YouSaid · the spoken record

Hoxha

lines on the record: 1,795
first: 2014-02-19
most recent: 2023-12-29
sittings or episodes: 264
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

“All leaders have a responsibility to act against extremists and to speak out against violence and incitement. Albania fully supports freedom of religion and belief and the historic status quo of the holy sites in Jerusalem. We praise the special role of Jordan’s custodianship. The holy sites in Jerusalem are a place only for prayer. We call on those responsible to refrain from provocative actions that undermine the rights and sensibilities of those worshipping at Al-Haram Al-Sharif/Temple Mount. Peaceful coexistence between Muslims, Jews and Christians, respect for religious diversity and tolerance towards different faiths and beliefs are fundamental values to be diligently preserved and further cherished.”
2023-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9328 (2023) · source
“Whether lives are Israeli or Palestinian, they are worth the same. The cycle of violence must end, and unilateral actions that trigger its proliferation should be avoided. Both sides must exercise maximum restraint. That is the prerequisite for generating what is missing nowadays — hope. It is troubling to note that discriminatory rhetoric, racism and antisemitism are more and more frequent. Albania strongly condemns all those provocative and harmful displays, which are inciting hatred among people and becoming a direct source of violence. We are concerned about the impact that such behaviour is having on journalists and free reporting. Marching and chanting “Death to Palestinians” is unacceptable. It is as reprehensible as calling for death to Israelis.”
2023-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9328 (2023) · source
“We call on the parties to fully implement the ceasefire, preserve the calm recently restored and bear in mind that it is always the civilians who pay the high price of any tensions and violence. The people of Israel do not deserve to live under the threat of blind and indiscriminatory rocket attacks from Gaza from terrorist groups or other terrorist acts against them. We fully support Israel’s right to proportionate self-defence. It should be noted that many of the rockets recklessly launched by Islamic groups are also falling inside Palestine territory, claiming innocent lives. We are deeply troubled by the negative impact that the conflict is having on Palestinian civilians, including women and children. International humanitarian law must be fully observed and respected and civilian casualties must be avoided.”
2023-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9328 (2023) · source
“I too would like to thank the Special Coordinator for his update on the developments on the ground and for his continued efforts. I also thank Ms. Hary for her striking testimony and insightful remarks. We have just left behind weeks of escalatory tensions and exchanges of fire, with large numbers of victims and many wounded waiting to recover. Those events, with huge repercussions for civilians, are becoming more frequent, and the increase in the death toll of Palestinians and Israelis is a matter of primary concern. We welcome the ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and commend Egypt and other international and regional actors for their efforts to prevent escalation on the ground.”
2023-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9328 (2023) · source
“It demands leadership, strong political will and concerted actions. We cannot just limit ourselves to reiterating calls on all parties to armed conflicts to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law. There is no need to remind parties of their obligations — they are mandatory. Belligerents must abide by humanitarian laws or face the consequences. Therefore, we should do more. In our view, if we want to make a real impact in protecting civilians, we must enforce accountability and never tolerate impunity for violations. Failure to do so will only embolden perpetrators to continue without fear of consequences — but that is a no-go.”
2023-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9327 (2023) · source
“When economic activities are severely disrupted, the very means of survival of entire populations are threatened. In turn, food insecurity, a sharp increase in the price of basic foodstuffs or a sudden lack of availability can trigger unrest. We are all familiar with the hardship felt worldwide, in particular in the developing world, after the beginning of the Russian war in Ukraine until the Black Sea Grain Initiative brought relief. Protecting civilians has never been an easy issue, and there is no quick fix. The best and most secure way to protect civilians is to stop wars, to end conflicts and to break the cycles of violence. We are very far from that, so until we come to that point, we must make sure we deploy our best efforts to implement our decisions and respect the law.”
