YouSaid · the spoken record

Taula

lines on the record: 150
first: 2014-01-29
most recent: 2017-02-21
sittings or episodes: 28
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 have come a long way since that historic failure, and today United Nations peacekeepers play a decisive role in protecting civilians, saving many thousands oflives and delivering many more from the threat of violence. Their work is difficult, and many peacekeepers have paid the ultimate price. We pay tribute to their commitment and their sacrifice. Today I wish to focus on four areas where New Zealand believes action is needed to improve United Nations performance. First, protection mandates need to be clear, realistic and part of a coherent political strategy. We need to avoid exposing our peacekeepers to unacceptable levels ofrisk, or setting expectations that they cannot fill. New Zealand echoes the call by the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations for more sequencing and prioritization of mandates.”
2016-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7711 (2016) · source
“We wish to start by acknowledging France's contribution on the front line of efforts to protect civilians in Mali, the Central African Republic, Cote d'Ivoire and elsewhere. We also thank the President of the Central African Republic and we particularly welcome the remarks about his Government's commitment to national reconciliation. New Zealand has learned from our own experience how important this is to long-term stability. Twenty-two years ago this week, the Council adopted its first explicit protection of civilians mandate in resolution 925 (1994) relating to Rwanda. Tragically, in spite of this resolution, nothing significant was done to stop the subsequent genocide.”
2016-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7711 (2016) · source
“We have set up some tangible ways that we believe the Council can show that it is willing to do more than just talk about the protection of civilians. There is no guarantee they will succeed, but given the alternative, which is a continuation of the status quo, we believe it is at least worth trying.”
2016-06-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7710 (2016) · source
“We have been encouraged by the initial progress made under the new leadership of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), in particular with the tripartite meetings among the Government, the African Union and the United Nations. But there is a long way to go. Those positive steps have so far done little to resolve the serious issues UNAMID faces with access and visa issuance. But we believe the Council should look at how it can best support a more constructive engagement with the Government of the Sudan, including by considering options such as a Council visit to the Sudan. We are clear-eyed about the challenges involved in forging a new relationship, and we need to see a greater willingness by the Government of the Sudan to engage constructively.”
2016-06-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7710 (2016) · source
“But if the Council were to ignore every issue where agreement was difficult, we would hardly ever meet. Simply continuing to not respond is neither productive nor credible, which goes to the effectiveness of the Council and its willingness to stand by its own decisions. The Banda case seems an obvious place to start in implementing a more structured approach. We will continue to work with other Council members on this in the coming months. Secondly, we need to give serious thought to how we can achieve a more productive relationship with the Government of the Sudan. There is a clear need for the United Nations and for the Council to consider what can be done to change the nature of the current relationship with Khartoum, proceeding from a firm understanding of the current situation on the ground.”
2016-06-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7710 (2016) · source
“We believe they are no less relevant today. First, as noted by Ms. Bensouda, the Council needs to be more structured in its consideration of the findings of non-cooperation. There is currently no consistent practice for dealing with them. In most instances, the Council does not even discuss them. In our View, when a finding of non-cooperation is received, the Council should discuss it. As we would with any other issue, we should consider what tools the Council has at its disposal to deal with the issue, whether it be a draft resolution or statement, or something short of that, such as a letter from the Council or a meeting with the country concerned, and then the Council can determine on a case-by-case basis what response is most appropriate. We accept that the Council may not always agree on how to respond.”
2016-06-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7710 (2016) · source
“During the current reporting period, President Al-Bashir has crossed international borders, and further findings of non-cooperation may follow in the coming months. The Council has yet to respond to those findings in any meaningful way. While not every member of the Council is an ICC State party, we share a common interest in ensuring that the decisions of the Council are complied with. When that does not happen, the credibility and effectiveness of this institution are undermined, and the message is sent that Council decisions can be ignored without consequences. That should be of concern to all those who value the role, reputation and legitimacy of this organ. In December, my delegation made two proposals that we believe could help end the current malaise in the Council's consideration of the issue.”
