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

“That is the issue that should have been the primary preoccupation of the Security Council, were it not paralysed and held hostage by a permanent member, in a blatant conflict of interest. The world is witness to the fact that Russia is using every method to bring Ukraine to its knees. It has instrumentalized religion. It has attacked Ukraine’s culture and assaulted its identity. It has weaponized gas and has again turned against food. In a desperate and regrettable move, Russia went back to the crime scene and killed the grain deal — the one to which it had agreed, showing once more that agreements mean little to Russia when breaking them suits its interests. Furthermore, to consolidate its gains, Russia is now bombarding Ukraine’s ports on a daily basis in an effort to make impossible any future exports of grain from Ukraine.”
2023-07-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9390 (2023) · source
“What is the definition of the use of Iranian kamikaze drones that end up destroying schools, kindergartens and health facilities? How does one explain the vicious obstinacy of attacking to deliberately destroy power generation installations in the midst of winter, if not to terrorize the population, freeze it to death and force it to surrender? Therefore, for us, and I hope for many, there is no doubt as to who is using terror in the bloody war, who is responsible for its terrible consequences and who should be held accountable. Neither is there any doubt about who is violating the Charter of the United Nations and international law, as clearly and unquestionably determined by the General Assembly.”
2023-07-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9390 (2023) · source
“While that course has not changed anything on the ground or in the understanding of the war, it has contributed to making noise — the kind of noise that, regrettably, further erodes the credibility of the Council and is used as an excuse to hinder the United Nations and its bodies from properly doing their work and discharging their responsibilities. But truth cannot be hidden, facts cannot be altered, and a narrative aimed at brainwashing domestic opinion and misleading the world is doomed to fail. As we know, it has not changed the core issue. Russia is the aggressor, and there is so much to say about that. I have three specific questions. I would very much like to know, what is the purpose of throwing missiles in the middle of the night into apartment buildings and residential areas if not to terrorize people?”
2023-07-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9390 (2023) · source
“As per today’s topic, calling Ukraine’s defence terrorism is as credible as when Minister Lavrov made a packed room in New Delhi laugh by saying that Russia was trying to stop a war initiated by Ukraine. By calling meeting after meeting to disinform, Russia is taking up our time. It is misusing the Council’s resources for such purposes. It has lowered the bar by inviting militants and propagandists, including in some cases entertainers disguised as briefers — no offence to Mr. Chaulin and his personal account today.”
2023-07-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9390 (2023) · source
“We deplore the fact that Russia has turned the Security Council into a place where it tries to sell every ludicrousness on what has been, is and will remain — for as long as it goes on — an unjust, unjustified and inexcusable war of choice. We should not be trapped in an artificial discussion of a chicken-or-the-egg sort because everything that happens in Ukraine, including what we hear in the Chamber on the matter, is a consequence of that war. Had there been no aggression, we would not be here to deplore its consequences. That is why all these meetings continue to have two features in common: they are part of the same usual propaganda, and they reveal a lack of credibility.”
2023-07-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9390 (2023) · source
“Let me thank the Deputy to the Under-Secretary-General, Mr. Gregorian, for his briefing. Let me also say, from the very start, that our position remains crystal clear: we denounce any and all acts of terror — anywhere, at any time and by anyone. Our actions and policies in that respect speak far louder than our words. I have lost count of the number of Security Council meetings called by Russia to push its distorted narrative about Ukraine, but this one — on the final day of the United Kingdom’s remarkably handled presidency of the Council — does not stand out in any particular way. It is in the same vein of déjà vu.”
2023-07-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9390 (2023) · source
“Maybe not everyone can immediately understand that one man is ready to starve people around the world for his own political survival, to justify his terrible mistakes and excuse his horribly wrong judgment, but it is just a matter of time before everyone realizes that by trying to mimic strength at the expense of the hungry, he is only showing his weakness and his cynicism.”
