YouSaid · the spoken record

Skoog

lines on the record: 1,817
first: 2015-03-16
most recent: 2023-12-29
sittings or episodes: 248
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

“We express our condolences to the families of the victims in both Ukraine and Poland. By deliberately disrupting energy and water supplies, Russia is trying to paralyse Ukraine and sow despair within the population as winter approaches. Such unacceptable actions targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure by Russia are unlawful and constitute war crimes. The International Monetary Fund estimates that Ukraine may need $4 billion a month just to keep the lights on and the taps running. We cannot leave the Ukrainian people in that situation. The EU is therefore undertaking urgent rehabilitation measures to prepare for winter and repair the energy infrastructure bombed by Russia, as well as working on a package to ensure Ukraine’s macroeconomic stability, maintain its essential public services and rebuild critical infrastructure.”
2022-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9195 (2022) · source
“Mr. Skoog: I thank you, Mr. President, for convening us and for the opportunity to address the Council this afternoon. I also thank Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo for a very comprehensive briefing. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union (EU) and its member States. I would like to highlight the following three points on, first, the importance of upholding international humanitarian law; secondly, accountability for crimes committed in Ukraine; and thirdly, the global consequences of Russia’s war of aggression. First, with regard to international humanitarian law, in the past few weeks Russia has stepped up its targeted strikes against Ukraine’s civilians and civilian infrastructure. Yesterday saw the largest and gravest missile attack since the start of the invasion.”
2022-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9195 (2022) · source
“The EU fully supports the continuation of that essential mechanism and urges Council members to uphold their commitment to renewing the resolution for a longer period to ensure that cross-border assistance is sustained in the midst of winter and beyond. The EU remains committed to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian State, and calls once again on all parties to the conflict, particularly the Syrian regime, to advance a credible sustainable and inclusive political solution based on the full and comprehensive implementation of resolution 2254 (2015) as the only route to sustainable peace in Syria.”
2022-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9174Resumption1 (2022) · source
“EU-funded projects are intended and designed for those in genuine need. The EU will not fund early recovery efforts that could support social and demographic engineering. Türkiye’s security concerns stemming from northern Syria need to be addressed through political and diplomatic means, not by military action, and in full respect for international humanitarian law. The confirmation of the extension of the authorization for the UN to use the crossing point of Bab Al-Hawa for humanitarian deliveries is a humanitarian imperative. Its continuation in January 2023 is essential to preserve the functioning of a critical humanitarian lifeline for people in north-western Syria who depend on that assistance.”
2022-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9174Resumption1 (2022) · source
“The EU and its member States are the largest donor and have provided €25 billion to meet the needs arising from the Syrian crisis over the past decade, including over €4.8 billion at the sixth Brussels Conference, with over €3.1 billion coming from the European Commission and €1.7 billion from the EU member States. Yet, humanitarian needs in Syria continue to increase. Ninety per cent of Syrians live under the poverty line and 55 per cent of the population are food insecure. There is an estimated 14.6 million people in need inside Syria, 1.2 million more than in 2021. The EU will continue to demonstrate solidarity with the Syrian people and calls on the international community, in particular regional donors, to increase their commitments. Early recovery projects are important for the dignity of the Syrian people and for their future.”
2022-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9174Resumption1 (2022) · source
“The EU continues to warn against any further displacements in any part of Syria, as well as against the potential exploitation of such displacements for the purpose of social and demographic engineering. Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries are still unable to go back home as the conditions for safe, dignified and voluntary return, in line with the parameters defined by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and in accordance with international law, are not fulfilled yet. It is the responsibility of the Syrian regime to remove those obstacles. We will be in a position to support returns only once those conditions are satisfied. We commend Syria’s neighbouring countries for hosting large number of Syrian refugees for more than a decade, and call on all leaders to avoid divisive rhetoric.”
