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

“I would like to join Security Council colleagues in welcoming the President of Serbia, Mr. Boris Tadie, and the Foreign Minister of Kosovo, Mr. Skender Hyseni, to the Council Chamber today, together with the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Mr. Lamberto Zannier. I would like to express our thanks to the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report on recent developments in Kosovo (S/2010/5) and to commend the important work of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) in promoting stability and reconciliation in Kosovo. I would also like to thank Mr. Zannier personally for his continued leadership and hard work. The Secretary-General's latest report illustrates that despite continuing challenges, important progress is being made in Kosovo.”
2010-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6264 (2010) · source
“But I suspect that even they would be a little bewildered today by the scale and variety of cooperation. Our responsibility in the Council is to set the strategic direction for that cooperation, focusing our efforts on the biggest challenges, which include Afghanistan and Somalia, but also looking to the future and to a more cohesive view of international cooperation, covering the full conflict cycle. In conclusion, we support the draft presidential statement that the delegation of China has put together.”
2010-01-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6257 (2010) · source
“The EU is also contributing significantly in Somalia, leading the Anti- Piracy Task Force and providing â‚¬35.5 million of funding for AMISOM. Lastly, Afghanistan will be a key test for these international partnerships, particularly in the coming period. As I said in the Council last week, we hope that the London Conference on 28 January will reinvigorate international engagement in support of the Afghan Government. The United Nations, NATO, the EU, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and other regional organizations will all have important roles to play. The founding fathers of the United Nations showed great foresight when, in Chapter VIII of the Charter, they highlighted the role to be played by regional organizations.”
2010-01-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6257 (2010) · source
“We have strongly supported the Secretary-General's efforts and those of the African Union to enhance that partnership. Much of the discussion so far has focused on peacekeeping, but in our view it should broaden out to include the scope for joint action to prevent conflict and focus more on peacebuilding. We look forward to further advice from the Secretary-General and to the ongoing work of the AU-United Nations Task Force. Fourthly, Somalia is an important example of the African Union and the United Nations working together, particularly in support of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which continues to play a crucial role in allowing space for the Transitional Federal Government to become more effective and broaden its political base.”
2010-01-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6257 (2010) · source
“Secondly, NATO commands the United Nations- mandated 70,000-strong International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which is helping the Afghan Government bring security to the region. We must build on the NATO-United Nations memorandum of understanding of 2008 and further enhance cooperation between ISAF and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. The United Nations should be ready to accept NATO's assistance. NATO should be ready to provide it in areas such as security sector reform, as well as military assistance where necessary. NATO brings unrivalled political-military expertise and military capabilities. Thirdly, the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union (AU) is of vital strategic importance.”
2010-01-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6257 (2010) · source
“The first is about the European Union (EU), which is already making a major contribution to peace and security around the world. The European Union currently deploys over 3,000 military and over 4,000 civilian personnel in crisis management operations ranging from the Balkans, to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the Gulf of Aden. It is also, as Ambassador Serrano pointed out earlier, working with the United Nations in eight major crisis theatres. In 2009, the European Union provided over â‚¬400 million in funding for stabilization activities and crisis management missions. The changes introduced by the Lisbon Treaty to the EU's external representation will further enhance its international contribution.”
2010-01-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6257 (2010) · source
“It has been a valuable opportunity to hear about the deliberations at the Secretary-General's retreat earlier this week. As we have heard this morning, the United Nations and regional organizations share many common goals. Close cooperation between them can maximize impact, including in some of the most challenging political and security environments in the world today. The Security Council should retain its pre-eminence in matters pertaining to the maintenance of international peace and security. The Council's cooperation with regional organizations is already good, but in our view there is much more that we can do together in areas such as preventive diplomacy, mediation and conflict resolution. I would like to highlight five issues today.”
