YouSaid · the spoken record

Haley

lines on the record: 982
first: 2017-02-02
most recent: 2018-12-18
sittings or episodes: 124
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

“Another reality is when the United Nations sides with terrorists over Israel, as the Kuwaiti draft resolution does, it only makes a peaceful resolution ofthis conflict harder to reach. We strongly encourage the Security Council to vote against Kuwait's draft resolution and to acknowledge the concerns about Hamas by voting in favour of the United States draft resolution. Everyone at this table has a choice e either to support Hamas or not. This vote will tell the story.”
2018-06-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8274 (2018) · source
“In doing that, they would make it clear that they believe that all responsibility lies with Israel and none lies with the Hamas terrorist group. The situation in Gaza is truly tragic. No one should have to live in such conditions. The United States remains fully determined to pursue a long-term peace agreement between the Palestinians and the Israelis. Such an agreement would benefit the entire Middle East region, and most especially the Palestinian and Israeli peoples. But a necessary precondition for peace is recognition of reality. One of those realities is that Hamas is a major impediment to peace. It is in Charge of Gaza and it uses its resources not to help the people of Gaza but to wage war against Israel.”
2018-06-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8274 (2018) · source
“It includes many features that Kuwait's draft resolution lacks. It condemns the indiscriminate firing of rockets by Hamas against Israeli civilian communities. It condemns Hamas diversion of resources into military infrastructure. It demands that Hamas stop its deliberate efforts to put Palestinian civilians at risk at the boundary fence. By offering this draft resolution, we are giving members of the Security Council additional options. They can choose to condemn the terrorists who are responsible for inciting violence in Gaza and against condemning a country for acting in self-defence, just as any of us would do. They can choose to cast their votes in ways that condemn both parties or neither party. Finally, they can make the choice to vote in favour of the Kuwaiti draft resolution and against the American draft resolution.”
2018-06-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8274 (2018) · source
“Finally, the draft resolution perpetuates the bias towards Israel that has long been the hallmark of the United Nations. It is draft resolutions like this one that undermine the credibility of the United Nations in dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Because this draft resolution is wildly inaccurate in its characterization of recent events in Gaza and because it would harm any efforts aimed at achieving peace, the United States will oppose it and will veto it if necessary. But there is an alternative. For those who are able to bring themselves to recognize the reality that Hamas terrorism is a considerable factor in the recent unrest and for the terrible conditions in Gaza, we are offering a separate draft resolution (S/2018/520). This draft resolution rightly places responsibility where it belongs.”
2018-06-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8274 (2018) · source
“It is Hamas that openly calls for the destruction of the State of Israel. It is Hamas that refuses to cooperate with the Palestinian Authority to unite in the pursuit of peace. And yet Kuwait's draft resolution makes no mention of Hamas, none at all. Instead the draft resolution places all the blame on Israel. Kuwait actually blames Israel for Hamas firing rockets onto a kindergarten playground in Israel. It conveniently ignores the fact that there is not one single Israeli settlement or soldier in Gaza - there have not been any since 2005. It ignores the fact that, according to Hamas officials themselves, the majority of those killed by Israeli Defence Forces in recent weeks were members of the Hamas terrorist group, not peaceful civilians.”
2018-06-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8274 (2018) · source
“The terrorist group Hamas bears primary responsibility for the awful living conditions in Gaza. It is Hamas that has served as the de facto Government of Gaza for last ll years. It is Hamas that has consistently diverted humanitarian assistance into military infrastructure, building rockets instead of schools and terror tunnels instead of hospitals. It is Hamas that has attacked the very humanitarian access points into Gaza that are lifelines for the Palestinian people. It is Hamas and its allies that fired rockets - at least 70 of them this week alone, indiscriminately - into Israeli communities. It is Hamas that has incited violent acts at the boundary fence, purposely infiltrating its terrorist fighters among civilians and deliberately using innocent people as human shields.”
