YouSaid · the spoken record

Schulz

lines on the record: 542
first: 2017-03-15
most recent: 2020-03-12
sittings or episodes: 82
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 Summit in June 2013 that included members of the Economic Community of West African States, the Economic Community of Central African States and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC) was a turning point. I am especially grateful to Mrs. Ukonga of the GGC for the great work that the Commission has done on this over many years. Germany has been active in the region for many years, bilaterally and as part of the European Union (EU). We have supported the Yaounde process for maritime security in West Africa. To give two examples, Germany contributed funding to the Interregional Coordination Centre in Yaounde, and as a member of the Group of Seven Group of Friends of the Gulf of Guinea, we have contributed financial support to four regional coordination centres in Benin, Ghana, C6te d'Ivoire and Cabo Verde.”
2019-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8457 (2019) · source
“First of all, I would like to thank Equatorial Guinea for organizing this debate and Mr. Esono Angue for presiding over it. We would also like to thank Mr. Fedotov and Mrs. Ukonga for their excellent briefings. Piracy, armed robbery at sea and other illicit and illegal activities in the Gulf of Guinea remain a source of concern. We are not talking about petty crime. Left unchecked, such activities could destabilize the entire region. As we heard from the briefers this morning, the coastal States, the region and the international community as a whole have analysed the risks and have acted on them. However, we can and should do more. We can build on a solid foundation of regional efforts and international cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea. We applaud the leadership demonstrated by the countries of the region.”
2019-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8457 (2019) · source
“Thousands of migrants are systematically subjected to starvation, beatings, burned with hot objects or subjected to other forms of ill treatment. That has to be addressed and changed. Lastly, we very much welcome that UNSMIL was mandated to assist in the protection of women and girls from sexual and gender-based violence under the renewed mandate of UNSMIL from September 2018. We explicitly welcome the recent inclusion of gender-based violence crimes as a listing criterion in the sanctions regime, as well as the listing of six individuals for their involvement in human trafficking.”
2019-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8448 (2019) · source
“Women have to be included, not least in the national conference but also in all other processes that lead to democratic transition, reconciliation and the building of national institutions. Secondly, illicit weapon-streams from Libya have contributed to the destabilization of large parts of the Sahel and West Africa. We need to develop innovative approaches to involve national actors in Libya in introducing measures for effective small arms control. Special Representative Salame emphasized the importance of respecting human rights and international humanitarian law. Germany remains concerned about human rights violations and abuses. Germany is especially worried by the situation in detention centres in Libya, as recently reported by ajoint investigation by UNSMIL and the United Nations Human Rights Office.”
2019-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8448 (2019) · source
“Our third priority must be economic reform. We call on Libyan actors to implement economic reforms without delay, notably on exchange rates and subsidies. The current system favours those who do not work for the benefit of the Libyan population. We must therefore strive to change that system. That includes the fight against such criminal practices as fuel smuggling and currency fraud. In general, more transparency is needed to mitigate tensions and create a more stable economic environment, with better distribution of wealth. The Special Representative underlined that the list of remaining challenges in Libya remains long. In my concluding remarks I will list two or three of them. First of all, the proper representation of women, as many speakers before me mentioned, is of absolutely crucial importance to us.”
2019-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8448 (2019) · source
“It simultaneously requires institution-building efforts as a complementary second priority. In that regard, initiatives like audits, the Joint Operations Centre and police training are essential. We must become better at implementing such measures swiftly, consistently and jointly in the multilateral framework. UNSMIL should be in the lead and initiate and coordinate specific multilateral support efforts for Libyan institutions. Germany stands ready to give substantial support and commends what has already been achieved, for example, by the Stabilization Facility for Libya. I would also like to thank the Special Representative for his kind words on the German Bundesbank experts who are currently training Libyan staff at the Central Bank. My third point touches on the urgency of economic reform to mitigate tensions.”
