YouSaid · the spoken record

King

lines on the record: 841
first: 2000-04-07
most recent: 2021-12-15
sittings or episodes: 127
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

“However, we must remind parties that those operations do not absolve them of their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Measures aimed at building confidence are also key elements of the success of the political process. As such, the issue of missing and detained persons should be addressed to foster good will. Further, conditions must be created for the safe, dignified and voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons. Syria and its people deserve security in order to live in a state of calm. This conflict has taken too much from them and will continue to take from them if we fail in our responsibility to see to it that the suffering ends here.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“Indeed, any solution should include all the parties concerned and the United Nations. In that vein, we welcome Special Envoy Pedersen’s engagement with the Astana guarantors. We applaud the earnest efforts of the Astana guarantors and support the involvement of the United Nations. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines once again emphasizes the need for a credible, balanced and inclusive political process that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people. That is the only viable route to lasting peace and stability. The presence of United Nations-designated terrorist entities in the country presents legitimate local and regional security concerns that have necessitated military operations.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“It will not end the humanitarian crisis or bring stability to Syria. What it will bring about are the further displacement of civilians into dire conditions where they must fight to survive, the interruption of vital humanitarian aid and the loss of many more lives. For that reason, we once again express our support for the work of Special Envoy Pedersen. We recognize and applaud his recent efforts towards attaining a political solution by engaging in dialogue with the parties. As a staunch advocate for dialogue, we hope that it will lead to a de-escalation and the prevention of a full-scale military confrontation. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines welcomes all efforts to broker and uphold a ceasefire in Idlib, including through the Astana format and the United Nations.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“I thank Geir Pedersen and Mark Lowcock for their very comprehensive briefings. We join others in expressing our sympathy to the families, relatives and friends of the two Oxfam humanitarian workers who lost their lives earlier today. Only two weeks ago, we sat in this Council to voice our shared concern about the situation in north-west Syria (see S/PV.8715). We are here again today because the situation has continued to worsen. We echo our previous calls for an immediate and sustained cessation of all hostilities, as this is the only way to put an end to the suffering, which has sadly become a feature of everyday life for many Syrian people. Continuing along the current military path will not end the current conflict. It will not accomplish the objectives of resolution 2254 (2015).”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“In conclusion, we emphasize our support for the Special Monitoring Mission and the framework established by the Minsk agreements, and stress the need for the unconditional implementation by both parties of the provisions therein.”
2020-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8726 (2020) · source
“Trust between and among relevant parties is crucial to strengthening our dialogue and achieving a sustainable solution. Continued prisoner exchanges must be encouraged, as should efforts towards identifying further areas of disengagement. We are also encouraged by the fact that the Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (SMM) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has recorded fewer ceasefire violations in some areas. We welcome the work of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, which continues to observe security across the region and report on the situation. In order to facilitate the Mission in the discharge of its mandate, we emphasize the need for safe and secure access for its staff on the ground, including unrestricted movement of SMM personnel.”
2020-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8726 (2020) · source
“Its application must be equal. To that end, we underscore the relevant international principles as the guiding tools in the resolution of the crisis, including the Minsk agreements. Recently, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines emphasized its support for the Minsk agreements, as we expressed our hope for the full implementation under the auspices of the Normandy format and the Trilateral Contact Group. The tenets outlined in the Minsk agreements are necessary for lasting peace. We highlight the importance of the ceasefire in achieving that and deplore all violations of this measure. The ceasefire remains an indispensable component of the agreements. We take this opportunity to recognize recent efforts that have been made, particularly as they relate to confidence-building measures.”
2020-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8726 (2020) · source
“We begin by joining the members of the Council in welcoming all our briefers today and extend our gratitude to them for their informative briefings. We note the presence of the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines continues to stand steadfast in its advocacy of and adherence to the immutable principles of international law. These are the foundational truths upon which our international community is built and within which small States like ours are able to exist. To deviate from these principles would be an assault on the rights and privileges of all States, and we deplore any action to this effect. We express our concern about the current situation in the Donbas region. International law cannot be sporadically applied or set aside in the pursuit of convenient or expedient solutions.”
