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

“The Preamble to the Charter begins, "We the peoples of the United Nations", echoing the United States Constitution, which begins with "We the people of the United States". Joining the United Nations is an act of sovereign peoples who, as the Preamble says, came together "to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small". In that way, the Charter makes a clear connection between respecting human rights and upholding and promoting peace. Respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual is fundamental to international law. It is also fundamental to the founding values of the United States.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“I thank you, President Duda, for organizing today's important debate. It is not often that we take time to think deeply about why we are here and what we want to accomplish, and I therefore appreciate this opportunity. I would like to welcome Judge Owada, thank him for his briefing and express my deep appreciation for his many years of distinguished service. I thank President Meron for his statement and particularly for his important work on international criminal law. I am also grateful to Ms. Viotti for her remarks. Although this is a debate about international law, it is worth stepping back to think about what the people who wrote the Charter of the United Nations set out to create.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“The United States action yesterday promoted the reality and the desire for peace. It is our sincere wish that the nations of the world will join us in this pursuit of credible, realistic and enduring peace. In conclusion, I want to take a moment to mark the seventieth anniversary of Israel's independence. Here in the Security Council, on behalf of the American people, I congratulate our friends in Israel on the remarkable achievement of 70 years of independence. From humble and desperate beginnings, a proud people have realized the prophet Isaiah's vision of a light unto the nations. May the next 70 years be ones of strength, of hope and of peace.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“Importantly, moving our Embassy to Jerusalem also reflects the reality that Jerusalem is the capital ofIsrael. It has served as Israel's capital since the founding of the State. It is the ancient capital of the Jewish people. There is no plausible peace agreement under which Jerusalem would no longer remain the capital of Israel. Recognizing this reality makes peace more achievable, not less. The United States is prepared to support peace negotiations and a peace agreement in every way. We want nothing more than peace, a peace in which peoples of all faiths are free to worship in Jerusalem, and a peace in which the rights of all people are respected and the future prospects of all people are bright. That peace will only be achieved ifit is rooted in the realities that too many choose to deny.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“Those who suggest that the Gaza Violence has anything to do with the location of the American Embassy are sorely mistaken. Rather, the violence comes from those who reject the existence of the State of Israel in any location. Such a motivation, the destruction of a United Nations Member State, is so illegitimate as to not be worth our time in the Security Council other than the time it takes to denounce it. Yesterday's opening of the American Embassy in Jerusalem is a cause for celebration for the American people. Moving the United States Embassy to Jerusalem was the right thing to do. It reflects the will of the American people. It reflects our sovereign right to decide the location of our Embassy, a right that everyone in the Chamber claims for their own country.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“That is how determined they are to make the lives of the Palestinian people miserable. They light Molotov cocktails attached to kites and attempt to fly them into Israel to cause as much destruction as possible. When asked yesterday why he put a swastika on his burning kite, the terrorist responded, "the Jews go crazy when you mention Hitler". That is what is endangering the people of Gaza. Make no mistake: Hamas is pleased with the results from yesterday. I ask my colleagues here in the Security Council, who among us would accept this type of activity on their border? No one would. No country in the Chamber would act with more restraint than Israel has. In fact, the records of several countries here today suggest they would be much less restrained.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“But let us remember that the Hamas terrorist organization has been inciting violence for years, long before the United States decided to move its Embassy. In recent days multiple news organizations have documented the Hamas incitement in Gaza. They have reported that Hamas maps and social media show the fastest routes to reach Israeli communities in case demonstrators make it through the security fence. They have reported on Hamas messages broadcast over loudspeakers, urging demonstrators to burst through the fence and falsely claiming that Israeli soldiers were fleeing when in fact they were not. The same loudspeakers are used by Hamas to urge crowds to "get closer, get closer to the security fence". Hamas has attacked the Kerem Shalom crossing, the biggest entry point in Gaza for fuel, food and medical supplies.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“However, in the minds of some, today's meeting was not called to discuss any of those examples of Violence in the Middle East. Today's meeting was called to discuss the Violence that some suggest was connected with yesterday's opening ofthe United States Embassy in Jerusalem. For some people, the Embassy opening is said to be a reason to engage in violence. How is that justified? As our President said when he announced the decision in December, the location of our Embassy has no bearing on the specific boundaries of Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem or the resolution of contested borders. It has no bearing on Jerusalem's holy sites. It does not prejudge whatever the parties might negotiate in a peace agreement. It does not undermine the prospects for peace in any way. And yet for some this is supposedly a cause for Violence.