YouSaid · the spoken record

Matjila

lines on the record: 891
first: 2016-07-12
most recent: 2020-12-07
sittings or episodes: 120
sources: un-security-council

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

“The international community has acknowledged that the only credible solution is one that is based on the two-State solution, with the 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as the capital of the independent and sovereign State of Palestine, and the State of Israel. Any peace plan proposed by anyone must acknowledge those facts and not pre-empt them, and must ensure a Palestinian State that has sovereignty, territorial integrity and prosperity. As we have repeatedly said in the Chamber, no people can be oppressed forever. That will never happen. They will resist and resist. Even ifthere is only one left standing, that one person will resist. That was true for all of us and it will be true for Palestinians. If all but one Palestinian is killed, that one remaining Palestinian will resist oppression and occupation.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“We place on record our appreciation of those countries that, under difficult circumstances, have continued to help UNWRA, as Mr. Mladenov noted. If you want to deny people means of self-reliance, livelihood and future and turn them into desperate beggars, take their land and restrict their movement. That is what has been done and continues to be done to the Palestinians. The Council has watched and watched and talked and nothing has happened for 70 years, nothing. On a positive note, we congratulate the State of Palestine on successfully joining the International Atomic Energy Agency as an observer on 18 June. That is a further step towards full acceptance by the international community of the reality that Palestine is indeed a State.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“On the West Bank, we see continued expansion of illegal settlements and the confiscation and destruction of Palestinian property and land in direct violation of international law, including resolution 2334 (2016). Again, the Council has not acted to rectify that injustice. The detailed reports of recent developments regarding settlement expansion should at least compel the Council to act. As we heard last month and was acknowledged by many members of the Council, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA) plays a vital role in the lives of most Palestinians through the provision of health and education services and employment opportunities in many fields. Its important work must be fully supported and encouraged, and we hope the upcoming UNWRA conference later this month will be supported.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“With regard to the humanitarian and human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, there too we have all failed. Palestinians continue to live in unacceptable environments where their movement is restricted, their land and property are seized and they have very little control over their own future. In Gaza, Israel's illegal blockade has harshly and negatively impacted the economic and social development of the area. That has been further exacerbated by Israel's illegal withholding of tax and customs revenues that rightfully belong to the Palestinian Authority to dispense as it sees fit. In that regard, South Africa calls for the immediate lifting of the illegal blockade and the release of all tax and customs revenues collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“A vital aspect of ensuring lasting peace, security and stability in the Middle East is for the parties to talk to each other directly and negotiate directly towards finding a credible path to peace that is acceptable to Israelis and Palestinians alike. Those direct discussions must include all final-status issues, particularly with regard to borders, the status of Jerusalem and the return of Palestinian refugees. Eroding those core issues through detrimental unilateral action severely undermines previous peacemaking efforts and damages the prospects for durable peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike. The Security Council and its partners in peace must exert every effort to bring all sides to the negotiating table in order to allow them to find long-term peaceful solutions.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“Since then, over the past 18 months that figure has sharply increased, as the Council has heard. Those historical injustices against Palestine and its people must be addressed. The Council must uphold its responsibilities mandated by the Charter of the United Nations and act. It is long overdue for the Security Council to reassume its responsibility and act decisively to assist Israel and Palestine in finding a lasting peace in the Middle East. Over the years, established legal frameworks have been agreed upon, including the Madrid principles, the Arab Peace Initiative, the Quartet road map and resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly. It is now time to put those guidelines into action. We have taken note of the Bahrain meeting, which will be convened by the United States sometime this year.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“Azzam Shawwa, highlighted the dire financial constraints on the Palestinian Authority, which makes it very difficult to deliver basic services to its people. On 22 November 1967, the Security Council adopted resolution 242 (1967), which called on all parties to end territorial claims and respect sovereignty and for Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories. In 2019, 52 years later, that has still not happened. Two generations later, it has not happened. In reality, Israel has illegally expanded its occupation with no consequences whatsoever from the Council. From 1967 to January of last year, 250 settlements were constructed in the West Bank, housing 611,000 people, or 10 per cent ofIsrael's population, and moved 12 per cent of the Palestinian population from their land.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“It is always emotionally difficult to talk about the Palestinian question, for it makes South Africans relive their difficult past. I would like to thank Mr. Mladenov for his briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the question of Palestine. We are all aware of the expression that the Roman Emperor Nero was reputed to have fiddled while Rome burned. If the Council, and indeed the international community, continue to deal with the question of Palestine in the manner in which we are currently doing so, history will no doubt judge us as the abominable Nero. We are fiddling while the reality of an independent, safe, secure and self-sufficient Palestinian State is slowly dwindling. Compounding the effects of the illegal Israeli occupation, earlier this week the Governor of the Palestine Monetary Authority, Mr.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“The underlying causes of uprisings and long- standing conflicts have to be addressed in a coordinated manner. We have not seen such an approach applied to the Middle East. There has been swift international reaction to some conflicts, while in others such cooperation is lacking. This is evident when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian question, and it is unacceptable. As we continue to consolidate and strengthen cooperation among the United Nations, the League of Arab States and regional organizations, we call on the members of the Council to value and support these relationships and consistently make use of them in the maintenance of international peace and security. We support the draft presidential statement that will be adopted at the end of our deliberations.”
