YouSaid · the spoken record

Ramirez Carrefio

lines on the record: 1,445
first: 2015-01-19
most recent: 2017-10-31
sittings or episodes: 151
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

“At least 4.8 million South Sudanese are food-insecure, while in the last three years severe acute malnutrition among children under five years of age has increased by more than 150 per cent. Faced with that dramatic reality, we are convinced of the fundamental role played by UNMISS, particularly with regard to the protection of civilians, its support for the political process and the creation of conditions for the delivery of humanitarian assistance. We must also bear in mind the adverse conditions under which the Mission operates on the ground, including logistical, operational and political challenges.”
2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7814 (2016) · source
“We are also concerned at the continuing violations of human rights, including sexual and gender-based Violence, the continued recruitment of children, and, more recently, the incendiary pronouncements filled with hatred and incitement to violence among the various ethnic groups living in South Sudan, which could result in genocide, according to the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General, Mr. Adama Dieng. Similarly, the humanitarian crisis facing that country, as manifested by the existence of more than 2.6 million internally displaced persons, including more than 1 million refugees in neighbouring countries, was aggravated by the incidents of violence in Juba during the month of July.”
2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7814 (2016) · source
“Those clashes have kept UNMISS headquarters and the civilian settlements right in the line of fire. Examples of this would be Malakal in February and Juba in July. Similarly, the political crisis has limited the implementation of the peace agreement of August 2015, owing to the lack ofa structural approach to the conflict, which leads to the exile of some of the parties to the agreement and a lack of inclusivity in the political process, which calls into question the legitimacy of the transition institutions. Added to that is the dire economic situation, which is a result of the fall in oil prices.”
2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7814 (2016) · source
“Mr. Ramirez Carrefio (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela) (spoke in Spanish): We would like to thank Ms. Ellen Margrethe Laj, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS); Mr. Adama Dieng, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide; and Ambassador Seck, in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2206 (2015) concerning South Sudan, for their briefings. Despite the fact that there have been three years of conflict, the situation in South Sudan remains complex and volatile. Its effects are manifested at different levels. In the area of security, armed clashes among the parties continue, in violation of the cessation of hostilities agreements.”
2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7814 (2016) · source
“However, it is necessary that the Security Council bear in mind that United Nations police officers are an integral part of those operations. As such, the Council must respect the prerogatives of the General Assembly, especially the mandate of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations.”
2016-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7808 (2016) · source
“Likewise, it is also critical to train police forces using personnel or contingents from the host State, who should not have a history of or links to abuse or violence perpetrated against the civil population. They should also have the ability to effectively lead and discharge their mission. Furthermore, Venezuela fully supports the need for an ongoing dialogue between the Security Council and the countries that contribute contingents related to all aspects of activities in peacekeeping operations, especially in the planning stages and in the drafting of mandates, pursuant to Article 44 of the Charter of the United Nations. In conclusion, we wish to reiterate the importance of the role of police contingents in United Nations peacekeeping operations.”
2016-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7808 (2016) · source
“Those contingents that are geared towards reforming the police institutions of host States must recruit fewer numbers of specialized personnel that enjoy backing of civilian staff who work in institutional development. However, it would seem that all recruitment models continue to be based on the legacy of huge contingents inherited from the models of peacekeeping operations. As a result, host States do not receive the support they need to reform their institutions. One of the key components in the process of recruitment is linked to gender equality. We are convinced that women, given their fundamental role in society, are the best agents to protect women and children from abuse and to heal the deep wounds caused by divisions in a society.”
2016-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7808 (2016) · source
“However, United Nations reports on peacekeeping operations point to the fact that United Nations police are not always in a position to develop or reform police institutions, as reflected, among other things, in the fact that the United Nations police recruitment model does not meet the requirements for the institutional development of host States. Such reports recommend that the recruitment of United Nations police officers must be based on the mandate agreed by the Security Council, which means that those missions with stabilization and protection mandates must recruit numerous police officers accompanied by protection officers.”
2016-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7808 (2016) · source
“The process goes beyond police training, which is key, to include the development of relevant institutions that are able to provide political support, guidance, oversight, budgets and the required legal framework for police work. Furthermore, building operational capacity also requires a wide range of managerial and administrative roles in the police force. Police contingents must also be given due social and political protection, as well as incentives and recognition for their work in protecting the population and enforcing the law.”
