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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“But having met with him, I must commend him for his political leadership, because he has clearly demonstrated that now, as a President, he is fully committed to the agreement. The fact that, during our trip, he gave the presidency a letter asking for the continuation of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia is a clear indication of his political commitment. Moreover, the fact that the Colombian Government has decided to prolong financial support for the reintegration of former combatants is another indicator of their commitment to the peace agreement. I would also like to reiterate our strong support for the Verification Mission. While we were there, we saw how popular Special Representative Ruiz Massieu is in the country. I do not know who is more popular - Mr. Ruiz Massieu or footballer Mr.”
2019-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8581 (2019) · source
“Therefore, I would like to highlight two things. First, the current situation in Colombia really serves as a source of inspiration to all of those around the world who are still coping with conflict, proving that even long-lasting conflicts can be overcome. I believe that this is what Ambassador Ndong Mba said earlier; he also gave a very impressive speech when we were at the territorial area in Cauca. Secondly, I would also commend the Colombian Government. Of course, we know that in the election campaign for the presidential elections, then-candidate Duque Marquez was perhaps not the most enthusiastic about the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace.”
2019-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8581 (2019) · source
“I could tell him now, but we are probably not allowed to do any product placement here in the Security Council. I would also like to thank Colombia and the Colombian Government for their wonderful hospitality. Foreign Minister Trujillo Garcia spent two days with us there. I do not know how much how much work or pleasure there was for him in this visit, but for us it was a pleasure and I would like to thank him, as well as the Counsellor and the Ambassador. When we were there, it was very clear how important this peace process is for the country, the Government and the people. When he mentioned that this struggle endured for 50 years, it made me think of how it has gone on for longer than the division of Germany. We saw how deep this conflict runs and how difficult it is to overcome, with its many wounds, the many victims and the distrust.”
2019-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8581 (2019) · source
“Let me thank the presidency of Peru for having put the issue of Colombia on the agenda. Your presence here today, Mr. President, is a sign of the importance that you attach to this agenda item. The visit to Colombia was, for me personally, an eye-opener. I think it was a very important trip; it showed the unity of the Security Council. I can only echo what my friend Ambassador Nebenzia said about friendly competition with regard to the tree tomatoes. Ambassador Nebenzia actually gave the tree tomatoes to the wonderful pilots of the helicopter. I took them home and gave them to my children, who loved them. He is indeed right that it is very difficult to buy them in New York, but if Ambassador Nebenzia is ready to support Colombian products, I am happy to show him where he can buy Colombian avocados in New York.”
2019-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8581 (2019) · source
“We must think about transition and, as a body, continue to assess country situations, even after United Nations peacekeepers have been withdrawn.”
2019-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8579 (2019) · source
“We must seek national reconciliation, inclusiveness, including the involvement of women and youth - both Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo Garcia of Colombia and Minister Nestor Popolizio Bardales of Peru mentioned the importance of including women and youth and civil society in the political dialogue. We must ensure the participation of all stakeholders in order to achieve national reconciliation. We will only be able to stabilize a situation through good governance, respect for the rule of law and accountability, and by tackling corruption. In conclusion, I wish to thank Peru once again for having put this topic on the agenda. I believe the Council has to look much more systematically at transition - even though we already do so to some extent - from the first to the final mandate that we draw up for a mission.”
2019-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8579 (2019) · source
“I fully agree with him in that we must adopt a regional outlook in the Sahel. The Council should be more proactive and do more to support the States of the Group of Five for the Sahel because we will not be able to stabilize one country without first stabilizing the entire region. I also believe in the importance of the involvement of the private sector, as has already been mentioned. We will not be able to stabilize countries and attain the Sustainable Development Goals, which essentially tackle the root causes, if we do not have the involvement of the private sector. To briefly return to the issue of local ownership, our Russian colleague mentioned the importance of national reconciliation in resolving conflicts.”
2019-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8579 (2019) · source
“With regard to the help being provided to countries, we now have many examples of good cooperation with other stakeholders and regional organizations. There are so many cases now - for example, the Central African Republic, as has been mentioned, and Colombia - in which the United Nations, with the support of the African Union and/or the European Union, is working coherently to improve country situations, for which we are extremely grateful. I do not know how frequently the World Bank has been involved, but representatives of the World Bank and the African Development Bank are here among us, and they are very important partners. I would like to pick up on what the representative from the African Development Bank said with regard to the regional crisis in the Sahel: that we must move away from simply looking at one country.”
