YouSaid · the spoken record

Heusgen

lines on the record: 867
first: 2017-10-31
most recent: 2020-11-12
sittings or episodes: 144
sources: un-security-council

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“We must do so by ensuring respect for the rule of law and human rights and that adequate services are rendered to the population. I was struck by the fact that both briefers also referred to climate change and security as a root cause of conflict. As Ms. Mohammed mentioned, climate insecurity leads to intercommunal conflicts, which is also something that must be addressed. With regard to our trip to South Sudan last week, Germany maintains, of course, the same position - as does everyone around this table - on the full implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, with regard to the transitional Government, elections, the Constitution and a constitutional court. Both the President and the leader of the opposition must place their people's well-being before their own.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8650 (2019) · source
“I do not wish to go into the situations of specific countries, but I will say that I share the positive assessment of cooperation in many conflict situations that was given by both briefers with regard to Madagascar, the Central African Republic, the Sudan, Somalia and the Sahel. With regard to the Sahel, I would refer to what Ambassador De Riviere has just said on the German-French cooperation initiative, as well as on United Nations assistance for peace operations mandated by the Security Council and led by the AU. I think that we need to work harder in that area. Turning to cooperation in general, I wish to come back to something that both briefers mentioned. It is important that we work together in considering conflicts to ensure that the root causes are properly addressed.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8650 (2019) · source
“In that context, I would like to highlight two entities that have not yet been mentioned, the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund. We encourage all countries affected by conflict to make use of those institutions. As a member of the European Union I will be forgiven for also mentioning the cooperation that takes place between the European Union and the African Union, as well as trilaterally with the United Nations. What happens in Africa matters to Europe, and Vice versa. We are one another's closest neighbours and therefore this cooperation is very important. We support bilateral and trilateral cooperation between the African Union, the United Nations and the European Union at the strategic, political and tactical levels.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8650 (2019) · source
“I would like to thank both women and the United Nations Office to the African Union in Addis Ababa and the African Union for preparing and conducting last week's field trip, which was very well organized and extremely useful. Cooperation of this kind between the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council is very important, as we saw last week. From my perspective it could become even more concrete, maybe sometimes a bit less formal and more focused on joint analysis, joint action and joint solutions. As the briefers said, the cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations must cover the whole conflict cycle, from prevention through mitigation and mediation to post-conflict reconstruction.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8650 (2019) · source
“It is a pleasure to speak before you today, Madam President, and I thank you for presiding over today's meeting. I also thank the briefers, whose presence here sitting alongside us and each other I see as a symbol, not only of the close cooperation between the African Union (AU) and the United Nations, but also of the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). To have two women leaders here is wonderful, and in that respect we are already seeing the implementation of resolution 2493 (2019), which we adopted yesterday. While that is of course an ongoing process, the joint trips to Africa with the Deputy Secretary-General that Ms. Mohammed mentioned in her statement are a very positive sign.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8650 (2019) · source
“Germany welcomes and supports the intention of the Panel of Experts to review the charcoal ban in 2020, as mentioned, but we believe that the environmental impacts of the charcoal trade, notably the effects of deforestation and worsening roads, should be reflected in this review, as they have had a devastating impact on the population and the development of the country.”
2019-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8647 (2019) · source
“I thank the Belgian Ambassador for his briefing as Chair of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolution 751 (1992) concerning Somalia. I can only echo and underline what the representative of the United Kingdom has just said. Germany continues to fully support the Panel of Experts and its work. We also strongly urge the Government of Somalia to cooperate with the Panel of Experts. The instrument of sanctions against Al-Shabaab is used to support the Somali Government. If such sanctions are to succeed, the Government's cooperation with the Panel is important and should be in the interest of the Government.”
2019-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8647 (2019) · source
“I will be brief. I am not predisposed to get into discussions with our Russian colleague, but I am predisposed to defend international humanitarian law and human rights, and I am doing that in implementation of the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It may not be for me to criticize Chinese positions, but it is for me to uphold international law and international humanitarian law, and the term "international humanitarian law" was not mentioned in either the Russian or the Chinese statement.”
