YouSaid · the spoken record

Ndong Mba

lines on the record: 1,189
first: 2014-09-18
most recent: 2023-06-20
sittings or episodes: 175
sources: un-security-council

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“All delegations present should congratulate themselves as, in part, this ceasefire is due to the attention given and the pressure exerted by the Security Council. Equatorial Guinea has closely followed the high- level diplomacy that has, in recent months, facilitated the evolution of the peace process that began with the signing of an important declaration of a joint agreement. That established a permanent ceasefire and introduced commitments in some of the areas of greatest tension. We cannot help but applaud those steps, which tunequivocally constitute a step in the right direction. However, we are concerned about the latest attacks mentioned in the report presented today, which we note were caused by famine and a lack of employment and schooling.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8356 (2018) · source
“Grace John, Governance and Peace Manager for Community Empowerment, for their very informative briefings. The Government of Equatorial Guinea would like once again to pay tribute to the hard work and efforts of IGAD, the African Union, the United Nations and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to bring the parties to the conflict closer to implementing the signed Agreement in the quest for peace and stability in South Sudan. When it comes to this conflict, my country has always advocated that the parties must respect the ceasefire and return to the negotiating table. Today we can say, with a high degree of optimism and some satisfaction, that that objective has been met.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8356 (2018) · source
“Mr. Ndong Mba (Equatorial Guinea) (spoke in Spanish): This afternoon's debate on the situation in South Sudan is most timely, especially after the recent developments that have taken place in the political context of this brother country. I therefore thank you, Mr. President, for including this issue on the agenda for this meeting. As usual, the report (S/2018/831) presented by the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Jean Pierre Lacroix - whom we sincerely thank - has been most comprehensive and illustrative regarding the current situation on the ground. We thank Mr. Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative for South Sudan and Mr. Ismail Wais, Special Envoy of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) for South Sudan, as well as Ms.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8356 (2018) · source
“Despite that difficult operational environment, my delegation is pleased that the United Nations and its partners are continuing to deliver regular humanitarian assistance to Idlib from across the border in Turkey. Furthermore, under such challenging circumstances, the United Nations and its humanitarian partners must not lose sight of the need for cross-border assistance to be prioritized so that humanitarian assistance can be delivered efficiently and effectively. I would like to conclude by reiterating once again the need for all parties to the conflict to exercise restraint and respect their obligations under human rights law and humanitarian law to safeguard civilian lives and protect civilian infrastructure, as well as United Nations personnel and humanitarian actors, in accordance with resolution 2139 (2014).”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8355 (2018) · source
“The Islamic State continues to maintain a small redoubt on the border with Iraq, and a large part of the country's territory remains beyond the Government's reach, especially in the north and east, areas which are in the hands of Kurdish militia. Moreover, armed groups that manage to escape Idlib could still find refuge north of Aleppo. Therefore, as we have said before, civilians must not be made to suffer from a scorched earth policy. With regard to the humanitarian situation, as has been stressed, 2 million people in Idlib are in a vulnerable situation and require humanitarian assistance. In that context, a major attack could be more lethal and destructive than any other that has been launched during this conflict, which has already claimed the lives of more than 500,000 people since 2011.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8355 (2018) · source
“De Mistura with representatives of 10 countries of the International Syria Contact Group on 10, 11 and 14 September in Geneva will finally lead to the creation of an intra-Syrian constitutional committee and that the guarantors of Astana will not present any impediment to the constitutional proposal put forward by Mr. De Mistura. That proposal is essential for the holding of elections in the post-war period with a view to legitimizing a political process in which all the political actors of the country must participate. The fact that the Syrian conflict will not end with this battle justifies the need to prioritize a political solution in Idlib.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8355 (2018) · source
“All that means that the Russian-Turkish talks must prevent the Syrian army from carrying out a major military offensive, which would lead to the loss of many civilian lives in Idlib. We congratulate the Governments of the Russian Federation and Turkey for that noble diplomatic effort, and the Syrian Government for having supported that agreement and stated that it is prepared to implement its provisions. That decision, which should be aimed at strengthening the ceasefire, improving the humanitarian situation and seeking a long-term political solution to the conflict, is perfectly in line with the mandate and work of the international mediator for Syria, Special Envoy De Mistura. We would like to thank him for his tireless work, which hled to the Sochi agreement. My Government hopes that the meetings held by Mr.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8355 (2018) · source
“That memorandum is aimed at rejecting a large-scale military offensive, which we have been anticipating since the beginning of September owing to the intensification of air and land attacks, which have led to dozens of deaths, injuries and displacements, as well as the destruction of civilian infrastructure. As the signatories pointed out, that Russian-Turkish agreement seeks to create a demilitarized zone in Idlib patrolled by soldiers of both countries by 15 October and should make it possible to separate the Government forces from the opposition forces, to withdraw heavy weapons starting on 10 October and to re-establish road transport between Aleppo and the towns of Latakia and Hama before the end of 2018.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8355 (2018) · source
“Mr. Ndong Mba (Equatorial Guinea) (spoke in Spanish): We express our heartfelt condolences to Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia for the loss of life of Russian servicemen yesterday. We also extend those condolences to his Government and the families of the victims. We must be aware that the situation in Idlib, and in Syria in general, requires strong diplomatic capacity at the highest level to stop the massacre and objectively manage the flow of displaced persons. That is why, despite the very confrontational positions expressed at the Tehran summit, the Government of Equatorial Guinea welcomes the signing of the memorandum on the stabilization of the Idlib de-escalation zone, which was agreed yesterday in Sochi by President Putin and President Erdogan.”
