YouSaid · the spoken record

Ntsoane

lines on the record: 44
first: 2017-12-20
most recent: 2019-12-03
sittings or episodes: 7
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 are also encouraged by other positive developments, including Iraq's handing over of books belonging to the Kuwaiti National Library and Kuwait University to the Government of Kuwait. We hope that both countries can work together with the relevant United Nations institutions to resolve any outstanding issues.”
2019-12-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8676 (2019) · source
“In that regard, South Africa supports the full consolidation of Iraqi army control over Iraqi territories and the efforts of the Government to eradicate the threat posed by Da'esh. The issue of the return of internally displaced persons to their areas of origin should also be given priority to ensure that their return is safe, dignified and voluntary. South Africa would further like to propose involving the Peacebuilding Commission to support the efforts of the Government to promote inclusivity, specifically in institution-building and post-reconstruction development in Iraq. In conclusion, we are encouraged by the sustained joint efforts of the Governments of Kuwait and Iraq to locate the missing Kuwaiti and other nationals and missing Kuwaiti property.”
2019-12-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8676 (2019) · source
“South Africa encourages further cooperation between the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan autonomous region in order to strengthen and maintain the prevailing peace throughout Iraq. We also encourage Iraq to continue engaging with its neighbours with a view to maintaining peace and stability in the region and diversifying its regional economic partnerships. In that regard, we welcome the efforts by the Iraqi leadership to promote a balanced regional policy, as mentioned in the Secretary-General's report (A/2019/903). Secondly, on the security situation, we believe that peace and security are fundamental for Iraq to develop its infrastructure, grow its economy and provide basic services to all of its citizens.”
2019-12-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8676 (2019) · source
“We hope that the Government of Iraq can take concrete action to address the concerns of its citizens, launch investigations into the violence and loss of life resulting from the protests and ensure accountability for any human rights violations. South Africa welcomes the reforms proposed by the Government to improve governance structures and the implementation of service delivery. We also support the drive for an inclusive Government that will bring together all diverse elements of Iraqi society in governance structures. We believe national reconciliation and unity in Iraq are vital to avoiding future challenges resulting from the fracturing of Government policies and actions.”
2019-12-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8676 (2019) · source
“First, on the political situation, South Africa supports the mandate of UNAMI as the Mission promotes the strengthening of the Government of Iraq and subsequent electoral processes. We welcome the appointment of Iraq's first female minister, Ms. Suha Ali Bek, as a positive step towards the inclusion ofmore women in Government and higher decision-making structures. Furthermore, we applaud the positive progress in reaching an agreement between the Iraqi Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government on dividing oil revenues. We note with concern the large-scale public protests of past months, which have spread and escalated across Baghdad.”
2019-12-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8676 (2019) · source
“Let me first congratulate the United States for assuming the presidency of the Security Council for December and pledge my delegation's support during its presidency. In addition, we would like to thank the United Kingdom for successfully presiding the Security Council in November. I would also like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Ms. Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the Permanent Observer of the International Committee of the Red Cross to the United Nations, Mr. Robert Mardini, and the Archbishop of Erbil, Monsignor Bashar Warda, for their briefings. I would like to address the following two points in my intervention this morning, namely, the political and security situations.”