2016-06-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7710 (2016) · source
“Those obligations have been widely ignored. Nor has there been any meaningful accountability at the national level. It is not surprising that the victims are losing hope that justice will ever be done. The Sudan's ongoing non-cooperation with the Court amounts to non-compliance with a Council resolution and its obligations under the Charter of the United Nations. While this mostly relates to the four Government of the Sudan indictees, the Sudan also has not responded to the ICC requests for assistance in the case against Abdallah Banda, a rebel group indictee allegedly responsible for a deadly attack against African Union peacekeepers in South Darfur in 2007. Over the years, the Secretary-General has relayed 11 findings of non-cooperation to the Council with regard to that referral.”
2016-06-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7710 (2016) · source
“We thank Prosecutor Bensouda for her briefing and for the twenty-third report on the situation in the Sudan. At this time last year, New Zealand expressed deep concern and called for accountability for the serious crimes committed (see S/PV.7460). The situation has not notably improved since then. Civilians in Darfur continue to suffer from the consequences of conflict. The past year also saw further attacks on peacekeepers, some fatal, and the human rights and humanitarian situations remained dire. As noted by the Prosecutor, all five International Criminal Court (ICC) indictees remain at large. Resolution 1593 (2005) placed an obligation on the Government of the Sudan to cooperate fully and to provide any necessary assistance to the Court and the Prosecutor, as well as urged other Member States to cooperate.”
2016-06-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7710 (2016) · source
“We call on all States to ensure that potential exposure to trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation is taken into account in engaging refugee protection mechanisms. As the Security Council and as the international community, we must do everything we can to stop human trafficking and end sexual Violence in conflict. And we must help the victims to rebuild their lives.”
2016-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7704 (2016) · source
“We have to make sure that the perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence are brought to justice. In the meantime, it is crucial that we support efforts to collect and preserve evidence. Survivors ofthis violence - women, girls, men and boys - must also receive adequate support, as others have mentioned. That is necessary both to alleviate their suffering and to enable their reintegration into communities without prejudice or stigma. Through education and engagement with community and faith- based leaders, we must shift the stigma from survivors to perpetrators. Where survivors cannot be reintegrated to their communities, resettlement can be an important protection tool.”
2016-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7704 (2016) · source
“Resolution 2253 (2015) sets out a range of measures for choking off all sources of financing to those groups, including the option of listing those who transfer funds derived from sexual exploitation and abuse. For that to be effective, however, Member States need to actively propose individuals and entities engaged in such activities for designation. As chair of the ISIL/Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, New Zealand is ready to discuss how sanctions can be more effective in addressing human trafficking as an enabler of terrorist groups. Finally, we must not lose sight over the longer term of the need to heal the scars inflicted on individuals and communities and to hold those most responsible accountable. Many crimes have been committed in recent years in Syria, Iraq, northern Nigeria and elsewhere.”
2016-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7704 (2016) · source
“In the Asia-Pacific region, our active contribution to regional efforts to tackle human trafficking and people smuggling, through the Bali process, has paid particular dividends. In 2015, New Zealand led a joint period of action focused on disrupting trafficking networks in the Asia-Pacific region through a series of separate but coordinated law- enforcement operations. The initiative proved highly successful, and a second joint period of action was initiated last month. At the international level, the Security Council has a role to play, including through the ISIL/Al-Qaida sanctions regime. As the Secretary-General has made clear, the trafficking in women and girls is a source of financing for ISIL and its affiliates, as well as a recruitment tool.”
2016-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7704 (2016) · source
“And we need to work effectively with other States to identify such individuals. In New Zealand our focus has been on criminalizing the trafficking in persons, disrupting criminal and terrorist networks and addressing related crimes, including through the tracing and confiscation of financial assets. As a party to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, New Zealand's legislation has been tightened so that our citizens and residents can be charged for those types of offenses, even they occur outside New Zealand. That acts as a deterrent and ensures that human traffickers can be held accountable. Strong regional and global cooperation and information-sharing is vital.”
