YouSaid · the spoken record

De Rivière

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1,783

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2006-04-28

most recent

2023-12-30

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372

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un-security-council

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1. “In the Central African Republic, we encourage the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to support the establishment of the Truth, Justice, Reparation and Reconciliation Commission provided for in the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic, signed one year ago. That body complements the establishment of an impartial and independent judicial system capable of responding to the call for justice demanded by the people of the Central African Republic. In that regard, we are encouraged by the investigations launched by the Special Criminal Court, which France supports in helping train its judges. Secondly, every segment of society must be involved.”

   2020-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8723 (2020) · source

2. “Beginning with the peace negotiations stage, the United Nations must devote the necessary resources to meet them within the framework of the resources allocated to peacebuilding and development. We commend the work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, which enjoys the expertise to assist in developing transitional justice policies. That requires the implementation of judicial as well as non-judicial solutions adapted to the specific situation of every national context, without resorting to a one-size-fits-all approach.”

   2020-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8723 (2020) · source

3. “Mr. De Rivière (France) (spoke in French): I thank the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for her briefing, and I once again express to her our full confidence. I also thank Mr. De Roux and Ms. Sooka for their briefings. I will focus on five points. First, the Colombian and South African experiences perfectly illustrate that no society can recover in a lasting manner from a crisis if a deadlock involving massive violations of human rights and international humanitarian law exists. In every case, achieving lasting peace is predicated upon establishing the truth with regard to the abuses committed, affording victims their status as victims and establishing individual and collective responsibility. It is imperative that the United Nations help States in transition to meet those challenges.”

   2020-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8723 (2020) · source

4. “The Working Group in particular should be able to adopt its conclusions on Yemen, the Central African Republic and Afghanistan, which were negotiated several months ago. We also renew our call for the universal ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, as well as the endorsement of the Paris Principles and Paris Commitments. France’s commitment to protecting children in armed conflict situations is well known. It is a priority that we defend at the United Nations but also on the ground, together with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, UNICEF and a highly committed civil society, represented by Ms. Becker. I commend their indispensable work and wish to assure them of our continued support and efforts in this area.”

   2020-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8721 (2020) · source

5. “First, Special Representatives of the Secretary- General should be systematically made aware of the principles of the guidance before taking office. Secondly, they could present their actions and priorities in this area to the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict in order to ensure that child protection is taken into account throughout their mandates. Thirdly, and finally, the issue of children in armed conflict could be a fully-fledged axis of cooperation between the Security Council and the African Union in the coming years. In that regard, we cannot allow the measures put in place by the Security Council to be paralysed in any way. The Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism on grave violations against children in armed conflict is more crucial than ever, and I call upon all those concerned to give it full effect.”

   2020-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8721 (2020) · source

6. “The guidance also illustrates what France believes successful mediation should look like, namely, combining short-term diplomacy to pacify tense situations with long-term stabilization, which is essential for sustainable peace. Child protection makes it possible to provide for a long-term approach. We must take care to ensure that the guidance does not become a dead letter. All actors must take ownership of and unequivocally support its content — it is not just child protection specialists that are concerned here. This is a major challenge the guidance must tackle: its principles are well known, but not yet sufficiently disseminated or systematized. The issue of children in conflict needs to be mainstreamed, as we say in good French. In that connection, I would like to make the following three proposals.”

   2020-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8721 (2020) · source

7. “Despite the significant progress that has been made in that area, the current situations in Syria, Yemen, Myanmar, the Sahel, Afghanistan and elsewhere are a daily reminder that much remains to be done. Today we welcome the official launch of the practical guidance for mediators to protect children in situations of armed conflict, which we have just endorsed. We thank the Secretary-General, his Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict and all those who contributed to the development of the practical guidance. It serves as a genuine toolbox that is flexible and adaptable. Negotiators and mediators will now have a compass to guide them in integrating child protection into their work.”

