YouSaid · the spoken record

Van Vlierberge

lines on the record: 286
first: 2017-11-21
most recent: 2020-10-22
sittings or episodes: 58
sources: un-security-council

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“While the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union is robust, it remains crucial that we strengthen it further. We wish to make a few remarks on that matter. First of all, as we witnessed once again during our recent visit to Addis Ababa, the African Union is building an impressive Peace and Security Architecture, which must be adequately funded and based on the revitalization of the Peace Fund and the critical framework of ensuring respect for human rights. African Union peace operations must ultimately be able to benefit from more predictable, sustainable and flexible funding.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8650 (2019) · source
“With regard to conflict prevention and peacekeeping, we welcome the joint horizon-scanning meetings and joint technical Visits, which have already demonstrated their added value and will have another opportunity to do so over the coming months in Cameroon and Burundi. The partnership between the United Nations and the African Union is equally important to peacekeeping operations and peace support operations. We take note of the critical role played by the joint review of the African Union Mission in Somalia in the context of revising the Mission's mandate. With regard to peacebuilding and partnership within the context of the rule of law, cooperation on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration also remains crucial, not only between the United Nations and the African Union but also with other partners, such as the World Bank.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8650 (2019) · source
“Mrs. Van Vlierberge (Belgium) (spoke in French): First of all, I would like to thank Special Representative Hanna Serwaa Tetteh and Ms. Fatima Kyari Mohammed for their briefings this morning. I would also like to commend and thank South Africa for having organized the recent visit to Addis Ababa and for facilitating the discussions that took place there. As the Secretary-General's latest report rightly points out (S/2019/759), the strategic and operational partnership between the United Nations and the African Union remains essential on several levels. In the context of peace and security, common approaches by both organizations can make a difference, as demonstrated by the finalizing of peace agreements in the Central African Republic and the Sudan.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8650 (2019) · source
“There is no option other than dialogue to resolve the Abyei issue. The presence of UNISFA remains crucial but it cannot replace the role of the State. The Council must ensure that the mission has the necessary resources to help address the causes of the conflict and ensure the long-term stability of the Sudan and South Sudan.”
2019-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8644 (2019) · source
“The Security Council should encourage the Governments of the Sudan and South Sudan to continue the dialogue and, in the longer term, develop a political solution that would allow for the settlement of the final status of the Abyei area and other border disputes. As the name of the mission indicates, UNISFA was established as an interim security force in 2011. The Council must ensure that the dispute between the Sudan and South Sudan with regard to Abyei and the border region does not become another deadlocked conflict. We therefore call on the parties to facilitate the mission's operations, including the issuance of visas and the strengthening of the civilian component of the mission, with a View to facilitating the revitalization of the political process in order to be able to work towards an exit-strategy framework in a timely manner.”
2019-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8644 (2019) · source
“We share the Secretary-General's assessment that the continued presence of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) remains crucial. We take note of the two options proposed by the Secretary- General in his report (S/2019/817) and look forward to a fruitful discussion in the Council. I would like to highlight two points: the need for a political solution and the role ofUNISFA in that respect. Stability in the Abyei region remains our key objective. The main responsibility for the implementation of the 2011 and 2012 agreements rests with the Governments of both countries. However, it must be noted that only very little progress has been made in fulfilling the commitments agreed by the parties since last April.”
2019-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8644 (2019) · source
“In South Sudan, we urge stakeholders to make rapid progress on key issues in the implementation of the peace process, in particular the establishment of security arrangements, the status of Juba, the finalization ofinternal boundaries and the full release of implementation funds announced by the Government. We note that the security situation in the Abyei area remains fragile, with intercommunal tensions, an increase in criminal incidents, and the presence of armed groups in the region. Widespread poverty, unemployment, insecurity in the surrounding areas of the Abyei region and the lack of functional governance and rule of law institutions only exacerbate the situation. Some 200,000 vulnerable people continue to need humanitarian assistance.”
