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Secretary-General

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2,998

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1995-09-26

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2021-05-16

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un-security-council

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1. “This summer, the CTITF and the Government of Switzerland will host a conference of counter-terrorism focal points aimed at addressing conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism. Attention to the conditions that are conducive to terrorism does not in any way diminish the importance of other counter-terrorism priorities. The financing of terrorism remains a key threat, and States requires capacity-building in response. The Counter-Terrorism Committee's special meeting on the subject in November 2012, chaired by Ambassador Puri of India, was an important step.”

   2013-01-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6900 (2013) · source

2. “This is yet another arena where we have to replace the terrorist narrative with messages of peace, development and human welfare. Progress in all these areas will demand the steady efforts of States, individually and collectively. I welcome three upcoming international conferences. In April, a new project on human rights training for counter-terrorism law enforcement officials will hold its first conference in Amman. The Counter- Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) working group on human rights while countering terrorism is organizing that event. In two weeks, Governments will gather in Bogota for the International Conference on National and Regional Counter-Terrorism Strategies, organized by the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre of the CTITF.”

   2013-01-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6900 (2013) · source

3. “Today, I would like to highlight three aspects of that pillar. The first aspect is the critical links between development and security. Nothing can ever justify terrorism. No grievance, no goal, no cause can excuse terrorist acts. At the same time, we must remove the conditions that feed the problem. Terrorism festers where conflicts are endemic and where human rights, human dignity and human life are not protected and impunity prevails. Second is the importance of dialogue and understanding. We have to drown out shrill appeals to intolerance and extremism with sound calls for compassion and moderation. Third is the increasing use of information technology to spread hatred. Terrorists and extremists are exploiting social media networks to radicalize people.”

   2013-01-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6900 (2013) · source

4. “Meeting as the New Year begins, we are challenged to look back on what we have accomplished in countering terrorism and to look ahead regarding how to overcome this deadly threat. The past year saw solid progress. In June, the General Assembly recommitted to the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Through a consensus resolution (General Assembly resolution 66/282), the Assembly strengthened our resolve to support victims of terrorism everywhere. It reaffirmed our commitment to a comprehensive approach to terrorism, grounded in respect for human rights and the rule of law. No counter-terrorism policy can be effective without addressing conditions that are conducive to the spread of terrorism. That is the first pillar of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.”

   2013-01-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6900 (2013) · source

5. “I am pleased to welcome Her Excellency Foreign Minister Khar back to the United Nations. I thank Pakistan for convening this important debate. As this is my first time to address the Council this year, I would like to warmly welcome all the members of the Security Council and to affirm that I count on their leadership. At the same time, I would like to warmly welcome the new members of the Council - the representatives of Argentina, Australia, Luxembourg, the Republic of Korea and Rwanda. In the light of recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan, I want to repeat my heartfelt condolences to the Victims and to reiterate the United Nations strong support for, and solidarity with, the Government's efforts to combat terrorism and defend the country's institutions and freedoms.”

   2013-01-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6900 (2013) · source

6. “This approach is reflected in the Peacebuilding Commission's instruments of engagement and has been endorsed by the Group of Seven Plus and its development partners. Transition compacts can provide a basis for improved trust and deeper partnerships between countries emerging from conflict and the wider international community. I encourage Member States to support their development and use. For development partners, this entails a greater willingness to use national oversight and financial systems, and to assume risk. Pooled funds, such as the Peacebuilding Fund, can help to reduce such risk. Post-conflict countries, development partners and the United Nations all have their part to play in translating these insights into practice. I stand ready to report further on this pursuit so that, together, we can get peacebuilding right.”

   2012-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6897 (2012) · source

7. “Good governance and the rule of law, as well as effective, transparent, accountable and democratic institutions, are critical for sustainable development. Member States recognized that at this year's United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, and the current discussions on the post-2015 development agenda offer an opportunity to take this recognition forward. Building institutions and other peacebuilding tasks can take a generation. This highlights the need for sustained international political and financial support. It also underscores the importance of mutual accountability over the long term, which creates a more balanced partnership between donors and recipient Governments.”