2019-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8548 (2019) · source
“South Africa appreciates the efforts of the League aimed at promoting peace in the Middle East region, especially those intended to further the Middle East peace process, the oldest peace and security item on the Council's agenda. It is therefore vital that the United Nations strengthen its engagement with the League of Arab States. In this regard, South Africa welcomes the appointment of Mr. Mohamed Khaled Khiari as the Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, which was created as part of the Secretary-General's proposed reforms of the United Nations peace and security architecture. We emphasize that in its cooperation with the League of Arab States, the Council should be consistent in addressing all of the conflicts in the Middle East, rather than selectively choosing some to the detriment of others.”
2019-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8548 (2019) · source
“South Africa is of the View that cooperation among global and regional bodies is critical to reaching a deeper understanding of regional challenges, seeking solutions for regional peace and security, and implementing agreed solutions, agreements and frameworks. We have found that since the start of cooperation between the Council and the AU Peace and Security Council, the relationship between the two has been meaningful and useful in finding common ground on peace and security issues on the African continent. South Africa wholly supports improved and increased cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States as this is pertinent to dealing with conflicts in the Arab region.”
2019-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8548 (2019) · source
“Through these resolutions, we, as a country and as a representative of the African continent, demonstrated our collective political will to strengthen coordination and cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations. We also believe that cooperation among regional organizations is equally important, especially in instances where there is overlapping membership, which is the case with the League of Arab States and the African Union. In these instances, regional organizations should collaborate on developing regional solutions to such common challenges as the prevention and resolution of the conflicts, in particular those ravaging Africa and the Arab world.”
2019-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8548 (2019) · source
“Chapter VIII of the Charter also recognizes the complementary roles of the United Nations and regional organizations in this regard. Political and strategic alignment between the Security Council and regional organizations has yielded effective results, as we have seen in the cases of Somalia and the Sudan, among many other examples. Such coordination should be enhanced and become more formalized and structured, which is why South Africa has consistently championed the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations. As Council members are aware and recall, South Africa played a pioneering role in the adoption of resolutions 1809 (2008) and 2033 (2012) to further strengthen the relationship between the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council and the Security Council.”
2019-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8548 (2019) · source
“We join others in thanking you, Mr. President, for presiding today over the first-ever Security Council meeting on the cooperation between the Security Council and the League of Arab States. We also thank Secretary-General Guterres and Secretary-General Aboul Gheit of the League of Arab States for their briefings. We would also like to welcome the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Poland to today's meeting. I want to join the Secretaries-General in condemning today's attack on the maritime vessels in the Gulf of Oman. We must keep the sea lanes safe for global commerce and travel. The Charter of the United Nations gives the Security Council the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.”
