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

“The United States will remain unequivocal in its calls for an end to sexual exploitation and abuse across the United Nations system, no matter the setting or perpetrator. And finally, we note the Special Representative of the Secretary-General’s call for additional support on the humanitarian front, given the increased numbers of displaced. As usual, she can depend on the United States continued support for those efforts.”
2021-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8918 (2021) · source
“We urge our Government counterparts to devote all the necessary resources to that programme. Combatants need to see participation as a viable alternative to armed group membership. Thirdly, we must press for an end to sexual exploitation and abuse in peacekeeping. MONUSCO recorded more than 20 new allegations this year alone. Those terrible acts erode confidence in the United Nations. They undermine mission effectiveness. And they endanger the very populations our peacekeepers are deployed to protect. The Mission must continue to promptly investigate all allegations. We urge all countries contributing personnel to MONUSCO to take prevention seriously and hold their personnel accountable.”
2021-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8918 (2021) · source
“Transitioning MONUSCO will not be easy; it will require coordination with the United Nations country team as the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo works to provide strong and good governance in the years to come. Fortunately, we have seen progress on the key indicators laid out in the joint transition plan, guided by an assessment of conditions on the ground. Security conditions in Kasai enabled the Mission’s exit, and we welcome the United Nations country team’s expanded engagement with civilian counterparts before and after MONUSCO’s departure. An effective MONUSCO transition also requires the Democratic Republic of the Congo Government to implement its community- based Demobilization, Disarmament, Community Reintegration and Stabilization Programme.”
2021-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8918 (2021) · source
“Let me be clear, though: military solutions alone are not sufficient to solve the problem of terrorism, and they will not address the root causes of conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. One important way of ameliorating conflict comes from ensuring people’s voices are heard. To that end, we note that the Democratic Republic of the Congo will next hold elections in 2023. The United States stands ready to support the Congolese Government and the voting public in the holding of free, fair, transparent and inclusive elections within constitutional timelines. Secondly, although last week’s developments are still fresh, we look forward to working closely with our fellow Council members on MONUSCO’s mandate renewal to position the Mission for positive results and plan for its eventual drawdown.”
2021-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8918 (2021) · source
“It will ensure military operations are coordinated with peacekeepers and humanitarian actors and they are conducted in compliance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law and are clearly communicated to civilian populations. It would also strengthen the military operations themselves. In addition, I urge MONUSCO to fully implement the Mission’s robust civilian protection mandate through the conduct of joint and offensive operations, including through the Force Intervention Brigade. We hope the Office of the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes will do its part to keep the region informed of developments in a swift and transparent manner, lowering tensions and stopping the flow of funds and recruits to terrorist groups.”
2021-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8918 (2021) · source
“Our expectations for today’s meeting were overturned by the breaking news last week that Congolese and Ugandan troops had launched joint military operations against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham (ISIS) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We will be watching that situation carefully. The United States commends the efforts the Congolese Government is making to face the ISIS-Democratic Republic of the Congo threat. As we have all come to know, combating terrorism requires international cooperation. In that vein, I urge the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ugandan Governments to coordinate and include MONUSCO officials in their planning. That is essential for success.”
2021-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8918 (2021) · source
“I would also like to welcome the Democratic Republic of the Congo Permanent Representative’s presence with us today. Today I would like to discuss three aspects of the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: the changing security environment, the role of MONUSCO and its eventual drawdown, and addressing sexual exploitation and abuse allegations. First, the United States is encouraged by the improvements in the security situation in Tanganyika. But as the briefers highlighted, the security environment in North and South Kivu and Ituri remains dire. The United States is closely following the situation in the Hauts Plateaux and Moyens Plateaux of South Kivu, including the role of hate speech in inciting violence. We know what this kind of language can lead to, and it must be stopped immediately.”
