YouSaid · the spoken record

Mills

lines on the record: 739
first: 2018-05-17
most recent: 2023-05-03
sittings or episodes: 121
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

“We understand that some States have offered less- than-constructive comments about the Special Envoy’s efforts to advance political dialogue. The Syrian regime’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Faisal Mekdad, stated publicly last week that the step-for-step model as a way to resolve the crisis in Syria was unacceptable to it. We encourage all stakeholders, especially the direct parties to the conflict, to support the Special Envoy’s efforts to facilitate a political resolution to the crisis in Syria. We share the Special Envoy’s frustration at the Syrian Constitutional Committee’s lack of progress and agree that any future meetings of the small drafting group should be based on an agreement between the sides on the modalities for discussing draft texts and their revisions.”
2022-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8955 (2022) · source
“We will continue to urge the Security Council to not only reauthorize Bab Al-Hawa but also to reopen border crossings at Al-Yarubiyah and Bab Al-Salam to allow access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Those actions are essential to meeting the ever-growing emergency needs of the Syrian people across the country. Fourthly, the United States continues to press for accountability, particularly for chemical-weapon violations, crimes against humanity and war crimes and to ensure respect for human rights. Finally, we are working to support a Syrian-led political process, as envisioned and agreed by the Council in resolution 2254 (2015). As the Special Envoy has indicated, it is only through that inclusive political process, with the participation of the Syrian people, that we can reach a durable solution to the conflict.”
2022-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8955 (2022) · source
“The first of those objectives is sustaining the campaign of the United States and the Coalition to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham (ISIS), which we view as a cornerstone of our counter-terrorism efforts in the region. The ongoing situation at the detention centre in Hasakah, which Mr. Pedersen referenced, is a stark reminder that ISIS remains a real threat. The second objective is sustaining local ceasefires across the country, which is key to keeping the levels of violence down throughout Syria. Thirdly, we are working to support the expansion of full, unhindered humanitarian access throughout Syria.”
2022-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8955 (2022) · source
“I thank Special Envoy Pedersen for his tireless and ongoing efforts to find a political solution to this protracted and devastating conflict. My special thanks also go to Ms. Thuraya Hijazi. While their briefings can often be painful to hear and their messages are often pointed, we applaud Syrian civil-society actors like her for their courageous work. The United States also supports the engagement of the Syrian Women’s Advisory Board, and we call for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and the agenda on women and peace and security. As we approach the eleventh anniversary of the Syrian uprising, the United States stands with the Syrian people and continues to advance multiple objectives in pursuit of a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict.”
2022-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8955 (2022) · source
“The Sudanese authorities must continue to permit ICC teams to travel within the country and cooperate with requests for evidence and other information and assistance, including through the nomination of focal points for the Office of the Prosecutor. Those who are subject to arrest warrants by the ICC must face justice and be transferred to face trial. In conclusion, the fact that the trial of former Janjaweed commander Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman is scheduled to begin in April, 15 years after the arrest warrant was issued, is a testament to what can happen when demands for justice never falter. The United States will continue to stand by the Sudanese people in support of the ICC’s efforts to advance accountability.”
2022-01-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8948 (2022) · source
“As detailed in the Prosecutor’s report, the Sudanese authorities have welcomed visits by the current and former Prosecutor and their staff and have enabled them to revitalize their investigations in Darfur. That cooperation must continue. The memorandum of understanding signed in August, which we just heard about, was a positive step, and we are encouraged by the Prosecutor’s signal that it remains in effect. As Sudanese stakeholders work to find a way forward to address the current crisis, the United States strongly urges authorities to continue to comply with their international legal obligations pursuant to resolution 1593 (2005) and to cooperate with the ICC.”
