YouSaid · the spoken record

Koumby Missambo

lines on the record: 157
first: 2022-02-27
most recent: 2023-12-30
sittings or episodes: 40
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

“It is time to end the war in Ukraine. The Council exists for security. It must be able to justify its name in every one of our meetings. Our energies must be directed towards seeking a solution to conflicts, not justifying them. As my country reaches the end of its term as a non-permanent member of the Council, I would like to reiterate its commitment to peace and the pacific settlement of disputes, and against the use of force. My country will continue to engage tirelessly in the peace-seeking process and will stand by those who propose alternatives to the language of war. This war must be stopped, and it must be stopped very soon. The peoples of the world expect the Council to take concrete action to end this conflict.”
2023-12-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9524 (2023) · source
“My country reiterates that civilian populations and civilian infrastructure should absolutely not be the targets of armed attacks and calls on the parties to the conflict to strictly adhere to international humanitarian law. We are very concerned by the developments of the past few days, in particular the increasing number of drone attacks, which not only add to the terrible toll of the war but also risk extending the spectre of violence. The large-scale attacks in Belgorod yesterday and the far deadlier ones in Kyiv, Kharkiv and other cities in Ukraine the day before are a reflection of the deadly violence that is stirring the threat of a conflagration in the area of hostilities. My country reiterates its rejection of war and calls on the parties to cease all military escalation and any actions that are likely to exacerbate the dispute.”
2023-12-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9524 (2023) · source
“Ms. Koumby Missambo (Gabon) (spoke in French): I thank Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari for his briefing, and I welcome the presence of the representative of Ukraine in this meeting. The Council met yesterday (see S/PV.9523) and is meeting again this afternoon owing to the intensification of a war that every day puts humankind at risk of a disaster with irreparable consequences. Each of our meetings must be oriented towards finding solutions to end the war. This war has already caused far too many deaths, destruction of civilian infrastructure and environmental and economic consequences at the international level.”
2023-12-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9524 (2023) · source
“It is essential for the international community to reaffirm its determination to work towards the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, with a view to the peaceful coexistence of the countries of the region.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9514 (2023) · source
“The Security Council must fully play its role as guarantor of international peace and security, and that means enforcing its own resolutions. My country deplores the fact that, despite the parties’ declarations of intent to resume talks on the North Korean nuclear issue, no concrete proposal to that end has been submitted to the Security Council thus far. We likewise deplore the lack of progress in the talks since 2018 and urge the parties to work towards the necessary de-escalation and rebuild the trust that is essential to diplomatic efforts. I reiterate that, for Gabon, diplomacy and negotiation remain the preferred means of bringing the positions of the various parties closer together and achieving the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9514 (2023) · source
“We are all the more concerned that the increase in the number of those launches increases the risk of disaster resulting from an accident or miscalculation. The potential consequences are too great for such risks to be taken on such a regular basis. The cycle of actions and reactions, of invective and threats, must come to an end, and a realistic, lasting and viable solution must be found through dialogue and diplomacy in order to lead the world out of this zone of turbulence that has already lasted too long. The language of firing is not a mode of expression with which the Council can be satisfied. We call on the parties to do their utmost to break out of this stance of confrontation and engage constructively in the quest for peace.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9514 (2023) · source
“Ms. Koumby Missambo (Gabon) (spoke in French): I would like to thank Deputy Secretary-General Khaled Khiari for his briefing. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea again launched ballistic missiles on 17 and 18 December, the first short-range and the second long-range, both within the space of 24 hours. Those launches bring to four the number of intercontinental ballistic missile tests conducted in 2023 and confirm the escalation of the security threat to the Korean peninsula and the world. My country condemns those umpteenth missile launches and remains concerned by their frequency and escalation, which go hand in hand with an equally disturbing escalation of belligerent and provocative rhetoric on both sides.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9514 (2023) · source
“I would like to conclude by reiterating my country’s constant appeal to all parties, and in particular to regional and subregional organizations, to prioritize dialogue and negotiation with a view to ending this conflict and achieving peaceful coexistence among all parties.”
2023-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9501 (2023) · source
“My country calls on all parties to redouble their commitment to prevent the effects of the massive circulation of conventional arms by intensifying control and marking measures. Indeed, the uncontrolled circulation of weapons is a breeding ground for insecurity and resilient terrorist groups. The trend towards trivializing the use of military force, with an increased use of weapons of mass destruction, massive rearmament and the obvious revival of interest in nuclear deterrence by many countries, is fuelling tension and reviving risks to peace and security in the world. A real breakthrough is needed to reverse this disturbing trend and to reconnect our Organization, and in particular the Security Council, with its primary vocation of protecting present and future generations from the scourge of war.”
