YouSaid · the spoken record

Gueguen

lines on the record: 1,023
first: 2017-05-15
most recent: 2020-08-20
sittings or episodes: 151
sources: un-security-council

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“The international community must continue to support Bangladesh and humanitarian agencies in accordance with three priorities: first, by increasing its contributions to the United Nations humanitarian response plan, which is currently funded at only 33 per cent; secondly, by continuing to take the measures necessary to protect the Rohingya people from security and health risks in camps; and, thirdly, by continuing to support Bangladesh, humanitarian actors and local host populations to make the living conditions of the Rohingya refugees as sustainable as possible, while preserving Bangladesh's national prospects for economic development. Special attention must be paid to the needs of children, particularly with regard to education, and to the needs of women who have suffered untold violence.”
2018-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8333 (2018) · source
“Secondly, I would like to focus briefly on the humanitarian dimension of the crisis. France, both in its national capacity and within the European Union, is providing support to Bangladesh, which continues to host on its territory, with admirable generosity, almost 1 million Rohingya refugees living in particularly precarious conditions. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and all of the humanitarian organizations and United Nations agencies concerned have done outstanding work.”
2018-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8333 (2018) · source
“Nonetheless, we are concerned about ongoing restrictions of access. Only unimpeded access to all affected villages and communities will allow us to determine whether the conditions for such returns have been met. With regard to the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, led by the late Secretary- General Kofi Annan, figures are regularly put forward by the Burmese authorities, but we have very little concrete information on how the measures are actually being implemented. France reiterates in particular the importance of the recommendations related to the issue of citizenship, revising the 1982 law and ensuring equal rights for all members of the Rohingya community. We also support the recommendations concerning the freedom ofmovement, media access and socioeconomic development in Rakhine state.”
2018-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8333 (2018) · source
“However, at this stage, we have no information guaranteeing the independence or the impartiality of that mechanism, or on the protection provided to witnesses. We also condemn the serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed against children. We hope that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Mrs. Virginia Gamba de Potgieter, who recently visited the country, will soon be able to brief the Council on her mission and provide it with an update. We also welcome the conclusion in June of a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Development Programme and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which is an essential step to enable the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingya refugees when the time comes.”
2018-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8333 (2018) · source
“In that regard, France is very concerned by the conclusions of the advance version of the report of the Human Rights Council's Independent International Fact-Finding Mission in Myanmar (A/HRC/39/64), according to which the Burmese army could be accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, which fall within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. France calls on the international community to undertake determined action to collect and protect evidence, and to ensure that those responsible for the crimes committed against the Rohingya population be brought to justice. France also reiterates its call on the Burmese authorities to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur and the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission. We have taken note of Burma's establishment of a commission of inquiry on human rights violations.”
2018-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8333 (2018) · source
“Almost a year ago, before the General Assembly, the President of France denounced the ethnic cleansing suffered by the Rohingya (see A/72/PV.4). Since then, France has consistently stressed its concern about the serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed in an organized, coordinated and systematic manner in Rakhine state. I would like to make three observations today. First, commitments have been made by the Burmese authorities and must now be fully implemented. While those are first steps that should be encouraged, the progress seen on the ground remains very limited and is not commensurate with the scale and gravity of the violations of human rights and international humanitarian law that have been committed.”
2018-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8333 (2018) · source
“Mrs. Gueguen (France) (spoke in French): Allow me, first of all, to warmly thank you, Mr. President, for having taken the initiative of convening this meeting almost a year to the day after the beginning of the crisis in Rakhine state. I would also like to commend the personal commitment of the Secretary-General in drawing attention to and mobilizing international action to be taken on behalf ofthis tragedy. I would also like to warmly thank the Goodwill Ambassador for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Ms. Cate Blanchett, and Assistant Secretary- General Tegegnework Gettu for their briefings on this situation, which deserves the continued and resolute attention of the Security Council.”
