YouSaid · the spoken record

Kelly Craft

lines on the record: 426
first: 2020-03-31
most recent: 2021-01-20
sittings or episodes: 61
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 you, Prime Minister Gonsalves, and your team for organizing this high-level discussion today. We welcome Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ first Security Council presidency and we are so excited to work with you and your team here in New York. I would also like to thank our briefers today — Ms. Amina Mohammed, Mr. Ibrahim Mayaki, Sir Hilary Beckles and Mr. Munir Akram — for the work that they and their teams have done to make our world a safer place. Sadly, we are living in a world where violent conflict is now increasingly common after years of decline. We know that violence begets more violence. It distorts social norms, undermines institutions and destroys countries and lives. Fragile States are particularly susceptible to destabilizing violence and armed conflict, and it is everyday citizens who pay the price.”
2020-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1090 (2020) · source
“Such efforts are disrespectful to women on the front lines of peace and security issues today and a threat to those who may follow. The United States will never support such an action. Along with our partners, we will continue to defend the aspirations and objectives enshrined in resolution 1325 (2000) against attacks aimed at undermining them, celebrate the twentieth anniversary of that landmark achievement and safeguard its purpose.”
2020-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1076 (2020) · source
“As written by Russia, with contributions from China, this draft resolution was designed to undermine and reverse the progress of the past 20 years, in a blatant misuse of the Security Council to advance their singular agendas. It is evident that our Russian and Chinese colleagues do not support the women and peace and security agenda, as defined by resolution 1325 (2000), and do not believe that women should be fully empowered to prevent conflict or sit at the table to pursue peace and reconciliation. As the voting results reveal, many other Council members share our concerns. The Russian draft resolution would have diluted the long-standing United Nations commitments to women and weakened the consensus about the role of women in conflict situations.”
2020-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1076 (2020) · source
“No nation is more committed to the women and peace and security agenda than the United States. We were the first nation to enshrine the objectives of resolution 1325 (2000) in our national legislation and develop a whole-of-Government effort to measure progress and maintain accountability across our domestic and global implementation. President Trump has an unmatched record of action in support of the women and peace and security agenda, and he understands that societies that empower women are more stable, peaceful and prosperous, both economically and politically. By abstaining in the voting on the Russian Federation’s draft resolution S/2020/1054, the United States and nine of our fellow Council members are taking a firm stand to protect this critical agenda from attack by the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China.”
2020-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1076 (2020) · source
“We strongly urge the parties to meet with Special Representative of the Secretary-General Colin Stewart and cooperate with him, his staff and the entire MINURSO team.”
2020-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1075 (2020) · source
“In the meantime, we expect that all parties will respect their obligations under the ceasefire, cooperate fully with MINURSO and refrain from any actions that could destabilize the situation or threaten the United Nations process. We call for all parties to exercise restraint, particularly in the light of recent events in Guerguerat — which pose a threat to peace and stability in the region — and the general increase in violations highlighted in the most recent report of the Secretary- General (S/2020/938). Moreover, unilateral changes to the status quo on the ground will not help us get to a lasting and peaceful solution. The mandate renewal embodied in resolution 2548 (2020) affirms our confidence not only in the peacekeepers, but also in the Mission’s current leadership.”
2020-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1075 (2020) · source
“It has been almost a year and a half since former Personal Envoy Köhler’s departure, and the vacancy has contributed to the lack of progress towards a political solution. We urge the Secretary-General to fill this position soon. We view Morocco’s autonomy plan as serious, credible and realistic, and it represents one potential approach to satisfying the aspirations of the people in Western Sahara to run their own affairs with peace and dignity. We call on the parties to demonstrate their commitment to a realistic, practicable and enduring political solution based on compromise by resuming negotiations without preconditions and in good faith. Entrenched positions must not stand in the way of progress.”
