YouSaid · the spoken record

Pieris

lines on the record: 87
first: 2021-10-21
most recent: 2023-12-07
sittings or episodes: 12
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

“They enable law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in such criminal activities, as well as facilitate international cooperation in addressing transnational crime. We have to remember that transnational organized crime does not recognize borders and that no Member State is free from its crippling influence. The meeting rose at 5.50 p.m.”
2023-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9497Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We must commend the United Nations, which employs various measures to counter transnational organized crime, including international cooperation, conventions, capacity-building initiatives, efforts to enhance legal frameworks, information exchanges among Member States and support for law enforcement collaboration. United Nations agencies such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, as well as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the United Nations Convention against Corruption, play a vital role in implementing those measures and fostering global partnerships. Those legislative measures provide us a legal basis to combat transnational crime, including money laundering, terrorism financing, torture and cybercrime.”
2023-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9497Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We must remember that transnational organized crime is three steps ahead of us, using the Internet and other digital platforms to facilitate its illicit activities. How do we address those challenges? It requires international cooperation, strong law enforcement agencies, effective legislation and targeted efforts to disrupt and dismantle transnational organized crime. Sri Lanka has taken several measures to respond to transnational crime, which I will not elucidate for want of time. In conclusion, it is important to note that combating transnational crime is an ongoing challenge, and Sri Lanka continues to adapt its strategies and mechanisms to effectively respond to the evolving nature of organized criminal networks.”
2023-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9497Resumption1 (2023) · source
“In short, it is an illicit business that transcends cultural, social, linguistic and geographical boundaries, and one that knows no borders or rules. There are many activators that can be characterized as transnational organized crime, including drug trafficking, smuggling of migrants, human trafficking, money laundering, trafficking in firearms, counterfeiting goods, wildlife and cultural property, and even some aspects of cybercrime. Transnational crime poses several problems to society. One such problem is its global outreach. It reaches all parts of the world, with its financial impact, its threat to national security, its violence and the intimidation that goes along with it, its exploitation and human rights abuses, the corruption and the infiltration it encourages and the technological advancements it has adapted to.”
2023-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9497Resumption1 (2023) · source
“It may shock the Council that transnational organized crime is estimated to generate hundreds of billions of dollars, perhaps close to a trillion dollars, or even more, year after year — several times more than the amount of official development assistance and close to an estimated 10 per cent of the world’s export of merchandise. It is said that transnational crime is a free enterprise at its freest. Every year, countless lives are lost as a result of organized crime, drug-related health problems and violence. Firearm deaths and the unscrupulous methods and motives of human traffickers and migrant smugglers are all part of this. Transnational organized crime is not stagnant, but an ever-changing industry, adaptive to markets and creating new forms of crime.”
2023-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9497Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Transnational organized crime, as we know, are crimes that refer to those self-perpetuating associations of individuals who operate transnationally for the purposes of nothing but obtaining power, influence, monetary or commercial gains — wholly or partly by illegal means — while protecting their activities through a pattern of corruption or violence, or while protecting their illegal activities through transnational organizational structures and the exploitation of transnational commerce or communication mechanisms. There is no single structure under which transnational organized crime operates. They vary from hierarchies to clans, to networks and cells, and may evolve to other structures.”
2023-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9497Resumption1 (2023) · source
“May I congratulate Ecuador on assuming the presidency for the month of December. Regrettably, this month of joy and cheer is weighed down by unprecedented human suffering. There will be an end to that suffering sooner or later, but transnational organized crime is one activity that will hang over our heads for generations to come if we do not wake up to the reality of what it does to our global community, slowly but surely. It is said that it is about time that global law enforcement got as organized as organized crime.”
2023-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9497Resumption1 (2023) · source
“It cannot be a zero- sum game, as some have said. Let us regain our moral compass, which at present seems to have deserted us.”
2023-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9482Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Permit me to conclude by recalling the words of Haile Selassie, who said that we should not lose sight of the Charter of the United Nations, which expresses the noblest aspirations of humankind, namely, the abjuration of force in the settlement of disputes between States; the assurance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion; and the safeguarding of international peace and security. Let us realize that significant inequalities and divides, especially in economies and technologies, when allowed to persist, will not create a conducive atmosphere for peace and security or the protection of human rights. Those divides can be bridged only when we realize that the planet itself is an integrated whole and that common development is common to everyone.”
