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

“I would also note that it was Palestinian Islamic Jihad, not Israel, that held up agreement on a ceasefire designated to save lives and resume shipments into Gaza, thereby callously prolonging those hostilities. We commend Prime Minister Lapid for his leadership, which ultimately prevented further casualties and suffering. The Council should be able to come together and unconditionally repudiate the terrorism of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, whose reckless actions have put the lives of civilians on both sides at risk. Their actions must be condemned by all countries in no uncertain terms, and no country should be expected to tolerate or passively accept such brazen attacks on its civilians.”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9107 (2022) · source
“The United States will remain engaged with senior Israeli officials and the Palestinian leadership in the days ahead to continue implementing the many new initiatives that President Biden has launched to improve the quality of life for Palestinians. But let us be clear. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad is designated a terrorist organization in the United States and many other nations. It is also an Iranian proxy group that has conducted attacks on innocent civilians for years. It is telling that Palestinian Islamic Jihad leaders were in Tehran over the past several days while the people they claim to be protecting were left in harm’s way.”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9107 (2022) · source
“So let us be sure to follow the facts and see where they lead us. We are of course also concerned about the humanitarian impact of the recent violence. Residents of Gaza have seen their access to electricity reduced at one of the hottest times of the year. Medical facilities and other public services were shuttered. The resumption of fuel deliveries today comes not a moment too soon. Speaking more broadly, our position is clear to everyone in this room. We fully support Israel’s right to defend its people against terrorist threats, including rocket fire aimed at civilians or without regard to them. We also believe that Israelis and Palestinians equally deserve to live in safety and security, and we are working assiduously to that end.”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9107 (2022) · source
“The United States welcomes the ceasefire that was reached last night. Our thanks go to Special Coordinator Wennesland, as well as Egypt, Qatar, Jordan and other regional partners, for facilitating an end to the recent hostilities. We call on all the parties to fully implement the ceasefire, including through the consistent delivery of fuel shipments to Gaza to ensure that hospitals and other public services can operate. We are deeply saddened by the reports of civilian casualties and need to swiftly and thoroughly investigate each of them. We should refrain from jumping to conclusions until we can determine the facts. To give just one example, Israel was originally blamed for an attack that inflicted civilian casualties in Jabalia refugee camp, which now appears to have been caused by a Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket.”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9107 (2022) · source
“In the case of food, as in many other areas, we are partnering with African Governments and leaders to address immediate crises, while also connecting those short-term efforts with a longer-term imperative of bolstering Africa’s ability to solve global problems. Let us work together, under the leadership of African countries, to forge a more peaceful, more prosperous, more secure future. And let us do so, as Ralph Bunche urged us, without delay.”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9106 (2022) · source
“Spikes in energy prices, the coronavirus disease, the climate crisis and conflict — all mentioned by each of us today — have all led to a dramatic rise in food insecurity. That was a constant drumbeat when I was on the continent last week. Two hundred million people are now food insecure, unsure of where they will find their next meal. If one adds Russia’s war of choice in Ukraine on top of all of that, there is the worst food security crisis that we have seen in our lifetimes. The responsibility for that added disruption of global supply chains, soaring, surging fuel prices and suffering lies squarely and solely with the Russian Government, and we know that the effects are hitting Africa particularly hard.”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9106 (2022) · source
“Additionally, when we talk about peace in Africa, we must recognize the important role United Nations arms embargoes play in sustaining peace in Africa. On that point, exemptions to arms embargoes ensure that Governments have the ability to procure what they need, while arms embargoes provide transparency in weapons flows into conflict areas. Arms embargoes limit the ability of belligerents to engage in hostilities, and ultimately they do save lives. These kinds of arms embargoes are integral to the AU’s Silencing the Guns initiative, which was extended to 2030. But for all the hope that I have, and that I believe we should all have, we cannot discuss sustainable peace in Africa without acknowledging the tumultuous times in which we find ourselves.”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9106 (2022) · source