2022-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9174Resumption1 (2022) · source
“The Secretary-General recently issued a report, “Missing people in the Syrian Arab Republic” (A/76/890), on how to bolster efforts to clarify the fate of missing people in Syria, identify human remains and provide a mechanism to support to the families of missing people. We welcome the report and its findings, are fully committed to the fate of the missing, and will look positively into proposals for support of a new mechanism. Civilians must be protected at all times. The EU echoes the calls made by the Security Council for the implementation of a nationwide ceasefire. We recall that the underlying causes of the refugee and displacement crisis must be addressed under resolution 2254 (2015).”
2022-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9174Resumption1 (2022) · source
“In the absence of international justice, the prosecution of war crimes and other serious crimes under national jurisdiction, where possible, now under way in several EU member States, represents a crucial contribution towards securing justice, as does the Dutch-Canadian initiative to hold Syria to account for breaching the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. We will continue to support efforts to gather evidence with a view to future legal action, including by the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011 and the work of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic.”
2022-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9174Resumption1 (2022) · source
“The Syrian regime must also fully cooperate with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and its investigations on the use of chemical weapons in the conflict, including the attack in Douma. The EU, as a member of the International Partnership against Impunity for the Use of Chemical Weapons, will continue to work towards ensuring full accountability in that regard. All parties responsible for breaches of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights law must be held accountable. Accountability and justice for victims is essential for a stable, peaceful Syria. We reiterate our call to have the situation in Syria referred to the International Criminal Court.”
2022-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9174Resumption1 (2022) · source
“A durable solution to the conflict continues to require a genuine and inclusive political transition, with the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in line with resolution 2254 (2015) and with the 2012 Geneva communiqué (S/2012/522, annex). The European Union remains firm in its commitment to that goal and fully supports the continuous efforts of UN Special Envoy Pedersen to advance on all aspects of resolution 2254 (2015), including his steps-for-steps approach, in furthering the political process and resuming the work of the Constitutional Committee. We emphasize that no normalization, lifting of sanctions or reconstruction will be possible until the Syrian regime engages in a credible, sustainable and inclusive a political transition, in the framework of resolution 2254 (2015).”
2022-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9174Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Until there is a just, fair, agreed and realistic solution to the refugee issue in accordance with international law, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) remains crucial to providing the necessary protection and essential services for Palestine refugees, supporting peace and stability in the region. The EU will continue to support UNRWA in all its fields of operations, including in East Jerusalem. Allow me to turn briefly to the situation in Syria. It is essential that the international community continue to pursue a sustainable and comprehensive political solution in Syria.”
2022-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9174Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We call on Israel to refrain from any action that would prevent those organizations from continuing their critical human rights, humanitarian and development work in the occupied Palestinian territory. Antiterrorism legislation should not be used to undermine civil society and its valuable work and contributions to the pursuit of accountability. We welcome measures to improve Palestinian livelihoods and call for the implementation of the commitments made at the meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians in New York in September.”
2022-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9174Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Democratic Palestinian institutions based on respect for the rule of law and human rights are vital for the Palestinian people and, ultimately, for the two-State solution. In that regard, the EU encourages the intra-Palestinian reconciliation process and the recent steps towards that end taken at Algiers on 13 October. Palestinian civil society must be allowed by all parties to carry out its important task freely, while freedom of expression must be upheld. The EU recalls the need to hold those responsible for the death of Nizar Banat accountable. We are proud of our continued support to civil society, which contributes to peace efforts and confidence-building between Israelis and Palestinians.”
2022-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9174Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We call on all parties to take the necessary steps to produce a fundamental change to the political, security and economic situation in the Gaza Strip, including the end of the closure and a full opening of the crossing points, while addressing Israel’s legitimate security concerns. The EU will continue to call upon the Palestinian Authority to hold free, transparent and inclusive national elections without further delay. It urges all Palestinian factions to engage in good faith in the reconciliation process, adhere to previous agreements, renounce violence and terrorism, and recognize Israel’s right to exist, and commit to democratic principles, including the rule of law.”
