YouSaid · the spoken record

Van Bohemen

lines on the record: 705
first: 1993-08-27
most recent: 2016-12-31
sittings or episodes: 114
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

“It is, of course, possible that information used in such reports is contested, and it is important that there are discussions to ensure that reports are as accurate as possible. Nevertheless, the Secretary-General and his office must be able to discharge their mandate independently in order to maintain a transparent and credible listing process. All Member States must respect the Secretary-General's independence, as required by the Charter. This is a collective responsibility that we all must uphold. So too must the United Nations and we Member States live up to our commitments to protect children and others from sexual abuse and exploitation by United Nations peacekeepers and personnel. Complaints must be investigated and perpetrators must be brought to justice. As Ms.”
2016-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7753 (2016) · source
“Lake, as well as other speakers, have described the places and ways in which children are suffering in conflict zones. We are all horrified at the way children are used, abused, manipulated and killed; their lives blighted, their futures destroyed. Yet far too often, we see utter indifference to this suffering of the innocent on the part of those who could make a difference yet chose not to. There are real limits to what we as a Council and as a United Nations can do to change things. But we must make full use of the tools available to us. The Secretary- General has been given a clear mandate to report on and list those parties responsible for grave violations committed against children in armed conflict.”
2016-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7753 (2016) · source
“We congratulate Malaysia on convening this debate and on its leadership of the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict. We thank the Secretary-General for his careful briefing, and Ms. Zerrougui and Mr. Lake both for their briefings and for their important work in protecting the interests of children. As others have noted, it has been 20 years since the Graca Machel report (see A/51/306) was released, drawing global attention to the devastating impact of armed conflict on children. Since then, we have established a strong framework to monitor and address violations against children in armed conflict. Its purpose is not simply to criticize or censure, but also to drive practical improvements on the ground. The Secretary-General, Ms. Zerrougui and Mr.”
2016-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7753 (2016) · source
“We also believe that it makes sense for country configuration chairs to participate in Council missions where feasible and where interests overlap. The themes I have covered are not new. Our task is to translate them into a greater and clearer sense of purpose in the way the Council and other stakeholders support peacebuilding. The Council's readiness to tackle the challenges of peacebuilding in Africa will be judged by the results; in our willingness to prioritize the long-term sustainability of peacebuilding efforts; in our willingness to work more closely with regional organizations and the Peacebuilding Commission; and in our willingness to encourage greater coordination and longer-term planning of the peacebuilding activities we authorize.”
2016-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7750 (2016) · source
“As we have emphasized regularly, there is room for improving interaction between the Peacebuilding Commission and the Security Council. We need to be much more joined up. Maintaining a significant disconnect between our respective efforts because of artificial ideological constructs about the respective roles of the Council and the Peacebuilding Commission is a major impediment to our shared objective of sustainable peace. We reiterate our strong support for close Council engagement and meaningful dialogue with country configurations, moving beyond the briefings to which we are currently constrained. This could be accomplished through informal formats if necessary, similar to informal consultations with troop-contributing countries.”
2016-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7750 (2016) · source
“Additionally, ongoing national commitments to peacebuilding and political stability require the vocal support of the Council and regional organizations and ensuring that local leaders deliver on their promises. The African Union and the regional economic communities, such as the Economic Community ofWest African States and the Southern African Development Community, have demonstrated the important role they can play in encouraging political leaders to maintain their commitments to peacebuilding. The Security Council should support these efforts and more actively seek the Views of regional organizations on African peacebuilding. In so doing, we should seek to enhance regional ownership of peacebuilding in Africa. Finally, the peacebuilding architecture is a valuable framework for sustaining peace in Africa.”
2016-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7750 (2016) · source
“That does not mean that host Governments can dictate the course of the peacebuilding effort, for all of the reasons identified by Ambassador Power. The horrific problems we are seeing in South Sudan only reinforce the point that national ownership is the greatest determinant of the success or failure of peacebuilding efforts. As a means of building public confidence in the State, United Nations missions should aim to reinforce national ownership by assisting but not displacing the delivery of critical services. They should plan for peacebuilding activities to transition to the host State as soon as possible. In this context, we also reiterate our support for resident coordinators to focus on ensuring the continuity of peacebuilding efforts during such transitions.”
