YouSaid · the spoken record

Wilson

lines on the record: 502
first: 2013-09-05
most recent: 2017-10-27
sittings or episodes: 84
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 good to see His Excellency the Foreign Minister Diop of Mali joining us in New York once more. We look forward to hearing from him, given how much is at stake in his country. The death of a French soldier yesterday is another stark reminder of how dangerous this environment is, and I pay tribute to him for his sacrifice. I also want to thank Under-Secretary-General Lacroix for his very clear briefing. And I would like to welcome him. We really look forward to working closely with him as he takes up his critical job. We are encouraged by recent moves in Mali to implement the terms of the Peace Agreement.”
2017-04-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7917 (2017) · source
“We urge continued international cooperation to improve country and regional stability. We congratulate the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan for its important contribution. On his retirement, we would like to acknowledge the efforts of the United Nations Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary- General and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Mark Bowden, who has made a great contribution to Afghanistan.”
2017-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7896 (2017) · source
“Australia's humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan - of almost $19 million last year - helped provide support that included critical shelter, food and health care to over 6.9 million Afghan people. Australia remains committed to working with Afghanistan to address its development challenges. We have provided community-based education classes to more than 19,000 children since 2001. More than 70 per cent of the children were girls. Such classes are just a small part of our development programme in Afghanistan, and at the Brussels Conference Australia pledged to maintain current levels of aid funding through to 2020. In conclusion, Australia sees a real opportunity for progress in Afghanistan this year. We call on the Afghan Government to build on the successes of 2016.”
2017-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7896 (2017) · source
“We remain in the top five donors contributing to the sustainment of Afghan forces. We were deeply distressed to see civilian casualties rose by 3 per cent last year, to the highest level recorded since 2009. Australia calls on all parties of the conflict to enact measures that protect the vulnerable, especially women and children. Long-term stability will require a successful Afghan-owned and -led peace process. We are encouraged by progress made towards implementing the agreement with Hezb-i-Islami in 2016. We urge the Afghan Government to continue engaging with empowered negotiators, including women, to bring an end to the insurgency. Insecurity is fuelling a humanitarian crisis, with a record level of conflict-induced displacements and unprecedented numbers of people returning from Pakistan and Iran in 2016.”
2017-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7896 (2017) · source
“To that end, we welcome the Afghan Government's commitment to countering corruption and to reaching out to opinion leaders within and beyond the Government. We encourage the Afghan Government to recall its social contract with the Afghan people and continue progress towards the holding of elections in the coming year. A stable Afghanistan remains central to stability in the region. Violent extremism has never respected national boundaries and we encourage all countries in the region to continue building on the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process by engaging in dialogue and cooperation to advance peace and stability. Australia remains committed to helping the Afghan security services rise to the challenge presented by the insurgency, and at Warsaw we extended our deployment of approximately 270 personnel to the NATO Resolute Support Mission.”
2017-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7896 (2017) · source
“Like others before me, I would like to express Australia's condemnation and condolences following the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack that took place in Kabul on 8 March. We extend our condolences to the families of the victims and the Government of Afghanistan. Australia thanks the Secretary-General for his most recent report (S/2017/189). Despite declines in a number of indicators in the report, Australia believes that 2017 could be a year of substantive progress in Afghanistan if the successes of Warsaw and Brussels are able to be capitalized on. The performance indicators have been agreed and Afghanistan has the sophisticated plans and funding in place to achieve them. Challenges remain, including ongoing concerns about corruption, and access to Government services fuelled by insecurity and political instability.”
2017-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7896 (2017) · source
“The OSCE has provided critical support in Ukraine and elsewhere, including helping to negotiate ceasefires and facilitating investigator access to the MH17 crash site. Australia calls on the parties to Europe's conflicts to reflect again on the founding principles of the United Nations - peace and security, human rights, social progress, respect for sovereignty, the peaceful settlement of disputes and cooperation among States. At its core lies a rules-based international order, the primacy of which we reinforce the importance of respecting. This is as much the case in Europe as it is elsewhere in the world.”
2017-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7886 (2017) · source
“It is critical that the Security Council take action to respond to acts of aggression, violations of territorial integrity and the failure to settle disputes peacefully. The permanent members of the Council have a particular obligation to lead by example when upholding the United Nations Charter's fundamental principles. A threat to international peace and security in any part of the world is a threat to the entire international community. In this context, we welcome the new Secretary-General's commitment to utilizing his powers under Article 99 of the Charter of the United Nations. We also welcome continued cooperation between the Security Council and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) as well as other regional organizations.”
