YouSaid · the spoken record

Power

lines on the record: 1,841
first: 2013-08-06
most recent: 2019-07-09
sittings or episodes: 165
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

“The bottom line is that for all of the self-serving rhetoric that we have heard from Russian officials in recent days, there is nothing that justifies the Russian conduct. As I said at our last meeting (see S/PV.7124), Russia's actions speak much louder than its words. What is happening today is not a human rights protection mission or a consensual intervention. What is happening today is a dangerous military intevention in Ukraine. It is an act of aggression. It must stop. That is a choice for Russia. Diplomacy can serve Russia's interests. The world is speaking out against the use of military threats and force. Ukrainians must be allowed to determine their own destiny.”
2014-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7125 (2014) · source
“Russia's calls to turn back time so as to implement the 21 February agreement ring hollow. It was Yanukovych who failed to abide by the terms of that agreement, fleeing Kyiv and ultimately Ukraine. The United States categorically rejects the notion that the new Government of Ukraine is a Government of victors. It is a Government of the people and one that intends to Sheppard the country on 25 May towards democratic elections that would allow Ukrainians who would prefer a different leadership to have their views heard. The United States will stand strongly and proudly with the people of Ukraine as they chart out their own destiny, their own Government and their own future.”
2014-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7125 (2014) · source
“Those monitors can provide neutral and needed assessments of the situation on the ground. Their presence is urgently necessary in Crimea and in key cities in eastern Ukraine. The United States calls upon Russia to ensure that their access is not impeded. The leadership in Moscow may well be unhappy about former President Yanukovych's decision to flee Ukraine and move in with them. Russia may be displeased with the new Government, which was approved by Ukraine's Parliament by an overwhelming majority, including members of Yanukovych's own party. Russia has every right to wish that events in Ukraine had turned out differently but it does not have the right to express that unhappiness by using military force or by trying to convince the world community that up is down and black is white.”
2014-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7125 (2014) · source
“We have proposed and wholeheartedly support the immediate deployment of international observers and monitors from the United Nations or the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to ensure that the people about whom Russia expresses such concern are protected from abuse and to elucidate for the world the facts on the ground. The solution to the crisis is not difficult to envision. There is a way out, and that is through direct and immediate dialogue by Russia with the Government of Ukraine, the immediate pull-back of Russia's military forces, the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity and the urgent deployment of observers and human rights monitors, not through more threats and more distortions. Tonight, the OSCE will begin deploying monitors to Ukraine.”
2014-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7125 (2014) · source
“I note that Russia has implied a right to take military action in the Crimea if invited to do so by the Prime Minister of Crimea. As the Government of Russia well knows, that has no legal basis. The prohibition on the use of force would be rendered moot were subnational authorities able to unilaterally invite military intervention by a neighbouring State. Under the Ukrainian Constitution, only the Ukrainian Rada can approve the presence of foreign troops. If we are concerned about the rights of the Russian- speaking minorities, the United States is prepared to work with Russia and the Council to protect them.”
2014-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7125 (2014) · source
“Acting President Turchynov has made clear his opposition to any restriction on the use of the Russian tongue. No one has to explain to Ukraine's new Government the need to have open communications not only with leaders of the country's Russian ethnic majority in the Crimea and elsewhere but also with its neighbours. That is why, when the current crisis began, the Government sent its former chief of defence to the region to try to defuse the situation. A second emissary was prevented from entering the Crimean Verkhovna Rada to engage in discussions. It is why the Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly reached out to Russia. Russia needs to reciprocate and to begin to engage directly with the Government of Ukraine.”
2014-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7125 (2014) · source
“The Russian military are secure. The new Government in Kyiv has pledged to honour all of its existing international agreements, including those covering Russian bases. Russian mobilization is a response to an imaginary threat. A second issue is whether the population of Crimea or other parts of eastern Ukraine are at risk because of the new Government. There is no evidence of that. Military action cannot bejustified on the basis ofthreats that have not been made and are not being carried out. There is no evidence, for example, that churches in eastern Ukraine are being or will be attacked. The allegation is without basis. There is no evidence that ethnic Russians are in danger. On the contrary, the new Ukrainian Government has placed a priority on internal reconciliation and political inclusivity.”