2016-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7808 (2016) · source
“This debate highlights the importance of police components in United Nations peacekeeping operations in achieving stability on the ground, generally following armed conflict, and in developing and creating capacities to strengthen police services in host States. Host States must take ownership of their own peace processes and rebuild their institutional and social fabrics, which is an important objective. With respect to developing police services, we must bear in mind that a national police force that enjoys legitimacy within society is a key element to sustaining peace in societies that have been divided by conflict. Likewise, we believe that the creation or reform of solid police institutions is a complex undertaking that requires continued efforts over time.”
2016-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7808 (2016) · source
“Mr. Ramirez Carrefio (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela) (spoke in Spanish): We thank you, Sir, for convening this debate. We thank the briefers, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Herve Ladsous, and the Police Commissioners of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, the African Union/United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali. We also acknowledge the extraordinary work carried out by each of those missions and welcome the various official groups that are present today in the Chamber.”
2016-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7808 (2016) · source
“Seventy per cent of the sanctions committees are against African countries and, in the majority of cases, the former colonial Powers are heading those sanctions committees against Africa. We should think about that. We in Latin and South America will continue working in line with our capacities to achieve political solutions to all of the terrible conflicts that affect our brother countries.”
2016-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7807 (2016) · source
“We did not vote against the resolution because a regional situation exists that must resolved. In addition, there was only one minor mention - albeit important - about the issue of evaluating the lifting of sanctions. I would also like to remember here Ambassador Girma Asmerom Tesfay - a good friend and an Ambassador who represented his country's interests well - who regrettably died without seeing his country freed from an issue that caused him so much concern. Once again, I would like to extend our condolences to the delegation of Eritrea and make an appeal in the interest of all the countries of Africa so that the continent can have greater tangible support from the Security Council to resolve its problems.”
2016-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7807 (2016) · source
“In the case of Eritrea, it seems to us that the Sanctions Committee and the Security Council must demonstrate sufficient flexibility and political capacity to understand that the situation in the Horn of Africa is changing rapidly and that there are huge dangers facing the entire region. The fundamental danger in that area is the threat ofexpansion ofterrorism. That is not just a threat to the Horn of Africa. It is also a threat to the global North and the Middle East. We call on the Council to constructively set about resolving that type of issue and to ensure that the reports or the work of the Sanctions Committees do not become mere red tape. At the end of the day, only one or two permanent members will have their way. It signals defeat because it means that the penholder could not achieve consensus on the subject.”
2016-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7807 (2016) · source
“They cannot always be used way of delivering collective punishment. It does not seem to matter much in the decision on the resolution or in the Committee what Eritrea does regarding its positive steps forward or the report of the Monitoring Group. It does not make sense - the meetings, the initiatives and so on and so forth. Eventually, the decision comes down to one or a few permanent members. That is something we need to review. With respect to the issue of Somalia and Eritrea, we support elements of resolution 2317 (2016) because we believe that Somalia continues to need all the support of the Sanctions Committee in order to take on its upcoming challenges.”
2016-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7807 (2016) · source
“The proposal of China garnered the support of five countries, which is a sign important number. The penholder seems to believe that the proposal is not appropriate and that there is not sufficient reason to do so, and therefore the adoption of that balanced proposal did not take place. Even though the draft was not adopted, it was at least the beginning of steps in the right direction. That is why we decided to abstain in the voting on resolution 2317 (2016). Until there is something new to give us reason to believe that we can extricate ourselves from the situation we cannot offer our support. We lament the situation and do not see how the issues at hand can be resolved within the framework of the mandate of the Sanctions Committee. We have always said that the Sanctions Committees have had to have an immediate political aim.”
2016-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7807 (2016) · source
“In any normal situation, those elements would have been enough, not to lift the sanctions because it would need a road map but to at least establish a mechanism that would eventually lead to the lifting of the sanctions following an assessment. We have been very concerned and have always expressed those concerns in debates about the Monitoring Group's methodology and transparency. What is the road map that ensures that a country can have a sanctions regime against it lifted? Here we only seek to come up with a mechanism. The delegation of China offered a very significant proposal that laid out a time frame during which we could work towards lifting sanctions against Eritrea. We believe that we should lift sanctions against Eritrea ifwe can draw up a road map.”
