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

“Settlements are illegal under international law and undermine the very viability of the two-State solution. We were dismayed by the announcement last month of tenders for the construction of 171 homes in settlements in East Jerusalem and the recent decision of the Israeli Ministry of Defence to reclassify the illegal outpost of Givat Sal'it as part of an adjacent settlement. Any step that entrenches the presence of settlements in the West Bank risks sending the message that Israel is not serious in its support for a two-State solution. Along with our European partners, we also call upon Israel to halt the demolition of Palestinian housing and infrastructure in Area C of the West Bank, and the subsequent forced transfer of the population, and to address humanitarian needs.”
2012-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6816 (2012) · source
“Our shared goal is a negotiated, two-State solution, based on 1967 lines; a fair solution for refugees; security arrangements that respect Palestinian sovereignty and protect Israeli security; and Jerusalem as the joint capital. We remain fully committed to that goal, and have urged both sides to focus on dialogue, avoid steps that could undermine the prospects for peace, and work towards the resumption of direct negotiations. It is disappointing that progress towards a just and negotiated outcome looks increasingly unlikely in the near future. In the immediate term, therefore, we must guard against threats to the two-State solution and prevent further deterioration on the ground. Israeli settlement activity remains the single most serious threat to the two-State solution.”
2012-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6816 (2012) · source
“The consequences are clear: further violence and bloodshed, and a deteriorating situation that is now spilling over the borders and sucking in the region. Shelling across the Lebanese borders, in clear violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the Syrian military's violation of the area of limitation in the Golan Heights, are but two examples of the threat to regional stability. For our part, we will continue to work with the Envoy, the Secretary-General and responsible members of the international community to achieve the political transition that is the only way forward for Syria. As grave as the situation is in Syria, we must not lose focus on the ongoing injustice of the unresolved Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
2012-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6816 (2012) · source
“Instead, it has intensified its brutal repression, killed almost 20,000 Syrians and detained, tortured, raped and abused innocent men, women and children. The regime continues the indiscriminate and disproportionate use of heavy weapons, in violation of international law, resolutions 2042 (2012) and 2043 (2012), the six-point plan and its own commitments. The recent reports of attacks on Aleppo by the regime's fighter jets mark even further dangerous escalation and emphasize that are there are no boundaries that the Al-Assad regime will not cross in the misguided hope that it can resist the will of its people and hang on to power. Last week's vetoes by Russia and China (see S/PV.6810) were the third example of how they are prepared to deny the Council the ability to influence the situation for the better.”
2012-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6816 (2012) · source
“I would like to thank Mr. Robert Serry for his briefing this morning, and the Palestinian and Israeli representatives for their contributions to today's debate. First, I would like to express the United Kingdom's deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims of last week's terrorist attack on Israeli tourists in Bulgaria, and to emphasize our condemnation of such inexcusable acts. The crisis in Syria has now entered its eighteenth month. Despite the best efforts of Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan, the Syrian regime has refused to implement a single aspect of his six-point plan. It has ignored the decisions of the Council enshrined in resolutions 2042 (2012) and 2043 (2012).”
