YouSaid · the spoken record

Majid Takht Ravanchi

lines on the record: 278
first: 2020-04-23
most recent: 2021-10-19
sittings or episodes: 39
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

“The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves its inherent right under international law to take all the necessary measures to protect and defend itself.”
2021-10-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/884 (2021) · source
“To remove that threat, the international community must compel this regime to renounce nuclear weapons, join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and put all its nuclear activities and facilities under the comprehensive safeguards of the IAEA. The representative of this terrorist regime has misused this forum, whose primary responsibility is the maintenance of international peace and security, and explicitly threatened to use of force against a Member State of the United Nations. That illegal threat constitutes a gross violation of international law and the United Nations Charter, particularly its Article 2, paragraph 4, and must therefore be denounced and condemned by the Security Council.”
2021-10-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/884 (2021) · source
“Again today, the representative of the Israeli regime attempted to play victim and distract the attention of the international community from the atrocities it has committed against the Palestinian people in the occupied territory. Israel’s accusations regarding Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme, whose peaceful nature has been verified on numerous occasions by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), are completely absurd, irrelevant and baseless. It is obvious that the Israeli regime’s objective is to cover up the danger that its nuclear weapons pose to the region and beyond.”
2021-10-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/884 (2021) · source
“The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that the only possible solution for the realization of the fundamental rights of Palestinian people, particularly their right to self-determination, is to hold a national referendum consistent with historical realities and the principles of international law, with the participation of all Palestinian people, including Muslims, Christians and Jews and their descendants. Such a referendum would constitute a solid basis for the settlement of the question of Palestine, the restoration of its sovereignty and an end to the occupation. Finally, we totally reject and strongly condemn the unfounded accusations and fabrications made against my country at this meeting by the representative of the Israeli regime (see S/PV.8883), which regularly makes baseless claims against Iran.”
2021-10-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/884 (2021) · source
“We call on the international community, particularly the Security Council, to take all the necessary measures to put an immediate end to Israel’s occupation of Palestine, repeated attacks on the Palestinian people and cruel blockade of Gaza, where people are suffering under inhuman, tragic living conditions. The Israeli regime must be held to account for its violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in the occupied Palestinian territory. Such crimes must not go unpunished. The settlement of the Palestinian crisis can be achieved only if the inalienable rights of the people of occupied Palestine are fully recognized, restored and preserved.”
2021-10-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/884 (2021) · source
“The Israeli regime also continues its aggressive and destabilizing practices in the region by violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States of the region, including Syria, and threatening openly to use force against the sovereignty of the States Members of the United Nations. It is deeply regrettable that the Security Council has thus far been unable to shoulder its responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations to end the occupation of the Palestinian territory. Failing to act against the violation of international law in the occupied Palestinian territory has emboldened the Israeli regime to continue its heinous crimes against the oppressed people of Palestine.”
2021-10-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/884 (2021) · source
“A prime example of such aggression is the Al‐Aqsa Mosque, which has been the target of repeated attacks, provocations and daily incursions by Israeli settlers, with the aim of speeding up the implementation of Israel’s illegal plan — the temporal and physical division of this holy shrine. Equally important, the humanitarian situation in Gaza Strip remains dire. The blockade has devastated Gaza’s economy, caused widespread destruction and left most people largely cut off from the outside world. The continuation of the cruel blockade of Gaza is the collective punishment of innocent human beings. It constitutes a crime against humanity and poses a serious threat to international peace and security. It is an aggressive and savage act that breaches all international laws and norms.”
2021-10-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/884 (2021) · source
“The current situation in the occupied Palestinian territory is worrisome and continues to be a matter of grave concern for the international community. The people of Palestine continue to suffer from the horrors of a brutal occupation that has lasted for over seven decades. Israel, the occupying Power, has intensified its destructive, aggressive policies and practices against the Palestinian people, leading to civilian casualties, including children. At the same time, the Israeli regime has continued the desecration of religious shrines and Islamic holy sites.”
