YouSaid · the spoken record

Pierce

lines on the record: 1,742
first: 2006-06-20
most recent: 2020-03-12
sittings or episodes: 239
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

“But I was sorry to not hear any recognition today, from one of the speakers, of the events that led us to 1999, to the NATO intervention and to resolution 1244 (1999) and the presence of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) , which we are dealing with today. I heard no contrition or acceptance of the enormity of the war crimes that were committed on the ground. Those war crimes have been established by the international tribunal that the Council set up for that purpose. I heard no recognition of the events that led up to the Ahtisaari process on the status of Kosovo and the events that then followed, or of the attempts by the Council, as a whole, and by individual members of the Council, notably the United States and Russia, acting with the European Union (EU), to try to resolve the status issue.”
2019-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8459 (2019) · source
“I would like to thank the Special Representative for his briefing, and his team for their continuing dedication to this issue. I also extend a welcome to His Excellency the Foreign Minister of Serbia and Her Excellency the Ambassador of Kosovo. I have spent a lot of my career dealing with the Balkans. I have spent some time in Kosovo and in Mitrovica, which is in northern Kosovo and a Kosovo Serb-majority community. It is fair to say that there are still tensions in the communities, and it is also fair to say that the communities have not always treated each other with kindness, respect and friendliness.”
2019-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8459 (2019) · source
“We will continue to provide direct assistance through the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the International Maritime Organization, as well as directly support regional partners. A number of speakers today drew attention to the root causes of piracy and maritime crime. That shows what happens when peace, security and prosperity are replaced with criminology, conflict and instability. I therefore want to pledge again today that, as well as focusing on the threat at sea, the United Kingdom will continue to work with partners to tackle the land-based root causes and ensure that development and security policies are coherent and mutually reinforcing.”
2019-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8457 (2019) · source
“We are therefore trying, on a practical basis, to help the region deal with this important problem. We were very interested in the Yaounde Code of Conduct and the international audit that took place in Cameroon last month, which we understand that it will be published soon. We await its recommendations. We also would like to work even more closely as international partners with States of the region to build indigenous capability to address maritime crime. The United Kingdom is working with Nigeria to improve civilian capacity in the Nigerianjustice system from the point of arrest to prosecution, so that we can increase convictions and help create a deterrent. The United Kingdom will continue to play a part in supporting activity against maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea and around the globe.”
2019-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8457 (2019) · source
“President, Equatorial Guinea, for everything you have done to shine a light on these issues and secure regional cooperation. I thought that the statistics that the South African representative gave us were very fundamental. It was interesting to hear what a priority that is for the Indian Ocean Rim Association. For our part, the United Kingdom wants to support the region and share its expertise. We and the French have a maritime-domain-awareness-for-trade mechanism that can alert ships and seafarers ofthe threat from maritime crime. It can also inform those able to respond to the threat that an incident is occurring. We are continuing to develop with the French a website that enables industry to access information on threats in the Gulf of Guinea, and we hope that it will be published soon.”
2019-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8457 (2019) · source
“I would like to agree with what the Chinese Ambassador said about how piracy and maritime crime retards development. I therefore think that it is important to recognize that it is not just crime at sea, but it also robs people living on land. We should keep that in mind. I wanted to highlight as well the effect that those crimes have on global trade with West Africa. International trade is critical to many African economies. Over 90 per cent of imports and exports are conducted by sea. Safe and secure maritime transport is therefore obviously key to successful trade and growth in Africa, and it is fundamental to the sustainable development of African States' economies. I just want to highlight that. I also want to pay tribute to the efforts of States in the region, particularly your country, Mr.”
2019-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8457 (2019) · source
“I welcome you to New York, Mr. President, and thank you very much for being with us today, as well as for picking this important topic, which, as I think you have heard from all the speakers, in particular from our last speaker, has very particular resonance for a very large number of countries. Many thanks as well to Mr. Fedotov and Mrs. Ukonga for their briefings, which we appreciate. The United Kingdom welcomes this discussion. We take this extremely seriously. We want to support the region in being able to overcome the problems, and we ourselves participate in various international operations to help eradicate the problem, especially with regard to piracy - but, of course, that is not the only problem, as the last speaker set out. We are strong supporters of resolution 2039 (2012).”