2022-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9174Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Underlining the necessity to respect the status quo also for the Christian holy sites, which are under increasing pressure, the EU reiterates the importance of maintaining peaceful coexistence among all three monotheistic religions. The EU will closely monitor developments and their implications on the ground, and remains ready to contribute further to the protection and the viability of the two-State solution. The EU strongly condemns the indiscriminate launching of rockets by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other terrorist groups into Israel. The EU deplores the loss of civilian lives during the escalation of violence in and around Gaza in August.”
2022-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9174Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We call on Israel to halt continued settlement expansion, which has reached record highs in the past years, evictions, demolition and forced transfers. We call on Israel to allow for a tangible improvement of freedom of movement and access for the Palestinians, to enable accelerated Palestinian construction, as well as social and economic development in Area C, and to reverse the worsening of living conditions for Palestinians in Area C. The EU firmly condemns settler violence and calls for accountability. We recall the special significance of the holy sites and call for upholding the status quo put in place in 1967 for the Temple Mount/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, in line with previous understandings and with respect to Jordan’s special role.”
2022-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9174Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Having listened to the Special Coordinator earlier today, let me add a call on the parties to end this vicious circle of violence, in which everyone will lose. This is not just an issue of security, but needs to be addressed through political leadership and engagement. The EU reiterates its strong opposition to Israel’s settlement policy and activities, including in and around East Jerusalem, and especially in sensitive areas such as E1. Evictions, forced transfers, including in Masafer Yatta, demolitions, including of EU-funded projects, and confiscations of homes only escalate an already tense environment and threaten the viability of a two-State solution. Settlements are illegal under international law. The EU will not recognize changes to the 1967 lines unless they are agreed by the parties.”
2022-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9174Resumption1 (2022) · source
“The EU is concerned about the increasingly high number of civilian casualties, including children, as a result of actions, inter alia, by Israeli security forces. We recall that the use of force must be proportionate and in line with international law, and be applied only as a last resort, when it is strictly unavoidable in order to protect life. We reiterate our call for a thorough investigation into the death of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, killed while covering an Israeli security operation in the occupied West bank. The EU firmly condemns recent terror attacks in Israel, as well as all forms of terrorism, and remains committed to the prevention and fight against terrorism and violent extremism.”
2022-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9174Resumption1 (2022) · source
“The EU reaffirms its commitment to a just and comprehensive resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the two-State solution, with the State of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign and viable State of Palestine living side-by- side in peace, security and mutual recognition, and with Jerusalem serving as the future capital of both States. Furthermore, the EU will seek to encourage and build upon the recent establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and a number of Arab countries, with a view to enhancing the prospects to reach a comprehensive settlement in the Middle East peace process. The EU is worried by the deteriorating situation on the ground and increased violence in the occupied West Bank, which fuel tensions and animosity, and calls for efforts to de-escalate.”
2022-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9174Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Mr. Skoog: I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union (EU) and its member States. The candidate countries Montenegro and Albania, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina, align themselves with this statement. The EU stresses first the important role of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and strongly supports him and his mandate. We are grateful to Mr. Wennesland for his tireless efforts over the last year. The EU welcomes the commitments to the two- State solution expressed recently by both Israel and Palestine. It calls on the parties to now take concrete steps towards restoring a political horizon and relaunching the peace process as soon as possible. We remain ready to give our support to that end.”
2022-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9174Resumption1 (2022) · source
“The deliberate destruction by Russia of Ukraine’s agricultural and transport infrastructure is causing worldwide food supply chain disruptions and endangers the food security of millions of people around the globe. In that context, the Black Sea Grain Initiative is of key importance to mitigate the global impact of Russia’s aggression, and we support the call by Secretary- General Guterres to extend it beyond 19 November.”
