YouSaid · the spoken record

Pressman

lines on the record: 643
first: 2014-10-24
most recent: 2016-10-19
sittings or episodes: 73
sources: un-security-council

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“Recognizing the enormity of those problems, today's action by the Security Council is indeed important. With this resolution, the Security Council expresses its support for the African Union's efforts in Burundi, including the deployment of the 200 AU human rights observers and military observers. We call on the Government of Burundi to cooperate fully to facilitate the implementation of the mandate of the human rights observers and military experts. With this resolution, the Security Council endorses the East African Community-led, regionally mediated dialogue. Only such an inclusive and regionally mediated dialogue can resolve this crisis and restore stability to Burundi. We urge all stakeholders to expedite the resumption of the dialogue in pursuit of a peaceful and consensual path forward for Burundi.”
2016-04-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7664 (2016) · source
“The progress made by the Government of Burundi to date is woefully insufficient. There have been plenty of press releases, but not enough political prisoner releases. We acknowledge the Government's acts of clemency for prisoners who are old, under-aged or infirm, but that is not the same as releasing political prisoners, and they must begin to deliver on those important promises. We have been promised that free media would be allowedto operate, but only two out of five banned outlets are today operating. It was agreed that 200 African Union (AU) human rights and military observers would be deployed, but today there are currently 32 human rights observers and 15 military observers on the ground in Burundi, and they do not have a memorandum of understanding with the Government.”
2016-04-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7664 (2016) · source
“Against that backdrop, let us be clear: progress will be measured by peace, and peace will come from genuine political dialogue that is inclusive. To date, while there have been opening ceremonies, the real discussions have not commenced. We strongly support former President Mkapa in his efforts to move the process forward and we urge that a date be scheduled for discussions to begin. Each day that this crisis continues makes it that much harder for Burundi to regain the progress it has achieved over the past decade, risking a much longer-term and much deadlier crisis. While in our discussions some pointed to the release of a "significant number of prisoners", resolution 2279 (2016) does not do that. The resolution instead welcomes "the steps made by the Government of Burundi" towards that end and urges them to fulfil their commitments.”
2016-04-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7664 (2016) · source
“Let me begin by congratulating you, Mr. President, and the Chinese delegation on assuming the presidency of the Security Council. I also thank you for convening us this evening. The situation in Burundi is beyond fragile. The ongoing repression, harassment and violence against the legitimate political opposition, the closure of free and impartial media, and widespread impunity for human rights violations and abuses - including those involving killings and alleged sexual violence by security services against political opponents, members of civil society and others - continue. Almost a quarter of a million Burundians have fled the country since April 2015 out of fear for their lives, and countless more have been internally displaced. People do not flee in the hundreds of thousands unless there is a very serious problem.”
2016-04-01 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7664 (2016) · source
“Working together with the Government of Haiti and the international community, we continue to support and will continue to work to strengthen Haiti's overall security, democratic development and economic growth. Progress on those issues is especially hard when political uncertainty prevails, which underscores the importance of holding elections within the time frame identified in the 5 February accord. We call on all parties to commit to a genuine, free and fair electoral process that is peaceful and uninterrupted, so that Haiti can finally pivot towards the bright future that it so richly deserves.”
2016-03-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7651 (2016) · source
“Along with the strategic assessment mission, we welcome recommendations from MINUSTAH on the future presence and role of the United Nations in Haiti, and we emphasize that any reconfiguration of United Nations presence should be based on thorough, ongoing analysis of the security situation in Haiti. Using such evidence-based analysis to inform decisions on the United Nations configuration will help avoid hasty changes that could compromise the progress that the Haitian Government and people, along with the international partners, have achieved over the past decade. The United States has been one of Haiti's international partners for a long time.”