“Secretary Blinken will do the same in his visits to the Democratic Republic and Rwanda in the next few days. We are urging an end to support for non-State armed groups, as well as a de-escalation of violence. Let us also acknowledge the fact that the African Union is key to Africa’s peace, as we heard from the Commissioner earlier. The African Union can continue to mediate conflict and support its regional economic communities during political transitions and civil conflicts. We applaud the progress that the AU has made in developing its own human rights and international humanitarian law frameworks. We are committed to continuing to work with the AU to further the financing of the AU peace support operations envisioned in resolutions 2320 (2016) and 2378 (2017).”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9106 (2022) · source
“In line with what Secretary Blinken said today in Pretoria while launching the United States strategy for sub-Saharan Africa, we believe Africa will shape the future — not just the future for African people, but for the world. African countries have the resources and the will to do just that. African institutions are already leading the way by facilitating the resolution of crises and conflicts in the Great Lakes region, Mozambique and Somalia, and by serving as major contributors to United Nations peacekeeping efforts around the world. The United States is using diplomacy to support these efforts. As just one example, during my visit to Uganda just last week, I underscored our support for African mediation efforts in the conflict playing out in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9106 (2022) · source
“One example of an interlinked approach to these pillars is our implementation of the United States strategy to prevent conflict and promote stability over the next 10 years. I also join many in this Chamber in calling for advancing development in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals, which, as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights notes, are firmly anchored in human rights principles and standards. It is this kind of human rights-centred development and security agenda that we look forward to prioritizing at our upcoming United States-Africa Leaders Summit, which will take place in Washington this December. Together we can work to strengthen trade relations, economic development and prosperity in Africa.”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9106 (2022) · source
“In my remarks I quoted one of my personal heroes and a founding father of the United Nations, Ralph Bunche, who said, “If peace is to be secure, long-suffering and long-starved, forgotten peoples of the world, the underprivileged and the undernourished, must begin to realize without delay the promise of a new day and a new life.” This is a message I wanted to bring to this Chamber today as well. Peace cannot wait in Africa. It must come from African leaders and African institutions, and it must be for Africa’s people. We have an opportunity to step up our support, and I join many in this room in highlighting our commitment to development, peace and security and human rights as equal interlinked pillars of the United Nations Charter.”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9106 (2022) · source
“Today I would like to discuss three core areas of focus that can move us toward a more sustainable and peaceful Africa: first, the importance of development and human rights in our work; secondly, continued cooperation on conflict prevention and resolution; and thirdly, our collective efforts to address the dire spike in global food insecurity. All of the foregoing is top of mind for me because last night I came back from a trip that took me to Uganda, Ghana and Cabo Verde. During my visit I laid out a vision for peace and food security in Africa.”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9106 (2022) · source
“Since this is my first time in the Security Council since China took up the presidency, I would like to thank Brazil for a successful month in its presidency of the Council in July and welcome China to the presidency and wish it a successful month as well. I would also like to thank China for convening today’s open debate on capacity-building for sustaining peace in Africa. I thank African Union Commissioner Adeoye and Special Adviser Duarte for their briefings on some of the keys to ensuring sustainable peace. We also warmly welcome Ambassador Muhith and thank him as he takes on his new position as Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission. I would also like to welcome other members of the Council who are participating in this debate today.”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9106 (2022) · source
“The awful consequences of the conflict — the millions of Ukrainians who have been forced to flee their homes for neighbouring countries or other parts of Ukraine, the disruptions to food and other essential supplies, the war crimes and atrocities against civilians and the resulting trauma — will end only when Russia ends the war. Until that fateful day, the rest of us have a duty to stand up, to say that enough is enough and to defend the Charter of the United Nations, which we have all pledged to support.”
2022-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9104 (2022) · source
“It is sending children to remote regions far from their homes. It is forcibly replacing people’s passports and attempting to impose its own identity over the national identity of Ukrainian citizens. It is expanding this horrific operation with blatant disregard for the principles of national sovereignty. Despite the disinformation that Russia peddles in this very Chamber, no one believes Ukraine is doing any of that to itself. Every member here has borne witness to the atrocities, and we will not forget. Each and every atrocity deserves accountability.”
