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 express my thanks to France and to you, Madam President, for having arranged this meeting. I also thank the Assistant Secretary-General for her briefing on this very sobering occasion. I join others in condemning, in the strongest terms, today's attack on the United Nations convoy in Benghazi. We send our deepest sympathy to the families of the victims. The United Nations exists to help and protect people. An attack against its representatives is an attack on the international community at large. We salute the work that the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) is doing in Libya. At the same time, as the Assistant Secretary- General said, scores of Libyans have also been injured.”
2019-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8595 (2019) · source
“The way forward lies in Syria's hands, and nothing that we have said today about the detainee issue contravenes the sovereignty, territorial integrity or unity of Syria. People in Syria simply want to know where their family members are. I note that he has not answered the question. We would like him to go and transmit to his authorities requests from the Council to provide information about the detainees and to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) access to them. That is a very simple request. It does not trample upon sovereignty. Other people allow the ICRC access to their detention facilities in their countries. We are simply asking for the same.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“I am sorry, but I cannot let some of the preceding statements go unchallenged. The United Kingdom and its partners do not support terrorism. We fight terrorism wherever we see it. The Syrian representative's last remarks were quite unjustified and wholly without foundation and I invite him to withdraw them. We do not support terrorists. It is that simple. On the other issues concerning the deadline, it is in Syria's hands. When there is a viable political process in Syria, the rehabilitation of Syria and its reconstruction, financed by Western money, can start. But until there is a viable political process brokered by the United Nations, we will not be able to start the reconstruction. We have made that abundantly clear in the Council.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“I therefore repeat my request: I would ask the Syrian authorities to kindly provide a list of who is detained, where they are detained, and for those people who have died their burial sites. I would also ask that they allow, if not the Commission of Inquiry, then the International Committee ofthe Red Cross access to the detention sites. Notwithstanding the parallel universe that the Syrian representative described, there is a war in Syria because the Syrian Government is attacking its own people, pure and simple. The way out of that is to cooperate with the Special Envoy in ensuring a sustainable peace process and allowing the United Nations to have humanitarian access and help Civilians, as it has been trying to do since 2012.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“I will be brief. I just want to say for the record that the Security Council can discuss any issue it wants relating to international peace and security. The representative of Syria might like to know that nine countries called for this meeting and not a single country objected, so it absolutely is a valid subject for the Council to discuss, and it would be better ifhe used his remarks to actually engage with the issue at hand, rather than to insult the Council. It was interesting to hear about the prisoner swaps, but we are also very interested in the issues of the detainees - ordinary people arbitrarily detained - which a number of speakers, including the civil society briefers, addressed this morning.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“As we have said several times in the Security Council, if Syria cannot resolve the issues that led to the original conflict in 2011, it has no hope of rehabilitation and reconstruction within the country and no hope of reintegration into the international community of nations.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“However, that is by no means the same as the wholesale release of arbitrarily detained persons that the Council that has demanded in various resolutions. I would like to make a broader point, ifI may. Delivering justice for the families of those detained is not only the right and moral thing to do, but it is also a necessary if we are to tackle the drivers and root causes of Syria's conflict. A credible, substantive and genuine political settlement will need to address the issue of political detainees. All Syrian citizens need to be able to live free from fear of arbitrary arrest, torture and execution.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“We will continue in the Human Rights Council in Geneva to call for the release of the detainees and for access by independent monitors to detention facilities. I would like to use this occasion to also pay tribute to the work of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry and the brave journalists and non-governmental organizations that continue to document the violations and abuses. A number of people have mentioned the importance that the Special Envoy attaches to this issue, and we too support all his efforts. We welcome the continued facilitation by Turkey and Russia of prisoner swaps between regime and opposition armed groups, including those released ahead ofthe Astana meeting on 1 August.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“I want to pick up on the calls from the civil society briefers for a step that the Syrian authorities take straightaway: they could agree to give the United Nations and the Commission of Inquiry access to detention facilities and agree to provide a list of names of all the detainees and their locations. Those are easy steps. I look to the representative of Syria to undertake to transmit those requests to his Government, and I would suggest that he let you, Madam President, on behalf of the Security Council, obtain an acknowledgement from his Government this week that those lists will be provided. I would like to include access to burial grounds on that list. The United Kingdom is the penholder for the Human Rights Council resolution on Syria.