YouSaid · the spoken record

Delattre

lines on the record: 3,505
first: 2014-09-08
most recent: 2019-06-28
sittings or episodes: 443
sources: un-security-council

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“Twenty five years after the Oslo Accords, and in a context of increasing regional crises, the Israeli- Palestinian conflict has not lost any of its gravity, centrality and symbolic significance. The international community cannot turn away from it. It is in that spirit that the President of the French Republic, Mr. Emmanuel Macron, will meet tomorrow in Paris with the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mr. Mahmoud Abbas. In that same spirit, there will be an exchange with the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, next week on the sidelines of the General Assembly. France's conviction is that our shared compass, more than ever, needs to be implementation, through negotiation, of a two-State solution - the only way to achieve just and lasting peace between Israel and Palestine. France will spare no effort in that regard.”
2018-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8358 (2018) · source
“The stakes are high for the populations concerned, of course, but no less so for regional stability. In that context, we call on the United States to maintain its historic commitment to refugees and the Palestinian territories, with the necessary engagement of the international community. France is a friend to both the Israelis and the Palestinians. It has no other interest than peace in the region and the possibility for the populations concerned to live in safety and dignity. As we all know, the destinies of Israelis and Palestinians are intertwined: neither of the two peoples will achieve their national aspirations in a sustainable way at the expense of the other.”
2018-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8358 (2018) · source
“We will have an opportunity to discuss that in more detail next week at the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of International Assistance to Palestinians meeting in New York. Those projects must be accompanied by quick-impact humanitarian measures, necessary to meet the immediate needs of the population and prevent further escalation. In the same spirit, unprecedented international mobilization is needed to enable the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to continue its essential activities and keep its schools open, without interruption, in Gaza and throughout the region. We will have an opportunity to call for such collective mobilization during the week of high-level meetings during the General Assembly.”
2018-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8358 (2018) · source
“Beyond an immediate de-escalation and respect for the 2014 ceasefire, there will be no lasting solution in Gaza without inter-Palestinian reconciliation within the framework of the Palestinian Liberation Organization principles and without restoring the prerogatives of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza. In that regard, we welcome the relaunching of the process begun in Cairo almost a year ago, which must be followed by a genuine commitment by the Palestinian Authority to improve the living conditions of the people in Gaza. Above all, only lifting the blockade, with the necessary security guarantees for Israel, will make it possible to meet the needs of the population. In parallel with those efforts, we must give our full support to the Special Coordinator's proposals for the accelerated implementation of priority projects.”
2018-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8358 (2018) · source
“Each time, the worst was avoided, thanks in particular to the efforts of Egypt, which we especially welcome, and to the mediation work of Nickolay Maldenov, for which I am also grateful. But we know that, if the current situation persists, a large-scale escalation cannot be avoided indefinitely. It is then the people of Gaza who will once again pay the price. We must do everything we can to avoid it. It is up to the Council to speak with a strong voice to prevent an escalation. The silence it has observed since the beginning of the crisis is, every day, more deafening and, to be honest, incomprehensible.”
2018-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8358 (2018) · source
“In the face of the terrible record of successive demonstrations along the separation barrier, France condemned the disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force and called on Israel to respect the right of Palestinians to demonstrate peacefully. We have also denounced the instrumentalization of demonstrations by Hamas and other armed groups. Finally, we condemned the firing of rockets and the use of incendiary devices directed at Israeli territory, as well as the construction of offensive tunnels by Hamas. On several occasions in recent months, the Gaza Strip has found itself on the brink of a new armed conflict, as it experienced three times in the past decade.”
2018-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8358 (2018) · source
“By destroying the continuity of the Palestinian territories, it would make it impossible for the two States to reach a solution, with a strategy of de facto annexation of the West Bank by Israel in its place. That would represent a significant responsibility, historically and for both peoples. Secondly, the erosion of the two-State solution as a consequence of settlement activity in East Jerusalem and the West Bank must not make us forget the imminent risks facing Gaza. For the past six months, there has been a succession ofviolence in Gaza, against the backdrop of a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented severity.”
