YouSaid · the spoken record

Secretary-General

lines on the record: 2,998
first: 1995-09-26
most recent: 2021-05-16
sittings or episodes: 363
sources: un-security-council

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“While some missions have straightforward mandates that focus on separating warring parties or monitoring ceasefires in a relatively stable environment, others have more robust mandates, such as to protect civilians and deal with multiple armed groups. The protection of civilians will continue to be a key priority for peacekeeping. We are supporting the African Union Mission in Somalia, which is backed by a Security Council mandate. In Mali, while United Nations peacekeepers are not and should not be directly engaged in fighting terrorism, they coordinate with counter- terrorist forces. The Council recently expressed its support for the regional initiative by Member States in the Lake Chad basin to develop a multinational joint task force to combat Boko Haram.”
2017-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7918 (2017) · source
“However, that trust has been shaken by the appalling cases of sexual exploitation and abuse that have tarnished the image of the Organization as a whole, as well as that of some of our peacekeeping missions. I have presented my plan to combat this scourge and I am determined to implement it, with the support of members. (spoke in English) We need a comprehensive strategy that supports the diverse range of our missions and takes account of the entire peace continuum, from prevention, conflict resolution and peacekeeping to peacebuilding and long- term development. This strategy must be based on two overriding principles. First, there is no one-size-fits-all peace operation.”
2017-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7918 (2017) · source
“In the Secretariat, we must be more effective, more efficient and more accountable for our actions. We are counting on the General Assembly to give us strong political support and to relax the rules and regulations in order to facilitate our work. We rely on troop- and police-contributing countries to deploy dedicated and well-trained personnel. We rely on countries that are near conflict zones and on regional organizations to respect their obligations with regard to peace operations. We rely on the full support of host countries. Above all, we rely on the Council to show unity and to adopt clear and achievable mandates. The United Nations derives its legitimacy from the trust placed in it by the peoples of the world.”
2017-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7918 (2017) · source
“As the High- Level Independent Panel on United Nations Peace Operations clearly stated, our ambitions do not match our capabilities, and our goals are not commensurate with the resources available for them. That is Why peacekeeping operations often seem to be at a standstill and unable to keep up with the magnitude of their task. In many cases Blue Helmets are deployed in places Where peace itself is at stake. At times they have to face hostility and a lack of cooperation from host Governments. At times their security is seriously threatened by terrorism, proliferating arms and the growth of transnational crime. We also see a disconnect between political processes and some of our major operations, which can seem to be at an impasse with no real prospect of progress. Those are the challenges we must face together.”
2017-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7918 (2017) · source
“That is our objective for every peacekeeping mission - to do the job entrusted to it; to save lives; to prevent mass atrocities; to set the stage for stability and sustainable peace; and to close. And, from start to finish, to be cost- effective. Today's peacekeeping budget is less than half of 1 per cent of global military spending. At the start of my first day in office, I laid a wreath to honour the more than 3,500 fallen peacekeepers who have given their lives for the ideals of the United Nations Charter. We owe them a great debt for their dedication and courage. The safety of peacekeepers will remain our priority. (spoke in French) United Nations peacekeeping operations are very diverse and are conducted in extremely complex environments. It is our shared responsibility to enable them to adapt to our changing world.”
2017-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7918 (2017) · source
“United Nations peacekeeping is an investment in global peace, security and prosperity. Around the world, Blue Helmets are the concrete expression of the determination of the Charter of the United Nations "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war". The achievements of peace operations are a source ofgreat pride to us all. When they fail, it causes us pain and drives us to improve. United Nations peacekeepers have contributed to a legacy of stability from El Salvador to Namibia, from East Timor to C6te d'lvoire and from Mozambique to Cambodia. Fifty-four missions have completed their mandates and closed; two more will do so in the coming months.”
2017-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7918 (2017) · source
“In two days, the IGAD Heads of State will meet in Nairobi. I urge the members of the Security Council and the leaders of IGAD to unanimously declare their support for those three objectives and to press the South Sudanese parties to implement them. All of the optimism that accompanied the birth of South Sudan has been shattered by internal divisions, rivalries and the irresponsible behaviour of some of its leaders. As a result, a country that saw a brief glimmer of hope for a better future has plunged back into darkness. We have to do everything in our power to change that.”
