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

“I thank you, Mr. President, and Ijoin colleagues in welcoming you to the presidency for this month and saying that the United Kingdom looks forward to working with Russia. I also thank Poland for its very distinguished presidency of the Council. The United Kingdom remains extremely concerned by the situation in Gaza. We condemn the violent activities of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other terrorist organisations, and we condemn them unreservedly. We have recently witnessed unacceptable mortar and rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel. Such acts of terror are destructive to peace efforts, and they need to stop. In the past weeks, we have seen violence, Hamas' exploitation of peaceful protests and a disturbing volume of live fire.”
2018-06-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8274 (2018) · source
“Every day makes it more critical that both Israelis and Palestinians return to direct negotiations and urgently prioritize steps to resolve the situation in Gaza. That is the only way that we will be able to achieve the two-State solution and a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian State. Those who seek to undermine that, including through unjustified acts of Violence, deserve the rightful condemnation of the Council, as well as of the whole world.”
2018-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8272 (2018) · source
“We welcome the proposals that Mr. Mladenov made, which include commitments to advance urgent infrastructure and economic development projects, improve access and movement and support the Egyptian-led reconciliation process. We stand ready as the United Kingdom to do everything that we can to support those efforts. The people of Gaza are in urgent and desperate need. Yesterday, my Government committed to providing a new package of over $2 million of life-saving support. The funding will support work by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent Society in keeping hospitals open and functioning at a time when the health-care system in Gaza is under huge strain. Ultimately, peace will come only through fresh negotiations between the parties, supported by the international community.”
2018-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8272 (2018) · source
“We should use this Council meeting today to demand that Hamas and other terrorist groups cease all violent and provocative actions, and cease any and all actions that put civilian lives at risk. At the same time, we do not ignore the significant contribution that restrictions on movement and access imposed on Gaza have on the dire humanitarian situation that we witness. The United Kingdom continues its support for the full return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza, and we encourage further progress on reconciliation. An end to this Violence requires a tangible path for changing Gaza, and what the Special Coordinator had to say about the plan was very interesting. We believe that it is the responsibility of the international community to work together to find a way to alleviate the humanitarian suffering in Gaza.”
2018-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8272 (2018) · source
“The latest attacks follow the deaths of more than 100 Palestinian in recent weeks of protests, and the Council has addressed that previously. Civilians live in fear and in despair. Further escalation of violence risks a devastating effect on efforts to restore the peace process and can bring about only renewed suffering to the region. As Council members, we should act to ensure that does not come to fruition. The situation in Gaza in undeniably dangerous. It is sad and it is complex. The perpetual cycle of violence needs to end and serves no one's interests. The actions of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad represent a real and concerning threat to Israeli security. Ultimately, the ongoing decisions of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad to embrace violence and reject the Quartet principles lie at the heart of the Gaza situation.”
2018-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8272 (2018) · source
“I thank the Special Coordinator for his very sobering briefing. Echoing Ambassador Haley's concern, I condemn - without qualification and in the strongest terms - yesterday's mortar and rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel. Indiscriminate attacks against civilians are unacceptable and they are unjustifiable. Those who risk killing or injuring children are heinous. The attacks cannot be ignored by the Security Council. The United Kingdom fully supports Israel's right to self-defence and the right to defend its citizens from such acts of terror. The recent spike in rocket attacks from Gaza is a stark reminder that the risk of a renewed conflict is very much present, and I think the Special Coordinator brought that out very clearly in his briefing today.”
2018-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8272 (2018) · source
“Approximately 3.4 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, particularly along the line of contact. There are real risks of an environmental disaster. If Russia truly cares about the people of the Donbas, it should end the fighting that it started, withdraw its military personnel and weapons and cease support for the separatists, in line with its obligations under the Minsk agreements. And it should show political commitment, as Ambassador Apakan highlighted, to engage constructively and in good faith in negotiations to deliver long-term peace.”
