YouSaid · the spoken record

Sven Jürgenson.

lines on the record: 527
first: 2020-03-31
most recent: 2021-06-28
sittings or episodes: 119
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

“Higgins, President of Ireland, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Permanent Representative of the United States of America and Member of the Cabinet of President Biden, Jens Frølich Holte, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Norway, Keisal M. Peters, Minister of State with responsibility for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Foreign Secretary of India, Dang Hoang Giang, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam, and James Cleverly, Minister of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as by the representatives of China, France, Kenya, Mexico, the Russian Federation and Tunisia, in connection with the videoconference on “Children and armed conflict” convened on Monday, 28 June 2021.”
2021-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/617 (2021) · source
“821220761725297804937412362890409008338Security CouncilDistr.: General 30 June 2021 Original: English Letter dated 30 June 2021 from the President of the Security Council addressed to the Secretary-General and the Permanent Representatives of the members of the Security Council I have the honour to enclose herewith a copy of the briefings provided by the Secretary-General, António Guterres, Henrietta Fore, Executive Director, United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Forest Whitaker, Advocate for Children Affected by War with the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Goodwill Ambassador for Peace and Reconciliation of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and Laban Onisimus, Education Specialist, Plan International Nigeria, as well as the statements delivered by Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Estonia, Mohamed Bazoum, President of the Niger, Michael D.”
2021-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/617 (2021) · source
“821220761725297804937412362890409008338Security CouncilDistr.: General 24 June 2021 Original: English Letter dated 24 June 2021 from the President of the Security Council addressed to the Secretary-General and the Permanent Representatives of the members of the Security Council I have the honour to enclose herewith a copy of the briefings provided by Deborah Lyons, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, Ghada Fathi Ismail Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna, and Mary Akrami, Executive Director of Afghan Women’s Network, as well as the statements delivered by Eva-Maria Liimets, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Estonia, Simon Coveney, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence of Ireland, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister for External Affairs of India, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Permanent Representative of the United States and Member of President Biden’s Cabinet, Audun Halvorsen, Deputy Foreign Minister of Norway, Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for the Commonwealth, the United Nations and South Asia of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and by the representatives of China, France, Kenya, Mexico, the Niger, the Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia and Viet Nam in connection with the videoconference on “The situation in Afghanistan” convened on Tuesday, 22 June 2021.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“These statements will be issued as a document of the Council in accordance with the procedure set out in the letter dated 7 May 2020 ( S/2020/372) by the President of the Security Council addressed to the Permanent Representatives of members of the Council, which was agreed in the light of the extraordinary circumstances caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, and reference to the document will be made in S/PV.8798.”
2021-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/572 (2021) · source
“In accordance with the understanding reached among Security Council members for the 8,798th meeting, the following delegations submitted written statements, copies of which are enclosed: Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Cyprus, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Malta, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates.”
2021-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/572 (2021) · source
“I have the honour to refer to the 8,798th meeting of the Security Council convened on 16 June 2021 under the agenda item entitled “Implementation of the note by the President of the Security Council ( S/2017/507): working methods”. The interventions of the briefers and those of Council members will be published as an official record of the Council (S/PV.8798).”
2021-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/572 (2021) · source
“Estonia and the European Union remain committed to finding a lasting and credible political solution to the conflict in Syria. We encourage all international actors to support the Syrian people in achieving these aims, which are set out in Security Council resolution 2254 (2015) and the Geneva communiqué of 2012.”
2021-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/506 (2021) · source
“This could serve as a confidence-building measure to rebuild trust between the Syrian parties. I reiterate the call of Estonia and the European Union on the need to create an international mechanism to locate missing people or their remains. There must be accountability for the many war crimes and crimes against humanity – and an end to impunity. We demand the release of all arbitrarily detained people, especially women, children and the elderly. We welcome the overwhelming support of the largest international donors to Syria. The European Union and its member States’ contributions enable a scaling-up of critical programmes to support host communities and refugees in dealing with the impact of COVID-19, as well as to alleviate the suffering of Syrian people inside the country.”