2019-12-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8676 (2019) · source
“In conclusion, we wish to reiterate that the only sustainable solution to this conflict will be through a negotiated, Yemeni-led political settlement that is inclusive and puts the interests and well-being of all the citizens of Yemen first.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8672 (2019) · source
“South Africa continues to call on the parties to the conflict to allow the free, regular and unimpeded passage of food and other humanitarian relief and not to take actions that would deprive civilians of their rights to food and health. In that regard, we remind the parties to the conflict that all necessary measures should be taken to respect the Geneva Conventions. The unprecedented humanitarian crisis is a strong indicator of the human toll of continued military action and conflict, which necessitates an urgent commitment to a ceasefire and the pursuit of a negotiated, peaceful and inclusive solution to the crisis.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8672 (2019) · source
“An estimated 85,000 Yemeni children under the age of five may have died of starvation. Furthermore, about 2 million Yemeni children have stopped attending school since the start of the war and, according to UNICEF, many schools are damaged or not in use or have becomes shelters for the displaced. The armed conflict in Yemen has killed and injured thousands onemeni civilians since it began. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, almost 7,000 civilians have been killed and more than 10,000 wounded. Thousands more have been displaced by the fighting and millions suffer from shortages of food and medical care. We welcome the decrease in violence, as mentioned by the Assistant Secretary-General this morning. We hope that the situation will continue to improve.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8672 (2019) · source
“Secondly, on the humanitarian situation, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the humanitarian crisis in Yemen remains the worst in the world. Nearly four years of conflict and the resultant severe economic decline have driven the country to the brink of famine and further imperilled critical health, energy, water and sanitation infrastructure. An estimated 80 per cent of the population - 24 million people - require some form of humanitarian or protection assistance, including 14.3 million who are in acute need. The severity of their needs is increasing, with the number of people in acute need a staggering 27 per cent higher than last year. Two-thirds of all districts in the country are already suffering pre-famine, and one-third faces the convergence of multiple acute vulnerabilities.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8672 (2019) · source
“It should be possible for all parties to engage and agree on alleviating the plight of the people of Yemen caught up in this violent armed conflict. We further remind the parties to implement some key elements of the Stockholm agreements, including the prisoner swap and resolving outstanding issues related to the status of local security forces. We hope that the various ongoing dialogue efforts feed into a broader United Nations-led process that is inclusive. Without a concerted effort towards a political solution to the conflict, the humanitarian disaster in Yemen will continue to worsen and remain a source of instability not only for the parties involved in the conflict but for the entire region.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8672 (2019) · source
“We also note some of the key points in the Riyadh agreement, which include activating the role of all the Yemeni State authorities and institutions, upholding the full rights of all Yemeni people, and the participation of the Southern Transitional Council in the Government delegation to consultations on the final political solution to the conflict in Yemen. It is hoped that the agreement will be the first step towards creating a broader and more comprehensive political settlement for ending the war in Yemen. We also commend the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its role in facilitating the signing of the agreement. We further welcome the encouraging signs of dialogue between the parties, with a view to de-escalating tensions. We call on all the parties to urgently engage in talks aimed at alleviating the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8672 (2019) · source
“Allow me to begin by thanking Ms. Ursula Mueller, Assistant Secretary- General for Humanitarian Affairs, and Mr. Martin Griffiths, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, for their briefings. South Africa wishes to express its support for Special Envoy Griffiths and for all his efforts to find a peaceful solution to the situation in Yemen. We would like to address the following two issues in our statement: first, the political situation and, secondly, the humanitarian situation. First, on the political situation, South Africa welcomes the signing of the Riyadh agreement between the Government of Yemen and the Southern Transitional Council.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8672 (2019) · source
“Furthermore, we encourage the Secretary-General to list all parties based on credible and United Nations-verified patterns of relevant violations in section A of the annexes to his annual report. In conclusion, South Africa continues to call for a cessation of hostilities and the de-escalation oftensions, which will bring lasting peace and stability to Yemen and the broader region.”
2019-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8551 (2019) · source
“Statistics from the Office of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees indicate that Yemen is one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in the world, with 3 million people having been forced to flee their homes because of the increased violence in the country and more than 20 million vulnerable Yemenis being in immediate need of humanitarian assistance, as Mr. Beasley indicated in his briefing. Those figures include women and children as those who are mostly affected by the conflict. We call on the parties to sign and implement a time-bound action plan to end and prevent grave violations, pursuant to resolution 1460 (2003), as the formal and only path for de-listing from the annexes to the Secretary-General's annual report on children and armed conflict.”
