YouSaid · the spoken record

Rycroft

lines on the record: 1,262
first: 2015-05-12
most recent: 2018-01-10
sittings or episodes: 197
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“The conflict that has ravaged Syria has lasted for more than six years. For the people of Syria, that must feel like an eternity. Here in this Chamber, we get only so many moments to act, only so many moments to show them that hope is not dead, chances for the world to unite in condemnation of war crimes. Today was one of those moments. What happened in Khan Shaykhun last week was the worst of human acts. United Kingdom scientists have now analysed samples obtained from Khan Shaykhun, and they have tested positive for the nerve agent sarin or a sarin-like substance. We therefore share the assessment of the United States that it is highly likely that the regime was responsible for a sarin attack on Khan Shaykhun. We recognize the need for a thorough, swift, independent investigation.”
2017-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7922 (2017) · source
“We thank the United States as President for tabling the text for a vote, and we urge all Council members to vote in favour.”
2017-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7922 (2017) · source
“We must also recall the Council's determination that those responsible for chemical-weapons use must be held accountable. It is with those determinations in mind that we put forward today's draft resolution. Our text condemns the events of 4 April in Idlib. It expresses full support to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Fact- finding Mission and the OPCW-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism, already charged with investigating this and all such incidents, and it emphasizes the need for full access by those investigators to relevant sites and recalls the obligations of all parties in Syria to cooperate fully in that regard. We believe that that is the necessary minimum response required of the Council. We thank all Council members that have helped to develop the draft over the past week.”
2017-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7922 (2017) · source
“The United Kingdom is honoured to present, on behalf of our other penholders - the United States and France - a draft resolution condemning the events of 4 April in the Khan Shaykhun area of southern Idlib in the Syrian Arab Republic. The events in Khan Shaykhun were the worst of human acts. They have dominated the international agenda over the past eight days. The events of that day and the manner in which the Victims suffered mean that the Security Council must act. Whenjudging how exactly to act, we must recall the Council's determination in 2013, acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations and in multiple resolutions since, to remove and destroy all chemical weapons in Syria, and our subsequent agreements to investigate any and all incidents of apparent further use.”
2017-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7922 (2017) · source
“Now more than ever, the international community must come together to end that senseless conflict. That is why we stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States and its decision to take military action against the Sharyat airfield from where last week's attacks were launched. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies from the Group of Seven and all those who are committed to deter the future use of chemical weapons and finally bring peace to Syria.”
2017-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7921 (2017) · source
“In doing so, Russia can establish the space needed for a renewed push on the physical process that leads to that political transition to a Government that represents all Syrians. Should it do so and choose that path, we stand ready to work with Russia to preserve Syrian institutions through the political transition. We Stand ready to find ways of cooperating with Russia to counter Da'esh and other international terrorist threats. We stand ready to engage with Russia as a constructive partner on the Council. While Al-Assad offers Russia only shame and humiliation, we offer Russia something else - the chance once again to work with the international community as a credible member. Finally, the Syrian people have waited for more than six years. Hundreds of thousands have died. Countless hospitals, schools and homes have been destroyed.”
2017-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7921 (2017) · source
“Russian pride in the Astana process has been turned into humiliation, and Russia's credibility and reputation throughout the world have been poisoned by its toxic association with Al-Assad. It has chosen to side with a murderous barbaric criminal rather than with its international peers. It has chosen the wrong side of history. However, it is not too late for Russia to change course. It is not too late for Russia to fulfil its responsibilities as a permanent member of the Security Council. It is not too late for Russia to use finally its influence over the regime to end the conflict. Those efforts must begin meaningfully with attempts to end the use of chemical weapons and barrel bombs - real efforts to bring about a ceasefire and ensure proper humanitarian access.”
2017-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7921 (2017) · source
“We have in our position prepared to take a pragmatic approach to discussions, and we have millions upon millions of Syrians inside and outside the country crying out for long overdue peace. Yet we are still here in this Chamber with the regime showing no interest in peace, encouraged by Russia's support in the Council to continue dropping bombs and using chemical weapons. Russia has repeatedly abused its use of the veto to protect the regime and defend its use of chemical weapons. What has Russia received in return for its use of the veto seven times during six years? Let me tell everyone. Russia's initiative in 2013 to dismantle Syria's chemical weapons has been exposed as a shambles.”