2021-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/506 (2021) · source
“We need to ensure the availability of COVID-19 vaccines to all people in Syria. I express my gratitude to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for its continued efforts on the ground in Syria, where it assists, through partners, more than 2.4 million people every month. Looking at the political situation, challenges persist. The mock presidential elections this week are not in line with Security Council resolution 2254 (2015). Legitimate claims of the Syrian opposition must be taken into account when looking into the future of Syria. Unfortunately, the Constitutional Committee talks in Geneva have also not produced genuine results. Estonia encourages the Special Envoy to focus more efforts on the issue of detainees and missing persons.”
2021-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/506 (2021) · source
“I thank Special Envoy Pedersen and Under-Secretary-General Lowcock for their briefings. The deteriorating humanitarian situation reminds us that the conflict in Syria is far from over. Working on cross-line deliveries is important. However, until regular aid corridors have been established, we need to reconsider our earlier decisions. In the light of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, expanding cross-border aid deliveries in July is the only responsible approach to address the enormous humanitarian needs. Estonia calls for reauthorizing the Bab al-Hawa crossing for one year and reopening the crossings of Bab al-Salam in Idlib and Ya‘rubiyah in the north-east for the same period. A sustainable humanitarian response must be predicated on enabling access to all parts of Syria.”
2021-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/506 (2021) · source
“I will finish by honouring the service of those United Nations peacekeepers who paid the ultimate price in that endeavour.”
2021-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/501 (2021) · source
“Regrettably, the deliberate targeting of United Nations peacekeepers has increasingly become an approach for those not interested in peace — the spoilers who profit from instability. However, that makes the job of peacekeepers so much more important because for millions of people around the world our Blue Helmets represent the best hope for peace and stability. Estonia condemns in the strongest terms the targeting and killing of United Nations peacekeepers and emphasizes that the perpetrators and instigators of such violence must be brought to justice. I would like to conclude by expressing our gratitude and strong support to all United Nations peacekeepers, women and men, whose dedication and sacrifice bring hope to millions and help countries to navigate the difficult path from conflict to peace.”
2021-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/501 (2021) · source
“It includes ensuring that equipment and training meet the requisite standards and are appropriate for the circumstances of the particular area of operation; utilizing new technologies, including unmanned aerial vehicles, together with appropriate training to increase the capabilities of peacekeepers; and addressing greater attention to status-of-forces agreement violations, which can constitute a serious risk to the safety of peacekeepers and mandate implementation. Meanwhile, the coronavirus disease pandemic has introduced new medical risks and entrenched illnesses as the largest contributor to peacekeeper casualties. Violence against peacekeepers remains a grave issue that must be better investigated and prosecuted. More can also be done to prevent it.”
2021-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/501 (2021) · source
“Estonia will now continue to support the Action for Peacekeeping Plus initiative and place high importance on its goals of improving the performance and accountability of peacekeeping, promoting the women and peace and security agenda and addressing capability and integration gaps. All those priorities in turn affect the safety and security of peacekeepers as they implement their core mandates of protecting civilians and advancing political solutions. Improving the safety and security of peacekeepers involves a multitude of factors.”
2021-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/501 (2021) · source
“I would like to thank Under-Secretaries-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Atul Khare and Gilles Michaud for their very insightful briefings. The safety and security of peacekeepers are an integral benchmark of the ability of United Nations peacekeeping to adapt to the ever-changing circumstances of where and how it operates. Three years ago, the establishment of the Action for Peacekeeping initiative and the Declaration of Shared Commitments on United Nations Peacekeeping Operations provided a clear, cohesive approach to tackling the interconnected priorities of United Nations peacekeeping and ensuring that it is able to reform and adjust to the needs and challenges that it is facing.”
