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Oyarzun Marchesi

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2014-01-29
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2017-11-21
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  1. Mr. Oyarzun Marchesi (Spain) (spoke in Spanish): I thank you, Mr. President, for having convened this debate. I also thank, the briefers, my good friends Ambassadors Apakan and Sajdik. I have had the pleasure of working with both of them here at the United Nations, where they both did excellent work. I also wish to thank the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine forjoining us in this debate. Spain believes that the situation in eastern Ukraine continues to be extremely concerning. The information we have just heard from Assistant Secretary-General Zerihoun and Ambassador Apakan only confirm that.

    2016-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7683 (2016) · source

  2. There is no problem at sea that does not have its root cause on dry land. For that reason, we believe that today's debate is extremely timely, as it gives us an important opportunity as the Security Council to send a clear message and signal of support to the African Union initiative to hold an Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government on maritime security next October. Finally, Spain aligns itself with the statement that the observer of the European Union will deliver later.

    2016-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7675 (2016) · source

  3. Similarly, the principle of ownership is not yet fully assumed by many of the coastal States, and the differences among their legal systems means that legal and police cooperation is further hampered. With regard to the valuable concept of ownership, we should commend such inititives as the conference on maritime safety and energy that took place in Luanda in October 2015. The Luanda Declaration reiterates the important need for a comprehensive and integrated African maritime security strategy and the need to prioritize partnerships in Africa that promote regional organizations. Apart from the issue of ownership, Spain is also a supporter of a global approach. That means not just clamping down on attacks committed at sea, but also working to prevent them while addressing the root causes thereof, such as endemic poverty and insecurity.

    2016-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7675 (2016) · source

  4. The Spanish support is the result notjust of our physical and historical proximity to the region, but to a firm commitment to peace, security and development in the African continent, as expressed by His Majesty King Felipe in January 2015 in Addis Ababa when addressing the annual session of the African Union. Despite the initial vigour in the direct aftermath of the Yaounde Summit and the international mobilization that accompanied it, the truth is that much needs to be done, as is proved by the annual figures on the number of incidents of maritime crime. It is essential that cooperation among the countries of the region and among interregional organizations run more smoothly.

    2016-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7675 (2016) · source

  5. The Yaounde process, as the development of the agreements at the Yaounde Summit is known, has the support of the international community as a whole, including of the United Nations, the European Union and the Group of Seven Plus Friends of the Gulf of Guinea. The participation of Spain in those three forums is ongoing and very active. It is complemented by intensive bilateral activity with neighbouring countries on maritime safety. We work with them closely in providing training, capacity-building and police and customs cooperation, among other things.

    2016-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7675 (2016) · source

  6. The amount of maritime traffic in that area means that this poses a serious threat not just for Africa but also for global security. The Security Council grasped that point in its resolutions 2018 (2011) and 2039 (2012). Off the back of those two resolutions, in 2013 the Summit of Heads of State and Government on Maritime Safety and Security in the Gulf of Guinea took place in Yaounde, which laid the foundation for a maritime security architecture in the Gulf of Guinea. The Yaounde Summit also recognized that the main players in that architecture needed to be not just the signatory States, but also the Economic Community of West African States, the Economic Community of Central African States and the Gulf of Guinea Commission.

    2016-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7675 (2016) · source

  7. Mr. Oyarzun Marchesi (Spain) (spoke in Spanish): I thank Assistant Secretary-General Mr. Zerihoun for his briefing this morning. A single statistic suffices to explain the timeliness of this debate: more than 20 per cent of maritime crime takes place in the Gulf of Guinea - in all its guises, from piracy and armed robbery to all forms of illegal trafficking. In addition, from last year to the first few months of this year, we have witnessed an increase in attacks in that maritime zone. In 2015 there were 48 attacks and 33 boardings, and thus far in 2016 there have been 30 attacks, 73 per cent of which took place just off the coast of Nigeria. Those figures, however, are just the tip of the iceberg because it is believed that only half of such incidents are actually reported.