2010-01-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6257 (2010) · source
“I would like to join the Secretary-General and others in expressing the United Kingdom's deep concern for the people of Haiti, as well as for the United Nations staff who remain unaccounted for, including peacekeeping troops. The world's thoughts are with Haiti in the wake of this devastating earthquake. My Prime Minister has sent a message of sympathy and support to President Preval. The United Kingdom is responding with emergency rescue aid and equipment, and a team is en route to assess the short- and longer-term humanitarian needs. We stand ready to provide whatever further support is needed to help the people of Haiti recover from this tragic event. I thank you, Sir, for convening today's debate. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General and all of the representatives of regional organizations for their briefings this morning.”
2010-01-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6257 (2010) · source
“The General Assembly agreed only last month on a significant increase in the budget and staffing of the UNAMA mission, and I hope that the Secretariat will look imaginatively at ways to unblock any impediments at United Nations Headquarters to effectively staffing critical missions around the world, including that of UNAMA in Afghanistan.”
2010-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6255 (2010) · source
“The presidential election process was not easy, but we look forward to the endorsement of a strong and capable Afghan Government that can take forward the important commitments made by President Karzai in his inauguration address, with the support of the international community and to be confirmed at the London Conference this month. Finally, I would like to thank Kai Eide for his efforts in Afghanistan over the past two years. His hard work, including delivering elections last year and steering UNAMA through a traumatic period following the attacks on its staff, deserves our admiration, and I would like through him to pay tribute to all of UNAMA's staff as they take forward their important work in extremely difficult circumstances. In this respect, I was concerned to hear about the challenges he faces in UNAMA's staffing and recruitment.”
2010-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6255 (2010) · source
“I would also like to raise one issue that is not specifically covered in the Secretary-General's report but was referred to by the Special Representative: corruption, which was an important backdrop to events in 2009. UNAMA, working with others, is helping the Afghan Government to build a capacity to tackle corruption and to build the necessary sustainable institutions to underpin good governance in the longer term, and we strongly welcome this. No one would deny that Afghanistan has been through another challenging period over the past three months.”
2010-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6255 (2010) · source
“Developing the Afghan national security forces in terms both of quality and quantity is key to enabling Afghans to take responsibility for their own security, and we hope that the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board and London Conference will give impetus to this progress. Fourthly, the Secretary-General's report highlights the importance of community defence initiatives, and we welcome this emphasis. It is essential that they be given sufficient training to be effective and that they be held accountable. A national security sector strategy would provide a framework for the roles and functions of Afghan security forces, but it needs to be made clear how the community defence initiatives would fit into such a national strategy.”
2010-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6255 (2010) · source
“We need to see a greater donor willingness to coordinate with the Government of Afghanistan and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), rather than operating unilaterally. Secondly, we strongly support the efforts led by General McChrystal to reduce civilian casualties. We are pleased that the Secretary-General's report highlights this. The report notes that the anti-Government elements were responsible for 78 per cent of civilian casualties, with 54 per cent of those due to suicide and improvised explosive device attacks. The approach of the International Security Assistance Force stands in stark contrast to that of the insurgents, who seek deliberately to target civilians in Afghanistan. Thirdly, we agree with the Secretary-General about the importance of the Afghan National Army and National Police.”
2010-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6255 (2010) · source
“The London Conference should be seen as an important step towards the international community's taking a more supportive role in Afghanistan and a further acceleration in the Afghanization of the strategy. In this sense, the London Conference will pave the way for a conference in Kabul later in the spring, at which we hope the Afghan Government will present its commitments to the people of Afghanistan and build on the groundwork laid in London. I would now like to turn to four issues raised in the Secretary-General's report. First, on aid effectiveness, we strongly agree with the Special Representative that donors need to build rather than substitute for Afghan capacity.”