2020-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8726 (2020) · source
“Allow me to end on a positive note by recognizing the efforts that are being made, as our acknowledgement of such is also critical in encouraging the parties to act. The facilitation and official commencement of mercy flights is commendable, as is the finalization of a plan to implement the prisoner exchange as per the Stockholm Agreement. Such acts, which reflect a willingness to engage, are those that kindle and sustain the hope that Yemen can achieve peace.”
2020-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8725 (2020) · source
“That is the only way to avoid a further unravelling of the conflict, which remains fragile, as evidenced by the stark deterioration in circumstances and intensification of tensions. Yemen remains an extremely multifaceted and complex conflict with a wide range of actors, all of whom must come to the negotiating table with the requisite political will to achieve the much-needed lasting peace that Yemenis deserve. We echo Mr. Mark Lowcock’s sentiment that the situation is unacceptable. Allow me to note Saint Vincent and the Grenadines concern about the FSO SAFER oil tanker. The potential environmental risks that we face are unprecedented and far too great to allow inaction. There is an urgent need to address the issue. We urge the immediate facilitation of the required access to the tanker.”
2020-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8725 (2020) · source
“As such, we recognize the recent conference of aid agencies and donors that took place in Brussels, where the immediate removal of all restrictions, obstructions and interference violating humanitarian principles was called for. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines wholeheartedly supports and reiterates that sentiment. We welcome and encourage all actions by parties that contribute to the easing of impediments to that life-saving assistance. While humanitarian aid is critical, it is not a panacea — such assistance merely treats one of the symptoms of the conflict. What is needed for a sustainable and tenable solution is a comprehensive peace agreement. We call for the resumption of the desperately needed peace process, which must be inclusive and reflective of all groups across the various categories in society.”
2020-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8725 (2020) · source
“Yemen has been mired in conflict for too long, and the people cannot lose their last shreds of hope. The importance of sustaining humanitarian assistance cannot be overstated, as the consequence of restricted access is the prolonged suffering of many. We recall the obligations under international humanitarian law that demand unhindered humanitarian access. In times of conflict especially, there can be no derogation from those sacrosanct principles. The international community must continue to engage with all parties to encourage the active facilitation of safe and unhindered humanitarian access in accordance with humanitarian law. In that vein, we welcome the efforts of the humanitarian community to collectively overcome the challenges I mentioned, in order to maintain the delivery of humanitarian assistance to millions of Yemenis.”
2020-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8725 (2020) · source
“It is unfortunate that we return to the Council to hear such chilling reports one month later, as we remain troubled by the unprecedented threats that continue to persist. At the same meeting, Mr. Ramesh Rajasingham informed us that access constraints affect 6.7 million people in need of assistance across the country. We have all heard, on several occasions, the various complaints about the treatment of humanitarian personnel and listened to briefings that emphasize the ways in which those restrictions are paralysing humanitarian operations. The people of Yemen have suffered enough and have lost too much. People have lost their livelihoods; children have lost their childhoods; and parents have lost children — that does not even begin to scratch the surface.”
2020-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8725 (2020) · source
“I thank our briefers for their valuable updates this morning. I also take this opportunity to reaffirm Saint Vincent and the Grenadines support for Mr. Martin Griffiths and his team in their dedicated efforts towards a solution to the challenging situation in Yemen, as well as for their continued cooperation and coordination with the Security Council. Mr. Griffiths began his briefing this morning by stating that we are witnessing in Yemen what we have long feared and that the situation has become increasingly dire. His words were chilling. Like Mr. Griffiths, we are distressed. Last month, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines pointed to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Yemen and expressed our concerns over the restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid (see S/PV.8704).”
2020-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8725 (2020) · source
“The Committee also agreed to refer back one recommendation to the Panel, requesting further information, and concluded the process of considering a delisting request submitted by the legal representatives of Mr. Khalid Ali Abdullah Saleh, through the delisting focal point in the Secretariat, for the delisting of his father Mr. Ali Abdullah Saleh. The latter’s name remains on the Committee’s sanctions list.”
