YouSaid · the spoken record

Sison

lines on the record: 852
first: 2014-12-22
most recent: 2018-01-23
sittings or episodes: 124
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 United States believes that even in a challenging electoral year, with the continued regional threat of terrorism, the parties to Mali's Peace Agreement, along with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali and its partners, can work together to achieve concrete progress in the coming weeks and months. That progress, or the lack thereof, will be of paramount interest to the United States and the Security Council. For the people of Mali, and for Mali's friends in the region and beyond, the stakes are too high to delay progress any longer.”
2018-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8163 (2018) · source
“We would like to reiterate the Council's appeal in resolution 2391 (2017) that the technical agreement be a temporary measure to bring about the G-5 Sahel's self-sufficiency and not adversely impact MINUSMA's operations and personnel. The United States pledge of $60 million specifically for the operationalization of the Joint Force will continue through its robust bilateral security assistance for the G-5 Sahel States, which totalled $1 billion in the past five years. We also applaud the efforts of the United Nations and the G-5 Sahel towards the development of a human rights compliance framework as a key component in respecting human rights and avoiding alienating local communities in the battle against the violence and recruitment of violent extremists.”
2018-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8163 (2018) · source
“We must find an enduring solution for the most critical capability gaps, such as those related to combat convoy battalions, helicopters and armoured personnel carriers. Inthe most dangerous ofpeacekeeping missions, the United Nations, troop- and police-contributing countries and all Member States must work together to find a sustainable solution that will save peacekeepers' lives and bring peace closer in Mali. The United States applauds the efforts of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-S Sahel) in establishing its Joint Force. We are also pleased to hear of the progress of the United Nations in the development of the technical agreement. Pledges already made and those to be made at the upcoming 23 February donors' conference in Brussels will be critical to reimbursing MINUSMA's support through the Agreement.”
2018-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8163 (2018) · source
“We hope the Secretary-General's strategic review, in tandem with the Council's requests and resolution 2364 (2017) for a strategic prioritization plan for the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), will deliver recommendations ahead of the Mission's renewal that will bolster mission security, elevate its most crucial tasks and increase its operational effectiveness. The Mission's ongoing efforts to implement recent recommendations to improve security, which are crucial in the light of MINUSMA's unacceptably high casualty rate, will help in that effort. However, MINUSMA'S chronic shortage of forces and resources remains a matter of concern.”
2018-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8163 (2018) · source
“However, if there is still no progress by the Council's next quarterly meeting, we should be prepared to consider action through the sanctions regime we unanimously adopted last September. Unfortunately, we must also take note of the increased frequency, magnitude and lethality of attacks on both United Nations and Malian targets, which rose by one third as compared to the previous reporting period. That unacceptable number of troop deaths demands that we take a long, hard look at the current configuration of the United Nations in Mali.”
2018-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8163 (2018) · source
“In a country fraught with a growing regional threat of violent extremism and transnational organized crime, parties must adopt a renewed sense of urgency to make progress together on key security provisions of the Agreement. Mali's collective security must be arrived at collectively, with input and collaboration among all parties. The Peace Agreement is the signed road map for the parties to get there and the Agreement's deliberative bodies provide the forums for debate on issues related to security and much more. Unilateral endeavours outside those forums can lead to misunderstanding and mistrust. The parties' most recent timeline for progress agreed to earlier this month, in particular on the security provisions of the Agreement over the next few weeks and months, is a positive sign.”
2018-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8163 (2018) · source
“The United States takes positive yet cautious note of the September commitments reached by signatory parties to not return to the battlefield. We are encouraged by the absence of ceasefire violations and call upon all signatory parties to take advantage of the momentum. However, we are disappointed by the lack of substantive progress on major elements of the Peace Agreement. Interim authorities may be operational but we have yet to see the fruits of effective governance in the regions. Mixed patrols took place in Gao but do not provide regular security back-up there. The continuing standoff with regard to the criteria and numbers of combatants to be submitted for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration reflect a serious lack of trust among parties and suggest a need for additional confidence-building measures.”
2018-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8163 (2018) · source
“I thank Under-Secretary-General Lacroix for his briefing. I would like to welcome Foreign Minister Coulibaly and, on behalf of the United States, congratulate him on his re-appointment. We look forward to working closely with him. As Ambassador Haley has said, it is our priority to see enduring peace and security for all of Mali's citizens, as well as stability in the region. The upcoming local and presidential elections should not prevent or delay the Government and signatory parties from pursuing the implementation of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali. We believe the Peace Agreement remains Mali's best hope ofbuilding a future stable enough to support peaceful political transition.”