2022-01-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8948 (2022) · source
“We reiterate our call for a full investigation and for perpetrators to be held to account. The Sudanese authorities must do more to address the security vacuum, ensure the protection of civilians and, most fundamentally, address the root causes of violence in those regions. Justice and accountability are a vital part of the Juba Peace Agreement, which creates a framework to address the crimes of the past and the foundation for a future in which the rights of all persons in the Sudan are respected. Just as the Security Council recognized in referring this situation to the ICC over 15 years ago, the Juba Peace Agreement recognizes that the ICC — together with domestic judicial institutions and broader transitional justice mechanisms — has a central role in delivering justice to victims.”
2022-01-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8948 (2022) · source
“Intercommunal violence — with continuing cycles of attacks and counter-attacks rather than any genuine resolution — threatens social cohesion, diminishes the likelihood of peaceful cohabitation and the sustainability of the peace process. Women and girls face the persistent threat of rape while carrying out basic livelihood activities. That is yet another horrific reminder of the prevalence of sexual violence in Darfur and beyond and makes the Prosecutor’s recent initiative to advance accountability for gender persecution all the more important. The United States also notes and condemns the December attacks on the World Food Programme warehouses and other storage facilities that may be depriving nearly 2 million people in need of assistance of life-saving aid. Thousands of people have been forced to flee to Chad.”
2022-01-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8948 (2022) · source
“The past few months, though, have brought into greater relief the daunting challenges facing the Sudan. The United States remains committed to accountability for the situation in Darfur — it is imperative for durable peace and stability in the Sudan. The Sudan cannot wait to resolve its current political crisis, which has impacts far beyond the capital. A restored transition must immediately get to work to deliver on the commitments of the Constitutional Declaration and to implement the Juba Peace Agreement. As described in the Sudan Panel of Experts’ recent report, armed militias and their supporters have continued to attack, kill and loot with impunity in Darfur.”
2022-01-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8948 (2022) · source
“The United States certainly welcomes the Prosecutor’s position that situations referred by the Council must be given greater prioritization in his Office’s work. We are pleased that he made it a priority to visit the Sudan so early in his tenure, and we appreciate the efforts of his team to reinvigorate investigations and engage victims and witnesses, including through follow-up visits to Khartoum. We also welcome his appointment of a Special Adviser focused specifically on the situation in Darfur, and we look forward to continuing to work with him on his Office’s investigation into this situation. When we convened on the ICC’s Darfur investigation in June last year (see S/PV.8791), the prospect for justice, so long awaited by victims, as the Prosecutor said this morning, seemed within reach.”
2022-01-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8948 (2022) · source
“I thank the Prosecutor for his report today and his briefing to us on the investigation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) into the situation in Darfur. The United States has welcomed his leadership since his tenure began. As the United States affirmed at the recent meeting of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, where we participated as an observer State, the United States stands ready to engage with the ICC to advance our shared objective of ensuring accountability for the most serious international crimes. We also welcome the recent election of two Deputy Prosecutors and ongoing review and reform efforts, which aim to strengthen the Court as an institution and enhance the delivery of justice.”
2022-01-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8948 (2022) · source
“The Coalition also announced the formation of the Africa Focus Group last month, which seeks to enhance African Coalition members’ civilian-led counter-terrorism capabilities, which can counter ISIS- affiliated and other transnational terrorist groups. The Africa Focus Group has an initial prioritization on border security, battlefield evidence protection and biometric enrolment of terrorist suspects.”
2022-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8944 (2022) · source
“We applaud the partnership among UNOWAS, the Regional Office for West and Central Africa of the International Organization for Migration, the Regional Collaboration Centre of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the United Nations Environment Programme to launch a regional working group to address the adverse effects of climate change on security and development in West Africa. Finally, the United States also continues to work with the Global Coalition to Defeat Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), which remains engaged in West Africa and the Sahel. The Coalition welcomed Burkina Faso as its eighty-fourth member in late 2021.”
2022-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8944 (2022) · source
“We urge all parties to armed conflict to grant greater access for humanitarian aid organizations and to respect the applicable international law obligations, including those under international humanitarian law. The United States continues to support the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework and regional initiatives in various Sahel countries to strengthen peace and security infrastructure that can prevent violence at the national and community levels. The inclusion of civil society organizations promotes the development of community-led solutions to counter attacks and violence proactively. UNOWAS work with Governments in West Africa and the Sahel region to develop a civilian-led joint project to address local conflicts is critical, we believe, to the stability of the region.”
