YouSaid · the spoken record

Feltman

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838

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2012-08-22

most recent

2018-02-28

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59

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un-security-council

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1. “As in all cases of prisoners in critical medical condition, we note that access to timely and acceptable health care is a human right. I also recall the Secretary-General's position that persons in administrative detention should either be charged or released. Turning to Gaza, one year since the understanding for a ceasefire agreement was signed in Cairo, the situation is once again deteriorating, amid renewed violence and worsening economic and humanitarian conditions. On 31 October, Israeli forces conducted an incursion some 200 metres into the Gaza Strip to demolish a recently discovered tunnel into Israel. The operation came under attack by Hamas militants and an explosive device was detonated in the tunnel, injuring five Israeli soldiers. Subsequent shelling by Israel killed four Hamas militants.”

   2013-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7063 (2013) · source

2. “The need for calm is all the more important at this critical juncture. We also remain worried about the continued demolition of unlicensed Palestinian infrastructures. Duringthereportingperiod,atota10f27weredemolished, leading to the displacement of 65 Palestinians, including 31 children. The issuing, on 1 November, of demolition orders for 10 apartment buildings in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Ras Khamis, if implemented, would result in the displacement of some 1,500 people. We reiterate the importance of Palestinian access to a fair planning and zoning regime. On 5 November, a 22-year old Palestinian who was under administrative detention died from cancer after having been transferred to an Israeli hospital, where his condition deteriorated in mid-October.”

   2013-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7063 (2013) · source

3. “Settler attacks resulted in nine Palestinians being injured, including six children, as well as material losses, including over 600 trees and saplings being damaged during the olive-picking season. Palestinian attacks, including stone and firebomb-throwing, resulted in eight Israeli settlers being injured. We continue to be deeply concerned by any act of violence and incitement, which we condemn. On 13 November, an Israeli soldier was stabbed to death in the Israeli city of Afula by a 16 year-old Palestinian from the Jenin area. We are also deeply concerned about the fate of a Palestinian man who, a day earlier, was critically injured when he was reportedly attacked in the Old City by two young Israelis who dropped a stone on his head. We reiterate our call on all parties to refrain from violence.”

   2013-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7063 (2013) · source

4. “A total of 355 Palestinians were arrested, including two Hamas members of the Palestinian Legislative Council. A total of 154 Palestinians were injured, including during continued demonstrations against the barrier as well as the commemoration of President Arafat's death on 11 November. Three Palestinian civilians were shot dead, including two in separate incidents on 7 November near Salfit and Bethlehem while allegedly threatening Israeli soldiers at checkpoints, and another during an incursion near Jenin on 31 October, although Israeli forces denied being the source of the fire. We urge that a thorough investigation be conducted into all such cases, and that accountability for any violations of international law be ensured. Violence between settlers and Palestinians continued on a daily basis throughout the West Bank.”

   2013-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7063 (2013) · source

5. “In protest over those developments, Palestinian negotiators submitted their resignations, now under consideration by President Abbas, who has nevertheless made it clear that that does not constitute a Palestinian departure from talks. Parties should now intensify efforts and refrain from actions that undermine trust and the spirit of the talks. The situation on the ground remains tense. Israeli security forces carried out some 356 search-and-arrest operations. In one such operation, on 22 October near Ramallah, an Islamic Jihad militant, reportedly involved in the bombing of a bus in Tel Aviv on 21 November 2012, was shot dead. Searches uncovered a weapons cache in Hebron on 8 November, and on 9 November of a Palestinian was arrested carrying pipe bombs near Nablus.”

   2013-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7063 (2013) · source

6. “We have been following these critical developments with growing concern, especially the announcement, on 13 November, of plans for the advancement of some 24,000 units, including in E-l, which cannot be reconciled with the goal of a negotiated two-State solution. On the same day, Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed the Minister of Housing to reconsider the plans announced on 13 November. Special Coordinator Serry discussed tha reconsideration with Israeli chief negotiator Tzipi Livni. We hope that those plans are suspended. The Secretary-General has reiterated the United Nations unequivocal position that settlements are contrary to international law and an obstacle to peace. He expects the Government ofIsrael to put a full stop to those plans.”