2023-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9382 (2023) · source
“According to the United Nations Comtrade Database, imports from Ukraine account for 75 per cent of Lebanon’s total wheat imports, 59 per cent of Pakistan’s, 49 per cent of Libya’s and 45 per cent of Ethiopia’s, to mention just a few on a long list of countries. If the loaf of bread costs more or is just missing from the usual shelves in dozens of countries, people must know who to blame, because killing the deal is tantamount to playing Russian roulette with the food of the poor and the needs of the hungry.”
2023-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9382 (2023) · source
“Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian ports has, since the very first day, been a deliberate effort to strangle Ukraine’s economy. After more than 500 days of a disastrous war, the goal remains the same, as it continues to destroy Ukrainian infrastructure, kill its people and abduct its children. Now, as mentioned by Under-Secretary-General and other colleagues, Russia’s daily attacks are intended to destroy Ukraine’s ports, including in Odesa, a city inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. But Russia is not punishing Ukraine alone. Ending the deal would destabilize global food prices and jeopardize the most food-insecure countries and populations at a time when climate change, conflict, political instability and other factors have already caused rising levels of food insecurity.”
2023-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9382 (2023) · source
“In the course of these long months of war, we have learned that in order to understand the reality, one should not rely on what Russia says, but rather on what it omits. The Kremlin is now using any future participation in the grain deal as a bargaining chip to get European Union sanctions relief. Russian agriculture producers have been complaining about prices in global markets for these commodities. They want to make more money, and for that they need to increase prices. In the world that we have built, by which I refer to the international rules- based order, this is done by fair competition, not brutal imposition. But this is what the Russians are trying to do with their oil, it is what they did with their gas, and now they are doing it again with food. In a war that the Russians are not winning, everything must be used as a weapon.”
2023-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9382 (2023) · source
“Indeed, approximately 61 per cent of the nearly 33 million tons of exported grain out of Ukraine has shipped to low- and middle-income countries, 65 per cent of which was wheat. That was the case until the 27 July, when Russia decided it was time to gamble again. To be fair, this did not come as a surprise. Russia had long been nervous and unhappy with the deal, which it did not hide. In October last year, 10 ships were inspected per day, then 7 in November, coming down to 2 in May, while the real capacity for inspection was 40 ships a day. In contrast, Russian food exports — which are not under any sanction, it must be highlighted — have increased in the last year, and the country is exporting plenty of grain and fertilizers out of Novorossiysk. So, what is wrong?”
2023-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9382 (2023) · source
“Russia scrambled to promote its narrative to a disbelieving world that it was the consequence of the sanctions imposed on it. That story made some noise but failed to convince anyone, just as almost everything related to its war has done. Then came the Black Sea Grain Initiative, one of the few pieces of positive news and achievements on the diplomatic front, thanks to sincere the efforts of Tür- kiye and the Secretary-General. The Initiative sudden- ly eased the markets, stabilized prices and calmed the world. It was a beacon of reason in an ocean of despair. The narrative of the sanctions disappeared and the world, especially the global South, breathed a sigh of relief.”
2023-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9382 (2023) · source
“Let me thank Under-Secretary- General DiCarlo and Under-Secretary-General Griffiths for their briefings. Before the special military aggression, Ukraine, one of the bread baskets of the world, accounted for 12 per cent of the world’s corn exports and approximately 10 per cent of its wheat exports. It produced enough food to feed 400 million people per year, mainly in countries in Africa and the Middle East. Since 24 February 2022, those millions needed to have Russia’s permission to get their usual food. Last year, with the beginning of the unjustified war in Ukraine, the world went through tremor shocks because of the sudden sharp increase in food prices. Food insecurity disrupted global markets, punished households and terrified Governments.”
2023-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9382 (2023) · source
“We must promote standards for responsible State behaviour and the applicability of international law in the use of artificial intelligence and its technologies, but also in the monitoring and assessment of risks and implications. And that provides a role for the Security Council. Albania will continue to promote open, free and safe AI technologies where human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law are respected.”