2017-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7906 (2017) · source
“For every child who dies, for every woman or girl raped with impunity, for every young boy conscripted into fighting and fed only hatred, there is an angry mother, father, sister or brother plunged into sorrow, feeding the cycle of vengeance. To pull the country back from the abyss and back from a widening famine, we must collectively focus our energies on three immediate objectives. The first is achieving an immediate cessation of hostilities. The second is restoring the peace process, which means ensuring the representation of and consultation with the opposition, civil society and all South Sudanese, regardless of ethnicity, in the transition and in the proposed national dialogue. The third is ensuring unrestricted humanitarian access, including freedom of movement for UNMISS and a future regional protection force.”
2017-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7906 (2017) · source
“But no such force and no amount of diplomacy can substitute for a lack of political will among those who govern the country. There is a strong consensus that South Sudanese leaders need to do more to demonstrate their commitment to the well-being of the country's people, who are among the poorest in the world. If there is to be any hope that those leaders will change their current calculations, greater pressure is needed. That means, first and foremost, that the region and the Security Council must speak with one voice. Let us not underestimate the dangers of South Sudan's trajectory. Atrocity crimes have occurred with impunity, and the potential for serious deterioration remains very real. Credible mechanisms for accountability are a must.”
2017-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7906 (2017) · source
“The United Nations is working with the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to reinvigorate the political process and to resolve long-standing intercommunal disputes in South Sudan and the subregion. We support both the Chair of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, President Festus Mogae, and the African Union High Representative for South Sudan, President Alpha Konare, in their respective roles. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan and the United Nations country team are supporting intercommunal dialogue and local peace conferences. We also continue to work for the deployment of a regional protection force, despite continuing obstacles imposed by the Government of South Sudan.”
2017-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7906 (2017) · source
“Ladsous met with President Kiir, the First Vice President and Cabinet Ministers, and emphasized the critical importance of an inclusive political process for ensuring the well-being of the country's people. Indeed, credible dialogue cannot take place at the point of a gun. When civil-society and opposition members cannot meet or speak freely, when a significant proportion of the population cannot participate in discussions and when numerous communities are displaced or facing starvation, dialogue efforts are unlikely to succeed. The same holds true for elections, which can take place only once stability has returned.”
2017-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7906 (2017) · source
“While President Kiir's statements regarding his intention to hold a national dialogue are welcome, they are not convincing in the context of the ongoing hostilities, the absence of consultations with key stakeholders, the systematic curtailment of basic political freedoms, the restrictions on humanitarian access and the growing fragmentation on both sides of the conflict. Under-Secretary-General Herve Ladsous returned just yesterday from a trip to South Sudan, where he visited the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and acknowledged the important work that our courageous staff are undertaking in the country. He was accompanied by the Under-Secretary-General-designate for Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, who will take up his duties after 1 April. Mr.”
2017-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7906 (2017) · source
“The Government continues to impede deliveries of lifesaving assistance, including through denial of access and bureaucratic impediments. Most recently, the Government decided to institute a massive hike in the price of work permits for aid workers. Yet despite the alarm sounded by the United Nations and the international community over the crisis, the Government has yet to express any meaningful concern or take any tangible steps to address the plight of its people. On the contrary, what we hear most often are denials - a refusal by the leadership to even acknowledge the crisis or fulfil its responsibility to end it. The peace process remains at a standstill.”
2017-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7906 (2017) · source
“Civilians continue to be subjected to horrendous attacks, including rape and the recruitment of children. More than 1.9 million people have been displaced internally, more than 220,000 of whom are seeking safety in protection sites of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). Some 1.6 million people have sought refuge in neighbouring countries. The humanitarian crisis continues to deepen, with 100,000 people enduring famine, 1 million on the verge of that fate and 5.5 million who may be severely food-insecure by the summer. At least 7.5 million people across South Sudan - almost two thirds of the population - need humanitarian assistance. Three years of conflict have eroded livelihoods and disrupted farming, including in the Equatorias, the country's breadbasket. Humanitarian compounds and supplies have been repeatedly looted.”
