YouSaid · the spoken record

Jaafari

lines on the record: 2,603
first: 2006-07-21
most recent: 2019-11-22
sittings or episodes: 185
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 should therefore like to reiterate my thanks to you, Sir, for attending this meeting and for demonstrating your friendly country's considerable interest in the situation in the Middle East. Since today's topic, "The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question", was first inscribed on the Security Council's agenda, some have sought to make the Council's deliberations on this issue a matter of the mere delivery of speeches serving unrelated political ends. We meet today once again to call on the Security Council to take serious action to end Israel's occupation of Arab lands, inhumane racial policies, and violations of international instruments and norms, and to hold Israel to account for its feverish settlement campaigns and systematic murder of civilians in the occupied Palestinian and Arab territories.”
2012-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6706Resumption1 (2012) · source
“Mr. Ja'afari (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): I thank you, Sir, for coming to New York to preside over this important meeting of the Security Council. Your interest in this matter is typical of your friendly country, South Africa, which suffered decades of injustice, racial discrimination, repression and persecution by a minority that claimed superiority over your genuine and sterling people merely because it was of European descent. When Syria courageously defended the struggle of the African National Congress, under the leadership of Nelson Mandela from his apartheid prison cell, some who were entrusted with the maintenance of international peace and security in the Security Council considered him to be a terrorist.”
2012-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6706Resumption1 (2012) · source
“Israel remains the only State in the world that adopts policies of targeted killing and allocates financial resources in its national budget for them - something that is condemned all over the world. That budget is approved publicly by the Israeli Knesset. I respect the fact that it is late, and I will stop there. 38”
2011-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6658 (2011) · source
“The paradox here is that those who preach and talk about their pain as a result of the Nazi Holocaust, which is not of Arab making, as all members know, blatantly and openly say that they want the Palestinian people to taste the bitterness of a new holocaust, but this time it is one of Israeli making. We are not the only ones who say that Israel is a State that commits war crimes and crimes of extermination. There are prominent western officials who agree with us, including some senior officials of the United Nations, many of whom have testified before the Council. President Jimmy Carter was not alone in saying that Israel was exercising apartheid against the Palestinians; Bishop Desmond Tutu and Special Rapporteurs Ian Sinclair, John Dugard and Richard Falk also have said it.”
2011-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6658 (2011) · source
“It began with the assassination of the representatives of the United Nations, starting with Count Bernardotte, in 1948, and continued with the terrorist political crimes committed against Palestinian leaders, the assassination of children at Qana, in southern Lebanon, on two occasions, and the assassination of Palestinian and Arab leaders outside Palestine - and we all know what they did in Dubai and whom they killed there. The documentation of Israeli State terrorism therefore really needs an encyclopedia, a specialized one that would focus attention on Israeli war crimes and Israeli crimes against humanity perpetrated by every Government of Israel since its establishment in Palestine, in 1948.”
2011-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6658 (2011) · source
“Mr. Ja'afari (Syria) (spoke in Arabic): I apologize for asking for the floor once more. General Assembly resolution 3314 (XXIX) considers occupation as the worst form of the crime of aggression. The content of that resolution therefore provides the optimal response to what was just said by the representative of the Israeli occupation of the Arab- occupied territories. Israeli State terrorism is distinguished in this international Organization because it is documented.”
2011-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6658 (2011) · source
“The aim of those military exercises is to train Israeli pilots to conduct aggression against other countries, sovereign States Members of the Organization. I will not name the country targeted, because everyone knows about whom I am talking.”
2011-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6658 (2011) · source
“Asked if he was worried about Israel becoming a rogue State if it carried out a genocidal deportation against Palestinians, van Creveld quoted former Israeli Minister of Defence Moshe Dayan, who said that Israel must be like a mad dog - too dangerous to bother. Van Creveld argued that Israel would not care much about becoming a rogue State. Then he said, "our armed forces are not the thirtieth strongest in the world, but rather the second or third; we have the capability to take the world down with us". It is a long article. I will not go through it all. My last comment pertains to the military exercises that Israel is undertaking right now through the air space of some European countries. Those are military exercises being conducted publicly. Yet, there has been no statement, no condemnation, no denunciation from anyone.”