2018-05-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8270 (2018) · source
“Of the 298 victims, there were 10 British nationals. We commend the Joint Investigation Team for its professional, impartial and independent investigation. Like other colleagues, my Foreign Secretary is on record as saying we now have clear evidence that the missile that brought down Flight MH-l7 belonged to the Russian Army. The United Kingdom fully supports the Netherlands and Australia in their request to the Russian Federation to accept State responsibility for its part in bringing down Flight MH-l7 and to engage with them in bilateral negotiations. All States Members of the United Nations, including Russia, need to fulfil their obligations under resolution 2166 (2014) to provide any requested assistance to the investigation. Since 2014, over 10,300 people have been killed and 25,000 injured in Ukraine.”
2018-05-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8270 (2018) · source
“Despite that, Russia continues to ignore calls in the General Assembly for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit Crimea, most recently in December last year. We heard from the OSCE and the United Nations how millions of Crimeans remain outside the monitoring mechanisms of the United Nations, which means that there is no one who can easily help them. We call on Russia, as a permanent member of the Security Council, to uphold the international rules-based system and respond positively to the General Assembly's calls. I would now like to turn to Malaysia Airlines Flight MH-l7. I thank the Dutch Minister for his statement and for the important role the Dutch are playing, along with other members of the Joint Investigation Team, in pursuing justice for the victims and their families.”
2018-05-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8270 (2018) · source
“And let us not see repeated the past winter, where despite international humanitarian assistance, as the Assistant Secretary-General said, food insecurity doubled from 600,000 to 1.2 million people. A number of speakers mentioned Crimea. We share the view that the annexation of Crimea four years ago by Russia is illegal and in violation of the first principle of international law. General Assembly resolutions 68/262, 71/205 and 72/190 reaffirm the internationally recognized borders of Ukraine and the absence of any legal basis to change the status of Crimea. The resolutions characterize Russia as an occupying Power. They note the primary responsibility of States to promote and protect human rights. And they call on Russia to uphold all of its obligations under applicable international law.”
2018-05-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8270 (2018) · source
“The United Kingdom also remains extremely concerned by the threats posed to civilian infrastructure and the potential for long-term environmental damage. Many speakers today highlighted the Donetsk water- filtration station, and I would like to add our voices to that point. We are also concerned by the threats from the separatists to turn off the pumps at the Yunkom mine. Flooding of the mine risks contaminating the water table with radiological waste. More generally, I would like to urge Russia to intervene with the separatists to avoid actions that would cause environmental damage and which could have a huge humanitarian impact on the civilian population for years to come. Support and respect for the safe zones around key civilian infrastructure is crucial if we are to prevent further humanitarian suffering.”
2018-05-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8270 (2018) · source
“The deterioration in the security situation along the line of contact in Donetsk serves to underline the total failure of the latest recommitment to the ceasefire. Ijoin others in repeating the appeals for respect for the laws of war. Despite being agreed by the Trilateral Contact Group on 26 March, it was only 10 minutes before Russian-led forces shelled Avdiivka, and they did so with weapons proscribed under the Minsk agreements. I think that demonstrates the complete disregard that the Russian-backed separatists have for the ceasefire and for attempts to grant some relief to the civilian population of eastern Ukraine. I would like to once again urge all those involved to recommit to the ceasefire at the Trilateral Contact Group meeting to take place on 30 May.”
2018-05-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8270 (2018) · source
“That is 100,000 too many, but 100,000 is an extremely large number. We should just think about what that really means for the people on the ground. Not only the conflict but also the resulting humanitarian situation, as the Assistant Secretary- General said, and the potential for long-term environmental damage are among the many reasons that the topic of Ukraine needs to be on the Council's agenda and to be repeatedly discussed here. It is notjust about Ukraine, although that is the subject of today's meeting. I want to express my agreement with what my Swedish colleague said about Ukraine, Georgia and the rules-based international order. The situation on the ground remains highly volatile, as we heard.”