   2013-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7063 (2013) · source

7. “United States Secretary of State Kerry visited the region again for in-depth discussions with leaders on both sides, following his regular consultations with Arab foreign ministers that took place in Paris last month. Quartet envoys met on 29 October in Jerusalem, in addition to their separate ongoing engagement with the parties. All of them maintained respect for the confidential nature of the talks. Nevertheless, the process suffered a significant setback with a series of announcements on settlement plans in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, following the agreed release on 29 October of 26 pre-Oslo prisoners in the second of four tranches.”

   2013-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7063 (2013) · source

8. “Mr. Feltman: When intensive Israeli-Palestinian negotiations resumed earlier this year, tensions were to be expected along the way. Nobody predicted that would have been an easy process. Indeed, four months since their resumption, the talks have reached a delicate moment. On the positive side, it appears that the negotiators have been engaging on substance and have gone some way towards narrowing their differences, notwithstanding the great difficulties that peace will entail. But strains have been growing dangerously between the parties, and they can, and must, be overcome. International engagement, which is critical, remains strong.”

   2013-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7063 (2013) · source

9. “The United Nations, through the Quartet, alongside broader engagement with all the relevant partners, stands ready to contribute to what we all so fervently hope to see come to fruition, that is, the creation of two States for two peoples living side by side in peace and security. Despite the difficult regional context and the challenges on the ground between Israel and Palestine, this is not an opportunity that either can afford to lose.”

   2013-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7047 (2013) · source

10. “Upon inspection of the location, UNDOF observed the impact of artillery fire on the Alpha side. In conclusion, let me return to where I started, with an acknowledgment of the emerging opportunities for diplomacy before us across a range of issues that foment tension across an interconnected region. On the Middle East peace process, we should do all we can to take advantage of the opening that now exists. That can only help the Palestinian and Israeli people, and the entire region. After 20 years of talks and too many negative developments on the ground, we do not need lengthy negotiations. What we and the parties need are decisions - the right decisions - and leaders who are committed to usher in an agreed political solution.”

    2013-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7047 (2013) · source

11. “The situation in the Golan continues to be volatile, with ongoing heavy clashes between the Syrian Arab Armed Forces and armed members of the opposition occurring inside the area of separation, jeopardizing the ceasefire between Israel and Syria. On 9 October, the Israel Defense Forces informed the United Nations Disengagemetn Observer Force (UNDOF) that Syrian artillery fire had hit an IDF position, wounding two IDF soldiers, and that the IDF was going to retaliate. UNDOF asked the IDF not to take such action, and also asked Syrian authorities to stop the Syrian Arab Armed Forces from firing towards the ceasefire line to prevent escalation between the two sides. Subsequently, the IDF fired at a Syrian position in the area of limitation on the Bravo side, wounding two Syrian soldiers.”

    2013-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7047 (2013) · source

12. “We highly value the Security Council's strong support to that effort, as reflected in resolution 2118 (2013), of 27 September. We are working at all levels and hope that a common vision for a political solution can soon emerge among the Syrians, in the region and globally. We continue to call on all who truly wish to work for peace and a new democratic Syria to focus not on military actions or transferring arms to either side of the conflict but, rather, on ensuring the holding and the success of the Geneva conference. With a political process, however difficult it may be, there is hope that a new Syria will emerge. Without it, there is little on the horizon but the further destruction of Syria and the further destabilization of the region as a result of the conflict.”

    2013-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7047 (2013) · source

13. “The Secretary-General continues to insist that the only way to bring peace to Syria is an inclusive and Syrian-led political process. We are working hard to convene the Geneva conference in mid-November. Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi is in the region on a tour that will include visits to Syria and key States that can bring influence to bear on the prospects for peace. I myself returned late last week from visits to London and Moscow, where the focus was on convening the Geneva conference. The conference will aim to help the Syrian sides launch a political process, which would lead to an agreement on how to fully implement the Geneva communique of 30 June 2012 (S/2012/523, annex) and establish by consent a new transitional governing body with full executive authority.”

    2013-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7047 (2013) · source

14. “The high-level meeting reaffirmed international support for Lebanon's stability and policy of disassociation, for President Sleiman and for the institutions of the State, and encouraged assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces, refugees, host communities, and the Lebanese Government. We anticipate an expansion of the International Support Group to embrace additional countries and organizations that share the goal of helping Lebanon, and we welcome the World Bank's recent meeting on Lebanon. The tragedy in Syria continues to test our collective resolve and ability to end the violence there. While important progress has been made on the chemical weapons file, it will by no means bring an end by itself to the appalling suffering of the Syrian people.”