2023-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9501 (2023) · source
“At the same time, information on the conclusion of new military alliances and some countries’ revision of their armaments policies are concerning signs that indicate the scale of the retreat on international disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation commitments. We reiterate our call on the warring parties to refrain from using weapons of mass destruction and from targeting civilian populations and infrastructure essential to life. We echo the call of the Secretary-General and the International Committee of the Red Cross for the imposition of new red lines on a global scale to limit the humanitarian effects of autonomous weapons systems. The use of such weapons, the effects of which extend over time beyond conflicts, is not compatible with disarmament objectives.”
2023-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9501 (2023) · source
“My country reaffirms its opposition to the war because, as the war drags on, the destruction spreads at an alarming rate. The World Bank’s most recent projections of Ukraine’s reconstruction needs indicate a bill of $411 billion, with needs concentrated in the eastern regions — those most affected by the fighting. Since that assessment, which dates back several months, those projections have no doubt already been far exceeded. In addition to the damage in terms of loss of life and destruction of civilian and military installations, the consequences of the war in Ukraine will also have to be assessed in environmental terms, in particular the consequences of the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, as well as in terms of the invisible wounds and trauma left on the women, children and men whose lives have been shattered.”
2023-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9501 (2023) · source
“Ms. Koumby Missambo (Gabon) (spoke in French): I thank Mr. Adedeji Ebo, Deputy to the High Representative of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, for his briefing. I also took note of Ms. Mary Ann Wright’s remarks. The death toll of the war in Ukraine has reached unbearable proportions. More than 10,000 people have been killed and 18,679 have been wounded, and more than 10 million people have been displaced, against the backdrop of the constantly deteriorating humanitarian situation. We remain particularly concerned about the increase in bombings and attacks on civilian populations and essential infrastructure, including port and grain facilities. Drone attacks continue to target civilian buildings, schools, hospitals and energy facilities.”
2023-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9501 (2023) · source
“Diplomacy, negotiation and dialogue are the only weapons available to the international community to ensure that the legitimate concerns of each of the parties — namely, self-determination and the right to security — are respected and to ensure the peace and security of the Palestinian and Israeli peoples.”
2023-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9479 (2023) · source
“We are aware that the text that was submitted does not take into account all of the legitimate concerns in such circumstances, but it undoubtedly represents major progress that could make a difference on the ground. However, far from resting on our laurels following the adoption of this resolution, we must certainly show greater engagement so as to respond to the humanitarian suffering in a just manner commensurate with our mandate. We must demonstrate greater engagement in order to silence the guns and establish responsibility. Once again, Gabon calls upon all parties to show restraint and to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law. We will never stop repeating that the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is political.”
2023-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9479 (2023) · source
“By voting in favour, Gabon seeks to help to improve the fate of children on the basis of the relevant elements contained in the resolution that has just been adopted. Those elements are: a demand for all parties to protect civilians — in particular children, who are paying a heavy price in this conflict — pursuant to human international law, including international humanitarian law; a call for urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip; a call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups, especially children; a call on all parties to refrain from depriving the civilian population in the Gaza Strip of basic services and the humanitarian assistance that is indispensable to their survival, including children; the importance of coordination, humanitarian notification and de-escalation mechanisms in protecting civilians and facilitating the movement of humanitarian convoys and patients, in particular sick and injured children and their caregivers.”
2023-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9479 (2023) · source
“Ms. Koumby Missambo (Gabon) (spoke in French): Gabon just voted in favour of the resolution submitted by Malta (resolution 2712 (2023)) to demonstrate its support for the Palestinian and Israeli peoples and its commitment to peace. I am delighted that the Council has been able to reach a consensus, thereby prioritizing the best interests of those two peoples. With this vote, my country reaffirms its support for any initiative that makes it possible to save human lives — in particular the lives of children — in accordance with international humanitarian law. International humanitarian law affords children general protection as persons taking no part in hostilities and special protection as particularly vulnerable persons, while recalling that hostage-taking is prohibited under international law.”
2023-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9479 (2023) · source
“My country would like to take this opportunity to salute the winner of the 2023 United Nations Woman Police Officer of the Year award, First Sergeant Renita Rismayanti of Indonesia, deployed in the Central African Republic, who, through her capacity for innovation, has made a significant contribution to strengthening the security of vulnerable communities, particularly women and girls and, at the same time, has conveyed a message of hope for all the women and girls of the world. Her example, imbued with force and hope, pushes us to reaffirm our commitment to the full implementation of the Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace and the normative framework built around resolution 1325 (2000), including resolution 2242 (2015).”
