreement must begin with the greatest confidence-building measure of all - an end to fighting. It must be broadly inclusive of ordinary people across South Sudan: civil society, religious communities, ethnic minorities and other groups. The Kiir Government needs to ensure greater and more representative power-sharing. There must be meaningful checks on executive and majority power.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8356 (2018) · source
“The United States continues to support the people of South Sudan and their aspirations for freedom, peace and prosperity. We welcome the commitment of the region to come together to address common peace and security priorities for the benefit of its citizens. We want to see that commitment translated into lasting peace for the people of South Sudan. The United States acknowledges the revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, but past failures make us concerned about the sustainability of the Agreement - for example, how should we interpret the fact that military offensives have been undertaken in violation of numerous ceasefire agreements, even during recent negotiations? How can we reconcile continued blockages to humanitarian access and the killing of 13 humanitarian workers since January?”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8356 (2018) · source
“I thank Ms. John for her briefing. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of the United States of America. We would like to thank Under-Secretary-General Lacroix for his update on the implementation of the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), as well as to thank to him and Mr. Wais for the discussion of political dynamics and developments in South Sudan. We are thankful to be able to take advantage of Special Envoy Haysom's knowledge with only a few days left in his assignment, and we thank him for being here. We sincerely appreciate that Ms. Grace John joined us at such a late hour, as her perspective helps us understand the situation on the ground in South Sudan and is critical to our discussion here today.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8356 (2018) · source
“The Security Councilwill now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2018/83l, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on South Sudan, covering the period from 4 June to 1 September 2018. I now give the floor to Mr. Lacroix.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8356 (2018) · source
“In accordance with rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of South Sudan 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. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations; Mr. Nicholas Haysom, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Sudan and South Sudan; His Excellency Mr. Ismail Wais, Intergovernmental Authority on Development Special Envoy for South Sudan; and Ms. Grace John, Governance and Peace Manager for Community Empowerment for Progress Organization. Mr. Wais and Ms. John are joining today's meeting via video tele-conference from Addis Ababa and Kampala, respectively.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8356 (2018) · source
“This is the goal to which the Security Council, international donors and the international community more broadly must devote themselves in the critical weeks and months ahead. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to the representative of Turkey.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8354 (2018) · source
“We want to specifically recognize and thank Special Representative Yamamoto and his team for their hard work under very difficult conditions. As part of the preparation for timely and credible elections, the United States welcomes the efforts of the Afghan Government to advance a peace process with the Taliban. The people ofAfghanistan are calling for peace. President Ghani has responded to their call. The ball is now in the Taliban's court. They must come to the table and enter into peace talks without preconditions. The Taliban face a decision - they can grow obsolete in the old Afghanistan or they can thrive in a new one. Not just the Taliban, but all of us, are at an inflection point in the Afghan conflict. A prosperous and secure future for Afghanistan can be created only by and through the will of its people.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8354 (2018) · source
“Building a democracy necessarily involves creating trust and confidence among the people in the integrity of the system, along with belief in the ability and willingness of those who are elected to improve the lives of the people. As a first step in that process, there must be voter registration that is as accurate and transparent as possible, ensuring that women have the opportunity to participate and have their voices heard. And most fundamentally, it depends on the safety of those who would campaign, register and vote in the elections. Today, preparations for the parliamentary and presidential elections in Afghanistan are at a critical stage. UNAMA plays an essential role in supporting Afghanistan's electoral commissions as they prepare for the vote.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8354 (2018) · source
“This is the dangerous and difficult situation that the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the people of Afghanistan confront as Afghanistan approaches parliamentary elections in October. Violent extremist groups are attempting to sow fear and distrust among the Afghan people. No doubt, their attacks will intensify. It seems they would like to return to the zero-sum, tribal violence of the civil war in the 1990s, which paved the way for the tyrannical rule of the Taliban. The United States fully supports and hopes for timely, credible, and transparent parliamentary elections in Afghanistan on 20 October, as well as subsequent elections when the Afghan people will choose their president in April 2019. But timely and credible elections will not come about easily.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8354 (2018) · source
“I will now make a statement in my capacity as representative of the United States. We thank Special Representative of the Secretary- General Yamamoto for his briefing and are particularly grateful to Afghan youth representative Ramiz Bakhtiar for sharing the critical and important perspective of youth and civil society in Afghanistan, and especially regarding the upcoming elections. Last week, a man wearing a vest armed with explosives walked into a crowd protesting a corrupt local police commander in eastern Afghanistan. The man blew himself up and killed around 70 other people. Hundreds more were wounded. Earlier that same day, a 14-year-old boy was killed and four others were wounded when two bombs went off in front of a school in Jalalabad.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8354 (2018) · source
“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/2018/824, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security. I now give the floor to Mr. Yamamoto.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8354 (2018) · source
“In accordance with rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Afghanistan, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Italy, Pakistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan 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. Tadamichi Yamamoto, Special Representative of the Secretary- General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, and Mr. Ramiz Bakhtiar, Afghan youth representative. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I also invite His Excellency, Mr. Joao Vale de Almeida, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, to participate in this meeting.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8354 (2018) · source
“Finally, the Government of Haiti and its civil society and international partners must continue to address human rights concerns, such as those involving sexual exploitation and abuse, violence against women and girls, high rates of prolonged pretrial detention and trafficking in persons. While there is much to accomplish, we acknowledge the HNP's steps to improve its response to public demonstrations and reinforce its inspectorate general to investigate reported police abuses, as well as progress made in advancing human rights activities through the Haitian Government's Directorate of Civil Protection. The United States looks forward to the scheduled transition to a non-peacekeeping United Nations presence in Haiti by October 2019 and the assumption of those responsibilities by the Government of Haiti.”