2021-10-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/884 (2021) · source
“As a country which has always strongly supported the recognition of cultural diversity and has been a pioneer in calling for dialogue among civilizations and cultures, the Islamic Republic of Iran stands ready to further contribute to the preservation of cultural diversity and using it as a source of unity and solidarity within and among nations.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/868 (2021) · source
“More importantly, these efforts must be in accordance with the basic principles of international law, particularly full respect for the sovereignty, unity, political independence and territorial integrity of the concerned country. Likewise, the principle of national ownership must be fully and strictly observed in all such efforts. We share the concerns over the exponential rise of fake news in recent years and its role in disseminating hate speech, which can have negative impacts on conflict and post-conflict situations. We also seriously warn about systematic attempts by certain States aimed at cultural assimilation, which can undermine cultural diversity, violate the rights of minorities and lead to exclusion and injustice, all of which are among the causes of conflicts or their intensification.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/868 (2021) · source
“Therefore, the recognition of cultural diversity and the rejection of its exploitation to incite hatred and violence or to cause or intensify conflicts must be a guiding principle in all efforts aimed at conflict resolution, peacebuilding and ensuring sustaining peace. In practical terms, peacebuilding is a national responsibility, and the best that external players can do is to assist a country that has emerged from a war, to prevent a possible recurrence of conflict and to consolidate the foundations of a durable peace. All such support and assistance must inevitably be provided based on the explicit request and consent of the respective country, as well as the priorities and strategies it has defined to that end.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/868 (2021) · source
“In fact, the value of humanity does not stem from the differences in hair or skin colour or blood type or sex or race and the like. While such differences are real, they should not be abused to incite hatred, division, violence and war, whether within or between nations. This fact has eloquently and beautifully been explained, in the thirteenth century, by the great Iranian poet Saadi, who said: Human beings are members of a whole In creation of one essence and soul If one member is afflicted with pain Other members uneasy will remain If you have no sympathy for human pain The name of human you cannot retain. As stated in article 1 of the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, cultural diversity is “the common heritage of humanity and should be recognized and affirmed for the benefit of present and future generations”.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/868 (2021) · source
“As the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran said, in his statement during the seventy-sixth session of the General Assembly, “if an inclusive government having an effective participation of all ethnicities should not emerge to run Afghanistan, security will not be restored to the country”. The success of peacebuilding in all societies with different ethnic or religious or linguistic minorities depends, among other things, on ensuring the rights of all minorities in a just manner, and Afghanistan is no exception. Seizing this opportunity, I would also like to highlight the importance that the Holy Qur’an attaches to human diversity, where it states: “O mankind, we have created you male and female, and appointed you races and tribes, that you may know one another” (49:13).”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/868 (2021) · source
“Through that Declaration, UNESCO has also affirmed “that respect for the diversity of cultures, tolerance, dialogue and cooperation, in a climate of mutual trust and understanding are among the best guarantees of international peace and security”. Indeed, if cultural diversity is either neglected or abused, the consequences would be catastrophic. The living example of this is the situation in Afghanistan. It is precisely for this reason that the international community is now strongly calling for the full respect for the rights of all ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and women in that country, as well as the establishment of a truly inclusive government there.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/868 (2021) · source
“A quite pertinent question is how these impacts, either as a cause of conflict or its exacerbation, can be addressed and, instead, how they can be used as factors for conflict resolution, peacebuilding and ensuring a sustaining peace. Again, the answer can be found in the UNESCO Constitution, in which it is stated that “it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed”. Accordingly, what is needed is to raise awareness about the importance and benefits of cultural diversity as a driver for peace, not a cause for war, and as a source of unity, not a factor for disunity. It is exactly for this reason that UNESCO has rightly proclaimed, in article 1 of the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, that “cultural diversity is as necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for nature”.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/868 (2021) · source
“The correlation between diversity and conflict might not be better described than by the Constitution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which states “wars begin in the minds of men”. This fact has also been proved by the United Nations, according to which “three- quarters of the world’s major conflicts have a cultural dimension”. Such cultural elements as religion, ethnicity, race, language and the like are often among the major drivers for violence in many conflicts or act as catalysts for further fanning and fuelling wars. Unfortunately, the negative impacts of such elements in conflict or post-conflict situations are even worse when they are combined with other factors like external interference.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/868 (2021) · source
“Yet given that the Security Council obviously lacks the requisite expertise or tools to effectively respond to possible climate-related security risks, its engagement in such issues, which, due to their socioeconomic nature, do not fall within the mandate of the Council, also constitutes an encroachment on the prerogatives of other principal organs of the Organization. That is in contradiction with the spirit of the Charter and must therefore be avoided. Instead of placing climate-change security risks on the agenda of the Council, we must call for the full and effective implementation of the relevant commitments by all, particularly developed States, in a responsible manner, and allow the relevant platforms to continue considering and properly addressing issues related to climate change.”