2018-05-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8270 (2018) · source
“I join other colleagues in welcoming the three Ministers for Foreign Affairs to this important meeting. I should also like to thank the briefers from the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) for their account and for the work they and their teams do on the ground. The United Kingdom joins others in welcoming this opportunity for the Security Council to receive an update on the situation in eastern Ukraine. As other speakers have done, we also stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people. The fighting in eastern Ukraine has continued unabated since 2014. The Under-Secretary-General set out some compelling facts about what is happening on the ground. But, for me, one of the most shocking facts was that there have been over 100,000 violations of the ceasefire.”
2018-05-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8270 (2018) · source
“Ijust wanted to comment on the Syrian representative's last statement, in which he said that the Syrian Arab Republic will spare no effort to arrive at a political solution. That is obviously a welcome statement. I would like to ask him if he could tell the Council, or is willing to say today, that Syria will put the same amount of effort into engaging with the Special Envoy of the Secretary- General for Syria and with the Council in order to take concrete steps to get the Geneva process to work and to get a constitutional committee off the ground. If Syria were able to make that commitment today in the Chamber, I believe that would unlock a lot of things for the Council.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“I therefore hope that when we go next door we can have a very detailed discussion about how we as the Council can get back to the spirit of Sweden and actually help Staffan de Mistura and his team do something concrete to achieve that, and have no more mud-slinging.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“I will not rehearse why France, the United States and the United Kingdom took the action we did, except to say that we did it to avert a humanitarian catastrophe, and in doing so we helped to protect civilians on the ground, deterred and degraded Syria's ability to use chemical weapons and thereby upheld the global prohibition on weapons of mass destruction. While I think those things remain very important, they should not be used by anyone on the Council as a reason to let the Syrian Government off the hook where engaging with the United Nations on the political process is concerned. The political process has been essential since 2012, when the Geneva talks were started. It has been increasingly essential since then, and it continues to be essential now.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“The onus is truly on Syria to follow the will of the Security Council and its resolutions and to allow the United Nations to do its work to help the people of Syria. Those are the main things I wanted to say, but I would like to touch on three more points as well, if I may. We support what the Special Envoy said about bringing women in, which I think is long overdue, and he can count on the United Kingdom's full support for that. I would also like to refer to Iran and the strikes on Israel from Syrian territory, on which we are in full agreement with the United States representative's comments and have been very vocal about in public. I also want to comment on the Russian representative's remarks about the air strikes.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“I wanted to turn to the issue of the Syrian Government engaging with the United Nations. The Russian representative referred to backsliding from a political settlement and entrenching Syrian unwillingness for a negotiated solution. I think that those two statements are very damning, but they are not damning about us; they are damning about the Syrian regime. We really need all those with influence on Syria, including Russia and Iran, to encourage it to set aside a military strategy as a way to resolve the conflict and to engage with the United Nations across the board, so that we can get back to Geneva and to a political settlement. It is not we in the West who are stopping that happening.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“I think that what we struggle with is how to get it done and how to take the next step, so I hope that when we leave the Chamber and go next door into closed consultations, we can actually have a proper discussion, without polemics, about what it will take to get the constitutional committee up and running; what are the concrete steps that need to be taken and how we as the Council can best facilitate and support that; and what it takes to get Idlib protected. Lots of speakers today have referred to Idlib; I think that we all know its importance, scale and significance. I would urge those Astana progenitors to do what they can to ensure that on the ground, people in Idlib are safe and that we avert a humanitarian catastrophe there. But I would like to have a proper discussion next door about how the Council can actually support that.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“I had not intended to speak today in the Chamber, but I wanted to respond to some of the things that we have just heard. I will therefore take this opportunity to thank Staffan de Mistura and his team for all their work, which is not proving as fast or as productive as all of us would like, but I think that we are very grateful to Staffan for all his efforts. I was also interested to hear the Chinese account of the work of their envoy. We all know what needs to be done. We have had very many discussions in this Chamber and in the Consultations Room about Syria.