    2016-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7675 (2016) · source

  8. I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute once again to the people of Lebanon, who have demonstrated an understanding of their responsibility and the need for social solidarity, which serve as an example and a model. They have provided their hospitality to an extraordinary number of refugees. At the same, I must express our concern about the institutional deadlock that has racked that country for too long now. It is of the utmost importance that the political forces in Lebanon arrive, as quickly as possible, at an agreement that will allow for the election of a new President.

    2016-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7673 (2016) · source

  9. For that reason, we urge all the parties to the conflict to immediately halt attacks targeting all those forces that have agreed to the cessation of hostilities agreement. We call for a robust commitment to the negotiation process to lead us towards a political transition in the talks taking place in Geneva. Finally, we call for full respect for international humanitarian law by all parties. In particular, we call on the Government of Syria to urgently review its policy on the provision of medical equipment to the besieged areas. Finally, with regard to Lebanon, I would like to thank the Secretary-General for the information that he has made available to us and his commitment to Lebanon, which was made abundantly clear during his recent trip to that country.

    2016-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7673 (2016) · source

  10. We would like to reiterate our support for the efforts of the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen in ensuring that the talks go ahead and that they lead to an inclusive solution that will guarantee the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Yemen. Turning to Syria, seven weeks have now gone by since the cessation of hostilities came into effect. We have just begun the second round of the so-called proximity talks in Geneva. Nonetheless, we are seeing - and we are worried about this - an escalation of clashes, which is threatening to derail resolution 2268 (2016). The lack of progress on the humanitarian track is also an indication ofthe fragility ofthe process.

    2016-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7673 (2016) · source

  11. We hope that the talks held in Doha between Hamas and Fatah will provide an opportunity for both parties to abide by previous agreements, thus ensuring that we can restore the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority over Gaza and set a course for elections. 1 will now turn to the matter of Yemen. The parties to the conflict have finally agreed to a ceasefire, which we hope will last and become permanent. That will then mean that we have a window of opportunity to mitigate the terrible humanitarian suffering in that country. Direct negotiations were scheduled to commence today. However, we have learned that they have been postponed, but we hope that such a delay will not be repeated in the future.

    2016-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7673 (2016) · source

  12. Thirdly, irrespective of all that I have just said on those points, I think it is also worth underscoring once again our robust and unequivocal rejection of violence, echoing a point that I made at the beginning of this statement: such violence can never be justified. In particular, acts of terrorism must be condemned once again by all of us robustly and categorically - such acts constitute terrorism, in any situation, under any circumstances, anywhere. Both parties must refrain from any incitement to violence and must refrain from the disproportionate use of force. Finally, I think it would be remiss of me not to make the point that intra-Palestinian reconciliation is also key if we are to move forward in the peace process.

    2016-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7673 (2016) · source

  13. The construction of settlements in the occupied territories is the most blatant example of such an action. It is illegal under international law and constitutes one of the main threats to the feasibility of the two- State solution going forward. The Security Council has repeatedly spoken of the illegal nature of the settlements. It is a point that we have expressed loud and clear on various occasions, including in resolutions 446 (1979) and 465 (1980). Secondly, Israel must put an immediate halt to the demolitions, the forced evictions of people and the seizure of land. Israel must also adopt transformative measures to rebuild the necessary climate of trust in order to preserve the two-State solution.

    2016-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7673 (2016) · source

  14. Such action is fully complementary to the work of the Quartet, particularly to its initiative of drafting a report about the situation on the ground and about the viability of the two-State solution. We trust that once that report has been submitted, it will serve to provide guidance for the subsequent action on the part of the Security Council to address the issue and find such a solution, one that the entire international community yearns for and that will uphold the two-State solution. The involvement of the international community does not mean in any way that the parties to the conflict cannot be involved. If they truly yearn for peace, they must work to foster the appropriate conditions on the ground for a return to negotiations. They therefore must avoid any action that could imperil the two-State solution.