2017-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7886 (2017) · source
“Implementation of the Minsk Agreements remains an essential priority. Over 2 million people have fled the region since April 2014, and over 1 million continue living in dire conditions near the front line. This conflict created the conditions that led to the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 in July 2014, which Australia felt first hand, along of with several other countries. The international community cannot forget this tragedy, and we must ensure that those responsible are held to account. Australia continues to work closely with the Joint Investigation Task Force countries to achieve this end. We remain concerned about threats to Georgia's territorial integrity.”
2017-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7886 (2017) · source
“It has shown that negotiation is more effective than conflict, that cooperation yields more than nationalism, that even implacable opponents can talk, negotiate, cooperate and unite if the political will is strong enough. The international community cannot take for granted the stability and prosperity Europe has enjoyed for decades. We must work hard to protect these achievements. We now face a period of instability, where core principles of international law - the primacy of State sovereignty and territorial integrity - are under threat. Australia remains deeply concerned that aggression against Ukraine has resulted in the unlawful, purported annexation of Crimea and conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has already killed nearly 10,000 people, including over 2,000 civilians.”
2017-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7886 (2017) · source
“Let me begin by offering our heartfelt condolences to the colleagues, family and friends of Ambassador Churkin following his sad and untimely passing. As many have noted, Ambassador Churkin was an accomplished diplomat and representative. We will greatly miss his presence at the United Nations and particularly in the Security Council, where he played such a strong and formative role over many years. While the Security Council spends much of its time on situations in Africa, today's debate reminds us that no region is immune from conflict. International peace and security is something that we must work towards collectively. The United Nations was created over 70 years ago for this purpose, following the world wars that started in Europe. And, since 1945, Europe has shown an alternative is possible.”
2017-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7886 (2017) · source
“It is firmly of the View that establishing a strong cybersecurity posture, increasing awareness of potential vulnerabilities and implementing effective security measures are vital to efforts to deter and prevent incidents against critical infrastructure, including from terrorists. The safety and security of critical infrastructure require the concerted efforts of public and private partners around the globe. Australia looks forward to continued practical collaboration with international partners, including the United Nations, to enhance and promote cross-border and global critical infrastructure security and resilience.”
2017-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7882 (2017) · source
“Australia relies upon a strong intelligence-led prevention and preparedness regime to support our counter-terrorism arrangements. That approach encompasses targeted prevention and preparedness measures based on risk- management principles and on maintaining capabilities to manage various types of terrorist threats, attacks and their consequences. The Australian Government also works with owners and operators in a business- Government partnership to share information, tap into the experiences of others and develop collaborative mitigation measures for dealing with the most serious risks to critical infrastructure. From an information-technology perspective, the Australian Cyber Security Centre is the Australian Government's primary source of advice on cyberthreats.”
2017-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7882 (2017) · source
“For Australia, critical infrastructure refers to the physical facilities, supply chains, information technologies and communication networks that - if destroyed, degraded or rendered unavailable for an extended period - would significantly impact the social or economic well-being of the nation or affect Australia's ability to conduct national defence and ensure national security. In January 2017, Australia established the Critical Infrastructure Centre, which provides a coordinated and cohesive approach to the security of Australia's critical infrastructure. The Centre brings together expertise and capability from across the Australian Government to better manage the national security risks to our critical infrastructure.”
2017-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7882 (2017) · source
“Safeguarding our critical infrastructure is an economic and security imperative. Australia supports Ukraine's initiative aimed at mobilizing international cooperation in the area of preventing and responding to terrorist attacks against critical infrastructure. The threats posed by terrorism to critical infrastructure are enduring and require sustained mitigation efforts by Governments. The United Nations has a key role to play in that regard, including by working with Member States to ensure the full implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the relevant Security Council resolutions. Countries define what constitutes critical infrastructure in different ways.”
2017-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7882 (2017) · source
“They have given former President Jammeh time to consider the many options that are open to him. We look to all parties in The Gambia, particularly the security forces, to continue to act with restraint and to maintain that calm. We welcome the work of the Economic Community of West African States to resolve this. At a time of unease in The Gambia, it is reassuring to see effective regional leadership on display. Mr. Jammeh has been given many opportunities by his neighbours and partners and, most important, by the Gambian people themselves. It is now time for him to do the right thing.”