2011-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6658 (2011) · source
“"We possess several hundred atomic warheads and rockets, and could launch them at targets in all directions, perhaps even at Rome". He added, "Most European capitals are within range of our air force". Van Creveld, a professor of military history at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, has pointed out that collective deportation was Israel's only meaningful strategy to get rid of the Palestinian people. Van Creveld said that he was sure that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon wanted to deport the Palestinians. He said, "I think it is quite possible that he wants to do that. He knows that nothing else we do will succeed".”
2011-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6658 (2011) · source
“The accumulation of those negative and dangerous points in terms of Israel's refusal to accede to the NPT is an indication of its non-compliance with resolution 1540 (2004), the IAEA and the efforts of the Committees combating the proliferation of nuclear weapons. I should now like to refer to a recent English- language article in the Israeli press on that subject, which shows very clearly to what extent Israel is not adhering to any moral, political or legal standards, including with respect to the States that are protecting it. (spoke in English) Speaking during an interview that was published in Jerusalem on Friday, Professor Martin van Creveld said that Israel could avenge the Holocaust by annihilating millions of Germans and other Europeans, and that it had the capability of hitting most European capitals with nuclear weapons.”
2011-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6658 (2011) · source
“Syria was among the first signatories to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), in 1968. Syria opposes the possession of nuclear weapons by any State or party. Syria also signed a comprehensive safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in 1992. It is well known to all that Israel is the only State in the Middle East that possesses a significant nuclear arsenal and that refuses to accede to the NPT or to submit any of its nuclear facilities to any monitoring authorities associated with the International Atomic Energy Agency. That was clearly evident at the 2010 NPT Review Conference, held in New York.”
2011-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6658 (2011) · source
“They are burning and destroying both public and private facilities, because they are prompted to do so and are financed and protected by foreign sources in an effort to undermine Syria's domestic security and stability, as well as to implement agendas that serve neither domestic peace nor regional stability. Last Saturday, upon instructions from my Government, I sent letters to the President of the Security Council, the Secretary-General and the co-Chairs of the Counter-Terrorism Committee. Those letters contain detailed information on the trafficking across the Syrian international border of weapons destined for terrorists and on operations that would facilitate communication through the use of sophisticated devices, with support from external parties.”
2011-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6658 (2011) · source
“In the light of its suffering as a result of the terrorist acts carried out in its territory, and in the conviction that the United Nations plays a central role in combating international terrorism, Syria is cooperating fully with the three Committees established by the Council in resolutions 1267 (1999), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004). Syria has established national joint commissions to ensure that the provisions of those resolutions are optimally implemented. References to the dangers of terrorism and the need to address them are not based on theories alone. My country continues to suffer from that scourge. Armed groups are committing heinous terrorist acts against civilians, the military and intellectuals.”
2011-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6658 (2011) · source
“The most recent act of aggression against Gaza occurred in international waters and targeted the peace flotilla that was attempting to deliver humanitarian assistance to a people under siege and suffering from daily acts of violence and terrorism, not to mention the killing of key national Palestinian figures in third countries and nuclear terrorism in the countries of the region. Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan have also been victims of practices that have been classified and documented as war crimes, which provides a crystal-clear example of State terrorism that violates international law, resolutions of international legitimacy and human rights instruments.”
2011-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6658 (2011) · source
“Syria is convinced of the central role that the General Assembly must play in fighting terrorism internationally and of the need to reach international consensus in that regard. Syria believes that the Security Council Committees on counter-terrorism can also contribute to the coordination of international efforts to fight terrorism by using transparent, fair and impartial mechanisms. The objectives of concerted international actions to address the phenomenon of terrorism will not be achieved as long as we remain silent on one of the most serious forms of terrorism - State terrorism. The clearest example of that is obviously seen in the crimes perpetrated daily by Israel, the occupying Power, against the Palestinian people since the occupation of the Arab territories.”