2018-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8333 (2018) · source
“In conclusion, we are at a crossroads on the path to a serious process that will lead to an inclusive political solution. France is working to bring together the parties to the conflict. The announcement by Mr. Staffan de Mistura on the formation of a constitutional committee is an opportunity we must take to ensure progress towards a political solution. France will continue its efforts to protect Syrian civilians and to ensure that the political process leads to genuine constitutional change and free, transparent and inclusive elections.”
2018-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8332 (2018) · source
“Like our European Union partners collectively, we request a repeal of the law, reparations and in-depth work on the restitution of property and conscription. Fourthly and lastly, I recall that the humanitarian situation will enjoy no long-term improvement without credible and irreversible progress in a United Nations- led political process. To date, the Syrian regime has demonstrated no willingness to negotiate a political transition. Without a political transition, in line with resolution 2254 (2015), national reconciliation will not take place and the majority of refugees will not return. We also recall very explicitly that without a genuine political transition, the States members and institutions of the European Union will not fund reconstruction.”
2018-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8332 (2018) · source
“The assistance provided via Turkey is vital and no alternative exists for providing daily assistance to approximately 2 million people in north-western Syria. We also call for increased aid through Al-Yarubiyeh, between Iraq and Syria. Thirdly, with regard to the return of refugees, at present conditions for their safe, dignified and voluntary return regrettably do not exist. If they should decide to return to Syria, their safety cannot be guaranteed. Since January, there have been nearly 1 million additional internally displaced persons. Those who return are vulnerable to expropriation, abuses, forced recruitment and even persecution by the regime. Law No. 10 makes the displacement of people irreversible and is part ofa demographic engineering strategy. It is a major hindrance to the return of refugees and displaced people.”
2018-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8332 (2018) · source
“We call on the guarantors of the Idlib de-escalation area to maintain the ceasefire and to fully respect and ensure respect for humanitarian law. Secondly, more broadly, full, immediate and unhindered access must be guaranteed throughout Syria. Humanitarian workers must have safe access to all those in need, including in eastern Ghouta and Quneitra. France deplores the fact that no genuine progress has been achieved in that area, including in priority zones where control has changed hands. Only 11 per cent of convoy needs identified by the United Nations have been covered in July and August, which is insufficient and unacceptable. We recall that assistance provided by the cross-border convoys authorized by resolution 2393 (2017) is crucial.”
2018-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8332 (2018) · source
“The protection of civilians and infrastructure must be guaranteed, as the lives of 2.2 million people are at stake. Such violence would also exacerbate threats to regional security as it would cause jihadist combatants, including those in the Idlib region, to disperse. The increased bombings of recent weeks must cease immediately. Together, we must dissuade the Syrian regime from carrying out its strategy of crushing opposition and, in particular, using chemical weapons. That is the message France, along with its American and British partners, conveyed last week. In that regard, maintaining dialogue is essential and President Emmanuel Macron is in close contact with President Erdogan and President Putin on that issue.”
2018-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8332 (2018) · source
“Mrs. Gueguen (France) (spoke in French): First of all, we would like to thank the Director of Operations and Advocacy of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. John Ging, for his briefing, which once again highlighted the grave humanitarian situation in Syria and the risk of further deterioration if the regime launches a large-scale offensive in Idlib. It should be recalled that violence begets violence and that deadly cycle must cease. In that regard, I would like to make four points. First, France is very concerned about the signs of a large-scale military offensive in Idlib. Such military action continues to undermine hopes for an end to the crisis and could spark another humanitarian tragedy in northern Syria, coupled with a migrant crisis in Turkey.”
2018-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8332 (2018) · source
“With its partners in the Security Council, the African Union and in the region as a whole, it will remain committed to ensuring that the electoral process leads to the holding of elections that are free, credible, transparent and inclusive. Beyond the deadlines in December, it is the very future of the country that is at stake in the months to come - a future, we hope, of stability, development and peace.”