2017-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7866 (2017) · source
“I join others in welcoming the unanimous adoption of resolution 2337 (2017). I commend Senegal for its swift and decisive action in presenting the text of resolution 2337 (2017) today. But in truth, the Council should not have to do this. The people of The Gambia spoke clearly at the elections in December. They chose Adama Barrow to be their President. Their voice now needs to be heard, and their will needs to be heeded by just one man. Resolution 2237 (2017) is clear: former President Jammeh must respect the decision of the Gambian people and immediately hand over power. His failure to do so up until this point is only bringing uncertainty to the people of The Gambia. Despite this setback, the Gambian people have shown admirable restraint and stoicism by remaining calm in the face of uncertainty.”
2017-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7866 (2017) · source
“More than 1 million displaced people now call Maiduguri home. The cost of food has doubled in the past year. Disease and hunger are all too common. But there are signs of hope. In the past three months, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has delivered 810 tons of food to Maiduguri. As the head of the MSF mission there made clear, it is not normally the role of a medical charity to provide people with food. But faced with a desperate need, MSF stepped up to help. That is the spirit that we should all channel in the weeks and months ahead if we are to end the catastrophe in the Lake Chad basin.”
2017-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7861 (2017) · source
“Let us therefore call on all Governments in the region to win the peace - to tackle underdevelopment and other conflict drivers, and to do so in a way that respects international humanitarian and human-rights laws. That means doing so for all people in the region and making sure that women have an equal say and an equal role in reaching that peace. It is vital that strategies for tackling Boko Haram include women's voices. That includes all efforts to free the remaining Chibok girls, and also when providing protection for women affected by sexual and gender- based violence. I would like to conclude by turning to Maiduguri in north-eastern Nigeria. We raised the subject of the plight of displaced people in that city six months ago, when we last discussed this issue (see S/PV.7748). Six months on, the situation remains desperate.”
2017-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7861 (2017) · source
“When one has fled murder or enslavement, it is simply unthinkable to be forced back to the scene of that horror, and unthinkable to be lied to or coerced into returning. All the parties to the conflict have a responsibility to respect international conventions on returns and on the protection of civilians more broadly. I urge them to do so. Ultimately, a humanitarian response is just one part of the solution. It is a vital part, of course, but it must be delivered hand in hand with a coherent security, political and economic response as well. There is little sense in healing the wounds of conflict without addressing its root causes.”
2017-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7861 (2017) · source
“In September, we announced an additional $97 million in humanitarian aid for the region on top of our existing multi-year commitment of $110 million. I hope that others will join us. But money alone is not enough. We must also see strong, effective leadership, both from Governments in the region and from the United Nations. We look to the Organization to increase its capacity in the Lake Chad basin and develop multi-year plans, coordinated across borders, to aid recovery. We in this Chamber must also show leadership ourselves. A Security Council visit to the region in the coming weeks would be a signal of that leadership and a chance for all of us to see at first hand the challenges the region is facing. One such is the worrying report of forcibly incentivized returns of displaced people to areas that remain unsafe.”
2017-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7861 (2017) · source
“Behind the suffering of the millions of men, women and children in the Lake Chad basin lie the brutality and unrelenting cruelty of Boko Haram. The group is a clear threat to international peace and security, and we have a clear responsibility to take action in response. That action will require a sustained, multi-year international effort to address the overwhelming humanitarian need and the drivers of conflict that have helped Boko Haram flourish in the first place. We must therefore up our game. I call on donors, Governments in the region and international non-governmental organizations to act with urgency to step up their efforts. Collectively, our response so far has frankly been inadequate and underfunded. The United Nations has called for $1 billion for Nigeria and $310 for Cameroon. The United Kingdom will do its bit.”
2017-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7861 (2017) · source
“I would like to thank today's briefers, and to pay special tribute to Ms. Fatima Askira for the bravery she represents and the inspiration she gives to many. The United Kingdom is taking the floor in this afternoon's open meeting because we believe we cannot afford to stay silent on this issue, as Ms. Power has so clearly articulated. We have just heard that the humanitarian situation in the Lake Chad basin is simply horrifying. More than 11 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. More than 2 million are displaced in north-eastern Nigeria alone, with hundreds of thousands more in the Niger, Cameroon and Chad. And it will only get worse. In a matter of months, supplies from the poor harvest will begin to run out, further compounding a disastrous situation.”
2017-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7861 (2017) · source
“But if the ceasefire holds, I sincerely hope that it can provide a foundation for a breakthrough in the wider political process, and that 2017 turns out to be a far better year for the people of Syria than 2016 has been. Following a political transition, we will all have to support reconstruction.”
