YouSaid · the spoken record

Mark Lyall Grant

lines on the record: 1,799
first: 2009-11-13
most recent: 2015-04-24
sittings or episodes: 275
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

“ISIL poses a grave threat to the local population, to the security, stability and territorial integrity of the State, and to the wider region. The single most important factor that will determine whether Iraq overcomes this challenge is political unity. It is therefore vital that a new, inclusive Government be formed as soon as possible. I commend the work of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Nikolay Mladenov, and urge Iraq's politicians to ensure that a President and Prime Minister are appointed as soon as possible.”
2014-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7222 (2014) · source
“Syria will know a stable peace only when those responsible for atrocities are held to account. In that context, we welcome the recent resolution of the Human Rights Council, and we will continue to work ensure that victims receive justice, including at the International Criminal Court. Finally, we utterly condemn the reported atrocities committed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which has advanced through western and northern Iraq, displacing an estimated 650,000 people. We note with grave concern the events in Mosul this past weekend. ISIL's threats against the Christian community in particular, which has been in Mosul for nearly 2,000 years, are horrific. As the Secretary- General has said, systematic attacks on civilians because of their faith or religious beliefs may constitute crimes against humanity.”
2014-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7222 (2014) · source
“It is vital that the United Nations rapidly deploy its monitoring mission so that aid can begin to flow through the additional crossings. We welcome assurances from the Syrian National Coalition and the Free Syrian Army that they will implement resolution 2165 (2014) in order to help aid reach those in urgent need of assistance. We know that a lasting solution to the Syrian crisis will come from a political solution. We welcome newly appointed United Nations Special Representative Staffan de Mistura and urge all parties to work closely towards a Syrian-led political transition. We commend the Syrian National Coalition on the recent election of its President, Mr. Hadi Al-Bahra. Along with our partners, we will continue to provide practical technical and political support to the Syrian National Coalition.”
2014-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7222 (2014) · source
“It is about the legitimate demands of the Syrian people and their desire for the basic rights of freedom and dignity. But Al-Assad's regime responds to demands with horrendous brutality. Now, Syria is the number one destination for jihadists anywhere in the world, and the violence is spreading beyond Syria's borders. Let us be clear. Al-Assad is not the answer to the terrorist threat; he is the cause of it. The advance of such violent extremists in the region underscores the need to support moderate groups in Syria. These moderate groups are the only forces fighting extremists and Al-Assad's tyranny. The Council has taken a major step forward to help alleviate some of the horrors facing ordinary Syrians. With the adoption of resolution 2165 (2014), many Syrians will soon receive the food and medical supplies they desperately need.”
2014-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7222 (2014) · source
“It is the third major military operation in Gaza in six years. The priority must be to achieve a durable ceasefire that ends this cycle of violence. A ceasefire agreement must address the underlying causes of the crisis. It needs to secure the full implementation of both resolution 1860 (2009) and the November 2012 ceasefire agreement. There will need to be concerted action to get a grip on the security situation and open up Gaza's economy. The Palestinian Authority must return to Gaza. None ofthis will be easy, but without it we are bound to see another repeat of this crisis. We cannot forget the appalling violence that continues elsewhere in the Middle East. The Syrian regime's relentless brutality has created an environment where violent extremism is taking hold. What is happening in Syria is not and has never been about terrorism.”
2014-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7222 (2014) · source
“We also welcome President Abbas' support for an immediate ceasefire. Hundreds of thousands of vulnerable civilians in Gaza are suffering acutely in this crisis and bear no responsibility for the rocket fire. At least 100,000 Gazans have been displaced by the conflict. Hundreds of thousands are suffering shortages of water, sanitation and electricity. The United Kingdom will provide $3 million in new funding to help the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East supply immediate emergency assistance for over 84,000 people who are seeking shelter in its schools. We are also bringing forward over $4 million in funding to the International Committee of the Red Cross to provide emergency health care and to repair water wells and pipelines damaged by the air strikes. This situation is grimly familiar.”