2021-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8918 (2021) · source
“As this is the first opportunity I have, I want to welcome you, Mr. President, to the presidency and wish you, Sir, all the success possible over this coming month. I would also like to thank Mexico for its presidency last month and the very dynamic programme it put forward for us. I thank you, Mr. President, for your superb leadership of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1533 (2004) and your insights from your visit to Kinshasa. I would also like to thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Keita for briefing us at this critical moment for the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and for the Congolese people, and I thank Ms. Kalala for her insights.”
2021-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8918 (2021) · source
“Unfortunately, time is running out. We need to move now. Let us all commit today to constructive partnership and concrete progress between Israelis and Palestinians. That is the only antidote to the despair, mistrust, insecurity and violence that threaten a two- State solution, which remains our best chance for a sustainable and just peace.”
2021-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8913 (2021) · source
“In that connection, during my visit, I personally raised my concerns with UNRWA leadership about anti-Semitic references in textbooks used in Agency schools. When I met with young girls at an UNRWA camp, I was struck, first and foremost, by their dreams — and they had big dreams. They told me that they wanted to be doctors and lawyers and astronauts. I know Israeli girls and boys have the same hopes and the same dreams. That is what we mean when we say we want equal measures of freedom, dignity, security and prosperity. When a young Palestinian girl and a young Israeli girl look up into the night sky, their hopes and dreams should be equally possible, worthwhile and supported. Now, after my trip, I am more convinced than ever that the Council must support tangible steps to make a real difference in the lives of Israelis and Palestinians.”
2021-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8913 (2021) · source
“We can promote steps to improve the lives of ordinary Palestinians — from encouraging Israelis to issue more work permits to granting additional building permits in Area C of the West Bank. The Council can also demonstrate its support for new efforts to facilitate humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to Gaza while ensuring that protections against diversion to terrorist organizations are robust. Finally, the international community can also provide financial contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) that match the political support the Agency enjoys. As more States step up with contributions, they should also join the United States in urging UNRWA to establish a more sustainable financing model and to rigorously adhere to humanitarian principles, including neutrality.”
2021-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8913 (2021) · source
“It is critical to explore opportunities with Israelis and Palestinians in order to rebuild some degree of confidence in each other. Fortunately, my meetings yielded several promising ideas we can pursue together. Both sides spoke of the need for confidence-building measures to break down the walls of distrust. Much of that trust-building needs to be worked out between the Israelis and the Palestinians themselves, but the Council can play a role in facilitating constructive steps. We can enforce Security Council resolutions intended to constrain Iran’s regional malign activities, nuclear threats and support for terrorism organizations like Hamas and Hizbullah. The Security Council can also speak with one voice in denouncing incitement to violence, whether by terrorist organizations or individuals.”
2021-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8913 (2021) · source
“Israelis and Palestinians are locked in a spiral of mutual distrust, preventing the cooperation that could bring about prosperity, freedom and security for all. We also cannot ignore the fact that the control of Hamas over Gaza makes the situation even more difficult for the Palestinians. Israelis do not believe they have a partner for peace, and Palestinians are trapped in despair because they do not see a political horizon. As Council members know, the animating principle behind the Biden Administration’s approach to Middle East peace is that Israelis and Palestinians deserve equal measures of freedom, dignity, security and prosperity, which is a goal unto itself and a means to advance a negotiated two-State solution. But we cannot make progress towards that end without a modicum of trust.”
2021-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8913 (2021) · source
“I heard stories about Israeli settlers attacking Palestinians, ransacking homes and destroying property in the West Bank. That is an issue that I discussed extensively with Israeli counterparts. I was told how many Palestinian families fear eviction from their homes because it is nearly impossible to get building permits as settlements expand. United States disapproval of settlement expansion goes back decades. That is nothing new for us. But the practice has reached a critical juncture and is now undermining the very viability of a negotiated two-State solution. Meanwhile, civil society organizations in the West Bank advocating for better governance and freedom face unprecedented challenges in their work.”