2012-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6816 (2012) · source
“They have, for the third time, blocked an attempt by the majority of the Council and supported by most of the international community to try a new approach. The effect of their actions will be to protect a brutal regime. They have chosen to put their national interests ahead of the lives of millions of Syrians. The consequences of their decision are obvious - further bloodshed and the likelihood of a descent into all-out civil war. For our part, we shall continue to work with the Envoy, the Secretary-General and responsible members of the international community to achieve the political transition that is the only way forward for Syria. It is deeply regrettable that the Council has been unable today to play the role for which it was established and is duty-bound to fulfil.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6810 (2012) · source
“Annan had requested, they advocated relying on Al-Assad's empty promises - the same promises that had been made and broken with predictable consistency since November last year. Instead of trying to generate the conditions in which the United Nations Mission could become effective, they argued for its extension in a manner that willfully ignored the fact that it was currently unable to operate. By exercising their veto today, Russia and China have failed in their responsibilities as permanent members of the Security Council to help resolve the crisis in Syria. They have failed to provide the Joint Envoy and the Secretary-General with the support they have asked for. They have failed the people of Syria.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6810 (2012) · source
“They argued that a Chapter VII draft resolution was somehow designed to seek military action through the back door. Those arguments are irrational. The Council has adopted many Chapter VII resolutions, most recently on the Sudan and South Sudan. Today's draft resolution, like that one, was set under Article 41. It was not under Article 42 of the Charter and could not therefore be construed as a precursor to military intervention. We offered flexibility on Russia and China's concerns and gave them more time. But still, they refused to engage. Instead, they advocated more of the same approach that has consistently failed to have an effect. Instead of the pressure that Mr.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6810 (2012) · source
“It focuses on the removal of heavy weapons as a first step, because we had been repeatedly told by the Envoy and the Secretary-General that it was the first and most urgent problem that must be tackled and the one most likely to alter the dynamic on the ground. Yet throughout the negotiation process, Russia and China chose not to support the course of action proposed by the Envoy. They claimed their agreement to a transition plan in Geneva as a great step forward, but when it came to turning words into action, taking the decisions required to implement the two resolutions that they have supported and securing an improvement on the ground that might eventually lead to progress against the transition plan, they chose to refuse engagement.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6810 (2012) · source
“In so doing, we were aiming to create the prospect of a reduction in violence by all sides and the conditions for the political process agreed by the ministerial Action Group for Syria in Geneva on 30 June, and to promote a conducive environment in which the United Nations Mission could resume its operations. We put the draft resolution under Chapter VII of the Charter as a clear signal to all parties that their commitments were binding. Both the Secretary-General and Mr. Annan had repeatedly requested that the Council stipulate serious consequences for non-compliance with the six-point plan and resolutions 2042 (2012) and 2043 (2012). That is precisely what we did in proposing draft resolution S/2012/538. It is an approach supported by the Arab League and all key regional actors.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6810 (2012) · source
“The events in Damascus over the past 48 hours demonstrate the need for urgent and decisive action by the Security Council to stop the downward spiral into chaos, which will claim many more innocent lives and affect the stability of the region. Meanwhile, the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) has been rendered inoperable due to the dangerous security situation. Against that backdrop, we proposed eight days ago a draft resolution aimed at changing the situation on the ground for the better. Its logic was simple and clear - to use the collective weight of the Council to provide greater support to the work of the Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States and his efforts to secure implementation of his six-point plan.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6810 (2012) · source
“The United Kingdom is appalled by the decision of Russia and China to veto the draft resolution (S/2012/538) aimed at bringing an end to the bloodshed in Syria and at creating the conditions for a meaningful political process. This is the third time that Russia and China have blocked the efforts of the Council to address the crisis in Syria. More than 14,000 innocent Syrians have been killed since Russia and China first vetoed our efforts to stem the violence in October 2011 (see S/PV.6627). Since then, the regime has intensified its use ofheavy weapons in population centres, including the use of artillery and helicopter gunships. More than 100 civilians are being killed every day.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6810 (2012) · source
“That would enable the Commission to widen the Council's field of vision across the full range of peacebuilding challenges and actors.”
2012-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6805 (2012) · source
“We warmly welcome the participation of the World Bank in today's debate. Finally, let me turn to the relationship between the Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission. I believe that the PBC can add genuine value to Council deliberations for the countries on its agenda by complementing the briefings given by senior United Nations officials on the ground. For example, the PBC could provide the Council with an overview of the effectiveness of international support to the countries on its agenda. It can elucidate on the kinds of issues I have talked about today: the coherence, inclusivity and degree of national ownership of peacebuilding in a given country. For its part, the Council could be more direct in requesting specific information from the PBC Chairs, especially in the run-up to consultations or mandate renewals.”