2014-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7222 (2014) · source
“We fully support Israel's right to take proportionate action to defend itself from indiscriminate rocket attacks and attempts to infiltrate Israel through tunnels, but it is vital that Gaza's civilian population be protected. The number of civilian casualties is now above 600. In particular, the military action in Shujaiya on Sunday exacted a terrible human cost. Israel must do everything it can to avoid civilian casualties, to exercise restraint and to bring this situation to an end. We welcome Egyptian efforts to secure a ceasefire agreement. We encourage Egypt to persist with its efforts, and others to work closely together with them. We also applaud the Secretary-General's commitment to helping to secure a ceasefire, including through his visit to the region, and the United Nations efforts to broker humanitarian pauses.”
2014-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7222 (2014) · source
“The situation across the Middle East gives us all cause for grave concern. Violence and humanitarian crises have escalated and engulfed millions of innocent people in the region. It is deeply tragic that so many have been killed and injured in the current crisis in Gaza. We urge both sides to do their utmost to de-escalate the situation and avoid further injury and loss of innocent life. The people of Israel have the right to live without constant fear for their security, but the people of Gaza also have the right to live safely in peace. We condemn the rocket attacks on Israel targeting civilians in contravention of all humanitarian law and norms. We deplore Hamas's rejection of ceasefire efforts to date. All those with influence over Hamas must use it to get Hamas to agree to end rocket fire and join an immediate ceasefire.”
2014-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7222 (2014) · source
“Those who were responsible and those who were complicit in the shooting down of Flight MH-l7 must be held accountable for their actions. The resolution demands that all States cooperate fully with those efforts. The context of the tragedy is Russia's attempt to destabilize a sovereign State and to violate its territorial integrity. The events of the past four days should serve as a wake-up call in Moscow and prompt a profound re-examination of Russia's policy of supporting, training and arming violent separatists in eastern Ukraine.”
2014-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7221 (2014) · source
“It supports a full, thorough and independent international investigation and recognizes the steps already taken by the Ukrainian authorities and other international stakeholders, notably the International Civil Aviation Organization, to set that in motion. It demands that the separatists do not further compromise the integrity of the crash site. We have all seen the images of cranes and other heavy machinery disturbing the wreckage, and the footage released yesterday that appears to show one of the flight recorders being removed from the site. That is completely unacceptable. The site must be preserved and investigators must immeditely be granted safe, secure, full and unrestricted access. Finally, the Council is sending a strong message with regard to accountability.”
2014-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7221 (2014) · source
“We have seen separatist thugs trampling over the site of the crash, showing no respect for the bodies of the victims, rifling through their belongings and even looting their personal effects. They have shown complete disregard for human dignity and have violated the established procedures for dealing with an incident of that nature. First, the resolution requires the pro-Russian separatists in control of the crash site and the surrounding area to allow the bodies of the victims to be returned to their families as soon as possible. It is inexcusable that that process has been obstructed for the past four days. Secondly, the resolution is about the investigation into what happened.”
2014-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7221 (2014) · source
“We have all seen those countless wooden stakes, each tied with a piece of white cloth fluttering in the cornfields of eastern Ukraine, marking the place of a family member or loved one. We owe it to the memory of those 298 victims to ensure that their remains are treated with dignity and respect. We owe it to them to find out exactly what happened on the afternoon of 17 July. That is the purpose of resolution 2166 (2014). It is a united demand by the whole international community for the dignified, respectful and professional treatment and recovery of the bodies of the victims. What we have witessed over the past days has been sickening and appalling beyond belief.”
2014-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7221 (2014) · source
“The United Kingdom welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 2166 (2014). I would like to warmly thank Australia for its leadership in steering the resolution to adoption. I would also like to acknowledge the presence here today of the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Allow me to take this opportunity to reiterate our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the citizens and Governments of all those countries that lost nationals in the tragedy and are now in mourning. In the United Kingdom, we, too, are in mourning for the 10 Britons who were killed. We have all seen the images of the blackened earth and the twisted metal.”
2014-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7221 (2014) · source
“The responsibility lies with both sides to make progress towards a permanent peace, enshrined in a two-State solution. No other alternative option exists that guarantees peace and sustainable security for both Israelis and Palestinians.”