2021-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/815 (2021) · source
“That alarming trend is inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations, one of which, according to Article 1, paragraph 3, of its Charter, is “To achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character”. Accordingly, we call for removing all barriers to and the facilitating of the transfer of climate-friendly technologies, including knowledge and operating skills, to developing countries. We also support the arguments that climate-related issues must be considered in their own relevant forums, namely, the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the UNFCCC.”
2021-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/815 (2021) · source
“Nevertheless, the unilateral sanctions imposed on Iran primarily by the United States have not only prevented our access to necessary financial resources and technological means but have also adversely affected the effective use of our national capacities to carry out our respective undertakings. Such unlawful and inhumane sanctions, which are in flagrant violation of international law, must come to an immediate end. Despite existing differences among States on certain aspects of climate change, there is a clear-cut consensus at the international level that new and climate- friendly technologies can play a significant role in mitigating the risks associated with the challenge. However, owing to a host of barriers, the transfer of climate-friendly technologies to developing countries is far short of what is needed.”
2021-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/815 (2021) · source
“Similarly, while developing countries must also fulfil their respective commitments, of course commensurate with their capabilities and national development circumstances, the international community must assist developing countries by removing all obstacles to the effective implementation of the commitments of developing States. In that context, unilateral sanctions are among the main barriers that seriously impede the capabilities of a number of developing countries such as Iran to positively contribute to addressing climate-change challenges. Despite those pressing challenges, the Islamic Republic of Iran has taken the measures necessary to face the challenges posed by climate change and has developed plans and programmes to move towards a low-carbon economy.”
2021-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/815 (2021) · source
“We strongly call for the strict observance of the principle of the common but differentiated responsibility of States, according to which, while all States must cooperate in the spirit of global partnership to address the adverse impacts of climate change, developed countries, owing to their substantial contributions to climate change and the technologies and financial resources they command, have greater responsibility in addressing such challenges. The developed countries must therefore fully implement all their respective obligations under the Convention. They must take the lead in reducing greenhouse- gas emissions and provide adequate, predictable and timely support, including in the area of finance, technology transfers and capacity-building to developing countries.”
2021-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/815 (2021) · source
“In practice, to date the international community has made significant efforts at the global level aimed at addressing climate-related challenges. Such efforts have led to the development of landmark international legally binding instruments, namely, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The Convention is therefore the primary international mechanism for dealing with climate-related risks. Addressing the risks and challenges posed by climate change should be considered a collective responsibility, and, accordingly, all States must fully fulfil their respective obligations under that Convention.”
2021-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/815 (2021) · source
“I would like to begin by making a reference to the former Secretary-General, who said, “Climate change is one of the most complex, multifaceted and serious threats the world faces. The response to this threat is fundamentally linked to pressing concerns of sustainable development and global fairness ... of economy, poverty reduction and society” (A/62/511, annex I, para. 1). Accordingly, we share the view that climate change is essentially an issue related to sustainable development rather than a matter of international peace and security, since the direct correlation between climate change and security has not been proved. Therefore, the negative impacts of climate change must be addressed in a proper, holistic, coordinated and action-oriented manner based on a multilateral approach.”
