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

“As the civil war in Syria continues, an estimated 13.5 million people remain in dire need inside Syria alone, including 6.3 million IDPs and another 5.3 million refugees. These numbers are simply staggering, amounting to half of Syria's population before the civil war began. In Syria, the Al-Assad regime has used chemical weapons against civilian populations and bombed entire cities into ruins, in explicit and irrefutable contravention of international law. Adding to this, the Syrian regime's obscene refusal to allow humanitarian organizations to access vulnerable populations, its continued practice of redirecting humanitarian assistance for political purposes, and its military tactics further compound suffering.”
2017-11-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8083 (2017) · source
“In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, nearly 4 million people are now internally displaced. Many internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo live in protracted displacement due to continuing conflict, limited access to livelihoods and basic services, and the absence of political will on the part of the Government to address conflict and underdevelopment, thereby deterring the investments needed to pave the way for durable solutions. The devastating impact of renewed and intensifying conflicts in the Kasai region there have led to the displacement of nearly 1.3 million people over the past year, both within the Democratic Republic of the Congo and into neighbouring countries.”
2017-11-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8083 (2017) · source
“We encourage the Governments of Burma and Bangladesh to work closely with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) throughout this process and to allow it and other relief organizations full access to displaced populations across the country. In South Sudan, we can see the human cost of a Government's failure to uphold its most basic obligations to its citizens. More than 2 million South Sudanese have fled to Uganda, the Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and other countries. Refugees have found safety and protection in those neighbouring countries, but the resources of host communities and Governments are limited. Inside South Sudan, another 1.9 million people are displaced, facing ongoing food insecurity and threat of famine.”
2017-11-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8083 (2017) · source
“An unknown but likely significant number of Rohingya are internally displaced within Burma after their villages were burned or they were forced out of their homes. While reported violence has lessened, continued insecurity and fear of further violence threaten to drive more Rohingya into neighboring countries. The Government of Bangladesh has stepped up impressively, taking in the displaced and providing for their safe temporary care, but undeniably this is a burden on Bangladesh's resources and, of course, many Rohingya simply want to be able to return safely to their rightful homes in Burma. We welcome Burmese State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi's commitment that refugees will be able to return home.”
2017-11-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8083 (2017) · source
“It is therefore imperative that we do more to act on our mandate and work to prevent and mitigate conflicts, especially by following through on the decisions we make in this Chamber. As we do so, it is important to have briefings like today's from the High Commissioner in order to remind us of the critical nature, real-world impact and human dimension of crises occurring worldwide. As described to us today by the High Commissioner, several situations globally highlight the importance of more robust action to solve these problems. In Burma, more than 603,000 Rohingya have fled into neighbouring Bangladesh only since late August to escape escalating insecurity and alleged human rights abuses by security forces.”
2017-11-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8083 (2017) · source
“We would like to thank Mr. Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, for his briefing. It is good to have him here with us this morning. The United States remains steadfast in our support for the High Commissioner's mandate and for the work of his Office, which is more critical now than ever. With new and protracted crises leaving over 65 million people forcibly displaced worldwide - over 22 million of whom are considered refugees - the stakes of this global challenge could not be higher or more evident. The Council has a vital role to play in curtailing the underlying political dysfunction and conflict that give rise to and prolong mass displacement and humanitarian need. When we act on our mandate and follow through consistently, we can be successful.”
2017-11-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8083 (2017) · source
“In conclusion, even in such a grim landscape, it is important to note progress. More than 60 countries have action plans in place with the United Nations. From Afghanistan to Chad, a number of Governments have continued their good-faith work to fully implement those actions plans to end abuses suffered by children in conflict. We still have a long way to go with regard to stemming the tide of abuse and horror faced by children in conflict situations. The United States will continue to stand behind the important work being done by the United Nations to protect those children.”
