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Pierce

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1,742

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2006-06-20

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2020-03-12

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un-security-council

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1. “The Charter of the United Nations underscores the important role played by regional organizations in the pacific settlement ofdisputes, and the Secretary-General was absolutely right to point to the farsightedness of the Charter's framers in that respect. It is a positive sign to see today the broad commitment of the Council to strengthening its work with the AU and others. It occurs to me that broader support in this forum for the important roles of NATO and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe might have provided for more effective responses to the challenges faced in Armenia, Georgia and Ukraine. Where national and regional efforts fail, the Council has a responsibility, as the only legally competent body, to surpass the State monopoly on military intervention and to act to restore international peace and security.”

   2018-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8414 (2018) · source

2. “That is why the United Kingdom supports the principle of providing United Nations assessed contributions up to a ceiling of 75 per cent to AU-led peace-support operations authorized by the Council. We continue to work constructively with our partners to ensure that the necessary conditions are fulfilled, particularly with regard to human rights compliance, so that that can become a reality. Thirdly, I would like to emphasize that coordinated efforts between the United Nations, regional organizations and Member States, based on comparative advantages, increase the effectiveness of all our efforts to prevent conflict and sustain long-term peace.”

   2018-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8414 (2018) · source

3. “With regard to support for conflict prevention and mediation, regional actors have a unique advantage owing to their understanding of the local context and conflict dynamics. In Guinea-Bissau, for example, successful ECOWAS mediation delegations include senior officials from Equatorial Guinea and Senegal. With regard to peace-support operations, regional groups play a crucial role, as we saw in the Gambia in 2017. Quick mobilization by ECOWAS succeeded in restoring stability to that country. The United Kingdom is committed to ensuring that regional entities are sufficiently resourced, so that they can fulfil critical functions alongside the United Nations, specifically on the financing of African Union peace-support operations.”

   2018-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8414 (2018) · source

4. “Few regional organizations have been as active on conflict prevention and resolution as the African Union, a welcome development of the past two decades. In the Lake Chad basin, the Central African Republic, the Comoros and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the AU has often been in the driving seat. In countries such as those in the Sahel region, where a range of cross-border issues form fertile ground for conflict, the work of ECOWAS has been crucial. When it comes to sustainable and inclusive economic development, regional cooperation can ensure that limited resources are deployed effectively and that economic isolation does not persist and become another cause of conflict. In the Horn ofAfrica, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development supports countries in their efforts to achieve better economic integration.”

   2018-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8414 (2018) · source

5. “For that reason, the United Kingdom supports the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-Department of Political Affairs Joint Programme on Building National Capacities for Conflict Prevention. The deployment of United Nations peace and development advisers has assisted Member States in generating the analyses that allow for early identification of conflict risks and the ability to devise de-escalation strategies. One such risk-identification system is now operational in Cameroon, where it tracks emerging conflict trends and risks in a situation that is of increasing concern for international peace and security. Secondly, regional organizations often have a considerable comparative advantage over more distant international institutions, including at times the United Nations.”

   2018-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8414 (2018) · source

6. “By addressing the structural drivers of fragility and ensuring that people's legitimate demands are met, including for justice, security and economic opportunities, we can significantly reduce the risk of conflict. That is why democracy and human rights have a very important role to play in stability but also in prosperity, and there is some very good evidence freely available that explains the link between democracy and human rights and prosperity and thriving societies. Strong national capacities for conflict prevention are also essential, and it is important that multilateral organizations be willing and equipped to support such national efforts.”

   2018-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8414 (2018) · source

7. “Today, I should like to focus on the complementary roles that States, subregional and regional organizations and the United Nations can and should play in the prevention and resolution of conflict. In that connection I should like to make three specific points. First, as other speakers have noted, the role of States is paramount. Member States bear the primary responsibility for protecting their inhabitants and for refraining from acts of aggression. But that also means refraining from persecuting their own people. The best and most durable solutions are home-grown and inclusive. But building resilient societies is not an easy task.”