2017-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7921 (2017) · source
“As we mourn the victims of the chemical attack on Khan Shaykhun, we must not forget the 13.5 million people who, thanks to Al-Assad, are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and a long overdue peace. It is clear today as it has been for some time that there can be no place for Al-Assad in Syria's future. There is however a way to end the nightmare that the Syrian people continue to suffer. The 2012 Geneva communique (S/2012/522, annex) and resolution 2254 (2015), which we unanimously adopted, chart the way to peace in Syria. We have a Special Representative in Staffan de Mistura who is rightly determined to keep the political process alive and pursue a renewed United Nations-facilitated effort.”
2017-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7921 (2017) · source
“Yet every time without fail he just plunged to new lows. Chemical weapons scientists in the United Kingdom have analysed samples obtained from Khan Shaykhun. Those have tested positive for the nerve agent sarin or a sarin-like substance. The United Kingdom therefore shares the United States assessment that it is highly likely that the regime was responsible for a sarin attack on Khan Shaykhun on 4 April. That sickening use of chemical weapons - weapons that Al-Assad had agreed in 2013 to destroy - is just the latest in a long list of abhorrent attacks. With that attack, he has made clear that he is not committed to a ceasefire or the Astana process, thereby ruining Russia's credibility.”
2017-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7921 (2017) · source
“I would like to thank Staffan de Mistura for his briefing and his unrelenting efforts to secure a political solution to the conflict in Syria. He has our continued full support. Despite his efforts and those of the Security Council and the international community, the people of Syria have been denied a political solution for more than six years. They have suffered over six years of ever-increasing and ever-escalating barbarity, failed ceasefires and full storms. For more than six years, the Council has been held to ransom by Russia's shameless support for the Al-Assad regime - support, which the regime is flaunting. Throughout that time, we have met in this Chamber to discuss atrocity after atrocity, while hoping that Al-Assad had finally reached the depth of his cruelty and would finally see the need for dialogue.”
2017-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7921 (2017) · source
“In conclusion, the United Kingdom supports the United States action as an appropriate response to a heinous act by a brutal and uncaring dictator who believes that gassing his people is somehow a legitimate step on the road to stability. It is now time to get a genuine political process back up and running. Those discussions may be long and difficult, but the people of Syria deserve nothing less. If we want to ensure that the shocking images that have haunted us this week are truly confined to history, then that is our duty.”
2017-04-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7919 (2017) · source
“That will not happen if we take the familiar route that has plagued the Council, the countries of the region and the millions of Syrians looking for a future. The new road must see the Syrian regime engage. The new road must have Russia and Iran not only at the table but negotiating in good faith. We are here within the walls of an Organization that was built to guide us when peace seems out of reach. The United Nations has a vital role in convening those negotiations and helping the parties resolve their disputes. The agenda has been set, and it is long overdue that a proper negotiation happens on a future Syrian- led transition that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people. Al-Assad must engage in serious discussion about that future to meet the aspirations of all Syrians.”
2017-04-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7919 (2017) · source
“Ifit cared about the Charter of the United Nations, why would it protect a dictator who has repeatedly violated international law? I received no answer. There is another way for Russia. I appeal to the Russian Federation to abandon its failed strategy; join the rest of the Council in its call for justice and accountability; end its protection ofa war criminal; and join all of us in supporting a genuine political process that would lead to a transition to a more legitimate and representative Government. The only reason that we are here and these discussions are taking place at this moment in the Chamber is because the international community has not done enough. Things can be different. The difference that can and must be made lies in a political solution.”
2017-04-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7919 (2017) · source
“Russia sits in this Chamber today humiliated by its failure to bring to heel a puppet dictator entirely propped up by Russia itself and Hizbullah and Iran. Let me bust some myths about our private negotiations over the past couple of days. We were seeking agreement on a draft resolution. I repeatedly asked the delegation of the Russian Federation why it could not support our draft resolution. If it wanted the truth, why did it not want the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to have access to the places, the people and the information that they needed? What possible excuse does the Russian Federation have for keeping that information from the investigators? What reason does it have to continue to protect Al-Assad?”
