YouSaid · the spoken record

Gert Auväärt

lines on the record

124

first

2020-04-22

most recent

2021-05-25

sittings or episodes

29

sources

un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

1. “However, Syrian citizens in opposition-held areas and abroad were unable to participate in the so-called elections. In other words, millions of Syrian citizens were denied their right to freely express their political will in fair elections. That act clearly violates the political road map set out in resolution 2254 (2015). As such, the international community will not recognize those or any other elections until a credible political transition is under way in Syria. Unfortunately, to this day, Damascus is not genuinely interested in the political process, even if there is agreement on the holding of Constitutional Committee meetings. Instead, the Syrian Government continues to use force against its own population. The torture of arbitrarily detained people is a perfect example of that brutal approach. Ms.”

   2020-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/743 (2020) · source

2. “I thank Special Envoy Pedersen and Ms. Wafa Mustafa for their briefings. It is positive to hear that the ceasefire in Idlib largely holds. But, like other Council members, we are concerned about the continued sporadic violence in the north-west of Syria. Only last week, we witnessed an attack on a Russian-Turkish joint patrol, as well as a car bomb explosion in Bab Al-Salam, which killed at least five people. The perpetrators of such crimes must be held accountable. Looking at the political situation, we see new setbacks. Unfortunately, the conflict of nine years is far from over. Rebuilding and unifying the country remains a challenge, as Damascus makes unilateral moves that undermine a political settlement. Over the weekend, the Syrian Government organized elections in government-controlled areas.”

   2020-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/743 (2020) · source

3. “I would also like to reiterate the important role played by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the region, in particular its efforts to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Palestinian refugees. Estonia will continue supporting the work of UNRWA. Finally, I would like to state that Estonia aligns itself with the statement submitted by the delegation of the European Union (EU) on behalf of the EU (annex 28).”

   2020-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/736 (2020) · source

4. “An escalation of violence would be negative for all sides and further undermine the prospects for a resolution to the conflict and the common fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. We encourage all Palestinian factions to work towards reconciliation. This would enable them to address common challenges and the needs and expectations of the Palestinian population; it is essential for reaching a two-State solution. Also, in order to engage in direct negotiations, both parties need Governments with legitimate and democratic mandates. We therefore strongly encourage Palestinians to announce elections.”

   2020-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/736 (2020) · source

5. “We are also concerned about Israel’s continued settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territories, including in East Jerusalem. Furthermore, we are concerned about the announcement by the Palestinian leadership with regard to the suspension of agreements with Israel, including in the area of security cooperation. We call on the Palestinian Authority to reconsider this decision. Both parties must prevent all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, incitement or provocation, as called for in resolution 2334 (2016). We condemn the continued firing of rockets from Gaza towards Israel and any other form of violence targeting the civilian population.”

   2020-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/736 (2020) · source

6. “We have taken note of the announcements on the readiness of the Palestinian Authority to resume peace negotiations as well as the counterproposal submitted to the Middle East Quartet. It is now essential that both parties take steps towards resuming direct and meaningful negotiations to resolve the final-status issues and achieve a just and lasting peace. We also urge the regional and international players, including the Middle East Quartet, to continue efforts towards those negotiations. Estonia calls on the parties to refrain from any unilateral steps that would undermine the efforts towards peace. A possible annexation by Israel of parts of the occupied West Bank would undermine the prospects for a negotiated two-State solution and threaten the stability of the region.”

   2020-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/736 (2020) · source

7. “I would like to thank Special Coordinator Nickolay Mladenov, Mr. Daniel Levy and Mr. Khalil Shikaki for their briefings. First, Estonia would like to express its solidarity with the Israeli and Palestinian people in the fight against coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Unity and solidarity are even more important during this challenging time, and we underline the importance of continued cooperation between Israeli and Palestinian authorities to tackle the pandemic. Estonia remains committed to a negotiated two-State solution based on internationally agreed parameters and relevant United Nations resolutions, taking into account the legitimate aspirations of both parties and Israeli security concerns.”

   2020-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/736 (2020) · source

8. “The responsibility to stop the ongoing escalation lies not only with the conflicting parties but also with the international community and the Council. That brings me to the issue of the arms embargo implementation. Unless the flagrant violations of the United Nations sanctions regime and the outside actors’ involvement stop, Libya does not stand a chance for peace. It is a positive development that the Berlin process is continuing despite the restrictions imposed to fight the pandemic. We call on all the participants to uphold the commitments they made at the Berlin Conference. Estonia continues to support the United Nations-led three-track approach to the political process in Libya. It is regrettable that the draft ceasefire agreement that was negotiated by the 5+5 Joint Military Commission in February has not yet been signed.”

