YouSaid · the spoken record

Kyslytsya

lines on the record: 887
first: 2010-10-26
most recent: 2023-12-29
sittings or episodes: 80
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“We believe that the United Nations should carefully study the lessons learned in that regard and apply best practices in other parts of the world. In some instances the Council has demonstrated its openness and readiness to readjust its work when considering conflict situations in Africa, in the light of the emergence of new challenges and threats to international peace and security. On the heels ofits visit to the Lake Chad basin region, it adopted resolution 2349 (2017), which highlighted the underlying causes of the complex crisis in the region to be extreme poverty, inter-ethnic and intercommunal tensions and climate change.”
2017-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8144 (2017) · source
“Despite all the criticism and negative assessment of the United Nations in general and the Council's work in particular, which, regretfully, on a number of occasions is justified, there is no alternative to the United Nations and the Security Council in terms of a global entity to safeguard international peace and security. Moreover, in recent years, the Council has achieved some positive results in its line of work. For example, the Council should be - and I am sure is proud - of its contribution to the cause of peace in Columbia, where it continues to play an important role in ensuring a comprehensive implementation of the Final Peace Agreement between the Government of Colombia and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia.”
2017-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8144 (2017) · source
“Ukraine aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the observer of the European Union. I would like to add the following remarks in my national capacity. We would like to express our appreciation, Sir, for your initiative to hold today's open debate on a topic that is highly fitting, both for taking stock of the Security Council's performance in its task of maintaining international peace and security, on one hand, and, on the other, for presenting forward-looking ideas about how to make the Council's work more efficient and relevant in a rapidly changing international environment. I would also like to thank the Secretary- General for presenting his views and ideas. Let me start with some positive remarks.”
2017-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8144 (2017) · source
“With reference to the statement made by the Russian delegation, let me just recall a simple but rock-solid and undeniable fact. The Russian Federation is recognized by the General Assembly as an occupying Power in Ukraine and by extension as a party to an international conflict. As the occupying Power and a party to a conflict or dispute, that country does not have the legal right, and especially not the moral right, to pronounce itself on Ukraine in the Council by virtue of the United Nations Charter, at least not until Russia returns Crimea to Ukraine, withdraws from the eastern part of my country and pays in full for the damage inflicted by its invasion.”
2017-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8082 (2017) · source
“In that regard, we highly value the practical assistance of UNICEF in providing training for psychologists who work on a daily basis with children, students, teachers and other education personnel to address that problem. In that regard, I wish to reiterate that we deeply regret that the Secretary-General's report on children and armed conflict does not contain any reference to the situation of Ukrainian children affected by the conflict in the Donbas region of Ukraine. I am personally convinced that the current leadership of the United Nations and the current leader on the issue are committed, and I believe that the deficiencies of previous reports will be eliminated in future reports of the United Nations. In closing, let me reiterate Ukraine's commitment to doing our utmost to ensure the protection of children in armed conflicts.”
2017-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8082 (2017) · source
“I would like to recall in that regard that in April, the International Court of Justice issued an order regarding the request of Ukraine for the indication of provisional measures in the case concerning Application ofthe International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Ukraine v. Russian Federation). The Court order demanded that Russia "ensure the availability of education in the Ukrainian language". Moreover, children living in proximity to the line of contact in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and those who were forced to leave their homes regularly suffer from symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder.”
2017-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8082 (2017) · source
“For those children who remain in the temporarily occupied territories, the Government has introduced special programmes to give them an opportunity to receive higher education at Ukrainian universities. This year alone, over 1,500 students enrolled in our universities through the Crimea-Ukraine and Donbas-Ukraine special educational centres. It is worth highlighting that children in the occupied areas ofthe Donetsk and Luhansk regions and in Crimea are deprived of the right to receive education in the Ukrainian language and even to study it. To illustrate that point, the number of classes with Ukrainian as the primary language of instruction has plunged by a factor of 31 in Crimea over the past two years.”
