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

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  1. “And when the people of Syria and Iran have risen up to demand that their Governments respect their rights, they have been met with arrest, torture and murder. It is this oppression - these violations of human rights - that are the ultimate root of the conflicts. And yet there is reason to hope. The desire for human dignity and fundamental human rights is a powerful force. As the sponsor of today's meeting, the Russian Federation itself a testament to this phenomenon. Its predecessor State, the Soviet Union, was among the most oppressive and brutal Governments in the world. After more than 70 years of being denied their basic human rights and human dignity, the Russian people, as well as the Ukrainian people, the people ofthe Baltic States and the people of the Central Asian republics, finally had their say.”

    2018-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8293 (2018) · source

  2. “The findings of the report provide even more evidence of Iran fuelling conflicts with the supply of banned weapons. These are the root causes of conflict in the Middle East: leadership that is unwilling to compromise; Hamas terrorists who sacrifice the well-being of civilians for their own militant objectives; Hizbullah terrorists who roam the Middle East like a rogue, mercenary army; and a regime in Iran that seeks political, military and territorial advantage through the spread of violence and human misery. What ties it all together is the people's lack of voice in their own governance. The people who pay the price of conflict have little or no say in when or if it ends. And those who stand to gain from conflict, such as the regime in Tehran, pay no penalty for the suffering they cause.”

    2018-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8293 (2018) · source

  3. “The United States has also used these monthly meetings on conflict in the Middle East to highlight Iran's repeated and blatant violations of resolution 2231 (2015) and others. The Security Council unanimously prohibited Iran from transferring weapons to other countries, and yet Iran is the source of weapons in conflicts across the region, from Yemen to Syria to Lebanon. The Security Council unanimously called on Hizbullah to disarm, but the leaders of Hizbullah talk openly about the continuing support they receive from Iran. In the words of one Hizballah leader, "Everything Hizbullah eats and drinks, its weapons and rockets, comes from the Islamic Republic of Iran". Later this week, the Council will meet to talk about the Secretary-General's latest report on the implementation of resolution 2231 (2015).”

    2018-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8293 (2018) · source

  4. “We have raised another major cause of conflict in the Middle East, namely, the role of Iran and its partner militia Hizbullah. In war zone after war zone and terrorist act after terrorist act, we find Iran and Hizbullah at the root of violence in the Middle East. We have talked about the arsenal of war being amassed in Lebanon. Its source is Iran and Hizbullah. We have talked about Bashar Al-Assad's and the Syrian regime's war against the Syrian people. These were people who protested peacefully in 2011 for economic opportunity, political rights and basic human dignity. Their noble pursuit, however, was met with brutal violence in the form of torture, starvation, barrel bombs, chemical weapons and the denial of humanitarian and medical assistance. Standing behind Al-Assad, and fighting alongside his troops, are Hizbullah, Iran and Russia.”

    2018-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8293 (2018) · source

  5. “Children and families are either used to provide cover for their military infrastructure or become victims of attacks intended to rally the international media to their overlords' cause, either way ensuring that emotions harden and conflicts continue. The United States has also used this monthly meeting to talk about the key missing ingredient for peace in the Middle East. That ingredient is leaders with the will to do what is needed to achieve peace. The Middle East needs more leaders like Egypt's President Anwar Sadat - leaders who are willing to step forward, acknowledge hard truths and make compromises. The Middle East needs more leaders like Jordan's King Hussein, who in 1994 created a peace that survives to this day.”

    2018-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8293 (2018) · source

  6. “Hamas, a terrorist group that took power in 2007, has since served as the de facto authority in Gaza. In the 11 years that followed, Hamas has demonstrated far more interest in initiating violence than in caring for the Palestinian people. The United States has also taken the opportunity in these debates to talk about the widespread and unacceptable use of civilians, including women and children, as human shields in conflicts throughout the Middle East. At the root of these conflicts are groups such as Hamas and the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham, which are willing to make a ruthless, bloodthirsty tradeoff: they sacrifice innocent civilians in order to accomplish their political objectives.”