2018-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8163 (2018) · source
“We believe the Working Group is a good venue for the Council, the United Nations and troop- and police-contributing countries to engage in such discussions, and that it would be helpful for performance to be considered in that Group, under Cote d'Ivoire's leadership in the New Year.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8150 (2017) · source
“For our part, we are eager to see how the improved capture and analysis of peacekeeping performance information can help us target our training support. We understand that performance is just one part of improving peacekeeping capacity, but it is a part where we must work together to see results. The Security Council, the Secretariat and troop- and police-contributing countries must partner to make missions more effective, efficient and safer. In October, Ambassador Nikki Haley joined Ambassador Fode Seck of Senegal and several other permanent representatives in a meeting of the Council Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations to discuss those and other issues.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8150 (2017) · source
“We commend the work conducted by the Strategic Force Generation and Capability Planning Cell on those fronts. A performance-based decision-making process must be transparent and standardized, and the States Members of the United Nations must fully understand all of the assessment processes and standards that are employed. In saying that, we are not seeking to punish countries that provide forces to the United Nations or individual units. Performance-based decision-making will allow the best mix of capabilities to be matched to mission requirements and improve the potential for mission success. It will also help contributing countries to focus on what must be improved, while helping to target capacity-building assistance to those who most need and deserve it.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8150 (2017) · source
“With that in mind, we would like to see a move towards more objective decision-making on elements such as deployment, remediation and repatriation when approaching force generation and addressing capability gaps. It is important that the United Nations know where the needs are greatest and what has to be remedied, so that countries, like the United States, can better target their support and diplomatic engagement. We encourage, in particular, the Office of Military Affairs, the Police Division and other relevant offices of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Field Support to redouble their efforts to integrate performance-based data into the force-generation process and regular reviews of mission staffing.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8150 (2017) · source
“We understand that missions require resources and capabilities to fulfil their mandates and to support sustainable political solutions. Such investments have yielded demonstrative positive outcomes. Yet sustained efforts, in partnership with other financial donors, troop- and police-contributing countries and the United Nations, are required to further strengthen capacity so as to execute operations effectively. One crucial aspect of filling capability gaps is through training and capacity-building aimed at improving peacekeeping performance. Deficiencies in training and equipment undermine the success of missions. Even the most well-designed mission will fall short of its mandate if its peacekeepers are not proficient in basic soldiering and policing skills.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8150 (2017) · source
“I thank Assistant Secretary-General Keita for her briefing on areas in peacekeeping where improvement is needed and on how it can be achieved. Unlike many other issues related to peacekeeping that require our attention, force generation and capability gaps present challenges where concrete progress is not only possible, but measurable. Since 2005, the United States has invested more than $1.3 billion in 66 partner countries and five international organizations through our peacekeeping capacity-building initiatives alone, demonstrating a shared commitment with our partners to work together to address critical gaps in United Nations and regional peace operations. The United States will remain the largest contributor to United Nations peacekeeping in terms of assessed contributions, bilateral training and capacity-building efforts.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8150 (2017) · source
“We look forward to working with countries, United Nations bodies, civil society and the private sector to implement this groundbreaking resolution.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8148 (2017) · source
“Fourthly, and finally, the resolution will boost the United Nations own work addressing the foreign terrorist fighter threat. We know that different United Nations bodies have a vital role to play and all must contribute. The resolution will pave the way for tighter internal United Nations coordination, including on capacity-building and technical assistance. We hope the resolution will help the United Nations counter- terrorism bodies continue to harmonize their efforts, each focusing on its comparative advantage. I would like to conclude by thanking all members of the Security Council for their collaboration on this technical resolution. This strong outcome shows that the Security Council remains firmly and unquestionably united in the face of the terrorist threat.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8148 (2017) · source
“Indeed, the resolution reaffirms that Member States must ensure that any measures taken to counter terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law and underscores that respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law are complementary and mutually reinforcing with effective counter-terrorism measures. We must work together and holistically to address and counter the drivers of violent extremism as well. Thirdly, the resolution puts a renewed emphasis on the need for countries to share a range of information, including lessons learned and threat analysis. The foreign terrorist fighter threat is transnational, so we ourselves must learn to work across borders and improve international cooperation. This includes sharing information and working with a broad range of partners, including the private sector.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8148 (2017) · source