2016-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7750 (2016) · source
“Even when they are well coordinated, peacebuilding efforts suffer when the Mission's activities are unable to be sustained beyond the life of the mission. As we have seen in countries like Guinea-Bissau, emerging from conflict and fragility is a long process; it requires equally long-term engagement by the international community. If we look at South Sudan or other situations, too often we focus on a fragile and conflict- affected State only as long as it takes to resolve the immediate crisis. Too often, our attention and resources are pulled to the next crisis. Thirdly, the Council needs to ensure that the host State in particular takes early joint ownership and leadership of relevant peacebuilding activities.”
2016-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7750 (2016) · source
“Making the peace stick is key to avoiding another conflict spiral. Secondly, the Council needs to do its part to ensure that the institutions of governance, security, and economy that are central to peacebuilding are supported by a wide range of organizations. Better coordination with other peacebuilding contributors - including United Nations agencies, international financial institutions, regional and bilateral partners, and donors - is crucial. This is especially the case as operating environments change. We welcome the inclusion of language encouraging such cooperation in the recent resolution 2301 (2016), renewing the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic. We hope to see similar provisions included in other relevant peacekeeping missions.”
2016-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7750 (2016) · source
“We wish to reiterate key areas where we believe the Council must do better, not just in Africa but especially in Africa. First, the Council needs to play a more deliberate and active role in peacebuilding. Council-mandated missions contribute directly to creating an enabling environment for peacebuilding by providing security and political stability, by facilitating reconciliation and accountability, and by supporting governance. These mutually reinforcing peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts are most effective when they are planned and considered from the very earliest stages of a mission. What the Council does in mandating and ensuring the implementation of peacebuilding tasks and in mobilizing the necessary resources is critical to the success of post-conflict efforts.”
2016-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7750 (2016) · source
“There has been progress since then, including through the recognition that peacebuilding must underlie the whole of the conflict cycle and this year's resolutions on sustaining peace. But, as last year's review by the Advisory Group of Experts found, there continue to be serious systemic shortcomings. We recognize that peacebuilding is a task that extends well beyond the mandate and responsibility of the Security Council, but supporting effective peacebuilding is core to the Council's role ofmaintaining international peace and security. And what the Council does in this area is critical to the success of work of the other actors in peacebuilding. Yet fragmentation of approaches across the United Nations and the wider international effort continues to be a major obstacle.”
2016-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7750 (2016) · source
“I thank you, Sir, for presiding over this important debate today. I also wish to acknowledge the presence of the other Ministers. The Secretary-General, Cabinet Secretary Mohamed and Commissioner Chergui have each thoughtfully laid out important issues that we must address as we seek to give life to the United Nations peacebuilding efforts in Africa. Many of those themes are addressed in presidential statement S/PRST/2016/12, which we have adopted today under Japan's leadership. I want to now comment on a few of those themes. The peacebuilding architecture was established a decade ago to address what former Secretary-General Kofi Annan described as a gaping hole in the United Nations capacity to support countries transitioning from violent conflict to sustainable peace.”
2016-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7750 (2016) · source
“They can also help create the space and momentum needed for a successful resumption of intra-Syrian talks and progress towards the sustainable political resolution to this conflict that the Syrian people so desperately need.”
2016-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7744 (2016) · source
“What possible justification can there be for removing paediatric kits and diarrhoeal disease sets from convoys? We also call on all parties to the conflict to take all feasible measures to protect civilians, as required under international humanitarian law and reaffirmed in various Council resolutions including resolution 2258 (2015) in order to safeguard the lives of all civilians living in Aleppo and elsewhere in Syria. We all need to pressure the parties and their backers to prioritize ending the suffering of the Syrian people over their own narrow aims. This means getting the cessation of hostilities back on track, ending the brutal and cynical attacks on civilians and hospitals, and getting humanitarian assistance to the millions who need it. Tangible improvements on the ground are a humanitarian imperative.”
