YouSaid · the spoken record

James Roscoe

lines on the record: 197
first: 2020-04-07
most recent: 2021-04-30
sittings or episodes: 29
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

“We support informal horizon- scanning briefings by the Secretariat and the development of sofa talks to address this challenge. It is important that we use these opportunities effectively. But informal discussions are no substitute for Council meetings — not least for reasons of transparency. We must therefore continue to subject the Council’s programme of work to critical analysis and be prepared to bring new issues to the Council. The current crisis means that the Council’s work on prevention is more important than ever. The United Kingdom has also prioritized reducing the length and opacity of Council products over recent years. We have had some success, especially with reducing the length of peacekeeping mandates. But there is more work to be done. The United Kingdom will maintain our focus on this issue.”
2020-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/418 (2020) · source
“The United Kingdom believes that engaging with a diverse set of briefers is an important element of transparency, and we will continue to promote civil society participation in Council activity. But as highlighted in the Arria Formula meeting organized by the United Kingdom and the Dominican Republic in February, the Council needs to do better at handling the risk of reprisals. We look forward to continuing discussions with Council colleagues on this important issue. Turning to efficiency, there has been some progress in bearing down on speaking times in the Council. But the Council still spends too much time in lengthy meetings that address the conflicts of yesterday rather than shouldering its responsibilities to address today’s conflicts and prevent future conflict.”
2020-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/418 (2020) · source
“It is easy to fall into the trap of following the same format each time an issue appears on our agenda. One option that I would like to highlight is the private meeting. The opportunity for Member States to participate provides an element of transparency, but the closed nature of the meeting removes the temptation to address the media rather than Council colleagues. But the assumption that closed meetings are more effective does not always hold true. To be effective, Council members need to enter these meetings S/2020/418 S/2020/418 with a willingness to engage in a discussion and consider action. Regrettably, we still see too many examples of Council members reading out prepared statements or refusing to engage in a serious discussion of outcomes or next steps. My final point on transparency relates to civil society.”
2020-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/418 (2020) · source
“But as long as we are confronted with these extraordinary circumstances, we need to continue to pursue opportunities for improving our working methods. When we do return to normal, we will need to consider how we can put contingency plans in place to ensure that we are able to respond more quickly and effectively to any future crises. Last week’s Arria Formula meeting on the anniversary of Victory in Europe Day showed us what can be done. I would like to turn to the potential tension between transparency and effectiveness highlighted in the concept note. One significant challenge in this regard is maintaining an appropriate balance between open and closed meetings. Achieving the right balance requires Council members to approach the monthly programme of work with an open mind.”
2020-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/418 (2020) · source
“I recall in this context Article 28 of the Charter of the United Nations, which requires the Council to be organized in a way that enables it to function continuously. Due to a lack of consensus in the Council, neither the Council nor its subsidiary bodies have held a formal meeting since 12 March. There are therefore no verbatim transcripts of our meetings. Our technical platform has not been able to accommodate simultaneous interpretation or open debates and continues to suffer from technical glitches. Meetings are conducted without the benefit of the established framework of the provisional rules of procedure and the mechanisms for resolution of disagreements that they provide. We all hope that we will be able to return to the Chamber soon.”
2020-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/418 (2020) · source
“Under their respective presidencies in March, April and May, the Council has been able to move to a position where open Council video- teleconferences can now be broadcast live on United Nations Television and we are able to adopt resolutions and presidential statements through a written procedure. We should not understate the work that was required to achieve this outcome, including from the Secretariat. The move to broadcasting Council video-teleconferences in full was a particularly important step for the transparency of the Council’s work. However, the United Kingdom regrets that Council working methods have not been able to respond in a more agile and effective way to this crisis.”
2020-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/418 (2020) · source
“I thank all those who briefed us this morning. I would also like to thank Estonia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for arranging this meeting and for preparing the concept note (S/2020/374, annex) to inform our discussion. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has presented an unprecedented challenge to the Security Council over the past two months. Most importantly, the spread of this disease has significant implications for international peace and security that the Council needs to address. But it has also presented major challenges for the Council’s working methods. In my intervention today, I will consider how the Council has adapted to these challenges before moving to some more general points. First, I would like to pay tribute to the efforts of China, the Dominican Republic and Estonia.”