2014-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7220 (2014) · source
“It is important to tackle the underlying causes of instability in the Gaza Strip without which the long-term security of both Israel and Gaza cannot be secured. As part ofa ceasefire, we need to consider establishing a viable verification and monitoring mission to ensure the implementation of any ceasefire agreement by all sides, learning lessons from the past. However, the implementation of a ceasefire agreement must be only one part of a wider effort to improve conditions in Gaza. Without that, we are likely to see further such cycles of violence. That should include the restoration of Palestinian Authority control in Gaza, the opening up of legitimate movement and access, and a permanent end to the unacceptable threat of rocket attacks and other forms of violence from Gazan militants against Israel.”
2014-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7220 (2014) · source
“As we have heard this afternoon, many innocent civilians are being killed. On our second objective, we are deeply concerned by the dire humanitarian situation. There are hundreds of thousands of extremely vulnerable civilians in Gaza who are suffering acutely from the crisis. Access to clean water, power and medicines is becoming critically difficult. We urge all parties to continue to allow unhindered access throughout Gaza. The United Kingdom's support has enabled United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to respond to the crisis by continuing to provide crucial health services. On the third objective, any ceasefire needs to be genuinely sustainable.”
2014-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7220 (2014) · source
“Steps must be taken now to address the underlying causes of the conflict. We welcome the Egyptian proposed ceasefire. We welcomed Israel's acceptance in principle of the terms of the proposed ceasefire agreement and we welcome the Palestinian Authority's endorsement of the Egyptian initiative. We also welcome the United Nations-facilitated humanitarian pause on 17 July. We call on Hamas and all militant factions in Gaza to cease hostilities, ending all rocket fire into Israel. We utterly condemn the firing of rockets into civilian areas. Let me reiterate our support for Israel's right to self- defence. Israel faces a tough dilemma in responding to unacceptable rocket fire from Gaza. But in exercising its right to self-defence, Israel must act proportionately and take all necessary steps to minimize civilian casualties.”
2014-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7220 (2014) · source
“I too would like to thank Mr. Feltman for his briefing, and you, Mr. President, for responding quickly to the urgent request and scheduling today's meeting at short notice. As others have already said, the situation on the ground is deeply alarming and of great concern to us all. The United Kingdom has three objectives: to secure a ceasefire, to alleviate humanitarian suffering and to keep alive the prospects for peace negotiations, which are the only hope of breaking the cycle of violence and devastation once and for all. My Government's position remains clear. We want to see immediate de-escalation and agreement on a durable ceasefire. The people of Israel have the right to live without constant fear for their security. The people of Gaza have the right to live safely in peace.”
2014-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7220 (2014) · source
“In the press statement agreed earlier today, the members of the Security Council expressed their condolences and called for an international investigation and appropriate accountability. That is welcome, but it is not enough. The Council must go further. It should come together behind a clear demand that the armed separatist groups should lay down their arms and pursue whatever political legitimate objectives they may have through exclusively peaceful and democratic means, and that the flow of arms, fighters and logistical support to the armed separatists be fully halted and the borders secured. In the light of yesterday's tragedy, any other course of action would be unconscionable.”
2014-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7219 (2014) · source
“It is the Council's responsibility to respond to such tragedies by drawing the right lessons and working together with commitment and conviction to prevent their repetition. It is clear where responsibility lies: with the senseless violence of armed separatists and with those who have supported, equipped and advised them. The Council must be united in condemning these actions and in demanding that these groups disarm, desist from violence and intimidation and engage in dialogue through the democratic mechanisms that are available to them. They have been given opportunities to do so, most recently through President Poroshenko's peace plan. Those opportunities have all been spurned.”
2014-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7219 (2014) · source
“We know that weapons, equipment and logistical support have been systematically provided to armed separatist groups by Russia, including up to 100 man- portable air defence systems and 15 to 25 main battle tanks, not to mention artillery pieces, rocket launchers and other armoured vehicles. The United Kingdom urges Russia to reflect carefully on the situation it has created. We urge Russia to cease its policy of supporting armed separatist groups and their violent actions of destabilizing a neighbouring country and of generating displacement and social and economic hardship. Let us hear today a clear and unequivocal condemnation from Russia of the actions of these armed groups. These armed groups do not represent the people of Ukraine; without Russian support, they would wither.”