2016-12-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7855 (2016) · source
“First and foremost, all sides must ensure unfettered humanitarian access across the country, as is required by resolution 2328 (2016), adopted earlier this month. Secondly, the talks in Astana must be in support of the United Nations-led political process, under Special Envoy De Mistura, The United Kingdom will be a steadfast supporter of any steps towards an inclusive political settlement that realizes the aspiration for a peaceful Syria, as set out in resolution 2254 (2015) and the Geneva communique of 30 June 2012 (S/2012/522, annex). As we end 2016, we can all agree that it is time to end the bloodshed in Syria. The ceasefire is still very fresh, and the situation on the ground will develop in the coming days and weeks.”
2016-12-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7855 (2016) · source
“In order to ensure that, the confusion over some of the key texts and the discrepancies between them must be resolved. As the failure of previous cessations of hostilities has shown, monitoring the ceasefire will be crucial. The role of the United Nations is essential. As guarantors of the agreement, Russia and Turkey must ensure that any monitoring measures are genuinely independent and closely coordinated with the United Nations and with the International Syria Support Group's ceasefire task force. Fundamental to the ceasefire's success is implementation, not just of this agreement and the resolution we have just voted on, but also of other Security Council resolutions, which, when they were agreed on, gave us a sadly short-lived optimism that the suffering of the Syrian people would see some respite.”
2016-12-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7855 (2016) · source
“The United Kingdom supports all efforts to maintain a full, nationwide cessation of hostilities and an end to the bloodshed in Syria. For that reason, we welcome the Security Council's adoption of resolution 2336 (2016) today. In the coming days and weeks the world will be watching to make sure that the ceasefire is upheld. We call on all the parties to adhere to the terms of the ceasefire. Those with influence over them, particularly the Russian and Turkish guarantors, must use it to ensure that the ceasefire lasts. We are concerned about reports of violations on the ground. The ceasefire is the essential first step required to create the conditions for the return to political negotiations, which we all agree is the only way to end this terrible conflict.”
2016-12-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7855 (2016) · source
“We must remain focused and continue to work together diligently to stamp out trafficking in persons, prosecute those who perpetuate this heinous crime, address the needs of victims and protect those who are most vulnerable.”
2016-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7847 (2016) · source
“In May, the Bali Process held a regional forum on using financial investigation tools and techniques to investigate, disrupt and prosecute human-trafficking cases. In terms similar to those set out in the Secretary- General's report (S/2016/949), it highlighted the benefits of using "follow the money" techniques in human-trafficking cases. In May next year, we will launch the Bali Process Business Forum, which will highlight the importance of involving business in addressing and preventing human trafficking. The Forum will bring together private sector leaders from the 45 member countries of the Bali Process to focus on best practices in eradicating human trafficking and slavery and to make recommendations to ministers.”
2016-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7847 (2016) · source
“Preventing and combating human trafficking and slavery is a priority of the Australian Government. We are working with countries in the Asia-Pacific region to stamp out these barbaric and criminal practices and to find innovative development approaches that stimulate opportunity and hope for people as close to their homes as possible, in order to reduce their vulnerability. Through the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, Australia is working with Indonesia, with which we co-Chair the Process, to reinvigorate efforts to establish regional cooperation on these issues. In March 2016, we adopted the Bali Declaration, which represents strengthened political commitment to protecting vulnerable people who are on the move in our region.”
2016-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7847 (2016) · source
“With the highest-ever number ofpeople displaced in the world today, there are now a great many who are particularly vulnerable to trafficking, and we must work to protect them from this scourge. We have a shared responsibility to disrupt this evil trade and address its root causes. No one State or organization can do it alone. Australia encourages United Nations efforts to strengthen coordination to develop a more strategic and coherent international response. We consider that Alliance 8.7 is a useful vehicle for bringing key United Nations agencies, Member States and non-governmental stakeholders together, to accelerate efforts to effectively combat trafficking. We should also ensure that the 2017 review of the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons makes a practical contribution.”
2016-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7847 (2016) · source
“I will start by joining others in expressing our condolences to Russia for the shocking attack on its Ambassador in Turkey yesterday. Our thoughts and sadness are with family and loved ones and the Russian people at this terrible time. My delegation aligns itself with the statement made earlier by the representative of Liechtenstein. Australia is deeply concerned about trafficking in persons. We know that armed conflict and instability - and the resulting economic desperation - amplifies the risk of human trafficking for vulnerable people, especially women and children, people with disabilities, migrants and displaced people. Sadly, refugee and internal displacement camps are particularly fertile ground for human traffickers.”