    2018-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8293 (2018) · source

  7. “Conflict has many roots, and in the Middle East, for too many decades, brutal dictatorships and authoritarian Governments have denied basic human rights to their people. That has inevitably caused conflict. Violent religious fanaticism from non-governmental groups, as well as from some Governments, has also caused conflict. Lack of economic development and economic opportunity is a source of conflict. This is, of course, not a new topic for the Security Council, though it is my first chance to participate in this debate. Each month the Council has a meeting on the Middle East, at which the United States tries to drill down on precisely this question of root causes. In these debates, the United States has raised the issue of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the suffering of the people there. What is at the root of this crisis?”

    2018-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8293 (2018) · source

  8. “Russia itself launched airstrikes in that zone over the weekend, in clear violation of an agreement that was meant to save lives and promote a political solution in Syria. The ceasefire reflects a commitment between President Trump and President Putin, and the United States remains determined to uphold our commitment. On a day when Russia has asked us to talk about the root causes of conflict in the Middle East, we expect Russia to do its part to uphold the ceasefire that it helped establish. Before going further, it is worth noting the enormous positive contributions that the peoples of the Middle East have made to the world. It is a region of ancient civilizations that has given us all so much. In the arts, in language, in science and in philosophy, in religion, the world owes a great deal to the people ofthe Middle East.”

    2018-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8293 (2018) · source

  9. “We thank the Secretary-General for his important briefing this morning. We are grateful to our Russian colleagues for this opportunity to explore the root causes of conflict in the Middle East. This meeting is timely because today Russia has the ability to stop the military escalation that is happening in the region as we speak. As noted by the representative of the United Kingdom, in Syria the Al-Assad regime has launched an offensive in the south-west de-escalation zone negotiated by Jordan, Russia and the United States. Yet again we are seeing the Syrian regime launch airstrikes and artillery, barrel-bomb and rocket attacks that are displacing tens of thousands of people.”

    2018-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8293 (2018) · source

  10. “We again offer our thanks to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, the Special Representative of the African Union and the Force Commander, and to the men and women of MINUSCA for their service.”

    2018-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8291 (2018) · source

  11. “The extension of State authority should continue to be closely linked with ongoing effective security sector reform and disarmament and demobilization programmes. MINUSCA is a model for robust and proactive peacekeeping, but the Mission is stretched thin and struggles to fully implement its mandate. The environment in which MINUSCA is operating is incredibly complex. We hope that the upcoming strategic review will offer an honest assessment of the challenges facing the Mission. We cannot improve MINUSCA without a thoughtful analysis of the political and security environment in the Central African Republic and of how MINUSCA can achieve its objectives there.”

    2018-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8291 (2018) · source

  12. “There is no way ahead in the Central African Republic without a viable peace process backed by the international community. We commend the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) for its local reconciliation efforts, and we highlight the need to harmonize those efforts with broader and similar peace initiatives by civil society organizations so as to ensure a coordinated multitrack approach to peacebuilding in the Central African Republic. We urge MINUSCA to work closely with the AU as those processes make progress. MINUSCA's support to the Central African Armed Forces is important, and we remain focused on advancing State authority in the Central African Republic.”

    2018-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8291 (2018) · source

  13. “President Touadera continues to strive for peace, justice and accountability and the prevention of further atrocities, and we are pleased the Special Criminal Court for the Central African Republic is operational and ready to hold perpetrators accountable. The African Union-led peace initiative offers a reasonable starting point for the parties to discuss and conclude a peace agreement. The United States supports this effort and is eager for the African Union (AU) to begin talks with and mediation among the parties to the conflict. We want to invigorate the process and believe the United Nations also needs to increase its engagement in it. A conference is needed to bring together the international community to develop a common strategy for supporting the peace process and the AU. We want to work to ensure that peace talks advance.”

    2018-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8291 (2018) · source

  14. “I thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Onanga-Anyanga, Special Representative Nebie and Commander Maio for their detailed briefings this morning. The United States expresses its deepest condolences for the Tanzanian peacekeeper who died on 3 June and the Burundian peacekeeper who died on 10 June. We also extend our hope for a speedy recovery to those injured in the latest attacks. The collective goal of the international community must be to achieve a political solution for durable peace and recovery in the Central African Republic. We need to work together to communicate positive progress where it is occurring and to counter narratives by spoilers who seek to de-stabilize the country for their own benefit. We remain committed to President Touadera and his Government.”