2019-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8457 (2019) · source
“I would like to conclude by also thanking Jean Arnault, the previous Special Representative, for his significant contribution to Colombia's peace process and once again to reiterate our full support for the new Special Representative and for Colombian Foreign Minister Trujillo Garcia. We are fully committed to working with him - as is the rest of the Council - as his country works towards securing a lasting and sustained peace.”
2019-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8450 (2019) · source
“The Special Representative gave us some additional detail on that issue. The lack of State presence and the persistence of Violence in these areas risk undermining the peace process if people lose faith in the State's ability to provide safety and economic opportunity. Secondly, we concur with the Secretary-General's call for increased coordination across State institutions. A coherent and holistic approach to tackling security and development issues in former conflict areas is vital. The "Peace with legality" plan recognizes the need to coordinate implementation with other policies on security, drugs and protection of leaders. Bringing these plans together - and most importantly delivering on them - will be crucial to preventing renewed cycles of violence.”
2019-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8450 (2019) · source
“I think we share the hopes set out in the report of the Secretary-General (S/2018/1159) that Colombia's "Peace with legality" plan can bring both security and economic development to former conflict areas, and we see the upcoming year as an opportunity for the Government to cement and build on achievements over the past two years since the Peace Agreement was signed. But as the Secretary-General also said, there are considerable challenges, and in particular, I would like to use today's meeting to highlight two issues that we believe deserve the Colombian Government's urgent attention. The first is that we share the Secretary-General's alarm with regard to the increasing killings of human rights defenders and social leaders by organized criminal groups competing for rural territory.”
2019-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8450 (2019) · source
“As the penholder, I can promise Colombia's representatives here today that we will do our utmost to ensure that this effort continues. I wanted also to welcome the steps that the new Colombian Government has taken over the last three months, particularly towards the effective reintegration of former FARC-EP members and comprehensive rural development, and this is particularly through the development programmes with a territorial approach. I was very interested in what the Special Representative had to say about the economics, particularly with respect to education and food and what is happening in the 24 territories. It is very good to have that level of detail.”
2019-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8450 (2019) · source
“I think the attack underlines the significance of the end of the armed conflict with the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Eje'rcito del Pueblo (FARC-EP). It reminds us ofthe importance ofpressing ahead with work to implement the Peace Agreement in order to consolidate peace and build stability. I think the focus we heard today on the implementation of the Peace Agreement has been very important. I wanted to start where the Special Representative finished by saying that I think the Council has been pleased to support Colombia in this important process, and the Council has been united in doing so. As the Special Representative said, Council support is a vital pillar in helping Colombia achieve success in the peace process.”
2019-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8450 (2019) · source
“Mr. President, I would like to welcome you again to the Security Council; we thank you for being with us today. I would also like to welcome the Colombian Foreign Minister, who has visited us before, and whom we thank for being with us again. We also offer a big welcome to the Special Representative in his first appearance before the Council. I think he and his team have made a very good start in just two weeks, and his briefing was very helpful. We thank him very much for it. May I begin by reiterating our condolences to all those affected by the bomb attack in Bogota last week. There is no justification for such violence, and we condemn terrorist acts in all their forms. It is good that the Council was able to issue a statement (SC/13671).”
2019-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8450 (2019) · source
“It is critical that negotiations be resumed towards an agreement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian State, based on 1967 borders with agreed land swaps, Jerusalem as the shared capital of both States, and a just, fair, agreed and realistic settlement for refugees.”
2019-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8449 (2019) · source
“Without an end to these illegal activities by Hizbullah in Lebanon and the region, we will continue to see regional stability threatened. We condemn Hizbullah's aggressive activities, and we are clear that we should not allow them to go unchecked. In conclusion, though prospects for peace may seem bleak, as Mr. Mladenov outlined, we should not give up on the two-State solution. It remains the only viable resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For this reason, the United Kingdom remains committed to the internationally agreed parameters for a durable peace in the Middle East.”
