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

“The use of a weapon of mass destruction anywhere, by anyone and under any circumstances is not and cannot become acceptable.”
2020-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/902 (2020) · source
“Unfortunately, this is not the first time that Novichok, a military-grade nerve agent, has been used against people who Russia perceives as adversaries. The 2018 attack against Sergei and Yulia Skripal on British soil and the poisoning of Navalny show a pattern. In a similar fashion, in 2017 the North Korean regime used the nerve agent VX to assassinate Kim Jong Un’s brother in a Malaysian airport. Estonia is convinced that a robust international response is essential to hold those responsible to account for the use of chemical weapons, seek justice for the victims and prevent such attacks from happening again. The Security Council and all its members have a responsibility to protect the international non-proliferation regime, which underpins our collective security.”
2020-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/902 (2020) · source
“Those actions have serious consequences. We are allowing the norm against the use of chemical weapons to erode. We are allowing a new normal, where chemical weapons are used to eliminate political rivals and punish the opposition. We have already seen an alarming increase in their use over the past years. Just last week, we learned about the usage of a chemical nerve agent of the Novichok group to poison Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. We strongly condemn the attack and call for an impartial and international investigation that would include the experts of the OPCW. We urge Russia to cooperate and provide an account of how the nerve agent came to be used in the poisoning of Mr. Navalny.”
2020-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/902 (2020) · source
“The seriousness of such acts is further supported by the Security Council’s determination, in its resolution 2118 (2013), that the use of chemical weapons anywhere constitutes a threat to international peace and security. Yet, regrettably, so far chemical-weapons attacks in Syria have largely been committed with impunity. The Council has so far failed to uphold its own decisions or to discuss seriously how to move forward with accountability measures and put an end to such horrific crimes. Instead, we see systematic efforts on the part of the Russian Federation to discredit and undermine the competence and authority of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and question the validity of the reports of its investigative bodies whenever their conclusions do not fit with Russia’s political agenda and interests.”
2020-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/902 (2020) · source
“The regime has conducted almost all of the verified chemical-weapons attacks that have taken place in Syria. The Joint Investigative Mechanism and the Investigation and Identification Team have determined that in seven instances altogether the Syrian regime was responsible for using chemical weapons against its people. Since to date Syria has failed to declare and destroy all of its chemical weapons and their production facilities, we have not been assured that new attacks will not happen again. Estonia condemns the use of chemical weapons in the strongest terms. Any use of such weapons is a grave violation of international law.”
2020-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/902 (2020) · source
“I thank High Representative Nakamitsu for her briefing on the implementation of resolution 2118 (2013). Last 21 August marked the seventh anniversary of the chemical-weapons attack that took place in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta. That attack remains one of the most horrendous, large-scale atrocities conducted during the Syrian conflict by the Al-Assad regime against its own people. The Syrian Network for Human Rights has documented that during the Ghouta attacks at least 1,144 individuals suffocated to death; 1,119 of them were civilians, including 99 children and 194 women. Despite Syria’s accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention in 2013, its Government forces have continued to use sarin gas and chlorine bombs to suppress the opposition and terrorize civilians and punish them for their demand to end the dictatorship.”
2020-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/902 (2020) · source
“Some Governments have curbed United Nations peacekeepers’ freedom of movement, which in turn curbs our ability to help the people in need. We must focus our efforts on dealing with the pandemic, not fighting. As I have said in my previous speeches on the issue — and I will not get tired of stressing it — the risks posed by the pandemic for the rights of women, including through gender-based violence and violations of human rights, are undeniable. Women’s role in the societies’ response to COVID-19, including in conflict and post-conflict situations, is crucial, as they represent the majority of health workers. To beat the pandemic, we need to show solidarity and trust. We need to be transparent with each other. Without a coordinated response, we cannot win.S/2020/897”
2020-09-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/897 (2020) · source
“It is for these reasons that we must continue following the Secretary-General’s call for a humanitarian ceasefire. Only then can countries effectively deal with the pandemic to protect their citizens, when all their effort is directed towards the number one enemy — the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Enabling safe, unhindered and sustained delivery of humanitarian assistance is as relevant now as it was a few months ago, especially regarding Syria. We have seen cases where COVID-19 has been used as a pretext for various ideas that are not serving the common good of the people in need or have little to no links to the pandemic, including the campaign for the lifting of restrictive measures, the rise in disinformation campaigns and attacks against the health-care sector, both physical and cyber.”