2017-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7906 (2017) · source
“The Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and the opposition are conducting military operations in a number of areas, with devastating consequences for civilians, who face seemingly endless violence and are being forced to flee their homes. At present, the situation is especially alarming in the greater Upper Nile area, with military clashes along the banks of the River Nile in and around Malakal, in the famine-affected counties of Unity and in previously stable areas of northern Jonglei. In the past three months, the greater Equatoria region has also continued to see high levels of fighting and insecurity, with retaliatory operations by the SPLA and its allied militias against suspected rebel groups and communities that are perceived to support them.”
2017-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7906 (2017) · source
“I thank you, Mr. President, for your presence here today for this important meeting on South Sudan. Before we turn to today's agenda, I would like to once again express our sincere condolences to the people and the Government of the United Kingdom on the loss of life and injuries suffered in yesterday's terrorist attack in London. The United Nations stands with the people of the United Kingdom, as we do with all those who have suffered from the menace of terrorism around the world. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. The conflict in South Sudan continues to generate profound suffering.”
2017-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7906 (2017) · source
“Let us come together around the key issues of prosecution, protection and prevention, and thereby build a future without human trafficking.”
2017-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7898 (2017) · source
“The 2030 Agenda for sustainable Development can also help us break the chains of exploitation. Three of the goals explicitly address human trafficking, including sex trafficking, forced labour, child labour and the recruitment and use of child soldiers. As we engage the private sector as a key partner in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, we need to ensure it takes greater responsibility when sourcing from conflict areas. Better data will be crucial. Funding is critical. The United Nations is also committed not only to supporting victims, but to incorporating their voices and views as we develop and implement anti-trafficking interventions. Finally, at a time of divisions in so many areas, this should be an issue that can unite us.”
2017-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7898 (2017) · source
“I continue to take steps to strengthen our efforts to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse committed under the United Nations flag. Since human trafficking does not respect borders, Member States need to strengthen cooperation on law enforcement, investigations and intelligence-sharing. We also need to strengthen coordination among Member States, civil society, the business community and United Nations entities, including through the Inter-Agency Coordination Group Against Trafficking in Persons. At the same time, we need to get at the underlying vulnerabilities that fuel this phenomenon, for example by empowering girls through education, by respecting the rights of minorities and by establishing safe and legal channels of migration.”
2017-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7898 (2017) · source
“A solid legal and normative framework is in place, including the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocol against Trafficking in Persons, which includes the first internationally agreed definition of the crime of trafficking in persons and provides a framework for effectively preventing and combatting it. ILO conventions and the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons complement the Protocol, and are further key parts of the picture. All of these build on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Under the under the Rome Statue, enslavement can constitute a crime against humanity. United Nations military and civilian personnel must also be held accountable to these standards.”
2017-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7898 (2017) · source
“That is probably why we have seen much greater priority given to fighting drug traffickers than to fighting the traffickers ofhuman beings. Ofcourse, drug trafficking is an awful crime, but to traffic in human beings is, I must, much worse. I believe that it is our duty to really commit ourselves to doing everything we can to make this a clear priority for all Governments and in all forms of international cooperation. There is much that we can do both to punish human trafficking and to prevent it in the first place.”
2017-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7898 (2017) · source
“According to the UNODC December 2016 Global Report on Trafi'icking in Persons, there are hardly any convictions for crimes related to human trafficking in conflict situations or elsewhere. The lack of aggressive investigations and prosecutions only adds to the injustice, allows perpetrators to function without fear, fuels corruption and creates widespread disillusion. Allow me to make another personal reflection in that regard. I remember that when I worked in Government, I never expected my two children to be victims of trafficking, but I always was afraid of the impact of drugs on their lives. I think that is the same with most political leaders around the world. Most political leaders around are afraid of the impact of drugs on their families, but they do not think it likely that their families will be impact by human trafficking.”