2019-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8448 (2019) · source
“As the Special Representative said, we should expect attempts to spoil the process from many sides. Therefore, the international community as a whole must stand behind the Special Representative and his suggested way ahead. Germany remains fully supportive ofhis work. Ifnecessary, we need to be ready to put pressure on those who try to derail the process. That may include targeted sanctions, as the Council has agreed previously. The unity of the international community, and of the Council in particular, remains crucial. We owe such unity to the much-suffering Libyan people, whose patience is running thin. Secondly, institution-building efforts are necessary conditions for stabilization. The political process does not happen in avacuum, and it cannot deliver in avacuum.”
2019-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8448 (2019) · source
“First of all, I should like to thank Mr. Salame, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), for his excellent briefing. Once again, I underline the full support of my delegation for the way ahead that he has outlined. I would like to focus my intervention on three priorities for action. The first is the national conference as a centrepiece of the action plan. Our first political priority must be the national conference. It provides an opportunity for Libyans to unblock the political process and make it truly inclusive. It also represents an opportunity to pave the way for unified institutions and elections based on national consensus. Unfortunately, the current stalemate has many beneficiaries.”
2019-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8448 (2019) · source
“The Committee also provided clarification on a letter invoking paragraph 19 (b) of resolution 1970 (2011), submitted by Switzerland in relation to the Libyan Africa Investment Portfolio. The Committee further responded to two requests, from Malta and Spain, respectively, providing guidance on the assets freeze. Finally, concerning the sanctions list, in addition to designating the two individuals I mentioned earlier, in September the Committee updated the identifying information of five previously listed individuals. The Committee also concluded its consideration of the delisting requests of Ms. Aisha Al-Qadhafi and Ms. Safia Farkash Al-Barassi, submitted through the Focal Point for Delisting, established pursuant to resolution 1730 (2006). Both individuals remain on the list.”
2019-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8448 (2019) · source
“During the reporting period, the Committee approved two requests for exemption from the arms embargo, under paragraph 9 (c) of resolution 1970 (2011), submitted by Tunisia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Consideration of two additional requests, previously submitted by Malta under paragraph 9 (c) of resolution 1970 (2011), and recently submitted by Libya under paragraph 8 ofresolution 2174 (2014), are ongoing. With respect to the assets freeze, the Committee received, and did not object to, three exemption notifications invoking paragraph 19 (a) of resolution 1970 (2011), submitted by the United Kingdom in relation to the legal expenses of the Libyan Investment Authority, Ms. Aisha Al-Qadhafi and the Libya Africa Investment Portfolio, respectively.”
2019-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8448 (2019) · source
“Fourthly, on 4 and 17 December 2018, respectively, based on recommendations emanating from the Panel's 2018 final report (see S/2018/812), the Committee adopted two Implementation Assistance Notices, entitled "Guidance to Member States on the correct application of the provisions of the resolutions regarding the payment of management fees on frozen assets" and "Guidance to Member States on the application of the provisions ofthe resolutions regarding the asset freeze in relation to the payment of interest and other earnings on frozen assets." With regard to a third recommendation, concerning the issue of subsidiaries of listed entities as described in the Committee's Implementation Assistance Notice 1, the Committee agreed to draw the matter to the attention of the Council, which is what I am doing.”
2019-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8448 (2019) · source
“Through the same resolution, the Council extended the time-bound measures aimed at preventing illicit exports of petroleum from Libya, further elaborated the sanctions designation criteria to include, while not limited to, planning, directing or committing acts of sexual and gender-based violence, and called on Member States to report to the Committee on their implementation of the travel ban and assets- freeze measures. Following the adoption of resolution 2441 (2018), the Secretary-General appointed six individuals to serve on the Panel on 2 January 2019.”
2019-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8448 (2019) · source
“Secondly, from 1 to 2 November 2018, my predecessor led a Committee visit to Libya - the first such visit since the inception of the sanctions regime in 2011. While the approved terms of reference had indicated Tripoli and Beida as the two destinations to be visited, the Committee visited only Tripoli, owing to the closure of Beida airport. The Chair intends to visit all areas agreed in the terms of reference as soon as possible, subject to logistical and security arrangements. Thirdly, on 5 November 2018, the Security Council adopted resolution 2441 (2018), through which it extended the mandate of the Panel of Experts to 15 February 2020.”