   2020-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/421 (2020) · source

9. “To make matters worse, the growing number of attacks, including shelling, mortar fire and small arms fire, is causing more civilian casualties, as well as damaging and destroying vital civilian infrastructure such as health-care facilities and schools. Considering the already dire humanitarian situation and the spread of COVID-19 in the country, the indiscriminate attacks against hospitals are the most appalling. The latest attack on a shelter for displaced people in Tripoli must be condemned in the strongest terms. All violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law need to be addressed, and the perpetrators must be held accountable. The parties to the conflict must return to the negotiating table.”

   2020-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/421 (2020) · source

10. “I thank Acting Special Representative Stephanie Williams for her informative briefing. We fully support the work of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the United Nations-facilitated political process in Libya. In that regard, we sincerely hope that the new Special Representative of the Secretary- General for Libya will be appointed as soon as possible. I also wish to thank the Secretary-General for his report on the latest developments in Libya (S/2020/360), which, however, paints a grim picture of the situation on the ground. We are disappointed to see that the fighting and military escalation continue despite the promises made by both parties to the conflict to respect the Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire in the face of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.”

    2020-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/421 (2020) · source

11. “That will help strengthen the capacity of the local authorities to address human rights abuses and thus prevent further violence. Estonia supports the Secretary-General’s recommendation to extend the mandate of UNISFA for the next six months. However, the parties must show their willingness to make progress towards resolving the Abyei question. To conclude, we welcome the recent encouraging signs of progress. Nevertheless, we also call on the parties to urgently build on that positive momentum, especially through a meaningful political process towards a final resolution of the Abyei question. Further delays will only continue to prolong the plight of the people of Abyei.”

    2020-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/351 (2020) · source

12. “First, in the light of increasing criminality and intercommunal violence, it is crucial to expedite the deployment of the remaining authorized UNISFA personnel, especially the police component. While we recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic is causing delays, we call for the issuance of the visas needed for the deployment of all UNISFA personnel without further delay. Secondly, we need to institute as much accountability as possible to bring the perpetrators of violence to justice. In that context, we call upon the authorities to launch joint investigations into the deadly incidents in Kolom in January. Accountability will not only deter persons from causing future incidents but will also help to build much-needed trust among communities. Thirdly, we need to deploy human rights expertise to UNISFA.”

    2020-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/351 (2020) · source

13. “The deteriorating security situation is a stark reminder of that; so is the worsening humanitarian situation. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic is only amplifying that threat. Therefore, we call on the Sudan and South Sudan to revive a viable political process leading to the implementation of the Agreement of 20 June 2011. That could be significantly helped by the appointment of the civilian deputy head of the mission. In addition, we encourage regional actors to actively engage the parties on the Abyei question. Meanwhile, it is the responsibility of the Security Council to tackle the negative security trends decisively now. In that connection, Estonia has three recommendations.”

    2020-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/351 (2020) · source

14. “I also would like to thank the briefers. Estonia welcomes the positive developments that have taken place over the past six months. Allow me to also express our gratitude to the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and Ethiopia for their contributions. We recognize that the transitions in the Sudan and South Sudan, as well as the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, require the full attention of both Governments. However, we call on the parties to capitalize on their improving relationship to push for progress on the question of Abyei. Most importantly, it cannot be overemphasized that there is no substitute for a meaningful political process between the parties. The more that process is delayed, the worse the situation seems to get on the ground.”

    2020-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/351 (2020) · source

15. “As we face the global health crisis presented by COVID-19, let us stand together in solidarity, unity and compassion, in line with the Secretary-General’s appeal.”

    2020-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/339 (2020) · source

16. “With regard to Kosovo’s EU integration path, we look forward to Kosovo’s continued implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement, which is also important to the completion of further reforms in support of socioeconomic development, the rule of law, and the fight against corruption and organized crime. Accordingly, as strong cooperation with EULEX becomes increasingly prevalent in due course, we would welcome the strategic review of UNMIK. Finally, we wish to express the hope that the plan proposed by President Macron and Chancellor Merkel to host a summit meeting between Serbia and Kosovo in Paris, with the participation of both parties’ leaders and EU High Representative Borrell, will come to fruition.”

