YouSaid · the spoken record

Rau

lines on the record

34

first

2022-03-14

most recent

2023-07-17

sittings or episodes

4

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

1. “We strongly appeal to the Security Council members and to the entire United Nations family to show determination in defending the fundamental principles of the international order.”

   2023-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9380 (2023) · source

2. “We also joined the Enlarged Partial Agreement on the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation Against Ukraine, which was adopted at the recent Council of Europe Summit, in Reykjavík. Finally, let us remember that every peace effort in Ukraine must propose only rightful solutions, as an unjust peace or a frozen conflict would only prolong instability and attract further aggression. Any sustainable peace solution must be based on the United Nations Charter and its fundamental principle of territorial integrity. The international community must therefore remain steadfast in defending the United Nations Charter. We must continue to put pressure on the aggressor and support the victim in exercising its right of self-defence. The world must keep supporting the just cause of Ukraine.”

   2023-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9380 (2023) · source

3. “The perpetrators of international crimes must be held accountable. Each and every aggressor must reckon with legal consequences. Otherwise, they will feel encouraged to continue on the same path. We view accountability as a prerequisite to ensuring lasting peace in the future. Poland supports the existing institutions, including the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court and the European Court of Human Rights. We are also engaged practically in the creation of a special tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression. We are pleased that a recent meeting of the proposed tribunal’s core group took place in Poland. We equally support efforts to establish an international mechanism for reparations for damage caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”

   2023-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9380 (2023) · source

4. “We must also not forget about the constant undermining of the security of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which continues to pose enormous potential risks and unpredictable consequences to all of us. Also, the recent destruction of the dam in Nova Kakhovka by Russia brought significant costs to the whole ecosystem of and around the Black Sea and to all its coastal States. Moreover, we have addressed the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in our debates on children in armed conflict, sexual violence in conflict, cybersecurity and the destruction of cultural heritage. All those aspects require constant attention and the determination of the Security Council, as the institution responsible for world peace and security. Secondly, the international law-abiding community cannot tolerate impunity.”

   2023-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9380 (2023) · source

5. “That blatant violation of the Charter of the United Nations by a Security Council permanent member has been the most overwhelming threat to world peace and security since the Cold War because of its far-reaching and long-lasting consequences. Let me point to three major concerns that this aggression causes for the whole international community. First, the Russian invasion conclusively demonstrates the complex and interlocking nature of threats to international security. We clearly see that this war transcends the Ukrainian and Russian borders, and today’s developments, which I already mentioned, regarding the Black Sea Grain Initiative are the most urgent and direct reminder of that.”

   2023-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9380 (2023) · source

6. “I would like to thank the United Kingdom for convening this meeting, which is of even more importance in the light of the most recent developments concerning the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Russia’s unilateral withdrawal from the deal generally means one thing: Russia decided to fan the flames of its imperial war against Ukraine with rekindled economic aggression against the most needy and vulnerable State and societies of the global South. We call on the parties remaining in the initiative to fulfil their commitments which are so essential to the global food market. The Ukrainian people have been fighting Russia’s full-fledged aggression for more than 500 days now.”

   2023-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9380 (2023) · source

7. “We refuse to go back to power politics and spheres of influence. The international community has the strength and will to stand by Ukraine and defend the United Nations Charter, so that the power of argument — not the argument of power — prevails.”

   2023-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9269 (2023) · source

8. “In 2022, Poland spent over $9 billion, which is 1.5 per cent of our gross domestic product, on humanitarian assistance to Ukrainian refugees, according to a recent estimate of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. We provide support and host over a dozen United Nations agencies and international organizations helping Ukraine from our territory. We will remain steadfast in our support for as long as it takes because we are motivated by the will to protect the Ukrainians and every other nation in need. Our actions are about safeguarding collective peace and security. If we do not act in solidarity now and shrug off defending the fundamental values of international law, tomorrow it could be too late. Poland stands firmly behind the values and principles of the United Nations Charter.”

   2023-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9269 (2023) · source

9. “I therefore call on applying the same rule — that of protecting the vulnerable against powerful villains — in our international relations, in both the legal dimension and in political practice. Let us build a well-ordered international community. In order to achieve that, international institutions, with all their resources, must stand on the side of the harmed and exact accountability and compensation from the aggressors, no matter how strong and powerful they are. I cannot envision the world without adhering to this rule. Can you, Mr. President? Thirdly, with respect to this golden rule, Poland’s support to Ukraine is and will remain unwavering. Millions of Ukrainians have found safe refuge in our country.”