2019-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8645 (2019) · source
“Since our Russian friends are so interested in the reconstruction of the country, I urge them to support the efforts in the Fifth Committee to give the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011 the means that it needs to work on accountability and finally restore peace to Syria.”
2019-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8645 (2019) · source
“There needs to be the installation of a court in South Sudan, which has in fact been agreed upon by the by the Council. Similar measures are also needed in Syria. In another side event a few weeks ago here, we heard from a witness who succeeded in escaping from an Al-Assad prison about the torture that he had to endure - 200,000 people remain in such prisons. There will be no reconciliation and no future for that country if there is no accountability for the crimes that have been committed. Therefore, again, I would appeal for support in that regard.”
2019-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8645 (2019) · source
“Quite to the contrary, we are receiving very well documented reports about targeted strikes against hospitals and civilian infrastructure. Germany participated in a Russian- organized meeting over lunch on the humanitarian situation with an expert from Russia. We asked about matters including the report in The New York Times on 13 October. He did not know anything about it, so we brought a copy of that article and handed it over to Ambassador Nebenzia to study. We have all said that there is no alternative to a political solution. We all agree on that. But what do we need for a political solution? The Council just returned from a trip to South Sudan. We all listened to what civil society had to say: they said that, for reconciliation to happen and peace to be achieved in South Sudan, there needs to be accountability.”
2019-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8645 (2019) · source
“I also want to pick up on Idlib. I heard the report from Assistant Secretary-General Mohamed Khaled Khiari with regard to the increased air strikes and barrel bombs reported in Idlib. That is extremely worrisome. Members will remember that last month the three co-penholders tried to get the Security Council's agreement on a draft resolution (S/2019/756) again linking and counter- terrorism measures to international humanitarian law. Members will remember that we were not successful because Russia and China vetoed that draft resolution (see S/PV.8623). In their statements today, to which I listened very carefully, there was a lot about counter- terrorism but nothing explicitly addressing respect for international humanitarian law.”
2019-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8645 (2019) · source
“You have just reminded me, Mr. President, that the representative of Kuwait already spoke on behalf of the three co-penholders on the humanitarian situation in Syria. I promise to keep my remarks very brief, but I would like to add a couple of points. We are of course extremely worried about the humanitarian situation. I also want to add - since others have mentioned it - that Germany is the second- largest donor of humanitarian aid to Syria. The first of the two points that I want to mention has to do with the worrisome reports we just read about the war crimes that have been committed during the Turkish offensive. Civilians have been targeted, and I can only subscribe to what has been said before about the culprits being brought to justice. Perhaps our Turkish friend can say something about what Turkey is planning in that respect.”
2019-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8645 (2019) · source
“On that issue, we share the view that the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ought to play a key role. To conclude, we support the Special Envoy. Germany stands ready to contribute to his considerations concerning potential adjustments to his mandate.”
2019-10-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8630 (2019) · source
“Thereafter, the Security Council adopted resolution 2467 (2019) to address that issue, and the provisions of that resolution need to be fully implemented. On the economic front, again we support what the Special Envoy said. Cross-border cooperation is vital. The upcoming Kigali conference on trade and investment will be key. In order to promote job creation and more prosperity, there must be good governance. If the rule oflaw does not improve, it will not be possible to attract investors. On the humanitarian front, we share the concerns expressed by other colleagues with respect to financing. This year, Germany will provide â‚¬66 million for humanitarian efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the broader region. The Ebola situation is having a ripple effect on the humanitarian and security situation.”
2019-10-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8630 (2019) · source
“Action against corruption and impunity is also essential, and we need to strengthenjustice in all countries of the region. With regard to the participation of young people and women, I can only endorse what my Polish colleague said on those issues just a few minutes ago. As the written report of the Secretary-General spells out, sexual violence continues to rage. As has been noted, a large part of that sexual violence is committed by the security forces. That needs to be acknowledged and addressed. Mr. Xia was not here then, but in April the Noble Peace Prize laureate Dr. Mukwege spoke before the Council (see S/PV.8514) and described the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He also spelled out what needed to be done to address it.”