2017-04-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7919 (2017) · source
“Russia needs to listen to the Security Council, listen to the Arab world, listen to the rest of the international community, and above all listen to the Syrian people. Their message is clear: end Al-Assad's bombs, his use of chemical weapons, his torture dungeons. Instead, Russia has given Al-Assad everything he could dream of. Without Russia's seven vetoes in the Security Council defying the views of other members of the Council, Al-Assad would now have faced sanctions and justice. And what did Russia get for its unconditional support? Al-Assad ignores Russia's requests for him to obey a ceasefire. Al-Assad defies Russia's request for him not to gas his own people. Al-Assad thumbs his nose at Russia's calls for him to join a peace process.”
2017-04-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7919 (2017) · source
“It was also a strong effort to save lives by ensuring that such acts never happen again. The resolution that we adopted three and a half years ago (resolution 2118 (2013)) provided a framework for the destruction of chemical weapons in Syria. It had a clear author and a clear guarantor. At the time, Russia assured us that Al-Assad would fully declare his chemical arsenal and would continue to cooperate with international inspectors. Perhaps that was the assurance that Russia received from Al-Assad, and perhaps Russia has now learned the hard lesson that backing a war criminal comes with its own consequence: humiliation. Russia has barely any support from the Arab world for its policy of propping up the criminal Al-Assad regime as it carries out chemical-weapon attacks against its own people.”
2017-04-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7919 (2017) · source
“Three and a half years after a historically heinous war crime was committed, after the stockpiles were supposed to be destroyed, Al-Assad on Tuesday showed us yet again, this time in Idlib, that he is capable of redefining horror. Tuesday's attack must be fully investigated. Impunity cannot be the norm. We will continue to work with our partners on the Security Council to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. The United Kingdom supports the United States air strike on the Al-Shayrat air field because war crimes have consequences, and the greatest war criminal of all, Bashar Al-Assad, has now been put on notice. The United States strike was a proportionate response to unspeakable acts that gave rise to overwhelming humanitarian distress.”
2017-04-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7919 (2017) · source
“I deeply regret that the previous speaker showed more outrage against the United States than against the Al-Assad regime, which on Tuesday deliberately dropped chemical weapons killing over 100 men, women and children in the most barbaric fashion. More than three and a half years ago, the Syrian regime made a pledge: it would join the 189 countries that had already signed the Chemical Weapons Convention and it would reveal the full extent of its chemical arsenal and proceed with its full destruction. What spurred this pledge was a chemical-weapon attack, that time in Ghouta. Hundreds, if not thousands, were dead. There were images of men, women and children choking, foaming at the mouth, clearly asphyxiated.”
2017-04-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7919 (2017) · source
“They have to act to uphold the principles that we all represent, while holding peacekeepers to account for underperformance or misconduct, especially when there are allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse. Peacekeepers' successes save lives, and we owe it to them and the people they protect to ask those tough questions and find the right answers.”
2017-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7918 (2017) · source
“We must conduct regular and robust reviews of missions to establish where current situation sit on the spectrum of conflict and ensure that we are responding and resourcing them appropriately. Pledges of troops and equipment need to meet specific shortfalls identified by the United Nations, including the deployment of more women. We need to develop a greater breadth and depth of capabilities so that the United Nations can deploy the most appropriate tools to deliver mission mandates. Ultimately, peacekeeping must perform better. That means high-quality training, appropriate equipment, medical provision and skilled and courageous leadership. Missions are the human face of the Organization to so many people in the world.”
2017-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7918 (2017) · source
“We must therefore redouble our efforts to address the political challenges to peace 4 not only the security ones ~ if we are to deliver the Secretary-General's agenda on sustaining peace. My final point is that, if and when we deploy peacekeeping missions, we must make sure that they are effective. That means better mission planning, more pledges of troops and equipment and stronger mission performance. Mandates must be limited, realistic and prioritized, with a clear end goal and the benchmarks for getting there, while building on and complementing the work of other parts of the United Nations so that we can measure the impact of their activity and hand them over when the peacekeeping task is complete.”