   2018-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8414 (2018) · source

8. “Mr. President, I wish to welcome you back to New York. I join other speakers in saying how welcome it is to have representatives of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) also with us today. Yesterday, the Council discussed the complex challenges of post-conflict reconstruction, and President Ouattara reminded us of the immense human and economic costs that civil war has imposed on his country and the steps that Cote d'Ivoire has taken to sustain peace and promote economic development (see S/PV.8413). With the cost of conflict so clear, if we are to prevent the worst atrocities and injustices, in accordance with the aspirations of the Charter of the United Nations, it is crucial that we learn the lessons on what it takes to resolve conflict and sustain peace in the long term.”

   2018-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8414 (2018) · source

9. “It was very good to learn of the African Union's Agenda 2063, which will clearly have a key role to play in that regard. It is impossible to touch on all the ramifications of this important subject, but I thank you again, Mr. President, for sharing Cote d'lvoire's experience with the Council and for starting a very thorough discussion of the issue.”

   2018-12-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8413 (2018) · source

10. “The provision of basic needs is vital to the alleviation of immediate post- conflict humanitarian needs, but also to ensure political processes have the capacity to develop and thrive. Development itself needs to be inclusive and create widespread benefits to ensure groups are not inadvertently left behind. The International Labour Organization's Decent Work Agenda and its Programme on Jobs for Peace and Resilience rightly emphasize the importance of employment-centred recovery and accessible opportunities for society to grow and for cohesion. That all helps to reinforce the Sustainable Development Goals. If we want to ensure that the 2 billion people, who live in countries affected by conflict are not trapped in a cycle of violence, then we must address instability head-on.”

    2018-12-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8413 (2018) · source

11. “This is due in part to the collaboration and support of the Security Council, the European Union, NATO and many others, including civil society and non-governmental organizations. In fact, Paddy Ashdown, who was the High Representative in Bosnia, had three particular lessons for managing the end of a conflict. The first was "Do the rule of law first." His second rule was "Have a plan and stick to it." And his third rule was "Be prepared for it to take a long time." We often approach things in haste, and obviously do not condone backsliding, but the key is to keep moving forward with patience. Thirdly, we need to ensure that basic needs are provided in the short term, and support economic development in the long term.”

    2018-12-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8413 (2018) · source

12. “Syria becomes even more important in this context. We will not be able to consider providing reconstruction assistance absent a political settlement. It is also worth pointing to the virtues of patience. The World Bank estimates that making meaningful improvements to institutions takes a minimum of 10 years. The Peruvian representative spelled out the vital importance of getting things like infrastructure right. The conclusion from this idea is that long- term, predictable and coordinated support from the international community as a whole is obviously going to be critical if peace is to last. Bosnia represents a successful example in that particular context. The success of its transition to a peaceful State over 20 years after the Dayton Accords is noteworthy.”

    2018-12-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8413 (2018) · source

13. “It is important also that we engage with elites and that we encourage them to take the lead, rise above political, ethnic and religious divides, and take tough choices for the benefit of all of their citizens. It is all on our minds that the peace talks in Yemen are about to start. We look to all participants to approach these talks constructively and in a spirit of compromise. Secondly, post-conflict power structures and institutions need to be fully representative and legitimate. Fair power structures that broaden inclusion, accountability and transparency over time are more likely to reinforce a sustainable peace. That said, there must be a political agreement. We are all aware that in Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan unresolved power struggles undermined ambitious State- and institution-building.”

    2018-12-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8413 (2018) · source

14. “First, and as other speakers have noted, a political settlement needs to include the full spectrum of society, including women, including the Polish focus on human rights, including what the Dutch Minister said about women and girls and education. All of this is vital if peace is to be sustainable. We need to be bold in this approach. We recognize that it can often be extremely difficult in the aftermath of a conflict to be magnanimous and reach out to all sectors of society. Nevertheless, it is a very critical element. In the British experience in Northern Ireland, we believe that we were able to accommodate the interests of diametrically opposed armed groups in the political process that has brought two decades of peace.”

    2018-12-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8413 (2018) · source

15. “I think that it is very good that we have been able to have the benefit of C6te d'Ivoire's own experience. Too seldom in the Security Council do we hear of its successes. We wish the Government of Cote d'lvoire well in everything it has achieved, and long make it continue. We salute all the reforms that Cote d'lvoire has brought in. Another piece of good news that the Council was able to participate in recently concerned the lifting of sanctions on Eritrea. This kind of success in Africa is very much welcome. A number of speakers have drawn attention to the fact that two-thirds of the armed conflicts that ended in the early 2000s relapsed within five years. It is therefore vital that we remain focused, not just on resolving conflicts, but on sustaining peace in the long term. I would like to focus my remarks on three key lessons today.”