   2020-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8721 (2020) · source

8. “Mr. De Rivière (France) (spoke in French): At the outset, I thank the King of the Belgians for his participation in the Security Council today, as well as the Belgian presidency for taking the initiative to convene this meeting, which further demonstrates its commitment to the protection of children in armed conflict. I commend in particular Belgium’s work as Chair of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, as we commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of its founding resolution (resolution 1612 (2005)). Since 1999, the Security Council has called on all parties to conflicts to include the issue of child protection in their peace negotiations. In 2007, the Paris Commitments and Paris Principles called for the inclusion of child-specific provisions in peace and ceasefire agreements.”

   2020-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8721 (2020) · source

9. “That requires all parties to refrain from violence and incitement to violence, and an end to settlement activity and any unilateral measure contrary to international law, which would only increase tensions. In that regard, we caution against any decision to annex part of the West Bank. I wish to conclude this statement by reiterating France’s readiness to work, alongside all its partners and without further delay, to relaunch the peace process with the objective of arriving at a just and lasting peace and the stabilization of the Middle East. The role of the Council and the United Nations is to encourage and support the resumption of negotiations on the basis of international law. The Secretary-General and his Special Coordinator have our full support in that regard.”

   2020-02-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8717 (2020) · source

10. “The European Union, which is a member of the Quartet and has been committed to resolving the conflict from the outset, stands ready to support the resumption of negotiations, as recalled by its High Representative Josep Borrell Fontelles. It is essential that both parties return to the negotiating table in good faith. Neither side should be marginalized. A solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict requires negotiation, not unilateral decisions. President Abbas’ proposal to establish a multilateral mechanism to resume peace negotiations on the basis of previous resolutions and agreed parameters deserves close consideration in that context. We stand ready to engage in a discussion on those modalities. France calls on the parties to establish conditions conducive to the resumption of discussions.”

    2020-02-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8717 (2020) · source

11. “The plan announced by the United States is the fruit of efforts that have been under way for several months, which we have recognized as such. I have recalled the framework within which France, the European Union and our Arab partners believe that the peace process must be relaunched. The active involvement of the main countries of the region, as well as the Europeans, is necessary to contribute to the resumption of the political process. The Arab Peace Initiative was a milestone in the process and remains fully relevant, as recalled by the Council of Minister for Foreign Affairs of the League of Arab States in Cairo on 1 February and also just now by the Tunisian representative.”

    2020-02-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8717 (2020) · source

12. “On the contrary, it reflects the deep conviction of France and its European partners that this solution alone is realistically able to put an end to the occupation and thereby deliver a just and lasting peace. Absent such a solution, the political vacuum and the continuing deterioration of the situation on the ground will fuel the despair of new generations and threaten to radicalize the young. France remains resolutely committed to Israel’s security. We strongly condemn all those who threaten it. President Macron reaffirmed that once again during his visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories last month. In that context, there is an urgent need to revive negotiations on the basis of agreed parameters to regenerate a political horizon.”

    2020-02-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8717 (2020) · source

13. “It also requires a just, equitable and agreed solution to the Palestinian refugee problem. We will continue to advocate a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in accordance with international law and within the framework of Council resolutions. International law and the decisions of the Council are not options that Member States can choose whether or not to respect. They are binding on all of us, in full, as required by the Charter of the United Nations. Respect for international law is a prerequisite for international peace and security and constitutes a guarantee of the effectiveness of our collective action. That is not merely a position of principle.”

    2020-02-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8717 (2020) · source

14. “Those parameters are well known and have been endorsed on several occasions by the Council, most recently in resolution 2334 (2016). They are geared towards the objective of ensuring the existence of two States, within secure and internationally recognized borders, on the basis of the lines of 4 June 1967, with agreed swaps of comparable territory and with Jerusalem as the capital of the two States. There is no ambiguity vis-à-vis what the two- State solution entails. The aim is to establish an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian State that enjoys territorial contiguity and lives in peace and security alongside Israel. That necessitates security arrangements that guarantee Israel’s security and safeguards the sovereignty of the Palestinian State.”