2020-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1075 (2020) · source
“The United States commends the Security Council for affirming its support for the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) with today’s mandate renewal. While we share fellow Council members’ frustration with the lack of progress on the political front, we would like to highlight the importance of the daily work of the peacekeepers. In renewing MINURSO’s mandate, the Council is recognizing the success of this mission in de-escalating tensions and maintaining overall calm, conducting dangerous mine-clearance operations, supporting humanitarian efforts and preventing the spread of coronavirus disease. The Council will not overlook its responsibility for ensuring progress towards a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution. We remain concerned with the prolonged absence of a Personal Envoy.”
2020-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1075 (2020) · source
“Together we must make it a priority to champion women and girls, protect their safety and security and promote them so that they can participate in promoting international peace and security. We must do this not just because it is the right thing to do, but also because we know that our world will be safer and more prosperous when women are supported and heard.”
2020-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1084 (2020) · source
“Moving forward, we hope mandates will always feature the interests of women and promote their active roles in peace and security. Today the United States calls on all Member States, all of us, to adopt and implement national action plans and strategies on women and peace and security. The United States is ready to support Member States in that effort. Indonesia worked to advance women during its time on the Council and currently deploys more than 150 women in peacekeeping missions around the world. Kenya’s progress in implementing the plan can serve as a model for partners in the region and around the world. We all look forward to working even more closely with Kenya on this and all global peace and security issues.”
2020-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1084 (2020) · source
“In Afghanistan, as mentioned by Zarqa Yaftali, women now occupy important positions within the Government and are participating in the United States-brokered peace talks, but they are coming under threat and we all need to support them. And in the Democratic Republic of Congo, we have seen the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo elevate women to leadership positions as part of a project intended to restore social cohesion between communities mired in conflict. We have also supported the women and peace and security language in peacekeeping and special political mission mandates. Despite attempts by some members to block these efforts, we have pushed through language that promotes meaningful participation by women in peace negotiations and other political processes.”
2020-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1084 (2020) · source
“We are following this matter closely and expect the allegations to be taken seriously and the necessary and appropriate steps be taken to address the situation. The United States strategy also promotes the protection of women and girls’ human rights, gives victims a voice and access to humanitarian assistance and provides safety from gender-based violence, including sexual exploitation and S/2020/1084 S/2020/1084 abuse around the world. The strategy reinforces the United States commitment to prevention and a focus on accountability. The United States is also actively engaged with partners across the globe to support their efforts to advance women’s participation in political and security decision-making. In Colombia, women are increasingly welcome in the peace processes and their perspectives are included into negotiated agreements.”
2020-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1084 (2020) · source
“All troop- and police-contributing countries must also enforce the United Nations zero-tolerance policy by swiftly and credibly addressing allegations of abuse. The United States praises the efforts of the United Nations to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse. However, more must be done, including repatriating and ensuring the prosecution of individuals and units who commit these terrible crimes. The victims deserve justice. The United States is deeply concerned about the recent allegations of widespread sexual exploitation and abuse by personnel purportedly employed by international organizations and private relief agencies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of the Ebola response.”
2020-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1084 (2020) · source
“In an environment where women are often the victims of conflict and bear the burden of providing for families broken by fighting, women peacekeepers provide empathy and sensible support to the people they serve to build resilience so they can recover from violence. When we increase the number of women peacekeepers we also see improved performance, fewer incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeeping troops and greater likelihood of women coming forward to report sexual and gender- based violence. To increase the number of women in peacekeeping, the Governments must reduce barriers to entry and provide leadership opportunities for women in national security roles. Troop- and police-contributing countries should adopt and promote policies to achieve these objectives.”
2020-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1084 (2020) · source
“Just last June, President Trump released the United States Strategy on Women, Peace and Security, which outlines new, concrete actions to accelerate the United States efforts. The strategy recognizes the central role women play in preventing and resolving conflict, countering terrorism and violent extremism and building post-conflict peace and stability. It begins with empowering women leaders with the access, skills and influence they need to be effective. Women have always had a strong voice; they just need to be heard. Nowhere is this more apparent and urgent than in peacekeeping operations. I witnessed first-hand the importance of women peacekeepers while visiting South Sudan.”