2018-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8355 (2018) · source
“In conclusion, the Republic of Equatorial Guinea acknowledges and is grateful for the crucial role played by the UNAMA and all United Nations agencies, as well as the role that countries of the region are playing in support of the Afghan people, to foster peace and reconciliation, monitor and promote human rights and help enhance the credibility, integrity, inclusiveness and sustainability of the electoral process, as well as to ensure better coordination of the assistance of the international community in Afghanistan.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8354 (2018) · source
“Based on information from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, two thirds of Afghanistan is suffering from an unusually severe drought, which has caused more than 100,000 people to leave their homes in search of water. That situation, together with the prevalence of diseases such as polio and others, constitutes a combination of serious consequences, and we must urgently find the most effective way to provide humanitarian assistance.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8354 (2018) · source
“We are aware of the close relationship between the cultivation and trafficking of opium and terrorism. In that context, we commend the counter- narcotics operations carried out by the Government, with the support of the international community and in close cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, which resulted in a high number of narcotics seizures, the arrest of drug traffickers and the closure of heroin laboratories, among other successes. Thirdly, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to have a debate on the situation in Afghanistan without addressing the issue of humanitarian assistance.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8354 (2018) · source
“For our delegation, the chilling numbers of civilians killed and wounded so far in 2018 remain cause for dismay. Amid those horrifying statistics, the proportion of children and women killed and wounded and the ongoing extreme damage inflicted on civilians by constant suicide bombings and other improvised explosive device attacks is extremely worrying. We therefore again urge all parties to the conflict to take every possible measure to protect civilians, especially women and children, in accordance with international humanitarian law and fundamental human rights standards. Another factor that we believe is increasing instability and insecurity among the Afghan people, and which also concerns us, is the significant increase in opium production.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8354 (2018) · source
“The Government of Equatorial Guinea commends the Afghan Government for the positive progress made towards holding the elections despite the difficulties that are arising. We encourage the Government not to waver in its diligent efforts to conduct successful elections, which we believe will represent a positive change for the Afghan people. We also welcome President Ghani's new call for a ceasefire. We believe that demonstrates his real commitment to achieving peace and stability in Afghanistan. We call on all armed groups, in particular the Taliban, to respond positively to the appeals of President Ghani and the Government to refrain from committing violent actions and to come to the negotiating table. Secondly, attacks against public facilities, as have been noted in the most recent attacks, are particularly alarming.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8354 (2018) · source
“We must bear in mind that there will always be a party that does not believe its interests and the interests of the Afghan people are being met. Therefore, it is no coincidence that, as the elections on 20 October approach, we are seeing an increase in attacks and efforts not only to boycott the elections, but also to paralyse a democratic political process through the political mobilization of opposition groups, occupation and closure of the facilities of the Independent Electoral Commission in some provinces, among other things. As they are not practices that are worthy of anyone wishing to govern the country democratically, we urge all parties to participate in a meaningful way in the political process aimed at bringing about lasting peace and stability for the people of Afghanistan.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8354 (2018) · source
“First, on the political front - and in no way do I wish to minimize the progress and achievements of the Afghan Government, the international community and other regional and international actors with respect to peace agreements and other accords - we believe that the status quo in Afghanistan has not been improved to date because some of the parties involved in the conflict and their respective partners have put their interests before those of the Afghan people. All negotiations must be focused solely and exclusively on seeking solutions to the real problems that Afghanistan is facing related to security, stability, the prosperity of the Afghan people and the promotion of national reconciliation as a fundamental way of resolving the problems of the Afghan people.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8354 (2018) · source
“A convergence of factors clearly hinders the realization of the peace and security the Afghan people seek. However, as we have discussed at length in this Chamber, a solution to Afghanistan's conflicts can be found only through effective, constructive and direct political negotiations among the relevant parties, as well as the holding of transparent and inclusive elections whereby Afghans determine the political and socioeconomic system most fitting to their customs and culture and favourable to the interests and well- being of the Afghan people. Allow me to make some observations regarding some factors contributing to the instability and insecurity in Afghanistan.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8354 (2018) · source