    2020-02-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8717 (2020) · source

15. “Mr. De Rivière (France) (spoke in French): I thank the Secretary-General and his Special Coordinator for their briefings. I also welcome the presence of President Abbas among us today. We are all here today in the presence of the Secretary-General because we share the conviction that it is necessary to resume the negotiations process between the parties with the view to achieving a just and lasting peace that meets the legitimate aspirations of Palestinians and Israelis alike. For France, a just and lasting peace hinges on respect for international law, compliance with all relevant Security Council resolutions. It must seek the establishment, alongside Israel, of an independent, viable and sovereign Palestinian State, within the framework of internationally agreed parameters.”

    2020-02-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8717 (2020) · source

16. “The Special Envoy has our full support in that regard. Finally, France, together with its European partners, stands ready to finance reconstruction and lift sanctions as soon as a political settlement is firmly and irreversibly in place — not before. The key to breaking the current deadlock is therefore in the hands of the regime and its allies. In the face of the tragedy unfolding before our eyes in Idlib, it is essential today to work together to avert the humanitarian, political and security disaster under way.”

    2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source

17. “The offensive in the north-west and the regime’s obstruction of the work of the Constitutional Committee are in fact two sides of the same coin. The strategy of the regime and its allies is to pursue a military solution to the conflict. As we all know, only an inclusive political solution can bring about lasting stability in Syria and enable the refugees to return to their country. It is more urgent than ever to truly get the political process back on track for the full implementation of resolution 2254 (2015). For that, the cessation of hostilities in Idlib remains an essential precondition. Working in parallel on the conclusion of a ceasefire, the launching of the work of the Constitutional Committee and on the other provisions of resolution 2254 (2004) is the only possible solution.”

    2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source

18. “It is unacceptable that health infrastructure, including health facilities that have been deconflicted, and schools continue to be the target of attacks, in defiance of international humanitarian law. Attacks on hospitals and health workers are war crimes, which must not go unpunished. In that regard, we reiterate our full support for the investigation launched by the Secretary-General. Every effort must also be made to ensure full humanitarian access to all those in need of aid through cross-border assistance. In the face of the worsening humanitarian crisis, France has allocated nearly €19 million in response to the needs in north-western Syria in 2019. The tragedy we are witnessing makes a political settlement more necessary than ever before.”

    2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source

19. “The fight against terrorism cannot justify the sacrifice of civilians and repeated violations of international humanitarian law. That will only bolster the terrorist threat and promote the radicalization of combatants, with a real risk of the spread of terrorists as a result of population movements. Finally, it runs counter to the efforts of the international community over the past five years to extinguish the hotbed of international terrorism that Syria has become. All parties must respect international humanitarian law. The protection of civilians, including humanitarian and medical personnel and civilian infrastructure, must remain an absolute priority.”

    2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source

20. “Its meaning is simple — never again. Three million people — nearly 80 per cent of them women and children — and nearly 600,000 people newly displaced since December are exposed to daily attacks by the regime and its allies. Through those strikes, the regime and its allies are turning thousands of civilians onto the streets. That will do nothing to enable the voluntary return of refugees. In the face of that tragedy, de-escalation must be a priority for us all. The High Representative of the European Union expressed that view today in Brussels. France will support the Special Envoy’s efforts in that connection. We call on the signatories to the September 2018 Sochi agreement, first and foremost Russia, to ensure a genuine cessation of hostilities in the north- west.”

    2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source

21. “Mr. De Rivière (France) (spoke in French): I would like to thank Mr. Pedersen and Mr. Lowcock for their briefings. In recent months, we have entered a new phase in the ruthless strategy of the Syrian regime. After the horror of the destruction of Aleppo at the end of 2016 and the battle in Ghouta in 2018, we are now witnessing a similar scenario in Idlib, but this time on an unprecedented scale, as nearly 3 million Syrians are involved. It is therefore urgent to silence the weapons in Idlib. France condemns in the strongest possible terms the intense bombardments by the regime’s air force and its allies, which continue to indiscriminately target the civilian population and infrastructure in the north-west. When entering the Security Council Chamber, one passes a tapestry reproduction of Picasso’s Guernica.”