2020-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8725 (2020) · source
“The Committee also continued to receive vessel inspection reports from the Mechanism. Since I took over as Chair, the Committee has held one informal consultation, on 10 January, to discuss the final report (see S/2020/70) of the Panel of Experts under resolution 2456 (2019), which was transmitted to the Security Council on 27 January. Of the 11 recommendations contained in the report, five were addressed to the Security Council and six to the Committee. The Committee agreed to take action on two of the six recommendations. It therefore agreed that, during this briefing, the Committee would call on all parties to the conflict in Yemen to strictly adhere to international humanitarian law and to investigate and prosecute their members who commit international humanitarian law violations, and I am doing so via this periodic report.”
2020-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8725 (2020) · source
“The recommendations also concerned engagement with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on the possibility of introducing the analytical capacity of the Mechanism to identify networks using false documentation to evade vessel inspections. Action on the third recommendation involved the dispatch of a joint letter to the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations Global Compact, seeking their views on the possibility of organizing a conference to support the Government of Yemen in implementing due-diligence mechanisms to best manage cash flow and the import of goods under the principles of the United Nations Global Compact. Lastly, during that time period the Committee received two implementation reports, from Panama and Portugal.”
2020-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8725 (2020) · source
“I would also like to recall that, for the sake of comprehensiveness, during this time period my predecessors also took action, as agreed upon by the Committee, on three recommendations contained in the final report (see S/2019/83) of the Panel of Experts under resolution 2402 (2018). Those recommendations concerned engagement with the Head of the United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism for Yemen and the Head of the United Nations Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA), respectively, with a view to facilitating the establishment of an information-sharing protocol between the Mechanism and the Panel of Experts and between UNMHA and the Panel of Experts.”
2020-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8725 (2020) · source
“I have the honour to report to the Security Council on the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2140 (2014), pursuant to paragraph 19 (e) thereof. The last such briefing took place on 15 May 2019 (see S/PV.8525); this briefing will therefore cover the period from 16 May 2019 to date. From 16 May to 31 December, the Permanent Representative and then the Deputy Permanent Representative of Peru served as Chair of the Committee. During that period, the Committee held one informal consultation on 23 August to discuss the mid-term update of the Panel of Experts. Four recommendations were addressed to the Committee, two of which were referred to the Panel for further information, with action on the other two having been agreed to by the Committee.”
2020-02-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8725 (2020) · source
“Echoing the Secretary-General’s call, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is also of the view that we must never foreclose dialogue. There can be no real dialogue — and indeed, no real solution — without all parties at the table. However, there is a need for mediators that are acceptable to both Israel and Palestine. In the struggle for sustainable peace, we can claim no easy victories. Unresolved conflicts can be addressed only through equity and harmony. History has taught us that lasting peace can be achieved only through earnest attempts at reconciliation. Indeed, there can be no peace without togetherness, and no togetherness without justice for all.”
2020-02-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8717 (2020) · source
“While we acknowledge the ongoing efforts of the United States of America to reinvigorate the Israeli- Palestinian peace process, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines remains committed to the international community’s long-standing, principled support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including to self-determination, and for the two-State solution based on the pre-1967 borders. That vision still reflects the will of the international community and ought to be our starting point. We will not resolve the conflict by simply moving the internationally agreed goalposts on an increasingly uneven playing field. We therefore support the calls for the resumption of negotiations under those internationally agreed parameters.”
2020-02-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8717 (2020) · source
“In that connection, we call for the full implementation of all relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions calling for a cessation of all Israeli settlement activities, including those relating to Jerusalem and confirming that the latter is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory. We wish to underscore that any measures aimed at altering the legal, geographic and demographic character or status of Jerusalem and the occupied Palestinian territory as a whole are null and void and have no legal validity whatsoever.”