2021-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/501 (2021) · source
“Estonia therefore welcomes the development of benchmarks and indicators that will help to monitor the progress of UNITAMS against its strategic objectives. We also welcome the news that the status-of-mission agreement is ready to be signed. In conclusion, we welcome the progress that the Sudan has made, but also acknowledge that a lot remains to be done. While the Sudan has a long road ahead, it is important to emphasize that it will not be alone on that journey, as the international community stands firmly behind its historic transition. I reiterate Estonia’s full support for the Sudanese people in their efforts to achieve democracy, peace and prosperity.”
2021-05-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/495 (2021) · source
“We call on the Sudan to cooperate with the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) in order to build up the necessary capacities to ensure protection for all civilians. On that note, we welcome that the Minister of the Interior has requested the deployment of additional United Nations police officers. We also call for the urgent deployment of the joint protection force. UNITAMS was intentionally given a broad mandate in order to ensure that it could provide assistance in the many areas in which the Sudan might need help. However, in order to make tangible progress in the areas where progress is most urgently needed, it might be useful to prioritize some objectives for the coming year while still maintaining the broad mandate. Tracking progress will be crucial.”
2021-05-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/495 (2021) · source
“Estonia welcomes the recent Paris Conference on the Sudan and hopes that the Sudan can reach the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative decision point soon. Despite this progress, one persistent concern is the precarious security situation in some parts of Darfur and the devastating consequences of intercommunal violence. We know that the Darfuri people had fears about the departure of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, and we cannot stand by as those fears seem to materialize. Efforts must be redoubled to ensure the safety of civilians, including women and children. Perpetrators of violence must be held accountable. We therefore urge the transitional Government to accelerate the implementation of its National Strategy for the Protection of Civilians.”
2021-05-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/495 (2021) · source
“For that reason, we urge the transitional Government to prioritize the implementation of the security arrangements set out in the Juba Peace Agreement, including the operationalization of ceasefire mechanisms. Estonia welcomes the declaration of principles signed by Abdelaziz Al-Hilu’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement — North and calls on parties that have not yet joined the peace agreement to do so urgently. Estonia also continues to encourage cooperation with the International Criminal Court. The socioeconomic situation unfortunately continues to impose significant hardship on the Sudanese people, but we commend the important steps that the transitional Government has taken to put the country on the path towards economic recovery.”
2021-05-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/495 (2021) · source
“In order to ensure the success of the Sudan’s transition, it is also crucial to ensure women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in decision-making bodies. On that note, allow me also to express Estonia’s concern about the level of violence against women and girls and to urge the Government to take additional steps to create a protective environment that respects their full and equal rights. Estonia also welcomes the efforts to implement the Juba Peace Agreement, including the establishment of the National High Committee and subcommittees to follow up on the implementation of the agreement. There is a need to accelerate implementation in order to respond to the hopes of the population to live in peace.”
2021-05-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/495 (2021) · source
“I join others in thanking the Special Representative for the Sudan, Mr. Volker Perthes, for his insightful briefing, as well as the chargé d’affaires of the Sudan for his statement. Estonia welcomes the progress that the Sudan continues to make in its historic transition despite the multiple challenges that the country is facing. For the transition to stay on course, as envisioned by the revolution and the Constitutional Declaration, the importance of institution-building cannot be overemphasized. Therefore, we urge the transitional authorities to expedite the formation of the Transitional Legislative Council, with 40 per cent representation of women. Similarly, we call for the establishment of the Human Rights Commission, the Transitional Justice Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission.”
2021-05-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/495 (2021) · source
“We reiterate our call on all parties to refrain from any unilateral steps that undermine the viability of the two-State solution. We welcome the mediating efforts and strong calls by the United Nations and other international and regional actors to de-escalate the situation. We also welcome the convening of this open debate, and we call for the continuing active engagement of the Council to address this situation.”