    2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source

22. “Forty-five years after the conclusion of the Helsinki Final Act and 30 years after the signing of the Charter of Paris for a New Europe, the OSCE remains the model of an effective grassroots form of multilateralism that emerged on the basis of common values at a time where political antagonisms were particularly striking. The implementation and strengthening of the OSCE’s achievements are among the priorities we share with the Albanian chairmanship, including close cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations like the OSCE. Such cooperation, under Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, will enable us to invent a renewed and revitalized multilateralism that is capable of responding to the major challenges of our time.”

    2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8714 (2020) · source

23. “France welcomes Albania’s decision to make gender equality and the women and peace and security agenda a key part of its chairmanship. We also wish to reiterate our commitment to the multidimensional approach to security that prevails within the OSCE and to the human dimension commitments. With regard to the human dimension, allow me to acknowledge the work done by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and by Mr. Harlem Désir as OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media. We must also commend Albania for making space on its agenda for the question of environmental issues and their impact on security.”

    2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8714 (2020) · source

24. “On Nagorno Karabakh, France is continuing its mediation efforts as co-Chair of the Minsk Group, alongside the United States and Russia. The recent meeting of the two Foreign Ministers is encouraging and attests to the desire for dialogue between the two parties. Turning to Abkhazia and South Ossetia, France reiterates the need for the international discussions in Geneva to produce tangible results, as well as its commitment to the territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders. In the case of all of those conflicts, it must be underscored that the political will of the parties is critical in order to reach a long-term settlement and strengthen security on the European continent. Thirdly, and finally, our common objective must be to strengthen the efficiency of the OSCE.”

    2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8714 (2020) · source

25. “We cannot mention the Russia-Ukraine crisis without returning to Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea. That violation of Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders must continue to be vehemently condemned. In that connection, we deplore the increasing militarization of the peninsula, as well as the human rights violations against persons belonging to minorities, in particular Crimean Tatars. Secondly, with regard to our line of action, France welcomes the OSCE’s contribution to the resolution of the protracted conflicts that continue to threaten peace and stability in Europe and weigh heavily on the daily lives of civilian populations. The recent visit by the OSCE Special Representative for the Transniestrian Settlement Process to Moldova should be welcomed. France hopes that it will help to give new impetus to the negotiations.”

    2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8714 (2020) · source

26. “The mandate of the Special Monitoring Mission must be fully implemented throughout the entire territory of Ukraine, including near the Russian-Ukrainian border. The OSCE also plays an essential role in facilitating dialogue between the parties within the framework of the Trilateral Contact Group. That process is advancing in conjunction with political discussions in the Normandy Format, which are now benefiting from an increased momentum since the 9 December summit in Paris — the first held at the Heads of State level since 2016, which France and Germany worked actively to convene. We now await new operational progress within the framework of the Trilateral Contact Group so that the next Normandy Format summit can be organized in spring.”

    2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8714 (2020) · source

27. “Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania, made his first official visit to Ukraine as Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine continues to observe, on a daily basis, developments in the security situation in all regions of Ukraine and throughout the conflict zone. It also supports the parties in the implementation of the Minsk agreements. In that regard, we welcome the efforts made by the Special Monitoring Mission to observe disengagement in the three pilot areas of Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote. We commend the bravery demonstrated by the men and women engaged in the field and resolutely condemn any actions aimed at jeopardizing their security or hindering their mission.”

    2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8714 (2020) · source

28. “Mr. De Rivière (France) (spoke in French): I warmly thank Mr. Rama for his briefing. Albania can count on the full support of France in implementing the ambitious work programme that it has set out for its chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). There are three matters that merit our particular attention. Almost six years after the hostilities began, finding a solution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine must remain a top priority. The conflict constitutes one of the gravest and bloodiest violations of the Helsinki principles, upon which the OSCE was founded. I commend the decisive role that the OSCE has played ever since the crisis broke out and, in that regard, I welcome the fact that Mr.”

    2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8714 (2020) · source

29. “France calls on the entire international community to take action so that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East can pursue its vital work. In this regard, we are concerned about the increasing number of obstacles the Agency is facing as it carries out its mission in East Jerusalem. I should like to conclude by pointing out that President Macron will have the opportunity to discuss these issues with both sides during his visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories on 22 and 23 January.”