2012-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6805 (2012) · source
“That requires good planning, a clear division of labour and strong leadership on the ground. I welcome the fact that the new Deputy Secretary-General has stressed that message in his first few days in his new job. The PBC can play a vital role here. It can support the countries on its agenda in mapping international assistance, identifying gaps and lobbying international actors to improve coherence and predictability of support. It can even name and shame when international actors are not lining up in support of a coherent, effective international effort. In that regard, the PBC has a critical role to play in bringing to bear the perspective of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, which play such a central role in helping many countries restart their economies in the aftermath of conflict.”
2012-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6805 (2012) · source
“The PBC should be a supportive partner, but also a robust one, and should not shirk engaging in discussion about the tough issues and political choices that post-conflict countries face, including, for example, on national reconciliation, the rule of law and human rights. Secondly, as the Secretary-General and Ambassador Momen highlighted, the coherence of the international effort is absolutely vital. We simply cannot overburden countries emerging from conflict with individual agency turf wars or duplication of effort, or major gaps in support for key peacebuilding sectors. We must ensure that our own efforts as an international community are coherent. This is especially true for the United Nations. We need strong, effective links between United Nations missions and country teams, so that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.”
2012-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6805 (2012) · source
“A number of conflict-affected countries have come together and produced, after some two years of effort, an agenda for how the international system should partner them as they build peace, based on the core principles of national leadership and ownership. This agenda, the so-called New Deal, is one we should actively support. The Peacebuilding Commission should be working with the countries on its agenda in line with the principles of the New Deal. That means helping to ensure that national Governments are in the driver's seat and that their leadership is not undermined. But it also means holding national actors to account for their commitment to peacebuilding.”
2012-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6805 (2012) · source
“They are, first, supporting strong national ownership of peacebuilding; secondly, promoting coherence in international support for peacebuilding; and thirdly, providing informed briefings for the Security Council. First, on national ownership, as we know, the primary responsibility for peacebuilding rests with post-conflict Governments themselves. That means, as Ambassador Haroon has just reminded us, national leadership and ownership of the process from start to finish. But national leaders should not feel that they are in it alone. The international community has an important role to play by helping post-conflict countries build national capacity to lead, and by helping to strengthen and underpin the political will necessary to consolidate peace. We do not have to invent this sort of partnership from scratch.”
2012-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6805 (2012) · source
“But, as Ambassador Momen rightly said today, the Peacebuilding Commission has not yet fulfilled that potential. As Council members will be aware, following our visit to West Africa I wrote to the Council President on 12 June with some ideas on how we might strengthen the role of the PBC in the countries visited, and how we might improve the quality of the interaction between the Council and the PBC Chairs. I am grateful to the Colombian presidency for scheduling an interactive dialogue tomorrow with the relevant PBC country configurations, and for this wider open debate today. For now, I would like to highlight three areas where we see an important added value for the role of the PBC.”
2012-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6805 (2012) · source
“I thank you, Madam President, for your attendance at this morning's meeting and for convening this debate. In particular, I am grateful to Colombia for focusing the Council's attention on the important issue of peacebuilding and on the role of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC). We think that this is a very timely debate, especially following the Council's recent visit to West Africa. We thank the Secretary-General, Ambassadors Gasana and Momen and Mr. Von Amsberg for their comprehensive briefings. Peacebuilding remains a central focus for the United Kingdom. We believe that the Peacebuilding Commission has a potentially important role to play within the wider context of United Nations efforts to support countries emerging from conflict.”
2012-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6805 (2012) · source
“We welcome UNAMA's view that the inevitable financial constraints are a valuable opportunity to ensure that its future operations are closely focused on the core mandate and that the relationship between UNAMA and the United Nations country team is regularly reviewed. In conclusion, the international community has made real progress against the commitments made at Bonn in December 2011, but there is still work to be done to secure the future of Afghanistan and its people. The United Kingdom remains resolute in our determination to work with the Government of Afghanistan and all international partners in that crucial endeavour.”