2019-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8448 (2019) · source
“In accordance with paragraph 24 (e) ofresolution 1970 (2011), of26 February 2011, I have the honour to report to the Security Council on the work of the Committee established by the same resolution. The report covers the period from 6 September 2018 to 18 January 2019. At the outset, since this is my first periodic report to the Security Council, let me say that I look forward to working with all the members of the Committee during this year. I would like to highlight four developments relating to the work of the Committee. First, on 11 September and 16 November 2018, respectively, the Committee listed two individuals, the seventh and eighth in 2018, as subject to the travel ban and assets freeze. Mr. Ibrahim Jadhran and Mr. Salah Badi were included in the sanctions list for engaging in acts that meet the sanctions designation criteria.”
2019-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8448 (2019) · source
“All those responses should be based on the principle of proportionality. Against that overall background and those developments in the Sudan in general, and Darfur in particular, we feel that the unity of the Security Council remains of the utmost importance and that the rigorous implementation of the sanctions regime remains very crucial.”
2019-01-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8446 (2019) · source
“We are also very concerned that the unilateral ceasefire has not yet been prolonged by the Government of the Sudan. We would also like to express our concern that the current internal situation in the Sudan may also lead to the loss of the recent momentum achieved in the peace process. On the situation and developments in the Sudan in general, I would like to point out that we follow them with concern; obviously, there have been nationwide protests in the country since December. People were killed during those protests and others were wounded. The High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern about credible reports on the use of excessive force. The Government of the Sudan should respond to the legitimate grievances of the Sudanese people, and diverging views should be tolerated and not restrained with excessive force.”
2019-01-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8446 (2019) · source
“For the time being, we see a necessity to uphold the sanctions regime and maintain the very important work of the Panel of Experts, which we commend. On a more general note on Darfur, let me say that Germany is very engaged in peacebuilding in Darfur - that is very important to us. We support mediation efforts and the political dialogue, which is absolutely necessary, as it is the only way to come up with a lasting solution for the Sudan and Darfur. We obviously welcome the signing of the Darfur pre-negotiation agreement in Berlin. We stand ready to further support the peace process. However, while we acknowledge that there are some improvements in the security situation in Darfur, we also have to take into account the remaining challenges. That includes security challenges, as many colleagues have mentioned.”
2019-01-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8446 (2019) · source
“I would also like to thank Ambassador Joanna Wronecka, Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005), concerning the Sudan, for her excellent work. We thank her for her briefing and would have been interested to receive an even longer and more detailed report. We also regret that it was not possible to reach consensus on this important document. We are also especially interested in the briefing that Special Representative of the Secretary-General Patten gave. Germany is very concerned about sexual violence in the Sudan. We also agree with the Permanent Representative of Peru, who has suggested considering sexual violence as a listing criterion for sanctions in this context. Sanctions need to be rigorously implemented.”
2019-01-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8446 (2019) · source
“One good example of how to counter that was, from our point of View, the joint United Nations-African Union mission led by Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and AU Special Envoy Bineta Diop to the Sahel, South Sudan, Nigeria and Chad in July 2018, with a focus on women and peace and security. We would be interested to hear from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General if he could provide us with some of his reflections on the follow-up to that visit. Women need to participate in all kinds of conflict resolution and mediation phases and activities. That holds particularly true for local mechanisms, and we would very much welcome any further activity by UNOWAS in that regard.”
2019-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8442 (2019) · source
“One such example involving the upsurge in, and spread of, violent conflict between herders and farmers due particularly to the adverse effects of climate change was brought up at as a source of concern at the joint ECOWAS-ECCAS summit held last year in Lome. Germany has been very active in providing support for the Lake Chad Basin Commission since 2005 in the areas of organizational development and transboundary water management. My final point involves the particularly worrisome situation of women and girls, as well as young people. They are exposed to abductions, detention and sexual violence by extremist groups, as outlined in the report ofthe Secretary-General and the briefing by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. Women and girls face threats particularly by extremist groups.”