2019-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8644 (2019) · source
“Mrs. Van Vlierberge (Belgium) (spoke in French): Allow me, at the outset, to thank Under-Secretary- General Jean Pierre Lacroix and the Special Envoy of the Secretary- General for the Horn of Africa, Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, for their enlightening briefings. We are aware of the current political situation in the Sudan and South Sudan, and the issue of Abyei is inextricably linked to it. Belgium continues to follow developments very closely. We wish the new Sudanese authorities every success in the essential tasks that they will have to carry out, as set out in the Constitutional Declaration of 17 August. We welcome the priorities outlined by the Prime Minister, Mr. Abdalla Hamdok, during his interventions here in New York during the high- level week.”
2019-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8644 (2019) · source
“A six-month renewal of UNAMID's mandate is required, without reducing its military and civilian personnel. With regard to the specific conditions for the transition and for a follow-up mechanism, Belgium calls for patience. Our country welcomes the establishment of the African Union-United Nations-Sudan joint task force, which will consider it and whose recommendations may enable the Council to take a more informed decision in the coming months. The Sudan is experiencing a historic moment as a result of the courage and aspiration for freedom, peace and justice of its people. Significant challenges to sustainable peace remain. The Council must continue to support the country as it continues its transition.”
2019-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8643 (2019) · source
“With regard to Darfur, the conflict has had many humanitarian consequences. Civilians continue to suffer in clashes in Jebel Marra. The protection of civilians, including free and unhindered humanitarian access, must be ensured. I would also like to stress the importance of the fight against impunity in responding to violations against children and women. Finally, the mandate of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) will be reviewed by the Council again before the end of the month. For Belgium, the UNAMID exit process cannot be separated from developments in the rest of the country. In that regard, we noted with interest the conclusions and recommendations contained in the joint United Nations-African Union report (S/2019/816) on the common political strategy for Darfur.”
2019-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8643 (2019) · source
“We encourage all those actors to continue to support the Sudan. We have an unprecedented opportunity to build a lasting peace in Darfur. As mentioned by the Under- Secretary-General, Darfur remains a fragile region, where the root causes of the conflict, in particular access to land and the future of the displaced, have not yet been resolved. We fully support the first priority of the Sudanese authorities to bring an end to the existing conflicts and to restore peace within the first six months of the transition. In that context, the Juba Declaration of 11 September represents a significant milestone. We call on all parties, in particular the armed movements, to engage in constructive negotiations. This moment represents a unique opportunity to put an end to the many conflicts that have been tearing the country apart for too long.”
2019-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8643 (2019) · source
“We welcome the priorities outlined/identified by Prime Minister Abdalla Adam Hamdok during his statement here in New York during the high-level week of the General Assembly (see A/74/PV.10). We particularly welcome the commitments to respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Sudanese people. In that context, we welcome the agreement signed by the authorities on establishing an office of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Sudan. We encourage the authorities to fully implement that agreement as soon as possible. Belgium applauds the crucial mediation role played by the African Union and the region, particularly during the recent meetings in Juba, and the support provided by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the United Nations and the entire international community.”
2019-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8643 (2019) · source
“Mrs. Van Vlierberge (Belgium) (spoke in French): At the outset, I would like to thank Under-Secretary- General Jean Pierre Lacroix for his thorough briefing. I also wish to join my colleagues in welcoming the presence of the Permanent Representative of the Sudan here among us today. Recent months have been marked by positive and historic developments in the Sudan. The Sudanese people, particularly women and young people, have achieved unprecedented changes by demanding a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future. Belgium wishes the new Sudanese authorities every success in the crucial tasks that they will have to undertake, as set out in the Constitutional Declaration of 17 August.”
2019-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8643 (2019) · source
“The circumstances were arduous, but their commitment and dedication made a positive difference. The men and women who perished in Haiti remain in our thoughts. In this period of uncertainty and transition, Belgium reiterates its staunch commitment to working alongside the Haitian people and Government to achieve a democratic, peaceful and secure future.”