2023-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9381 (2023) · source
“AI may be used to perpetuate bias through large-scale disinformation attacks, develop new cyberweapons, power autonomous weapons and design advanced biological weapons. As we reap the benefits of technological advances, it is urgent that we make use of existing rules and regulations, improve and update them and define the ethics of the use of AI. We must also establish, at the national and international level, the necessary safeguards, governance frameworks and clear lines of responsibility and authority to ensure that AI systems are used appropriately, safely and responsibly for the good of all, and that they do not infringe on human rights and freedoms or affect peace and security.”
2023-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9381 (2023) · source
“The Internet and social media have already shown how damaging such behaviours can be. Some countries continually attempt to deliberately create misleading information, distort facts, interfere in the democratic processes of others, spread hatred, promote discrimination and incite violence or conflict by misusing digital technologies. Deepfakes and doctored photos are being used to create convincing but false information and narratives, produce convincing conspiracy theories that undermine public trust and democracy and even cause panic. For all those actors, artificial intelligence will provide infinite possibilities for malicious activities. The misuse of AI could have a direct impact on international peace and security, and it poses grave security challenges for which we are currently ill prepared.”
2023-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9381 (2023) · source
“The vertiginous rhythm of the development of a technology with far-reaching consequences that we are not fully able to grasp raises serious questions, and rightly. It is because of the nature of technology, the lack of transparency and accountability in how algorithms reach their results and the fact that often not even the scientists and engineers who design the AI models fully understand how they arrive at the outputs they produce. Depending on the data sets on which they are trained or the way in which their algorithms are organized, AI models and systems could lead to discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age or disability. While such issues can be prevented or corrected, it is far more difficult to prevent the serious risks presented by those who use the technology with the intention to cause harm.”
2023-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9381 (2023) · source
“But there is something fundamentally different about artificial intelligence. It stands out both for its rate of progress and for the potential scope of it applications, and holds great promise for transforming the world as never before and automating processes on a scale we cannot even imagine now. While that technology advances at a mind-blowing pace, we are caught between fascination and fear, weighing benefits and worries, anticipating applications that may transform the world but also aware of its other side — the dark side, the potential risks that could have an impact on our safety, privacy, economy and security. Some, more alarmist, have gone as far as to warn about the risks that AI may pose for our civilization.”
2023-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9381 (2023) · source
“I thank you, Madam President, for convening today’s important meeting and for bringing the issue to the Security Council for a first-ever debate on the matter. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been around for decades as part of the world’s scientific and technological drive. The recent spike in its development has opened vast avenues for its use in almost every sector of human activity, as the Secretary-General, our briefers and other colleagues have said. Everything indicates that it is headed to a place that will be front and centre in an era of revolutionary, never-before-seen technological advances in the years to come. Our world is no stranger to scientific evolution and disruptive technological growth. It is part of the uninterrupted quest by humans for progress, part of our genome and engraved in human history.”
2023-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9381 (2023) · source
“It should respect the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, as protected by international law and the United Nations Charter. Any other solution will not lead to lasting peace, but only to a postponement of the conflict.”
2023-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9380 (2023) · source
“On the other hand, a Russian victory would signify the prevalence of imperial Powers and the sanctioning of war as a means to dominate its neighbours. We do not want any of that, and we cannot accept it. That is why support for Ukraine must continue until Russia understands that its logic of force has failed. Let me conclude by reverting to a lesson of history — wars, however long, do not last forever. And Russia’s war of choice will end, as well — the sooner the better for all, including the Ukrainian people and Russia itself. That is why the door of diplomacy should remain open. We fully support Ukraine’s peace formula for a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace.”
2023-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9380 (2023) · source
“Last year, food insecurity sent shock tremors across the world until the Black Sea Grain Initiative was put in place. Now Russia just ended the Initiative, gambling again with the needs and food of people in need. It is for everyone to judge. Russia’s massive assault on a sovereign country threatens not only Europe. It assault the astonishing human effort we have all invested since the Second World War to build global peace through the international rule of law. Let us make it clear — the defeat of Russia in Ukraine would not mean the end of Russia; it would mean the end of aggression and transgression of rules established and accepted globally, in favour of a sustainable peace in Europe and the world.”