2019-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8449 (2019) · source
“Turning to Israel/Lebanon, we are concerned by the recent rise in tensions along the Blue Line. We condemn all violations of resolution 1701 (2006). The United Kingdom has been clear in the Council on many occasions that we condemn Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty, whether by land or sea or air. Such actions undermine confidence and stability, and we look for all relevant Security Council resolutions - but notably 1559 (2004) and 1701 (2006) - to be respected in full. For too long we have witnessed Hizbullah blatantly disregard United Nations resolutions. Its continued possession of weapons outside of Lebanese State control and its reported attempts to acquire dangerous new missile capabilities remain deeply alarming, as do their statements threatening Israel.”
2019-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8449 (2019) · source
“It is doubly disappointing that more than half of these units are located east of the separation barrier in areas deep into the West Bank. Plans outlined by the Israeli Government on 26 December to construct a new settlement, Givat Eitam, close to Bethlehem represent a further threat to the territorial integrity of the future Palestinian State. If built, this new settlement would prevent the growth of Bethlehem and further fragment the West Bank. We are closely following the developments in East Jerusalem. The eviction notice served to the Sabah family in Sheikh Jarrah, on 3 January, places 45 people at risk of losing their home. Therefore, I want to encourage the Israeli Government not to enforce this eviction, as we continue to urge it not to demolish the Bedouin community of Khan Al-Ahmar.”
2019-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8449 (2019) · source
“On the West Bank, recent developments continue to undermine the achievements of the Oslo Accords and jeopardize the prospects for a two-State solution. Following the violent attacks in the West Bank, there have been a large number of incursions by Israeli security forces into Area A, and Palestinian movement in the West Bank has been significantly restricted and disrupted. Full security cooperation between the Palestinian Authority and Israel remains crucial for the safety of both parties. I wanted to express our disappointment at the fact that, on 27 December, just days after the Council discussed the implementation of resolution 2334 (2016) (see S/PV.8429), Israel advanced plans for the construction of nearly 2,800 illegal settlement housing units.”
2019-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8449 (2019) · source
“I wanted to draw the Council's attention to Gaza's health sector, which remains under significant strain, and to the problems with the shortage of essential drugs and limited access to clean water. Israel's movement restrictions, we believe, continue to affect the health of the population. In the longer term, renewed political resolve is required to improve the situation. Several speakers today have drawn attention to the reconciliation process begun under Egyptian auspices among the Palestinian Authority and others. We were very concerned by the Palestinian Authority's decision to withdraw their guards from the Rafah crossing point. It is vital that the Council impress upon the Palestinian factions that they need to work together to break the deadlock. We welcome continued Egyptian efforts in that regard.”
2019-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8449 (2019) · source
“On 14 January, a 14-year-old Palestinian boy died as a result of injuries sustained from live fire following a protest at the Gaza fence. We fully support Israel's right to defend itself, but the Israeli security forces should refrain from the use of excessive force against unarmed civilians. Lethal use of force should be exercised with maximum restraint and only as a last resort to protect life. Turning to Gaza, the security remains precarious. Sporadic rocket attacks by militants continue, and a miscalculation could easily lead to renewed confrontation. We need to do everything we can to avoid another devastating war, which would compound the already dire humanitarian and security conditions in Gaza and threaten the security of Israeli border communities.”
2019-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8449 (2019) · source
“Mladenov's statement about the erosion ofprospects for establishing a Palestinian State as a result of the facts on the ground really should guide the Council's consideration. What he said about 25 years from Oslo is also a very salutary reminder of the fact that we do not have the luxury of time in which to make progress on the Middle East peace process. Turning to the situation on the ground, and, again, as others have noted, the last three months of 2018 saw a dreadful increase in violence in the West Bank. Three Israelis, including a baby, were killed in Palestinian terror attacks for which Hamas has claimed responsibility. There is no justification for such acts of violence. During the same time in the West Bank and Gaza, 70 Palestinians were killed.”