“To do this right, we need the involvement of civil society, including faith leaders and youth; indeed, we need a true whole-of-society approach. We cannot just rely on military and security sector means to fight terrorism, since terrorists' false narratives can live on, no matter how many terrorists we put injail or kill on the battlefield. We instead also need to mobilize whole societies to counter violent extremism and fight terrorism while respecting and promoting human rights, including the freedom of expression.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8148 (2017) · source
“The time has come for airline passenger information and biometrics to protect not just those in America, Europe or the Middle East but the entire international traveling public, and to send a message to terrorists that they are about to lose any hope of being able to get on an aeroplane. We who have had the benefit of these technologies since 11 September now look forward to working with countries to make sure they have the assistance and means to fulfill these critical obligations. Secondly, today's resolution, drawing upon the lessons of recent years, recognizes the need to counter this threat in a tailored, nuanced way. This is particularly key with respect to the prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration of foreign terrorist fighters and accompanying families.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8148 (2017) · source
“My Government has used API, PNR and biometrics data to bring terrorists and criminals to justice and to prevent them from carrying out their despicable acts in the first place. We have used this data in ways that respect the privacy, civil rights and civil liberties of all Americans and those who travel to the United States. Many other countries, including European Union members, are in advanced stages of installing their own PNR systems. A number of countries in the Middle East and elsewhere have pioneered the use of biometric technologies to ensure that even terrorists with false passports can be identified and prosecuted.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8148 (2017) · source
“Resolution 2396 (2017), which was just adopted, will give countries around the world new tools and new obligations to protect all our citizens at home and the international traveling public abroad. I will highlight four of its most impactful measures. First, the world has taken unprecedented steps in this resolution to better detect and disrupt terrorist travel across borders. All countries, not just a few, will now develop the capability to collect and use airline passenger information - specifically Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) - data and biometrics to identify known and previously unknown terrorists any time they may try to board an aeroplane.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8148 (2017) · source
“We have seen hardened terrorists travel around the world to carry out deadly attacks in ISIS's name, and ISIS is calling on supporters - even those who never set foot in a conflict zone i to launch attacks from Jakarta to Manchester to the streets of New York City. In recent years, we have learned more about the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighter travel. For example, today we see the return notjust of fighters, but sometimes even their family members, some of whom have committed crimes and others who were victims of ISIS themselves. We also have learned lessons about the essential role of international cooperation in preventing, tracking and detaining traveling terrorists. Given this evolving challenge, the United States applauds the Security Council for taking decisive action today.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8148 (2017) · source
“Three years ago, the Council, in an extraordinary meeting of our Heads of Government (see S/PV.7272), tackled the problem of foreign terrorist fighters. In 2014, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham (ISIS) was ascendant. Terrorists had just captured large swathes of territory, and ISIS's ideology was inspiring thousands to travel andjoin its ranks. Today the tables are turned. ISIS is now on the run. The United States, alongside the defeat-ISIS coalition and its multiple partners, have liberated nearly all of ISIS's territory on the battlefield. Its ideology is discredited, but the threat of foreign terrorist fighters remains. Indeed, today ISIS is going underground and on the move. As its territory shrinks, some ISIS supporters are returning home, while others are moving on to other countries.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8148 (2017) · source
“But that impatience can be an asset, if it is directed towards renewed efforts to bring peace to the people of Afghanistan.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8147 (2017) · source
“The United States supports the Afghan Government's efforts to curtail opium production, bolster law enforcement and expand alternative economic opportunities for the Afghan people. We call on all nations to join in that effort. As our President stated, America will lead. We will not impose our way of life but we will champion our values, without apology. We will seek partnerships based on those values. We will seek alliances based on cooperation and reciprocity. We will hold our own partners in the Afghan Government to account for implementing the reforms and taking the steps necessary to lay the foundation for a comprehensive peace. That is our contribution to finding a political solution in Afghanistan. We share the world's impatience to end the conflict there.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8147 (2017) · source
“The United States has reinvigorated regional diplomacy to support our commitment to a negotiated settlement. We stand ready to work with any nation ready to play a constructive role in Afghanistan. We will partner with any Member State willing to contribute to Afghanistan's security, stability, economic development and fight against terrorism. It is also clear that there remains much to be done to combat opium production, which fuels instability in Afghanistan. We share the Secretary-General's deep concern about the shocking 63 per cent increase in poppy cultivation in Afghanistan between 2016 and 2017. Increased poppy-growing means increased revenue for the Taliban and extremist groups to wage their insurgency.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8147 (2017) · source