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“This year, after waiting for years, thousands of families were informed that their loved ones had died in the detention centres with no explanation and no accountability. Many more are still waiting to find out if their relatives are alive or dead, which is unbelievably cruel. Other speakers have made reference to resolution 2474 (2019). In line with that resolution, the families must be informed of what has happened to their loved ones. So I would like to echo the appeal of the United States representative today in calling for the release of all those arbitrarily detained. That is quite a dramatic step. It is important for it to happen soon. It is an important element of any political process.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“I thank the Under-Secretary-General and the two briefers from civil society. We join other speakers in welcoming the fact that this long-overdue subject is now being debated in the Security Council. It is worth recalling that the arbitrary detention of civilians by the Syrian regime is one of the factors that catalysed protests in 2011. As others have noted, more than eight years later, that repressive practice is still ongoing. Tens of thousands of Syrians have been detained, tortured, subject to sexual violence and killed in detention centres by the regime since the start of the conflict. That is not to underplay what Da'esh has done. We agree that there is a very clear need for those who have committed appalling crimes for Da'esh also to be brought tojustice. But today's debate is about a Government's persecution of its own people.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“Finally, I would like to express our admiration and respect for the United Nations own work; the Special Representative of the Secretary-General; the monitoring and reporting personnel and the child protection staff and their partners on the ground for the tireless work they do at great personal risk to themselves, and as we heard today, in very harrowing circumstances. They deserve our full support. I would like to end by recalling what the Executive Director said about looking after the children as they are an investment in our global future. I do not think there can be a truer word than that.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“We ourselves have provided an extra Â£23 billion-in other words, more than $3 billion for mental health care support, which includes extra funding for children. In June this year, we were able to launch a child's mental health prevention plan. In our royal family, Princes Harry and William have launched a mental health line called Shout. We take very seriously that aspect of the problem. Sixthly, we should remain vigilant in our monitoring of ongoing conflict situations where there have been unlawful attacks on education, including in the Anglophone region of Cameroon and in eastern Ukraine.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“As a first stage, we would hope that children and armed conflict reporting might be able to provide more information on impact in that regard. Looking forward, we should look further at how we make the denial of humanitarian access a trigger for listing in the annual report. Fifthly, Member States should do more to embed child-protection mechanisms into their domestic systems. I was very interested in what Mr. Awan and the Executive Director had to say about that, in particular. We urge Member States to join us in signing and ratifying the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict and in endorsing initiatives, such as the Safe Schools Declaration, the Paris Principles and Paris Commitments and the Vancouver Principles.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“For our part, we look forward to the outcomes of the studies commissioned by the Global Coalition for the Reintegration of Child Soldiers, of which we are a member and financial supporter. Fourthly, we should strengthen our response to the denial of humanitarian access. The Secretary-General's report states that the number of incidents of denial of access decreased in 2018. It tells us little, however, about the extent of the impact on children. In Yemen, for example, the impact was clearly devastating and in Myanmar, the United Kingdom remains deeply concerned about the lack of humanitarian access. I take this opportunity to call on the authorities in Myanmar to honour fully the memorandum of understanding signed with the United Nations in June.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“I hope many of the countries represented in the Chamber and our colleagues from the United Nations will be able to join us at that event. Thirdly, and as was very clear from the testimony of Ms. Kamara and Mr. Awan, we need to improve approaches to re-integrating children who have been recruited and used by parties to conflict. In situations such as that in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where more than 2,000 children were separated from the parties to conflict in 2018, we need to increase funding for reintegration programmes. It also means that we need to improve the availability of psychosocial and mental health support, education, vocational training, jobs and support to the community. That came over really clearly from both of our civil society briefers today.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“In Somalia for example, sexual violence was committed against hundreds of girls and boys by State and non-State actors alike. In South Sudan, sexual violence continues to be used as a weapon of war in concert with abductions, although we welcome the willingness of the Government to engage with the United Nations to develop a comprehensive action plan on all six violations there. In November, the United Kingdom will have the pleasure ofhosting the Global Conference on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict. The Conference will focus on addressing the root causes ofsexual violence, tackling stigma, strengthening justice for survivors and holding perpetrators to account. We also hope that it will be able to launch a code ensuring that signatories uphold international standards and best practice when dealing with sexual violence.