2019-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8579 (2019) · source
“The Security Council has recently visited a number of places - from Mali, to Bogota, to Baghdad - where the One United Nations approach has been applied. The Peacebuilding Commission is extremely important, and I wish to thank Colombia for having sent its Minister for Foreign Affairs to attend today's meeting, thereby underscoring, through his presence, the importance of the Peacebuilding Commission. Also mentioned was the Peacebuilding Fund whose ability to disperse funds rapidly supports the quick impact projects that are extremely helpful during transition periods. Germany, together with our friends from the United Kingdom, with whom I believe we are competing again for distinction as the largest donor to the Peacebuilding Fund, encourage others to support the Fund.”
2019-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8579 (2019) · source
“In this context, I would like to thank the Ambassador of Colombia and through him President Ivan Duque Marquez who said, when the Security Council visited Colombia, that he wanted the United Nations special political mission to continue to work in the country owing to the added value that it recognizes in the engagement of the United Nations. When addressing the root causes that I mentioned earlier, the international community is instrumental in coping with the challenges. I would once again like to reiterate my support for the Secretary-General's words and the reform measures that have been undertaken to achieve a coherent One United Nations approach, which, through the resident-coordinator system, is able to assist in country situations with all of the relevant instruments.”
2019-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8579 (2019) · source
“There is sometimes a tendency - and I feel that this might be happening in current cases - for countries on the path to peacebuilding and from which the Blue Helmets are withdrawing to say that they want to take ownership, that they want the United Nations to leave and that they want to regain sovereignty. However, we believe that they will regain sovereignty much more swiftly if they accept the help of the international community. Sovereignty is strengthened with the help of the international community in addressing the root causes of conflict.”
2019-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8579 (2019) · source
“It is therefore very important that we consider the issue of transition and that the relevant instruments be developed. Such instruments also contribute to conflict prevention, which is something we consider extremely important. We must therefore address the root causes: poverty, exclusion, the lack of respect for human rights and the effects of climate change, inter alia. Nevertheless, we must of course ensure that we implement transition correctly. As has been underlined by our Russian colleague, national sovereignty and national ownership of the process are vital.”
2019-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8579 (2019) · source
“The fact that Peru has put the issue of transition at the top of the Council's agenda and that you, Minister, are here suggest that, for Peru, today's meeting is the flagship event if its presidency. You put the issue of transition on the agenda and Germany fully supports it because we deeply believe that the Security Council has to look at that issue. The Council must not limit its work to addressing the origin of a conflict through to the silencing of weapons; it must look at the overall picture. It is very important that the issue of transition be considered. As the Secretary-General said in his briefing, very often, when peacekeepers leave and the conflict has ended, the international community no longer considers the situation in the country and therefore does not see if the root causes of the conflict have disappeared.”
2019-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8579 (2019) · source
“We have heard the figures and we just cannot allow the humanitarian aid to stop. In conclusion, let me express Germany's support for the work oer. Griffiths, Mr. Lowcock, Mr. Beasley and General Lollesgaard. I ask that they do all they can to end the worst humanitarian crisis of our time.”
2019-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8578 (2019) · source
“That is very clear and we can only recall and reiterate it day after day. I hope that Mr. Beasley will soon receive the right text message, saying that it is now actually agreed and that WFP can continue with full-fledged humanitarian aid. I think that he took the right decision to cut the aid because there were too many people benefiting from the assistance that did not deserve to. At the same time, it was absolutely right that those who are the most vulnerable continue to receive support. I also echo Mr. Beasley's plea for those who have pledged humanitarian aid to implement it. Germany has fulfilled its task. We have increased our pledge. But we really appeal to those who have pledged, including those from the region who have pledged large sums, to implement.”