“We are highly dismayed and concerned about the security situation in Afghanistan. The country has once again been shaken by a wave of bloody terrorist attacks that have claimed the lives of approximately 1,692 Afghan civilians, in the short period of only six months, as reflected in the report under discussion, from January to June. The increase in suicide and air attacks - of 38 per cent and 46 per cent, respectively - as compared to the same period in 2017 is alarming. Indeed, the number of fatalities reported this year by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has exceeded 5,000. It is unacceptable and inconceivable to remain indifferent to such barbaric acts, especially since they have greatest impact on the most vulnerable sector of the population.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8354 (2018) · source
“Mr. Ndong Mba (Equatorial Guinea) (spoke in Spanish): Our delegation wishes to thank Mr. Tadamichi Yamamoto, Special Representative of the Secretary- General, for the comprehensive and detailed report (S/2018/824) on developments in the situation in Afghanistan and for the valuable information provided in his briefing here today. We also thank Mr. Ramiz Bakhtiar, Afghan youth representative, and welcome his participation in this important debate and his very constructive statement on the situation in Afghanistan. First of all, we would like to convey our deepest condolences to the people and the Government of Afghanistan following the most recent outrageous terrorist attacks - yet again, let us recognize them as acts of cowardice - in Kabul and Nangarhar on 5 and 11 September, respectively.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8354 (2018) · source
“If we want to prevent cascading nuclear proliferation, we need a major international effort and a sincere will to destroy them all. That is the position of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea - we must destroy all nuclear weapons and all weapons of mass destruction in order for the world to live in peace and tranquility without having to fear the constant threat posed by such weapons.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8353 (2018) · source
“As such, we must respect and truly analyse the information or concerns advanced by any member of the Council. In the case under consideration, the Republic of Equatorial Guinea will always promote international law, nuclear non-proliferation and negotiation. Those elements will always guide our position. We must come to an immediate and common understanding of the aspects that affected the stalemate in the negotiations undertaken in June and April between the United States of America and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, respectively, on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. The world's nuclear weapons, many of them on instant alert, continue to be counted in the thousands.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8353 (2018) · source
“After the hopeful developments concerning the commitment to denuclearize the Korean peninsula expressed in April by the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Kim Jong-un, alongside his counterpart, Moon Jae-in, President of the Republic of Korea, and later in Singapore during the June meeting with Donald Trump, President of the United States of America, with agreements that included a set of principles to denuclearize the Korean peninsula, the Republic of Equatorial Guinea hopes that the leaders of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will honour those voluntarily agreed commitments and seek continued cooperation with the Security Council in order to fulfil its obligations under the Council's resolutions. We are here to do what is right, namely, to promote international peace and security.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8353 (2018) · source
“As we have always said, we believe that the members of the Council know better than anyone the difficulties we encounter in discharging our mandate when we lack unanimity among our members. That is why we call for the work and decisions of the Committee to be reached by consensus. The same is true for the case under consideration - we must ensure that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea scrupulously adheres to and implements the sanctions unanimously adopted by the Council.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8353 (2018) · source
“Mr. Ndong Mba (Equatorial Guinea) (spoke in Spanish): At the outset, as the Ambassador of Kuwait did, allow me to express our most heartfelt condolences for the victims of Hurricane Florence and other natural disasters in other parts of the world. We also wish to welcome the representatives of Japan and Korea to this morning's debate. We thank you, Madam President, for convening this meeting, as well as Ms. DiCarlo for her informative briefing. On 30 August, the Security Council gathered to hear the briefing on the midterm report of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006). At its most recent meeting on this topic, the Council ended up discussing the reasons behind the blocking of the report as well as some members' disagreement about certain aspects of its content.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8353 (2018) · source
“While plans to combat armed and terrorist factions in Idlib remain on the drawing table, the priority of the Security Council must continue to focus on the protection of the civilian population, of which almost 3 million people are already displaced and have no place to go.”