2011-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6658 (2011) · source
“Mr. Ja'afari (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): We listened with great interest to the briefings given to the Council by the Chairs of the three subsidiary Committees at this meeting. We thank them for their presentations. Syria has never stopped reaffirming its condemnation of terrorism, given that it is a criminal, aggressive and unjust act that takes aim at the lives of innocent people and at their property. Syria has called for action at all levels to confront international terrorism in all of its forms and manifestations, in accordance with the purposes and principles enshrined in United Nations Charter and in international law. Syria reasserts that terrorism poses an ongoing threat to international peace and security. We also reiterate our commitment to relevant international resolutions on combating terrorism.”
2011-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6658 (2011) · source
“We have not heard any responsible United Nations official who has taken part in this important debate speak about the illegality and illegitimacy of the unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of Member States, pursuant to the provisions of Article 2 of the Charter. Those colonial countries, particularly France and the United Kingdom, which spoke this morning before the Council and used indecent terms against my country, are wrong to think that human memory is too short to recall the crimes against humanity that they perpetrated during the eras of colonialism and slavery. Is apologizing for these crimes compatible with the concept of the protection of civilians? Or are there different categories and classes of civilians - some from the North, some from the South? Are they not equal as human beings?”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650Resumption1 (2011) · source
“We do not know how long we can close our eyes to Israel's continued inhumane practices and its occupation of Arab territories, including the Syrian Golan, Jerusalem, the Sheba'a farm lands and al-Ghajar village. Why do we not see the same degree of enthusiasm expressed in dealing with Israeli acts of aggression by some countries that express their keen interest in providing protection to civilians in some parts of the world? They have used the Security Council, which specializes in international peace and security, to adopt a flawed and erroneous interpretation of the question of providing protection for civilians in armed conflict. That interpretation serves their interest in interfering in the internal affairs of Member States without any accountability.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650Resumption1 (2011) · source
“Should this incitement to armed groups to continue their criminal acts against the State and civilians not be reason enough to hold those who were responsible for the incitement accountable, at least in the framework of providing protection for civilians? Does the United States policy, supported by some European countries, jeopardize the work of the Arab League and its initiative aimed at putting an end to the crisis in Syria and restoring security and stability for its civilian population? Is remaining silent towards Israel's blatant settlement activities, which jeopardize the principle of peace, not a contradiction of the most fundamental rights of Palestinian and Syrian civilians to live in their homelands in freedom and sovereignty?”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650Resumption1 (2011) · source
“How can we explain how some NATO members have killed 130,000 Libyan civilians on the pretext of protecting civilians in that country? How can we understand the explicit call by the spokesperson of the United States Department of State to armed groups in Syria not to turn themselves in or their weapons to the authorities of the Syrian Government, in line with the Syrian Government's decision to grant amnesty to all those who turn themselves and their weapons in to Government authorities? Does this not mean that the United States is publicly and directly involved in exacerbating discord and violence in Syria? Discord and violence have caused our people - our army, police and civilians - a lot ofinnocent victims.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650Resumption1 (2011) · source
“Have the occupation and military invasions of Member States of the United Nations and the killing of millions of innocent citizens furthered the goal of providing protection for civilians, while some countries in the Council today, and on previous occasions, have called for regime change in some countries under the pretext of providing protection for the civilians of those countries? Was this call seen as a noble objective allowing for the protection of civilians in armed conflicts? Are such pretexts consistent with the provisions of the Charter? Does the suffering of millions of civilians resulting from unilateral financial and economic sanctions serve the well-being of the citizens? Does it protect them or does it weaken them, jeopardizing their right to live in dignity and development?”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650Resumption1 (2011) · source