    2013-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7047 (2013) · source

15. “Progress has been made in the investigations into the bomb attacks in the southern suburbs of Beirut on 15 August and in Tripoli on 23 August, leading to several arrests. The Lebanese army and security forces deployed heavily around the southern suburbs of Beirut to assume security responsibility in place of Hizbullah, and also in Tripoli. In a welcome development, nine Lebanese pilgrims who had been held in captivity for 17 months in Syria were released on 19 October and returned to Lebanon. At the same time, two Turkish pilots who had been abducted on 9 August in Beirut were also released. In the light of the multiple impacts of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon, on 25 September on the margins of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General convened the inaugural meeting to launch the International Support Group for Lebanon.”

    2013-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7047 (2013) · source

16. “Reports of Palestine refugees fleeing Syria being lost in boat that capsized off Egypt, and an increase in the death toll of Palestinian refugees in Syria from the escalation of fighting in Dera'a, Yarmouk and other camps in Rif Damascus, underline the urgent need to address the extreme vulnerability of Palestinian refugees in the current conflict and thereby uphold the promise of sustained engagement with UNWRA. In Lebanon, security continues to be affected by cross-border shelling and shooting from Syria, leading to the injury of at least three soldiers on 28 September. President Sleiman condemned a missile attack by a Syrian helicopter on the border town of Aarsal on 7 October.”

    2013-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7047 (2013) · source

17. “At a complex juncture for the Middle East, we remind Member States that UNRWA continues to face serious financial difficulties. A deficit of $48 million in its budget for education, health and poverty mitigation work threatens the provision of essential services to more than 5 million Palestinian refugees in Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. In a special meeting chaired by the Secretaries-General of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on 26 September, participants agreed to sustain and increase support to the agency.”

    2013-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7047 (2013) · source

18. “We are grateful for Turkey's donation of $850,000 to the Palestinian Authority for the purchase of fuel to generate electricity for essential health and sanitation services in Gaza, to be implemented with United Nations assistance. While longer-term engagement will be needed to address structural issues affecting service provision to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, this is a welcome stopgap measure to provide a safety net and mitigate the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Turkey also donated 10,000 metric tons of flour to the United Nations Reliefand Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) - a critical contribution to the Agency's emergency food assistance. On 2 October, a man convicted of murder was executed in Gaza. The United Nations position against such executions is well-known.”

    2013-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7047 (2013) · source

19. “Following the tunnel discovery, the Government of Israel temporarily suspended the transfer of construction material through the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza. We fully recognize Israel's legitimate security concerns, but we remind Israeli officials of the needs of Gaza's residents, including for construction material for civilian use that must enter Gaza through legal crossings. The people of Gaza are suffering from the rise in food insecurity, a significant energy problem affecting the health, water and sanitation sectors, and restrictions imposed on movement of people for medical and educational reasons, with Rafah crossing open for 16 out of 36 days during this period.”

    2013-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7047 (2013) · source

20. “The use of hundreds of tons of cement in the construction of the tunnel, when cement is critically needed for civilian goals in Gaza, is also deeply disturbing. Furthermore, in rejecting Hamas' stated justification for the tunnel, the United Nations continues to reject any incitement to violence or attempted denial of Israel's right to exist. In another violation of the November ceasefire understanding, Palestinians launched a total of five rockets and one mortar shell into Israel, resulting in no injuries or damage, while another nine rockets reportedly dropped into Gaza. Israel conducted seven incursions into the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces shot one Palestinian militant dead on 30 September and injured another on 17 September. Three Palestinian civilians were reportedly injured by Israeli live fire in the border area.”

    2013-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7047 (2013) · source

21. “We welcome the recent implementation by the IDF of some of UNICEF's recommendations from its March 2013 report "Children in Israeli military detention". We encourage further measures to improve the treatment of Palestinian children in Israeli military custody. The calm in the Gaza Strip is showing worrying signs of erosion. On 13 October, the IDF announced that it had uncovered a mile-long tunnel constructed with slabs ofconcrete, from Gaza into Israel * the third tunnel discovered in a year. Hamas senior leadership claimed responsibility for the construction, suggesting its potential use for kidnapping operations to facilitate the release of Palestinian prisoners. We condemn the construction of such tunnels, which are in violation of the November 2012 ceasefire understanding.”