2020-09-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/897 (2020) · source
“I thank the briefers for their thorough update on the issue. The pandemic continues to pose a significant threat to the maintenance of international peace and security. This means that a potential increase in social unrest and violence, which would greatly undermine our ability to fight the disease, is still in the cards. On 1 July, we unanimously adopted resolution 2532 (2020), demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities in all situations on our agenda. In some countries, like my own, we have had time to deal with the various outcomes of the pandemic, but this cannot be said about many others. There are countries that are ravaged by conflicts, violence, human rights violations and so forth, which makes dealing with the pandemic nearly impossible.”
2020-09-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/897 (2020) · source
“Estonia is committed to sharing its experience and good practices in e-governance through creative digital solutions with the countries of the Francophonie. We need a digital future protected by international rules, while preserving our green planet. Finally, we reaffirm the commitment to working together with the OIF in the implementation of its multifaceted mandate, including in relation to the maintenance of peace and security in cooperation with the United Nations.”
2020-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/893 (2020) · source
“Estonia commends the OIF for being present in countries that have requested and allowed the electoral monitoring missions to provide the necessary assistance and support. In that context, we have noted OIF’s quick reaction to the recent developments in Mali, including its decision to suspend Mali’s membership of the organization. We recognize that, at the same time, the OIF has aimed to maintain cooperation that would help the country’s civilian population and a transition to democracy. Looking ahead, we anticipate our participation in the OIF summit in Tunis in 2021, to be held under the theme “Connectivity in diversity: the digital vector of development and solidarity in the French-speaking world”.”
2020-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/893 (2020) · source
“We would particularly like to commend the work of the OIF aimed at promoting democracy, the rule of law, human rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women, girls and young people and their active participation in society. Estonia also recognizes OIF’s contribution to crisis resolution, peacebuilding and the development of cooperation in the peacekeeping sector, including strengthening the participation of francophone contingents in peacekeeping operations. The access and the ability of peacekeepers to communicate with the local population in the francophone countries is a powerful tool for building trust and, through that, the effectiveness of United Nations peacekeeping. We further note the important collaboration between the OIF and the United Nations in the field of electoral monitoring and assistance.”
2020-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/893 (2020) · source
“We thank the briefers for their presentations. Estonia welcomes the opportunity to discuss the issue of cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie (OIF). Regional cooperation can be a valuable tool in maintaining international peace and security. Estonia, also as an observer to the OIF, welcomes the work of the OIF, which helps to enhance the goals of the work of the United Nations, including the Security Council, consistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations. We also welcome the attention given to multilateralism and multilingualism. We are aware that the OIF today is not only an organization of States that have the French language in common, but also an association of States that shares the same universal values as the United Nations.”
2020-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/893 (2020) · source
“I would like to express Estonia’s concern about the increasing number of reports of human rights violations in Libya. All people must be able to exercise their fundamental rights to peaceful assembly, protest and freedom of expression without having to fear excessive use of force by the authorities in retaliation. All incidents of international humanitarian law and human rights law violations must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible must be held accountable. I would also like to reiterate Estonia’s full support to the work of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the United Nations-facilitated political process in Libya. We support the further extension of the UNSMIL mandate for another 12 months.”