    2016-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7673 (2016) · source

  15. We therefore support the efforts currently being made by France to convene an international conference on the peace process. We believe that that needs to be the priority at this juncture, including here in the Security Council. We also agree with the point that the Security Council has a key role to play in defending the two- State solution. We bear a responsibility for that. But we have to tread very carefully in deciding how we are going to fulfil that responsibility, and make sure that we prioritize a course of action that holds out a genuine possibility of making headway at the present time towards breathing new life into the peace process. Moreover, as I have just indicated, we believe that that means choosing a particular course of action, namely, the holding of an international conference.

    2016-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7673 (2016) · source

  16. In recent weeks the violence seemed to have attenuated, even if today the news is not that good. A point that we have made on many occasions is one that we think needs repeating now: setting a political timeline of hope is the only way to put a permanent end to the violence and move towards a solution to the conflict. It is the only way whereby we can ensure the security ofIsrael on a sustained basis. Setting a timeline that will bring hope in its wake is essential and urgent, because the viability of the two-State solution is at risk. In last October's open debate, Spain made the point that the international community must be fully involved in the solution to the conflict, and that we could do that through an international conference that would relaunch the peace process and prevent the demise of the two-State solution.

    2016-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7673 (2016) · source

  17. Mr. Oyarzun Marchesi (Spain) (spoke in Spanish): I would like to begin by conveying the condolences of Spain to the Permanent Missions of Japan and Ecuador in the light of the very high number of victims resulting from the earthquakes that struck both countries over the weekend. We would also like to begin this statement by condemning all acts of terrorism wherever they take place. I will begin by referring to the Palestinian issue, and subsequently will turn to the latest events in Yemen, Syria and in Lebanon. I will try to abide by the five-minute rule. A few months ago, in October, we held an open debate on the situation in the Middle East (see S/PV.7540) under Spain's presidency of the Security Council. That was at the beginning of the terrible wave of violence, which has continued all this time.

    2016-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7673 (2016) · source

  18. Secondly, I believe an assessment of legislation at the national level is fundamental and, to that end, we have a wonderful toolbox for that purpose. Thirdly, we need to work at the regional level. We have been doing so, but we need to strengthen that level of implementation so that it can be useful in promoting interaction between the whole United Nations system and regional organizations. I trust that, with that set of initiatives, we will, in a short period, succeed in averting conflicts by having improved prevention. For, unfortunately, conflicts affect the weakest, in this case women and children.

    2016-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7658 (2016) · source

  19. There are many portraits of men in the entrance hall of the United Nations. Then there is another other school of thought, which thinks it is rather irrelevant whether it be a man or a woman. What is important is that it be a person who is truly committed to the agenda on women. In any event, I think that, in order to bring about a significant change in the agenda on women and peace and security, it is important that we continue along the path that we started down some time ago in a comprehensive manner and that we take a triple perspective on the matter. First, from a local point of view, I believe that communities are truly important to the achievement of individual progress with regard to the agenda on women. Ms. Ayang can correct me.

    2016-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7658 (2016) · source

  20. Moreover, it will continously advise those of us who are heads of mission and are involved in informal consultations on the need to include in our statements the issue of the implementation of resolution 2242 (2015) on the agenda on women and peace and security. That brings us to a very timely topic that is of interest to all delegations, which is the appointment of the next Secretary-General. We all know that there is an open debate with regard to the appropriate gender of the next Secretary-General. Members are aware of Spain's position, so I will not reiterate it. I would, however, like to mention that, in my View, there are two schools of thought on that issue. The first school of thought supports the idea that the next Secretary- General, ideally and all things being equal, should be a woman.