2020-02-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8717 (2020) · source
“For a small State like ours, which depends so heavily on a robust body of international law for our peaceful existence, it is particularly unnerving to witness the slow unravelling of those internationally agreed norms. Indeed, one of the essential contributions to be made by small States like ours is the tireless advocacy for timeless principles enshrined in international law. We consider it our solemn obligation not only to articulate those principles but to ensure that they are applied consistently and upheld in the international community as universal truths, rather than as selective, uneven and unpredictable tools. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is deeply concerned about any attempts to deviate from the settled parameters governing the delicate quest for peace between Israel and Palestine.”
2020-02-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8717 (2020) · source
“Let me begin by joining others in thanking the Secretary- General, Mr. António Guterres, for his introductory remarks, as well as the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Mr. Nickolay Mladenov, for his briefing. I also welcome President Mahmoud Abbas of the State of Palestine; Ambassador Danny Danon, Permanent Representative of Israel; and the Secretary- General of the League of Arab States to the Chamber this morning. The moral purpose of the United Nations is to ensure freedom for all nations and peoples — for all States, big and small. The foundational pledge to respect the political independence and territorial integrity of all States is one that our forebears did not take lightly. They knew all too well that, without mutual guarantees of sovereignty, the consequences would be anarchy and immense human suffering.”
2020-02-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8717 (2020) · source
“Indeed, it is the Syrian people who are paying the highest price in the conflict with their suffering, as they have lost their safety, their stability and their calm. The Security Council must continue to speak up for them.”
2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source
“Atrocities committed in violation of international law should not be ignored, and perpetrators must be held accountable. As the conflict rages on and the humanitarian situation worsens, it is apparent now — more than ever — that there is a need for a Syrian-owned and Syrian-led political solution. We reiterate our support for all efforts in that regard, as a political solution is the only path towards lasting peace and stability. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines reaffirms its respect for the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria. The actions of the international community must have regard for the perspectives of the Syrian Government, as it is up to the Syrian people to determine the future of their country.”
2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source
“We strongly condemn attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, particularly health and education services, and we implore all parties to the conflict to recommit to a ceasefire. At the same time, we appreciate the steps being taken by the Russian Federation and Turkey to enhance the coordination of their respective countries’ actions in Syria. It is our hope that those efforts will promote a de-escalation and help to preserve life. We also remind parties that military and counter-terrorism operations must comply with the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law. Distinction, proportionality and precaution ought to guide all activities. We therefore reiterate that peace and justice are interdependent.”
2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source
“At the outset, I would like to thank Special Envoy Pedersen and Under-Secretary-General Lowcock for their briefings and their tireless efforts to restore peace in Syria. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines remains deeply troubled by the reports of violence and escalating tensions in north-west Syria. We are disheartened to hear that the situation has intensified, as have the humanitarian consequences. What was intended to be a de-escalation zone is now the potential epicentre for anguish. We therefore call for the immediate cessation of all hostilities to prevent further human suffering. Continuing along the path of combat will serve only to impede humanitarian access to those in desperate need of it, trigger a further displacement of civilians and — if calmer heads do not prevail — continue to result in the loss of life.”
2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source
“Given the nature of small-arms trafficking, regional cooperation is critical. As a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), we reiterate CARICOM’s 2011 declaration on small arms and light weapons. The Caribbean Community has vowed to support the implementation and enforcement of policies and legislation against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. We encourage the efforts that are being made at the regional level around the world. Small arms and illicit weapons have been a concern of the international community for years. However, now is the time for concerted action. Across the world, small arms find their way into countries that do not even produce them and wreak havoc on vulnerable communities within them. It is time to enforce greater accountability.”
2020-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8713 (2020) · source
“We cannot pursue sustainable development where we do not have peace. Increasingly, armed conflicts in destabilized regions are moving out of battlefields and into villages, towns and cities, where civilians are deeply affected. That creates humanitarian crises that endanger those who are most vulnerable. Indeed, the gendered implications and violence occasioned by small-arms use cannot be ignored and should not be minimized. We cannot sit idly by as those disturbing trends continue. As a State party to the Arms Trade Treaty, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines appreciates that Member States have the right to order their internal affairs as they see fit, including in the area of arms control. However, that right is not absolute when domestic policies have negative implications beyond borders.”