    2013-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7047 (2013) · source

22. “Incitement from any quarter must cease and the sanctity of holy sites of all faiths must be respected. The demolition of a total of 5 8 structures -the third such incident of collective demolitions in recent months -displaced the 48-member Bedouin community of Kfar Makhoul. On 3 October, the Israeli military demolished the tents subsequently established by the community, some with assistance provided by international humanitarian agencies. Such incidents reinforce the United Nations conviction that Palestinians require access to a fair planning and zoning regime so as not to be compelled to resort to the building of structures without an Israeli permit, which leads to demolitions. We also remind Israel of its obligations to facilitate humanitarian assistance to communities in need.”

    2013-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7047 (2013) · source

23. “Multiple incidents of settler attacks against Palestinian farmers and orchards damaged over 1,080 trees and saplings. This is of particular concern given that the olive-picking season - a source of livelihood for thousands of Palestinians - is currently under way. We welcome the enhanced efforts of the Israeli military in recent years to provide protection for Palestinian farmers and facilitate access to their olive groves at this time of year, and we urge that such efforts be expanded year round. In a worrying development, clashes broke out on the Haram Al-Sharif/Temple Mount between Israelis and Palestinian worshippers, in what Palestinians see as growing provocations on that holy site. This drew sharp criticism, including from the Palestinian Authority and Jordan.”

    2013-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7047 (2013) · source

24. “Settlement activity is an obstacle to peace and against international law. Clashes between Palestinians and settlers were also ongoing. In an incident still under investigation, a Palestinian beat to death one Israeli settler, a retired IDF colonel, in the Jordan Valley on 11 October. In another Palestinian attack, five Israeli settlers were injured, including a nine-year old girl, on 5 October in the settlement of Psagot near Ramallah. Israeli settlers injured eight Palestinians, including three children. So-called price tag attacks included the desecration in two instances of tombstones in Christian cemeteries in Jerusalem and a mosque in the Palestinian village of Burqa on 10 October. On 6 October, Israeli security forces reported the arrest of 14 Israeli minors from Jerusalem, allegedly involved in such attacks in recent months.”

    2013-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7047 (2013) · source

25. “Demonstrations, including some against the barrier, resulted in numerous injuries. During the reporting period, Israeli forces injured at least 290 Palestinians, including 114 children and two women. A total of 311 Palestinians were arrested. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported numerous incidents of stones and Molotov cocktails thrown at both civilian and military targets. It announced the arrest of Palestinian terror suspects and the confiscation of weapons and improvised explosive devices. Palestinian security forces, continuing their work to maintain security in the West Bank, safely defused three unexploded devices. Intra-Palestinian clashes with armed militants during a large security operation on 5 October in Jenin refugee camp resulted in several injuries, including to Palestinian security personnel, and about 100 arrests.”

    2013-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7047 (2013) · source

26. “I wish to reiterate the unequivocal call by the United Nations on all to refrain from violence and incitement, reinforce calm and reverse negative trends in order to preserve the tentative opening in the political process. During the reporting period, Palestinians shot and killed two Israeli soldiers in apparently unrelated incidents on 20 and 22 September. President Abbas publicly condemned the incidents, and Israeli and Palestinian security officials held coordination meetings to prevent an escalation ofviolence. Palestinians injured seven Israeli soldiers, including one on 17 October when a Palestinian attacked an Israeli military base with a bulldozer prior to being shot dead. Israeli security forces carried out a total of 334 operations. One resulted in the killing of an Islamic Jihad militant in the Jenin refugee camp.”

    2013-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7047 (2013) · source

27. “On 25 September, the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians met at the ministerial level and expressed its full support for the ongoing peace negotiations. The Secretary-General called on donors to step up efforts to assist the Palestinian Authority, stressing that "[t]he situation is volatile and the status quo in the occupied Palestinian territory is not sustainable. In the long run, the occupation is deeply damaging to both Israelis and Palestinians". Most participants welcomed the positive gestures announced by Israel, including the easing of restrictions, as yielding visible improvements on the ground in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Despite the welcome intensification of negotiations, there have been worrisome developments on the ground that we cannot ignore.”

    2013-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7047 (2013) · source

28. “In discussing the importance of international support for the negotiations, the Quartet commended the League of Arab States for its constructive role and recognized that many others in the international community have made important contributions. The Quartet envoys will meet again soon as part of their now monthly meetings to report on progress. Since the Quartet meeting, negotiators have picked up the pace of talks and have stated their commitment to abiding by the understanding of not revealing the contents of such discussions. It is encouraging to see an intensified dialogue that demonstrates that both sides are taking ownership.”