   2012-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6897 (2012) · source

8. “There is a vital need for an early focus on restoring core administrative and financial management systems, and on delivering social services. Strengthening institutions means strengthening the rule of law. Member States have recognized, in the Declaration of the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Rule of Law at the National and International Levels (resolution 67/1), adopted by the General Assembly in September, the importance of rule of law institutions that are accessible and responsive to the needs and rights of all individuals, and that promote trust, social cohesion and economic prosperity. Efforts in this area should include ensuring full and equal access to informal institutions, as well as strengthening the interface between formal and informal institutions.”

   2012-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6897 (2012) · source

9. “Inclusive processes anchored in the rule of law also lower corruption and make public administration more transparent and predictable, and social service delivery more effective. Our support to Yemen's transition shows how the United Nations is pursuing an inclusive approach. My Special Adviser has engaged with a range of opposition groups, youth, women and civil society organizations, paving the way for their participation in the national dialogue conference and laying the foundations for subsequent stages of the transition. Functioning institutions are essential for establishing popular confidence in the State and preventing violent conflict. For the international community, a key challenge is balancing long-term support for institution-building with the need to demonstrate early and tangible outcomes that benefit people.”

   2012-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6897 (2012) · source

10. “The reasons for relapse vary by country, but there is a common thread - a deficit of trust in the wake of conflict between different political parties and social groups, between State and society, and between the State and its international partners. Experience has revealed three elements that are critical to preventing relapse and producing more resilient States and societies: inclusivity, institution-building, and sustained international support. Inclusive approaches to peacebuilding begin with political settlements and convincing all parties to a conflict that their core objectives can be resolved through dialogue and negotiation, rather than through recourse to violence.”

    2012-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6897 (2012) · source

11. “Our progress in supporting the participation of women in peacebuilding has been more mixed. There have been notable achievements in the areas of conflict resolution, gender- responsive planning, financing and the rule of law. However, there has been less progress in governance and economic recovery. Much more remains to be done to implement the seven-point action plan in my 2010 report on women's participation in peacebuilding (S/2012/466). Despite the strides we have made, major peacebuilding challenges remain. Many countries continue to experience instability years after the end of armed conflict, with high levels of relapse into violence. Ninety per cent of conflicts between 2000 and 2009 occurred in countries that had previously experienced civil war.”

    2012-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6897 (2012) · source

12. “I also laid out an action agenda for an improved response by the United Nations system during this period. The United Nations has made significant progress in advancing that agenda. United Nations missions and country teams are working more closely together. The United Nations has also become more agile in deploying senior leaders, specialized experts and staff to the field. We have strengthened and expanded our partnerships, including with the World Bank and regional organizations. And through the civilian capacity initiative, we are broadening and deepening the pool of institution-building expertise in key capacity gap areas. The outcome of these various efforts has been a more coherent, timely and effective response to the immediate post-conflict priorities.”

    2012-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6897 (2012) · source

13. “I commend Morocco for its initiative in convening this open debate. Peacebuilding is one of the main objectives of the United Nations. It brings together actors from across the United Nations system, my envoys and representatives, whose negotiation and mediation efforts help to achieve and sustain political settlements; political and peacekeeping missions, which assist in implementing peace and transition agreements and lay the foundations for sustainable peace; and the agencies, funds and programmes whose efforts deliver peace dividends, support recovery and kick-start development. In my 2009 report (S/2009/304) on peacebuilding in the immediate aftermath of conflict, I identified the first two years after the end of conflict as the key window of opportunity to begin building sustainable peace.”

    2012-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6897 (2012) · source

14. “Earlier this year, I launched our Sustainable Energy for All initiative. With the right investments and support, the Sahel is ideally situated to be a global showcase for solar energy. Mr. Prodi is here to provide an update on our overall efforts and his thoughts on the way forward. For my part, I call on the members of the Council and the wider international community to continue to support our efforts to support the strategy. We simply must not relent until peace and stability have been restored to the region.”

    2012-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6882 (2012) · source

15. “We know that building resilient societies and institutions yields big returns. It increases the impact and cost- effectiveness of humanitarian and development assistance. Doing it right will require coordinating United Nations system-wide efforts and linking the existing national initiatives to region-wide approaches. Resolution 2056 (2012) recognized the need for an integrated strategy addressing all dimensions of the crisis. We presented a framework during a high-level meeting in September. I also appointed Mr. Romano Prodi as my Special Envoy for the Sahel, who will report to the Council more in detail. He is focusing on four key issues: security, governance, humanitarian requirements and development. Let me point to just one area in the field of development that could make a difference.”