2023-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9380 (2023) · source
“It is the order where, despite their wealth and might, nations are equal, free to decide their choices and their future; where relations between States are based on friendship and respect and genuine efforts to achieve mutual benefits; where rules and commitments are respected and observed; and where we all, including Russia, have committed to work for peace, not prepare for the next war. It is that international order that Russia does not want anymore because it wants to evolve against, instead of together; because it wants to dictate the geopolitical choices of others, including Ukraine; because it wants to impose its imperial ambitions and consolidate its influence on what it calls the “near abroad”, on what it sees and calls again the “Russian world”.”
2023-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9380 (2023) · source
“The Russians claim repeatedly that they do not agree with it, and they want out. I think it is important to understand what that is all about. The rules-based order, which my country and the overwhelming majority of the world — 143 countries in General Assembly at the last count — want and seek to protect is everything we have commonly built over 78 years together, bit by bit, to shift from a culture of war to the shared desire for peace and cooperation. It relies on the foundations of the Charter of the United Nations, on the dozens of conventions and treaties, the countless Security Council and General Assembly resolutions and court rulings — all that precious international legislation that we commonly call “international law”.”
2023-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9380 (2023) · source
“Russia, through its propaganda, has never lost an occasion to claim that, despite all the devastating consequences of the war, there are no facts, and everything is staged by Ukraine, pushed by Western hysteria. That was until a Russian in the highest circles of power of the Kremlin, the infamous leader of the notorious Wagner Group, an assembly line of atrocities, a killing machine 100 per cent owned and financed by the Government to do dirty jobs, came out and claimed that the invasion of Ukraine was nothing less and nothing more than “a racket perpetrated by a corrupt elite chasing money and glory without concern for Russian lives”. He said it. It would be hard to say it better or with more accuracy. We have heard so many times that Russia has fallen out with the international rules-based order.”
2023-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9380 (2023) · source
“Then, when war began, they rushed to specify that it was only a special military operation, that is, an aggression. Then they claimed that Russia never commits crimes, despite overwhelming and sickening evidence of cruelty, which has, among other things, led the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for its top leadership. Then they claimed that Russia never attacks civilian infrastructure, except for residential areas, shopping malls, power generation installations, health facilities, schools, kindergartens and everywhere else. If Samuel Beckett were alive, he would be jealous. The theatre of the absurd is thriving in Russia.”
2023-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9380 (2023) · source
“I thank Rosemary DiCarlo for her insightful briefing as always with accurate and indisputable information on this matter. We thank the United Kingdom presidency for convening this high- level meeting on the situation in Ukraine and welcome you, Mr. President, in the chair. After more than 500 days of ongoing war in Ukraine, what we have said since the very beginning of this lunacy remains true: it is an unjust and unjustifiable war of choice, a one-man-made catastrophe, a pure act of aggression. During this time, in our almost weekly debates, we have heard everything and its opposite. We have seen officials pompously declare in this Chamber, looking straight into the eyes of Security Council members, that there will be no war. It was a lie and everyone, including everyone in the global South, knows it.”
2023-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9380 (2023) · source
“We must therefore do everything we can to bring perpetrators to justice, support survivors on their path to recovery and ultimately advance towards the creation of a world free from the horrors of sexual violence and exploitation.”
2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378 (2023) · source
“We strongly believe that the report can constitute a robust instrument to monitor and document, on an annual basis, the progress that Kosovo’s authorities and institutions have made in documenting those crimes and addressing their legacy by integrating a survivor- centred approach into the heart of all their programmes and interventions. In conclusion, addressing conflict-related sexual violence requires collective action, strong political will and sustained commitment at every level. Women and girls everywhere are not war spoils. They have an inherent right to be safe, to live in peace and with dignity and to enjoy freedom and equality.”