    2013-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7047 (2013) · source

29. “Acknowledging the leadership of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the Quartet commended their efforts and their commitment to remaining engaged in the negotiations. Quartet partners stressed the importance of reversing negative trends on the ground in order to advance the direct talks. The Representative of the Quartet, Tony Blair, briefed the group on the Palestinian Economic Initiative, which aims to bring transformative economic growth to the Palestinian economy, running in parallel with the renewed negotiations. The Quartet discussed the humanitarian needs of Gaza's residents and emphasized the importance of increased access to Gaza through legal crossings, while welcoming recent steps taken by Israel in that regard.”

    2013-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7047 (2013) · source

30. “On 27 September, for the first time in 17 months, the Quartet principals met in New York. They were joined by the Israeli and Palestinian chief negotiators for a joint briefing on the progress of the negotiations. Minister Livni and Mr. Erekat reiterated their personal and official commitment to reaching a comprehensive permanent status agreement, and asked for the Quartet and the international community's support. Both stressed that their shared objective is to end the conflict, based on a vision of two States for two peoples. The Quartet reaffirmed its determination to lend effective support to their efforts during the prescribed time frame.”

    2013-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7047 (2013) · source

31. “We encourage and remain committed to supporting the Security Council and its members in fully exploring all the opportunities at hand to resolve peacefully, though dialogue, the difficult issues that bedevil peace and security in the region. Central to many statements by world leaders in the general debate was the urgent importance of shaping more favourable dynamics across the region and addressing the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The test will be whether and at what pace current efforts can be sustained and gain traction in response to such concerns and expectations. Many have acknowledged the opportunity at this juncture to save the two-State solution and realize the vision of a viable independent Palestinian State living side by side in peace with a secure Israel.”

    2013-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7047 (2013) · source

32. “Mr. Feltman: The Council meets today at a moment of heightened Middle East diplomacy. Discussions are ongoing on both immediate crises and long-standing sources of tensions in the region, from the Syria catastrophe to the Middle East peace process to questions regarding nuclear proliferation. We believe that last month's general debate in the General Assembly in New York reaffirmed the importance of the United Nations as a forum for engagement between States and for real diplomatic progress when there is international unity as opposed to division. While the challenges on each front should not be underestimated, it is important to maintain and even increase the momentum behind diplomacy.”

    2013-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7047 (2013) · source

33. “If we are genuinely committed to Somali leadership, we must be prepared to let Somalis set the timelines, as well as the priorities, and to keep our expectations realistic. However, we firmly believe that the design of the new mission is grounded in real needs and a well-thought- out analysis of the objective reality in Somalia today, as well as in the great goodwill that exists in the international community. With the Council's support, we believe that we can help continue to move that daunting agenda forward.”

    2013-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6955 (2013) · source

34. “That means a clear commitment to working coherently and patiently to allow the Federal Government to develop its plans and build its capacities. The current spectre of fragmented and duplicative efforts at international assistance is inefficient and could be counterproductive. It risks overwhelming the nascent national capacity. The President of Somalia has told us that. We are hopeful that the conference to be held in London next month and other meetings scheduled in Brussels and Tokyo later in the year will help us to agree on a framework for future coordination. The new mission represents a fresh start for the United Nations in Somalia and a renewed commitment by the Council to support Somali-owned peacebuilding. Results will not be achieved overnight.”

    2013-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6955 (2013) · source

35. “We acknowledge that both organizations play essential roles in supporting Somalia's peacebuilding in all its aspects. We are committed to realizing the synergies between those roles and the United Nations Mission. UNAMSOM and AMISOM. planners will meet as soon as the new mission is up and running to work out the parameters of our practical partnership on the ground. As in so many areas, the United Nations partnership with the African Union is vital to our ability to achieve our objectives. We look forward to ongoing cooperation with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, as well. The United Nations will require a strong level of commitment from the international community if UNAMSOM. is to succeed in the coordination role envisaged by the Council in resolution 2093 (2013).”