2017-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7898 (2017) · source
“The leaders of Boko Haram have also argued that slavery is legal. In other conflicts, other groups force men, women and children under their control to labour in unsafe mines, as porters and domestic servants, and on the frontlines. Fleeing these threats, refugees and displaced people confront new ones. As people take to the road, predators take advantage. Smugglers often coerce and manipulate individuals for profit and make them victims of sex or labour trafficking. Terrorists and violent extremists use sexual enslavement as a tool for recruitment. Drug traffickers use kidnapping and ransom to finance their operations, and criminal gangs force unaccompanied children into a life of petty crime. Moreover, impunity prevails.”
2017-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7898 (2017) · source
“Global supply chains have transformed many lives for the better, but not always without cost. In some situations, clothes, food, smartphones, jewelry and other consumer goods may bear, wittingly or unwittingly, the traces of exploitation. Gleaming new skyscrapers may owe some of their shine to the sweat of bonded laborers. Human trafficking thrives where the rule of law is weak or non-existent. Situations of armed conflict are especially virulent breeding grounds for human trafficking. In some of today's conflicts, we are confronted by armed groups that not only openly engage in enslavement and forced labour, but actually argue that it is legal. In Syria, Da'esh has organized slave markets and even published manuals instructing its fighters on how to capture, control and trade enslaved women and girls.”
2017-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7898 (2017) · source
“According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), victims can be found in 106 countries. The International Labour Organization (ILO) reports that 21 million people around the world are victims of forced labour and extreme exploitation. Annual profits are estimated to be $150 billion. Beyond these numbers is the human toll: the lives cut short, the families and societies torn apart, and the gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. Human trafficking takes many forms. Women and girls in particular are targeted again and again and again. We see brutal sexual exploitation, including forced prostitution, forced marriage and sexual slavery. We see the appalling trade in human organs. Let us also remember that modern manifestations of servitude may touch and even implicate us all.”
2017-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7898 (2017) · source
“I thank the United Kingdom for convening this meeting, which builds on last December's adoption of the far-reaching resolution 2331 (2016), targeting human trafficking in conflict situations. Allow me to start with a short personal reflection. I come from a country that, for centuries, engaged in the cruel trade in human beings. It is part of our history that we will never allowed to be forgotten. Of course, Portugal ultimately outlawed slavery in the nineteenth century, and a global norm against it has now long been in place. Indeed, the very conscience of the United Nations was shaped by that disgraceful violation of human dignity. I wish that I could say that human trafficking is a thing of the past. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Trafficking networks have gone global.”
2017-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7898 (2017) · source
“That is essential for safeguarding stability and cooperation in Europe and beyond, based on mutual trust and respect. The United Nations and I, personally, stand ready to lend our support.”
2017-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7886 (2017) · source
“And I encourage the States Members of the United Nations, the Council, regional mechanisms and all stakeholders to intensify their efforts to define a peace and security agenda aimed at addressing today's complex challenges. The status quo is not sustainable. The United Nations has globally tried-and-tested tools, norms, agendas, lessons learned and best practices for mediation, the promotion of dialogue, early warning and early action, preventing and resolving conflicts, and peacebuilding. They are readily available to Member States and regional mechanisms engaged in such efforts. I urge all those with influence to step up their efforts to resolve existing conflicts and to prevent tensions from escalating into new conflicts.”
2017-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7886 (2017) · source
“Economic progress and sustainable development are based on long-term stability, which, in turn, requires peace and security and respect for human rights. No single factor can be blamed for the emergence and continuation of conflicts in Europe. In many cases, peace agreements are simply not being implemented. Other factors include challenges to democratic governance and the rule of law, and the manipulation of ethnic, economic, religious and communal tensions for personal or political gain, fuelled in part by worsening geopolitical rivalries. Whatever the causes may be, the inability ofregional and international institutions, including our own, to prevent and resolve conflicts is seriously undermining their credibility and making it more difficult for them to succeed in the future. I call for honest reflection on this vicious cycle.”
