YouSaid · the spoken record

Ould Cheikh Ahmed

lines on the record
179
first
2015-10-23
most recent
2018-02-27
sittings or episodes
13
sources
un-security-council

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  1. “The escalation of military activities, along with the worsening of regional tensions, has created additional obstacles that threaten to delay a new round of talks. There has been a notable upsurge in the number and magnitude of attacks carried out by terrorist groups in Aden, Lahej, Abyan, Shabwa and Sana'a. There have been attacks on Yemeni army checkpoints and residences of key security officials. The assassination ofprominent political and security officials in the south of the country has continued unabated. On 28 January, an attack on the presidential palace in Aden resulted in the death of eight people, including civilian bystanders. Earlier today, a suicide bomber attacked a Yemeni army camp in Aden, reportedly killing at least 10 people. I have repeatedly underlined the increasing presence of terrorist groups in Yemen.”

    2016-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7625 (2016) · source

  2. “The talks served as the beginning of a process towards agreements on ending the war and Yemen's return to a peaceful political transition. The parties left the last round of talks in a positive spirit, with practical proposals, recommendations and hope for a better future for Yemen and the Yemeni people. Tragically, the security situation in Yemen has deteriorated since the end of the talks. The latest United Nations reports indicate that more than 6,000 Yemenis have lost their lives since March 2015, and more than 35,000 have been injured. Yemen is living through the most heartbreaking days in its history. Many parts of the country are again witnessing air strikes and extensive ground fighting. There has also been a significant increase in the number of missiles fired indiscriminately into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

    2016-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7625 (2016) · source

  3. “I thank you, Mr. President, for giving me this opportunity to brief the Security Council once again on the latest developments in Yemen. It has been two months since the parties met in Switzerland for the first face-to-face talks in the peace process. Those talks produced agreements on several measures, which have provided much-needed practical and moral support to the Yemeni people, including the delivery of humanitarian aid to the city of Ta'izz and the release of some prisoners. The announcement of a cessation of hostilities on the first day of the talks was accompanied by the establishment of a ee-escalation and coordination committee aimed at strengthening adherence to the cessation of hostilities. There was also broad agreement on the principles of a general framework based on the provisions of resolution 2216 (2015).”

    2016-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7625 (2016) · source

  4. “Mohammed Abdulsalam and their respective teams for their conciliatory and courageous attitude during the talks. I must also thank Member States for their tireless and steadfast support of our efforts, which has been invaluable. I hope we can count on their continued help in the coming months. I need the Council's support in order to ensure a durable and comprehensive ceasefire in advance of the upcoming round of talks. I will also need the Council's backing for the negotiating framework that we have proposed to the parties and which, I believe, will help Yemen to find an end to the war and the beginning of a more prosperous and stable future.”

    2015-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7596 (2015) · source

  5. “The lives of the Yemeni people have been devastated by the most horrific violence and conflict that the country has ever seen. It is time to begin creating a safe and stable future for the generations to come. The challenge now will be to find a way to strengthen and build upon the progress we have made thus far. The peace process is in its very early days. In order for it to flourish and prosper, it will take nurturing, care and a great deal of support. I would like to sincerely thank President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi Mansour for his strong commitment to bringing lasting peace to Yemen. I am also very grateful to the Government's delegation, led by the Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Malik Al-Mukhlafi, for its constructive and open spirit during the consultations. I am equally grateful to Mr. Aref Al-Zouka and Mr.”

    2015-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7596 (2015) · source

  6. “I must admit that there were several days when I feared that the two sides would not find a way to make progress on any of the central issues. Ultimately, however, the commitment of the delegations, especially the Chairs, proved stronger than those divisions. By the end of the talks, the delegations had agreed to meet again next month using a common framework, which will help them map out a clear and effective path towards peace and a negotiated and inclusive political transition. The parties to the talks should be commended for the progress that has been made and the courage they demonstrated at the talks in Switzerland. We all know that the path to peace in Yemen will be a long and difficult one, but we also know that failure is not an option.”

    2015-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7596 (2015) · source

  7. “The framework provides a mechanism for negotiating the sequencing and interdependence of the key elements of resolution 2216 (2015), including the creation of interim security committees, the withdrawal of militias and armed groups, the restoration of State institutions and State functioning, and the resumption of inclusive political dialogue, which will be needed to come to an agreement on the remaining steps of Yemen's political transition. The framework provides the foundation for a new political consensus with special security measures, which will help Yemen to achieve stability and enable it to confront the expansion of terrorist groups. The talks reveal deep divisions between the two sides on the path to peace and the formulation of a future agreement. Trust between the parties remains weak.”