2022-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9161 (2022) · source
“We also support measures to ensure accountability, including the investigations by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. We also underline that all international and regional accountability and monitoring mechanisms should be granted full, secure and unrestricted access to the entire territory of Ukraine, including to all war-related detainees. We therefore urge the Russian Federation to comply with the appeal of the Secretary- General to grant the International Committee of the Red Cross full access to all prisoners of war. The release of more than 100 Ukrainian women, which took place on 17 October, is an important step in the right direction. Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine has created a humanitarian crisis that is also having devastating global impacts.”
2022-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9161 (2022) · source
“Shocking are reports of arbitrary executions and detentions, rape, torture and other ill-treatment, as well as unlawful forcible transfers and deportations of Ukrainian civilians, including children, within territories under Russian military control to Russia. We note that the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine concluded, based on the evidence gathered in the regions of Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Sumy, that atrocities to be classified as war crimes have been committed in Ukraine. We stress the importance of collecting, consolidating and analysing evidence of violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law and related crimes committed in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.”
2022-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9161 (2022) · source
“We know that the humanitarian needs in Ukraine are immense and growing, yet we cannot even assess their scale in the non-Government-controlled areas. On Wednesday, we heard a plea from the United Nations Resident Coordinator for immediate access to be given to humanitarian organizations to allow them to assist all vulnerable people in Ukraine, without distinction. This is not about politics; it is a humanitarian imperative. We are devastated by the repeated discoveries of atrocities in liberated areas and the increasing horrific number of civilian casualties across the country. Where the Russian armed forces have been, minefields are left behind, making the delivery of humanitarian assistance impossible and endangering the lives of innocent people.”
2022-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9161 (2022) · source
“During his visit to Kyiv this week, European Union Commissioner Lenarčič announced the mobilization of an additional €175 million in humanitarian funding to address urgent needs and provide education, food, access to water and protection from the cold winter. However, no level of humanitarian funding will be enough if Russian attacks continue to target energy infrastructure and heating stations. More than 400 of them have been damaged in the past two weeks alone. The Russian Federation must immediately stop its attacks, suspend its military operations in the territory of Ukraine and withdraw all its military forces, armed groups and other unauthorized personnel from the territory of Ukraine, as set out by the General Assembly.”
2022-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9161 (2022) · source
“Targeting civilians, schools and energy supplies can never be legitimate. Almost a third of Ukraine’s power stations have been disabled. Russia must be held accountable for those evident violations of international humanitarian law, which are resulting in hundreds of civilian casualties every week. The same goes for those that facilitate the aggression — Belarus and Iran. We also strongly condemn the clandestine transfer of combat drones by Iran to Russia without seeking the Council’s prior approval, which constitutes a material breach of resolution 2231 (2015). The damage to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is creating major challenges in view of the upcoming winter and will require stepping up the international humanitarian response.”
2022-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9161 (2022) · source
“Mr. Skoog: I thank you, Mr. President, for convening and highlighting today’s meeting. It is very important that this subject be discussed and that all concerned be able to address the Security Council on such an important issue. Two days ago, the European Parliament awarded the 2022 Sakharov Prize to the people of Ukraine. For a people who is safeguarding the values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law — who has been forced to flee and has sadly lost relatives and friends — no one deserves that kind of recognition more than them. We are appalled by Russia’s intensification of bombardments on civilians and civilian facilities, which constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law. This and last week’s air attacks deliberately targeted critical infrastructure and terrorize civilians in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.”