2016-03-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7651 (2016) · source
“We also call for the continued assistance of the international community with those efforts. The United States supports the strategic assessment mission on the future presence of the United Nations in Haiti, as requested in resolution 2243 (2015), which is to be initiated following the completion of the elections and the instalment of a new democratically elected President. We also look forward to the joint transition plan currently being drafted by MINUSTAH and the United Nations country team, which will outline a road map for future support by the United Nations, the Government of Haiti and other international partners.”
2016-03-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7651 (2016) · source
“Only an elected Government can effectively work with Haiti's many international partners to confront those and other challenges. The strengthening of Haiti's institutions is also necessary in order to sustain and eventually take over the work of MINUSTAH and other international partners. As MINUSTAH prepares to assess the conditions for a further drawdown or reconfiguration of the United Nations Mission, we commend the Haitian National Police on their progress towards improving the country's security environment. We note that the Haitian National Police intends to reach its target strength of nearly 15,000 officers by the end of 2016, and we call for the completion of the road map for the Haitian National Police's growth and professionalization for the next five years.”
2016-03-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7651 (2016) · source
“I want to note that neither we nor the international observation missions sent by the European Union and the Organization of American States found proof of massive and widespread fraud. Once the elections are successfully completed, Haiti can focus its energy and resources on strengthening democratic processes and institutions in Haiti, which have been sidelined and overshadowed by the protracted political crisis. For example, the Haitian Government needs to urgently address problems in the justice sector, particularly with regard to prolonged pre-trial detention. Nearly 70 per cent of the prisoners in Haitian prisons have not been formally charged. Haiti now faces increasing challenges, including drought, a depreciating currency and threats to its food security, among others.”
2016-03-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7651 (2016) · source
“One critical next step is to reconstitute the Provisional Electoral Council as soon as possible. We urge the Parliament to play its role in the implementation of the 5 February agreement by voting on the Prime Minister's Government policies without delay in order to facilitate the completion of the electoral process. Some political actors and observers spread a narrative late last year that included allegations of widespread fraud in the electoral process, challenging the credibility of the elections. That narrative does the Haitian people a real disservice. It was notjust unhelpful but harmful, and greatly undermined the efforts of the Haitian Government, assisted by the international community, to give the Haitian people the opportunity to have their voices heard through a democratically elected Government.”
2016-03-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7651 (2016) · source
“As the Special Representative of the Secretary- General noted in her remarks, a political accord was reached on 5 February, through a Haitian-led political process, to hold the second round of presidential elections on 24 April, followed by the inauguration of a President on 14 May. In order to adhere to that timeline, all Haitian political stakeholders need to commit to swift implementation of the accord. Towards that end, we welcome the commitment made by provisional President Privert to advancing towards completion of the electoral process enshrined in the accord, and we note the important step that he took on 25 February by naming a Prime Minister. But, while some positive steps have been taken towards abiding by the timeline, time is running short for completing the many tasks that remain.”
2016-03-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7651 (2016) · source
“Today, I would like to focus on the immediate issue that is critical to Haiti's future - the expeditious conclusion of the postponed electoral process in Haiti. Completing the electoral cycle is a critical step towards not only installing an elected Government that reflects the will of the Haitian people, but also re-establishing fully functional democratic institutions in Haiti that can make Haiti more stable and more secure. Without the strengthening of democratic institutions and credible democratic processes, there can be no genuine stability or sustainable development in Haiti.”
2016-03-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7651 (2016) · source
“I thank Special Representative Honore for her briefing, which, together with the Secretary-General's report (S/2016/225), clearly outlines the important strides that Haiti has made in the past several years since the earthquake, as well as the daunting challenges that it continues to face. I would like to begin by commending the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) for its efforts to promote the political process, strengthen the rule of law and promote human rights. In particular, we would like to thank the individual men and women serving in MINUSTAH, as well as the troop- and police-contributing countries, for their tireless efforts on behalf of the Haitian people.”
2016-03-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7651 (2016) · source
“We encourage South Sudan's leaders to show their commitment to peace and to a prosperous future for the people of South Sudan through those concrete actions over the next weeks. We will use that time to support the parties in their efforts to carry out those tasks, to measure their progress and to respond appropriately. The meeting rose at 11.40 am.”