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“First, and at the heart of all the violations against children set out in the report, is the widespread disregard we are seeing for international law, not just by non-State armed groups but also by Governments. We all know the situation in Syria, in particular in Idlib. We need to have an urgent conversation about the international legal framework, how to strengthen adherence to international humanitarian law, and accountability for those who disregard it. In that connection, it is very welcome that the Polish presidency will also be conducting a debate on international humanitarian law and another very important anniversary. Secondly, levels of rape and other forms of sexual violence against children in conflict remain prevalent and too high.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“What we have heard today shows that everybody has been deeply moved by the bleak picture of the impact of armed conflict on children that is conveyed in the report of the Secretary-General for the year 2018 (S/2019/509). I will not repeat many of the very pertinent points that have been made around the table. It is very clear that the issue of children in armed conflict is something that unites the Council. I suspect that it unites the whole membership. We ought to hold on to that as we try to find a way to enhance all the measures we have taken. IfI may, I will use this meeting to focus on six ideas for further action to reverse some of the incredibly worrying trends of 2018.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“I too would like to express our thanks to His Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Poland for being here today to conduct this debate. I join others in thanking all our briefers, particularly Ms. Kamara and Mr. Awan, for sharing their very compelling testimonies with the Security Council this morning. I want to add my voice to those congratulating Peru on a very successful presidency. I also welcome Poland's assumption of the presidency and pledge the support of the United Kingdom. I welcome our Chinese colleague, whom we had the pleasure of seeing earlier, and I wish to thank the Kuwaiti representative for drawing our attention to that very important anniversary.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“A couple more words ifI may. I agree with those speakers who are concerned about Rukban. We appeal to the authorities to let the convoys in. We also share those sentiments about the political process. There needs to be a credible and sustainable political process. The constitutional committee is but one step; many more steps need to be taken, and reconstruction assistance from ourselves and our partners will not be available in the absence of a credible political process. And in the absence of reconstruction, Syria cannot be rehabilitated into the international community; I think that is an important point. Lastly, ifI may, the Charter requires us to act to save future generations from the scourge of war. What part of that is not understood by Syria and Russia in respect of Idlib today?”
2019-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8589 (2019) · source
“I think that is very important. I should also like to touch on the letter from the Syrian Permanent Representative dated 16 July (S/2019/572). Under international humanitarian law, just because a hospital or clinic has been "decommissioned" or "ransacked" does not mean it can be attacked with impunity. I have said before that if, and it is a big if, a hospital is being used as a military target, then the Geneva Conventions, the ones that the Syrians have ratified, require that warnings be given. No warnings are being given. The Syrian Permanent Representative's letter admits to attacks on hospitals. It is hard to deny that that is a war crime and deserves the utmost deep investigation, so that those units responsible, those military commanders responsible and the politicians who give them their instructions can be brought to justice.”
2019-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8589 (2019) · source
“And I would like to know how the Syrian authorities can claim that these hospitals and facilities do not exist or have been decommissioned when the United Nations, Physicians for Human Rights and others have seen them and are in touch with their doctors. One has to ask, who is more likely to be believed, the United Nations or the protagonists on the ground? I hope that we can actually get some concrete answers today. For the rest, I wanted to join those who so far have called for an investigation into United Nations de-conflicted sites. It is the utmost importance to establish clearly the circumstances of the attacks through a transparent and credible investigation. I welcome what the Under-Secretary-General said about the United Nations being able to give its information to the two United Nations mechanisms already in existence.”
2019-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8589 (2019) · source
“President, we had a briefing from a Russian military general at the other day (see S/PV.8561) - what the Russian and Syrian military doctrines and rules of engagement have to say about international humanitarian law and the principles of proportionality, distinction and neutrality in respect of Idlib. I would simply like to know what the Russian and Syrian rules of engagement are. I would very happy to have the Russian general back if he can answer those questions. Iwould also like to know what is Russia's and Syria's explanation as to why the deconfliction mechanism is not working and why hospitals and facilities that have given their coordinates are being hit.”
2019-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8589 (2019) · source
“And I would like to know how their forces go about distinguishing between terrorists and civilians, given the overwhelming number of civilians. I would also like to know what part of international humanitarian law they believe allows terrorists to be attacked with no regard to those civilians. I have read all the Geneva Conventions at the weekend and I cannot find a single line in the Conventions or the Protocol Additional thereto - by the way, Syria has not ratified the Additional Protocol - that justifies attacking civilians on the scale we are seeing in Idlib to get at terrorists. I would like to know in particular - you know, Mr.”