2014-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7125 (2014) · source
“It is a fact that, today, Russian jets entered Ukrainian airspace. It is also a fact that independent journalists continue to report that there is no evidence of violence against Russian or pro- Russian communities. Russian military action is not a human rights protection mission. It is a violation of international law and of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the independent nation of Ukraine and a breach of Russia's Helsinki commitments and its United Nations obligations. The central issue is whether the recent change of Government in Ukraine constitutes a danger to Russia's legitimate interests of such a nature and extent that Russia isjustified in intervening militarily in Ukraine, seizing control of public facilities and issuing military ultimatums to elements of the Ukrainian military. The answer of course is no.”
2014-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7125 (2014) · source
“Listening to the representative of Russia, one might think that Moscow had just become the rapid response arm of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. So many of the assertions made this afternoon by the representative of the Russian Federation are without basis in reality. Let us begin with a clear and candid assessment of the facts. It is a fact that Russian military forces have taken over Ukrainian border posts. It is a fact that Russia has taken over the ferry terminal in Kerch. It is a fact that Russian ships are moving in and around Sevastopol. It is a fact that Russian forces are blocking the mobile telephone services in some areas. It is a fact that Russia has surrounded or taken over practically all Ukrainian military facilities in Crimea.”
2014-03-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7125 (2014) · source
“We are also working to stand up an international mediation mission to the Crimea to begin to de-escalate the situation and facilitate productive and peaceful political dialogue among all Ukrainian parties. Our paramount concerns are to end the confrontation and to find a solution that allows the Ukrainian people to determine their own destiny, their own Government and their own future. That must be the goal of the Council and the international community. The United States will work with Ukraine, our allies and partners in Europe and around the world, and here at the United Nations to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and democratic future of Ukraine.”
2014-03-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7124 (2014) · source
“Secondly, international monitors and observers, including from the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), should be sent to Ukraine. That is the best way to get the facts, monitor conduct and prevent any abuses. Russia is a leading member of both institutions and can participate actively to ensure that its interests are upheld. The immediate deployment of international observers from either the OSCE or the United Nations to Crimea would also provide transparency about the movements and activities of military and paramilitary forces in the region, and defuse the tensions between different groups.”
2014-03-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7124 (2014) · source
“It is ironic that the Russian Federation regularly goes out of its way in this Chamber to emphasize the sanctity of national borders and of sovereignty, but Russian actions in Ukraine are violating the sovereignty of Ukraine and pose a threat to peace and security. Russia alleges various actions against and threats to minority groups in Ukraine. We see no evidence of such actions yet, but Russia's provocative actions could easily push a tense situation beyond the breaking point. Russia's incitement of groups to come out to protest is not responsible behaviour in the present situation. There is a clear way forward that would preserve Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and address Russia's concerns. First, Russia should directly engage the Government of Ukraine.”
2014-03-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7124 (2014) · source
“The Russian military must stand down, the aspirations of the Ukrainian people must be respected, and political dialogue must be allowed to continue. We applaud the remarkable restraint and commitment to that dialogue that the new Ukrainian Government in Kiev has demonstrated in the face of hostility. We have said from the outset that we recognize and respect Russia's historical ties to Ukraine, but instead of engaging the Government of Ukraine and international institutions about its concerns for ethnic Russians, Russia has ignored both, and has instead acted unilaterally and militarily.”
2014-03-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7124 (2014) · source
“The United States renews our call for the international community to support the newly formed Government of Ukraine and to prevent unnecessary violence. I would like to take a moment to respond to the comments made here by the representative of the Russian Federation. Actions speak louder than words. Early this morning, the Russian Duma acted to authorize the use of military force in Ukraine. This is as dangerous as it is destabilizing. We are deeply disturbed by reports this morning of Russian military intervention into Crimea. This intervention is without legal basis; indeed, it violates Russia's commitment to protecting the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine. It is time for the Russian intervention in Ukraine to end.”
