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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“In terms of development, our objective must be to coordinate the actions of the various donors around limited and targeted priorities - defined in conjunction with the partners of the G-5 Sahel and aimed at ensuring a direct impact for the most vulnerable populations. That is the thrust of the Alliance for the Sahel's approach, which fits perfectly into the broader framework set by the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel. France intends to persistently bring the issue of the fight against terrorism in the Sahel to the Security Council. The situation on the ground justifies that more than ever. The latest report of the Secretary-General (S/2018/432) presents relevant and appropriate recommendations to provide the Joint Force with support that is predictable, sustainable and commensurate with the challenges.”
2018-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8266 (2018) · source
“It is clear that the military response is only part of the solution and that there can be no lasting stabilization of the Sahel without making political and development progress. That is a crucial point. On the political front, we must more than ever use all the levers at our disposal to encourage the Malian parties to implement their commitments, including before the next elections. In recent weeks there have been several encouraging signals in that direction, including the inauguration of the Kidal Operational Coordination Mechanism, which must now be confirmed and enhanced.”
2018-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8266 (2018) · source
“France, for its part, continues to provide material and operational support to the G-5 Sahel States. The activation of the support provided for under the technical arrangement, thanks to an initial contribution from the European Union, is also very important. It allows for the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) to provide the Joint Force with logistical and operational support directly on the ground, which cannot be provided through other funding channels, including bilateral funding. However, MINUSMA could do even more if additional funding were secured. We therefore call on donors that have not yet made their contributions to participate in the financing of this useful mechanism.”
2018-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8266 (2018) · source
“Our responsibility, as partners of the G-5 Sahel, is therefore to do everything possible to ensure that such support is provided as quickly as possible, which is unfortunately not always the case today. When it comes to the Joint Force, we cannot promote expectations that are disconnected from the pace of implementation of our own support. Indeed, we must advance on both fronts. The coordination of bilateral aid is also crucial at a time when the G-5 Sahel is facing a large influx of goodwill, with limited means of absorption. That is the point of the outstanding work carried out by the European Union through the coordination hub at the request of, and in close cooperation with, the G-5 Sahel States. That work must be continued and supported, in full association with the G-5 Sahel Permanent Secretariat.”
2018-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8266 (2018) · source
“That includes the effective deployment of all troops, as well as the transfer of authority to the Force Commander. The establishment of a police component is also crucial in order to guarantee the judicial nature of the activities of the Joint Force and the indispensable link with the criminal justice system of each of the G-5 States. Finally, all allegations of human rights violations must be investigated and, if proved, prosecuted in accordance with the principles set out in the compliance framework. The fulfilment of pledged contributions is an important condition for the G-5 Sahel States to make progress in the operationalization of the Joint Force.”
2018-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8266 (2018) · source
“Finally, the ongoing strengthening of the Permanent Secretariat and the instruments at its disposal ~ particularly financial - is a step in the right direction and must be supported. All of that serves to make the Joint force a potential model for an African intervention force. Despite our lofty ambitions and the sustained momentum, we must be realistic and reasonable in our short-term expectations. The Joint Force still faces many challenges, including with regard to the availability of critical equipment such as communications links between its command structures and its contingents on the ground. It cannot be operationalized overnight. It is important that the G-5 Sahel States continue in the coming months to make the best use of the support provided to finalize the operationalization of the force as a matter of priority.”
2018-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8266 (2018) · source
“Following the Brussels conference and the signing of the technical arrangement, the G-5 Sahel now has the necessary support to move forward with the deployment of the Joint Force. Progress on the ground is real, in particular through the operationalization of command structures, the deployment of the majority of troops expected in the Central Sector, the adoption of the operational and administrative framework of the force and the conduct of new operations. The endorsement of the human rights compliance framework is also a very positive development, since it is an essential dimension for the success of the Joint Force and its work in the service of the people.”
2018-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8266 (2018) · source
“Mr. Delattre (France) (spoke in French): I thank the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Ms. Bintou Keita, the Permanent Secretary of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-S Sahel), Mr. Maman Sidikou, whom I welcome and thank particularly for his exemplary commitment, as well as the Permanent Observer of the African Union, Ms. Fatima Kyari Mohammed, and the Permanent Observer of the European Union, Mr. Joao Vale de Almeida, for their very informative briefings. They demonstrate once again the full mobilization of the international community in support of the G-5 Sahel and the fight against terrorism in the Sahel. Almost six months after the adoption of resolution 2391 (2017), significant progress has been made in the operationalization of the Joint Force.”