2023-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9482Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Finally, common development projects can provide opportunities for diplomatic engagement and dialogue among nations. Collaborative efforts in areas such as infrastructure, development, trade and cultural exchange can create platforms for diplomatic interactions and build bridges between countries. Often, common development prioritizes the empowerment of local communities — that is an experience we have had — by involving communities in decision-making processes, ensuring their participation and promoting their economic and social well-being.”
2023-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9482Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Common development initiatives, as we have seen, can also promote social cohesion within societies by reducing inequalities and marginalization and contributing to the eradication of poverty. Mr. Jeffrey Sachs, who briefed the Council this morning, pithily observed some time ago that the end of poverty is not a matter of charity, but a question of justice, and that we can end poverty if we have the political will and take collective action. Therefore, by ensuring that all individuals have equal access to opportunities, resources and services, common development can help to build inclusive societies where people feel valued and have a sense of belonging. Common development efforts can also play a preventive role in countering the emergence of extreme ideologies and in strengthening governance and the rule of law.”
2023-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9482Resumption1 (2023) · source
“By working together towards shared development goals, common development efforts can help to create stable and resilient societies by investing in infrastructure, education, health care and other essential services through which nations can strengthen their social fabric, enhance governance structures and build capacities to withstand various challenges. We have also seen that they often involve regional cooperation and integration. By promoting economic integration, infrastructure, connectivity and trade partnerships, nations can foster interdependence and build mutual and beneficial relationships. Common development efforts can address transnational threats such as climate change, terrorism, organized crime and pandemics.”
2023-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9482Resumption1 (2023) · source
“By promoting inclusive and sustainable development, nations can reduce socioeconomic disparities and create opportunities for all individuals, thereby minimizing the likelihood of conflicts arising from grievances. We have been reminded that there is still work to be done, but that remains a crucial lesson. We cannot bring peace and security to people just by signing an agreement. In fact, most peace agreements do not last. Common development projects also often require cooperation and collaboration among nations.”
2023-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9482Resumption1 (2023) · source
“International assistance through multilateral institutions should be rendered when a nation needs it on its road to recovery, and not when it is on the brink of collapse. It is a fact that current global trends do not provide cause for optimism. Climate change and biodiversity loss, as well as war and insecurity, affect developing countries the most. Most developing countries are not responsible for global conflicts or climate change and biodiversity loss. Development and sustaining peace require an understanding of the root causes of conflict and insecurity. We can all see that common development initiatives can help us to address the underlying causes of conflict, such as poverty, inequality and a lack of access to resources.”
2023-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9482Resumption1 (2023) · source
“In fact, the reality of the current international financial architecture is that the more difficult the situation in which a country finds itself, not only is it less likely that assistance will be provided, but the prospect of credit downgrades and stricter lending conditions are also more likely to trap those countries into a further vicious cycle of poverty. Sri Lanka, having undergone the economic turbulence of last year and having stabilized the situation with difficult policy measures in consultation with our development partners, underlines the importance of the reform of the international financial architecture as a priority in our quest to pursue the concept of common development. Our own experience and that of the world has shown that the reform of the international financial architecture is a global imperative.”
2023-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9482Resumption1 (2023) · source
“That is a key to all problems because it allows us to address major issues — poverty, climate, environment and political stability — as parts of the whole. In a report in 2022, the Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for Development convened by the United Nations Human Rights Council to follow up on the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the third International Conference on Financing for Development makes reference to the point that the poorest developing countries pay 14 per cent of revenue for interest on their debt on average — almost four times higher than that paid by developed countries.”
2023-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9482Resumption1 (2023) · source
“May I congratulate you, Mr. President, on making today’s meeting the signature event of China’s November presidency. It seeks to focus on the root causes of conflict and how we should take a holistic approach to supporting conflict-affected countries in achieving sustainable peace through common development. It is my delegation’s considered view that we must make an effort to exploit our competencies to achieve peace and security through common development for the common good of humankind, particularly in contemporary times when our core institutions and values are blatantly and unashamedly challenged. It was former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who said that the basic building blocks of peace and security for all peoples are economic and social security, anchored in sustainable development.”