2019-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8442 (2019) · source
“Therefore, we need to intensify our activities and welcome the ongoing work of UNOWAS on the analysis of climate-related security risks in West Africa and the Sahel. We also feel that the Council needs to take the latter into account and conduct the appropriate follow- up. We commend UNOWAS on its completion of the first stage of an analysis of climate-related risks in line with last year's presidential statement S/PRST/2018/ 16. There is a strong link between climate change and security. There is competition over scarce resources, water and land. That clearly underlines the need for the Council to consider the effects of climate change on security in a much more structured way.”
2019-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8442 (2019) · source
“We very much welcome regional initiatives to respond to the terrorist threat and overcome the challenges. The last example is the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad area, the Group of Five for the Sahel regional cell for the prevention of radicalization and violent extremism or the Joint Summit of ECOWAS and ECCAS Heads of State and Government on Peace, Security, Stability and the Fight Against Terrorism and Violent Extremism, held in Lome in July 2018. Those are very good examples that show steps in the right direction. For our fourth point, we would also like to highlight what the Special Representative of the Secretary- General mentioned, namely, the adverse effects of climate change and the ecological impact on the stability of West Africa, the Sahel and the Lake Chad region.”
2019-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8442 (2019) · source
“We strongly condemn all attacks carried out by terrorist organizations, especially by Boko Haram, and we are concerned about the increasingly complex and coordinated attacks in the region, as outlined by the Special Representative. Any security initiatives must comply with international humanitarian law and international human rights law. As the study by the United Nations Development Programme entitled Journey to Extremism in Africa has shown, one driver of extremism is human rights violations by security forces, which is of particular concern. Let me provide some concrete examples in that connection. We launched a United States-German initiative within the Global Counterterrorism Forum against the use of unmanned aerial systems by terrorists. West Africa is one of the focus regions of that initiative.”
2019-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8442 (2019) · source
“My last point on crisis prevention is that, as the Special Representative pointed out, we are also concerned about the lack of effective participation by civil society and opposition in democratic processes, in some instances. We are also concerned about the arrest of human rights defenders and the violations of freedom of expression and assembly in a number of Western and Central African countries. We would be very interested to hear from the Special Representative about how he will address those issues in his future work. Thirdly, the promotion and protection of human rights is an integral part of the overall prevention effort. Counter-terrorism operations must also comply with international humanitarian law and international human rights law.”
2019-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8442 (2019) · source
“With regard to the successful closures of the missions in Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire, to which Special Representative Chambas referred, we feel that they are possible models for future transitions and exits but, at the same time, we must consider long-term sustainable development, respect for human rights and stabilization. The peace dividends we gained by closing United Nations missions of that kind should be used to strengthen crisis prevention measures at the same time. In that regard, we advocate for the effective use of the Peacebuilding Commission as an advisory body to the Council. One example is the joint mission conducted by UNOWAS and the PBC to Burkina Faso, C6te d'Ivoire and the Gambia in October 2018. Germany is one of the largest donors to the Peacebuilding Fund and encourages member States to contribute to its budget.”
2019-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8442 (2019) · source
“In particular, we appreciate the holistic approach that has been chosen, which is a combination of various instruments in our toolbox - mediation, reform processes, human rights and support to transparent, credible and peaceful elections, while urging States to ensure that basic democratic principles and preconditions are fulfilled. Small arms and light weapons are another concern and are all too widespread in the region. We need to effectively counter the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the region. We support regional initiatives that aim to reach that very objective. That is why we provide comprehensive support for the control of small arms and light weapons in West Africa, as part of our strategic cooperation with ECOWAS and in building local capacity in Mali, the Niger and Nigeria.”
2019-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8442 (2019) · source
“That also means effectively using the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) as an advisory body to the Council. I would like to share a few thoughts on those issues. Germany is one of the largest contributors to conflict prevention and peacebuilding and development activities within the United Nations system. We strongly support the efforts of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and Special Representative of the Secretary-General Chambas to support African initiatives for sustaining regional peace.”
2019-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8442 (2019) · source
“Special Representative Chambas mentioned the High-level Conference on the Lake Chad Region, held in Berlin in September 2018, which we organized together with Nigeria, Norway and the United Nations and at which $2 billion was pledged. The conference showed the relevance of the humanitarian, development and peace nexus and contributed to the implementation of resolution 2349 (2017). Regional cross-border cooperation is also key to success. We welcome the adoption of regional stabilization strategy of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and the African Union (AU). The strategy will be essential for future cooperation. Secondly, there needs to be a strategic focus on crisis prevention across the board. We need long-term sustainable development - economically, socially and environmentally and after transitions and mission exits.”