“That will, in turn, lead to the undermining of the noble efforts made to protect civilians in armed conflicts. Paradoxically, while concepts of international law - in its two divisions, namely, public law and international humanitarian law - have developed over the past several decades, the suffering of civilians has worsened. Indeed, the number of conflicts has also increased. Those countries that have militarily occupied other countries in violation of international law, and have shown disrespect for the principles of international humanitarian law have benefited from impunity. Allow me to put the following questions to the Council.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650Resumption1 (2011) · source
“Every international instrument has affirmed that national Governments bear the primary responsibility for protecting their own citizens, and that such responsibility is exclusive and cannot be substituted for or influenced by any given political agenda. We must therefore not confuse the issue of the protection of civilians, on the one hand, with threats to international peace and security, on the other. We must also avoid using loose interpretations of the question of the protection of civilians, as well as the use of controversial terminology outside United Nations documents and materials, such as the responsibility to protect and humanitarian intervention. Were that to happen, it would inevitably jeopardize the credibility and neutrality of the United Nations, be it at the level of Member States or the Secretariat.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650Resumption1 (2011) · source
“We are also concerned that some countries are trying to transform the suffering of civilians in some areas of conflict into unacceptable and controversial academic debates, which does not help to alleviate the suffering of civilians. 11-5866] Jurisprudence has shown that international efforts to protect civilians in armed conflict must be carried out in strict observance of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations - which affirm the need to respect the sovereignty of States, their political independence and their territorial integrity, as well as the principle of non-interference in their internal affairs - and be consistent with the provisions of the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650Resumption1 (2011) · source
“I say this in particular because the Security Council has long been involved in debating this important matter, while Israel, rightly referred to as the occupying Power, has all the while continued its gross violations against civilian populations in occupied Arab territories. We are concerned that some of the countries whose representatives have delivered relevant statements on the protection of civilians in armed conflict during today's debate have sometimes espoused their own special and selective views of civilians and armed conflicts. Those views contradict international humanitarian law and international jurisprudence.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650Resumption1 (2011) · source
“Mr. Ja'afari (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): First of all, I would like to stress the importance of the political and legal analysis just given by my colleague, the Permanent Representative of Venezuela. The international community has understood that the issue of the protection of civilians cannot be dealt with selectively or on a discretionary basis, but is exclusively limited to situations of armed conflict. We therefore believe, along with the majority of the international community, that the protection of Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese civilians suffering under Israeli occupation is part and parcel of this much-appreciated international effort in the context of the full and impartial implementation of the mandate to protect civilians in armed conflict.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650Resumption1 (2011) · source
“My delegation will not proceed in that manner against representatives who have judged or criticized our country or characterized the regime in negative terms. Out of respect for our colleagues and for the Security Council, we would prefer to proceed in keeping with appropriate diplomatic and political language.”
2011-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6636Resumption1 (2011) · source
“While the world turns a blind eye to the daily crimes of settlement activities and the violation of law and hundreds of Security Council resolutions, my country strongly condemns the diplomatically inappropriate comments made by the observer of the European Union and a number of other speakers on the subject of my country and its political leadership. My country respects the principles and ideals of the United Nations and its role as a legal point of reference. We will therefore abstain from responding to the comments to which I have referred, which are beyond the realm of political, diplomatic and courteous convention and violate the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of Member States.”
2011-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6636Resumption1 (2011) · source
“In a few days, a preparatory commission on national dialogue will be established by presidential decree. It will be presided over by Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad himself. While my delegation will not use this opportunity to reply to statements made by some colleagues, we are nevertheless convinced that today's agenda item has nothing to do with their manipulation and manoeuvres, whose aim is merely to distract attention from the tension resulting from Israel's continued occupation of territories in Palestine, southern Lebanon and the Syrian Golan.”