    2016-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7658 (2016) · source

  21. What is most important and relevant in its content and the decisions therein is, in my view, the establishment of the Informal Experts Group on Women, Peace and Security, which will be the real mechanism for monitoring and oversight in the Security Council. In other words, the Experts Group will ensure that the Council rigorously implements all of the existing resolutions with regard to women and peace and security. I think there are seven resolutions in that regard. The Group meets on a monthly basis and is co-chaired by the United Kingdom and Spain. It deserves the Council's full support.

    2016-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7658 (2016) · source

  22. First, the regional platform for women in the Sahel, which is coordinated by UN-Women and is doing remarkable work; secondly, in the efforts in South Sudan, where the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan is carrying out very important support work in the area of prevention; and thirdly, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, which has a prevention mechanism that deserves our full support. Here in the world of the United Nations, I will not go as far as to say that there has been a change in the narrative with the adoption of resolution 2242 (2015), but there has been an important change in the level of awareness on the part of the various delegations. In my View, resolution 2242 (2015) produced a "before" and an "after".

    2016-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7658 (2016) · source

  23. When women do not participate sufficiently in peacebuilding processes, imperfect peace results, peace that is vulnerable and, above all, an unfair peace, in which a part of the population imposes its way of seeing things on the other part of the population that did not participate in the peacebuilding process. It need not always be that way, however, and I wish to highlight the fact that there are very good initiatives that are working. I will mention three.

    2016-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7658 (2016) · source

  24. Over the years, we have made much progress in developing a comprehensive, integrated agenda on woman and peace and security. A significant indicator of the fact that we are on the right path with that comprehensive focus is the selection by the presidency of Angola of the participants in today's debate. I am particularly pleased to see the Peacebuilding Commission represented. I am also very pleased to see the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and the African Union represented here as well, and especially our dear friend Paleki Ayang, who gave us a brilliant and moving presentation. In any event, I will never tire of repeating that the best way to prevent the outbreak of conflict is to ensure the appropriate participation of women.

    2016-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7658 (2016) · source

  25. Mr. Oyarzun Marchesi (Spain) (spoke in Spanish): I thank you, Madam Minister, for organizing this debate and, above all, for presiding over our discussion. Fifteen years ago or more, when the agenda item on women and peace and security reached the Security Council, the main purpose was to improve prevention mechanisms in the Security Council and civil society, which were, at the time and even now, considered, and rightly so, to be about preventing the outbreak of conflicts and not simply about ensuring that women and children were dealt with in an adequate manner. Fifteen years later, the work of the Security Council is focused mainly on military aspects, but that is not why, in my view, we can say that we have come a long way.

    2016-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7658 (2016) · source

  26. Spain stresses that these recommendations, in addition to being based on the results of the assessment mission, must address the political and institutional situation of the country and evaluate their impact on stability and security in Haiti. Any assessment of the role and the presence of the United Nations in Haiti once the mandate of MINUSTAH expires should be part of that political and security context and take into account the potential impact of the Mission's eventual exit. Finally, Spain aligns itself with the statement that will be made shortly by the observer of the European Union.

    2016-03-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7651 (2016) · source

  27. Spain thanks MINUSTAH for its excellent work. Its presence is a factor for stability and deterrence, and it is particularly important in the current context of political uncertainty. We take good note of the intention of the Secretary-General to submit recommendations to the Security Council on the future of MINUSTAH before the expiration of its mandate in October. In keeping with resolution 2243 (2015), these recommendations must be based on the strategic assessment mission to be carried out once the electoral process has been concluded 90 days after the new President is sworn in and, ideally, after the formation of a new Government.