2014-03-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7124 (2014) · source
“With today's resolution, the Council has taken the forward- leaning step of setting up a committee that is prepared to sanction individuals for impeding the ongoing transition in Yemen. With the establishment of that mechanism, the Council is better equipped to respond in a timely manner to those who seek to derail progress for the Yemeni people.”
2014-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7119 (2014) · source
“In a presidential statement last year (S/PRST/20l3/20), the Council warned potential spoilers not to stand in the way of the progress, helping to enable the necessary conditions for the launching of a successful conference. And today we welcome the unanimous adoption of resolution 2140 (2014) on Yemen, which welcomes and celebrates the conclusion of Yemen's historic National Dialogue Conference. The resolution underscores the importance of turning the page on Saleh's presidency to meet the aspirations of the Yemeni people, including guarantees for the representation of women in Government. The Council has made clear that we remain firmly committed to supporting Yemen as it implements subsequent steps in the transition process, including constitutional reform and national elections.”
2014-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7119 (2014) · source
“We recognize their significant contributions in forging consensus during a challenging period, and we encourage the Yemeni Government and all Yemeni stakeholders to continue moving ahead with the political transition in accordance with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) initiative and implementation mechanism. The Council has been assertive in supporting Yemen throughout its transition. With resolution 2014 (2011), we sent a clear signal of international support for an orderly political transition on the basis of the GCC initiative, which led to a peaceful change of leadership. In resolution 2051 (2012), we supported the full and timely implementation of that initiative, and also called for a fully inclusive, participatory and transparent National Dialogue Conference.”
2014-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7119 (2014) · source
“Three years ago, peaceful protesters thronged the streets of Sana'a, seeking to fulfil their aspirations for a more open and democratic Government. On Yemen, the Security Council has been able to consistently speak with a strong and clear voice. Together, we have welcomed the efforts by President Hadi Mansour and the people of Yemen to implement meaningful reform, and we stand firmly committed to supporting Yemen throughout the transition process. We underscore our continuing support for the leadership of President Hadi Mansour and reform- minded leaders within the Government and civil society.”
2014-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7119 (2014) · source
“Finally, we welcome the EU's commitment, as expressed in the Foreign Affairs Council conclusions issued on Monday, to remain a vocal advocate for human rights at the United Nations. The United States shares that dedication to promote and protect fundamental freedoms by working to oppose the global crackdown on civil society that is currently under way, eliminate gender-based violence, speak out on behalf of the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, and by fighting attempts to restrict the freedom of expression. The United States stands with the EU in upholding the values enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”
2014-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7112 (2014) · source
“We endorse the EU's efforts to promote peaceful solutions in the Sahel region, including its recent pledge of â‚¬142 million in humanitarian aid this year to meet the urgent needs of civilians. The EU is also engaged on a variety of cross-border issues, including combatting the scourge of piracy. Accordingly, we welcome the EU's chairmanship of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, established pursuant to resolution 1851 (2008). We share the EU's commitment to bringing the number of piracy attacks and hostage-takings down to zero. And we note the EU's focus on prevention and regional maritime capacity-building, its increased engagement with the industry and its efforts to trace financial flows resulting from piracy.”
2014-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7112 (2014) · source
“In December, when I visited the Central African Republic, I was deeply saddened and struck by the terrible violence, which has spread along religious lines and is fuelled by an almost total absence of either security or accountability. We need urgently to step up our support for the efforts of Christian and Muslim leaders who are seeking to end the killing and restore a basis for national unity. I applaud the EU for its leadership at this critical time and look forward to a continual dialogue with the EU, the African Union and all the members of the Council regarding next steps. We agree strongly with the Secretary-General that the situation could not be more urgent. My Government also shares the EU's concerns over the crises in South Sudan and in the broader Sahel.”
2014-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7112 (2014) · source
“I was impressed by the hard work of the 550 dedicated military personnel from 23 European countries, who are helping the Malian armed forces to re-establish their ability to secure the entirety of Mali and to implement needed and crucial reforms that prioritize, among other things, the Malian military's adherence to human rights and international law. As is well known, the EU is actively engaged in supporting stabilization in the Central African Republic, providing approximately â‚¬200 million in humanitarian and security assistance to help the people of that country. We welcome the EU's recent announcement of an additional â‚¬25 million to assist the African Union-led mission and its agreement to provide up to 500 troops in support of that vital operation. We are hopeful that those troops can be mobilized and deployed very swiftly.”