2016-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7639 (2016) · source
“In line with the timeline set out by the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, over the next several weeks we expect to see full cooperation by both sides on the implementation of the Juba security arrangements as decided by the JMEC Chair and agreed to by the parties on 24 February, with the return of designated Sudan People's Liberation Movement/ Army in Opposition security to Juba. That should lead to the return of Rick Machar to Juba and the immediate formation of the transitional Government of national unity. It is also important that the Government of the Republic of South Sudan suspend the implementation of the decree creating 28 states, as called for by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in its communique of 30-31 January 2016.”
2016-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7639 (2016) · source
“We fully agree that this is a delicate moment in the peace process, but it is also a critical moment: humanitarian needs are greater than ever, human rights violations persist and the people of South Sudan continue to suffer. Parties to the conflict need to show progress on the peace agreement signed last year, an agreement which is severely lagging when it comes to implementation, as we heard Ambassador Festus Mogae, Chair of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), testify to last month. We urge South Sudanese parties to take the key steps necessary for the full implementation of the peace agreement.”
2016-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7639 (2016) · source
“The Council should consider carefully new proposals to use sanctions to better stabilize the situation, limit the unrestricted flow ofarms and incentivize the parties towards compromise. Rather than rush that deliberative process, the United States supports the decision of the Security Council today to renew the current sanctions measures until 15 April, and the mandate of the Panel of Experts for just a few more weeks - until 15 May. That period will allow the Council to fully discuss proposals that have been put forward by delegations around this table and allow us time to measure the progress made by the parties on implementing the peace agreement and forming the transitional Government of national unity.”
2016-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7639 (2016) · source
“The Security Council and the United Nations remain steadfast in their commitment to support the people of South Sudan in their quest for stability, peace and good governance. Unfortunately, we have a long way to go and much work remains to be done. As such, we must work together to send the right signals to South Sudan's leaders. The Secretary-General perhaps put it best last week when he told the leaders bluntly, "Put peace above politics. Pursue compromise. Overcome obstacles. Establish the transitional Government of national unity, and do not delay it." The Council has repeatedly shown its willingness to use targeted sanctions to marginalize spoilers, target those who commit violations and abuses and impose accountability for atrocities.”
2016-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7639 (2016) · source
“I am pleased that the representative ofthe Russian Federation can agree with so much of what I had to say. It is too bad, however, that we cannot agree to some basic facts in this Chamber. The facts remain that Russia backed the separatists, Russia armed the separatists and Russia led a military campaign that led to the purported annexation of Crimea, in Violation of the Charter of the United Nations. Those are the facts and, sadly for the people victimized by this crisis and these conflicts, these facts remain unchanged, regardless of whatever distractions are offered in the Chamber today.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7635 (2016) · source
“The OSCE continues to play a vital role in that regard, and the OSCE's role in support of the global effort to address weapons proliferation, including through implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), is critical. We strongly support the commitment of the OSCE to strengthen member States' commitments to implementing the provisions of resolution 1325 (2000) in order to increase the role of women in peacemaking and peacebuilding and to end violence against women in conflict. The fundamental commitments of the OSCE have provided clarity, stability and continuity to participating States for more than 35 years in our common effort to promote comprehensive security throughout the Euro- Atlantic and Eurasian regions. We must all continue to implement our mutual commitments.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7635 (2016) · source
“As a participant in the Geneva international discussions along with the OSCE and the United Nations, the United States remains committed to working with the parties and the other Chairs to improve the security and humanitarian situation for all residents of Georgia affected by the conflict. There is an immediate need for coordinated response to the migration and refugee crisis in the OSCE region and beyond. Addressing the impact of the large numbers of migrants arriving in Europe requires rights-based responses to the challenges of migration, including by prioritizing respect for the human rights of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, and by developing the capacity of Governments to integrate new arrivals and counter anti-migrant sentiment, xenophobia and hate crimes.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7635 (2016) · source