    2020-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8706 (2020) · source

30. “They also represent a legitimate expectation of the Palestinian people, 14 years after the last elections were held, as well as a necessary step along the path towards negotiations and peace. In this context, we encourage the Palestinian leadership to pursue its efforts with a view towards the holding of plural and inclusive elections. It is important that the Palestinian authorities promptly issue a presidential decree setting the date for the elections and that, for their part, the Israeli authorities allow the proper conduct of elections in East Jerusalem. Together with its European Union partners, France stands ready to fully play its part in supporting the Palestinian authorities in the holding of the elections. That is the purpose of the work that we have begun.”

    2020-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8706 (2020) · source

31. “We have also condemned the calls by Israeli officials for the annexation of all or part of the West Bank. Any annexation of territory constitutes a serious violation of international law, as the Secretary-General recalled in September, and cannot go unanswered. In that context, we call on the Israeli authorities to renounce any plan that is liable to create faits accomplis on the ground that would undermine the two-State solution. Lastly, I would like to relay France’s call for the holding of Palestinian elections in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem in the near future. Such elections are an indispensable step towards inter-Palestinian reconciliation, which is necessary for the democratic strengthening of Palestinian institutions.”

    2020-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8706 (2020) · source

32. “In that regard, it is futile to think that it is possible to meet the aspirations of one people at the expense of another, and that political expectations can be met by exclusively economic incentives. Any policy that has the effect of jeopardizing the two-State solution must be denounced. That is why I wish to reaffirm France’s grave concern over the accelerated settlement activities on the ground and the slide towards an annexation mindset. On several occasions, I have had an opportunity to reiterate France’s position on settlements, which contravene international law. That position remains unchanged, pursuant to Council resolutions, in particular resolution 2334 (2016), which cannot be subjected to à la carte interpretation. The European Union also shares that position.”

    2020-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8706 (2020) · source

33. “On that basis, agreed upon by the international community, negotiations between the two parties must resume without further delay in order to ensure the implementation of such a solution. It would be unrealistic and dangerous — above all for Israel — to believe that a solution that breaches those agreed parameters would be capable of delivering lasting stability to the region. That is why France continues, and will continue, to defend the two-State solution, and therefore the establishment of a sovereign, viable and democratic Palestinian State, not only because it is a just position that complies with international law and the decisions of the Security Council, but also because it is realistic.”

    2020-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8706 (2020) · source

34. “Mr. De Rivière (France) (spoke in French): I thank Ms. DiCarlo and Ms. Muller for their briefings. France calls for the urgent resumption of a credible peace process, at a time when the deterioration of the situation on the ground is a major source of instability. That is especially the case in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is disastrous, as recalled by Ms. Muller, and in Jerusalem, where demolitions, expropriations and attacks on the status quo of holy sites are on the rise. The parameters for a settlement to the conflict are well known: borders based on the 4 June 1967 lines, with agreed land swaps negotiated by the parties; a fair, equitable and agreed-upon solution to the refugee problem; Jerusalem as the capital of the two States; and security arrangements that allow the two States to live side by side in peace and security.”

    2020-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8706 (2020) · source

35. “Secondly, comprehensive humanitarian access must be guaranteed. All parties to the conflict must allow humanitarian access. The restrictions imposed by the Houthis prevent millions of people from benefiting from humanitarian aid and must stop immediately. Respect for international humanitarian law is not negotiable and applies to everyone. It is becoming more urgent by the day for the United Nations to obtain access to the FSO Safer oil tanker, which poses a serious threat to the environment. France will remain fully committed to achieving peace in Yemen. The French authorities will continue to act in support of de-escalation in the region and a lasting solution to the conflict.”

    2020-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8704 (2020) · source

36. “A new Government, including representatives from the south, must now be formed as soon as possible. The Al-Hudaydah Agreement must be fully implemented. We welcome the Council’s unanimous renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement. United Nations mediation efforts must remain at the heart of the political process and guide the various initiatives to achieve an inclusive political solution as soon as possible. Given the humanitarian disaster, we must focus on two priorities. First, we must focus on the protection of civilians, including the protection of humanitarian and medical personnel and civilian infrastructure. We condemn the attacks on the Al-Raqw market. The increase in the number of attacks against humanitarian personnel is extremely worrisome.”

