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

“I thank Special Envoy Grundberg, Assistant Secretary-General Msuya and Resident Coordinator Gressly for their briefings. We welcomed the unanimous renewal earlier of the mandate of the United Nations Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement and commend the United Kingdom, as penholder, for its diligent work. The show of unity by the Council sends an unmistakable message of support to the Yemeni people in their efforts to escape a devastating conflict and work to build a peaceful and dignified life. We are happy to see that in general the benefits of the truce are holding. The start of direct flights between Sana’a and Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrims and the continuation of other flights in and out of Sana’a are encouraging and positive steps.”
2023-07-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9370 (2023) · source
“Let me conclude with a very sincere call. Iran should stop testing the resolve of peace-loving countries and actors by dangerously throwing itself and the entire region into uncertainty by seeking nuclear weapons. It should stop supporting terror and destabilization policies through proxies. And it should stop using cyberattacks against other countries. What is needed are deeds, and not just empty words that are betrayed by Iran’s actions. Only that will bring the credibility that is lacking and the assurances that are missing.”
2023-07-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9367 (2023) · source
“Furthermore, the illicit transfer of hundreds of Iranian Mohajer- and Shahed-series unmanned aerial vehicles to Russia, in clear violation of resolution 2231 (2015), is tantamount to supplying death to Ukrainian civilians. Residential areas in Ukraine and critical civilian infrastructure continue to be under unrelenting attack by Iranian drones. We reiterate our call to the Secretariat to provide full clarity on this issue. In the last year, the international community has dealt patiently and reasonably with Iran, pursuing a diplomatic path to find a solution, which is always possible. We regret that Tehran persists in rejecting all efforts to resume full and effective implementation of the JCPOA. As a consequence, we fear now that its nuclear programme is more advanced than ever and that the threat it poses is growing accordingly.”
2023-07-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9367 (2023) · source
“The destructive activities of Iran spread across the region and beyond, and they are a cause for great concern. By illegally transferring weapons without the approval of the Security Council, in flagrant violation of the arms embargo in Yemen under resolution 2216 (2015), Iran continues to empower the Houthi, including in their war of terror against neighbouring countries. As we had suspected, the preliminary findings by the Secretariat confirm similarities between the ballistic-missile components seized by the British navy in the international waters of the Gulf of Oman and the debris of the ballistic missiles used by the Houthis in their attacks directed at Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. We await the full and timely assessment of the Secretariat on this matter.”
2023-07-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9367 (2023) · source
“The facts are there: Iran has expanded its stockpile of enriched uranium, put more centrifuges in operation and enhanced their efficiency, increased the number of enrichment sites, dangerously experimented with enriching to high levels in a single step, and obstructed nuclear inspectors. That is utterly worrisome, but there is more: in clear violation of the paragraph 3 of annex B to resolution 2231 (2015), Iran continues to conduct ballistic-missile-related activities capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using ballistic- missile technology. The test flight of the QAEM- 100 space launch vehicle, the testing of the Khaibar ballistic missile and the recent unveiling of the new Fattah ballistic missile are deplorable violations of the restrictions set forth in the JCPOA.”
2023-07-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9367 (2023) · source
“It is regrettable to note that Iran has not taken any meaningful steps toward the fulfilment of its obligations under the safeguards agreement of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) related to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and its additional protocol, despite recent communications between the IAEA and the Iranian Government. The opaque practices of Iran undermine the ability of the IAEA to ensure full verification and monitoring. A closer look at the steps taken by Iran seem worrisomely and increasingly to indicate a determination to advance towards building nuclear weapons in the near future, rather than a genuine effort in good faith to implement the JCPOA through diplomacy and in transparency.”
2023-07-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9367 (2023) · source
“I thank Under-Secretary- General DiCarlo and European Union Ambassador Skoog for their updates, as well as Ambassador Frazier for her work as Security Council Facilitator for the implementation of resolution 2231 (2015). The fifteenth report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 2231 (2015) (S/2023/473) paints a disturbing picture of the advancement of the illicit Iranian nuclear programme. It is beyond any doubt that Iranian nuclear proliferation activities supersede and fail to comply with the provisions of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The findings in the report cast doubt on the so-called peaceful purposes of such activities.”