2020-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1084 (2020) · source
“I thank Secretary-General Guterres for his unwavering commitment to this important issue. And I thank the other briefers, who provided us with important insights on progress made since resolution 1325 (2000) was adopted and — even more important — identified shortcomings that we all must address. The United States has never been more committed to the goals of resolution 1325 (2000), and the Trump Administration has been a leader in advancing the women and peace and security agenda. When President Trump signed the Women, Peace and Security Act in 2017, the United States became the first country in the world to pass comprehensive national legislation codifying its commitment.”
2020-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1084 (2020) · source
“We urge Member States to support ongoing Committee measures and sanctions designations and to renew and fully implement resolution 2498 (2019), which outlines the arms embargo provisions and imposes an IED components ban. The United States recognizes the challenges posed to peace and stability in Somalia, which are further compounded by the spread of the coronavirus disease. We must continue to work together to employ all available tools to promote peace and security in Somalia and the region and to ensure a better future for all Somalis.”
2020-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1079 (2020) · source
“That effort includes technical assistance and capacity-building to counter the financing of terrorism and the threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The United States is encouraged to hear that the Panel and the Federal Government of Somalia have enhanced cooperation and information-sharing in order to support a constructive working relationship and enable the Panel to successfully fulfil its mandate. Addressing the ongoing Al-Shabaab threat requires close cooperation between the Federal Government of Somalia, the Somali private sector and international partners in order to disrupt its sources of financing. We are encouraged to learn that such cooperation has been gaining momentum.”
2020-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1079 (2020) · source
“I thank Ambassador Kridelka for his briefing. I really appreciate the stewardship that he has shown on the Committee pursuant to resolution 751 (1992), concerning Somalia. The United States appreciates the wealth of information that has been briefed to the Committee by the Panel of Experts on Somalia and the representatives from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs over the past 120 days. The United States remains focused on limiting the ability of Al-Shabaab to conduct attacks against civilians, and we are committed to partnering with Member States to utilize the Somalia sanctions regime of the Committee to its full extent.”
2020-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1079 (2020) · source
“Let us join together in supporting these historic breakthroughs, the Palestinian and Israeli peoples, and their desire for peace and a better future.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“Today, because of American leadership, Israel is closer to its Arab neighbours than ever before, and its direct neighbours — the Palestinians — should take advantage of this positive momentum. History will judge how the Security Council responds to this historic moment: it can either shrink from the challenge or rise to the occasion. We encourage members of the Security Council to embrace the opportunities presented by the Abraham Accords and encourage the Council’s support for the Vision for Peace. If what the international community seeks is peace, security and stability for the Middle East and its peoples, then I urge it to join us in supporting these historic breakthroughs. Our task in the Security Council, as laid out 75 years ago, is to support peace, security and stability, including in the Middle East. This takes courage.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“We have no objection to meeting with international partners to discuss the issue, but I have to ask: how is this different than every other meeting convened on this issue over the past 60 years? I have also heard some liken the idea for a conference to the 1991 Madrid Conference. And, while Madrid brought everyone around to the table, it took bold leadership and difficult decisions from the leaders on both sides — behind closed doors — to actually move the ball forward in any meaningful way. We cannot keep doing what we have been doing and expect things to change; in doing so, we are failing the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. For the first time in 25 years, the United States has demonstrated that a different approach to the situation in the Middle East can yield results.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“This one-sided approach surfaces far too frequently in these resolutions and serves only to undermine trust between parties and fails to create the kind of positive international environment that we need to achieve peace. It is for this reason that we are urging both parties and regional partners to be creative and embrace the innovative approach that the Vision for Peace presents. If the international community continues to operate under the same assumptions and simply repeats the same old talking points, the unique opportunity we now have will be missed. In President Abbas’ address to during the general debate at the opening of the seventy-fifth session of the General Assembly (see A/75/PV.10), he called for an international conference to launch discussions, and I have heard several of my fellow Council members endorse this idea.