YouSaid · the spoken record

Saha

lines on the record: 42
first: 1998-08-28
most recent: 2023-07-31
sittings or episodes: 8
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

“Until that day comes, the United States will continue to offer its full support for Ukraine’s self-defence and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.”
2023-07-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9390 (2023) · source
“We have listened carefully to Russia’s remarks, and it is clear that its efforts to divert the Council’s attention from the core issues at hand are a transparent ploy to distract from its own aggression. Over the weekend, Russia once again resorted to irresponsible nuclear rhetoric. Russia also announced the stationing of tactical nuclear weapons in the territory of Belarus, further aggravating an already dangerous situation. Russia’s complaints about the impacts of a war that it began should remind us all of a simple truth: this war would end today if Russia withdrew its forces from Ukraine’s sovereign territory and abandoned its relentless and brutal attacks against Ukraine’s cities and civilian infrastructure.”
2023-07-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9390 (2023) · source
“I thank Mr. Gregorian for his briefing. We regret that this meeting, convened at Russia’s request today, makes a mockery of the important work of the Office of Counter-Terrorism in countering terrorism and that Russia continues to abuse its position on the Council to lie, distract and mislead. In listening to Russia’s remarks today, some might be confused about who is the aggressor and who is the victim. Since the beginning of Russia’s brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the international community has been clear: more than 140 countries have repeatedly condemned the Russian Federation for its aggression against Ukraine and demanded that Russia withdraw its military forces from Ukraine’s internationally recognized territory.”
2023-07-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9390 (2023) · source
“Russia’s calling for this meeting after its destruction of Odessa’s historic Transfiguration Cathedral, which belongs to the very Ukrainian Orthodox Church the Russian Government claims to be defending today, is appalling. Russia’s damage to religious sites and places of worship in Ukraine is well documented. Ukraine’s Institute for Religious Freedom has reported that, in Russia’s unconscionable war, 494 sites in Ukraine have been destroyed, damaged or looted. We urge the Kremlin to cease its senseless war and respect the human rights of all and the safety of Ukraine’s civilian population, including members of all religious communities.”
2023-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9385 (2023) · source
“I thank Director Saad for her briefing today. I will be brief, given the number of times this year Russia has already convened us to discuss this issue. The United States takes allegations of violations of human rights, including freedom of religion or belief, seriously. We expect all governments to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms. However, what we see in today’s meeting is Russia cynically complaining of mistreatment of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church while it engages in systematic religious oppression in territories under its occupation. Russia continues to mistreat members of religious minority groups in areas of Ukraine that it has occupied during its illegal war.”
2023-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9385 (2023) · source
“The United States offers a reward of up to $5 million for information that leads to the arrest, transfer or conviction of Joseph Kony, who is wanted for crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court. We urge anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts to contact our War Crimes Rewards Programme and help to bring him to justice. I thank Special Representative of the Secretary- General Abarry for his efforts to bring much-needed peace and prosperity to the Central African region. The United States supports him and his team in those efforts.”
2022-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9213 (2022) · source
“We urge parties to implement the commitments outlined in the 23 November communiqué, including a cessation of hostilities by the Mouvement du 23 mars. Turning to Boko Haram and the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham (ISIS) in West Africa, we condemn their attacks against civilians. The United States supports regional coordination by neighbours and the Multinational Joint Task Force to combat terrorist groups and implement holistic strategies that address the underlying drivers of terrorism. Furthermore, the United States urges all States Members of the United Nations to counter Al-Qaida and ISIS more proactively, including in Africa, by designating their members and affiliates with assets freezes, travel bans and arms embargoes. Finally, the victims of the Lord’s Resistance Army, past and present, deserve justice.”