    2015-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7596 (2015) · source

  8. “As noted in the final communique of the talks, the sides are committed to working with me and the United Nations humanitarian team to build on the agreement with a view to ensuring expanded aid in the coming weeks. Most importantly, the discussions in Switzerland led to a common understanding of a negotiating framework for the conclusion of a comprehensive agreement to end the conflict and resume inclusive political dialogue. That framework is firmly based on resolution 2216 (2015) and other relevant Security Council resolutions, and provides a mechanism for a return to a peaceful and orderly transition based on the GCC Initiative and National Dialogue outcomes. The two sides have agreed that the framework will serve as the foundation for the next round of talks.”

    2015-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7596 (2015) · source

  9. “In order to ensure that the discussions on humanitarian issues were grounded in the practical challenges of delivering assistance in Yemen, I invited several senior officials from United Nations humanitarian agencies to join the talks. With their assistance, the participants in Switzerland agreed to restore humanitarian access to Taiz, which had been largely cut off from aid for many months. I am very grateful to my colleagues from the United Nations humanitarian agencies who were able to operationalize that agreement immediately. A large United Nations convoy with fuel and food supplies entered Taiz on 17 December, the first large shipment of aid to arrive in almost three months.”

    2015-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7596 (2015) · source

  10. “The participants in the talks subsequently agreed that the committee's work would continue over the coming months immediately after the end of that round of talks. We agreed with the delegations that the committee should be based in the region, with United Nations support. To that end, I hope that we can rely on the generous support of Member States. This is a concrete and practical outcome of the talks in Switzerland, and I hope it will allow for a more effective ceasefire agreement in the near future. The agenda for the talks included the discussion of humanitarian issues, confidence-building measures and a general framework that could serve as the foundation for a comprehensive settlement. The first days of the talks also saw constructive engagement on humanitarian issues.”

    2015-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7596 (2015) · source

  11. “In order to minimize the violations, a coordination and de-escalation committee was established, comprised of military advisors from the two delegations and United Nations experts. The committee liaised with the military leadership in Yemen in order to help avert clashes and any escalation of Violence, with some success in the early days. Tragically, we were unable to preserve the cessation of hostilities throughout the duration of the talks, although we did see a significant reduction of violence in the first few days. Numerous violations were reported by the committee on the third day. The lack of compliance with the ceasefire demonstrated the need for stronger agreements and more robust mechanisms to ensure adherence.”

    2015-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7596 (2015) · source

  12. “In the weeks of preparation for the talks, the Government of Yemen, the Houthis, the General People's Congress and other key Yemeni stakeholders expressed their willingness to have a full and comprehensive cessation of hostilities during the talks. President Hadi communicated his support for the ceasefire to the Secretary-General in a letter dated 7 December. States of the region and the coalition also expressed support for the cessation of hostilities, which I believe was essential to ensure the confidence of the Yemeni people in the peace process. I announced the cessation of hostilities on the morning of 15 December. The Government of Yemen, the Houthis and the General People's Congress publicly welcomed my announcement and pledged to respect the cessation of hostilities.”

    2015-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7596 (2015) · source

  13. “I also met repeatedly with Vice-President Khaled Bahah and Yemeni Government representatives in Riyadh, and with representatives of the Houthis, the General People's Congress and other stakeholders in the Sultanate of Oman. Despite profound differences, we were able to agree on the format and agenda of the talks in the days before the consultative meeting. On 15 December, delegations finally met around a single table in the town of Magglingen, Switzerland. The talks were aimed at putting an end to violence in Yemen and developing a clear framework based on resolution 2216 (2015), which will bring the country back to a peaceful and orderly transition, in accordance with the GCC Initiative and the outcomes of the National Dialogue. Participants in the talks demonstrated the courage and determination needed for successful negotiations.”

    2015-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7596 (2015) · source

  14. “The Governor of Aden, Major General Mohammed Jaafar Saad, was assassinated on 6 December, along with six ofhis guards, one day after my visit to Aden. At the time, I strongly condemned that act of terrorism. The talks in Switzerland followed many weeks of consultation with Yemeni leaders and the Governments in the region. I consulted with the Foreign Ministers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the United Arab Emirates, the State of Qatar, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), all ofwhom expressed their strong support for the peace process. Despite the grave security challenges, I visited President Hadi Mansour in Aden on 5 December for a final consultation in advance of the talks.”