2019-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8578 (2019) · source
“I would urge the responsible Houthis to revoke those unacceptable sentences. I would also like to echo what Mr. Griffiths said with regard to General Lollesgaard. His perseverance is truly remarkable and I congratulate him on the success that he has had. I thank Mr, Lowcock and Mr. Beasley for their briefings and for their efforts. I particularly thank their teams on the ground for what they are doing under difficult circumstances. It is unacceptable that humanitarian aid workers encounter the problems on the ground that they are seeing at the moment. I think Mark Lowcock said that it was ironic that some ofthose who asked for humanitarian aid are now making it very difficult for that aid to be delivered. Let me appeal to all sides to adhere to international humanitarian law.”
2019-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8578 (2019) · source
“Germany is also concerned about the continuing military attacks. We condemn in particular the attacks on Saudi Arabia and the recent ones in general. It is very clear that for this conflict, as for many others, there is no military solution. We therefore support all the efforts of Martin Griffiths to reach a political solution. We think that looking at all the tactical steps that are necessary to implement the Stockholm Agreement is the right approach to but most important is to keep the strategic objective in mind, that is, to make progress on the political process. It is a question of political will. A solution can be found. The elements are there. The puzzle must just be put together. I would like to echo what Martin Griffiths and the United Kingdom and Polish representatives said regarding the death sentence imposed on 30 civilians.”
2019-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8578 (2019) · source
“We support an educational centre for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. In Germany itself, we try to bring the United Nations into the classroom. We award a youth peace prize. We bring youth representatives to the United Nations. We not only support Afghan youth representatives; we also bring German youth representatives. I am very pleased to see two of them here in the Chamber. We have a so-called youth check, whereby we systematically consider the effects of legislation on young people and their future. I very much thank the Peruvian presidency for putting this important issue on the Council's agenda. We should have regular meetings with youth briefers to update us on crisis settings. We need youth participation and engagement. We think that it is a crucial factor for sustaining peace and security.”
2019-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8577 (2019) · source
“We heard the testimony of wheelchair-bound Syrian refugee Nujeen Mustapha (see S/PV.8515), who talked about the fate of young Syrian refugees. The voices of young people must be heard and amplified, and then turned into action. That is a top priority for Germany. Ms. Sofia Ramyar mentioned some of the activities Germany conducts in Afghanistan. In general, we have action plans for the development activities we regularly include in our policies. There are several examples. We support a youth cultural centre in Bamako so that young people are involved in other activities, instead of becoming extremists. In Lake Chad, we have a project that supports the survivors of sexual violence. We support Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, in her activities to reintegrate child soldiers.”
2019-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8577 (2019) · source
“We are very happy to hear that, during the most recent peace talks, at least 20 per cent of the participants around the table were women. Women and young people must have a chance to participate regularly in peace processes. The good thing is that there are many examples of activities in which women participate. Our briefers are fantastic examples. We all know of Greta Thunberg, who was able to mobilize 1.6 million people in 125 countries to take a stand and ask world leaders to do more about climate action. Malala Yousafzai stood here at the United Nations and inspired us with her courage and determination. In April, we were briefed by Nadia Murad (see S/PV.8514), a young woman who gave a very emotional testimony of the suffering of Yazidi women in Iraq. She took a stand and fought for the rights of women and girls.”
2019-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8577 (2019) · source
“A recent study conducted by the United Nations Development Programme, Journey to Extremism in Africa, shows that very clearly. It is therefore the responsibility of the international community and, in particular, of each individual State to ensure that young people are educated and provided with economic opportunities so that they can become, as our colleague from Equatorial Guinea said, positive agents of peace. Let me quote one of the first sentences in the intervention by the Secretary-General's Envoy for Youth. She said, "young people care about peace". We heard wonderful statements by Ms. Sofia Ramyar and Ms. Wevyn Muganda in which they outlined their activities. I can only encourage them and congratulate Ms. Ramyar on the courage she shows in Afghanistan, in a society in which women still do not have the opportunities they deserve.”
2019-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8577 (2019) · source
“A recent study showed that in 2016, there were 408 million young people who lived in settings affected by armed conflict or organized violence. Based on the statement just made on behalf of our African colleagues, the number could be as high as 600 million. We know about conflict-stricken places in Africa, such as Libya, and others like Syria, but the stories we heard are all about individual fates. We heard from the young woman from Afghanistan, who spoke such individual fates. I thank the presidency for putting this item on the Council's agenda. At the same time, young people who grow up in conflict settings, are deprived of economic opportunities and education and suffer under poor governance and incompetent police and security services are more likely to join extremist groups.”