2019-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8548 (2019) · source
“The soon-to-be-launched all-Malian national inclusive conference to dialogue and clarify and take Algerian agreement to all the peoples and corners of Mali is a sign of a new positive attitude among the Malian people - political parties, civil society, women, youth and communities. All Malians will win; no one will be a loser. In conclusion, it is clear that the situation in Mali requires collective support to address the multiple and complex challenges facing the country. The Council must continue to extend its support through MINUSMA and the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union. That support will assist the people of Mali to achieve peace and lead the developmental plans as envisioned by their Government.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8547 (2019) · source
“We also encourage all Malian stakeholders to take up the opportunities to participate in an inclusive national conference to finalize the constitution, reflecting the institutional reforms envisioned in the peace agreement. We call in particular for the inclusion of women and ordinary people in that dialogue process. We welcome the processes that have recently taken place to ensure the establishment of the northern economic development zone, including the submission of the related legislation to the National Assembly, as well as the associated funding mechanism for this undertaking. South Africa believes that a holistic development approach, including the upliftment of the living standards of the people of Mali andjob creation, particularly youth employment, will contribute significantly to resolving the complex challenges in Mali.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8547 (2019) · source
“Thirdly, on the political process, our delegation welcomes the signing of the political agreement between the Government of Mali and opposition parties, which has resulted in the appointment of a new, inclusive Government of national unity and of the Prime Minister. These political processes, anchored by the recently established Government of national unity and the emerging consensus among the Malian people, reassure all of us and indicate that the walk towards a new Mali has begun, and the Council should support it. It is therefore trusted that these changes will lead to stability, sustained peace and prosperity for all Malians, as envisioned in the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali. South Africa wishes to encourage Malian stakeholders to continue to engage in dialogue to ensure the implementation of the peace agreement.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8547 (2019) · source
“We appreciate the cooperation of MINUSMA with other security forces in the country, including the Malian Defence and Security forces, the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-S Sahel), French forces and the European Union missions in Mali. The Council previously discussed the challenges faced by the G-5 Sahel Joint Force regarding existing arrangements with MINUSMA to support its operationalization. South Africa reiterates its support for the recommendations of the Secretary-General regarding the support the United Nations should provide to the G-5 Sahel Joint Force.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8547 (2019) · source
“We take note of the Secretary-General's options for the potential significant adaptation of MINUSMA and recommendations to enhance its support in the centre of Mali. However, it is our considered view that any recalibration of MINUSMA must be predicated by a review of the security situation in Mali as a whole, including in the centre. This is important so as to avoid a potential vacuum that will exacerbate instability and insecurity in Mali and the entire Sahel region. We are also of the view that should MINUSMA be expected to play a role in central Mali that exceeds the support recommended, it should be able to request additional capacities and resources based on a thorough assessment of conditions on the ground.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8547 (2019) · source
“Those positive developments will allow for the redeployment of the reconstituted Malian defence and security forces in northern and central Mali, improving security in those regions. We also welcome the operationalization of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission's national investigation team, which will expedite the realization ofjustice, healing and peace. Secondly, with regard to the role of the United Nations in Mali, South Africa commends the continued efforts of MINUSMA to discharge its political and security mandate in Mali. We therefore support the recommendation of the Secretary-General on the renewal of the mandate of MINUSMA for another 12 months, until 30 June 2020.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8547 (2019) · source
“We wish to emphasize that enhanced efforts on cross-border cooperation among the countries of the region should continue to be encouraged to address these challenges. Complex conditions continue to pose challenges for humanitarian work to be performed effectively and deserve the serious attention of the international community. We therefore wish to urge the international community to provide the necessary support for the effective implementation of the 2019 humanitarian response plan for Mali. Despite the fragility of the situation, we are encouraged by the progress made thus far on the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes in Mali. We are pleased to learn from the briefing by the Special Representative that the training of the Malian forces will take place soon.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8547 (2019) · source
“In that regard, we encourage the Malian authorities to bring those communities together in pursuit of peaceful intercommunal dialogue and reconciliation led by the people of Mali, with the support of the region and international community. It is therefore important to address the root causes and conditions that have given rise to this situation in Mali including, inter alia, the absence of State authority in some parts of the country, porous borders, extreme poverty, exclusion, inequality and environmental impacts. It is equally important to acknowledge the impact of the situation in the Sahel, particularly in Libya, which is also contributing to the destabilization of Mali and the Sahel region as a whole.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8547 (2019) · source
“We urge the Government of Mali to investigate those atrocious acts and to bring the perpetrators to justice. My intervention today will focus on three issues: the security and humanitarian situation in Mali; the role of the United Nations in Mali through MINUSMA; and the very encouraging developments in the political process in Mali. First,weremain seriouslyconcernedthatthe security situation continues to deteriorate in both northern and central Mali, as demonstrated by increased terrorist attacks and intercommunal clashes and violence. It is disturbing that incidents of intercommunal violence are increasing. They have ravaged communities, displaced people and worsened the humanitarian situation in Mali.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8547 (2019) · source