2022-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8944 (2022) · source
“The United States joins others in being gravely concerned about the terrorist violence against civilians and security forces that is occurring across the Sahel and expanding into coastal West Africa. That includes instability exacerbated by ongoing conflicts and the increased flow of arms and mercenary groups that threaten the peace and stability of the region. We support the efforts of the region to counter terrorism and promote stability through holistic strategies that address the underlying drivers of conflict. Governments undermine their own effectiveness and credibility when State officials, particularly the security forces that are charged with protecting their own populations, engage in human rights violations.”
2022-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8944 (2022) · source
“We join others in welcoming last year’s free, fair and transparent election processes that took place in Cabo Verde and The Gambia. The United States applauds the people of both those countries for making their voices heard through the ballot box as both countries move towards peaceful, democratic consolidation. Like others, we are deeply concerned about the lack of progress in Mali. We urge the Malian transitional authorities to return to democracy in a timely fashion. We note the decision taken by ECOWAS yesterday with regard to additional sanctions, which we are reviewing, and look forward to further discussion in the Security Council this week. We condemn the September 2021 coup in Guinea and urge the transition Government there to rapidly hold elections and return the country to constitutional, civilian-led democracy.”
2022-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8944 (2022) · source
“The United States reiterates our appreciation for the continued efforts of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) to advance the Security Council’s aim of a stable and secure Sahel region, which UNOWAS does by working to deepen democratic processes, bolster the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other subregional institutions and engage Governments and civil society actors. Like other speakers today, the United States also welcomes more civil society participation in the political life of the Sahel region. The United States therefore continues to encourage civic engagement in the many upcoming elections across the region, consistent with necessary public health precautions.”
2022-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8944 (2022) · source
“My thanks go to Special Representative Annadif and Executive Director Waly for their briefings. I also especially thank Ms. Thiombiano Yougbaré for her compelling and powerful presentation. The recommendations that she and the People’s Coalition for the Sahel made last year and that she underscored today certainly will influence the United States Government’s approach to the challenges we face in the Sahel. I therefore thank her for that.”
2022-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8944 (2022) · source
“They and their teams have been strong and effective colleagues on the Council over the past two years and the United States delegation looks forward to continuing our close work with each of them after they leave the Council. I will conclude by quoting from the final line of one of the great American plays of the twentieth century. When you speak of this experience — and you will — please “remember to be kind”.”
2021-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8940 (2021) · source
“We renew our call for all Member States to provide financial contributions to UNRWA as we work towards a financially sustainable Agency that effectively delivers on its mandate and operates in line with humanitarian principles. Finally, if I may, as this is the last scheduled meeting of the year, I would like to congratulate, on behalf of the United States delegation, the Nigerien presidency. It was a very successful presidency during a very challenging month. I would also like to bid, on behalf of the United States delegation, a fond farewell to our outgoing colleagues: Estonia, the Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia and Viet Nam.”
2021-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8940 (2021) · source
“While the United States has contributed more than $318 million in the fiscal year 2021 to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to help Palestinians in need, we are deeply concerned that the Agency is once again facing an immediate financial shortfall. We note the broad support of Member States for the work of the Agency, most recently expressed during the Human Rights Council briefing to the Council and during the General Assembly’s humanitarian debate. We thank those Member States contributing to UNRWA, including Qatar and Kuwait, for their recent generosity in that regard.”
2021-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8940 (2021) · source
“Let me also take note of Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s welcome of Israeli Prime Minister Bennett to the United Arab Emirates last week. It demonstrated that good faith engagement can build confidence and create a path of cooperation towards achieving security, prosperity and dignity for every Israeli and every Palestinian. We look forward to working with the United Arab Emirates when it joins the Council next month, in addition to new members Albania, Brazil, Gabon and Ghana. The United States remains committed to widening the circle of peace between Israel and its neighbours and expanding normalization agreements. We encourage all those who look for peace in the Middle East to commit to constructive acts that helped the Palestinians and Israelis to coexist and prosper.”