2019-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8442 (2019) · source
“I would like to thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Chambas for his excellent briefing. The report of the Secretary-General (S/2018/ 1175) covers a broad and impressive array of issues. We would like to comment on a few that are of particular importance from our point of View. First, we need sound international coordination as a key element of success. As the Special Representative of the Secretary-General pointed out, cooperation among actors in the United Nations system, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Lake Chad Basin Commission, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and subregional organizations is key to success. Wherever we can, Germany contributes to reaching that objective through our own initiative.”
2019-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8442 (2019) · source
“Certainly, Syria needs economic and social rebuilding, but as we and the European Union have stressed many times, we will have a meaningful discussion on reconstruction only if we see clear, irrevocable progress in the political process. We will not invest in war and corruption. We will not build on shifting sands. What we need is a political transition that paves the way for viable economic and social reconstruction.”
2018-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8373 (2018) · source
“More than stones, cement and bulldozers, Syrian refugees need safety guarantees and political change in Syria so that they can begin to see a future for themselves in the country they had to flee. Returns must be voluntary, safe and dignified, in accordance with international standards. As the key institution for dealing with refugees, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) must not be bypassed. It stands ready to facilitate large-scale returns once the many obstacles have been removed and the necessary guarantees are in place. We fully agree with UNHCR that the biggest immediate obstacle for a large-scale return is the lack of safety in Syria. Returnees need more than protection from armed conflict; they need to be safe from political persecution, arbitrary arrests or expropriation.”
2018-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8373 (2018) · source
“Doing so would endanger its credibility and legitimacy and therefore any prospect of achieving a political solution consistent with resolution 2254 (2015). We are looking forward to Staffan de Mistura's next report on the progress achieved in the Security Council. Finally, I want to say a word on refugees and reconstruction. We repeatedly hear suggestions these days from Russia, Iran and the Syrian regime that it is time for the return of refugees and for reconstruction. Let me say first that Germany has made very significant contributions to alleviating the suffering of the Syrian people by contributing to the financing of humanitarian assistance, and we will continue to do so. With respect to returns, Germany, too, certainly supports the return of Syrian refugees to their homes, but only if and once the conditions are ripe.”
2018-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8373 (2018) · source
“Now is the time to start working towards an inclusive, credible and sustainable political solution in Syria, in accordance with resolution 2254 (2015). Germany therefore fully supports the Special Envoy's efforts and his clear mandate to convene a constitutional committee as quickly as possible, as the members of the small group called for in their statement of 27 September. The Special Envoy's clear mandate to form a credible and inclusive constitutional committee must be respected. In that regard, Russia and the Syrian regime must live up to their Sochi commitments. That includes respecting the fact that it is solely the Special Envoy's prerogative to select the independent members of the committee. We urge all parties to refrain from any attempts to manipulate or undermine that process.”
2018-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8373 (2018) · source
“At the same time, we call on Russia and Iran, as Astana guarantors alongside Turkey, to ensure that the ceasefire continues to be fully respected by all parties, including the Syrian regime. We expect them to follow through with their commitment and guarantee the protection of civilians and infrastructure, as well as safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access. On the political process, as Secretary-General Guterres emphasized, with the Idlib agreement now in place the international community must seize the opportunity to move forward with the United Nations-led political process. Otherwise, the military de-escalation will not be sustainable. We need to urgently seize the chance to make progress in the United Nations-led political process.”
2018-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8373 (2018) · source
“I would like to thank the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria for his comprehensive briefing. It is certainly much too early to bid him farewell, but let me take this opportunity to express our deep gratitude for his tireless peace efforts over all these years. It is with great regret that we note the fact that his mission will soon come to an end. Like Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Germany is taking the floor as a member of the Small Group on Syria. I will make three brief points on the situation in Idlib, the political process and refugees. To start with Idlib, we welcome the fact that the Idlib agreement reached by Turkey and Russia has so far prevented a full-scale military offensive by the Syrian regime that could have triggered an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.”