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“To that end, I would like to conclude by requesting that the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and his Office bring forward proposals to address the situation in Gaza. They should include easing restrictions on access and movement and international support for urgent infrastructure and economic development projects. We also reiterate our support for the Egyptian-led reconciliation process and the return of the Palestinian Authority to the full administration of the Gaza Strip.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“We need to look forward, and we need to work urgently towards a resolution of the long-standing issues between Israel and the Palestinian people. Like the Council, the United Kingdom is committed to a two-State solution, with Jerusalem as a shared capital, and to achieving peace and stability in the wider region. We see negotiations towards a two-State solution as the best way to end the occupation and to meet the national aspirations of the Jewish and the Palestinian peoples. But, now more than ever, we need a political process that delivers a two-State solution. We agree with the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General that the situation in Gaza is desperate and deteriorating and that the international community must step up its efforts.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“I want to reiterate the United Kingdom's support for independent and transparent investigations into the events that have taken place in recent weeks, including the extent to which the rules of engagement of the Israeli security forces are in line with international law. The death toll alone warrants such a comprehensive inquiry. We continue to urge that the findings of the investigations be made public and, if wrongdoing is found, that those responsible be held to account. Our position on the status of Jerusalem and the move of the American Embassy is well known. Our position is clear and long-standing. It is that the status of Jerusalem should be determined in a negotiated settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and that Jerusalem should ultimately be the shared capital of the Israeli and Palestinian States.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“Palestinians have a right to peaceful protest, and Israel has an undeniable right to protect its borders from Hamas and other terrorist groups and threats. The United Kingdom remains strongly supportive of Israel's right to defend itself. We recognize today is a sensitive anniversary for the Palestinians. We implore Israel to act with restraint in accordance with international law and, more than anything, to ensure that its security forces do not resort to the use of excessive force. The volume oflive fire used in Gaza yesterday and the consequent number of deaths is destressing and cannot be ignored by the Council.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“We understand that 60 people were killed yesterday in Gaza, six of whom were children. Around 2,771 people were reported injured, and that included over 1,300 injured by live ammunition. The death toll on Monday means that 90 Palestinians have been killed in the past six weeks for approaching the fence that has been placed around Gaza. There is an urgent need to establish the facts around yesterday's events, including why such a volume of live fire continues to be deemed justified. The Palestinian right to peaceful protest is undeniable. At the same time, we are deeply concerned that peaceful protests in Gaza have been exploited by extremist elements. For example, we have seen troops belonging to the Israeli Defence Forces targeted by improvised explosive devices, and we have seen the use of Molotov cocktails. That is not acceptable.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“I thank Mr. Mladenov for his sobering briefing. I would like to thank him and his staff for everything they are doing to try to calm down the Violence. I also echo his tribute to the medical staff on the ground, as well as his appeal for facilitatiting the evacuation of the wounded. We have seen a concatenation of loss of life, casualties and volume of live fire in Gaza yesterday, and this has been shocking and appalling to most of us. It is a depressingly familiar pattern that we have seen over recent weeks, and it includes the deaths of the children. At a highly sensitive time in the region, we call for calm and restraint. The further escalation of Violence serves no one's interests. It is only destructive to peace efforts and to wider regional security.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“In recent days we have been very concerned by reports that Myanmar security forces threatened Rohingya villages not to talk openly with the Security Council delegation, and tolde them that the people who did so were now being looked for by security forces. It is obviously unacceptable that anyone should feel intimidated to speak to the Security Council, which, after all, undertakes these missions on behalf of the international community. I would be most grateful if the Myanmar authorities could clarify that as a matter of urgency. I would like to make one last point in conclusion, ifI may. I was very struck by the unity of the Council throughout the trip, and I think that my colleagues were as well. We would all like to find a way to preserve that unity as we go forward under your direction, Madam President.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8255 (2018) · source