2019-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8577 (2019) · source
“He has made gestures, one of which the German delegation has raised at each and every discussion in the Security Council, that is, with regard to the bridge at Stanytsia Luhanska. Right away the President unilaterally withdrew. He is ready to rebuild the bridge. We need such a gesture from Russia to echo Ukraine's gestures and to alleviate the situation for the citizens because it is the only connection between the occupied area around Luhansk and the rest of Ukraine. Germany remains committed to the Normandy format. There was a good meeting of the advisers. We hope that the new spirit that has been brought about by the new President in Ukraine prevails and that we will now see progress on the implementation of the Minsk agreements.”
2019-07-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8575 (2019) · source
“There continues to be a violation of the Minsk agreements. We see that the heavy weapons have not been withdrawn. I would also like to mention the unacceptable attack on a Ukrainian medical vehicle on 1 July, in which there were three casualties. With regard to human rights, there are 24 detained Ukrainian servicemen. Such detention violates international law. For Germany, respect for international law and international court rulings is fundamental in an international rules-based order. I could add elements but refer to what my French, Belgian, United Kingdom and Polish colleagues said. There is a new President in Ukraine. The President clearly said that he wanted to overcome the stalemate.”
2019-07-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8575 (2019) · source
“Talking about human rights, and Russia mentioned this, what is being done to compensate the families of the victims of Flight MH-l7 - 298 men, women and children, who lost their lives after having been shot down by Russian weapons. A gesture by Russia tomorrow on the fifth anniversary of the shooting down would be very welcome. As the Security Council, we recently visited Colombia and we all witnessed the so-called truth commission. Why not have a truth commission and find out what happened there so that the family members of the Victims learn the truth about the shooting down of Flight MH-17? What about the victims of the ongoing violation of the ceasefire? When Russia talks about the implementation of the Minsk agreements, the first and most important paragraph of the Minsk agreements was a ceasefire.”
2019-07-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8575 (2019) · source
“As Russia highlighted human rights issues, Germany would like to do the same. We would like to recall today the treatment of minorities in occupied Crimea. The Crimean media and organizations are banned. There is a recent Human Rights Watch report that Crimean Tatars are targeted, arrested and prosecuted without any evidence. We would appeal to the Russian authorities that they respect the fundamental rights, the freedoms of opinion, expression and association and the religion of minorities. The backdrop, of course - what is going on in Crimea - is the blatant violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity through Russia's illegal occupation of Crimea.”
2019-07-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8575 (2019) · source
“Let me start on a positive note, namely, that Russia and Mr. Nebenzia's intervention today insisted that we should not populate the issue of the language law with other topics. That is positive because, from our perspective, the adoption or the discussion of a language law does not really constitute a threat to peace and security and does not need to be discussed in the Security Council. I see a very positive shift in the position of Russia, which until now has always insisted that questions that are not directly related to peace and security or to human rights issues be discussed in Geneva. So we welcome that. Regarding the law itself, we agree with what Mr. Zannier said, namely, that a language law should unite, not divide, a people. We welcome the signals that have been sent out by the new Ukrainian President.”
2019-07-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8575 (2019) · source
“Moreover, going back to MINUSMA, I think we can achieve a lot when we work together and when we have the best peacekeepers, but we will not solve the problem on the ground if the peace agreement is not actually being implemented, or if good governance and respect for human rights, inter alia, are absent in the country in question. We must therefore further expand our global view if we are to achieve success in our missions. However, this is not the subject on the agenda today. I thank you again Sir, for convening this meeting today on what is, from our perspective, a very important matter where there is a lot to be achieved.”
2019-07-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8570 (2019) · source
“We have to do more as Member States and beyond in order to support those countries that are actually serving in the missions and therefore I think we have to do more, as Lieutenant General Gyllensporre said, in terms of predeployment and mission training. Germany, for instance, is supplying Chad with security vests and helmets, but I think we have to do it more systematically so that, when these countries go out and represent the United Nations, we are doing everything we can to ensure their troops do not lose their lives. My last point concerns trilateral cooperation, which is something I think we can even go beyond.”