2016-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7807 (2016) · source
“I do not know what else we want to receive from the Monitoring Group, but it seems clear that there is no cooperation between Al-Shabaab and Eritrea, which was the original cause of the sanctions. Furthermore, in our final report we recognized the cooperation of the State of Qatar. Here we wish to thank the Permanent Representative of Qatar, Ambassador Al-Thani, for his efforts to mediate between Djibouti and Eritrea, both to resolve the issue of the border dispute, which is in a signed agreement between the countries, as well as to obtain the release of prisoners of war, which we welcome. That was a positive development in the Committee. The Ambassador of Qatar promised that Qatar would continue to mediate effectively and directly in an ongoing manner with those countries.”
2016-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7807 (2016) · source
“Sometimes we accept its opinions when it suits the penholder countries to maintain sanctions against a country, yet whenever it presents an opinion contrary to the interest of those countries, as in the case of Eritrea, suddenly that opinion is insufficient. In the final report of the Monitoring Group, it was very clear in the case of Eritrea that for the third consecutive year there was no evidence whatsoever that Eritrea was collaborating with or lending any support to Al-Shabaab. It was clearly stated that there was no evidence. The Committee has always received information related to groups in various countries of the region, but it does not take such information into account. That is the first, very important element of the Monitoring Group.”
2016-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7807 (2016) · source
“In some cases, when the Group says that something warrants sanctions, even without objective evidence, the Sanctions Committee immediately accepts the Group's opinion as valid, rather than one they need to consider more closely before taking action. We think it is the opposite. The Group submits a professional opinion - and I take this opportunity to acknowledge and express appreciation for the Monitoring Group - indicating that we ought to lift sanctions against Eritrea. However, neither the penholder nor some of the members of the Sanctions Committee wish to heed the recommendations coming from the Monitoring Group because they believe that they are insufficient. There seems to a be double standard with which we deal with the opinions of the Monitoring Group.”
2016-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7807 (2016) · source
“They should not become a mechanism used for the collective punishment of a country. In the case of Eritrea, sanctions should have a clear road map towards a conclusion. By maintaining prolonged sanctions, as we are currently doing, there is no political purpose beyond serving the national interests of members of the Council or of regional situations that, as bilateral issues between countries, cannot be addressed as a multilateral issue to which we apply sanctions with a specific objective in mind. We are concerned that in most cases, the Sanctions Committee uses the opinions and observations of the Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea at their whim.”
2016-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7807 (2016) · source
“Mr. Ramirez Carreflo (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela) (spoke in Spanish): The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela abstained in the voting on resolution 2317 (2016), for we believe that the part referring to Eritrea, as presented to us, is unfair. As Chair of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009) concerning Somalia and Eritrea, we have been working closely on that issue for almost two years. This is the last time that we will be participating in a vote on this text. We are obliged to say that what is taking place in the Committee is another clear example of how sanctions seem, for some permanent members, to be an end in themselves rather than mechanisms to resolve political problems that arise. Sanctions ought to be a political instrument that achieve a specific objective.”
2016-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7807 (2016) · source
“Moreover, we reiterate our solidarity with, and support for, Bosnia and Herzegovina for its firm commitment to foster peace and stability in the country for the benefit of its citizens.We are convinced that respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence is essential to achieving those objectives. Finally, we call on all parties to redouble their efforts to build confidence and work together in the framework of international law, which is necessary for a just and lasting solution that redounds to the benefit of the parties and the entire region.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“Our country supports the efforts aimed at preventing and fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, which must be accompanied by effective strategies against social exclusion, poverty, violence and intolerant ideologies, with a view to curbing radicalization, with particular emphasis on young people. Furthermore, we must work to effectively implement Security Council and General Assembly resolutions that prohibit the financing, training and transfer of weapons to such groups. With regard to fighting impunity, we support the work of the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, which was set up to try those responsible for the violations of human rights and international humanitarian law that were committed during the armed conflict in the territories of the former Yugoslavia.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“The European Union's multinational stabilization force in Bosnia and Herzegovina has carried out its work within the framework of the mandate assigned to it, in collaboration with the authorities, to ensure a safe environment for all the ethnic communities. Our country therefore welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 2315 (2016), which renews its mandate for a further 12 months. With regard to the fight against terrorism, it is worth mentioning that the report of the Secretary-General (S/2016/501)refers to the issue of foreign terrorist fighters and the sentences given to several citizens accused of joining or attempting to join the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“As part of that process, the ethnic groups must continue to work together in the framework of dialogue that fosters peace, human rights, cooperation and social and economic development, setting aside, once and for all, the tensions and confrontations that tormented the region during the 1990s. In that context, and on the basis of the principles of impartiality, transparency and constructive work, the High Representative must continue to play a supporting role to promote such efforts and find common ground among the parties through dialogue based on balanced and prudent approaches and with a constructive vision, leaving behind the criticisms that exacerbate animosities, and in which the opinions and views of all stakeholders are reflected.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“We believe that the international community must continue to support the implementation of the 1995 General Framework Agreement for Peace as a way to contribute to a peaceful solution of the differences among the stakeholders concerned. Today more than ever, at a moment when tensions in the region have increased, we wish to highlight the importance of unequivocal and clear compliance with the Dayton Agreement. Moreover, we must bear in mind that it is incumbent upon the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina to lead the efforts related to the future of their country.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“Mr. Ramirez Carreflo (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela) (spoke in Spanish): First and foremost, we would like to thank the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Valentin Inzko, for his briefing and to reiterate our full support for his work on the matter. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela once again reaffirms its full support and respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Given that that is one of the fundamental elements of the Charter of the United Nations, we believe that it is a principle that cannot be violated under any circumstances.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“Venezuela would like to reiterate its support for the initiative and political efforts championed by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed.”