2017-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8082 (2017) · source
“For example, we must ensure resources are available to meet the needs of all children subject to grave Violations and abuses, including survivors of sexual violence. Those children desperately need assistance, including psychological support, food and shelter and medical assistance. We must not let them down or allow them to return to the battlefield. The proliferation of child deaths, abuses, attacks on hospitals and schools and unlawful recruitment in armed conflict shows the importance of the capacity of the United Nations to alleviate the suffering of those children. As we consider our Security Council mandates, the United States recognizes the importance of maintaining the role of child-protection officers in United Nations field missions, as the report recommends.”
2017-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8082 (2017) · source
“Schools and hospitals have been repeatedly attacked. The immediate and long- term impact on children in Syria of these atrocities is impossible to calculate. We must not stop pushing to bring the perpetrators of these acts to justice and to get help to the civilians who need it. Similarly, in Yemen, the Houthis, Al-Qaida and militias on all sides reportedly continued to recruit children in spite of our numerous demands to stop. The Yemeni Government must also urgently take further steps to stop any unlawful recruitment of children in its ranks. All parties to the conflict in Yemen need to do more to ensure the protection of civilians. Thirdly, the United Nations, humanitarian partners and Member States should do more to focus on what happens to children after they are released from recruitment or suffer wartime atrocities.”
2017-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8082 (2017) · source
“First, we need to demand that all parties to a conflict, including State actors, fulfil their obligations under international law that bear on the protection of children. Those obligations include avoiding the unlawful recruitment of children. All of us must do more to make sure parties to conflicts understand these responsibilities and fulfil them. Secondly, when parties to conflict fail to comply with the obligations thatbear on the protection of children in conflict, we must hold them accountable. Atrocities committed by the Al-Assad regime in Syria, enabled by Iran, Hizbullah and Russia, show what happens when the Security Council fails to demand accountability. In 2016, the Al-Assad regime slaughtered thousands of civilians in Aleppo and gassed its own people using banned chemical weapons.”
2017-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8082 (2017) · source
“As reported by the Secretary-General, the recruitment and use of children by non-State actors in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains rampant, and child casualties in the country are up by 75 per cent, as compared to 2015. And sexual Violence as a weapon of war is endemic, with more than 60 per cent of survivors in the Democratic Republic of the Congo being children. Every day displaced women and girls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo fear being assaulted or seeing their children abducted. This must end. As Ambassador Haley emphasized on a recent trip, "we cannot turn a blind eye to all of this. No one should live like this." To better help children victimized by armed conflict, the United States would like to emphasize three points.”
2017-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8082 (2017) · source
“The United Nations and the Security Council should bring all of our influence and tools to bear so as to ensure that all parties to the conflict in South Sudan immediately end committing all violations and abuses against children. This month Ambassador Haley also visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where she witnessed at first hand the plight of children caught in the crossfire of conflict. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has never witnessed a democratic peaceful transfer of power, has been plagued by dozens of armed groups vying for power and control, with rape used as a weapon of war and children recruited as soldiers.”
2017-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8082 (2017) · source
“The number of children who have been recruited by armed groups is approximately 17,000 - coincidentally, about the same number as the staff in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. Ambassador Haley just returned from that country, where she issued a strong warning to President Kiir: "the hate and the violence that we are seeing has to stop". She also told President Kiir during their meeting that he could not deny the actions of his military, whether it was related to violence or rape or child soldiers. Sexual violence against girls and boys in particular, including mass gang rape, has intensified even in parts of the country that were once deemed safe for them.”
2017-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8082 (2017) · source
“All parties to armed conflict should share the goal of protecting children from violence, and yet all too often violations and abuses of international law affecting children in armed conflict are rampant. Of particular concern to the United States is the scale and gravity of such violations and abuses against children by terrorist organizations, including the Taliban, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab. Those groups are responsible for many of the most barbaric attacks, having committed over 6,800 Violations and abuses against children, as documented by the United Nations. South Sudan also remains a major cause for concern.”
2017-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8082 (2017) · source
“I would like to begin by thanking Foreign Minister Le Drian of France for being here to preside over today's discussion on children in armed conflict. I would also like to thank Secretary-General Guterres and Special Representative Gamba for their briefings and their work on this issue, as well as our guest briefer, Mr. Shaikh, for his important and unique perspective. We should all be disturbed by this year's report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict (S/2017/821). The report shows that in conflicts around the world children are being killed and maimed, abducted and attacked in schools and hospitals, recruited to fight, sexually abused and denied humanitarian aid by State and non-State actors alike.”