2020-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/418 (2020) · source
“Also welcome is the continued engagement between the international community and the Government of Iraq. We note the decision of the United States to extend the waivers allowing Iraq to continue to import gas and electricity from Iran. The United Kingdom notes the recent 112th meeting of the Technical Subcommittee and regrets the postponement of the subsequent meeting. We note, however, that the exhumation of a third mass grave site on 31 January will provide long-needed closure to Kuwaitis. We urge the international community to support the new Government in Iraq as it addresses the pressing health, economic, security and political issues confronting the country. The success of the new Government of Iraq is in the interests of all of us.”
2020-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/397 (2020) · source
“We urge the Government of Iraq to take swift action against those who caused the deaths of coalition and Iraqi troops and to prevent future incidents. The formation of the new Government is an opportunity to address the legitimate demands expressed during the protests in recent months and to investigate S/2020/397 S/2020/397 and hold accountable those who used excessive force against the protesters. We welcome the early steps taken by the Government in that regard. We also welcome UNAMI’s readiness to support the Government of Iraq’s efforts to make technical preparations for elections, including through the Mission’s continued support of the Independent High Electoral Commission. The Government of Iraq and UNAMI should work together on the provision of technical assistance and support for future elections.”
2020-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/397 (2020) · source
“We join others on the Council in expressing concern about the increasing frequency of attacks by Da’esh in recent months, culminating in the deaths of a number of members of Iraqi federal police and popular mobilization forces on 2 and 3 May. Like the other members of the global coalition against Da’esh, the United Kingdom remains committed to supporting Iraq in its efforts to prevent a Da’esh resurgence. That must be our priority. In that regard, we condemn the actions of groups operating within Iraq, which resulted in the death of Lance Corporal Brodie Gillon and two United States service personnel on 11 March, and further attacks on 14 March that injured both United States and Iraqi service personnel.”
2020-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/397 (2020) · source
“To address those challenges, Iraq will need to undertake difficult reforms and will require the sustained support of the international community. In that connection, we look forward to the new Government’s early engagement with international financial institutions. The United Kingdom has contributed over $19 million to the World Bank’s Iraq Reform and Reconstruction Fund, and we hope that others will look to do the same. We urge both the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Government of Iraq to continue to tackle Iraq’s security challenges. That includes making progress on negotiations on the internally disputed territories.”
2020-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/397 (2020) · source
“We encourage the new Government to work closely with the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) in the coming months. As other members of the Council have said, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) poses a serious threat to Iraq, as it does to all countries. We commend the actions taken by the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government to ensure the safety of its citizens as they tackle COVID-19. We welcome the unity that political and religious leaders have demonstrated during this time. The United Kingdom supports Iraq’s efforts to combat the pandemic, including through the provision of over $12 million in assistance for that purpose. But as Special Representative Hennis-Plasschaert said, the impact of COVID-19 and the fall in global oil prices have only compounded the serious economic challenges facing Iraq.”
2020-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/397 (2020) · source
“I join others in condemning the recent attacks on peacekeepers in Mali. The people who carry out such attacks are the enemies of peace. All they do is encourage us to redouble our efforts in that country. I would like to begin by thanking Special Representative Hennis-Plasschaert for her thorough briefing. We also join others in welcoming the parliamentary confirmation of Mustafa Al-Kadhimi as the new Prime Minister of Iraq and the appointment of the majority of his Cabinet. As our Foreign Secretary conveyed to Prime Minister Al-Kadhimi on 12 May, the United Kingdom is committed to supporting this new Government in addressing the challenges facing Iraq. We urge the Iraqi Parliament to swiftly appoint the remaining ministry posts in order to enable the Government of Iraq to deliver for all the Iraqi people.”
2020-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/397 (2020) · source
“Even though the report does not explicitly identify Russia as the regime’s ally that is responsible for some of the attacks on civilian infrastructure, it is clear which country it must mean when there is only one country flying military aircraft over Idlib alongside the regime. That conclusion is supported by the findings of the commission of inquiry, which identified Russia as responsible for attacks on civilian infrastructure. These are flagrant breaches of the international rules, which we all agreed cannot be tolerated, and those who have committed crimes must be held to account. That is our responsibility. We note with deep regret that the very hospitals that were bombed by the regime and by Russia are the same hospitals that could have been used now to fight against COVID-19. The time for action is now.”
2020-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/353 (2020) · source
“If the Syrian regime and its allies wish to see the removal of sanctions, then they know what they have to do — engage seriously with Special Envoy Pedersen and the United Nations-led political process to achieve a peaceful end to the Syrian conflict. Finally, we also wanted to say that, despite the looming prospect of a virus that could heap further suffering on the Syrian people, we cannot ignore the findings in the recent reports issued by the commission of inquiry, the Board of Inquiry set up by the Secretary-General and the Investigation and Identification Team of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. We welcome the release of the Secretary-General’s summary report from the Board of Inquiry on 6 April.”