2022-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9213 (2022) · source
“Progress on the road map of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and the revitalization of the 2019 peace agreement is urgently needed to bring stability to the Central African Republic. We continue to encourage the Central African Republic to strengthen its ties with the United Nations peacekeeping mission and other responsible partners as an alternative to the predatory Wagner Group. The Central African Republic has other partners that wish to assist the country’s development. Unfortunately, the Government’s partnership with Wagner Group entities creates barriers to that engagement. While Special Representative of the Secretary- General Keita will brief the Council tomorrow, I would be remiss not to mention the devastating humanitarian and security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2022-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9213 (2022) · source
“We also strongly condemn the violence between Chadian security forces and demonstrators, as well as the crackdown on opposition and civil society groups. We support efforts to conduct a United Nations- led international inquiry into these events. In Cameroon, the United States remains concerned by continued violence and attacks against civilians. We support UNOCA’s role in promoting inclusive political dialogue, which includes the resolution of the crises in the North-West and South-West regions. With regard to the Central African Republic, we commend the Government’s leadership, especially President Touadera and Prime Minister Dondra, in the peace process and urge authorities to redouble their efforts to bring about peace.”
2022-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9213 (2022) · source
“I thank both our briefers for their insightful comments. The United States welcomes Special Representative of the Secretary-General Abarry in his new role. His portfolio is vast and could not be more important. Central Africa faces numerous challenges. In Chad, we are concerned about the results of the national dialogue, which disregarded the directives of the African Union Peace and Security Council, thereby undermining confidence in the country’s transition. We continue to urge Chad to ensure the meaningful participation of the political opposition in drafting a new constitution and developing independent mechanisms to organize elections. We encourage the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) to play a leadership role in supporting this process.”
2022-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9213 (2022) · source
“I do not want to neglect to mention the rest of the Secretariat staff, such as the interpreters, who are right now interpreting these very words into the other five official languages of the United Nations, and the Conference Services staff, who ensure that we are able to physically meet in the Chamber today. Each Security Council meeting is the outcome of a collective effort by many people, from permanent representatives to political coordinators to Secretariat staff, all working in solidarity towards a common end — the maintenance of international peace and security. Ultimately , that is what the working methods of the Council are all about.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“We also observed that the convening of a General Assembly meeting does not necessarily mean that the General Assembly needs to adopt a resolution on the subject of the vetoed draft resolution. All in all, resolution 76/262 demonstrated a healthy balance between the Security Council and the General Assembly. I wish to conclude my statement by recognizing some unsung heroes. We deeply value the behind- the-scenes work of the Security Council Affairs Division (SCAD), which provides the institutional memory and operational legwork of the Security Council. It is through SCAD’s unseen work that the transition from presidency to presidency, month after month, goes so smoothly and seamlessly.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“The General Assembly recently held its first meeting pursuant to that resolution after the double veto of the draft resolution that the United States had proposed in response to the ballistic missiles launched by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. While the United States was deeply disappointed that vetoes prevented that draft resolution from being adopted, it was pleased to see the smooth implementation of resolution 76/262. The Council was able to reach consensus on a fact-based special report to the General Assembly at the General Assembly’s invitation. The General Assembly meeting provided an opportunity for those casting a veto to explain themselves and for the States Members of the United Nations to react to the veto. We noted that almost 80 Member States participated in the debate.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“We are aware that there is always room for improvement and that the Council can ever strive towards greater effectiveness, efficiency and transparency, while taking into account that many of its working methods have stood the test of time and are in place for good reason. We commit to continuing to roll up our sleeves and working to improve the Council’s working methods through the Informal Working Group. On the subject of the veto, the General Assembly recently adopted resolution 76/262, which mandates the convening of a General Assembly meeting every time a veto is cast in the Security Council. The United States was proud to co-sponsor that innovative resolution.