2022-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9104 (2022) · source
“The process of filtration is slow, with some Ukrainians waiting up to three weeks to be processed. Given the long wait, reports indicate that filtration-centre employees and people awaiting filtration were selling places in line. The United States has information that officials from Russia’s presidential Administration are overseeing and coordinating filtration operations. Russia is also using advanced technology to facilitate filtration processes, including for the purpose of collecting data on Ukrainians undergoing filtration. In 2021, officials within a Russian-controlled area of Ukraine formulated a draft list of more than a dozen proposed locations for filtration operations, including reinforced police stations. Let me put this in plain terms. Russia is tearing families apart.”
2022-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9104 (2022) · source
“We have seen credible reports of bombings of schools and hospitals, as we heard in Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo’s comments today, as well as of the killing of aid workers and journalists, the targeting of civilians attempting to flee and the brutal execution-style murder of those going about their daily business in Bucha. We have also seen the violent abuse and forced deportations of Ukrainian civilians through so-called filtration operations. To date, there is evidence that Russia’s forces have interrogated, detained and forcibly deported what are estimated to be hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian citizens, including children — tearing them from their homes and sending them to remote regions in the East. As of May, in one location within a Russian-controlled area of Ukraine, more than 20,000 people were in line for filtration.”
2022-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9104 (2022) · source
“Those who perpetrated and ordered those crimes must be held to account for their actions. For those countries saying that one country’s security should not come at the expense of another’s, what exactly do they call Russia’s armed invasion — an armed invasion of its neighbour that disdains attempts to reach a peaceful resolution by silencing its guns, withdrawing its forces and embracing diplomacy? To countries that call for all parties to embrace diplomacy without naming Russia, we should make it clear that Russia’s ongoing actions are the sole obstacle to a resolution to the crisis. The evidence of the scale of atrocities continues to mount.”
2022-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9104 (2022) · source
“The acquisition of territory by force is about as clear a violation of the Charter of the United Nations as you can get. We cannot and will not stand by and let it happen in silence. So while we welcomed the progress made in Istanbul last week on the export of grain and food and commend the Secretary-General and the Government of Türkiye for their efforts to facilitate that much-needed progress, we also saw Russia’s true character a few hours later when it launched a missile attack on the port of Odesa. Bombing a port does not make it easier for grain to get out. Russia should allow grain and food to leave Odesa unharmed in order to feed a hungry world. Those cruel acts should come as no surprise. As we have said many times, we assess that members of Russia’s forces have committed horrific war crimes in Ukraine.”
2022-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9104 (2022) · source
“Instead of following those demands and feeling shamed by these clear condemnations, Russia has in fact publicly expanded its war aims. As we warned earlier this year, there should no longer be any doubt that Russia intends to dismantle Ukraine as a geopolitical entity and wipe it off the world map entirely. We are seeing growing signs that Russia is laying the groundwork to yet again attempt to annex more of Ukraine’s territories. That includes the installation of illegitimate proxy officials in Russian-held areas with the goal of holding sham referendums or issuing decrees on joining Russia. Foreign Minister Lavrov has even stated that this is Russia’s war aim. Specifically, Russia is currently reviewing plans to attempt to annex the regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, and all of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. That is galling.”
2022-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9104 (2022) · source
“Today, we are here to discuss how one country, Russia, has effectively set the Charter of the United Nations on fire. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February, the world has witnessed its flagrant violations of international law and complete disregard for the Charter and the principles of peace, sovereignty and the protection of civilians that the Charter holds dear. The International Court of Justice has ordered Russia to immediately suspend its military operations. With overwhelming support from the international community, the General Assembly has adopted resolutions that have condemned Russia’s aggression. It has demanded an end to the invasion and the withdrawal of Russian troops and has suspended Russia from the Human Rights Council.”