2019-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8641 (2019) · source
“Looking ahead, I would like to reiterate our full support for the new political mission, the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), which starts work tomorrow. Providing BINUH with the necessary staff and resources to carry out its mandate will be crucial. The benchmarks proposed by the Secretary-General will be valuable tools for monitoring the country's progress in key areas of the mission's mandate. We commend the United Nations and its partners for the preparation of those benchmarks. Strong collaboration between BINUH and the country team will be essential to the mission's sustainability and success. To conclude, I wish to emphasize Belgium's sincere gratitude vis-a-vis the women and men who have served under the banner of the United Nations in Haiti over the past 15 years.”
2019-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8641 (2019) · source
“The Haitian people's feelings of impunity and insecurity are their main sources of frustration. Reforming the judicial system, eradicating corruption and protecting and promoting human rights are essential if the confidence of Haitian citizens in their authorities is to be restored. In that regard, we are paying particular attention to the judicial follow-up to the extremely violent events that occurred in La Saline last year. We regret that no legal proceedings have been initiated with regard to the murders committed in the Grand Ravine and that the legal proceedings relating to the ongoing mismanagement of funds have not yet made it possible to see justice done for the victims. We also deplore the fact that the elections scheduled for October will not be held on time, which could be an additional source of frustration for the people.”
2019-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8641 (2019) · source
“Haiti is facing multiple challenges in the areas of governance, the rule of law, the Haitian National Police, the fight against corruption and the promotion of human rights. The humanitarian situation and food insecurity are only making it more urgent that the Haitian authorities produce an adequate response. Belgium condemns the recent violence and urges all the parties to refrain from violence and to express their views through peaceful means. We especially deplore the recent violence againstjournalists. There is an urgent need to launch an inclusive national dialogue to address the country's political, social and economic challenges. The Haitian Government has the primary responsibility to address the factors creating instability and inequality. National ownership and responsible political leadership will be crucial during this time.”
2019-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8641 (2019) · source
“Ms. Van Vlierberge (Belgium) (spoke in French): At the outset, I would like to thank Under-Secretary- General Jean-Pierre Lacroix for his briefing and to warmly welcome the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Peru, Mr. Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, and wish him every success in his new role. Today is a special day for the United Nations presence in Haiti, as we turn the page on a new chapter with the end of the mandate of the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH), after 15 years of a United Nations peacekeeping presence there. A new chapter is being written with the new phase of our involvement with the country in continuing the work begun by MINUJUSTH and the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti. That historic transition is taking place under difficult conditions, as many of my colleagues have already emphasized.”
2019-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8641 (2019) · source
“Such a response is not necessarily the preserve of the Security Council; it can also be the good offices of the Secretary-General and his Special Envoys, and of Resident Coordinators. It can also include independent United Nations initiatives, as is the case in Cameroon at the moment. One thing is certain: we must make greater headway on this front. Belgium stands ready and determined to work in this direction within and outside the Security Council.”
2019-10-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8633 (2019) · source
“We must continue with our early-warning exercises, including exchanges of information between the Security Council and the Secretariat. But in order for these exercises to be useful, we must be as open as possible and not rule out any option or any information. Many United Nations entities and agencies as well as research institutions and civil-society organizations are privy to extremely valuable and detailed information that can inform us about incipient conflicts. Let us be proactive and pay attention to them and include such information in our deliberations. But we also need to go further: early warning is meaningless unless we also have the capacity for a rapid diplomatic response.”
2019-10-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8633 (2019) · source
“These issues require a regional approach throughout West Africa, and we welcome the determination demonstrated by the Economic Community of West African States during its Extraordinary Summit held last month in Ouagadougou. Mediation is an area where complementarity comes into full play. Regional and subregional organizations bring their local knowledge and expertise to the table, while the United Nations brings its neutrality and authority as well as universal norms. We commend the progress made in operationalizing the Mediation Support Unit Union and in the development of the FemWise-Africa women mediators' network, whose vital importance the Secretary-General and the three briefers have just underscored. Our responsibility is to do everything in our power to prevent conflicts before they erupt.”