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“The Arab Peace Initiative was historic in its time, but it dates back to 2002, and it just does not provide the kind of detail we need to reach peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis. What we need today is progress, and this is what a peace deal based on the Vision for Peace would deliver. A deal would bring much needed economic support and investment to the Palestinian people. It would open up a whole new world of opportunities. Within the United Nations, the United States continues to oppose the annual barrage of more than a dozen perennial resolutions biased against Israel — resolutions in which the text barely changes from year to year — a fact that underlines how habitual United Nations attitudes towards Israel and the Palestinians have become.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“Agreements are about details, and this plan has details. One can like them or one can dislike them and offer alternatives, but deals are made based on the details. This is why we have encouraged the Palestinians to offer their position by utilizing the Vision and bringing their perspectives to the negotiating table. The table has been set for two, and peace is within reach. Simply rejecting the Vision out of hand does nothing to help the Palestinian people or advance the cause of peace, and neither does holding more conferences or summits that are only S/2020/1055 S/2020/1055 designed to rehash the same old tired points. We have been getting together to talk for 25 years; I think now is the time for action. We have heard many members of this body talk about the importance of the Arab Peace Initiative as a basis for negotiations.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“President Trump’s bold diplomacy and rejection of failed conventional attitudes lies at the heart of the successful Abraham accords. His willingness to approach things differently led to a historic breakthrough — the most significant step towards peace in the Middle East in more than 25 years. It is this same creative, realistic and fresh thinking that led to the President’s Vision for Peace. We encourage our regional partners and the members of this body to thoughtfully consider the United States Vision for Peace and to play a constructive role in encouraging direct negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians on the basis of the Vision. Unlike past efforts, the Vision is detailed, realistic and implementable. We put an immense amount of thought and consideration into drafting the Vision for Peace.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“Normalization will spur economic growth, enhance technological innovation, foster interfaith dialogue and forge closer people-to-people relations. And just last week, President Trump announced another historic breakthrough, with the Sudan also agreeing to normalize relations with Israel. For years, the Sudan harboured the very terrorists — Al-Qaeda affiliates, Hizbullah and Hamas — who threaten people around the world and wanted to destroy Israel, but whose leaders, today, have announced a peace agreement. The conversation in the region is changing. As the President said, a new chapter is beginning. The simple truth is that each month the Council repeats decades-old approaches to this conflict that go nowhere. Many States Members of the United Nations are trapped in stale policies and narratives that will always fail to bring peace.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“Jews and Arabs are Abraham’s children, share Middle Eastern ancestry, culture and history, and deserve a future of peace as the cousins they are. As the Council is aware, just a few weeks ago, the United States co-hosted an informal dialogue with the Security Council to discuss the historic Abraham accords. Senior Emirati and Bahraini officials joined Senior Adviser Jared Kushner to provide more details on these arrangements and to showcase what is possible when leaders make courageous and bold decisions that advance the cause of peace. As the discussion highlighted, opening direct ties between these three dynamic societies and advanced economies has incredible potential to transform the region.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“I thank the Deputy Foreign Minister and the Russian delegation for convening today’s meeting. I thank Special Coordinator Mladenov, as always, for his briefing. He has provided us with a very informative report, and we applaud him and his team’s efforts aimed at keeping the Security Council fully briefed. I would also like to take a moment at the outset to wish Mr. Saeb Erekat, politician, lead Palestinian negotiator and an architect of the Oslo Accords, a speedy recovery from the coronavirus disease. Once again, we find ourselves in the Council debating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and States Members of the United Nations will read out statements packed with the same rhetorical fodder of hundreds of statements before them. It is time to stop this unproductive practice.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“The United States is a force for good in the Middle East and around the world, and the successes that we have helped bring about recently open new possibilities for peace and prosperity, which are long overdue. Members of the Council must recognize that these milestones would not have been possible without the efforts that the United States and others have made to contain Iran. We call upon this body to take every action consistent with its mandate and hold Iran accountable for its actions without delay.”
