YouSaid · the spoken record

Thomas-Greenfield

lines on the record: 1,605
first: 2021-05-27
most recent: 2023-12-22
sittings or episodes: 219
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

“That includes any actions undertaken by regional organizations under Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. The United States also appreciates the efforts of the United Nations, the AU and the Economic Community of West African States to support the region and we look forward to the joint strategic assessment that is under way to review the security, governance and development challenges in the Sahel. But let us not sugar-coat it. The challenges we face in that region are grave. In particular, we are deeply concerned about the spread of violent extremism across the Sahel and into parts of coastal West Africa. Terrorist groups have taken thousands of lives and displaced millions of people.”
2022-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9149 (2022) · source
“We applaud the progress that the AU has made in developing its own human rights and international humanitarian law frameworks, as noted in the Secretary-General’s report (S/2022/643), and we encourage the AU to continue implementing compliance frameworks for peace support operations in key areas such as international humanitarian law, human rights and conduct and discipline, including sexual exploitation and abuse. Efforts to strengthen training, monitoring, reporting and accountability are central to that work. The implementation of those frameworks, as well as other oversight mechanisms outlined in resolutions 2320 (2016) and 2378 (2017), remains a key consideration for any discussions about the use of United Nations assessed contributions.”
2022-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9149 (2022) · source
“Those joint efforts led to the establishment of the AU Transition Mission in Somalia in April. Together, we set ambitious goals for the reconfiguration and transition of the peacekeeping Mission in Somalia, and we must redouble our efforts to achieve those goals. The bottom line is that with the United Nations, the AU and regional peace operations active in some of the most fragile parts of Africa, we have a shared interest in aligning our doctrines, policies and directives. That is exactly how we can make those efforts as effective as possible. That also means protecting and upholding human rights in every AU initiative and mission across the continent.”
2022-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9149 (2022) · source
“We applaud African leadership in its efforts to resolve crises and conflicts in Ethiopia, the Great Lakes region, the Sudan, the Sahel, Mozambique and Somalia, and we appreciate the United Nations providing its full support to those efforts. We are also encouraged by the growing partnership between the AU and the United Nations in addressing the crisis of children and armed conflict in Africa. We must do absolutely everything in our power to advance that work, which also means strengthening protection for children affected by conflict, an issue that the AU has been leading the charge on. Today let us also recognize the collaborative efforts of the United Nations, the AU, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the European Union and the Federal Government of Somalia.”
2022-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9149 (2022) · source
“As part of today’s discussion, we must acknowledge the range of factors that are contributing to rising insecurity, including the most significant global food-security crisis in decades, the adverse effects of climate change and one of the worst droughts in the history of the Horn of Africa. Those challenges must not deter us but must rather bolster our commitment to working together and addressing them head-on. In that regard, we strongly support the United Nations-African Union Joint Framework for an Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security, which is aimed at mobilizing the collaboration between the AU and the United Nations, starting with the earliest indicators of potential conflict, and which is critical to conflict prevention and post-conflict reconstruction. Peace in Africa cannot wait.”
2022-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9149 (2022) · source
“Let me thank you, Sir, for presiding over this high-level event. I also want to thank Secretary- General Guterres for joining us today and welcome the participation of Chairperson Faki Mahamat in this meeting. As we commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the African Union (AU), this is a perfect moment to highlight the strong partnership between the AU and the United Nations. It is also an opportunity to look for ways to build on our progress. The United States shares the Secretary-General’s belief that our collective action on conflict prevention, mediation, peacekeeping and peacebuilding is absolutely vital.”
2022-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9149 (2022) · source
“And from a counter-terrorism perspective, the 1267 ISIL and Al-Qaida sanctions regime is an effective Security Council tool to stop the flow of resources through the designation of specific ISIS and Al-Qaida branches, members and their support entities. Finally, I want to make clear that all counter- terrorism efforts must respect the rule of law and human rights. Failing to comply with those international obligations contributes only to increase radicalization to violence. Again, I want to thank my colleagues from Gabon for raising this vital issue at the start of their presidency. I look forward to us working together in the days, months and years ahead to cut off the funding that drives conflict and stamp out the illicit trafficking in natural resources.”