2016-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7704 (2016) · source
“Secondly, we need to counter narratives that attempt to legitimise and justify those practices. The promise of a bride or sex slave is a motivating factor for many foreign terrorist fighters. We support the Secretary- General's call to mainstream efforts to combat premeditated and systematic targeting of civilians, particularly women and girls, into our strategies for preventing and countering violent extremism. We also welcome the inclusion of sexual violence in conflict as an area of focus in the latest report of the Secretary- General on the strategic threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Thirdly, we need to do more at domestic, regional and international levels. Domestically, we need to ensure we have national frameworks and processes in place to prosecute nationals, including overseas.”
2016-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7704 (2016) · source
“There are nevertheless steps we can take to address the drivers of this disturbing trend, to deter and disrupt the violence that is occurring and to ensure accountability for those crimes and support for survivors. First, we must redouble efforts to address the conditions that leave civilians vulnerable to abuse and exploitation and that allow terrorist and criminal groups to carry out these crimes with impunity. The surge in conflict-related sexual violence is often a product of protracted conflict and the collapse of protection mechanisms and national judicial frameworks. We cannot expect a significant improvement until those conflicts are resolved and the groups themselves that are responsible for the majority of the crimes have been defeated.”
2016-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7704 (2016) · source
“We wish you very well, Mr. President, in leading us in the Security Council this month. We also appreciate the presence and valuable inputs from the Secretary-General, Ms. Bangura, Ms. Giammarinara and Ms. Davis. The Secretary-General's latest report (S/2016/361) and the briefers paint a deeply disturbing picture. We are horrified by the trafficking for purposes of sexual exploitation by terrorist and violent extremist groups. Those are not isolated incidents; they represent a pattern and a policy. Tragically, due to the realities of today's conflicts, many victims are beyond the reach of national and international protection mechanisms.”
2016-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7704 (2016) · source
“Overall, New Zealand wants to see more inclusive decision-making, less micromanagement and less control in the hands of few, and better efforts to prepare new chairs for their roles. Given the importance of these issues, and working methods discussions more generally, we would see value in holding regular briefings for interested Member States on the work of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions, as I think was mentioned in the presidential statement adopted after the open debate late last year. In closing, let me say that we all benefit from greater transparency and greater engagement with the United Nations membership as a whole.”
2016-05-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7703 (2016) · source
“It is elected members that serve as chairs of the Council's subsidiary organs, including the sanctions committees. The appointment process of these chairing roles is notoriously opaque, and we believe that this should change. The Security Council elections will be held next month, and the earlier timing provides us with more time to reflect on which members are best suited to chair which subsidiary bodies. And, most importantly, this allows more time to consult with the new members. Accordingly, New Zealand is a strong advocate of all Council members being involved in this process, not just the permanent members, and we propose that successive Presidents of the Security Council are best placed to facilitate the chair allocation process after the incoming members have been elected.”
2016-05-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7703 (2016) · source
“Key stakeholders, including the International Committee of the Red Cross and Medecins Sans Frontieres, were closely engaged, as were stakeholders not on the Council. We see the development of this resolution, over many months, as a strong model for inclusive and considered discussion and decision-making. New Zealand would like to see this approach taken more often by the Council to improve its outcomes. Finally, in the area of working methods, I would like to comment on the discussions under way on the appointment process for the chairs of subsidiary organs. These issues are of great interest to us, because they are important for the way the Council works and have implications for the wider United Nations membership and for all States that will serve as elected members on the Council.”
2016-05-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7703 (2016) · source
“The resolution condemned attacks on health- care workers and health-care facilities. It recalled key international humanitarian law and the principles of distinction and precaution, and the prohibition against indiscriminate attacks. And, importantly, it requested the Secretary-General to brief the Council annually on the implementation of the resolution. We would like to reflect briefly on some of the working methods behind the adoption of the resolution, to which Spain referred to as well. New Zealand was very pleased to play a significant role, working together with our partners in the Council, in developing the resolution, which was supported by all 15 members and sponsored by 85 Member States.”
2016-05-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7703 (2016) · source
“We thought that the discussion in Addis earlier this year on the way back from Bujumbura was a very helpful informal exchange that enhanced the Councils' mutual understanding. It was highly topical, and delegations were ready to engage on the core issues. As discussed last week, we think that more regular discussions, including teleconferences between the presidencies of the two Councils, would be one useful and low-cost way to maintain those linkages and, more importantly, to support a shared analysis of conflicts and how we can both best address them. There are other ways in which we can work better together, including through joint visits, and we would be happy to discuss those ideas further. The month began on a very encouraging note, with the adoption of resolution 2286 (2016), as others have noted.”