2018-09-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8347 (2018) · source
“I therefore echo the words of Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura, who stated recently: "Let us try to avoid that the last, probably major, battle of the Syrian territorial conflict end in a bloodbath. We ask all countries to maintain moral pressure to avoid a drastic military option in Idlib and provide additional time for negotiations". In that regard, we express our optimism regarding the meetings that the Special Envoy held yesterday and today with representatives of the Astana guarantors with a view towards negotiations to pave the way towards peace and the possibility of finding alternative solutions for ending the impasse and the armed conflict in Syria through the implementation of a Syrian-led, inclusive constitutional committee.”
2018-09-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8347 (2018) · source
“As the Iranian Chair pointed out at the summit, however, that must be done without causing suffering for the civilian population with a scorched-earth policy. While there seems to be no obvious military solution to neutralize the Idlib jihadists, it is also clear that a destructive offensive should not be considered as the appropriate response. Even if such an offensive succeeded in defeating those groups on the battlefield, the jihadist threat would remain. We saw that scenario play out last year in the Euphrates Valley region following the territorial victory over and retaking of the city of Deir ez-Zor by the Syrian army from militias from the Islamic State. Remaining elements ofjihadist militias can continue waging an asymmetrical war in Syria and beyond its borders in areas not under the control of the region's Governments.”
2018-09-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8347 (2018) · source
“Moreover, the resolve and commitment of the guarantors to not prioritize a military solution to the conflict and advocate for a negotiated political process is to be commended. We believe that it is essential that those two key provisions of the joint statement be ensured and realized on the ground. That is predicated upon all national and international parties abstaining from military operations, which could transform Idlib governorate into the target of intense bombings. At this past Friday's briefing (see S/PV.8345), we all were in agreement in stressing the grave consequences that a fierce military offensive would have for that area. It is true that we must combat active terrorists in order to restore peace and stability to Syria.”
2018-09-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8347 (2018) · source
“We are grateful to the Russian Federation for its briefing and to the three Astana guarantors who, in holding the third trilateral summit in Tehran, have become key actors in coordination efforts and political and security cooperation at the regional and international levels. The Government of Equatorial Guinea has taken note of the joint statement issued following the summit in Tehran, in the light ofwhich my delegation would like to make the following comments. We gratefully welcome the commitment of the Astana guarantors to continue cooperating to eradicate all persons, groups, enterprises and entities designated as terrorists in Syria by the Security Council. That position fully corresponds to that of the Government of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, which is firmly opposed to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”
2018-09-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8347 (2018) · source
“Mr. Ndong Mba (Equatorial Guinea) (spoke in Spanish): I begin my statement by expressing our solidarity and that of our Government to the Government and the people of the United States of America and the families of those who heroically died as a result of the barbaric terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers and other sites in the country, which we are commemorating on today's anniversary. We convey to you, Ambassador Haley, our most sincere sympathy. My delegation is grateful for the convening of this meeting, justified by the intense international attention that Idlib has drawn and the urgent need for a coordinated response so as to avoid an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.”
2018-09-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8347 (2018) · source
“We believe that the mandates of peacekeeping, peacebuilding and political missions must include measures and strategies that allow them greater access to international financial information pertaining to the parties to a conflict in order to reduce corruption, which influences the length ofa conflict and, for each specific case, a specific formula for the control and monitoring of funds on the ground, necessary expenditures and payments that have actually been made, thereby ensuring an exhaustive and impartial accounting. Let me conclude my statement by quoting Argentine journalist Hugo Alconada Mon, who stated in his book The Root ofAll Evil: "Corruption is like tango; it takes two to dance."”
2018-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8346 (2018) · source
“In accordance with the position of the African Union, we urge States in conflict to strengthen their public institutions, transparency and accountability for the perpetrators of corrupt acts that strengthen armed groups and facilitate the trafficking in arms, drugs and persons for personal gain and who destabilize society as a whole. These actions are essential in order to achieve the noble goal of silencing the weapons and putting an end to all wars on our continent as soon as possible.”