“As a Chair ofthe OSCE Minsk group, the United States will continue to work closely with the sides to achieve a lasting, negotiated settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict based on the principles of international law, the Charter of the United Nations and the Helsinki Final Act. The United States fully supports Georgia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. We urge the Russian Government to withdraw its troops to pre-war positions and allow humanitarian agencies and the European Union Monitoring Mission unfettered access in the occupied territories there.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7635 (2016) · source
“The United States calls for unrestricted access for the OSCE Mission to Moldova throughout the country, including the Transnistrian region, so that it can perform its activities and fulfil its mandate. The OSCE continues its dedicated support of a negotiated settlement ofthe Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Regrettably, violence along the line of contact and the Armenia-Azerbaijan State border has escalated over the past several months. The United States condemns the use of mortars and other heavy weaponry, which have caused civilian casualties, and appeals to the sides to take immediate steps to reduce tensions and protect lives. The status quo is neither acceptable nor sustainable. We remind the sides that there can be no military solution to this conflict.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7635 (2016) · source
“The United States reiterates its call on Russia to direct the separatists it supports and supplies to immediately honour the ceasefire, withdraw heavy weapons visibly and verifiably, return those weapons to their designated storage sites and end restrictions on the movements and activities of the Monitoring Mission. The United States strongly supports the OSCE's efforts to support a peaceful resolution of long-standing conflicts, such as its mission to broker a comprehensive settlement to the Transnistria conflict by facilitating direct dialogue between the sides and by supporting confidence-building measures. But in Transnistria, like in Donbas, local so-called authorities refuse to grant OSCE monitors unfettered access to do their important work.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7635 (2016) · source
“Furthermore, the separatist routinely denied the Mission access to the Ukrainian- Russian border, while Russia unilaterally blocks the expansion of the OSCE border observation mission beyond the two current small checkpoints. According to OSCE reports, movement restrictions on the Special Monitoring Mission often go hand-in-hand with weapons Violations and have overwhelmingly occurred on the separatist side of the line of contact. In addition, the separatists continue to make direct threats against the Mission itself. On 15 February, near Kominternove, they once again threatened to shoot Mission members, which is the third such incident since January.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7635 (2016) · source
“The OSCE has also documented the movement of heavy weapons out of designated storage sites and placed in areas off-limits under the Minsk agreements. When the Special Monitoring Mission was established, in March 2014, all 57 OSCE participating States agreed that "Mission members will have safe and secure access throughout Ukraine". Yet, more than a year after the signing of the Minsk memorandum and protocol and the Minsk implementation package, Russian-backed separatists do not allow OSCE observers full access to all areas to monitor and verify the maintenance of the ceasefire, the withdrawal of heavy weapons and the presence of foreign fighters. Russian-backed separatist forces have repeatedly barred the Monitoring Mission from inspecting heavy weapons storage sites.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7635 (2016) · source
“The roles of both the OSCE Monitoring Mission and the Trilateral Contact Group are essential to restoring peace to Ukraine, and the full implementation of the Minsk agreements, including the ceasefire and weapons pullback, is critical. The Monitoring Mission and also plays a critical role in assessing the humanitarian situation on the ground and facilitating the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid. The increase in violence along the line of contact in eastern Ukraine is of enormous concern - the worst since the ceasefire declaration of 1 September 2015. OSCE monitoring reports indicate that the number of ceasefire violations continues to rise - onjust one day, 24 February, monitors registered nearly 850 explosions and firing of small and heavy weapons.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7635 (2016) · source
“Today, the principles and commitments embodied by the OSCE face some serious challenges, both from inside and outside the organization. From within, there is an uneven application of the Helsinki norms, principles and commitments, where some States are re-exerting a sphere of influence at the expense of other States, while, from without, regional crises and transnational threats are proliferating. Efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and the protracted conflicts in Moldova, Georgia and Nagorno Karabakh continue to face very frustrating obstacles. We commend the Chairperson-in-Office's efforts in support of resolving the crisis in Ukraine, including his leadership in obtaining an extension of the mandate of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine through 31 March 2017.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7635 (2016) · source