2018-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8358 (2018) · source
“The demolition of that Bedouin village, which would include the forced displacement of its inhabitants, would contravene international humanitarian law, in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention, as well as the resolutions of the Council. Several structures that have received European funding, including one school, are being directly targeted. Two hundred and thirty inhabitants, including nearly 160 children, are being threatened with deportation. In addition to its humanitarian consequences, the demolition would be disastrous, and probably irreversible, to the political landscape. It would pave the way for the settlement of the so-called E-l area, which is of strategic importance for the two-State solution. It would separate the north and south of the West Bank and isolate East Jerusalem from the rest of the Palestinian territories.”
2018-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8358 (2018) · source
“Today I would like to emphasize two points: the Israeli settlement policy in Area C and Jerusalem, which now threatens to irreversibly undermine the two-State solution - and I would refer to the risk of the imminent demolition of the village of Khan Al-Ahmar - and the situation in Gaza, which may at any time lead to an escalation in violence. According to the judgement of the Supreme Court of Israel on 5 September, the decision to demolish the village of Khan Al-Ahmar is now entirely up to the Israeli Government. That decision, which has been in force since 12 September, can be implemented at any time. France, in conjunction with several of its European partners, has expressed its deep concern over that and calls on the Israeli authorities not to proceed with the demolition.”
2018-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8358 (2018) · source
“While it is essential to fill the current political vacuum, a peace plan not based on the internationally agreed parameters of two States would be doomed to failure. It is therefore essential that all negotiations take place within that framework, which in turn is based on international law and the relevant resolutions of the Council, including resolution 478 (1980), on Jerusalem, as well as resolution 2334 (2018), which brings us here today. With regard to the latter resolution, 10 members of the Council, including France, requested that, in accordance with the established practice, written reports be submitted to the Council. We thank the Secretariat for the circulation of a written report last June (S/2018/614), and we encourage the continuation of that practice.”
2018-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8358 (2018) · source
“A quarter century, nearly to the date, has elapsed since the Oslo Accords were signed in Washington, DC. Twenty-five years after Oslo, nearly three quarters of Palestinians, according to opinion polls, believe that their situation has deteriorated. Barely half ofthem still believe in a two-State solution. Nevertheless, the observation that we consistently make in the Council remains valid. No viable alternative to the two-State solution has emerged since Oslo. The unique territorial structure that seems to take form before our eyes under the effects of the settlement policies will ultimately lead to the coexistence of two unequal classes of citizens on one territory. For Palestinians it would mark the abandonment of their aspirations to statehood, and for the Israelis the end of their democratic project.”
2018-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8358 (2018) · source
“Mr. Delattre (France) (spoke in French): At the outset, I want to thank Mr. Nickolay Mladenov for his briefing to the Security Council on resolution 2334 (2016) and for his daily commitment, as well as that of his team. In Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem, every passing day increases, bit by bit, the despair by reflecting a three-pronged reality. First, the false status quo actually covers up the daily deterioration on the ground. Secondly, the situation could, at any moment, degenerate into an full-blown crisis, as has been the case in Gaza for many long months. Finally, when peace prospects diminish on the ground, they also diminish in hearts, minds and words. It is that vicious cycle that is at play today. Generation after generation of Palestinians and Israelis are losing hope in a peaceful settlement to the conflict.”