2016-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7744 (2016) · source
“Too often, we see the Syrian Government using administrative obstacles to block humanitarian access. We agree with the Secretary-General that humanitarian access must not be a one-off or occasional event. It cannot be limited to particular segments of the population or to specific kinds of aid. It is not a favour or a bargaining chip for negotiations - it is an obligation under international law. There are 5.47 million people living in besieged, hard-to-reach and priority cross- line locations. Providing intermittent, symbolic access to a few of these areas each month is not enough. We call on the Syrian Government to fully implement the July plan based on the needs assessment conducted by the United Nations. The continued removal of certain items, including medical supplies, is unacceptable.”
2016-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7744 (2016) · source
“It is a bleak picture, bleaker still because every bomb and blockade takes us farther away from the political solution to this brutal conflict. There has been progress. We acknowledge Syria's positive response to the United Nations June and July plans. We welcome the efforts of the United States and Russia, as humanitarian co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group, to get aid to the people who need it. We acknowledge the extensive effort that Russia has been making on the ground to facilitate access and to ensure that agreements made by the Syrian regime are kept. While the level of approvals in July represents a slight improvement, it still provides for assistance to less than 50 per cent of Syrians in need, and that is if all the aid gets through, which it regularly does not.”
2016-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7744 (2016) · source
“It is completely unacceptable that siege and starvation continue to be employed as methods of warfare. The recent closure of Castello road is particularly concerning, putting up to 300,000 more civilians in eastern Aleppo at risk of starvation. In this regard, we fully endorse Stephen O'Brien's call for a 48-hour humanitarian pause in and around Aleppo. It is also unacceptable that civilian neighbourhoods are being shelled and medical facilities bombed. In many cases, it appears they are deliberately targeted, in blatant Violation of international law and resolution 2286 (2016). As we have heard, five medical clinics were hit in Aleppo province on 24 July alone. The growing humanitarian situation on the Jordan-Syria border is also of great concern. Over 100,000 people are now in need of ongoing assistance.”
2016-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7744 (2016) · source
“I thank Stephen O'Brien for his briefing. As Stephen O'Brien has described, the humanitarian situation in Syria is devastating. The numbers verge on incomprehensible, although we know that for Syrians, their ordeal is all too real. And as Mr. O'Brien has confirmed, despite the improvements that had been made in recent months in respect of access, the overall humanitarian situation is worse. This humanitarian catastrophe is not just a product of indifference by the parties and their backers to the suffering of the Syrian people; in many cases, it is deliberate, and humanitarian access is manipulated for military advantage. Hospitals are routinely targeted. The fight against terrorism is used to justify indiscriminate attacks on civilians and any group that opposes the regime.”
2016-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7744 (2016) · source
“More important, however, is the courage to change behaviour, to do things differently and to exercise the powers conferred on us under the Charter. In our own small way, New Zealand has tried to make a difference. We hope those that follow will continue our efforts.”
2016-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7740 (2016) · source
“Secondly, Council practice in the operation of subsidiary bodies is a glaring case where Council habits well exceed the requirements of the Charter of the United Nations. Consensus is laudable if it strengthens the Council's voice, but to elevate consensus to the equivalent ofa lS-member veto is foolish, particularly if it allows a single member to assert control over matters that the Charter never envisaged as subject to veto. If we really want to make the Council work more effectively - and New Zealand passionately believes that we must - the elected 10 must use their influence and their legitimacy as the representatives of the wider United Nations membership to push for real change. Notes on working methods can be useful.”
2016-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7740 (2016) · source
“We think it is important that that practice now be fully mainstreamed and become part of standard Council procedure. Time constraints do not permit consideration of other areas where we consider Council working methods can be improved, but I want to make some more general observations. First, elected members have to take responsibility for the way the Council operates. It is easy to blame permanence and the veto for the Council's dysfunction, but the acquiescence ofthe elected 10 members is also a big factor. Ten votes are needed to adopt any resolution. Procedural resolutions cannot be vetoed. If the elected 10 are prepared to assert themselves, the five cannot dictate terms, especially on working methods, which are quintessentially a procedural matter.”