2022-10-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9147 (2022) · source
“The Counter-Terrorism Committee and the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) also play critical roles in working with Member States on a range of counter-terrorism practices, and in June, CTED published a trend alert on that very topic. And CTED Member States’ assessments provide crucial information that can strengthen whole-of-society and whole-of-Government approaches to prevent and counter terrorism financing. Sanctions are also integral to combating the trafficking in natural resources. The sanctions regimes of the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, Somalia and South Sudan have specific sanctions designation criteria concerning the illicit trafficking of natural resources.”
2022-10-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9147 (2022) · source
“The Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015), concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities and the Counter-Terrorism Committee, along with the Office of Counter-Terrorism and the other Counter-Terrorism Compact entities, have an essential role to play in that regard. In the 1267 Committee, Member States must take a more proactive approach to countering Al-Qaida and ISIS in Africa. We applaud the 1267 Monitoring Team’s recent reports, which keep the Committee apprised of the evolving terrorist trends in Africa.”
2022-10-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9147 (2022) · source
“Those actions are thoroughly documented and irrefutable. We know those ill- gotten gains are used to fund Moscow’s war machine in Africa, the Middle East and Ukraine. Rather than being a transparent partner and improving security, the Wagner Group exploits client States that pay for their heavy-handed security services in gold, diamond, timber and other natural resources. That is part of the Wagner Group’s business model. Make no mistake: people across Africa are paying a heavy price for the Wagner Group’s exploitative practices and human rights violations. We have the power to go after those who exploit natural resources and fund armed conflict and terrorism, and we have to wield that power effectively and with urgency.”
2022-10-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9147 (2022) · source
“First, in the African context, the presence of Al-Qaida and ISIS-linked individuals and groups warrants close monitoring and action. Those groups threaten Somalia, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, the Sahel and Sinai regions and, through ISIS financial facilitation networks in countries, including South Africa. Money continues to be the lifeblood of terrorists. We must bolster our efforts to go after financiers and financial facilitators of terrorists and terrorist organizations, and we must stymie vital resource streams that take advantage of weak regulatory oversight. Secondly, one of the most immediate and growing concerns in Africa is the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group’s strategy of exploiting the natural resources of the Central African Republic, Mali and the Sudan, as well as other countries.”
2022-10-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9147 (2022) · source
“And it is in our power to prevent the environmental degradation, the use of child labour, the displacement of populations, human rights violations and abuses and the loss of Government revenue that is a by-product of illicit trafficking. Today I would like to focus on three core areas we believe the Security Council and the entire United Nations system should focus on to counter those activities: first, the dangers of individuals linked to Al-Qaida and the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham (ISIS) and terrorist-linked groups across Africa; secondly, the threat posed by the Wagner Group in that area; and third, the tools that we have at our disposal to weaken those who plunder natural resources to finance armed conflict and terrorism. Let me take them one by one.”
2022-10-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9147 (2022) · source
“I would like to thank Gabon for calling this important meeting and welcome you, Foreign Minister Adamo, to preside over it today. I also want to thank Commissioner Bankole Adeoye and Executive Director Waly for their informative briefings. I welcome the participation of Ghana’s Minister for National Security, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs and the United Arab Emirates’ Minister of State. We all have an interest in countering the illicit trafficking in natural resources in Africa, which amounts to stealing wealth away from the people of Africa. It is in our interests to prevent traffickers from using their criminal activities and their illicit wealth to fuel conflict and terrorism.”
2022-10-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9147 (2022) · source
“We have heard all members of the Council, except Russia and China, condemn the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s actions today. Finally, on the humanitarian question, it is clear and has been repeatedly stated that the only barrier to sending humanitarian assistance to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea itself — their own self-imposed border closures, not international sanctions, as our colleagues have alleged.”