2021-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/815 (2021) · source
“For its part, the Islamic Republic of Iran, as one of the victims of cyberattacks, through the Stuxnet malicious computer worm – believed to be built jointly by the United States and the Israeli regime to cause damage to the Iranian peaceful nuclear installations – stands ready to contribute to Assembly’s efforts in developing principles and norms required for cyberspace.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/621 (2021) · source
“Given the existing challenges associated with attribution in the cyberspace environment as well as the absence of a set of internationally developed and agreed standards on genuine, reliable and adequate proof for substantiating the attribution, such accusations must be considered merely politically motivated. All in all, cyberspace and its related means, technics and technologies must be used exclusively for peaceful purposes, and to that end, States must act cooperatively, responsibly and in full accordance with applicable international law. Finally, we share the views that consideration of cyberspace-related issues must be continued in the General Assembly.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/621 (2021) · source
“Furthermore, all cyberspace-related international disputes must be settled exclusively by peaceful means and based on “the sovereign equality of States and in accordance with the principle of free choice of means” as stated in the 1970 “Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes”. It is worth recalling in this context that, during the recent years, we have been witnessing an alarming trend of systematic accusations by certain States against other States of launching cyberattacks or similar activities in cyberspace.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/621 (2021) · source
“They must also refrain from, and prevent, abusing cyberspace-related supply chains developed under their control and jurisdiction, to create or assist development of vulnerability in products, services and maintenance compromising sovereignty and data protection of other States. States must also exercise due control over cyberspace-related companies and platforms under their jurisdiction, and take appropriate measures to make them accountable for their behaviour in the ITC environment, including for violating national sovereignty, security and public order of other States. At any rate, States are responsible for their internationally wrongful acts within or through cyberspace.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/621 (2021) · source
“According to one of the principles reaffirmed by the General Assembly in the 1970 “Declaration on Principles of international law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations”, States must not use any “type of measures to coerce another State in order to obtain from it the subordination of the exercise of its sovereign rights and to secure from it advantages of any kind”. Accordingly, States shall not use cyberspace-related advances as tools for economic, political or any other type of coercive measures, including by limiting or blocking measures against other States. Likewise, States must refrain from the threat or use of force within or through the cyberspace environment.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/621 (2021) · source
“Moreover, the Assembly, through the 1981 “Declaration on the Inadmissibility of Intervention and Interference in the Internal Affairs of States” has reaffirmed the duty of a State “to ensure that its territory is not used in any manner which would violate the sovereignty, political independence, territorial integrity and national unity or disrupt the political, economic and social stability of another State”; “to refrain from any action or attempt in whatever form or under whatever pretext to destabilize or to undermine the stability of another State or of any of its institutions”, as well as “to abstain from any defamatory campaign, vilification or hostile propaganda for the purpose of intervening or interfering in the internal affairs of other States”. These rules must also be observed by States with respect to cyberspace.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/621 (2021) · source
“As the General Assembly, in the 1965 “Declaration on the Inadmissibility of Intervention in the Domestic Affairs of States and the Protection of Their Independence and Sovereignty” has reaffirmed, “No State has the right to intervene directly or indirectly for any reason whatever in the internal or external affairs of any other State”. All States must therefore prevent and refrain from such acts, inter alia, against political, economic and cultural elements or cyberrelated critical infrastructure of States, including through cyberrelated ways and means.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/621 (2021) · source
“The right of States to have “free access to information and to develop fully, without interference, their system of information and mass media and to use their information media in order to promote their political, social, economic and cultural interests and aspirations” as well as “the right and duty of States to combat, within their constitutional prerogatives, the dissemination of false or distorted news”, which has also been reaffirmed by General Assembly in the 1981 “Declaration on the Inadmissibility of Intervention and Interference in the Internal Affairs of States”, must be fully observed. In discharging their responsibilities for maintaining a secure, safe and trustable cyberspace, States must adopt a cooperative rather than confrontational approach.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/621 (2021) · source
“The primary responsibility for maintaining a secure, safe and trustable cyberspace rests with individual States. Therefore, given the current complex situation of cyberspace governance, the prominent role and serious involvement of States in cyberspace environment governance at global level, in particular in policy and decision-making, must be promoted and ensured. At the same time, the envisaged cyberspace governance must be developed in a manner that does not adversely affect the rights of States in making their choices of development, governance and legislation with respect to cyberspace environment.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/621 (2021) · source
“Yet, when there is no consensus about the applicability of international law, or even there is lack of international norms related to cyberspace, the international community must work towards developing required norms. To that end, and given that the General Assembly is mandated by the Charter for the “progressive development of international law and its codification”, the Assembly must continue its ongoing efforts to develop and codify international principles and norms required for cyberspace, including in the form of an international legally binding instrument. Parallel to such efforts, States must make every effort to promote the widest possible use of cyberspace for their development and in so doing, act responsibly and in accordance with applicable international law, in particular the Purposes and Principles of the United Nations.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/621 (2021) · source
“Cyberspace provides golden opportunities for mankind to constantly develop and promote all aspects of its life. Such an outstanding enabler must therefore not only be promoted throughout the world particularly in developing countries but also be protected against all threats. Cyberspace can also be used to commit acts of aggression, breaches of the peace, “the threat or use of force”, “to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State”, to violate the sovereignty of States or to coerce other States. These must also be effectively prevented. As a guiding principle, the existing “applicable” principles and norms of international law, of course without misinterpretation or arbitrary interpretation, must govern the rights, duties and conducts of States with regard to cyberspace.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/621 (2021) · source
“This is a noble humanitarian duty and we must take it seriously and do whatever in our power to protect them from the scourge of wars and conflicts.”