2017-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8082 (2017) · source
“There have been reports from various sources that children as young as 15 years old are being recruited into armed youth groups and taking part in active combat as full-fledged members of combined Russia-backed militant forces, including as youth reconnaissance and sabotage groups operating in the Government-controlled territory. Ukraine has undertaken a number of steps at the legislative and executive levels to enhance the protection of the rights of displaced children who have been forced to leave their homes due to the aggression of a permanent member of the Council. Those internally displaced children have unhindered access to education in their current places of residence.”
2017-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8082 (2017) · source
“The reports of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) also prove that irregular armed formations in the east of Ukraine are preventing young men from leaving Donetsk and forcefully recruiting them to join their ranks, which could amount to human trafficking. More than a year ago, terrorists in the City of Yasynuvata, in the occupied areas ofthe Donetsk region, detained six teenage boys, accusing them of sabotage activities. Those children remain captive today. I also wish to express our utmost dismay that representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations and OSCE continue to be denied access to them. That is indeed unacceptable and represents a flagrant Violation of those children's rights.”
2017-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8082 (2017) · source
“We should also not forget that there are thousands of children in Ukraine whose lives have been severely affected by a war brought to our soil by a neighbouring country that is, ironically, a permanent member of the Council. According to State authorities in Ukraine, out of approximately 1.7 million internally displaced persons, 240,000 are children. Almost 200,000 boys and girls live in the 15-kilometre zone along the line of contact on both sides, yet that is not part of the report. Moreover, according to non-governmental data, in over 80 cases children were recruited in the non-Government controlled areas in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.”
2017-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8082 (2017) · source
“Let me give examples of what the experts under the previous leadership did not believe warranted international concern and attention. According to the United Nations human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine, which has already produced 19 reports, 90 boys and 47 girls have lost their lives since the beginning of the Russian aggression. Eighty children were killed as a result of Flight MH-17 being shot down by a Russian missile. Sixty-eight children have been maimed in the conflict zone by mines and unexploded ordnance. Overall, some 15,000 children living in the grey zone are at risk of being maimed or killed due to fighting, mines or unexploded ordnance. As I said, 19 periodic reports have already been produced by the United Nations, yet none of that information made its way into those reports.”
2017-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8082 (2017) · source
“That is strong evidence of our commitments and pledges in this sphere. It is important that more and more countries join our efforts in order to achieve the universal acceptance of those documents. We also attach great importance to the Safe Schools Declaration. In September, Ukraine's Minister of Education and Science announced firm support for the initiative to endorse the Declaration, thereby underscoring our commitment to promote and protect children's rights. Paragraph 3 of the Secretary-General's report reads as follows: "[T]he present report documents situations in which apparent violations of international norms and standards for the protection of children affected by conflict are considered to be of such gravity as to warrant international concern".”
2017-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8082 (2017) · source
“I would like to thank the delegation of France for its excellent performance during its presidency of the Security Council and express our appreciation for its convening of these debates. We are deeply concerned ov er the alarming scale and severity of Violations committed against children, as documented in the report of the Secretary-General (S/2017/821). There is an urgent need to intensify the efforts of the international community to ensure the enhanced protection of children in armed conflict. Ukraine has always been consistent in its policy on ensuring the protection of children in situations of armed conflict. We were among the first States to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as to endorse the Paris Commitments and the Paris Principles.”
2017-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8082 (2017) · source
“Thus, initiatives on fighting terrorism; bringing about economic development; and ensuring respect for human rights, including the active promotion and protection of the rights of women and children, must go hand in hand and complement one another. Lastly, I wish to echo the Secretary-General's call for the deployment of the Joint Force to be kept on the radar of the Security Council and for the Council to stand ready to take additional measures if necessary.”
2017-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8080 (2017) · source
“In this regard, we believe that resolution 2374 (2017) remains an important tool for achieving change in the behaviour of the signatory parties and for encouraging them to be more proactive in advancing peace in Mali. Let us be clear. If we want to achieve a sustainable peace and stability in the region, there must be greater investment in socioeconomic development. Without functioning Government structures, without the provision of essential social services, without working law enforcement or a judiciary, without active State support for local businesses and trade initiatives, vulnerable communities in conflict-affected and Government-neglected areas will remain an easy target for terrorists and extremists.”