    2018-12-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8413 (2018) · source

16. “I thank President Ouattara for travelling to be with the Security Council today. I would join other speakers in expressing my personal condolences as well as those of my Government and ofthe Queen on the death of President George H.W. Bush, whom I had the honour to meet a number of times. He was indeed a great statesman. As the President and Mr. Faki Mahamat did, it is also worth noting once more the passing earlier this year of Kofi Annan, another great statesman who worked very closely with President Bush. Both of them had at the heart of what they were trying to achieve everything that this debate is about today. I therefore thank the Cote d'Ivoire delegation for putting it on our agenda. I thank the other Ministers for coming to join us at the Security Council.”

    2018-12-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8413 (2018) · source

17. “We think that should also cover voluntary contributions to the Investigative Team in the form of expertise and skills. I would like to pay tribute to Qatar and the Netherlands for their generous contributions. We ourselves have already donated to the trust fund and we remain committed to supporting the Investigative Team as it fulfils its mandate. Going back to where I started, justice for victims remains at the heart of the resolution. It is vital that the Investigative Team help to secure accountability for the victims ofthe terrible crimes ofDa'esh in order to bring closure to those who still suffer - including women, children and minority communities.”

    2018-12-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8412 (2018) · source

18. “It will, of course, rely on a cooperative and mutually respectful relationship, which we are sure will be present. The United Kingdom very much agrees with the strategic vision in the guiding principles regarding the Team's immediate priorities. We were pleased to see a very strong focus on engagement with the Government of Iraq. That will obviously be crucial to the success of the Team's work, and we encourage the Steering Committee designated by the Government of Iraq to meet on a regular basis with the Investigative Team, particularly during these early stages of implementation. The Special Adviser mentioned the importance of voluntary contributions to the trust fund established pursuant to resolution 2379 (2017). I want to echo that sentiment.”

    2018-12-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8412 (2018) · source

19. “It is important that all efforts on the ground be complementary and avoid duplication, and we are very pleased that the Team's budget proposal reflects the importance of all efforts complementing each other. We are encouraged to see the work of the team so far and welcome the fact that there have been contributions from the Government of Iraq, from UNAMI, from allied nations and other United Nations bodies in supporting the Investigative Team. I think it is crucial that we get these early stages right, including by establishing a mechanism for cooperation between the Investigative Team and the Government of Iraq. That is important for swift and thorough evidence collection, but it will also help ensure that evidence is suitable to be used before the courts.”

    2018-12-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8412 (2018) · source

20. “I think the Team has made a very good start and we look forward to its future work and briefings. The Special Adviser said that we really ought to pay tribute to the suffering and the indefatigable courage of the survivors of Da'esh violence. I think that is absolutely right. Justice and accountability for the victims need to be at the centre of our approach, and I want to commend the new Government of Iraq for its commitment to supporting the work of the Investigative Team. We also welcome the continued support of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) for the Team, and I would like to recognize UNAMI's efforts to facilitate the deployment of the Investigative Team to Baghdad.”

    2018-12-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8412 (2018) · source

21. “Let me begin by repeating in the Chamber what I said in the consultations room - we offer you and your mission our congratulations, Mr. President, on assuming the presidency. We very much look forward to working with you and supporting you. We also congratulate our Chinese colleagues for the way they conducted the presidency last month. I would also like to reiterate my condolences here in the Chamber to the United States of America on the death of George H. W. Bush, who I had the honour of meeting in the United Nations some 10 years ago. Turning to today, I would like to thank the Special Adviser and Head of the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da'esh/Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant for his first briefing to the Council since the Team's deployment on 29 October.”

    2018-12-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8412 (2018) · source

22. “We have all been shown a way forward and I would welcome everybody around this table to today rallying to the Special Envoy and getting the constitutional committee set up well before the end of the year, so that this crisis can eventually begin a long and slow path towards resolution.”