“We wish to welcome the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Mali to the Council today. We are pleased that he could join us in today's discussion and are looking forward to a briefing later on. I wish to thank Mr. Mahamat Saleh Annadif, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Mali and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), for his comprehensive briefing and also to thank him and his team for the excellent work they are doing in Mali. In the context of recent developments, I would like to take this moment to convey our sympathy to the Government and the people of Mali for the lives lost due to the prevailing security situation in the country, particularly the violence that broke out in the Mopti region on 9 June, in which people perished.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8547 (2019) · source
“We are confident that the greater representation of women in mediation efforts will correspond to the greater success of our efforts. We believe that a comprehensive, integrated and coordinated approach to conflict prevention should also address the root causes of conflicts and strengthen political processes and respect for the rule of law, as well as the promotion of sustainable and inclusive development. Again, I turn to the wise words of our former President, Mr. Nelson Mandela: "All conflicts, no matter how intractable, are capable of peaceful resolution." South Africa supports the promotion of peaceful solutions to conflict through mediation, peacemaking, peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“In this regard, the AU member States should be commended by the Council for their efforts to contribute to the Peace Fund, the endowment of which currently stands at $115 million. The role of women and youth in peacebuilding and mediation cannot be emphasized enough. It is common knowledge that, when women are involved in peace processes, such processes are more sustainable and effective. We welcome the role already being played by the FemWise-Africa network in various conflicts across the continent. In particular, we believe that the Security Council should commit to providing greater support for the development of female mediators, specifically women from countries and regions affected by conflict. Without the adequate representation of women in these efforts, the credibility ofthese processes is undermined.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“For its part, the African Union Commission operationalized the AU Mediation Support Unit in mid-March. The AU Commission has devoted efforts towards strengthening the Mediation Support Unit, including though capacity-building on mediation and mainstreaming gender in mediation. In addition, the AU Commission is also spearheading efforts to institutionalize a mediation doctrine in the Commission, while the process of validating and adopting an advanced mediation training module for the AU is under way. The recent operationalization of the AU Peace Fund will further boost AU capacities and efforts in mediation and conflict prevention in Africa. The Peace Fund is structured around three thematic windows: first, mediation; secondly, preventive diplomacy through institutional capacity; and thirdly, peace support operations.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“In that regard, the African Union and the United Nations undertook to enhance collaboration, cooperation and coordination in the search for sustainable solutions to ongoing and future conflicts and to respond early, coherently and decisively to prevent, manage and resolve conflicts. In that regard, South Africa calls for enhanced strategic and operational coordination of conflict prevention, resolution and mediation efforts by the United Nations, the African Union (AU), subregional organizations and other international and local actors, in the case of many conflicts. Such efforts should be aimed at strengthening the efficacy of conflict prevention and resolution efforts and supporting African-led peace and security solutions based on subsidiarity and comparative advantage.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“Article 33 of the Charter specifically states that parties to a dispute shall "first of all" seek a solution through political means, including negotiation and mediation. The settlement of disputes through those means has the added advantage of assisting parties to a conflict to recognize and address the root causes of conflict and embark on negotiations, thereby fostering a spirit of trust and cooperation. South Africa believes that cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations could play an important role in conflict prevention.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“Resolving disputes peacefully and through mediation, ceasefire monitoring and assisting in the implementation of peace accords should be the hallmark of the United Nations approach to resolving conflicts worldwide. It is important to remind ourselves that the prevention of conflict remains the primary responsibility of States. Actions undertaken within the framework of conflict prevention by the United Nations should support and complement the conflict-prevention roles of national Governments and regions. In that regard, the Council should strengthen its own instruments for the pacific settlement of disputes, in accordance with Chapter VI of the Charter of the United Nations. Before considering the use of force under Chapter VII, we must consider a peaceful political solution to conflict, as envisaged in Chapter VI.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“That is borne out of our historical experience in successfully and peacefully transitioning from a colonial past to a constitutional democracy based on respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all. It is through that spirit and commitment that we seek peaceful resolution and mediation for challenges and crises in the Sudan, South Sudan, Venezuela, the Central African Republic and many conflicts around the world. Mediation brings about reconciliation, less destruction, fewer killings and less displacement. We believe that United Nations peacekeeping should not be a means to an end, but instead complement those essential tools of peacemaking.