2018-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8331 (2018) · source
“Tensions in the Kasai have claimed many lives, while experts commissioned by the Human Rights Council have reported allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The situation in the east of the country, particularly in North and South Kivu, remains extremely worrying and all the more sensitive since the new Ebola epidemic, which was declared on 1 August in the Beni area. In that connection, France welcomes MONUSCO deployments in areas of violence, especially in the eastern part of the country. It is essential to continue to reconfigure MONUSCO so as to strengthen the protection of civilians. Securing future elections and providing logistical support for them, if the authorities so desire, must be MONUSCO's short-term priority. France stands shoulder to shoulder with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2018-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8331 (2018) · source
“Moreover, we encourage the Independent National Electoral Commission to implement the recommendations made by the International Organization of la Francophonie in its June audit, beginning with the publication of the voter register, on which 6.6 million people are registered without finger prints. Far from being anecdotal, that technical point raises an issue relating to the credibility of the entire process. The second condition concerns the fact that elections must take place within a peaceful environment. France remains concerned about the security and humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In some regions, the situation is likely to call into question the electoral process.”
2018-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8331 (2018) · source
“Moreover, France fully respects the sovereign decision of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to assume the responsibility of financing and logistical support for the holding of elections. It nevertheless recalls that the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) is ready to provide the Democratic Republic of the Congo with logistical support if needed. To that end, it is essential that the competent authorities provide MONUSCO with the information it needs to provide timely support as appropriate. Technical issues have yet to be resolved. France calls once again on the Independent National Electoral Commission to establish a wider consensus on the use of voting machines by helping all citizens to access and grow comfortable with them.”
2018-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8331 (2018) · source
“Furthermore, we welcome once again President Kabila's decision not to run again in accordance with the Constitution. In order to maintain this positive dynamic, any consideration of altering the electoral calendar must be avoided at all costs. The next step will be for the Constitutional Court to consider appeals concerning candidatures invalidated by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which must be submitted in the coming days before the publication of the definitive list on 19 September. The decisions of the Court must allow an environment of trust in the electoral process to be preserved, while inclusiveness will be an important factor in the success of the elections.”
2018-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8331 (2018) · source
“In that regard, respect for human rights and the commitments made by the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the Human Rights Council in Geneva are of the utmost importance. France also encourages the Congolese authorities to ensure the participation of women in the political process, from which they continue to be excluded too often, as the statistics cited by Ms. Zerrougui earlier highlight. Respect for the electoral calendar is essential. The trust of the Congolese people depends largely on that factor. Elections must be held on the scheduled date in accordance with the commitment of all parties. France welcomes the legislative and technical progress reflected in the publication of the provisional list of candidates by the Independent National Electoral Commission on the evening of 24 August.”
2018-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8331 (2018) · source
“It is therefore up to all stakeholders to maintain the spirit of dialogue and consensus resulting from the 31 December 2016 agreement. I will emphasize two essential conditions on which the success of the electoral process depends. The first concerns the fact that it must take place in an environment of trust. The opening of political and democratic space, as well as respect for fundamental freedoms - beginning with the freedom of expression and demonstration i are essential. France calls on the Congolese Government to lift the general ban on demonstrations and to release political prisoners as soon as possible, in accordance with the de-escalation measures provided for in the New Year's Eve agreement, as Monseigneur Utembi recalled earlier.”
2018-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8331 (2018) · source
“The 23 December elections will be a historic moment for the Democratic Republic of the Congo in that they will ensure a peaceful transfer of power for the first time in the country's history. For the country, it offers a unique opportunity to make a lasting commitment to achieving peace and stability. Those elections belong to the Congolese people. France reaffirms its full respect for the sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and encourages the Government to take all measures necessary to ensure a smooth electoral process and the holding of free, inclusive and transparent elections, in accordance with the set timetable and the Constitution. The success of that crucial step in the political history of the country is the shared responsibility and commitment of all.”