2023-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9482Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Are we propelling the whole world into a greater calamity than the ones we are already faced with? Are not our actions making collective decision-making more untenable? It is time that all actors take a step back and reflect on the gravity of their actions. Endless cycles of recrimination with threats to annihilate the other can only hurt. The well-being of humankind — its peace and security — are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established. It is said that peace is a by-product of trust, and trust is created when we focus on who our neighbour is and who we are to him. Let us transpose that ethos to the present environment, as it is only then that our work in the United Nations can be structured to accommodate one another as members of one human family, in a spirit of true humanity.”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451Resumption1 (2023) · source
“While recognizing the legitimate and sensitive security concerns of both the Israeli and the Palestinian peoples, we observe that indiscriminate actions that cause civilian casualties will only make the realization of an enduring peace a distant reality. We support diplomatic efforts to find a lasting solution to the conflict and request both parties to engage in a dialogue to achieve durable peace. Sri Lanka remains committed to supporting a just and comprehensive negotiated political settlement to the Palestine issue in line with relevant United Nations resolutions, leading to two States — Palestine and Israel — living side by side based on the 1967 borders. Amid all the death and the destruction that we witness today, is it not it worthwhile to ask the question: Where will all this action lead us to?”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Sri Lanka wishes to reiterate its call to all parties to the conflict to keep open a humanitarian corridor to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the civilians in Gaza. We are committed to supporting the efforts and activities of the Secretary-General in his endeavour to mitigate the suffering of the people, the loss and damage to life and property and to bring about a ceasefire. Sri Lanka is no stranger to the scourge of terrorism. We condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including by all who resort to violence to achieve their goals, whether political or otherwise. Sri Lanka strongly condemns the violent terror attacks targeting civilians and calls for the immediate release of all hostages taken into Gaza.”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Sri Lanka is gravely concerned about the ongoing escalation of violence and military action in Gaza, which has resulted in deaths and injuries to many innocent civilians and children and is causing a grave humanitarian situation. Sri Lanka calls for the free movement of essential items and humanitarian aid, including food, fuel, medicine and electricity and the water supply to Gaza. We call on all sides to immediately halt violence and take steps to prevent further civilian casualties. We also call upon the international community to redouble its support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, which is playing a commendable and courageous role in helping vulnerable populations under extremely challenging circumstances.”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451Resumption1 (2023) · source
“As someone said, when it comes to geopolitics or local politics, conflict resolution and peacekeeping skills, it is best to forget about such illusory abstractions as east and west or north and south, race and sexual orientation, and to realize who we really are and why we are really here. All of us here are really here to ensure peace for the global community. We owe it to ourselves and to the global communities we represent.”
2023-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9448Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We therefore call upon the five permanent members to collectively and individually demonstrate a strong commitment to the resolution of global conflicts and work constructively towards negotiated settlements of global disputes. Their leadership, influence and resources can make a significant contribution to creating conditions for just and lasting peace. It has been said that the world is in need of an all-encompassing — and, of course, just and humane — order in the light of which the rights of all are preserved and peace and security are safeguarded. It is in our interest, and for the sake of our survival, that the Security Council does not lose sight of that goal.”
2023-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9448Resumption1 (2023) · source
“To that end, we hold the Security Council to that sacred duty to engage in proactive diplomacy; to offer its expertise and resources to mediate; to offer incentives to the parties to encourage them to engage in negotiations and make concessions; to provide financial and technical support to initiatives aimed at peacebuilding and reconciliation, which can help strengthen local and reginal mechanisms, promote civil society engagement and facilitate people-to-people dialogue; and finally, to collectively and individually reaffirm their commitment to international law, including the relevant United Nations resolutions, and ensure their implementation.”
2023-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9448Resumption1 (2023) · source
“In the final analysis, it must be accepted — without demur — that while the Security Council has made significant efforts to promote world peace and security, there is always room for improvement, and the Council can do more to address the changing nature of conflict and security threats in the world. The permanent members of the Security Council cannot be seen as derogating from their sacred obligation and trust to ensure world peace. As we know, they command unparalleled influence over global security issues and the ability to veto draft resolutions. They indeed have a critical role as trustees of global security to play that central part in bringing about a settlement global and regional conflicts.”
2023-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9448Resumption1 (2023) · source
“The question has been asked as to whether the Security Council can do more to promote world peace and security, particularly as the main organ responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security. It has been said that the Security Council can do more by taking a proactive approach to conflict prevention, rather than just responding to already ongoing conflicts. That could involve early-warning mechanisms and preventative diplomacy to address conflicts before they escalate. It is believed that, in addition, the Security Council and regional mechanisms could work to address the root causes of conflict, such as poverty, inequality and political instability, through long-term development initiatives.”