2018-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8358 (2018) · source
“In conclusion, I would like to stress our belief that the Security Council has a special responsibility to break the cycle of tragedy in Syria and to generate genuine political momentum. On behalf of France, I call on the Council to rally around that shared political goal by supporting the Geneva process, the Special Envoy and an inclusive political settlement.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8355 (2018) · source
“Our road map has been clearly laid out: a strong commitment to a cessation of hostilities in Idlib; the continuation of the political process, with collective support for the launch of the constitutional committee's work as the first step; and the unity of the Council around a constructive political agenda with a view to a peaceful and agreed upon resolution to the conflict. It is France's unambiguous position that the rebuilding of Syria can be envisioned only on that basis, once an irreversible, credible and inclusive political transition has begun. Let us be clear: without a guarantee that such a transition is under way, no Syrians will believe that their country has changed and the vast majority of them will refuse to return home, dooming any hope of lasting peace in Syria.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8355 (2018) · source
“We all are aware that the road ahead is long and difficult; that is the very reason for our call: not one minute do we have to waste. A political solution does not begin and end with the drafting of a new constitution; detailed discussions must now begin on its many other elements, such as modalities for the adoption of a new constitutional text; the holding of free and transparent elections in which all Syrians, including refugees and displaced persons, can vote; and, more broadly, the creation of a safe and neutral environment, underpinned by confidence-building measures, which is integral for granting the necessary credibility to the entire process.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8355 (2018) · source
“France firmly believes that the time has come to move forward with the setting up of the constitutional committee by Mr. De Mistura as soon as possible. That is the call I wish to issue today on behalf of France, echoing, and supporting, the message Mr. Mistura has just delivered to us. An imminent date is needed for that work to begin. I recall that participants in the Sochi congress agreed that the Special Envoy would be responsible for the committee's composition under the Geneva process. Those commitments must be upheld. The Special Envoy must be in a position to update us on his progress at the next Council meeting on this matter, and the constitutional committee should finally be able to meet as soon as possible. In our view, that is key to building real political momentum.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8355 (2018) · source
“Avoiding an escalation in Idlib is all the more necessary given that a credible negotiated political solution acceptable to all is within our grasp. That is my firm belief. This option was generated by United Nations mediation. The discussions held last week in Geneva should lead to the prompt establishment of the constitutional committee, the first component of a political process endorsed by the international community, including the Security Council, through resolution 2254 (2015). The small group, which met with the Special Envoy on Friday, expressed its full support for those efforts. However, the Asana guarantors have expressed reservations regarding the composition of the constitutional committee established by Special Envoy, despite the mandate entrusted to him by the Sochi final statement of 31 January.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8355 (2018) · source
“How is it possible to simultaneously hope for the return of refugees and prepare for an offensive that could displace hundreds of thousands of people? How is it possible to generate the necessary trust for a credible political process at a time when the population of Idlib continues to be threatened by a brutal military campaign? How can we call for the rebuilding of Syria at the same time as preparing to destroy Idlib and there exists no credible and irreversible political process? The reality is that there can be no military solution in Syria. An offensive in Idlib would further destroy hope for peace in Syria. I repeat it once again: we will tolerate no further use of chemical weapons in Syria, and we stand ready to respond.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8355 (2018) · source
“It is incumbent upon all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, in particular pursuant to the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution. We must also do everything possible to protect humanitarian and medical facilities and personnel and to ensure safe, full and unimpeded humanitarian access to populations in need. I should like to recall the unique and crucial nature of cross-border humanitarian assistance, which in August alone provided vital daily assistance to nearly 750,000 individuals in the north-west. We continue to support Turkey's efforts to find a negotiated solution in Idlib. We commend its commitment, like that of the United Nations, which is making a real difference. It is the very future of Syria that is at stake.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8355 (2018) · source
“While we note the agreement announced yesterday by Presidents Erdogan and Putin regarding the establishment of a demilitarized zone in the Idlib area, we call on Turkey and Russia to specify the parameters, such as the fate and movements of terrorist groups designated by the Security Council. In that context, when we want to believe that diplomacy is finally regaining ground, we must persevere in our joint efforts to persuade all parties to the conflict that there are alternatives to escalation and that the path of dialogue is the only way to deliver on a lasting solution to the situation in Idlib. The protection of civilians must be an absolute priority for all stakeholders.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8355 (2018) · source