2018-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8266 (2018) · source
“It is in that spirit that we and our partners have proposed sanctions on those responsible for trafficking in human beings within the framework of the sanctions regime in Libya. We hope to arrive at a speedy consensus that will enable us to deal with acts that as disgusting as they are destabilizing. The protection of civilians is primarily the responsibility of States. But owing to States' shortcomings, it is the Council's responsibility to work tirelessly on this issue. This is not just a moral imperative; it is also about enabling peoples to survive, preventing the escalation ofviolence, opening up spaces for political dialogue, and recreating the conditions for lasting peace. I urge the Security Council to come together around this shared objective and translate it into action.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“The credibility of military and civilian personnel, humanitarian actors and United Nations staffis at stake. We must ensure that they too are protected, and it is the Security Council's job to ensure that attacks on them are investigated and prosecuted. The Council's contribution to the fight against impunity must also be effective. We have a responsibility to support national and international efforts in that regard. The Council must call for cooperation with fact-finding missions, commissions of inquiry and international criminal justice instruments, first among which, where the most serious crimes are concerned, is the International Criminal Court. Lastly, the Security Council must make every effort to put an end to violations, without hesitating to resort to sanctions.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“With regard to the third area, the Security Council should take the situation of detainees and missing persons into account. The International Committee of the Red Cross must be able to exercise its mission to protect such vulnerable people. France would like to recall its commitment concerning enforced disappearances and urges Member States to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Ultimately, the effective protection of civilians depends on exemplary efforts by those doing the protecting and on effective support for the fight against impunity. It is essential that the people who implement protection set an example. Sexual violence, like human rights violations, cannot be tolerated.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“We must strengthen our action to protect all humanitarian workers, especially local actors, who are often on the front lines of violence. The second area is the protection of journalists. Attacks on media personnel continue and should not be tolerated. Protecting them is a priority for France and deeply ingrained in our DNA. We welcome the designation ofa focal-point network for United Nations agencies to enable them to ensure the protection of journalists in situations of armed conflict, in line with resolutions 1786 (2007) and 2222 (2015). The Security Council must continue to monitor the issue with special vigilance. France, in line with President Macron's statement to the General Assembly (see A/72/PV.4), calls for giving the Secretary-General a specific mandate in that regard.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“Beyond these, what are the efforts that must be made to improve the protection of civilians? First, the Council must continue to work to ensure that all parties in all zones of armed conflict respect their obligations under international humanitarian law. That is key. The Council could also strengthen its efforts to protect civilians in three specific areas. The first is the protection of medical missions and humanitarian personnel. In the light of ongoing attacks on medical personnel, on 31 October 2017 France put forward a declaration aimed at committing its signatories to taking concrete steps to implement resolution 2286 (2016). We welcome Germany, which has just endorsed the declaration, and urge all States to join our initiative.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“Child protection advisers, as is the case with MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, play a decisive role every day in liberating children. Their functions must be maintained. The Security Council has been innovative through its establishment under resolution 2391 (2017) of the human rights compliance framework for the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel), whose implementation has been one a factor in the Joint Force's success. We commend the commitment in that regard of the G-5 Sahel countries, the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the relevant civil- society stakeholders. Tools such as these, which enable us to prevent civilian casualties and ascertain how they have been harmed can serve as an example and be used in other situations.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“Whether the components are military or civilian, they must have sufficient resources to meet their objectives, and that goes especially for human rights personnel, whose early-warning role is vital to the protection of civilians. But peacekeeping operations' operational performance is also essential. If they are to be able to protect civilians properly, they must be able to protect themselves with proper training, preparation and equipment. As the Secretary-General said, both aspects are inextricably linked. We have also continued and stepped up our efforts to protect women and children. Thanks to the efforts of special representatives, force commanders and dedicated advisers in the various missions, genuine progress has been made.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“In addition, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, analysis of threats considers both the military and civilian components of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) in order to determine what their integrated response should be, including by deploying uniformed personnel, if necessary. The protection of civilians is essential during elections and the demonstrations that go on around them. In the Central African Republic, we have strengthened the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic. Efforts are under way to provide it with increased resources and flexibility for protecting civilians, as the Amoussou report has requested. The attacks on peacekeeping operations related to protection are especially intense.