2023-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9327 (2023) · source
“Even where there is no war, cyberattacks against health-care facilities, which are on the rise, will disrupt services, with often dramatic consequences. We need to do better. Resolution 2417 (2018) was a landmark step in recognizing the intersections of conflict and hunger, condemning the use of food insecurity and starvation as a tactic of war. According to the Secretary-General’s report, more than a quarter of a billion people faced acute hunger in 58 countries and territories in 2022. That is close to one third of United Nations Member States. Wars are always violent and harmful, but the destruction of resources can inflict terrible harm as well. The plundering of food supplies and the deliberate destruction of farms, livestock and other civilian infrastructure can have continued disastrous consequences for millions of people.”
2023-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9327 (2023) · source
“But schools are systematically destroyed in conflicts, and those responsible know very well what they are doing and seeking, because attacks on educational institutions and their military use result in death, destruction and loss of education, creating long-term negative consequences for entire communities. That is intolerable. Seven years ago, resolution 2286 (2016) demanded an end to impunity for attacks on health care. It is not being implemented. In Ukraine alone, more than 800 attacks on hospitals, health workers and other medical infrastructure have been reported since the beginning of the Russian invasion. Almost 70 per cent of all attacks against health-care facilities in the world in 2022 — 763 attacks of 1,149 — have occurred in that sole country.”
2023-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9327 (2023) · source
“There is hardly any protection of civilians when millions of children are uprooted from their homes or displaced by senseless wars or, even worse, when thousands of them are forcefully deported and given up for adoption in another country. Having laws that are disrespected, resolutions that are not implemented and mandates that exist only on paper is utterly damaging. It erodes trust in multilateralism and common efforts and leads to a loss of legitimacy and effectiveness. We welcomed the adoption of resolution 2601 (2021) and commend all States that have endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration. Schools should be a safe place for children and youth to learn and thrive.”
2023-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9327 (2023) · source
“These are indeed important achievements, but, like everything else, these documents are just pieces of paper if they are not implemented, because there is little value in resolutions, mandates and other commitments when a permanent member of the Security Council is using missiles and kamikaze drones to hit residential areas, destroy schools, flatten kindergartens and demolish power installations, acting with impunity in broad daylight and for 16 months and counting. It is not easy to talk about, let alone ensure, the protection of civilians when civilians are purposely taken as a target to instil fear with the hope of forcing them into surrender or submission.”
2023-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9327 (2023) · source
“Elsewhere, in the Sahel, Yemen, Myanmar and Haiti, ongoing conflicts and instability continue to claim innocent lives and threaten the well-being of millions of people. The fragmentation and proliferation of actors, as we are seeing in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the privatization of warfare with private military and the use of mercenaries, which is a reality in many African conflict areas, as well as widespread availability of weapons and a continued disregard for international law, only exacerbate the enormous challenges to protect civilians. The Security Council has considerably advanced the normative framework on the protection of civilians and humanitarian space through important resolutions and mandates.”
2023-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9327 (2023) · source
“Protracted or new conflicts and outbreaks of violence anywhere serve as grim reminders of a pervasive lack of meaningful progress in upholding commitments to protecting civilians in armed conflict. Every time, the most vulnerable of them — women and children, people with disabilities and minorities — bear the brunt of terrible decisions taken by powerful men, by adults, in total disregard of life, of rights, of laws and of human dignity. This is what is happening every day in Ukraine, with dramatic consequences for the civilian population, including civilian death, the destruction of vital infrastructure and massive displacement, as has been widely documented, including by the United Nations. This is what is happening nowadays in the Sudan, with entire communities trapped in crossfire, with few options for taking refuge.”
2023-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9327 (2023) · source
“Mr. Hoxha (Albania) (spoke in French): Albania commends Switzerland and you, Mr. President, for organizing today’s debate, which focuses on conflict and hunger and the immense challenges related to the protection of civilians. I thank the Secretary-General for his remarks and welcome the relevance of his report on the protection of civilians (S/2023/345). I also thank Ms. Spoljaric Egger and Ms. Mounkaïla for their briefings and recommendations on how to better use the tools available for the protection of civilians and humanitarian action. (spoke in English) In every conflict, in every situation in which lives are put in danger, it is civilians who pay the price.”