    2020-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8704 (2020) · source

37. “Mr. De Rivière (France) (spoke in French): I thank the Special Envoy, for whom I reiterate our full support, and the representative of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for their briefings. The urgency of finding a political solution to the crisis remains and that necessity becomes more pressing each day. Efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region must remain everyone’s priority and continue to be pursued. Yemen must not be a source of regional tensions. In that regard, attacks on the territory of Saudi Arabia are at odds with those efforts. The Houthis must respect their commitment to refraining from carrying out such attacks. In the south, the Riyadh agreement must be fully implemented as soon as possible. We again welcome the efforts of Saudi Arabia in that regard.”

    2020-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8704 (2020) · source

38. “The Mission has sustained tremendous losses, and I would pay tribute here to the commitment made by the troop-contributing countries and their personnel. Given the circumstances, it is important that there be better communication vis-à-vis the respective actions of the various international stakeholders in Mali. It is also important to listen to criticism and to reflect on ways to make improvements. France therefore welcomes the adaptation plan of the MINUSMA force aimed at making it more mobile and agile so that it can better deliver on its mandate and protect civilians. It is an ambitious but timely plan, and France encourages all members of the Council to support it.”

    2020-01-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8703 (2020) · source

39. “The Algiers agreement must remain our lodestar, as it provides the sole framework for lasting reconciliation among the Malian, which is a prerequisite for achieving the stabilization of the country. As has been stated on several occasions by the Security Council, those who hinder its implementation risk the imposition of sanctions. I wish to conclude by touching on the criticism levelled against international partners and MINUSMA in particular. MINUSMA remains the linchpin of the international mechanism in Mali and carries out functions that no other actor can, from the protection of civilians, support for the implementation of the peace agreement to the provision of logistical support to the G-5 Sahel Joint Force.”

    2020-01-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8703 (2020) · source

40. “France commends the holding of the meeting of the Agreement Monitoring Committee set for 19 January, as the Committee’s work has been on hold since August. It is important to take advantage of this opportunity to achieve greater progress on other proposed measures, complete the transfer of 30 per cent of State resources to local authorities, carry out a pilot project for development in the north and ensure the participation of women in the process. The role of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) will remain vital in all these areas, and it is critical that it be provided with the resources necessary to discharge its duties.”

    2020-01-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8703 (2020) · source

41. “Heads of State will meet in Nouakchott in June to closely monitor the implementation of the coalition and the fulfilment of mutual commitments. My second point pertains to the peace process and the political situation in Mali. The inclusive national dialogue was a milestone. The constructive nature of the exchanges between signatory movements and other signatories to the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali bodes well moving forward, and we welcome the fact that a number of women participated in that undertaking. Progress has been made in the implementation of the peace agreement. The redeployment to the north of the initial units of the reconstituted Malian army is presently under way; an initial step is to be deployment to the city of Kidal, from where the army and the Malian Administration have for too long been absent.”

    2020-01-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8703 (2020) · source

42. “It will be organized around four pillars: the fight against terrorism; strengthening the capacity of the defence and security forces of the countries of the Sahel; support for the return of State authority; and economic and social development. Several initiatives that we conduct with our European Union partners, in particular Germany, are already part of that framework, such as the Alliance for the Sahel and the Partnership for Stability and Security in the Sahel. The aim is therefore to increase the support we provide to the countries of the G-5 Sahel and to encourage them to implement reforms in the area of security and also in the areas of governance and human rights. Once we have established those conditions, we will succeed in eradicating terrorism. The coalition will be based on effectiveness and results.”

    2020-01-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8703 (2020) · source

43. “Given the situation, France believes that there is an urgent and important need to respond. France organized a summit with the countries of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel), which was held on Monday in Pau, in which the Secretary-General and representatives of the European Union, the African Union and the International Organization of la Francophonie participated. At the end of the summit, we decided together to establish a coalition for the Sahel. The coalition’s military objective will be to continue to weaken terrorist movements over time. Its political objective will be to ensure the return of State authority to all regions of the Sahel, including Kidal and northern Burkina Faso. France invites all interested countries and organizations to join the initiative.”