2016-05-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7703 (2016) · source
“In some cases, we do not see the need for all 15 Council members to travel, necessarily, in order to convey the views of this body, especially in conflict-prevention situations. We think that the Council's visit to Timor-Leste in 2012 was a good example of a mini-mission. It was led by South Africa; six members, all elected, took part in that visit. We face major conflict-prevention challenges in the year ahead, including in the Great Lakes, and we should be flexible about how we use the Council's tools to address those issues. We were very pleased that the Council hosted the African Union for the annual joint consultative meeting last week. The meetings were symbolic, coming at the lO-year anniversary, and continuing to deepen the exchanges between the two Councils is an even more critical issue for us.”
2016-05-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7703 (2016) · source
“We see Council missions such as these as a very valuable tool to advance peace and security objectives. They can also assist the Council in meeting its conflict- prevention responsibilities. That is why New Zealand has been a strong supporter of such visits during our term, including to Guinea-Bissau, where Council engagement alongside regional and international stakeholders remains critical, and to Burundi, which we would have liked to have seen the Council visit earlier, when, we feel, quiet diplomacy could have had more of a chance of shaping developments. Visiting missions take time and money, including from United Nations mission budgets, so we should use them judiciously. We should be flexible about timing and configuration.”
2016-05-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7703 (2016) · source
“We congratulate you, Mr. President, and your Mission for your efficient and professional leadership of the Council in May. We thank you also for the concept note that you provided for this session. We were very pleased to participate in the mission to Kenya, Somalia and Egypt. In Somalia in particular, as other speakers have noted, we saw immediate, positive impact from the Council's face-to-face engagement with the President, regional leaders and other stakeholders in this critical period as arrangements for the elections were being finalized. We welcome the decree issued three days after the visit by the President setting out the electoral process, and we urge all Somalis to work within those parameters in re-establishing a representative Government in Somalia.”
2016-05-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7703 (2016) · source
“In the Sahel, we are unfortunately faced with a situation where the problem is reasonably well- defined but the solution is lost among a surfeit of strategies. Duplicative, contradictory or competitive approaches will simply serve to dissipate our effort and diminish the impact on the ground. In that regard, we welcome the recent consolidation of United Nations regional offices to create the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel. New Zealand stands ready to discuss creative options to further rationalize existing efforts to deliver tangible results for the Sahel region and its people. I thank Spain and Egypt for initiating this discussion today.”
2016-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7699 (2016) · source
“The multiple drivers of conflict in the Sahel also remind us that it is a mistake to simply call every person who takes up arms a terrorist. In most cases, where individuals and minority groups have rebelled out of a sense of hopelessness, peace and security will be secured only through negotiation and peace processes designed to accommodate their grievances and achieve rehabilitation and reintegration. New Zealand has consistently stressed the importance of various actors working together to address peace and security issues. We have, for example, been active proponents of encouraging both the African Union Peace and Security Council and our Security Council to improve their working methods and work cooperatively with subregional bodies. That principle is just as important in the Sahel region as it is elsewhere.”
2016-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7699 (2016) · source
“One of the Council's major focuses regarding the Sahel region has rightly been addressing the threat posed by terrorism. We have placed heavy emphasis on counter-terrorism measures, which play an essential role in disrupting the terrorist networks that thrive where governance is weakest. But they are not sufficient. It is also necessary to consider the economic, social and climatic drivers that facilitate terrorist recruitment. As Ms. Ibrahim mentioned, if extremist groups such as Boko Haram can offer a few hundred dollars to poor, desperate people who are facing climate-induced hardship and therefore have only grim and uncertain choices in providing for their families, we should not be surprised that many, tragically, have chosen to join them.”