2019-10-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8630 (2019) · source
“Everyone has already highlighted the continuing crimes and attacks perpetrated by armed groups, the forced displacement of persons and the illegal trade in natural resources. If those developments continue, they risk derailing the positive dynamic. Looking forward, we share Mr. Xia's priorities, particularly on the need for a comprehensive approach of which he spoke. In that connection, one point that has been flagged by many around the table is key - good governance. On that particular point, Germany echoes what was said by our American and British colleagues on the elections in Burundi, which we believe will be crucial for the development of that country. Respect for human rights, as Mr. Xia said, is absolutely vital. People need to be at the heart of efforts going forward.”
2019-10-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8630 (2019) · source
“Mr. Heusgen (Germany) (Spoke in French): At the outset, Germany welcomes the new Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region, Mr. Huang Xia, to the Council and pledges its support for his work. We share his conclusions and those of the Secretary-General's report (S/2019/783), especially with respect to the improvement of the cross-border situation and the positive rapprochement he spoke of. We also share the view that it is largely due to President Tshisekedi that we were able to achieve that cooperation. Germany also supports and encourages the ongoing regional efforts and rapprochement, as well as intensifying regional cooperation. In his briefing, he underlined the remaining challenges. I will touch upon them briefly.”
2019-10-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8630 (2019) · source
“Let me conclude by saying that there were a few operational proposals; one of them was to have more youth briefers, not only today but also on other subjects. When Germany held the presidency in April, we had a few young briefers, and I want to remind the Council about the young Syrian girl with disabilities who had fled in her wheelchair from Syria to Germany (see S/PV.8515). She was a very impressive young woman. I heard, and I want to stop at this, a proposal put forward by Ms. Gawanas with regard to an expert group or informal working group on youth. Maybe this is not the right time or place, but perhaps she could explain at some stage how such a group would make a difference. Would this be a group where young people are actually sitting around the table, or would it once again be us old men sitting around the table discussing it?”
2019-10-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8629 (2019) · source
“We listened to Victor Ochen when in his statement he mentioned a youth who said that his gun was his life. This is a huge problem, and we have to do to change this. How can this be done? It can be done by trying to stop the production of weapons and the prohibition of firearms. Short of this, forbid the export of arms and in particular stop arms deliveries to crisis and conflict regions. Instead of financing arms, one should finance books, education or other projects. Ijust want to highlight one project that Germany is supporting in Bamako, in which young people are encouraged and supported to engage in cultural activities such as hip-hop, rap and modern dance; Jerry is invited there. This strengthens their role in society and provides alternatives to what extremists and violent groups offer.”
2019-10-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8629 (2019) · source
“I have mentioned here several times already the 2017 United Nations Development Programme study "Journey to extremism in Africa", in which it is very clearly spelled out that bad governance, the absence of the rule of law and a lack of education and economic opportunities lead young people into extremism, so good governance is key. Concerning the nexus with inequality, the German youth delegates put inequality at the top of their list. As to the nexus with climate change, we are very happy that she picked this up, because we, too, believe that this is very important, and we heard a lot about it last week. The last point I wanted to pick up from her statement was the need to replace bullets with books. That is one of the key points in the demands of the German youth delegates; this is about weapons.”
2019-10-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8629 (2019) · source
“We have also presented to Member States what we do in the western Balkans on small-arms control so as to transfer our experience in that area to African countries. Germany also provides protection and basic services to those particularly threatened and who have been Victims of conflict in the Lake Chad region, with support projects by Plan International aimed at providing psychosocial support to young survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. We support Special Representative of the Secretary-General Gamba and her efforts to reintegrate child soldiers into society. This is for us a very important precondition for sustainable peacebuilding. I would like to go back to Ms. Aya Chebbi. She listed a number of nexuses, and I would like to start with her first one, the nexus with governance.”