2017-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8080 (2017) · source
“The full and unconditional implementation of the 2015 Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali is another crucial piece of the regional puzzle on how to restore peace and stability in Mali and the Sahel, as well as contain and eliminate any spillover effects of the internal struggle in the country. The signatory parties should redouble their efforts to complete the operationalization of the interim administrations in the north and to engage in inclusive national consultations in the light of the upcoming constitutional review and referendum. The ultimate goal of these efforts should be the comprehensive reform of national institutions, which will help to bring real peace dividends to the people of Mali and to contribute to curbing instability in neighbouring countries.”
2017-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8080 (2017) · source
“However, any expansion of MINUSMA operations should not come at the expense of the Mission's ability to implement its primary mandate. Nor should we forget that there are still significant gaps in the Mission's capabilities that prevent it from fully reaching its potential. This leads me to my last, and perhaps most important, point: the need to address the root causes of the crisis and instability in the Sahel. We are convinced that the Joint Force, once fully operationalized, will still constitute only one part of the required broader strategy.”
2017-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8080 (2017) · source
“While recognizing the primary responsibility of the G-5 Sahel countries, we believe that it is crucial that international partners provide a helping hand to address the equipment and financial needs of the Joint Force. In this context, the donor conference scheduled for December in Brussels is an important initiative. We commend the Secretary- General for his readiness to get involved personally to mobilize the resources needed. Ukraine also believes that, in its turn, the United Nations can play a role in supporting the Joint Force. The four options for support set out in the Secretary- General's report are worthy of in-depth consideration. It is our view that MINUSMA can provide valuable targeted assistance to the Force. It is clear that the Mission's mandate will have to be adjusted accordingly.”
2017-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8080 (2017) · source
“Given the limited resources of the participating countries, the progress made so far has been impressive. I refer in particular to the development of the concept of operations and steps to attain initial operational capability of Force headquarters in Sevare and the command post in Niamey. However, much more remains to be accomplished. It is important now that the G-5 Sahel member States maintain a strong commitment to their initiative and continue working towards the goal set with the support of bilateral partners, the Council and the wider international community. As has already been noted in this Chamber, reaching full operational capability will require significant technical and financial resources.”
2017-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8080 (2017) · source
“This is a vivid example of how a regional spillover of Violence is becoming a threat to global peace and security. In this regard, Ukraine welcomed the decision of the States members of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5) to create a joint force tasked with combating violent extremism and terrorism within their borders. We could not agree more with the Secretary-General that the establishment of the Joint Force represents an opportunity that cannot be missed. During a field mission to Mali, Burkina Faso and Mauritania earlier this month, organized in a timely manner by France and co-led by Italy and Ethiopia, the Security Council had a chance to garner insight into the realities of the situation on the ground and the state of operationalization of the Joint Force.”
2017-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8080 (2017) · source
“The crisis in Mali in 2012 created a State authority vacuum in the central and northern parts of the country that was subsequently filled by violent extremist groups associated with Al-Qaida, Da'esh and other terrorist entities. Weak governance, poverty and the influx of weapons and armed combatants created an environment conducive to the spread of radical extremism and terrorism to neighbouring countries, in particular those sharing common borders with Mali. The terrorist attack in Ouagadougou in August, a spate of attacks against the the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in September and other recent militant strikes in the region show that the threat of terrorism continues to loom over most of the Sahel.”
2017-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8080 (2017) · source
“I would like to thank the French presidency for bringing once again to the attention of the Security Council the issue of peace and security in the Sahel region. Today's briefing is a good opportunity to discuss the steps that the international community can take to respond to the challenges facing the region, so I would thank you once again, Mr. President. Our appreciation goes also to the Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, for his report on the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel (S/2017/869) and for his comprehensive presentation today. Ukraine is extremely concerned by the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the Sahel region.”