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“In recent days, Hamas terrorists, backed by Iran, have incited attacks against Israeli security forces and infrastructure. That is Violence that should occupy our attention too. The common thread in all of that is the destabilizing conduct of the Iranian regime * a regime that insists on promoting violence throughout the Middle East, while depriving its own people of basic human rights. The United States welcomes a discussion on that violence in the Middle East. We welcome discussing the ways we can cooperate with each other to put an end to that Violence. There is far too little discussion in the Security Council on Iran's destabilizing presence in Syria, its promotion of Violence in Yemen, its support for terrorism in Gaza and its dangerous and illegal weapons build-up in Lebanon.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“Today's meeting was called to discuss the issue of violence in the Middle East. We are all concerned about violence in the Middle East. The United States deplores the loss of human life. But there is a lot of Violence throughout the region, and I will note that the double standard is all too common in the Chamber - and working overtime today. Last week, Iranian forces attacked Israeli positions in the Golan Heights by launching rockets from Syria. That was a reckless provocation and an escalation that must be stopped. It is an example of regional Violence that should occupy our attention here in the Security Council. Also last week, Iranian proxy forces in Yemen launched missiles into Saudi Arabia. It was not the first time they have done that. That too is regional violence that should occupy our attention here in the Security Council.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“We should move quickly to adopt a draft resolution that institutes real steps to resolve this enormous and growing humanitarian and human rights crisis. That, too, will be a challenge, as some members of the Council have kept us from taking action for cynical and self-interested reasons. Some undermine the unity of the Council demonstrated during the trip with unhelpful edits that only weaken the Council's message. We have all heard horrifying accounts of what the Rohingya people have suffered, what ethnic cleansing means to those on the ground. Now members of the Council have seen with their own eyes what the crisis has wrought. That leaves us with no choice but to act now.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8255 (2018) · source
“As well, the Burmese Government should provide the media with immediate and unhindered access to Rakhine state, and provide for the protection of press freedoms, including the safety ofjournalists. We once again call on the Government of Burma to release the two Reuters journalists who remain jailed and on trial simply for reporting and documenting atrocities in Rakhin state. The active involvement of the Security Council is essential to bring an end the Rohingya crisis. We know what we need to do. We cannot allow politics and short- term economic interests to keep us from doing what is right. We have unique tools to encourage Burma to take real steps towards resolving this crisis, and we must use them.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8255 (2018) · source
“The United States stands ready to support Burma in addressing both the immediate crisis as well as a long- term solution. A democratic, pluralistic Government that protects the rights of all minority communities, including the Rohingya, is the only sustainable solution. As a sign of good faith, Burma should immediately sign the memorandum of understanding with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the United Nations Development Programme. Burma should also allow the United Nations and all other humanitarian partners immediate and unhindered access into Rakhine state. That is critical to building the confidence of not only the international community, but of the refugees.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8255 (2018) · source
“Burma must also demonstrate respect for the fundamental human rights of the Rohingya, including respecting their freedom of movement and freedom of religion. It must address the conditions that are causing people to continue to flee Rakhine state. Burma needs to do more to address the root causes of the crisis by comprehensively implementing the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, including those related to citizenship. Burma also needs to recognize the scope of the physical and logistical challenges involved in creating the proper conditions for the safe, dignified, voluntary and sustainable return for more than 1 million refugees. No country could handle that challenge alone, and Burma should accept the expert help that the relevant United Nations-mandated agencies have offered.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8255 (2018) · source
“Burma must work with the international community to focus on real solutions. That means focusing its energy on working with the United Nations and others to create the conditions on the ground that will reassure the Rohingya who fled that they will be safe to return in a dignified and voluntary manner. Justice is an essential precondition for the voluntary return of refugees. It is important for Burma to cooperate with credible, independent investigations into reports of atrocities. There needs to be accountability for the perpetrators, including those in the security services. Impunity cannot continue to be the order of the day. As part of that effort, the Burmese Government should allow access to the United Nations fact-finding mission and restore access for the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burma.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8255 (2018) · source