2019-10-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8629 (2019) · source
“We are including in this statement what these young people have to say. First, I want to start where my colleague from Cote d'Ivoire left off, namely, with regard to the African Union. Germany fully supports the African Union Silencing the Guns by 2020 initiative. It is very positive that the Council endorsed it, but 2020 is just around the corner and a lot of work remains to be done in the fight against the proliferation of weapons and ammunition, which, after all, is the hard fuel of conflicts. The fight against the proliferation of weapons and disarmament is also a priority for members of the Security Council. We partner in concrete terms with the African Union to cut the flows of arms and ammunition to fragile States, and we are training a new generation of experts to take the lead in arms control.”
2019-10-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8629 (2019) · source
“I therefore very much appreciate the fact, Sir, that you are now once again putting the emphasis on youth, particularly on young people as drivers of change. In the briefings of the four youth briefers, we heard numerous examples in which young people are already engaged. I listened carefully to what Ms. Aya Chebbi, African Union Special Envoy on Youth, had to say with regard to concrete examples in which young people are already drivers of change. We have to make it a general practice that, whenever we have negotiations, women and youth are included. As we were preparing our statement today, we took on board what the German youth delegates to the United Nations had prepared. We are very happy to have not only African Union youth representatives here in the Chamber, but also German youth delegates.”
2019-10-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8629 (2019) · source
“First of all, we congratulate you, Mr. President, on assuming the presidency of the Security Council, and Germany greatly appreciates the fact that you will leave us free at least a few weekends during the month. In this regard, I appreciate what Mr. Vassily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation, did in the presidency last month. With regard to the topic at hand, it is greatly appreciated that South Africa put it at the top of its agenda. I do not know if it was done intentionally just one week after we witnessed several hundred thousand young people on the streets of New York City, when Greta Thunberg and many other young people were at the United Nations to express their will, enthusiasm and initiatives for combating the huge problem of climate change.”
2019-10-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8629 (2019) · source
“I would also underline that accountability for all the crimes that have been committed in the country remains important; we cannot allow impunity to continue or to gain ground. Let me end briefly by echoing what my British colleague said earlier: that we, including Kuwait, Belgium and Germany, tried very hard to get the Idlib draft resolution (S/2019/756) adopted here (see S/PV.8623). It was a very simple draft that asked that all counter-terrorism measures respect international humanitarian law; I must say that it was very sad that China and Russia vetoed it, given that 12 countries stood firmly behind it and wanted to send this humanitarian message to the people of Idlib.”
2019-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8628 (2019) · source
“We hope that the establishment of the Committee will now allow the door to be opened to a broader political process - and here I can only echo what others, including Jerry and the representative of Poland, have said - that in this political process, a political solution can be achieved in this conflict only if Syrian women are fully involved in and participate in all the processes, which have to result at some stage in free, fair and credible elections. Again, I would like to echo what many have said before. As Geir said, it is now time for action. I think that the release from prison of women, children, handicapped persons and the elderly would send a very good signal and contribute to this new social contract.”
2019-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8628 (2019) · source
“As others have said, this is a first step, and the proof ofthe pudding is in the eating, so we have to see that the Constitution actually works. It is very important that all parties be fully committed to this process, including, in particular, the Syrian regime. What is very important is that Committee members be able to exercise their mandate free from threats and intimidation, including concerning their families. I would agree with what Jerry just said to the effect that the Council should accompany this process. The representative of Kuwait has proposed that we prepare a statement; Germany would support a statement by the Council endorsing the work of the Committee and giving more weight to what has been achieved. Of course, this is not the only thing we need.”
2019-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8628 (2019) · source
“I can be brief, as much has already been said. I wish to start by thanking the presidency of the Russian Federation for this month of work. Your country, Mr. President, did a very goodjob and you are very good diplomats. I will return to Russia a little later. I would like to thank Mr. Geir Pedersen for his work and his tireless efforts. His insistence has paid off. I thank him very much for his briefing. Ijust want to repeat one sentence. He said that the Constitutional Committee is a promise to the Syrian people for a new social contract and to achieve that, we must overcome the deep divisions in the population and build trust and confidence. I hope the work that is now starting will achieve this.”