2018-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8331 (2018) · source
“Mrs. Gueguen (France) (spoke in French): I thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ms. Leila Zerrougui, for her excellent briefing and more generally for her exemplary commitment to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I also thank the President of the Conference episcopale nationale du Congo, Monseigneur Marcel Utembi, whose involvement is essential to the success of the electoral process, for his extremely clear briefing. Lastly, I thank Ms. Solange Lwashiga Furaha, spokesperson for Rien Sans Les Femmes, for her role in fighting for women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and their participation in the political and electoral processes.”
2018-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8331 (2018) · source
“I wish to stress the unifying role that the United Nations must continue to play in the fight against terrorism, specifically in areas where Da'esh has established a presence or that it has infiltrated. France will continue to provide support to United Nations bodies in their efforts to identify needs and the responses required as well as in the promotion of coordination among all concerned stakeholders in the wake of the United Nations High-level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies of Member States, held here in late June.”
2018-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8330 (2018) · source
“In the light of the diversity of the profiles concerned, close cooperation between military, civilian and financial intelligence services and agencies and with the judicial authorities is vital to strengthen the nexus between intelligence and the actions of criminal justice. Education, social services and justice are vital to assist families. Through our national mechanism, France emphasizes specifically caring for children at the social, psychological and educational levels, in order to facilitate their integration. We will therefore host in Paris next September a regional meeting organized by the Office of Counter-Terrorism on dealing, with full respect for human rights, with children who accompany foreign terrorist fighters.”
2018-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8330 (2018) · source
“We will continue our efforts, including at the European level, to more effectively obstruct the dissemination of terrorist propaganda, which fuels radicalization, and the use of the Internet for the financing of terrorism. Finally, the relocation and return of foreign terrorist fighters remains a more pervasive threat that our countries must address. In the face of this challenge, whose complexity was eloquently described by Ms. Coninsx, we must step up our efforts to track, monitor and follow up individuals who pose a risk through the consistent sharing of information.”
2018-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8330 (2018) · source
“To that end, last April France organized an international conference on combating financing for Da'esh and Al-Qaida that brought together 70 States and some 20 international organizations. It culminated in the adoption of the Paris Agenda, which represents an effective road map for stepping up our commitment, and we call for the implementation of the commitments undertaken within that framework. Thirdly, we must continue our efforts to counter Internet use by terrorist groups. A significant amount of progress has been achieved and Internet companies have mobilized, but a great deal remains to be done, as demonstrated by the broadcasting of a nearly one-hour statement by Omar Al-Baghdadi on Telegram on 22 August.”
2018-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8330 (2018) · source
“In that vein, France reiterates its full support for the independent international investigative mechanisms established by the United Nations to shed light on the serious crimes committed in Syria and Iraq and call on all States Members of the United Nations and the system as a whole to work hand in hand to that end. The second area where we need to redouble our efforts is the struggle against the financing ofterrorism, which is a top priority for France. Although the loss of territory has significantly reduced Da'esh's revenues, the group has devised increasingly sophisticated adaptation strategies. Our legal and operational frameworks must therefore also be consistently adapted and strengthened so as to enhance the transparency of financial flows, the sharing of information and cooperation with the private sector.”
2018-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8330 (2018) · source
“It is important that all stakeholders and the United Nations system remain mobilized and that their efforts be translated into tangible progress for the peoples concerned. We must also eradicate the root causes of terrorism through the implementation of pluralist and inclusive political solutions in Syria and Iraq that meet the deep- seated and legitimate concerns of the people. Putting an end to impunity for the crimes perpetrated by Da'esh in the Levant is vital to rebuilding inclusive and peaceful societies. I am specifically thinking here of the grave violations perpetrated by Da'esh against children and of the sexual violence against and the enslavement of more than 6,000 Yazidis.”
2018-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8330 (2018) · source
“In the face of an enemy that is endlessly adapting, our responses, too, must evolve. I wish therefore to stress four areas where France believes that our efforts can and must be scaled up. I turn first to the operations of the international coalition against Da'esh. These must continue so as to see through to completion the struggle against the terrorist organization in Iraq and Syria following the decisive victories over that group, which has lost virtually all of its territory. In order to prevent its resurgence, our military actions are complemented by efforts on the civilian front aimed at a lasting stabilization of the areas liberated from Da'esh and at reconstruction where possible, such as in Iraq, in keeping with the pledges made at the Kuwait International Conference for the Reconstruction of Iraq, held in February.”