“We cannot allow the refugees to remain in unsafe and unsanitary conditions. The ultimate solution does not lie in Bangladesh. It is for the refugees to return to their homes and their own land. We, the Security Council, must remain focused on creating the conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of the Rohingya people and of all displaced communities to their places of origin in Burma. We were glad to see some cooperation between the Governments of Bangladesh and Burma in achieving that goal, but the ultimate responsibility for creating such conditions rests squarely with Burmese authorities. We appreciate the transparency of the Burmese Government demonstrated during the visit. However, Burma must do far more to accept its responsibilities and take the steps needed to end the crisis.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8255 (2018) · source
“We are thankful to the Government of Bangladesh for everything that it has done to support the Rohingya refugee population and for its willingness to work with the relevant United Nations agencies to meet their needs. International support for humanitarian assistance to the refugees in Bangladesh is more critical now than ever before. We must continue to support them. More than that, we must have the will as a Council to do something now. Time is not on our side. The monsoon season has already begun and is putting hundreds of thousands of refugees at further risk. We must continue to work with Bangladesh and United Nations agencies to ensure that the refugees have what they need as the rain begins to fall, while flooding the land beneath their feet and eroding the hills in which they shelter.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8255 (2018) · source
“I congratulate you once again, Madam President, on your presidency. I thank our colleagues from Kuwait, the United Kingdom and Peru for their work in arranging the visit. I also thank the Governments of Kuwait, Bangladesh and Burma for hosting the Security Council. It was absolutely critical for the Security Council to see at first-hand the crisis in Rakhine state and the challenges facing Rohingya refugees. One of the main reasons for the trip is the continuing disheartening response from the Burmese Government. Judging from the reaction of the Government and the Burmese military, it seems as though they have failed to acknowledge their role in the crisis. That is unacceptable and unsustainable if we are to make any progress in ending the violence in Rakhine state.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8255 (2018) · source
“It is a win for the groups that are willing to endanger civilian populations in order to accomplish their political objectives. It is a loss for the people who play by the rules and seek to minimize, rather than maximize civilian casualties. Anyone who cares about the safety of Lebanese families should condemn that practice. Anyone who cares about the lives of Yemenis or Palestinians should demand accountability for the militants who exploit them. Anyone who truly cares about children in Gaza should insist that Hamas immediately stop using children as cannon fodder in its conflict with Israel. That is an issue that transcends the usual debates in the Chamber. It is quite simply an issue of decency. Humankind itself loses when the barbaric practice of human shields is tolerated and unanswered.”
2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source
“Those who want to reduce civilian casualties in the Middle East must focus their attention on the actors, including non-State actors, who intentionally keep their military infrastructure in close proximity to civilians. The use ofcivilians to intentionally shield otherwise lawful military targets from attack is a war crime. As is so often the case, it is the most vulnerable who pay the price for the use of human shields. Commandeering homes puts families who are already in wae zones at additional risk. Locating rocket launchers next to schools eliminates safe places for children. Putting command posts in the hospital shows complete disregard for the sick, injured and the elderly. Each time ISIS, Hizbullah or Hamas succeeds in using a village, a family or a child to protect its terrorist operations, the use of that grotesque tactic grows.”
2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source
“That is part of Iran's overarching efforts to destabilize the region - efforts that include illegal weapons shipments to Yemen and invading Israeli air space with armed drones from Syrian territory. The second common thread is the dramatic risk to civilians. For those willing to sacrifice the innocent, there is no way to lose. Innocent civilians either provide cover for military infrastructure or they become victims that rally the international media to their cause. Either way, innocent civilians are caught in the crossfire and exploited for illegitimate military and political purposes. All decent nations and responsible militaries seek to minimize civilian casualties in warfare.”
2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source
“Lastly, Hamas has exploited and endangered the very Palestinian people it claims to represent by locating rocket launchers near schools, apartment buildings, hotels, churches and United Nations facilities. It has been less than a year since a Hamas terror tunnel was discovered underneath two schools belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in Gaza. That means that United Nations facilities were being used a cover for Hamas' military infrastructure. I note the threads of commonality that run through those examples. The first is Iran. As usual, Iran is the patron and protector of many of the groups that fight from behind the bodies of innocent civilians. Groups that Iran have sponsored or supported have perfected the tactic of using human shields and have inspired others to do the same.”