2018-06-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8274 (2018) · source
“I congratulate the Russian Federation on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of June. I want to thank the Polish Mission for what it did last to help make everything go smoothly. Before I get started, I would like to clarify for my Kuwaiti colleague that they did not take into account everyone's edits, because we had quite a few, and there were concerns in the Security Council at the fact that Hamas was not mentioned in the draft resolution (S/2018/516). The draft resolution presented by Kuwait represents a grossly one-sided view of what has taken place in Gaza in recent weeks. Anyone who cares about the peace process should vote against it. But make no mistake: regardless of how others choose to vote, the United States will oppose the draft resolution and we will veto it if we must.”
2018-06-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8274 (2018) · source
“That will be the issue of each one of us when they become adults. Those children deserve a brighter future and, in the face of such barbaric violence, the Council's failure to act denies them that future. I do not think any of us could look a survivor of this conflict in the eye and say the right thing to do today was to delay. We must stop making excuses and take real steps to end the conflict instead. I for one cannot justify anything else.”
2018-05-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8273 (2018) · source
“Neither the Intergovernmental Authority on Development nor the African Union have applied consequences for the violators. What we need now is concrete action by the full international community to hold the warring parties accountable. The draft resolution before us today (8/2018/515) is a modest step in that direction. It extends the sanctions regime for 45 days. It demands that the parties fully adhere to the cessation of hostilities. We hope they seize this opportunity for the sake of the South Sudanese people. This is a draft resolution that we should all support. We urge Council members to use this time to think about the reality of life in South Sudan. I have said often that my fear when it comes to South Sudan is that the children are growing up uneducated, unskilled and resentful.”
2018-05-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8273 (2018) · source
“The status quo is unacceptable. It is long past time for all of us to demand better for the South Sudanese people. I for one went to South Sudan with an open mind. I had a genuine conversation with President Salva Kiir, and since then all we have been asked to do is wait. We are told more time is necessary for talks, or more time is necessary before the Council will be able to impose sanctions. But all we see on the ground is more fighting and more atrocities. Last December the parties in South Sudan signed the agreement on the cessation of hostilities. A few days ago they supposedly recommitted to that agreement with church leaders. So far, those are just words on paper. The parties have violated that agreement from day one.”
2018-05-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8273 (2018) · source
“We should be telling them that we will do everything possible to help protect them and stop their suffering. We should be explaining to the people of South Sudan that the Security Council will take decisive action to hold their leaders accountable for those atrocities. We should be putting real pressure on them to end the fighting. The Security Council has not imposed an arms embargo, even though the need is obvious. The Council has not sanctioned a single individual since 2015, even as the violence associated with the renewed civil war has killed thousands of people. The South Sudanese Government actually promoted one of the handful of individuals the Council previously sanctioned to the position of Chief of the Defence Forces. That is not just an insult to the Council, it is a farce. The United States has lost its patience.”
2018-05-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8273 (2018) · source
“Armed groups, including Government forces, are assaulting, robbing and slaughtering civilians almost every single day. Four million people have been displaced by fighting, another 2.5 million people have become refugees, and the fighting is getting worse. Multiple United Nations special representatives described in a statement what has happened in recent weeks. "Testimonies indicate that women and girls of all ages have been subjected to rape, including pregnant women, lactating mothers and girls as young as 4-years-old." In another case, young soldiers attacked the island of Meer in former Unity state. Women, children and the elderly were slaughtered. Other civilians drowned while trying to flee, including children. Again I would ask, what would each of us say to those people?”
2018-05-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8273 (2018) · source
“What would members of the Security Council say if they were sitting across the table from a rape survivor in a protection-of-civilians site? What would they say to the countless women who had to witness their own husbands and children being shot right in front of them? What would they say to the two brothers who were forced to watch as those fighters gang-raped their mother and then were forced to actually take turns shooting at their mother until she was dead? Those are not hypotheticals. Those are the stories of real people whom I saw and heard when I visited South Sudan. That is the sad reality because the leaders of South Sudan have failed to protect them. Those stories are not exceptional. Those kinds of horrific abuses happen all too frequently in South Sudan.”
2018-05-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8273 (2018) · source
“To allow Hamas to continue to get away with its terrorist acts and to somehow expect Israel to sit on its hands when it is attacked is the height of hypocrisy. To continue to condemn Israel without even acknowledging what is actually coming from the leaders of Gaza makes me question who actually cares about the welfare of the Palestinian people. The Palestinian people deserve a better life. That can happen only if we acknowledge and reject the terrorist actions of Hamas and if we encourage more responsible Palestinian leadership. All responsible parties should be encouraging both sides to come to the negotiating table for the well-being of the Israelis and the Palestinians.”