2010-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6255 (2010) · source
“Building a stable and secure Afghanistan will be a long-term task, but the international community is determined to support the Afghan Government in seeing it through. I would like to say a few words first about the forthcoming London Conference before turning to some issues raised in the Secretary-General's latest report. The London Conference on 28 January will be co-hosted by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, President Karzai and the Secretary-General, and we welcome the Secretary-General's strong support for it. The purpose of the Conference will be to deliver and coordinate international support to enable President Karzai to meet the ambitions that he set out in his recent inauguration speech, and it will focus on three key areas: security, development and governance, and the regional framework and international architecture.”
2010-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6255 (2010) · source
“I congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency. May I add my voice to others in welcoming five new colleagues to the Security Council; we look forward to working with them over the next two years. And special thanks go to the Secretary-General for his report (S/2009/674) and his comments, to Special Representative Kai Eide for his very informative comments, and also to Ambassador Tanin for his comprehensive comments. The international community's goal remains a stable and secure Afghanistan that can exercise sovereignty over all of its territory, offer its people representative Government and the conditions for economic prosperity, and play a constructive role in the region. None of us underestimates the scale of this challenge, as the Special Representative set out very clearly earlier.”
2010-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6255 (2010) · source
“We would like to pay tribute to the hard work that the Ugandan delegation, whose troops are in harm's way in Somalia, has put in to achieve this resolution. The United Kingdom urges the Eritrean Government to stop its illegal actions following the adoption of this Security Council resolution and to engage constructively with international partners to help increase stability in the Horn of Africa. The nature of the international community's engagement with Eritrea in future will depend on that response.”
2009-12-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6254 (2009) · source
“The United Kingdom voted today in favour of resolution 1907 (2009), creating a new United Nations sanctions regime on Eritrea in response to its continued violation of Security Council resolutions on Somalia and Djibouti. The resolution follows a specific request by two regional organizations - the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development - for the Security Council to take such action. The Monitoring Group on Somalia has presented evidence to the Council that Eritrea is supporting armed opposition groups in Somalia, in violation of Security Council resolution 1844 (2008). Eritrea has also failed to comply with any of the measures in Security Council resolution 1862 (2009), adopted in January this year in response to the border skirmish between Djibouti and Eritrea.”
2009-12-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6254 (2009) · source
“The international community has been very patient, but that patience is running out. If Iran continues to choose not to engage with us, we shall need to seek further sanctions. Our dual-track strategy will continue. It involves pressure to encourage the Iranians to comply and to negotiate seriously, at the same time as engagement to allow negotiations to begin when the Iranians are prepared to take the E3+3 offer seriously. We are 100 per cent committed to solving those issues diplomatically. We hope that Iran's leaders are too, but ultimately that is a Choice that only they can make.”
2009-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6235 (2009) · source
“Iran's response was to announce the construction of even more enrichment facilities, to threaten to cease contact with the IAEA and to speculate about leaving the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Instead of engaging with us, Iran chooses to provoke and dissemble. Iran can flaunt its isolation, but that will only increase the determination and unity of the international community. I urge Iran to recognize that and to accept the outstretched hand that is on offer. We need to dissuade Iran from continuing to develop and acquire proliferation-sensitive technology and materials. That risks sparking a regional nuclear arms race. In a region that already faces huge security challenges, nuclear proliferation would be disastrous for regional stability.”
2009-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6235 (2009) · source
“We would support its development of peaceful nuclear energy providing that it meets its international obligations, and the generous E3+3 offer contains everything that Iran needs to pursue a modern civil nuclear power programme, which it claims is its aim. However, Iran has taken every opportunity to delay and protract our efforts to reach agreement on that issue. The only reasonable conclusion that can be drawn is that its responses are calculated to buy time and to try to divide the international community. The IAEA Board of Governors voted overwhelmingly to support the IAEA in its efforts to get answers to important questions. The vote sent a 8 strong signal to Tehran.”