2021-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8940 (2021) · source
“Those actions include demolitions, settlement expansion, the eviction of families from homes in which they have lived for generations, incitement to violence and providing compensation for individuals in prison for acts of terrorism. We also call on the authorities to hold those responsible for violence fully accountable for their actions. All perpetrators should face equal justice under the law. Israeli and Palestinian civil society members have an important role to play in promoting peace. Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield met with civil society leaders in Ramallah and was, frankly, inspired by their work to advance democracy, human rights and economic opportunity for the Palestinian people. We also support the roles of Israeli and Palestinian non-governmental organizations alike in monitoring human rights abuses, wherever they occur.”
2021-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8940 (2021) · source
“As always, I would like to thank Special Coordinator Wennesland for his very useful and informative briefing. The United States is also deeply concerned about rising tensions in the West Bank and in and around Jerusalem, especially violence perpetrated against ordinary civilians attempting to go about their lives as best they can. We urge the authorities to condemn acts of violence and also to respond to attacks in a proportionate and reasonable manner that seeks to avoid the unnecessary loss of life. Such episodes risk precipitating an even greater escalation of violence. We call on Israelis and Palestinians to refrain from any actions that would add to the already tense situation we have just heard about and that would undercut efforts to advance a negotiated two-State solution.”
2021-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8940 (2021) · source
“We therefore urge the Federal Government of Somalia, the African Union and their international friends to take advantage of this time to reach agreement consistent with resolution 2568 (2021) on the strategic objectives, duration, size, composition and financing for a reconfigured mission capable of addressing the evolving Al-Shabaab threat and enabling and building the capacity of Somalia security forces to take over security responsibilities. Given the urgency of these tasks, the United States urges all parties to reach agreement before the end of February 2022, to allow for adoption of a new mandate by 31 March 2022. In conclusion, the United States would like to thank the penholder, the United Kingdom, for its diligence and its collaboration in shepherding this resolution.”
2021-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8939 (2021) · source
“The United States voted in favour of a three-month rollover of the 2021 mandate for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to provide additional time for an agreement on a reconfigured African Union-led mission in Somalia. AMISOM has played a vital role in addressing the Al-Shabaab threat and supporting security in Somalia, but delays in planning for a post-2021 mission puts future progress at risk.”
2021-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8939 (2021) · source
“Confirming the whereabouts of the tens of thousands of missing Syrians and securing the release of those arbitrarily detained will remain a priority for the United States. Seeking accountability and justice is critical to build confidence in the broader political process, as called for in resolution 2254 (2015). Without that accountability, the Syrian people will never experience a stable, just and enduring peace. Let me conclude by saying that only through an inclusive political process can Syrians witness the future in which they no longer live in fear and are no longer dependent on humanitarian relief for their day to day survival.”
2021-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8937 (2021) · source
“As we have heard, just last month the United States Department of the Treasury issued an expanded general license to ensure that United States sanctions related to Syria do not inhibit activity undertaken by non-governmental organizations inside Syria in furtherance of early-recovery projects. Ultimately, however, humanitarian aid merely treats the symptoms of Syrian suffering, not the cause. We support the Syrian people in their efforts to live in dignity. We continue to call for a nationwide ceasefire. The only path for a sustainable peaceful future for the Syrian people is an end of the conflict, as laid out in resolution 2254 (2015). We urge the Al-Assad regime to seriously pursue the avenues towards peace that Special Envoy Pedersen has laid out, including through the Constitutional Committee.”
2021-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8937 (2021) · source
“The cross-border mechanism remains one of the most robust and closely monitored humanitarian operations in the world, subject to multiple layers of checks to ensure a high degree of transparency and accountability. As the report notes, more than 47,000 truckloads of humanitarian aid have crossed into northern Syria through the rigorously monitored system since July 2014. That is the type of transparency that the Council has called for. It reinforces why the United Nations cross-border mandate is so critical. The United States remains steadfast in its support for humanitarian relief in Syria, including early-recovery projects. Early-recovery activities like rehabilitating schools and clinics and helping vulnerable families improve their livelihoods aim to make Syrians more resilient and reduce their dependence on external assistance.”