2016-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7699 (2016) · source
“What we have heard today is a further manifestation of the reality highlighted during the Council's open debate on the security challenges faced by small island developing States (see S/PV.7499), convened during New Zealand's presidency in July 2015. Environmental degradation and climate change can result in major security concerns for small, vulnerable States with limited resilience and capacity to adapt, whether they are small islands or large, arid continental spaces. Most of the tools for addressing such specific climate-related challenges lie outside the Council Chamber. But it is important that our discussions of the Sahel are underpinned by a firm understanding of those manifold challenges. They must be factored into our conflict analysis and integrated into our strategies for maintaining peace and security in the region.”
2016-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7699 (2016) · source
“It is therefore entirely appropriate, in our view, that the Security Council should focus attention on the underlying drivers of instability in the Sahel and consider their implications for conflict in the region. The causes of instability in the Sahel are complex and varied. They include underdevelopment and economic and political marginalization. Those factors have fed unrest and instability and have made the whole region vulnerable to encroachment by extremists and transnational criminal networks. As we have heard from our briefers, those trends are undoubtedly being magnified and exacerbated by the acute and intensifying challenges posed by droughts, irregular rainfall, desertification and other climate and ecological changes.”
2016-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7699 (2016) · source
“I would like to thank our briefers - Mr. Chambas, Mr. Laborde, Ms. Barbut and Ms. Ibrahim - for their insights. The challenges they outlined have implications that go far beyond the Sahel and its people. They relate to wider security issues on the Council's agenda, as well as to refugee and migration issues addressed by other bodies of the United Nations and its Member States. One of the recurring themes of discussions on conflict prevention and resolution has been to call for the Council to be more alert to the underlying drivers of conflict. Tackling the symptoms of conflict without adequately identifying and addressing its underlying causes is a recipe for failure and continued instability.”
2016-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7699 (2016) · source
“It requires sustained engagement and political will. As an ICC State party, New Zealand is well aware of the substantial costs associated with Security Council referrals. We therefore have sympathy for the Prosecutor's call for additional resources if she is to take on more investigations in Libya, especially any not contemplated at the time of the original referral. If the Council creates new responsibilities for the ICC, then the United Nations cannot simply wash its hands of the financial implications. At the very least, the Council should not obstruct open discussions on the issue but should defer to the General Assembly, which has the prerogative and mandate to determine funding issues.”
2016-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7698 (2016) · source
“Attacks on civilians, particularly by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), continue with impunity in Libya. We note that the Prosecutor is currently assessing the potential to expand ICC investigations to cover such attacks. We would welcome measures that could achieve accountability for the horrific crimes committed by ISIL and other extremist groups. We appreciate the practical challenges that this presents and look forward to the Prosecutor's future reporting on options in that regard. Finally, when it comes to its relationship with the ICC, as in all other matters, the Security Council must follow through on its decisions. That is a basic question of credibility and means providing the ICC with all the necessary support for any referrals it makes, including in relation to findings of non-cooperation.”
2016-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7698 (2016) · source
“It was never intended to take the place of national justice systems. Rather, it is complementary to those systems, whether they be regular courts or transitional justice mechanisms. The only effective long-term solution is to strengthen Libya's domestic capacity to maintain the rule of law and address impunity. The international community and the United Nations system need to be prepared to respond promptly to the GNA's requests for assistance in a range of areas, including the justice sector. Domestic judicial options are likely to remain constrained in the short term. We therefore support the Prosecutor's suggestion that all involved in Libyan cases develop a coordinated investigative and prosecutorial strategy, prioritizing action against those who pose a threat to Libya's stability.”
2016-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7698 (2016) · source
“In those circumstances, the Prosecutor's approach of engaging directly with those detaining him in order to secure his surrender to the ICC appears to be the only Viable option. That will also involve practical engagement with and assistance from the GNA. We are pleased that the Prosecutor and the Libyan Prosecutor General's Office have continued their close collaboration. We expect that to continue with the GNA, and look forward to engagement between the Prosector and the GNA getting under way. We note that the Prosecutor is likely to apply for additional warrants in the light of newly acquired evidence. We will defer to the Prosecutor's independent judgement on this, but we would join her and other speakers in stressing that the ICC is not a panacea for all the accountability challenges facing Libya. The ICC is a court of last resort.”