2022-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9161 (2022) · source
“The EU is resolutely committed to strengthening the resilience and leadership of women and empowering them to fully participate in the building of long-lasting peace on all continents. We call on the international community to do more. We will not be able to build long-lasting peace without half of humankind.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Furthermore, in Ukraine, we are engaged in the governmental efforts to integrate a gender perspective into the country’s future recovery and in enhancing accountability for conflict-related sexual violence, including through our support to local Ukrainian women’s rights and feminist organizations. With regard to Afghanistan, our work to ensure that Afghan women can contribute to political dialogues will continue, in particular through the Afghan Women Leaders Forum. This week, Zarifa Ghafari, an Afghan women’s rights defender, was awarded the Council of Europe’s North- South Prize. We know that there are still many gaps that need to be addressed in the implementation of this agenda. We all need to prioritize gender equality and women and peace and security across all our work. Women across the world are redefining the word “courage”.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“To provide just a few examples, we have supported the integration of a gender perspective into national and local efforts to prevent violent extremism, as well as the participation of women civil-society leaders originating from, and working in, conflict-affected communities and communities affected by terrorism, including in Somalia, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tunisia. In South Sudan, the EU is supporting the cohesion of communities and inclusive ceasefire and transitional security monitoring mechanisms through, among other things, the establishment and further strengthening of the capacity of a women’s protection team. In Venezuela, the EU supports a targeted project on the participation and leadership of women in violence prevention and peacebuilding schemes in at-risk communities.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“In 2021, more than 70 per cent of the EU’s new crisis-response and conflict-prevention actions had gender equality and the participation of women in peace processes either as their main objective or as a significant component. Gender mainstreaming is also a guiding principle of the EU’s 18 civilian and military missions and operations around the world. That gender focus is critical to increasing the effectiveness and impact of conflict prevention and crisis management, as well as to promoting the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and empowerment of all women and girls. The EU empowers women human rights defenders and supports their resilience around the world.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“The European Union takes targeted actions and commits substantial funding to the full and comprehensive implementation of the women and peace and security agenda, and we support the efforts of the United Nations to mainstream that agenda at all levels. For example, in line with our action plan on women and peace and security, the EU is setting up consultative mechanisms with grass-roots women activists in all conflict-related settings, as well as conducting capacity- building and mentoring for women’s leadership, to ensure that more peace processes can benefit from the knowledge and skills that women negotiators and mediators bring to the table.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We urge the members of the Security Council to invite women human rights defenders and civil society to this table, while taking all the necessary actions and precautions to ensure their safety. Armed groups, criminal gangs, increasing terrorist insurgencies and violent conflicts and wars have a devastating human impact, disproportionately affecting women and girls. We know that women and girls in areas affected by armed groups are often the victims of sexual and gender-based violence, including trafficking, forced migration and displacement. That is why the EU supports building the resilience of local civil-society networks and ensuring full access to comprehensive and human rights-based health services, including sexual and reproductive health-care services.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“In other conflict situations, such as in Ethiopia, Myanmar, Syria, Yemen and in the Sahel region, we observe that women human rights defenders and politically active women are being persecuted, harassed or killed. We echo the messages in the Secretary-General’s report (S/2022/740) and the open letter of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, signed by 481 civil-society organizations across the world: not only do we need to create a more enabling environment for women human rights defenders, women peacebuilders, women journalists and media workers, but we must simultaneously address and prevent reprisals against them. We need to acknowledge that women leaders are often targeted for speaking up, and we strongly condemn threats or acts of reprisals against them.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“For many years, the international community has agreed on how central it is to any peace effort that we support gender equality and women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in conflict prevention, crisis management, conflict resolution, relief and recovery efforts and long-term peacebuilding. Yet we meet today against a backdrop of worsening pushback around the world against gender equality and women’s and girls’ full and equal enjoyment of all human rights. In Afghanistan, the Taliban have systematically excluded women and girls from all aspects of public life. In Ukraine, we see a highly disproportionate impact of Russia’s war on women and girls.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Mr. Skoog: I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union (EU) and its member States. The candidate countries Türkiye, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova; the country of the Stabilization and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina; as well as Georgia, Andorra, Monaco and San Marino, align themselves with this statement. I want to thank you, Madam President, and Gabon for organizing this very important open debate. I also want to thank the briefers not only for their inputs, but also for the work that their organizations do every day. I want to take this opportunity to extend our appreciation for the unrelenting and crucial work of women leaders in the pursuit of peace and security around the world.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Africa is a continent incredibly rich in natural resources, from forests and wildlife to minerals and precious stones. Whenever terrorist groups take control of those resources to enrich themselves and sustain their criminal activities, it means that development opportunities are lost for local communities. It means that profits and livelihoods that should belong to the people are stolen. It means that tax revenues that should have funded schools and hospitals are lost. Instead, the exploitation fuels violent conflict and leaves environmental destruction in its wake. We all share the responsibility to combat it together. The European Union remains committed to partnering with African countries to fight the financing of armed groups and terrorists through the illicit trafficking of natural resources.”