2020-09-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/879 (2020) · source
“Lasting peace in Libya can come about only through a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process, and we need to create space for it. The only acceptable international framework to support that is the Berlin process conducted under the auspices of the United Nations. All international efforts to stop the blatant violations of the Libyan sanctions regime must continue. The European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation IRINI will continue to make an important contribution to those efforts. The already dire humanitarian situation in Libya took a turn for the worse over the past months. We are extremely concerned about the growing suffering of civilians amid the frequent and significant power and water cuts, and call on all parties to stop the attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.”
2020-09-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/879 (2020) · source
“I thank Acting Special Representative Stephanie Williams for her briefing, as well as the Secretary-General for his written report on the latest developments in Libya (S/2020/832). The coordinated calls for ceasefire by the Government of National Accord and the eastern-based House of Representatives on 21 August were a welcome step in bringing Libya closer to peace, but now both parties need to follow that up with concrete action. It is extremely important that the talks in the framework of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission continue at a good pace and result in an effective ceasefire agreement. Furthermore, we fully support the calls from the Libyan parties to cease all foreign intervention in Libya, including the departure of all foreign fighters and mercenaries who are present in Libya.”
2020-09-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/879 (2020) · source
“Sexual violence is a widespread and, at times, systemic feature of conflicts, and it can perpetuate the divisions and animosities driving conflict for years to come.”
2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source
“We believe it needs to be rights-based, responsive to the survivors’ needs and differentiated accordingly. Psychosocial and sexual and reproductive health services are an integral part of it. We cannot address sexual violence without ensuring gender equality. The disempowerment of women and girls increases their risk of violence, but also leads to negative coping measures and restricts their access to assistance and justice. We note with dismay the difficulties the Council continues to have in recognizing and addressing sexual violence in specific contexts, despite its clear condemnation of sexual violence in conflict. Overlooking this, we fail the survivors of violence, but we also fail in our principal task of maintaining peace and security.”
2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source
“We welcome the inclusion of sexual violence as a designation criterion for the Council sanctions committees and support its application in practice. We look forward to increased briefings to the committees by the Special Representative. Estonia continues to support the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict in its cooperation with national institutions to address impunity and support victims. We underline the role of international accountability mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court, which, in an important step in 2019, found Bosco Ntaganda guilty for crimes against humanity, including rape and sexual slavery. We support the elements in resolution 2467 (2019) describing a survivor-centred approach in responding to sexual violence.”
2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source
“No perpetrators have been prosecuted for sexual violence in Syria. In Myanmar, there has been no accountability despite the recommendations of the Independent International Fact- finding Mission, which found that sexual violence was a hallmark of the Tatmadaw’s operations in 2016 and 2017. We strongly support the Security Council mechanisms on sexual violence in conflict, including field-based monitoring, reporting by the Secretary-General and the Special Representative, and the work of the Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security. We underline the importance of sufficient funding for women protection advisers. We note with concern the challenges posed to this monitoring and reporting by the coronavirus disease and call on the United Nations peace operations to maintain its focus on sexual violence.”
2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source
“We are alarmed that 70 per cent of the listed parties are persistent perpetrators who have appeared in the list for years and with impunity. We believe this information should feed into all Council discussions. Despite the increased focus and documentation, there is accountability for sexual violence in only a fraction of cases. This means that one of our most powerful tools for preventing sexual violence is not used. All over the world, discriminatory social norms and stigmatization prevent survivors from reporting cases of sexual violence and accessing information or services. This needs to be changed. In Iraq and Syria, in recent years, thousands of women and girls have been abducted and forced into sexual slavery. In Iraq, there are still no indictments for sexual violence committed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.”
2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source
“We thank all briefers for their presence and briefings. We also thank the Secretary-General for his report, while noting with alarm, again, his description of the “global security environment in which sexual violence remains a cruel tactic of war, torture, terror and political repression, and a brutally effective tool of displacement and dehumanization.” (S/2020/487, para 3) We note with particular concern the attacks against women human rights defenders and political activists aimed aimed at silencing their voices in peace processes. The Secretary-General’s reports and their annexes presented to the Security Council over the years have in clear and grim detail laid out the information on conflict-related sexual violence.”