2009-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6235 (2009) · source
“The report concludes again that, until those issues are clarified and until Iran implements the additional protocol, the Agency will not be in a position to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear activities by Iran. Iran's refusal to respond positively to the IAEA's proposed agreement on the provision of fuel to the Tehran nuclear research reactor is also disappointing. The deal offered a fair, viable and transparent means of meeting Iran's needs. It would have improved the prospects for a successful negotiation with Iran. Instead, Iran has shown once again its unwillingness to engage seriously with the international community. That proposed agreement showed that the international community does not wish to deny Iran its right to civil nuclear power.”
2009-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6235 (2009) · source
“It is essential that Iran suspend all enrichment- related activities, including any further construction work at Qom. Iran asserts that it began construction of the Qom facility in 2007. The Agency makes clear that it has information that shows that Iran started construction before that date, noting that Iran's explanation about the purpose and chronology of its design and construction requires further clarification. The report also shows that Iran has continued to ignore the Agency's crucial questions over its weaponization activities. The report states that the Agency is also still awaiting Iran's response to its repeated requests for access to persons, information and locations identified in the alleged studies documents.”
2009-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6235 (2009) · source
“The most recent report by former IAEA Director General Mr. ElBaradei concludes, as his previous reports have done, that he was unable to verify that Iran's nuclear programme is for exclusively peaceful purposes. It makes clear that Iran has not suspended its enrichment-related activities or its work on heavy water-related projects, as required by the Security Council. The report also covers the IAEA's initial conclusions following its inspection of the enrichment facility at Qom. Development of that site was in contravention of five Security Council resolutions. The Agency makes clear that it was inconsistent with Iran's obligations under the subsidiary arrangements of its Safeguards Agreement. Those state that Iran must inform the Agency of new nuclear facilities at the time of the decision to construct.”
2009-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6235 (2009) · source
“That has ensured that the prohibited arms and related material have been neither returned to Iran nor allowed onward to their intended destinations. Those incidents leave no doubt that Iran is determined to flout the requirements of the Security Council, but they also show that the international community is determined that Iran abide by international rules and that mandatory Security Council resolutions must be upheld. It is worth restating the reasons for these measures. Iran lost the trust of the international community by hiding the most sensitive aspects of its programme for nearly 20 years, by failing to implement International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) transparency measures, and by refusing to answer all the questions put to it by the IAEA as it sought to establish the facts.”
2009-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6235 (2009) · source
“I thank Ambassador Takasu for his report and for his truly able leadership of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006). It has been a busy and difficult three months for the Committee, a period in which, as the report makes clear, a pattern of sanctions violations has emerged. As the report notes, there were two violations of Security Council resolution 1747 (2007) of a similar nature in this reporting period: first, the M/V Hansa India interdiction in October and, later, the F rancop seizure in November. 09-642 1 7 We are grateful for the prompt, effective and responsible action of all States concerned with those interdictions and seizures and for their cooperation with the Committee in investigating the cases.”
2009-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6235 (2009) · source
“We also welcome the Prosecutor's continued contacts with other relevant international and regional actors, in particular his engagement with the African Union High-level Panel on Darfur and its preparation and implementation of the recommendations in the Mbeki report (S/2009/599, annex I) on combating impunity and promoting peace and reconciliation in Darfur. We consider the Mbeki Panel report, which we shall be discussing later this month, to be thorough, detailed and balanced, with much that offers scope for progress on peace, justice and reconciliation. In conclusion, I would like to underline that the United Kingdom remains a strong supporter of the International Criminal Court and of its work to combat impunity in Darfur. We commend Prosecutor Moreno- Ocampo's continuing efforts to achieve this.”
2009-12-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6230 (2009) · source
“I should like to underline that, as the Prosecutor stated, Sudan is under a legal obligation to cooperate with the ICC by virtue of resolution 1593 (2005), and we reiterate once again our call on Sudan and all other parties to the conflict to provide full cooperation to the Court. My Government is also very concerned to hear the Prosecutor's analysis that very serious crimes continue to be committed in Darfur, in particular attacks on civilians, including humanitarian workers, sexual violence, forced returns and the use of child soldiers. The United Kingdom welcomes the steps the Prosecutor is taking to monitor these unacceptable attacks on the civil population of Darfur.”