2016-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7740 (2016) · source
“Those practices are neither effective, sustainable nor respectful ofthe perspectives ofother Council members. Thirdly, as regards more meaningful engagement with key stakeholders, despite the provisions in paragraph 33 ofnote S/2010/507, we are yet to see troop- and police-contributing countries consistently engaged in Council discussions. Those countries need regular meaningful engagement on issues of importance to their contingents. For a variety of reasons, the formal consultations held a few days before a draft resolution is adopted rarely produce useful conversations. Last year, New Zealand instituted the practice of holding informal triangular consultations among Council members, contributing countries and the Secretariat to discuss key issues and challenges facing a number of United Nations peacekeeping missions.”
2016-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7740 (2016) · source
“We Permanent Representatives have had good conversations about how to manage the programme of work and topics of the moment, but we believe that we could do more if we were able and willing to engage in discussions of a more substantive, problem- solving nature. Secondly, in regard to living up to our own undertakings, paragraph 44 of note S/2010/507 is clear that all draft resolutions should be introduced in informal consultations. That almost never happens. Penholders routinely take zero drafts straight to meetings of so-called experts. This precludes any real effort at building genuine consensus on the key policy questions to be considered. Non-penholders have to choose between accepting a text largely as presented, or risk being accused of torpedoing important documents if they wish to make substantive policy proposals.”
2016-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7740 (2016) · source
“Too often, it is a forum for polarizing initiatives and last-minute take-it-or-leave-it drafts tabled by so- called penholders. Those practices leave no space for meaningful input from Council colleagues, let alone affected parties. New Zealand has made it a priority to try to create space for more meaningful discussions focused on identifying collective approaches and solutions. During our presidency in July 2015, we initiated an ambassador-level breakfast at the start of the month. The aim was to have Permanent Representatives talk to each other about the challenges facing the Council and how they might be resolved. We are pleased that the breakfast is now becoming an established Council practice.”
2016-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7740 (2016) · source
“New Zealand welcomes today's open debate. As Matthew Rycroft has just said, Security Council working methods matter because poor working methods can lead to poor outcomes. Progress has been made in recent years in codifying existing Council practice in documents such as presidential note S/2010/507, which we are reviewing today. That is welcome, as is the new presidential note S/2016/619 on transitional arrangements for incoming members. But let us be honest - these notes and statements do not normally result in better Council performance. Today I will address a few areas where New Zealand has sought to improve Council culture and practice during our term, and where we think further work is required. First, in regard to the quality ofCouncil interactions, the Council was intended to be a collective security body.”
2016-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7740 (2016) · source
“We must also now capitalize fully on the opportunity to promote trust and cooperation between Iran and the international community.”
2016-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7739 (2016) · source
“It has taken longer than we all expected for the private sector to re-engage with Iran. The complex terms of the JCPOA have been difficult to navigate, particularly for those who were not involved in the negotiations. We appreciate the efforts taken by the parties to share information and clarify expectations with the private sector, and we encourage this to continue. We also appreciate outreach efforts under the 2231 (2015) format so that members can better understand and fulfil their own obligations. We all have an interest in the long-term viability of the agreement and in ensuring the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme. We recognize that the international community must maintain its vigilance to ensure that this historic agreement is fully and properly implemented.”
2016-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7739 (2016) · source
“We look forward to the Council receiving this further analysis of how the resolution's implementation is faring. Ifthe JCPOA is to be sustainable, all sides must live up to their commitments. Iran must act responsibly. It also has the right to the full benefits of the agreement, including economic benefits. The responsibility for achieving this is a shared one, not just for the parties that negotiated the JCPOA but for the international community, whose support was represented in the resolution adopted by the Council. For its part, the New Zealand Government is engaging with our banking sector and others to strengthen our commercial ties with Iran. Reciprocal visits by the Foreign Minister of New Zealand and Iran have reinforced progress in our bilateral relationship. We look forward to building on this progress in the year ahead.”