2018-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8346 (2018) · source
“Unfortunately, transnational corporations, backed by some powerful countries and with many financial resources, in order to achieve their objectives of maximum profits, sometimes corrupt officials, especially from the poorest countries, with a View to obtaining large profits by working outside the legally established rules. Therefore, there is also a moral duty to be borne by corporate actors and their backers to comply with the law of the countries where they operate and submit to the rule of law and avoid impunity, another source of social unrest, and therefore a possible cause of conflict.”
2018-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8346 (2018) · source
“In that regard, I take this opportunity to commend the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime on its work and the great effort it has undertaken so far in several States to eradicate corruption with a view to reducing the serious conflicts that simmer and persist in those countries. Consequently, for the purpose of preventing conflicts fuelled by corruption in all their manifestations, it is the duty of States to cooperate with the competent international organizations and to take preventive measures to reduce this practice, which is becoming systemic in many societies.”
2018-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8346 (2018) · source
“Therefore, we encourage the international community to ensure that each country takes all possible measures to ensure good governance and thereby improve the standard of living of its people in order to reduce the tendency towards corruption. In the area of peacebuilding, the Government of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea has contributed to the best of its ability by always providing human and financial resources in the subregion of Central Africa and on the African continent in general. In order for the international community to succeed in this area, States must get involved by improving their domestic legislation to allow them to tackle this universal scourge and enhance cooperation.”
2018-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8346 (2018) · source
“Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, and the Government have on several occasions publicly condemned that practice and taken appropriate actions and urged the country's legislature to develop every possible legal instruments aimed at combating corruption. I must also point out that our national development plan, known as Horizon 2020, includes as one of its main objectives the achievement of good governance, which obviously includes supporting measures such as achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including poverty reduction. It is hoped that, in attaining the Goals, it will be harder tojustify misleading or derailing certain public servants. However, many researchers have agreed that improving working conditions is among the aspects that need to be reviewed to reduce the impact of the problem.”
2018-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8346 (2018) · source
“As far as the Republic of Equatorial Guinea is concerned, not only does the law on civil servants of the central administration of the State prohibit and penalize, including with separation from service, officials who engage in those types of practices, but also, on 5 February 2004, a decree was enacted that put into effect the law on ethics and dignity in the exercise of public punctions. In our view, if civil servants maintain high moral and ethical values, it will be harder for them to lower themselves to committing crimes, such as corruption, which are totally contrary to their code of ethics. Aware of the relevance of that issue and the great damage it causes for society throughout the world, His Excellency Mr.”
2018-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8346 (2018) · source
“Although it is not their only source of financing, the mafias, terrorists, criminal networks and mercenaries, in satisfying their different ambitions, also resort to extorting and corrupting certain officials in order to obtain public goods and services, which leads to war, public disorder, waste and so forth, with the ultimate objective, in most cases, of seizing the countries' political or economic power, in particular their natural resources. My country, Equatorial Guinea, has fallen victim several times to those types of attempts, the most recent of which took place in December.”
2018-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8346 (2018) · source
“Influence peddling, bribery, extortion and fraud are some of the corrupt practices that are reflected in actions such as giving money to public officials in exchange for a service or the omission of their official responsibility. Unfortunately, we are facing a scourge that does not differentiate among States; it is found in developed and developing countries alike. While there may be more cases in some countries than in others, it is a shared problem and concern for all nations of the world - so much so that international cooperation and the exchange of experiences and strategies in that area are of global interest.”
2018-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8346 (2018) · source
“If we understand corruption as the act of corrupting someone or allowing oneself to be corrupted, misusing one's official position to obtain or grant an illegitimate advantage, then we can say that corruption is a form of moral turpitude and that its sphere of influence pervades all layers, especially the civil service but also the private business sector. Obviously, the term "corrupt" implies a diversion of services or the results thereof, which are generally economic, to other illegitimate recipients, which constitutes misappropriation. Therefore, in one way or another, it is covered by Article 26 of the Charter of the United Nations.”
2018-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8346 (2018) · source
“Mr. Ndong Mba (Equatorial Guinea) (spoke in Spanish): As I take the floor on behalf of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea at this important debate, I would first like to congratulate the United States Mission and Ambassador Nikki Haley for including the important issue of corruption on the agenda of the Security Council for the first time. Today's debate is taking place one day after Africa Day, on 9 September, which was celebrated under the theme "Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa's Transformation". I would also like to thank the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Antonio Guterres, and Mr. Prendergast for their insightful briefings, which greatly enrich today's debate.”
2018-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8346 (2018) · source
“He said: "If it succeeds we will have hundreds of thousands of lives spared, if it fails in the next days and hours we could see a battle more cruel than any previous battle in the cruelest war of our generation".”