2017-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7918 (2017) · source
“It cannot deliver every aspect to the United Nations response to conflict. Peacekeeping should exist alongside both conflict prevention and peacebuilding work. Where military force is necessary, the United Nations is not the only organization capable of delivering it. We need only look to West Africa, where the Economic Community of West African States has demonstrated regional leadership through deployments in Mali and in support of the political transition in the Gambia. Or to Somalia, where the African Union Mission in Somalia is degrading the threat from the terrorist group Al-Shabaab. But military operations can only create the space for the political process to progress.”
2017-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7918 (2017) · source
“Where there are spoilers to peace, including host Governments that seek to stifle missions, we must use all the tools at our disposal to change that behaviour. But time after time the message sent by the Council is one of disunity and confusion. We had a chance last year to bring pressure to bear on the parties in South Sudan, but at the crucial moment we failed to deliver. We cannot complain now about the tragic status quo in that country if we are not prepared to act ourselves. Once deployed, we must recognize when a peacekeeping mission is no longer the right tool for the job, when other parts of the United Nations system are better placed to support development and peacebuilding needs - as in Haiti, Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire. We know that peacekeeping is but one tool available to the United Nations.”
2017-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7918 (2017) · source
“When a peacekeeping mission is required, we must ask if that mission has a clear objective and a clear exit strategy. Does it have the right mandate? Will the host Government cooperate? There are at least two ways in which a Government might not cooperate - by opposing the very deployment of a mission or by hindering the mission's ability to fulfill every part of its mandate once it has been deployed. History has given us enough tragedies to support the deployment of peacekeepers when host Governments are unwilling or unable to protect their own people- with or without the Government's consent. If the host Government does not cooperate, the Council has a crucial role to play. We must ensure that States shoulder their primary responsibility to prevent conflict, minimize suffering and ensure that cycles of conflict are not repeated.”
2017-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7918 (2017) · source
“Peacekeeping is also a good investment. In human terms, United Nations peacekeeping saves lives. In terms ofpeace, it significantly increases the survival rate of peace agreements. We should continue to invest in that crucial tool that answers the call to help when no one else comes. But as with all investments, we should examine the market. First, we must think long and hard before deploying missions and about whether peacekeeping is the right tool at the right moment. Horizon scanning and early warning give us an opportunity to use other tools. Preventive diplomacy, conflict prevention, mediation and early action to prevent conflicts and mass human rights abuses remain vital, but those must be begun long before peacekeepers may be required. Too often that moment is missed.”
2017-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7918 (2017) · source
“I warmly welcome the Secretary-General's briefing. I agree with his nine-point plan for reform and with every other word that he said. I would like to pay tribute to the brave men and women serving in United Nations peacekeeping missions. For many people around the world, they are all that stands between stability and chaos. More than 3,500 peacekeepers have lost their lives holding that line, including nine this year. We are humbled by their sacrifice. We have a duty to those peacekeepers, all those risking their lives today and all the people whom they protect, to ask tough, fundamental questions about peacekeeping deployments. Peacekeeping is one of the best things that the Organization has ever established. Peacekeeping is the jewel in the United Nations crown. Peacekeeping is the United Nations unique selling point.”
2017-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7918 (2017) · source
“As the penholder in the Security Council and as a witness to the handing over of the peace agreement to the Secretary-General two weeks ago, the United Kingdom stands ready to play our part. We also look forward to the Council's visit in May, which will give us a clear sense of progress and demonstrate our continued support for peace in Colombia. Finally, before giving up the floor, I would like to say that, as we meet today, we should reflect not just on the positive developments that Colombia has seen in recent months, but also on the positive role that the Council has played in bringing that progress about. That is a role that we do not play with respect to every single issue on our agenda. I hope that Colombia gives us all in this chamber increased hope and belief in the power of the Security Council to deliver peace and security.”
2017-04-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7916 (2017) · source
“A robust, coordinated response from the Government is needed to ensure security in all areas vacated by the FARC, and I welcome efforts taken so far, including the establishment of the commission on security guarantees, which I very much hope will cooperate effectively with civil society. In the coming months, politics in Colombia will increasingly focus on next year's presidential and legislative elections. No one doubts the commitments of both parties to achieve peace but, during the election period, it will be crucial that work continue on the structures and mechanisms needed for the long-term reintegration of the FARC and the development of areas affected by the conflict. The Colombian Government should feel assured that the international community is ready to assist in any way it can with these efforts.”