    2012-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6882 (2012) · source

16. “Political turmoil, terrorist activity, drug trafficking and arms smuggling are spilling over borders and threatening peace and security. Extreme climatic conditions and fragile economies only add to that toxic brew of vulnerability. This year alone, an estimated 18.7 million people have been affected by food insecurity. Over one million children under the age of five are at risk of acute malnutrition. The Governments and people of the Sahel region need our full support. The United Nations has mobilized over $1 billion to support the countries of the region in responding to the immediate needs of affected populations. The recent rainfall promises a better harvest this season, which should help ease food insecurity. However, much more needs to be done. We must strengthen resilience across the region.”

    2012-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6882 (2012) · source

17. “I thank Mr. El Othmani for organizing this important open debate on the situation in the Sahel. Last week (see S/PV.6879), the Council heard the presentation of my report on Mali (8/2012/894) pursuant to resolution 2071 (2012). I know that Council members are currently considering a draft resolution regarding Mali. But as acute as the problems there are, we cannot lose sight of the context of which Mali is but a part, namely, a sustained, systemic crisis across the entire Sahel region. What happens in Mali can affect the entire region. Likewise, we cannot expect to address effectively the issues in Mali, unless we confront the challenges affecting the broader region. I am grateful to the Moroccan presidency for providing us the opportunity to discuss the bigger picture. The warning lights for the Sahel region continue to flash.”

    2012-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6882 (2012) · source

18. “Iplan to keep in touch with world leaders, and I have asked my Special Coordinator, Robert Serry, to remain in Cairo to support the efforts to achieve a sustainable ceasefire. Finally, let me conclude by stressing, as Ihave during all my discussions during this intense trip, that in these testing times, when the entire region is experiencing profound transformations, we must not lose sight of the fact that peace must remain our ultimate priority goal. Our devotion to a two-State solution ending a prolonged occupation and ending the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is more urgent than ever. Achieving that vision, which has been affirmed repeatedly by the Council, is long overdue and paramount to the stability of the region. Only a just, comprehensive peace can bring lasting security to all. I am leaving shortly for New York.”

    2012-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6869 (2012) · source

19. “We need the ceasefire now, followed immediately by negotiations on the underlying issues. That is the sequence that can save lives now. The crisis underscored that the status quo is unsustainable and that long-term solutions must be found to the problems of Gaza, and for the Palestinians as a whole. Core elements of resolution 1860 (2009) remain unimplemented. Once calm is fully restored and the violence ends, a broader ceasefire will have to address all the underlying causes of conflict, including a full opening of the crossings, Palestinian reconciliation and an end to weapon-smuggling. It is clear that the international community must speak with one voice to prevent areturn to violence.”

    2012-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6869 (2012) · source

20. “He also reiterated the need to address the underlying issues of concern to both sides, so that the ceasefire could be sustainable. In addition, President Morsy expressed his concern that the comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace, to which Egypt is committed, had not yet been achieved. I underscored the importance of President Morsy's efforts given his leadership and contacts with all sides. I know that Palestinians and Israelis both have fundamental concerns about the status quo ante. As President Morsy said, those underlying issues need to be addressed. The United Nations is prepared to help to facilitate all efforts in that regard. But people are dying every day and cities are being targeted every day. The humanitarian crisis is growing exponentially the longer the crisis continues.”

    2012-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6869 (2012) · source

21. “It is unacceptable for citizens on both sides to permanently live in fear of the next strike. Put simply, all parties must respect international humanitarian law to ensure the protection of all civilians at all times. Earlier today, I travelled to Egypt for the second time this trip to support the ceasefire talks in the final phase taking place under the auspices of President Morsy, with the active support of several regional and international leaders. Visits of Foreign Ministers of several countries, including France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States and many Arab countries were a further strong indication of the concerns ofthe international community and its shared goal of stopping the violence. In my meeting with President Morsy only hours ago, he said that he was very close in his effort to achieve a ceasefire.”