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“It is generally better to be prepared for the future through a well-considered deliberative process, rather than to have to scramble in reaction to a crisis at short notice. We recognize the great responsibility that the United States bears as a permanent member of the Security Council. We do not take that status for granted. As a permanent member, the perspective of the United States on the working methods of the Council is based on more than 76 years of experience. We have the vantage point of a long view. Each time there is a proposal to adjust the Council’s working methods, we are in a position to evaluate its long-term institutional implications. We balance the clarity of hard-and-fast rules with the need for flexibility and adaptability to the circumstances.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“In response to the coronavirus disease pandemic, the Council has been able to fulfil its mandate under Article 28 of the Charter of the Nations and function continuously. Despite the inability to convene in-person meetings, the Council adopted its draft resolutions through a virtual correspondence process. The United States continues to believe that the virtual gatherings held by the Council should be deemed formal meetings of the Security Council, under the provisional rules of procedure, so that it can adopt draft resolutions at virtual meetings. As the pandemic wanes, we believe that it would be useful for the Security Council to develop a preparedness plan for how to proceed in the event of future emergencies.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“Note 507 and related notes subsequently adopted by the Council were the product of years of practice and negotiations. By and large, most of the tools to improve the Council’s working methods are already included in note 507. It is simply a question of our collective will and dedication to implement its provisions. We have been pleased by the progress made by the Council in including more civil society briefers in its work. It is also particularly noteworthy that the Council has improved the gender balance of its civil society briefers. In order to ensure that the Security Council takes full account of all perspectives when deliberating on the situations before it, it is vital that all voices be brought to the Security Council table.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“I thank you, Sir, for convening this important annual debate. We express our appreciation to you for leading the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions. We also thank today’s briefers. We express our appreciation to Ms. Landgren for the Security Council Report, which is a valuable resource for watchers of the Security Council, and to Ms. Sievers, who literally wrote the book on the Security Council’s procedure, which continues to be a vital resource for all of us. We greatly appreciate and value the work of the Informal Working Group. We appreciate your focus, Sir, as Chair of the Informal Working Group, on the implementation of presidential note S/2017/507, the essential guide to and codification of the practice of the Security Council.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) continues to play a crucial role, as always, in support of the Afghan people’s many and varied needs. We thank the team at UNAMA for its ongoing work and commitment to implementing its mandate. And we would like to take the opportunity to applaud and recognize the leadership and dedication of Ambassador Deborah Lyons upon the conclusion of her service as Special Representative of the Secretary- General and Head of UNAMA. The United States remains ever-committed to supporting the people of Afghanistan.”
2022-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9075 (2022) · source
“As Under-Secretary-General Griffiths noted, nearly half the population remains food insecure. The United Nations 2022 humanitarian response plan has been only partially funded. Yesterday’s earthquake highlights the vulnerability of the Afghan people and underscores the dire need for continued humanitarian assistance. We have announced more than $720 million in humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan since August 2021, and we urge others in the international community to do their part in stepping up to provide the assistance needed to meet the dire funding shortfall. In concert with the international community, we also urge the Taliban to follow through on its stated commitments relating to counter-terrorism and safe passage.”
2022-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9075 (2022) · source
“As part of our commitment to the humanitarian response in Afghanistan, we have spearheaded a variety of additional steps to facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance to, and commercial activity in, Afghanistan. We are proud to have championed resolution 2615 (2021) last December, which established a humanitarian carveout to facilitate the critical delivery of aid to support the basic needs of the Afghan people. We have also clarified that financial institutions, non-governmental organizations, international organizations and private sector companies can engage in wide-ranging financial transactions and economic activities to benefit the people of Afghanistan, while still complying with United States sanctions. But food insecurity in Afghanistan remains grave.”
2022-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9075 (2022) · source
“Afghan history has also made it clear, as the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General mentioned, that ruling by decree in an exclusionary fashion is a recipe for instability — and yet the Taliban still has not embraced other Afghan constituencies in its approach to leadership. It is no wonder then that Afghans’ humanitarian needs remain severe, even if the international community’s support has helped stave off the worst of humanitarian disasters over the past year. That is why the United States remains the world’s leading humanitarian donor in Afghanistan and source of funds for United Nations operations in Afghanistan more broadly.”