2021-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/617 (2021) · source
“Moreover, one of the missing elements of the report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict seems to be the absence of assessment about the adverse impacts of unilateral sanctions on the protection of children in conflict situations, where sanctions most often deteriorate the economy, exacerbate the living conditions and ultimately render the children vulnerable to recruitment by terrorist groups, force them to leave their family and home and join displaced communities, and deprive them of proper education, health services and the like. This important factor deserves serious attention by the Secretary-General in his future reports. Finally, protection of children in armed conflicts is the protection of our future societies.”
2021-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/617 (2021) · source
“It is a source of grave concern that the Israeli forces have never been blacklisted as violators of children’s rights in relevant reports of the Secretary-General and also the name of the so-called Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen has been deleted from the top of that list. We share the views of several Council members as well as significant number of other Member States that have expressed concern in recent years on discrepancies between the violations described in the reports of the Secretary-General and the listing of the parties in their annexes, as well as the premature de-listing of parties, calling for a consistent application of the criteria for listing and de-listing parties, and stressing the importance of upholding the impartiality and integrity of such mechanism.”
2021-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/617 (2021) · source
“These barbaric acts are clear manifestations of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, materially breach fundamental norms and principles of international law, and entail international responsibility of the Israeli regime, whose officials must therefore be brought to justice for committing such heinous crimes. Protection of children in armed conflicts primarily requires putting an end to the current conflicts and preventing their re-emergence and the eruption of new conflicts as well as ensuring the full and effective implementation of international humanitarian law by the conflicting parties. The mechanism to list the parties violating the rights of children in armed conflicts must also be used effectively and without discrimination and selectivity.”
2021-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/617 (2021) · source
“According to the annual repo rt of the Secretary-General, in 2020, the United Nations verified 1,031 cases of grave violations against 340 Palestinian children, including killing 11, maiming 324 and detaining 361, as well as 30 attacks on schools and hospitals by Israeli forces. Only in its 11-day brutal and all-out war on Gaza in May 2021, Israeli forces killed 253 Palestinians, including 66 children. This includes 13 members of an extended family who have been killed and buried in the rubble of their own home – many of whom were children, one as young as six months. Israeli forces also destroyed 30 health facilities and around 50 schools.”
2021-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/617 (2021) · source
“Nonetheless, on 22 June 2021, Yemeni children marched across the country stating that in more than six years, as a result of the attacks by that Coalition, over 3,500 Yemeni children were martyred, more than 4,000 were injured, thousands were orphaned, and millions were displaced from their homes. They also expressed their strong dissatisfaction with the United Nations for not prop erly reflecting in its reports of such grave violations of the rights of Yemeni children. Yet, the most systematic and gross violation of the rights of child in the Middle East continues to be committed by the Israeli regime.”
2021-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/617 (2021) · source
“The most recent example of such violations in Afghanistan is a cowardly terrorist attack that took place, on 8 May 2021, in front of the Sayed Al-Shuhada school in the community of Shi’ites of the Hazara minority in Kabul, killing 85 and injuring 147 others, mostly schoolgirls. This and other deadly terrorist acts in Afghanistan, mostly committed by Daesh, targeting certain religious and ethnic minorities as well as women and girls, underscore the continued need for combating terrorism as well as brining the perpetrators of these reprehensible acts to justice. In Yemen, in 2020 the United Nations verified the killing and maiming of 194 by the so-called Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, as stated by the Secretary- General in his annual report.”
2021-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/617 (2021) · source
“In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Protection of children, particularly girls, in armed conflicts is a fundamental moral and humanitarian principle and every effort must be made to ensure that it is fully respected by all parties in all conflicts. Nevertheless, it is highly alarming that according to annual report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict, “In 2020, the situation of children in armed conflict was marked by a sustained high number of grave violations.” Unfortunately, many of such violations have occurred in our neighbourhood from Afghanistan to Yemen to Palestine.”