2018-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8272 (2018) · source
“We note reports today that Hamas has unilaterally declared a ceasefire. We hope that the ceasefire holds and that there are no more rocket attacks. But the fact that Hamas can even declare a ceasefire is further confirmation of its responsibility for those attacks in the first place. When we consider the situation in Gaza, this is what the Security Council should address. It is outrageous for the Security Council to fail to condemn Hamas rocket attacks against Israeli civilians while the Human Rights Council approves sending a team to investigate Israeli actions taken in self-defence. I urge the members of the Security Council to exercise at least as much scrutiny when it comes to the actions of the Hamas terrorist group as it does to Israel's legitimate right of self-defence.”
2018-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8272 (2018) · source
“The Palestinian people of Gaza are facing desperate humanitarian hardships. We want to help address their needs. We support Special Coordinator Mladenov's engagement to restart initiatives that could improve conditions in Gaza. But here again, we must look at the destructive actions of Hamas. In recent weeks, Hamas militants have repeatedly assaulted the Kerem Shalom border crossing - the biggest lifeline for basic humanitarian goods into Gaza. In its attacks yesterday, Hamas rockets damaged three power lines, knocking out electric power to tens of thousands of Palestinians. Those monstrous actions demonstrate complete disregard for the people of Gaza. Apparently, it is not enough for Hamas to incite military responses to its acts of terrorism. Hamas also feels compelled to increase the suffering of the people in Gaza.”
2018-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8272 (2018) · source
“All of those acts are indivisible parts of a single strategy. That strategy is to do as much damage as possible to Israel and to provoke a response in self-defence that will create international condemnation of Israeli actions. Secondly, the actions of Hamas prove the falsehood of the idea that the people of Gaza require international protection. The people of Gaza do not need protection from an external source. The people of Gaza need protection from Hamas. It is the actions of Hamas that are putting Gazans in grave danger. The indiscriminate attacks by Hamas against Israel inevitably bring about a response. As I have asked my colleagues before, I will ask them again today: Who among us would accept 70 rockets launched into their country? We all know the answer to that question: no one would.”
2018-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8272 (2018) · source
“I am very interested in how my colleagues respond when the attacks are directly against Israel. These attacks are a clear escalation of violence and take no steps whatsoever to protect against civilian casualties. In fact, the entire desired outcome of the attacks is to maximize civilian casualties. There are a couple of major conclusions to be drawn from that disconnect. First, this outrageous terrorist attack proves what we have consistently maintained, namely, that the stated purpose of Hamas is the destruction of Israel. That is its purpose when it fires rockets into Israel. That is its purpose when it builds terror tunnels underneath Israeli territory. And that is its purpose when it orchestrates Violent protests and riots at the boundary fence, calling for a march for return.”
2018-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8272 (2018) · source
“That rocket attack was indiscriminate, aiming to cause as much civilian death and destruction as possible. There were several injuries but, thank goodness, there were no deaths. But the mere fact that one of the rockets landed on a kindergarten playground is all the proof we need of the intentions of the terrorists. The horrifying damage that could have been done is unthinkable. Unlike some situations we deal with here in the Security Council, where guilty parties claim mistaken identity or lack of evidence of responsibility, this is clearly not the case. Hamas openly claims responsibility for that attack. They do so proudly. Their only regret is that the attack did not kill anyone. The Security Council has always been quick to pounce on Israel, regardless of the facts or the circumstances.”
2018-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8272 (2018) · source
“We called for this meeting under the agenda item "Threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts", but we were blocked again. Apparently, some Council members did not think that Hamas launching rockets qualified as terrorism. The United States begs to differ. We all know that certain actions in and around Gaza receive an enormous amount of attention, both here in the Security Council and throughout the international media. Strangely, other actions do not receive nearly the attention that they deserve. What happened yesterday is one such action that calls out for attention and condemnation. The facts are clear. On 29 May, Hamas and an allied militant group fired at least 70 rockets and mortars from Gaza into Israel.”