2018-09-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8342 (2018) · source
“First, more progress must be made in the fight against corruption. No one should be above the law, and we call on the Government of Haiti to work with MINUJUSTH and international partners to strengthen its justice-sector institutions, including its anti-corruption bodies, and to promote judicial reforms to combat impunity and strengthen the rule of law. Secondly, it is imperative that corrupt officials or any other individuals implicated in human rights violations be held accountable for their actions. Thirdly, we must also caution against the politicization of the police. The Government of Haiti must prioritize the continued development and professionalization of its National Police and ensure that the institution remains apolitical.”
2018-09-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8342 (2018) · source
“During a time of political instability, the Haitian National Police, with the support MINUJUSTH, acted to protect the civilian population and refrained from actions that would have further inflamed the situation. Those efforts prevented a prison break from the national penitentiary, which would have made an extremely volatile situation in downtown Port-au-Prince even more complex. The continued professionalization of the Haitian National Police demonstrates the progress made towards achieving the Mission's exit strategy benchmarks, and will make possible the on-schedule transition of tasks and responsibilities to the Government of Haiti, in coordination with the United Nations country team. However, it is essential to protect those hard-won gains, and MINUJUSTH has an important role to play before drawing down.”
2018-09-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8342 (2018) · source
“I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of the United States. I thank Assistant Secretary-General Keita for her briefing and the very helpful graphics that she circulated today. We warmly welcome Helen La Lime and wish her every success with her new mission. We look forward to continued progress from the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH), together with its road map towards the planned drawdown of operations by October 2019. This past July represented a critical test for both the Government of Haiti and MINUJUSTH, with both the Haitian National Police (HNP) and the United Nations formed police units confronting Violent protests and riots.”
2018-09-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8342 (2018) · source
“I thank Ms. Keita for her briefing. I shall now give the floor to those Council members who wish to make statements. Iwelcome Her Excellency Ms. Leona Marlin-Romeo, Prime Minister of Sint Maarten.”
2018-09-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8342 (2018) · source
“In accordance with rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of Haiti to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite Ms. Bintou Keita, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, 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/2018/795, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti. I now give the floor to Ms. Keita.”
2018-09-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8342 (2018) · source
“I would like to share the story of Fatima Nasser, a 21-year old living in the southern city of Seba. Fatima is an entrepreneur who realized that her hometown had an amazing untapped resource - not oil, but food. Women across the city were at home preparing superb dishes in their kitchens. The food was so good Fatima thought that people would be willing to pay for it. She created an app that links customers with these at-home chefs. Women are now starting to earn income from their homes and the Libyan public is enjoying purchases of home-cooked meals. The app is taking off. Fatima is launching her service and Libya's largest cities very soon. Silicon Valley should have an eye on people like Fatima. The point is that Libyans are ready to build a brighter future. Our responsibility is to help them get there.”
2018-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8341 (2018) · source
“We fully endorse UNSMIL's central role in support of the Government of National Accord's economic reform agenda to help address fiscal transparency and equitable distribution of resources across Libya for all Libyans. We were pleased that the Security Council was able to designate six migrant-smugglers earlier this year for their abuses in Libya. This was the first time that we have ever used sanctions to respond to migrant trafficking. We remain deeply concerned about the welfare of these migrants and will also keep up our efforts to ensure that criminal gangs involved in such activity cannot operate with impunity. Despite all of these challenges, one thing has not changed in Libya - that is the potential of the Libyan people and their keen desire to create a better country for themselves.”