2017-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8082 (2017) · source
“Sherzai leads discussion programmes and call- in shows, and she urges women to assert their rights to an education and to lead as vital voices in their communities. Courageous women activists like Ms. Sherzai are making a difference, and thanks to the women and peace and security agenda at the United Nations, we are hopeful that those gains will continue. The United States remains fully committed to the robust implementation of the women and peace and security agenda. We welcome the Secretary-General's strong commitment to this issue, and we look forward to continuing to partner with the United Nations and other Member State to advance those goals.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“Women are of course local peacebuilders and grass-roots civil society activists. They are in touch with their communities and should therefore be seen also as a first line of defence in detecting radicalization in their communities. My country is dedicating increased focus and resources to understanding the variety of roles that women play in this space, including how women can play more vital roles in preventing terrorist ideologies from taking root. We are grateful that there are women defying terrorist ideologies across the globe, often putting their own lives at risk in doing so. For example, when the Taliban attacked Kunduz in 2015 and again in 2016, each time they tried to kill Ms. Sediqa Sherzai, a brave journalist who runs Radio Roshani in Afghanistan. Ms.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“Therefore, when women effectively influence a peace process, it is more likely that an agreement will be reached, implemented and sustained, and we are confident that Colombia will continue to be an important example of that. Secondly, we welcome the Secretary-General's commitment to improving impact evaluation of gender- inclusion efforts. Whether on corporate boards, in Government or in post-conflict zones, we know that gender parity makes teams more effective and makes women more empowered. We look forward to results being included in next year's annual report. Thirdly, we welcome increased attention on the nexus between violent extremism and women and peace and security. In our view, women continue to be an underutilized and undertapped resource in the fight against violent extremism.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“We welcome the Secretary- General's commitment to addressing this, but I must underscore that we all need to do more to improve women's meaningful participation in peace processes. In that connection, we welcome the development of the High-level Advisory Board on Mediation, and we hope it will find effective ways to achieve equal representation of women in mediation. We cannot talk about the involvement of women in peace processes without applauding one recent example: Colombia. In large part because of the inclusion of women in Colombia's peace negotiations - women like Ms. Mina-Rojas - Colombia's peace agreement includes more than 100 gender-specific provisions.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“That is why the United States has helped spearhead the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative, which already has $340 million in donor commitments and will support women entrepreneurs in developing countries by increasing their access to finance, markets, technology and networks - everything they need to start and grow a business. I would like to turn now to the Secretary-General's report. First, we were disheartened to learn that the number of women participating in United Nations co-led peace processes has decreased. Research shows that the participation in a peace negotiation by women in civil society groups makes the resulting agreement 64 per cent less likely to fail and 35 per cent more likely to endure at least 15 years.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“That reflects a growing body of evidence confirming that the inclusion of women in peace processes helps reduce conflict and advance stability over the long term. That Act, for example, requires my Government to develop a comprehensive strategy to expand women's participation in security operations. It also reflects the now indisputable fact that when women are involved in efforts to bring about peace and security, the results are more sustainable. We are taking other important steps to advance this agenda, particularly through women's economic empowerment. We know that women's full participation in the economy not only leads to national growth and prosperity, it also bolsters stability for all.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“The role of women in maintaining international peace and security is more critical than ever, but we must continue to move from rhetoric to reality when it comes to fully implementing the women and peace and security agenda. Today's debate should remind us all of the collective work that is still required to see more women gain positions of leadership in Government and civil society and seats at the negotiating table. As the Secretary-General's report makes clear, we have so much more to do to achieve inclusivity. For our part, the United States remains committed to advancing the full implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). Earlier this month the United States took a major legislative step to advance the women and peace and security agenda. On 6 October, the United States Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017 was signed into law.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“I thank the Chef de Cabinet of the Secretary-General for having briefed us on the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda (S/2017/861). I also thank the Executive Director of UN-Women, Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka; Secretary-General of the International Organization of La Francophonie, Ms. Michaelle Jean; and our terrific civil society briefer from Colombia, Ms. Charo Mina- Rojas, for their important perspectives. Bhimrao Ambedkar, the esteemed Indianjurist and social activis,t once said, "I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved." So as we engage in this debate today, I think we should keep Mr. Ambedkar's simple but important idea in mind.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“The JIM's mandate expires on 16 November, in almost three weeks from now. That investigative body should be a great symbol of what the Council can do when we work together. It is a symbol of our commitment to justice and accountability, and it represents hope for thousands of suffering and grieving Syrian civilians. We therefore call on all Council members not to turn their backs on this hope, and to preserve the Council's unity in the face of Syrian chemical-weapon attacks. We call on the Security Council to take up this vital matter once again and vote to extend, at that time, the mandate of the Joint Investigative Mechanism.”