2023-07-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9367 (2023) · source
“Nothing should be spared in efforts to prevent conflicts, preserve peace and find political solutions to war, because peace is the ultimate guarantee of children’s security. It is conducive to an environment in which children can receive a normal upbringing with the education and care that they need and deserve and that we owe them.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366 (2023) · source
“All parties must allow and facilitate safe, timely and unimpeded access for humanitarian workers, as well as children’s access to services, assistance and protection, including integration and rehabilitation. We deplore and condemn in the strongest terms all atrocities committed against children anywhere in the world. A crime against a child is an affront to all of us — to humankind. We must never countenance the irreplaceable harm inflicted on children in conflict. We call on all the parties to the conflicts listed in the annexes to the report to proactively engage with the United Nations on the ground and with the Office of the Special Representative in order to put in place measures to prevent violations against children affected by conflict.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366 (2023) · source
“Dealing with the root causes is a long-term investment with a greater and better guarantee of generating tangible benefits for all civilians, especially children. We know that successful prevention cannot be achieved without accountability. Holding the perpetrators of violations accountable increases the cost of non-compliance with international law and helps deter future violations. That is why we must support the efforts of the United Nations to prevent and respond to grave violations, including by monitoring and reporting on them and by providing assistance to affected children. Child-protection practitioners, civil- society organizations and humanitarian personnel in the field must be protected.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366 (2023) · source
“There is only one way for Russia to avoid the world’s continued scorn for such despicable atrocities, and that is to stop violating the fundamental principles of child protection in wartime, hold perpetrators to account and withdraw all its troops from Ukraine, respecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity. If we are to have any chance of another and more hopeful discussion next year, with fewer spine-chilling stories, and to be able to assure Ms. Violeta, and all children everywhere, that we are serious and committed, we have to take real action to change the realities for children on the ground for the better. That starts with serious work on prevention and conflict resolution.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366 (2023) · source
“In Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Mali, Syria and Yemen, children continue to be in desperate need of protection and humanitarian aid. The Russian aggression against Ukraine has inflicted new levels of violence and misery on children. The inclusion of Russian troops and affiliated armed groups on the list of shame is proof of our deep concerns. There have been repeated denunciations of atrocities, deliberate attacks on women and children and abductions committed by Russian troops and the Wagner Group mercenaries. We were appalled to learn that 91 children have been used as human shields while attacks on schools and hospitals have continued unabated.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366 (2023) · source
“We are alarmed by the increase in cases of abduction, of sexual violence, especially against girls, and of deliberate attacks on schools and hospitals. Forced displacement remains a growing challenge, with an ever-growing number of children fleeing in search of protection. In Myanmar, the spread of violent conflict in new areas and the proliferation of armed actors have resulted in a serious increase in the number of grave violations against children. The growing intercommunal violence in South Sudan and the Sudan has exacerbated sexual violence against children, abductions and attacks on schools and hospitals. The surge in terrorist activities has aggravated the conditions of children in the central Sahel region, particularly in Burkina Faso.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366 (2023) · source
“Let me congratulate you, Madam President, and your team on assuming the presidency of the Council, and thank you for organizing this open debate. We are grateful to the United Arab Emirates for presiding over our work during the month of June. I also thank Special Representative Gamba de Potgieter and the Deputy Executive Director for Programmes at UNICEF for their insights, as well as Ms. Violeta for her account. Every year we look forward with great interest to the findings of the annual report of the Secretary- General on children and armed conflict (S/2023/363). It is an important document, but it remains a painful read. The overall situation has not improved. There are more conflicts around the world that have made an already tragic situation worse, particularly through the killing, maiming, abuse and recruitment of children.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366 (2023) · source
“Therefore, the games of who could be deadlier and bloodier in Ukraine was a false competition. It was an inner struggle for money and power at the expense of poor soldiers and innocent civilians. Let me conclude with a final remark. The recent developments in Russia offer another insight worth mentioning. Faced with the prospect of bloodshed in power rivalry, everybody rushed to make a deal, including by pivoting 180 degrees and renouncing their own words. The main reason for such deals was to not spill Russian blood. It is very puzzling that this reasoning does not apply to those they call their brothers, the Ukrainians. That is why the political, humanitarian and military support for Ukraine must and will continue — because despite what we hear from Russia and their supporting briefers, Ukraine is right and Russia is wrong.”