2022-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9075 (2022) · source
“Our expectations are simple and grounded in the founding principles of the United Nations system. All Afghans should be able to speak, practice their faith and learn without fear. Each and every one of them is entitled to equal access to education, employment and participation in public life. I thank Ms. Royan for sharing the stories of those who could no longer share them and speak for themselves. Allowing Afghans to enjoy their human rights and fundamental freedoms is not only what the Afghan people deserve and part of what the Taliban needs to do to gain legitimacy and recognition from the international community; it is also a prerequisite for a stable, prosperous Afghanistan.”
2022-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9075 (2022) · source
“The United States joins those voices in its unequivocal condemnation of the Taliban’s announcement on 23 March forbidding girls from returning to secondary schools throughout most of the country, and of the decree of 7 May imposing further restrictions on women and girls. When the Taliban takes steps to fulfil its commitments, we will welcome those actions. For example, we welcome the Taliban’s ban on narcotics as a positive first step towards the establishment of a lawful agricultural sector — recognizing, of course, that follow-through will be key. But the Security Council has been clear and unanimous: if the Taliban wants to normalize its relations with the international community, it needs to reverse the steps it has taken to exclude women from social, political and economic life — immediately.”
2022-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9075 (2022) · source
“We have been alarmed by the resumption of fighting and reports of abuses against civilians in various parts of Afghanistan, including in Panjshir. And the Council has had to meet twice since our last public meeting (see S/PV.8997) on the situation in Afghanistan in order to address the actions that the Taliban has taken to restrict the rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls. I thank Ms. Hakim for elevating the voices of women like Sheila, Marzia and Farida. Afghans from all walks of life, Islamic scholars and ordinary people all over the world have decried the decrees the Taliban has issued depriving women and girls of their dignity.”
2022-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9075 (2022) · source
“I thank Under-Secretary-General Griffiths and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General Alakbarov for their briefings. I also thank Ms. Royan and Ms. Hakim for their valuable perspectives. We welcome the work of civil society organizations to improve the lives of Afghans in need, and of the journalists who shine a light on the challenges they face. Our hearts go out to the victims of yesterday’s horrific earthquake in Paktika and Khost provinces. This disaster is a devastating blow to a population that is already suffering gravely, and we call for urgent donor assistance to relief efforts. This is a perilous moment for Afghanistan. As Ms. Royan and Ms. Hakim indicated, space for members of the media to do their work is shrinking, while threats facing members of religious and ethnic minority groups are on the rise.”
2022-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9075 (2022) · source
“We therefore call on the Sudanese authorities and the armed movement signatories to redouble their efforts. The Juba Peace Agreement signatories must bring back their fighters from abroad and engage in the Sudan’s disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) process. The United States supports the recommendation of the Panel of Experts of the Sanctions Committee that the Sudanese Government should establish the DDR Commission with branch offices in the five states of Darfur and provide it with adequate capacity and resources. We are committed to continuing close collaboration within the Security Council with UNITAMS, the AU and other key stakeholders to promote peace and security in Darfur.”
2022-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9070 (2022) · source
“An urgent investigation must identify and hold accountable those responsible. Those troubling events demonstrate the urgent need for the protection of civilians, inclusive security-sector reform and the establishment of robust international monitoring and reporting mechanisms. The Sudanese authorities are responsible for civilian security in the region and must address the root causes of violence. Unfortunately, the implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement is significantly behind schedule. We note the modest progress made so far, including in operationalizing the Permanent Ceasefire Committee, as well as the ongoing steps to deploy the joint security- keeping forces in Darfur. Delays in implementing the Juba Peace Agreement contribute to insecurity.”