2021-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8937 (2021) · source
“If the Council is unified in its position that we need to let aid flow through all modalities, then we must also reopen the closed cross-border points. The report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to resolution 2585 (2021) is clear that, in the north-east, the closure of Al-Yarubiyah has been devastating for the health sector, which was the most reliant on the crossing. That has contributed to limited access to essential medical supplies for communities there, including coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing kits and treatment. How many more variants of COVID-19 do we need to see before the Council takes seriously its responsibility to open the Al-Yarubiyah crossing so that critical vaccines and supplies can reach all in need?”
2021-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8937 (2021) · source
“But let there be no illusions: there have been threats to the security of humanitarian personnel seeking to deliver and distribute that assistance — threats from shelling, air strikes, landmines and improvised explosive devices. Those aid operations are also extremely resource-intensive when compared to the cross-border modality. As we heard from Martin Griffiths earlier, that is especially important to remember as the gap between needs in Syria and donor funding grows larger. The United States will continue to support a response that puts humanity at the centre of policy. In that vein, access for United Nations aid through Bab Al-Hawa remains irreplaceable if we want to alleviate the suffering that we have heard about in north-west Syria.”
2021-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8937 (2021) · source
“There is no denying the tangible progress on delivering cross-line assistance since resolution 2585 (2021) was adopted (see S/PV.8817). This includes the two World Food Programme convoys that delivered assistance in northwest Syria on 31 August and 9 December, as we heard. We also welcome the distribution of this aid to beneficiaries and encourage future cooperation among all parties to enable these operations to continue in a predictable and safe manner. We support the development and full implementation of the proposed operational plan for regular United Nations interagency cross-line operations over the coming six months and for the new distribution plans for that cross-line aid.”
2021-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8937 (2021) · source
“Let me start by thanking Special Envoy Pedersen, Under-Secretary- General Griffiths and Ms. Ballour. My delegation wants to thank the Secretary General for his substantive report on United Nations humanitarian operations in Syria (S/2021/1030) and for his 60-day report on resolution 2585 (2021) (S/2021/1029). Both of these reports provide key insights into the robust United Nations efforts to ensure the transparency and efficiency of aid operations and progress on cross-line access. Resolution 2585 (2021), together with the cross- border mechanism that it authorizes, remains a vital lifeline to the Syrian people, as we have just heard. The United States supports the use of all modalities to deliver aid in Syria. We echo the Secretary-General’s observation that cross-line aid complements but cannot replace the cross-border mechanism.”
2021-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8937 (2021) · source
“The United States Government supports the efforts of the countries of the region to effectively address terrorism in support of a holistic approach to peace, stability and security. Finally, the United States continues to offer a reward of up to $5 million for any information that leads to the arrest, the transfer or the conviction of Lord’s Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony. We urge anyone with knowledge of Kony’s whereabouts to contact our War Crimes Rewards Program and help bring him to justice.”
2021-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8933 (2021) · source
“Fourthly, in Burundi, the United States recognized positive developments by terminating its bilateral sanctions programme and related visa restrictions on 18 November. The United States remains concerned about reports of human rights violations and abuses that threaten to undermine progress, but our decision reflects changed circumstances in Burundi since 2015 and the President of Burundi’s pursuit of reforms across multiple sectors. United States sanctions are responsive, always, to the situation on the ground and were lifted in Burundi following concrete positive steps. With regard to two regional situations, the United States condemns all attacks by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa.”
2021-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8933 (2021) · source
“We support the role of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa in promoting inclusive political dialogue in Cameroon and call for the immediate cessation of attacks on United Nations convoys and humanitarian workers. Thirdly, in the Central African Republic, we call on all parties to respect the ceasefire declared by President Touadera, as well as the February 2019 Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region road map. We again urge all security actors to coordinate their operations with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic and to end human rights abuses.”