2014-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7112 (2014) · source
“My Government commends the EU for its joint Africa-EU strategy, which is striving to advance cooperation on a range of issues, including peace, security, democratic governance and the Millennium Development Goals. We also applaud the EU's commitment to enhancing the African Union's capacity through the African Peace Facility to address conflict on the continent. The Council saw the EU's real-world impact during its recent visit to Mali. We had the privilege of engaging with the Commander ofthe EU training mission to Mali, Brigadier-General Bruno Guibert, to discuss the EU's effort to rebuild the Malian army, which is critical to lasting stability in the country.”
2014-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7112 (2014) · source
“They deserve our praise and our support so as to ensure the full implementation of their pact. Much hard work obviously lies ahead. The EU's contributions to the goals of the United Nations extend well beyond Europe. From its role as a member of the Quartet on Middle East peace to its engagement on Iran, the EU is working closely with its partners to foster stability and security. In that connection, we welcome the EU's announcement in December that it will provide an unprecedented package of political, economic and security support to both the Israelis and the Palestinians in the context of a final status agreement. The EU role is especially welcome in Africa, where the Council focuses a great deal of attention.”
2014-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7112 (2014) · source
“The European External Action Service is a young organization, but it is already having a tremendous impact in its neighbourhood. My Government appreciates the EU's role in promoting European stability - in particular High Representative Ashton's ongoing leadership of the EU-facilitated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, which led to the landmark Agreement of April 2013 on normalizing relations. I have had some experience in the region and would have placed myself among the sceptics in the run- up to the dialogue, but the High Representative's tireless efforts - as we heard today, 226 hours of meetings - and the courageous leadership of Prime Ministers Thaci and Dacie have shown that, by sitting face to face, hashing out differences and focusing on the future, one-time rivals can achieve historic change.”
2014-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7112 (2014) · source
“The Security Council's resolutions and statements on cooperation with regional and subregional organizations emphasize the importance of developing effective partnership. In that context, we fully support the adoption of today's presidential statement (S/PRST/2014/4). We share the EU's conviction that, in response to global challenges, the international community requires an effective and efficient multilateral system, and we appreciate the EU's focus on effective multilateralism as a key element of its external action. The EU is an indispensable partner to the United Nations and, of course, to the United States as well. Allow me to highlight several areas in particular where the EU is making an important contribution internationally to peace, security and respect for human rights.”
2014-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7112 (2014) · source
“I congratulate you, Mr. President, on Lithuania's presidency of the Security Council. I also thank the Secretary-General for his remarks this morning, in particular the forceful comments he made on the subject of the Central African Republic. The United States welcomes High Representative Catherine Ashton back to the Council and thanks her for elaborating on the European Union's important relationship with the United Nations. Allow me to say that we appreciate her personal contributions and look forward to working with her through the end of her term. We also wish her well, of course, in her future endeavours, but we hope and expect to achieve a great deal more together on behalf of international peace and security between now and the end of the year.”