    2012-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6869 (2012) · source

22. “Air strikes targeted sites across the Gaza Strip and included, but were not limited to, rocket-launching sites, military bases, police stations and tunnels along the border with Egypt. The Israeli Air Force also targeted residential and office buildings that the IDF said belonged to members of Palestinian armed groups. Hundreds of buildings were hit by Israeli Air Force attacks. Media office and personnel of Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa television were targeted on 18 and 20 November, resulting in the deaths of three media professionals and injuries to 10 others. I consistently condemn indiscriminate rocket fire from Gaza into Israel. At the same time, I also believe that the excessive and disproportionate use of force that endangers civilian lives is intolerable.”

    2012-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6869 (2012) · source

23. “One Israeli soldier was killed yesterday, and 16 Israeli soldiers have been wounded, one critically. Overall, in the same period, more than 1,456 rockets have been fired from Gaza into Israel. One hundred and forty-two fell inside Gaza itself. Approximately 409 were intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile system. Ten Fajr-S missiles were shot at Tel Aviv suburbs and the sea, five of which were intercepted by the Iron Dome system. Three long-range missiles hit the outskirts of Jerusalem, which is unprecedented. Since Israel's targeted assassination from the air, on 14 November, of Ahmed Al-Jaabari, the chief of the military wing of Hamas, and with Israel's offensive in Gaza in its eighth day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) publicly reported that it had conducted strikes against more than 1,450 targets in Gaza.”

    2012-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6869 (2012) · source

24. “UNRWA has emphasized the critical need to support ongoing programmes on food assistance, health and sanitation, which are experiencing funding shortfalls and will now be burdened by having to support additional displaced persons. I am asking our emergency and humanitarian teams to be prepared to do whatever they can to alleviate the suffering. Attacks on both sides continued today as the ceasefire approached. The bombing today in Tel Aviv injured 23 people, including three severely. The indiscriminate firing of rockets targeting Israel also continued. One long-range rocket landed in the outskirts ofJerusalem yesterday, with no injuries reported. Since 14 November, rocket fire has resulted in the deaths of four Israeli civilians, with 219 reported injured, most of them civilians. Three are in serious condition.”

    2012-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6869 (2012) · source

25. “Innocent people, including children, have been killed and injured on both sides. Families on both sides were forced to cower in fear as the violence raged around them. It pained me to be back here under circumstances similar to those that prevailed when I visited in 2009 during Operation Cast Lead. Recent events have been eerily reminiscent. This morning, I heard from the United Nations team in Gaza. They reported on the impact of violence, including increased civilian casualties, which reached more than 139 Palestinians killed, more than 70 of them civilians, and more than 900 injured, with the displacement of 10,000 Gazans, who are now in 12 schools of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and two others run by local authorities.”

    2012-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6869 (2012) · source

26. “This brought us to an important moment, after a week of intensive diplomacy to reach a ceasefire. In that regard, I met with Egyptian President Morsy, League of Arab States Secretary-General Elaraby, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Palestinian President Abbas, Jordan's King Abdullah and Foreign Minister Judeh and many other leaders in each location, including the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Egypt, the Minister ofDefence, the Foreign Minister and President of Israel, and Prime Minister Fayyad. I also met with United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton while in Jerusalem. I have just spoken with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel for a second time today. My paramount concern throughout has been for the safety and well-being of all civilians, no matter where they are.”

    2012-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6869 (2012) · source

27. “Our focus now must be on ensuring that the ceasefire holds and that all those in need in Gaza - and there are many - receive the humanitarian assistance they need. It is a huge relief for the people of Gaza and Israel and for the international community that the violence is stopping, but we are all aware of the risks, and we are all aware that there are many details that must be solidified if a broad, durable ceasefire is to take firm hold over the longer term. It is imperative that both sides stick to the ceasefire in order to allow these underlying issues to be addressed in a sustainable fashion. Today's announcement follows a week of devastating violence in southern Israel and Gaza, including the terror attack today on a bus in downtown Tel Aviv, which I strongly and immediately condemned.”