2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source
“Its terrorists use schools, hospitals and apartment buildings to shield its war arsenal in Lebanon. In the course of its massive arms build-up, Hizbullah has turned Lebanese villages into military compounds, stationing weapons depots, rocket launchers and command posts in, around and under the civilian population, in blatant defiance of resolution 1701 (2006). Hundreds of Lebanese villages are home to Hizbullah rockets and fighters. There are press reports that every third or fourth house in South Lebanon is in some way being used by Hizbullah to shield its activities. Another example is Yemen. The United Nations has reported that Houthi militants have used Yemeni civilians as human shields.”
2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source
“The use of human shields deliberately gives an advantage to those with no regard for human life and is a disadvantage for those who seek to minimize civilian casualties. The use of human shields is not confined to any one conflict; it is present across the Middle East in virtually every conflict. The Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham (ISIS) routinely used human shields in Iraq. ISIS fighters took advantage of the presence of civilians in their homes, hospitals, schools and mosques. When they were forced out of their positions, ISIS went from door to door rounding up families and forcing them to accompany their fighters as they evacuated their locations. Hizbullah has also endangered civilians by positioning its fighters and its weapons among them.”
2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source
“I have spoken many times about my strong belief that this monthly debate should be used to shed light on the many different sources of conflict and instability in the Middle East. There are, unfortunately, many to choose from, some of which prompt disagreement in the Security Council. But today, I want to address an issue about which there should be no disagreement. That issue is the use of innocent children, women and men as human shields. Tragically, this outrageous practice is reaching epic proportions in the region. A week ago today, the European Parliament passed a resolution condemning Hamas for its use of human shields. We were pleased to see this action. It is difficult to think ofa more cowardly act, even for a terrorist, than hiding behind innocent civilians.”
2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source
“Finally, we would like to thank the Government of Colombia and the Vice-President for all they have done to help the Venezuelans flooding into the country to escape the oppressive Maduro Moros regime. At a time when Colombians have had their hands full consolidating the peace of their own country, they have stepped up to the challenge of helping others. We are grateful not just for their kindness but for the leadership Colombia is showing. The United States is fully committed to supporting Colombia and the implementation of the peace accord. The challenges are real, but the outlook is bright. We look forward to our continued friendship and partnership with a stronger, safer Colombia in the years to come.”
2018-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8238 (2018) · source
“That is another good sign for the peace process. The success of the Peace Agreement is inseparable from our shared efforts against drug trafficking. The United States and Colombia have set a goal of reducing cocaine production and coca cultivation in Colombia by 50 per cent in 2023. We encourage the Government to recognize drug trafficking for the damage it does to the social, economic and security well-being of the country. The Government must accelerate its counter-narcotics effort. FARC should also live up to its obligations to end its involvement in drug trafficking and share any information it has on drug-trafficking routes. Drugs fuelled the conflict in Colombia and eroded its Government and civic institutions. The United States stands ready to continue to assist in the recovery.”
2018-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8238 (2018) · source
“It will also help achieve sustainable solutions to reducing coca cultivation, prevent violence against human rights defenders, and build a strong foundation for lasting peace in Colombia. But peace is a two-way process, and the Fuerza Alternativa Revolucionaria del Comun (FARC) has significant responsibilities too. For peace to succeed, FARC must honour its commitments under the agreement. It must provide compensation to victims of the conflict. Restoring trust in Colombia's institutions after so many years of conflict will be extremely difficult. In fact, it will be impossible ifFARC does not cooperate. FARC must participate fully and honestly in the transitional justice process. During my trip to the region in February, I saw the tremendous role that Colombia is playing to combat drug trafficking in Central America.”
2018-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8238 (2018) · source
“The United States also urges the Government to continue the full implementation of the comprehensive peace plan, which includes efforts to reintegrate former combatants into civilian life. The peace accord provides an important opportunity to address historical land issues that have driven conflict and violence in Colombia. We welcome President Santos Calderon's landmark decree meant to formalize land ownership for more than 2.5 million farmers. Improving access to land is essential to transforming rural livelihoods. Criminal groups and narcotraffickers have dominated rural areas of Colombia for decades. With secure land titles, the Colombian people can provide for their families without feeling beholden to those groups.”