2019-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8551 (2019) · source
“Thirdly, on the impact of the conflict on women and children, we note with regret the escalation of violence over the past few weeks, which is imperilling the Stockholm Agreement. We continue to call on all the parties to refrain from the excessive use of force in civilian areas and to spare the lives of women and children. Recent reports paint a bleak picture of the humanitarian situation in the country. The rate of deaths and injuries caused by land mines has doubled, with the average number of civilians wounded or being killed each day rising by one third, which totals more than 500 people killed. The Council must support Yemen to ensure that it is safe to inhabit again when the conflict is resolved.”
2019-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8551 (2019) · source
“To assist in alleviating the humanitarian plight of the Yemini people, it is important for the international community to pledge adequate funding for the United Nation's Yemen humanitarian response programme. South Africa wishes to reiterate that it is critical that the United Nation Mission to Support the Hudaydah Agreement be fully capacitated and its mandate conducted swiftly. We also note with concern that many Yemenis do not receive the aid that they so desperately need, as it remains very difficult for aid organizations and actors to get permission to provide humanitarian assistance in some areas. In that regard, we support the World Food Programme's efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by the conflict.”
2019-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8551 (2019) · source
“It is vital that both sides withdraw their forces from Al-Hudaydah and enforce the Stockholm Agreement. The steps that have already been taken in that regard are encouraging. Secondly, on the humanitarian situation, South Africa calls for the full implementation of resolution 2451 (2018), which deals with the need for the unhindered flow of humanitarian supplies and humanitarian personnel into and across the country. It also addresses the need for all parties to the conflict to comply with applicable international law and fulfil their obligations under international humanitarian law, including to respect and protect medical facilities and personnel and allow and facilitate the safe, rapid and unhindered access of humanitarian and medical personnel to all those in need.”
2019-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8551 (2019) · source
“My delegation would like to address the following three points in its intervention today, namely, the implementation of the Stockholm Agreement, the humanitarian situation and the impact of the conflict on women, and particularly children, in Yemen. First, on the Stockholm Agreement, we believe that, in order to achieve sustainable peace in Yemen, differences among the parties cannot be solved militarily and will only be further aggravated by military activities. In that regard, we call on all parties to carry out their respective obligations as per their undertakings under the Stockholm Agreement. The implementation of the Agreement is of paramount importance, as it would assist in building confidence among the parties and improve the chances of reaching a broader political agreement.”
2019-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8551 (2019) · source
“We thank the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, Mr. Martin Griffiths; the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Mark Lowcock; and the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, Mr. David Beasley, for their briefings. We wish to express our full support for the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Yemen and to commend him on all the efforts that he is undertaking to find a peaceful solution to the situation in Yemen. We further urge all parties involved in the war in Yemen to cease hostilities. Progress on the political process is hampered by the continued fighting, which is not conducive to building trust as the first step in creating a negotiated settlement.”
2019-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8551 (2019) · source
“In conclusion, South African reiterates its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq, in line with the principles of the United Nations Charter, and will continue to support UNAMI in the implementation of its mandate. Furthermore, we continue to support the work of the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da'esh/Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant as part of UNAMI's mandate, and we emphasize the importance of the independence and impartiality of the mechanism, in accordance with the principles of the Charter, United Nations policies and best practices.”
2019-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8531 (2019) · source
“We further welcome the renewed cooperation and talks between the central Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan regional government and encourage both parties to continue to seek consensus on areas of concern. We also share the views of regional actors that the formation of a Government in Iraq is an important step towards building a stronger and more balanced relationship among the countries in the Middle East region. In this regard, we welcome the summit recently held by Iraq, which brought together the countries of the region as part of broader efforts by Iraq in spearheading regional integration with its neighbours.”
2019-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8531 (2019) · source
“In this regard, South Africa supports the full consolidation of control of the Iraqi army over its territories, and continued support for the efforts of the Government to eradicate the threat posed by Da'esh. South Africa would like to suggest the use of the Peacebuilding Commission to support the inclusive efforts of the Government, especially in institution-buildingandpost-conflictandreconstruction development in Iraq. Alongside the report on missing Kuwaiti nationals (S/2019/352), South Africa would like to advocate for assistance and information on those of its citizens who went missing after 2003. We also welcome the increased involvement of regional organizations in the political process and reaffirm their role in assisting the Government of Iraq in the reconstruction of the country.”