2020-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1037 (2020) · source
“As I said in Washington on September 21 when the United States took decisive action to snap back previously lifted sanctions on Iran and restore arms restrictions after this body failed to extend the 13-year arms embargo, what makes America special is that we are unafraid to stand up for what is right. And I do not need a cheering section to validate my moral compass. While we will continue our maximum pressure campaign to deny the regime the means to continue fuelling terror, we stand ready to meet Iran at the negotiating table to conclude a comprehensive deal, as Secretary Pompeo has outlined. As I close, I want to remind Council members that, at the beginning of this Administration, President Trump promised that he would strengthen America’s friendships and build new partnerships in pursuit of peace. He has kept his promise.”
2020-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1037 (2020) · source
“Just imagine if countries in the region were able to grow, prosper and develop without the looming threat of Iranian drone or missile attacks or the constant fear that Iran may sabotage international shipping lanes. Just imagine if the Council would simply muster the courage to hold Iran accountable. I appreciate the focus Russia has placed today on Gulf security, but, respectfully, I disagree with the solution that Foreign Minister Lavrov has proposed. The international community does not need yet another mechanism to promote Gulf security. The Security Council has all the tools at its disposal to hold Iran accountable; we must simply decide to do so. The United States will continue to hold Iran accountable, even if it means we must act alone.”
2020-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1037 (2020) · source
“Iranian-backed militias continue to target the United States and other diplomatic facilities, placing American diplomats and Iraqi civilians in harm and jeopardizing the ability of the United States to fully assist the Iraqi Government and people. As long as Iran and others support the terrorist activities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, our sincere efforts to help Israelis and Palestinians reach peace and build a better future together will be threatened by terror and mired in meaningless and perpetual violence and conflict. These are the facts. If we intend for this to be a meaningful and constructive conversation about insecurity in the region, then we must openly acknowledge the main driver of its insecurity — Iran. Just imagine how much safer the Middle East would be today if Iran abided by existing Security Council resolutions.”
2020-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1037 (2020) · source
“In Lebanon, Iran continues to arm Hizbullah in blatant violation of resolutions 1701 (2006) and 1559 (2004), most notably the arms embargo that the Council reaffirmed less than two months ago. Month after month, some in the Council today turn a blind eye as Iran channels sophisticated weapons and money into Lebanon, ensuring that there can never be peace. The Council must do more to address both the incomplete implementation of resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1701 (2006) and Hizbullah’s illicit activities. In Iraq, Iran continues to support local militias, in violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and resolution 2522 (2020). These militias are responsible for targeting and murdering peaceful Iraqi protestors, civil society activists and members of the media.”
2020-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1037 (2020) · source
“This conflict has brought destitution, destruction and untold suffering to the Yemeni people. Many now struggle to buy food and meet other basic needs. Instead of supporting peace efforts to end the conflict, Iran has continually sent the Houthis weapons to fuel the war, in violation of the arms embargo in resolution 2216 (2015). In Syria, the Al-Assad regime continues to give Iran and its military proxies safe harbour to extend their terror campaign and project its military power deeper into the Middle East, threatening the lives of the Syrian people, but also the security of Israel. Iranian forces must withdraw from Syria for there to be lasting peace. Only the United Nations-facilitated political solution outlined in resolution 2254 (2015) will pave the way for Syria at peace with its people and the region.”
2020-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1037 (2020) · source
“We know that when nations stand together and confront Iran, the world is a safer place. Today, we are confronting the full range of Iran’s destabilizing activities, from its support of terrorist groups and proxies, to its development of ballistic missiles in defiance of the Security Council. I understand that my Russian colleagues have proposed creating a Persian Gulf security construct to promote stability in the region. Respectfully, I think that the solution is much easier. The Council must simply muster the courage to hold Iran accountable to its existing international obligations. And it is a fact that Iran is neither abiding by the letter nor the spirit of the Council’s decisions. In Yemen, Iran continues to support the Houthi rebels who have plunged that country into a bloody civil war, now in its sixth year.”