2023-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9327 (2023) · source
“In Iraq, as in other places, its consequences have become a reality. The number of days with temperatures of more than 50°C is increasing and droughts are becoming longer and more intense, bringing severe water scarcity. We welcome the Government’s new package of climate and biodiversity protection measures, announced in March. Its ratification of the United Nations Water Convention is an important positive step in the efforts to mitigate the consequences of climate change. In conclusion, Albania reiterates its appreciation and support for the valuable work done by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq and looks forward to constructive discussions on renewing and strengthening its mandate to address Iraq’s needs.”
2023-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9324 (2023) · source
“Close cooperation between Bagdad and Erbil is crucial to achieving political stability and security in Iraq. We remain concerned about the ongoing attacks, including those perpetrated by Da’esh. We commend and support the Prime Minister for taking a strong stance in reclaiming State authority over armed militias. Albania firmly supports Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and unequivocally condemns all attempts to destabilize its political independence and stability. We commend Iraq’s engagement with its neighbours in pursuit of friendly relations in the region and beyond. More than 1 million internally displaced persons require humanitarian assistance and dedicated efforts for their full reintegration within society. Climate change is no longer a looming threat.”
2023-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9324 (2023) · source
“The establishment of a dedicated women judges association in Iraq is a positive step towards establishing gender equality in the Iraqi judiciary. We encourage the Iraqi Government to continue its work on compensating survivors that are eligible for compensation under the Yazidi female survivors law. Iraq needs a meaningful and powerful civic space for a healthy democratic society. We appreciate and support the ongoing dialogue between the federal Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to address outstanding issues, including the electoral framework for the elections to be held in November. As the Iraq experience has shown, we believe that regular, institutionalized and structured dialogue is the only path to reach lasting agreements in line with the Constitution.”
2023-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9324 (2023) · source
“The successful implementation of those policies requires the resolve and cooperation of all political leaders and relevant stakeholders for the common good and overcoming factional interests and politics. The adoption of the draft budget is a welcome and vital step towards realizing those reforms, and we urge the Council of Representatives to reach a budget agreement as soon as possible, while fulfilling its oversight responsibilities. Human rights must continue to be at the heart of the reform efforts, and we appreciate the Government’s commitment to ensure the full, meaningful and equal participation of women in decision-making processes, in the workforce and across society. But commitments are not enough — they need to be fully implemented to be meaningful.”
2023-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9324 (2023) · source
“I thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Hennis-Plasschaert for her briefing and Ms. Latif for her insights on the situation of women in Iraq. It has been seven months since the formation of the new Iraqi Government, and we acknowledge Iraq’s steadfast commitment to ensuring a peaceful, secure and prosperous future for all its citizens. However, as we heard, challenges remain, and they require robust actions through inclusive leadership. We strongly support the Government’s reform agenda in combating corruption, improving public services, diversifying the economy to reduce the heavy dependency on oil revenues and caring for the most vulnerable, especially returning Iraqis and internally displaced people.”
2023-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9324 (2023) · source
“Until that is done and until reason has prevailed, we will continue to stand in full solidarity with the Government and the people of Ukraine in the defence of their nation, their land and our shared values.”
2023-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9321 (2023) · source
“The contrast could not be more striking: a leader who is defending his country and its people and fighting for independence is welcomed, honoured, respected and revered everywhere, while another leader — the author of the worst security crisis in Europe for decades — is under arrest warrant by international justice mechanisms. There is never a bad time to stop a war, especially one that should not have started. Russia must understand that it cannot have its way in Ukraine and decide for its people and their future. It would be far better for it to unconditionally, completely and immediately withdraw from Ukraine and respect its internationally recognized borders.”
2023-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9321 (2023) · source
“The number of ships transporting grain has been significantly reduced lately, while renewals beyond 18 May seem no longer to be extended for months but only for weeks. We know what happens in the world when food is weaponized. Prices go up, there is less food for vulnerable populations and people go hungry. One does not sit in the Security Council to deny food to those in need. We therefore call for the Initiative to be extended as part of the global humanitarian response in a way that provides — and for a sufficient period — the necessary assurances and confidence to markets and people. Two days ago in Germany, President Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine were awarded the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen for their fight to defend their country, as well as Europe and its values.”