2017-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8080 (2017) · source
“On 26 April, the Government of Ukraine adopted resolution 329, on the establishment of the Inter-Agency Commission for the Implementation of International Humanitarian Law in Ukraine. Since 2014, when the Russian aggression against my country began, we have been able to do a great deal to protect civilians. However, much work remains to be done. We also count on the support and assistance of the international community in the implementation of the relevant tasks.”
2017-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7951 (2017) · source
“These activities were carried out in cooperation with the delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Ukraine, the Danish Refugee Council, Taras Shevchenko National University, the Red Cross Society of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, the international charitable foundation Caritas Ukraine and other international and national human rights organizations. With the support of these organizations, in 2017 training activities for the study of international humanitarian law covered all categories of personnel of the armed forces of Ukraine. These measures also cover personnel units returning from the immediate area of the anti-terrorist operation, as well as those moving to that area.”
2017-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7951 (2017) · source
“As a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War and its Additional Protocols, Ukraine committed to complying with its provisions and is disseminating knowledge of the norms and principles of international humanitarian law. Particular attention is paid to the protection of civilians, including medical and humanitarian personnel. In order to fulfil these obligations, the armed forces of Ukraine organized personnel and staff training on compliance with the norms and principles of international humanitarian law during planning and the use of force in armed conflict.”
2017-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7951 (2017) · source
“(spoke in English) As stated by the Health Minister of Ukraine at the seventieth World Health Assembly in Geneva just a few days ago, the Government of Ukraine is unable to provide any health services whatsoever to the millions of Ukrainian citizens who remain trapped under Russian occupation. In the occupied region of Luhansk Oblast, the situation has returned to the Dark Ages, with health policies copied from the Russian Federation. There are credible reports that anti-retroviral and tuberculosis treatment is unavailable; the only source is delivery by smugglers. There is a dangerous lack of detailed, data- derived insights into child health and ofimmunization, vaccine and polio status reports in the areas experiencing the most intensive conflict.”
2017-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7951 (2017) · source
“In the region of Luhansk, in the area controlled by the Government, eight health centres were damaged, out of a total of 11 buildings. In the Donetsk region, 29 health centres were damaged; five of them were demolished and have not been rebuilt because of the ongoing hostilities. In February, in Avdiyivka, three BM. 21 Grad missiles hit the hospital there, which continues to suffer from the fighting, with continuing damage being done to its electrical, water and heating systems. Despite all of this, the hospital continues to provide medical care, but the main building is so severely damaged that it cannot be restored. The policy espoused by the administration of the Russian occupation in Crimea, which refuses the use of substitute maintenance therapy, which is of vital importance to patients, has led to dozens of deaths.”
2017-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7951 (2017) · source
“In time of war, people begin to fear even everyday events and things that they take for granted under other circumstances. Today, in eastern Ukraine, getting to work, going to school, resting with one's family on Sunday afternoon, or working in one's own garden very often means a choice between life and death. The aggressor country does not abide by the standards of the Geneva Convention or General Assembly and Security Council resolutions on compliance with international humanitarian law. Medical services continue to come under attack from the occupied territories of the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. Medical emergency brigades in Ukraine are subject to bombardments and are fired on, even though they have emergency symbols on their vehicles and even though the geographic emergency coordinates are publicly known.”
2017-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7951 (2017) · source
“We see significant parallels between our current topic of discussion and human rights as part of the area of competence of the Security Council. Thirdly, it is vital to ensure accountability for acts of violence against medical personnel and hospitals. It is crucial that those responsible for such war crimes be brought to justice. We share the view that when national accountability mechanisms are insufficient, Member States must fully cooperate in the fight against impunity jointly with international institutions in the area of criminal justice, including the International Criminal Court. We believe also that the Secretary-General can play a key role through his good offices, including in accordance with Article 99 of the Charter of the United Nations.”
2017-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7951 (2017) · source
“Gathering and documenting the data on attacks against medical facilities and medical personnel is a key element in developing an effective preventive system. Secondly, we need to ensure independent and effective investigations of grave violations of international humanitarian law against medical institutions and personnel in situations of armed conflict. In this vein, we deem it appropriate that there be briefings or reports by the Security Council on the situation in countries where medical care is under threat of attack. Such reports, to our mind, should include information on investigations of violations committed by Member States. An argument similar in content was made by our delegation as well as by many other speakers during the April meeting (see S/PV.7926) on the link between human rights and conflict prevention.”