    2015-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7596 (2015) · source

  15. “Those attacks, which constitute grave breaches of international humanitarian law and obstruct the delivery of humanitarian assistance, have had a devastating impact on the lives and livelihoods of the city's residents. As I have noted in earlier briefings, the conflict and the security vacuum it has caused have led to the dangerous expansion of extremist groups in the country, particularly in the areas of Abyan, Albeda'a and Shabwa. Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula has consolidated its presence in the Governorate of Hadhramaut and its control of the port of Al Mukalla. The Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham has continued its campaign of attacks and assassinations of political leaders and security officials.”

    2015-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7596 (2015) · source

  16. “Since my previous briefing to the Council (see S/PV.7542), violence has pervaded in many parts of the country, resulting in hundreds of civilian deaths and many others injured. The catastrophic situation with regard to Yemen's health-care system was made even worse with the destruction of two Medecins Sans Frontieres medical facilities in Taiz and Saada. Cross-border attacks in the north involving the use of heavy weaponry had a serious impact on security and stability in the border area. The residents of Taiz continue to suffer the consequences of heavy fighting and severe lack of assistance. Artillery fire and air strikes have continued to affect the residential areas of the city.”

    2015-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7596 (2015) · source

  17. “I thank you, Madam President, for this opportunity to brief the Security Council on the latest developments in Yemen. I have just returned from the first face-to-face talks in the Yemen peace process, which I facilitated in Switzerland. While the meetings did not bring about an end to the fighting, as we had all hoped, they did result in constructive talks between the Yemeni Government and its political and military opponents. The dialogue provided a firm foundation for resuming talks in the near future and the basis for a renewed and strengthened cessation of hostilities. I am very grateful to the Government of Switzerland for having hosted the talks and for its excellent support. The talks were conducted during a very bleak period for Yemen and during a worsening security situation.”

    2015-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7596 (2015) · source

  18. “We have hope that the consultations and discussions between Yemenis will bear fruit. I also want to reiterate our gratitude to the Council for its support. I trust that the Yemenis will in the end unite behind a common vision for the country, turn the page on war and look towards a brighter future.”

    2015-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7542 (2015) · source

  19. “This will allow us to push forward the various initiatives, especial the GCC Initiative. All of this will mark a new milestone in the history of Yemen, and it is our desire that the Yemeni people have hope restored after all the suffering they have experienced in the crisis. All parties today are aware that there can be no military solution to the conflict and that only peace talks and dialogue will pave the road to a better future. However, this initiative needs the Council's support and protection. The various sides to the conflict remain divergent, and we count on the Council to help us to encourage the parties to move forward in order to put an end to the conflict and return their country to peace. Finally, I wish to express my hope, gratitude and faith in the future.”

    2015-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7542 (2015) · source

  20. “Ban of his intention to send a delegation to participate in peace talks in order to negotiate an end to the present conflict on the basis of the framework set forth by resolution 2216 (2015). I am full of hope and I trust that face-to-face discussions - the first of their kind - will allow us to bring together the Government and the Houthis with a view to paving the way for peace in Yemen and open peaceful political dialogue and leading to a new transitional stage. My proposals have all be integrated into resolution 2216 (2015), and we will seek to work towards a withdrawal of militias from key cities, the release ofprisoners, the return of heavy weapons seized from the army, improvements in the humanitarian situation and the resumption of inclusive political dialogue.”

    2015-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7542 (2015) · source

  21. “Putin's special envoy to North Africa and the Middle East, and other Russian representatives, who were all very supportive of our efforts to reach a peaceful political solution to the conflict in Yemen. I am very grateful for their support for my efforts. I have also worked closely in recent weeks with Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Mr. Al Zayani in order to bolster the conditions for national dialogue in Yemen. To that end, I continued discussions with the various parties in Yemen. Mr. Ban Ki-moon informed President Hadi Mansour of the Houthis' acceptance ofresolution 2216 (2015). In a letter dated 19 October, President Mansour informed Mr.”

    2015-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7542 (2015) · source

  22. “Obviously, I have stayed in contact with the Houthis and the Yemeni Government in order to find a solution to the crisis. But thus far the two parties have reiterated their intention to abide by resolution 2216 (2015) and hand over their weapons. I have recently made a tour ofthe Middle East where I met with leaders from Saudi Arabia, whom I briefed on the latest developments in the country and therefore on my discussions with the Houthis. In addition, at the margins of the General Assembly, I spoke with the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Mr. Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani, and the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman. I held similar consultations in Russia with senior Government officials, including Mr. Mikhail Bogdanov, Mr.”