2018-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8330 (2018) · source
“Mrs. Gueguen (France) (spoke in French): I, too, wish to thank Mr. Voronkov for his informative briefing on the seventh report of the Secretary- General on the threat posed by Da'esh (S/2018/770). I thank also Ms. Coninsx and Ms. Cook for their very enlightening briefings. I wish specifically to commend the outstanding work done by the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation through its report on the return of women and minors affiliated with Da'esh. The report of the Secretary-General underscores the fact that despite the loss of its territorial foothold, Da'esh continues to pose a grave threat, both locally and globally. Its transformation into a global underground network, the widespread network of foreign terrorist fighters and the appeal of terrorist propaganda only make the threat more resilient.”
2018-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8330 (2018) · source
“The signing of the headquarters agreement with the Office of the Special Envoy and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) would send a strong message, as would the resumption of collaboration with the OHCHR team of experts, pursuant to the Human Rights Council resolution of which Burundi itself voted in favour.”
2018-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8325 (2018) · source
“Through dialogue, all Burundians will be able to unite and forge their common future in full independence and respect for human rights and the dignity of all. I should like to tell the Permanent Representative of Burundi that France, the European Union, his country's other partners and neighbours in East Africa, and the entire international community stand together with him and his country to help them. France calls on the Burundian authorities to grasp this extended hand and renew peaceful relations with their international partners, as the Council has encouraged them to do in its most recent presidential statement (S/PRST/2018/7) on the subject.”
2018-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8325 (2018) · source
“President Nkurunziza's announcement that he will not run in the 2020 elections is a positive development that France welcomes. We hope that it will facilitate the search for a lasting political solution to the crisis experienced by Burundi. In that context, I hope that an inclusive inter-Burundian dialogue can be undertaken, in the spirit of unification and peaceful coexistence established by the Arusha Agreement, with the support of the mediation of the countries of the East African Community so as to create the conditions necessary for free, fair and transparent elections in 2020. In order to succeed, such dialogue will require the efforts of all parties and their unflagging determination to close the gap separating divergent views. The facilitator, Mr. Mkapa, is working courageously to that end with France's full support.”
2018-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8325 (2018) · source
“It is essential to complete the pacification of the country and ensure the security of all against every form Violence, regardless of its source. It is urgent to combat impunity, including within the ranks of the security forces. It is necessary to engage unconditionally in an inclusive dialogue with all sectors of Burundian society, especially with those who do not share the same political convictions. Lastly, it is crucial, in the national interest, to restore respect for fundamental freedoms, including freedom of opinion and ofthe media. The Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi, which is the cornerstone of peace, as Mr. Kafando just pointed out, provides the appropriate framework for that reconciliation. It must be preserved at all costs.”
2018-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8325 (2018) · source
“The heavy presence and role of members of the Imbonerakure militia in carrying out measures of intimidation and suppressing opposing views are increasing. As Ambassador Delattre underscored in May (see S/PV.8268), the risk of the situation deteriorating cannot be ruled out, as was shown by the killing of three soldiers - victims of an ambush - near Bujumbura this past weekend. As we know, the status quo is unsustainable. The situation is a source of instability for the entire region. Reports of clashes on Congolese territory fuelled by Burundian armed groups are illustrative of the latter. On behalf of France, I would like to take advantage of the presence of the Permanent Representative of Burundi today to appeal to the Burundian authorities in the same spirit as President Kafando just now.”
2018-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8325 (2018) · source
“Mrs. Gueguen (France) (spoke in French): I thank President Michel Kafando, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Burundi, for his briefing. I thank him especially for his work on this important dossier while the situation remains volatile in a country that has been deeply and negatively affected by the electoral tensions of 2015, which created an environment of distrust among political actors that unfortunately continues to this day. The persistent political stalemate and the human rights situation in Burundi remain a source of deep concern for France. Faced with the lack of real, inclusive dialogue and the closing of political space, the most radical opposition factions are tempted by armed struggle.”