2017-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7951 (2017) · source
“Not only do such attacks sow death and destruction now, but the civilian population is deprived of the possibility of obtaining medical care and facilities for saving lives in the future are destroyed. That is why last year Ukraine co-sponsored resolution 2286 (2016). We are grateful to the delegations that promoted it, including the delegation of Uruguay, for such a timely initiative. Currently, our common goal is to develop effective mechanisms to monitor its implementation. In that regard, we would like to stress the following points that are important to us: First, improving the procedures for documenting cases ofviolence against medical personnel and hospitals in armed conflicts.”
2017-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7951 (2017) · source
“We share the deep concern for the situation in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Central African Republic, South Sudan and other places where civilians, especially women and children, continue to be victims of armed conflicts. Attacks on hospitals and medical facilities are a flagrant violation of international law. Stringent international legal principles have long provided absolute security to medical personnel and hospitals in conflict zones, but in modern conflicts hospitals and doctors have increasingly become the targets and victims of military operations. Not very long ago, we were all witness to the barbaric air strikes on medical facilities in Aleppo and the methodical destruction of the city's medical infrastructure. When medical facilities come under fire or shelling, or are bombed, it is a multidimensional tragedy.”
2017-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7951 (2017) · source
“Mr. Kyslytsya (Ukraine) (spoke in Spanish): We thank the delegation of Uruguay for its initiative in drawing our attention to one of the most important topics in the area of protection of civilians in armed conflicts, namely, the protection of civilians and medical care in armed conflict. I thank the Secretary-General for his informative briefing, as well as the other speakers. We are pleased that the focus of Mr. Guterres's presentation today in the open debate coincides with Ukraine's position, in particular in terms of strengthening respect for international law, the protection of civilians, including medical and humanitarian personnel, and the prevention of the forced displacement of refugees and internally displaced persons.”
2017-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7951 (2017) · source
“Its people have suffered enormously in the past two years under ISIL's despotic rule, but they now finally have a chance to be freed from the the tentacles of their monstrous terrorist masters. While we await the ultimate and inevitable conventional military defeat of ISIL, it is vital that we formulate a day-after strategy by which regional actors should play a leading role in preventing the resurgence of ISIL's clones. Without a clear way out of the multiple crises that are tearing apart the Middle East, particularly in Syria, Yemen and Iraq - coupled with the simmering Israeli-Palestinian conflict - it will be impossible to contain the growing threat of violent extremism and the global spread of terrorist groups.”
2017-04-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7929 (2017) · source
“Ending the violence and de-escalating the situation are immediate priorities. All sides should take concrete steps to calm the tensions, bring the parties back to the negotiating table, renew the peace process and re-inject some confidence into the fading concept of a two-State solution. The rapidly evolving terrorist threat transcends all boundaries in any region. It is benefiting from existing conflicts and continuing to destabilize countries throughout the Middle East. We are concerned about the fact that despite some serious military setbacks, ISIL is still a genuine threat to regional and global security. Mosul, for example, where the military operation to liberate the city is ongoing, is rightly seen as ISIL's last stronghold in Iraq.”
2017-04-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7929 (2017) · source
“With regard to Palestine and Israel, Ukraine has consistently supported the Middle East peace process and the principle of a two-State solution, with Israel and Palestine coexisting in peace and security. The lack of direct dialogue, along with a stalled negotiating process, has led to an extremely unpredictable and explosive situation. As a member of the Security Council, Ukraine firmly believes - and shares the belief of the current President of the Council - that peace can emerge only through direct negotiations. Underestimating the ability of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and of Al-Qaida, to capitalize on the grievances in the currently unresolved Israeli-Palestinian conflict could backfire in very unexpected and dangerous ways. In order to prevent such a scenario, the root causes of the conflict must be addressed.”