2017-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8073 (2017) · source
“The JIM. has even gone so far as to visit Syria several times to further its investigation, which we had hoped would satisfy the inappropriate demands of some members of the Council. But it appears that it will never be enough for some Council members. We are not deceived or deterred, however, and we call on all members of the Council to join us in rejecting such attacks on the JIM. Such attacks are not intended to get us closer to the truth, they are intended to hide the truth. They are not designed to get us closer to accountability for chemical-weapon use in Syria, they are designed to shield the perpetrators of some of the worst war crimes of our century. Fortunately, the Council will have more chances to show that it values the truth and to show its solidarity with the Syrian people.”
2017-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8073 (2017) · source
“The United States deeply regrets that one member of the Council vetoed the text, thereby putting political considerations over the misery of Syrian civilians who have suffered and died from the use of chemical weapons. The reasons offered this morning fool no one. We reject the cynicism, and we reaffirm our confidence in the technical experts - men and women - who come from many regions, backgrounds and perspectives. They knew their work would be attacked by Syria's allies, yet they have carried out their mandate effectively and responsibly. Claims of JIM. partiality just do not stand up to scrutiny, when we consider that all parties have acknowledged that sarin gas was used in Khan Shaykhun, and, as reported by the OPCW, once again this week the Syrian regime itself provided the JIM with samples of evidence that support that conclusion.”
2017-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8073 (2017) · source
“We mandated that technical body to investigate chemical-weapon attacks on the innocent men women and children of Syria. Made up of experts from the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the JIM. has the simple task of finding out who ordered and carried out the use of those weapons in Syria. The United States and 10 other members of the Council voted in favour of the draft resolution today, as it is clear to us that there is more work to be done and more chemical-weapon attacks to investigate. The JIM. has been successful in its work, and we want that vital work to continue without interruption in its operations. We want to know the truth about those attacks regardless of where it takes us.”
2017-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8073 (2017) · source
“We even collaborated on establishing an independent, impartial body to investigate confirmed cases of chemical-weapon use. That body is comprised of internationally recognized independent experts. It employs professional, scientific means of investigating attacks and identifying those responsible, and yet that body is under attack by the Syrian regime's allies. The question that we must ask ourselves is whether the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) is being attacked because it has failed in its job to determine the truth in Syria, or because its conclusions have been politically inconvenient for some Council members. We just voted on a short, simple draft resolution to extend the mandate of the Joint Investigative Mechanism.”
2017-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8073 (2017) · source
“As Ijust said prior to the voting, it is not everyday that the Security Council considers an issue as horrific and shocking to our collective conscience as the use of chemical weapons against civilians. Today is an important date on the calendar. It is United Nations Day, on which we the peoples of the United Nations commit to unite - as the preamble of the Charter of the United Nations states - to maintaining international peace and security. We all know that there has long been an international norm against the use of chemical weapons because their cruel and indiscriminate nature are such that their use is never justified. In one of its rare moments of unity, the Council appropriately condemned chemical weapons attacks in Syria.”