2021-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8913 (2021) · source
“Israelis also shared with me their concern that the United Nations is intrinsically biased against Israel. They interpret the overwhelming focus on Israel in this organ as a denial of Israel’s right to exist and an unfair focus on that one country — and they are correct. The Security Council’s monthly meetings on the situation in the Middle East, which focus almost exclusively on Israel, are seen by Israelis as another example of that. The Council’s attention should reflect all areas that threaten international peace and security, and we should have open meetings on Lebanon and meet on Iran more regularly. Israel does not define the Middle East. During my visit, I saw how serious the security situation is for Palestinians.”
2021-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8913 (2021) · source
“I thank Special Coordinator Wennesland for his briefing and Ms. Ero for her insights. I visited Israel, the West Bank and Jordan earlier this month, in part to reaffirm United States support for a two-State solution, which, we strongly believe, is still viable — a two-State solution in which a Jewish and democratic Israel lives in peace alongside a sovereign, viable Palestinian State. I had an extensive itinerary, meeting senior Israeli and Palestinian Authority officials, as well as civil society organizations and refugees. I saw first-hand how serious the security situation is for Israel. It is subjected to regular attacks by terrorist organizations, including Hamas and Hizbullah, both of which are funded by Iran. The impact of Iran’s regional malfeasance, nuclear aspirations and hatred for Israel cannot be ignored.”
2021-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8913 (2021) · source
“We are committed to deepening our bilateral relationship and supporting Iraq’s democracy. We continue to implement the outcomes of our strategic dialogue with Iraq and are laser-focused on economic development, climate adaptation, public health and human rights for all. We support a sovereign and stable Iraq. And this election takes us one step closer to that objective.”
2021-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8910 (2021) · source
“Iraq’s leaders must engage in constructive dialogue to form a Government upon the certification of the election results, one focused on transparent governance to support the aspirations of all the Iraqi people. The process of forming a Government should be done without fear, intimidation or the threat of violence. We therefore condemn in the strongest terms the attempted assassination of Prime Minister Al-Kadhimi, as well as any other efforts to influence the electoral process through violence, intimidation or coercion. Any threat against personnel of the United Nations or the Independent High Electoral Commission must be met with full condemnation by the Council. As Iraq looks to complete the final stages of this successful election process and build on it for elections to come, it has a strong partner in the United States.”
2021-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8910 (2021) · source
“Let us continue to work together, in this spirit of cooperation, on this file and across the Council’s agenda. Looking forward, we are eager for the publication of UNAMI’s detailed analysis of all data collected from its monitoring activity, as previewed in paragraph 65 of the Secretary-General’s report (S/2021/932). With continued international and domestic investments in Iraq’s electoral system, future elections can be informed by that valuable data, build on the momentum and provide even greater opportunities for voters to peacefully chart their country’s desires. As the electoral process laid out in Iraqi law proceeds, we call on all countries to respect the process and allow the judiciary to carry out its constitutional duty independently and expeditiously.”
2021-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8910 (2021) · source
“And a special congratulations to the Iraqi women and members of the religious and ethnic minority groups who voted and won a historic number of seats in Parliament. In a world with far too much democratic backsliding, the Independent High Electoral Commission, the Government of Iraq and the Iraqi people should be proud of that election. The Council, too, should be proud of those results and seek to support replicating them in the future. After all, the Security Council spoke in unison, authorizing UNAMI to provide electoral technical assistance and election monitors. The Council came together and provided the resources the Government of Iraq needed to meet the legitimate demands of its people. The Council helped strengthen democratic institutions.”
2021-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8910 (2021) · source
“The report of the Secretary-General on the election process, issued on 8 November (S/2021/932), like the interim report of the European Union Election Observation Mission to Iraq, concluded that the polling was well managed and that voters cast their ballots in an orderly manner in a peaceful environment. The Independent High Electoral Commission promptly resolved the minor issues that arose and, crucially, its partial manual recount matched the results, further demonstrating the integrity of the voting and counting systems. That is a remarkable achievement. It was a genuine opportunity for the Iraqi people to choose their leaders, and they did. Congratulations to all Iraqis on the election.”