   2023-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9269 (2023) · source

10. “Nobody has any doubt whatsoever that when we look at the domestic laws of our countries, they stand on the premise that justice means the protection of the vulnerable against the more powerful. The assertion is that in a well-ordered society, the vulnerable need to feel as secure as the powerful, and the powerful, when they trespass the law, need to be brought fully to account, so that others are not encouraged to commit similar crimes in future. If the international community is to draw any right conclusions for future generations from this horrific war, Poland believes that we are required to search for analogous solutions in the international law system.”

    2023-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9269 (2023) · source

11. “Russia’s campaign of terror and its deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure are utterly unacceptable. The Kremlin’s actions are driven by the will to destroy the Ukrainian nation, its heritage and its future. That is why I am convinced that Russia’s barbaric aggression against Ukraine is not a bilateral or regional issue. It is the concern of all States. We all have a duty to bring these atrocities to an end. Secondly, the prohibition of aggression, of genocide, and of crimes against humanity are jus cogens norms. This means that no derogation from them is permitted. Poland advocates the full accountability for all the violations and compensation for the inflicted damage. That being said, what should be the guiding principle for this approach?”

    2023-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9269 (2023) · source

12. “Let me begin by expressing my gratitude to Malta for convening today’s important meeting and to the Secretary-General for his valuable insights. I believe that we should focus today on three main things: an accurate diagnosis of the situation, a search for an adequate response, and the steps that need to be implemented. Let us therefore start by contrasting the truth with disinformation and misleading propaganda. The truth is that exactly a year ago Russia decided to start its illegal aggression against Ukraine — period. Since then, Russia’s war has been putting international institutions to the test. It is testing our commitment to the principles that protect us all. The humanitarian costs of this war are horrifying. The aggression has caused the greatest crisis in Europe since the Second World War.”

    2023-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9269 (2023) · source

13. “We should give due consideration to a number of initiatives put forward by Kyiv, such as a special tribunal for crimes of aggression committed against Ukraine and an international mechanism to provide compensation for damage caused by Russia. Let me reaffirm Poland’s solidarity with the people of Ukraine, who have shown remarkable courage, resolve and resilience. They have stood up for their country and their independence with bravery and determination. It is now our turn to stand up for the principles that protect us all. We must hold Russia accountable for the invasion and all the crimes committed in the course of that aggression.”

    2022-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9135 (2022) · source

14. “We were among the broad group of the participating States from the Organization or Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) who twice invoked the OSCE Moscow Mechanism. We support the work of the Human Rights Council’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine. We have also opened an internal criminal investigation into Russia’s war of aggression, which is a punishable crime under Polish law. Finally, Poland has helped to establish a joint investigation team, operating within the framework of the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, to collect and preserve evidence of the committed crimes.”

    2022-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9135 (2022) · source

15. “Each day brings new evidence and testimonies of Russian crimes committed in the occupied territories. We are shocked by the discovery of torture chambers and mass graves containing bodies showing signs of torture and brutality in newly liberated Izyum. With new reports coming in, Izyum may become another symbol of Russia’s barbaric methods. Against that dire backdrop, Poland continues to advocate for full accountability for all the violations and for compensation for the damage inflicted. We support the investigations by Ukrainian prosecutors, as well as investigations initiated by other States. We have been cooperating closely with the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.”

    2022-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9135 (2022) · source

16. “The main reason behind today’s meeting is Russia’s decision to attack its neighbour, a fellow State Member of the United Nations. Despite being a permanent member of the Security Council, whose responsibility for international peace and security should be even greater, Russia decided to breach the most fundamental principles of our world order. The invasion has shown total disrespect and disregard for the international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Russian forces have committed horrific atrocities: extrajudicial executions of civilians, enforced disappearances, torture and sexual violence, including against children. Unable to crack Ukraine’s military resistance, Russia turned to terror against civilians as a basic tactic of its war.”

    2022-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9135 (2022) · source

17. “We will continue to show unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders. We are determined to keep the conflict around Abkhazia and South Ossetia high on the OSCE agenda, as well as seek possibilities to support the communities affected by the conflict. I will make even greater efforts to increase the involvement of the OSCE, the Minsk Group and its co-Chairs in resolving the dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We encourage Armenia and Azerbaijan to engage in dialogue aimed at contributing to security, stability and prosperity in the region. In conclusion, let me reiterate that only by reverting to the principles of the United Nations and the OSCE will we be able to ease tensions and prevent military conflicts in the future.”

    2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source

18. “In carrying out my task as the OSCE Chairperson-in- Office, I will be tirelessly calling on all participating States to abide by our joint commitments. I would like to reassure partners that I will not shy away from facilitating dialogue and seeking ways to advance the settlement of the ongoing regional and frozen conflicts. As I indicated before, that will be the exact focus of my upcoming trips to Moldova and the South Caucasus. Later during the year, I will visit the Western Balkans and Central Asia. The ongoing non-compliance by an OSCE participating State may complicate that effort. However, I will do my best to attentively listen to all partners to promote our joint principles and commitments.”