2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source
“That was the direct result of Moscow pursuing its political and military goals in Syria instead of standing up to protect humanitarian principles. We condemned that kind of irresponsible playing with human lives in January (see S/PV.8700), and we do so again today. Moving from four crossings half a year ago to one today will have disastrous consequences for millions of civilians in Syria. Like many others present, we voted in favour of the co-penholders’ resolution 2533 (2020) today for one reason only — so that these people could stay alive and resist this injustice.”
2020-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/702 (2020) · source
“We can cross this finish line together today, knowing that humanitarian aid will cross Syria’s borders tomorrow. Millions of people will continue to get the help that they so desperately need. The tireless efforts of Belgium and Germany — their Permanent Representatives and teams — have ensured another one-year lifeline to the people in Idlib. We thank them for their dedication, and we pay our highest respects to all the humanitarian workers on the ground. This final compromise was not easy to reach. Moscow once again used delaying tactics, trying to create friction among Council members, who had already twice voted in favour of the co-penholders’ proposals, only to see those draft texts vetoed twice by Russia and China.”
2020-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/702 (2020) · source
“Moreover, ensuring the full and meaningful participation of women and youth in the political process will bring the region closer to long-lasting stability. We urge all parties to take further steps in that regard. Finally, it is key that the upcoming elections in the second half of the year in several countries of West Africa and the Sahel be held as planned. We urge all parties to make every effort to ensure that they are inclusive, transparent, credible and peaceful.”
2020-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/706 (2020) · source
“All perpetrators of such crimes must be held accountable regardless of their status. We remain very concerned about the increasingly dire humanitarian situation in some areas of West Africa and the Sahel. The coronavirus disease pandemic has added yet another layer to an already complicated situation. It is therefore especially important that humanitarian aid reach all those in need. Understanding long-term grievances and addressing the root causes of the conflict need to remain at the core of national and international efforts. We commend UNOWAS and the Economic Community of West African States for addressing the impact of climate change on security in the region, and we encourage them to continue to do so.”
2020-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/706 (2020) · source
“We welcome that those transnational threats are being addressed through multinational efforts such as the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel, which, together with the French-led Operation Barkhane, have conducted successful counter-terrorist operations. Estonia has been actively participating in the joint efforts and will continue to do so. The key to long-lasting stability in the region is full political ownership by the region’s States. An effective State presence — that is, State institutions, services and an adequately trained military presence — is of the utmost importance. An integral part of that State presence is the fight against impunity. We urge all countries of the region to strengthen the relevant dispute-settlement mechanisms and effectively address all grave violations and abuses of human rights.”
2020-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/706 (2020) · source
“I would like to thank the briefers for their comprehensive reports on the developments in the region. I would also like to reiterate Estonia’s full support for the work of Special Representative Chambas and the activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) over the past six months. It is with great concern that we follow the overall deterioration in the security situation in West Africa and the Sahel. The growing number of terrorist attacks and the increase in intercommunal violence — most notably in Burkina Faso, but also in Central Mali and in the Liptako-Gourma triborder area — are especially complex.”
2020-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/706 (2020) · source
“In addition to the increasing spread of the coronavirus disease, deliberately planted landmines and other explosive devices remain a huge concern. We welcome international efforts aimed at clearing mines the contaminated areas. Finally, we hope that the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya will be appointed very soon. It is important to have the United Nations Support Mission in Libya and the United Nations-facilitated political process working at full capacity so as to ensure the best chances for success.”