2017-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8073 (2017) · source
“We will not agree to Russia's procedural proposal. The United States wants this vote on the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) to take place today. The JIM. needs to be renewed now, as soon as possible and in a non-politicized way to keep its important work on track, without interruption. There is no time to waste. It is not every day that the Council considers an issue that is so horrific and so shocking to the conscience as the use of chemical weapons against civilians. We need to keep this important work of the JIM. on track.”
2017-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8073 (2017) · source
“It will therefore be critical to ensure that Haiti takes this window of opportunity to advance dialogue on the additional measures and reforms required to consolidate the security and stabilization gains of the past few years in order to strengthen its institutions so that they can continue to meet the people's needs. Together with the international community, the United States looks forward to maintaining its close partnership with the Haitian Government and people in order to ensure the country's continued stability, democratic development and future prosperity.”
2017-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8068 (2017) · source
“We know that the Secretary- General's next Special Representative will be just as committed to working closely with the Government of Haiti and the Haitian people to achieve the important mandate of the MINUJUSTH successor Mission. I would also like to take a moment to recognize the troop- and police-contributing countries and the thousands of men and women who have served in MINUSTAH over the years for their commitment to the Mission. Finally, the support of MINUSTAH to the Government and the people of Haiti has resulted in the strengthening of State institutions - and their establishment, in some cases - that are key to ensuring the conduct of Haiti's constitutional and political processes. Haiti's security, political and development agenda can be shaped only by Haitians themselves.”
2017-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8068 (2017) · source
“The mentoring and advising by the United Nations of the Haitian National Police will continue to be a key factor in the Haitian National Police's ability to ensure public order and provide security for the Haitian people. MINUJUSTH's focus on addressing pretrial detention and other corrections-related issues will also be important. When peacekeeping works well we see countries develop their own capacities to protect their citizens and we see countries re-establish domestic political processes. MINUSTAH has contributed to both those goals in Haiti, and for that we salute the leadership of Special Representative Honore, who has served in Port-au-Prince since 2013.”
2017-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8068 (2017) · source
“We believe the transition sets a strong example of how United Nations peacekeeping missions can and should change as a political situation evolves. The new Mission embodies the core principles of success that we have developed as part of our peacekeeping review, including making sure that the Mission's mandated tasks and overall concept are consistent with the political realities on the ground. We believe that MINUJUSTH's staffing, including formed police units, individual police officers and corrections officers, as well as civilian experts in the rule of law, human rights, political affairs, gender, conduct and discipline and other key areas, will contribute significantly to the justice-sector priorities that the international community and the Government of Haiti have identified.”
2017-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8068 (2017) · source
“I would like to welcome Ambassador Regis and Special Representative Honore to the Council today. Back in April, the Security Council voted unanimously to withdraw the military component of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). The Mission had been deployed since 2004, and the vote reflected our recognition of the progress Haiti had made towards stabilization and a return to democratic order. This week marks a turning point. MINUSTAH is winding down. In just a few days a new Mission, the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH), will launch, devoting its efforts where they are most needed - supporting the rule of law, contributing to the continuing development of the Haitian National Police and protecting human rights.”
2017-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8068 (2017) · source
“The United States will continue to take a hard look at our system of air travel to make it stronger. We look forward to continuing our work with fellow Member States and United Nations entities to ensure the security of the global aviation system. Above all, we cannot forget the fundamental role that air travel plays in our lives today. The fact that leaders from around the world gathered here at the United Nations last week is a timely reminder of that. It is simply impossible to imagine the modern world without aviation. We all rely on the knowledge that when we board a plane, we will reach our destination safely. If we were to think for a moment about the stakes of keeping aviation safe, we would all agree that there is no time to waste in strengthening that vital system. That should push us to deepen our cooperation.”
2017-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8057 (2017) · source
“Despite the progress we have made, the terrorist threat to aviation, airports and air travellers remains. Many countries still struggle to consistently implement and adhere to international security standards and practices. As Member States, we must hold each other accountable to ensure that international security standards are both rigorously implemented and adequate to meet new threats. No country should be left behind. We must continue expanding intelligence and law enforcement information-sharing and accelerate efforts to implement advance passenger information and passenger name record collection analysis and sharing to identify terrorists and criminals. It is up to each of us to recognize our unique vulnerabilities. We must take a hard look at current threats and anticipate future ones.”