2019-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8449 (2019) · source
“I join others in welcoming the Indonesian Foreign Minister, who is a very good friend of the United Nations. I also join the American representative in expressing our deepest condolences to Chad for the loss of its peacekeepers. We send our condolences also to the victims' families. As other speakers have noted, there are a range of issues in the Middle East today that deserve the Council's concern, but, as Mr. Mladenov was our briefer, I will confine my remarks today to the issues that he covered. I want to start by echoing the German representative's statement that Israel's security should not be put in doubt. We condemn unreservedly the rocket launches from Syria and Gaza into Israel. I thank Mr. Mladenov for his briefing. As he set out, the situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories remains deeply concerning. Mr.”
2019-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8449 (2019) · source
“We need even more targeted and effective sanctions against spoilers. The progress that has been made with the Central Bank of Libya is also very welcome, but obviously it needs to take place in parallel with work to reunify the Central Bank in the capital with that in the east. Finally, with regard to security, the ceasefire is welcome, but it looks fragile. A sustainable security architecture across the country will be necessary for Libya's stability.”
2019-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8448 (2019) · source
“The deteriorating security situation that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General described simply underscores how unsustainable the status quo is. We therefore believe that Libya's political institutions need to work with the national conference and take account ofits outcomes. That would signal they have the best interests of the Libyan people at heart and that they are committed to finding a durable political solution to the crisis. The Libyan people will find it very hard to understand if those institutions continue to fail to do what has been asked of them. With regard to the economy, I was very interested in what the Special Representative said about oil. We have got to support the United Nations Mission and the international financial institutions in putting in place further economic reforms.”
2019-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8448 (2019) · source
“As the Council always says on these occasions, we look for proper representation of women. The Council has been united pretty well so far. We hope that we can rally around the United Nations action plan and that we can help other members of the international community and ensure that the United Nations Mission is able to implement the outcomes of the national conference. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General referred several times to spoilers. The pattern of attacks he described and the sporadic clashes throughout the country are obviously of great concern. The Council needs to be very clear: Libya's future cannot and will not be determined by spoilers who wish to maintain the status quo purely for their own gain while ordinary Libyan citizens continue to suffer.”
2019-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8448 (2019) · source
“I want to reiterate my Government's strong support for what the Special Representative of the Secretary- General and the United Nations are doing on the ground and our thanks to them for all their efforts. In particular, we support the approach of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the national conference. We believe it is the best way to reach an inclusive political settlement that stabilizes the country. We hope that all Libyans will come together and engage in that process. In particular, we hope that a broad spectrum of Libyan society will be represented at the national conference. We think we should work to ensure that. We look for participants to be drawn from as broad a political, regional, tribal and ethnic spectrum as possible.”
2019-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8448 (2019) · source
“I thank you, Mr. President, for scheduling this briefing. It is very good to hear from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ghassan Salame, and I thank him for everything he said. I want to start by also thanking him for restructuring the United Nations Support Mission in Libya and for the enormous progress made on opening the offices. As he said, that is really important. It is a good signal of the international community's engagement with the people of Libya and what is happening there. I thank the German Ambassador as well for the sanctions report. Germany is now co-penholder with us on Libya, and obviously we look forward to working even more closely together.”
2019-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8448 (2019) · source
“It will therefore be important in the coming days that the Congolese people see a process that delivers what they voted for and that any disagreement is voiced through the proper channels, peacefully and constructively. My fourth point is to echo calls for lifting media restrictions, including with regard to the Internet. My fifth and last point is to support the African Union's call for all stakeholders to act in a way that consolidates democracy and preserves peace and for violence to cease.”
2019-01-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8443 (2019) · source
“As others have noted, these are provisional results, so there is a chance for the Congolese people to have the result that they voted for. To that end, it is critical that the data and methodology of the voting be examined. We noted the statement made on behalf of the Conference episcopale nationale du Congo (CENCO) that its data do not reflect the announced result, and we therefore request both CENCO and the Commission electorale nationale independante (CENI) to provide further data and other analyses relating to the electoral process. Like others, we would like to know if it would be possible for CENI to publish the results at the level of local polling centres and bureaax de vote. We believe that that is a very important next step. My third point is that, as we know, the electoral process is ongoing.”