2023-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9321 (2023) · source
“The forcible mass deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia, disguised under different false names or initiatives, is nothing less than a re-education process in the total denial of children’s rights. It is indefensible. We expect the Secretary-General’s annual report on children and armed conflict to include the effects that the military aggression in Ukraine has had on children. This war continues to have implications beyond Ukraine, especially for global food security. For hundreds of millions of people around the world, food on the table depends on maintaining the pace of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. We are concerned about the reports of a slowdown in activity, as mentioned to us by the Under-Secretary-General.”
2023-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9321 (2023) · source
“Since the beginning of this war, serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed in various regions of Ukraine have been duly documented. The findings of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine and of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Moscow Mechanism point clearly to the commission of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Evidence will one day be presented to a court of law for accountability. But among all the crimes committed in Ukraine, the most incomprehensible and inhumane are those committed against children. Everywhere, in every culture, children are associated with innocence and the need for care and protection. Crimes against them are seen as particularly revolting — because they are.”
2023-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9321 (2023) · source
“In the first week of May alone, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights recorded 221 civilian casualties in Ukraine. The Kremlin may keep saying that Russia is not fighting the Ukrainian people, but that does not even come close to a bad joke. It is Ukrainian civilians who are dying under Russian bombs and shells. The 14 million people uprooted from their homes, the 18 million requiring humanitarian assistance and protection, unable to afford or access enough food, and the thousands of children systematically abducted have one thing in common — they are all Ukrainians. We know now that Russian troops have tortured, sexually abused and murdered non-combatants in towns they have occupied, such as Bucha. Videos have also surfaced allegedly showing Russian soldiers beheading Ukrainian prisoners of war.”
2023-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9321 (2023) · source
“International law prohibits aiming at civilian buildings and nothing justifies it if not to instil fear. Fear helps authoritarian regimes to impose total control over their people, and fear in warfare is used to terrorize civilians. But the truth is that after 446 days of relentless war, Ukrainians have not surrendered and every attempt to terrorize them has just made them fight back harder. After 10 months of gruelling failed assaults, Bakhmut tells one of the key stories of this absurd war. If Mariupol became the ugly face of the war and a symbol of Russian brutality, Bakhmut, already a site of tragedy, will be known as the symbol of Ukrainian resistance. Yet the painful reality is that more than 23,000 civilians have been killed or wounded.”
2023-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9321 (2023) · source
“I thank Under-Secretary- General Griffiths for his update. We pay tribute to his efforts and work, as well as those of the entire team at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, aimed at meeting the humanitarian needs in Ukraine and elsewhere in order to alleviate the suffering of people everywhere. After 16 months, the special Russian military aggression has stalled on the ground. But it has not stopped, and it is no less deadly. Beyond the casualties and destruction on the front lines, missiles and illegally acquired drones continue their deadly attacks on innocent civilians and their homes and infrastructure. The Under-Secretary-General just shared a sobering account of the most recent escalations and their consequences.”
2023-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9321 (2023) · source
“Thirty years ago, a terrible bloody war nearly tore Bosnia and Herzegovina to pieces. The Dayton Agreement put an end to that war. Peace has since prevailed, but it has not completely delivered. The impatience of the country’s young people is the alarm bell signalling that politicians are late or slow. It is therefore time for everyone there to come together for the common good and work on a single agenda, which is meeting the people’s aspiration for a common and better future. Anyone standing in the way of that should be cast aside.”
2023-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9319 (2023) · source
“They are wrong and must wake up because disintegration is the past, whereas cooperation in good faith is the future. No one will ever be able to build a viable and sustainable future in Europe by glorifying war criminals, denying genocide, questioning the sovereignty and unity of the country and investing in hate speech and discrimination. On the contrary, the Europe of the past eight decades was built by investing in reconciliation and by working together for mutual benefit, where there are no losers, only winners. That is why we think that the current Republika Srpska is not, cannot and will not be the model for politics in the Western Balkans. It should not be allowed to break the backbone of the country or the spirit of cooperation and understanding that is now prevailing in the region.”