“In other words, the United States, the Security Council and the international community stand united in their pursuit ofthe same overarching goal in Afghanistan - a durable political settlement that leads to a lasting peace. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan will play an important role in the process. As the Mission has done so much to document, it is the Afghan people who continue to pay the highest price for the war. United Nations support for civilians, including electoral reforms, strengthening Afghan institutions, human rights and women's issues, will continue to be critical in the years ahead. Afghanistan's neighbours must also help. Our South Asia strategy recognizes that there can be no enduring peace in Afghanistan without its neighbours being fully engaged and actively committed to that goal.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8147 (2017) · source
“Enhanced United States support has also bolstered the confidence and ability of our Afghan partners. For the first time since 2014, the fighting season has passed without the Taliban threatening to seize a provincial capital. The United States does not intend to prolong the war through its military games, but rather to accelerate the peace. We are committed to an Afghan-owned peace process. Our strategy recognizes that the path to peace is through negotiations. The Taliban and other spoilers cannot win on the battlefield. Our actions on the battlefield make that plain. Peace will come only through political settlement that results in the Taliban abandoning violence, cutting ties with international terrorism and accepting the Afghan Constitution.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8147 (2017) · source
“We will continue to support the Afghan Government and security forces in their fight against Al-Qaida, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham (ISIS) and the Taliban. We will continue to work to ensure that terrorists do not exploit Afghanistan's territory as a safe haven. But, critically, our support will not come with an artificial time limit. We will instead base our support on a realistic assessment of conditions on the ground. The additional military resources and authorities ordered by President Trump are having an impact on the battlefield. The United States, working closely with our Afghan partners, has made significant progress against ISIS in eastern Afghanistan. Together we have maintained persistent pressure on ISIS, while significantly reducing its territory and eliminating one third of its fighters.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8147 (2017) · source
“I would like to thank Special Representative Yamamoto and the other briefers. Earlier this week, President Trump unveiled a new United States national security strategy, which embodies the concept of principled realism. Nowhere is that approach more evident than with this Administration's regional strategy towards Afghanistan. The strategy demonstrates clearly this Administration's commitment to Afghanistan and to a peaceful future for the region. The American people are justifiably impatient with the conflict in Afghanistan, which has been ongoing for 16 years now. The President's policy makes it clear that the United States does not seek a permanent military presence in Afghanistan.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8147 (2017) · source
“Heavy-handed counter-terrorism responses and repression are gifts to terrorists. Putting human rights at the core of our counter-terrorism efforts does not weaken our response to terrorism, it strengthens it. For this reason, we encourage CTED to ensure that respect for human rights is integrated throughout its work. We thank our colleagues at CTED and in the Council for their hard work and shared commitment in the struggle against terrorism.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8146 (2017) · source
“That is why this mandate calls for CTED to integrate a gender perspective in its work and - for the first time in a CTED mandate - focuses on the impact of terrorism on children. One of the most essential elements of a balanced counter-terrorism strategy is countering violent extremism. The prevention and countering violent extremism has now become a core component of effective counter-terrorism strategies worldwide. Today's resolution acknowledges the importance of this preventative work. It also brings us closer to an all-of-UN counter-terrorism effort that includes critical prevention elements whenever and wherever appropriate. The United States is also encouraged that CTED's mandate now reflects the reality that we will never defeat terrorism without respecting human rights.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8146 (2017) · source
“After many years of experience, the international community has come to recognize that effective counter-terrorism strategies must be comprehensive and balanced strategies that prioritize all four pillars of the global United Nations counter-terrorism strategy. In practice, this means counter-terrorism efforts must be multifaceted, tailored to local conditions and take into account ethnic and religious minorities. Successful counter-terrorism efforts must simultaneously focus on strengthening criminal justice systems, tackling terrorist financing, bolstering civil aviation security and protecting soft targets and critical infrastructure. And just as terrorists target, exploit and recruit women, we must respond by integrating gender as a cross- cutting issue throughout our counter-terrorism efforts.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8146 (2017) · source
“We must also look to media, cultural and religious leaders with an emphasis on women, youth and locally focused organizations. Thirdly, this resolution aims to establish firmly CTED's place in the reformed United Nations counter- terrorism architecture. Our goal was to promote a close and cooperative relationship with the new United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism. For example, we want to see CTED's assessments and recommendations directly inform the technical assistance and capacity- building efforts undertaken by other parts of the United Nations. In addition to advancing those goals, the resolution adopted today recognizes one of the greatest lessons we have learned in the fight against terrorism.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8146 (2017) · source