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“With those words, he embarked on the long and protected negotiations on a new, inclusive, transparent, all-party, multi-racial South Africa that would be non-racial, non-sexist, multi-religious and multicultural. The democratic South Africa was born after three and a half centuries of racial conflict in South Africa. Those historic developments enabled a democratic South Africa to begin making a modest contribution to conflict mediation around the world, including in Syria, Palestine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe, Libya, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Burundi and Madagascar. The list goes on. The promotion of the peaceful resolution of conflicts is a cornerstone of South Africa's foreign policy.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“It is good to see you, Sir, once again presiding over this meeting. We thank the delegation of Kuwait for convening the debate on this very important matter. We also thank the Secretary- General for his briefing. It is such a great pleasure to see former President Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders, as well as Mr. Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary-General and Deputy Chair of The Elders, and we thank them for their valuable briefings and input. Immediately after being sworn in as the first President of a democratic South Africa in 1994, Nelson Mandela said, "[N]ever, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another".”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“At this juncture, we wish to highlight the prominence of the respective provisions of the Geneva Convention of 1949, the seventieth anniversary of which we are celebrating this year, in guiding the responsibilities of States and parties during armed conflict. In this regard, we would like to emphasise the importance of accountability mechanisms that focus on building national and regional capacities. The sooner we account fully for all missing persons in all armed conflicts, the sooner we will be able to find closure and heal the wounds inflicted by conflict, and the sooner lasting peace will prevail.”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“Drawing from our own experience, South Africa would like to underscore the important role of truth, justice, reconciliation and accountability in consolidating peace gains and achieving sustainable peace. In this connection, we wish to highlight the importance of addressing the repatriation of mortal remains to their own countries of origin. This would assist in the healing process and in finding closure for the affected families and communities. We believe that, as a matter related to the protection of civilians, the issue ofmissing persons suffers from the same problems relating to the lack of implementation of international humanitarian law.”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“The impact ofthis problem extends beyond the victims themselves and has a lasting and prolonged impact on the affected families and communities. We must also take note that, in situations of armed conflict and in the context ofmissing persons, those who are most vulnerable - particularly women, children, the elderly and displaced persons - are most affected. The uncertainty surrounding missing persons is deeply traumatic and requires the due attention of national authorities, regional mechanisms and the broader international community. South Africa believes that international cooperation on this matter is indispensable, especially in terms of technical development and cooperation, which may assist in locating missing persons.”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“States must ensure that the people within their respective borders are accounted for and protected; that records of prisoners of war are well kept; and that the graves of those who have died are preserved and properly marked. Modern technology can assist us in accurately identifying mortal remains, especially those in the unmarked graves that dominate the landscape of conflict areas. We take this opportunity to welcome the positive role played by the International Committee of the Red Cross in assisting national actors, where needed, to locate missing persons and to provide support on related matters in addressing this disturbing phenomenon, including by communicating with families of missing persons, where possible. We are deeply concerned by the rise of incidences ofmissing persons in armed conflict.”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“Kuwait has had the misfortune of experiencing the devastating impact and trauma of missing persons in armed conflict situations first-hand, as have many other countries. We hope that the ongoing efforts and cooperation between Kuwait and Iraq will bring closure to the matter of missing men, women and children as soon as possible. While South Africa acknowledges the important role the Council can play in addressing this phenomenon, especially by addressing the root causes of conflict situations, which give rise to missing persons, we would like to emphasise that the primary responsibility resides with States themselves.”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“I would like to thank Ms. Reena Ghelani, Director of the Operations and Advocacy Division of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and Mr. Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, for their insightful briefings. South Africa co-sponsored and supported the adoption of resolution 2474 (2019) on missing persons in armed conflict, but it is also heartening to know that some of the countries experiencing conflict as we speak also co-sponsored the resolution. Let me commence by welcoming the convening of this meeting on this matter as a stand-alone item for the first time, giving it the attention it deserves. We would like to thank you, Mr. President, and the Kuwait presidency, especially our friend Ambassador Alotaibi, for their efforts to focus attention on this crucial matter.”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“The third annual Kosovo Youth Assembly, in collaboration with the United Nations country team in Kosovo, identified ways of empowering youth leadership across Kosovo. Those much-needed initiatives can contribute to long-term solutions for peace for all. In conclusion, we hope that a spirit of compromise will be the foundation for negotiations towards an inclusive and fair settlement that is acceptable to both parties.”
2019-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8541 (2019) · source
“As indicated by Ulrika Richardson, United Nations Development Coordinator for Kosovo, "[g]ender equality is not only a fundamental human right; it is also a necessary foundation for a just and peaceful world." It is also our considered view that responses to address sexual violence in conflict situations must include survivors in order for them to share their experiences and possible solutions. In that respect, we welcome the active involvement of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in finding solutions towards addressing their legal, social and institutional challenges, as reflected in the Pristina communique. We also welcome the role of young people, whose efforts illustrate the importance of an inclusive peace process.”