2020-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1037 (2020) · source
“I look forward to a time soon when the Israelis and Palestinians will resume direct negotiations to reach a peaceful resolution of their conflict, and we need to see an end to outside interference, including the extremist political activities of bad actors in the Persian Gulf. The fact is that the Trump Administration has brought fresh thinking and a new approach to the Middle East, and it is paying off. The Abraham accords and the vision for peace represent what is possible in the region under bold American leadership. The root of this success lies in our efforts to rebuild trust and restore credibility with our partners in the region. Adopting the right strategy on Iran has been an important part of these efforts. The United States recognizes that Iran is the single greatest threat to peace and security in the Middle East.”
2020-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1037 (2020) · source
“Our presence has a stabilizing effect and the partnerships that we have built over the many years provide a foundation for meaningful engagement and constructive cooperation. The Trump Administration has also proposed the equally historic vision for peace. What makes this plan so different from past efforts is that it can be realistically implemented. To date, it is the most serious and detailed plan ever presented to secure peace between Israel and the Palestinians. While we understand that the Palestinians may not like every aspect of the plan, it offers a legitimate starting point for negotiations, and we hope that they will take advantage of this opportunity.”
2020-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1037 (2020) · source
“I thank you, Mr. Minister, for convening this meeting on Persian Gulf security. The topic of this discussion comes at a historic time for the United States. In recent months, we worked with our partners in the region to broker the Abraham accords, first between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and then between Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain. Those normalization agreements lay the foundation for diplomatic relations and the beginning of cooperation across a broad range of fields, including education, health care, trade and security. The Abraham accords underscore President Trump’s vision for peace and what has long been the reality on the ground in the Middle East: that the United States is at the forefront of efforts to address ongoing conflicts in the region and promote peace.”
2020-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1037 (2020) · source
“We continue to support implementation of the Final Peace Agreement and its transitional justice efforts, including those undertaken by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace. We also note the Council’s readiness to consider a potential role for the Mission in its connection with the verification of the sentences handed down by the Special Jurisdiction. We are conscious of the significant challenges that remain. The need to protect the lives of social leaders, strengthen citizen security and provide economic opportunities in rural areas has become even more urgent owing to the pandemic. But we remain confident that, with the support of the United States, the Verification Mission and the international community, Colombia will continue to forge a durable and equitable peace.”
2020-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1023 (2020) · source
“Through the new United States-Colombia Growth Initiative, our Governments are working to build on State Department and United States Agency for International Development long-term investments in the country to continue improving security and bring even more private sector investment into rural areas. On that note, we echo the call to encourage the parties to continue working together to develop economic opportunities and provide effective security for the new reintegration areas. Technical assistance, access to markets, greater attention to monitoring and evaluation and increased assistance to former combatants’ cooperatives can all play important roles in economic development.”
2020-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1023 (2020) · source
“As Secretary Pompeo noted in Bogotá last month, Colombian law enforcement, even in these difficult times, has stepped up cocaine interdiction and eradication, manually clearing 57 per cent more coca fields in 2019 than it did in 2018. The United States remains fully engaged with the Government of Colombia to reduce coca cultivation and cocaine production, extend State presence and promote integrated rural development that enables Colombian citizens to pursue legitimate economic activities. The commitment has been consistent since the establishment of Plan Colombia 20 years ago.”
2020-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1023 (2020) · source
“We urge the Colombian authorities to take appropriate action, including by holding those responsible for these killings accountable. While we acknowledge progress by the Government of Colombia, particularly the National Protection Unit’s recent approval of 94 urgent protection measures for former combatants, more must be done in order to ensure safety, particularly in the areas formerly controlled by the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia- Ejército del Pueblo. We welcome Colombia’s continued progress in counter-narcotics efforts and reiterate our commitment to continued partnership with the Duque Márquez Administration to combat the destructive illegal drug trade.”