2017-04-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7916 (2017) · source
“In the meantime, it is important that visible steps be taken to deliver implementation in the transition zones, including the provision of health facilities. Amid the progress, we are concerned by the activity of non-State armed groups, including the National Liberation Army and criminal attacks against community leaders and human rights defenders, as verified by the Office ofthe United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reports in March. These attacks are a threat to public confidence in the peace agreement, especially in isolated and vulnerable communities.”
2017-04-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7916 (2017) · source
“We have learned from our own experiences in Northern Ireland that building peace requires a comprehensive, sustained and joined- up effort. There is no quick fix. Establishing and maintaining momentum in the early stages, though, is critical. There has been steady progress, including on the legislative track with the amnesty law and special jurisprudence for peace, passed by Congress. I also welcome the report that 1,000 FARC weapons have already been taken off the battlefield. That has been made possible by the continued commitment of both the Government and the FARC to meeting the 180-day time frame. I recognize that this has been an ambitious timeline and encourage both sides to continue to work towards the final goal of complete disarmament.”
2017-04-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7916 (2017) · source
“That is the same shared commitment that will be needed from the Colombian Government, the FARC and the United Nations Mission in Colombia as we write a new chapter in the country's history. I am very pleased to see the progress already being made. The Government has committed to making peace a reality for all Colombians. The FARC have moved over 6,800 of its members into the transition zones to begin the process of laying down arms, as Mr. Arnault has just updated us. And I am reassured by his commitment, and that of his staff, as they move as swiftly as possible to meet the tough time frames ahead. We recognize that the scale of the Mission's work is ambitious and challenging, and he has our full support in those efforts. As with all post-conflict situations, sustained implementation is vital.”
2017-04-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7916 (2017) · source
“I thank Mr. Arnault for his briefing, his recent report (S/2017/252) and the hard work he has done on our collective behalf. At the outset, Iwould like to express my condolences to Ms. Mejia Velez following the tragic loss of life in the Mocoa landslides at the weekend. It was such an awful tragedy, and the people of Mocoa and Colombia as a whole are in our thoughts. The disaster has cast a shadow over what has been a very positive few months for Colombia. And yet, despite the terrible loss of life, I have been struck by the resilience and resolve shown in response. I am pleased that it is a shared resolve, with the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) offering to work side by side with the Government to help rebuild the town.”
2017-04-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7916 (2017) · source
“Each and every abuse of its veto has consequences. For the people of Khan Shaykhun, those consequences have been unspeakable. Let me conclude by asking Russia: what is its plan to stop these horrific, senseless attacks? We had a plan and we had the support. They rejected it to protect Al-Assad. It is now time to stop blocking and start helping, by joining Security Council consensus. Our draft resolution condemns this attack and calls for consequences. All 15 Security Council members should be able to confirm this and every use of chemical weapons. We expect members' unanimous support.”
2017-04-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7915 (2017) · source
“The United Kingdom, with our allies, will continue to seek justice for the victims of chemical-weapon attacks, in Syria and elsewhere. We will continue to pursue other avenues for action. The European Union sanctions announced last month against Syrian military persons show that we can still take steps to hold individuals to account, that we can still show that the use of chemical weapons brings consequences. But until Russia changes its ways, the Security Council will remain blocked. That is the sad reality that the world has gotten used to. They view us as a table of diplomats doing nothing, our hands tied behind our backs, beholden to Russian intransigence. But the world should be under no illusion. What Russia does in this Chamber does not cause inaction; defending the indefensible causes suffering.”
2017-04-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7915 (2017) · source
“Al-Assad humiliates Russia by showing just how empty Syria's promise was to remove all its chemical weapons. If Russia is to restore its credibility, it will need to join us in condemning this attack and in urging the OPCW to investigate it as soon as possible. They will join us in calling for the fullest support and cooperation for the investigation team. They will help, not hinder, our efforts to strengthen accountability through the vital work of the Joint Investigative Mechanism. There can be no further delay in staffing the leadership of the Mechanism. It must have the right technical and analytical capacity to take on the task ahead. If Russia fails to do so and falls back on its old ways, defending the indefensible, we will not be deterred.”