2018-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8345 (2018) · source
“Hundreds of thousands of people took refuge in Idlib because they were told they would be safe there. Russia, Turkey and Iran had decreed it to be a de-escalation zone, but today the warring parties have taken those people hostage. Equatorial Guinea calls on Russia, Turkey and Iran, as well as the United States and Western and Gulf countries with influence in the area, to do their utmost to ensure that those with weapons and power will , for the first time in this war, make civilians their top priority. I conclude by citing Mr. Jan Egeland, head of the United Nations humanitarian task force on Syria, who spoke recently of the intense ongoing political and humanitarian negotiation on Syria.”
2018-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8345 (2018) · source
“The allies of the parties involved in this politico-military labyrinth must seek another mechanism or scenario to test their military might. It is inconceivable to continue sacrificing the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people to live in peace, stability and lasting progress at the altar of economic and geostrategic interests. For eight years, millions of innocent people have suffered direct consequences of the war and its collateral damage, which is both devastating and horrific. Idlib cannot be compared to any other region. The city is home not only to the fighters who settled there with their families, following their evacuation from Aleppo, eastern Ghouta, Dar'a and Quneitra, under the co-called reconciliation agreement, but also to civilians who have nothing to do with the war and have simply sought refuge there.”
2018-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8345 (2018) · source
“We hope that the tripartite summit, held today in Tehran among the Astana guarantors - the Russian Federation, Iran and Turkey - as well as the upcoming meetings of the Special Envoy on 10 and 11 September, will lead to consensus-based actions for the establishment of a truly representative constitutional committee, thereby paving the way for a definitive settlement to the conflict. We agree with the Special Envoy, who recently stated that it is necessary to maintain moral pressure on the warring parties so as to prevent a drastic military offensive and allow more time for a sustainable solution that can combat terrorism and save civilians. We understand that in an increasingly multipolar world, the balance among Powers no longer depends solely on their economic capabilities, but also on their military capabilities.”
2018-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8345 (2018) · source
“If it does not, in future meetings of the Council we will be forced to discuss its direct and deleterious consequences, such as the possible use of chemical substances as weapons of war against civilians and, according to United Nations estimates, the approximately 1 million displaced people and more than $300 million needed to respond to the imminent humanitarian catastrophe. On the political front, we reiterate our firm commitment to an inclusive political process, under the auspices of the United Nations, in line with resolution 2254 (2015).”
2018-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8345 (2018) · source
“In line with the Secretary-General's communique of 29 August, we urgently call on all parties to exercise restraint and prioritize the protection of civilians. We further encourage all parties to take all measures necessary to safeguard civilian life, allow freedom of movement and ensure the protection of civilian infrastructure, including medical and educational facilities, in keeping with international human rights law and international humanitarian law. The international community must avoid any military imbroglio in Idlib at all costs.”
2018-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8345 (2018) · source
“The war in Syria, which has been ravaging the country since 2011, has reached its climax. According to reports, reports of Government troops near Idlib suggest an imminent escalation of violence in the area. It should be recalled that Idlib, the last terrorist enclave, controlled by and large by the terrorist group Tahrir Al-Sham, also known as the Al-Nusra Front, as well as by armed opposition groups, is part of the de-escalation zone in northern Syria, sponsored by the Astana guarantors. The United Nations estimates that there are almost 3 million people in that de-escalation zone, including nearly 1.4 million internally displaced persons and 2.1 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.”
2018-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8345 (2018) · source
“Mr. Ndong Mba (Equatorial Guinea) (spoke in Spanish): My delegation welcomes the convening of today's meeting and thanks Special Envoy for Syria Staffan De Mistura and Director John Ging for their enlightening and objective briefings. We reiterate Equatorial Guinea's support for their noble efforts in an extremely difficult environment. I will focus my statement in particular on the ongoing military rumblings in Idlib, on the serious humanitarian situation in the province, and, lastly, on the importance of not obstructing the political process to bring about lasting peace in Syria. Equatorial Guinea is deeply concerned about the situation in the Syrian province of Idlib and the possible catastrophic humanitarian consequences in the event ofa large-scale military offensive.”
2018-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8345 (2018) · source
“The international community must continue cooperating with the parties concerned in order to reach a political solution that respects the sovereignty, the independence, the unity and the territorial integrity of the people of the Syrian Arab Republic.”
2018-09-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8344 (2018) · source