2021-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/617 (2021) · source
“While pursuing a durable peace must remain a top priority, the international community must not lose sight of the dire need for economic development of Afghanistan, which is also an important pillar of sustaining peace. The Islamic Republic of Iran once again calls on all parties in Afghanistan, including the Taliban, to place the interests of all people of Afghanistan above the other interests. By hosting millions of Afghan refugees and establishing the link of this land - locked country to high seas through Iran’s Chabahar Port and to Europe through the Khaf-Herat railway, Iran has stood with the people and Government of Afghanistan in their quest for a safer and more stable, democratic and prosperous country. We stand ready to further contribute to Afghanistan’s prosperity, peace and stability.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“The growing number of deadly terrorist acts by Da’esh in Afghanistan, targeting certain religious and ethnic minorities as well as women and girls, which we condemn in the strongest possible terms, show the severity of its threat to Afghanistan and the region. Such attacks indicate the vulnerability of ethnic and religious minorities and women in Afghanistan and the dire need for effective preservation of their rights. Such terrorist attacks also underline the need for continued efforts in combating terrorism in that country. Prior and simultaneous to the withdrawal of foreign forces, Afghanistan’s military and security forces must be supported and strengthened and effective assistance must be extended to Afghanistan in combating the illicit production of and trafficking in narcotic drugs; a source of financing terrorism and other crimes.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“It has now become clear that any peace process in Afghanistan that is guided and directed by only one actor, however powerful, and in the absence of active involvement of major players including from the region, and more importantly, with the least engagement of the United Nations, would not yield results. The significant position and high capacity of the United Nations in organizing and facilitating the peace process in Afghanistan and also supporting and ensuring the full and effective implementation of any future peace agreement is irreplaceable and enjoys our full support. Iran continues to call for the central role, and further and substantive engagement, of the United Nations in an intra-Afghan peace process. Afghanistan’s security situation has remained a source of serious concern.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“At this critical juncture, the voice and demand of Afghans from all walks of life for a durable peace must be heard and effectively supported. They must not be left alone. Preserving the past achievements of the people and Government of Afghanistan, including the Constitution, the rights of ethnic and religious minorities and women, the right to self-determination of people through elections, governance system and structures derived from the Constitution, as well as the commitment to combat terrorism, must be one of the main elements of any peace process. To succeed, any peace process and subsequent steps must enjoy the strong support of all Afghans.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“With the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan, the Taliban’s unwarranted justification to resort to force will be completely removed. Therefore, it must stop the violence; demonstrate its willingness to use the force of logic instead of logic of force to interact with its compatriots; and seize this unprecedented opportunity to contribute sincerely to establishing a durable peace in the country through political means, as peace and violence are mutually exclusive and cannot go hand-in-hand. While we have witnessed many lost opportunities for peace in the past years, it is obvious that a possible new wave of violence and fratricide in Afghanistan will only lead to a new cycle of insecurity and instability, something that this country, the region and the world cannot afford.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“This inevitably must start with an all-inclusive Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, Afghan-controlled and United Nations-facilitated peace process, guided by this fundamental principle that the path to a lasting peace, first and foremost, passes through a genuine internal dialogue with the broad participation of all Afghans from all political, ethnic and religious groups, including the Taliban, based on coope ration, understanding, compromise and reconciliation. In other words, in such a diverse society as Afghanistan, no group or groups, however powerful militarily, can resort to force and violence to dominate others, and the establishment of a legitimate government is possible only through a comprehensive political process and democratic means.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“Conversely, an insecure and unstable Afghanistan, which is a source of violent extremism, terrorism and organized crime, including production of and trafficking in drugs, poses a threat to Afghans themselves, as well as to regional and international peace and security. Therefore, confronting such threats and building a more secure and prosperous Afghanistan is in the interest of all, and indeed, the current phase is a common opportunity for everyone to work seriously to achieve these common goals.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“With the complete withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan on the horizon, this country is at a crossroads. It can go in the direction of reconciliation when all sides agree to engage in dialogue and bring an end to decades of bloodshed, or it can embrace more violence when one side uses its military might to force the other side to accept the terms of peace. The international community must not allow the latter to happen, as it will not be a genuine peace and, as a result, will not sustain. Indeed, a safer, more stable and prosperous Afghanistan, in peace with itself and its neighbours, is in the interest of all Afghans, the region and the world.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source