2022-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9070 (2022) · source
“Progress in Darfur is inextricably linked to the re-establishment of a civilian- led transitional Government, but the situation in Darfur remains volatile and dangerous. The increasing violence has exacerbated the dire humanitarian situation on the ground and endangers the potential of the Juba Peace Agreement to contribute effectively to a sustainable peace in Darfur. Concrete steps are also needed to ensure justice and accountability for the victims in Darfur and the Two Areas. Transparent and inclusive transitional justice processes are essential components of any durable peace in Darfur. We condemn the increased violence and its impact on civilians, including the most recent violence in West Darfur, which led to the displacement of an estimated 125,000 people. That is simply unacceptable.”
2022-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9070 (2022) · source
“I want to thank Ambassador Agyeman for his useful quarterly update on the activities of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005) concerning the Sudan. The United States would like to reiterate its full support for the Sudanese-led political process to resolve the crisis that followed the October 2021 military takeover. We fully endorse the facilitation of that process by the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in the Sudan (UNITAMS), the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development to resolve the crisis. The United States stands with the Sudanese people in their pursuit of a democratic and prosperous Sudan that fully respects human rights.”
2022-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9070 (2022) · source
“We remain committed to collaborating closely with fellow Council members to conduct a successful review that will inform the most effective and constructive substantive mandate renewal later this year. The possibility of weapons of mass destruction being acquired and used by terrorists or other non-State actors remains one of the greatest threats to international peace and security. Resolution 1540 (2004) is one of the few established, authoritative international instruments in place to address such threats. The comprehensive review and mandate renewal give us an opportunity to ensure that the resolution and its implementation are as strong and effective as possible. The stakes could not be higher.”
2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8993 (2022) · source
“As we undertake the work of the comprehensive review and the mandate renewal, we will prioritize the full implementation of States’ obligations under resolution 1540 (2004) by improving the functionality and the credibility of the Committee, further empowering its Group of Experts and enhancing its support for assistance and outreach-related activities. We support the Chair’s ambitious but achievable timeline to complete the comprehensive review. In particular, we appreciate that the timeline underscores the importance of streamlining the Group of Experts’ work to strengthen the Committee, while also recognizing the vitally important roles played by international organizations, international regional organizations and civil society in promoting our shared goal of ensuring effective State-level implementation of resolution 1540 (2004).”
2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8993 (2022) · source
“We support the continued work of the Committee under the chairmanship of Mexico and look forward to collaborating with our fellow Committee members to complete the substantive work before us in the months ahead. A meaningful comprehensive review that brings together Member States and civil society, international and regional organizations, industry and academia is essential to ensuring that the Committee continues to meet the challenges of preventing non-State actors, including terrorists and terrorist groups, from acquiring or using weapons of mass destruction and related goods and know-how. In that regard, we welcome the opportunity to engage those stakeholders through the review’s open sessions that the Chair has scheduled for May and June.”
2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8993 (2022) · source
“The United States thanks Mexico for its leadership in achieving the unanimous adoption of resolution 2622 (2022). This technical extension of the mandate of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) for most of the remainder of this year will allow the Committee and its Group of Experts to continue their important work, while providing sufficient time to complete a meaningful and inclusive comprehensive review and to submit that review’s report to the Security Council. The United States underscores its full support for the 1540 Committee as a powerful multilateral tool to help to prevent the most dangerous weapons from falling into the hands of non-State actors.”
2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8993 (2022) · source
“Only an effective international cooperative effort to identify and act against those responsible for international terrorism - whether individual terrorist groups or States - will succeed. On the third issue, a condemnation of the violation of international norms of conduct is not sufficient. The international community must act together now to mobilize the human rights machinery to ensure the observance of internationally recognized human rights in all of Afghanistan. The perpetrators of gross and systematic violations of human rights must not be given the international legitimacy they crave. This would be an appropriate message to convey as we prepare to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”
1998-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3921 (1998) · source
“These countries should encourage the factions whom they support to return to the negotiating table without delay and preconditions, and cooperate with the aim of creating a broad-based and fully representative Government which would protect the rights of all Afghans and observe the international obligations of Afghanistan. On the second issue, the international community perhaps now realizes the magnitude and the ramifications of the problem caused by the presence and activities of foreign mercenaries and their foreign patrons, who have not only destabilized Afghanistan but also made it a seminary for international terrorists. However, selective unilateral action cannot solve the problem of international terrorism.”