2018-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8325 (2018) · source
“The objective of the Security Council must be to ensure a cessation of hostilities and to maintain the pressure on the parties in that regard in order to promote the momentum launched by the Special Envoy.”
2018-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8323 (2018) · source
“France renews its full and complete support for the efforts of the Special Envoy to relaunch the dialogue between the parties with a view to an agreement on the management of Al-Hudaydah port, the resumption of talks, a lasting cessation of hostilities and the definition of the parameters ofa political resolution. We therefore call once again on the parties, for their part, to commit in good faith to a comprehensive and inclusive political agreement, particularly in the run- up to the Geneva conference, in which it is essential that all parties participate. We also encourage Yemen's regional partners to constructively support that process.”
2018-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8323 (2018) · source
“We have noted the announcement by the Houthis of the temporary suspension of their military activities in the Red Sea. That is a first step in the right direction. The high level of Violence in Al-Hudaydah and elsewhere in the country threatens to undermine over the long term the political momentum of the efforts of Special Envoy Martin Griffiths. Secondly, as the Security Council regularly reiterates, there is no military solution in Yemen. The political process remains the only possibility for the country to emerge from a conflict that has lasted too long. The United Nations mediation plays a central role in reviving the peace negotiations.”
2018-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8323 (2018) · source
“Many have fled the fighting in Al-Hudaydah, with nearly 121,000 displaced persons, according to the figures of the International Organization for Migration and of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. It is absolutely essential that the displaced be able to safely cross the front lines and have unhindered access to humanitarian assistance. All ports and airports, including Al-Hudaydah and Saleef ports and Sana'a airport, must be kept open and operational. On Houthi territory, international and local humanitarian partners must also have safe access to those in need. We reaffirm our commitment to the freedom of movement in the Bab Al-Mandab strait, which must be ensured. In that regard, we condemn the Houthi attacks that targeted two Saudi tankers on 25 July.”
2018-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8323 (2018) · source
“First, the situation in Al-Hudaydah remains very fragile and the recent upsurge of violence is worrying. We are extremely concerned about today's two- pronged attack near the main Al-Hudaydah hospital, which caused many casualties among civilians. We once again reiterate the priority of France for the protection of staff and medical facilities, as recalled in the political declaration of 30 October 2017. We would like that the circumstances surrounding that attack be fully clarified. We again call on all parties to fully respect international humanitarian law, in particular the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution. That is essential in order to prevent the civilian population, who is already suffering the worst current humanitarian crisis, from becoming the primary victim of the clashes.”
2018-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8323 (2018) · source
“Mrs. Gueguen (France) (spoke in French): Iwould like to begin by thanking Martin Griffiths, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, as well as John Ging, Director of the Coordination and Response Division, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, for their informative briefings and their commitment, as well as that of their teams. They have our full support. In response to their interventions, I would like to return to two points: first, the situation in Al-Hudaydah, which necessitates the protection of civilians and the guarantee of safe, complete and unhindered humanitarian access; and, secondly, the essential need for a negotiated political solution - the only way out of the crisis in Al-Hudaydah and, more broadly, the conflict in Yemen.”
2018-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8323 (2018) · source
“The complexity of the threat demands that multiple actors come up with a coordinated response based on the diverse kinds of expertise and resources of each. The example of the Mine Action Support Group should inspire us in that regard. Increasing our cooperation also means working to universalize and fully implement the legal tools at our disposal, especially the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, which is our basic instrument in the fight against anti-personnel mines, and the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Many countries share the objectives ofthese Conventions even ifthey are not yet signatories to them, and France encourages all who have not yet done so to accede to them. Together with the European Union, we stand ready to give them concrete support in that process.”