2020-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/686 (2020) · source
“The continuous flow of arms, private military operatives, fighter jets, drones and other assets must stop. In this regard, we note with satisfaction that the European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation IRINI has already been able to demonstrate its effectiveness. The true price of the Libyan conflict is starting to reveal itself only now, and it will continue in the years to come. We were shocked and appalled to hear about the recent discoveries of the mass graves in Tarhouna, and we call for a thorough investigation to be undertaken. It is critical to address all violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law and to hold the perpetrators of such crimes accountable. We remain extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation in Libya.”
2020-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/686 (2020) · source
“The Berlin Conference in January was an important milestone in bringing together the international community around efforts aimed at finding a solution to the Libyan conflict. It is truly commendable that the process has continued despite the restrictions and that currently all the working groups are actively conducting their discussions. The international process led and facilitated by the United Nations must remain at the centre of international efforts. However, despite the advances made in the operationalization of the Berlin process, the reality in Libya remains grim. The active conflict has continued, and foreign intervention will only exacerbate it. Such foreign interference in Libya is a blatant violation of the sanctions regime set up by the Security Council.”
2020-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/686 (2020) · source
“I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his sobering account of how much remains to be done at the international level to help bring peace and stability to Libya. I also thank the German presidency of the Security Council for organizing today’s meeting, which will allow us to hear from all the participants of the Berlin process and the States neighbouring Libya. Lasting peace in Libya can come only through a Libyan-owned and Libyan- led political process. While we welcome the renewed engagement of both parties to the conflict in the third round of talks of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission, more progress is clearly needed. The fighting needs to stop. We welcome the initiatives proposed here today that aim to defuse tensions and create space for a negotiated solution.”
2020-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/686 (2020) · source
“In the context of the coronavirus disease, training and knowledge of the protection and promotion of human rights in practice helps missions better support countries dealing with the pandemic. We also stress the importance of applying a gender perspective to the human rights-related activities of peace missions and to the activities of missions in general. In parallel, we underline the need for the observance of human rights by the United Nations peace operations themselves, including by addressing all instances of sexual exploitation and abuse. We value the exchange we have had today and look forward to following up on this topic in future discussions.”
2020-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/674 (2020) · source
“However, we also believe that a whole-of-mission approach — the cooperation between the human rights officers and the military and police staff — is key to making a real difference. We welcome the good examples that have been shared in this regard. Similarly, good mission leadership is crucial. Indeed, human rights should be part of mission management at the highest level. We do not need human rights protection to be a token add-on with no real impact; rather, it must be an integral part of force generation, mission planning, management and oversight and evaluation. We note the steps that have been taken towards greater coherence to this end. Sufficient and practice-oriented predeployment training is one of the key elements in this regard.”
2020-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/674 (2020) · source
“Peace missions can be helpful interlocutors in dialogues with Governments and with civil society. We underline the key role of the human rights components in United Nations missions and the strong support lent by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. I take this opportunity to thank High Commissioner Bachelet and her team for their work in this regard. Dedicated women protection advisers and child protection advisers play an important and complementary role in protecting and promoting human rights. We note the importance of the cooperation between the human rights officers and protection advisers and believe that all of these components should be sufficiently funded.”
2020-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/674 (2020) · source
“I thank Germany for convening today’s open debate. We believe that human rights are directly linked to the maintenance of peace and security and the work of the Security Council, including with respect to peace operations. We thank all the briefers for their presence and their briefings. Peace operations would not be able to fulfil their mandates effectively if they overlooked the issue of protecting and promoting of human rights. While, on the one hand, human rights violations can presage and drive conflicts and are regrettably a constant feature of conflicts, peace operations, on the other hand, are one of the Council’s most powerful tools for managing conflict. Human rights are also a part of the protection-of-civilians mandates given to most missions by the Council to help the most vulnerable in conflict.”
2020-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/674 (2020) · source
“Such weapons-proliferation activities have a highly destabilizing effect on the region and only feed into the escalation of tensions. These very concerning activities do not lend any support to the planned expiry of the conventional arms restrictions this October, as established by resolution 2231 (2015). To conclude, Estonia calls all parties to remain committed to the full and effective implementation of the JCPOA and of resolution 2231 (2015). It is our common responsibility as members of the international community to work together to preserve the nuclear agreement and reach a diplomatic settlement through constructive dialogue and in good faith. We fully support efforts that are conducive to international peace and security.”