2017-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7886 (2017) · source
“In Ukraine and in all other conflicts, I urge all stakeholders to avoid unilateral steps or attempts to create facts on the ground, which further complicate and endanger efforts to find negotiated settlements. That is especially relevant in view of the latest actions taken in relation to the conflicts in eastern Ukraine and the South Caucasus. The international community must guard against such steps. Conflict in Europe is not only a tragedy for those directly involved; those killed, injured or displaced, or who have lost loved ones, may be unable to access health care and are missing vital years of their education. It is also reversing development gains and preventing communities and societies from achieving their full potential and contributing to regional and global prosperity.”
2017-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7886 (2017) · source
“The United Nations fully supports the efforts within the Normandy Four, the Trilateral Contact Group, and the OSCE's Special Monitoring Mission, and has repeatedly called for the full implementation by all sides of all of their commitments under the Minsk process, both in letter and in spirit. We need an immediate and full ceasefire. I take note of the Normandy format meeting on 18 February, endorsing the most recent ceasefire measures agreed by the Trilateral Contact Group effective yesterday, including the immediate withdrawal of heavy weaponry. I hope that that will finally translate into real progress towards peace, which is long overdue for the people of eastern Ukraine. I urge all sides to give the highest priority to protecting civilians.”
2017-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7886 (2017) · source
“The ongoing tragic conflict in Ukraine illustrates that localized violence has the potential to escalate into more serious confrontations. They can have geopolitical consequences that risk undermining regional and international peace and security. Direct challenges to national sovereignty and territorial integrity are reminders that we must collectively work to preserve and strengthen a rules-based international order so as to maintain peace and security, in accordance with the Charter. In accordance with the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, the United Nations remains committed to supporting a peaceful resolution of the conflict, in a manner that fully upholds the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine.”
2017-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7886 (2017) · source
“I urge continued efforts to promote the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina and to resolve the long-standing "name issue" between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The crises in Georgia in 2008 and in Ukraine in 2014 show that Europe remains at risk from new outbreaks of conflict. The United Nations fully supports the Geneva international discussions, which will soon enter their tenth year and urges the participants to demonstrate the political will to find creative solutions for the benefit of all. Some progress has recently been made, including on humanitarian issues, but much more should be done to resolve key peace and security issues. There is an urgent need for agreement on the non-use of force, the freedom of movement and internally displaced people.”
2017-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7886 (2017) · source
“I urge all concerned to show greater political will, so as not only to strengthen the ceasefire regime and implement previous commitments but also to renew a sustainable and comprehensive negotiating process. The Transnistrian conflict in Moldova is also unresolved. The 5+2 process, led by the OSCE, has made some progress but more needs to be done in order to achieve a lasting settlement for the benefit of residents on both banks of the Dniester river. In the Western Balkans, the devastating conflicts ofthe 1990s have left a damaging legacy, where reconciliation and peacebuilding efforts are incomplete. It is crucial to guard against the erosion of the progress made over the past 20 years in Bosnia and Herzegovina and elsewhere.”
2017-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7886 (2017) · source
“The United Nations system is also fully engaged on the ground in peacebuilding, governance, human rights, development and the rule of law. Such multi-dimensional work is at the nexus between conflict prevention and sustaining peace, supporting stability in the region and beyond. The term "frozen conflict", which is often used to refer to conflicts in Europe is misleading. Until peace agreements are signed and implemented, the risk of renewed violence remains, as we saw last April in Nagorno-Karabakh in the South Caucasus. The United Nations fully supports the efforts of the OSCE's Minsk Group and urges the parties to the conflict to de-escalate tensions and fully implement agreed conflict-prevention measures.”
2017-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7886 (2017) · source
“The United Nations is working alongside the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the European Union (EU) in co-chairing the Geneva international discussions on Georgia. In the Balkans, we have been working closely with our regional partners to support sustainable peace in Kosovo, in the context of resolution 1244 (1999). Thanks to the efforts of my Special Envoy, the United Nations is facilitating discussions aimed at addressing the so-called name issue between the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Greece. Elsewhere, our work complements the efforts of regional actors and mechanisms, including the OSCE, the EU and others, to address situations in the South Caucasus and Moldova, as well as the current conflict in Ukraine.”