2012-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6793 (2012) · source
“The United Kingdom welcomes the assistance provided by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the supporting role of United Nations agencies in the Istanbul process. I would also like to take this opportunity to reiterate the United Kingdom's readiness to contribute to confidence-building measures, where requested by the region. The United Kingdom supports a strong UNAMA presence as we move through the transition period, and beyond. UNAMA plays an essential role in coordinating international efforts and in providing the Afghan Government with support in order to deliver on its own commitments.”
2012-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6793 (2012) · source
“The centrepiece of the Tokyo conference will be a mutual accountability framework, setting out Afghan and international commitments for the post-2014 period. That work will complement the commitments made on security at the Chicago Summit and will move us another step closer to a sustainable future for Afghanistan. Thirdly, among all the challenges and opportunities facing Afghanistan today, the relationship between Afghanistan and its neighbours is vital, as other speakers have highlighted this morning. At the Heart of Asia ministerial conference in Kabul earlier this month, Afghanistan's neighbours expressed their mutual interest in Afghanistan's long-term stability.”
2012-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6793 (2012) · source
“Alongside such undertakings, the United Kingdom strongly supports all efforts to ensure that Tokyo offers an opportunity for the participation of Afghan civil society, including women. The United Kingdom works closely with the Government of Afghanistan, local and international non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and international partners to improve the status of women in Afghanistan so that they can play a full role in a future peaceful Afghan State. Of course, the Government of Afghanistan must also deliver on the commitments that it has made to the Afghan people and to the international community, in particular by continuing with key economic and governance reforms and by working towards greater self-reliance.”
2012-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6793 (2012) · source
“As the Secretary-General's report highlights, we have had considerable success in that. That is in stark contrast, of course, to the insurgency, which continues to target civilians indiscriminately. Secondly, on the political and economic progress, the United Kingdom looks forward to the July Tokyo Development Conference on Afghanistan, hosted by the Government of Japan. It is absolutely vital to Afghanistan's future stability that we send a strong signal of our enduring commitment through the transformation decade 2015 to 2025. Therefore, we, the international community, should look to provide concrete aid pledges for at least the period 2015 to 2017. The United Kingdom has already done so. We call on others in the international community to follow suit.”
2012-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6793 (2012) · source
“First, on the security transition, I welcome the success of the NATO Chicago Summit in May, which saw the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) contributing countries demonstrate our long-term commitment to Afghanistan, in particular by agreeing the NATO strategic plan for Afghanistan, and make incredible contributions towards sustaining the Afghan National Security Forces after 2014. That sent a clear message to the Afghan people that we will not abandon them, and to the insurgency that it cannot wait us out. The protection of the Afghan civilian population remains at the core of ISAF's military strategy. ISAF forces have worked extremely hard to minimize the level of civilian casualties and have introduced new rules to govern the use of force.”
2012-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6793 (2012) · source
“I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his report (S/2012/462) and Under-Secretary-General Ladsous and Mr. Fedotov for their briefings this morning. I also welcome Ambassador Tanin's contribution to today's debate. In the past six months, the international community has made significant progress on the commitments made at the December 2011 Bonn Conference. Efforts are now focused on reinforcing our enduring commitment to Afghanistan. That means not only ensuring the security of Afghanistan and its people, but also sustaining the political and economic progress, including through the support of neighbouring countries. I will focus my statement today on the progress being made in those three areas.”
2012-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6793 (2012) · source
“We must continue to act with clarity ofpurpose and the utmost vigour on this important issue in all theatres of war and armed conflict.”