“They centre around community reconciliation, regularizing citizenship status of the Rohingya, human rights - such as freedom of movement and access to education and livelihoods - and holding the perpetrators of violence to account. Again, we heard from some of the other villagers and officials about attacks on them by ARSA. Speaking in my national capacity, it is clear to me that there needs to be an accountability mechanism for all alleged violations and abuses of human rights committed in northern Rakhine. But again, I start from the point that it is the Rohingya that the Council went to examine, and they are overwhelmingly the largest part of the problem.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8255 (2018) · source
“There are risks to private financing, and anything delivered without Rohingya participation risks reinforcing displacement, not resolving it. I think that we accept that the Myanmar authorities are deeply concerned about development issues in Rakhine state as a whole, and the Council believes that it is one aspect that will need to be addressed. But it is not the foremost aspect in getting the Rohingya to start going back to their homes in safety and security. I was particularly struck again by the contrast between what is being offered on the ground in Myanmar and the scale of the problem. There was little progress on tackling the political issues, as my two colleagues noted in the meetings they described. Many of those political issues were raised in the Annan Commission recommendations.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8255 (2018) · source
“Council members heard that refugees would be housed only temporarily in the transit centre, but there was no convincing explanation about how they would actually return to their villages and in what time frame. We noted that the camps for internally displaced persons in Sittwe had been there since 2012, and I think the Council was struck by that fact. Fourthly, there must be emphasis on the physical arrangements and development, as opposed to the underlying political issues. Council members heard about the plans for the Union Enterprise for Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement and Development in Rakhine, which are privately financed, and about the physical arrangements for repatriation. I would like to make two points to that end though, ifI may.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8255 (2018) · source
“Secondly, the Burmese authorities need to increase the scale of their response and allow the United Nations in with unconditional access to assist them. Only the United Nations has the technical expertise and know- how to deal with an event of that magnitude. Myanmar has two reception centres. Together they can receive, at best, 300 people a day. There are approximately 900,000 refugees. The scale is nowhere near what would be required to bring so many refugees home. As I said, the United Nations needs to be involved because it is the only institution in the world that has the ability to provide assistance at the scale required. Thirdly, we did not receive enough information about the prospect for long-term solutions.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8255 (2018) · source
“We met community members who had seen their families become Victims of attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA). We also met a Rohingya community whose homes are being rebuilt by the authorities. We were also able to hold a meeting with members of civil society at Sittwe airport, although, unfortunately, our time was brief. As my colleagues just did, I would now like to offer the Council some reflections on what we saw. First, we saw the sheer scale of the devastation. I have only ever seen one camp like it before in my professional life. I was very struck by the magnitude of what the refugees face, as well as the Government and the United Nations as they try to return the people home. We saw widespread devastation from the air, and that was, obviously, one reason for the scale of the refugee camps in Bangladesh.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8255 (2018) · source
“We had a briefing by the Chief Minister of Rakhine state, and we took a helicopter trip over northern Rakhine. We were accompanied by the Union Minister for International Cooperation, U Kyaw Tin, and the Chief Coordinator of the Union Enterprise for Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement and Development in Rakhine, Mr. Aung Tun Thet. The members of the Security Council flew over an area that showed widespread devastation of land and villages. It was clear that they had been burned out. We saw physical arrangements for return being prepared by the Government of Myanmar, including a reception centre and a transit centre at Hla Phoe Khaung, which was intended to accommodate up to 30,000 people. We met members of local communities in northern Rakhine. We had a town hall meeting with Rakhine Muslim and Hindu groups.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8255 (2018) · source
“As this is the first time I personally take the floor this month, I would like to congratulate you, Madam President, on assuming your new role. I would like to join my Peruvian colleague in thanking the Governments of Myanmar and of Bangladesh, but also our Kuwaiti colleague, for all the excellent arrangements for our trip. Without them, we would not have been able to cover so much. And like my Kuwaiti and Peruvian colleagues, we really did appreciate everything we saw through the United Nations teams on the ground and from the help we had from the Secretariat. IfI can speak for the whole Security Council, I think all members found it a very productive and interesting, if difficult, Visit. I will speak about what we did on the third day, with our field visit to northern Rakhine.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8255 (2018) · source
“We believe that it is a crucial agreement that makes the world safer and contributes to regional and global security by neutralizing the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran, and we engage all partners as we take discussions on the JCPOA forward.”