2018-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8272 (2018) · source
“I thank Special Coordinator Mladenov for his briefing. The United States called this meeting today to talk about the dangerous and destructive activities of the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip. One might think that the rest of the Security Council would join us in condemning a terrorist organization like Hamas. There should not be any debate about this. But of course, because this attack involves Israel the standard is different. The United States drafted a Security Council statement that would have condemned Hamas for launching rockets and endangering civilians. This should have been a no-brainer. One would think no one would want to side with Hamas when it comes to condemning rocket launches, but the statement was blocked.”
2018-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8272 (2018) · source
“Now Iraq's leaders have the hard task of assembling their Government and showing that they can deliver on the high expectations of their people. The United States will be ready to support Iraq in achieving that goal.”
2018-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8271 (2018) · source
“The United States will closely follow that progress. This month we will also launch the most substantial review by the Security Council of the UNAMI mandate in years. The new mandate will be more focused, responsive to the needs of the Iraqi people and tailored to address the current challenges in Iraq. The United Nations must target the areas where Iraq needs the greatest support, such as political reconciliation, the delivery of humanitarian aid and support to Government institutions to provide basic services. Iraq's achievements in defeating ISIS and carrying out elections deserve our collective recognition and praise. Iraq has taken major strides towards a more stable, secure and democratic future.”
2018-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8271 (2018) · source
“The United States looks forward to a partnership with the next Iraqi Government that will allow us to address these threats, combat terrorism and strengthen the independence of Iraq's institutions. Just as Iraq is starting a new chapter, the United Nations and its Mission in Iraq must adapt too. Last year, the Security Council requested that the United Nations carry out external assessment of UNAMI. The review team came back with a long list of recommendations. Many are quite technical, but they add up to an important vision for reform, one that would make UNAMI more efficient and better at coordinating among the many different United Nations agencies that operate on the ground. Now the responsibility falls to the Secretary-General to fully carry out the recommendations and keep the Council informed on the progress made on them.”
2018-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8271 (2018) · source
“It will also be vital for the Government to respect and promote human rights. Especially after the crimes of ISIS, Iraqis must be confident that their leaders will uphold the rule of law and pursue accountability for atrocities. One important part of that effort will be the work carried out by the United Nations and Iraq under resolution 2379 (2017) to collect evidence of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide by ISIS. That collaboration could serve as a model on how to achieve justice throughout Iraq. There is no question that Iraq is in a tough neighbourhood. Surrounded by serious threats, Iraq must be a force for stability in the region.”
2018-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8271 (2018) · source
“The next Government will have to decide whether Iraq is serious about elevating female leaders, and it will be responsible for governing inclusively. That means setting policies that allow Iraq to close the door on the extremism and the sectarian politics that have caused so much suffering before. Iraq's next Government has its work cut out for it. Bold leadership will be required. Government formation is a challenging process, but once it is complete, the United States will stand ready to support Iraq as it continues moving towards a more peaceful and prosperous future. As Iraq emerges from the shadow ISIS terror, the Government has to focus on getting the basics right. Keeping the lights on and paving roads may seem like small steps, but delivering such services will be essential for the credibility of the new Iraqi Government.”
2018-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8271 (2018) · source
“With the support of the United States and other coalition allies, Iraqis have taken their country back. Displaced persons are returning to their homes and beginning to rebuild. Most importantly, Iraqis have successfully conducted national parliamentary elections. Iraqi security forces went from taking territory back from ISIS to protecting polling places in just a few short months. Government-formation talks are already under way. This is a key moment in Iraqi history. Iraq's next Government is going to make a series of important decisions that will set Iraq's course for decades to come. It will fall to Iraq's next Government to decide whether to truly value diversity and create opportunities for all of Iraq's people, including some of Iraq's most vulnerable citizens, in towns and villages far from Baghdad.”
2018-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8271 (2018) · source
“I would like to thank the briefers for their statements. I especially want to express our gratitude to Mr. Kubis, for his three years of service in leading the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) through what has been a very challenging period. Just three years ago, Iraq was in a very different place. The Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham (ISIS) controlled Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, and it captured territory stretching to within 30 minutes of Baghdad. ISIS fighters were committing unspeakable atrocities against Iraqis, including selling women into sexual slavery and murdering religious minorities. They were using their safe haven to plan attacks against the West. But that was three years ago. Today Iraq is liberated.”