2014-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7219 (2014) · source
“On 14 July, armed separatists shot down an An-26 transport aircraft with a surface-to-air missile. And, on 16 July, a Ukrainian Su-25 jet was shot down in circumstances that have yet to be fully clarified. We have to ask searching questions about why we are now confronting this tragic situation. Russian officials have claimed that armed separatists in eastern Ukraine represent a spontaneous local insurgency. We know that is not the case. We know that the three leading figures of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic are Russian citizens who have come from outside Ukraine.”
2014-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7219 (2014) · source
“There must be no interference or tampering with the evidence. Armed separatist groups in the vicinity must allow such access. Despite assurances made yesterday evening, we understand that has not yet happened. We call on Russia to use its influence with those groups to ensure that it happens. The special monitoring mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe already present in eastern Ukraine can play a key role in facilitating and safeguarding access. Early indications are that Malaysia Airlines Flight MH-l7 was brought down by a surface-to-air missile. The MH-17 is not the first aircraft to be brought down in the area. On 14 June, armed separatists claimed responsibility for - indeed, gloated publicly over 4 the shooting down of a Ukrainian I1-76 transport aircraft, with a loss of all 49 aboard.”
2014-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7219 (2014) · source
“As the Council has affirmed this morning, that will require a full, thorough and independent international investigation, in accordance with international civil aviation guidelines. The International Civil Aviation Organization, which provides the international legal framework for the investigation of air accidents, should have a central role to play in ensuring that there is credible and independent international involvement. We welcome the indications from the Ukrainian authorities that they want international investigators to join their efforts. The United Kingdom will provide whatever assistance is necessary to support that investigation. The immediate priority has to be for investigators to gain access to the crash site so they can start their work. They must be able to operate unhindered and in security.”
2014-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7219 (2014) · source
“We meet today in the most tragic of circumstances. Yesterday, Malaysia Airlines passenger flight MH-l7 appears to have been shot down over eastern Ukraine, killing all passengers and crew. Our deepest, most heartfelt condolences go to the families of the victims and to the people and Governments of those countries affected. In the United Kingdom, we are mourning the loss of at least nine British citizens who were passengers on the flight. This is a dark moment for the international community. The senseless violence unleashed by armed separatists in eastern Ukraine has reached monstrous proportions. The precise circumstances and causes of this tragic event must be established quickly and beyond any doubt.”
2014-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7219 (2014) · source
“But this resolution is just one step in addressing the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The only lasting solution to the crisis in Syria is through a political solution. The United Kingdom urges all parties to work cooperatively with the new United Nations Special Envoy, Mr. de Mistura, towars a Syrian-led political transition that truly reflects the will of the people. This is a strong resolution that is practical and operational and that will save millions of people's lives. But much more is needed to bring an end to the tragedy taking place every day in Syria. The United Kingdom will continue to work for an end to hostilities and to empower the United Nations to deliver life-saving aid.”
2014-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7216 (2014) · source
“It addresses the Syrian regime's appalling neglect of the human suffering of its own people. We call on the Secretary-General to swiftly deploy the monitoring mission so that aid can flow through the additional border crossings, and to implement the operation in coordination with the existing non-governmental organizations that are already playing a vital role in getting aid to people in need. The number of individuals engulfed in the tragedy of the Syrian crisis is staggering. Over 170,000 people are dead. Hundreds of thousands more have been injured. More than 10.8 million people are in need - 4.7 million ofthem in hard-to-reach areas, and 2.9 million refugees. Today the Council has demonstrated that it is possible to work together to alleviate some of that suffering.”
2014-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7216 (2014) · source
“Since the adoption of resolution 2139 (2014), in February, the Syrian humanitarian crisis has worsened significantly. A further 1.5 million people are in need, with an additional 1.2 million in hard-to-reach areas. Resolution 2165 (2014) is designed to reverse that trend. We are determined to ensure that it has a real impact on the ground. Today's resolution authorizes the United Nations to use four additional border crossings to deliver life-saving humanitarian aid to some of the hardest- to-reach areas, without any opportunity for the Syrian regime to obstruct, impede or delay that assistance. That means that an additional 1.3 million people can be immediately reached. As such, it marks a major step forward in the international community's efforts to respond to the horrendous suffering in Syria.”