2016-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7739 (2016) · source
“At a time of increasing instability and conflict, the need for cooperative regional engagement could not be more critical. In this regard, reports of conventional arms transfers to Yemen are of particular concern. Such transfers are unhelpful to Yemen's stability and further undermine efforts being made by the Council and others to secure peace for that country. Provocative actions, such as the Iranian launch of ballistic missiles in March, also risk further inflaming regional tensions. While we recognize Iran's right to provide for its self- defence, its leaders cannot pretend that the intemperate indeed ridiculous actions of the Revolutionary Guards are not their responsibility. The Secretary-General's regular reporting to the Council is a vital tool for keeping the process on track.”
2016-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7739 (2016) · source
“Iran is honouring its nuclear-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). This is vital to building further trust between Iran and the international community. New Zealand appreciates the efforts of all parties to uphold the spirit of the agreement as well as the letter. It was this spirit of constructive engagement - a success of diplomacy and cooperation over confrontation and mistrust - that enabled agreement in the first place. As we said when the agreement was endorsed by the Council in resolution 2231 (2015) under our presidency, in July 2015, we hope that Iran will seize this opportunity to reset its relationships with the international community and play a more constructive role in its region. That is urgently needed.”
2016-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7739 (2016) · source
“We thank Under-Secretary Feltman for his briefing and the Secretary-General for his report (S/2016/589). The Secretary-General had a difficult task on a sensitive topic. In our View, he has presented a balanced report that provides a useful overview of developments since the adoption and implementation of the agreement negotiated between Iran, the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the European Union. We also thank Ambassador Oyarzun Marchesi for briefing the Council in his capacity as facilitator of resolution 2231 (2015), as well as Ambassador Vale de Almeida for his briefing on behalf of the Joint Commission. We welcome a key message in the Secretary- General's report that is also reflected in recent reporting by the International Atomic Energy Agency.”
2016-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7739 (2016) · source
“New Zealand remains committed to Council action, at the right moment, aimed at making the promise of two States, Israel and a Palestinian State existing side-by- side in peace, a more realistic possibility.”
2016-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7736 (2016) · source
“As we have said, if the goal is to generate the political will to negotiate, we believe that it is important that the international community engage in a balanced way that reflects and addresses the real concerns of both parties, whether it is through the Security Council, the Quartet, the Arab Peace Initiative, an international conference or any other initiative. We also pay tribute to the efforts that Egypt is carrying out, particularly highlighted by Minister Shoukry's recent Visit to Israel. The proposal to host confidence-building talks between the two sides would be an important step to encouraging the parties and their domestic constituencies to move back to negotiations.”
2016-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7736 (2016) · source
“But any Council statement, like the report, cannot be the end of our ambition. Like the report, any statement can only be a useful but necessary waypoint. It is not sufficient in itself to resolve the conflict. The time is coming - indeed, many would say that it has long come - when the Security Council must live up to its responsibility and play its part to support the parties back to negotiations, including by providing guidance to the parties on the issues that must be resolved.”
2016-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7736 (2016) · source
“What is required is for the parties to demonstrate the political will to negotiate with each other and make the difficult compromises necessary to reach an agreement. We welcome all efforts to generate that political will and momentum. The Security Council has a fundamentally important role to play in that regard. We were deeply disturbed by Israel's recent decision to advance plans for 800 new housing units in settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Such settlements are an affront to the Council and the Quartet, and take us further from peace. But they must not divert the Council from carrying out its responsibilities. We hope that the Council will be able to adopt a short and balanced statement in response to the Quartet's report. Such a statement must affirm the centrality of a two-State solution.”
2016-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7736 (2016) · source
“It is especially noteworthy that four significant stakeholders - the United States of America, the Russian Federation, the European Union and the United Nations - have put their names to the common diagnosis of the current situation. The report also contains recommendations with which it is hard to disagree. It reinforces the need to address the wide range of critical issues facing Israelis and Palestinians, including halting settlement activity, strengthening the capacity and authority of the Palestinian Authority, addressing the situation in Gaza and reducing tensions and preventing violence and incitement. That must provide a useful basis for further discussion. But of course, no Quartet report on its own will change the realities on the ground.”