2022-10-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9147 (2022) · source
“The EU has developed a solid regulatory framework for preventing and combating money-laundering and terrorist financing threats. In addition to targeting the financial flows directly, we also have to target the natural resources that are being traded. In that regard, I would like to mention the Kimberley Process, in which the EU has been actively engaged from the beginning. We have learned a lot from the Process. The traffic in conflict diamonds has virtually stopped. We have also managed to change attitudes, reinforcing the idea that natural resources belong to their communities, not to militias. We have sparked a debate on responsibility in sourcing natural resources. The EU’s Conflict Minerals Regulation requires all EU importers of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold to carry out due diligence on their supply chain.”
2022-10-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9147 (2022) · source
“We also have counter-terrorism experts in five of our EU delegations in Africa who help build partnerships between the EU and Africa in that crucial area — very much in the spirit that our colleague from Kenya just referred to regarding African ownership. The problem, however, is not only technical, it is political. That is the reason why trafficking and natural resources are at the heart of the European Union Great Lakes strategy, which is currently being discussed with EU member States and will hopefully be adopted before the end of the year. We are also working to prevent terrorist groups from gaining access to international money and natural resources markets. That means tackling money-laundering at the international level.”
2022-10-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9147 (2022) · source
“The European Union (EU) is contributing to those efforts through its training and capacity-building missions on the African continent in the Sahel, Somalia, the Central African Republic and Mozambique. The EU Naval Force Operation ATALANTA, off the coast of Somalia, fights piracy and armed robbery at sea, but it has also responded to the illicit trade in charcoal that finances terrorism in Somalia. The fight against the financing of terrorism and money-laundering is a priority for us. The EU is also committed to providing capacity-building to third countries in order to build their anti-money-laundering capability. We support several projects in West Africa and the Horn of Africa aimed at strengthening the anti-money-laundering and financial investigation capacity of the countries concerned.”
2022-10-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9147 (2022) · source
“The management of natural resources can unfortunately fuel conflict and radicalization. Insurgents are able to exploit the lack of governance to benefit from black markets and illicit trafficking. That criminal activity is problematic on many levels. Not only does it sustain terrorists and armed groups, enabling them to establish themselves and expand their activities, it also deprives the population of precious resources that should be used for its own development. It can also lead to significant environmental damage or the over-exploitation of timber and wildlife, for example, as we heard earlier. Let me express our appreciation for the efforts of Gabon and other African countries in fighting terrorism and preventing terrorists and armed groups from gaining control over natural resources.”
2022-10-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9147 (2022) · source
“Mr. Skoog: First of all, we want to thank Gabon for putting this important topic on the agenda of the Security Council. We congratulate Gabon on assuming its Security Council presidency for the month of October, and we are very grateful for the possibility to participate in this high-level debate. I also want to thank the briefers for their insights on this topic. There is indeed an urgent need to understand how armed groups and terrorists finance their activities through the illicit trafficking in natural resources, as well as to identify the tools that can be used to tackle the problem. In conflict-affected countries, especially in Africa, terrorist and insurgent groups often exploit the control of areas and key transit and trade hubs to profit from illicit trafficking and environmental crime.”