2019-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8628 (2019) · source
“We believe that only a two-State solution could fulfil the aspirations of Israel and Palestine - Palestine's aspirations for statehood and sovereignty and Israel's aspirations to live in peace as a democratic Jewish State. I again thank Mr. Mladenov for his report. His conclusion was quite depressing, as he spoke about the deteriorating situation and grim future. We believe that we must not stop trying to work towards the implementation of resolution 2334 (2016) to ensure the well-being of Palestinians and the security of Israel, to which Germany remains committed.”
2019-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8625 (2019) · source
“Germany believes that the implementation of resolution 2334 (2016) would be best for the coexistence ofIsrael and Palestine and the well-being oftheir people. For once, let us just imagine that we had implemented resolution 2334 (2016) in 2016. There would be no more settlement activities, no announcements about annexation, no acts of terrorism, no violence against civilians, no incitement, no provocative actions and no inflammatory rhetoric. There would be no firing of rockets from Gaza into Israel by Hamas and others. If resolution 2334 (2016) had been implemented in 2016, I am sure we would now be following real negotiations for a two-State solution, based on internationally agreed parameters.”
2019-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8625 (2019) · source
“I, too, would also like to welcome Nickolay Mladenov and the representatives of Israel and Palestine. We would like to say a few special words to the Foreign Minister of Jordan. We consider Jordan to be the key pole of stability in the region. I welcome the Foreign Minister to today's meeting. The last time I spoke to the Council (see S/PV.8623), I highlighted the importance of and need for respect for the rule of law and the implementation of international law. We believe that respect for international law is best for the harmonious coexistence of countries and the well-being of their people. Resolution 2334 (2016) is part of international law. It is a binding resolution that was adopted by the Council three years ago. There was no objection to it.”
2019-09-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8625 (2019) · source
“The draft resolution was not adopted, but our work and our responsibility do not end here. We will continue to use the instruments of the Council to address the most urgent humanitarian issues in Idlib and other places in Syria. Let us join our efforts as we look ahead to the renewal of the cross-border mechanism at the end of the year. The mechanism is crucial for the survival of millions of Syrians. Being united on this upcoming issue is the least that we can do for the Syrian people, who have suffered greatly for the past eight years. Finally, there is no military solution to the crisis in Syria. The only solution is a political one based on resolution 2254 (2015) and the 2012 Geneva communique (S/2012/522, annex). We reiterate our strong support for the efforts of Special Envoy Geir Pedersen.”
2019-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8623 (2019) · source
“Unfortunately, that was not acceptable to some. On the other hand, we saw another initiative put forward only yesterday without any transparent process. It was neither shared nor negotiated beforehand. We have seen such tactics in the past and regret their use. They can never lead to the unity in the Council that is so desperately needed. In terms of content, the other initiative does not focus on the protection of civilians or on human suffering and it does not prevent a humanitarian catastrophe - core issues the Council has to address. Assistant Secretary-General Ursula Mueller, in her briefing this morning (see S/PV.8622), clearly described what all this is about. She gave us numbers and examples in a bid to measure a humanitarian disaster. We promise today that we will not stop here.”
2019-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8623 (2019) · source
“We were aiming for a focused text, built around clear humanitarian objectives, namely, the cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians and the alleviation of human suffering. We received plenty of support for our initiative and thank everyone who has supported our efforts, especially those Council members that voted in favour of draft resolution S/2019/756. Other members did not support us, and we regret that. Divisions are visible and ongoing. We tried hard in recent days to bridge gaps, which revolved around the issue of counter-terrorism. While we all stand firm in our resolve to combat terrorism, we once again reiterate our position that counter-terrorism operations do not absolve parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law. That is what we tried to reflect in the draft resolution we put forward.”