2016-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7736 (2016) · source
“That is not to justify the Violence and incitement, to which the report also rightly calls attention. Terror tactics and intimidation are reprehensible, whoever carries them out. Leaders on both sides have responsibilities in that regard. We acknowledge the concerns that have been expressed about the report. Some have expressed disappointment that the recommendations do not go far enough. Both parties have accused the report of lacking balance. Certainly from New Zealand's perspective, the report does not go as far as it would have liked. But we nonetheless believe that it provides a useful analysis of the most significant threats to the peace process.”
2016-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7736 (2016) · source
“That is the Vision that was called for long ago when the State of Israel was first established. It is one that the Council has been working towards for many years. Unless and until it is achieved, it is unlikely we will ever have true peace in the region. The Quartet report lays bare the reality that much of the West Bank has been appropriated by Israel. Seventy per cent of Area C, which constitutes 60 per cent of the West Bank, is either occupied by Israeli settlers or otherwise taken by the Israeli State. Meanwhile, Israel is systematically denying Palestinian development. To any dispassionate observer, the Quartet's conclusion that those developments are steadily eroding the viability of the two-state Solution is unanswerable. It also reflects what New Zealand and others have been saying in the Security Council for a long time.”
2016-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7736 (2016) · source
“Our remarks today will address only the Israeli-Palestine conflict. We will comment separately on other Middle East issues when the opportunity arises. Today's open debate is particularly important because it gives Council members and the wider United Nations membership the opportunity to reflect on the long-awaited report issued by the Middle East Quartet on 1 July. I want to begin by paying tribute to the clarity and gravity of the briefing provided by the Secretary-General. We endorse his assessment fully. The Quartet report confirms what we all know, namely, that current trends on the ground pose a major threat to the continued viability of the two-State solution - a solution that would see a secure Israel and an independent Palestine living side by side in peace.”
2016-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7736 (2016) · source
“Adding complicated language around complex operational issues, such as force posture, risks exacerbating the problem of less clear mandates and may raise unhelpful implications for other mandates. As noted in the report of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations (S/2015/446), United Nations missions currently have significant shortcomings that make them poorly suited to such roils. Mandating such tasks to any mission would require a much greater degree of consideration and discussion in the Council. We welcome the inclusive approach taken in the lead-up to the adoption of the resolution, and we particularly welcome the engagement with troop- contributing countries and the opportunity to discuss the situation in Mali with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in the informal interactive dialogue with the Council on 16 June.”
2016-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7727 (2016) · source
“We pay tribute to the high number of peacekeepers who have risked their lives and in all too many cases lost their lives in Mali. We continue to be concerned at the lack of key capabilities of the Mission to enable it to effectively carry out its mandate. We support the intent to send a clear message about how we expect the mandate to be carried out. We wish to reiterate New Zealand's view that this mandate clarifies MINUSMA's mandate and does not broaden the Mission's authorizations specifically by granting any ability to engage pre-emptively in counter-terrorism activities. In our View, the mandate was not really the problem that needed addressing in this case. The powers of MINUSMA are clearly stated in paragraph 17: the words "all necessary means" should mean what they say.”
2016-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7727 (2016) · source
“New Zealand welcomes today's unanimous adoption of resolution 2295 (2016) and thanks the French delegation in particular for the continuing leadership it has shown on Mali, in close consultation with the African members of the Council. We support a mandate for the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) that enables troops to take robust action to defend themselves and protect civilians in a security environment characterized by asymmetric threats. The losses taken by MINUSMA over the past year have already been graphically referred to by others. We agree that troops should be enabled to undertake proactive defence by taking action to address threats to civilians and United Nations personnel in their area of operation.”