1998-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3921 (1998) · source
“The second is that Afghanistan has been turned into a haven for international terrorism. The third is the lack of respect for international norms and human rights in the areas controlled by the Taliban. On the first element, the countries that have instigated and participated in the Afghan fighting should realize that a resolution can come only through peaceful means, in direct negotiations between Afghan factions under United Nations auspices, aimed at achieving mutually acceptable solutions that accommodate the rights and interests of all ethnic, religious and political groups of Afghan society.”
1998-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3921 (1998) · source
“This is an issue of particular concern to us, as India has been the victim of state-sponsored, cross-border terrorism in a most vicious form. We have, on many occasions, drawn the world's attention to the presence of the training camps in our immediate neighbourhood, in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Afghanistan, where terrorists are trained and equipped to carry out merciless, violent and subversive activities in India, in particular in the state of J ammu and Kashmir. The international community has unfortunately been silent or indifferent to these developments and unable to agree on concerted efforts to tackle the menace of international terrorism, in our region or elsewhere. The crisis in Afghanistan has three main elements. The first is the continuing war, fomented and sustained by foreign interference.”
1998-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3921 (1998) · source
“Does the international community, and in particular this Council, have the resolve to take steps that would stop the continuing foreign interference, through the provision of arms, supplies and advisers to the warring factions, and of late, through the direct participation in the fighting of foreign military personnel? The anarchy in Afghanistan has drawn terrorist groups to it. Though the events of the last few weeks have brought international focus to this aspect of the Afghan problem, for years it has been known that the most ruthless terrorist organizations have used Afghanistan as a base to recruit, train and harbour operatives who were sent out to carry out atrocities abroad. The responsibility for allowing the Afghan territory to be used for training international terrorists falls on those who give them sanctuary.”
1998-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3921 (1998) · source
“Territorial gains won through force, trickery or bribery will be short lived if the people who live there are alienated or, as has increasingly been the case, brutalized. There have been many debates in the Council, in the General Assembly and in meetings organized by the United Nations, where we have heard statements deploring foreign interference in Afghanistan. The Secretary-General has rightly pointed out in his report [S/ 1998/532] on the situation in Afghanistan dated 19 June 1998 that this is the key to ending the Afghan tragedy.”
1998-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3921 (1998) · source
“We have always respected the unity, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan. We are particularly concerned, therefore, that all the evidence points to a de facto invasion of Afghanistan by foreign military forces, in support of the Taliban. It also worries us that the fighting is both exploiting and heightening ethnic differences. If this continues, the unity and independence of Afghanistan will be in danger, and if Afghanistan unravels, the impact will be felt throughout the region. There is an Afghan personality which transcends ethnic consciousness. The international community must sustain and strengthen that personality, not widen ethnic cleavages. A genuine power-sharing arrangement in which all Afghan people are represented must take hold if peace is to return.”
1998-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3921 (1998) · source
“It is my privilege to address the Security Council under your presidency, Sir. I'll begin by conveying our deep sympathy for the people of Afghanistan. The continuing war has brought immense suffering to them for almost two decades. The fighting which took place this summer, despite appeals and warnings from the international community, has compounded their misery. We are disturbed by reports that human rights have been violated on a large scale, in particular through the killing of children, women and POWs. We expect that the next report of the Secretary- General will give us a fuller picture of what has so far appeared in snatches in the media. Peace and stability in Afghanistan are in our security interest, as they are for almost all of Afghanistan's neighbours.”
1998-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3921 (1998) · source