2011-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6636Resumption1 (2011) · source
“We are very concerned and regretful when we see certain permanent representatives speak on the subject of the Middle East and my country's situation with similar animosity and provocativeness, calling for an uprising against our country's legal Government so as to foment chaos and destabilization and manipulate our people's destiny. We find it strange that those countries that falsely proclaim their desire for Syria's security and stability refuse to encourage national dialogue or serious ongoing comprehensive international reforms in Syria within six months. Along those lines, we would note that to follow up the recent comprehensive reforms in Syria, in recent days my country has established a committee to draft a new, advanced and modern constitution that will reflect the aspirations of the Syrian people.”
2011-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6636Resumption1 (2011) · source
“This has created a deep sense of frustration and anger among the Arab and Palestinian peoples. The only obstacle to peace in the region is Israel, and Israeli officials admit this themselves. One example among many are the remarks by Major General Uri Saguy, former head of military intelligence, who took part in the 2000 Shepherdstown talks organized by Bill Clinton, in his recently published book The Frozen Hand: Why Israel Fears Peace with Syria More Than War, Mr. Saguy contends that Israel has done everything it could to destroy any settlement with Syria, and that former Prime Minister Ehud Barak aborted the peace process with Syria. We all know that President Clinton addressed this topic in his memoirs, revealing Israel's responsibility for the failure of the negotiations with Syria.”
2011-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6636Resumption1 (2011) · source
“Today, unfortunately, we reiterate that those calls have not been answered. We were again offended by the absence of any mention in the Under-Secretary-General's briefing of the occupied Syrian Golan. The achievement of just, comprehensive and lasting peace can come only with Israel's full withdrawal to the 4 June 1967 borders and with the creation of an independent Palestinian State, with East Jerusalem as its capital. We must also address the matter of the Palestinian refugees, as stated in General Assembly resolution 194 (III) of 1948. We cannot have partial, phased or delayed solutions to this question. Peace in the region is at a dark impasse due to the arrogance of Israel, supported by the United States and certain European nations that provide unlimited support.”
2011-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6636Resumption1 (2011) · source
“Israel continues to practice terror and oppression against the Syrian authorities under occupation in the Golan. Furthermore, the occupying forces are waging an ongoing campaign to break the ties that link those within the Syrian Golan to their homeland by building the racist wall of separation east of Majdal Shams, in line with the new Israeli political and security policy to undermine any possibility of peace negotiations, including over the occupied Syrian Golan. We have transmitted to the Secretary-General and the Council official complaints in this matter, calling on the United Nations, particularly the Council, to shoulder their responsibilities and take measures to compel Israel to immediately halt its blatant violations of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, particularly resolution 497 (1981).”
2011-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6636Resumption1 (2011) · source
“In this context, the Council today has a significant opportunity to prove that it can play its part, as set forth in the Charter, by accepting the just and internationally supported request of Palestine; by recognizing an independent Palestinian State within the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital; and by granting it full membership of the United Nations according to international law developed within this Organization through nearly 1,000 resolutions. Along with implementing policies that are contrary to international law, Israel, the occupying Power, refuses to return the occupied Syrian Golan to Syria and refuses to respect the resolutions of international legitimacy adopted on this matter, especially resolution 497 (1981), which states that the annexation of the occupied Syrian Golan is null, void and illegal.”
2011-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6636Resumption1 (2011) · source
“And in regard to the so-called Arab Spring, the question we should ask is how we can reconcile the beauty of the notion of spring with the bloodshed, war, aggression, hostilities and interference in the internal affairs of other countries. Is this the definition of spring? We meet today at an important moment in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. It is unacceptable and incomprehensible that the Security Council should remain idle in the face of Israel's inhumane and aggressive policies.”
2011-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6636Resumption1 (2011) · source
“Today's exercise arises from efforts to lessen the international political and diplomatic pressure on Israel and certain countries that oppose Palestine's just demands - supported unanimously by the international community - seeking first and foremost the creation of a Palestinian State and an end to the settlement activities. Some countries are attempting to destabilize the region, which would lead to regional war and have a catastrophic effect on all the States of the region, without exception. How can they do this? The answer is simple. They are inciting various Arab States against one another, under varying pretexts. They are also attempting to change the reality of the Arab world by opening up internal Arab fronts, which in the final analysis can serve only Israel's interests.”