“First, resolution 2395 (2017) aims to help CTED focus squarely on its core mandate a visiting Member States to assess their implementation of counter- terrorism resolutions. We hope it will foster even better CTED assessment reports built around actionable recommendations to counter terrorism. Ifwe strengthen CTED's ability to carry out this core mandate, we can better ensure its recommendations are acted on throughout the United Nations system and beyond. Our second goal was to strengthen CTED's role as an early-warning system for the Security Council and its Counter-Terrorism Committee. CTED can help the Counter-Terrorism Committee identify and assess cutting-edge counter-terrorism events, trends and threats. This requires broad engagement, and not just with Member States but also civil society, academia and the private sector.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8146 (2017) · source
“In 2017, CTED again showed its great value: CTED experts visited more than 20 countries to assess their implementation of counter-terrorism resolutions, held many important briefings and open meetings and engaged outside experts from Governments, civil society, academia and the private sector. CTED now has new leadership. We warmly welcomed Ms. Michele Coninsx and applaud her vision for a strong, dynamic CTED. The overarching goal of the resolution adopted today, which renews CTED's mandate for another four years, was to strengthen CTED even further. Today more than ever before we need a CTED that is agile and able to respond to new threats. I would highlight three goals of today's important resolution.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8146 (2017) · source
“This year has seen some of the greatest changes to the United Nations counter- terrorism architecture in over a decade. Under the Secretary-General's leadership, the United Nations has taken important first steps towards streamlining, elevating and focusing its counter-terrorism efforts with the establishment of the new United Nations Office of Counter-terrorism. To further those reform efforts, today the Security Council has adopted resolution 2395 (2017) to update and strengthen the mandate of the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED). Established by the Security Council 13 years ago, CTED has grown to become a critical counter-terrorism body.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8146 (2017) · source
“The Security Council and the international community have found common cause in our fight against terrorism, but we are continually reminded of how much more we have to do. In 2017, terrorists have targeted villagers in the Sahel and worshippers in the Sinai. Even here in the great global city ofNew York we have twice seen the dangers posed by self-radicalized individuals. But the world is adapting and we are getting better at fighting terrorism. In the Middle East, the coalition to defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham has liberated almost all of the territory of the so-called Islamic State, and later today the Security Council will adopt a landmark draft resolution to give us new tools to counter the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters. Here at the United Nations this is been a remarkable year of change and reform.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8146 (2017) · source
“Fragile States share many common characteristics, such as weak governance, environmental degradation and poverty, that are interlinked with political instability, transnational crime and violent extremism. Those issues overlap and so too should our responses. Now let us all ensure that we have the right tools to act.”
2017-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8144 (2017) · source
“Those complex challenges demand a truly whole-of-United-Nations approach, as well as deeper partnerships with regional and subregional organizations and improved integration of the work of United Nations partners and other stakeholders. The Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Support Office play an important role in bridging the divides between the three United Nations pillars in support of coherent peacebuilding efforts and analysis. Once again, we are grateful for the Secretary-General's participation in today's meeting and we encourage him to continue bringing issues to the Council's attention early and often when he believes that an issue requires Council attention or action.”
2017-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8144 (2017) · source
“Men, women and children fleeing conflict or persecution often find themselves vulnerable to forced labour or sexual exploitation - taken advantage of by ruthless traffickers with no regard for human dignity. The individuals responsible for those horrific crimes are too often also engaged in transnational trafficking of weapons and narcotics, as well as in financing terrorist organizations. Those challenges remind us every day of how high the stakes are for strengthening democracy, increasing prosperity and improving security - all of which are elements necessary to building lasting peace. Despite its shortcomings, the United Nations has the power to develop solutions to the transnational problems we face.”
2017-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8144 (2017) · source
“And famine is not just a human tragedy, it is an issue of peace and security. Earlier this year, the Secretary-General warned us that we were in the midst of the largest food security emergency since the Second World War - with more than 20 million people in north-east Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen facing famine. Those conditions were not caused by drought or natural causes, but rather from conflict and, in some situations, are a result of parties more interested in power and personal gain than in the safety and security of their own people. Recent reports of human trafficking in Libya have sparked moral outrage and drawn attention to those abominable acts.”