2020-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1023 (2020) · source
“The Colombian Government’s support of interim President Juan Guaidó and a democratic transition for Venezuela provides the foundation for Venezuelans to return home voluntarily and with the promise of prosperity and security. We echo the report’s strong condemnation of the multiple killings that have taken place in Colombia in recent months, including those of children and young people. Once again, we must reiterate the urgent need to protect Colombia’s human rights defenders, including those who work on land and environmental issues, social leaders, former combatants, individuals in rural communities and members of indigenous, Afro-Colombian, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex and other vulnerable populations that have been most affected by the ongoing violence.”
2020-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1023 (2020) · source
“The Trump Administration has provided more than $23.6 million in assistance for Colombia’s response to the disease. The United States is helping Colombians prevent the spread of the virus, deliver water and sanitation supplies, care for COVID-19 cases and provide emergency food assistance. We also express our solidarity with the 1.8 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Colombia, who are among the most vulnerable to the pandemic’s health and economic effects. As Secretary Pompeo affirmed during his September visit to Bogotá, we commend Colombia’s inspiring generosity to so many of the most vulnerable, which I saw first-hand during my time in the country in November 2019.”
2020-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1023 (2020) · source
“I thank Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu for his briefing and for the report of the Secretary-General (S/2020/943). Colombia is closer to finding a lasting peace, thanks to him and the efforts of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia. We also welcome Foreign Minister Blum de Barberi to today’s briefing; it is great to see her. We want to applaud the United Nations team, the Government of Colombia and all Colombians for their joint work in continuing to implement the peace accord during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. We praise the Government of Colombia’s commitment to pressing forward with peace accord implementation while also responding to this urgent public-health challenge. The United States continues to stand with Colombia as we confront COVID-19.”
2020-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1023 (2020) · source
“Finally, as requested in the mandate adopted in December, we look forward to receiving — later this month — a joint exit strategy with measurable benchmarks for progressively transferring MONUSCO’s tasks to the Congolese authorities, the United Nations country team and other stakeholders, with the goal of achieving a responsible exit of MONUSCO in the coming years.”
2020-10-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/987 (2020) · source
“The United States will continue to work with the United Nations to develop programmes and capabilities to conduct thorough investigations and prosecute these crimes. We remain concerned about similar allegations perpetrated by MONUSCO peacekeepers against civilians. Of all missions, this Mission continues to have the second-highest number of allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse. We urge all troop- and police-contributing countries to enforce the Organization’s zero-tolerance policy and swiftly and credibly address criminal allegations. We urge MONUSCO and the United Nations to take prevention seriously, including by repatriating contingents that display a pattern of abusive behaviour.”
2020-10-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/987 (2020) · source
“We also congratulate President Tshilombo Tshisekedi for taking steps to professionalize the Congolese military by appointing new leadership this summer, as well as for appointing the first woman Constitutional Court judge and a new director of the country’s financial investigation unit. While there is a long road ahead to sustain these gains, we think it is important to recognize progress to date. With that in mind, we are very concerned about the recent allegations of widespread sexual exploitation and abuse by personnel who claimed to be employed by international organizations and private relief agencies in North Kivu as part of the Ebola response. The United States takes these allegations very seriously and calls upon the organizations and agencies involved to conduct a thorough investigation and hold offenders accountable.”
2020-10-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/987 (2020) · source
“To that end, we applaud the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the steps it has taken to improve governance and human rights, fight impunity and stop trafficking in persons and child soldier recruitment. We hope to see progress in reducing the number of human rights violations committed by State security forces and increased prosecution of both State and armed-group actors for human rights violations and abuses. We also urge more accountability for those with command responsibility and call for the improved prevention of sexual violence in conflict and stronger support and protection for survivors.”
2020-10-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/987 (2020) · source