2016-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7797 (2016) · source
“We trust that the stakeholders will once again assume their commitments to find political solutions that put an end to the war and allow the people of Yemen to regain hope for peace. Our brothers and sisters in Yemen deserve to live in peace. Public discussion of these matters in the Security Council will serve to ensure that all parties are aware of the need to find a political solution together. In conclusion, our delegation would like to acknowledge once again the efforts made by all volunteers and humanitarian personnel on the ground in Yemen who are making a contribution to helping the Yemeni people. We also appreciate the work of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and of its staff deployed on the ground, who are involved in the noble task of supporting the affected population under very adverse circumstances.”
2016-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7797 (2016) · source
“Once again, we encourage the parties to make a decisive commitment to inclusive dialogue, with a View to achieving a settlement that puts an end to the hostilities and thereby achieves a solid, lasting peace in Yemen. We believe it particularly important that there be an atmosphere of mutual confidence and that confidence between the parties be re-established, in a way that tensions can be decreased and that negotiations can take place successfully. Countries with any influence on the parties must continue to work to make progress in this process. The tragic situation and prolonged crisis in Yemen require that we not relent in our efforts to help the parties turn the tide on the atmosphere of violence that prevails in this Arab nation.”
2016-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7797 (2016) · source
“We therefore call upon the parties to allow humanitarian agencies and other organizations to reach the entire population in order to allow the delivery of assistance, so as to address the most pressing needs of the Yemeni population. It is vital to reach a political solution to the conflict as soon as possible. The institutional collapse and the current sectarian rhetoric in Yemen have benefited Al-Qaida and the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant in furthering their terrorist activities, which are a threat to regional and international peace and security. We are concerned by the fact that fighters from both terrorist organizations are prepared to cooperate tactically to achieve their destabilizing aims in Yemen and the rest of the region.”
2016-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7797 (2016) · source
“Our country will support all peaceful political attempts aimed at safeguarding the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of this brotherly nation, pursuant to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Armed clashes have plunged the country into a very grave and deplorable humanitarian crisis, as has been pointed out by all the relevant agencies of the United Nations - and revealed today in stark relief. This devastating scenario serves to highlight the urgent need to urgently respond to a problem that is having a negative impact on the humanitarian situation when it comes to providing food, medicine, water, nutrition supplements for children, psychosocial services and other basic services.”
2016-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7797 (2016) · source
“Although the people of Yemen are the main losers in this war, countries that manufacture and export weapons have profited outrageously by providing highly sophisticated weapons to one of the parties, in amounts that total billions of dollars. It is therefore paradoxical that countries that emphatically promoted the Arms Trade Treaty are now the ones that are stoking the armed conflict by providing sophisticated weapons for financial gain, which are then used by one the parties to intentionally violate the population's rights and international human rights law. Venezuela reiterates that the solution to the armed conflict in Yemen lies with its citizens - its people - along with the support of the international community, as they exercise their right to self- determination.”
2016-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7797 (2016) · source
“Our country express its absolute rejection of attacks against the territory of Saudi Arabia and against navigation in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. The Council must move forward constructively in addressing the political and humanitarian crisis affecting the brotherly people of Yemen. Members of the Security Council must address the subject objectively, with determination and commitment, putting aside national expediency and the positions of its members. We are concerned that the geopolitical agendas of certain regional actors, and some outside the region - some of them Council members - are hampering any possibility of reaching an agreement that would put an end to the current armed clashes, and are undermining diplomatic efforts led by the Special Envoy.”