2019-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8589 (2019) · source
“IfI may borrow a very famous phrase and use it in a different context, the arc of the moral universe may be long, but it bends towards justice. The units taking part in military action against hospitals and medical facilities and personnel need to heed that warning. I have the number of questions today. I am used to the questions not being answered, but I am going to keep on asking them, because I think they go to the heart of what is happening. I would like to know what is being done by the protagonists, Syria and Russia, to protect civilians on the ground, notably, children. I would like to know how they know or claim to know where the terrorists are, given that we heard from OCHA that there are 100 civilians for every terrorist fighter.”
2019-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8589 (2019) · source
“Ahead of Astana, on 1 to 2 August, and with last week's political session cancelled, there is an opportunity today to get at the facts and ensure that crimes do not go unrecorded. We have heard from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and from Physicians for Human Rights about carnage on the ground, communities turned to rubble, children saving children and then dying in the attempt - all breaches of international humanitarian law - and High Commissioner for Human Rights Bachelet has made clear that those criminally responsible will be held accountable. The Syrian and Russian units bombing Idlib ought to pause at that prospect. It might not come today, but justice will come.”
2019-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8589 (2019) · source
“I thank our two briefers today, Mark Lowcock and Susannah Sirkin. I think we all feel that it is deeply frustrating that we come here month after month, but it is better that we come than we do not come. However harrowing it is, it is better that we hear what is happening in Idlib, than we do not hear what is happening there, and however difficult it is, it is better that than we let denial take hold. Indeed, we would like to act, but the responsibility for the fact that we do not act lies with just three States Members of the United Nations, one of them a member of the permanent five of the Security Council. What is happening in Idlib makes a mockery of permanent- five responsibilities.”
2019-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8589 (2019) · source
“Turning to his three-part proposal for an Eid al-Adha truce, accompanied by confidence-building measures, and for a high-level meeting of concerned countries, to be followed by an internal Libya meeting. Those are obviously very important elements that come at a very critical time. I think that the Council will want to discuss them in some detail and work out how best the Council can enhance the United Nations efforts. So I will leave it there but look forward to picking up these important points in consultations.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“The humanitarian cost continues to be of enormous concern. I will not repeat what the Special Representative of the Secretary-General said, but I think that we really need to find a way to protect migrants and refugees travelling along the central Mediterranean route. We need to find a way to protect those in detention centres within Libya itself. We have discussed before in the Council the 2-3 July attack on the Tajoura detention centre. I want to reiterate what the Special Representative of the Secretary-General said about the parties disassociating themselves from violent extremist elements and about hatred and invective fuelling violence.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“Ijust wanted to draw attention to a few areas before getting on to what the Special Representative said about a truce. We again call on all United Nations Member States to fully respect their obligations to contribute to Libya's peace and stability, to prevent destabilizing arms shipments and to safeguard Libya's oil resources, all in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions. As was said, it is obvious that the parties continue to receive external support and arms shipments, which further fuels the conflict. Once more the United Kingdom calls on all Member States to respect international law and on the Security Council to take reports of violations very seriously. I thank the German Ambassador for his report as Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“Once again I thank the Special Representative for his briefing and for the continued determination of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya to help de-escalate the situation in Libya and facilitate a return to the United Nations- 1ed process. This morning we heard a grave and alarming analysis of a descent into violent chaos and the risk of the disintegration of a country, as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General alluded to. I think that we all recognize that the coming weeks will be vital for Libya. For our part, we stand steadfast in support of United Nations leadership and Mr. Salame's efforts to bring about a transition from violence to a renewed political process. I will keep my remarks brief because we have consultations after this meeting.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“To conclude, we remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting the people and Government of Afghanistan in achieving a peaceful, inclusive and prosperous future, with equal rights and participation as its core.”
2019-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8587 (2019) · source
“For the United Kingdom, we remain committed to supporting inclusive peace in Afghanistan. In June, the Afghan Ambassador and I announced the launch of a group of friends of women in Afghanistan, and we will have a formal launch in autumn. This initiative is designed to complement the United Kingdom's regular engagement with women peacebuilders across Afghanistan. We recently held consultations on what the women and peace and security agenda means for them and exploring how best to use the upcoming anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000) to achieve their goals. We are looking forward to taking the findings of those consultations forward in the coming months, in the context of the Afghanistan peace process.”
2019-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8587 (2019) · source
“I know from first-hand experience how important elections are to the Afghan people, and I hope that we can give a lot of attention to ensuring the full, effective and meaningful participation of women, as both voters and candidates. Elections are a civilian operation. They should not be used as a target. Polling takes place in schools and public places and involves ordinary citizens. An attack on the elections would be an attack on the Afghan people as a whole. We therefore hope that all political actors will behave responsibly and constructively, so that the elections can be peaceful and inclusive. In this regard, I might note and welcome the Taliban's commitment made at the intra-Afghan dialogue in Doha to refraining from targeting civilians. We hope that they will stand by this promise to their fellow Afghans.”