“I would like to begin by thanking by thanking the Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Foreign Minister Steinmeier, for his briefing and for being here with us today. We know that the partnership between the OSCE and the United Nations remains strong and we welcome the opportunity to hear about Germany's priorities in 2016 to advance the OSCE's efforts in support of peace and security. At the Astana summit just over five years ago, all 57 OSCE members recommitted to the principles and values enshrined in the OSCE common documents, including that all OSCE norms, principles and commitments apply equally and without exception to each participating State and that we are accountable to our citizens and responsible to each other for their full implementation.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7635 (2016) · source
“Although we have seen a number of key important steps in the right direction, we remain concerned about significant human rights problems on a variety of fronts, including, but not limited to, the treatment of the Rohingya. The situation in Rakhine state remains grim, and the Government needs to take significant, sustained and strategic steps to address the hatred and bigotry and resolve the crisis. In conclusion, I would like to thank you, Mr. President, and your delegation, for your leadership during this past month. Our work this month is not yet over.”
2016-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7633 (2016) · source
“Intimidation must stop, and the Security Council, in the months ahead, must remain focused on ensuring timely and credible elections. Finally, we were pleased that the Council discussed Burma's political and human rights situation in consultations yesterday afternoon. We particularly welcomed OHCHR's perspective and will continue to encourage further high-level Council interaction with that Office in future meetings. A peaceful post-election period is crucial for stability and maintaining the confidence of the people of Burma in this transition. However, there remain obvious and important impediments to the realization of a fully democratic and civilian Government.”
2016-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7633 (2016) · source
“In Burundi, while we welcome recent announcements and reports of prisoner releases, announcements must be followed by action. Credible dialogue outside of Burundi with the opposition must restart now. Unfortunately, the Government continues to crackdown on civil society and political opposition. And, also unfortunately, widespread human rights violations are a daily occurrence. Necessarily, the Council must continue to examine all options to ensure that a credible political process proceeds and that civilians are safe. Last week, six activists in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were arrested after calling on President Kabila to step down. On Wednesday, they were sentenced to two years in prison for incitement.”
2016-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7633 (2016) · source
“As the United Nations detailed in a recent report on Unity state, we are now seeing coping strategies among the most severely food-insecure households that include food-security experts observing things being consumed in South Sudan that they have never seen before, such as the consumption of reconstituted dried goatskins, meaning eating goatskin off of furniture, or eating inner sections of palm tree trunks, meaning eating wood. Given the seemingly unending and horrific nature of the abuses unfolding in South Sudan, we must all remain committed to supporting accountability for the perpetrators, including through the mechanisms outlined in the peace agreement, namely, the establishment of a credible hybrid tribunal. The people of South Sudan deserve security and peace, and they also deserve justice.”
2016-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7633 (2016) · source
“We heard a comprehensive set of briefings on South Sudan last Friday, and yesterday's briefing by the Chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), Festus Mogae, was particularly important. The JMEC is essential to progress in South Sudan, and we hope to continue to hear regular updates from the JMEC Chairperson in order to appropriately support his work in overseeing the implementation of the peace agreement. We continue to be alarmed by the human rights abuses in South Sudan, and the briefing by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) described a scorched-earth strategy, a strategy that manifests itself in civilians being intentionally burned alive in their homes.”
2016-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7633 (2016) · source
“We will not be satisfied with one-off deliveries to a handful of areas that should have had unimpeded assistance all along, and which has been completely denied and, in some cases, denied for years. Over the last week and a half, convoys have provided aid to less than 100,000 people - less than one fourth of those living in serious besieged areas. Millions still urgently require aid. The Syrian regime, and all parties, needs to lift any and all obstacles to assistance. Ultimately, the only way to end Syria's conflict is through a political process leading to a political transition in accordance with the Geneva communique (S/2012/522, annex). The crisis in South Sudan continues. Leadership from the opposing parties is desperately needed.”