2017-04-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7929 (2017) · source
“The Al-Houthi-Saleh forces must relinquish their arsenal of ballistic missiles under any future peace deal. No long-term settlement of the conflict is sustainable without that. More must be done to prevent greater numbers of sophisticated weapons from reaching Yemen from abroad. Without a meaningful dialogue, the result could be a disaster, and the only actors that would benefit are the terrorist groups that are increasingly active in Yemen. It is extremely worrying that we continue to see Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula demonstrating a sustained ability to expand its operational support base in Yemen and exploit the deep rifts in war-torn Yemeni society.”
2017-04-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7929 (2017) · source
“As the parties continue the strife to improve their military positions, the Council's unity on Yemen is badly needed to strengthen the position ofthe Special Envoy and the Secretary-General in their attempts to break the current deadlock and give peace a chance. We call on the parties to resume direct talks without preconditions and to negotiate in the most flexible and constructive manner that would enable them to swiftly reach a final and comprehensive agreement. We reiterate our concern about the clear upsurge in 2017 in rocket attacks launched by the Houthi forces in Yemen against objects located on Saudi Arabian territory, as well as those on maritime vessels operating near Bab Al-Mandab. Such attacks should cease immediately and the necessary steps should be taken to de-escalate the situation.”
2017-04-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7929 (2017) · source
“That is why there is an urgent need at this stage to assist Lebanon in establishing its effective control of the border with Syria and prevent illegal arms transfers. Ukraine sees an urgent need to put an end to violence in Yemen. We are concerned by the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in that country. The international community faces an imminent risk of seeing an entire generation of Yemenis traumatized by hunger and war. This is not only an immediate humanitarian challenge, but a long-term challenge for the stability of Yemen and the wider region. Reaching a negotiated political solution remains complicated.”
2017-04-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7929 (2017) · source
“We are convinced that any political progress would be unsustainable without a clear adherence to the word and spirit ofthe 2012 Geneva communique (S/2012/522, annex), resolution 2254 (2015) and a transparent and strictly scheduled political transition. We hope that the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva will resume in May. That will allow time for Damascus and its allies to demonstrate a change - a change in mindset, in intentions and attitude. The situation in Lebanon remains key to the security and stability of the Levant. It is therefore important that, after the election of the president and the formation of the Government, the political process maintain a positive momentum. The stability of Lebanon remains, to a high degree, hostage to the developments in Syria and wider regional dynamics.”
2017-04-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7929 (2017) · source
“With regard to the Syrian political track, today we are clearly at a very low point. Following the latest two rounds of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, it is fair to say that, unfortunately, we have not seen much desired progress on either of the 3+1 baskets. Why is that the case? The answer is obvious - it is a lack of political will on the part of the Syrian regime to negotiate in good faith on the core issues. Ukraine is disappointed by the absence of real results from the Astana process and the ceasefire negotiated within its framework. We are afraid that the stalled political process may set in motion a vast number of alternative scenarios that nobody will like. Damascus and its allies need to realize that the ultimate victory standpoint is a mirage which will lead nowhere, prolong the crisis and contribute to increasing extremism.”
2017-04-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7929 (2017) · source
“Proxy warfare in Syria and the fact that foreign- controlled militias are deepening their roots on the ground are increasingly concerning. Sustainable peace and the stabilization of Syria require expedient and organized withdrawal of those militias. This issue bears particular importance for the future of Syrian State institutions. Ukraine condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Rashidin on 15 April during the evacuation of the towns of Foah and Kefraya. The highly volatile security environment in Syria continues to aggravate the humanitarian situation. The humanitarian disaster is a reflection of the overall situation on the ground. The Council must be proactive in addressing this crucial issue. A more effective monitoring, verification and enforcing mechanism is badly needed.”