2020-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/353 (2020) · source
“We want to confirm, as I think was well explained by our Estonian colleague, that goods and medical supplies used for humanitarian purposes are not subject to European Union sanctions, which the United Kingdom continues to apply, and additional exemptions from sanctions are available for humanitarian activity in Syria. I would also note that the United Kingdom and our European partners are among the leading donors of humanitarian aid to Syria, including in regime-held areas. In reality, the problems facing the Syrian health sector and economy are a result not of sanctions, but of the Syrian regime, through its cronyism, corruption and brutal conduct of the war.”
2020-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/353 (2020) · source
“In addition to a nationwide ceasefire, the Syrian regime should also take other important confidence-building measures. These include releasing, wholesale, arbitrarily detained prisoners and ensuring humanitarian access to all parts of the country. Given the risk of COVID-19 taking hold in prisons, we would also strongly urge the Syrian regime to undertake the widespread release of political prisoners and vulnerable people and to ensure that medical care is available to those still in detention. The reported release of 40 detainees in Deir ez-Zor province is a small step in the right direction. We also note that the issue of sanctions has been raised by a number of members of the Council in relation to COVID-19.”
2020-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/353 (2020) · source
“It is therefore vital that all parties adhere to existing ceasefires in north-western and north-eastern Syria and abide by their responsibilities to facilitate humanitarian aid. The current crisis reinforces the need to work together to reach across the divide and resolve this conflict. The process of seeking a political solution in Syria must not cease. In this context, it was encouraging to hear at the last meeting that an agenda for the next round of Constitutional Committee talks had been agreed. It is important that this opportunity be seized before momentum is lost again, and we encourage the Special Envoy to look at ways for talks to go ahead and meetings to continue. As we and other Council members have made clear before, the political process under resolution 2254 (2015) extends beyond the Constitutional Committee.”
2020-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/353 (2020) · source
“The Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire is not just about rightly helping those in conflict zones, but also to allow for our full attention to be devoted to the fight against COVID-19. We can only defeat it if we defeat it everywhere. We are also appalled to receive news of yesterday’s bomb attack in Afrin, which killed at least 40 civilians, many of them children. Yet more families are mourning, and our thoughts and prayers go out to them today. That such a senseless act should take place during the holy month of Ramadan makes it all the more egregious. Preventing a major outbreak of COVID-19 in any part of Syria must be a common task for us all. This virus knows no lines of control or geographical, political or cultural boundaries.”
2020-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/353 (2020) · source
“I thank you very much, Sir, and I also thank the Special Envoy for his characteristically clear briefing. As we said the last time we discussed this matter (see S/2020/254), we remain deeply concerned about the devastating potential impact that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) could have in Syria, a country already devastated by a nearly decade- long conflict. It is clear from many of the statements today that that sentiment is shared across the Security Council. As my Chinese colleague has just said, we will discuss the humanitarian challenge this afternoon. But with 43 confirmed cases and undoubtedly many more, it is vital that all parties heed the Special Envoy’s call for a nationwide ceasefire.”
2020-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/353 (2020) · source
“As we reflect on that history, our job in the Council becomes clear: we must ensure that the voice for the youth of the world becomes a central part of the way we govern ourselves and decide on our future, but in a way that does not come at such a great cost.”
2020-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/346 (2020) · source
“That is why in February this year we co-hosted an Arria Formula meeting on reprisals against women human rights defenders and women peacebuilders. Some of the women who briefed the Security Council at that meeting were young. We believe the Council must work together to foster an enabling environment for young people working on peace and security. The representative of South Africa reminded us earlier that today is South Africa’s Freedom Day. In truth, it is impossible to imagine South Africa winning that freedom without the energy and mobilization of its youth. It is important to note that youth paid a high price for that freedom, from the Soweto uprisings in 1976 right through the violence that occurred in the lead-up to democratic elections.”
2020-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/346 (2020) · source
“We have consistently provided funding to deliver on this promise, and we shall continue to do so. In fact, we have added an additional S/2020/346 S/2020/346 $6 million to the Education Cannot Wait programme in order to provide education to the world’s most vulnerable children and youth, particularly as they are being affected by COVID-19. Finally, my third point is that young people must have the freedom and rights to champion what they believe in. We have been gravely concerned by reprisals against young human rights defenders and peacebuilders. Young people face attacks and threats and restrictions on their freedom in attempts to stop them from doing their critical work, including, sadly, their work at the United Nations. Young women are at particular risk, especially when both age and gender can work against them.”