2023-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9319 (2023) · source
“Any push for more assertive, aggressive and unconstitutional policies in Bosnia and Herzegovina are a stab in the back to the unity and functionality of the country and its future. The persistent actions and policies of Republika Srpska today are the recipe of how to make a country dysfunctional. Such actions and policies were not agreed in Dayton; they are not inscribed in the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina; they have not been condoned by anyone in Europe and they are not what the country and the entire region need nowadays. Leaders and the politicians of the Republika Srpska seem to have forgotten the consequences of fomenting ethnic division. They seem to ignore the price the country and the region has paid in the past, although many wounds are still open.”
2023-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9319 (2023) · source
“Let us not forget that Milorad Dodik has been put under sanctions precisely because he is in syntony with those, inside and outside the country, who work night and day against the unity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, against justice, cooperation, understanding and reconciliation in the country and in the Western Balkans, against the confirmed and accelerated Euro- Atlantic path of the entire region. We commend the active engagement of the High Representative to stop these dangerous dynamics in Bosnia and Herzegovina and urge him to continue on that path. We also recognize and fully support the stabilizing role of the European Union Military Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2023-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9319 (2023) · source
“Furthermore, the celebration of the unconstitutional Day of Republika Srpska, on 9 January, as well as calls upon the judges representing the Serbs in the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina to resign and attempts to politically influence the judiciary at large are just the latest moves and part of a continued policy of provocative actions, with clear intentions to break up the country. It has become a pattern, almost a ritual. The leader of the Republika Srpska never misses an opportunity to use his own country as a punching bag, attacking unity, undermining the statehood of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its normal functioning. While his duty and responsibilities are to participate in the common institutions, his policies and actions demonstrate the contrary.”
2023-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9319 (2023) · source
“While we highly appreciate the amendment brought by the High Representative to the Law on the Center for the Srebrenica-Potočari Memorial and Cemetery for the Victims of the 1995 Genocide, any attempt to rewrite history must be dismissed. History cannot be undone. It can help only to understand the collective past and serve as a lesson for better decisions in future. We remain deeply concerned about developments in the Republika Srpska that are a blatant and intentional violation of the constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Attempts to establish the Republika Srpska’s ownership of select properties that fall under the jurisdiction of the Bosnian State are unacceptable.”
2023-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9319 (2023) · source
“That will require resolute steps to strengthen the rule of law, democratic governance, and fundamental freedoms and to ensure equal rights for all. It also represents an opportunity for the increased participation of women and a wider involvement of young people in a process that will define their future. Last week, on 5 May, Bosnia and Herzegovina commemorated the killing of 1,601 children during the siege of Sarajevo, between 1992 and 1996. Many of them were slaughtered while being selectively and intentionally targeted by snipers, in just one of the barbaric acts perpetrated under the men convicted as genocidal war criminals, Ratko Mladić and Radovan Karadžić.”
2023-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9319 (2023) · source
“The decision taken by the European Council in December to grant European Union-candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina is a historic milestone from the European perspective of the country, with a positive impact for the entire region. This is a clear and bold message by the European Union (EU) in favour of more commitment and strong support for transformative reforms. It is the only way forward for Bosnia and Herzegovina. All stakeholders should come together to work and fulfil the 14 key priorities identified by the EU Commission — a road map for the opening of EU accession negotiations. In that respect, more substantial work is needed for the full implementation of the 5+2 agenda. Making progress towards EU integration would be, by far, the best and most meaningful investment for the future of the country since the Dayton Agreement.”
2023-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9319 (2023) · source
“I thank the High Representative, Mr. Christian Schmidt, for his insightful briefing. We appreciate and fully support his efforts and active engagement in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We welcome the presence of the Chair of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mrs. Željka Cvijanović. We also take note of the letter from the member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Denis Bećirović, addressed to the Security Council, regarding the participation of the country in this meeting. As we heard from the High Representative, the reporting period has been dominated by intensive political developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We welcome the establishment of executive institutions, at all levels, following the general elections in October. This is an important step towards a normal functionality of the Administration, at all levels.”