    2018-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8406 (2018) · source

23. “That is what the Special Envoy is doing, and he deserves the explicit and concrete support of everybody around this table. I repeat that I would really welcome an explanation today on why further progress has not been possible. It is absolutely vital that we get this political process launched before the end of the year. I will end by making a statement about the political process that, although general, holds deeply true. Without an irreversible and durable political process, there will be no reconstruction, refugee return at scale or rehabilitation for Syria.”

    2018-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8406 (2018) · source

24. “That obviously requires the committee to be representative and inclusive, but not that any one side has a veto over its makeup. The Syrian authorities' argument that Syria's "sovereignty" defines what the international community can and cannot do in the Syrian crisis is a red herring and a distraction. Under Article 24 of the Charter of the United Nations, Members ofthe United Nations agree to confer on the Security Council the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, and they further agree that the Council acts on their behalf. That is true whether the resolution falls under Chapters VIII, VII or VI, or where there is no specification. They agree that the Security Council acts on their behalf.”

    2018-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8406 (2018) · source

25. “Other speakers have referred to the commitment undertaken in the Istanbul communique of 27 October to launching the constitutional committee by the end of this year. Given that Foreign Minister Lavrov and President Putin contributed to the Istanbul communique, it is mystifying why it has not yet been implemented. The Special Envoy has been crystal clear that it is vital to have political progress. Resolution 2254 (2015), which was adopted unanimously, is also clear that the Special Envoy has the authority to bring it about. We would welcome more detail as to why that vital piece of the political machinery has not yet been put in place. It is right that the Special Envoy should consult, and we completely agree that if it is to be effectiveness, the constitutional committee must be credible and acceptable to all sides.”

    2018-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8406 (2018) · source

26. “They cannot rely on their own Government to protect them and, after all of the shenanigans over the constitutional committee and Sochi, they cannot rely on the partners of their own Government - namely, the Russian Federation and Iran - to protect them. I think that is a key point that the proponents of the Syrian authorities" sovereignty mantra would do well to bear in mind. We fully support Special Envoy de Mistura. We want him to convene an inclusive, balanced and constitutional committee by the end of the year, and I join other colleagues in urging him to fully use the authority that has been granted to him through resolution 2254 (2015) in order to do so. The key to moving forward is obviously rapid and palpable progress on the political track.”

    2018-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8406 (2018) · source

27. “I thank Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura and his team for all the work they do on the ground. It is good that we are discussing this issue because it gives us an opportunity to recall, as the French Ambassador has just done, exactly how many agreements have been reached by the Security Council, including but not limited to resolution 2254 (2015), on what exactly the political process needs to do. I will not repeat what Ambassador Delattre said, but I do want to express the full support of the United Kingdom for everything said. It is also good that we are discussing this because the people of Syria continue to need our help.”

    2018-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8406 (2018) · source

28. “I want to emphasize the "man-made" aspect by saying that men can resolve what they have created. I therefore believe that that is another reason for all possible effort to be put into the political track. David Beasley exhorted us to act now. I do not think that there is anyone who can have failed to have been moved by what David and Rasha told us. Jeremy Hunt, my Foreign Secretary, has announced that we will work with Security Council partners. Mark Lowcock provided us with a very important state of play with regard to his five asks. Speaking for the United Kingdom, we support all of them. Secretary Hunt has therefore asked me to say that, as penholder, we will provide the text of a draft resolution to partners on the Security Council on Monday, with the intention of including Mark's five asks, which all members have endorsed.”

    2018-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8404 (2018) · source

29. “I am sure that all members of the Council will want to express their support for all three of his strands of work for the United Nations, in particular for the political track. It is obviously vital that talks are inclusive and women are properly included. The women's technical advisory service is a very good step in that direction. It is good that he is searching for modern ways to put that into practice. The messages from Rasha Jarhum have been incredibly important today, and I thank her for taking the time to come and explain to the Council how it looks from the perspective of the citizens of Yemen. My Foreign Secretary was in the region earlier this week because, like Martin and everyone else here, we believe that there is a window of opportunity to tackle this man-made crisis in Yemen.”