    2015-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7542 (2015) · source

  23. “Women want to contribute to improving the humanitarian situation by helping humanitarian assistance reach its intended beneficiaries, particularly when it comes to food. They also want to help civilians deal with violence. The various parties to the conflict must return to the negotiating table to reach a peaceful solution. These women want to create an alliance for peace and security, and I will do all I can to help them by working with them and other women's and civil society groups to make their voices heard and thereby bring about an end to the crisis and a return to national dialogue. When I last briefed the Council, I informed members of our intention to hold a meeting with the various parties to the conflict in Yemen. Sadly, that initiative did not come to fruition.”

    2015-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7542 (2015) · source

  24. “We salute the efforts of all those who have sought to help the Yemeni people during this grave crisis, in particular humanitarian workers and the major organizations working in extremely difficult conditions. Moreover, we know that many humanitarian workers have lost their lives in that context. I salute them for their sacrifice. The situation in Yemen is very serious, but I also want also to speak about certain elements of hope that suggest that there could be a better future for Yemen. I recently attended a forum organized by UN-Women in Larnaca, Cyprus, together with my office. Women from all over Yemen took part, which gave us an idea of the political diversity of the country. While the women differed in their views as to the reasons for the crisis, there was a genuine consensus on the importance of national political dialogue.”

    2015-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7542 (2015) · source

  25. “Humanitarian aid, which is supposed to flow freely, is not reaching the people of Taiz, leading to grave shortages of medicines and other supplies. Large parts of the city have been left without safe drinking water, which poses a threat to the safety and health of the population. The obstruction of commercial shipping continues to undermine the lives and livelihoods of Yemenis. Hospital services have been interrupted in many parts of the country and, according to OCHA, in September, there was a grave fuel crisis. Only 1 per cent onemen's normal monthly fuel requirements were allowed to enter the Hodeidah region. We hope in the future to be able to help the Yemenis cope with this crisis.”

    2015-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7542 (2015) · source

  26. “Many citizens have been displaced within their own country in a quest to find safe haven and the most basic necessities for survival. The most recent report of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicates that the majority of Yemenis need humanitarian aid. Some 20 million Yemenis do not have access to safe drinking water. Hundreds of thousands - at least 500,000 - of Yemeni children are severely malnourished, which is one of the many consequences of this conflict. Last month there was a wedding party which ended in a bloody fashion in the city of Taiz, while other cities have also been subjected to indiscriminate shelling. Taiz, the city that was once considered Yemen's cultural capital, has become a battlefront today. Its habitants are struggling to survive, night and day.”

    2015-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7542 (2015) · source

  27. “Instead, extremist groups attacked Government headquarters in Aden, and many citizens were killed. Additional security measures will have to be taken to protect civilians. Also, a mosque in Sana'a was attacked, leading to the deaths of many worshipers during Eid prayers. Today we know that in this country, where faith and religion are of vital importance and where various communities coexisted peacefully, extremism prevails and weapons circulate freely, which only helps extremists. Yemenis are therefore suffering deeply today. That people, known for their generosity, hospitality and strong values, are today caught up in a disastrous humanitarian situation. Civilians are paying the price of a serious political conflict.”

    2015-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7542 (2015) · source

  28. “Here it is important to note that the first talks took place more than five months ago. Just last month, I informed the Council of my intention to convene consultations in the coming weeks. However, that initiative was cancelled, and additional preconditions were set. All of those missed opportunities only exacerbate the situation of the people onemen, whose future is today most uncertain. I should like to reiterate what I said earlier to the Council: extremist groups are taking advantage of the situation. At the same time, the international community judged that the return of the legitimate Government to Aden augured well for the future. That Government was to bring peace and security back to the country, inter alia by restoring basic services for the people. Regrettably, things did not happen thus.”

    2015-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7542 (2015) · source

  29. “I wish to thank the Council for this opportunity to brief it on the latest developments in Yemen. Our beloved Yemen is ablaze, and the Yemeni population finds itself in a catastrophic situation. The country is bleeding to death; its cities are collapsing; and its citizens have been deprived oftheir most basic rights in this conflict, which is both political and security-related. This is not my first briefing to the Council; I had informed the Council previously that the Secretary- General had made extensive efforts in Geneva to make possible a rapprochement between the various parties to the conflict. Excellent ideas were heard, but they have not allowed us to put an end to the suffering of the Yemeni people. The parties to the conflict did not even meet face to face.”

    2015-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7542 (2015) · source