2019-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8531 (2019) · source
“We thank the Special Representative andHeadoftheUnitedNationsAssistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Ms. Jeanine Hennis- Plasschaert, for her briefing. South Africa supports the mandate renewal of UNAMI in its current format, as it promotes the strengthening of the Government of Iraq and its subsequent electoral processes. South Africa further calls for an inclusive Government that will bring together all of the diverse aspects of Iraqi society into governance structures. National reconciliation and unity in Iraq are vital in order to avert future challenges stemming from the fracturing of Government policies and actions. Peace and security are fundamental for Iraq to develop its infrastructure, grow its economy and provide basic services to all of its citizens.”
2019-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8531 (2019) · source
“In conclusion, South Africa also urges all countries and groups involved in the conflict in Yemen to cease hostilities. The conflict in that country cannot be solved militarily and will only be further exacerbated each day of this continued, avoidable war. The current talks are hampered by the continued fighting, which is not conducive to trust-building as the first step towards creating a negotiated settlement. If the status quo remains, the international community will have failed the people of Yemen.”
2019-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8525 (2019) · source
“We note from the reports ofthe Panel of Experts that, regrettably, there have been attempts by some parties to use social media to divert humanitarian assistance. We strongly condemn this and call on those engaging in such activities to desist therefrom. The Panel of Experts also reported continued violence directed at women, which South Africa strongly condemns. South Africa calls on those committing such atrocious violations against women and children to be held accountable. The conflict is already taking an enormous toll on women and children, as they continue to pay the highest price. Furthermore, we call on all parties to engage with the Special Representative ofthe Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict in negotiating, signing and implementing an action plan to end and prevent violations of children's rights.”
2019-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8525 (2019) · source
“South Africa calls for the full implementation of resolution 2451 (2018), which deals with the issue of ensuring that humanitarian supplies and personnel flow unhindered into and across the country, as well as with ensuring that all the parties to the conflict comply with applicable international law and fulfil their obligations under international humanitarian law, including respecting and protecting medical facilities and personnel and allowing and facilitating humanitarian and medical personnel's safe, rapid and unhindered access to all those in need. South Africa calls on the international community to pledge adequate funding for the United Nations Yemen humanitarian response programme. We also call for the pledges made in Geneva to be disbursed and for humanitarian assistance to reach all those affected by the conflict.”
2019-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8525 (2019) · source
“We welcome the latest redeployment by the parties from the three ports of Al-Hudaydah, Saleef and Ras Isa. The decision to withdraw from Al-Hudaydah as a first step in order to allow humanitarian assistance is a positive one and should be commended. We call for the finalization of the redeployment process and for a nationwide cessation of hostilities. We also encourage the parties to work with the International Committee of the Red Cross in the implementation of the Stockholm Agreement in order to restore security and stability in Yemen. We also note with concern that many Yemeni people are not receiving the aid that they so desperately need, as it remains very difficult for aid organizations and actors to get permission to provide humanitarian assistance in some areas.”
2019-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8525 (2019) · source
“I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting on Yemen. We thank Special Envoy Martin Griffiths, Under- Secretary-General Mark Lowcock, UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore and the Ambassador of Peru, Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution (2014), for their briefings. My delegation would like to address three points today - the implementation of the Stockholm Agreement, the humanitarian situation and the impact of the conflict in Yemen on women, and especially on children. South Africa reiterates the call for all parties to implement the Hodeidah Agreement in a timely manner and to resolve the current differences in interpreting the text ofthe Agreement, especially with regard to the local security force in and around the city of Al-Hudaydah.”