2019-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8587 (2019) · source
“Any political settlement needs to build on the progress made on human rights, and that includes gender equality over the past 18 years. The Deputy Secretary-General set that point out very eloquently. Like many of the speakers this morning we too have been following the elections. They are crucial for future political stability and inclusion. In a clear signal of Afghan ownership, we welcome the Government's commitment to financing a significant portion of the election budget. We also urge the Independent Election Commission, with the support of the relevant Afghan ministries, to continue its work to deliver timely, inclusive and credible elections, working with the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces, so that the Afghan people can exercise their right to vote safely.”
2019-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8587 (2019) · source
“We all know that we need a genuine political process in Afghanistan to give all Afghans - and I want stress the word "all" - the best chance to decide the future of their country. We comprehensively support the ongoing efforts of the Afghan Government and the United States, and in particular Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad, who many of us remember from when he was the Permanent Representative to the United Nations. I hope that the entire region, as well as the international community, can lend support to inclusive intra-Afghan peace negotiations, without delay and with the full involvement of both sides to the conflict, including, in particular, obviously, the legitimate Government of Afghanistan. I also hope that whenever we see attempts to roll back on women's rights we can speak up and challenge them.”
2019-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8587 (2019) · source
“When I first arrived in Kabul, it was just after the murder of Farkhunda Malikzada at the mosque, so it has very much been on my mind as an issue that deserves renewed efforts, notwithstanding the excellent work that has been undertaken so far. We in the United Kingdom have a Global Special Envoy for Gender Equality, and she also went to Kabul early this month to support women's participation in preliminary discussions and the peace process itself. As others have mentioned, the recent intra-Afghan dialogue in Doha, which Germany and Qatar facilitated, was extremely good news. Nearly 25 per cent of the non-Taliban participants were women. It is clear that there is more that can be done, but that was an encouraging start on which we can build.”
2019-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8587 (2019) · source
“It is good to hear more about it today. It was also excellent that the Deputy Secretary- General was able to visit the country, and forgive me for saying so, but particularly with a broken leg; that takes a lot of guts and organization, and I thank her very much for doing that. I think that it not only underscores the importance of the issue but also the determination all of us have to help Afghanistan and try to move this really important agenda forward. I can confirm that, as the Deputy Secretary-General said, the European Union and the United Nations will increase our efforts to fight violence against women in Afghanistan through the Spotlight Initiative.”
2019-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8587 (2019) · source
“I would like to begin by expressing our condolences to Tunisia for the death of the President, but I also wish to join my colleagues in condemning the recent attacks in Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan, which are a very sad reminder of why peace is so essential. Afghanistan has suffered enough from such attacks, and we send our deepest condolences and sympathies to the Government and the families of the victims. Like others, I think that it is very good that we are able to have this discussion today. Thank you, Mr. President, for scheduling it, and I thank the Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo and Ms. Afghani, from the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. When I was in Afghanistan, I saw for myself the very good work that the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom does.”
2019-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8587 (2019) · source
“Let me return to the Middle East peace process, if I may. As I said, our position remains unchanged. We support a negotiated settlement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian State based on the 1967 borders, with agreed land swaps, Jerusalem as the shared capital of both States and a just, fair, agreed and realistic settlement for refugees.”
2019-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8583 (2019) · source
“Together with France and Germany, the United Kingdom is urging Iran not to take further steps away from the agreement and to return to compliance. The agreement itself allows for that. On the general point, we are clear that the nuclear agreement is still the best option and in the interests of both Iranian and global security. It is critical that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons and that agreement makes the world a safer place by taking the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran off the table. Indeed, military representatives in some of the countries that criticized the agreement have confirmed its role in national and international security. I alluded earlier to the sad passing away of Mr. Amano, the International Atomic Energy Agency plays a critical part in looking at compliance with the agreement.”
2019-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8583 (2019) · source
“Ijust wanted to pick up on something the German representative said about international law. We share his View that the Security Council is responsible for maintaining international peace and security and we all agree that the Arab-Israeli conflict is a threat to international peace and security. It is therefore right that we have adopted resolutions on that topic. We are bound by those resolutions and we all have a responsibility to implement them, just as we do to implement resolutions on other topics. Indeed, that is the very basis of the Council's work. I was also asked by the Israeli representative about the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. So, although I did not want to talk about Iran today, let me just address that point, if I may.”