2018-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8341 (2018) · source
“As the recent instability in Tripoli clearly demonstrated, we need a realistic road map for Libya to move towards secure, credible and inclusive elections as soon as possible, rooted in an inclusive constitutional process. It is obvious from today's discussions that we are all impatient to see progress but imposing false deadlines will backfire and could lead to even worse divisions inside Libya. We look to UNSMIL to guide the international community towards an understanding of what that realistic road map entails. The Government of National Accord is a steadfast partner of the United States and we commend its efforts throughout this challenging period. The Government of National Accord shares our goal of a more secure and stable Libya that will be a partner in international efforts to fight terrorism.”
2018-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8341 (2018) · source
“Looking out for their own narrow interests, they undermine the United Nations' hard work to get dialogue under way. This has to end. There should be no military path to power in Libya. If the violence gets worse, the only winners will be terrorists and criminals. More fighting plays into the hands of human traffickers, who are committing unspeakable abuses as they funnel desperate people onto dangerous journeys towards Europe. A different path for Libya is possible. A handful of political spoilers should not be permitted to hold this process hostage. All of us, especially our European partners, Libya's neighbours and countries of the region, need to say "enough is enough". We need to push Libya's different factions to enter into actual negotiations.”
2018-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8341 (2018) · source
“Any attempt to weaken Libyan authorities and hamper the course of the United Nations-facilitated political process is totally unacceptable, as we reiterated with our partners from France, Italy and the United Kingdom yesterday and this past weekend. Since the revolution, seven years ago, the Libyan people have been asking for things that any of us would want. They want an end to the fighting. They want to see basic services, like electricity and water, switched back on. They want to see Libya's oil wealth invested for the benefit of the people. They want the dignity of living in a State that respects their rights after decades of tyranny. The sad truth is that a small number of political spoilers, in some cases backed by militias, block this vision.”
2018-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8341 (2018) · source
“I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of the United States. We would like to thank Special Representative Salame' for his sobering briefing today. The key conclusion from today's meeting is that he has the full support of the Security Council for his work. We are united behind him. The recent escalating violence in Tripoli continues to undermine an already fragile Libya. The Libyan people deserve peace and security. We welcome yesterday's announcement by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) that a cessation of hostilities had been reached. The United States stands fully with Libya as UNSMIL continues its mediation efforts, and we call on all Libyan parties to refrain from any action that could undermine the ceasefire and setback Libyan efforts to advance the political process.”
2018-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8341 (2018) · source
“I thank Ambassador Skoog for his briefing. I shall now give the floor to the members of the Security Council who wish to make statements.”
2018-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8341 (2018) · source
“Salame and Ambassador Olof Skoog, Permanent Representative of Sweden, in his capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya. I give the floor to Mr. Salame.”
2018-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8341 (2018) · source
“In accordance with rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of Libya to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite Mr. Ghassan Salame, Special Representative of the Secretary- General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, to participate in this meeting. Mr. Salame is joining the meeting via video tele-conference from Tripoli. 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/2018/780, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Support Mission in Libya. At this meeting, the Security Council will hear briefings by Mr.”
2018-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8341 (2018) · source
“The sustained support of the region will be required to produce a durable political solution that lays the groundwork for peaceful, free, fair and inclusive elections in 2020. However, we reiterate that good-faith engagement from both the Burundi Government and opposition members is necessary for a successful dialogue.”
2018-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8325 (2018) · source
“We also urge the Government of Burundi to ensure that opposition political actors, including those currently acting as independents, are fully able to participate in future elections. We encourage opposition political actors to commit to participating in elections in 2020 and to take concrete and realistic steps to ensure that they are able to do so. We must also insist that all parties, including the Government and opposition members, categorically reject violence as a political tool. These measures will be essential to peaceful, free, fair and open political competition ahead of the elections scheduled for 2020. We also welcome efforts by the region to convene the next round of the inter-Burundian dialogue, led by the East African Community, in September.”
2018-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8325 (2018) · source
“We are concerned that the Government of Burundi has still not agreed to a resumption of cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and has denied access to the country by the commission of inquiry mandated by the Human Rights Council. We remain deeply concerned about continuing human rights violations and abuses, including excessive restrictions on civic and political space in Burundi, media restrictions, arbitrary arrests and unduly harsh sentences for human rights defenders. We look to the Government of Burundi to take clear steps to end violence and reopen the political space for members of the opposition, independent media and civil society, and to engage in inclusive dialogue with Burundian political stakeholders.”