2012-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6790 (2012) · source
“Our ambition is to bring new energy and focus to efforts to combat sexual violence in situations of conflict and repression by establishing the capability to rapidly deploy a United Kingdom team of experts to investigate and catalogue sexual Violence. We shall use the United Kingdom's presidency of the Group of Eight in 2013 to highlight the need to tackle this issue. We look forward to working with Member States and existing United Nations mechanisms, such as the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law, to take this forward. In addition, we strongly support what Ms. Amos and Mr. Spoerri said this morning about the importance of rapidly moving to a conclusion ofthe negotiations on an arms trade treaty. In conclusion, resolution 1894 (2009) reaffirms the Council's commitment to the protection of civilians.”
2012-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6790 (2012) · source
“The Government's clear commitment to removing the threat posed by violent extremism, notably in the south, must come with equal determination to protect civilians. The United Kingdom continues to champion work on the protection of civilians. The informal Expert Group on the Protection of Civilians, chaired by the United Kingdom, has met regularly this year, instituting thematic and ad hoc briefings. The United Kingdom has supported the work of the African Union Mission in Somalia on the civilian casualty-tracking analysis and response cell, and we have recently launched an initiative on preventing sexual violence in conflict.”
2012-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6790 (2012) · source
“A security vacuum in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has also allowed armed groups to regain territory and commit abuses against the population, including rape. The responsibility for providing security to the population rests with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and we encourage all neighbouring States to support those efforts. We are working to ensure that the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo supports the Government's efforts and responds to the changing situation on the ground, ensuring that the protection of civilians remains its first priority while increasing its emphasis on stabilization activity. In Yemen, we welcome progress made by President Mansour and his Government to move forward with political transition.”
2012-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6790 (2012) · source
“We therefore commend the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and welcome the recent convictions for war crimes. In March, the ICC convicted the Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga. In April, the Special Court for Sierra Leone convicted Charles Taylor. Those verdicts are examples of how the international community will continue to challenge impunity and to shine the light of accountability in all areas. It was right that on both occasions Council members publicly welcomed those decisions. We remain extremely concerned about the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where civilians continue to suffer the effects of the ongoing conflict and insecurity.”
2012-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6790 (2012) · source
“That is why the six-point plan of the Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on Syria and two resolutions of this Council have demanded the withdrawal of Syrian troops and heavy weapons in order to facilitate a sustained reduction in violence. Without that first step, the violence on all sides will continue, the United Nations Supervision Mission in the Syrian Arab Republic will not be able to resume its operations and the Annan plan will fail. We have now embarked on a final effort to breathe life back into Mr. Annan's plan, but it will succeed only if the Council takes robust action to apply pressure on the regime to meet its basic commitments under the Annan plan and resolutions 2042 (2012) and 2043 (2012). As Mr. Simonovic' has just said, combating impunity is critical.”
2012-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6790 (2012) · source
“We must be clear that impeding this in any way is unacceptable and a violation of Government responsibilities under international humanitarian and human rights law. Since the last protection of civilians debate in November (see S/PV.6650), we have seen a further sharp deterioration of the situation for civilians in Syria. The Syrian regime has shamefully failed in its responsibility to protect its civilian population. Far worse, it has deliberately targeted its civilian population through the indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force. The regime has now killed around 15,000 Syrian civilians.”
2012-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6790 (2012) · source
“The ninth report (S/2012/376) of the Secretary-General expresses deep regret that civilians account for the vast majority of casualties in armed conflict and highlights the plight of the large number of displaced civilians. It is important that the Council hear and act on that sobering message. As the report makes clear, ensuring the necessary degree of compliance and thereby strengthening the protection of civilians is essentially a matter of political will. The international community must play its part in helping States to fulfil their primary responsibilities under international law. It is therefore of great concern that we continue to see humanitarian access to areas of need blocked or constrained. Humanitarian access is fundamental to the protection of civilians.”