2019-10-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8633 (2019) · source
“In Guinea-Bissau, complementarity was ensured on the ground through the action of the Guinea-Bissau Group of Five. In the Central African Republic, the African Union saw its efforts supported by the Economic Community of Central African States and the United Nations, efforts that led to the peace agreement in that country. Joint high-level African Union-United Nations visits, with the participation of a representative of the European Union, are an effective tool for monitoring the situation in the Central African Republic. In Burkina Faso, the Niger and Nigeria, the United Nations Office in West Africa is contributing to building capacities for the prevention of conflicts between pastoralists and farmers as well as intercommunal conflicts.”
2019-10-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8633 (2019) · source
“Belgium supports regional integration, as our history has shown us that this is the best way to resolve cross-border andregionalproblemsinaconsensus-based manner in order to unify regions and create solidarity. I would like to once again stress that it is in all of our interests for the African Union to strengthen its peace and security toolkit. Ultimately, African Union peace operations will need to enjoy more predictable, long- term and flexible financing. In the division of labour and responsibilities between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations, our approach is guided by the pursuit of the most appropriate model in a given context. Two years ago in the Gambia, we saw an excellent example of a subregional organization taking a leading role.”
2019-10-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8633 (2019) · source
“Mrs. Van Vlierberge (Belgium) (spoke in French): I would like to begin by greeting and thanking South Africa for having taken the initiative of organizing this debate. I also thank the Secretary-General, Ms. Mulamula, Ms. Vilakazi and Ms. Maite for their introductory remarks. Belgium believes that regional and subregional organizations play a crucial role in conflict prevention, in particular in Africa, where ownership of security challenges on the continent has made unquestioned progress over the past 10 years. When a crisis is looming, neighbouring States, the subregion and the continent are often the actors best placed to respond rapidly and effectively.”
2019-10-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8633 (2019) · source
“In the immediate future, Belgium calls for coordinated action between UNIOGBIS and the Group of Five international partners represented in Guinea-Bissau: the African Union, ECOWAS, the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries, the European Union and the United Nations. The follow- up provided by the Guinea-Bissau configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission and the support provided by the Peacebuilding Fund are also important elements in the new chapter that will begin in Guinea-Bissau. I would like to conclude by reiterating Belgium's full support for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ms. Sori-Coulibaly, in the exercise of her functions.”
2019-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8614 (2019) · source
“Concerning UNIOGBIS, we would recall the importance of respect by all parties for all provisions of the Conakry Agreement, and also of the implementation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) road map. Belgium believes that in order to ensure an orderly transition, it is vital to avoid proceeding with undue haste if conditions on the ground are not suitable. The transition process of the United Nations presence in no way means that the international community is abandoning Guinea-Bissau. For these reasons, we call for a greater involvement on the part of the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel and the strengthening of the country team and of the resources provided to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.”
2019-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8614 (2019) · source
“The appointment of a Prime Minister and a Government, especially the announcement that presidential elections will be held on 24 November, are encouraging news. We invite the Government to take the measures necessary to organize credible, free, fair and peaceful presidential elections. However, tensions and a climate of mistrust continue to characterize the political landscape. This is for us a source of concern, as we should not overlook the fact that political stability will contribute to socioeconomic recovery and to the combat against trafficking. The time has come for national political actors to play a positive and constructive role. In that regard, we believe that the sanctions regime remains appropriate.”
2019-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8614 (2019) · source
“Mrs. Van Vlierberge (Belgium) (spoke in French): I would like to start by thanking the Assistant Secretary-General, Ms. Bintou Keita, and Ambassador Vieira for their comprehensive and detailed briefings on the situation in Guinea-Bissau. We wish to focus on two points today: first, the political situation in Guinea-Bissau, and, secondly, the future of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS). Belgium welcomes the successful holding of legislative elections in March, shortly after the visit carried out by the Council, which enabled us better to understand the challenges that country is facing. We welcome in particular the high level of participation and the strong mobilization of women, which are the indications of the democratic vitality of the society of Guinea-Bissau.”