2021-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/480 (2021) · source
“We call on the political, community and religious leaders of both sides to make all efforts to calm the situation, which has the potential to escalate into full-scale war. All parties need to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from further provocation and incitement. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has already lasted too long, and I would like to reiterate that the solution to it can be through meaningful negotiations only. Estonia will remain committed to supporting all efforts, especially by the Middle East Quartet, to resume direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians in order to achieve a two-State solution, based on international law, the relevant Security Council resolutions and internationally agreed parameters.”
2021-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/480 (2021) · source
“The increasing number of civilian casualties on both sides is highly alarming. All parties have an obligation to protect civilians, especially children. We join the Secretary-General in reminding all sides that any indiscriminate targeting of civilian and media structures violates international law and must be avoided at all costs. Estonia expresses support for the independent journalists and news agencies covering the conflict. Their work is vital and often plays an important role in the protection of civilians. It is also important to calm the volatile situation and incitement around the Temple Mount/Haram Al-Sharif. The status quo of the holy sites must be respected. The continuing clashes in other parts of the occupied West Bank as well as the upsurge of communal violence in several Israeli cities are also of utmost concern.”
2021-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/480 (2021) · source
“I welcome Secretary-General António Guterres and thank him for his briefing. I also thank Special Coordinator Wennesland for his briefing. Estonia is deeply concerned about the ongoing escalation of violence in Israel and in the occupied Palestinian territory. We join the Secretary-General’s urgent appeal for all parties to immediately cease the fighting. We strongly condemn the indiscriminate firing of approximately 3,000 rockets from Gaza by Hamas and other militant groups against the Israeli civilian population. There can be no justification for such indiscriminate violence; it must stop immediately. Israel has a legitimate right to self-defence against such attacks. However, it is essential to ensure proportionality in these actions, in line with international humanitarian law.”
2021-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/480 (2021) · source
“It is important to ensure women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in the peace and political processes. We urge the parties to take further practical steps to help build trust, including further agreements for prisoner exchanges. In addition, allowing more fuel ships to enter the port of Al-Hudaydah would contribute to easing the dire humanitarian situation. We also repeat our call upon the Houthi authorities to ensure immediate and full access to the FSO SAFER oil tanker for the United Nations team without further delay. Finally, regarding the developments in the south, we reiterate our call on the Government and the Southern Transitional Council to implement the Riyadh agreement, which is an essential step in the path towards reaching a wider peace.”
2021-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/465 (2021) · source
“However, nearly 20,000 people have already been displaced since the beginning of February, with dozens injured or killed, and the internally displaced persons camps are overcrowded. All parties must refrain from attacks to civilian areas and must ensure respect for international humanitarian law. Estonia fully supports all diplomatic efforts made in order to end this conflict, particularly those by Special Envoy Griffiths, the United States and the Sultanate of Oman. We have also welcomed the announcement by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on ways to end the crisis. We encourage the parties to engage with these efforts, to show willingness to compromise and to agree to a sustainable and nationwide ceasefire in order to move forward with an inclusive political process.”
2021-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/465 (2021) · source
“I thank Special Envoy Griffiths and Under-Secretary-General Lowcock for their briefings. Estonia remains deeply concerned about the continuing military escalation in Yemen, as it continues to cause immense suffering to the civilian population. It is especially worrisome in the context of a sharp rise in coronavirus disease cases and a risk of widespread famine. All parties must immediately put an end to the hostilities and engage with the efforts to end the war. There is no military solution to this conflict. We condemn the Houthis’ continued assault on Ma’rib, as it entails the threat of further mass displacement and aggravates the humanitarian crisis. It is positive that the United Nations has been able to deploy humanitarian flights to the Ma’rib region.”
2021-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/465 (2021) · source
“We fully support the steps by the Government of Iraq towards urgently needed reforms to improve the socioeconomic situation and governance, and we reiterate our call to implement the measures proposed in the white paper. Finally, we welcome the agreement between the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government on the Federal Budget Law, which is another successful example of resolving disagreements through dialogue and will hopefully contribute to increased economic and political stability for the whole country.”