2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9364 (2023) · source
“Among other things, they revealed that the war of choice of Russia is not a one-way path. Actions always have consequences. And whatever the reasons, the dynamics and their finality, internal developments in Russia sent tremors beyond its borders — because what was intended to be the Swiss knife of the Russian military was morphed into a Frankenstein-like monster that turned against its very creator. Those hours of total chaos in Russia revealed many things. The world press and media are full of various analyses, but there is something worth pointing out, something that we knew and was denied — the Wagner Group, the stamp of cruelty in Ukraine and in many parts of Africa, is simply a Russian tool, 100 per cent financed by the Government, per the words of the President Putin himself. The emperor has no clothes.”
2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9364 (2023) · source
“A knife is a knife; it all depends on what it used for. There are weapons to defend life, and there are weapons to kill innocent civilians, including children having dinner at the pizzeria in Kramatorsk. Russia will therefore not succeed in shifting the responsibility of the war to others — to Ukraine, as it pretends or to other countries, as it propagates. Let us not forget that everything we are talking about, including the supply of arms to Ukraine, is not the cause. It is just the consequence of the Russian aggression. We have continuously raised concerns about the consequences of this war for Ukraine, Europe and Russia itself. Last week I said that the war is changing many things (see S/PV.9357), including Russia — and unfortunately not for the better. The dramatic events of last weekend only reinforced our concerns.”
2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9364 (2023) · source
“The arms trans- fers to Ukraine have been conducted in accordance with the national legislation of the countries concerned, the Arms Trade Treaty, the obligations arising from those acts and an assessment of the risk of diversion. Under- Secretary-General Nakamitsu just confirmed that these transfers are open data. An ad hoc commission estab- lished by the Ukrainian Parliament is responsible for monitoring the entire process so that weapons are used for defence purposes and do not fall into the wrong hands. Meanwhile, Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council, is using weapons illegally acquired from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Iran, openly and blatantly violating what it has been entrusted to uphold — the Security Council resolutions that they themselves have adopted.”
2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9364 (2023) · source
“Instead, I can direct them to Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which provides a very clear legal basis for individual State to offer whatever assistance necessary to a country exercising its inherent right to self-defence in securing its sovereignty and territorial integrity. And that is a big difference because there is one aggressor and one victim, which makes “both-side-ism” for ending the war meaningless and absurd. It is crucial to recognize that one side initiated the conflict and therefore it bears the responsibility of putting an end to it. That side can be easily identified. It has consistently been condemned by 143 members of the General Assembly. There is yet another big difference.”
2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9364 (2023) · source
“There was — and still is — an urgent need to help Ukrainians work courageously, defending their freedom and their right to be themselves; to defend their land, homes and families; to make sure that the United Nations Charter is not reduced to mere paper, but has a meaning and a purpose. That is exactly what many countries have been doing and will continue to do. I challenge our colleagues of the Russian Federation to point to a single article in the United Nations Charter, to a single line in any United Nations resolution or any piece of international law that would justify their aggression. They will not do so, for the simple reason that it does not exist.”
2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9364 (2023) · source
“It has been said many times and we cannot but reiterate it — when a sovereignty country, an independent nation, is attacked without a shred of justification; when people are killed in their homes, hospitals, schools and kindergartens, including at a restaurant in town, only to satisfy an insatiable imperial appetite; and when a United Nations member is being destroyed, causing mayhem to the country, the region, the continent and the world, condemnation is not good enough. Recalling the principles of the Charter of the United Nations is good, but not good enough. Calling for the war to stop while droves of missiles and illegally acquired drones destroy civilian infrastructure is good, but not good enough. There is need for more.”