2018-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8238 (2018) · source
“In just over six months, the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejercito del Pueblo (FARC-EP) handed over thousands of weapons and explosives. It has also transformed itself into a political party and participated in elections. For its part, the Government has begun reincorporating thousands of ex-combatants into civilian life. It has established transitional justice institutions. The challenge remains for the Government to expand its presence throughout the country. We cannot allow areas formerly controlled by FARC-EP to fall into the hands of criminals and illegal armed groups. That would undo much of the progress of the peace accord. We encourage the Government to continue efforts to eliminate Colombia's ungoverned spaces.”
2018-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8238 (2018) · source
“I would also like to welcome the participation of the Vice-President of Colombia and presence of the Foreign Minister in the Council. After a week in which the Council had six separate meetings in an effort to stop the bloodshed in Syria, preserving and cultivating an existing peace agreement takes on special meaning. The Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace, which ended five decades of war in Colombia, has created the conditions for the just and lasting peace that Colombians deserve. It was a historic achievement, but peace in Colombia remains an unfinished project. All ofus have a role to play in ensuring that it succeeds. First, we should give credit where credit is due. We have seen significant and visible progress in the early phases of the implementation of the Peace Agreement.”
2018-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8238 (2018) · source
“I believe we all sit here today with a heavy heart because we have lost our brother and friend. Mr. Tanoh-Boutchoue was kind and caring. He always had a smile on his face and his laughter was contagious. I do not know how we come to terms with the fact that we lost him so soon. I have no doubt that he is tellingjokes in heaven. I would like to extend our condolences to the people of cote d'Ivoire and to let them know that we feel their sorrow and pain. He represented them well. With that, I will say that we have lost the sweetest among us. I think that he would always want us to remember the reasons we are here and our goal. I think that that would be the greatest tribute we could pay to his memory. I would like to thank Special Representative Arnault for his briefing.”
2018-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8238 (2018) · source
“Last year, it was Malaysia and Khan Shaykhun. Last month, it was Salisbury. Last week, it was Douma. If we do not come together soon and take a firm unequivocal stance against this deadly trend, the next attack will come, and it could very well come closer to home for one of us. Then, of course, it will be too late - too late for the victims, too late for the wounded survivors, too late for the women and children. This is a matter of basic morality. We cannot in good conscience allow this to continue.”
2018-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8237 (2018) · source
“Whether it be through Russia's direct act or the result of its irresponsibly losing control of the agent, which could be worse, our support for our British friends and colleagues is unwavering. Douma and Salisbury are just the two latest incidents involving the use of chemical weapons around the world. They offer us a reminder that these are weapons of terror. They are indiscriminate. They have no place in the civilized world. We hope our colleagues on the Security Council will join us as they have before in delivering a clear condemnation of the use of a Russian nerve agent on another Member's soil, because unless we stop this now, there will be more death and more scenes that nobody wants to see. There is nothing more troubling than the idea that the use of a weapon of mass destruction becomes routine.”
2018-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8237 (2018) · source
“I will not trade accusations of shameful behaviour with those who have no shame. I will not waste the Security Council's time. I will only say this - the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has released an independent report that confirmed the United Kingdom's lab analysis of the toxic chemical that was used in Salisbury. Three people were seriously injured. Hundreds were exposed. This act was brazen and in complete defiance of the international consensus against the use of chemical weapons. As we have stated previously, the United States agrees with the United Kingdom's assessment that Russia is responsible for the chemical weapons in Salisbury.”
2018-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8237 (2018) · source
“I thank High Representative Nakamitsu for her briefing. I thank my British colleague for keeping the Security Council updated. Last week, the Council met five times to discuss the chemical weapons attack in Douma. Today we are here yet again to talk about chemical weapons. This time it is about a military-grade nerve agent used against two people on British soil. In the constant push of meeting after meeting here in this Chamber, it is easy to lose track of what this means. We are rapidly confronting a frightening new reality. If chemical weapons can appear in a small English town, where might they start appearing next? None of us will be immune from this threat unless we immediately start rebuilding our consensus against chemical weapons. I will not engage in an argument over self-evident facts.”
2018-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8237 (2018) · source
“The Security Council can take steps to address the provocations by the Houthis from ballistic missiles, to promote humanitarian access and to support a return to talks. Those are the goals that we all ought to share. As the Security Council, we should therefore not hesitate to take action to achieve them. That means not being afraid to identify the Houthis and their Iranian patrons by name in future resolutions. That means actually leaning on the parties to negotiate in good faith in the United Nations process. That means responding generously to the United Nations humanitarian appeals and standing by our demands for unfettered humanitarian access. If we do those things, we can lay the groundwork for an enduring political settlement.”