2021-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/474 (2021) · source
“We also urge the Government of Iraq to take further steps to ensure accountability for violations against protesters, civil society activists and journalists, while stressing the importance of protecting the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. It is deeply worrisome that attacks against diplomatic missions and the personnel of the Global Coalition against Da’esh continue. We strongly condemn such attacks and reiterate our continued support for Iraq’s fight against Da’esh. We also reiterate the need for all actors to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq and to refrain from any military action, which would threaten the stability of Iraq. We also call upon the Government of Iraq for additional measures to ensure State control over all armed forces.”
2021-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/474 (2021) · source
“We call upon all Iraqi stakeholders to contribute to a conducive environment for holding credible, transparent and inclusive elections. The establishment of a higher committee to promote and monitor women’s electoral participation and to prevent violence against women candidates is a welcome step. The continued role of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq in supporting Iraq in the electoral preparations and processes is essential and contributes to Iraq’s readiness for the elections. The Security Council must carefully consider the most feasible way to respond to Iraq’s request for election observation. We welcome the adoption of the Yazidi Female Survivors Law by the Iraqi Parliament, as it is an important step towards reconciliation and accountability and addresses the important issue of conflict-related sexual violence.”
2021-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/474 (2021) · source
“I would like to thank Special Representative Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert for her briefing. We reiterate our solidarity with, and support for, the Iraqi Government and people, who continue to face political, economic and security challenges. We believe that the solution to most of those challenges lies in dialogue, at both the national and the regional levels. We welcome Prime Minister Al-Kadhimi’s call for an Iraqi national dialogue. An inclusive dialogue among all political forces, communities and groups of society, including women and young people, will strengthen the social fabric and promote reconciliation. The planned parliamentary elections are a crucial element in the path towards stability and restoring trust in Iraq’s political system.”
2021-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/474 (2021) · source
“Estonia stands in strong support of the EU’s solidarity with the Western Balkans and its addressing the immediate health needs, as well as the long-term social and economic impact resulting from the pandemic. We commend the work and support of all others, such as the United Nations Resident Coordinator and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), who have provided assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina during the pandemic. We also commend UNICEF, UNDP and UNESCO for implementing the Dialogue for the Future project, which seeks to enhance the local dialogue platforms — bringing together local leaders, as well as civil society, youth, religious leaders and women’s organizations. To move forward, all political leaders of the country should deliver concrete results and implement fundamental reforms.”
2021-05-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/436 (2021) · source
“Republika Srpska should stop advocating secession and refrain from any actions or policies that could destabilize the country. It is high time to put aside differences, focus on easing political tensions and promoting reconciliation, and concentrate on forming the Government in the Federation. A functioning Bosnia and Herzegovina Constitutional Court is of vital strategic importance for the country, and we fully support its international judges. All political parties in the country have to implement important judicial decisions of the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights. As we have learned from the High Representative’s latest report, the coronavirus disease pandemic has seriously disrupted Bosnia and Herzegovina’s economy.”
2021-05-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/436 (2021) · source
“We reiterate our full support to the European Union Military Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR-Althea) and its mandate, as the mission is a strong contributor to the country’s efforts in maintaining a safe and secure environment, which is particularly crucial in the current complicated political climate in the country. The rise of nationalistic and divisive rhetoric in Bosnia and Herzegovina is deeply concerning. Spreading provocative rhetoric, denying war crimes, glorifying convicted war criminals and downplaying the Srebrenica genocide in any way is unacceptable. We urge the political parties in the country to engage in dialogue and foster an environment conducive to unity, consensus and constructive engagement in the interest of the citizens.”
2021-05-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/436 (2021) · source
“We call on the presidency leaders to seize the opportunity of 2021 as non- electoral year to show concrete progress on the implementation of the rest of the key priorities of the European Commission’s opinion, in particular the electoral and constitutional reform to ensure the equality and non-discrimination of citizens and advancing the rule of law. We also encourage them to promote youth employment and education, as well as gender equality, and to implement the women and peace and security agenda in an inclusive manner.”