    2016-03-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7651 (2016) · source

  28. The international community has made significant efforts to assist reconstruction and stabilization in Haiti, particularly in support of elections. If those efforts are not to have been in vain, it is essential that we firmly demand that Haitian politicians adopt a responsible attitude as they pursue the electoral process. Spain has specifically provided political and financial support to the elections in Haiti, providing financial and human resources to the electoral missions of the Organization of American States and the European Union. In that regard, we deeply regret that the current electoral process has fallen into the current impasse, as Haiti is undermining the consolidation of its democratic institutions. I would now like to refer to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

    2016-03-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7651 (2016) · source

  29. Mr. Oyarzun Marchesi (Spain) (spoke in Spanish): I want to thank the Secretary-General for his report (S/2016/225) and Special Representative Sandra Honore for her briefing. Regarding the political process in Haiti, Spain echoes the Secretary-General's call to all Haitian stakeholders, especially the President and the National Assembly, to work together and implement the political agreement of 5 February by the agreed deadlines. In a political situation as volatile as that experienced by Haiti, it is particularly relevant that the international community send this message in a firm and unanimous manner. In that regard, it is important to point out that the Prime Minister and the transitional Government designated by President Privert are not consensual and have not been confirmed by the National Assembly.

    2016-03-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7651 (2016) · source

  30. We trust that soon the efforts undertaken by the Quadrilateral Coordination Group will lead, in line with the road map that has been developed, to direct peace talks between the Afghan Government and the representatives who are authorized to represent the Taliban, in order to work towards a cessation of hostilities and towards lasting peace. We encourage all those relevant actors to persevere in their efforts to make that possible. Allow me to conclude by reiterating Spain's conviction that the international community's commitment to Afghanistan will be maintained, as will all of our desires to continue supporting the country, its institutions and its citizens.

    2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source

  31. Similarly, we would like to express our desire that the electoral process announced for this year will make it possible to strengthen Afghan democracy and make further progress along the path towards political and social stability. Thirdly, I would like to highlight the renewed efforts of the Afghan Government in recent months, with the support of the United States, China and Pakistan through the Quadrilateral Coordination Group, to make progress in the peace process. In today's resolution, the Security Council expresses its decisive support for those efforts.

    2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source

  32. We are particularly concerned by the ongoing increase in the number of security incidents and the number of civilian victims of the conflict. We are concerned by the situation of children, with regard to which the Government recently adopted significant legislative measures. We are concerned by the express threat by the Taliban against the press, the media and humanitarian workers. And we are concerned by the increase in what the report calls high-profile attacks, such as what happened in December in Spain's Embassy in Kabul, which took the lives of two Spanish police and five Afghan civilians. My delegation reiterates Spain's support to Afghanistan in meeting all those challenges, as well as in implementing its agenda for reform and in its process of regional economic integration.

    2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source

  33. In that regard, the Council renews and reiterates its call on the international community to continue to support Afghanistan; expresses its firm support for the Government of National Unity and its reform agenda; and recalls the two significant meetings that will take place in 2016: the Warsaw NATO summit in July, and the ministerial conference to be convened jointly by Afghanistan and the European Union in Brussels on 4 and 5 October. As was just mentioned by the Special Representative, the most recent report (S/2016/2l8) of the Secretary- General recalls the difficulties encountered by the Afghan Government in implementing its reform agenda, as well as the deterioration in the security situation despite the courageous and decisive actions of the Afghan security forces throughout the territory of the country.

    2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source

  34. Without attempting to be exhaustive, I should like to highlight some of the references made in the outcome document of the Tripartite Review Commission. First, reference was made to the ongoing good offices of the Mission, as well as to the need to emphasize the role of the United Nations in the promotion of human rights and the rule of law, including the rights of women and gender equality, and in helping Afghanistan to meet its international commitments in this regard. Finally, the report referred to the importance of the humanitarian dimension of the United Nations, in particular as the facilitator of humanitarian access. Secondly, the new resolution takes note of the most relevant measures adopted by the Afghan Government in the past year, and refers to the main challenges awaiting in the year to come.

    2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source

  35. As members will recall, in response to a series of concerns expressed by Afghanistan, one year ago the Security Council, through resolution 2210 (2015), mandated a commission that included the Afghan Government, United Nations and the donor community, to consider the role, structure and activities of the United Nations in the country. During our discussions on Afghanistan last September (S/PV.7526), we took note of the document containing the recommendations resulting from that review (see S/2015/713). In the resolution adopted today, the Council took account of those recommendations in a pre-eminent manner by renewing the mandate of UNAMA. In that regard, we stress the importance of Afghan leadership and ownership that underlay the exercise, and of strengthening the legitimacy of UNAMA.