2018-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8235 (2018) · source
“We applaud Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in particular for putting forward almost $1 billion towards the United Nations humanitarian response. As long as the war continues, the parties must be careful how they plan and carry out attacks so as to reduce human suffering on the ground. We have called on all parties to take appropriate measures to mitigate the risk of civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. The United States is working to provide support to the Saudi-led coalition, while minimizing the number of civilian casualties. The Houthis must halt their indiscriminate shelling and ensure that humanitarian aid is delivered without any diversion or delays. The war in Yemen is at a critical turning point. We have a new Envoy, who is ready to promote peace.”
2018-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8235 (2018) · source
“The United States also supports the United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism for Yemen as a tool that helps address the threat of weapons smuggling, while also helping ships with legitimate cargo to reach Yemen. It is vital that the port of Hudaydah remain open to commercial and humanitarian traffic, and we appreciate the steps that the parties have taken to keep the port functioning. Beyond reaching the port, aid workers should be able to move freely throughout the country in order to deliver the humanitarian assistance to those in need. The United States has also joined donors in taking steps to respond to the humanitarian crisis. We have announced nearly $87 million in humanitarian aid to Yemen this fiscal year.”
2018-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8235 (2018) · source
“We hope that all parties, especially the Houthis, see the arrival of Mr. Griffiths as an opportunity to start down a new path. The time is long past for all parties to show flexibility and restraint in the service of a real negotiated settlement. I suspect that if we could hear from ordinary Yemenis, they would send the same message. The United Nations has emphasized the dire humanitarian stakes. The bottom line is that 18 million Yemenis do not know where their next meal will come from. Something has to change. That is why the United States emphasizes once again that all parties must do more to expand access for commercial goods and humanitarian aid to reach the Yemeni people. We are doing our part. We funded four mobile cranes for the port of Al-Hudaydah, which we expect to increase the flow of goods through the port.”
2018-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8235 (2018) · source
“The Houthis did not work out on their own how to build and to fire ballistic missiles more than 1,000 kilometres to hit the Saudi capital. Iran is supporting them. Action by the Security Council to stop the flow of arms to the Houthis would be a step forward in helping to resolve the war. The Houthis must realize that if they continue to use banned weapons of war, the international community will be united in condemning them. The United States supports the ability of our Saudi partners to defend their borders against those threats. In the Council, we will continue to push for real accountability. The Houthis show no sign of stopping their missile launches towards Saudi Arabia. It is imperative that the Security Council come together to make clear that such provocations are unacceptable.”
2018-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8235 (2018) · source
“At the end of March, debris from a Houthi missile attack against the capital of Saudi Arabia killed a civilian. We warned earlier that it was only a matter of time before the Houthi attacks caused civilian casualties in Saudi Arabia. That prediction has now come true. With each day that passes, the risk of greater regional conflict increases. Yet the Security Council has not acted to hold the Houthis and Iran accountable for weapons that violate the arms embargo and resolution 2216 (2015). We all went to Washington, DC, to see the missiles first hand and that the missiles found in Saudi Arabia had originated in Iran. The independent and impartial Panel of Experts on Yemen then corroborated what we showed the Council and affirmed Iran's non-compliance with resolution 2216 (2015). The evidence exists and it is strong.”
2018-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8235 (2018) · source
“Such chaos is the perfect environment for terrorist groups, such as Al-Qaida and the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, to find a safe haven and to plan attacks that could threaten us all. Finding peace is urgent. However, pushing for peace also requires that we do not reward bad behaviour. Iran, and the Houthis in particular, need a much better understanding of our seriousness when it comes to their destabilizing activity. Just because we seek peace does not mean that we look the other way when they take steps to make the war even worse. In order to achieve enduring peace in Yemen, Iran must end its interference and its violations of the arms embargo that the Security Council imposed. Last week, the Houthis launched yet another round of ballistic missiles at Saudi Arabia.”