2022-10-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9147 (2022) · source
“In addition, and in line with the Strategic Compass for Security and Defence, we are currently developing an EU toolbox to address and counter foreign information manipulation and interference, including in our Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations. This will contribute to an enhanced EU engagement on disinformation, also within the United Nations, as well as to strengthening our preparedness for cooperation on the ground. I want to thank the presidency again for taking the initiative of convening today’s discussion and express the willingness of the European Union to continue exchanging lessons learned and good practices with a view to improving the United Nations response to the new challenges concerning strategic communications and peacekeeping.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090 (2022) · source
“Like the United Nations, the EU has also become a disinformation target. In order to counter such activities, we have stepped up preparedness to protect our institutions and operational capacities. On 5 December 2018, the EU adopted an Action Plan against Disinformation with specific proposals for a coordinated EU response to tackle disinformation. The Action Plan builds on four pillars: first, to improve our ability to detect, analyse and expose disinformation; secondly, to strengthen coordinated and joint responses by member States and EU institutions; thirdly, to mobilize the private sector, including online platforms, to tackle disinformation; and, fourthly, to raise awareness and improve societal resilience to disinformation.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090 (2022) · source
“Rapidly evolving digital technologies make the scope and potential impact of the threat even greater, which is why it is key to increase investment and capabilities to protect United Nations peacekeeping operations, their staff and the host country from the devastating and undermining impact of information manipulation. This should be done through proactive actions fighting misinformation and through fact-based and targeted United Nations strategic communication, using all media relevant to the theatre, including digital technologies, but also radio and television when most adapted to the context, as well as through addressing gender disparities in access to information. The EU is engaged in peace and security in much the same volatile environments as the United Nations.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090 (2022) · source
“Furthermore, they exacerbate tensions and foster instability in the concerned country and region. We welcome the Department of Peace Operations’ increased engagement in countering disinformation, along with the commitment of the Secretary-General and the Department of Global Communications to countering disinformation in other areas. Sufficient staff and resources should be allocated to these critical activities, especially on the ground, close to the missions. It requires staff who have a good knowledge and understanding of the national and regional dynamics at play and are able to engage with local populations at all levels, as well as with the media.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090 (2022) · source
“Unfortunately, over the last few years, there has been a significant increase in disinformation campaigns, using social media or other platforms to target United Nations peacekeeping operations. In Mali, in the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this trend is particularly worrying, as described in the Secretary-General’s reports related to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Not only do these campaigns, which often seek to incite hatred and violence, have an impact on peacekeepers’ security and safety, but they also complicate their task of protecting civilians.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090 (2022) · source
“Close coordination among local and international partners, together with enhanced strategic communications vis-à-vis the local population and media, is essential in particular to exposing and denouncing infringements of international norms by other actors. While unintentional misinformation poses a challenge, intentional targeting through information manipulation, including disinformation by malign actors, is particularly worrisome. With various levels of sophistication, information manipulation actions can be directed either against the host country in broad terms, at the missions in general or more specifically at the missions’ and operations’ operational effectiveness, with a view to undermining them by, for instance, hindering their freedom of movement or targeting individual staff members.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090 (2022) · source
“Strategic communications, whether through traditional media or new technologies, play an increasingly important role in peacekeeping mandate implementation. It is an essential tool in protecting civilians and promoting the safety and security of peacekeepers. We very much welcome the 2021 Strategy for the Digital Transformation of United Nations Peacekeeping and the Action for Peacekeeping Plus initiative, in which strategic communications is one of the priorities. We would also like to take this opportunity to honour those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of peace. The European Union (EU) closely works on the ground with United Nations peacekeeping operations, and it is ready to provide further support to the United Nations in this area.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090 (2022) · source
“Mr. Skoog: I would like to thank Brazil for convening, for the first time at the Security Council, a discussion on such a topical subject. I would also like to thank the briefers for their insightful remarks earlier today and, in the presence of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to pass on to all the women and men who represent the United Nations in various peacekeeping operations around the world our great admiration and respect for that very difficult and important work. The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova and the country of the Stabilization and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina align themselves with this statement.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090 (2022) · source