2023-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9448Resumption1 (2023) · source
“However, the United Nations has made significant efforts to address various global challenges and promote peaceful resolutions to conflicts through its regional mechanisms, including alternative methods of dispute resolution, as part of its mandate for the pacific settlement of disputes. Article 52 of the Charter of the United Nations makes it incumbent upon the Security Council to encourage the pacific settlement of disputes through regional agencies, either on the initiative of the State concerned or by a referral by the Council itself — the principal organ being the International Court of Justice, which settles disputes or delivers advisory opinions, which have contributed to peace among nations.”
2023-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9448Resumption1 (2023) · source
“In pursuing that objective of maintaining international peace and regional security, we see the United Nations feverishly working to prevent and resolve conflicts, promote disarmament and non-proliferation and support post-conflict reconstruction and reconciliation. Overall, the maintenance of international peace and security — including regional security — is essential for the promotion of human rights, sustainable development and the well-being of people around the world. It is therefore noteworthy that the United Nations has been seen to continuously strive to promote world peace and security through its various programmes and initiatives by way of its numerous agencies. We appreciate that it is impossible to completely eradicate conflict and violence in the world.”
2023-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9448Resumption1 (2023) · source
“The founding fathers of the United Nations established the Organization with the purposes of maintaining international peace and security, of developing friendly relations among nations and of taking other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace. They also wished to achieve international cooperation in solving economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems and to promote respect for human rights and for the fundamental freedoms for all. The political, military, economic, ecological, social and cultural environment in which the United Nations operates has changed considerably over the years and continues to evolve, both globally and regionally. The maintenance of international peace and security is a critical objective of the United Nations and of the Security Council, its principal body for such action.”
2023-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9448Resumption1 (2023) · source
“I will conclude with a very apt observation by Nelson Mandela, who said, “Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation.” It is also through education that the children of great warriors in conflict become leaders. We must say it loud and clear to those engaged in conflict that our failure to protect our children and their means of education, even in the course of a conflict, can result in the destruction of a nation or even perhaps a civilization, and that education, not conflict, is our passport to the future. For tomorrow belongs to our children, who need to be prepared for it today.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Through its national educational action plan, Sri Lanka enhances the capacity of trainers in psychosocial support, empowering them to effectively provide guidance and counselling to conflict-affected children. In my view, in the context of conflict, the prevailing humanitarian definition of childhood, rooted in international law, lacks cross-cultural grounding and limits the potential of diverse solutions to address complex social issues. A nuanced understanding is essential to craft appropriate and effective strategies. Embracing the right to education becomes a beacon of hope for war-torn children, empowering them to heal, learn and reclaim their future. By investing in education, we can strive for a just and promising tomorrow, enabling resilient young individuals to overcome adversity and contribute positively to society.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366Resumption1 (2023) · source
“The problem can be circumvented to a large degree with the availability of digital technology, which enables students to connect with their teachers and learning materials from the safety of their homes. Educational technology could be a new focus of investment for Governments or multilateral organizations working in areas of conflict. Sri Lanka had to confront the distressing issue of child soldiers recruited by a non-State group that terrorized our nation for decades. Following the ending of such acts of terror in 2009, the Government took on the significant responsibility of rehabilitating 594 child soldiers who had been recruited by the non-State actors and reuniting them with their families.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366Resumption1 (2023) · source
“While Sri Lanka does not recruit children into armed forces, as a matter of policy and as prescribed by law, it acknowledges its obligations concerning child soldiers under international law. Education cannot be protected if places of education are not safe from conflict. It cannot be protected if those imparting knowledge and their beneficiaries suffer physical harm or the imminent danger of harm. That requires parties to conflict to exercise military restraint around school zones and to clearly mark schools as safe zones and adhere to the norms of the non-use of educational facilities as bases, barracks, detention centres or weapon-storage units, thereby changing the character of such facilities and not providing the protection required under international humanitarian law.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Innocent children face grave danger while travelling to and from educational institutions. Only a few minutes ago we were told about such happenings in Palestine. Moreover, schools and educational facilities have been requisitioned as military facilities and recruitment centres by combatant forces. Such actions lead to a decline in school attendance, higher dropout rates and diminished educational achievement, with serious setbacks for children. Sri Lanka joins a majority of Member States in committing to the Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military Use during Armed Conflict, safeguarding the civilian character of educational institutions.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Sri Lanka fully endorses the Safe Schools Declaration, acknowledging the critical importance of protecting education and educational institutions during armed conflict. We would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to implementing that framework, aimed at upholding the rights of children and educators, and call on all parties involved in armed conflict to refrain from attacks on educational institutions. Einstein expressed the importance of education succinctly when he cited the line “Education is that which remains, if one has forgotten everything he learned in school.” Education therefore is a sine qua non even in times of conflict. Regrettably, the nature of warfare has tragically transformed schools, once safe havens for children, into deliberate targets.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366Resumption1 (2023) · source