2018-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8325 (2018) · source
“I thank President Kafando for his briefing today. The United States welcomes PresidentNkurunziza's announcement in June that he does not intend to seek a fourth term. The act of stepping down of his own accord would be a strong step forward for Burundi and democracy, and would set a positive example for other leaders in the region. Such a step would also reaffirm the promise he made to the Burundian people in 2015. As we welcome this positive step, we also call on the Government of Burundi to improve respect for human rights, civic space, media freedom and overall governance so as to allow all Burundians to participate in their Government.”
2018-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8325 (2018) · source
“Russia is still not upholding its commitment to maintaining a de-escalation zone in south-western Syria. If Russia is serious about its concern for refugees and other displaced Syrians, it should work with the Syrian regime to stop the violence and allow unhindered humanitarian access to civilians in need. In conclusion, the positive developments are few and far between, but we must find light where we can. We are glad that children and their families in two previously besieged parts of Idlib were finally able to depart for safer areas and no longer face being cut off from the basic elements of survival. Now, we must find a way to protect the other children in Idlib in the weeks and months ahead.”
2018-07-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8320 (2018) · source
“To date, coalition-funded explosive hazards removal teams have cleared more than 20,000 explosive hazards from 15.5 million square meters of territory in Manbij, Tabqa and Raqqa cities and trained over 300 Syrian nationals to conduct marking, survey and clearance up to international humanitarian mine action standards. The task is not easy, but it is vital to ensure that Syrians can return home safely. The United States continues to support refugee returns when they are safe, voluntary and dignified. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees assesses that it is not yet safe for large-scale refugee returns in Syria. We also remind the Council that the cessation of violence is a critical element for planning successful large-scale refugee returns.”
2018-07-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8320 (2018) · source
“The United Nations dire warnings have been clear and unmistakable - a Syrian regime military campaign in Idlib, akin to what we saw in eastern Ghouta and Aleppo, would result in a disastrous humanitarian crisis. The Council urgently needs to put measures in place to protect civilians and ensure humanitarian access in Idlib, where hundreds of thousands of people are at risk. The United States will once again put on record that United Nations humanitarian convoys are welcome at any time in Rukban. We welcome this assistance and are ready to do everything we can to facilitate it. In Raqqa, removing unexploded ordinance is one of our top priorities; it is a critical first step for humanitarian and stabilization assistance.”
2018-07-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8320 (2018) · source
“Instead of placing the needs of its own population first, the regime continues to weaponize humanitarian assistance and withhold access as a tool to force reconciliation in areas formerly held by the armed opposition. We call on the Syrian regime and its Russian allies to allow the United Nations to resume cross-border convoys from Jordan and to facilitate delivery of cross- line assistance from Damascus to people in need, in line with the Council's previous resolutions on the matter. For the 800,000 people dependent on life-saving cross- border assistance, United Nations operations need to continue. Turning to Idlib, the Syrian regime and its supporters have continued their aggressive actions and are building up their military forces for their next major offensive.”
2018-07-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8320 (2018) · source
“Sadly, more than 13 million people in Syria still require humanitarian assistance, and at least 6 million of those are children. In south-west Syria, the regime's military offensives since 17 June have displaced more than 325,000 civilians, approximately half of whom are children. Yet, humanitarians are largely unable to reach those vulnerable populations and supplies are dwindling. Even more concerning is the fact that this loss of humanitarian access in south-west Syria includes the halting of United Nations cross-border aid deliveries demanded by the Council, most recently in resolution 2393 (2017).Nothing about the regime's failure to facilitate humanitarian access has changed since last month's Council meeting (see S/PV.8296).”
2018-07-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8320 (2018) · source
“This month, Special Representative Gamba has provided us with an even closer look at the misery. It is clear that Syria's children have experienced an almost unimaginable level of suffering and trauma that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. The statistics cited here and in the monthly reports on Syria should not be misinterpreted. Yes, the number of besieged areas has been reduced to zero, but not because the regime lifted sieges. Instead, it is because it mercilessly followed through with its surrender-or- starve campaign. Similarly, the number of Syrians living in hard-to-reach areas is down from just over 2 million last month to 1.5 million in July - not because the regime is allowing more access, but because it has taken more territory by force.”
2018-07-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8320 (2018) · source