2020-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8713 (2020) · source
“Such complex webs of criminality operate across borders, as they often thrive on the fringes of State authority. The strength of those networks, however, begets their greatest weakness. They can flourish only in the absence of a well-organized governance framework. Regional and subregional organizations and their member States must work collectively to manage their shared borders and regulate the movement of people. On the African continent, the illicit flow of small arms and light weapons has taken its toll on far too many generations of people. Our delegation welcomes the ongoing initiatives towards silencing the guns in Africa. We recall, however, that key mechanisms like the Nairobi Protocol and the Kinshasa Convention will be successful only if they are accompanied by structural economic developments.”
2020-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8713 (2020) · source
“Their presence in Chad contributed to the escalating intercommunal violence in the region. Unfortunately, such situations are not isolated events. Around the world, we see that the increased presence of small arms and light weapons is directly related to increased violence. The Secretary-General puts it best in paragraph 9 of his report (S/2019/1011), when he states that the illicit trade in small arms continues to exacerbate ongoing conflicts and contribute to the outbreak of others. Trafficking in small arms and light weapons cannot be divorced from other forms of trafficking that provoke tensions between rival groups that compete for power and profit. The illegal exploitation of, and trade in, natural resources and wildlife form part of the same political economy as the illicit arms trade.”
2020-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8713 (2020) · source
“I thank both of our briefers. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has a front-row seat to the damage that the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons can cause. Although the Caribbean does not produce arms itself, the illicit traffic in small arms profoundly affects our region. Resolution 2220 (2015) underscored that small arms and light weapons are the most frequently used weapons in the majority of recent armed conflicts. The illicit flow of small arms fuels conflict, terrorism and crimes around the world, and thereby threatens international peace and security. Let us cite a recent example. In August 2019, the Government of Chad closed the border that it shares with the Sudan in response to the illegal entry of small arms and light weapons. Those weapons are easier and cheaper to access in the Sudan.”
2020-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8713 (2020) · source
“After all, it is they who must lead their political process. The resolution embodies the spirit of compromise. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines would like to thank France, the penholder, and all members of the Security Council for their constructive efforts to reach a working consensus. As individual Member States, we may often have divergent views, but as a Council we must always remain objective and pragmatic. We should never allow narrow self-interest, ideological positions or strategic agendas to overshadow the needs of the Central African Republic. Finally, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will always stand in solidarity with our African brothers and sisters. When Africa speaks, we will listen.”
2020-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8712 (2020) · source
“At this juncture, we wish to recognize that the Government of the Central African Republic, despite its many challenges, has committed to and made progress towards achieving the key benchmarks that guide our sanctions review process. We also offer our highest assurances that once those efforts continue, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will advocate for further easing of the arms embargo with a view to gradually and progressively lifting those restrictions. We therefore encourage the Central African Republic authorities to continue reforming its security sector and to maintain its efforts to disarm, demobilize, reintegrate and repatriate ex-combatants. Those structural reforms would help to build trust and ensure much-needed reconciliation among the people of the Central African Republic.”
2020-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8712 (2020) · source
“Our delegation has taken note of the Central African Republic’s repeated calls for a complete lifting of the arms component of the sanctions measures. While we do agree that there is some merit to that request, primarily as it relates to enabling the security forces to reclaim territory from armed groups, we do not believe that the time is ripe for a complete lifting of arms measures, as there still remain some shortcomings with weapons and ammunition management in the country. To that end, we emphasize that there is a great need for capacity-building and call on all of our friends in the international community to provide technical and development assistance in that regard.”