2019-07-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8570 (2019) · source
“I also support what Lieutenant General Gyllensporre said with regard to expectations of peacekeepers and that they are more agile, mobile, proactive, flexible and robust. This is provided for in the Action for Peacekeeping initiative and what is expected but, at the same time, we have to be aware that, in Mali in particular, peacekeepers are paying a very high price. Some Council members may have attended the meeting ofthe Peacebuilding Commission this morning, attended by the Minister ofEconomy, Planning and Cooperation. Chad has sent approximately 2,500 soldiers to Mali, and they have paid the highest price: 60 of the 200 soldiers who have died in Mali were Chadian. Of course, formally, the TCCs are asked to do everything, such as providing equipment and overseeing all the logistics, but this is an illusion.”
2019-07-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8570 (2019) · source
“Therefore, I think we should really look more into having these kinds of meetings where we work together with all actors on the ground. We are very much in favour of that. I would like to thank Lieutenant General Gyllensporre for coming all the way from Mali to brief us and give us a very practical view on one of the most important and critical missions there. I think that, for those of us who attended the trips to Mali and Burkina Faso, we saw how important it was for us to go there, too, to actually meet with the mission, the Government and United Nations representatives on the ground. I think that Mr. Lacroix, in his intervention, said that visits to missions are very important - I can speak only for myself, but since my visit with the Security Council I am far better able to understand the situation on the ground.”
2019-07-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8570 (2019) · source
“The second point I wanted to make, on the subject of TCCs/PCCs, is that we could perhaps invite the head of a police component to the next meeting, as they are a very important element of our cooperation, as well as our missions on the ground. Thirdly, something that was mentioned by almost everybody is cooperation with regional and subregional actors. We have seen this here when we have seen representatives from the African Union or the European Union (EU); we have missions like African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur where it is, in fact, ajoint mission, or in Mali we have the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and then we have the EU Training Mission.”
2019-07-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8570 (2019) · source
“Lacroix seemed more open to it being an informal process, which was echoed by Ambassador Adom on behalf of the three African members of the Council, as well as by Ambassador Singer Weisinger. I think we really have to look at how can we intensify this. Personally, I would lean more towards the proposal that Mr. Lacroix made, therefore in a more informal way. As Ambassador Singer Weisinger said, it has to be meaningful and substantive, so this meeting should notjust be allocated a regular slot on the agenda, but rather as and when missions or thematic topics require them. Nevertheless, we should have more of these meetings. I think that everybody who has spoken so far sees the benefit in this.”
2019-07-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8570 (2019) · source
“First of all, I thank you, Mr. President, for putting this topic on the agenda. At least from what we have heard so far, this is a matter on which the Security Council really is united - again, it is a very important issue. Let me start by thanking Mr. Lacroix for his briefing and the work he is doing. Very early on in his presentation, he made a proposal that was basically taken up by all of the speakers afterwards. It is a question of more regular meetings among the Secretariat, troop- and police-contributing countries (TCCs/PCCs) and Members States. I also thank Ms. Alexandra Novosseloff, who I believe made the most formal proposal in terms of institutionalizing it. Mr.”
2019-07-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8570 (2019) · source
“Even ifthe Syrian regime decides to try to kill everybody in Idlib, there can be no military solution. There has to be a political solution. Geneva is one element, but the other necessary element in Syria is reconciliation. That is only possible ifthere is an end to the arbitrary arrests, killings, torture, sexual violence, disappearances and denials of humanitarian assistance. Only then will the return of refugees be possible. I say to our Russian colleague that we will work for the preservation of sanctions as long as the Syrian regime does not change its brutal behaviour against its own population. The sanctions are not outdated; we want to preserve them as long as necessary. We welcome the fact that the Arab family is not welcoming Syria back as a member of the League of Arab States, but is keeping the regime out.”