2020-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/346 (2020) · source
“We also know that school closures have a disproportionate impact on girls’ lives, with girls facing increased risks of child marriage, teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence, sexual exploitation and the risk of dropping out of school permanently. It is therefore critical that, where we can, we get schools to open as quickly as possible. It is also worth noting that it is not just COVID-19 that is closing schools down. As we have heard in the Council over the last several months, in the Sahel, increased violence has forced the closure of hundreds of schools and pushed children out of education again, with a knock-on effect on the conflict there. The United Kingdom is committed to standing up for the right of every girl to have 12 years of quality education.”
2020-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/346 (2020) · source
“While it is clear that shortcomings in education are not a new phenomenon in many parts of the world, the pandemic is also clearly having a profound impact on education systems, with over 1.5 billion children and youth out of school. More disruption will follow as the virus spreads. It is important to note that missing out on an education is a huge waste of young people’s potential. More important, lack of education makes societies in which young people live less safe and less prosperous because, as Gatwal said, it was an education that gave him hope and prospects. It is without education that young people without hope and prospects turn to alternatives, including violence.”
2020-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/346 (2020) · source
“They will experience the uncertainty and hardship of the global economic slowdown, social disruption and, in some places, humanitarian and conflict impacts, if we do not respond quickly to the challenges that COVID-19 will mean for vulnerable societies. We therefore need youth to join our efforts aimed at fighting the virus, and we need to ensure that they do not bear the brunt of its impact. The second point I wanted to address was education. It was really striking in Gatwal’s story to hear of how his life pivoted when he was in Uganda and getting an education, freeing him from the cycle of violence that had trapped his father.”
2020-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/346 (2020) · source
“I think we all know that the world is experiencing an unprecedented challenge in the face of this global pandemic. And it is clear that we can defeat COVID-19 only if we work together to defeat it everywhere. That will require a global effort, but young people are going to be key to the global response. That means we must listen to them and ensure that their needs are taken into account and that they are involved in decisions about our handling of the crisis, as it affects their lives. As others have noted, more than half of the world’s population is under the age of 30, and these young people will be hard hit by the second-order effects of the virus.”
2020-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/346 (2020) · source
“I thank the President of the Council for calling this open debate today. We are also very grateful to the Secretary-General, his Envoy on Youth and our other briefers. We are particularly glad to hear those perspectives from the young briefers. They have provided a broader and more personal context for the youth, peace and security agenda, and have given us a great deal to reflect upon. I thank them all very much. Today I want to focus on three points. First, as others have done, I wish to explore the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on youth and on this agenda. Secondly, I will talk about the critical role of education. Thirdly, I will stress the importance of protecting young human rights defenders and young peacebuilders. Allow me to begin with a quick word on COVID-19.”
2020-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/346 (2020) · source
“The United Kingdom position in that regard is clear — any unilateral Israeli move towards annexation of any part of the West Bank would be damaging to efforts to restart peace negotiations and would be contrary to international law. The United Kingdom’s long-standing position on the Middle East peace process has not changed. We support a negotiated settlement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian State, based on 1967 borders with agreed land swaps, with Jerusalem as the shared capital of both States and a just, fair, agreed and realistic settlement for refugees.”
2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source
“Under international humanitarian law, an occupying Power has the duty of ensuring and maintaining public health and hygiene in occupied territories to the fullest extent of the means available to it. That is why continued cooperation is so vital. It is also with regret that we have heard about the deaths of two Palestinians, who were shot by Israeli forces during clashes near Nablus in March. It is important that the Israel Defense Forces investigate this incident in an independent and transparent manner and, if any wrongdoing is found, ensure that those responsible are held to account. Finally, we are deeply concerned about reports that the new Israeli Government coalition has reached an agreement that paves the way for annexation of parts of the West Bank.”
2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source
“The Palestinian Authority does not issue a currency and cannot adopt the measures many countries are taking to increase liquidity. We welcome the Palestinian Authority’s emergency budget and the agreement of the Israeli Government to guarantee minimum levels of monthly revenue. We look to Israel to ensure that the Palestinian economy is permitted to function and to support the Palestinian Authority’s economic stability. During this fragile period, we call on both parties to refrain from provocative actions that might undermine the cooperation that is so critical. That includes incitement, settlement activity, demolitions and settler violence. The United Kingdom is particularly concerned that demolitions have continued, including of temporary health centres. Such actions weaken the capacity of Palestinians to respond to COVID-19.”