2017-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7886 (2017) · source
“At a time when serious conflicts persist in Europe, new issues and threats have emerged - populism, nationalism, xenophobia and violent extremism are the causes and repercussions of conflicts. (spoke in English) The Security Council is seized of many of the conflict situations in the region. The United Nations is working in a complementary way with regional organizations and mechanisms that were created to deal with those challenges in line with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. We are leading some of the peace efforts in Europe, including negotiations to reach a comprehensive and durable settlement to the long-standing Cyprus question. The United Nations and I personally are at the disposal of the two Cypriot communities and of the guarantor Powers to support a search for a solution that is acceptable to all.”
2017-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7886 (2017) · source
“(spoke in French) European leaders have developed a sophisticated collective peace-and-security apparatus and have striven to promote human rights - civil and political rights, as well as social, economic and cultural rights. Many European societies are multicultural, multi-faith and multi-ethnic. The countries and communities that have invested politically and economically in cohesion and inclusion have shown that diversity spawns creativity and innovation. That being said, we should not take peace and prosperity in Europe for granted. The transition to a multipolar world has increased uncertainties and risks. We need multilateral institutions and sound regional organizations to maintain peace and stability as we address today's new and dangerous challenges.”
2017-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7886 (2017) · source
“I thank the Ukrainian Presidency for convening this meeting, which is an opportunity to build on last month's debate on preventing conflict (see S/PV.7857) in the most tangible and concrete ways. The two global conflicts that ignited in Europe during the first half of the last century played a foundational role in the United Nations and in the SecurityCouncil,whichwasbornfromanoverwhelming conviction that such wars can and must be prevented. For the past 70 years, the countries of Europe have been at the forefront of conflict prevention. European institutions have shown the effectiveness of binding countries together with rules-based mechanisms to resolve differences without resorting to violence.”
2017-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7886 (2017) · source
“He was also a man with a remarkable sense of humour and an enormous warmth that would make us all feel a natural tendency to become friends. I want to express my deepest condolences to Mrs. Irina Churkina, to Vitaly's family, to the Government and the people of the Russian Federation, and most especially to Vitaly Churkin's colleagues in the Russian Mission and in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. I think Vitaly's passing represents a deep loss for all of us at the United Nations, including for the members of the Security Council, where his distinctive voice was ever present over the past decade and where that voice will indeed be missed in the sessions to come.”
2017-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7886 (2017) · source
“I was flying yesterday evening from Lisbon to New York when, during the flight, one of the flight attendants came to me with a small note saying that it was coming from the Captain. The note said that Vitaly Churkin had passed away. I must confess that my first reaction was not to believe it. I had not had the opportunity to work with him for a long time, as has happened with many other members of the Security Council, but I always felt that he was one of those persons who represent life itself. Unfortunately, it was not ajoke in bad taste, nor was it misinformation; it was the truth. I believe that Vitaly Churkin was not only an outstanding diplomat, but an extraordinary human being who possessed a unique combination of intelligence, knowledge, and firmness in the expression of his beliefs.”
2017-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7886 (2017) · source
“If we live up to our responsibilities, we will save lives, reduce suffering and give hope to millions. Allow me to repeat the appeal I made 10 days ago in my first message as Secretary-General: Let us make this year, 2017, a year for peace. I think it would be naive to say that 2017 will be a year of peace, but at least it is our obligation to do everything we can to make it a year for peace.”
2017-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7857 (2017) · source
“The Council, working with the Peacebuilding Commission, all other parts of the United Nations system and regional organizations, can enable faster preventive action when the warning signs are there. The cost of inaction is simply too high. War is never inevitable. It is always a matter of choice: the choice to exclude, to discriminate, to marginalize and to resort to violence. By restoring trust between Governments and their citizens and among Member States, we can prevent and avoid conflict. But peace, too, is never inevitable. It is the result of difficult decisions, hard work and compromise. We should never take it for granted, but should prize and nurture it in every country, at every time. Prevention is not merely a priority, but the priority.”