2022-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9104 (2022) · source
“I thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her briefing. I, too, would like to take a moment to express my sincere appreciation to Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason for her contributions to the Security Council. During the year and then some that we have worked together, I have admired her steadfast approach and her commitment to finding a way forward for peace and security. I wish her the best of luck in the future and look forward to seeing her in Washington. The Charter of the United Nations is the Organization’s most sacred document. It is more than a small blue booklet or noble words on a page. It is a commitment that we have all freely signed as States Members of the United Nations. It is the embodiment of our ideals and the most powerful tool we have, in its own opening words, to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.”
2022-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9104 (2022) · source
“We wish her well in her future endeavours and call on the leaders of the House of Representatives and the High State Council to work constructively towards the goal Ms. Williams sought to advance. We also support the efforts of the Secretariat and Council members in their discussions to find a new candidate — someone who can effectively lead UNSMIL and facilitate the necessary dialogue among Libyan leaders towards a persistent peace.”
2022-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9103 (2022) · source
“And it makes it harder to recruit the best candidate for the role. Libya is at a critical juncture, and UNSMIL has a major role to play in supporting preparations for elections, monitoring the ceasefire, reporting on human rights issues and providing technical assistance on State finances and the budget. The Libyan people are relying on UNSMIL. It does a disservice to them and all of us to play games with the mandate. And the United States will continue its full support of United Nations efforts to establish a Libyan-led path to free and fair elections based on a constitutional framework. Finally, I would like to take this time to thank the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Libya, Stephanie Williams. I want to thank her for her extraordinary efforts to broker an agreement on the constitutional framework for elections.”
2022-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9103 (2022) · source
“We note that the abstentions of our colleagues, the three African members of the Security Council (A3), today in protest of Russia’s insistence on a three-month mandate duration, and we share the A3’s frustration. We believe that the A3 clearly have the best interests of the Libyan people in mind. Russia’s specious contention that a three-month mandate will somehow assist the Secretariat in securing the Security Council’s full support for a Special Representative of the Secretary-General nominee has already been proved false. To the contrary, as the Secretariat has stated numerous times, a short duration only further complicates the Secretariat’s efforts. Revisiting the mandate every few months makes it much harder for UNSMIL to implement long-term plans. It makes it harder to develop sustainable solutions to Libya’s challenges.”
2022-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9103 (2022) · source
“Let me thank the United Kingdom for its constructive role as the penholder for the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). Thanks to the United Kingdom’s hard work and the efforts of most members of the Council, we now have a more substantive mandate, which includes important language in support of the political process and assurances that Libya’s oil revenue is managed transparently for the benefit of the entire Libyan people. We are pleased to have a substantive mandate for the first time since September 2020. But we are disappointed that, once again, the Security Council has been forced to accept only a three-month mandate extension.”
2022-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9103 (2022) · source
“The greater fidelity we have as to exactly what happened, the better chance we have of preventing future attacks and civilian casualties. In the meantime, we call on all parties to respect Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to refrain from actions that imperil civilians, inflame tensions and increase the risk of military conflict. Iraq and Iraqis deserve a more secure, stable and prosperous future.”
2022-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9100 (2022) · source
“Let me thank Special Representative Hennis- Plasschaert for her briefing today on the horrific attack. I would also like to welcome the presence of the Iraqi Foreign Minister and the representative of Türkiye. The United States strongly condemns the attack on 20 July in Iraq’s Dohuk governorate, which claimed the lives of nine Iraqi citizens, including children, and injured many more. We extend our condolences to the families of those killed and our sympathies to those injured. The killing of civilians is always unacceptable, and all parties have an obligation under international law, including under international humanitarian law, to ensure the protection of civilians. To that end, we look forward to receiving additional information and greater clarity in relation to facts on the attack.”
2022-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9100 (2022) · source
“We urge all parties in the region and around the world to support — in word and deed — the goal of a peaceful and prosperous region, including through bolder action to create the conditions for a two- State solution.”
2022-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9099 (2022) · source
“We fully support UNRWA’s life-saving work and continued efforts to improve its operations and to guarantee that its works fully support and respect the principles of neutrality, tolerance, respect for human rights, equity and non-discrimination. We call on others to join us in supporting UNRWA in order to ensure its services can continue. Finally, President Biden announced that the United States is providing $15 million in additional humanitarian assistance to support 210,000 vulnerable Palestinians who are food-insecure among a growing global food security crisis exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In short, the President’s visit demonstrated that the United States remains deeply committed to peace and prosperity in the Middle East.”