2018-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8271 (2018) · source
“The tragedy of Joseph is joined by many others in Ukraine - we will not forget his sacrifice, just as Ukrainians will not forget the death and suffering of so many of their people. All those who respect and are committed to defend the United Nations and its Charter must join us in demanding justice for Joseph and for all of the victims in Ukraine.”
2018-05-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8270 (2018) · source
“Until Russia pulls its forces out of eastern Ukraine and honours its Minsk commitments, our sanctions in response to its flagrant misconduct in the eastern part of the country will stay in place. The United States, in close partnership with France, Germany and Ukraine, is weighing options to bring peace to eastern Ukraine. However, Russia has refused to engage meaningfully, and our efforts have been stalled since January. On 23 April 2017, Joseph Stone - an American - was working as a paramedic in eastern Ukraine. He was serving with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine in an area under Russian control. His vehicle was hit by an anti-tank mine. Joseph was killed.”
2018-05-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8270 (2018) · source
“Russia needs to withdraw its military forces and equipment, call on its proxies to honour the ceasefire and fulfil its commitments under the Minsk agreements. In Crimea, Russia needs to withdraw from the peninsula and restore it to Ukrainian control in line with Moscow's multilateral and bilateral commitments. Russia can unilaterally fix this wrong, and the first step is acknowledging it. Until Russia ends its outrageous actions in Ukraine, the position ofthe United States will not waver. We condemn in the strongest terms Russia's involvement in eastern Ukraine and its purported annexation of Crimea. Until Russia returns the Crimean peninsula to Ukrainian control, United States sanctions related to the invasion of Crimea will continue.”
2018-05-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8270 (2018) · source
“We strongly support the call of Australia and the Netherlands for Russia to acknowledge its role in the tragedy, to cooperate and bring to account those responsible for shooting down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH-17. Like its role in the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH-17 tragedy, we ask Russia to acknowledge another reality that everyone here knows to be true: Russian soldiers are in Ukraine, not to "protect Russian-speaking Ukrainian nationals", but to impose Russian control on the country. Let me emphasize that there is an urgent reason for making this request: the Russian Government holds the key to solving the crisis in Ukraine. The resolution of this conflict is not only possible; it is profoundly straightforward.”
2018-05-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8270 (2018) · source
“But we know why they are there and we know who sent them. Russian soldiers have been captured by Ukrainian armed forces. Journalists have identified numerous examples of Russian military equipment being used by Russian-led forces in eastern Ukraine. Tragically, that includes the Russia-supplied missile system that shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH-l7 in July 2014 - a civilian aircraft flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur - killing all 298 people on board. The victims include nationals of our Security Council colleagues: 193 citizens of the Netherlands, 10 British citizens and a dual-national American, among others. The families of the victims deserve answers. We welcome last week's update from the international Joint Investigation Team, which has handled this case with professionalism and independence.”
2018-05-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8270 (2018) · source
“Adding to its complicity, the Kremlin has neglected every one of the dozens of previous ceasefire agreements. Russia insults our intelligence by telling us that this is a home-grown internal conflict, but everyone in this Chamber knows better. The militants in eastern Ukraine report directly to the Russian military, which arms them, trains them, leads them and fights alongside them. Russia's combined forces in eastern Ukraine include thousands of tanks, armoured vehicles and heavy artillery. Despite its transparent denials, there is no doubt that Russia is driving the Ukrainian conflict. How do we know? Because the Russian forces work hard to conceal who is directing their actions and paying their wages. They strip patches and insignia off of their uniforms and equipment. They hide their identities behind face masks.”
2018-05-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8270 (2018) · source
“Since then, Russia has pushed into eastern Ukraine, creating a humanitarian crisis that threatens millions. In response to the resulting outcry, Russia signed the Minsk agreements, committed to a ceasefire, committed to countless truces, committed to a withdrawal of heavy weapons and committed to monitors to guarantee all of its commitments. Unsurprisingly, Russia has serially disregarded all of those promises and it has permitted, if not instructed, its forces to detain, threaten and even shoot at monitors, their vehicles, cameras and observation drones. In short, Russia has created a catastrophe of suffering in Ukraine. This is not a frozen conflict. The month of May has seen security conditions worsen, with the increased ceasefire violations, higher civilian casualties and growing military casualties.”