2021-05-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/436 (2021) · source
“Estonia strongly supports Bosnia and Herzegovina’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and is certain that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s future is adjoined with the Euro-Atlantic path, in line with the legitimate aspiration of its citizens. We welcome the local elections held in the city of Mostar on 20 December last year for the first time since 2008, and the adoption of the revised National War Crimes Processing Strategy, which both represent important steps forward for the country on its European Union (EU) integration path.”
2021-05-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/436 (2021) · source
“I would like to thank you, High Representative Valentin Inzko, for your comprehensive briefing today. We really commend your work, in particular, as you are tackling close to 100 per cent of your tasks although your team’s size and budget have substantially decreased over the years. We fully support a robust and effective Office of High Representative, which is necessary in order to fulfil its mandated responsibilities and mitigate risks to stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mr. Inzko, your analysis of the situation in the country in your latest regular report to the Secretary-General (see S/2021/409) is excellent, and we encourage you to also include the elements of the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda in future reporting.”
2021-05-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/436 (2021) · source
“Estonia and the European Union remain committed to finding a lasting and credible political solution to the conflict in Syria. We encourage all international actors to support the Syrian people in achieving those aims, which are set out in resolution 2254 (2015) and the 2012 Geneva communiqué (S/2012/522, annex).”
2021-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/418 (2021) · source
“As the Constitutional Committee keeps underdelivering, Estonia encourages the Special Envoy to explore additional confidence-building measures, which could bring the Government and its legitimate opposition closer to each other in the interest of all Syrian people. Most importantly, we believe that meaningful steps with regard to arbitrarily detained people could benefit the conflicting sides. I reiterate the call of Estonia and the European Union concerning the need to create an international mechanism to locate missing people or their remains. There must be accountability for the many war crimes and crimes against humanity, and an end to impunity. We demand the release of all arbitrarily detained people, especially women, children and the elderly.”
2021-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/418 (2021) · source
“The weakening of neighbouring economies has resulted in substantial losses for Syria, where businesses have historically been strongly interlinked with those in Lebanon and elsewhere. Looking at the political front, numerous challenges persist. The Syrian Constitutional Committee talks in Geneva have not enabled genuine dialogue. The proposed presidential elections in May further undermine the political process. The legitimate claims of the Syrian opposition must be taken into account when looking at the future of Syria. Estonia and other European Union member States support free and fair elections in Syria, in accordance with resolution 2254 (2015), under United Nations supervision, with all Syrians, including members of the diaspora, eligible to participate. Anything else would be considered yet another farce.”
2021-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/418 (2021) · source
“Sustainable, long-term, cross-border humanitarian response ensures that all Syrian people will receive necessary food items, medicine and COVID-19 vaccines. Reaching a nationwide ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access to all those in need are imperatives during the pandemic. I express my gratitude to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for its continued efforts on the ground in Syria, where 4.9 million people were reached with assistance in February and March. I thank OCHA for its dedication and professionalism. The economic situation remains fragile, as corruption, warlordism and intra- communal fighting continue across the country. The safe and dignified return of refugees is still not possible. Broader regional dynamics are also at play.”
2021-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/418 (2021) · source
“I thank Special Envoy Pedersen and Under-Secretary-General Lowcock for their briefings on the political and humanitarian situations in Syria. Our briefers highlighted multiple challenges that Syria will face today and in the near future. On the humanitarian front, millions of people have been deprived of their homes and livelihoods. The spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) resulted in another set of problems, putting in danger the most vulnerable groups and hampering the overall humanitarian response. Unfortunately, the promises of replacing cross-border deliveries with cross-line aid still fall short. Cross-line aid is dysfunctional, irregular and unreliable. This is a fact that cannot be overlooked. In this light, maintaining cross-border aid deliveries in July remains our utmost duty.”