2018-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8373 (2018) · source
“In the field of information technology (IT), Germany supported the creation of several university IT centres, an IT department at the Ministry of Higher Education, and the IT Competence Centre ofAfghanistan in Kabul, as well as the establishment of a computer science master's programme for Afghan lecturers, to offer a few examples. In conclusion, Germany continues to support the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and commends the Head of UNAMA for his great work, as well as the United Nations agencies working in Afghanistan. Germany remains deeply committed to the Afghan people, in close cooperation with the Afghan Government and our international partners. We will certainly make this issue a focus of our upcoming term as a non-permanent member of the Security Council.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8354 (2018) · source
“The average age in Afghanistan, as we have already heard today, is just a little more than 18. More than 40 per cent of its population is under the age of 14. Against that background, it is a truism that children and young people play a tremendously important role in Afghan society. It is also true that we need to increase efforts in basic education, child protection and including younger people in the political process, especially younger women. We see encouraging signs in that regard, but more has to be done. Germany actively contributes to academic infrastructure and formation in Afghanistan.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8354 (2018) · source
“Confidence-building measures, such as ceasefires, are useful, but the Taliban must not be allowed to garner international credit while running away from the negotiating table. The countries of the region, many of which have already spoken today, can contribute greatly. In particular, the policy statements issued by the new Pakistani Government have raised hopes. We have seen some encouraging signs. There is now an opportunity to end the conflict in Afghanistan if Afghans and the international community lend their united support. Thirdly and lastly, with regard to the importance of Afghanistan's young generation, we watched with great satisfaction as Mr. Bakthiar - the first-ever Afghan youth representative to the United Nations - so aptly briefed the Council today. I thank him very much for that.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8354 (2018) · source
“The Afghan people deserve no less, just as they deserve more progress in fighting corruption, establishing the rule of law and respecting human rights. Secondly, with respect to the peace process, with its offer of unconditional talks and the unprecedented June ceasefire, the Afghan Government has shown great courage for the sake of peace, even while the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces are putting their lives at risk to defend Afghan citizens against attacks every day. Those acts of statesmanship on the part of President Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah command our respect. Efforts should now be focused on initiating direct talks between the Afghan Government and the Taliban.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8354 (2018) · source
“Germany aligns itself with the statement delivered by the observer of the European Union. In my own statement, I would like to focus on three issues in particular. First, I would like to speak on the elections, as so many previous speakers have done. Preparations are taking place amid enormous challenges in terms of logistics, security and the political climate. For the first time, Afghan institutions are taking on those challenges on their own, and thanks to their efforts, preparations are largely on track today - at least in a technical sense, as we learned in the briefing - despite all obstacles. It is crucial that those parliamentary elections, which have been postponed several times, do take place. Equally important is that they must be held in a timely, free, fair and transparent manner.”
2018-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8354 (2018) · source
“Germany is an active supporter of the women and peace and security agenda, and will continue to be as a non-permanent member on the Security Council.”
2018-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8334 (2018) · source
“In our mediation efforts in Yemen, Darfur and elsewhere, we are focusing intensely on strengthening civil society and fostering inclusiveness by working on various tracks and ensuring that all views are heard. Experience has shown that the most successful peace processes are supported by the population and benefit from the buy-in of all groups concerned. Crucially, that includes women as agents of change within mediation and reconciliation processes. Crisis prevention and stabilization can succeed only if women have an active role in peace processes and their views are respected. What makes a difference is not only increasing the number ofwomen in mediation processes, but ensuring their influence on their structure and outcome.”
2018-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8334 (2018) · source
“Today, in Yemen, we are facing the world's worst humanitarian crisis, and the situation on the ground is rapidly deteriorating. What is needed most is obviously a political solution. We therefore support the United Nations efforts towards a political process that involves all Yemeni groups. Germany continues to finance and facilitate track-two dialogues, local mediation and reconciliation, and, whenever possible, small-scale stabilization measures. As another example, in Darfur and the Sudan, we are also supporting the ongoing mediation efforts of the Joint Special Representative and Head of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur to reach a lasting political agreement between the Sudanese Government and armed rebel groups, as set out in the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur.”