“Indiscriminate attacks represent not only a humanitarian outrage but also acts of strategic folly, serving only to fuel the terrorism they purport to fight. Syria has therefore become the pre-eminent incubator of terrorism. An offensive in Idlib would have the same effect and, furthermore, contribute to dispersing the jihadist fighters there across the region, potentially to Europe and beyond. France has deployed tireless efforts in all forums, on all fronts, in seeking with its partners ways to avert disaster. A four-party meeting was held last Friday among the diplomatic Councillors of Turkey, Russia, Germany and France, with a view to finding common ground between the small group and the Astana group. In our view, that is an unavoidable path. Turkey has made significant efforts to contribute to concrete solutions.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8355 (2018) · source
“The decision largely depends upon the Security Council's ability to unite around peace - on option that is today, despite the immense the immense challenges, within our reach. Syria is once again on a precipice, with an offensive threatening the Idlib area for the past several weeks, where more than 3 million people are now located. Locations there have already been subjected to shelling, tens of thousands of civilians have fled the indiscriminate strikes and yet worse still could be to come. Several hospitals have been the targets of attack. We cannot reiterate it too much: attacks against health personnel and hospitals constitute war crimes and their perpetrators will have to answer for their actions. The fight against terrorism is in no circumstance an adequate argument to justify such a disaster.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8355 (2018) · source
“Mr. Delattre (France) (spoke in French): At the outset, I wish to join the other speakers in expressing my deepest condolences to the Russian Federation with respect to the event just mentioned. I thank Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura and Mark Lowcock for their exemplary commitment and their briefings, which not only make clear the gravity of the current situation but also illustrate the potential that exists today for a way out of this crisis. Syria is today at a crossroads: it can either spiral further into military escalation in Idlib, which would begin one of the darkest chapters of the Syrian tragedy, or it could instead take the path of genuine political engagement towards resolving the conflict. Both scenarios, the darkest and the most encouraging, are possible at this point.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8355 (2018) · source
“That must remain more than ever our common goal. France remains resolutely committed to its partners in that respect, both here and in the framework of the European Union. I call on the members of the Council to remain united in achieving this essential goal for international peace and security. It is my hope that the General Assembly will help us to move in that direction together at its next session.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8353 (2018) · source
“The independence and integrity of the panels of experts are the DNA of sanction regimes, and there can be no question of altering or manipulating them. I wish to stress here France's extreme vigilance against any attempt at manipulation. Turning to the third area of focus, we must be ready to toughen sanctions if necessary. They remain the best tool at our disposal to maintain the necessary pressure and send a signal of resolve to the regime. That is why we fully support United States efforts in that respect. In conclusion, denuclearization discussions must clearly continue, but certainly not at the cost of relaxing our efforts. It is up to the North Korean regime to demonstrate through concrete gestures that it is sincerely ready to commit to the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the peninsula.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8353 (2018) · source
“The Committee and the corresponding Panel of Experts are the most effective means of providing impartial information and of encouraging all States to comply strictly with their obligations. Their publicly available reports are also an essential tool for verifying the implementation of sanctions and for deterring anyone, including North Korea, from engaging in activities that would undermine the sanctions. In that regard, France regrets the obstructions to the Panel's latest report. It is essential that expert panel reports be published without interference. Let us be clear. The professionalism and the quality of the work of the experts are measured neither by our satisfaction with their content nor by the a posteriori consideration of our views.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8353 (2018) · source
“We believe that such implementation is more essential than ever to preserve our indispensable leverage over Pyongyang with respect to serious negotiations on the denuclearization of the peninsula. That is the strategy we have defined together, and each of us must stick to it rigorously. Sanctions are not an a la carte menu from which everyone can pick and choose according to their wishes and preferences. Turning to the second area of focus, we need rigorous monitoring of the actions taken by North Korea through the Committee and the experts who support it. In that respect, I wish to assure them and the Dutch chairmanship of the Committee of our full support.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8353 (2018) · source
“The report of the Panel of Experts (S/2018/l7l, annex), which we were able to consider in the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006), has confirmed that to us once again. The report also indicates that Pyongyang is pursuing its nuclear and ballistic programmes, in violation of Council resolutions. That observation tells us that there is still a considerable way to go and that we must remain collectively vigilant to the highest degree. That is why the call for unity and resolve that has guided us so far must continue to prevail now more than ever. That requirement should entail three areas of focus in particular. First, we need the strict, full and simultaneous implementation of the sanctions.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8353 (2018) · source