2011-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6636Resumption1 (2011) · source
“Unfortunately, instead of merely focusing on the content and objective of this agenda item, attempts are made to introduce other, unrelated subjects in order to weaken the agenda item under discussion, silently ignore the question of Israel's commitment to ending its occupation of the occupied Arab territories, and minimize the importance of the application to the Council for the full membership of Palestine in the United Nations. In this context, we note that the facts show that the events, crises and tensions in our region are closely linked to the Arab-Israeli conflict.”
2011-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6636Resumption1 (2011) · source
“This is an important topic, which we debate with the aim of putting an end to Israel's occupation of the Arab territories and its aggressive, inhumane and systematic violations of the rights of those who live there, in contravention of international law and international humanitarian and human rights law. These practices continue with the full knowledge of those who claim to protect those laws. All of us here know that the item on the agenda today, "The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question", is primarily concerned with the Arab-Israeli conflict and the question of Palestine, and not with other matters that do not fall within the historical definition of the item's title.”
2011-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6636Resumption1 (2011) · source
“Mr. Ja'afari (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): Allow me first to express my condolences to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its people and Government on the passing of the Crown Prince. We would also like to convey our condolences and our solidarity to the people and Government of Turkey, who have been struck by the recent painful earthquake. Both countries are sister nations and neighbours of my country, and all that happens in either country also affects us as if it were happening in Syria. The opposite is also true. My delegation wishes to express its great appreciation to you, Madame President, for having convened this open meeting to address the situation in the Middle East.”
2011-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6636Resumption1 (2011) · source
“If we are optimistic about the Council, it is because we continue to hear the voice of the wise echoing in the Chamber, calling for a hand to be extended to Syria to address its difficulties, to encourage the Syrian Government to push ahead with the desired reforms, and to call on the external opposition to enter into a comprehensive national dialogue in order to build a Syria for all our citizens without exception.”
2011-10-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6627 (2011) · source
“Through such conduct, they undermine international legitimacy and seek to lead the entire world into a new colonial era and military adventures in various places that are bound and doomed to fail. Those very States led the whole world into two world wars that claimed millions of lives on our planet. With their colonial behaviour, their enslavement and their attitude, they caused the untold suffering of hundreds of millions in Asia, Africa and Latin America. In closing, I wish to extend thanks, gratitude and appreciation to the friendly States that rejected the misuse and abuse of the Council as a tool to harm my country's interests, political independence, security and stability.”
2011-10-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6627 (2011) · source
“While the greedy schemes of our enemies inside and outside the Council may succeed elsewhere at the expense of the stability, security and safety of other countries, I can underscore that Syria will stand resolute against any plot that targets its sovereignty, national security, independence and stability, as well as its independent political decisions. We therefore reject the manoeuvres of the sponsors of the draft resolution that has just failed to be adopted. Such political and media manoeuvres target my country and its stature in the international arena. The power of prestige is more important than power itself. The sponsors have lost the power of prestige, and now they have resorted to power, since they have lost the trust of the majority of States Members of the Organization.”
2011-10-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6627 (2011) · source
“We hope that the United Nations and its Member States will assist Syria in addressing the terrorist and extremist acts and attempts to destabilize it. Hastily defined positions should not be used to disguise political pressure in order to encourage armed extremist groups. Here, we wish to affirm that the intervention of the Security Council in Syrian internal affairs further aggravates the situation and sends a message to extremists and terrorists that their acts of deliberate sabotage and violence - towards which no country can be lenient - are encouraged and supported by the Security Council. Syria, like other States Members of the Organization, including those represented on the Council, have problems that require reform. If there is anyone here who has no problems and does not need reform, they can cast a stone at us.”