2017-04-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7915 (2017) · source
“This bears all the hallmarks of the Al-Assad regime, and the use of chemical weapons is a war crime. Make no mistake: this regime seems intent on making a mockery of the Russian-backed ceasefire. Russia has blocked Council action, claiming that we might undermine the Astana process. Yet the only thing undermining the Astana process is Al-Assad, the very man they seek to protect. Russia deployed the full weight of its armed forces to help him. They reduced Aleppo to ruins and displaced hundreds ofthousands of men, women and children - all in the name of fighting terrorism. And what does Russia get as repayment? Al-Assad humiliates Russia in the eyes of the world by intensifying his attacks and by reducing the Astana ceasefire to ruble.”
2017-04-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7915 (2017) · source
“Russia will say simply that we do not have enough information about the attack. And yet we have every indication that this was a sustained attack using aircraft over a number of hours. We see all the signs of an attack using a nerve agent capable of killing over 100 people and harming hundreds more. If that is not enough to demand action, what is? There is only one air force that has used such weapons in Syria. There is only one party to this conflict that the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) says has "gaps, inconsistencies and discrepancies" in its Chemical Weapons Convention declaration. Only one party still refuses inspectors access to its facilities. This does not look like the work of terrorists. This does not look like the work of the opposition.”
2017-04-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7915 (2017) · source
“Yesterday we saw the consequences ofthose vetoes. Those consequences are painted on the stricken faces of the children of Khan Shaykhun, killed potentially by a regime that will stop at nothing to hold on to power. History willjudge all of us for how we respond to those unforgettable, unforgivable images of the innocent, who had already suffered so much even before yesterday's attack. How long are we going to sit here and pretend that actions in this Chamber have no consequences, that vetoes have no bearing on the lives of innocent men, women and children? Russia has said that the opposition is responsible, that a regime airstrike struck an opposition munitions depot. But we have seen nothing to suggest that any non-State actors in Syria have the sort of chemical weapons that would be consistent with the symptoms that we saw yesterday.”
2017-04-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7915 (2017) · source
“On 28 February (see S/PV.7893), I asked a simple question of the Security Council, namely, would we take action against those who used chemical weapons in Syria? We had a chance that day to adopt a draft resolution (S/2017/l72) that would have done exactly that - a draft resolution that would have taken action against the Al-Assad regime and against Da'esh, proven to have used chemical weapons by the mechanism that we set up. We could have sent a clear message that day, a clear signal that there would be consequences for using these horrific weapons and for violating international law, a clear signal that there was Security Council unity, global unity, against any use of these weapons. But after Russia and China vetoed the draft resolution, it seems that the only message sent to Al-Assad was one of encouragement.”
2017-04-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7915 (2017) · source
“It is incumbent upon us all to ensure that the path chosen is the right one, and the one that will improve the lives of civilians and lead to sustainable peace.”
2017-04-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7912 (2017) · source
“We are encouraged that they could Visit all five states, including areas previously denied, such as Golo and Nertiti in Jebel Marra. However, ifUNAMID is to be adapted, as we hope, we all need to be confident that the Government of the Sudan is willing and able to protect its civilians in areas where UNAMID's presence is altered. That requires more than just unfettered and reliable access; it requires the Government of the Sudan to commit to the principle of operational flexibility for UNAMID and to commit to improving its own ability to protect civilians. In conclusion, until the Government and the parties to the conflict take those steps, Darfur will remain at that crossroads. The people of Darfur cannot afford a wrong turn. They have suffered for too long.”
2017-04-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7912 (2017) · source
“We are concerned that security agents of the Government of the Sudan continue to impose unnecessary access restrictions on UNAMID. That is particularly troubling when the mission is prevented from accessing vulnerable populations of internally displaced persons and those most in need. Let us insist today that UNAMID be given unrestricted access throughout Darfur, in order to enable the mission to fulfil its mandate effectively. That brings me to my final point. As penholder on UNAMID here in New York, we believe that, ifthere is to be sustainable peace in Darfur, UNAMID must evolve with the security situation. The strategic review will be crucial in that respect, and we welcome the help of the Government of the Sudan for the Visit by the strategic review team to Darfur.”