2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378 (2023) · source
“Increased funding for survivor support should be directed towards programmes that provide comprehensive assistance, including physical and mental health care, legal aid and economic empowerment. In particular, greater efforts should be made to ensure inclusivity and accessibility for those who are always the primary targets in conflicts — marginalized and vulnerable groups, such as women with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community. I would like to thank the Secretary-General and Special Representative Patten for including Kosovo in the annual report (S/2023/413). No matter where or when such acts have happened, sexual crimes should never be left unaddressed. The severe physical and psychological trauma experienced by the victims should never be ignored, excused, downplayed or forgotten.”
2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378 (2023) · source
“Member States must strengthen their national legal frameworks to effectively criminalize conflict-related sexual violence and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. Internationally, we may need to go beyond resolutions. We must come to a consensus and consider sexual violence in conflict on the same level as prohibited weapons such as biological and chemical agents. Given the pervasiveness of such atrocities in almost every context of conflict and war, it is worth the time and effort to explore other options for multilateral and global support and action, including the possibility of formulating a convention. In our view it would be a valuable investment in what we are visibly missing, which is prevention. Peacekeeping missions should prioritize preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence.”
2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378 (2023) · source
“The high levels of impunity perpetuate a culture of violence and undermine efforts to comprehensively eradicate conflict-related sexual violence. Another crucial gap lies in the still insufficient access that survivors have to support services. While resolutions emphasize the need for health care, psychosocial support and legal aid, the realities on the ground often fall short. Many survivors lack access to those essential services, including sexual and reproductive services, which hinders their recovery and reintegration into society. Furthermore, and worse, social stigmatization and cultural barriers prevent many survivors from seeking assistance, exacerbating the challenges they face. We must do more and better and take decisive steps in that regard. As always, the work starts at home.”
2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378 (2023) · source
“In Ukraine, reports of women, girls and children raped by Russian forces are a painful and appalling testimony to widespread atrocities and severe violations of human rights committed in an unjust, illegal and absurd war. The truth may be hard to swallow, but facts are stubborn things. The cases mentioned and many others testify to the huge gap between the normative framework developed over the years and its actual implementation on the ground. Nadine is right — there are laws, but we need to enforce them. There are tools, but we need to make proper use of them. One fundamental issue is how hard it is to hold all the perpetrators accountable. Despite clear condemnations and calls for prosecution, far too many individuals responsible for sexual violence manage to evade justice.”
2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378 (2023) · source
“It is unbearable and a stain on our collective efforts and commitment to respect human rights and uphold the moral ground of the values we cherish. Over the years, the Council has adopted a number of resolutions condemning sexual violence in conflict and emphasizing the need for accountability. Yet despite a robust normative framework, conflict-related sexual violence against women and girls continues in many parts of the world, used as a weapon to punish civilians and terrorize communities. That is what has happened or is happening in many war-torn parts of the world — from Afghanistan to Syria, from Haiti to the Sudan and South Sudan, from Myanmar to Mali and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic and Libya.”
2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378 (2023) · source
“Let me recognize the particularly active role played by the United Kingdom and by Lord Ahmad and the special and continued attention to the issue, including through far-reaching initiatives and projects, including the one that was presented here. When conflicts begin, so do violations and crimes, including the terror and devastation of sexual violence. As we heard, the world continues to experience the shock of bodies of women and girls becoming battlegrounds. Like bombs and missiles that blow up residential areas, schools and kindergartens, sexual violence in conflicts, used as a weapon of war, assaults human bodies, scars minds, undermines the very fabric of humankind and inflicts immeasurable suffering on its victims.”