2016-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7633 (2016) · source
“The International Syria Support Group and the parties in Syria are working together towards a cessation of hostilities, set to go into effect at midnight tonight in Damascus, thereby offering a possibility to halt the horrific violence and relieve the suffering of the Syrian people. We expect the implementation of the cessation of hostilities to end the aerial bombardments and the regime ground offensives, which have cost so many lives and displaced more than 70,000 around Aleppo in recent days. Meanwhile, recent progress on humanitarian access to a handful ofbesieged areas is welcome, but is only the beginning. While we commend the work of the International Syria Support Group's humanitarian task force, this is only the first step towards full, sustained and unimpeded access throughout the country.”
2016-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7633 (2016) · source
“The sanctions are not punitive; they are practical and will help our collective efforts to impede the Democratic People's Republic of Korea programme by making it harder for the country to raise the funds, import the technology and acquire the know- how to advance its illicit nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. As long as North Korea continues to undermine international security through its dangerous pursuit of nuclear weapons, we must work together to impede its ability to endanger our shared security and to hold it accountable. In Syria, efforts have intensified to ensure unfettered humanitarian access while putting in place a cessation of hostilities leading to the resumption of political talks.”
2016-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7633 (2016) · source
“That is why yesterday, after extensive and productive collaboration and consultation with partners, the United States submitted a draft Security Council resolution in response to North Korea's recent nuclear test and ballistic missile launch. If adopted, the draft resolution would represent the strongest set of sanctions imposed by the Security Council in a generation. Those sanctions would send an unambiguous message to the regime of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea: "the world will not accept your proliferation, there will be consequences for your actions, and we will work relentlessly to stop your nuclear programme".”
2016-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7633 (2016) · source
“No, North Korea, with each test, with each launch, is steadily and practically advancing its operational capacity to develop and deploy nuclear weapons. With each test, with each so-called provocation, North Korea is building its ability to endanger every nation of the world. And with each act of defiance, our collective resolve to stop it must become even stronger. We cannot tolerate actions from a regime that on a grotesque, widespread and systematic basis flouts international law by abusing its own people and, with similar precision and disregard, defies the will of the Council by developing the most dangerous weapons known to humankind.”
2016-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7633 (2016) · source
“The Security Council deals with diverse challenges, many of which we struggle to find agreement and consensus on. On one, however, the will of the Council, and indeed of the membership of the Organization, could not be clearer: North Korea. Over the past weeks, North Korea's dangerous actions and defiance ofthe Council's previous resolutions merit an unyielding response from the body mandated by the Charter of the United Nations to maintain international peace and security. Let us be clear. North Korea's nuclear tests and missile launches are often described as "provocations". However, that euphemism does not do justice to what the North Korean regime is doing. It is not merely "provoking", it is not merely acting in defiance of the demands of the Security Council, and indeed the world.”
2016-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7633 (2016) · source
“We also know that only through coherence of effort, seriousness of purpose and more flexibility in approach can the United Nations system more fully seize all opportunities to continue to build our capacity to consolidate peace. We see the ongoing peacebuilding architecture review as a valuable opportunity to do just that.”
2016-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7629 (2016) · source
“With that initiative, the Peacebuilding Fund is serving as an effective rapid-response tool for conflict prevention and peacebuilding support. The Peacebuilding Fund, along with the United Nations special monitoring and verification mission, the United Nations country team and other multilateral donors will play a critical role helping Colombia transition into a post-accord environment. We believe that the Peacebuilding Fund's work in Colombia will help generate tangible and inclusive peace dividends to boost public confidence in the peace process and help generate the conditions necessary to implement the peace accords. We know there are no easy solutions for societies recovering from conflict.”