    2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source

  36. By way of this new resolution, the Council underscores these extremes and expresses its desire to continue to support the Government and people of Afghanistan on their path of reform, progress, internal reconciliation and regional and global integration. My delegation subscribes to the statement that will be made later by the observer of the European Union. Notwithstanding my capacity as penholder of the Council, I should like to briefly take stock of the resolution we have just adopted. I would like to refer to the Tripartite Review Commission.

    2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source

  37. Mr. Oyarzun Marchesi (Spain) (spoke in Spanish): I thank the Special Representative of the Secretary- General for Afghanistan, Mr. Nicholas Haysom, and his team for their splendid work. I also thank Ambassador Saikal. It has been a true pleasure for the Spanish delegation to work with the Afghan Mission. We have just adopted resolution 2274 (2016), extending the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for one more year, in keeping with the desires of the Afghan Government and in consultation with it. The members ofthe Council are aware of the new era that began a year ago with the transformation decade, and acknowledge the progressive efforts that have been undertaken in Afghanistan.

    2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source

  38. The perpetrators must be brought to justice and serve their sentences. All of that is first and foremost the responsibility of the troop- and police contributing countries, precisely because we do not want the work of a contingent to be tarnished by the actions of some of its members. Let us ensure that we all assume our responsibility.

    2016-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7643 (2016) · source

  39. Mr. Oyarzun Marchesi (Spain) (spoke in Spanish): Spain thanks the United States for this important initiative. We have just adopted resolution 2272 (2016), the first to address exclusively conduct deemed completely unacceptable. With this resolution, the Security Council is sending a strong message to all who have the responsibility to eliminate this scourge, and that responsibility is collective. My delegation supported the text put forward in its entirety and without amendment, because quite simply we cannot address the issue of accountability in a partial manner. The reason for that is obvious. Our aim is not to repatriate contingents, but to protect the victims and prevent the repetition of aggressive acts. It is therefore necessary to investigate such matters as soon as possible or inform the Secretary- General of the measures taken.

    2016-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7643 (2016) · source

  40. For those victims, I believe that the least they expect of us, which they deserve, is that we protect them adequately and, if abuses occur, the Security Council spares no effort in shedding light on such cases as quickly as possible. I therefore think that the adoption of a draft resolution on this specific issue is urgent, needed and totally appropriate.

    2016-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7642 (2016) · source

  41. Spain warmly welcomes the measures set out in the Secretary-General's latest report (A/70/729), in particular those pertaining to the repatriation of a whole contingent if the elements I have mentioned fail and the troop-contributing country does not cooperate with the United Nations in line with the agreements established by the Organization. For those countries whose armed forces have been mentioned in the annexes of the Secretary-General's reports with regard to cases of children in armed conflict or sexual violence in conflicts, I sincerely urge them to cooperate with the Organization so that all those crimes do not remain unpunished. In conclusion, I would like to say that there are civilians who are targets of abuse and sexual violence by some individuals who are supposed to be there to protect them.

    2016-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7642 (2016) · source

  42. But if within six months the troop-contributing country has not shed light on facts, I believe that the Security Council and the United Nations system should establish an inquiry mechanism that should be set up at a maximum of nine months from the time that the crime in question was committed. Thirdly, on accountability, this concerns the Security Council and all troop- and police- contributing countries, because we must to put in place the measures necessary to ensure that the perpetrators are judged and punished.