    2018-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8291 (2018) · source

  15. “Lastly, it is astonishing, though perhaps not surprising, that some delegations that addressed the Council today were able to refer to the situation in the Gaza Strip through a one-sided prism, without any understanding of the true causes of the situation. The absence of reference to Hamas is validation of the fact that the deliberations in this Chamber are often all too detached from the reality on the ground. I reiterate Israel's commitment to facilitating the necessary humanitarian aid to the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip. The current situation that Israel faces is the same challenge that every democracy confronts when dealing with terrorism - to uphold the standards of international law even while the terrorists it fights wilfully violate those norms.”

    2008-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5824Resumption1 (2008) · source

  16. “Khaled Mashal, the political leader of the latter, lives there while continuing to orchestrate the killing of Israelis. Israel urges all States to end their support for terrorists and terrorism, in accordance with international law. It is deeply regrettable that, during its statement this morning, one State member of the Security Council utilized the term "genocide" to refer to the situation in the Gaza Strip. It is highly insensitive to the survivors of genocide around the world and to the sensibilities of this Council for language to be used so cheaply. My delegation urges Member States to be more responsible with the language used in their statements.”

    2008-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5824Resumption1 (2008) · source

  17. “Thank you, Sir, for allowing my delegation the opportunity to address the Council once again. The Hamas terrorist organization that operates in the Gaza Strip and is responsible for the current situation facing the Palestinian people did not materialize out of thin air. Hamas - like other terrorist organizations, for that matter - is supported, financed and backed by States in the region, such as Syria, in violation of their obligations under international law and, in particular, Security Council resolution 1373 (2001). It is hence the height of hypocrisy, cynicism and indecency for the representative of Syria to address the Council and condemn Israel merely for defending itself against the very Hamas terrorists that it supports. Damascus is home and headquarters to numerous terrorist organizations, including Islamic Jihad and Hamas.”

    2008-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5824Resumption1 (2008) · source

  18. “Peace begins with the people and their choices. Adrianna Katz, an Israeli doctor living in Sderot, was recently asked what would make her life easier. Her answer is an important reminder for all of us of what needs to be done. She said, "We need all the help we can get. But the best thing that can happen would be a lasting peace". Let us remember those words, and let us hope that the right choices are made.”

    2008-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5824 (2008) · source

  19. “The international community must make it clear that Hamas's actions are unacceptable, and that continuing to choose Hamas will only lead to continued suffering for both Israelis and Palestinians. It is up to the international community to tell those States that initiated this debate, and those States that think that singling out Israel and condemning it will bring about change, that Israeli security cannot be sacrificed. Guaranteeing the welfare of all Israelis and Palestinians begins, first and foremost, with an end to terrorism and violence. It is the international community's choice to make clear that the path of rejection, of violence and of terrorism will not be tolerated by this Council. Those who seek to subvert the bilateral process and use violence to achieve their aims will not secure the support of the international community.”

    2008-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5824 (2008) · source

  20. “The Palestinians must understand that they will not profit from terrorism. Hamas does not represent the Palestinian national vision. Hamas is the antithesis of the idea of two States living side by side in peace and security. Hamas does not recognize Israel's right to exist. There is no hope in choosing terrorism and there is surely no hope in the Hamas leadership. Abu Mazen himself said on Friday that Hamas "destroyed and tries to destroy our dreams, future and national aspirations". There can be no moral equivalence made between the choices of Israel and the choices of Hamas. Israel is not only mindful of the humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip; it is a neighbour interested in the well- being of the population living next door, with whom it wants to work in order to advance the vision of two States.”

    2008-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5824 (2008) · source

  21. “In contrast, Israel chooses to allow electricity and fuel, as well as medicines, into Gaza and works closely with humanitarian organizations and relevant agencies on the ground to ensure that needs are met. Since June 2007, my Government has allowed more than 9,000 Palestinians to enter Israel to seek medical treatment. Contrast this fact with the more than 1,700 rockets and mortars Hamas has fired out of the Gaza Strip at Israel during the same period of time. While the rockets hit Sderot and other towns in southern Israel, we must not forget that Gilad Shalit is still held captive by the terrorists in the Gaza Strip. More than 20 months have passed since his abduction, and his whereabouts and condition remain unknown. Hamas controls the fate of Gaza. If terrorism ceases, life in Gaza will change.”