2014-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7216 (2014) · source
“The United Kingdom welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 2165 (2014) and applauds Luxembourg, Australia and Jordan for their efforts in making the resolution a reality. Today the Council has taken steps to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those most in need in Syria. It is deeply regrettable that this new resolution proved necessary. In February, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2139 (2014), which should have enabled the widespread delivery of humanitarian aid to people in Syria. Instead, the Syrian regime continued its use of barrel bombs, siege and starvation tactics and its blocking of delivery of aid to its own people. Millions of people were left suffering, while supplies of food and medicines were left waiting if only access were granted.”
2014-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7216 (2014) · source
“We owe it to the people of the world suffering in conflict situations to maintain as effective a response as possible, and we owe it to the peacekeepers to provide them with the tools and clarity they need to do their jobs effectively, jobs that they willingly and bravely undertake on behalf of the international community in the pursuit of international peace and security. I take this opportunity to pay tribute to them.”
2014-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7196 (2014) · source
“To ensure that United Nations peacekeeping is effective, we need to remain flexible in how we mandate missions, taking advantage of capabilities offered through new technology, using scarce resources intelligently across missions and working in partnership with those ready and willing to address new conflicts. We should not waste time trying to codify the ever-changing peacekeeping landscape. That risks limiting how we respond to conflict through an institutionalization of our response. Doing so would be a sure way to constrain our freedom of action and a sure way to fail in responding to the next conflict.”
2014-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7196 (2014) · source
“Such robust action is not a radical departure from what the Council has been asking of peacekeeping missions with protection-of-civilian mandates for some years. One of our closest partners is the African Union, and that partnership has generated several models that we have collectively benefited from - in Somalia, Central African Republic and Mali. Quick deployment and a readiness to adopt a robust posture and to use force in pursuit of the mandate give us other important tools in the peacekeeping toolbox. Sadly, it is clear that we will continue to need peacekeeping operations for the foreseeable future.”
2014-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7196 (2014) · source
“The overarching objective should be to try to sustain or create the conditions in which a lasting peace can be agreed between the warring parties and achieved by them or through external facilitation or mediation. Exit strategies should be part ofthe discussion right from the start when mandates are negotiated. In many of today's conflicts that will mean prioritizing security and the protection of civilians in the early phases. Peacekeepers need therefore to be willing to take the necessary risks to protect civilians. Where the nature of the conflict demands, that should include conducting targeted offensive operations to neutralize and deter armed groups from threatening or attacking civilians.”
2014-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7196 (2014) · source
“The use of such systems should be considered in other theatres where peacekeepers are expected to cover huge areas with limited numbers of personnel, such as in South Sudan and Mali. At the heart of any peacekeeping operation is the mandate agreed by the Security Council. We have a responsibility to make sure that mandates are clear and not overloaded. We need better prioritized and sequenced mandates that promote an integrated military and civilian response. That requires discipline from everyone, including Security Council members. But it also requires an understanding that not everything needs to be included in the first phase or the first budget. We need to make clear the strategic goals of deploying a peacekeeping operation and what tasks we are asking peacekeepers to fulfil in order to achieve those goals.”
2014-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7196 (2014) · source
“Another tool is new technology aimed at supporting peacekeepers in the areas of protection, information gathering and intelligence analysis. That is a natural evolution and one that we should seize with both hands. For instance, unmanned unarmed aerial systems can be used to observe the area around an exposed patrol base and provide warning of the movement of armed groups in the base's direction. That information can then be used to deploy a rapid reaction force to deter any would-be attackers. We have seen the positive impact that the deployment of such unmanned aerial systems has had in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 1 would like to acknowledge the Secretariat's drive and innovative thinking in delivering that impact.”
2014-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7196 (2014) · source
“It shows that we are adapting but, of course, not all those models have proved to be equally effective. However, the move away from the so-called traditional model reflects the realities of today's world. Infantry battalions deployed to be largely static monitoring presences are not often able to respond adequately to the sophisticated threats and complex environments that we now face. To ensure that peacekeepers can respond adequately to the new challenges, they need to have the necessary tools and capability to deliver the required effect. One such tool is inter-mission cooperation, enabling peacekeeping missions to share scarce resources when faced with sudden crises. Inter-mission cooperation should help missions to implement their mandates, not provide a pretext for protracted budget wrangling or questions about security.”