2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source
“The United Kingdom is also providing vital support to help respond to COVID-19 in the occupied Palestinian territories. Our $1 million funding contribution will enable the World Health Organization and UNICEF to purchase and coordinate medical supplies, treat critical-care patients, train front-line public health servants and scale up laboratory testing capabilities. We must also be mindful of the impact of the virus on the Palestinian economy and economic development. The Palestinian Authority’s revenues, which come mostly from levies on trade, are expected to decline by between 60 and 70 per cent as a result of the crisis. The occupied Palestinian territories are excluded from most international mechanisms, including the World Bank’s $14 billion COVID-19 fund.”
2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source
“The United Nations has played an important part in ensuring ongoing coordination among the Palestinian Authority, Israel and the relevant United Nations agencies, and we hope that will continue. It is clear that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has an important role to play in helping to respond to the crisis brought about by COVID-19. The virus and its impact on Palestinians and the provision of basic services will put additional pressure on UNRWA. The United Kingdom remains firmly committed to supporting UNRWA and Palestinian refugees across the Middle East, providing over $80 million for 2019-2020. In the light of the COVID-19 challenge, we are reviewing our contributions.”
2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source
“As others have said this morning, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a global crisis with testing implications for us all. The virus does not respect borders or political, cultural or religious differences. Cooperation must therefore be our first instinct, and we should work to combat this unprecedented challenge together. We therefore welcome the formation of a national unity Government by Israel. This is an important step that demonstrates the need to put political differences aside in the fight against COVID-19. We continue to welcome the ongoing cooperation between the Palestinian Authority and Government of Israel in their respective responses. It is an example of the responsible approach we need at this difficult time, and is particularly in the spirit of the Secretary-General’s appeal for a global ceasefire.”
2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source
“This has been under development for quite some time now, and we would be grateful for more information from the Special Envoy, including whether MONUSCO and the international community will be consulted on the strategy relatively soon. Finally, the United Kingdom is concerned about the electoral environment surrounding Burundi’s May elections. It is vital that all political parties be given equal access to the media and that special measures be implemented by the Government in response to COVID-19 to ensure that the elections are fair in that regard.”
2020-04-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/325 (2020) · source
“The United Kingdom encourages the Special Envoy and his team to work closely with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) to develop a joint strategy on the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. We believe that the Special Envoy can provide an important link between MONUSCO’s efforts within the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the regional efforts that need to be built around that. This will be critical to ending the conflict. We had hoped to receive more information in this briefing on the status of the United Nations peace and security strategy for the Great Lakes region.”
2020-04-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/325 (2020) · source
“I believe that this underscores the need for the full and swift implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework. It was very good to hear Special Envoy Xia’s list of priorities, focusing on advancing regional security cooperation, including military and non-military measures. While we commend Special Envoy Xia’s efforts to promote economic integration, we would just like to reiterate that economic initiatives will be successful only if we simultaneously tackle the underlying drivers of the conflict: challenging aspects, such as the illicit cross-border trade of natural resources and the war economy. Those things should not be overlooked. I want to touch briefly on the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.”
2020-04-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/325 (2020) · source
“I was also very glad to hear the Special Envoy talk about how he was seeing real progress, not just in the main conflict areas but in the States across the region, which are trying to do more to enhance their security cooperation as well. The other thing we need to think about in this format is how we come together at some point to begin to analyse the impact that COVID-19 is having and what we can do to address some of the longer-term impacts that it will have on regional stability and on the economic and humanitarian situation. Looking at the security situation specifically, we also think that it is critical to continue to address the underlying security challenges across the Great Lakes region. We have seen increased reporting of cross-border incursions, as others have mentioned, and also other security spikes across the region.”
2020-04-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/325 (2020) · source
“But as others have said, we are meeting during uncertain times because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which will undoubtedly create challenges for maintaining that momentum. The pandemic demonstrates once again the necessity for truly effective regional cooperation. I was very glad to hear the Special Envoy speak about his role in engaging countries to try to address the challenges of COVID-19 together. I think that will be critical. Therefore, we encourage the Special Envoy and his team to consider innovative ways to support the Great Lakes region to ensure there is continued progress during this period. The threat of the pandemic might engender cooperation in combating COVID-19 across the region, in line with the spirit of the Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire.”