2022-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9146 (2022) · source
“Finally, the draft resolution that China and Russia have proposed is predicated on their assessment that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is showing goodwill through a moratorium — and I say, what moratorium? The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has shown repeatedly this year that such a moratorium does not exist. This is a clear effort by China and Russia to reward the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for its bad actions and cannot be taken seriously by the Council. In the light of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s escalating provocations and its returning to testing long-range systems, the purported basis for the draft resolution has no validity here. We need to turn quickly to strengthening the sanctions regime under resolution 1718 (2006), not considering sanctions relief.”
2022-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9146 (2022) · source
“Secondly, also as expected — and we have said this repeatedly in this Chamber — the enhanced trilateral security partnership known as AUKUS does not violate the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). We take our NPT obligations very seriously, and I know that the United Kingdom and Australia do so as well. It is worrisome that Russia and China insist on distracting us from discussions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s clear attempts to undermine the global non-proliferation regime with false claims. Those countries’ attempts to defend Democratic People’s Republic of Korea should not go unnoticed.”
2022-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9146 (2022) · source
“I felt I had to take the floor again. As we expected, instead of putting the blame where the blame lies — on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea — Russia and China want to blame others for their actions First, the United States and the Republic of Korea carry out defensive military exercises responsibly and consistent with international law. Those exercises improve readiness that is critical to deterrence and responding to regional threats. Ballistic missile launches by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea are unlawful. They are reckless. And they endanger neighbours in the region. There is no equivalency between those two activities.”
2022-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9146 (2022) · source
“And it means pursuing a resolution to address the sanctions evasion activities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea going forward. The truth is that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is testing capabilities that can threaten every single Member State. That threatens all of our individual and collective security, full stop. And by serving on the Security Council, we have all taken on the weighty responsibility of protecting and defending international peace and security. So let us do our jobs. Let us honour that commitment.”
2022-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9146 (2022) · source
“The United States, however, will not stand by as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea directly threatens the United States, its allies and the entire world. None of us should. Despite the recent divisions, I believe it is still within our power to come together — just as we did in recent years — when we unanimously responded to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s provocation. And we just heard from our briefer about the importance of us remaining unified. We can and must return to a time when we spoke with a united voice against the malign behaviour of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and when we stood together in support of the global non-proliferation regime. That means fully implementing the existing resolutions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It means undertaking sanctions maintenance efforts.”
2022-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9146 (2022) · source
“The United States, its allies and the Security Council did nothing to provoke that unacceptable behaviour. Following those launches, the United States, its allies and the Council continued to be vigilant, but did not raise the issue immediately. And over the next eight days, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea continued its self-initiated escalations. So there is no question that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s hostile launch of unlawful weapons has been unprovoked. We will not tolerate any country blaming our defensive actions to respond to the threats of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea as somehow the inherent cause of those threats. Despite a lack of engagement from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the United States remains committed to dialogue and diplomacy.”
2022-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9146 (2022) · source
“But as we all know, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has enjoyed blanket protection from two members of the Security Council. Those two members have gone out of their way to justify the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s repeated provocations and block every attempt to update the sanctions regime. In short, two permanent members of the Security Council have enabled Kim Jong Un. And before those two Council members repeat their myth that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s provocations are somehow a consequence of hostile United States policies and actions, let us review the facts. On 25 September, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea launched two ballistic missiles in violation of multiple Security Council resolutions.”
2022-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9146 (2022) · source
“And multiple Member States and the International Atomic Energy Agency have reported that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is reconstituting its nuclear testing site in preparation for a seventh nuclear test. Kim Jong Un has called for — in his words — the highest rapidity in advancing the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programme. And he appears to be getting his way. Since the beginning of this year, 12 Council members have joined us in condemning those unlawful actions and in voting to impose real costs on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea — real costs that would impede its WMD and ballistic-missile pursuits. I thank those colleagues who remain committed to upholding the global non-proliferation regime.”
2022-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9146 (2022) · source
“I thank Assistant Secretary-General Khiari for his briefing, and I welcome the participation of the Permanent Representatives of Japan and the Republic of Korea to our meeting today. In just nine days, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has launched eight ballistic missiles, all clear violations of multiple Security Council resolutions. Earlier this week, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea launched a dangerous and destabilizing reported long-range ballistic missile over Japan. Pyongyang clearly feels emboldened. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has launched 39 ballistic missiles this year alone, which far surpasses its previous record of 25.”