“But let us be clear - we are still awaiting the signs of concrete commitment on the part of the North Korean regime concerning the denuclearization of the peninsula. The International Atomic Energy Agency told us last month that North Korea was pursuing its nuclear programme. It is well known that Pyongyang continues to violate and circumvent sanctions on a larger scale and in an increasingly diversified and sophisticated way. It is also well known that Pyongyang is doing that by exploiting the shortcomings of the system and the gaps in the arrangements made by certain States, and in some cases their lack of will. It is not only a question of sanctions in the area of petrol; all sanctions are involved, from coal to the financial sector.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8353 (2018) · source
“Mr. Delattre (France) (spoke in French): I thank the United States presidency for convening this important meeting on the North Korean issue, which has occupied the Security Council for many years. I also thank the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo, for her very enlightening briefing. I also welcome the Permanent Representatives of the Republic of Korea and Japan. I would like to make three remarks today on the context, the approach that should guide us and the ultimate objective of denuclearizing the North Korean peninsula, on which we should all come together. Developments in recent months have contributed to an easing of tensions. The intensification of exchanges among all parties and the relaunch of the inter-Korean dialogue are important and encouraging steps.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8353 (2018) · source
“In that regard, I fully share the opinion expressed by my colleague and friend from Cote d'Ivoire on behalf of the three African countries on the Council. Regional organizations play an increasingly important role in the promotion of peace and security. That is the case with the European Union, but also and above all of the African Union and the continent's subregional organizations. Their operations add irreplaceable value and are in full complement of those conducted under the auspices of the United Nations. That is why strengthening the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union is a top priority of our work, and why we must effectuate United Nations support for African peace operations as soon as possible, which is one of France's strategic priorities.”
2018-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8349 (2018) · source
“I take this opportunity to reiterate the urgent need for those operations to have a clear, sequenced and prioritized mandate in the service of well-defined and transparent political objectives. That imperative must guide our daily work. To that end, France is working on all the mandates for which we are responsible in our capacity as penholder. It is also key to ensure that operations have the necessary resources. Indeed, without funding commensurate with mandates, the entire functioning of a mission is weakened, along with the safety and security of United Nations personnel. That essential point also falls under our collective responsibility. I cannot conclude without reiterating the importance ofproper coordination and cooperation ofpeacekeeping operations with the various local and regional actors on the ground.”
2018-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8349 (2018) · source
“It is not possible to overemphasize the crucial importance for the Blue Helmets and civilian peacekeepers to exhibit exemplary and responsible behaviour, especially at a time when the actions I have referred to can undermine the credibility of our work and the trust of the civilian population in the United Nations. Our goal is to create a real culture of performance backed by clear, accountability and incentive mechanisms. That is the best way for us to collectively respond to professional United Nations bashers, who will always find themselves repudiated by France. Performance cannot be judged out of context, however. Blue Helmets and civilian members of missions work within the specific framework of their mandate.”
2018-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8349 (2018) · source
“In the same vein, it is important that the quality of the work of the most efficient contingents be recognized and acknowledged. But the performance of peacekeeping operations is not limited to the military and police aspects of the operations concerned. The performance of civilian elements and the quality of mission organization must also be assessed. Some structural flaws can have very concrete consequences. To cite but one example, France is very concerned about the lack of real progress on the coherence and responsiveness of the health-care chain of command, the shortcomings of which could endanger the lives of the Blue Helmets on the ground. Finally, there must be zero tolerance towards peacekeepers and civilian personnel who are guilty of sexual assault.”
2018-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8349 (2018) · source
“There is still work to be done there, but we are confident that the Action for Peacekeeping initiative will make great strides in that regard. Thirdly, it is essential that a proper performance assessment be put in place and that cases of underperformance be addressed. A frank and open exchange must take place between the Secretariat and the troop- and police-contributing countries in the event of proven underperformance in order to better identify the various pitfalls that have led to those situations and to rectify them, even if, in the event of failure and especially in the case of abuses, we will need to consider repatriating the troops concerned. That is crucial to the effectiveness of missions, the security of other contingents and the successful implementation of mandates, particularly with respect to the protection of civilians.”