2021-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8910 (2021) · source
“Let me thank Special Representative Hennis- Plasschaert and Ms. Kabashi for their briefings. I also thank the Special Representative for her steadfast leadership throughout Iraq’s election process. In October 2019, the people of Iraq took to the streets and demanded change through peaceful protest. Since then, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) team has been essential in facilitating sound and credible elections designed to reflect the will of the Iraqi people. In May, the Security Council decided that UNAMI should provide a team to monitor Iraq’s parliamentary elections. Thanks to the many States that gave financial support, UNAMI provided five times more United Nations officials to assist the Independent High Electoral Commission than during the 2018 election.”
2021-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8910 (2021) · source
“Just as important, the United Nations should recognize outstanding performance. The annual United Nations Woman Police Officer of the Year Award is a great initiative. We would welcome similar ideas from the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Police Division. We need United Nations police to be effective, we need them to be successful, and we need to hold them accountable and above reproach. The United States remains committed to supporting United Nations police and to helping it meet the challenges that lie ahead. We look forward to continuing to engage on these important topics at the United Nations police Light Coordination Mechanism meeting next week in Brindisi, Italy, and in the 2021 Peacekeeping Ministerial next week in Seoul.”
2021-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8901 (2021) · source
“Thirdly and finally, three years after the unanimous adoption of resolution 2436 (2018), we repeat our strong support for the United Nations commitment to implement an integrated performance and accountability policy. That policy should be based on clear standards for all United Nations civilian and uniformed personnel working in, and supporting, peacekeeping operations. When peacekeepers fail to protect civilians or commit instances of abuse, that erodes trust with the local population and undermines mission effectiveness and damages the image of the United Nations and peacekeeping itself. The United Nations must hold those who serve in peace operations to the highest standards. We must hold ourselves accountable, address underperformance and misconduct, and select only those who are qualified and ready for deployment.”
2021-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8901 (2021) · source
“We are therefore pleased to hear from Under-Secretary-General Lacroix that this continues to be a top priority for the United Nations. The Action for Peacekeeping Plus (A4P+) initiative, launched earlier this year, rightly calls for accelerated implementation of the women and peace and security agenda, and a key pillar of that agenda is increasing women’s participation at all levels of peacekeeping. At this point, I want to commend my Indian colleagues for the police units that they provided in Liberia, where I served as Ambassador. I was witness to their professionalism and their commitment, which made all of us proud to see them in uniform. I can tell Council members that they were effective role models for Liberian women and girls. I therefore thank them very much.”
2021-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8901 (2021) · source
“In 2011, only 5 per cent of police officers in formed police units were women; today it is 14 per cent. Again, that is a significant increase, but much more needs to be done. This is important, however; women police play leading roles in rebuilding communities and trust among citizens and the security institutions that serve them. The United States strongly supports the Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy, and we urge police-contributing countries to embrace policies that increase women’s participation in all levels of policing. That leads me to my second point. As I noted, we still have more work to do to ensure that women are afforded equal opportunities to excel and lead across the full spectrum of United Nations policing. For example, very few formed police units have female commanders.”
2021-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8901 (2021) · source
“We hope that they will make a full recovery, and we urge a full investigation of the circumstances and context in which those peacekeepers found themselves wounded in a so-called friendly fire incident. Today I would like to address three aspects of United Nations police: areas where we have achieved progress on the women and peace and security agenda, areas where there is more work to be done and measuring both by implementing an integrated performance and accountability policy. First, we are pleased to see United Nations police make clear how they are advancing the women and peace and security agenda. Ten years ago, women represented 15 per cent of individual police officers deployed with the United Nations. Today that has doubled to 30 per cent, and while a significant increase, it is simply not enough.”
2021-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8901 (2021) · source
“We are really grateful to Mexico for promoting sustained engagement at the Security Council on the women and peace and security agenda. I thank Under- Secretary-General Lacroix for his presentation, and the United Nations Police Commissioners — both of whom are women, I note. I really appreciate the insightful briefings that they bring to us directly from the field. At the outset, allow me to express my condolences to the Government of Egypt for the recent shooting injuries of its police officers who had newly arrived in Bangui on 1 November to serve in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic.”