2016-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7727 (2016) · source
“We also encourage DPKO and those that assert the right to hold the pen on this issue to stay in close contact with troop-contributing countries as their plans advance to ensure that they retain the full confidence and support of troop-contributing countries. We trust that the next mandate renewal will allow for more time for Council members to consider the serious issues at stake. The meeting rose at10.15 a.rn.”
2016-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7726 (2016) · source
“New Zealand proposed a number of amendments to the draft text. We are pleased that some changes were made, even though they do not fully reflect the extent of our concerns or those conveyed to us by some troop- contributing countries. This outcome is in no small part due to the brief time we had to consider the resolution. Given the serious issues involved, particularly with regard to the safety of United Nations personnel, one working day for consultation is unacceptable. We will continue to engage with Council members and troop-contributing countries further in the months ahead, particularly in advance of the 90-day review in September and the next UNDOF mandate renewal in December.”
2016-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7726 (2016) · source
“As the Secretary-General has made clear, it is essential that the parties to the Disengagement of Forces Agreement play their part in enabling the return of UNDOF, including by facilitating the establishment of secure temporary crossing procedures and enabling the mission's use of technology and equipment necessary for its safety. In early May, New Zealand hosted a meeting for troop-contributing countries, the Secretariat and Council members as part of our triangular consultations initiative. We also engaged bilaterally with a number of the most affected troop-contributing countries in the lead-up to today's adoption. Troop-contributing countries shared our concerns about the ability of UNDOF personnel to operate safely in the area of separation. They emphasized the need for UNDOF troops to have the equipment they need to do their jobs.”
2016-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7726 (2016) · source
“New Zealand argued strongly in the process leading up to the adoption of resolution 2294 (2016) today that, as the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) takes forward its plans for an incremental return, it must be clear that any return should take place only if the necessary conditions being met to ensure that it can be done safely and effectively. It must be based on a robust assessment of the security situation, which must be kept under continuous review, and DPKO needs to keep the Council updated regularly. UNDOF personnel must also be provided with the technology and equipment necessary for them to carry out their mandate safely.”
2016-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7726 (2016) · source
“These incidents were extremely damaging to UNDOF and to United Nations peacekeeping more generally. United Nations personnel were put in unacceptable situations of risk, with inadequate plans for a rapid exit. The incidents in the Golan exposed concerning flaws within the United Nations processes for assessing risk and engaging with troop-contributing countries. We need to be confident that we have changed the way we operate to ensure that such events are not allowed to happen again. The security situation in the area of separation remains dangerous and unstable. It is a war zone in which armed extremist groups remain a real and constant threat, and the reality is that UNDOF personnel are likely to continue to be targeted.”
2016-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7726 (2016) · source
“Let me begin by expressing New Zealand's sincere condolences to the people and the Government of Turkey over the attacks at the Istanbul airport. The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) plays a critical role as a stabilizing force in an extremely troubled region. We strongly support the mission and we want to see it return to full functionality as soon as possible. Therefore, we are open to an incremental return to the area of separation, but we need to bear in mind the circumstances that led to UNDOF withdrawing in the first place. The deteriorating security situation had generated a sustained crisis, which saw several long-standing contributing countries withdraw from the mission, and culminated in October 2014 with the kidnapping of 45 Fijian peacekeepers by armed extremist groups.”
2016-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7726 (2016) · source
“New Zealand will continue to offer its support to Afghanistan and to the work of the Special Representative and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan in ensuring that the political and security foundations are in place for Afghanistan to advance. We look forward to taking stock of progress in September.”
2016-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7722 (2016) · source
“Regular and meaningful engagement between the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2001) and key stakeholders is important to ensure that the sanctions regime complements broader efforts. We remain committed to do our part in that regard during our remaining time as Chair of the Committee. One immediate action the 1988 Sanctions Committee can take is to ensure its listings remain up- to-date, particularly to keep pace with changes in the Taliban leadership. In that regard, we note that regard both the new Taliban leader and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan leader are not currently listed. That anomaly must be addressed as soon as possible. We all stand to benefit from achieving a stable and peaceful Afghanistan, no more so than for its immediate neighbours and Afghanistan itself.”
2016-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7722 (2016) · source