2022-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9099 (2022) · source
“That aid includes a plan to provide up to $100 million in support for the East Jerusalem Hospital Network, which delivers specialized care and emergency services to 50,000 patients from East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza annually. We were pleased that Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates committed to provide an additional $100 million to those Jerusalem hospitals, and we urge other countries to support the Palestinian people. Our new assistance also includes $201 million for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to continue delivering critical services to the Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.”
2022-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9099 (2022) · source
“The President also acknowledged Jerusalem’s importance to the multiple faiths and nationalities when he said: “Jerusalem is central to the national visions of both Palestinians and Israelis — to your histories, to your faiths, to your future. Jerusalem must be a city for all its people.” During his visit, President Biden also met with President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank and reaffirmed our shared commitment to strengthen the Palestinian economy and improve the quality of life for Palestinians. To that end, as we heard, he announced several initiatives to support the Palestinian people, including expanding 4G digital connectivity to Gaza and the West Bank, improving accessibility to the Allenby Bridge and providing $316 million in new assistance — all for the benefit of the Palestinian people.”
2022-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9099 (2022) · source
“Critically, the President also highlighted the opportunity those normalization agreements provide to advance Israeli-Palestinian relations and address the needs of the Palestinian people. As we have repeatedly said in the Council, normalization agreements are important in their own right, but they are not a substitute for a negotiated two-State solution. Indeed, President Biden reiterated the Administration’s commitment to a two-State solution and emphasized the importance of promoting a future in which Israelis and Palestinians alike can enjoy equal measures of security, freedom and prosperity. After their meeting, Prime Minister Lapid also expressed support for a two-State solution.”
2022-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9099 (2022) · source
“He was also able to visit Yad Vashem, where he met with some of the last living Holocaust survivors — a powerful reminder of the sacred promise we have made: “Never again.” President Biden commended the Abraham Accords and Israel’s normalization agreements with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco, which, alongside Israel’s peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan, contribute to security, prosperity and peace in the Middle East. The I2U2 Virtual Summit of India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the United States that the President convened showed the potential of closer cooperation between Israel and other countries in and outside the region. And Saudi Arabia’s announcement that it would allow Israeli airlines to use Saudi airspace was another important step in building a more integrated region.”
2022-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9099 (2022) · source
“At the outset, let me thank Deputy Special Coordinator Hastings for her briefing. Today I would like to share an update from President Biden’s visit to Israel and the West Bank this month, which demonstrated the strength of the bilateral relationship between the United States and Israel, including our continued steadfast commitment to Israel’s security. The trip also highlighted our determination to bolster the United States-Palestinian relationship, which has roots going back to the 1800s. The President had productive meetings with Israel’s President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Yair Lapid, as well as other Israeli leaders, on the full range of issues that define our strategic partnership.”
2022-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9099 (2022) · source
“As presented, it circumvented the normal negotiation process that allows the full Council to weigh in and it completely disregarded draft resolution S/2022/538, which the co-penholders put forward in good faith, a draft that sought to address the concerns that Russia has claimed to have about the mandate. The draft resolution before us, submitted by Russia, simply does not do right by the Syrian people or by aid organizations. And it is not the right way to conduct business in the Council. Russia has greedily and disrespectfully hijacked the negotiations from the co-penholders, who led a consultative and inclusive process. For those reasons, we cannot support draft resolution S/2022/541 and call on others to join us in voting against it.”
2022-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9087 (2022) · source
“On top of that, the draft resolution’s six-month timeline would mean that life-saving assistance would be shut off in the dead of winter when needs are at their highest, which would be a nightmare scenario for a region in which millions of people are still displaced. Last year, the Council — including Russia — voted to support cross-border aid for a year (see S/PV.8817), specifically through a six-month authorization followed by a six-month extension subject to the issuance of the Secretary-General’s report. The humanitarian needs have only increased since then. The negotiation process for Russia’s draft resolution was also problematic, given its process.”