    2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source

19. “Mr. Rau: I thank you, Mr. President, for this useful and timely debate and for allowing me to participate. I appreciate the interest from the members of the Security Council. I also recognize the presence of ambassadors and high-ranking representatives of countries from outside the Security Council, some of whom are sitting in the audience today and some of whom have submitted written statements for the record. It is fair to say that the international community is currently at a critical juncture. Even before the current crisis, we saw the erosion of the practical implementation of the Helsinki principles and commitments. Today, we should pay special attention to how the fundamental principles of the United Nations and the OSCE are implemented and how to react when those principles are violated.”

    2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source

20. “It is therefore high time for the international community, the United Nations and the OSCE to reinforce our efforts to restore peace and revert to our principles and values. The integrity of international law and stability of the world order are at stake. Mindful of the immense challenges that we face, let us work together on the most effective ways to save lives and prevent future conflicts.”

    2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source

21. “The celebrations of the fiftieth anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act could turn out to be dedicated to finding a solution to the deep crisis of multilateralism. Peace and security, like freedom and democracy, cannot be taken for granted. We have learned that lesson the hard way. However, it is also true that those who choose to embark on the path of military confrontation receive very little in return. Between war and peace, life and destruction, we should always be able to look beyond our narrow narcissistic instincts. What alternative do we have? The smouldering ashes of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Mariupol and the thousands of innocent lives lost are a stark reminder of the heavy price we pay for indifference in the face of brute force.”

    2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source

22. “That must also include creating effective evacuation routes for the civilian population. Whenever there are reliable accounts of humanitarian law abuse, we should be ready to react swiftly. Therefore, we welcome the decision of the Permanent Council of 3 March to invoke the Moscow Mechanism to create a group of independent experts to investigate reported violations of humanitarian law, within the context of the hostilities in Ukraine. I am convinced that the OSCE needs strong and effective leadership now more than ever before. The dramatic events in Ukraine have opened our eyes to the need for a renewed commitment to OSCE principles and commitments. It is true that the OSCE may evolve as a result of the current experience.”

    2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source

23. “During the Polish chairmanship, we will initiate and actively support efforts to advance the OSCE goals. We do not want to alter the fundamental premise of OSCE cooperation, which is based on agreement by all participating States. However, we would like to increase the effectiveness of the organization, provided that there is broader interest and support from the majority of stakeholders. The recent events in Ukraine have once again shone a spotlight on the situation of the civilian population in conflict-affected areas. We will continue to call on all sides to military conflicts to abide by humanitarian law and refrain from activities directed against the civilian population and civilian infrastructure. The OSCE stands ready to cooperate closely with United Nations humanitarian agencies to facilitate and provide the necessary assistance.”

    2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source

24. “Supported by an overwhelming majority of the participating States, it was meant to develop new measures of trust, transparency and confidence. Unfortunately, despite initial interest, the Russian side has chosen the most destructive path in confronting its concerns, fears and misgivings. The changing situation on the ground will probably determine the scope and character of the future engagement of the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine. Acknowledging the Mission’s eight years of operation and its expertise, I will work with OSCE structures and participating States to utilize its potential in the future. I hope that the Mission’s dedicated staff, as well as the team of the OSCE Project Coordinator in Ukraine, will be able to continue their important mission.”

    2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source

25. “However, the future of the organization depends on how effectively we will be able to revive cooperation among all participating States. The question is: How do we reach consensus around the main priorities and create a proper modus operandi to fulfil the OSCE mandate? I have to admit that this non-compliance with OSCE principles is forcing us to put on hold or delay some of the issues that are important for the daily operation of the organization. Will we be able to achieve progress on regional and protracted conflicts when trust has been shattered? I very much hope so, but it will require all parties, including Russia, to act in good faith. The same applies to the Renewed European Security Dialogue, which the Polish Chair initiated in response to growing tensions.”

    2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source

26. “For almost 50 years, it has been an instrument to advance peaceful cooperation based on comprehensive security. Given the inclusive character of the organization, I still believe that it is the right platform for dialogue and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. The OSCE has become more than just a talk shop between East and West. It has a solid work record and a multilayered outreach. Its presence plays a stabilizing role in diverse regions, such as the Western Balkans and Central Asia. In my capacity as OSCE Chair, I will pay visits to Moldova and the South Caucasus, as well as the Western Balkans and Central Asia, to prove the OSCE’s engagement with participating States. That legacy is still relevant in today’s world.”