    2018-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8404 (2018) · source

30. “But we have to bear in mind the very sobering descriptions that David Beasley gave us of what life is like for ordinary people, including children. I would like to take this opportunity to say that we very much agree with what the Special Envoy said about bringing the parties together without preconditions. We need the words that we heard to be translated into concrete action. We need the parties to engage with the Special Envoy to take part in the consultations that Martin is setting up and engage constructively so that ultimately he can pave the way forward towards the resumption of formal negotiations. What the Special Envoy said about bringing his framework back to the Council is very welcome and important.”

    2018-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8404 (2018) · source

31. “As they described, it is a truly appalling situation on the ground. The severity of the humanitarian catastrophe cannot be overstated. Regardless of the hard work that is needed to redouble efforts in response to the humanitarian need - and we take into account everything that was just said about the commercial needs in order to keep Yemen functioning - it is also clear that we, and they, will not succeed without an equal effort and commitment on the political track. It bears repeating once again that only a political solution will actually bring this dreadful conflict to an end. We heard about some small positive steps from Martin Griffiths today, in particular concerning the Central Bank and the exchange of prisoners. We heard some good news concerning the United Nations conference next year. I think that that is very important.”

    2018-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8404 (2018) · source

32. “I thank our four briefers very much. I do not think that I have ever heard a more powerful set of briefings and pleas in the Security Council than those we heard from today. I think that their words and requests will reverberate around the Council. So far, the Council has been very united in its support of the United Nations work in Yemen, and we expect that to continue. I think, as well, that there is obviously a very clear joint partnership among the three United Nations Heads, which is also very important. If there is any light to be found in this awful crisis, it lies in their willingness to speak out and work really closely with one another. Their dedication and that of their teams and civil society to help the people of Yemen must be one of the things that the members of the Council have at the forefront of their minds.”

    2018-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8404 (2018) · source

33. “I cannot stress too strongly how important it is that that dialogue makes real progress if the region, and in particular Kosovo and Serbia, are to realize prosperity, security and stability. The people of Kosovo and Serbia have elected their leaders to best represent their interests. We urge those leaders to do so. Provocative acts and rhetoric from both sides are deeply unhelpful and antagonistic and should be stopped. They are contrary to the spirit of normalization and they simply make finding common ground more difficult. We believe that both countries now need to focus on a deliverable and sustainable normalization agreement through the EU-facilitated dialogue, which enhances security and benefits the ordinary people ofboth countries. The United Kingdom stands ready to support such an agreement.”

    2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source

34. “But I am sorry to say that this is not always the way in which dialogue is approached. We would like to see much more progress and faster, and we would like the two sides to always keep in mind that any proposals they put forward really do enhance stability on the ground and the safety and security of all their citizens. We have had a number of rounds of dialogue in the past. In this century alone there was an attempt in 2006 under the auspices of the United Nations, to resolve the status issue that recommended Kosovo be independent. that was blocked. There was an attempt in 2007 among the EU, the United States and Russia to the same end. That too was blocked. Now we have the EU- facilitated dialogue.”

    2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source

35. “It is time that we stop transnational organized criminals cooperating better than our own police services. I would just like to add the point that I knew Oliver Ivanovic' and considered him a friend. We too hope that the perpetrators ofhis murder will be brought to justice. Oliver worked tirelessly to try to normalize the status of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. I think the greatest tribute that both countries could pay to Oliver would be to continue his work without conditions. We continue to encourage both Serbia and Kosovo to make progress towards a sustainable solution through the EU-facilitated dialogue. We agree with both speakers that progress on the dialogue is vital for stability, security and prosperity in the two countries and the region.”

    2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source

36. “The Kosovo police is a professional organization that since its inception, in 1999, has taken responsibility for ensuring the maintenance of the rule of law in the long term. Its officers are well trained, and they are keen to cooperate internationally in our joint efforts to combat serious and organized crime and terrorism. The United Kingdom hopes that the Kosovo police is voted into INTERPOL during its General Assembly session next week. We urge other members to support the Kosovo police bid. That is not about political point- scoring, it is about our collective security and fight against organized crime. Kosovo's inclusion would facilitate information-sharing among law enforcement in the Western Balkans and beyond, and that would enhance the stability of us all, including Serbia's.”