2016-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7797 (2016) · source
“In line with its primary responsibility to maintain international peace and security, the Council cannot continue to remain indifferent in the face of the gravity of the events taking place in Yemen every day, and must stop seeing them as routine occurrences: business-as-usual. It is fundamental to achieve a sustained cessation of hostilities in order to provide an opportunity for humanitarian agencies on the ground to do their work. Any solution to the conflict must include, as a basic principle, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yemen. Moreover, such a solution must also proscribe and condemn attacks against the territory of Saudi Arabia as well as on maritime traffic in the Red Sea.”
2016-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7797 (2016) · source
“Since Venezuela became a member of the Security Council - and just a couple of months from ending our term in this organ - we have seen with great regret how the political and humanitarian situation in Yemen has worsened as a result of the armed conflict. It is probably high time to review resolution 2216 (2015) and adapt it to the situation on the ground. In that respect, we support the road map that has been proposed by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, which seeks to de-escalate and halt the conflict. Furthermore, the Security Council should as soon as possible adopt a draft resolution on the humanitarian situation that includes the establishment of humanitarian pauses and the cessation of all armed attacks, including aerial bombing.”
2016-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7797 (2016) · source
“There seems to be a brutal competition taking place in terms of the playing out of a culture of death, war and violence in the region. The exchange of opinions we are engaged in today at this briefing meeting is a rare occurrence, as there are very few opportunities in which the Security Council discusses this issue in open format. We would therefore like to thank the President for having facilitated today's dialogue and for making it possible for us show this problem to the rest of the United Nations membership. We hope that the same will hold true with regard to other issues that are confined to closed consultations. For the sake of transparency, open meetings should be the rule, not the exception - something that is one of the shortcomings in the working methods of the Security Council.”
2016-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7797 (2016) · source
“We believe that such illegal actions cannot go unpunished, for which it is essential that there be investigations into the violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law that have been committed during the conflict. On that point our country would like to make it very clear that we categorically reject any attack on the civilian population, wherever such attacks may take place - whether in Syria, Yemen, Iraq or Palestine. The Security Council seems to remain passive when faced with such an awful reality; it has given little or no visibility to such a critical issue. We must remember that, months ago, Under-Secretary-General O'Brien described the humanitarian situation in Yemen as being proportionately worse than that in Syria.”
2016-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7797 (2016) · source
“What does seem possible is a deliberate attempt used to punish the Yemeni civilian population - against whom even cluster munitions have been used, in clear violation of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. In that regard, as has been pointed out by other speakers, our country resolutely condemns the aerial attacks carried out by the coalition on a funeral procession in Sana'a on 8 October, in which 140 people were killed and 525 civilians were injured. We also condemn the bombing of hospitals run by Me'decins sans Frontieres, as well as the bombing of civilian sanitation centres and services.”
2016-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7797 (2016) · source
“Venezuela believes that negotiations will produce positive results only insofar as the parties show flexibility and commitment to achieving lasting and sustainable peace in Yemen. Yemen is one ofthose cases at the Security Council that falls into the category of so-called 'silenced conflicts'. The Yemeni people are the victims ofa brutal violence that is the result of intense armed conflict, in which schools, hospitals and housing are targets of indiscriminate bombing with highly advanced and expensive armaments known for their precision when aimed at any given target. We do not believe that errors are possible in that type of military attack.”
2016-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7797 (2016) · source
“Mr. Ramirez Carrefio (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela) (spoke in Spanish): The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela would like to express its gratitude for the briefings delivered by Special Envoy of the Secretary- General Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, Under-Secretary- General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O'Brien and Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Europe of the World Food Programme Muhannad Hadi. We thank the briefers for their testimonies. Venezuela appreciates the commendable endeavours and facilitation efforts carried out by Mr. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed to try and seek a political solution to the current armed conflict that has rocked Yemen for almost two years. We reiterate to him our full support for his work on the ground.”