2021-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8901 (2021) · source
“We hope the Security Council is up to the task of organizing those efforts, ensuring that our approach is inclusive and addressing the root drivers of conflict so that we can build a more peaceful and prosperous world.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“For our part, the United States is working through international and non-governmental organizations partners to provide humanitarian assistance for those impacted by those threats and stressors, including refugees, internally displaced persons, asylum seekers and those vulnerable migrants in countries around the globe. However, no country can address inequality, marginalization and exclusion alone. We must take on those intertwined threats together. Our peacebuilding solutions need to take an inclusive approach — one that ensures development actors, human rights activists and security experts are all talking to each other and coordinating to build just, equal and durable societies.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“Ensuring the meaningful empowerment, participation and protection of women in all aspects of the peace and security building process is necessary for building durable and peaceful societies. For those reasons, the United States supports United Nations missions with robust human rights mandates, gender mainstreaming across mission activities and strong coordination functions with humanitarian and development organizations. Additionally, peacekeeping missions need to promote the protection of civilians and strengthen the democratic structures of governance and the rule of law. That is how the root causes of conflict are addressed. That is how the conditions for enduring peace are built.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“For example, development promotes economic growth, which is often the biggest challenge for post-conflict societies. Those thinking through peacebuilding solutions must engage local development actors early to determine the necessary steps for improving stability and ensuring lasting peace. Meanwhile, forms of inequality and exclusion stunt economic growth. If economic disparity or the threat of violence makes it too difficult for excluded groups to survive and thrive, citizens will make the difficult choice to leave their homelands for the hope of a better future. Similarly, if society excludes women from roles in the workplace, the country loses out on half of the workforce. That is a problem of development. It is a problem of human rights and peace and security rolled into one.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“But some continue to face exclusion and marginalization because of factors that should be irrelevant — like who they are, who they love, what group they were born into, what religion they practice or the colour of their skin. As President Biden reminds us every day, that is one reason why human rights are at the centre of our foreign policy. By promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, we are doing the right thing and honouring our values. We are also practising preventive diplomacy, strengthening resiliency and ensuring that societies are less vulnerable to conflict. In that way, all three of the United Nations pillars — development, human rights and peace and security — are mutually reinforcing. We must, therefore, take an inclusive approach to peacebuilding and conflict prevention.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“In order to address that, the United States is committed to being the world’s arsenal of vaccines. We have pledged more than 1.1 billion doses and have already provided more than 230 million doses worldwide, with no strings attached, because we know that not every country can afford to produce or purchase the life-saving vaccines. It is also why, at the general debate of the General Assembly (see A/76/PV.3), President Biden announced that he would work with Congress to once again double our public international finance to $11.4 billion annually by 2024 to help developing countries tackle the climate crisis. We also know that every single person is born with the human rights outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. That is what makes them universal.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“The United States is laser-focused on stopping these conflicts and mitigating suffering. To do that, we must address the root causes of these crises. Otherwise, our work is simply applying a Band-Aid to a gaping wound. The root causes are old: stunted economic growth, competition for scarce resources and hatred for those different from ourselves. But they are exacerbated by today’s modern challenges: the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, climate change and natural resource degradation. All those sources of conflict and contributors to instability represent forms of inequality, marginalization and exclusion. The COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, for example, have affected every country, but, of course, they have not affected us all equally.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“I thank you, Mr. President, for chairing this important debate on addressing inequality and poverty and their relationship to conflict. I also thank Secretary- General Guterres and Ms. Tibán Guala for sharing how such challenges impact their work and for highlighting their recommendations for how to overcome them. Today’s debate sends a clear message from the Security Council. Inequality, marginalization and exclusion are issues of peace and security. They drive instability, violence, conflict and mass migration. There are more conflicts ongoing today than at any other point since the end of the Cold War. These conflicts, however, are not the same as the older ones. They are more violent, they last longer, they are increasingly regionalized and they involve more non-State actors.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“I urge all parties — I repeat, all parties — in the strongest possible terms to back away from the brink, lead their people towards peace and resume the development agenda that will lead to prosperity for all Ethiopians.”