2022-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9087 (2022) · source
“The United States will vote against draft resolution S/2022/541 because by renewing the cross- border mechanism for six months only, Russia’s draft fails to give aid workers the assurances required to enable them to sufficiently meet needs on the ground, and that would result in needless suffering. I want to make it clear that this draft resolution has a mandate of six months only and benefits the Syrian regime more than the people of Syria. When I went to the region, aid workers specifically cautioned me that a six-month renewal of the mechanism would be a disaster for their supply lines. They would not be able to arrange steady supplies of life-saving goods at a volume necessary to reach all the people who currently depend on cross- border operations.”
2022-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9087 (2022) · source
“The Security Council has failed today, but I refuse to let this be the end of the story. Because of today’s vote, the Syrian people are at risk of receiving less aid, resulting in yet more suffering. And there will be less of the transparency that one Council member claims to want. That will be solely the fault of that veto today. It is in the interest of no one — including Russia — to have resolution 2585 (2021) expire. The United States therefore stands ready to continue talks on the issue until we find a way to extend the cross-border mandate. When I visited the region last month, I saw the desperation in the eyes of countless Syrians. I promised the aid workers and refugees I met with that I would convey their desperation and do everything in my power to renew the cross-border resolution and get them the aid that they need.”
2022-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9087 (2022) · source
“I have long said this is a life-and-death issue; and ,tragically, people will die because of this vote and the country that shamelessly deployed the veto today. Getting this done would have been the bare minimum. Draft resolution S/2022/538 was already an extreme compromise. It is unfathomable that one Security Council member — Russia — put its own political interests above the humanitarian needs of the Syrian people. This was a moment to save lives and lead responsibly. One country failed to do that. United Nations reports and non-governmental organizations on the ground have told us clearly that the United Nations cross-border mechanism was the single-most effective way to get aid into the country. Twice now I have seen the efficacy of the cross-border mechanism with my own eyes.”
2022-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9087 (2022) · source
“Today is a dark day in the Security Council. As we sit in this ornate Chamber, it is easy to lose sight of the real-life consequences of our votes. But roughly 5,000 miles away, for 4.1 million people in north-west Syria, the impact of this vote will be swift and dire. Owing to the vote of one Council member, hospitals will have to turn patients away because they will not have the necessary supplies and medicine. Schools will likely have to close their doors, denying children the promise of an education and a brighter future. The nutrition assistance that 85,000 people rely on to survive will be cut off, as will life-saving dignity kits for 250,000 women and girls. Shipments of vital therapeutics, such as Plumpy’nut, will stop. Hopes will be dashed. This is not a moment to mince words.”
2022-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9087 (2022) · source
“So as we are voting, I want Council members to think about the 270,000 people whom they are personally responsible for. I want them to think about the young boy who is wondering whether he will be able to continue his education, let alone survive the harsh winter to come. I want them to think about the pregnant woman who will not be able to deliver her baby safely if her hospital does not have the supplies she needs. I want them to think about the family feeling hunger in the pit of their stomachs — unbearable hunger that no one should ever have to experience — if we do not renew the draft resolution. Failure is not an option today. We must get this done. We must put politics aside and the needs of the Syrian people first. I urge everyone to vote yes on the draft resolution.”
2022-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9087 (2022) · source
“Bab Al-Hawa is the single most effective corridor for delivering life-and-death assistance into north-west Syria, including medicines, vaccines, food, water, educational supplies and so much more. We cannot shut off all of that assistance at a time when prices for basic goods such as food and gas are spiking. We cannot cause a self-inflicted catastrophe while a humanitarian crisis is pushing more and more Syrians to the brink. That leads me to our third and final reason — a simple reason — for supporting the draft resolution, which is that 4.1 million people are counting on us. That is how many people in north-west Syria need humanitarian assistance, the issue on which we must all vote to renew in just a few moments. There are 15 of us on the Council. That means that each one of us holds the fate of roughly 270,000 people in our hands.”