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“International humanitarian law, which is designed to save civilians from the effects ofhostilities, is being defied. It is the duty of all States to respect and enforce respect for international humanitarian law. I would like to underscore the Council's achievements before addressing the progress that we still need to make in response to the Secretary- General's recommendations. First, I would like to highlight the commitment and achievements of the Security Council with regard to the protection of civilians. We are not starting with a blank slate. The Council has improved the protection of civilians in peacekeeping operations mandates.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“Mr. Delattre (France) (spoke in French): I would like to begin by thanking the Polish presidency of the Security Council for taking the initiative to organize today's very important debate on the protection of civilians, presided over by Poland's Minister for Foreign Affairs. I would also like to thank the Director- General of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr. Yves Daccord, and Ms. Hanaa Edwar for their inspiring briefings. Lastly, I would like to thank the Secretary-General of the United Nations for his uncompromising briefing. From Afghanistan to Yemen, in Iraq, Somalia, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he painted a very dire picture of threats to mandates for the protection of civilians.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“We must join forces in the face of acts that are not only repugnant but also deeply destabilizing for the country and the region. I therefore appeal to all members of the Security Council to shoulder their responsibility on this key issue, which is a priority for France. I should like also to commend the headway made by the United Nations, European Union and African Union task force, which meets regularly and is making tangible progress on the implementation of the Abidjan road map. We are continuing our dialogue with the Libyan authorities to facilitate assisted voluntary returns, overseen by the International Organization for Migration, and to enhance cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“We will remain active within the Security Council to consider all ofthe tools available to us to curb these illegal activities and the resulting misappropriation of the country's wealth. This brings me to my final point: the plight of migrants who are transiting Libya. France's position is clear: we believe that those responsible for trafficking in human beings and the smuggling of migrants must be subject to sanctions within the existing United Nations sanctions regime. In that respect, France has worked together with its European and American partners, with the support of the Libyan Government, on the adoption by the Security Council of sanctions targeting migrant smugglers. We hope to soon be able to reach a consensus and to ensure that a list in that respect is adopted by the sanctions Committee.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“We must collectively reflect on ways to break this vicious circle once and for all. For the time being, our efforts are focused on the European Union military operation in the Southern Central Mediterranean, Operation Sophia, which is aimed at combating trafficking in migrants and violations of the arms embargo. We are also taking action at the level of the Security Council to combat the illicit export of crude and refined oil, as well as arms trafficking. It is vital also that the Libyan economic and financial institutions, in particular the Central Bank and the National Oil Corporation, be safeguarded, and the issue of the Central Bank's governance clarified.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“Here I pay tribute to the Cairo efforts made to that end, in support of the mediation efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. Only an inclusive political solution will allow us to vanquish terrorism and ensure lasting security. Such a solution must include national reconciliation, institutional unity and the strengthening of the State, which must be capable of exerting control over the entirety of its territory. My third point concerns the predatory economy, a cancer afflicting that country that is eating it from the inside. The many actors profiting from the situation are promoting instability, and the various forms of trafficking that abound in Libya fuel this predatory economy, which entrenches the status quo and weakens the State.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“As we are all aware, the security obstacles in Libya are myriad and the situation on the ground remains volatile, as demonstrated by the attack carried out on 2 May against the High Commission for National Elections in Tripoli, which we unequivocally condemned. The situation remains tense in Sabha, with clashes between the Tebu and Awlad Sulayman communities. In Derna, it is of vital importance that the civilian population be protected. France condemns all terrorist acts perpetrated in Libya, which are intended to destabilize the country. We call on the Libyan people to join together to fight that scourge. We must foster dialogue among the armed forces in order to unify them under a single civilian authority.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“The popular enthusiasm reflected in the registration of almost 2.5 million voters is a positive sign. The holding of general, free, credible, transparent and democratic elections in 2018 will require the creation of an adequate political and security environment and a commitment by all segments of society to respecting the outcome. The holding of early municipal elections in Zawiya on 12 May with a good turnout rate of 62 per cent is very encouraging. The status quo is unacceptable. It is now the responsibility of all Libyan political stakeholders to respect popular opinion, which is in favour of elections being held. The second point I wish to make concerns developments in the security situation as well as the terrorist situation, which remains a genuine threat to Libya.