2019-01-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8443 (2019) · source
“The fact that we have been fortunate enough to have so many briefers today testifies to the importance of this issue. I would like to thank them and like to thank in particular Minister Malanji and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for being with us. I would like to make five brief points. My first point, as many other speakers said, is that this is a critical moment in the history ofthe Democratic Republic ofthe Congo precisely because ofthe prospect of the peaceful transfer of power. Therefore, there is a lot at stake. This is a historic chance for the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The second point is that the important thing is that the democratic will of the Congolese people be respected.”
2019-01-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8443 (2019) · source
“I have kept my remarks short because ifI know many people will want to speak and we have consultations following this meeting. But I want to repeat that it is very good news that the Council has been united so far. We hope that the Council can stay united as we follow progress on both the humanitarian and political tracts.”
2019-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8441 (2019) · source
“We must not let up any of the pressure up to try to help Mark and the humanitarians deliver aid and commercial supplies. I want to specify very clearly today how important the access issue is - access to the Red Sea Mills, as Mark set out, but also access through the ports and into all the areas onemen where people need assistance. The numbers involved are vast, and therefore there is not a day to lose in terms of access. We call on all the parties to address the issues Mark mentioned, in particular in terms of things like notice periods, which should go back down to 48 hours. Access should be unhindered. Commercial supplies should be got through. We have had some good news on visas and fuel imports, but that good news needs to be extended across the commercial and humanitarian supplies needed.”
2019-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8441 (2019) · source
“We look to the parties to facilitate the United Nations work to stand up a team in Al-Hudaydah to support their efforts. For our part, as penholder, we will take forward work on a short technical draft resolution to mandate the new United Nations team to support the implementation of the Al-Hudaydah agreement. We will hear bit more on that in consultations from Mr. Griffiths, Mr. Lowcock and retired Major General Cammaert. Of course, the Council will need to continue to follow progress on the ground very closely. On the humanitarian side, I think we all need at to have that at the forefront of our minds Mark's last words: although all this progress on the political track is absolutely vital, it does not help us feed starving children. That 80 per cent of Yemenis need assistance is quite a shocking figure.”
2019-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8441 (2019) · source
“I thank you very much, Mr. President, for scheduling this meeting. I also thank Martin Griffiths and his team, Mark Lowcock and all the humanitarians. I think it is very good that the Security Council has been able to be united on this very important issue. It is very good that we can have a timely update on the implementation of the Stockholm Agreement, but also on wider implementation of resolution 2451 (2018). I am grateful for that. I think it is very important that the parties accelerate efforts to implement the important steps that they agreed to in Stockholm. Martin set out what those were. I want to reiterate our full support for Martin's efforts. We look to the parties to continue constructive engagement with him, including a commitment to attend the next round of talks once Martin has finished his preparatory work.”
2019-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8441 (2019) · source
“I am sure the Council will want to join me in looking forward to further progress in January. The most important matter now is that we turn to urgent implementation. It is vital that the parties follow through on their commitments to pave the way for a formal relaunch of negotiations and, at the same time, deliver real improvements on the ground that make a tangible difference to ordinary Yemenis. We have asked the United Nations to update the Council on a weekly basis for the foreseeable future, and I look forward to further action and unity from the Council on one of the most important dossiers we have.”
2018-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8439 (2018) · source
“We have heard from Mark Lowcock and David Beasley in this Chamber that despite the progress made at Stockholm the situation remains precarious, and work is urgently needed to mitigate the risk of famine (see S/PV.8404). The resolution sets out the Council's clear expectations with respect to the need for the parties to comply with international humanitarian law. The United Kingdom attaches great importance to international humanitarian law, accountability and the need to investigate alleged violations of international humanitarian law and hold those responsible accountable. Finally, resolution 2451 (2018) obviously reiterates our full support for the United Nations Special Envoy and the political process that he is driving, and it looks ahead to the next steps in that process.”