2020-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/644 (2020) · source
“The report therefore gives rise to serious concerns. The Secretary-General’s report offers a detailed examination of the weapons seized by the United States in November 2019 and February 2020, and concludes that they were of Iranian origin and may have been transferred in a manner inconsistent with resolution 2231 (2015). Moreover, some of the items were similar or identical to those used in the attacks against Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities and its international airport. We also note with concern the information provided in the report regarding the launches by Iran of space-launch vehicles, in two instances. In undertaking such activity, Iran is not providing confidence that it is not developing technology capable of serving as a means of delivery for nuclear weapons.”
2020-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/644 (2020) · source
“Estonia welcomes our European partners’ efforts to address and find a viable solution to the issues of non-compliance with the JCPOA within its framework, and notes the triggering of the dispute resolution mechanism by France, Germany and the United Kingdom in January this year. We hope that other participants in the JCPOA will engage constructively and substantively in this process. The preservation and full implementation of the JCPOA also includes compliance with all the provisions of resolution 2231 (2015), including the restrictive measures set out in annex B to the resolution. The Secretary-General’s report outlines Iran’s continued non-compliance with several of the provisions relating to its ballistic missile-related activities and transfer of various arms to other actors in the Middle East.”
2020-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/644 (2020) · source
“Nevertheless, Iran’s announcement, in May 2019, to reduce its nuclear- related commitments under the Plan and the subsequent steps taken are extremely concerning and worrisome, as they indicate a serious threat of nuclear proliferation. Although we commend that Iran continues to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) under the JCPOA, we note with concern Iran’s recent lack of cooperation with the Agency’s investigations under is Safeguards Agreement. Since cooperation with the IAEA is crucial in order to provide the necessary assurances of the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities, Estonia supported the resolution adopted at the latest IAEA Board of Governors meeting.”
2020-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/644 (2020) · source
“I thank all our briefers this morning for their statements and for their hard work in carrying out their respective functions. Allow me also to thank the Secretary- General and the Secretariat team for their continued professionalism in providing a well-researched and comprehensive report (S/2020/531). I will start by expressing Estonia’s support for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The Plan is a key element in the global nuclear non-proliferation architecture and crucial for regional and wider international security. As the Plan is currently the only assurance for the international community regarding Iran’s nuclear programme, we do not want to see it collapse.”
2020-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/644 (2020) · source
“Those measures are there to bring justice and force the regime to choose peace over destroying its own country, as was so vividly described by Ms. Sirkin just now. This is also an imperative for the fourth Brussels conference on supporting the future of Syria, which started today. We want to note that the European Union and the United States together contribute about 90 per cent of United Nations funding for Syrians.”
2020-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/635 (2020) · source
“It is clear that both cross-line and cross-border modalities are required to reach all Syrians. Council members also cannot overlook the acute need for aid in north-eastern Syria. Compared to last year, only one-third of facilities receive the necessary equipment and medicine. We need a durable solution. Reauthorizing the Al-Yarubiyah border crossing for cross-border deliveries is the most effective answer, but other alternatives could be considered. We cannot ignore the suffering of the people in that large area. Finally, as long as the Syrian Government avoids taking responsibility and refuses to genuinely engage in the political process, the European Union’s economic sanctions will remain in place.”
2020-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/635 (2020) · source
“The possible withdrawal of the Russian Federation from the United Nations deconfliction arrangement is a worrisome sign, as it increases the risk of escalation. Disengagement from a peaceful solution also reaffirms the findings of the Secretary-General’s board of inquiry, which clearly established that the Syrian regime and its allies have deliberately attacked humanitarian locations around Idlib and elsewhere. We condemn those attacks and call on Russia to resume its coordination with the United Nations and other parties on the ground under the deconfliction mechanism. Better to have 10 years of negotiations than one day of war. Considering the challenges, Estonia supports all the efforts of humanitarian penholders Belgium and Germany to renew the cross-border mandate.”