2019-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8583 (2019) · source
“Echoing what the Under-Secretary-General said, we also encourage those involved in the reconciliation process to allow the Palestinian Authority to fully resume its Government functions in Gaza. We believe that it is essential that the international community continue work to support Palestinian refugees. Their status needs to be agreed on as part of wider peace negotiations, but until that time, the United Kingdom remains firmly committed to supporting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and refugees across the Middle East. We also welcome the successful outcome of the pledging conference on 25 June, for which we were able to include an additional $25 million of United Kingdom funding, increasing our 2019-2020 support to over $70 million.”
2019-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8583 (2019) · source
“Since the start of the Great March of Return in 2018, there have been nearly 2,000 rockets and mortar shells fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel. That is completely unacceptable and we call on Hamas and other militant groups to cease such attacks immediately. We recognize Israel's legitimate security needs. However, we do have concerns about the excessive use of force by the Israel Defense Forces. Measures used need to be appropriate and in line with international law. Accountability needs to be sought through swift transparent investigations and we welcome the investigations currently being pursued by Israel, under the Military Advocate General. I would like to join others in expressing the United Kingdom's gratitude to the United Nations and Egypt for their efforts to mediate between the parties.”
2019-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8583 (2019) · source
“The demolition since Sunday of a number of Palestinian properties in the Sur Baher area ofJerusalem governorate are particularly egregious, in part because much of the area lies in Palestinian Authority-controlled areas. We also condemn the eviction of the Siam family in Silwan on 10 July. The Israeli authorities have a responsibility to provide appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population. We remain deeply concerned by suggestions that any parts ofthe occupied Palestinian territories should be annexed. Such a move would be country to international law, destructive to peace efforts and could not pass unchallenged. Let me be clear about our views on terrorism. We equally condemn in the strongest terms Hamas terrorism and that of other militant groups in Gaza.”
2019-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8583 (2019) · source
“We therefore urge the Palestinian Authority to address allegations of incitement, including in the education curriculum, and to make reforms to prisoner payments, ensuring that those are needs based, transparent and affordable. We remain deeply concerned, as also reflected in the statements of other speakers today, about the ongoing advance of Israeli settlements, including the more than 200 units established in Gilo on 10 July, and about the retroactive approvals of unauthorized settlement outposts. Settlements are illegal and they undermine the physical viability of a future Palestinian State. Settler violence, the demolition of Palestinian property and evictions of Palestinians from their homes should be opposed and condemned wholeheartedly.”
2019-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8583 (2019) · source
“But in the interim until there is political progress, I just wanted to stress that steps need to be taken to address the constraints imposed on the Palestinian economy by the Israeli occupation. We want to see increasing external trade opportunities for the Palestinians, a reduction in internal movement and access restrictions and sustainable investments in water and energy infrastructure. We also want the financial sustainability of the Palestinian Authority to be realized. Looking towards fresh negotiations, it is obviously essential to build a conducive environment, which means that we need genuine and committed engagement from both parties, including the end of actions that undermine trust and threaten the viability of the two- State solution.”
2019-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8583 (2019) · source
“For the United Kingdom, we are doubling the United Kingdom's aid to the occupied Palestinian territories between 2018 and 2023. We are helping to address restrictions on movement and access and improving water and energy supply, particularly in Gaza. We also support efforts that complement that work. As others have noted, it is, of course, essential that political progress be made in order to unlock economic opportunities, and we encourage the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to engage in work with the international community to foster solutions that actively improve the situation on the ground. What Mr. Greenblatt said on the political aspect of the proposals was a welcome assurance. For the record, the United Kingdom's position on the two-State solution remains unchanged.”
2019-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8583 (2019) · source
“I would like to start, ifI may, on a different topic. I would like to join the Secretary-General in expressing our deep sadness at the passing of Mr. Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency. I would like to pay tribute to Mr. Amano's tireless work in the pursuit of peace, and we send our deepest condolences to Japan and his family and friends. Turning to today's debate, I would like to begin, as others have done, by talking about the recent Peace to Prosperity conference that was held in Bahrain at the end of June. The United States efforts to support the development of the Palestinian economy are very welcome. It is crucial that we improve the daily life and prospects of Palestinians across East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.”
2019-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8583 (2019) · source