2018-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8349 (2018) · source
“The Blue Helmets deployed in the field must benefit from that training so as to deliver their best performance, particularly in the event of a change in mandate. To that end, triangular cooperation offers many advantages and benefits both for troop-contributing countries and for third countries. France plays a leading role in such cooperation by supporting the training of nearly 30,000 French-speaking African soldiers each year, and intends to continue its efforts in that regard. Secondly, it is necessary to improve force generation. Better mobilization of the armed forces and police, improving their projection capabilities and mobility and increasing the ratio of women within contingents are key elements of peacekeeping performance.”
2018-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8349 (2018) · source
“The report authored by retired Lieutenant General Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz, entitled Improving security of United Nations peacekeepers, which was commissioned by the Secretary-General, proposed many improvements that the Secretariat has begun to energetically implement. That is a good thing, and France encourages the Secretariat to continue on that path. To contribute to improving the performance of those operations, there are three key components that I would like to underscore. First, I will address training both before and during missions, which includes of course basic military operational training and linguistic training. As everyone knows, France is working in both of those areas.”
2018-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8349 (2018) · source
“Much has been accomplished in recent years, but more remains to be done. That is why France fully supports the Secretary-General in his undertaking to reform the peace and security pillar of the United Nations. For their part, more than 50 States, including France, have already endorsed the Action for Peacekeeping initiative that we will adopt at the summit on 25 September. It is an important success for the Secretary-General, the United Nations and all of us. Among the elements of that reform, the question of the performance of peacekeeping operations is essential to the credibility of the action of peacekeeping forces.”
2018-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8349 (2018) · source
“Mr. Delattre (France) (spoke in French): At the outset, I would like to thank you, Madam President, for organizingthisimportantdebateandtheUnder-Secretary- General for Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, for his particularly enlightening briefing, as well as Ms. Blakemore for her valuable testimony. Peacekeeping reform is a central issue for the future of the United Nations. The Blue Helmets are the most visible face of the Organization. Every day, under difficult conditions, they contribute to safeguarding ceasefires, protecting civilian populations from abuses and maintaining a fragile peace that, without their presence, would very quickly collapse. Therefore, not only must we pay tribute to them, but we also owe it to them to do everything possible to enable them to work effectively in the service of peace.”
2018-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8349 (2018) · source
“We reiterate in the strongest terms: it is imperative that international humanitarian law and human rights law be respected. In that regard, swift and unimpeded humanitarian access must be guaranteed to populations in need. Those obligations, it must be hammered home, are incumbent upon all. That is the spirit in which France will continue to strive towards the goals I have just recalled, sparing no effort as we work with all the relevant actors to those ends.”
2018-09-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8348 (2018) · source
“The quest for a political solution is not only essential but also urgent, while the humanitarian situation, already disastrous, continues to deteriorate. Only a political solution will make it possible to put a lasting end to the suffering of the Yemeni people. Such a solution will require resolute and unanimous support from the members of the Security Council for the efforts of Mr. Griffiths - support that is in place- but it will also require, in more proactive terms, coherent messages from us collectively to the parties to the conflict and regional actors alike. At the moment, the population of Yemen is surviving only thanks to the extraordinary efforts undertaken by the United Nations and humanitarian actors on the ground, whom I salute.”
2018-09-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8348 (2018) · source
“My third message is that, more than ever, we must call on the parties to remain engaged with the Special Envoy in order to resume dialogue as soon as possible and move forward the political process, which is the only possible solution to the conflict in Yemen, as we all know. United Nations mediation is the only path towards a relaunching discussions with a view to reaching an agreement on the management of the Al-Hudaydah port, a resumption of talks, a lasting cessation of hostilities and the setting of the parameters for a political solution. The time is ripe for the implementation of the confidence-building measures identified by the Special Envoy, with a view to a sustainable, comprehensive and inclusive political agreement. My third message is a matter of urgency.”
2018-09-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8348 (2018) · source
“Mr. Delattre (France) (spoke in French): First of all, I would like to thank Mr. Martin Griffiths for his briefing and tireless efforts to bring together the parties to engage in discussion. I repeat that Martin has the full support of France. I would like to convey three brief messages, before I address some ofthe points in greater detail during the consultations that follow. France regrets that the talks planned in Geneva at the invitation of the United Nations could not be held. As Mr. Griffiths eloquently recalled, it is essential to safeguard the possibility for restarting the dialogue. Geneva might be a missed opportunity in that regard, but it is by no means the end of efforts to move the political process forward.”