2023-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9475 (2023) · source
“My country is firmly convinced that the United Nations police forces will be able to contribute fully to the implementation of the New Agenda for Peace by putting into practice its Action 5 by transforming gendered power dynamics in peace and security. As we all know, women police officers are a great asset in our efforts to communicate and build relationships of trust with women and girls in local communities, thus ensuring that the real needs and perspectives of the most vulnerable are taken into account. Furthermore, in conflict and post-conflict situations, victims of sexual violence are more likely to confide in female police officers. Policewomen thus play a leading role in operations to combat impunity and promote accountability in order to strengthen the rule of law, recovery and, above all, reconciliation.”
2023-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9475 (2023) · source
“It is therefore important for them to develop strategic communications that enable them to establish a constructive dialogue with the host country, thereby creating the climate of trust needed for the effective implementation of peacekeeping operation mandates as peacekeeping operations cannot be effective without the support of local populations and communities. At the same time, efforts to improve the performance of the United Nations police on the ground must include the promotion of gender parity, which must go hand in hand with the strengthening of women’s leadership, supported by flexible missions, clear mandates and precise tasks in order to enable the adaptability to take on the new challenges the peacekeeping operations face.”
2023-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9475 (2023) · source
“More than 60 years after the deployment of the first Blue Helmets, peacekeeping operations have unquestionably become an essential tool for United Nations action in support of international peace and security as time has gone on. At the third United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit, the Secretary-General called for the need to strengthen the capabilities of our police forces with a view to ensuring that exceptional performance becomes the norm. To achieve that, United Nations police forces need to adapt to the increasingly complex and changing environment of operational theatres and develop the capacity to continually reinvent themselves in order to provide responses commensurate with the security challenges they face.”
2023-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9475 (2023) · source
“Ms. Koumby Missambo (Gabon) (spoke in French): I thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this meeting, giving us an opportunity to address the issue of the contribution of United Nations police forces to the New Agenda for Peace. My thanks also go to Under- Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Mr. Christophe Bizimungu, Ms. Christine Fossen, Mr. Faisal Shahkar and Ms. Karin Landgren, whose enlightening briefings have given us a framework for today’s meeting. The theme of this meeting takes us back to the crucial role that peacekeepers play in a global context that is more than ever marked by multiple crises and new threats to international peace and security.”
2023-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9475 (2023) · source
“My country calls on all parties to strengthen measures for the traceability and control of conventional weapons, to refrain from the use weapons of mass destruction, to comply strictly with international humanitarian law and to respect the principles of distinction, precaution and proportionality. In conclusion, my country calls on all parties, including the international and subregional organizations to which the warring parties are party, to create the conditions for dialogue and negotiations in order to silence the guns in Ukraine and guarantee peaceful coexistence.”
2023-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9457 (2023) · source
“In any case, we must redouble our efforts to ensure respect for international commitments to disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation to which we have freely agreed. It is our shared responsibility to prevent the transfer and diversion of weapons, munitions and fissile material to non-State actors. Attacks using remotely operated munitions cause extensive material damage and civilian casualties. Their use must be regulated. My country therefore reiterates its support for the call by the Secretary-General and the International Committee of the Red Cross to adopt new international rules on autonomous weapon systems. By limiting their use through the adoption of new red lines, we will help to limit their humanitarian consequences.”
2023-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9457 (2023) · source
“The use of military force is indisputably continuing to take precedence over the peaceful settlement of disputes, thereby calling into question the very relevance of international instruments and mechanisms designed to guarantee international peace and security. It is vital, however, that we be able play our part and shoulder our responsibilities as Council members, so that we can align ourselves with the mandate of the Council, which, we would recall, is the Security Council, not a war council. The best and only way to reverse the current trend towards forging new military alliances, the reformulation by certain countries of their arms policies and backtracking on the use of certain weapons of mass destruction with particularly inhumane effects, such as cluster munitions, is to end wars.”
2023-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9457 (2023) · source
“Instead, we continue to see signs of intensified combat and the radicalization of positions. With the end of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the hope for open dialogue has been extinguished as well, taking with it the possibility of employing diplomacy towards a political solution. My country is alarmed by the extremely tense international security environment in which the world has been plunged today. Conflicts are arising or re-emerging without the mechanisms provided for in the Charter of the United Nations, in particular those of Chapter VI, being set in motion in an attempt to quell them.”