2022-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9146 (2022) · source
“He is gloating and reminiscing about the Soviet empire and stated that this was just the beginning. As we all sit in this Chamber and solemnly consider this draft resolution, Putin is instead boastfully shoving our shared values in our faces. It is time we stand up to defend our collective beliefs together. In defence of these principles that we hold dear, the United States is putting forward this draft resolution with Albania. In defence of all countries to have the right to be safe from invasion and annexation, we are voting in favour. And in defence of the world’s collective peace and security, we urge all other members to vote in favour as well. Let us show Putin the resolve of the Security Council.”
2022-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9143 (2022) · source
“We are the first line of defence for the United Nations Charter, and we must demonstrate that we take that defence seriously. We must show that the Council can work despite the actions of one permanent member. This is not a moment to stand on the sidelines. This is a moment to stand up for the United Nations Charter, for its values, for its principles and for its purposes. And if Russia chooses to shield itself from accountability, then we will take further steps in the General Assembly to send an unmistakable message to Moscow that the world is still on the side of defending sovereignty and protecting territorial integrity. Earlier today, we saw Putin celebrate this clear violation of international law. He threw a party on Red Square to pat himself on the back for these illegal referendums.”
2022-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9143 (2022) · source
“I repeat: deserves to be condemned. The Secretary-General then said that it went against “the purposes and principles of United Nations. It is a dangerous escalation. It has no place in the modern world.” It has no place in the modern world. We all have an interest in defending the sacred principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity — in defending peace in our modern world. All of us understand the implications for our own borders, our own economies and our own countries if those principles are tossed aside. This is also bigger than any one nation, large or small. It is about our collective security — our collective responsibility to maintain international peace and security, not just for ourselves but for the world. That is what this body is here to do.”
2022-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9143 (2022) · source
“Time and time again we have seen the Ukrainian people fight for their country and their democracy — the Ukrainian civilian who removed a Russian landmine with his bare hands; the Ukrainians abroad who returned to fight for their country; the soldiers sacrificing their lives to stop Russian advances. Putin miscalculated the resolve of the Ukrainians. The Ukrainian people have demonstrated loud and clear that they will never accept being subjugated to Russian rule. And so the United States will never recognize any territory Russia attempts to seize or allegedly annex as anything other than part of Ukraine. Secretary-General Guterres has said the same. He said yesterday, “Any decision to proceed with the annexation of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions of Ukraine would have no legal value and deserves to be condemned”.”
2022-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9143 (2022) · source
“Let me be clear: what was rushed was the Russian illegal act to annex Ukrainian territory. As the Council we had to respond. This is exactly what the Security Council was made to do: defend sovereignty, protect territorial integrity, promote peace and security. The United Nations was built on an idea that never again would one country be allowed to take another’s territory by force. That path, we agreed, leads to history’s most horrific outcomes. Russia’s attempted annexations are, without a shadow of doubt, exactly that. We are talking about a United Nations State Member, a Security Council member, attempting to annex part of another through force. The outcomes of those sham referendums were predetermined in Moscow — and everybody knows it. They were held behind the barrel of Russian guns.”
2022-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9143 (2022) · source
“Yesterday the Secretary-General said, “The United Nations Charter is clear: any annexation of a State or a territory by another State resulting from the threat or use of force is a violation of the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law”. That very violation is what we are confronted with today. The United States has proposed a draft resolution (S/2022/720), with Albania, to condemn the illegal so- called referendums held on Ukrainian territory. The draft resolution is straightforward. It condemns those illegal referendums. It calls on all States to not recognize any altered State of Ukraine. And it requires that Russia withdraw its troops from Ukraine immediately. We have heard from many members over the past few days that they felt the process was rushed.”