2018-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8439 (2018) · source
“As we get to the end of 2018 in the Council under your presidency, Mr. President, it is good that the Council was able to show unanimity on this very important issue that has affected so many millions of citizens in Yemen today. Resolution 2451 (2018) endorses all the agreements reached by the parties at Stockholm, which critically include a ceasefire and a mutual redeployment of forces from Hudaydah city and port, which came into force on 18 December. It authorizes the United Nations to deploy support for implementation of those agreements, including monitors. As we heard from the Secretary- General the other day, he is working on an advance team that will go to Yemen in the next few days. The resolution also sets out the Council's support for the remaining urgent steps needed to address the humanitarian situation.”
2018-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8439 (2018) · source
“I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for scheduling the vote on resolution 2451 (2018) at this time. I also thank my colleagues, members of the Security Council, for their collegiality and cooperation, allowing us to adopt a unanimous resolution - the first resolution on this kind of subject - a political settlement and humanitarian issue - in more than two years. The resolution we have just passed will hopefully give the maximum possible backing to the outcomes of the Stockholm meeting and the Stockholm agreement. Once again, I would like to thank our friends in Sweden for everything that they have done to help bring that moment about. We also salute the United Nations for the work of the Special Envoy, the Secretary-General and Mark Lowcock, who have been instrumental in trying to bring about progress, including on the ground.”
2018-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8439 (2018) · source
“The Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom was active in just the past 24 hours. Much remains to be done in the global campaign, but we must not lose sight of the threat that Da'esh continues to pose, even when it no longer holds territory.”
2018-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8434 (2018) · source
“Without addressing the aspirations of all of Syria's people and a genuinely representative Government, there will never be an end to the suffering of the Syrian people. I really think that the Council should look ahead, focus and keep that question of what will most help the Syrian people in the future right at the forefront of its plans and thinking. Finally, if I may, I would like to say a word about Da'esh. The United Kingdom has been a leading member of the Global Coalition. We are proud of our role, alongside other partners, in the fight against Da'esh. Since military operations began, the coalition and its partners in Syria and Iraq have captured the vast majority of Da'esh territory and even in recent days important advances have been made in the last area of eastern Syria that Da'esh still occupies.”
2018-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8434 (2018) · source
“I just want to stress again that, without movement in that direction and whatever happens militarily, Syria will not see reconstruction or rehabilitation into the international community. Its people will not see representative government, and whatever interim arrangement comes into force in Syria, it will not help the Syrian authorities hold their territory or govern it, and it will certainly not do anything to address the legitimate aspirations of all of Syria's people, regardless of the religious or ethnic community from which they come. As such a central point, rehabilitation means being able to stop a reversion to the tensions and the situation that existed before the conflict.”
2018-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8434 (2018) · source
“But above all, and very obviously, it is a huge failure of the Syrian Government to protect its people that has led us to this point, and the Syrian Government's refusal to work towards the implementation ofresolution 2254 (2015) is at the absolute heart of all the horrors and all the awful things that have been inflicted on Syria and its people. The central problem in the whole Syria conflict has always been the Syrian authorities' refusal to address the legitimate grievances of the Syrian people. That is how the conflict came about in the first place. It remains a central tenet, an essential element of what has to be done if anything is ever to move forward. The Special Envoy has often come to the Council unable to record any positive movement by the regime.”
2018-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8434 (2018) · source
“Again, even in those last few days, if there can be a genuine consultation process, then there should be one in order to achieve a meaningful reconciliation. Buthould also like to say that we are meeting almost on the third anniversary of the adoption of resolution 2254 (2015), and it remains the best agreement we have made and the closest we have come to managing to work towards an end to this crisis. It is a huge failure of the international community - not of the United Nations, but of the international community - that collectively we have not been able to advance this more.”