2016-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7698 (2016) · source
“Only by re-establishing Government authority and strengthening core State institutions will it be possible to make progress on restoring the rule of law, protecting basic human rights and achieving justice for past violations. That is equally true of the implementation of the Security Council's referral of Libya to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Prosecutor Bensouda's report illustrates the challenges of pursuing accountability in Libya. Taking forward the ICC investigations has required patience, determination and flexibility. The security situation continues to make it impossible for ICC staff to undertake investigations on the ground. As noted in the Prosecutor's report, Saif Al-Islam Al-Qadhafi is detained in an area described as "unavailable" to the Libyan State.”
2016-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7698 (2016) · source
“The crisis in Libya over the past five years has exposed its people to grave violence and Violations of their basic human rights. It has brought chronic instability and conflict, and left the people at the mercy of armed militias and violent extremists. The only way that this environment of chaos and impunity can be brought to an end is through the establishment of a legitimate, unified and effective Government. We welcome developments towards that goal over the past six months. The conclusion of the Libyan Political Agreement, the progress in establishing a Government of National Accord (GNA) and the arrival of the Presidency Council in Tripoli represent Vital steps forward. It is essential, however, that the international community, including the Council, stand ready to swiftly provide necessary support to Libya.”
2016-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7698 (2016) · source
“It is in all our interests that we take further steps to unlock the potential that more effective cooperation holds for both organizations.”
2016-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7694 (2016) · source
“New Zealand welcomes the efforts of the AU to mobilize funding from within Africa. We are realistic about capacity limitations in this regard. Our own expectation is that United Nations assessed contributions will need to be a part of any long-term solution, and we are ready to explore proposals forjoint financing of AU operations by the United Nations and AU members. We have no illusions regarding the sensitive and complex issues this raises, but we believe that ongoing reliance on ad hoc models for financing AU peace operations continues to hamper their effectiveness and that this is not sustainable in the long term. In closing, cooperation between the United Nations and AU on peace and security matters has improved significantly, but it remains a work in progress.”
2016-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7694 (2016) · source
“We also support and deployingjoint AU-United Nations field missions, where possible, at both the secretariat and Council levels. In this regard, New Zealand supports a joint mission withe Peace and Security Council to South Sudan, in support of effective implementation of the Peace Agreement. The other important issue that New Zealand wishes to highlight this morning is that of the financing of AU peace operations. We share the view that there is a strong need for a more sustainable model, and hope that the international community, including the United Nations, can be strategic and creative in working out how to properly support Council-mandated missions that the African Union is prepared to lead. The urgent need to make progress in this regard was underlined again during the Council's visit to Somalia last week.”
2016-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7694 (2016) · source
“Key focus areas could include the following: early joint analysis of emerging situations, setting out key facts and discussing interpretations and possible strategies so that all actors can discuss how to act in concert early and according their respective comparative advantage; and mandating and actively supporting information-sharing between the two Secretariats, increased resourcing for political analysis and conflict prevention, and actively discussing relevant information with Member States. We would like to see regular informal discussions between the two Councils - be through the Presidents, troikas or the full Councils - to build common understandings on crisis situations and agree on common objectives and credible responses.”
2016-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7694 (2016) · source
“Early engagement on the growing tensions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo would be a useful place to start. To do this, we will need to translate our rhetoric of partnership into practical and meaningful engagement between the two Councils on a more consistent basis. We had a very good meeting yesterday canvassing some of these points, and New Zealand very much hopes that we can institutionalize regular informal engagement between the Councils that focuses on substantive action.”
2016-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7694 (2016) · source
“Effective conflict prevention requires early engagement and political will on the part of all actors, as well as unified messaging and coordinated action. What emerged at the seminar was that, at present, there is a lack of trust on many issues between key actors: the United Nations, the AU, subregional organizations and member States. This is a major obstacle to acting more effectively in cooperation, and is often rooted in differing conflict analyses and concerns about respect for sovereignty. If we are to overcome these challenges, we need to begin from a basis of shared information and analysis about emerging crises and their causes, which can in turn lead to shared objectives and strategies for preventing conflict. We hope to see such cooperation in the coming months on emerging issues of mutual concern.”