2018-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8235 (2018) · source
“I thank Mr. Lowcock for his briefing. The delegation of the United States welcomes Special Envoy Griffiths to the Council. He has taken on one ofthe world's most difficult diplomatic assignments and we thank him for it. The United States fully supports his efforts to find a political solution to the conflict in Yemen. We especially appreciate that he has quickly reached out to all of the Yemeni parties involved. We hope that all parties will engage with the United Nations without preconditions going forward. The situation in Yemen is an issue on which it should be easy for all members of the Security Council to agree. Yemen is not Syria. We agree that there needs to be peace in Yemen and that the war has taken a horrifying toll on the Yemeni people. Government services, such as schools, hospitals and clean water, barely exist anymore.”
2018-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8235 (2018) · source
“That failure is largely due to Russian obstruction. We call on Russia to take a hard look at the company it keeps, live up to its responsibilities as a permanent member of the Council, and defend the actual principles the United Nations was meant to promote. Last night, we successfully hit the heart of Syria's chemical weapons enterprise, and because of these actions we are confident that we have crippled Syria's chemical weapons programme. We are prepared to sustain this pressure if the Syrian regime is foolish enough to test our will.”
2018-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8233 (2018) · source
“I spoke to the President this morning, and he said that ifthe Syrian regime should use this poison gas again, the United States is locked and loaded. When our President draws a red line, our President enforces the red line. The United States is deeply grateful to the United Kingdom and France for their part in the coalition to defend the prohibition of chemical weapons. We worked in lock step; we were in complete agreement. Last night, our great friends and indispensable allies shouldered a burden that benefits all ofus. The civilized world owes them its thanks. In the weeks and months to come, the Security Council should take time to reflect on its role in defending the international rule of law. The Security Council has failed in its duty to hold those who use chemical weapons to account.”
2018-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8233 (2018) · source
“Since the April 2017 chemical attack at Khan Shaykhoun, the United States has imposed hundreds of sanctions on individuals and entities involved in chemical-weapons use in Syria and North Korea. We have designated entities in Asia, the Middle East and Africa that have facilitated chemical-weapons proliferation. We have revoked the visas of Russian intelligence officers in response to the chemical attack in Salisbury. We will continue to seek out and call out anyone who uses and anyone who aids in the use of chemical weapons. With yesterday's military action, our message was crystal clear. The United States of America will not allow the Al-Assad regime to continue to use chemical weapons. Last night, we obliterated the major research facility that it used to assemble weapons of mass murder.”
2018-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8233 (2018) · source
“The United States and our allies were not going to let that stand. Chemical weapons are a threat to us all. They are a unique threat - a type of weapon so evil that the international community agreed that they must be banned. We cannot stand by and let Russia trash every international norm that we stand for, and allow the use of chemical weapons to go unanswered. Just as the Syrian regime's use of chemical weapons last weekend was not an isolated incident, our response is part of a new course charted last year to deter future use of chemical weapons. Our Syrian strategy has not changed. However, the Syrian regime has forced us to take action based on its repeated use of chemical weapons.”
2018-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8233 (2018) · source
“We hoped that this diplomacy would succeed in putting an end to the horror of chemical attacks in Syria, but as we have seen from the past year, that did not happen. While Russia was busy protecting the regime, Al-Assad took notice. The regime knew that it could act with impunity, and it did. In November, Russia used its veto to kill the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism, the main tool we had to figure out who used chemical weapons in Syria. Just as Russia was using its veto (see S/PV.8107), the Al-Assad regime used sarin, leading to dozens of injuries and deaths. Russia's veto was the green light for the Al-Assad regime to use these most barbaric weapons against the Syrian people, in complete violation of international law.”
2018-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8233 (2018) · source
“The strikes were carefully planned to minimize civilian casualties. The responses were justified, legitimate and proportionate. The United States and its allies did everything they could to use the tools of diplomacy to get rid of Al-Assad's arsenal of chemical weapons. We did not give diplomacy just one chance. We gave it chance after chance. Six times. That is how many times Russia vetoed Security Council resolutions to address chemical weapons in Syria. Our efforts go back even further. In 2013, the Security Council adopted resolution 2118 (2013), requiring the Al-Assad regime to destroy its stockpile of chemical weapons. Syria committed to abiding by the Chemical Weapons Convention, meaning that it could no longer have chemical weapons on its soil. President Putin said that Russia would guarantee that Syria complied.”
2018-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8233 (2018) · source