2019-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8525 (2019) · source
“In conclusion, my delegation continues to call for a peaceful, Yemeni-led solution to the conflict. It is our hope that the sum of the positive momentum gained with the discussions in Stockholm and the signing of the Agreement will lead to further progress on the political front. The differences in Yemen cannot be solved militarily and will only be further exacerbated as this avoidable conflict continues. The current talks are hampered by the continued fighting, which is not conducive to building trust, the first step in creating a negotiated settlement. If the status quo remains, the international community will have failed the people, particularly the children, of Yemen.”
2019-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8512 (2019) · source
“Despite that positive commitment, we were appalled at the reports ofthe killing ofcivilians, including four children, on 26 March in an explosion near two schools in Sana'a, and again on 7 April, in which 14 children died. Schools should be places of learning and should never be targeted during a conflict. Children are among the most vulnerable members of society. Our collective conscience cannot allow us to condone such acts and we therefore condemn these attacks on children. We call on all the parties to the conflict to put in place measures to ensure that such incidents are never repeated in future. South Africa also calls for the perpetrators to be listed accurately in the Secretary-General's annual report on children and armed conflict, in line with United Nations practices.”
2019-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8512 (2019) · source
“We further appeal to the donors to work urgently to disburse pledges made to the humanitarian response plan in order to address the humanitarian situation on the ground. Thirdly and importantly, on the issue of the safety of women and children, we welcome the signing of a memorandum of understanding to develop a programme of activities in the next two months to strengthen the protection of children. South Africa is encouraged by those positive steps and looks forward to seeing further steps to strengthen child protection. It is also important that the memorandum of understanding be fully implemented to ensure the safety and security of vulnerable groups.”
2019-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8512 (2019) · source
“We are also encouraged by the positive developments on the ground, including the recent session of Yemen's House of Representatives, the first in more than four years to convene more than 130 parliamentarians. Secondly, it is clear that the humanitarian situation remains dire. South Africa continues to call on all the parties to respect international humanitarian law and protect the safety and security of humanitarian workers in order to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid. Where there have been reported violations, we call for independent investigations. Furthermore, we call on all the parties to the conflict to take tangible steps to address the country's humanitarian crisis, particularly the risks of famine and another cholera outbreak.”
2019-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8512 (2019) · source
“We are sorry to have to note the recent clashes around Al-Hudaydah, which are the most intense that we have seen since the signing of the Stockholm Agreement. We urge all the parties to refrain from further escalation and call for a resumption of the exchange of prisoners and the statement of understanding on Taiz, as the Stockholm Agreement requires, and other confidence-building measures. It is also vital that all parties redeploy their forces from Al-Hudaydah. That requires a political solution with compromises on the part of all the parties concerned. We are encouraged that neither side has sought to seize new territory in Al-Hudaydah so far.”
2019-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8512 (2019) · source
“Thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting on the humanitarian situation in Yemen. We would also like to thank the briefers for their remarks. My delegation would like to address three points today - the implementation of the Stockholm Agreement, the humanitarian situation and the impact of the conflict in Yemen on women and especially on children. First, with respect to the Stockholm Agreement, South Africa is encouraged that the Agreement continues to hold despite its many challenges. We urge the parties to fully implement it, as it remains the only hope for bringing peace and stability to Yemen. We also welcome this morning's announcement that both parties have accepted the redeployment plan.”
2019-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8512 (2019) · source
“It is against that backdrop that South Africa will be introducing a draft resolution in the General Assembly with a proposal for marking the centenary of the birth of our late President Nelson Mandela with a peace summit. The summit would be aimed at reinvigorating the global commitment to international peace and security, and we call on all Member States to support and sponsor the draft resolution to keep the legacy of Mandela alive as we strive to achieve global peace.”
2017-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8144 (2017) · source
“In conclusion, fulfilling the central purpose of the United Nations - the maintenance of international peace and security - depends on the Organization's ability to effectively respond to global threats. The world has changed, but we are still stuck with anachronistic structures that, unsurprisingly, have been found wanting and ineffective in dealing with complex contemporary challenges to international peace and security. We need greater representation and a stronger voice for those closest to the world's crises and most able to help to respond to them effectively. We need a Council adapted to providing truly multilateral solutions to the threats facing today's world, marked by consistent and non-discriminatory decision-making and the pursuit of collective rather than narrow national security interests.”