2019-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8614 (2019) · source
“Some of those expectations have remained unfulfilled. Any sustainable solution in the region must be based on ownership of those expectations by societies and populations.”
2019-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8600 (2019) · source
“Through the verification mechanisms agreed with the International Atomic Energy Agency, it allows for much-needed confidence-building. Belgium intends to build peace and consensus and therefore will continue to give its full support to strengthening the role of the United Nations and its Security Council with a view to taking a regional, horizontal and multidimensional approach to tensions and conflicts in the Middle East and the Gulf. Only a concerted approach that includes all actors in the region and addresses all issues can ensure stability and peace in the region in a sustainable manner, with full respect for multilateralism and a global order based on the rule of law. Finally, let us recall that during the Arab Spring of 2011, people mobilized to demand more rights, freedom, equality, democracy and economic opportunities.”
2019-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8600 (2019) · source
“With regard to the first point - security aspects - weapons of mass destruction, including chemical and nuclear weapons, remain a central focus. The use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere, is unacceptable and contravenes international standards. For my country, disarmament, non-proliferation and the fight against impunity for the use of chemical weapons are priorities. It is essential that responsibility for chemical attacks in Syria be established. In the same spirit, resolution 2231 (2015) remains the best available multilateral basis for engaging Iran on nuclear non-proliferation issues and their impact on regional stability and international security. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action must be preserved, and the challenges it currently faces must be overcome.”
2019-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8600 (2019) · source
“Such a regional approach makes it possible to take into account the root causes of tensions and conflicts as well as regional dynamics and the common security challenges underlying them, and can be divided into three essential and interdependent areas that remain relevant: political and security aspects, with a View to defining and building a common space of peace and security; economic and financial aspects, with a view to building an area of shared prosperity; and social, cultural and human aspects, with a view to promoting new, inclusive social contracts based on education, economic opportunities for young people, equality for women, respect for human rights and the equitable sharing of national wealth.”
2019-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8600 (2019) · source
“The conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Libya, the deadlock in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the risk of instability in Lebanon, tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian nuclear issue and the fight against Da'esh and Al-Qaida: all these elements threaten regional security but also, through their internationalization, endanger international peace and security, of which the Council is the guarantor. However, these agenda items are all too often addressed in isolation. As demonstrated by the informal interactive dialogue on the Middle East and North Africa held in the Council last 21 March and the briefing on cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States on 13 June (see S/PV.8548), it is crucial to develop a regional and multidimensional approach.”
2019-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8600 (2019) · source
“Mrs. Van Vlierberge (Belgium) (spoke in French): Allow me first of all to thank Ms. Viotti, Chef de Cabinet, Executive Office ofthe Secretary-General, for her informative briefing on this difficult subject that concerns us. Building peace and security for all in the Middle East and the Gulf region is indeed a major objective of the efforts of the United Nations and its Security Council. We are therefore pleased to be able to address this issue in a cross-cutting manner today, under your leadership, Mr. Minister, and in the presence of Mr. Pompeo and Mr. Michaelis. Belgium fully endorses the statement to be made by the Charge d'affaires ad interim of the Delegation of the European Union. The Middle East and the Gulf region are currently plagued by many tensions and conflicts that are periodically on the Security Council's agenda.”
2019-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8600 (2019) · source
“The anniversary we celebrate today should spur us to renew our commitment to the respect of international humanitarian law by taking specific measures aimed at reducing as far as possible the too-numerous victims of armed conflict.”