    2020-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/339 (2020) · source

17. “We commend the decision taken by the Kosovo Government to lift the customs tariffs on imports from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is an important first step towards the resumption of the dialogue. We are also glad that the President of Serbia, Mr. Aleksandar Vučić, has affirmed his readiness to fully cooperate with the Pristina authorities in responding to the outbreak and helping the people of Kosovo. As time passes and as both countries continue to demonstrate actions of good faith, the challenges faced by Kosovo and Serbia will hopefully be increasingly addressed in the context of the dialogue facilitated by the European Union (EU), which remains an essential requirement in order for each to advance on its respective European paths.”

    2020-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/339 (2020) · source

18. “We hereby highlight the contribution made by the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) to help Kosovo, especially during these difficult times. Recently, for example, EULEX helped to build the capacity of security bodies within the institutions of the Kosovo Correctional Service by donating information technology equipment to assist its staff in holding virtual meetings. The normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo is the key to regional stability, and the dialogue between them should resume after the pandemic is over. We welcome the appointment of Mr. Miroslav Lajčák as European Union Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues at the beginning of this month and wish him much success in his endeavours.”

    2020-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/339 (2020) · source

19. “During the critical time of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, we commend the positive actions taken by UNMIK, including the donation of medical equipment to the country’s Ministry of Health. We would like stress that the parliamentary no-confidence vote has further complicated the political situation in Kosovo during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Political stability should be restored as soon as possible, and all political actors must work together to ensure that citizens receive the medical assistance and economic support they need. We therefore call on political and institutional leaders in Kosovo to unite their efforts to mitigate the social and economic impact of COVID-19.”

    2020-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/339 (2020) · source

20. “We would like to thank Mr. Zahir Tanin, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for his briefing. We would also like to thank Mr. Ivica Dačić, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia, and Mr. Glauk Konjufca, Foreign Minister of Kosovo, for their statements. Estonia commends Mr. Tanin in particular for the latest report of the Secretary- General the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) (S/2020/255) and for leading the work of UNMIK, which has helped advance the democratization of Kosovo and promoted human rights. We also appreciate UNMIK’s support for women’s participation in decision-making processes and for initiatives targeting youth and the fight against gender-based violence.”

    2020-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/339 (2020) · source

21. “We also underline the importance of initiatives to promote the meaningful participation of women in political and electoral processes and to advance the women and peace and security agenda in the Great Lakes region. Given the current circumstances, Estonia reiterates the call of the Secretary- General for all to commit to a humanitarian ceasefire and to resolve their differences peacefully.”

    2020-04-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/325 (2020) · source

22. “It is also very worrying to see the increase in conflict-related sexual violence and in the number of serious violations of children’s rights. Perpetrators of such crimes must be held accountable in order to fight a culture of impunity that, if left unchecked, will only breed more violence. Rapid and robust implementation of the Nairobi Declaration on Justice and Good Governance would greatly assist those efforts. Estonia commends the positive steps taken by countries and stakeholders of the region to alleviate tensions and strengthen relations, and welcomes further efforts in that direction under the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region.”

    2020-04-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/325 (2020) · source

23. “Correspondingly, Governments and other stakeholders should prioritize the pandemic response and avoid impediments to the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Estonia remains concerned about restrictions on basic political freedoms and human rights in several parts of the region. In anticipation of several upcoming elections this year, we call upon all stakeholders to ensure that the elections remain peaceful, free and credible. Estonia condemns the violence perpetrated by armed groups in the region, in particular by the Allied Democratic Forces, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the conflict is compounded by high numbers of grave human rights violations and abuses. During the last year alone, more than 1 million people were displaced from their homes due to conflicts in the Great Lakes region.”

    2020-04-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/325 (2020) · source

24. “I would like to thank Special Envoy Huang Xia for his briefing, which highlighted the numerous interconnected challenges in the region: conflicts with armed groups, human rights violations and abuses, health epidemics and socioeconomic difficulties. Even under normal circumstances, addressing their root causes would require a coordinated, comprehensive approach. As noted in yesterday’s Council discussion on conflict and hunger, the far-reaching spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) can act as a risk multiplier in the region and actions must be taken to ensure that humanitarian actors are coordinated, ready and able to scale-up response efforts. In that connection, it must be noted that the region is already combating several epidemics, including malaria, Ebola and measles.”

    2020-04-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/325 (2020) · source