2017-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8144 (2017) · source
“South Africa supports the non-proliferation agenda, particularly as a State party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, as well as the Pelindaba Treaty, which designated Africa a nuclear- wcapon-free zone while promoting the inalienable right of States to the peaceful use of nuclear energy and technology. We were among the core sponsors of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and welcomed its adoption in July with the aim of establishing the most stringent possible international norms for nuclear weapons through prohibition leading to their total elimination. We call on States Members of the United Nations that have not signed the Treaty to do so.”
2017-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8144 (2017) · source
“The fact that the Council's permanent members actively promote compliance with nuclear-non-proliferation norms - while continuing to keep their fingers on the triggers of these instruments and failing to implement their nuclear-disarmament obligations and related commitments - creates a credibility problem for the multilateral nuclear-non-proliferation regime and the Council's ability to deal with such matters. We are deeply concerned about the possible use of nuclear weapons, whether by design, accident or miscalculation, particularly at a time of heightened international and regional tensions.”
2017-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8144 (2017) · source
“With regard to emerging and asymmetrical threats such as terrorism, a broader multilateral approach, one that does not overemphasize military solutions but addresses the broader root causes of conflicts and their prolongation, is essential. We need a truly global and coordinated response to enable us to deal with such threats, which include the scourges of transnational crime and trafficking in persons. We also face the problem posed by countries that continue to rely on nuclear deterrence for their security, entailing postures that themselves threaten regional and global security.”
2017-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8144 (2017) · source
“Through its excellent work as Chair of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions, Japan has helped to make incremental improvements in the Council's working methods, and we commend the recent work done to update the S/2010/507 document (S/2017/507). The Council needs such developments in its working methods if it is to improve the manner and effectiveness of its efforts. Ultimately, improved working methods cannot obviate the need for comprehensive reform of the Council if it is to better represent the configuration of today's world. We believe that reform that results in a more representative Council will enable it to be more effective in dealing with the complex contemporary challenges to international peace and security.”
2017-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8144 (2017) · source
“At times this has even paralysed the work of the Council, and that has cost human lives in real terms. For example, while the situation in Israel and Palestine has been on the Council's agenda almost since its creation, the Council's meaningful action on the matter has been limited. That was evident in this Chamber two days ago, when the Council was prevented from taking action by a veto-wielding member State (see S/PV.8139). The situation in Syria has also shown that when the Council is divided, it is unable to meaningfully contribute to peace, its core mandate. There may be times when that paralysis warrants the involvement of the entire General Assembly under the "uniting for peace" formula set out in General Assembly resolution 377 (V). The Council is sorely in need ofreform.”
2017-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8144 (2017) · source
“Today the conflict landscape consists largely of intra-State conflicts and only a handful of traditional inter-State wars, which are either frozen or have decreased in intensity. Indeed, conflicts today largely reflect internal strife in our Member States and the transnational threats to them. The nature of the conflicts that our forebears envisaged when this Organization was created has therefore changed. That fundamental change in the nature of international conflict translates into greater complexity in the challenges that the Council faces in pursuing and maintaining peace. Unfortunately, while the world has changed, the Council has largely remained the same. Contemporary challenges have highlighted divisions within the Council, particularly among its permanent members.”
2017-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8144 (2017) · source
“We would like congratulate Japan on its assumption of the presidency of the Council for the month of December and to thank it for hosting this open debate, which reminds us of the central mandate that we are all tasked with pursuing. We cannot overemphasize the centrality of this subject in the work of the Council and indeed the entire United Nations. Today's debate is therefore both timely and fundamental. The Security Council, born from the ruins of the Second World War, was created to maintain international peace and security. That also entails the active pursuit of peace and security as a prerequisite for sustainable development and global prosperity. The world has changed enormously since the 1940s, and the nature of the threats to global peace and security has changed accordingly.”
2017-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8144 (2017) · source