2020-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8712 (2020) · source
“Saint Vincent and the Grenadines welcomes the adoption of resolution 2507 (2020). Sanctions are indeed an imperfect tool, but among the basket of corrective options currently available, such measures are likely to yield some intended results, with minimal collateral effects. To be clear, our desire is not to punish the Central African Republic, but to support the State as it restores its own authority and fulfils its responsibility of protecting civilians. We consider the resolution to be robust enough to help combat the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons while providing some flexibility to the legitimate authorities of the country, which have faced operational and logistical difficulties.”
2020-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8712 (2020) · source
“That calls for, above all else, full respect for each country’s right to self-determination, no matter what political, social or economic path it may choose. We stand at a dangerous crossroads today. Some parts of the world are being consumed by fire, while others are engulfed by water. As the climate crisis continues to grow in scope and complexity, we must all join together nationally, regionally and globally so that we may weather this storm. As a former Caribbean regionalist, Forbes Burnham, once said: “Either we integrate, or we perish.” We must work together in the interest of our common humankind.”
2020-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8711 (2020) · source
“Based on the norms of pragmatism, reciprocity, compromise, discretion and non-confrontational negotiating styles, ASEAN has been able to craft a zone of stable peace without transcending the traditions of statehood that regionalism intends to enhance. At a time when many conflicts seem to stem from clashes of identity along ethnic, communal or political lines, the ASEAN Way might offer the United Nations a template from which we can settle our many differences. Similarly, the unity in diversity model fomented across CARICOM can instil in the United Nations a spirit of togetherness, while allowing local cultures and national values to flourish. If we truly want to craft a more peaceful and prosperous world, we can look to regional groups, such as ASEAN, that have found ways to integrate their differences into a singular diverse fabric.”
2020-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8711 (2020) · source
“In the context of CARICOM, our regional identity takes the form of unity in diversity, embodied across our shared institutions, fostering trust, confidence and a spirit of partnership. In both cases, a normative “togetherness” is nurtured without impeding the local cultures and values from which member States draw their national identities. For both CARICOM and ASEAN, full respect for sovereignty is an essential condition for peace. What makes ASEAN distinctive from many similar organizations, however, is its unique method of conflict prevention and conflict resolution, known as the ASEAN Way.”
2020-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8711 (2020) · source
“Such threats include climate change, cross- border terrorism, mass human displacement and other hazards that hold no regard for territorial integrity and easily overwhelm the capacity of many States. For small States like ours, the sharing of such burdens on a regional basis is the only feasible option. Justice and equity are often born through a shared history of struggle and solidarity. Collective struggle shapes collective identities, which in turn fosters deep- rooted and meaningful relationships. In the case of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), those relationships are conditioned by culturally determined modes of interaction among member States and mediated in line with the principles of sovereignty, non-interference and mutual respect.”
2020-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8711 (2020) · source
“We thank the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam for convening this very useful and timely discussion. We extend our gratitude to the Secretaries-General for their insightful remarks on a topic that is dear to the hearts of many across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Regional and subregional organizations act as conduits that link our global governance structure to the local and contextual realities found within many States across the world. For small island developing States like ours, regional cooperation creates much- needed buffers that insulate us from the rigours of a rapidly changing, and often tumultuous, global political economy. Indeed, threats to international peace and security are transnational in character and necessitate collective action in order to yield just and equitable outcomes.”
2020-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8711 (2020) · source
“We take note of the new report on the July 2019 airstrikes in Libya at the Tajoura detention centre and support its recommendations. Finally, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is cognizant of the momentum garnered in Berlin. The upcoming JMC meeting in Geneva, coupled with dialogue initiatives, in particular within the framework of the African Union and the League of Arab States, are encouraging. It would be foolhardy not to advance on those platforms. Nevertheless, we urge careful deliberation and assessment of the situation in Libya as we decide the next steps, ever mindful that at the centre of the crisis are the Libyan people, who need our urgent help.”