2016-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7629 (2016) · source
“The recent briefing from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank representatives to the PBC Burundi configuration exemplifies how the Peacebuilding Commission provides a really crucial link between United Nations Headquarters and the international financial institutions whose economic expertise in the field is essential to post- conflict contexts. Our vision for the peacebuilding architecture includes a continued role for the Peacebuilding Fund, which we have long viewed as animble and effective rapid response tool for conflict prevention and peacebuilding support. The Peacebuilding Fund was among the first to fund a new multipartner trust fund in Colombia to respond to stabilitization and peacebuilding needs.”
2016-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7629 (2016) · source
“The last thing we need at the United Nations is another set of meetings in which diplomats gather to express their concerns about the same problems over and over. We need ideas that translate into actions. Smaller, flexible and informal focus groupings of Member States that are willing to put diplomatic muscle and resources into advancing peace in a particular country would serve us all well. Of course, we also urge the Peacebuilding Commission to continue to work closely with regional and multilateral organizations, including the international financial institutions, in peacebuilding efforts.”
2016-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7629 (2016) · source
“Sierra Leone has held three peaceful and credible elections since the end of the civil war in 2002, and new institutions are rising to the challenge of being responsive to its citizens. Support from the United Nations, including the sustained engagement of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) country-specific configuration and its admirable leadership from the Canadian Mission, has been critical to that transition. The United States also envisions a Peacebuilding Commission that can broaden its reach across the United Nations and the broader international community. We support changes to the Peacebuilding Commission's country-specific configurations so that they are smaller, more flexible, informal and better tailored groupings among Member States.”
2016-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7629 (2016) · source
“Importantly, local Sri Lankan provincial councils are receiving capacity-building so as to help them address grievances on the part of internally displaced persons, members of minority groups and other vulnerable populations by facilitating their resettlement on land once occupied by the military. In Sierra Leone, the integrative work of successive United Nations missions, the country team and the Sierra Leone Peacebuilding Commission country- specific configuration have been critical to breaking the cycle of violence and have provided space for Sierra Leoneans to focus on prosperity, development and democratic elections instead of war, isolation and conflict.”
2016-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7629 (2016) · source
“With an initial commitment of $3 million from the Peacebuilding Fund, several United Nations entities, including the Department of Political Affairs, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Development Programme and the Peacebuilding Support Office, along with the United Nations Resident Coordinator and the United Nations country team, are working together with the Government of Sri Lanka to promote effective transitional justice mechanisms that are sensitive to the different ways in which conflict has affected Sri Lankan men and women.”
2016-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7629 (2016) · source
“Conflict prevention, conflict management and post- conflict stabilization efforts by the various parts of the United Nations system must go hand in hand if peacebuilding efforts are to succeed. We have seen examples recently in Sri Lanka and in Sierra Leone of how an internally coherent approach can meaningfully help countries recover from conflict.”
2016-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7629 (2016) · source
“That is why we agree with many of the assessments and support many of the recommendations of the Advisory Group of Experts on the Review of the Peacebuilding Architecture, including the conclusion that peacebuilding remains underrecognized, underprioritized and underresourced globally within the United Nations system. With the ongoing peacebuilding architecture review in mind, I would like to lay out the vision of the United States for what a strong, coordinated and effective peacebuilding architecture should look like. First, the primary challenge is not necessarily a lack of resources - which is too often our first port of call when efforts at the United Nations are underperforming - it is a lack of coherence. The complex nature of conflict means that United Nations entities must work in a more coordinated fashion.”
2016-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7629 (2016) · source
“Virtually every conflict-affected country considered by the Council - from Haiti to Liberia - has struggled with consolidating peace in the aftermath of conflict. We have seen the devastating human and financial consequences of deadly cycles of relapse in recent years, from the Central African Republic to South Sudan to Burundi. We know that the United Nations must do a better job of consolidating peace and preventing such relapses, but we have failed to translate our shared understanding of the problem into practical, achievable and impactful changes in how we actually do business so as address those challenges.”
2016-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7629 (2016) · source