2021-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8899 (2021) · source
“I thank President Obasanjo once again for his efforts. Similarly, we support Kenyan President Kenyatta’s 3 November call for all parties to return to political negotiations, as well as his efforts in that regard. Ultimately, the only ones who can bring lasting peace to Ethiopia are its leaders and its people. Only a broader dialogue about the future of their State, where all of Ethiopia’s people are represented, can lead to broader democratic and economic renewal. It is never too late for peace but the longer this conflict goes on, the harder the road to peace becomes and more people will die. As Council members heard from High Representative Obasanjo, the window of opportunity is limited, and time is running out.”
2021-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8899 (2021) · source
“The Ethiopian Government must also investigate the terrible killings of humanitarian and human rights workers and hold those responsible to account. It must also cease all arbitrary detentions and ethnic targeting in Addis Ababa. Given the nationwide state of emergency, we are concerned about the safety of United States citizens and Government personnel and their dependents. The security of our facilities remains paramount. We will do everything in our power to keep our people safe, but we also ask that the state of emergency not be used as a pretence to attack civilians. We and everyone here know that the only solution to the conflict is a political solution. To that end, the African Union has an important role to play in resolving the conflict and sustaining regional peace and security.”
2021-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8899 (2021) · source
“We call on the TPLF and the Oromo Liberation Army to immediately stop the current advance towards Addis Ababa. We also call on the Ethiopian Government to respect international humanitarian law. We are not taking sides. Innocent people — innocent Ethiopians — are starving in northern Ethiopia. Withholding food and medical supplies is not acceptable. It is not an acceptable tactic at any time, and, frankly, it is unconscionable, and not what we would expect from Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Government must allow United Nations agencies and their partners to staff their operations with the specialized expertise required to mount an effective response. The reckless expulsion of United Nations officials is an affront to the United Nations and the people of Ethiopia.”
2021-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8899 (2021) · source
“It is also long past time for the Eritrean Defense Forces to withdraw from Ethiopian territory. It is time for them to put their weapons down. Let me repeat that: it is time for them to put their weapons down. This war among angry, belligerent men victimizing women and children has to stop. As we call for peace, I want to address some critics who have said that the United States is biased towards one side of the conflict. Let me be crystal clear. We condemn violence on all sides. We condemn all human rights violations and abuses committed by all sides. We therefore condemn the violence by the ENDF and the Eritrean Defense Forces, and we condemn the TPLF’s violence. We condemn the TPLF’s expansion of war outside Tigray. The TPLF must redraw from Afar and Amhara.”
2021-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8899 (2021) · source
“This is not the Ethiopia that we thought we would see two years ago, when we were applauding the country as the fastest growing economy in Africa. The unity and integrity of the Ethiopian State faces an existential threat from within, and millions of innocent civilians are at risk as the conflict expands and warring parties advance towards Addis Ababa. It is time for all parties to immediately halt hostilities and refrain from incitement to violence and divisiveness. The bellicose rhetoric and inflammatory language on all sides of the conflict only aggravate the situation and lead to communal violence. It is time for the Government of Ethiopia, the TPLF and all other groups to engage in immediate ceasefire negotiations without preconditions to find a sustainable path towards peace.”
2021-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8899 (2021) · source
“And it demonstrates that the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), the Eritrean Defense Forces, the Amhara regional forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) are all culpable. There are no good guys here; there are only victims on all sides. That vital report was limited in geography and chronology. Both should be expanded to ensure that more recent allegations from across the region can be investigated and perpetrators held accountable. In the meantime, the violations and abuses documented cannot be tolerated. Suspected individuals need to be removed from active duty pending investigation. Independent bodies must be allowed to investigate and ensure accountability. Humanitarians must be allowed unimpeded access. And the violence must stop.”