2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378 (2023) · source
“Let me thank the United Kingdom presidency for organizing today’s open debate on such a critical issue. I thank Special Representative of the Secretary- General Patten for her briefing, and we pay tribute to her continuous efforts to advance the conflict- related sexual violence agenda, despite difficulties and challenges. Her mandate and work are not only important; they are indispensable and must be supported and strengthened, as her mission embodies the hopes of countless survivors for justice. We are grateful to the civil society briefers for bringing their perspective to the Council and helping us to better grasp the painful realities on the ground.”
2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378 (2023) · source
“Therefore — and this will be my final point — instead of calling for meetings on the Nord Stream pipeline and wasting the Council’s time with the futile politicization of an ongoing investigation process, Russia could be more useful and productive if it would put an end to the war in Ukraine and seriously engage in diplomacy, starting with the complete withdrawal of its troops from the territory of Ukraine.”
2023-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9373 (2023) · source
“A joint assessment by the United Nations, the World Bank Group, the European Commission and the Government of Ukraine estimates that the cost of reconstruction and recovery in Ukraine has grown to $411 billion. The report finds that direct damage to buildings and infrastructure amounts to more than $135 billion. The most affected areas are housing, trans- port, energy, commerce, industry and agriculture — in other words, the backbone of the economy. That was last month. The cost of war, including for Russia itself, increases every hour, every day.”
2023-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9373 (2023) · source
“That is why I insist that, when it comes to the question of war in Ukraine, there are far more important and consequential questions that need and should have our attention on a daily basis, such as the killing of more than 9,000 innocent civilians, including 500 children; the whole range of despicable crimes committed by the Russian army; the deliberate destruction of residential areas by waves of illegally acquired Iranian kamikaze drones; the thousands of Ukrainian children forcefully deported to Russia and given up for adoption; the frightening magnitude and cost of the deliberate destruction of civil infrastructure; and the decimation of the economy in Ukraine.”
2023-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9373 (2023) · source
“Today, like every year on 11 July, we commemorate the Srebrenica genocide. The scale and depravity of that tragedy continues to burden our souls 28 years later. I mention it not only because it deserves commemoration with humility, but also because it happened during the most recent war in Europe, and we have committed to never let those tragic events reoccur.”
2023-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9373 (2023) · source
“We all want to see the findings, but we must be patient and wait for the ongoing investigations’ conclusions. Therefore, incessantly placing this discussion on the Security Council’s agenda amounts more to political pressure and a manoeuvre to divert attention away from other issues. The politicization of the investigation process and the artificial pressure placed upon it by heated rhetoric do not help to expedite the process, which is what we all want. Thirdly, while we all want to know the truth on the acts of sabotage, the obsession with singling out this one issue is both cynical and preposterous at a time when, for more than 500 days, Russia has been waging an unjustified, aggressive and merciless war on its neighbour, with devastating human and economic consequences.”
2023-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9373 (2023) · source
“We welcome their joint letter of yesterday (S/2023/517) indicating that the investigation is under way, and we have full confidence in their objectivity and comprehensiveness. The three countries that are carrying out the investigations have strong judicial institutions and unquestionable records on the rule of law. Secondly, this is the third meeting on this issue zealously requested by Russia in less than a month. It is obvious that such investigation processes are complex and need time, as the letter highlights. In the meantime, the Internet is full of all kinds of information, disinformation and misinformation, including colourful theories advanced by dependent and independent journalists — especially those who have the luxury to use their freedom as they wish.”
2023-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9373 (2023) · source
“The quick version of our statement today would have been a reference to our most recent statement on this issue, made a week or so ago, since there is nothing new on the matter. But since we are here, I would like to make the following points. First, we have said it many times and will reiterate it again. We were and still are deeply concerned about the apparent act of sabotage on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in the exclusive economic zones of Denmark and Sweden in the Baltic Sea. Such acts are unacceptable. We reiterate our full support for the investigations initiated by the national authorities of Denmark, Germany and Sweden to determine the damage and its origin and possible perpetrators.”