    2012-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6869 (2012) · source

28. “I thank you, Sir, for the opportunity to brief the Council today on my three-day visit to Egypt, Israel, the occupied Palestinian territories and Jordan. Since the situation in Gaza and Israel escalated last week, I made it my priority to contribute to efforts to halt the violence, with the priority aim of protecting civilians. I cancelled a previously planned trip to travel to the Middle East instead as a clear signal of the need for international diplomatic mobilization to prevent a further escalation that would put the whole region at risk, and to strengthen the commendable efforts, led by Egypt, to reach a ceasefire. I warmly welcome today's ceasefire announcement. I commend the parties for stepping back from the brink, and I commend President Morsy of Egypt for his exceptional leadership.”

    2012-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6869 (2012) · source

29. “Let us do everything we can to see that the Council and the Court work together to deliver both justice and peace. I look forward to a constructive discussion.”

    2012-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6849 (2012) · source

30. “In addition, its outreach work is intended to stop cycles of violence from recurring. The Council and the Court can also support each other in building local justice responses and in strengthening the rule of law. The Council and the Court frequently operate in the same political space. They share a common interest. The Court can help advance the purposes of the United Nations - above all, to maintain international peace and security. The Council, by understanding and respecting the work of the Court, can advance its own cause and better discharge its responsibilities In this new age of accountability, in this period of growing demands for justice, let us do our utmost to draw solid lessons from a decade of advances and challenges.”

    2012-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6849 (2012) · source

31. “Justice is crucial for breaking cycles of violence and fragility. Even the possibility of ICC engagement in a given situation can create an incentive to set up local mechanisms to deliver justice. That gives the Council a critical role to play when mandating peacekeeping or special political missions: to strengthen the national capacity of a country to prosecute serious crimes. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for example, the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission has worked with the national authorities to set up and support prosecution support cells to investigate and prosecute serious crimes in the eastern part of the country. The Court, for its part, can help to strengthen national responses to serious crimes through the domestic incorporation of provisions of the Rome Statute.”

    2012-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6849 (2012) · source

32. “In that regard, the Council, where it has referred a situation to the Prosecutor, can greatly assist the Court by acting to secure the necessary level of cooperation from Member States. Ten years have passed since the Rome Statute entered into force and the world's first permanent international criminal court became a new part of the global system. A considerable amount of experience has been accumulated since that time. We have seen the value of a Court that pursues justice in all regions. We have seen how the actions and inaction of the Court and the Security Council can have an impact on each other. Most importantly, we have seen how the activities of each one can assist the other. Only if perpetrators of grave crimes are prosecuted and held to account can there be any hope that future such crimes will be prevented and peace preserved.”

    2012-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6849 (2012) · source

33. “That is its strength, its distinctive virtue. It also, frankly, presents challenges to those who have to navigate the new environment that is created when justice enters the scene. When the Court takes up a situation, whether because of a Security Council referral or otherwise, the whole landscape changes. It is likely to keep changing, as cases are investigated, arrest warrants are issued, suspects are detained and transferred to The Hague, trials are opened and verdicts and sentences are handed down. The Court and Council both operate in that fluid setting, and both should explore the many ways in which they can complement and leverage each other's work, from prevention to enforcement.”

    2012-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6849 (2012) · source

34. “The grave crimes that the ICC deals with threaten, in the words of the Rome Statute, the peace, security and well-being of the world, the very peace and security that the Council is charged to maintain. It is not surprising, then, to find the Court investigating, prosecuting and trying situations that are on the Council's agenda, such as those concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire and the Lord's Resistance Army. Of course, the Security Council has itself referred certain situations on its agenda to the Court's Prosecutor, as we saw in the cases of Darfur and Libya. However, the Court is not simply an autonomous international organization. It is also a judicial body, independent and impartial. Once set in motion, justice takes its own inexorable course, unswayed by politics.”

    2012-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6849 (2012) · source

35. “It is an age in which United Nations envoys and representatives will not, as they negotiate and mediate peace agreements, promote or condone amnesty for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes or gross violations of human rights. It is also an age that Security Council has played a central role in bringing about by establishing the tribunals for the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda and Lebanon, and the Special Court for Sierra Leone. At the centre of the new system of international criminal justice stands the International Criminal Court (ICC). In that regard, I welcome warmly the participation of The Honourable Judge Sang-Hyun Song, President of the International Criminal Court. Both the Court and the Council are frequently active in the same situations.”