2021-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8899 (2021) · source
“Over the past year, we have seen constant violence; we have witnessed widespread human rights abuses and atrocities; we have seen credible, documented and persistent reports from a wide range of sources of looting, displacement, extrajudicial executions, rape and sexual violence as weapons of war; and we have seen the threat of mass starvation loom large as humanitarian aid and medical supplies are delayed and denied from going to civilians who need it most. The joint report Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission details all of that very clearly. It makes it plain that there have been many human rights violations and abuses.”
2021-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8899 (2021) · source
“Let me start by recognizing and thanking the Security Council for releasing the press statement (SC/14691) last Friday calling for a ceasefire and expressing our strong concerns about the situation in Ethiopia. I thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her briefing. I also thank Mr. Obasanjo, High Representative of the Chairperson for the African Union Commission for the Horn of Africa region, for his briefing, specifically for his on-the-ground reports and efforts in the region. We strongly urge all parties to support and cooperate with him as he works to bring peace and stability to the region. The conflict in Ethiopia has been ongoing for a full year, and that is a tremendously sad milestone. As my Irish colleague stated earlier, we have really remained silent for too long.”
2021-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8899 (2021) · source
“The authorities must heed and implement the recommendations made by the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Group of States against Corruption to strengthen election integrity for the equal benefit of all citizens. Now is the moment to pass legislation and improve election integrity leading up to the 2022 elections. Both Governments need to weed out corruption in all its forms. Corruption is unlawful. It is anti-democratic, and it is the spark that sets off instability. The people of Bosnia and Herzegovina deserve better from their Government. Corrupt officials must be held accountable. This is a delicate moment for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Let us ensure for the country’s people that all parties involved choose the path of peace, progress and prosperity.”
2021-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8896 (2021) · source
“We also urge all non-payers to contribute to the Office’s budget. As the High Representative mentioned in his report, operating expenses for his Office declined about 7 per cent per year entirely because of non-payment. This imperils the Office’s functioning in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it threatens peace and undermines progress. Members of the Peace Implementation Council must fund the Office of the High Representative so that it can do its job. Thirdly, and finally, for the country to move forward on its European Union path, it needs electoral and limited constitutional reform, and it needs to combat corruption.”
2021-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8896 (2021) · source
“It is time for elected officials at all levels of government to get back to governing and serving the citizens of the country. That means the Presidency must meet on a regular basis. State-level institutions must be fully operational and have the full participation of the constituent peoples, and, after three years, the Federation’s Government must be finally and fully formed. Secondly, we must protect the role of the High Representative, whose office serves as a foundation of stability for the country. High Representative Schmidt has our utmost support as the final authority charged with implementing the civilian aspects of the Dayton Accords. That will remain the case until the 5+2 agenda is met. Only then can the Office of the High Representative close, and only then can Bosnia and Herzegovina graduate from international supervision.”
2021-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8896 (2021) · source
“With increasing frequency, Dodik has been talking about the Republika Srpska’s possible full withdrawal from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The United States agrees with the High Representative’s assessment — this is a dangerous path both for Bosnia and Herzegovina and for the wider Western Balkans regions. We are especially concerned by Dodik’s claim that he is leading an effort to draft a new constitution for the Republika Srpska. This would pose a serious threat to the Dayton architecture, which is an architecture that has so far successfully preserved peace. As we have maintained since the signing of the Dayton Accords in 1995, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina is paramount. Unfortunately, in the past few months, all sides have made heated claims. We call for calm and for de-escalation by all parties.”
2021-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8896 (2021) · source
“Although the High Representative is not here with us today, we appreciate his hard work and look forward to welcoming him to brief the Council on developments in future. Right now, Bosnia and Herzegovina is facing a critical juncture in its post-war history. Today I would like to address three aspects of this situation — the dangerous rhetoric we have been hearing, the need to protect and fund the Office of the High Representative and how electoral reform and combating corruption are necessary for progress in Bosnia and Herzegovina. First, the heated rhetoric must stop. Mr. Milorad Dodik has called for the Republika Srpska’s withdrawal from the armed forces and from State-level institutions in the judiciary, law enforcement and intelligence agencies.”
2021-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8896 (2021) · source