2018-05-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8270 (2018) · source
“Two weeks ago, the President of Poland convened a very important debate in the Security Council (see S/PV.8262) on upholding international law. Many of us talked about the purposes and goals of the United Nations. It was an opportunity to ask ourselves why we are here and what we hope to accomplish. Today's debate effectively answers those questions. The conflict in Ukraine is a textbook example of the direct violation of the sovereignty of one Member State by another Member State. It is precisely the kind of flagrant misconduct this organ was created to address. When Russian forces entered the Crimean capital in 2014, it was a direct violation ofthe Charter ofthe United Nations. Russian forces seized the Parliament building and imposed an illegitimate referendum on the people.”
2018-05-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8270 (2018) · source
“Those Libyans who are holding out from the United Nations process need to understand that they must come to the table. Despite all the insecurity, there is hope. One 24-year-old student named Salim, who participated in the 2011 revolution, recently attended a workshop on reconciliation. Reflecting on his experiences, Salim said: "I refuse to take part in an act of vengeance. That is not what 2011 was all about. And if we can be reminded that our aspiration was freedom and a better life, we might start thinking differently". Salim is right. It is long past time for Libya's leaders to put aside their narrow agendas and instead think about the aspirations of the Libyan people. It is long past time for Libyans to come together around the cause of a stable, unified and democratic Government.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“We urge other donors to step up to meet the needs of Libya's High Commission for National Elections, so that the Government can finish its preparations. On 2 May, terrorists attacked the headquarters of the National Election Commission in Tripoli. We condemn this cowardly attack, which only deepens our commitment to supporting free and fair elections. We recognize the immense courage of the election officials, who continue to report to work despite these threats. They are working to help build a democratic Libya, and they deserve our full backing. It is people like these whom we need to remember in the Security Council. We need support the Libyans who are pushing for peace rather than those who are fighting for their own selfish interests.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“We therefore appreciate the progress that the United Nations has made to prepare for elections. These elections must be well prepared so that we do not end up with any further instability. There is a strong international consensus that for the elections to happen, there needs to be a constitutional basis. The United States stands behind this consensus. Libyan leaders need to commit to both the election process and to respecting the will of the Libyan people. Special Representative Salame must have the space to consult with Libya's leaders on how to move forward with the democratic and inclusive constitutional process. We look forward to hearing more from him on the next steps. Since 2012, the United States has given more than $32 million to support election preparations and the drafting of a new constitution in Libya.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“In the long run, of course, addressing Libya's instability requires a political solution. That is where Special Representative Salame's work is involved. The United States is a firm supporter of the United Nations dialogue. That should be the only mediation process. Separate international initiatives will distract from the efforts of the United Nations and will undermine prospects for national reconciliation. While the United Nations works on talks, all parties must exercise restraint. There should be no unilateral action outside the United Nations process. Political spoilers must stop undermining the dialogue and engage with the United Nations in good faith. As Special Representative Salame has said, the Libyan people are eager for elections to bring an end to interim Governments and political transitions.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“There is strong regional support for the designations, and the evidence showing the involvement of the six people is clear. The United States therefore hopes that the Security Council can move forward with the sanctions designations as soon as possible in order to deter further abuses. In the meantime, we continue to encourage the Government of National Accord to work closely with international agencies so as to assist vulnerable migrants and refugees. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have done good work. They are helping to repatriate migrants in a safe and voluntary manner from detention facilities and to assist those with claims to protection. The IOM and UNHCR must be able to continue those important efforts.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“Those who torture migrants and refugees profit from smuggling. They use such profits to undermine the authority of Government institutions. Those ruthless smugglers threaten Libya's peace and security. This time, the Security Council is in a position to respond and to live up to its responsibilities. The Council is considering sanctions against six individuals involved in migrant smuggling and human trafficking in Libya. Those designations would be an important step towards holding the perpetrators of abuses accountable. We regret that the Security Council has not yet reached consensus on such designations. Failing to move forward with the designations would be a travesty in the face of so much global outrage over such abuses.