2018-09-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8348 (2018) · source
“It should assume clear and firm commitments to avoid the irreparable in Idlib and reassure the civilians there, afford more time for dialogue to identify a solution for Idlib, and come together with us to chart the challenging course towards peace in Syria. France stands ready to contribute to that end without losing a minute. Let us all get to work.”
2018-09-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8347 (2018) · source
“The road map we are proposing is clear: strong commitment by the parties to a ceasefire in order to spare the civilian population of Idlib; speeding up the political process, with the first step being collective support for the launch of the work of a constitutional committee; and the joining together by the members of the Security Council in support of a constructive political agenda at the General Assembly to force destiny and seize a concerted, peaceful resolution to the conflict. The reconstruction of Syria is conceivable only on that basis - when an irreversible, credible and inclusive political transition gets under way. I say again to Russia that the ball is in its court.”
2018-09-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8347 (2018) · source
“Resolution 2254 (2015) provides the elements for a broader political solution, namely, a constitution, free and transparent elections in which all Syrians, including displaced persons and refugees, can vote, and the establishment of a safe, secure and neutral environment, guaranteed by confidence-building measures. We are two weeks away from the commencement of the general debate at the General Assembly, where our leaders will all be gathered. Let us take advantage of that opportunity before us.”
2018-09-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8347 (2018) · source
“Therefore, and I say it again, the only real and lasting way out of the conflict is a negotiated political solution that is acceptable to all. There is no solution other than recourse to the demanding path of negotiation. And therefore our values, interests and realpolitik demand that we come together to fully and collectively support the efforts of the United Nations Special Envoy to relaunch the Geneva process. That includes the establishment of a constitutional committee as soon as possible, which could be the key to at last clearing the path to a political solution. Its work could begin without delay, in a truly independent way, under the auspices of the United Nations.”
2018-09-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8347 (2018) · source
“At the moment, the guarantors' task is to avert the irreversible and to take the time needed to find an agreement by working together with us all. Let us be clear as well that the situation in Idlib is a further illustration, were there a need for one, of three facts that everyone must clearly bear in mind: Syria is in not a country that is returning to normalcy, quite the opposite is true; the Syrian tragedy is not behind us, indeed the worst could be ahead in the event of a major offensive in Idlib; and the total military retaking of Idlib, in which the regime and its supporters are engaged, will not make it possible to stabilize the country and will produce only more chaos, which is to say that the same causes produce the same effects.”
2018-09-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8347 (2018) · source
“Maintaining the ceasefire and protecting civilians, including humanitarian personnel, must be the first priority for actors on the ground. That is why Russia must become involved. I welcome the involvement of the United Nations in deterring escalation and preparing to deal with it in the event. We must do everything possible to prevent civilians from being targeted. We therefore have a collective responsibility to leave no stone unturned - to turn off our automatic pilot - so as to find areas of agreement and together explore every possible solution, including the most creative, to avoid military escalation and open up the way for a political settlement. Such a solution, if we succeed in coming together, could be at hand tomorrow. That is why we need to allow time for dialogue so that solutions emerge. That is our first priority today.”
2018-09-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8347 (2018) · source
“They are only the first in what could be a new and unprecedented migration crisis, of which Turkey, which already hosts nearly 15 per cent of the Syrian population who fled the regime's massacres since 2011, will be the first to be impacted. We must do everything possible to ensure safe, full and unhindered humanitarian access to the entire population in need. In that regard, I commend the heroic role being played by the White Helmets in going to the aid of civilians under bombardment, at the risk of their own lives and in the midst of the ruins and rubble. France also reiterates that it will not tolerate any new use of chemical weapons. Along with our close partners, we stand ready to respond in the event of a chemical attack. Our most senior officials have unambiguously spoken on that point.”
2018-09-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8347 (2018) · source