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“We have kept a very close eye on the popular consultations that have taken place in more than 20 Libyan cities as well as the different channels ofpolitical and military dialogue that the Special Representative is working to harmonize. We welcome this complex and demanding undertaking, which is being carried out throughout the country and makes it possible to consult the Libyan people as to aspirations concerning the future of the country. These efforts are vital for reducing tensions and achieving an inclusive political solution on the basis of the Skhirat Agreement. Consensus has emerged in Libya on the need to revive the process of democratic transition through elections. Elections are the best way of creating positive momentum in Libya.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“Mr. Delattre (France) (spoke in French): I thank the Special Representative, Mr. Ghassan Salame, for his briefing and once again pay tribute to his tireless efforts to move forward the political transition in Libya. I would like here, on behalf of France, to reiterate to him once again our full and unwavering support. My thanks go also to the representative of Sweden for his briefing on the work of the sanctions Committee. The first point I wish to make pertains to political stability and reconciliation in Libya. As the Special Representative told us this morning, he is continuing his consultations throughout the country as part of the national conference process, which is aimed at encouraging reconciliation and fulfilling the conditions necessary for elections to take place.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“International law must be at the heart of the strong multilateralism that we are calling for. That is why respect for international law and its development are top priorities for French diplomacy. It is in that spirit, in the wake of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, that France has proposed to consolidate international environmental law by proposing a global pact for the environment, launched by the General Assembly a few days ago through its adoption of resolution 72/277. France intends to continue those efforts with all of its partners in the coming months.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“In view of the divergent interpretations that may exist in the Council, the International Court of Justice, the presence here of whose President Emeritus I would like to acknowledge, has a major role to play in providing the necessary clarifications for a harmonious interpretation of international law. In that regard, in certain situations the Council may use its prerogative to refer one or more points of law to the Court, it being understood that the exercise of this jurisdiction must not be used to settle bilateral disputes. Considering that global threats have never been so numerous, it makes no sense to accept unilateral withdrawals and temptations. On the contrary, it is only through a voluntarist, renewed and demanding multilateralism that we can tackle the world's challenges.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“In 2013, in order to prevent blockages in cases where mass atrocities have been committed, as in Syria or Burma, France called for a unilateral suspension of the veto in the form of a voluntary political commitment by the five permanent members of the Security Council. We have advanced that initiative with Mexico, and now 100 States Members of the United Nations support it. That measure can be implemented immediately and to the benefit of the entire international community. The permanent members must be exemplary not only when it comes to implementing Council resolutions but also in respecting the accords that they themselves have agreed to or helped to formulate.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“The Council has the responsibility for dealing with failures to cooperate where they concern its own referrals to the ICC. Thirdly and finally, if the Council is to fully carry out its mission, it cannot allow itself to be paralysed or subject to repeated blockages by some of its members. That responsibility lies with each member of the Council. In that respect, and considering the Syrian regime's serious and systematic violations of all its obligations, France will continue its efforts at the highest level and with all its partners to find a path to a political solution for Syria, and it is in that spirit that President Macron will visit Russia at the end of this month.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“I would like to commend, through President Meron, the impressive work undertaken by the International Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda in the service of international peace and criminal justice. France stresses the major role in this area of the International Criminal Court, whose potential contribution to peace and justice has unfortunately still not been fully realized, 20 years after its establishment. That is particularly the case with regard to the situations in Darfur and in Libya. It is regrettable that in the absence of sufficient cooperation with the International Criminal Court, trials could not be initiated in those two situations to investigate the responsibility of those suspected of large-scale crimes.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“The Security Council supports the fight against impunity when it mandates peacekeeping operations to assist national authorities to arrest and bring to justice those suspected of being guilty of the most serious crimes, including by cooperating with the States of the region and the International Criminal Court (ICC), as is the case with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It contributes to the fight against impunity when it supports the establishment of national and hybrid tribunals, for example in the Central African Republic, where the Special Criminal Court is supported by the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic. The Council also works to fight impunity when it creates tribunals.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“In any event, it is important to recall that States should not recognize any annexation, such as the illegal annexation of Crimea, resulting from a territorial acquisition obtained by the threat or use of force. I also want to reiterate here that the principle of sovereignty cannot be invoked to excuse a State from complying with its international obligations under Security Council resolutions, international humanitarian and human rights law or treaty obligations. The Charter was not created to absolve criminals. That brings me to my second point, concerning the Council's contribution to the fight against impunity, which must be strengthened further.