2020-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/635 (2020) · source
“I express my gratitude to all humanitarian workers on the front lines in Syria. I also thank both Under-Secretary-General Lowcock and Ms. Sirkin for their briefings. It is promising to hear that the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in Syria has not exploded. Nevertheless, as we know and heard again today, owing to the lack of testing, the numbers are not telling us the whole story, and the situation could still change rapidly in a matter of days. Most vulnerable to the virus are those people in overcrowded internally displaced person camps across the country. Unimpeded access to these areas is crucial for an effective response to the COVID-19 outbreak and humanitarian needs. Despite the initial containment of the virus, other problems remain.”
2020-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/635 (2020) · source
“We urge the parties to maintain the course and encourage them, first, to continue the talks in good faith; secondly, to make necessary concessions; and, thirdly, to reach a tripartite agreement that is beneficial to all three countries. We hope that the parties can reach an agreement in the coming weeks, as envisioned by the African Union process. We remain committed to supporting the process in constructive ways. Rivers can be a source of conflict or a source of cooperation. It is up to the parties to determine how they choose to proceed. Right now, there is a historic opportunity for the parties to lead by example. Through the spirit of empathy and understanding, they can show the rest of the world how a source of potential conflict could be turned into cooperation, which is a result where everyone would win.”
2020-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/636 (2020) · source
“I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her comprehensive briefing. I also welcome the participation of our friends from Egypt, the Sudan and Ethiopia at this meeting. All three stakeholders — Egypt, the Sudan and Ethiopia — have legitimate interests in the Nile River and its water resources. We therefore remain convinced that the issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam can be amicably resolved only through direct talks and understanding among the three countries. In that regard, we particularly welcome the resumption of the dialogue at the meeting held by the African Union Bureau on 26 June, and we welcome the subsequent commitment of the parties to finding a peaceful negotiated solution to all outstanding issues. The African Union Bureau meeting was a positive step.”
2020-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/636 (2020) · source
“Strengthening the rule of law and justice institutions is a critical component of efforts aimed at addressing the root causes of conflict. MONUSCO’s assistance in the investigation and prosecution of those who need to be held to account is very welcome, as is the assistance towards security sector reform. The challenges facing the Democratic Republic of the Congo are numerous and diverse: from armed-group violence and the illicit export of minerals to floods, the Ebola virus disease and now COVID-19. I would like to conclude by commending MONUSCO, the Congolese authorities and all partners for their continued commitment to establishing peace in the country.”
2020-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/598 (2020) · source
“I hope that the pandemic will not stop provincial and national initiatives on DDR, which are necessary to ensuring that former combatants remain former combatants. In addition to the security situation, I remain most concerned over the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The violence of armed groups during the first three months of 2020 has been accompanied by some 2,000 human rights violations and abuses, including cases of sexual and gender-based violence. The fact that the Congolese security forces perpetrated many of these acts remains a significant problem. Accountability for such violations and abuses must be established in order to avoid the prevalence of a culture of impunity and build trust in the country’s security forces.”
2020-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/598 (2020) · source
“Several other groups have also increased their attacks in Kivu, including the Nduma défense du Congo- Rénové, whose leader, Guidon Mwissa, remains a fugitive at large. In Ituri, attacks against civilians and security forces by the Lendu have claimed hundreds of lives. I would like to commend MONUSCO for its quick reaction to these conflicts, which has undoubtedly saved many lives. I also understand that the cooperation between MONUSCO and the Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo has been steadily improving, which will hopefully help save even more lives in future. It is also good to hear that, despite the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), there has been progress with the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) process.”
2020-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/598 (2020) · source