    2016-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7642 (2016) · source

  43. That will be a measure that will have a significant impact. I recall that that measure is included in resolution 2242 (2015). Its impact will be positive not only in general terms, but also because the victims, most of whom are women, in the context of peacekeeping operations will feel more free and less afraid to report possible abuses that have been committed. Secondly, on investigation, it is necessary to implement urgent measures aimed at carrying out investigations of received allegations within a maximum time frame of six months. A time frame of six months seems reasonable to me.

    2016-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7642 (2016) · source

  44. If Blue Helmets are properly trained by the troop-contributing countries, we will have achieved significant progress. On that account, I would like to highlight the importance that we attach to troop-contributing countries certifying to the United Nations that those training courses have actually taken place and meet what must be high-quality and excellent standards. That certification needs to be renewed and reviewed on a very frequent basis. For if we really want to be efficient in the fight against sexual violence, we must confront the root causes, and those causes lead us to the sad conclusion that, unfortunately, they have a very specific impact in the case of women and children. Perhaps a significant preventive measure to achieve substantial progress would be to double the percentage of women in peacekeeping operations.

    2016-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7642 (2016) · source

  45. But the responsibility of the Security Council is not limited only to peacekeeping operations, but to all operations that have been authorized by the Council. I do not think it is a matter ofpointing fingers at one country or one troop-contributor for having committed acts that I qualify as horrendous. The essence of this discussion is for us to establish a collective response by members of the Council. For that reason, the delegation of Spain would like to focus on three essential aspects to improve the situation: first, prevention; secondly, investigation; and, thirdly accountability. With regard to prevention, I believe that it is absolutely fundamental for troop-contributing countries to maximally tighten the procedures involved for training their military personnel.

    2016-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7642 (2016) · source

  46. Mr. Oyarzun Marchesi (Spain) (spoke in Spanish): At the outset, Spain would like to express its enormous gratitude for the outstanding work that our Blue Helmets are carrying out. We believe that it is appropriate, on the day after of having just returned from a Security Council trip during which we were able observe the work of the Blue Helmets on the ground, to once again recall the admirable work that they are carrying out in what are certainly difficult conditions. Nevertheless, there are issues, such as the ones that we are discussing today, that are clearly tarnishing the image and the work of the United Nations. Our collective responsibility is therefore to put a definitive end to their reoccurrence.

    2016-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7642 (2016) · source

  47. We are convinced that only a radical change of attitude on the part of the Government of Pyongyang can offer people the opportunity that they deserve: nothing more than the ability to live a normal life.

    2016-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7638 (2016) · source

  48. We believe that this new resolution will be a useful tool for achieving this efficiency and, of course, as Chair we will work closely with other members to ensure the practical implementation of measures that will ensure the achievement of the ultimate goal of these measures: that North Korea once again becomes part of the non-proliferation regime, thereby guaranteeing peace and stability on the peninsula. Finally, I should like to touch on what may be a very important idea with regard to the future, and I should like to stress that this idea was already mentioned by certain speakers: namely, that the sanctions are not a goal but a means of achieving lasting peace and stability. Nor are they in any way a punishment of the population. The sanctions are designed to have an effect on the elites ofthe regime, not its citizens.

    2016-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7638 (2016) · source

  49. Secondly, as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006), Spain has a special responsibility to ensure that Security Council decisions are complied with with due effectiveness, transparency and rigour. That is why we will be providing an open briefing to the membership over the next few days. Member States have concentrated their efforts in this area, but we must be honest and acknowledge that the previous sanctions regime was not as effective as it could have been in that it was not able to prevent the North Korean regime from continuing with its arms-development programme.

    2016-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7638 (2016) · source

  50. The Council, as a consequence, is obliged to react for two very important reasons: first, because this implies the practical development by North Korea of a military capacity, which is very seriously threatening peace and stability on the peninsula and in the region; and, secondly, because resolution 2094 (2013) states clearly the Council's determination to adopt further significant measures if the Democratic People's Republic of Korea carries out a new missile launch or a nuclear test. We therefore had no other choice than to comply with what is established and to adopt these further significant measures.

    2016-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7638 (2016) · source