2023-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9457 (2023) · source
“Ms. Koumby Missambo (Gabon) (spoke in French): I thank the Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Mr. Adedeji Ebo, for his briefing. I listened attentively to the remarks of Mr. Randy Credico. For 671 days, the war has raged in Ukraine without interruption, and although the Council has met regularly, it has not been able to find a way out of the conflict. The attacks — on the ground, at sea and by air using missiles or drones — continue each day, causing more victims among civilians and destroying civilian infrastructure and essential civilian facilities, such as gas networks and electricity and agricultural facilities. The incessant calls from all those in the international community who call for an end to the fighting and above all respect for humanitarian law have gone unanswered.”
2023-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9457 (2023) · source
“In conclusion, I call on the parties to facilitate access for humanitarian personnel to the populations in need, without restrictions or politicization. We also reiterate our appeal to the parties to not exacerbate tensions by stirring up historical fears, hate speech and bellicose rhetoric, but to build, instead, on what unites them for lasting peace and shared prosperity.”
2023-09-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9422 (2023) · source
“My country reiterates that a political solution, based on the rule of law and, in particular, on the implementation of the tripartite agreement of 2020, is the only alternative for ending these cycles of deadly violence, implementing the ceasefire and finding a lasting situation to the situation. Diplomatic channels must remain open, and partners with influence in the region must redouble their commitment to maintaining communication, with a view to reaching a political solution. My country hopes that the ceasefire agreement signed yesterday and the negotiations under way will bring peace to Karabakh and ensure that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each of the parties are respected. My country welcomes this sign of appeasement and call on the parties to respect it.”
2023-09-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9422 (2023) · source
“Ms. Koumby Missambo (Gabon) (spoke in French): I would like to thank Assistant Secretary- General Miroslav Jenča for his briefing. Last Tuesday, fighting broke out in the Karabakh region, causing numerous deaths, injuries and displacements of people. Those events took place even as the resumption of humanitarian convoys in recent weeks in the region had shown encouraging signs of de-escalation. The use of armed force only complicates the political resolution of the crisis and worsens the humanitarian situation in the region. It is clear that the presence of military forces on the line of contact is a permanent source of tension that fuels belligerence. Three years after the deadly fighting in 2020, we must do all we can to avoid taking a step backwards.”
2023-09-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9422 (2023) · source
“We call on the parties to de-escalate, to refrain from unilateral initiatives and to give priority to dialogue in order to achieve a lasting solution to the situation. Tensions on the Korean peninsula must be reduced and confidence restored for talks to resume. We urge all parties to avoid any provocative actions or rhetoric that could fuel antagonism. Finally, I would like to call on those countries that have influence over the protagonists to encourage the resumption of negotiations. I would also urge the International Atomic Energy Agency to keep diplomatic channels open with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and to do its utmost to restore and guarantee the confidence needed between the parties for peaceful negotiations.”
2023-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9406 (2023) · source
“The status quo is not a viable option, because it increases the risk of a catastrophe with potentially irreparable consequences. All parties must return to the negotiating table to find a solution that will guarantee security for all and peaceful coexistence in the region. As a State party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Gabon is opposed to any use or threat of use of that category of weapons. Given the current international security context, we are very concerned about the trivialization of nuclear risk. This generation is seeing a clear retreat from the ground we have covered and the hard-won gains we have made in the fields of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. The current trend, which runs completely counter to history, is unacceptable.”
2023-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9406 (2023) · source
“Ms. Koumby Missambo (Gabon) (spoke in French): I would like to thank Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari for his briefing. I welcome the presence of the Permanent Representatives of the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea at this meeting. We are meeting again this afternoon following the attempted launch of a spacecraft by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. My country condemns that act, which has raised the level of tension and fear to such an extent that some neighbouring countries have had to put their missile defence systems on alert. It is more necessary than ever that the Council mobilize in the face of the scale of the threat hanging over the Korean peninsula and seek to open up a way out of the vicious circle.”
2023-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9406 (2023) · source
“We will continue to urge the parties to de-escalate and engage in dialogue in order to put an end to the war, and to believe in the possibility of an outcome that is not a stalemate, in line with the mechanisms of the Charter of the United Nations. My country supports the quest for viable solutions that can enable a lasting settlement to the conflict and allow the parties to engage in negotiations for peace and peaceful coexistence.”