2017-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8057 (2017) · source
“However, ultimately, keeping air travel safe requires each Member State to do its part. Just one weak link in the sprawling international system can become a catastrophic vulnerability. Consistent with resolution 2341 (2017), the United States calls on all Member States to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure, such as airports. Member States must also be vigilant about preventing foreign terrorist fighters from travelling across borders. The United States has helped to lead efforts in expanding information-sharing on known and suspected terrorists and improving border security through enhanced traveller screening. However, we have more to do to counter the foreign fighter threat. That is especially true as fighters from the battlefields in Syria and Iraq try to return home or move to other war zones.”
2017-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8057 (2017) · source
“Resolution 2309 (2016) highlighted the importance of mobilizing more resources and deepening our cooperation to respond to changing threats. We welcome the work of the global aviation community in response to resolution 2309 (2016), including through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). ICAO has developed the Global Aviation Security Plan, and the United States calls on the ICAO Council to endorse that plan as soon as possible. It is a vital next step towards increasing international cooperation on aviation security. Once the global aviation security plan is approved, it will be up to Member States to work with ICAO to make sure its recommendations are implemented and progress is monitored. United Nations counter-terrorism offices should focus on helping Member States follow through on ICAO's plans.”
2017-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8057 (2017) · source
“Despite the many improvements made to aviation since 9/11, the threat is still all too real. The threat of civil aviation continues to evolve at a rate that challenges even our best efforts to secure the global aviation system and recent terrorist attacks against aircraft in Egypt and Somalia make that clear. At the same time, a reliance on airplanes to facilitate the movement of people and goods continues to grow. As the global economy continues to be more and more reliant on aviation, keeping that system secure becomes more and more important. Last year, through resolution 2309 (2016), the Security Council recognized the importance of aviation security in our global counter-terrorism efforts. The resolution was built on previous work to strengthen global standards to address the terrorist threat.”
2017-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8057 (2017) · source
“I thank Secretary General Liu and Ambassador Aboulatta for their briefings. "We have some planes." That was one of the first radio transmissions air traffic controllers heard on 11 September 2001. More than 16 years later the pain of that barbaric act of terrorism remains. We continue to mourn the victims and honour their memories. Across the United States, Americans remember vividly exactly where they were and what they were doing when they got word that a plane had struck the World Trade Centre. None of us will forget. Just as we never forget what the victims of 9/11 suffered that day, we must never forget the lessons we learned. We know that terrorists are determined to target civil aviation. They want to attack the links that connect our countries and bring down the infrastructure that is the backbone of modern society.”
2017-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8057 (2017) · source
“Critically, we also call upon Afghanistan's neighbours and all countries of the region to unconditionally cease their support for armed and violent extremist groups. Finally, we support Council representatives travelling to Afghanistan in the coming months to assess the political and security environment there. Given the continuing toll of the conflict and Afghanistan's importance to peace and security in Central Asia, it is critical that we see this conflict through the eyes of those living it every day. We are all impatient to end the conflict in Afghanistan, but our impatience can be an asset if it is informed by the suffering of the Afghan people and tempered by the need to never again allow terrorists a safe haven in Afghanistan.”
2017-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8055 (2017) · source
“They must abandon violence, cut ties with international terrorism and accept the Afghan constitution. We will continue to support and encourage the immediate launch of peace talks between the Afghan Government and the Taliban, with no preconditions. We will provide support, but the Unites States is committed to an Afghan-owned political process to settle the conflict in Afghanistan. The path towards a negotiated settlement is available. The Taliban must choose to take that path. Afghanistan's neighbours can also help. A central tenet of our new South Asia strategy is the recognition that Afghanistan's security and stability are tied to the security and stability of the entire region. We call on all regional Governments to support the Afghan Government and to do what they can to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table.”