2018-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8334 (2018) · source
“The Secretariat, the Mediation Support Unit and the Group of Friends have contributed greatly to the promotion of such standards and professional approaches in the area of mediation, which we fully support. For Germany, mediation also plays a key role in its national efforts to support peaceful crisis resolution. That is why we have expanded our engagement in mediation, for instance, by establishing a mediation unit in the Federal Foreign Office and increasing our mediation support significantly. We are keen to work with other Member States and regional organizations to promote mediation as a tool for the peaceful settlement of disputes - a task at the core of the United Nations mission. I will cite the following examples.”
2018-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8334 (2018) · source
“We need more dialogue instead of more confrontation, and more prevention instead of more intervention. Mediation is important to those ends, and the Security Council has a decisive role to play, not least in accordance with Article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations. Germany therefore fully subscribes to presidential statement (S/PRST/2018/1) issued in January, and we encourage the Secretary- General to continue those efforts in that regard. When the Council decides to entrust the Secretary- General, or another actor, with mediating a dispute, it is important that it provides political support, while providing the parties with adequate space to pursue conflict resolution. Adherence to certain standards and principles is critical when designing and conducting mediation processes.”
2018-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8334 (2018) · source
“I would like to thank the President of the Security Council for initiating today's open debate. I thank the briefers for their informative statements. We align ourselves with the statements delivered by the observer of the European Union and the Chair of the Group of Friends of Mediation. Germany very much welcomes the President's emphasis on the importance of mediation. Germany believes that mediation is a key instrument during all phases of conflict, from conflict prevention to stabilization and peacebuilding. It is an integral part of the Secretary-General's reform agenda, which focuses on prevention and sustaining peace, and enjoys our full support. As pressure on our global order intensifies, the need to resolve conflicts peacefully is becoming increasingly urgent.”
2018-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8334 (2018) · source
“We must do more to include them at the United Nations, and we must do more to put issues that are relevant to young people on the agenda of the United Nations. Allow me to assure the Security Council that if elected as a non-permanent member of the Council for the 2019-2020 term, Germany would do its utmost to implement the youth, peace and security agenda and continue to work with young peacebuilders to secure sustainable peace.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“Decent work is the basis for socioeconomic participation and enables young people to have independent lives. But more private-sector dynamism is needed to create new jobs. Germany has launched a number of initiatives in cooperation with the private sector worldwide. In this regard, we work on employment- effective business and cooperation models, demand- oriented training and further education, as well as upscaling and learning initiatives. In the same vein, during Germany's 2017 presidency of the Group of 20 (G-20), members developed the G-20 Initiative for Rural Youth Employment. Allow me to take this opportunity to call upon members of the business community to do their part to harness the positive potential of youth. In conclusion, it is clear that young people's role in sustaining peace is paramount.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“Therefore, while structural factors play a role in radicalization, it is also clear that the actions of Governments and their security forces are another major, sometimes preventable cause. For Germany, that means that when we counter violent extremism and engage in counter-terrorism activities as Member States, we must ensure that all our actions comply with our international human rights obligations. Only this can ensure their effectiveness in the long term. Thirdly and finally, with respect to seeing the positive potential of youth, we have to do more to highlight the overwhelmingly positive influence of young people on our societies, and we can promote this positive influence by focusing on youth training and employment. Employment is a fundamental driver of economic development, and it is the best method of poverty reduction.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“As a final example, Germany also supports the African Women Leaders Initiative, led by the African Union, which has a specific mentoring component for young women. Secondly, with respect to preventing violent extremism, we must gain a better understanding of why young people drift towards extremist groups and what the triggers are. One excellent study on this topic, entitled Journey to Extremism in Africa, was published by the United Nations Development Programme late last year. While the report identifies several triggers for youth involvement in extremism, I would like to highlight one observation in particular. Some 71 per cent of the study's respondents indicated that they had been driven to join extremism by Government action, including the killing of a family member or friend or the arrest of a family member or friend.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source