2009-12-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6230 (2009) · source
“It is encouraging that some parties to the conflict in Darfur are now showing willingness to cooperate with the ICC, and we call on all the others to do likewise. My Government remains deeply concerned, however, by the continued lack of cooperation with the ICC by the Government of Sudan. Once again, the Prosecutor appears before us to report no movement on this issue, in particular over the outstanding arrest warrants. There are no relevant proceedings under way in Sudan in relation to the indictees. Nor has the Government of Sudan given any indication of an intention to investigate or prosecute these cases.”
2009-12-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6230 (2009) · source
“I should like to welcome the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) back to the Security Council and to thank him for his report and his comprehensive briefing on his investigation into the situation in Darfur. I should also like to take this opportunity to thank the Prosecutor and his team for their efforts to bring justice to the victims of the serious crimes that have been committed in Darfur. My Government is encouraged by progress over the past six months, which the Prosecutor has reported, in relation to one of the cases which he has opened in respect of Darfur. We welcome the voluntary appearance at the ICC of Bahr Idriss Abu Garda to answer charges of war crimes in relation to the June 2008 attack on African Union and United Nations peacekeepers at Haskanita.”
2009-12-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6230 (2009) · source
“The United Kingdom strongly supports Bosnia and Herzegovina's European perspective. We are determined to work with Bosnia and Herzegovina wherever possible, so that it can take its rightful place in Europe along with other countries of the region. But ultimately it is only the political leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina itself who can take the necessary action to advance their progress towards integration within the European Union and NATO, and provide the Bosnian people with the new European future that they deserve. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Bosnia and Herzegovina on its election to the United Nations Security Council for the next two years. We hope that this will be a unifying challenge for Mr. Spirie's country, and we very much look forward to working with him.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“It is also good to hear about the successful International Monetary Fund mission to Sarajevo and the number of legislative measures enacted or in train. We welcome this progress, which demonstrates what can be achieved when the political will exists, and we call on Bosnia's political leaders to apply that determination to other pressing areas. As my Foreign Minister made clear during his visit to Sarajevo earlier this month, the United Kingdom strongly supports the current efforts by the EU presidency and the United States Government to facilitate a local agreement between leaders on the outstanding issues. We urge the leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina to seize this window of opportunity to make real progress. A similar opportunity is unlikely to occur for some time.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“The European Commission has been equally clear that an EU membership application cannot be considered while the Office of the High Representative (OHR) remains in place. It is therefore essential that the "5 plus 2" objectives and conditions for closing the Office be met in full to allow for transition from OHR to the reinforced EU Special Representative. With the aim of EU integration in mind, we hope that Bosnian political leaders will be able to reach agreement on some modest reforms to bring the country's Constitution into line with the European Convention on Human Rights and to improve the efficiency and functionality of the State-level institutions. Since the European Commission's progress report was issued in October, important steps have been taken by Bosnia and Herzegovina on the reforms necessary for visa liberalization.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“We have seen another negative European Commission progress report, and the political climate has deteriorated further, with a worrying increase in nationalist rhetoric, particularly, but not exclusively, from the authorities in the Republika Srpska. This threatens to seriously impede any further progress. At the same time, other countries in the region are getting ready to make big steps forward towards integration with the European Union and NATO. Unless Bosnian political leaders take urgent steps to unblock the current stalemate on reform, Bosnia and Herzegovina runs a serious risk of being left behind the rest of the region. We would not like to see this happen. The views of Bosnian political leaders vary in many areas, but they have all made it clear that they support the country's EU aspirations.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“We also welcome the Security Council's decision of 16 November to extend the mandate of the European Union military mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR) for a further period of 12 months. Although we are pleased that the security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is currently stable, we agree with the High Representative that EUFOR's continued presence remains essential to underpin that security. The United Kingdom shares the concerns set out in the High Representative's report about the situation over the last six months. It is a bleak and honest report. Despite some positive developments, there has been insufficient progress on key reforms.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“I would like to join you, Mr. President, and other Security Council colleagues in welcoming Mr. Nikola Spiric', the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Mr. Valentin Inzko, the High Representative, to the Council Chamber today. I would like to begin by thanking the High Representative for his comprehensive report on developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina over the last six months (S/2009/588*). The United Kingdom fully supports the actions taken by the High Representative to uphold the Dayton Agreement and his efforts to facilitate reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We should also note that the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council unanimously reiterated its full support for the High Representative in its communique on 19 November.”