    2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source

27. “The door to diplomacy is still open and I call on Russia to engage in a meaningful and substantial dialogue to seek a peaceful solution to the current crisis. Russia’s aggression threatens the very existence of the OSCE. Its non-compliance with OSCE principles and commitments poses questions not only about the future of the organization but also about the stability of the rules-based order. How effective can we be if one of the major stakeholders has repeatedly justified the use of force to win territorial and political concessions? That logic fundamentally clashes with the norms that we all have agreed to abide by. The OSCE is not a treaty-based international organization, but it is very much embedded in the context of multilateral diplomacy.”

    2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source

28. “And unfortunately, it is the Russian leadership that provokes the growing isolation of the country and the Russian people from the world. The international community has rightly condemned Russia’s invasion and called on Moscow to withdraw its forces from Ukraine. The world is not looking away. It is hard to ignore 141 countries assembled in the General Assembly asking Mr. Putin to stop this war. We are also sending a strong signal to Minsk not to participate in this cruel endeavour. The war is against the interest of the Russian and Belarusian people and leads only to isolation. We expect the Russian side to honour its international obligations and commitments. Any sustainable, political solution must fully respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.”

    2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source

29. “The perpetrators will be judged by their deeds, but we will be judged by the way we respond to these horrors. We cannot stay indifferent. Let me quote Elie Wiesel, who at the turn of the new millennium famously said: “… indifference is always the friend of the enemy, for it benefits the aggressor — never his victim, whose pain is magnified when he or she feels forgotten. The political prisoner in his cell, the hungry children, the homeless refugees — not to respond to their plight, not to relieve their solitude by offering them a spark of hope is to exile them from human memory. And in denying their humanity, we betray our own.” It is Russia, supported by the Belarusian regime, that has decided to act outside the parameters and boundaries of international law.”

    2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source

30. “Schools, hospitals and kindergartens are deliberately being targeted with internationally banned weapons. The reports of women and children killed and wounded are devastating. It is as if Geneva Conventions and humanitarian law never existed. Make no mistake about it — the international community has the instruments and means to hold responsible those who commit and are complicit in war crimes. I have been recently accused by Russian officials of a lack of impartiality in conducting my job as the OSCE Chairman-in-Office. I have only one response to such allegations — impartiality ends where blatant violations of international and humanitarian law start. In moments like these, it is our moral obligation to maintain decency and integrity.”

    2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source

31. “On the morning of 24 February, the worst-case scenario became a reality. The unprovoked, unjustified and premediated full-scale aggression shattered our convictions that the horror of war in Europe belonged to the past. The perverse attempts by the Russian side to justify the military operation against a sovereign and peaceful country made a cruel joke of the Charter of the United Nations and the Helsinki Final Act. That operation, poorly prepared and executed, turned out to be a strategic and tactical failure. But instead of preventing further unnecessary deaths in its own ranks, the Kremlin changed its tactics. The invading force started to target the civilian population and infrastructure in an attempt to break the spirit of the Ukrainian people. That is deplorable and shameful and amounts to state terrorism.”

    2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source

32. “On the contrary, the West has always sought to establish an effective framework of cooperation with Moscow. Despite our reservations, we offered Russia a forum to discuss within the OSCE all its possible concerns related to European security. We were ready to consider in good faith new avenues of cooperation on one condition — that they would contribute to stability and security in the OSCE area. That initiative complemented the bilateral track of the United States- Russia dialogue and the discussions in the NATO- Russia Council. Russia had a full spectrum of options for engaging peacefully and diplomatically to address its concerns. But Russia was just buying time. Its continued military build-up on the Ukrainian borders cast serious doubts about Moscow’s real intentions.”

    2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source

33. “I am addressing the Security Council today with a sense of urgency and moral imperative to make every possible effort to stop the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The OSCE was designed as a platform to defuse tensions, facilitate dialogue, reduce the risk of military escalation and prevent conflicts. Since the very beginning of the Polish chairmanship, my goal has been to seek compromise and facilitate dialogue between parties to conflict. We took over our role in the context of growing tensions stemming from Moscow’s unilateral demands of security guarantees. The basic premise of those demands was fundamentally flawed. The transatlantic community is neither the enemy of nor a threat to Russia or its people.”

    2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source

34. “Mr. Rau: Let me start by stressing how much I value the continued dialogue between the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations. The OSCE, in line with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, stands ready to continue its cooperation and coordination with the United Nations. Our organizations share the same goal of strengthening international peace and security and promoting respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the universal rules-based order. Such close cooperation is even more needed today, when the basic principles of the Charter and international law are being flagrantly violated in the very heart of Europe.”

    2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source