2011-10-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6627 (2011) · source
“Encouraging the radical demands of the opposition in Syria to topple the Government by force of arms, violence and terrorism amounts to a coup supported by outside Powers and can certainly not be considered as reform. Is not the political declaration by certain leaders and foreign ministers of countries on the Council that the Syrian President has lost his legitimacy, and that therefore he should step down, a blatant breach of international law and the Charter of the United Nations? Is that not a blatant interference in the internal affairs of Syria and is it not subject to questioning? Is that not tantamount to hindrance of national reforms by inciting the Syrian people on the streets against the legitimate Syrian leadership? Those are questions that we leave to members to answer.”
2011-10-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6627 (2011) · source
“Is that not against all rules and norms of the international community and all ethical principles that reject the use of force as a solution? The international legal framework governing international relations is based on the principle of non-interference in the domestic affairs of States. It has been enshrined in myriad international instruments, chief among them the United Nations Charter, Article 2, paragraph 7. Therefore, the calls from certain circles to topple the legitimate Government of Syria are an irresponsible incitement aimed at undermining Syrian stability. It is a glaring violation of the Charter of the United Nations and is harmful to the interests of Governments.”
2011-10-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6627 (2011) · source
“They and other international political, religious and media delegations saw for themselves the provocation, incitement and propaganda from certain circles aimed at distorting the facts. Certain Council members have tried of late to intervene in our domestic affairs under the pretext of the protection of civilians. We only wonder here where they have been and why they have not protected civilians in Palestine, the occupied Syrian Golan, Southern Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya, when the citizens of those countries were beleaguered by crimes against humanity and war crimes. It is interesting that the representative of France, on 14 July of this year, extended thanks to Israel for its military action against Syria in 2007. Could that not be considered an encouragement and promotion of aggression?”
2011-10-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6627 (2011) · source
“Such activities are a violation of a people's right to self-determination and to choose its political system without outside pressure. That is why claiming a motive in the so-called humanitarian situation is only a pretext to intervene in our domestic affairs in a way that is harmful to our leaders and our country, in the interest of external political agendas that have nothing to do with the desire to promote humanitarian goals in Syria. Syria received delegations from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the International Committee of the Red Cross, presided over by the Chairman of the Committee, who met personally with our President, Bashar Al-Assad.”
2011-10-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6627 (2011) · source
“They are ongoing, despite the attempts by people outside our country to curtail those reforms by various means. No State can claim that it is more desirous to guarantee the safety and security of its citizens than Syria. Since the unfortunate and painful events in our country, we have strived to guarantee the security and safety of each citizen. We have also endeavoured to continue to provide basic services, food and medicine Without delay, despite the hasty imposition of economic sanctions, imposed unilaterally and illegally, outside of international consensus, against my country. As we strive to stand against the forces of Israeli and Western hegemony directed against our country, those measures were intended to put pressure on the Syrian population and their livelihoods and to push it to replace its political regime.”
2011-10-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6627 (2011) · source
“That is without even mentioning the misuse of the events and developments in Syria to divert international public opinion away from the legitimate demands of Palestinians to have full membership in the United Nations. The Syrian leadership responded quickly and immediately to the legitimate demands of the Syrian population. President Bashar Al-Assad announced a comprehensive package of reforms, which our Government is implementing by enacting a wide spectrum of rules and legislation enhancing the democratic process and expanding the participation of our citizens in political and economic processes, in complete independence of the external evaluations and positions that have no place in our domestic affairs. Reforms in Syria have become tangible realities on the ground that can not be ignored.”
2011-10-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6627 (2011) · source
“Hence, those parties - in violation of international law - exported NATO forces to many Member States of this international Organization, to undermine their political stability, plunder their riches and spread so-called creative anarchy in those countries. However - and this is a paradox - those parties made aggressive use of the veto 50 times since 1948 against the Palestinians, in order to deprive them of their legitimate rights and to prevent the establishment of their State. A certain State used its veto power 50 times to protect Israel and it continues to threaten to use its veto power. That could be considered taking part in genocide, because that action is tantamount to turning a blind eye to and supporting the Israeli massacres in occupied Arab lands.”
2011-10-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6627 (2011) · source