2009-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6222 (2009) · source
“I should like to thank AMISOM, and in particular Uganda and Burundi, its two troop-contributing countries, for their outstanding efforts to support the Government against insurgents. I hope that others will join them to bring the Mission up to full strength. The international community has shown unity and resolve in taking action to contain the threat of piracy, but we now need to show more of the same determination and unity on shore if we are to address its roots and causes.”
2009-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6221 (2009) · source
“The Contact Group decided on a number of measures at the meeting of its working group in London this week. Donors now need to commit themselves to providing financial and technical support to Somalia and to States throughout the region, including work on governance, rule of law, justice, alternative livelihoods and strategic communications. The implementation of the Djibouti Code of Conduct remains at the heart of regional capability development, transforming regional political will into action. Piracy is only one of the symptoms of instability in Somalia, and, as the Special Representative has said, we must also address the root causes of that instability. I pay tribute to the efforts led by the Special Representative to support the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia in developing effective political and security structures.”
2009-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6221 (2009) · source
“The United Kingdom also welcomes the agreement by the Republic of Seychelles to accept pirate suspects for trial and detention. We stand ready with other partners to provide assistance to signatories of the Djibouti Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against 09-61200 Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden who have undertaken to enact national legislation to enable the prosecution of pirates. We strongly support the work being taken forward by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to help the Transitional Federal Government and regional authorities of Puntland and Somaliland to deal with suspects within Somalia. The Secretary-General's report clearly highlights the need to address the situation on land in Somalia.”
2009-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6221 (2009) · source
“Estimates suggest that a quarter of merchant shipping fails to follow this guidance. That failure makes them much easier targets. We have joined other major flag States in signing the New York Declaration on Best Management Practices to Avoid, Deter or Delay Acts of Piracy, and we are pressing all United Kingdom ships to adopt those practices when in the region. We urge all flag States to do the same. The release of the Spanish fishing boat Alacrana earlier this week is obviously a welcome development, and we hope that all other hostages will soon be free, including British nationals Paul and Rachel Chandler, who were seized from their yacht on 23 October. We pay tribute to Kenya for its leadership within the region in taking forward the detention and prosecution of pirates.”
2009-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6221 (2009) · source
“But we cannot underestimate the significant challenge that we face. Even though the proportion of successful attacks continues to fall, the overall number of pirate attacks continues to increase, and 11 ships and 254 crew members are currently hijacked. Pirates are now willing to venture further out to sea in search of targets, and to counter that, we need a different type of military response, led by intelligence. The military commanders know what they need in terms of military capability, and the international community must help to deliver it. But one message from the military commanders remains consistent. They are shocked by the lack of adherence by sectors of the merchant shipping community to the guidance that is given by the International Maritime Organization and industry bodies.”
2009-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6221 (2009) · source
“We are pleased to lead work in the Contact Group on operational coordination and regional capacity development. The level of coordination being achieved in the region by naval forces from a wide range of States is unprecedented and impressive. Close cooperation among these forces, in particular the establishment of patrolling of the internationally recommended transit corridor in the Gulf of Aden, has managed to ensure that only one ship following that route and adhering to agreed best practice has been hijacked in the Gulf since December 2008. The statistics in the Secretary- General's report on the protection of World Food Programme aid and the supplies of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) underline the successful role of the military operations in safeguarding essential shipping.”