2014-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7112 (2014) · source
“All of this learning is helpful. None of it is a panacea. The same may be said of ensuring that an accurate and objective record is kept of what happens in our time, so that the dangers of bias are minimized and lies are exposed before they become myths. A wise man once urged us to pray for God's protection against "those who believe that they are the sole possessors of truth". King Hussein knew that peace is built on reality and that reality will never mesh perfectly with any one set of perceptions about the present, the future or the past. It is the Council's task to integrate that understanding into the daily business of preventing conflict and nurturing reconciliation. No job could be more difficult, and none more vital.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“One hundred years after shots were fired in Sarajevo, it is entirely appropriate that the Security Council examine the question of how we might reverse engineer war in order to understand better its causes and, in so doing, what is necessary to achieve a lasting and enduring peace. In the past, we on the Council have shown ourselves capable of learning. We have learned to be more comprehensive in our approach to crisis situations. We have become more alert to the threat of genocide and mass atrocities and more aware of religious and cultural factors. We are becoming more proactive in including women in efforts to preserve security and make peace. We have started giving more robust peacekeeping mandates to Blue Helmets, and the peacekeepers themselves are becoming more creative in their use of technology and new tactics.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“That is not to suggest that there is a single model for achieving that goal - there are many - but all begin with a search for truth. That was the case with the war crimes trials following Second World War, and it has been the case more recently in, among other places, South Africa, the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, El Salvador and Sierra Leone. Stability and peace begin with our willingness to do what is necessary to deter those who would employ violence to abuse the rights of others. As the fates of Charles Taylor and Ratko Mladie now illustrate, the narratives that are most likely to help douse the embers of conflict are those that put the facts on the public record and the worst offenders behind bars.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“And it is no accident that over the past several years the United States has supported and the United Nations system has produced more commissions of inquiry, panels of experts and related fact-finding bodies than at almost any other time in United Nations history. We have done so not because there is more war - though sadly there is far too much war - but because we now all share a better understanding of the role that fact-finding and, ultimately, accountability plays in preventing rampant violence from becoming endless, cyclical and uncontrollable violence. Those who posit attention between justice and peace need look no further than history. The evidence is overwhelming that peace in the absence ofjustice rarely endures.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“But we need only put ourselves in the shoes of those who have suffered such brutality - who have lost livelihoods, homes, friends, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, husbands and wives - to know how hard it will be to trust again. And without accountability, the trust deficit will only grow larger. The duelling narratives that exist today will continue to fester and polarize, providing oxygen for authoritarians and militants. In each of those cases - the Central African Republic, South Sudan and Syria - the international community has wisely launched commissions of inquiry to document events, gather eye witness testimony and investigate competing claims.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“In South Sudan, even with a cessation-of-hostilities agreement now in place, attacks continue and each ethnic group involved is assigning blame to the other, with personal rivalries only compounding the finger-pointing. In Syria, the Government's brutality has extended without limit to torture, executions, indiscriminate bombings, the shredding of medical neutrality, the use of starvation as a weapon of war and gas attacks against civilians. Terrorist groups have inflicted additional pain on a people that, when they assembled to show support for democracy, wanted no more than basic dignity for themselves and for their children. That is why the key challenge going forward is to create a transitional body with enough capability and credibility to restore a sense of mutual trust.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“My Government agrees that the recovery and protection of such records and the creation of national archives where none exist are useful steps and should be encouraged and, where appropriate, assisted by the United Nations. More generally, when seeking to bring opposing sides together, United Nations representatives should be encouraged to ask hard questions about why conflict began and how it has been prosecuted. United Nations missions, like national policies, should aim to get at root causes, not just symptoms. The urgency of that could not be more evident. We need only look at the Security Council's current docket. The Central African Republic has been disintegrating along largely religious lines, despite the fact that the country has not traditionally been prone to sectarian violence.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“It helps no one when victims are forced to blame their suffering on an entire religious, ethnic or political faction. Crimes against humanity are committed by individuals, including - no, especially - by those who give the order and then stand back while underlings shed innocent blood. That is why historical records matter. They provide the evidence that can be used to establish personal accountability, and unlike allegations of collective guilt, individual accountability can heal wounds without opening new ones. By developing and preserving historical records, we can help ensure that when disagreements arise, now or in the future, the stakeholders can at least be informed by a common set of facts.