2017-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8144 (2017) · source
“To more comprehensively promote peace and protect human lives, we must look first at underlying challenges to peace and security, including a failure to promote development or human rights or to meet humanitarian needs. When left unaddressed, those shortcomings can develop into threats to international peace and security. Those factors can not only exacerbate conflict but, in many instances, directly lead to instability - a vicious cycle that is often largely man-made and preventable. In Yemen, for example, approximately 22 million people out of a population of 29 million are in need of humanitarian assistance. There are more than 984,800 suspected cases of cholera, and more than 7 million people at potential risk for famine. Access constraints at key ports only fuel that crisis and prolong the suffering of the Yemeni people.”
2017-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8144 (2017) · source
“To that end, we pressed for stronger requirements in the mandate for preventing and reporting on sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers and for reporting on performance indicators of force effectiveness, more broadly. In Liberia, the United Nations devised a peacebuilding plan in preparation for the withdrawal of the peacekeeping mission early next year. The plan was developed in close coordination with the Liberian Government and included the participation from civil society, and the result is a plan that all parties can buy into. Yet the Security Council has generally used peacekeeping missions as a tool in response to imminent risks of mass violence or, too often, after conflict has already broken out.”
2017-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8144 (2017) · source
“The United Nations has more than 100,000 troops and police deployed worldwide - responding to crises in ways no other institution can. Yet we must ensure that those missions meet the needs of people on the ground. This is not about producing more reports or reorganizing departments; it is about taking a careful look at each mission and asking difficult questions. Are we using our resources well? Does each mission promote a political solution? Are we effectively protecting civilians? Are we fostering independence, or dependence? We did that just recently during the mandate renewal for the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). We supported an increase in MINUSCA's troop ceiling, while also emphasizing the importance of focusing on the quality of the troops deployed.”
2017-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8144 (2017) · source
“We thank the Secretary-General for his briefing and for his commitment to conflict prevention and the sustaining peace agenda. We stand behind the Secretary-General as he implements an ambitious vision for a United Nations that can better address the world's most complicated and pressing challenges. The Security Council is in a unique position and has a unique responsibility to respond to crises too large for any one nation to address on its own. Yet to meet such challenges, we must ensure we have the tools and capabilities to respond the realities of the world we live in. Peacekeeping operations, for example, are a powerful mechanism for the maintenance of international peace and security and the protection of civilians.”
2017-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8144 (2017) · source
“We reaffirm our commitment to supporting the delivery of cross-line and cross-border humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people. While the unfettered provision of cross-border assistance is crucial to reducing the suffering in Syria, it is no substitute for a political solution to the conflict. The United States remains committed to resolution 2254 (2015) as the sole legitimate blueprint for a political resolution to this conflict. We call on all the parties to reaffirm support for the Geneva process as the only framework for a viable Syrian political process. The United States was proud to vote in favour of resolution 2393 (2017) today, and we will continue our robust support to the people of Syria in the days to come.”
2017-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8141 (2017) · source
“Today, the Council came together on an issue of critical importance. Our adoption today of resolution 2393 (2017) enables the United Nations to continue to provide vital, lifesaving cross-border assistance to millions of Syrians who need it to survive. Thanks to its mandate, more than 1 million Syrians receive assistance from the United Nations and its partners every month. This includes clean drinking water, medicine and food. Since resolution 2165 (2014) was first adopted in 2014, nearly 17,000 trucks delivering aid have rolled into Syria. Each of those trucks was fully vetted by the dedicated United Nations monitoring mechanism. It is no exaggeration to say that this cross-border authorization for humanitarian assistance has saved lives in Syria.”
2017-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8141 (2017) · source
“That is why the United States supported a General Assembly resolution establishing in 2020 a group of governmental experts to discuss problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus. The United States will continue to take concrete and effective steps at the national, regional and global levels to combat the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. We welcome today's discussion and urge all countries to join us in strengthening the implementation ofour existing commitments and obligations in the field.”
2017-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8140 (2017) · source
“We also note with concern references to the tracing of small arms ammunition. Although it is possible to assess the original manufacturer of a given round of ammunition from lot markings and other identifiers, that is not the same thing as tracing, which is the systematic tracking from the point of manufacture or importation to the point at which an item became illicit. Just noting that a rifle round was produced in a given country, often legally, does not explain how that round ended up illegally in the hands of a criminal or a terrorist. The United States takes the illicit trafficking of ammunition very seriously, but measures to combat the illicit trafficking of ammunition differ from those needed to prevent the illicit trade in the weapons themselves.”
2017-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8140 (2017) · source