2009-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6221 (2009) · source
“I would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ould Abdallah, for his realistic briefing and for introducing the report of the Secretary- General pursuant to Security Council resolution 1846 (2008) (S/2009/590). The United Kingdom expresses its appreciation of the contribution of the United Nations and its agencies to this effort, including the Special Representative and his team. The United Kingdom also welcomes the achievements of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia in coordinating the efforts of the international community to address piracy in the region and the constructive contribution being made to these efforts by the Transitional Federal Government and the regional authorities of Somalia.”
2009-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6221 (2009) · source
“We must be able to demonstrate that it is possible for those designated to come off the list when they no longer pose a threat to international peace and security. That process needs to be more transparent and merit-based. Individuals should be provided with clear, reasoned and timely responses to de-listing requests. The United Kingdom remains committed to working with our Security Council partners on the forthcoming resolution to address these issues and we hope to see a stronger and more effective sanctions regime as a result.”
2009-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6217 (2009) · source
“We welcome the substantial advances that resolution 1822 (2008) made to the 1267 Al Qaida and Taliban sanctions regime. The Counter-Terrorism Committee continues to work hard to ensure that the resolution is implemented efficiently and effectively, and I would like to pay tribute to the Monitoring Team and you, Mr. President, for the work done in this regard. But the Committee has more to do to help make the regime more robust and sustainable. In particular, we need to safeguard the fundamental rights of those designated on the list, and work on improving the credibility of the overall list. As you pointed out in your report, Mr. President, the key to this is the de-listing procedure.”
2009-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6217 (2009) · source
“The effective organization of the comprehensive review, and the improving work on delivering assistance, show the benefits of the new 1540 Committee working group structure. Through the United Kingdom's Global Threat Reduction Programme, we have committed up to $750 million towards countering the spread of weapons of mass destruction, in support of the objectives of resolution 1540 (2004). We have undertaken work in 18 countries on projects covering physical protection work, improving the security of materials, contributing to the reduction in chemical weapons stocks, and supporting sustainable employment for former weapons scientists. We also continue to support the IAEA Nuclear Security Fund, and we have doubled our 2009 contribution to $6 million.”
2009-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6217 (2009) · source
“We welcome the Committee's work on the comprehensive review of resolution 1540 (2004). It was useful to hear views from the wide range of States and international organizations at the open meeting of the review, and we look forward to its final outcome document, which should contain practical recommendations for improving implementation. We want to see the emphasis now shift further towards effective implementation in those States with more serious deficiencies. Improving the delivery of assistance will be critical. We were pleased that the first meeting of the working group on assistance took place earlier this month, and hope this will create momentum for a more effective 1540 assistance strategy.”
2009-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6217 (2009) · source
“It should be used to focus on specific challenges identified by the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED). Linked to this, preliminary implementation assessments should be made more user-friendly, so that they can better focus technical assistance. We are pleased that focused visits have given CTED greater flexibility and allowed it to conduct more and better targeted visits, focusing on the main issues of concern. This has allowed CTED to draw out examples of good practice to share more widely. We also welcome the strengthening of relations between CTED and the Counter-Terrorism Action Group, including through more focused local donor meetings. Ambassador Urbina's leadership of the 1540 Committee will be much missed when he steps down as chairman.”
2009-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6217 (2009) · source
“I should like to thank Ambassadors Urbina and Vilovie, and you, Mr. President, for today's briefings. International terrorism remains one of the principal threats of our time. The appalling attack on United Nations personnel in Kabul on 28 October was a tragic reminder of the threat faced daily around the world by the Organization and its personnel. We offer our condolences to their families and friends. We welcome the progress made by the Counter- Terrorism Committee under the leadership of Ambassador Vilovie and with the strong support of Mike Smith and his team. The current stocktaking exercise is an opportunity for dialogue with States whose implementation of resolution 1373 (2001) is inadequate. This is not just a bureaucratic exercise.”
2009-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6217 (2009) · source