2021-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8933 (2021) · source
“To that end, we were heartened by the November 29 decision by the Transitional Military Council to grant amnesty to almost 300 members of armed groups, positioning them to constructively engage in the national dialogue. Women and civil society must be included in the dialogue. Moving forward, we hope to see a concrete plan and a timeline for legislative and executive elections. A representative and democratically elected Government is the best path to long-term prosperity and stability in Chad. Secondly, like others, we remain concerned about the continued violence in Cameroon, including the Far North, North-West and South-West regions of the country. We agree with the Secretary-General’s report that dialogue between the Government and armed separatists in the anglophone regions has not gained sufficient momentum.”
2021-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8933 (2021) · source
“I thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Fall for his briefing. Today I will raise four country-specific situations and two regional threats. First, the United States would like to express its gratitude to the African Union for appointing a High Representative for Chad to encourage continued reforms and steps towards a democratic transition. We support the High Representative’s efforts and join the calls for a peaceful, timely and civilian-led transition to a democratically elected Government in 2022. The report of the Secretary-General (S/2021/975) shows advancement on key milestones. We hope to see more progress towards a timely and inclusive national dialogue.”
2021-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8933 (2021) · source
“Let me conclude by welcoming the news of the announcement we heard today of the transfer agreement between the Republic of Niger and the United Nations. That is a significant positive step that the United States welcomes and commends. I also want to take a moment to commend the Mechanism’s Registrar for his work, commitment and dedication in that connection. The tireless work of the Mechanism serves as an important reminder to us all that we must recommit to protecting civilians during armed conflict and holding accountable those who commit atrocities. Each of those steps moves us closer to properly and fully honouring the victims’ memories.”
2021-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8927 (2021) · source
“We also note that as long as some continue to engage in the dangerous fiction of genocide denial, to protect memorials that honour those responsible for genocide and other crimes and to stoke ethnic division, we risk the recurrence of those horrific crimes. A critical part of the efforts to ensure non-recurrence is the full recognition within domestic systems of international convictions. We welcome the Mechanism’s ongoing engagement with the affected countries and we encourage those national jurisdictions to vigorously pursue accountability for atrocity crimes in order to move beyond the dark and dangerous days of the past. We further encourage those national jurisdictions to explore opportunities for cooperation with one another in order to make justice a reality.”
2021-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8927 (2021) · source
“We join others in calling on Member States that may be harbouring them to cooperate with the investigation. The United States continues to offer a reward of up to $5 million for information that leads to the arrest, transfer or conviction of the remaining Rwandan fugitives. In addition, the United States continues to have serious concerns with respect to Serbia’s non-cooperation on the arrest warrants for Jojić and Radeta, who have been charged with witness interference. Serbia has a legal obligation to cooperate with the Mechanism and we call on it to execute the arrest warrants without further delay. Contempt cases are a critical aspect of the Mechanism’s work and are equally deserving of our attention in order to uphold the rule of law.”
2021-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8927 (2021) · source
“The Mechanism has taken significant steps to realize those collective objectives over the past year and we are grateful for the years of work performed by the Mechanism in carrying out justice. That work has clearly manifested itself in several achievements, including the decision affirming Ratko Mladić’s conviction; the thorough work of the Mechanism in the Stanišić and Simatović cases; and the four convictions for witness interference in the Nzabonimpa et al. contempt case. Taken together, those judicial actions move us closer to securing justice for the victims of those horrific crimes, their families and communities, and their countries. Still, we can and must do more to prevent future atrocities and realize the ideals of justice, including by securing the swift apprehension of the remaining six Rwandan fugitives.”
2021-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8927 (2021) · source
“Judge Meron’s efforts to provide justice and accountability for victims for some of humankind’s worst atrocities will always be remembered. The Mechanism has continued to make important progress over the reporting period, despite the persistent impact of significant coronavirus disease restrictions. We commend its continued commitment to fulfilling the goals the Security Council set out for the Mechanism at the time its establishment as a lean, temporary and efficient body. We appreciate the ongoing efforts to expeditiously complete the remaining trials and appeals, to locate and arrest the remaining fugitives indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and to assist national jurisdictions prosecuting international crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.”