2023-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9404 (2023) · source
“Nonetheless, even the most well-thought- out programmes for the reconstruction of Ukraine can never evaluate, much less put a figure on, the cost of the war for the victims — the children and adults who have lost their dignity, dreams and hopes along with their homes, and who may be affected by the scars of the war for years to come. In that regard, we welcome the UNESCO initiative to train 15,000 school psychologists to support children and teachers who are victims of the war. It is an important contribution to preventing or at least lessening the invisible injuries of war. That is why the ultimate goal on which all our energies must focus is a return to peace.”
2023-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9404 (2023) · source
“My country welcomes the extraordinary international mobilization from which Ukraine continues to benefit via the United Nations, in particular the launch of an appropriate humanitarian response capable of dealing with emergencies, including the winter response plan, starting in October, developed by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which will enable a planned humanitarian response to meet critical needs during that difficult time of year. We commend the specialized agencies of the United Nations and all the organizations working on the ground to address the multifaceted humanitarian needs, often in difficult conditions, and acknowledge their efforts to provide urgent assistance to the displaced or injured.”
2023-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9404 (2023) · source
“We also call on them to refrain from using mines, cluster munitions or other remotely controlled weapons and to do everything in their power to reduce their effects on civilians, especially women, children and the most vulnerable. The Black Sea Grain Initiative, signed six months after the outbreak of the war, showed us that despite the ongoing fighting, a window of hope remained open for diplomacy. Today that hope appears to have vanished, and the surge of hope has been swept away by the sombre prospect of a war of attrition, which leaves room only for the logic of armaments on a massive scale. We urge the parties to find common ground through dialogue and consensus and to return to that important agreement.”
2023-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9404 (2023) · source
“Since the Kakhovka dam and its important reservoir were destroyed, people in areas close to it have found themselves in a particularly alarming humanitarian situation, as they have lost not only their homes and means of subsistence but their water supply as well. That situation is untenable and must end. We once again call on the parties to strictly respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, in particular regarding the protection of people who are not involved in the fighting and of civilian infrastructure. The warring parties have the obligation to facilitate the movement of humanitarian workers and to enable unhindered access, without discrimination, to areas and people requiring humanitarian assistance.”
2023-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9404 (2023) · source
“Ms. Koumby Missambo (Gabon) (spoke in French): I thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her briefing and Ms. Rashevska and Mr. Kuleba for their remarks. After 18 months of deadly war in Ukraine, the fighting has intensified in recent weeks in the south of the country, with increasing numbers of drone, missile and other long-range-weapon attacks. Those indiscriminate attacks continue to target civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as humanitarian personnel, who are often forced to halt their distribution of humanitarian aid vital to people in distress, as occurred recently in Kherson. We are concerned about the critical plight of millions of men, women and children, left to themselves without the principal mechanisms of international aid. Attacks and violations of other kinds against children are reprehensible and intolerable.”
2023-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9404 (2023) · source
“We call on all parties to activate the channels of dialogue and negotiation to silence the guns and pave the way for peace and peaceful coexistence.”
2023-08-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9399 (2023) · source
“The immediate consequence of the intensified fighting is an exponential worsening of the humanitarian situation, with civilian infrastructure and populations being the primary targets of bombardments, including in the latest attacks in Odesa. Humanitarian organizations are struggling to raise the $4.3 billion expected for the humanitarian response, which has received only 30 per cent of the funding pledged, according to the latest statistics from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. At the same time, military aid is at an all-time high, estimated by some sources to have reached nearly $160 billion. I would like to conclude by stressing the urgency of bringing the conflict to an end.”
2023-08-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9399 (2023) · source
“The parties must take the necessary precautions to prevent such risks, notably through existing mechanisms, such as the International Tracing Instrument and the Arms Trade Treaty. We are concerned that the scenario that is taking shape will lead to prolonging the war, in contradiction of the obligations of every member of the Security Council and every member of the United Nations to act in favour of international peace and security. In that regard, I would like to emphasize and reiterate our shared commitment, in the spirit of the Charter of the United Nations, to protecting the peoples of the world from the scourge of war. I also reiterate my country’s opposition to war.”
2023-08-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9399 (2023) · source
“One of the most dreaded scenarios is unfolding — namely that of massive rearmament — which clearly demonstrates a reversal of the direction of progress expected and desired by most United Nations Member States, which have made remarkable efforts in favour of disarmament, marked in particular by the adoption of important treaties on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, the creation of nuclear-weapon-free zones and, more recently, the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The risks associated with the massive circulation of conventional weapons are just as worrisome, given their long-term effects on civilian populations, whether through the insecurity driven by small arms and light weapons or the delayed effects of cluster munitions.”