    2012-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6849 (2012) · source

36. “I thank His Excellency Minister Harold Caballeros for convening this timely discussion. When it comes to peace and justice, we are living in a new world. Those who contemplate committing horrific acts that shock the conscience of humankind can no longer be confident that their heinous crimes will go unpunished. Rulers and warlords who perpetrate atrocities can no longer trade their power for amnesty and then slip away, unpunished, to some safe haven. We live in an age of accountability. It is an age in which there is an ever-growing emphasis on the responsibility of States to end impunity and to prosecute those responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and other egregious crimes.”

    2012-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6849 (2012) · source

37. “I look forward to working even more closely with the League to realize the aspirations of people across the arc ofthe United Nations membership.”

    2012-09-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6841 (2012) · source

38. “The Middle East holds vastpotential for the development of sustainable energy; let us explore what more we can do in the context of my Sustainable Energy for All initiative. Our relationship need not be limited to political action on the immediate crises of the day. Fourthly, let us ensure the success of the transitions that have been set in motion. We must continue to be ready to provide concrete assistance, if and when requested. Outsiders can share their experience and encourage progress - humbly, patiently and respectfully - but the major work has to be done by, and in each, society. At this tumultuous time for the Arab region, people are looking to our organizations to be on their side in the fight forjustice, dignity and opportunity. The League ofArab States is a trusted partner ofthe United Nations.”

    2012-09-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6841 (2012) · source

39. “Those mediation efforts need solid and concrete support from the Council. Looking ahead, I see four areas that merit special attention. First, let us improve the exchange of information. Dialogue between our secretariats should be focused and frequent. Another avenue for enhanced contacts may prove to be the placement of the Office of the Joint Special Representative for Syria and his deputy in Cairo - a possibility that is being explored. Secondly, we should put conflict prevention at the centre of our agenda. The United Nations continues to strengthen its ability to act early while helping regional organizations build capacity for facilitation, mediation and dialogue. Thirdly, let us explore new areas for collaboration.”

    2012-09-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6841 (2012) · source

40. “The League was among the first organizations to publicly acknowledge that the Tunisian revolution was rooted in economic and social disparities and the aspiration for greater freedom and justice. The League was also among the first organizations to condemn the atrocities committed by the former Libyan regime and to urge the international community to take action. Both the United Nations and the League worked to help ensure the transparency of landmark elections in Tunisia and Libya. Our joint role has been most prominent in Syria. Members of the Arab League made significant contributions to the United Nations military observer Mission. Of course, we together appointed, first, Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan and, subsequently, Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi, as our emissaries in the search for a political solution.”

    2012-09-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6841 (2012) · source

41. “Members of the Council should do their part to discourage any escalation and to insist on peaceful solutions that respect the United Nations Charter and international law. There has also been unrest linked to an act of hatred towards one religion that has caused both understandable offence and unacceptable violence. Against that complex backdrop, I welcome this high-level discussion on the partnership between the League and the Council. Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter provides vast opportunities for regional organizations. The Security Council long ago recognized the vital role they can play in consolidating peace agreements and enhancing peace and stability. With a new political era at hand in the Arab world, the Arab League has acquired a new sense of purpose.”

    2012-09-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6841 (2012) · source

42. “I count on the continued generosity of the League's members in providing financial support for the Palestinian Authority and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East at this time of need. I urge members and other members of the international community to do more in both regards. In Syria the conflict has become a threat to regional and international peace and security. A human tragedy is unfolding in full View, but also in the darkness of prisons, under the rubble of entire neighbourhoods and in the traumatized minds of children. I appeal to all with influence to persuade the parties that there is no military solution to this crisis. Tensions in the region are also inflamed over nuclear issues.”

    2012-09-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6841 (2012) · source

43. “We meet at a time of historic and often inspirational change in the Middle East and North Africa. Several momentous transitions in the Arab World are under way, moving ahead with difficulty but in the clear direction of the freedoms that had been denied for so long.Yet, as old orders crumble and new ones struggle to emerge, this is also a time of widespread apprehension and tragic violence. The peace process between Israelis and Palestinians remains stalemated, as the window for a two-State solution narrows dangerously. The League of Arab States Arab Peace Initiative remains an important part of the framework aimed at ending the occupation and achieving a long overdue agreement.”