2022-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9143 (2022) · source
“A strong and legitimate Palestinian Authority is in the interest of the entire region. Before I conclude, I would like to take note of the historic visit to Israel earlier this month made by the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates. The United States will continue working with Israel and its neighbours to expand relationships across the region, and we will strive to ensure that those new relationships also benefit the Palestinians. Even if the current circumstances do not lend themselves to negotiation, we must not retreat into cynicism. The international community can and must take steps to achieve conditions conducive to negotiating the two-State solution. That will be a real challenge, but it is a challenge that we must take on together.”
2022-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9139 (2022) · source
“In July, while he was in the region, President Biden announced a number of measures to improve conditions for the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza, including additional funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. We are now working to expand fourth-generation digital connectivity to Gaza and the West Bank and improve accessibility to the Allenby Bridge. We encourage the Government of Israel to move those projects forward quickly. But we cannot do it alone. We strongly urge countries that espouse support for the Palestinian people to translate that conviction into concrete improvements on the ground. We call on the Palestinian Authority to ensure respect for human rights and refrain from making payments to those who harm Israelis.”
2022-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9139 (2022) · source
“It includes the plans to develop Har Gilo West, which would further fragment the West Bank, and the possible demolitions in Masafer Yatta. It also includes the violence inflicted on Palestinians in their neighbourhoods by Israeli settlers, who in some cases are escorted by Israeli security forces. I will also note that the United States is concerned about increasing tensions and violence in the West Bank among Palestinians, including the recent clashes in Jenin and Nablus. We are troubled by the overall trend of growing violence. Instability in the West Bank is in the interests neither of Israel nor the Palestinian people. We call on both sides to work for peace without delay. The United States is doing its part to help.”
2022-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9139 (2022) · source
“The significance of his appeal for peace between Israelis and Palestinians should not be underestimated. I also want to acknowledge President Abbas’s statement (see A/77/PV.10) and his stated commitment to non-violence and affirmation of his support for a two-State solution. Now it is time to turn those words into action and to make real, sustained progress. It is incumbent on both the parties to work in good faith to arrive at two States for two peoples. There are no shortcuts to statehood. In that regard, we strongly oppose unilateral actions that exacerbate tensions and move us further away from a two-State solution, which in turn moves us further away from peace. That includes terrorist attacks and incitement to violence against Israelis.”
2022-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9139 (2022) · source
“I thank Special Coordinator Wennesland for his informative briefing. From day one, the Biden Administration has been unequivocal in its support for a two-State solution. That has not changed. As President Biden made clear to the General Assembly last week, negotiated two-State solution remains [...] the best way to ensure Israel’s security and prosperity for the future and give the Palestinians the State to which they are entitled” (see A/77/PV.6). We are not alone in pushing for such a peace. In fact, the Hall of the General Assembly was filled with calls for a two-State solution during the high-level week. Prime Minister Lapid made a courageous and impassioned speech (see A/77/PV.8) that articulated his vision of two States for two peoples.”
2022-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9139 (2022) · source
“We ask other Council members to join us in reaffirming our commitment to the Charter and meeting the challenge head-on. If Russia chooses to shield itself from accountability here in the Council, we will then look to the General Assembly to send an unmistakable message to Moscow. The world must stand together and defend the Charter of the United Nations, have courage and support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is about defending the Charter. This is about defending our collective rights. And this is about peace and security for us all.”
2022-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9138 (2022) · source
“It means showing we care about peace by demanding that Russia honour the Charter. Not doing so only enables Russia to commit further abuses. Russia started this war, and I hope that every member of the Council will do the right thing by standing up for international law and the Charter by calling on Russia to end it now. Ukraine’s fight is not only a fight for survival, but a fight for democracy and the very principles that we all hold dear. That is why we will be submitting a draft resolution condemning the sham referendums, calling on Member States not to recognize any altered status of Ukraine and obligating Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine. Russia’s sham referendums, if accepted, will open a Pandora’s box that we will not be able to close.”
2022-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9138 (2022) · source
“Let me therefore be clear: the United States will never recognize any territory that Russia attempts to seize or allegedly annex as anything other than part of Ukraine. We reject Russia’s actions unequivocally, and we will continue to work with our allies, partners and the like-minded to impose costs on Russia and to provide historic amounts of support for Ukraine. Justice demands nothing less. Protecting the Charter demands nothing less. In our many meetings here in the Security Council, we have heard repeated calls for the Charter to be respected. But it is not enough to call for respect for the Charter; we must have the courage to defend it. That means standing up for Ukraine and the victims of Russian atrocities. It means having the courage to call out aggression and attempts at naked territorial expansion when we see it.”