2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source
“The United Kingdom, again, will be committed to doing all we can to support that goal. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict cannot be seen in isolation from the many other conflicts in the Middle East. Israel's security, let alone its existence, should not be put at risk by any United Nations Member State. The missile build-up in Syria and elsewhere offers a clear risk of escalation, and a slide into further violence in Israel and the occupied territories would have a significant detrimental effect on stability in the wider region. Since the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreement was mentioned by the Israeli Ambassador, I would like to recall that the United Kingdom's position on it remains clear.”
2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source
“We welcome Egypt's facilitation role and would like to encourage it to help the parties discuss the most difficult issues, such as security. The Special Coordinator, Mr. Mladenov, has shown outstanding leadership on both reconciliation and on progressing access and projects to improve the situation in Gaza. As ever, I would like to reiterate that the United Kingdom stands ready to assist him. Like many worthwhile things, the process towards peace requires much patience. But we know from history that violence will not help us to achieve that ultimate goal and that the conflict will be resolved only through a political process to a two-State solution. There is an urgent need for renewed negotiations that can end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and deliver peace and safe, secure and sovereign homes for Palestinians and Israelis alike.”
2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source
“Hamas must decide whether or not it is prepared to work for the good of the Gazan people and join efforts for peace, or whether it will continue to use terror and neglect the basic needs of Gaza's population. The international community has an important role to play in improving the humanitarian situation. That includes continued support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, which provides essential services to some of the most vulnerable Palestinian refugees. We believe that the situation in Gaza could be radically improved through the return of the Palestinian Authority. The United Kingdom remains strongly supportive of a Hamas-Fatah reconciliation, which would see the Palestinian Authority resuming Government functions in Gaza and restoring effective and accountable governance.”
2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source
“Palestinians have a fundamental right to protest peacefully, but those with influence over Hamas must make clear that the use of violence and aggressive tactics is unacceptable and will do nothing to further the Palestinian cause. The violence has, sadly, put added strain on the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. That is particularly true of the health sector, which was already operating far beyond capacity. The parties must do all they can to address the underlying causes of the dire economic and humanitarian situation. We look to Israel to lift its movement and access restrictions on people and goods, including by urgently granting medical permits. While we welcome last week's brief reopening of the Rafah crossing, we urge Egypt to open it on a more permanent basis in order to ease the suffering of ordinary citizens in Gaza.”
2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source
“That said, it is crystal clear that Hamas and its operatives have been exploiting those protests for their own benefit. Israel has the right to secure itself against Hamas and other terrorist groups. Given the importance of accountability, we support an independent and transparent investigation. We therefore welcome Israel's commitment to investigating the conduct of operations. We urge that its findings be made public and if wrong doing is found that those responsible be held to account. The immediate concern must be preventing further violence. We urge all parties to show maximum restraint and to do their utmost to prevent further escalation and loss of life. In particular, we urge Israelis to reconsider the use of live fire and we urge the Palestinian leadership to maintain its calls for non-violent protests.”
2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source
“I thank the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General for his briefing. I also thank the other two speakers for their statements. I think that it is obvious that the ongoing violence on Gaza's borders has made the past weeks particularly challenging for all ofus who are committed to pursuing a revived Middle East peace process. The United Kingdom is deeply concerned about the recent increase in violence and the resulting high number ofPalestinians killed and injured. We continue to strongly urge Israel to show restraint in their response to the protests and all actors to abide by their obligations under international law. In particular we, along with Ambassador Haley, reiterate the importance of protecting minors.”