2018-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8434 (2018) · source
“There are just a handful of days left within which to meet President Putin's self-imposed deadline. But even withjust a few days to go, if progress can be made, then we absolutely urge the Syrian authorities and their supporters to take that opportunity. But when all is said and done, the United Nations can only join a process that is balanced. That is the fundamental tenet on the basis of which the United Nations assists Governments and the international community. We will support the Secretary-General and the Under-Secretary- General to the hilt in upholding that very central tenet. I think it was the French representative who made the point that the Astana guarantors had submitted at the moment an unbalanced and unworkable list, and we would absolutely agree with him.”
2018-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8434 (2018) · source
“We would like, through him, to also salute his wonderful team, who have supported him - both the members sitting behind him and some of those whom we have seen via videoconference, and whom I also personally know from previous incarnations. I would like to welcome Geir Pedersen, but I will save that for another time, when Geir has taken over. But I hope he knows that we are very indebted to him and that we recognize how much we owe him. I think that, as other speakers have said, it is deeply regrettable that there has not been more progress on the constitutional committee. It is unfathomable that - for an idea that was set up to advance the political process at Sochi - there has not been more progress, because it ought to have been possible to have made progress in that area.”
2018-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8434 (2018) · source
“Like others, I pay tribute to our good friend and colleague Staffan. It was a sad day when we learned that he would step down. He has given the most enormous service to the United Nations. I personally have worked with him on Afghanistan and other issues, and his track record in that country, in Iraq and in Lebanon speaks for itself. He has tried harder than anyone to bring a resolution to this truly terrible conflict in Syria. As he himself said, he has worked on it longer than the First World War lasted, exceeding the tenure of his predecessors, Mr. Brahimi and Kofi Annan. I think as the tribute to him showed, there is not a person in the United Nations who does not feel very deeply the amount of commitment, energy, resolve and passion that he has brought to this most difficult of all United Nations Envoy tasks.”
2018-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8434 (2018) · source
“And we call for all the relevant Security Council resolutions, in particular resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1701 (2006), to be respected in full. In that regard, the United Kingdom welcomes the commitments made both by Israel and Lebanon, including the recent statement by the Lebanese Ministry for Foreign Affairs regarding the full implementation of the latter resolution, the refusal to accept any violations and respect for the Blue Line. Finally, the United Kingdom calls on all sides to continue to abide by their commitments and to avoid actions and rhetoric that could destabilize the situation and the region.”
2018-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8432 (2018) · source
“We call on the Lebanese State, and in particular the Lebanese Armed Forces - as the sole and legitimate defenders of Lebanon - working closely with UNIFIL, to take appropriate action, as a matter of urgency, to neutralize the tunnels. We encourage Israel to continue to share with UNIFIL, to the fullest extent possible, any information that would assist UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces in taking action. Where there are difficulties, we urge all parties to work together constructively to overcome them. It is not in the interest of either of the sides for this situation to escalate. The United Kingdom has been clear on many occasions in the Council that it condemns Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty - whether by land, sea or air. Such actions undermine confidence and stability.”
2018-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8432 (2018) · source
“We condemn any attempts to restrict UNIFIL's freedom of movement. We recognize that there is the question of access to private property in the context of investigating where the tunnels are. We recognize that that can be difficult, but it is not impossible to resolve this issue. We look forward to a workable solution being found. We welcome the response of UNIFIL and its actions to monitor the situation and maintain calm, including by deploying additional troops and liaison teams to sensitive locations along the Blue Line. It is vitally important for UNIFIL to continue to liaise closely with the Lebanese and Israeli authorities.”
2018-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8432 (2018) · source
“Its continued possession of weapons outside of the control of the Lebanese State, reported attempts to acquire dangerous new missile capabilities and its statements that threaten Israel remain deeply alarming. Without an end to Hizbullah's illegal activities in Lebanon and the region, we will continue to see regional stability threatened. The United Kingdom recognizes the important work that has been carried out over the past 12 years by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to maintain calm and stability along the Blue Line. We pay tribute to those nations that have provided commanders and troops to UNIF IL throughout that period. And the existence of the tunnels reinforces the importance of ensuring that UNIFIL's mandate is effective, strong and has full access to all its areas of operation.”
2018-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8432 (2018) · source