2017-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7857 (2017) · source
“It is an essential means ofreducing human suffering and enabling people to reach their full potential. International cooperation for prevention, in particular translating early warning into early action, depends upon trust between Member States and in their relations with the United Nations. I stand ready to foster a more trusting relationship and to improve communications with the Council, with consistency, candour and transparency. Disagreements about the past cannot be allowed to prevent us from acting today. Together, we need to demonstrate leadership and strengthen the credibility and authority of the United Nations by putting peace first. Ending the boundless human suffering and the wanton waste of resources generated by conflict is in everyone's interests.”
2017-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7857 (2017) · source
“Too many prevention opportunities have been lost because Member States mistrusted each other's motives, and because ofconcerns over national sovereignty. Such concerns are understandable, in a world where power is unequal and principles have sometimes been applied selectively. Indeed, prevention should never be used to serve other political goals. On the contrary, prevention is best served by strong sovereign States, acting for the good of their people. In taking preventive action, we need to avoid double standards. But that does not mean there are no standards at all. Preventive action is essential to avert mass atrocities and grave abuses of human rights. And we can achieve that only through reasoned discussion, based on facts and the pursuit of truth. Prevention must consistently be seen as a value in itself.”
2017-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7857 (2017) · source
“Civil society has a role to play in raising the alarm when such respect is threatened or lost. We must commit to a surge in diplomacy for peace, in partnership with regional organizations, while mobilizing the entire range of those with influence, from religious authorities to civil society and the business community. We will launch an initiative to enhance our mediation capacity, both at United Nations Headquarters and in the field, and to support regional and national mediation efforts. I ask the Security Council to make greater use of the options laid out in Chapter VI of the Charter of the United Nations. I am prepared to support the Council through the use of my good offices and through my personal engagement.”
2017-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7857 (2017) · source
“It is also crucial to resolve the global scourge of youth unemployment, not only to ensure their development but also to prevent instability and social conflicts and to reduce violent extremism. Combating youth unemployment should not just be an absolute priority in national development policies, but also a priority in international cooperation. (spoke in English) As societies become multi-ethnic, multireligious and multicultural, we will need greater political, cultural and economic investments in inclusivity and cohesion, so that people appreciate the benefits of diversity rather than perceiving it as a threat. All groups need to see that their individual identities are respected, while feeling that they belong as valued members of the community as a whole.”
2017-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7857 (2017) · source
“The Human Rights Up Front initiative, which also seeks to integrate the issues of peace and security, human rights and sustainable development, will allow us continue to strengthen the capacities of the United Nations in this field. Humanitarian agencies and development actors need to work together to help States prevent crises and strengthen the resilience of their societies. The current fragmented system does not give us the capacity to address the root causes of conflict. It is essential to ensure that women and girls participate fully in building inclusive and resilient societies. Where gender equality permeates the social fabric and women and men face difficulties as equal partners, societies have a much better chance of achieving stability and preserving human dignity and prosperity.”
2017-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7857 (2017) · source
“This work will enable us to link the reform of our peace and security architecture with the reform of the United Nations development system, while respecting the specific areas of competence of the Security Council and the General Assembly. We need the support of both organs for our efforts to build and sustain peace across the continuum, from prevention, conflict resolution and peacekeeping to peacebuilding and long-term development. The primary work of conflict prevention lies with Member States. (spoke in French) The United Nations system as a whole must stand ready to assist Governments in implementing Agenda 2030, strengthening governance and institutions, and promoting the rule of law and all human rights: civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights.”
2017-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7857 (2017) · source
“We must rebalance our approach to peace and security. For decades, this has been dominated by responding to conflict. For the future, we need to do far more to prevent war and sustain peace. The reforms I am setting in motion aim to achieve this. I have started with the decision-making processes in the Secretariat. The newly established Executive Committee will increase our capacity to integrate all pillars of the United Nations under a common vision for action. I have appointed a senior adviser on policy, whose main task will be to map the prevention capacities of the United Nations system and to bring them together into an integrated platform for early detection and action.”
2017-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7857 (2017) · source