2022-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9087 (2022) · source
“Secondly, we have all made progress on everything we promised when we unanimously adopted resolution 2585 (2021) last year (see S/PV.8817). The United States in particular has demonstrated its sincere commitment to delivering on issues that are important to members of the Council. A vote against draft resolution S/2022/538 is in fact a vote against cross-line aid. While that component of the draft is insufficient on its own, the United States will continue to support it and hopes it will continue to expand. A vote against the draft resolution is a vote against early-recovery efforts, which we know are an important component of a sustainable humanitarian response. A vote against it is a vote against the transparency efforts undertaken by the United Nations Monitoring Mechanism for Syria. A vote against it is a death sentence.”
2022-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9087 (2022) · source
“Any renewal of less than 12 months would disrupt supply chains, resulting in less aid for the larger numbers of people who require it. I visited the Bab Al-Hawa crossing and transshipment hub last month, where boxes are verified and sealed, and I can say that it is one of the most closely monitored and well-organized crossings in the world. I saw first-hand what is going across the border. I saw the medicine, food, diapers and blankets. If we do not renew that border-crossing, we will have no United Nations verification system in place and no regular timeline. Whatever emerges to take its place will provide less humanitarian assistance and lack any collective oversight or reliability, and that is a bad outcome for all of us.”
2022-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9087 (2022) · source
“Humanitarian decisions must be driven by the needs on the ground, not by politics. But we are not letting the perfect be the enemy of the good. We want to build on the unity we saw last year in the Security Council and therefore today we will vote in favour of this draft resolution. But before we do, I want to explain the three main reasons we are strongly supporting the draft resolution and why we are urging every member of the Council to do the same. First, the United Nations cross-border mechanism provides unparalleled transparency and stability. It ensures that aid that goes into north-west Syria is properly inspected, reviewed and tracked. It also gives non-governmental organizations the critical 12-month timeline they need to plan ahead and coordinate the incoming resources.”
2022-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9087 (2022) · source
“Let me start by joining others in expressing my condolences on the passing of the former Prime Minister of Japan and the former President of Angola. I would also like to thank the co-penholders, our colleagues from Norway and Ireland, for their work on the issue at hand for us today. Their leadership in drafting the compromise draft resolution S/2022/538 was very much appreciated. And that is what we are voting on today — a compromise. The United States and many others wanted a more expansive resolution that would open more border-crossings. That is what is required to actually meet the dire needs of the Syrian people, whose condition is worse than at any point since the war started. And we will need to do much more to help them after today. We have had a consistent position on that over the years.”
2022-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9087 (2022) · source
“And today, on International Refugee Day, we owe that to the refugees in Syria. I want to take this opportunity to thank the Government of Türkiye for hosting so many Syrian refugees. Let us all work together to get this done.”
2022-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9068 (2022) · source
“As the Secretary-General states in his report (S/2022/492) and in his remarks today, the humanitarian needs on the ground cannot be met without the United Nations cross-border mechanism. And we know our friends in the League of Arab States also share that view. This is our chance to come together again with one voice, with unity and a commitment to humanity. This is our chance to live up to the ideals of the Charter of the United Nations. This is our chance to continue to provide life-or-death assistance to the Syrian people. Everyone I spoke to during my visit had just one message they asked me to bring back to the Security Council to share with everyone. They asked us to make a choice to save lives — to make a choice to ensure that humanitarian aid continues to flow to those Syrians who need it most.”
2022-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9068 (2022) · source
“United Nations humanitarian leaders issued a joint statement last week to make that exact point, in which they said that such a failure “will immediately disrupt the United Nations life-saving aid operation, plunging people in north- west Syria into deeper misery and threatening their access to the food, medical care, clean water, shelter and protection from gender-based violence currently offered by United Nations- backed operations”. This is literally a life-or-death decision. And I firmly believe that we can get it done, just like we did last year, because it is not about politics — it is about continuing to provide humanitarian assistance to the millions of people who are counting on us. Some votes we take in the Council are difficult and complex, but this vote could not be more straightforward.”
2022-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9068 (2022) · source