2019-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8623 (2019) · source
“I take the floor again on behalf of the humanitarian co-penholders on Syria - Kuwait, Belgium and Germany. As caretakers of the humanitarian situation in Idlib, we are deeply disappointed with the result of the voting. Once again, the Security Council will not be able to fulfil its duty to protect the lives of 3 million people, mainly women and children, in Idlib governorate. How can we explain to them and the world that, even on a purely humanitarian draft resolution, no consensus could be reached? We the co-penholders tried to achieve consensus among the members of the Council. As an honest broker, we tried to reach out and engage in a transparent and constructive manner.”
2019-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8623 (2019) · source
“We are well aware that there is another initiative on the table, which was neither shared nor discussed with the majority of Council members in advance. No round of negotiations took place. That contravenes what is agreed in paragraphs 80 and 81 ofnote 507 (S/2017/507), which clearly states that the drafting of resolutions should be carried out in an inclusive manner, enabling the participation of all Council members, ensuring that penholders can engage in timely consultations with Council members, and allowing for the convening of at least one round of informal consultations. Furthermore, the focus of this other project is different and provides an insufficient reflection of the complexity of the situation we are faced with in Idlib today.”
2019-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8623 (2019) · source
“We remain convinced that the Council cannot stay silent and must act. That is why we have submitted this humanitarian draft resolution (8/2019/756) calling for a cessation of hostilities. We negotiated the draft resolution in a transparent manner and with a thorough process, and engaged extensively and in good faith with all Council members on the text. The outcome of those negotiations is now before the Council. We believe that the draft resolution is balanced, has a purely humanitarian focus and also acknowledges that counter-terrorism measures must be taken in accordance with international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution. The Council has a clear responsibility to fulfil today. Many lives are at stake. We need to do all we can to live up to our obligations.”
2019-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8623 (2019) · source
“I speak on behalf of the co-penholders on the humanitarian situation in Syria - Belgium, Germany and Kuwait. For the past few months, we have endeavoured to draw the attention of the Security Council to the plight of the civilians in Idlib. We have taken an incremental approach to this matter, first, convening closed consultations, followed by formal meetings, and then attempts to issue press elements and a press statement. However, it has proven impossible to reach agreement in this Chamber on any public statement of the Security Council. All the while, the violence in Idlib has continued over the past month and has led to the displacement of more than half a million civilians and the deaths of more than 1,000 people. It has caused extensive damage to medical and educational facilities, as well as other civilian infrastructure.”
2019-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8623 (2019) · source
“The United Nations has repeatedly stated that there is no other way to provide support for those civilians. The continuation ofthe mechanism is essential to alleviating human suffering, as the Assistant Secretary-General indicated this morning.”
2019-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8622 (2019) · source
“In the south, 2.8 million people require humanitarian assistance. In Rukban, we continue to call for a sustainable solution for the thousands of people there. In Al-Hol camp, where over 70,000 people still receive humanitarian assistance, the situation remains of deep concern, especially as women and children 4 who make up more than 90 per cent of the camp's population - are highly vulnerable and need specific protection. We welcome the composition and the start of work of the Board of Inquiry. It is important to conduct a quick and thorough investigation of the incidents that took place, in particular the attacks on facilities identified under the de-confliction mechanism. The cross-border mechanism, renewed under resolution 2449 (2018), remains a critical lifeline for millions of Syrians, particularly in the north-west.”
2019-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8622 (2019) · source
“It also emphasizes that counter-terrorism operations must be in compliance with international humanitarian law; respect the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution; and distinguish between the civilian population and combatants. Civilians must never be the victims of a fight against terrorism. We hope that our draft resolution will gain the support ofthe entire Council, especially as its objective is purely humanitarian. The Council must speak up in a united manner to address the immense human suffering faced by the civilian population of Idlib. We call for the Council to urgently take a unified stance in support of our humanitarian draft resolution. We are also extremely concerned by the situation in other areas of Syria, which was also highlighted by the Assistant Secretary-General.”