2014-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7196 (2014) · source
“Addressing those complex and interwoven issues demands a more sophisticated peacekeeping response than before. In the past, we had one main model of peacekeeping, namely, an interposition force deployed along some form of recognized, albeit perhaps disputed, boundary. The force created a physical and political space, in which a ceasefire could be solidified and a sustainable agreement negotiated. However, the most recent example of such a traditional force was the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea, authorized in September 2000. No United Nations peacekeeping operation established in the past 14 years follows that traditional pattern. Today, there are at least seven different models of peacekeeping operations authorized by the United Nations. That is not a bad thing in itself.”
2014-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7196 (2014) · source
“I thank the President for having convened this open debate. I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his important introductory statement. Conflict has changed dramatically over the past 30 years and United Nations peacekeeping has struggled to keep up. It is therefore right that we consider the changes that we have seen and those that we would like to see. Conflict today is less often inter-State and more predominantly internal, asymetric and multilayered. It is driven by a wide range of factors. Some of the most recurrent of those are economic and political exclusion, which denies a free future for all, corrupt or venal State institutions that curtail or abuse fundamental rights and freedoms, and untrustworthy or inept security apparatuses that favour one or other segment of society.”
2014-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7196 (2014) · source
“However, Sunday's elections provide the Council with a basis for coming together behind some key principles: respect for the will of the people of Ukraine, recognition of the legitimacy ofthe new authorities in Ukraine, rejection of armed insurgency and attempts to destabilize Ukraine and undermine the rule of law, and strong support for the efforts of the authorities in Ukraine to tackle the many formidable challenges that confront them in an inclusive and democratic manner. The frameworks are in place to take those principles forward. The United Kingdom urges all Council members and the international community as a whole to join wholeheartedly in a concerted, constructive and united international approach.”
2014-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7185 (2014) · source
“That national dialogue should allow all parties to contribute their views on issues such as decentralization, local self-governance, language and national minorities, balance of powers, State society relations and Ukraine's role in Euro-Atlantic and Eur- Asian security. The past few months have seen deep divisions in the Security Council over Ukraine. Some of those divisions will undoubtedly persist; in particular, along with the overwhelming majority of the international community, the United Kingdom will not recognize or accept Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea.”
2014-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7185 (2014) · source
“That is hurting the very people that those groups claim to represent and is denying them a voice in determining Ukraine's future. Following the Geneva agreement of 17 April and the OSCE road map of 7 May, we have a viable political framework in place. Ukraine has already made much progress towards implementing these agreements, including notably the adoption on 20 May of the memorandum of peace and concord. Our focus must now be on promoting an inclusive, transparent and accountable national dialogue as an alternative to violent insurgency. We welcome the three rounds of dialogue that have already taken place with OSCE facilitation.”
2014-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7185 (2014) · source
“We welcome the recent statements by the Russian Federation of its intention to respect the right of the Ukrainian people to choose their new President and its commitment to reduing the threat of further external intervention in Ukraine's internal affairs by withdrawing its forces from the Ukrainian border. Those are positive steps towards de-escalation, but more action is needed. Continued instability is not in the interests of the people of Ukraine or in the interests of its neighbours and those countries that value their relations with Ukraine. The actions of illegal armed groups have resulted in scores of tragic and unnecessary deaths and the disruption of the Ukrainian economy and public services in the east.”
2014-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7185 (2014) · source
“We also call on the Russian Federation to take immediate action to prevent illegal crossings of insurgents and weapons across its border into Ukraine. We are deeply concerned by two separate incidents of abduction involving monitors from the OSCE special monitoring mission in eastern Ukraine. We welcome the release of 1] monitors after their detention earlier today in Donetsk, but four others who went missing on Monday are still unaccounted for. The detention of OSCE personnel is completely unacceptable, and we call for their immediate and unconditional release. The special monitoring mission has a vital role to play, often under difficult circumstances. We pay tribute to their continuing work. Sunday's elections provide us all with an opportunity to look past the turmoil of recent months and to focus on the future.”