2021-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8927 (2021) · source
“I thank President Agius and Prosecutor Brammertz for their briefings on the ongoing work of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals to bring perpetrators to justice for the atrocities committed in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. The United States remains deeply grateful for the commitment and hard work of the Mechanism’s judges, attorneys and staff in Arusha and The Hague, as well as in its field offices in Kigali and Sarajevo, despite numerous challenges over the past year. We commend their unwavering pursuit of justice for the victims in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. We also join others in expressing the United States’ deep appreciation for the long and distinguished service of Judge Theodor Meron, who has retired from the roster of Mechanism judges.”
2021-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8927 (2021) · source
“Although we were not able to reach agreement on the benchmarks by our self-imposed deadline, the United States has not given up on trying to establish such benchmarks, based on the recommendations of the Secretary-General and the continued evolution of the situation in the Sudan. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and discuss further action in response to developments in the Sudan.”
2021-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8925 (2021) · source
“Regrettably, intercommunal violence in Darfur, as we have heard, continues to persist, and clashes between security forces and former armed opposition groups have increased in recent weeks, highlighting the urgent need to consolidate peace. Together with others, we condemn the recent killings and displacement in Darfur and elsewhere in the Sudan, and we are concerned about the heightened risk of violence for civilians amid such clashes. Let me just add that, last February, the Council stated (see S/2021/136) its intention to establish benchmarks to guide us in reviewing sanctions measures on the Sudan.”
2021-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8925 (2021) · source
“We continue to encourage an inclusive Sudanese process to implement the important transitional tasks, including creating the Transitional Legislative Council, judicial structures, electoral institutions and a constitutional convention. We also continue to press for sustained humanitarian access to all conflict-affected and displaced populations to facilitate life-saving assistance. We must ensure the progress made since 2019 in reaching those in need. The United States remains committed to the people of the Sudan and helping them achieve a successful democratic transition. We look forward to close collaboration with our fellow members of the Council, UNITAMS, the African Union and other key stakeholders to achieve that objective.”
2021-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8925 (2021) · source
“We too are encouraged by the 21 November agreement between Sudanese actors to reinstate Prime Minister Hamdok to office, but, as others have noted, this agreement is only a first step. We urge all parties to live up to their commitments made in the 21 November agreement and to renew their focus on completing the Sudan’s transition to democracy by implementing the transitional tasks that are outlined in the 2019 Constitutional Declaration and the Juba Peace Agreement. To provide political space for that to occur, the military must release all political detainees, lift the state of emergency and refrain from any and all violence against peaceful demonstrators.”
2021-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8925 (2021) · source
“I thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Perthes for his comprehensive briefing. Let me echo others in thanking him and his team for their committed work during a difficult time period in the Sudan. Let me also take a moment to thank Ambassador Jürgenson and the Estonian delegation for their work leading the Sudan Sanctions Committee these past two years. It is always good to see our good colleague, the Chargé d’affaires from the Sudanese Mission, in the Chamber today. The United States fully supports the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in the Sudan (UNITAMS) and its mandate to assist in the Sudan’s democratic transition as laid out in the Constitutional Declaration and in the implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement.”
2021-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8925 (2021) · source
“As we heard, Russia continues to spread disinformation about the use of chemical weapons in Syria, attack the integrity and professional work of the OPCW, impede ongoing efforts by responsible nations to hold the Al-Assad regime accountable for its use of chemical weapons and accuse Member States of politicizing what, in fact, are heinous atrocities. That pattern of enablement is both irresponsible and dangerous. As long as the Al-Assad regime continues to perpetrate atrocities against its own people, peace in that country will remain out of reach. The United States strongly supports all efforts to ensure that resolution 2118 (2013) is implemented and to secure a political resolution consistent with resolution 2254 (2015).”
2021-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8921 (2021) · source