2019-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8567 (2019) · source
“All parties must comply with resolution 2254 (2015) and the Geneva communique (S/2012/522, annex). Geir Pedersen works very hard and is working on the 3+3 or 4+2 formulas. I must say that when one looks at the paragraphs of the various agreements, it is not that important whether we are using the 4+2 or 3+3 formula, because a two-thirds majority, I believe, is needed to take action. So, in the end, that is only a technical move. If our Russian friends would only - for one, two or three days - agree to stop their military support and intelligence until the Syrian Government agrees to a certain formula and consents to go to Geneva, that would happen right away. I can only say what Mr. Pedersen does - that Geneva has to be supported and that the political process has to advance. There can be no military solution.”
2019-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8567 (2019) · source
“Voronkov, the Russian Under-Secretary- General of the United Nations Office of Counter- Terrorism. He clearly says that respect for human rights is key in the fight against terrorism. The Russian representative said earlier that all aerial attacks are against intelligence-confirmed targets. What kind of intelligence is being used when clearly identified cars, belonging to humanitarian aid workers and carrying patients from another attack, are bombed and killed by the Syrians or their allies on their way to the hospital? Are these targeted killings? Are these intelligence-confirmed targets? What happens to the pilots when they come back to the base? Are they decorated, or do they go to court? So, there is no military solution; there is only a political solution.”
2019-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8567 (2019) · source
“I do not want my children to grow up in a world like that which he imagines. I want my children to grow up in a world where humanitarian law and human rights are respected, where we look for a political solution and where we do not bomb indiscriminately. Let me come to the point. Again, I fully support what Geir Pedersen said and subscribe to the way forward. I can also only echo his concern with regard to the military offensive in north-western Syria. It is unacceptable that there continues to be indiscriminate air strikes, shelling and barrel bombs. Again, we are seeing the deaths of innocent civilians. In the fight against terrorism, nothing justifies the indiscriminate bombing of civilians or attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. Anyone who does not believe me should talk to Mr.”
2019-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8567 (2019) · source
“What do you expect from the representative of a Government that puts its people in prisons where they are subjected to torture and death? The photos of Syrian prisons that we have all seen are about the worst we have ever seen. What do you expect from the representative of a Government that continuously bombs humanitarian aid workers and says that White Helmets and humanitarians are terrorists?" That is something that we totally object to and reject, but we are not that surprised. What I was more surprised by was what the Russian representative just said. He said that the approach we are taking here - the approach of putting emphasis on human rights and international humanitarian law; of seeking a political solution; of not accepting sexual violence against women - is an outdated approach.”
2019-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8567 (2019) · source
“I too would like to thank you, Sir, for your presidency. I cannot do so in as dignified a way as Ambassador Matjila did, but I mean it. I was very happy to find when I entered the Chamber this morning that you had the curtains open. I see that they are closed again. I do not know if that is due to pressure from the Secretariat or to the very sombre subject on today's agenda. Before I come to the substance of my statement, let me comment a bit on what United States Ambassador Cohen said with regard to the Syrian representative. I can only fully support what he said, but at the same time I have to ask him: "What do you expect? What do you expect from the representative of a Government that bombs its own citizens, that drops barrel bombs and chemical weapons indiscriminately on its own citizens?”
2019-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8567 (2019) · source
“We look forward to continuing to work with all members of the Security Council to ensure that we contribute to peace and security in the Sudan through a responsible approach with regard to UNAMID.”
2019-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8566 (2019) · source
“By requesting the development of a political strategy for engagement in Darfur and options for a follow-on mechanism once UNAMID leaves, we recognize that sustainable peace in Darfur requires continued international engagement and support - support for mediation, for capacity-building in the areas of the rule of law and human rights, for finding durable solutions for the internally displaced people and for creating socioeconomic development perspectives. Therefore, once the situation on the ground allows for that, the focus should shift from peacekeeping to peacebuilding. Germany remains committed to accompanying UNAMID in the current phase, including through individual police officers and staff officers. We remain committed to supporting a peace process with the Darfuri rebel groups, as well as peacebuilding in Darfur.”