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“It is the responsibility of Member States to ensure that the balance between those rules is maintained when new legal instruments are introduced, so as not to undermine the framework put in place to maintain international peace and security. An example of that is the framework designed to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Finally, Council decisions help to enforce international law, in particular when it involves the adoption of sanctions or when it authorizes the use of force under Chapter VII. Such decisions may be aimed at ensuring that violations of international law do not go unpunished, particularly when it comes to preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a State or preventing attempts to use force to challenge its borders.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“That is what the Council does when it calls on parties to work to peacefully resolve disputes based on the methods outlined in Chapter VI of the Charter, and when it supports the increasing power of regional partners under Chapter VIII of the Charter. We support the commitment of the Secretary-General in that regard, and I welcome his presence and the statement made by his Chef de Cabinet. The Security Council also acts as the executive arm of international law when it calls on Member States to respect their obligations. In that respect, international law represents a complex architecture balanced between the various legal regimes that are critical to the maintenance of peace and security.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“International law is at the heart of the DNA of the United Nations. It is the cornerstone of the multilateral order erected at the end of the Second World War by a generation that, after experiencing the terrible consequences of two global conflicts, viewed the law as an essential instrument for resolving crises and restoring peace. That is why international law is at the heart of the principles of the Charter and the constituent treaties of regional organizations such as the European Union. Let me touch on some of the major issues that illustrate the importance of international law for the maintenance of peace and international security. First, the Security Council acts as a guarantor of international legality when exercising its responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“Mr. Delattre (France) (spoke in French): I would like to thank Poland for holding today's important debate on upholding international law within the context of the maintenance of international peace and security. We are very honoured today to welcome the President of the Republic of Poland. I would also like to thank the speakers for their very informative briefings. People's aspirations have not changed since the Charter of the United Nations was adopted in 1945. From Syria to Burma, from Yemen to the Central African Republic, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to South Sudan, in Palestine as in Israel, human beings want to live in peace in a world where their dignity is respected and their rights and freedoms are protected. That goal cannot be achieved without the rule of law.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“We call for a resumption of dialogue and negotiations, in which the international community should shoulder its full responsibility in order to support the parties and to ensure results. Because it is a friend of both the Israelis and the Palestinians, France intends to continue its efforts with unwavering resolve. We call on the Council to fully play its role in that regard.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“It would also create a space that will be rapidly filled by all kinds of extremists in the region who have an interest in the political conflict becoming a religious conflict. France cannot allow itself to again see Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories, starting with the Gaza Strip, descend into chaos. Yesterday President Macron met the King of Jordan, the Custodian of the Holy Sites in Jerusalem, as well as President Abbas. Today he will speak to the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. In the symbolic and historical context of these commemorative days, which are essential to both the Palestinians and the Israelis, we call on everyone to exercise restraint, ensure calm and prevent any escalation.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“Jerusalem should become the capital of two States - Israel and Palestine - in line with modalities that must be defined through negotiation. No unilateral decision can replace that. France condemned the decision that was taken by the United States in December and implemented yesterday. As we all know, there is no solution other than the two-State solution. However, there will be no two- State solution without agreement between the parties on Jerusalem, and no possible agreement on Jerusalem outside the internationally recognized parameters. Abandoning that framework will fuel tensions and violence because ofthe symbolic, historical and religious importance of Jerusalem to both the Palestinians and the Israelis.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“Following the June 1967 conflict, we therefore did not recognize the annexation of East Jerusalem, which is part of the occupied territories under international law. Similarly, in 1980, we did not recognize Israel's unilateral acts with regard to Jerusalem. The Security Council adopted resolutions 476 (1980) and 478 (1980), which provide for two principles in particular. First, any decision or action to alter the status or character of Jerusalem is considered null and void and must be rescinded. Secondly, all States Members of the United Nations that have established diplomatic missions in Jerusalem must withdraw them from the city. That is what happened as a result of resolution 478 (1980) without exception.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“In the tense context that I have just described, our collective responsibility is to preserve the parameters that alone will in due course resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The question of Jerusalem is at the heart of such parameters because it is a precondition for peace between Israelis and Palestinians and, beyond that, regional stability. The question of Jerusalem concerns the entire international community. Jerusalem has been the subject of several Security Council resolutions. In that context, the status of Jerusalem should be considered by the parties in their discussions with a View to a peace agreement. In line with the consensus that has prevailed for 70 years in the international community, France does not recognize any sovereignty over Jerusalem without agreement.