2022-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9138 (2022) · source
“As Ukraine successfully regains control over more of its territory that was wrongfully seized by Russia and more of Russia’s atrocities are uncovered, Russia is rushing to draw a veil over its military losses and the war crimes it has committed. We know that the outcomes of those sham referendums were predetermined in Moscow. In no way do they represent a legitimate expression of the will of the Ukrainian people. The will of the Ukrainian people is made clear every day as they fight valiantly for their country, as they protect their territorial integrity and as they defend their sovereignty. The Ukrainian people have already demonstrated they will never accept being subjugated to Russian rule. The Security Council and the international community must do the same.”
2022-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9138 (2022) · source
“Putin intends to commit an act that the Charter of the United Nations was expressly designed to prevent: an attempt by one Member State to take the territory of another by force. We know that will happen because it follows a well-worn Kremlin playbook. Russia runs sham referendums in areas controlled by Russia’s military and its proxies, coercing people to vote at gunpoint. It then uses those referendums to try to lend a semblance of legitimacy to its attempted annexations of another sovereign State’s territory. The rush for Russia to institute and complete those attempted annexations destroys even the facade of legitimacy.”
2022-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9138 (2022) · source
“Instead of attending high-level week, Putin announced a renewed conscription effort in Russia and instructed areas under Russia’s military control to prepare for illegitimate snap referendums. He sent an emissary who threatened the use of nuclear weapons on a non-nuclear country to secure Russia’s illegitimate military gains. The purpose of all of that is clear: Russia intends to try to annex those territories, and Russia does not respect this organ. The pattern, too, is clear: Putin intentionally chose this moment to insult the Charter that outlines the principles we all collectively stand for, namely, sovereignty, territorial integrity and peace and security. He did so during the most important week for the United Nations — high-level week.”
2022-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9138 (2022) · source
“I thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her briefing today and thank President Zelenskyy for his statement. A little more than seven months ago — just seven months — we met at night in this Chamber (see S/PV.8970) to discuss how we could preserve peace in Ukraine. At that moment, Putin chose war instead. The timing could not be clearer: Putin was showing exactly what he thought of the Security Council. Last week, leaders from more than 100 countries from around the world gathered in New York to reaffirm their commitment to the Charter of the United Nations and many of the key principles it stands for, namely, sovereignty, territorial integrity and peace and security.”
2022-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9138 (2022) · source
“That is why we brought together partners from around the world to New York to craft a road map for global food security, and 103 countries have now signed on to a common picture of this crisis and a common agenda for addressing it. Food security is one of our top three priorities for the upcoming session of the General Assembly. We will continue to use every diplomatic tool in our arsenal to tackle the food-insecurity crisis head on. And we call on every other country to do the same. While the challenge can feel overwhelming, we must remain focused, and we must stop famine before it happens. We can and must stop these famines from happening again.”
2022-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9133 (2022) · source
“According to the World Food Programme, as many as 50 million people in 45 countries are right on the edge of famine and risk being tipped over without humanitarian support. We must act. I was recently told that addressing famine is not the responsibility of the Security Council. But I would posit that the causes of famine and the consequences of famine are our responsibility, particularly when famines are driven by conflict and induce them. Which is exactly why we have come together today. For its part, the United States has provided more than $5.7 billion in humanitarian assistance to food- security operations since February. But we know we cannot do this alone, and we know it is not enough.”
2022-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9133 (2022) · source
“In South Sudan, a country only 11 years old, more than 60 per cent of the population is projected to face crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity — almost 8 million people, in a country that is rich in resources. We call on the Government of South Sudan to issue a decree mandating the free, unimpeded, unhindered movement of humanitarian assistance and protection for humanitarian workers. It is time for all the parties to end the hostilities. The Government should hold the perpetrators of violence accountable and help the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and humanitarian actors address the dire needs of civilians. And we just heard from Mr. Griffiths that famine will happen in Somalia. Those are just a handful of the countries facing food insecurity.”