2020-04-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/325 (2020) · source
“Let me join others in thanking Special Envoy Huang Xia for his briefing to the Council today. It has also been good to hear such broad consensus in the Council, particularly on the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation across the region and, as others have mentioned, on the elections in Burundi. First, on COVID-19, it is really encouraging to see, as detailed in the Special Envoy’s briefing, renewed regional momentum towards the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region by the countries in the Great Lakes region, particularly over the last year or so. Hopefully, we can continue to capitalize on that.”
2020-04-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/325 (2020) · source
“In conclusion, while we cannot ignore the potentially disastrous impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, we also cannot let it derail or delay progress towards lasting peace in Mali. Intensified political, security and development efforts are required. The United Kingdom remains committed to playing our part in this, including through the deployment of 250 British troops to Mali later this year. A sustainable peace will not be won by MINUSMA alone; the commitment of all parties to full implementation of the peace agreement and addressing the underlying causes of instability in the region is the only way to ensure long-term security.”
2020-04-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/286 (2020) · source
“In that regard, we welcome yesterday’s announcement by the United Nations of a further $6 million of support to strengthen the Government of Mali’s response. We are also concerned by reports of COVID-19 cases among the MINUSMA team. COVID-19 will inevitably have implications for MINUSMA itself, whether through requests from the Government of Mali for support in its pandemic response or owing to public health restrictions impacting the day-to-day operation of the Mission. We would welcome reassurance from the Special Representative of the Secretary- General that contingency plans are being drawn up for how the Mission will mitigate those possible impacts on core mandate delivery.”
2020-04-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/286 (2020) · source
“The peak of the outbreak is likely to hit in the middle of Mali’s lean season. This could significantly increase the number of those at risk in the region owing to food insecurity, which we already estimate to be at 13.8 million in 2020. The United Kingdom is committed to supporting the international COVID-19 response, including through further funding, mobilizing partners and providing technical assistance. Globally, the United Kingdom is spending $665 million to help in the development of vaccines, treatments and testing, as well as to support the International Monetary Fund in its help to vulnerable economies. In the Sahel, we are working closely with our humanitarian implementation partners to help them continue their work while addressing the extra pressures from COVID-19.”
2020-04-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/286 (2020) · source
“The United Kingdom is also concerned by a number of worrying trends outlined in the Secretary-General’s report, including the spread of terrorist activity in parts of the Mopti and Ségou regions, increased violence against and exploitation of women and children, as well as increased asymmetric threats against MINUSMA itself. The stark increase in human rights violations and abuses, including among signatories to the 2015 peace agreement, is unacceptable. It is vital that the Mission report in full on such violations and abuses where they occur and that the Government investigate those cases, holding perpetrators to account. Of course, in addition to these concerns, the United Kingdom shares the concerns already expressed by Council colleagues about the potentially catastrophic impact of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Sahel.”
2020-04-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/286 (2020) · source
“We join others in welcoming the deployment of the reconstituted armed forces to Kidal, Gao, Timbuktu and Ménaka, the completion of the first round of the legislative elections with support from MINUSMA and the revival of the agreement monitoring committee, including, critically, the commitments to increase female participation in the peace process. This is welcome progress, but it does not go far enough. We once again urge the parties to the peace agreement to redouble their efforts and continue to accelerate its implementation, and hope that when the Secretary-General next updates the Council there will be more progress to report.”
2020-04-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/286 (2020) · source
“The United Kingdom continues to give its full support to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) as it works in challenging and complex circumstances, helping to build the conditions for lasting peace and stability in Mali and so, by extension, in the wider region. The extent of those changing circumstances were underlined again on Monday by the attacks in Bamba, in which many Malian soldiers lost their lives. On behalf of the United Kingdom, I offer you, Mr. Foreign Minister, and the families of those soldiers our sincere condolences. The last three months have seen some long overdue steps towards implementation of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali.”
2020-04-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/286 (2020) · source
“May I begin by joining others in welcoming you to the presidency. It is good to see your commitment to transparency already in place with the broadcast of the briefing this morning. I thought that was a very useful innovation. I would like to thank China, as others have, for its presidency. It was good to see them also willing to be innovative and open in such challenging circumstances. I also want to thank Special Representative Annadif for his excellent briefing and to join others in welcoming Minister for Foreign Affairs Dramé to this discussion. It is good to see the Malian Government engaging at this level with our consultations.”
2020-04-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/286 (2020) · source