2019-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8622 (2019) · source
“Over 1,000 civilians have been killed. Hospitals, schools, and locations of internally displaced persons have been targeted and destroyed by bombardments. If this situation does not move the Council to take action, what will? That is why today we will be voting on a draft resolution proposed by the Syria humanitarian co-penholders - Kuwait, Belgium and Germany. We have been negotiating this text in an inclusive, transparent and thorough manner for the past few weeks with all Council members. The aim of the text is purely humanitarian - it intends to protect the civilian population of Idlib from the ongoing offensive.”
2019-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8622 (2019) · source
“I deliver this statement on behalf of the co-penholders - Belgium, Kuwait and Germany. At the outset, let me thank Assistant Secretary- General Mueller for her comprehensive briefing on the humanitarian situation in Syria. We once again reiterate our appreciation for all the efforts of humanitarian and medical personnel to alleviate human suffering in Syria. We heard again from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs about the dire situation in north-western Syria and the fragility of the unilateral ceasefire. The number ofpeople in need ofhumanitarian assistance is staggering. There are almost 3 million people in Idlib, the vast majority of whom are women and children. Over half a million people have fled the violence over the past few months, some of them having to flee more than once.”
2019-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8622 (2019) · source
“I would also like to pick up on what the representatives of the Dominican Republic and Peru said with regard to the participation ofwomen. This is still a situation where it is men - Kiir and Machar - talking to each other. In the peace agreement there is the 35 per cent quota for women, which should be implemented. In all the Committees and all the talks women should be participating. I count on Mr. Shearer on raising the level of participation. Let me conclude on a positive note. Mr. Shearer mentioned many examples of people who had been fighting each other but are now sitting together. That is something to build upon.”
2019-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8621 (2019) · source
“Shearer mentioned some improvement on the situation on the ground, but overall it is still very bad: there are 1.8 million internally displaced persons, 2.3 million have fled the country, the security situation is still not where it should be, children are suffering. I am also worried about the high level of violence against civilians and sexual and gender-based violence. In that regard, I can only echo - the representative of the Dominican Republic stole my speaking points with regard to this point - what he and the representative of France said, namely, that violence against women is unacceptable and perpetrators have to be brought to justice. It is very good that they have their mobile tribunals, but we have to go beyond them. There cannot be impunity for perpetrators.”
2019-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8621 (2019) · source
“It is very timely that in October we will have the funds to travel to the region and South Sudan just before the critical date. I also think that it is very good what was said with regard to the more flexible work of the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan - that it is not remaining stationary but going out with greater robustness to fulfil the actual mandate of protecting the civilian population and providing greater prevention. What is unacceptable, as Mr. Shearer mentioned at the margins of his statement, is that there are still severe violations of the status of forces agreement. That is something that we have to look at and, like the South Sudanese Government, we will have to respond. Mr.”
2019-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8621 (2019) · source
“I will be brief because I think that all the most important points have already been made. To summarize what David Shearer said, we must move from talk to action and ensure that what he said with regard to the security forces, unification and boundaries be finally implemented and that, most important, the date of 12 November be respected for the formation of the transitional Government. There is a certain momentum, which we have to preserve, and it is very important that the international community continue to support that. I think it is very good that we now have some stability in the Sudan, which certainly helps. We need the African Union, we need the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and we as a Security Council need to speak with one voice on these matters and give support.”
2019-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8621 (2019) · source
“I would like to thank our Chinese friends, who came to the negotiations with a different position and were able, after a long discussion, to strike a compromise that took all views into account. I also thank our Indonesian colleagues. Our teams worked for hours and did not sleep last night. I thank the entire Council for sending this strong message to the Afghan people today.”
2019-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8620 (2019) · source
“With regard to the peace process, I think it is very important that we now have a clear statement that it is Afghan-led and Afghan-owned. For us, it is very important to focus now on the elections ahead, which is what the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan is tasked with. The text also considers the situation of women in the country, which is very high on the Council's agenda. The Deputy Secretary-General travelled to Afghanistan and reported to the Security Council about the situation of women. It is very important for that to be reflected in the text of the resolution. It is also critical that the text also addresses sexual violence and accountability. We note that the resolution also recognizes and highlights that both women and children are victims of the conflict and stresses respect for human rights.”
2019-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8620 (2019) · source