2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9364 (2023) · source
“I thank Under-Secretary- General Nakamitsu for her briefing, and Mr. Radchenko for his insights. We express our disappointment at the time wasted by having two persons with exactly identical positions, pretendedly to lead the Security Council, mislead it with militant views. Sugar-coating an act of aggression with native English speakers will never make it more digestible. It will not succeed in enforcing a narrative that was false from the very start, remains insincere and has now been totally discredited, even by those who are partners in crime. Last Friday, Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin — who needs no introduction — described the invasion of Ukraine as “a racket carried out by a corrupt elite”.”
2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9364 (2023) · source
“The sooner a political horizon for a genuine peace process is restored, the better our chances that we will no longer need to deplore the endless violence and its deadly consequences, enabling us instead to focus on supporting the genuine efforts for a settlement, with the hope of one day celebrating a long-lasting peace.”
2023-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9361 (2023) · source
“Yet we must recognize that today we are no closer to a lasting peace. Unfortunately, destroying is easier than building, and the antagonists — the forces against peace — are also very powerful. At the core of the longest conflict in modern history lie some fundamental and complex questions, such as those of identity, the claim to land and the legitimate right to existence of others. That is why we fully support a two-State solution, which in our opinion is the only way to guarantee a secure Israel and a viable and democratic Palestine, with Jerusalem as their shared capital, living side by side as two States for two peoples, fully entitled to equal safety, security and prosperity. That is of course an uphill path, and the obstacles are many. But there is no alternative to peace, and peace is always made by the brave and the visionary.”
2023-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9361 (2023) · source
“Like others in the Security Council, we are deeply worried by the recent announcement by the Israeli Government approving thousands of additional settlement units and by reports of changes to Israel’s system of settlement administration that expedite the planning and approval of settlements. Settlements are illegal under international law, and they are an obstacle to peace and a driver of violence and insecurity for civilians. The full implementation of resolution 2334 (2016) is an international obligation. In the course of the past 75 years, the efforts for peace in the Middle East have continued and at times have produced very encouraging results. In terms of volume, the countless ceasefires, proposals, plans and road maps for resolving the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians could fill an entire room.”
2023-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9361 (2023) · source
“In this respect, we strongly condemn the repeated acts of ruthless settler violence towards Palestinian civilians. In a country based on the rule of law, no one has the right to self-justice, to blind revenge or collective punishment. We welcome the very strongly worded joint reaction of the Israeli security institutions and call on the law-enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate all the cases of settler violence towards civilians, hold those responsible accountable and take the necessary measures to prevent such acts in future. International humanitarian law applies equally and must be fully respected on both sides. We call on the parties to respect their commitments taken at the Aqaba and Sharm El-Sheikh meetings and work for appeasement.”
2023-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9361 (2023) · source
“It is incumbent upon the parties to act and reverse this horrible trend of violence and escalation by refraining from unilateral acts, denouncing provocative actions, inflammatory rhetoric and incitement, and rejecting extremist calls and nationalist extremism that trigger destabilization and insecurity and foment more violence. Albania strongly condemns the terrorist attack committed by Hamas in Eli last Tuesday, causing the death of four Israeli civilians. We stand with Israel and support its right to self-defence from terror through proportionate response. Terrorist acts are unacceptable and unjustifiable and should be condemned by everyone and at all times, as should the glorification or incitement for such acts. We are equally concerned by the impact the conflict is having on Palestinians, often victims of disproportionate response.”
2023-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9361 (2023) · source
“I thank the Special Coordinator for the update and Mr. Zogby for sharing his perspective with us today. Again, the key word of our meeting on this issue is violence. It has been particularly troubling and worrisome in the course of the last two years. It is becoming alarming and deadlier, more and more traumatizing and debilitating. It risks becoming a normal, banal thing, even with its deadly consequences and the endless carnage it causes on both sides. Yet we all know that violence has never been the right answer and will never be the solution. We should strongly resist the idea that parties are doomed to a never-ending conflict — it is a dead end because it kills hope and annihilates efforts for peace. Last week was extremely fatal for both sides, and the loss of life among civilians, including children and women, is appalling.”