“He said that no key peace can be lasting and no security guaranteed without trust among all people, regard for their social and economic conditions and a sustained effort to build peace that is both inclusive and welcoming. He believed firmly that one of the basic conditions for peace is social justice — indeed, that there can be no peace without social justice. We must therefore work to build trust from multiple perspectives of inclusion, normative frameworks and facts. The Security Council has a vital role to play in that endeavour, and we call on all Member States to work together to build a more peaceful and prosperous world. It was His Holiness Pope John XXIII who reminded us that the peace of nations consists not in equality of arms but in mutual trust alone.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Transitional justice processes, such as truth commissions, can play a role in building trust by promoting accountability for past human rights abuses, acknowledging the suffering of victims and facilitating reconciliation among various groups. The New Agenda for Peace, as proposed by our Secretary-General, calls for a more comprehensive approach to peacebuilding, as former Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali also mentioned in 1992, identifying various measures that could contribute to building peace. The former Secretary-General emphasized the importance of trust-building when he said that an agenda for peace identifies trust as a crucial element in establishing lasting peace and stability.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315Resumption1 (2023) · source
“After all, should not the Security Council be the sanctum sanctorum, the high altar of global peace? Should not the futureproofing initiative then be rooted firmly here — with the necessary reforms, if need be? The effectiveness of normative frameworks in building trust and sustaining peace, however, depends on their implementation and enforcement. If norms and standards are not upheld or if there is a perception of selective enforcement or double standards, that can undermine trust and create tensions between States and other actors. It is therefore important to ensure that normative frameworks are implemented in a fair and consistent manner and that there is accountability for violations. It is not difficult to appreciate that there is a strong interconnection between trust-building and sustaining peace.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315Resumption1 (2023) · source
“In the context of the relevant Security Council resolutions regarding normative frameworks, if we are to futureproof trust we must examine how international human rights law can enable accountability while embodying predictability, both of which are essential components in building trust. The rule of law, a social contract between Governments and their peoples, anchored in democracy, human rights and the elimination of inequalities, is vital to sustaining peaceful, resilient and trusting societies. The Security Council must creatively use its toolbox and channels, as well as its unique global voice, to ensure that global normative frameworks remain effective in sustaining peace in the light of current and emerging threats to peace and security.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Here I cannot but recall the words of Archbishop Tutu, who spoke extensively on the importance of trust and reconciliation in building sustainable peace. He said that we need to believe that a peaceful world is possible — with all the drudgery that we see around us — and that it is worth working for. We need to foster trust among individuals and communities, and between nations. We need to recognize the dignity and value of every human being and promote human rights and social justice. And we need to work together, in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation, to create a world that is safe, just and sustainable for all of us. We need normative frameworks.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315Resumption1 (2023) · source
“As we confront multiple and intersecting crises, it is imperative that we renew our commitment to building trust and strengthening our mechanisms to face those challenges in the future. We must accept the position that from the perspective of inclusion, we need to ensure the full, equal and meaningful participation of all stakeholders, especially women and young people, in peacebuilding processes. By doing so, we generate trust in those processes and ensure their long-term sustainability. Of course, we cannot pause there. We must engage the wider peacebuilding architecture, including regional and subregional organizations, more effectively if we are to build inclusive and sustainable peace.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315Resumption1 (2023) · source
“I would like to congratulate Switzerland on assuming its maiden presidency. We have every confidence that Ambassador Baeriswyl will execute her mandate efficiently. It is said that peace is a by-product of trust, and when trust happens we meditate and focus on who our neighbour is and who we are to that neighbour. Transposing that ethos to our own environment can happen only when our foreign policy is structured to accommodate our neighbour — the other, so to speak. We are gathered here to evaluate our efforts to sustain peace while anticipating the future, developing methods to minimize the effects of shocks and stressors and futureproofing trust — an amazing expression.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315Resumption1 (2023) · source
“That language has been put in place as the best solution, although it may not be completely satisfactory. Our hopes and prayers will be in vain if we fail to ignite our hearts for peace in that once blessed land. We cannot wait much longer; we cannot permit the issue to escalate any further. Sri Lanka wishes Palestine a genuine peace, which is long overdue.”