2018-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8304 (2018) · source
“Following the example of Handicap International, these NGOs are doing an admirable job. With a view to achieving stabilization, France is supporting specialized training in a mainly humanitarian context in a number of countries emerging from crisis. In close partnership with the relevant stakeholders, we are supporting demining programmes, particularly in the Middle East and Africa, for example through such regional initiatives as the Humanitarian Demining Training Centre in Benin. In conclusion, I want to emphasize that it is only through united action and better cooperation that we will succeed in effectively combating the threat posed by mines. It is our responsibility to intensify our efforts and strengthen their coherence in order to minimize the bleeding that these deadly devices cause.”
2018-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8304 (2018) · source
“It is their action that creates the security conditions that enable Blue Helmets to deploy, humanitarian personnel to reach the people in need and the people themselves to resume normal life. It is also essential to assist States and their specialized agencies through various training and awareness-raising activities. The countries exposed to these threats must be able to develop their own expertise so that they are no longer dependent on assistance locally from foreign and international teams. Among other things, we should focus on educating local populations about the risks. My third point has to do with France's efforts to combat the problem of mines. We focus particularly on backing efforts to reform the security apparatus of a number of partner States, train national bodies and support partners deployed in the countries concerned.”
2018-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8304 (2018) · source
“First, we have to supply the means needed to work with the stakeholders on the ground, whether they are troops or specialized non-governmental organizations (NGOs), to fight this threat. They need operational means adapted to particularly tricky security conditions. In that regard, France would like to commend the outstanding work being done by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), in cooperation with other United Nations agencies. UNMAS, which is headed by my compatriot Agnes Marcaillou, is putting its unparalleled know-how at the service of the world's most vulnerable populations with a great deal of courage. I want to express our special gratitude to the responders on the front lines of this effort, the civilian and military deminers, for their tireless devotion at the risk of their own lives.”
2018-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8304 (2018) · source
“That speaks to the breadth of this threat and the risks it brings nowadays, and France considers it a serious cause for concern that should continue to force us to act with more determination than ever. Considering how serious these challenges are, in my second point I would like to echo the Secretary- General's call for strengthening our action to save lives. Needless to say, our action should be adapted each specific situation, because we are dealing with a complex range of weapons, with major consequences both for stabilization in general and post-conflict reconstruction, and they require targeted measures, which the international community should take action on on two levels.”
2018-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8304 (2018) · source
“Since we renewed the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) only yesterday (see S/PV.8298), I am thinking specifically of the case of Mali, where the Blue Helmets have already paid a heavy price. I am also thinking of the Rohingya woman amputee who was the victim of an anti-personnel mine whom we met during the Council's visit to Bangladesh and Burma, and of the photos of shredded limbs and bodies that we were shown there. What these weapons have in common is that they blindly mow down adults and children, civilians and military, without distinction. They are actually one of the leading causes of civilian casualties in conflict and post-conflict areas, from Afghanistan to Colombia.”
2018-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8304 (2018) · source
“Mrs. Gueguen (France) (spoke in French): At the outset, I would like to thank Assistant Secretary- General Alexander Zouev for his briefing. I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting one year after the adoption of resolution 2365 (2017) on an important topic that deserves our attention and mobilization. Unfortunately, my first comment is to recall that the state of affairs is indisputable. Anti-personnel mines, explosive remnants of war and cluster munitions remain a major threat to our security. To that, we must add the challenge of improvised explosive device (IEDs), which are most frequently used by terrorists, and the very nature of the IEDs. The fact that they are homemade, using components that are freely available, makes this issue all the more difficult to address in international bodies.”
2018-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8304 (2018) · source
“It is also important to recall that women can fully participate in the electoral process both as voters and as candidates. In order to sustainably improve women's political participation, support - including financial support - for the national action plan for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, is needed today. Lastly, my fourth remark concerns indispensable international support for Afghanistan. By renewing UNAMA's mandate in March, the Council reiterated its unwavering commitment to restoring peace in Afghanistan. In conclusion, I welcome the exceptional dedication of UNAMA's personnel, who work with courage and perseverance in particularly difficult conditions.”
2018-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8294 (2018) · source