2022-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9133 (2022) · source
“That means fewer farms and crops and more displacement and suffering. We are particularly concerned about the violence from non-State armed actors. Humanitarian access is vital to keep the situation from spiralling. In Yemen, the truce has brought some relief to civilians, but it has not been enough to reverse one of the world’s most desperate humanitarian crises. In fact, the level of food insecurity in Yemen remains higher than ever. More than 19 million people are facing food insecurity, and that is likely to get worse without humanitarian funding. We call on the international community to join us in addressing the crisis. Donors need to increase and expedite support. We need to bolster the Republic of Yemen’s Government to stabilize the economy and strengthen basic services.”
2022-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9133 (2022) · source
“Harvests in Tigray, for example, produced half of their typical output last year, and supply lines have been severely disrupted. We call on the Government of Ethiopia, the Tigrayan authorities and all the parties to allow the unhindered delivery of humanitarian relief. Humanitarian assistance should not be used for military purposes but to save lives. And we urge the parties to cease the fighting and to begin talks under the auspices of the African Union as soon as possible. Peace needs to be given a chance. Too many people have died and too many more are suffering. In north-eastern Nigeria, more than 4 million people are projected to experience high levels of food insecurity. The severity in some areas is the worst we have seen in almost a decade. Farmers are worried about being attacked and are abandoning their farms.”
2022-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9133 (2022) · source
“And if I may respond briefly to the litany of complaints provided by our Russian colleague today, the answer to all those questions is simple — end the war, end the unprovoked attack on Ukraine, and that will get us out of part of this situation. We can clearly see how conflict is causing hunger across the world. As the most recent report of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs highlights, four areas in particular are now projected to face widespread and catastrophic levels of food insecurity — Ethiopia, north-east Nigeria, Yemen and South Sudan, countries where conflict and violence has led directly to a food crisis. In Ethiopia, 20 million people are facing food insecurity, many more than in the current estimates we have heard. Farms have been damaged and looted.”
2022-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9133 (2022) · source
“Rising temperatures and severe drought and flooding have destroyed crops and left fields fallow. But chief among the causes of food insecurity are conflicts. In many contexts, food is weaponized for war and intentionally blocked or destroyed. That is cruel and dangerous, and it demands our attention. In the case of Russia’s war in Ukraine, the weaponization of food has had global ripple effects. The war has exacerbated the crisis. Before the war, Russia and Ukraine accounted for almost a quarter of global grain exports. But now Ukraine’s once rolling wheat fields have become battlefields, and the effects on wheat, food, oil and fuel are being felt by all of us.”
2022-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9133 (2022) · source
“We must respond, because behind that sobering report and the numbers we have heard today, this is about raw humanity. We are talking about real people. We are talking about children and mothers whose voices are being silenced by hunger and violence. We are talking about the difference between life and death. We cannot accept what is reported in the white note as the way of the world. We cannot fail to see our common humanity in those who are suffering. The white note makes clear that the scourge of hunger has not gone away since resolution 2417 (2018) was adopted more than four years ago. In fact it has only gotten worse. There are many causes behind today’s global food insecurity crisis. The coronavirus disease pandemic has strained supply lines. Energy costs have made it more expensive to produce and ship food.”
2022-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9133 (2022) · source
“I thank Ireland and Brazil for gathering us here to discuss the pressing issues of conflict-induced hunger. I would also like to thank Under-Secretary- General Griffiths, Executive Director Beasley and Chief Economist Torero for their informative and very sobering briefings. As many here have heard me say since I arrived in New York, this issue is important. Hunger caused by conflict has been the centrepiece of our two Security Council presidencies since I arrived. I therefore want Mr. Griffiths to know that I am deeply appreciative of the white note his Office sent us on conflict and hunger, because while there is a mandated obligation to deliver those reports to the Council, we cannot forget that there is also a moral obligation to tell the world why people are being starved to death. White notes are a warning siren for the Council.”
2022-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9133 (2022) · source