2021-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/418 (2021) · source
“However, moving forward, we need to have a discussion about how the United Nations can be most helpful given the current realities surrounding the Abyei question. We note that the Secretary-General’s consultations about the future exit of UNISFA were inconclusive, yet we need to continue our work to find common ground on that issue. In conclusion, the people of Abyei deserve better than the current status quo. We therefore call on the parties to capitalize on their improved relationship to push for progress on the question of Abyei. We also continue to call for the removal of any impediments to the implementation of UNISFA’s mandate. Finally, I would like to underscore the importance of dialogue and cooperation in resolving the question of Abyei, as well as alleviate the heightened tensions in the wider region.”
2021-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/408 (2021) · source
“In that connection, I reiterate my call to first, expedite the deployment of the police component; secondly, conduct joint investigations into the deadly incidents of violence with the purpose of bringing the perpetrators to justice; and thirdly, deploy human-rights expertise to the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), including enhanced child-protection capacities. While those asks have been repeatedly made in the Council, there has unfortunately been little progress, and we urge the relevant parties to heed those calls. Estonia supports the extension of the mandate of UNISFA for the next six months. On that note, I would also like to express our gratitude to UNISFA for their invaluable contributions.”
2021-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/408 (2021) · source
“We therefore welcome all steps taken in that direction and call on the Sudan and South Sudan to continue to build a viable political process that leads to the implementation of security and administrative arrangements to which both sides can agree. The political process could be significantly aided by the appointment of a civilian deputy head of mission, and we call on the parties to help to make that a reality. We also call for regional actors to actively engage the parties on the Abyei question, as their support is crucial for making progress on that issue. We are concerned about violence and criminality, the recent trend of attacks on United Nations troops and contractors, as well as the obstruction and looting of humanitarian convoys. This worrying trend requires decisive action.”
2021-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/408 (2021) · source
“I also join others in thanking the briefers for their insightful overviews. Estonia warmly welcomes the continuing rapprochement between the Sudan and South Sudan. We recognize that the political transitions in both countries continue to require much of the attention of the respective Governments. However, we also urge the parties to use their newly strengthened relations to facilitate progress towards resolving the question of Abyei. This is especially important given the heightened tensions in the larger Horn of Africa region. Estonia believes that there is no substitute for a meaningful political process between the parties.”
2021-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/408 (2021) · source
“We call on the Israeli authorities to facilitate the holding of elections, with the participation of international observers, across all the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in line with the Oslo Accords. Finally, I would like to reiterate the important role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East for the stability of the region. We welcome the United States announcement regarding the resumption of funding to the Agency and encourage other donors to restore or, if possible, increase their contributions, as well. I would like to state that Estonia aligns itself with the statement submitted on behalf of the European Union (annex 28).”
2021-04-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/404 (2021) · source
“We repeat our call for preventing all acts of violence against civilians, acts of terror, incitement and acts of provocation. Despite the relative calm between Israel and Gaza, there can be no justification for the continued occasional launching of rockets and incendiary devices towards Israel or any other form of violence targeting the civilian population. We welcome the continued engagement of the Palestinian factions to prepare for the upcoming legislative, presidential and National Council elections. We call upon the Palestinian factions to ensure free, fair and inclusive elections and to commit to democratic principles.”
2021-04-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/404 (2021) · source
“We welcome the cooperation in combating the coronavirus disease pandemic and urge the parties for further coordinated efforts, ensuring increased provision of the vaccine to the Palestinians. We also reiterate our call on all parties to refrain from any unilateral steps that undermine the viability of the two-State solution. We call on Israel to halt the continued settlement expansion and demolitions in the occupied Palestinian territories, as they are contrary to international law. We are concerned by the Israeli authorities’ plans for the construction of settlement units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, including in Har Homa. It is also worrying that the demolition and confiscation of Palestinian structures and properties by Israel are continuing at a growing pace.”
2021-04-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/404 (2021) · source