2016-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7694 (2016) · source
“One of the major strengths of the African Union and its subregional organizations is that they have dedicated significant resources and energy to identifying emerging crises and agreeing collective responses to prevent conflict. Good examples are the AU's early efforts on Burundi and the leadership of the Economic Community of West African States on Burkina Faso. Moreover, in our experience, the Secretariat and the AU Commission cooperate well at the institutional level to identify early warning indicators and develop recommendations for early action. There is, however, a lot more we can do. As identified during a seminar on conflict prevention we hosted for Security Council and AU Peace and Security Council members in Addis Ababa last month, we need to be more joined up, and at an earlier stage.”
2016-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7694 (2016) · source
“I thank our briefers this morning. We welcome this open debate and in particular the presence of our colleagues from the African Union Peace and Security Council. The past 10 years have seen enormous growth in our relationship, and there is now a genuine consensus that the Security Council cannot carry out its mandate effectively without cooperating closely with the African Union (AU) and the regional economic communities. Integration with the African Peace and Security Architecture is key to this, as noted in each of the United Nations high-level reviews in 2015. Today, New Zealand would like to focus on two main areas. First, we need to strengthen practical cooperation in preventing conflict, as other speakers have highlighted. In our view, the foundations are very good for cooperation on conflict prevention.”
2016-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7694 (2016) · source
“In conclusion, we know that achieving what we have outlined today will be difficult. We also know that, while the Federal Government has a central role to play, it cannot do this alone. The Council, the United Nations system, the African Union and other partners need to work closely with the Somali authorities in meeting these challenges. But we also remember today the great distance that Somalia has already travelled. We must all continue to support the Somali Government and people in their efforts to come together.”
2016-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7674 (2016) · source
“With the reallocation of some of that funding, it will be important to work with partners in the region and further afield to ensure that AMISOM's current funding challenges are addressed in a manner that does not undermine its operations at this critical juncture. This situation also underlines the need to move beyond our reliance on ad hoc financing for regionally led peace operations in Africa. New Zealand is a strong supporter of finding innovative solutions that can provide more predictable funding for such missions. That is something which we need to collectively explore. We welcome efforts to mobilize funding from within Africa and hope that the international community, including the United Nations, can be strategic and creative in working out how to properly support the robust missions that the African Union is prepared to lead.”
2016-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7674 (2016) · source
“Building a strong and coherent army and police force will be essential to the implementation of a successful exit strategy for the international community. Fourthly, 2016 will be a particularly important year for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The Al-Shabaab threat continues to be very real and AMISOM's role remains critical. The implementation of the commitments made by AMISOM's contributors at the Djibouti summit will be of fundamental importance, particularly with regard to commitments concerning command and control. Lastly, I note that New Zealand is deeply concerned about the financing challenges facing AMISOM. Continued international support for the Mission will be essential if it is to fulfil its mandate. We acknowledge the important funding that the European Union continues to provide.”
2016-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7674 (2016) · source
“Furthermore, if peace is to be sustainable, stabilization will be critical in terms of effective service delivery for people in areas under Somali Government control. There is still a long way to go in these areas. Thirdly, a well-functioning security sector is fundamental to long-term stability in Somali. The Federal Government needs to be supported to have the sufficient capacity to both prevent a resurgence of Al-Shabaab and other vectors of terrorism and to provide checks on regional and clan-based conflict. We welcome the efforts of international partners to strengthen the Somali National Army and the police force. However, there is an urgent need for closer coordination. The efforts will be successful only if partners programmes are made more coherent and if the silos are broken down.”
2016-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7674 (2016) · source
“We also take note of President Mohamud's reminder that these elections will be the first in 47 years. That is a truly remarkable event and one that we all applaud. Secondly, other political priorities require attention. Dialogue between the Federal Government of Somalia and regional administrations has been positive but needs to go further. Key issues still need to be addressed, including setting regional boundaries, completing the constitutional review and determining the governance of natural resources. The federal project relies on strengthening institutions in the regions. Federal and regional authorities need to make progress here to avoid jeopardizing the political transition. Somali civil society needs to have a bigger role.”
2016-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7674 (2016) · source