2019-08-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8596 (2019) · source
“This is why Belgium, together with the European Union, will organize, next September on the sidelines of the ministerial week of the General Assembly, a high-level event on the impact of counter-terrorism measures on the humanitarian sphere. Fourthly and finally, States must not limit their actions to prevention. It is imperative that we fight impunity for the most serious crimes in order to deter future atrocities. While this is primarily the responsibility of each State, there is also a role for the Security Council to strengthen its support for national judicial procedures, hybrid mechanisms and the International Criminal Court, especially in situations that the Council has referred to it. Seventy years ago, the adoption of the Geneva Conventions was a historic moment reflecting our shared humanity and our common values.”
2019-08-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8596 (2019) · source
“Belgium will therefore continue, among other things, to work in favour of safe, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access in Syria, in our capacity as co-penholder for that dossier, and specifically for the protection of children in the context of our work as Chair of the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict. Thirdly, we must ensure that no measures taken in the fight against terrorism hinder the work of humanitarian organizations in their neutral and impartial activities. Respect for international humanitarian law remains essential everywhere and in all circumstances, and the policies we may adopt towards terrorist groups do not give us the right to depart from these rules.”
2019-08-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8596 (2019) · source
“Secondly, States, be they parties or non-parties to an armed conflict, and the international community as a whole must take every possible measure in order to implement their obligation to respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law. It is up to them to set an example by using their influence when they participate in a military coalition or when they support an armed non-State group in the context of an armed conflict. As the guarantor of international peace and security, the Security Council must also remind States Members of the United Nations and parties to a conflict of their obligations.”
2019-08-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8596 (2019) · source
“First of all, the core principles of international humanitarian law must be included in school curricula for the earliest possible ages onwards to anchor a culture of humanity in society. Next, armed forces must be adequately trained, for example, by integrating international humanitarian law into the teaching of military personnel. Finally, public powers must leverage international humanitarian law even in times of peace. Here, we stress the key role played by national humanitarian law commissions not only in advising and assisting in the dissemination and implementation of international humanitarian law, but also in holding to account those who violate the rules.”
2019-08-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8596 (2019) · source
“However, we must not draw the wrong conclusions from that. International humanitarian law remains more relevant today than ever before. Its principles remain simple, practical and adapted to the major changes in warfare. It is therefore a matter not of rewriting the Geneva Conventions, but of redoubling our efforts to ensure that they are better respected and implemented. This meeting of the Council provides me with an opportunity to point out four simple and specific ways that Belgium believes to be particularly appropriate for strengthening respect for international humanitarian law. First, we must promote the dissemination of the rules of international humanitarian law among all actors concerned, as President Maurer also recalled.”
2019-08-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8596 (2019) · source
“Mrs. Van Vlierberge (Belgium) (spoke in French): I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this meeting, as well as the three briefers for their extremely relevant presentations. The 1949 Geneva Conventions, whose seventieth anniversary we celebrated yesterday, have been universally ratified. Together with their Protocols Additional, they constitute the key elements of the international legal framework for the protection of civilians in armed conflict. As such, international humanitarian law plays a central role in the maintenance of international peace and security. It helps to limit atrocities in the event of armed conflict and thereby also facilitates post-conflict peace and reconciliation processes. Unfortunately, we all know that the rules of international humanitarian law rules are being increasingly violated.”
2019-08-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8596 (2019) · source
“At the same time, political dialogue must resume, without preconditions and under the mediation of Special Representative Salame', with a view to free Libya from the military mindset. It is now undeniable that a such an approach leads nowhere. It is also crucial that the arms embargo be respected, arms transfers stop and the recruitment of fighters, including foreign mercenaries and terrorists and criminals listed by the Security Council, cease. Belgium would like the Council to take an explicit position in this regard at the end of the meeting. In conclusion, I should like once again to recognize, at this painful moment, the courage and determination of all UNSMIL staff, especially Special Representative Salame'.”