2020-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8710 (2020) · source
“Accordingly, all States Members of our Organization must fully abide by and implement the arms embargo, in keeping with resolution 1970 (2011) and subsequent relevant resolutions. Since 2011, approximately 19 Security Council resolutions have been adopted on the situation in Libya, but we all know of reports that the arms embargo has been violated with impunity. Let us be very clear: the situation in Libya will not be resolved unless Member States entrusted with the responsibility to uphold international law duly comply with their international obligations. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines reaffirms its stance that there cannot and will not be a military solution to the Libyan conflict. We roundly condemn the ongoing violence in Tripoli and reiterate our call for a permanent ceasefire.”
2020-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8710 (2020) · source
“We acknowledge the tireless efforts of the respective leaders in reaching consensus and encourage the inclusion of all neighbours and affected parties in the process. We reiterate the importance of a Libyan-owned and Libyan-led dialogue, including under the auspices of the United Nations. We also recognize and encourage all dialogue efforts, including those held in Moscow, Algiers and today in the Republic of the Congo. We welcome the decision by the parties to the conflict to nominate representatives to the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC). The designation of the representatives is a positive sign that the parties are ready to constructively engage. We urge them to commence negotiations in good faith for a permanent ceasefire.”
2020-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8710 (2020) · source
“Owing to the nature of the conflict, consideration must also be given to all affected neighbouring countries — from countries in the Sahel to some in Europe — as they face serious impacts from the ongoing conflict. As we deliver this statement, the humanitarian situation in Libya continues to deteriorate and hope is waning. The urgency to de-escalate the conflict is already resounding. Last week’s Berlin conference was an opportunity for members of the international community, in particular a group of concerned countries, not only to send a clear message of support for the Libyan people but also add impetus and demonstrate commitment to curbing the incessant violence, particularly the attacks against civilian populations. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines welcomes the efforts of the recent Berlin conference.”
2020-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8710 (2020) · source
“Saint Vincent and the Grenadines thanks Mr. Ghassan Salamé, Special Representative of the Secretary- General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), for his very sobering briefing on the recent developments in Libya. We applaud his unrelenting efforts to bring about a peaceful solution to the Libyan conflict and express our support for UNSMIL. Likewise, my delegation thanks Minister Mathias Licharz, speaking on behalf of the Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011), concerning Libya, for his briefing on the work of the Committee. We remain deeply troubled by the difficulty in finding a solution to the nine-year long conflict in Libya. Our primary focus has been, continues to be and will always be the well-being of the Libyan people.”
2020-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8710 (2020) · source
“The Council cannot be an onlooker while a dark cloud of despair settles over the country. That said, we must remain mindful that our actions should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. We must take into consideration the perspectives of the Syrian Government, as it is for the Syrian people to determine their own future. Without a political solution, the suffering of the Syrian people will continue and, without commitment and dialogue, the wider political process will no doubt fail. The Council has a responsibility to ensure that the Constitutional Committee and the wider process are adequately supported so that the goals may be realized. Reconciliation within Syria, the protection of civilians and the overall stability of the region are dependent on that.”
2020-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8708 (2020) · source
“Such expressions of goodwill will undoubtedly help the parties to develop trust and promote active participation in the political process. The political situation cannot be discussed independently of the current humanitarian crisis. While work on the political process is ongoing, we must ensure that the immediate humanitarian needs of the Syrian people are met. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines supported the renewal of the cross-border mechanism earlier this month (see S/PV.8700) and we will support optimal access arrangements going forward. The suffering of one person is too many and we emphasize the need for safe, sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access in all areas of the country. Syria is undoubtedly one of the greatest humanitarian crises of our time and it is the Syrian people who continue to pay the highest price.”
2020-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8708 (2020) · source
“We cannot stress enough that civilians must be protected and civilian infrastructure, particularly health services, must be preserved. On that point, I must note that accountability for acts committed should remain a high priority. Atrocities cannot be ignored and impunity cannot be encouraged. As such, we welcome the board of inquiry established by the Secretary-General to investigate a series of incidents that have occurred in north-west Syria. Confidence-building measures are a critical element for the success of a wider political process. We therefore urge the Syrian Government to address the issue of missing and detained persons. Furthermore, conditions must be created for the safe, dignified and voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons.”
2020-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8708 (2020) · source