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“One side's justice is defined by its rival as vengeance. One side's patriotic gesture is interpreted by its neighbours as disrespect. More broadly, differences of perspective come into play whenever we contemplate the history of the great religions, the rise and fall of colonialism, the two World Wars or any variation of the question, asked in a multitude of contexts, "Who did what to whom?" And all too often, even when diplomats know the answers, it seems downright undiplomatic to articulate them. We tend to describe outbreaks of violence in the passive voice - "violence erupted" or "intercommunal violence emerged". We use those phrases because we are afraid to blame. Accountability is easy in the abstract. In practice, it requires a willingness to assign and in turn accept responsibility.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“Burma has made positive progress in opening up its political system over the last two or three years, but that kind of violence poses grave risks and must be dealt with before it claims more lives. To do so, there must be a credible and independent investigation into what happened in Maungdaw and there must be justice for the victims. Otherwise the cycle of violence, grievance, retributive violence, new grievance, more retribution and so forth will take root, with each round getting harder to stop than the one before. Examples of disagreements about the rights and wrongs of the past exist on every continent and may have their origins as far back as antiquity or as near to hand as last night. All too often, we are bedevilled by divergent views of particular acts. One side sees aggression where the other sees self-defence.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“"We in the Balkans have so much history we do not need a future" was another. Today, we see countless examples ofold unaddressed grievances boiling over. In Burma, a country that has taken historic strides towards democracy, Muslims continue to feel the effects of a repugnant and deep prejudice that is prevalent across society. This has left the Rohingya without citizenship, vulnerable and marginalized. Other Muslim populations are finding themselves increasingly isolated from communities with which they have lived for decades. Those emotions have proven deadly. Over the past weeks, we have all seen the alarming reports that Muslims have been targeted and possibly dozens killed in Maungdaw township in Rakhine state. Last year we saw similar atrocities in Meiktila.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“To move from "not war" to peace, communities need to be able to know who did what, how and why. To move from blaming Christians or Muslims, Hutu or Tutsi, Shia or Sunni, Dinka or Nuer, communities must begin holding not whole races or religions responsible for their pain, but individuals. Mr. President, you and I first met two decades ago when you served as a political officer in the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina and I was a journalist reporting on the conflict. We both observed the virulent role the past can play in poisoning relationships between people who have much in common and, at least before the fighting begins, no personal cause for anger. The ironic expressions that made the rounds back then spoke to the role of history in fuelling violence. "Nothing learned, nothing forgotten" was one saying.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“I thank the Kingdom of Jordan for proposing "War, its lessons and the search for a permanent peace" as a topic for Security Council debate. In so doing, it has raised profound questions about the role of accountability, the role of the United Nations and each of our individual and collective responsibilities in preventing and ending deadly conflict. We know that the opposite of war is not peace; the opposite of war is not war. And we have to remain alert to the chasm between a mere suspension of hostilities and the creation of lasting reconciliation based on the acceptance of a shared historical narrative. The former is the most urgent and achievable goal when conflicts are raging and lives are being lost, but the later is necessary if we are to improve the likelihood that fighting does not resume.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“In that spirit, we are encouraged by the cooperation being shown by Iraq's Government, its national security forces and local tribal leaders in trying to restore stability, resist terrorist aggression and ease the hardships faced by Iraqi civilians. I, too, note that today is a national holiday in the United States. Martin Luther King Jr. taught the citizens of my country and people everywhere to pursue justice and the resolution of differences by peaceful means. In his words, "returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars". The wisdom in that warning is always and everywhere relevant, but never more so than now in the Middle East, where peace initiatives demand our support amid the anguish of continued conflict.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“Finally, on Iraq, I thank the Secretary-General for reporting on his recent visit and would like to commend the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for their efforts to ensure the delivery of aid to the people of Anbar province. The United States strongly condemns the attacks carried out by forces affiliated with Al-Qaida in Anbar and elsewhere in Iraq. Their brazen attempt at destabilization cannot be allowed to succeed. As the Council made clear in its recent statement, "no terrorist act can reverse the path towards peace, democracy and reconstruction in Iraq, which is supported by the people and the Government of Iraq and the international community" (S/PRST/2014/1).”