2023-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9319 (2023) · source
“The OSCE cannot and will not be undermined, because our common desire for peace and cooperation is way stronger than anyone’s appetite for destabilization and confrontation, and because — as was rightly said of the OSCE, “It’s about people”.”
2023-05-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9316 (2023) · source
“Our increasing reliance on digital technology and digital communication — an undeniably powerful driver of development — has also brought new security challenges to the OSCE area. Cyberattacks and cybercrime are growing threats, with potential implications for critical infrastructure, Government systems and the private sector, especially when they are conducted by State actors. That is why, to address all those challenges, we need the OSCE and its mechanisms so that we can work together to implement policies and initiatives that promote security and stability in its area, in line with the Helsinki Final Act and the Charter of Paris. That includes efforts to promote disarmament, conflict prevention and crisis management, as well as initiatives aimed at strengthening democratic institutions, human rights and the rule of law.”
2023-05-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9316 (2023) · source
“As we all know, the International Criminal Court has already issued two arrest warrants at the highest level. As the Chairperson-in-Office outlined, the OSCE area is also facing other challenges. A number of unresolved conflicts continue to be a source of concern, such as the continuing situations in Transnistria and Georgia. The quest for negotiated solutions to those conflicts must remain an urgent matter. On the positive side, we welcome the talks initiated in Washington by Secretary of State Blinken at the ministerial level between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Furthermore, the agreement reached in Ohrid between Kosovo and Serbia, with the facilitation of the European Union and other partners, is of historic magnitude and should be implemented without delay. Let me mention one additional worry.”
2023-05-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9316 (2023) · source
“We reiterate our condemnation, in the strongest terms, of the ongoing unprovoked, unjust and unjustified military aggression by Russia against Ukraine. After 16 months, the war is still going on with tragic consequences, significant human and humanitarian costs, the daily loss of innocent civilians, the widespread destruction of critical civilian infrastructure, huge economic setbacks and a devastating impact on the country, the region and more widely. Shocking war crimes and crimes against humanity, including torture and rape, have been committed in Ukraine and are being duly documented by the United Nations and also by the OSCE, through invocations of the Moscow Mechanism. Crimes cannot be let go with impunity and evidence will be used in courts of law. Accountability and justice are being established and will be pursued.”
2023-05-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9316 (2023) · source
“Despite the current cynical efforts to undermine and diminish its role, the OSCE remains as relevant as when it was created. But while the Cold War is over, its spirit has been forcefully brought back through Russia’s imperial appetite, dreams and plans. The continued barbaric attacks on Ukraine, such as the latest on Kherson, the extreme rhetoric by former and current officials, including repeated nuclear sabre-rattling, and the escalatory and irresponsible decision to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus are only a few of the actions that testify to a flagrant, deliberate policy aimed at destabilizing the OSCE area, reviving fears about major confrontations and bringing back debates that many of us had hoped and believed were a thing of the past.”
2023-05-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9316 (2023) · source
“While we could reasonably claim that a lot has been achieved over the past three decades, the fact is that the security situation in the OSCE area remains very precarious, and since last year it has been put in serious danger. One of the major historic and transformative events for Europe and the world was the end of the Cold War. It put an end to a divided continent and to a climate of fear, mistrust and instability, and enabled greater cooperation and dialogue among nations, based on agreed principles and shared values. It was what I might call a second European renaissance, and the OSCE has been an important platform for discussing issues related to comprehensive security, as well as confidence- and security-building measures.”
2023-05-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9316 (2023) · source
“We listened very carefully to the Minister’s briefing and would like to put on record our full support for the chairpersonship’s priorities — a functional and flexible OSCE, the promotion of human security, upholding human rights and promoting tolerance and non-discrimination, as prerequisites for comprehensive security. Today’s meeting marks the thirtieth anniversary of the signing of the Framework for Cooperation and Coordination between the United Nations and the OSCE. As an important pillar of the international rules-based order, the OSCE plays an essential role in addressing many of the challenges on the Council’s agenda. The cooperation, collaboration and partnership between the two organizations is therefore meaningful and should be strengthened.”