2019-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8566 (2019) · source
“To be very clear, for Germany, it would be inconceivable that the forces that triggered the international peacekeeping efforts in the first place should benefit from AU and United Nations assets once the mission leaves because we all know that the Rapid Support Forces is a follow- up operation of the infamous Janjaweed. Looking ahead, we need a reliable and realistic road map that ensures that all UNAMID camps will be handed over to civilian users permanently and that civilians are protected once UNAMID leaves. That is a responsibility of the Sudanese Government. Today the Security Council paused the drawdown but we also sent a clear signal that we are looking beyond the lifespan of UNAMID.”
2019-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8566 (2019) · source
“Rescinding decree 102, which stipulated the handover of UNAMID team sites to the Rapid Support Forces, is a necessary step. It is really important that there now be concrete changes on the ground that allow the Darfuri people to have trust in their authorities and to enjoy security, protection and the rule of law. The United Nations camps that have been handed over to the Sudanese authorities and are currently occupied by the Rapid Support Forces must be placed under civilian control in a responsible manner. That is consistent with the relevant agreements.”
2019-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8566 (2019) · source
“Again, that is very relevant to UNAMID, which, as members know, is the only, and a very successful, joint peacekeeping operation of the United Nations and the African Union. Germany is committed to that partnership between the United Nations and the African Union and the close cooperation with our African partners here in the Council. The pause in the drawdown of UNAMID does not imply that there should also be a pause in the mission fulfilling its mandate. On the contrary, the mission is mandated to continue its operations, including with regard to protecting civilians in Darfur. We also expect concrete actions by the Sudanese authorities, as the cooperation of the host Government is key in any peacekeeping setting, in particular with a view to a potential exit.”
2019-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8566 (2019) · source
“With this approach, the Council is taking into consideration the recent developments in the Sudan, in Khartoum, which, of course, have repercussions on Darfur. The pause in the drawdown of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) that was decided today allows time for the Sudanese actors to come together to agree on a transition that has been and is demanded by the people of the Sudan, the African Union (AU) and many international actors, including Germany. A civilian-led transitional Government is of paramount importance to peace and stability in the Sudan, the sooner the better. A civilian-led Government will be needed, from our perspective also, to normalize relations with the African Union.”
2019-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8566 (2019) · source
“I would like to start by returning the expression of gratitude to the United Kingdom in agreeing to co-penholdership on this and to work together on resolution 2479 (2019), and I would like to thank all delegations for their cooperation during the negotiations and for their support for the resolution submitted today. The fact that we adopted this resolution on the peacekeeping operation in Darfur unanimously demonstrates that the Council is living up to its responsibility. We have to use the following image: we have turned off our autopilot and are not sleepwalking into a drawdown and eventual exit from peacekeeping, oblivious to the changing situation in Khartoum; instead, we have pressed "pause".”
2019-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8566 (2019) · source
“Finally, we reiterate our full support for Special Envoy Pedersen, whom we will hear from in a few days, in his efforts to reach an inclusive and credible political solution in Syria on the basis of resolution 2254 (2015) and the 2012 Geneva communique (S/2012/522, annex).”
2019-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8561 (2019) · source
“All returns must be safe, voluntary and dignified. Tens of thousands of Syrians remain detained, missing or unaccounted for. The Council recently adopted resolution 2474 (2019), the first resolution of the Security Council on missing persons in armed conflict. The resolution is particularly relevant to the situation in Syria today. The families of those detained or missing deserve to know the fate of their loved ones. We call for urgent and tangible progress on this issue. Humanitarian access continues to be a challenge. We want to remind all the parties to the conflict of paragraph 1 of resolution 2449 (2018), which "calls upon all parties to ensure principled, sustained and improved humanitarian assistance to Syria in 2019". Parties must live up to their obligations in that regard.”
2019-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8561 (2019) · source
“Improved access is needed for the population of more than 70,000 persons, 90 per cent of whom are women and children, who face particular protection concerns. We support all efforts to provide adequate protection to all vulnerable groups, including children who are suspected of being associated with armed groups. Such children must be treated first and foremost as victims. Since the conflict began nine years ago, Syria and its people have witnessed some of the most serious crimes under international law. No lasting peace is possible without justice and accountability. We stand firm in our commitment to fighting impunity. In that context, we renew our support for the work of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism. Millions of refugees remain abroad. Regarding the return of refugees, our position remains unchanged.”
2019-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8561 (2019) · source