2023-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9373 (2023) · source
“The Council, which is responsible for peace and security, has been taken hostage by another shameless misuse of the veto. Today the Council, which in a normal world represents people’s hopes for a better world, decided to starve people in need, deprive children of food and deny the elderly medical care. Russia’s position is wrong because its decision goes against life. This is one of those days when it becomes harder to convincingly face the people who criticize the United Nations — those who think that there is something seriously wrong with our Organization, the Security Council and the way it functions nowadays, with the misuse of the veto and the sickening geopolitical games played at the expense of innocent life. Helping people in need should never be mixed with politics.”
2023-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9371 (2023) · source
“This case has continuously been made by the United Nations at the highest level and in this Chamber — and it has been made many times by the United Nations officials on the ground — in order to ensure predictability, preparedness and efficiency. As was mentioned before, a group of 32 non-governmental organizations operating in Syria — people who live every day with those in need, and not in New York — describe Bab Al-Hawa as the most critical supply line for providing food, medical care and shelter. A mandate of nine months as proposed, although not ideal, would nonetheless have provided and continued to provide humanitarian aid for more than 4 million people in north-western Syria, who need it not for comfort but for survival; not as an option but a critical vital need.”
2023-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9371 (2023) · source
“We thank the co-penholders, Brazil and Switzerland, for their tireless efforts during a most constructive process of negotiations. We were happy to work actively with them and other members of the Security Council, but unfortunately these efforts were wasted. What just happened is a terrible setback. It is one of those sad days for the Council, the United Nations and the entire humanitarian world. It is a stab in the back to solidarity — one of the raisons d’être of the United Nations. Millions of Syrians in need and hundreds of humanitarian actors ready to help them have been anxiously looking to the Security Council to guarantee humanitarian access for a period of 12 months.”
2023-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9371 (2023) · source
“The devastating consequences of the war for Yemeni civilians and the ongoing deep humanitarian crisis and economic hardship are the most effective reminder we have of the need for the parties to accelerate their efforts towards sustained peace. Let me conclude by applauding the work of Mr. Gressly and the United Nations for commencing the operation on the FSO SAFER oil tanker. We fully support all the international efforts to arrive at a successful solution to that key issue.”
2023-07-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9370 (2023) · source
“We deplore the mistreatment of religious minorities in the country and urge the Houthis to immediately release the Bahai abductees. We reiterate our call for the unconditional and immediate release of the staff of the United Nations and non-governmental organizations and other civilians who have been abducted by armed groups or forcibly disappeared, as well as of Yemenis employed by the United States and the United Nations. We echo the concern expressed by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs about the dire humanitarian situation of migrants, asylum seekers, refugees and internal displaced persons in Yemen and acknowledge the vital role of the international humanitarian response in addressing it. Peace is on the horizon and peace is possible. But as we have rightly been reminded, the prospects for it are fragile.”
2023-07-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9370 (2023) · source
“While we welcome all positive steps, we continue to be concerned about the volatile security situation in the country. The recent Houthi attack on Al-Dhale’e, which killed six soldiers, testifies to the fragility of the situation, which could derail the ongoing efforts. We continue to be concerned about reports of Houthis blocking the flow of oil and essential goods from south to north, which is worsening the humanitarian crisis. We deplore and condemn all restrictions on female relief workers and on freedom of movement in general. And we call for full accountability for the gross violations of the rights of children that have been extensively documented in the most recent report of the Secretary- General on children and armed conflict (S/2023/363).”
2023-07-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9370 (2023) · source
“We welcome the engagement of the parties under the Supervisory Committee on the Implementation of the Prisoners and Detainees Exchange Agreement to gradually release conflict-related detainees, based on the all-for-all principle. That precious momentum should be fully maintained if we are to work towards a comprehensive nationwide ceasefire and an inclusive and peaceful political solution. We call on all the relevant actors not to waste this window of hope with timid steps or half-measures. Rather than hesitating, they should show determination and work in line with the recommendations of the Special Envoy. It is time to go beyond mere symbolic measures with a post-war mindset and a shared vision for a future in which there are no losers.”
2023-07-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9370 (2023) · source