    2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source

37. “But on the Foreign Minister's specific points, we offered four options to reach an agreement with his country - and all four were rejected. We also made it very clear that we would hold a meeting on Kosovo in the Security Council if there were progress on normalization. Sadly, there was no progress on normalization. Instead, I am sorry to say, the Serbian Government orchestrated a protest outside our Embassy in Belgrade, which is simply not an acceptable way of conducting diplomatic relations. As we reflect on the progress Kosovo has made since UNMIK's installation in 1999, there is an example of how far Kosovo has moved forward that I would like to raise, and that concerns the Kosovo police.”

    2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source

38. “To that end, the United Kingdom supports and looks forward to a strategic review of the Mission. I would recall for members that the European Union (EU) and other regional organizations are also very closely involved in Kosovo and in the region. The EU's role is vital to enabling true peace, security and stability on the ground. With the efficiency and priorities of the Council in mind, we welcome the reduction in frequency of UNMIK discussions. The Foreign Minister singled out my country, so I will take a few, brief minutes to respond. It is important that the cycle of discussion in the Council reflects reality on the ground. We all agreed on that at the point when we took the decision. It is also important that the reporting cycles of the Secretary- General reflect the frequency of the Council's discussion.”

    2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source

39. “Let me thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for his briefing and for all the good work he and his team continue to do in Kosovo and the region. I also welcome His Excellency the Foreign Minister of Serbia and Her Excellency the Kosovo Ambassador to Washington, DC. We fully support the United Nations Interim Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK) and recognize the important role that UNMIK has played in post- conflict stabilization and reconciliation. The situation in Kosovo has indeed changed dramatically since the Mission's inception, two decades ago. We believe the Security Council needs to use its resources effectively. It needs to refocus UNMIK's efforts so that the means deployed by the United Nations are tailored fully to the situation on the ground.”

    2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source

40. “I think that the countries concerned and the region deserve to be congratulated on the important steps forward that they have taken, which have made this resolution possible today. Not only is it a very important step for the countries of the region, but I think it also sends a helpful wider signal to the international community that if the right steps are taken, sanctions can be lifted. The United Kingdom has the pleasure to continue to offer its full support to the Somali authorities, the Djiboutian and Eritrean authorities, the Committee pursuant to resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009) concerning Somalia and Eritrea, and the Panel ofExperts in their efforts to support peace and stability.”

    2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8398 (2018) · source

41. “Turning to Somalia, we condemn in the strongest terms the horrific attacks in Mogadishu on Friday. It is clear that Al-Shabaab continues to pose a serious threat to the peace and stability of Somalia and the region. This resolution underlines our full support for the Somali authorities in their efforts to combat this threat. In this context, we welcome the progress made to date on security reform. Further progress is now essential to implementing the national security architecture and make full use of integrated regional Somali forces to deliver a successful transition to Somali-led security. Coordinated international engagement will remain key. We also look forward to further cooperation between the Somali authorities and the reconstituted Panel of Experts on the implementation of the arms embargo.”

    2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8398 (2018) · source

42. “I welcome our colleagues from Djibouti, Eritrea and Somalia. I should like to thank Council members for their unanimous support for resolution 2444 (2018). It lifts sanctions on Eritrea. It sets out the Council's continued support for efforts to improve peace and security in Somalia. The agreement to lift sanctions on Eritrea recognizes the improvements in regional peace and security and the positive steps Eritrea has taken to meet the demands of the Security Council, and it is right that in the light of such developments we reconsider the measures. It is also right that we continue to urge dialogue between Eritrea and Djibouti on the Djiboutian combatants missing in action and on the resolution of their border dispute. We look forward to continued efforts to normalize relations between both countries and we stand ready to assist.”

    2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8398 (2018) · source

43. “And it is all the more important as we grapple with new and disruptive technologies, such artificial intelligence or cybertechnology, which will change the way Governments interact with each other and with their own citizens. While the United Kingdom strongly agrees with the premise of this debate, we know that we must be vigilant against the tendency of this subject to become an exercise in mutual adoration. In conflicts, atrocities are committed and international laws are breached. An increase in the use of multilateralism should never be coded language for negotiating agreements with those who have violated the rules of our international system.”