2016-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7847 (2016) · source
“We have extended our deployment of Australian Defence Force personnel to the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission into 2017 and committed $750 million to security-sector sustainment and development over the next four years. As winter sets in, we are conscious ofthe great human costs of the ongoing conflict, with women and girls particularly vulnerable. The large number of civilian casualties in 2016 and the growing needs of returning refugees and internally displaced persons highlight the dire humanitarian situation that cannot be ignored. As we look towards 2017, security, governance and the reform agenda will remain key priorities for building Afghanistan. We remain committed to supporting this agenda in close partnership with the Government of Afghanistan, NATO and the international community.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“As others have done, we note also the important opportunity provided by the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process to move forward regional dialogue and create opportunities for economic growth. And because external support is necessary but not sufficient, we are glad that the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned National Peace and Development Framework is driving the broader agenda. Significant challenges remain. Moreover, for Australia, the deteriorating security situation is of particular concern. We see the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces continuing to fight bravely. Australia is committed to maintaining its strong contribution to Afghanistan alongside our international partners.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“We also welcome the continued high-level focus on improving gender equality in Afghanistan and echo the words of the representative of Canada with regard to the importance of such efforts. The commitments made at the NATO Warsaw Summit and the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan hosted by the European Union demonstrate strong sustained international support for Afghanistan to 2020, despite competing demands for resources and attention in response to crises elsewhere. Regional economic cooperation in support of Afghanistan that has seen Kabul build close relationships and partnerships with neighbours is a welcome development as Afghanistan works towards improving its economic performance.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“We urge perseverance in addressing underlying tensions to build on the gains of 2016 and ensure that the National Unity Government remains the sturdy foundation to which the international community looks. We commend efforts towards an Afghan-led peace process and acknowledge the peace agreement as a historic achievement. Ongoing attention to the success of that deal is crucial as Afghanistan works towards a broader peace process as the sustainable path to security and stability. We are also encouraged by progress in the anti-corruption agenda and the electoral program, and urge attention towards the work that is still to be done on planning for elections in 2017.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“Ijoin others in expressing our sincere condolences to our Russian colleagues for the sad events of today in Istanbul and for the passing of their Ambassador. I very much sit with others in feeling the weight of that awful situation. We thank the Secretary-General for his report (S/2016/1049) on Afghanistan and all today's briefers. As 2016 draws to a close, we reflect on a year for Afghanistan of formidable efforts, concrete commitments and sobering challenges. Under the leadership of President Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah, the National Unity Government continued progress towards improved governance under difficult circumstances. The Government has proven resilient despite the challenges that persist.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“Promoting cooperation across the region through investment in infrastructure, overcoming barriers to trade and pursuing mutually advantageous economic development opportunities is in the entire region's interest. In conclusion, 2016 has been a year of progress and challenges in Afghanistan. As it draws to a close, we look forward to a more peaceful and prosperous year ahead - a year that sees economic growth and improvements in the delivery of health, education and water, and that sees the lives of ordinary Afghans getting better. All of that will require the sustained political will of the Government and the effective and coordinated support of the rest of us. In that effort, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and the Council will play a vital supporting role.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“The United Kingdom will be a long-term partner in its delivery. I am proud of our support so far for 7.2 million children, from Kabul to Kandahar, who are going to school thanks to the United Kingdom's support. Over 3 million of them are girls. I call on all members of the Council to follow suit and invest in Afghanistan's future through development. Thirdly and finally, Afghanistan and its partners must continue to bolster regional relations at both the political and the technical levels. The National Unity Government is charting a course towards stability. If it is to succeed, Afghanistan's neighbours and partners must further empower it, working in lockstep. We welcome the recent Heart of Asia Summit, which reinforced the common interests of Afghanistan and its neighbours.