2012-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6790 (2012) · source
“I wish to thank you, Mr. President, for holding this important debate today, and let me also warmly thank the Secretary-General for his opening remarks. My thank also go to the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Valerie Amos; the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ivan Simonovie; and the Director of the International Law Division of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Philip Spoerri. I welcome the presence of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Guatemala in the Security Council this morning, which highlights his country's strong support for this agenda, as, indeed, does Guatemala's recent adherence to the Rome Statute.”
2012-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6790 (2012) · source
“I would like to take this opportunity to extend our thanks to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its contribution towards establishing the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre. The United Nations has a unique and vital role in countering terrorism. Let me affirm that the United Kingdom will continue to work closely with all partners to ensure that the United Nations is properly equipped to deliver.”
2012-05-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6765 (2012) · source
“The Secretary-General's call for a counter- terrorism coordinator provides an excellent opportunity to shape the United Nations response to terrorism. It is an important step forward that the United Kingdom strongly supports. We must ensure that that position has the right mandate to bring cohesion and coherence to the United Nations counter-terrorism work. We need to think carefully how best to manage the resources in order to achieve that result. In addition, we must maintain focus in our efforts. To that end, we welcome the review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. We hope that the themes covered in the review will help guide the strategic direction of the United Nations in its counter-terrorism efforts.”
2012-05-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6765 (2012) · source
“The Al-Qaida sanctions Ombudsperson plays a particularly important role in that regard, and I take this opportunity to reiterate the United Kingdom's full support for the Office of the Ombudsperson. At the same time, sanctions must be implemented effectively and robustly. We therefore welcome all initiatives to reinforce Member States' capacity to that end. Secondly, I want to highlight the importance of coordination - what the Secretary-General earlier called "working as one". There are a large number of international bodies involved in the global counter- terrorism effort. With such a level of activity, effective coordination is key. Resources are necessarily limited, and we must make certain that we are getting the most out of all our good work.”
2012-05-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6765 (2012) · source
“We welcome ongoing efforts to build on the legal framework for countering terrorism, addressing the conditions that can give rise to violent extremism and taking practical measures to prevent terrorist attacks. I want to make two main points in today's debate. First, sanctions are a key instrument in the response of the United Nations to international terrorism, and the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities is fundamental to that. The United Kingdom welcomes the further improvements adopted to ensure that the procedures in the Al-Qaida sanctions regime continue to be fair and clear.”
2012-05-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6765 (2012) · source
“I congratulate Azerbaijan on its assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of May. I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his briefing and you, Mr. President, for convening and presiding over today's meeting. Your presence here sends an important signal regarding the priority your country attaches to United Nations counter-terrorism efforts. It is a priority that the United Kingdom shares. The United Nations is at the forefront of the work to counter terrorism across the globe. We applaud those efforts, and the commitment to tackling terrorism shown by the United Nations and its Member States. Terrorism is a global phenomenon and requires a global response, which the United Nations is uniquely placed to lead.”
2012-05-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6765 (2012) · source
“We will continue to urge both sides to show the political leadership and courage needed to make progress towards that goal.”
2012-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6757 (2012) · source
“Increasing Palestinians' autonomy in Area C and throughout the West Bank is necessary to move the Palestinian economy away from aid dependency and towards self-sustainability. Thirdly, a sustainable solution requires a sustainable approach to Gaza. Gaza should have a thriving economy, yet it is one of the highest per capita recipients of aid in the world. Israel must ease the movement and access restrictions that make life so difficult for the people of Gaza and are doing ongoing damage to its economy. Such restrictions do not help the peace process. We understand Israel's security concerns, but if any peace deal is to be sustainable, Gaza must be economically viable. There is no doubt that a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians would bring enormous benefits to both of them and to the region.”
2012-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6757 (2012) · source
“Similarly, Palestinians must also play their part in ensuring conditions conducive to a peaceful settlement. Rocket fire from Gaza - such as that which led to the crisis last month that left eight Israelis injured, 26 Palestinians dead and dozens more injured, and caused widespread disruption to normal life - must stop. Secondly, over the longer term, we must continue our full support to the Palestinian Authority. The United Kingdom will continue to be one of the principal supporters of the Palestinians' State-building efforts, assisting them in tackling poverty, building institutions and boosting their economy. We welcome the focus of the Quartet's statement on Area C.”