2023-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9361 (2023) · source
“He was surrendered to the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia — a tribunal created by the Security Council — and indicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity. He died alone, in prison. A few kilogrammes of bronze will not turn Milošević into a hero, but it is sad to think that from now on, whoever wants to honour and glorify a war criminal can make a pilgrimage to Moscow.”
2023-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9357 (2023) · source
“A permanent member of the Security Council knows that any attempt to legitimize illegal control of the territory of another country is a clear violation of sovereignty, international law and the Charter of the United Nations. Let me conclude with a very bizarre and unfortunately true fact. Last week a statue of Slobodan Milošević, known as the butcher of the Balkans, was unveiled in Moscow’s Europe Square by people close to the Kremlin. Those who hope to perpetuate Milošević’s memory for posterity should know that he was responsible for the bloody break-up of the former Yugoslavia — the last war in Europe before Russia took up the baton. He was directly responsible for killing hundreds of thousands of Bosnians, Croats and Kosovo Albanians, and for the ethnic cleansing of more than 3 million people.”
2023-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9357 (2023) · source
“From a political, moral and legal perspective, Russia will be held accountable for its war of choice and should pay for the human and physical damage caused to the Ukrainian people. In that respect, we welcome the establishment of the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine at Eurojust, the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation in The Hague. A few days ago, Russia announced its intention to hold elections in September in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. We reiterate our position whereby we do not recognize any territories acquired by force or their attempted annexation. Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, Kherson, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol belong to Ukraine.”
2023-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9357 (2023) · source
“Had there been no war, those billions would have been used elsewhere, for other purposes — to mitigate climate-change effects or to feed more of the people who are in dire need everywhere, including primarily in the Global South. But the reality is that Russia has destroyed or damaged 1,500 hospitals and health-care facilities. It has destroyed or damaged 10 per cent of Ukraine’s education institutions and 50 per cent of its power-generation infrastructure. Close to 2.5 million people need new homes and 30 per cent of Ukraine’s territory has been contaminated by landmines and shells. All of that is going on right now, making the scale of destruction unlike anything seen in Europe since the Second World War. That is why the madness that has lasted far too long must stop.”
2023-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9357 (2023) · source
“But putting criminals, killers and rapists in regular uniform — people who had been removed from the streets as a danger to the society — and giving them weapons and a licence to kill represents more than mere danger. It indicates that the Russian army is being Wagnerized. Given the terrible record of the Wagner Group in Ukraine and many other parts of the world, the reputation of the Russian army will hardly be improved. The war is changing many things, including Russia itself, but not for the better. Two days ago, at the Ukraine Recovery Conference held in London, the international community renewed its commitment to full support for Ukraine and its people. The World Bank has estimated that more than $400 billion is needed today to rebuild Ukraine.”
2023-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9357 (2023) · source
“The Russian Parliament’s lower house, the State Duma, recently approved legislation that would pardon convicted criminals who volunteer to join Russian forces fighting in Ukraine. The practice of recruiting prisoners and criminals and throwing them into the war in Ukraine as cannon fodder was first adopted by the Wagner Group. It was shocking, but that was Wagner — a mercenary force. Now it is the turn of the Russian army to do the same. In the early days of the aggression last year, we were lectured about the virtues of the Russian armed forces, who it was said would never commit sexual crimes. Much has happened since then. The United Nations and human rights groups have unquestionably documented terrible crimes, including rape, committed by the Russian forces in Ukraine.”
2023-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9357 (2023) · source
“It presents shockingly high numbers of attacks on schools and hospitals and protected personnel, and of children killed, abducted, recruited or sexually abused by the Russian forces and affiliated armed groups. No one should be surprised. It is just one of the chapters of the dark reality of this horrible war. We have called constantly for the war to stop, for reason to prevail and for a return to diplomacy and dialogue. Our calls have been ignored. We see no signs from the Kremlin of any desire to change course. It remains defiant, including by infusing a great deal of noisy talk about the possible use of nuclear weapons into various Russian media and talk shows while it has started to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. But there is worse.”