2019-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8541 (2019) · source
“The peace process should not only be led by the political leaders but be informed by the local communities in Serbia and Kosovo, as both parties represent a diverse people in language, culture, heritage and history. That will play an important role in ensuring active support for peacebuilding and intercommunity trust-building efforts in Kosovo. That brings me to my third and final point. The conflict between the parties has a significant impact on women and youth. We join the Secretary-General in welcoming the efforts of the United Nations in Pristina, in close cooperation with the European Union, to emphasize the involvement of women across all levels of political and decision-making processes during the Global Open Day on Women, Peace and Security.”
2019-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8541 (2019) · source
“First, the escalated tensions between the parties and their differences regarding preconditions for the resumption of dialogue risk undermining any meaningful prospects for a successful dialogue and reconciliation. Those factors also deepen the divide and exacerbate the feelings of mistrust regarding the political will to engage in good faith. In that regard, we urge all parties to refrain from actions that further delay the peace process and to allow for the normalization of relations between them. Secondly, South Africa wishes to echo the sentiments of the Secretary-General in his report regarding continued engagement with all stakeholders, such as the relevant authorities, civil society and bilateral and international partners.”
2019-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8541 (2019) · source
“We reiterate the importance of all United Nations personnel across the world being able to do their work in a safe environment and in accordance with international law. South Africa encourages Belgrade and Pristina to continue their efforts towards normalizing relations despite the challenges faced in finding a sustainable and peaceful political solution. We wish to reiterate the importance of the resumption of peace talks between the parties in a spirit of cooperation and compromise under the auspices of the European Union. Allow me to make three brief points with regard to the peace process in Kosovo in View of the persistent challenges to the resumption of talks between the two parties.”
2019-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8541 (2019) · source
“Daeic', First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia, to this meeting and note the presence of the representative of Kosovo. We wish to reiterate that the presence of the United Nations in Kosovo is critical to reaching a peaceful and sustainable solution and to encouraging cooperation among all parties and stakeholders in this situation, which has been ongoing for 20 years. In that regard, we wish to express our regret and concern about the developments in northern Kosovo last week, including the detention of two United Nations staff members by the Kosovo police during the course of their duties. We wish both staff members a speedy recovery as they are treated for their injuries.”
2019-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8541 (2019) · source
“South Africa welcomes the work of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), with the support of the United Nations Kosovo team and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Zahir Tanin, as well as the Secretary-General, whose efforts are playing a significant role towards creating an environment conducive to compromise, reconciliation and stability in Kosovo, as outlined in the most recent report of the Secretary-General, up to 14 May (S/2019/46l). We also welcome the briefing by Mr. De Serpa Soares, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel, and the legal clarity and opinions provided concerning the two United Nations staff members in Kosovo. We stand in support of his unbiased legal view on the issue. We would also like to welcome His Excellency Mr.”
2019-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8541 (2019) · source
“Lastly, South Africa wishes to reiterate that sanctions are a tool to advance a political process or facilitate a change in the political process and should not affect the provision of humanitarian assistance. We therefore support the adoption of resolution 2473 (2019) and hope that all Member States will adhere to its implementation.”
2019-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8540 (2019) · source
“It has been two months since the crisis started in Libya, without any respect being shown by the parties to the conflict for the Council's calls for a ceasefire. The worsening security and humanitarian situation in Tripoli is fuelled by the constant supply of arms to that city. South Africa reiterates that there is no military solution to the Libyan crisis. It is through a national dialogue process that the conflict can be resolved. As such, we encourage compromise, cooperation and a spirit of reconciliation on the part of all the parties in Libya. We strongly urge Member States to fully implement the arms embargo measures, which are of immediate importance to the protection of civilians and the restoration of security and stability in Libya and the region.”
2019-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8540 (2019) · source
“South Africa thanks the Secretary-General for his report on the implementation of resolution 2420 (2018), on the arms embargo on Libya (S/2019/380). We thank the United Kingdom as penholder for facilitating this process. My delegation remains deeply concerned that the current military operations in Libya are reportedly being reinforced by the transfer of arms into the country, including by sea and by land. We are further concerned by the suspension of the naval assets of the European Union military operation in the Southern Central Mediterranean, which are crucial to the implementation of the arms embargo resolution on the high seas. Furthermore, we encourage regional cooperation in the implementation of the arms embargo.”
2019-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8540 (2019) · source
“On behalf of the three African members of the Council, I would also like to inform the Council that the Peace and Security Council has, with immediate effect, suspended the participation of the Republic of the Sudan in all African Union activities until the effective establishment of a civilian-led transitional authority as the only way to allow the Sudan to exit from the current crisis.”
2019-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8539 (2019) · source