2019-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8595 (2019) · source
“I therefore denounce recent renewed attacks against Tripoli airport and the air attack in Murzuq in the far south on 5 August - further evidence that fighting has spread far from the capital. It is the responsibility of the parties to protect civilians, and I wish to reiterate my country's commitment to ensuring that these crimes do not go unpunished, whether in domestic courts or the International Criminal Court. Belgium welcomes the truce proposed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and strongly supported by the Security Council, and insists that the agreement between the Government of National Accord and the Libyan National Army must be respected. Belgium calls on the parties to refrain from resuming military operations once the truce is over, and to transition instead to a lasting ceasefire.”
2019-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8595 (2019) · source
“Mrs. Van Vlierberge (Belgium) (spoke in French): I would like to thank Assistant Secretary-General Bintou Keita for her statement and for being with us today. At the outset, I would like to state that Belgium deplores and condemns the attack in Benghazi this morning against personnel of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), and to offer our condolences for the deaths of three mission personnel and the suffering of the others wounded. It is the responsibility of the local authorities to identify and convict the criminals responsible for this attack. Moreover, international humanitarian law has again been flagrantly violated in recent days in Libya, with civilians being the principal victims.”
2019-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8595 (2019) · source
“We are convinced that reconciliation and peace efforts will be put in jeopardy if entire families are left completely in the dark with regard to the fate of their loved ones, with no prospect of reparations, while impunity for the disappearances is allowed to prevail. We recall resolution 2474 (2019), which was recently adopted by the Council. Families have a right to information that must be respected by all parties to the conflict. In our role as members of the Security Council, the fate of persons detained, abducted or reported missing must call us to action. Uncertainty and the search for answers can last for several generations, thereby marking the history of entire communities and risking the creation of new conflicts. Instead of sowing the seeds of discord, let us plant the seeds for achieving a just, stable and lasting peace.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“We call on all Member States to use their influence on the parties to the conflict to promote the release of those arbitrarily and illegally detained. We call on all parties to exchange information concerning their detainees. We call for the United Nations to be provided with free and unconditional access to all places of detention. Victims and their families have the right to justice and reparations, which also means that the Syrian authorities provide them with the necessary documentation for that purpose, including duly completed death certificates. Many families are living in uncertainty with regard to the fate of their loved ones. The impact of disappearances on individuals, families and communities is one of the most devastating and lasting consequences of armed conflict.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“Belgium continues to support the work of the Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011 and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic. Tens of thousands of people have been arbitrarily and illegally detained. They are detained without respect for their human rights, due process or access to a lawyer or their families, in inhumane conditions and while subjected to torture and sexual and gender-based violence, to name only a few examples. Women and children are disproportionately affected, All the parties to the conflict must ensure respect for the dignity and physical and psychological integrity of detainees.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“We have taken note of the prisoner exchanges in recent months. The road ahead, however, remains long, as highlighted by Ms. DiCarlo and many of my colleagues who spoke before me. Ms. Khoulani and Dr. Hala just joined their voices to those of the thousands of Syrians whose close relatives have been arbitrarily detained in inhumane circumstances, most of whom by the Syrian Government. They also echoed the thousands upon thousands of Syrians who continue to wait for a sign of life from their loved ones. Human rights, international humanitarian law and the relevant Security Council resolutions impose clear obligations, which are being violated daily. Failure to comply with those obligations cannot be allowed to continue unanswered. Justice must be done. We have established tools to that end.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“Mrs. Van Vlierberge (Belgium) (spoke in French): I thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for her briefing. I also thank Ms. Amina Khoulani and Dr. Hala for their moving testimony. We can only be inspired by their courage and dedication. As we have already stressed many times, and will not cease from doing, there is no military solution to the conflict in Syria. A political solution through dialogue is the only way to achieve a stable and lasting peace. Such dialogue requires trust among the parties to the conflict. Creating such trust will therefore remain impossible in the absence of a horizon ofjustice and accountability. In that regard, we continue to fully support the Special Envoy in his pursuit of undertaking concrete actions and confidence-building measures for the benefit of detainees, abductees and disappeared.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“In conclusion, I would like to point out that Belgium fully associates itself with the statements of the European Union and the Group of Friends on Children and Armed Conflict to be delivered later.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source