2023-08-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9399 (2023) · source
“Ms. Koumby Missambo (Gabon) (spoke in French): I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General Izumi Nakamitsu for her briefing. I also paid close attention to Mr. Haiphong’s briefing. We are concerned about the announcements of additional arms deliveries and the rhetoric with regard to offensives, counter-offensives and new military alliances, at a time when many voices around the world are calling for de-escalation and for solutions to be sought to end the war. We are all the more alarmed that the fighting continues to uproot the lives of more than 7 million innocent civilians and that 9,444 civilians have been killed.”
2023-08-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9399 (2023) · source
“We also reiterate our support for the IAEA and recognize its leading role in maintaining the safety and security of nuclear facilities. We also urge the parties to cooperate fully with the IAEA. We reiterate our call for dialogue to find a diplomatic solution to this war, which has gone on too long. We continue to encourage initiatives aimed at bringing the parties to the negotiating table to achieve peace and peaceful coexistence.”
2023-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9340 (2023) · source
“We are deeply concerned by this attack on civilian infrastructure and fear the potential consequences for civilian populations, economic activity in the region and the environment, as the Deputy-Secretary-General has so aptly described just now. As we speak, over 16,000 civilians are being evacuated from the affected areas. These thousands of disaster victims add to the millions of people in humanitarian need, which makes the humanitarian situation in the country even more complex. My country reiterates that nuclear power plants and hydroelectric installations are civilian infrastructure protected by international humanitarian law. The belligerents must comply with this law and refrain from any attack on this essential infrastructure.”
2023-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9340 (2023) · source
“Despite repeated calls from Council members and the international community as a whole for a cessation of hostilities, and in particular for a halt to military activity in and around the nuclear power plant, the fighting continues, and with it attacks on strategic infrastructure. The attack on the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam, located in the Kherson region, is an act that adds to the uncertainty surrounding the safety and security of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which draws part of the energy it uses to cool its reactors from the dam. We welcome the responsiveness of IAEA experts, whose presence on site enabled a team to be deployed immediately. We hope that the situation can be dealt with as quickly as possible to contain the potential risks.”
2023-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9340 (2023) · source
“Ms. Koumby Missambo (Gabon) (spoke in French): I would also like to thank the Deputy- Secretary-General for his enlightening briefing. It was exactly one week ago today that the Security Council met in this Chamber to discuss the imminent risk to the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant following its disconnection from the national power grid (see S/PV.9334). In his briefing to Council members, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) called for restraint and de-escalation on the part of the belligerents and presented the five principles for guaranteeing nuclear safety and security.”
2023-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9340 (2023) · source
“My country is also opposed to any action by the parties that would increase the risk of a nuclear escalation of the conflict. The tendency to trivialize a nuclear escalation of the conflict is extremely regrettable. Yet recent history speaks for itself on the extent of the damage caused to populations and the environment by a nuclear disaster. The parties must commit to dialogue to put an end to the war. It is the only viable way out of this conflict. We continue to support initiatives aimed at bringing the parties to the negotiating table. We remain convinced that that is possible, if the parties build on the model of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Finally, the channels of diplomacy must supersede this dangerous gamble of brute force, and peaceful coexistence must prevail over the logic of confrontation.”
2023-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9334 (2023) · source
“Thirdly, nuclear power plants are elements of civil infrastructure protected by international humanitarian law and, more specifically, by a number of instruments, such as the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources and the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism. The parties to the conflict must comply with them. Fourthly, I urge the parties to cooperate in full transparency with the IAEA to implement its five security principles in order to reduce the risk of an accident and restore compliance with the seven security pillars guaranteeing the normal functioning of the plant. We reiterate our call for de-escalation. The bombing of the nuclear power plant must stop.”
2023-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9334 (2023) · source
“I commend the tireless commitment of Rafael Grossi and his teams of experts on the ground, who are intensifying their efforts to contain the situation and avert a potential catastrophe. To that end, my country supports the five principles proposed by the IAEA to secure the nuclear power plant. In that regard, I would like to make the following additional observations. First, my country condemns any manipulation or attempt at bargaining using the nuclear threat. The potential consequences of a nuclear accident are known to all, and no one has the right to put the world at such risk. Secondly, we reject any attempt to politicize the issue and emphasize the central and exclusive role that the IAEA must continue to play in nuclear safety and security.”
2023-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9334 (2023) · source