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“Last year, a horrific video emerged that captured the world's attention. It showed migrants being sold into slavery in Libya. It was sick and inhumane. There is no place in our world for slavery. We must never tolerate the conditions that could allow such a barbaric practice to occur. Sadly, human rights abuses against migrants occur all too frequently in Libya. One desperate survivor of a Libyan detention facility told Doctors Without Borders recently: "I have endured two months, three weeks, one day and 12 hours of hell." We can only imagine how many thousands of migrants are enduring their own hell in detention facilities right now. The crisis calls for the immediate action of the Security Council. The groups that are responsible for those abuses are the same ones that are destabilizing Libya.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“I would like to thank Special Representative Salame and the Ambassador of Sweden for their briefings. The United States stands fully behind the efforts to help to bring peace to Libya. The Libyan people have waited more than seven years for a better future. After rising up against one of the world's most brutal tyrants, the promise of Libya's revolution remains unfulfilled. The stakes for international peace and security are high. Libya's insecurity does not affect only Libyans. Groups such as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant have taken advantage ofthe conflict to put down roots. Loose arms from Libya are fuelling violence from the Sahel to the Sinai. Brutal militias conspire with criminal gangs to smuggle migrants to Europe. The lawlessness in Libya is an issue that concerns us all.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“The time has come to recall the fundamental purpose of the United Nations, and for the sovereign peoples who make up the United Nations to come together to take meaningful action to fulfil it.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“It is the inability of the Council to follow up, especially when it comes to human rights and humanitarian issues, that allows suffering to continue. It is that inability to act that erodes our credibility and makes it more likely that more people will suffer in the future. I once again thank the President of Poland for calling for this critical debate. There are so many places in the world where human dignity and well-being are under assault today. There is much more good work that we could be doing. As I mentioned earlier, the reasons for our failures are often obvious, but the Security Council's continued paralysis in the face of so much suffering is unacceptable. It should be unacceptable to all of us. We have accepted this mandate. We have the tools necessary to follow through.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“But here is the thing: joining the United Nations and pledging to abide by the words of the Charter represent an act of sovereign peoples and sovereign nations, an act that is freely chosen. Governments cannot use sovereignty as a shield when they commit mass atrocities, spread weapons of mass destruction or perpetrate acts of terrorism. In such instances the Security Council must be prepared to act. That is why we are here. That is why the Council has such wide-ranging authority to impose sanctions, establish tribunals and authorize the use of force. We have those tools because the people who drafted the Charter realized that there might be times when the Council needs to resort to its broad authority under Chapter VII.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“The Security Council has been increasingly outspoken and demanding where respect for human rights and international humanitarian law is concerned. That is important, but the challenge that remains is a familiar one - it is follow-through. Human rights violations and abuses, and humanitarian needs, have only increased on our watch, and our response has been completely inadequate. Some argue that the Security Council has no business in a nation's domestic disputes. A nation's sovereignty, they argue, precludes any outside action, even when people are suffering and abused and that nation's neighbours feel the consequences. We too recognize and cherish our sovereignty and that of other nations.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“In many places, those missions are the first to know about human rights violations and abuses. We need to support them and ensure that they fulfil their role in protecting human dignity. A related issue is the obligations of Member States under international humanitarian law. Here, too, the Security Council has never been clearer about what it expects of parties to conflicts. The Council has adopted resolutions and statements on the protection of civilians, children in armed conflict, medical neutrality and famine in armed conflict. Many of our resolutions addressing conflicts include a demand for unfettered humanitarian access. Many of our sanctions regimes allow for the listing of individuals and groups that obstruct such humanitarian aid.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“Our long-standing national commitment to human rights is why the United States made human rights a key theme of its most recent presidency of the Security Council. Durable peace cannot be separated from respect for human rights. In the past year, the United States has championed a number of efforts to highlight that connection. We have emphasized the connection between the way in which the Iranian, Syrian, Venezuelan and North Korean regimes treat their citizens and the threat to peace and security that those Governments pose internationally. The Security Council has also recognized the connection between human rights and peace. We mandate many of the Council's peacekeeping and political missions to promote human rights and report on human rights violations and abuses.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source