2017-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8055 (2017) · source
“The United States new South Asia strategy is also well timed and makes clear that, ultimately, the United States and the United Nations share the same overarching goal in Afghanistan - a durable political settlement that leads to lasting peace. The United States will continue to support the Afghan Government and security forces in their fight against the Taliban and in their efforts to combat Al-Qaida, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham and other extremist groups. We do not seek a permanent military presence in Afghanistan, but we are prepared to assist Afghan forces for as long as it takes to ensure that terrorists are never again able to exploit Afghanistan's territory as a safe haven. Our message to the Taliban and their supporters is clear 4 they cannot win on the battlefield. The only path to peace is through negotiations.”
2017-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8055 (2017) · source
“Turning our backs on Afghanistan would dishonour their memory by leaving the world in an even more dangerous place than when the conflict began. That is why we welcome the results of the strategic review of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. This is a timely moment for the United Nations to take a step back and to ensure that its Mission in Afghanistan is able to continue its role in promoting peace and prosperity. United Nations support for electoral reforms, peace and reconciliation, human rights and women's issues will continue to be critical in the years ahead. We look forward to continuing to work with Special Representative Yamamoto and his team in support of these shared goals.”
2017-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8055 (2017) · source
“But however war-weary we are, it is the Afghan people, of course, who pay the highest price for the conflict there. Anti-Government forces are responsible for the large majority of civilian casualties. Their actions are too often indiscriminate and disproportionate. They keep old grievances fresh and create new ones with each passing day. We are and we should be impatient with this war. In his speech outlining a new strategy for the United States in South Asia, President Trump said that his first instinct was to pull out of Afghanistan, but after studying the issue he concluded that the men and women who have sacrificed so much in that conflict deserve to have their sacrifice honoured with victory.”
2017-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8055 (2017) · source
“I thank Special Representative Yamamoto for his briefing. We thank the Secretary-General for his report (S/2017/696) on the strategic review of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), and it is good to have Foreign Minister Rabbani with us this afternoon. It has been 16 years since the United States and the international community took action in Afghanistan. Despite all our efforts, the human cost of the conflict remains staggering. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan documented over 5,200 civilian casualties in just the first half of this year. Over 1,600 of these were fatalities, and tragically, 30 per cent of these deaths were children. After so many years and so much American blood and treasure spent, it is useful to recite these statistics.”
2017-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8055 (2017) · source
“The United States joins other members of the Council in expressing our interest in considering how the temporary bilateral ceasefire could be supported by the work of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia. We look forward to hearing the Secretary- General's recommendations on the way forward in the coming days. With our vote today, the United States underscores that we stand with Colombia as a steadfast partner and as a friend. The United States has stood with Colombia through times of great challenge, and we continue to stand with it in this moment of hope and opportunity.”
2017-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8049 (2017) · source
“But now Colombia faces the challenge of consolidating that peace. The threat to that peace is serious, and it comes in the form of a lack of infrastructure, basic services and the rule of law in conflict-affected areas formerly occupied by the FARC, creating a haven for criminal activities, drugs and violence. Yet we remain focused on building on the gains made and creating the conditions for peace to prosper. In particular, resolution 2377 (2017), adopted today, advances the readiness of the second political mission in helping to address these challenges. We stand ready to partner with Colombia and support the Security Council in the hard work ahead. Additionally, we welcome the announcement by the Government of Colombia and the National Liberation Army of a temporary bilateral ceasefire.”
2017-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8049 (2017) · source
“The United States, too, warmly welcomes the continued support of the Security Council to Colombia. The Government of Colombia has made critical progress in implementing the Final Peace Agreement with the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC). As a result of the parties' commitment and the support of the United Nations, the FARC has peacefully laid down its arms. The last containers with all of those weapons are now in the hands of the United Nations, and the Government has already begun the process of reintegrating the former combatants into society. Colombia has shown the world that commitment to a political process and a shared future, along with strong, unified support from the Council and the international community, can bring success in peacebuilding. Colombia is an example for the region and for the world.”
2017-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8049 (2017) · source