2016-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7797 (2016) · source
“We are also seeing the deliberate use of the humanitarian situation for political ends. We, who have no ability to influence this conflict militarily, call on those that are doing so to abandon propaganda rhetoric and political manipulation and return to the path of dialogue so that, by assuming our responsibilities as an organ of the United Nations, we can present to the world a proposal for a political solution whereby the Syrians themselves can resolve this situation without any further foreign interference. Foreign interference must end. Propagandist rhetoric must end. We should work honeslty to combat terrorism head-on and to find a solution that ends the humanitarian tragedy in Syria.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“I do not know, but I believe we cannot make any country here responsible for this type of leaflet. This is a war, and a complex situation. But it seems to us that there has been a major effort to establish humanitarian pauses to allow the civilian population to leave Aleppo through the corridors that have been opened up. It has been said here that civilians have returned to the city. But we cannot fail to mention that the terrorist groups have executed civilians who have tried to leave the city. Civilians are being used as human shields - the same thing is being denounced in Mosul. What are we going to do in Mosul? Should we suspend the offensive to recapture the city from the hands of the terrorists? I would therefore urge the members of the Council - we have heard once again tragic reports.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“Flying in eastern Aleppo are the flags of Da'esh and those of other terrorist groups. Other combatants said to be from the moderate opposition are intermingled and fighting side by side with terrorists against the Syrian Government. We are therefore discussing here a partial picture of the humanitarian issue. It is a terrible situation, and we could hear thousands of stories about the fates of innocent civilians in this war. This war has to end. The Government of Syria must fully exercise sovereignty over all its territory, and all must fight terrorism together, which is the main enemy of the Syrian people. What would they have us do here in the Council? That there be no military operations in eastern Aleppo? That terrorists be allowed to continue to be holed up in the city?”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“Our position is that we understand that the Government of Syria has a legitimate right to reconquer all its territory and a legitimate right to combat terrorism. Of course, we do not support either the deliberate bombing of civilians nor attacks against civilian infrastructure. We have consistently rejected that in all conflicts. But we understand that the situation in Syria is complex. All of Aleppo - east and west - is involved in the conflict. Almost 1.5 million people live in western Aleppo, while 250,000 live in eastern Aleppo, where terrorist groups have holed themselves up. Reports of their numbers vary, but this is not about numbers. This is about civilians being used as human shields. The Security Council cannot declare eastern Aleppo as a sanctuary so that terrorist groups can hunker down.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“The way to do that is by relaunching talks and political negotiaitons among all the stakeholders, but particularly between the Russian Federation and the United States, in order to reach a negotiated political solution to end this conflict. We cannot continue to stoke this war. We cannot allow the groups that call themselves the moderate opposition to continue to fail to disassociate themselves from terrorist groups. We cannot allow other foreign Powers to continue to arm those groups, and thereby continue to indirectly arm the terrorist groups. We in the Security Council need clearly to call things what they. We have here a terrible case of manipulation of the humanitarian issue in order to attack Russia.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“And in this specific case it is used to attack the Russian Federation for its active participation in the fight against terrorism in Syria. What is being disregarded here is the complexity of this conflict - its origins are being deliberately ignored. Most ofthe permanent members ofthe Security Council, the important permanent members, have been involved in this conflict since it began. They have fuelled this war. They have encouraged it. They have financed it. They trained groups that later become terrorists. And now in all of Syria we are witnessing a tragic situation, where there are deaths of innocent civilians, basically at the hands of terrorism and owing to the dynamics of war. We think that we should not lose sight of this, because the solution to the humanitarian issue is to end this war.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“The humanitarian topic is a complex one that is salient in all the conflicts that we are, unfortunately, seeing take place in the Middle East and Africa: in Libya, Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Palestine. However, I believe we have never discussed here, and perhaps will never discuss, the humanitarian topic in Yemen in a debate like this one, or the topic of the humanitarian situation in Iraq, which continues to combat terrorists and continues its advance on Mosul. But we are not going to discuss that here. I am sure that we have not discussed nor will we discuss what the humanitarian consequences were of the foreign intervention in Libya, or of the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip. In other words, in the Council the humanitarian topic is used in a political way. It is manipulated; it is distorted.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source
“Mr. Ramirez Carrefio (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela) (spoke in Spanish): In the end, there has been a genuine debate among the members of the Security Council, which we commend. In other cases, it has proven impossible to discuss issues as complicated as those we are witnessing in the humanitarian field. Now, not only are we calling into question the United Nations system and the reports being presented, but we also recognize with some concern that the issue of humanitarian aid is being distorted and politicized. But this happens only when it is in the interests of certain permanent members - very influential members - of the Security Council.”
2016-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7795 (2016) · source