    2020-01-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8703 (2020) · source

44. “Mr. De Rivière (France) (spoke in French): First of all, I would like to thank the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations for his briefing. Six months following the adoption of resolution 2480 (2019), our meeting today is an opportunity to assess the progress that has been made. I would like to make three points. My first point is related to the security situation in the Sahel, which has changed. We are now faced with geographical spread and an evolving threat. Terrorist groups continue to adapt to challenges. As they are unable to control territory, they seek to prevent the return of State authority. Although civilians are the primary victims, soldiers in the Sahel have also suffered heavy losses. I pay tribute to the memory of all victims, including soldiers.”

    2020-01-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8703 (2020) · source

45. “We welcome the Secretary-General’s commitment to peacekeeping reform, through his Action for Peacekeeping initiative, to ensure that this tool is capable of addressing contemporary challenges. We must strengthen coordination between the United Nations and regional organizations and provide support for African peace operations. Modernizing our Organization is critical to making it more efficient. France supports the reforms initiated by the Secretary-General. There is an urgent need to reform the Security Council to reflect the reality of the contemporary world. To conclude, I recall that building peace requires courage. Let us form the wish that this courage and this responsibility will mobilize us for the year to come. It is in our common interest.”

    2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source

46. “The fight against impunity is essential to ensuring that these violations do not recur and that justice is done to the victims. In this regard, we call for the universal ratification of the Rome Statute. Finally, our Council must pursue its efforts to take full advantage of the tools that the Charter makes available to us. First among those are the tools for the peaceful settlement of disputes. We welcome the establishment by the Secretary-General of the High- Level Advisory Board on Mediation. When other means for the peaceful settlement of disputes do not allow that, recourse to judicial methods of settlement may help States to reach a solution. When circumstances require, the Council must make use of the full range of tools at its disposal, in particular peacekeeping operations and sanctions.”

    2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source

47. “Our action in favour of international peace and security must be carried out within the framework of the rules and principles laid down in the Charter. The universality of human rights on which our organization is based cannot be called into question in the name of national, cultural or religious specificities. The Security Council cannot remain silent in the face of massive violations of international humanitarian law and human rights. That is why France and Mexico called in 2013 for a suspension of the veto in the case of mass atrocities in the form of a political, voluntary and collective commitment on the part of the five permanent members. To date, 105 Member States have joined this initiative. We call on all States to join it.”

    2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source

48. “We must also take into account the impacts of climate change on international peace and security. We hope that the Secretary- General will regularly report on these risks and suggest measures to prevent these future sources of conflict. The United Nations needs the support of all — regional organizations, civil society and business — to face these challenges. That is why, alongside Mexico and UN-Women, France will launch coalitions of actors resolutely committed to the emancipation of women during the Generation Equality Forum, which will be held in Mexico City and Paris in 2020, 25 years after the Beijing World Conference on Women. The Security Council must contribute to it within the framework of the women and peace and security agenda.”

    2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source

49. “Within the framework of this strong multilateralism, we believe in the imperative need to privilege the channel of political negotiation to put an end to conflicts where military and violent logic prevails, as is the case in Libya, Syria, Yemen, the Sahel, the Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic. The Secretary-General and his special representatives play an eminent role in this regard and we must support and accompany their efforts. To be strong, this multilateralism must address the challenges of our time, whether it be the fight against inequalities, climate change or discrimination against women. In 2020, it is essential that all States fortify the commitments they have made under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.”

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50. “As President Macron mentioned in his speech before the General Assembly on 24 September 2019 (see A/74/PV.3), it is up to us, in a world that has become multipolar, to reinvent robust multilateralism that sees the spirit of the United Nations Charter and diplomacy prevail over national isolationism, States respect their obligations unconditionally and the Security Council act to restore peace and security. That is more necessary now than ever in the Middle East, given the current tensions and the risk of conflict. At a time when civilian populations there have already suffered too much from the scourge of war and terrorism, it is time at last to move towards de-escalation.”

    2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source