2023-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9357 (2023) · source
“Kyiv, the capital, has been under continued and increased attacks by missiles and illegal Iranian drones — acquired in clear violation of resolution 2231 (2015) — including when foreign dignitaries have been visiting. It happened when the Secretary-General was in Kyiv, and again last week when African leaders were making a case for peace. We have raised the subject of the tragic situation of children in Ukraine, including their deportation, more than once in our meetings, and it has always been denied. Now, the annual United Nations report on children and armed conflict, just released, has included the Russian military forces and proxy armed groups on its list of shame over the killing and maiming of hundreds of children in Russia’s war against Ukraine.”
2023-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9357 (2023) · source
“I thank Under-Secretary- General DiCarlo for her in-depth and, as always, professional briefing on the current developments in Ukraine. Today is day 485 of the special — brutal — military aggression in Ukraine. The devastating consequences of that unprovoked and unjustified war need no further explanation. Ms. DiCarlo just provided an updated list. Civilian casualties are added on a daily basis. Millions of people are still refugees in neighbouring countries, and many others are internally displaced. War crimes and crimes against humanity, including conflict-related sexual violence, have been meticulously documented. Residential areas and critical civilian infrastructure continue to be under constant attack.”
2023-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9357 (2023) · source
“We look forward to the independent assessment mandated by the Council and welcome the appointment of the Special Coordinator. Let me conclude by reiterating our support for the work of UNAMA in fulfilling its important but difficult mandate under extremely difficult circumstances. We will continue to stand with the Afghan people and their aspirations for equal rights and prosperity.”
2023-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9354 (2023) · source
“We reiterate our condemnation in the strongest terms of the Taliban’s repressive policies and call on them to immediately reverse all despotic measures against women and girls, not only because they are wrong and run counter to the international commitments of Afghanistan, but also because the development advancement of any country depends on the involvement and the role of women. We deplore the de facto authorities’ failure to comply with the repeated calls of the Security Council and other international actors to reverse the measures and policies that restrict the universal rights of women and girls. Albania stands by the Afghans, who are entitled the right to a normal life, including the right to freely express their thoughts and to have their voice heard in a representative and inclusive Government.”
2023-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9354 (2023) · source
“No other issue has received more attention than the de facto authorities’ brutal assault against women. Their misogyny and bigotry are second to none, and the depth of their depravity is unparalleled. No one in the world is more fearful of women’s rights and emancipation than the Taliban. That seems to be their greatest fear and threat — their nightmare. And as if that were not enough, as we heard from the Special Representative, now the Taliban wants to play the human resources department for the United Nations. It would be risible if it were not tragic.”
2023-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9354 (2023) · source
“That is outrageous, and it will not help the country to join the community of nations. It only predicts more self-isolation and exclusion. When we mention Afghanistan today, it resonates with Afghan girls and women crying out for their rights. It echoes their desperate call for help. Because if we ever had any doubts, the Taliban have not changed over the past two decades, but Afghanistan has changed — and the women in the country have changed. Most of them knew and enjoyed freedom and were educated. Many had university degrees and were part of social life. Now the ancestral women-haters have taken away everything from them: their right to obtain education, as well as their freedom to speak, work, travel and, recently, even to help each other.”
2023-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9354 (2023) · source
“The sense of security the regime claims to have imposed, including with their brutal and medieval methods, cannot hide the fact that terrorist networks are very much present, raising fears of the Taliban’s rule might become again a harbour of terrorism. After all, they have clearly shown that they are not bound by their promises. In particular, the rulers have been methodical in wiping away the achievements of the past two decades by repressing or threatening the media and critics of Taliban rule, forcing the closure of civil society organizations and dismantling Government offices meant to promote or uphold human rights. The Taliban are again on the track of making Afghanistan the medieval manifesto of human rights violations. It is nowadays a black hole in the world — by the design and choice of the Taliban.”
2023-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9354 (2023) · source
“I thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Otunbayeva for her briefing. I also thank Ms. Basij-Rasikh for her powerful account. We could not agree more with her about the fundamental role of education as the foundation and the start of everything in a normal and successful life. It has been almost two years since the Taliban took over Afghanistan. It is now in a humanitarian calamity and is the only country in the world that walks backwards. There is hardly any other example of a country sliding back centuries in time in a matter of months. The economy is deemed stable, but we wonder what that means in real terms amid massive poverty, suffering and destitution and, when as we speak, close to two thirds of the population rely on life-saving aid to survive.”