2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source
“We will be working with other partners to try to deliver a minimum of 12 years of quality schooling to every girl. That commitment to education is also why the United Kingdom endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration last Thursday. It is vital that our schools remain places of safety and that they be protected from conflict. Resolution 2250 (2015) outlined the need for young people's voices to be heard in Government, civil society and industry, and this open debate is a key opportunity to reflect on our implementation of the strategy it set out. We look forward to sharing experiences with others to that end. I thank you again, Mr. President, for calling this open debate.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“Countering that, dealing with that and putting out a positive narrative is something to which we all need to give attention. Supporting youth advocates goes beyond just giving them a platform; it is about building capacity and it means providing education to ensure that all young people have such a chance. There is a clear case for education, particularly girls' education. We know that it contributes to a safer, more prosperous world. We know it reduces conflict and increases stability. Today 131 million girls across the world are deprived of an education, and of the 774 million illiterate adults in the world, two thirds are women. That is why girls' education is one of the United Kingdom's priorities and one of my Foreign Secretary's priorities.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“They pledged their ongoing commitment to countries' efforts to build a more prosperous, secure and sustainable future. A number of speakers have mentioned preventing violent extremism. It is very important that strategies to that end - sometimes called countering violent extremism - include youth. Young people often understand, much more than my generation, the dynamics and impacts of terrorist narratives on radicalization and recruitment, and they can be involved in promoting an alternative narrative of tolerance and inclusion. If anyone doubts that, I invite them to get hold of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Shams equivalent to Vogue, which targets a very particular segment of young women. In its propaganda it is incredibly skilful about getting out certain messages.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“At the same time, in countries like Afghanistan, and perhaps even Iran, what youth think can often be an important indication of the potential for reform in those societies. In the United Kingdom we believe that enabling young people to speak for themselves in political processes can be the first step to taking real action. The British Youth Council, which has 600 democratically elected members, sits annually in the House of Commons to debate a subject chosen by a youth ballot. Last year, almost 1 million people participated. Many of our countries are familiar with Model United Nations, which does something very similar here as well as in Geneva. Last week, London hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, and the eleventh Commonwealth Youth Forum met.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“That means that young people are not just key stakeholders in every sphere of life - from driving political change to defending and promoting human rights to peacebuilding and contributing to economic development - but they also represent a key risk factor. If we do not get right the development and encouragement of the aspirations of young people, then it will be very difficult to keep countries on an upward trajectory. I think, therefore, that we should reflect on that point. As we have also heard today, the failure to include youth can often actually exacerbate a conflict. Too often, conflicts emerge when people do not feel represented by their political leaders. We have seen that in Syria, and not only there.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“For our part, the United Kingdom welcomes the independent progress study on youth, peace and security (see S/2018/86), and we congratulate its authors on its participatory and consultative methodology. It is striking, as it has brought together more than 4,000 youth voices from all over the globe. I think that this is not just important in itself, but it sets an important model and high standard for future United Nations reports. If there is any way of embedding that consultative approach more widely, we, for one, would definitely welcome that. As a number of speakers have noted, more than half the world's population is below the age of 30.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“I also thank the briefers and wish to say well done to the Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth, who I had the pleasure of meeting recently. From our perspective, it is good to do this in the Security Council because it touches on a very important angle of future peace and security. Speaking for myself, I would be very interested to have a youth and economic development discussion in the Economic and Social Council or the General Assembly as a complement to what we are talking about today. If anyone else is interested in that, I would be very keen to have a discussion. It is very good to be able to evaluate the impact of resolution 2250 (2015). It is fantastic that we can hear directly from youth and civil society.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this debate today. It is clear that there is a lot of interest in the Chamber, and that a lot of us are wrestling with common challenges, while we all have very similar hopes and aspirations for what might be done in this area. While I therefore take Mr. Polyanskiy's point about how different parts of the United Nations should remain in their own lane, so to speak, I think that, as a number of speakers have said, if we do not factor in as a long-term trend the growing numbers of young people, and particularly unemployed young people, in certain parts of the world, we will find ourselves facing many more peace and security challenges. I thank him for having raised that point today.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source