2012-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6757 (2012) · source
“The Israeli Government's policy is illegal under international law, counterproductive, destabilizing and provocative. Although we welcome the difficult decision taken earlier this year by the Israeli Government to evacuate the single-house settlement of Beit HaMachpele in Hebron, what is required of the Israeli Government is of a significantly greater order of magnitude. The United Kingdom urges the Israeli Government to desist from further settlement announcements, to revoke previous announcements, and to remove - not legalize - illegal outposts from across the West Bank, as required under international law and the Road Map. If it fails to do so, it will further damage the prospects for a two- State solution and undermine the long-term security that this would deliver to Israelis and Palestinians alike.”
2012-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6757 (2012) · source
“First, in the immediate term, we must collectively guard against further threats to the two-State solution and act to prevent deterioration on the ground. We were therefore disappointed by the announcement on 4April of renewed Israeli settlement activity. As the occupying Power of the Palestinian territories, the Israeli Government has an absolute requirement to uphold international law and fulfil its commitments. We and our European Union partners are clear that systematic, illegal Israeli settlement activity poses the most significant and live threat to the viability of the two-State solution. We condemn the decision to publish tenders for 872 units in the Israeli settlement of Har Homa, across the Green Line in East Jerusalem.”
2012-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6757 (2012) · source
“Our shared goal remains a two-State solution. We all firmly believe that negotiations towards such a solution are the best way forward, and that any such negotiations should be based on the 1967 lines, with equivalent land swaps, a just solution for refugees, security arrangements that respect Palestinian sovereignty and protect Israeli security, and Jerusalem as a joint capital of both States. We remain fully committed to that goal, and welcome the Quartet statement released on 11 April (see SG/2182). Despite an almost universally shared understanding of the objective and the parameters of the solution, there remains a depressing lack of progress. With every day that passes, the very notion of the two-State solution is undermined. I have three points to make on the way forward.”
2012-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6757 (2012) · source
“Kofi Annan's six-point proposal offer the last opportunity for the Syrian regime to reverse course and allow a peaceful solution to the crisis. It is essential that the Syrian Government now meet its commitments on troop movements and heavy weapons, and ensure the conditions that will allow the Mission to operate effectively, such as unhindered freedom of movement and access. The Council will be receiving regular and frequent reports, starting tomorrow. The failure of the regime to meet its commitments, or any attempt to hinder the work of the Mission, must be met with real and robust consequences. Much of the international community's attention is rightly focused on the crisis in Syria, but we must not forget the ongoing plight of the Palestinian people, who have struggled for too long for their rights and dignity.”
2012-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6757 (2012) · source
“I should like to thank Mr. Lynn Pascoe for his briefing and express appreciation for the contributions to today's debate made by the observer of Palestinian and the representative of Israel. Before I turn to the Israeli-Palestinian issue, I would like to reiterate the United Kingdom's deep concern about the crisis in Syria, which is entering its fourteenth month. On 21 April, the Security Council, through its unanimous adoption of resolution 2043 (2012), took the important step of authorizing the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria, consisting of 300 unarmed military observers, with an additional substantive civilian component. It did so despite the failure of the regime to meet its commitments under resolution 2042 (2012) and the absence of a sustained cessation of violence. The Mission that we have authorized and Mr.”
2012-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6757 (2012) · source
“The Mission and the Joint Special Envoy's six-point proposal represent the last opportunity for the Syrian regime to reverse course and to allow a peaceful solution to the crisis in Syria to emerge. Continued failure of the regime to meet its commitments or any attempt to hinder the work of the Mission must be met with robust sanctions by the Council.”
2012-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6756 (2012) · source