    2008-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5824 (2008) · source

  22. “Terrorists produce, transport and launch rockets and mortars from inside densely populated Palestinian residential areas. By firing on border crossings, the terrorists cynically force closures, which hamper efforts to deliver humanitarian aid and relief. Recently, we even saw humanitarian convoys being used by terrorists to smuggle explosives and weapon materials into Gaza - yet another cynical act to harm their own people. In this regard, Israel chooses to ensure the humanitarian welfare of the Palestinians in Gaza, even as Hamas chooses to abuse those efforts. Hamas chooses to divert fuel from domestic generators for its own terrorist purpose, including the production of Qassam rockets.”

    2008-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5824 (2008) · source

  23. “It will act in accordance with its inherent right under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter to protect and defend its people. That is the very obligation and right of all States. Hence, it is deeply disturbing that some falsely equate Palestinian terrorism with Israel's actions taken in self-defence. A clear distinction must be made between Palestinian terrorism and Israeli defence - not only in terms of practice and tactics, but also in terms of their morality and legality. Palestinian terrorists choose to directly target Israeli civilians and even use their own civilians as human shields. Hamas's brutality towards its own people can also be seen in the daily violence on the streets of Gaza, where attacks on civilians have become routine.”

    2008-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5824 (2008) · source

  24. “Why is the Council silent as they live in fear and panic each and every day? With Hamas in control of the Gaza Strip and with its rocket launchers pointed at Sderot, Israel faces an impossible situation. Israel must and will protect its civilian population from these rocket attacks. It is the duty of all States to ensure the right to life and safety of its people, especially from vicious acts of violence and terrorism that are carried out with the sole purpose of maiming, terrorizing and murdering the innocent. I ask each member of the Council: what would you do if London, Moscow, Paris or Tripoli were to be attacked and fired on? Would you sit back and do nothing? I am certain that no Member State on the Council - and certainly no country in the world - would be silent. Israel is no different.”

    2008-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5824 (2008) · source

  25. “Not a day goes by when the red alert warning system does not sound, which gives children on playgrounds and in schools, and parents at home and at work, less than 15 seconds to find the nearest shelter before the next rocket comes slamming into their lives. Liora Fima, a Sderot mother and head of a local elementary school, knows first-hand the traumatic impact of these rockets on the young people of Sderot, where up to 94 per cent of children suffer from post- traumatic stress disorder, including sleep and concentration problems and even bed-wetting. Listen to her words: "For the children in Sderot, red is not the colour of roses, but of blood and flames". Why is the Security Council not concerned with the safety and security of Israel's children, women and elderly who live in the southern city of Sderot?”

    2008-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5824 (2008) · source

  26. “The Palestinians in Gaza did not choose to engage Israel in dialogue and reconciliation to advance the two-State vision. Rather, they chose Hamas, which uses terrorism and violence to advance its vision to destroy Israel. Since the year 2000, more than 7,000 rockets and mortars have been fired at Israel by terrorists in the Gaza Strip. Last year alone, that number was more than 2,000. And, since Hamas's violent takeover of Gaza in June 2007, the frequency of rocket attacks has risen 150 percent, to more than 250 rockets and mortars a month. That means that, on average, one rocket is fired at Israel every three hours. Most of these rockets fall on the southern city of Sderot. Normal life in Sderot is a thing of the past.”

    2008-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5824 (2008) · source

  27. “The situation in the region today did not develop overnight. It is the consequence of many choices - repeatedly the wrong choices - made by the Palestinians, to adopt terrorism and violence over peace and negotiations with Israel. In contrast, Israel has shown that it understands the consequences of making the right choices. More than two years ago, Israel made the choice to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, uproot families and remove all its forces, in order to create a new horizon for peace in the region. We chose to disengage, despite all the difficulties, and despite the fact that the Road Map did not require it at that stage. Ever since then, Hamas has ruled the Gaza Strip, first politically and now physically, using the area as its personal base for launching rocket attacks against Israel.”

    2008-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5824 (2008) · source