2017-04-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7912 (2017) · source
“A political agreement between the parties to the armed conflict would not only secure a permanent cessation of hostilities, it would also be a significant step in addressing the drivers of intercommunal Violence. We therefore call upon all parties to the armed conflict to engage meaningfully with the African Union High- level Implementation Panel for the peace process in order to secure a political agreement. The second step towards a long-term solution is long-term access to Darfur. In order for UNAMID to fulfil its mandated duty to protect civilians, the mission requires unfettered access throughout Darfur - not just for a few days, or even for a few weeks, but on a sustained basis. The recent access is welcome, but it will count for little if it is not maintained.”
2017-04-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7912 (2017) · source
“And it means bringing to justice, domestically and through the International Criminal Court, all those who have carried out Violence and who have failed to respect international humanitarian law and human rights - no matter their allegiance or their links to the Government. In truth, Darfur will remain unstable and unpredictable so long as the root causes of conflict remain unaddressed. Let us therefore all encourage the Government of the Sudan to use the current cessation in the violence to shift its effortrs away from counter- insurgency and towards building sustainable peace. They will need the support of the Security Council and of the international community as a whole as they do so. The first step has to be political.”
2017-04-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7912 (2017) · source
“It is a path that Darfur has simply been on for too long. But there is another road to take, and in recent months we have seen a welcome absence of Violence between the Government of the Sudan and opposition groups. We have seen the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) being granted access to areas that were previously cut. Vital humanitarian assessments are now under way. Today, therefore, we need to send a clear message to the Government of the Sudan: choose the right path. Choose the path that will improve the lives of the people of Darfur. Choose the path to sustainable peace. Thats means tackling the culture of criminality and the banditry in Darfur. It means ending the abundance of small arms and light weapons, which are only adding fuel to the fire.”
2017-04-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7912 (2017) · source
“Allow me to begin by expressing my condolences to the representative of the Russian Federation for the terrorist attack in Saint Petersburg yesterday that caused such senseless loss of life. I should also like to wish you, Madam President, all the very best for your month in the hot seat, and thank you for your kind words about last month. I would also like to warmly welcome and congratulate the Joint Special Representative on his appointment. I thank him for the briefing that he has just given us. Darfur is at a crossroads. Down one path lies the continuation of 14 years of conflict, bloodshed and impunity. It is a path that has forced 2.6 million people from their homes. It is a path littered with persistent violations of international humanitarian law, human rights violations and abuses, and persistent sexual and gender-based violence.”
2017-04-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7912 (2017) · source
“In addition to all of those I have thanked, I would also like to express my personal thanks to my excellent team for all that they have done to make this presidency a success. As we end our presidency, I know that I speak on behalf of the Council as a whole in wishing the delegation of the United States all the very best in the month of April. The meeting rose at 1.55 pm.”
2017-03-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7911 (2017) · source
“Before adjourning this meeting, as this is the last scheduled meeting of the Council for the month of March, I would like to express the sincere appreciation of the delegation of the United Kingdom to the members of the Security Council, especially to my colleagues the Permanent Representatives, their team members and to the secretariat of the Council for all their support. It has been a busy month, with numerous highlights that we will summarize for the whole of the United Nations membership and for civil society at the informal wrap-up session this afternoon, at 3 o'clock. We could not have done any of that alone, or without the hard work, support and constructive contributions of all members of the Security Council and of the secretariat, as well as all of the relevant conference services and the interpreters.”
2017-03-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7911 (2017) · source
“Ifwe are to bring a conclusion to the crisis, we must also commend and support the countries in the region with regard to their efforts to combating Boko Haram, including through the Multinational Joint Task Force. They must sustain their momentum to defeat Boko Haram and Da'esh. But, as they do so, all parties and countries must comply with human rights, especially during counter-terrorism operations. You cannot defeat terror or build peace if you commit or condone the abuse of civilians. We all must hold ourselves to a higher standard than that. We therefore hope to see the deployment of United Nations human rights officers to help in that regard. I new resume my functions as President of the Council. I now give the floor to the representative of Cameroon.”
2017-03-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7911 (2017) · source