2017-04-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7929 (2017) · source
“I thank the United States presidency for convening this open debate, which comes at a time of great uncertainty in the Middle East. In Syria, we entered 2017 with the same array of factors that had poisoned all the efforts to reach peace last year. Military logic still prevails over the political will to reconcile and the blockade of cities and use of starvation as a means of warfare continue unabated. The use of non-conventional and prohibited weapons seems to be the new norm and perpetrators are walking away without punishment. We regret that, owing to the eighth veto of the Russian Federation last week, the Council has once again failed to uphold its duties. The Council's continuous inability to address chemical attacks in Syria is leading to further impunity and sending a signal to perpetrators that they can get away with murder.”
2017-04-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7929 (2017) · source
“We sincerely believe that the Secretary- General can skilfully manage all of the tools given him by the United Nations Charter and that he will not hesitate to use them whenever necessary to achieve the implementation of the Charter's goals and objectives.”
2017-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7926 (2017) · source
“The Council has no right to repeat its failures in Rwanda, to continue to fail in Syria, or to remain paralysed by the Russian position in the case of Crimea and Donbas. Of course, many things depend on the dedicated leadership of the United Nations - a leadership that would leave behind the years of apathy and neglect vis-a-vis the human rights dimension of security, and one that is fit to lead the Organization into a future in which human rights and human security are integral parts of the national security of each and every Member State. To conclude, I would like to stress how much we are inspired by Secretary-General Guterres's vision and the approaches he has outlined to the issues suggested for discussion.”
2017-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7926 (2017) · source
“The report also expresses continuing concern over the grave situation in political prison camps and the unresolved cases of enforced disappearances, including the abduction of citizens of Japan and the Republic of Korea. In the 1970s, human rights issues were removed from the agenda of New York and transferred to nice, cosy, sleepy Geneva. It was not only a physical move but, it appears, an ideological divorce ofUnited Nations Headquarters from something that was then perceived as irreconcilably different from the security agenda of New York. It is time to reconcile these differences and to restore the integrity of the entire United Nations system as designed by its founders.”
2017-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7926 (2017) · source
“When the Council looks into the issues of the occupation of Crimea and Russian military aggression in Ukrainian Donbas, the same approach should apply. On the other side of the world, though still on the Russian border, there is another Vivid case in point: the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The recent report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, presented in Geneva to the Human Rights Council, pointed to deficiencies in the public food-distribution system, restrictions on access to information, and violations of international labour standards concerning overseas workers.”
2017-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7926 (2017) · source
“Proper consideration of human rights violations in the context of the maintenance of peace and security may contribute to preventing the outbreak of armed conflict. If a conflict is already under way, addressing its human rights dimension may prevent the further escalation of violence and serve as a deterrent to conflict-related atrocities. In the 19905, the Security Council received 23 periodic reports on human rights violations in the former Yugoslavia. The first peacekeeping operation in United Nations history with a mandate of protection of civilians was deployed to contribute to the resolution of the Balkan conflict. Therefore, we do not suggest anything new. The human rights component should be an integral part of the Council's consideration of conflict resolution and management.”
2017-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7926 (2017) · source
“In its resolution 71/205, adopted in December 2016, the General Assembly reaffirmed that Crimean residents should enjoy protection under the Geneva Conventions and applicable human rights instruments. One can find ample testimony to the crimes committed during the Russian aggression against Ukraine in the reports of the United Nations human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine, which has been operating in my country for three years now, at the invitation of the Ukrainian Government. The request for the deployment of the mission was an immediate response by my Government to Russian aggression as an effort to prevent massive human rights violations. Since March 2014, the mission has issued 17 reports on the human rights situation and two thematic reports, including one on sexual violence in conflict in Ukraine.”
2017-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7926 (2017) · source
“Disrespect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law by authoritarian regimes with regard to their own citizens is aimed, inter alia, at ensuring impunity for themselves for internal civil wars, as is the case in Syria, or unaccountability for attempts to illegally annex foreign territories, as is the case with Russia's actions in Crimea and its military aggression in Donbas. Three years have passed since Russia illegally occupied Crimea. The occupying authorities are committing massive, systematic violations of human rights and seeking to destroy the identity of Ukrainians and of the indigenous people of the peninsula, the Crimean Tatars, as well as that of other ethnic and religious groups.”
2017-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7926 (2017) · source