    2012-09-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6841 (2012) · source

44. “(spoke in French) Looking ahead, it is essential for Malians to take ownership and show leadership. ECOWAS, the African Union, the European Union, key regional countries and bilateral partners should all assist in this endeavour. Many challenges lie ahead. If we are to succeed in restoring peace in Mali and the wider Sahel region, there must be unity of vision and close coordination. The United Nations will continue to do its part.”

    2012-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6820 (2012) · source

45. “I encourage the Security Council to give serious consideration to the imposition of targeted travel and financial sanctions against individuals or groups in Mali engaged in terrorist, religious extremist or criminal activities. The crisis in Mali is complex and multidimensional. Its resolution requires a holistic and comprehensive approach, rather than partial and disconnected measures. I strongly encourage the Government ofMali to develop an overarching political strategy to return the country to constitutional order and re-establish State authority in the north. The strategy should clearly spell out responses to genuine socio-economic and political grievances, the modalities for political dialogue and negotiations, and the aims of eventual military action against extremist forces in the north.”

    2012-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6820 (2012) · source

46. “More than 174,000 people have been internally displaced and more than 253,000 have sought refuge in neighbouring countries. A severe food security and nutrition crisis is now affecting 4.6 million people in Mali and more than 18 million people across the Sahel region. I am also extremely concerned about reports that armed groups in the north are committing serious human rights violations, including summary executions of civilians, rapes and torture. Moreover, the Ansar Dine group deliberately destroyed nine of the 16 mausoleums in Timbuktu, in callous disregard of sites that had been classified by UNESCO as part of the indivisible heritage of humankind.”

    2012-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6820 (2012) · source

47. “From the outset of the mediation process led by ECOWAS, Mr. Djinnit has been in close contact with the mediation team. He has conducted good offices missions to Mauritania and Algeria and participated in ECOWAS summits and other meetings on Mali. Here at Headquarters, the Department of Political Affairs is consulting with the Permanent Representatives of ECOWAS member States, the core countries and other partners. United Nations military planners have participated, in an advisory capacity, in the ECOWAS technical assessment mission. As the Malian transitional authorities prepare to initiate a national dialogue, the United Nations stands ready to offer its considerable expertise in designing such processes and in facilitating such a dialogue. The conflict in Mali has exacerbated a perilous humanitarian situation.”

    2012-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6820 (2012) · source

48. “The ECOWAS mediator, President Blaise Compaore', has taken initial steps to meet with representatives of the MNLA and Ansar Dine. After travelling to northern Mali yesterday, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso, Mr. Djibrill Bassole, met with the leaders of Ansar Dine and requested that they cut ties with terrorist movements before any peace talks could begin. However, no meaningful dialogue has commenced between the Government of Mali and any of the groups in the north. With the establishment of President Traore's national commission for negotiations, it is expected that a Malian-owned dialogue process, with the assistance of ECOWAS and neighbouring countries, will commence shortly. For my part, I have used my good offices to help address the crisis through my Special Representative for West Africa, Mr. Said Djinnit.”

    2012-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6820 (2012) · source

49. “I commend the steps that the President is taking to ensure the formation of a Government of national unity. I also welcome his announcement of the establishment of the National Transition Committee, the National Dialogue Committee, and the High Council of State, which he plans to chair. Let me turn now to the situation in the north, where the security situation remains volatile and unpredictable. The Ansar Dine and the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa, which are reportedly linked to Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, took control after pushing out the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), and have illegally imposed Sharia law on the residents. With the influx of regional and international jihadists, there is reason to be concerned that the north is becoming a safe haven for terrorists and criminal elements.”

    2012-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6820 (2012) · source

50. “The heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have called for a more inclusive Government, and mandated the ECOWAS mediator to urgently engage in consultations with Malian stakeholders. They also decided to deploy the ECOWAS Standby Force to Mali and to send a technical assessment mission to Bamako to prepare for its deployment. I understand that the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, has submitted the mission's report and other relevant documents to the Council. One positive development has been the return of President Dioncounda Traore to Bamako. His presence enhances the constitutional legitimacy of the transitional arrangements and can ensure that Malians play a central role in leading the transitional process.”

    2012-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6820 (2012) · source