    2013-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6955 (2013) · source

36. “Collaboration and partnership will also be critical. The Mission will rely on the United Nations country team to bring programmatic support to the political and strategic advice that it will provide, while ensuring that the humanitarian space is protected. Joint leadership and planning teams will guide the work associated with the United Nations presence in Somalia. The Mission will also have a core pillar of analysts and planners, who will provide a multiplier effect, working to integrate the Mission's capacity and that of the country team and to link those capacities with what AMISOM. and other partners would provide. We look forward to strengthening our new strategic partnerships with the African Union and AMISOM through the new mission.”

    2013-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6955 (2013) · source

37. “That is at the heart of the new United Nations Mission's approach. The new mission will need to be agile, flexible and mobile to respond and adapt to evolving priorities. The limited space and resources and the challenging security environment mean that the mission will have a limited number of permanent residential staff. However, it will need the resources to bring in specialized experts to support emerging priorities. It will also need a concept of support and a range of security options to enable the United Nations to work side by side with Somalis, including in Villa Somalia. Such a model may be expensive given the security environment of Somalia but, for the United Nations to be relevant, it will require the strong support of the Council, in particular, and ofMember States, in general.”

    2013-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6955 (2013) · source

38. “It will also seek to enhance the Government's lead in coordinating international assistance efforts through the framework of the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States. Through joint task teams, the Mission will also work with the country team and other partners on urgent issues, such as stabilization in the newly recovered areas, maritime issues, economic triggers of violence and capacity development. The guiding principles outlined by the Secretary- General will be critical to the success of UNAMSOM and, indeed, of the United Nations system as a whole in Somalia. Building Somali capacity and supporting Somali leadership will be central to our efforts to strengthen the peace process. In the longer run, we hope that it will be Somali solutions that will bring an end to conflict and determine the best models for Somalia's development.”

    2013-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6955 (2013) · source

39. “For that and other reasons, the Mission's core role will be to act as an enabler, helping to create and to galvanize the political and strategic environment in which stabilization and peacebuilding can proceed, including by leveraging other parts of the United Nations system and international partners. Substantively, the Mission will have four key areas of focus. It will provide good offices, support reconciliation efforts and assist with the mediation of the politically sensitive challenges associated with the constitutional review and the question of federalism. It will help to build national capacities in the rule of law and the security sector and in the protection and promotion of human rights at all levels of society.”

    2013-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6955 (2013) · source

40. “We urged close coordination between the Ethiopians and AMISOM regarding Ethiopia's planned withdrawal of its forces from Somalia. I have also been in contact with the African Union and the European Union to ensure a coherent approach to our support to Somalia. The United Nations continues to work with the Federal Government and local authorities in Somalia to establish a new United Nations mission to support peacebuilding and state-building, as requested in resolution 2093 (2013). We are now very clear as to how the United Nations should support the Government through 2016. In his letter to the Council (see S/2013/239, annex), the Secretary-General has outlined his vision for a new United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNAMSOM) - the vehicle that is designed to deliver that support.”

    2013-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6955 (2013) · source

41. “A better funded and coordinated strategic approach that recognizes that well-trained and equipped Somali forces are the ultimate exit strategy for international military operations in Somalia is required by the international community. The United Nations has continued dialogue with the Federal Government, as well as the countries of the region and partner organizations. This week, I spoke with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. We discussed the importance of developing mutually reinforcing working relations with Somalia's neighbours. Today, the Secretary-General and I had constructive meetings with Mr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, who is here with us today, where we underscored the important role that Ethiopia is playing in ensuring stability in Somalia.”

    2013-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6955 (2013) · source

42. “However, they underscore the need to rapidly strengthen security in Somalia. The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is reaching its operational limit in terms of holding and expanding areas under its control. Innovative thinking is required to address that challenge. Additional resources, including enablers and force multipliers, as well as the means to reconfigure the AMISOM. forces, are required ifit is to maintain the impressive momentum of the past year. The anticipated withdrawal of the Ethiopian National Defence Forces will add further strain. We remain concerned about the clear challenges faced by AMISOM. and the Somali national forces in their current state.”

    2013-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6955 (2013) · source

43. “A great deal more work is needed to tackle the inevitable challenges that will arise in the development of a federal system in Somalia. There have been several alarming reminders of the fragile security situation inside Somalia. On 17 March, Al-Shabaab retook the town of Hudur hours after Ethiopian National Defence Forces withdrew. Multiple suicide bombings carried out by Al-Shabaab have claimed the lives of innocent Somali civilians in Mogadishu. The most recent, on 14 April, involved several coordinated attacks, including a double suicide bombing at the regional court in the capital. More than 50 people were reportedly killed. The courthouse attacks were more sophisticated and coordinated than the previous attacks in Somalia, indicating external support, but have so far failed to undermine the optimism that permeates Mogadishu.”