    2018-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8395 (2018) · source

44. “We need to strengthen the invisible chain that links democracies. We must also ensure, at the same time, that we are better at acting in concert when we face real and present threats. We would therefore attach the highest importance to a renewed and stronger commitment from all members of the Council, as well as all members of the General Assembly, to responsibility and partnership among both State and non-State actors, civil society and the private sector. It is all about what we can do together as we move towards the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations in 2020. The Sustainable Development Goals are the most supreme manifestation of that objective.”

    2018-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8395 (2018) · source

45. “A rules-based international system must of course adapt to thrive. It must also adapt if it wants to survive. A number of speakers today have called attention to the importance of supporting reform. I would like to add the United Kingdom's voice to that as well. I would say that includes Security Council reform. But I think we must also redouble our efforts to defend the rules-based international order. We need multilateral organizations that are fit for purpose, and we need to reform outdated and bureaucratic structures. That is the best way to make sure that the institutions they serve do not collapse. We need reform of the World Trade Organization, so that we succeed in warding off the dangerous temptations of protectionism. And we need World Bank reform so that its governance reflects the changing balance of the global economy.”

    2018-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8395 (2018) · source

46. “But I want to stress that, under Chapter VI, the Security Council may investigate any dispute or any situation that may give rise to a dispute, and may determine whether or not it constitutes international friction and endangers the maintenance of international peace and security. The Charter does not require the Security Council to already agree that such a threat exists. It is our view that some countries try to stop and stifle Security Council discussion of such situations under Chapter VI - for example, when a Government is attacking its own people or abusing its neighbours. The more that Chapter VI is stifled, the more likely it is that dramatic action will eventually be needed under Chapter VII. That is an irony that I think the Security Council would do well to reflect on.”

    2018-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8395 (2018) · source

47. “From Rwanda and Srebrenica to current conflicts in Myanmar and Syria, we are failing the cause of multilateralism by failing to act in line with the Charter of the United Nations. The Security Council was invested with powers under Chapter VII of the Charter in order to fulfil its duties to maintain international peace and security. But if we are blocked by one or two members from using those powers, that is not a legitimate expression of the Charter but an abuse of the power of the veto. We completely share the views of those Security Council members who spoke about the importance of Chapter VI and Chapter VIII of the Charter, relating to the Security Council. To that I would also add Article 99, which we believe is underused: the ability of the Secretary-General to draw matters to the Security Council's attention.”

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48. “But effective collective action cannot mean only action by consensus. Threats to international peace and security, by their nature, often involve a challenge to international law and norms. It logically cannot be the case that action to uphold international peace and security must always be by consensus: that will not be sufficient. You, Mr. President, spoke of the need for the Security Council to act with unity, wisdom and courage. Our collective wisdom tells us that inaction in the face of gross abuses of human rights and violations of international law, acts of genocide and acts of using prohibited weapons leads to disastrous outcomes. Hence, we fail to uphold international peace and security. Because we lack the courage to act on the wisdom we display, we end up being disunited.”

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49. “But as many have pointed out today, we face the proliferation of threats from many quarters. We have heard a lot of references to those today: some of them have been the cause of great dispute in the Council, but they are all relevant to the entire membership, whether a Member State is a member on the Council, an elected member of the Council or standing for election themselves. No nation can protect its people without engaging positively in the crises that affect the world. I cannot see a single major threat that can be solved by one nation alone. Whether it be migration, cybercrime, modern-day slavery, terrorist threats, disease or climate change, all those threats challenge security and prosperity at home and challenge collective security on the world stage. They can be resolved only by collective action.”

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50. “Seventy years ago, no one could accuse the founding fathers of the United Nations of a lack of ambition. But since its foundation, the United Nations has faced an almost unbridgeable gap between its ambition and our ability to help it deliver. Important gains have been made. Kofi Annan spoke of pushing heavy rocks to the top ofthe hill, even though some have eluded our grasp, and that we need to keep going. What I want to stress is that, regardless of a country's economic or security model, all the evidence shows that countries thrive best if they have open societies and pursue open trade, open speech, open association and open information. A rules- based international system that preserves stability is in the interests of the vast majority of the States Members of the Organization.”

    2018-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8395 (2018) · source