2023-05-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9316 (2023) · source
“We are very pleased to welcome Mr. Bujar Osmani, Minister for Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, in his capacity as Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and to thank him for his important remarks. I would like to commend him for his efforts and the work done since he took on that important responsibility, despite the very challenging circumstances. Yesterday, as you recalled, Mr. President, we had an open debate on trust as a means to achieve sustained peace (S/PV.9315). There is hardly a more meaningful and successful case to recall than that of North Macedonia, which has been transformed precisely by investing in trust and cooperation, with an unparalleled positive impact on the country’s stability, development and prosperity.”
2023-05-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9316 (2023) · source
“(spoke in French) In conclusion, let me remind the Council of the crucial and irreplaceable role of civil society, which must always have a place at the table, including in our debates in the Chamber. Its views, often honest, may not be to everyone’s taste. But there is no doubt that civil society is indispensable if we are to seriously and honestly draw closer to the truth and base our discussions on the real concerns and aspirations of people in order to make informed decisions.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315 (2023) · source
“While we face a multitude of old and new challenges and look to the future with worry, we firmly believe that only good, inclusive, representative, transparent and accountable governance will be up to the task of addressing inequality, poverty, insecurity, underdevelopment and climate change, by forging a contract that is based on trust with the people and for the people. When people are heard and understood, they trust and participate. Experience has shown that respect for human rights, democratic principles and values, including the promotion of the full, equal and meaningful participation of women and young people in society, is a better guarantee for futureproofing trust and ensuring development and sustainable peace.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315 (2023) · source
“Therefore, our ability to abide by what we have commonly agreed, with respect for international law and the United Nations Charter, by holding transgressors to account, will determine the shape of the world in the future — a world with cooperation and understanding and with shared benefits, or a world undermined by confrontation, division and conflicts. As we know, the General Assembly has been repeatedly clear about that choice. Trust is not an abstract idea. It cannot be forced and cannot be artificially engineered. Building trust in post-conflict settings and peacebuilding processes requires continued effort and investment in human capital, through inclusion and participation.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315 (2023) · source
“By learning from past mistakes and precisely to escape the cycle of violence and anarchy, we have developed institutionalized forms of cooperation through the establishment of principles and the practice of multilateralism. Since the establishment of the Charter of the United Nations, we have laid down shared norms and rules to foster trust and enable ever-growing cooperation. That is how we have collectively contributed to the advancement of humankind — through scientific discoveries, economic growth, the reduction of poverty, cultural exchanges, peaceful negotiations and increased cooperation, trade and other forms of interaction, with respect for each other. Nothing can justify attempts to go back and break that trust in the future because someone has remained nostalgic for the past.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315 (2023) · source
“Equally, we will not contribute to making the world a better place by refusing to recognize in the Council the link between climate change and security, denying that serious and widespread violations of human rights lead to conflicts, or shielding totalitarian regimes that oppress their own citizens and undermine peace and security in the neighbourhood and at large. The raison d’être of the Council is to lead the battle for peace and security and not be taken hostage to contemplate aggression and drivers of instability in the world. Wars and conflict have played a significant role in shaping world history. Humankind has paid a terrible price.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315 (2023) · source
“We know that the Security Council will not be able to discharge its responsibilities successfully without trust, working in good faith and continued cooperation among its members. The Council succeeds every time it comes together, united in purpose to find adequate solutions to a multitude of crises. It does not succeed when the Council, unfortunately, is used as a stage for propaganda and the pursuit of narrow interests, as we note is the case with regard to a number of important outstanding issues, not least the ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315 (2023) · source
“Trust is the glue that holds people and societies together. It gives institutions lasting legitimacy and helps individuals and groups remain engaged in the long and arduous process of building lasting peace. Its absence, as witnessed so many times, can result in disruption, violence and conflict. The recent tragic events in the Sudan show where the breaking of trust can lead — to a catastrophe that is tearing the country apart. The frustrating lack of progress on the political track in Libya is the direct result of the lack of trust among the main actors. As mentioned, the lack of unity among stakeholders in Haiti has left the country in the clutches of gangs. But let us look closer to home, at ourselves, in the Chamber.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315 (2023) · source