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“We are also seriously concerned about the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, and urge all parties to cooperate in expanding access for people, goods and humanitarian supplies. The consistent support of peace efforts by key partners is essential. We particularly welcome the European Union's generous pledge last month to provide unprecedented political and economic support for Israel and the Palestinians in the context ofa final status peace agreement. We are gratified as well by the decision of the League of Arab States, whose representatives met with Secretary Kerry in Paris on 12 January, to reaffirm its commitment to those negotiations.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“As the parties consider the difficult decisions ahead, the United States remains convinced that the benefits of peace for both sides can best be achieved through the kind of process in which we are presently engaged. Accordingly, the United States reiterates its view that all parties should refrain from actions that might undermine the atmosphere required for ongoing negotiations. Steps that diminish trust, such as continued settlement activity, only feed scepticism on both sides. Further, we are deeply troubled by the escalation of violence leading to civilian casualties. We condemn rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel and the attempt to kill civilians by placing a bomb on a public bus in Tel Aviv.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“Finally, we welcome the start of the trial before the Special Tribunal for Lebanon of four persons charged with the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and others who were killed in the bombing. That trial is a positive step towards justice and away from the acceptance of impunity for political violence, and we commend the Lebanese Government and other donor countries for supporting the Tribunal. Turning to the subject of Middle East peace, the United States is continuing its efforts to assist the Israelis and Palestinians in reaching a final status agreement that recognizes two States for two peoples, living side by side in peace and security. Secretary of State Kerry returned to the region earlier this month in support ofa proposed framework that addresses all core issues.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“We will continue to partner closely with Lebanon's security services, which have a pivotal role to play in support of Lebanon's security and sovereignty. We condemn the violence, urge all parties to exercise restraint, and commend the LAF for its efforts to stem the violence. The Lebanese Government's policy of disassociation from the Syrian conflict, as enshrined in the Baabda Declaration, must be upheld. It is equally vital that all relevant Security Council resolutions be implemented, including resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1701 (2006), which call for the disbandment and disarmament of all militias in Lebanon. The United States strongly condemns the 29 December 2013 rocket attack that was launched from Lebanese territory into Israel.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“In that context, we encourage the formation of a new Cabinet to address the country's security, economic and humanitarian challenges and to meet its international obligations. The Syrian civil war has contributed to rising sectarian violence and political friction inside Lebanon. As has been said, the assassination, on 27 December 2013, of the widely respected former finance minister Mohamad Chatah was an outrage. The 2 January suicide bombing in southern Beirut's Haret Hreik neighbourhood killed 5 people and wounded many more. Meanwhile, sporadic Violence has continued for weeks in Tripoli and near the Syrian border. In that respect, we note Saudi Arabia's commitment, announced last month, to provide generous amounts of additional aid to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“The international community has an obligation to ensure that Jordan's generosity does not become an unsustainable burden on its population. In Lebanon the situation has grown even more perilous, as the Syrian war has exacerbated the security, financial and social pressures faced by the nation's leaders. More than 1,600 Lebanese communities bear the burden of hosting more than 900,000 refugees from Syria. My Government continues to help Lebanon tackle its massive challenges via the recently established International Support Group for Lebanon. We urge other donors also to provide aid that is consistent with International Support Group priorities. A stable and united Lebanon with strong democratic institutions is in the best interests of the Lebanese people and of citizens throughout the Middle East.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“We welcome the new pledges from other donor nations, as well as the international community's renewed commitment to assisting the Syrian people and the neighbouring countries that are providing a safe haven for refugees. In the brief period before the second Geneva Conference, it is critical that we make concrete progress on humanitarian access issues. We must also do everything that we can to halt the violence. To that end, we call urgently on all parties to agree on local ceasefires and to move ahead with prisoner releases. We commend your country, Jordan, Mr. President, for sheltering some 600,000 refugees, and we recognize the enormous economic and social toll the conflict has taken on your country. Jordan has opened its doors for an emergency situation, and we know that that is draining its domestic resources.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“Humanitarian providers who managed to deliver those food parcels literally had to dodge sniper fire. Although the regime is primarily responsible for denying humanitarian access, some opposition groups have also been culpable in such communities as Nubal, Zahra and Foua'a. That is unacceptable. The deliberate blocking or withholding of life-giving aid by any party cannot be justified and must stop now before more innocent people die. The plight of Syrian civilians and refugees is heart- breaking and makes last week's conference in Kuwait all the more important. The United States pledged $380 million in new funds to help tackle the crisis, bringing our total commitment since the fighting began to more than $1.7 billion.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source