2023-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9309Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We appreciate that it is difficult to challenge established Powers and interests when they refuse to hear the moral voices of civil society and their objectives, but we must continue to encourage peace. There is always a requirement to think carefully about whether more can be done in a bid to resolve that long-standing issue. We have to find a way forward and a way out of the ongoing catastrophe. It would appear that such a vision must be clearly based on the desire to be of assistance to the people of Palestine and on real political considerations of the other. Many of those who support a two-State solution as the ideal settlement are perhaps saying so sincerely, but at the same time it has led us diplomats and politicians to remain ineffective.”
2023-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9309Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Regrettably, the month that is the holiest for both denominations has not passed peacefully. We therefore reiterate the calls for all parties to refrain from steps that could escalate tensions in and around the holy sites. We appreciate that there have been dramatic changes, not only in Israel and Palestine in recent years but also in the region as a whole. We believe there is a need to consider a new discourse about that unending problem, first and foremost with regard to the dramatic changes on the ground in recent years. It would finally appear that the story of Palestine has been marked, from its beginning to the current date, with every shade of colonialism and a disposition that the international community treats as being multifaceted, difficult to understand and even more difficult to resolve.”
2023-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9309Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We can only discourage all unilateral measures that impede peace, and we condemn such actions, including acts of terrorism, and call on all the parties to unequivocally condemn such acts and refrain from incitements to violence. We urge all parties to observe calm and restraint and refrain from provocative actions, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric. We must also discourage discrimination, intolerance and hate speech motivated by racism or directed against people belonging to religious communities. We must stand firm in our call for upholding the status quo at the holy sites of Jerusalem. Only recently the Council noted the important regional and international diplomatic efforts that have been made and called for an urgent halt to any activity that would be detrimental to the peace process.”
2023-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9309Resumption1 (2023) · source
“It was not long ago that the Security Council adopted presidential statement S/PRST/2023/1 expressing its deep concern about the ongoing situation in the occupied Arab lands. The Council reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the vision of a two-State solution whereby two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, can live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders. That commitment stresses that both peoples are entitled to equal measures of freedom, security, property and dignity, and further notes that continuing aggression, regardless of its source, is dangerous and imperils the viability of a two- State solution.”
2023-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9309Resumption1 (2023) · source
“One might observe that that was the salutary wish expressed through recent statements by the Secretary-General and representatives of numerous Member States indicating that any attempt at unilateral annexation of one State’s territory by another is a violation of international law. It is clear that the occupation of any territory by force entails international responsibilities and makes the occupying force accountable. Regrettably, we have learned of the unabated, forcible acquisition of Arab land and natural resources. We have heard about the 15-year blockade and closure of the Gaza Strip, which has been described as an open-air prison. All that has had a serious impact on life for Palestinians and perhaps even for Israelis. We are saddened to hear of the damaging impact that the ongoing aggression has had on children.”
2023-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9309Resumption1 (2023) · source
“I welcome the presence of Mr. Al-Malki earlier in this meeting (see S/PV.9309). It is an indictment on all of us that for more than seven decades we have struggled to find a just and peaceful solution to the situation in Palestine. Sri Lanka has long advocated continued support for a sovereign, independent State of Palestine and calls on the international community and all parties concerned to make renewed efforts to achieve a lasting solution, including by implementing the United Nations resolutions on a two-State solution, based on the 1967 borders, as soon as possible. It is said that peace cannot be separated from freedom because none of us can be at peace unless we have our freedom.”
2023-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9309Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We appeal to all parties to all hostilities to act with restraint and resort to best practices in diplomacy with the aid of their multilateral partners, as peace is well within our grasp if we have the will to know where to look for it. The developing world needs peace as a matter of the utmost urgency.”
2023-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9308Resumption1 (2023) · source