    2013-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6955 (2013) · source

44. “Similarly, Prime Minister Shirdon's listening tour - aimed at building trust and consensus between Mogadishu, existing regional administrations and fledgling ones marks an important step in the national reconciliation and federal State-building process. However, the Government's approach to building new regional administrations is not accepted by all. An interim draft charter to establish a so-called Jubaland state in southern Somalia was ratified by representatives from three regions on April 2 and is expected to result in the election of a president for Jubaland state in the coming days. While the draft charter envisages Jubaland state as part of the federal system, the Federal Government regards it as unconstitutional, and efforts to find a compromise have reached an impasse.”

    2013-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6955 (2013) · source

45. “Mr. Feltman: I thank you, Sir, for this opportunity to brief the Security Council on recent developments in Somalia and on the findings ofthe technical assessment mission, as requested in resolution 2093 (2013). I shall start with a briefpolitical update. The Federal Government of Somalia has continued implementing its six-pillar policy for stabilization and peacebuilding in the country. Notably, it has been reaching out beyond Mogadishu in an effort to realize its vision for a federal State of Somalia. The agreement between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the Somaliland administration to continue dialogue and increase cooperation, signed earlier this month, is a welcome step forward.”

    2013-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6955 (2013) · source

46. “The choice ultimately rests in their hands not to disappoint their people and to offer them, at last, real prospects for peace and security. The international community also bears a unique responsibility to help them move forward together. The United Nations welcomes the renewed attention that the United States is giving to the peace process. We stand ready to contribute to a return to meaningful negotiations in the period ahead, including through the Quartet and through broader engagement with all relevant partners. Despite the difficult regional context and the challenges on the ground between Israel and Palestine, we believe that this is a moment of opportunity that we cannot afford to lose.”

    2013-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6950 (2013) · source

47. “Advancing the Middle East peace process remains central to ensuring that the region is not at further risk of destabilization. Let me repeat what the Secretary- General has stated at every opportunity: there is now an opening to develop a meaningful initiative to achieve the negotiated two-State solution that will best serve the interests, rights and aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians. But it is not an overstatement to suggest that we are about to reach a critical point in the viability of the peace process. Whether that prospect solidifies or vanishes will depend on the direction that leaders on both sides choose to take, and on the level of regional and international support for new efforts. Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas have reiterated the right commitments.”

    2013-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6950 (2013) · source

48. “I echo Council members' call for swift progress to be made in ensuring speedy agreement on the electoral law, so that timely parliamentary elections take place on a consensual basis within the legal and constitutional framework. Meanwhile, the situation in the area of operations of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and along the Blue Line has remained generally calm. Twice this month, President Sleiman publicly condemned Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace as breaches of resolution 1701 (2006). In conclusion, allow me to make the following observations. As the situation inside Syria continues to deteriorate, it is more vital than ever that everyone collectively works towards preserving regional stability.”

    2013-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6950 (2013) · source

49. “The Secretary-General also calls on all Lebanese parties to respect President Sleiman's wise and courageous disassociation policy, designed to help protect Lebanon from spillover from Syria. The Secretary-General, concerned about reports that there are Lebanese fighting in Syria, both on the side of the regime and the side of the opposition, hopes the new Government will find ways to promote better compliance with the disassociation policy by all sides in Lebanon. On 6 April, President Sleiman signed a decree postponing the parliamentary elections by one week to 16 June. On 10 April, Parliament voted to amend the current election law, suspending the candidate registration process until 19 May, so as to give the parties a longer period in which to agree on a new electoral framework.”

    2013-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6950 (2013) · source

50. “I take this opportunity to reiterate the concern of the United Nations that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon should be fully respected by all parties. On 6 April, President Sleiman designated Tamam Salam the next Prime Minister, following the resignation of Prime Minister Mikati last month. Mr. Salam, whose designation received near-unanimous parliamentary support, has stated that he will form a Government to hold parliamentary elections and that he is in consultations with the parties regarding the character and composition of his future cabinet. It is critical that Lebanese leaders use this opportunity to continue to engage positively to ensure the early formation of a Government.”

    2013-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6950 (2013) · source