2014-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7185 (2014) · source
“Since 21 February, the Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly demonstrated that they are committed to deep-rooted reform of Ukraine's political system and to making a decisive break with past corruption and injustices. The issue of granting greater autonomy to Ukraine's regions has been on the agenda from the start. In line with its commitment and those undertaken in Geneva, on 17 April they embarked on an intensive effort to initiate an inclusive national dialogue. That process represents a genuine opportunity for all Ukrainians to address their grievances peacefully. There can therefore be no justification for armed groups to continue to press their cause through violence. We therefore call on the insurgents to lay down their arms, renounce violence and join in this debate.”
2014-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7185 (2014) · source
“While Ukraine sought a national consensus through the ballot box, those groups immediately resorted to violence. We respect the Ukrainian Government's right to respond to such armed attacks, to protect its citizens and to reassert control over its sovereign territory. No country could possibly accept illegal armed insurgents taking control by force of public buildings and a key national infrastructure, such as an international airport. The Ukrainian authorities have acted with admirable restraint in the fact of repeated provocation. We continue to urge them to ensure that their security response remains measured, proportionate and respects the safety and security of non-combatants.”
2014-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7185 (2014) · source
“The high turnout on Sunday offers a powerful rebuke to those illegal armed groups that sought to deny the citizens of Donetsk and Luhansk their democratic rights and that continue to pursue an armed campaign to destabilize eastern Ukraine. Opinion polling in March showed that 79 per cent in the east of Ukraine wanted to vote in the elections. In May, despite the rising levels of intimidation against election officials, activists and ordinary citizens, 62 per cent still wanted to vote. It is deeply regrettable that many in Donetsk and Luhansk were prevented from doing so. The elections gave Ukrainians the opportunity to express their views in a peaceful and democratic manner. It is telling that the response of illegal armed groups to that display of national unity was an attempt to seize control of Donetsk international airport.”
2014-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7185 (2014) · source
“Poroshenko sends a clear signal that the Ukrainian people are united in their demand for reform. We congratulate Mr. Poroshenko on his election. We welcome his commitment to reaching out to all regions, to normalizing relations with Russia and to working to restore stability and calm. The United Kingdom remains firmly committed to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the whole of Ukraine. We look forward to working with Mr. Poroshenko and the Ukrainian Government in their efforts to build a safe, independent and prosperous country. We also pay tribute to the staff of the Ukrainian Election Commission and to the OSCE for their tireless commitment to ensuring that the elections were a success, and particularly to those who face threats of violence and intimidation in the east of the country.”
2014-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7185 (2014) · source
“I thank Mr. Feltman for his briefing this afternoon. We congratulate the Ukrainian people on the success of their historic presidential elections on Sunday, 25 May. The elections have been endorsed by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) as having been held largely in line with Ukraine's international commitments and with respect for fundamental freedoms. After the turmoil of recent months, that is an outstanding achievement, which demonstrates the determination ofthe Ukrainian people to exercise their democratic rights and to set Ukraine on a new path towards stability. They have produced a Government whose legitimacy cannot be questioned and that deserves the full support of the international community. The decisive victory of Mr.”
2014-05-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7185 (2014) · source
“Russia and China will have to justify their behaviour, not only to those States and organizations, but to so many of the Syrian people who continue to suffer under Al-Assad's brutal regime. The United Kingdom is committed to accountability. Despite today's vote, we will continue to look for ways to ensure that there can be accountability in Syria. We will continue to support efforts to document atrocities and will remain ready for the time when those responsible can be held to account. The perpetrators of appalling crimes in Syria may be able to hide behind Russian and Chinese vetoes for now, but they will not be able to evade justice forever.”
2014-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7180 (2014) · source
“The draft resolution would have given the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court a mandate to investigate all war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated during the conflict, regardless of the identity or affiliation of the perpetrator. The draft resolution had the support of 13 members of the Security Council, 65 sponsors, more than 100 non-governmental organizations from all around the world, and the Syrian National Coalition. That shows the strength of international feeling on this issue. It is to Russia and China's shame that they have chosen to block efforts to achieve justice for the Syrian people. It is disgraceful that they have yet again vetoed the Security Council's efforts to take action in response to the appalling human rights violations being committed every day in Syria.”
2014-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7180 (2014) · source