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“Everyone must therefore show restraint and a spirit of responsibility, in particular the Palestinian and Israeli officials in their respective statements. It is also up to the Security Council to speak with a strong voice in order to help to prevent the ongoing escalation. That is a key point. The silence observed by the Council since the beginning of the crisis is less and less understandable. Since yesterday, it has left a dangerous void. That silence must be replaced by a clear public statement without delay. To that end, France is ready to work in a constructive spirit with its partners. The Security Council cannot be prevented from speaking on such a serious matter. Otherwise, its very calling, if not its raison d'etre, are at stake. I come to my last point.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“They underscore the extreme seriousness of the gunshot wounds inflicted on demonstrators without any justification in terms of security and that the Gaza health system is overwhelmed and approaching breaking point. At the same time, we call on the protesters to refrain from any acts of provocation or violence, and we warn those, principally Hamas, who would seek to hijack the demonstrations or use them to threaten Israel's security along the barrier. As members know, France will never undermine the security of Israel. Not only in the Gaza Strip but also in the West Bank and Jerusalem, the risk of the situation deteriorating and escalating out of control is extremely high in an increasingly tense regional context, especially on the northern border of Israel.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“Any steps Israel takes to safeguard its security, which is a legitimate concern that we share, must be taken within this context. We therefore call on the Israeli authorities to demonstrate careful judgement, the utmost restraint and to avoid the disproportionate use of force. Israel is a State governed by the rule of law and must, as such, apply rules of engagement that respect international standards of law and order, in accordance with its international commitments. We condemn indiscriminate fire against protesters, which has been systematic in recent weeks, in particular yesterday. Nothing can justify that. Lethal weapons must not be used against unarmed demonstrators who pose no serious or imminent threat. This is the message of numerous non-governmental organizations, including Israeli and Palestinian ones.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“Yesterday President Macron clearly condemned the Violence of the Israeli armed forces. These serious incidents must be fully explained, and we recall in that regard the request of the Secretary- General for an independent and transparent inquiry. In the immediate term, two fundamental requirements must be met to put an end to this cycle that threatens to continue this very day with demonstrations related to the commemoration of the seventieth anniversary of Palestinian exile in 1948: on the one hand, respect for international humanitarian law, which is fully applicable in the Gaza Strip, in particular the imperative to protect civilians; and, on the other hand, respect for human rights, in particular the right to peaceful demonstration.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“That is why, beyond de-escalation - which is an immediate imperative - and beyond meeting emergency humanitarian needs, it is essential to work towards sustainable solutions for Gaza in the broader context of the two-State solution. This is why we urge Mr. Mladenov to engage in-depth in that regard in the Gaza Strip. Secondly, the record of repression of the weekly demonstrations, which have been taking place since 30 March, is shocking. A new line was crossed yesterday, which risks heralding a point of no return and triggering a cycle of uncontrollable violence. Since 30 March, 99 Palestinians, including 12 minors, have been killed while demonstrating along the separation line in Gaza. This very heavy toll is directly related to the inadequate and disproportionate response of the Israeli security forces.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“The Hamas-backed protests of recent weeks are fuelled by this situation, together with the absence of any prospects for hope in the peace process with Israel or on inter-Palestinian reconciliation; the absence of any prospects for economic improvement, due to the land, air and sea blockade maintaining one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, at around 40 per cent, and per capita income lower than 25 years ago; and a very youthful population, more than half of them aged under 18, for whom, in this context, hope for peace has given way to the feeling of having nothing to lose. The unfolding tragedy cannot be separated from the desperation of the people of Gaza.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“First, the ongoing situation in Gaza is a tragic new illustration of the human consequences of the stalemate in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a result of a total absence of political hope. We have been saying this for years: the prevailing situation in Gaza is not sustainable. The ongoing Violence is itself rooted in a decade of Israeli blockades, aggravated by the stalemate in the process of reconciliation and its humanitarian consequences.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“Mr. Delattre (France) (spoke in French): At the outset, I should like to thank Mr. Nickolay Mladenov for his detailed and informative briefing and his dispassionate approach to a particularly troubling situation, the developments about which he has consistently alerted us. Yesterday and today mark the culmination of a month and a half of violence and repression by the Israeli forces against Palestinian protesters in Gaza. The repeated warnings to the Council, including by France, since late March have gone unheeded. The situation on the ground continued its relentless escalation, yesterday reaching the shocking total of more than 60 demonstrators killed in a single day, which brings the number of Palestinian demonstrators killed by the Israeli forces over the past month and a half to nearly 100. These tragic numbers speak for themselves.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source