2023-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9354 (2023) · source
“We reiterate our call on all stakeholders to constructively engage with the United Nations Support Mission in Libya and the Special Representative of the Secretary- General and break the current deadlock. Libya’s actors and current rivals need to come together and agree on a political settlement for the future of the country. That is what Libya needs. That is what Libyans want. It should provide a framework for the division of power and national resources, promote reconciliation and redress grievances and injustices. None of that is impossible, but none of it will be achieved without concerted efforts and genuine political will. That long and arduous path starts with free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections.”
2023-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9351 (2023) · source
“The arms embargo must be fully implemented, and therefore we commend the Council on its adoption of resolution 2684 (2023) earlier this month. Thirdly, turning to human rights and civil society, just a few months ago, the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya expressed deep concern over the country’s deteriorating human rights situation. Attacks against human rights defenders, women’s rights activists, journalists and civil society associations must stop. Civil society has a crucial role to play in building an atmosphere that is conducive to free and fair elections for Libyans to exercise their rights and choose a representative Government to run the country. Let me conclude by emphasizing again the centrality of a clear path towards elections.”
2023-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9351 (2023) · source
“We welcome the meeting of the security working group on 24 May, which was held for the first time in Tripoli, and we are confident that the 5+5 Joint Military Commission will soon resume its meetings. Maintaining the ceasefire and agreements on productive confidence-building mechanisms are critical, but comprehensive security sector reform, as well as the disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and integration of the armed groups is also essential for security throughout the country. That has become even more pressing given the serious deterioration of the security situation in the region. The alarming events in the Sudan only reinforce the need to quickly find a sustainable solution in Libya. Weapons supplies from Libya to the Sudan, Mali and other countries in the Sahel remain a serious concern.”
2023-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9351 (2023) · source
“Obstructive manoeuvres just place an undue toll on the Libyan people, society and economy and delay the restoration of democracy. They only keep the country up against a wall. That is why elections are a must and the starting point to restore legitimacy to the Libyan institutions and charter a path towards stability. The efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary- General in that respect deserve and have our full support. Secondly, with regard to the security track, we acknowledge that the situation remains fragile and volatile. Despite the holding of the ceasefire and the sustained contacts between the Chiefs of Staff from western and eastern Libya, recent episodes of armed violence in both regions of the country are a testament to the urgency of unifying the military and security institutions.”
2023-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9351 (2023) · source
“The continued and increasingly complex internal divisions and external influences affecting the country threaten to undo progress and throw the country into another spiral of crisis and violence. That should not be allowed. We take note of the work made by the 6+6 commission, which met again in Bouznika, Morocco. Libyan parties must define the legal basis necessary for holding elections in 2023. It is crucial that the electoral laws meet the expectations of all political stakeholders through a broad political agreement to guarantee swift, free, fair and transparent elections. As we have reiterated many times before, time is of the essence. The status quo, perpetuated through indefinite delays, is not an option, nor is it sustainable.”
2023-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9351 (2023) · source
“I thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Bathily for his update on the recent developments in Libya. We support his work and mediation efforts and strongly encourage him to maintain his focus and leadership. I also thank Ambassador Ishikane for his briefing. I would like to make the following brief points. First, on the political situation, despite promising developments, a frustratingly long stalemate on the way forward towards elections recalls what we have witnessed in Libya for many years. It is hard to deny that multiple failed political transitions since 2012 have taken their toll on the Libyan people. So many times hope has surrendered to cynicism, eroding trust and blurring perspectives.”
2023-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9351 (2023) · source
“We are proud to offer a living example of how religious diversity can thrive within a society where there is a commitment to tolerance, respect and dialogue. We profoundly believe that it is only by ensuring equal rights for all that we can hope to eradicate hatred and extremism and enable every human being to flourish and live in peace with one another. The meeting rose at 12.30 p.m.”
2023-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9346 (2023) · source