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“For our part, the United Kingdom is working closely with the Afghan Government as its seeks to overcome the country's legacy of conflict. As the coalition's leader of the Afghan National Army Officer Academy, we are proudly helping to train the next generation of military leaders. As we seek to help ensure security on the streets, we also recognize that Afghans must also safe in their own homes. The sad fact is that it is not a reality for many Afghan women. That is why British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson pledged his support for the elimination of violence against women when he spoke with Mr. Abdullah recently. Secondly, security will always be short-lived if we do not provide a foundation of development for all Afghan people. So we welcome the Government's ambitious Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“Less than one month ago, Da'esh claimed the lives of 30 people and left over 70 injured on the streets of Kabul. The Taliban are compounding the security situation, acting as another armed group in a country that has had more than its fair share. Last week, they stopped a fourth-year student of Kabul Polytechnic University as he was driving home to visit his family. They hanged him in the open, in public, evoking the darkest days of life under Taliban control. And only last weekend, five female security staff were murdered on their way to work in Kandahar. Those are senseless deaths and show that the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces, with the NATO Resolute Support Mission, have a tough road ahead.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“Now that the National Unity Government has a clear signal of our support, we look forward to 2017 and to the implementation of the reforms Afghanistan needs for a brighter future. In all of this, the Government and people of Afghanistan will have the United Kingdom's support. I do not think that anyone in this Chamber underestimates just how much there still is to do to ensure that Afghanistan stays on the path to sustained stability. We should focus on three specific points: countering extremists; continuing development efforts; and encouraging regional cooperation. First, on countering extremists, it is clear that Da'esh is not just a problem to be dealt with in Syria and Iraq. They are a global threat, and Afghanistan has sadly seen that first hand.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“I join others in thanking all of our briefers. As Special Representative of the Secretary-General Yamamoto said, Afghanistan will not stand alone. I also want to join others in thanking New Zealand for its stewardship of an extremely important committee and for carrying out its very important functions extremely well on behalf of the Council. The year 2016 has been an important year for Afghanistan: the Warsaw Summit in July and the Brussels Conference in October saw the international community pledge the military and financial support that Afghanistan will need to meet the considerable political and economic challenges of the coming years. We also pledge to support the ambitious reform commitments of the National Unity Government.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“Those include sanctions and an arms embargo. The United Kingdom believes that those are tools that should be used to save lives. We believe that it is critical that this be linked to actions that undermine the ceasefire and result in widespread violence. The Government must not impede the Regional Protection Force, but it must also understand that continued disregard for its citizens will not be tolerated by the Council. We wanted that to be explicit in the text, so I am being very explicit now.”
2016-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7840 (2016) · source
“We call on our partners in the region to support the United Nations efforts in South Sudan. The conflict does not stop at its borders; in fact, South Sudan's neighbours are the ones that know it the best of all. They are now playing host to over a million refugees. For peace to take root, we need to ensure that the United Nations is acting in cooperation with the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, all pressing for the same ultimate end. The people of South Sudan can no longer afford empty promises. They are the ones who are paying the highest price for this war, and they are paying for it with their lives and livelihoods. If the Government continues its track record of failing to deliver peace, we can and must act. Everyone around the table knows that we do have tools.”
2016-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7840 (2016) · source
“Despite statements from the Government, the people of South Sudan continue to risk their lives to flee the violence in their country, with over 7,000 refugees arriving in Uganda alone in the second week of December. So the work of UNMISS matters, and it is painfully clear that it has much, much more to do. The United Kingdom calls on all South Sudanese leaders to end the violence. All parties must genuinely engage in an inclusive political solution. We have been waiting far too long to see meaningful action from leaders in Juba. We have heard the Government's statements. It says it is pursuing peace. It says it is agreeing to the deployment of the Regional Protection Force, and it claims that it will allow UNMISS to fulfil its mandates. We must now see that in its actions and not just in its words.”
2016-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7840 (2016) · source
“The United Kingdom welcomes the adoption of resolution 2327 (2016) today, renewing the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). It is a vital Mission, carrying out perhaps our most important role f protecting civilians when they need it most. I want to pay tribute to the brave men and women that make up the peacekeeping force as they undertake their duty in one of the world's most dangerous environments. In many ways, they are charged with, let us be frank, an impossible task - peacekeeping where there is no peace to keep. Some point to progress on the ground; that is not what I see. Last month, we heard from Adama Dieng that violence is ongoing and at risk of dangerously escalating along ethnic lines.”
2016-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7840 (2016) · source
“We were pleased, therefore, that the Council unanimously agreed to extend the mandate of the United Nations-Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Joint Investigative Mechanism. Once again, Australia commends Spain for its exemplary leadership as Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) and in carrying out the comprehensive review. We look forward to welcoming Spain, as outgoing Chair of the Committee, to the next Australia Group meeting to address participants on the capacity-building and assistance measures available under resolution 1540 (2004).”
2016-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7837 (2016) · source
“We believe that the BWC Review Conference outcome does not in fact reflect the desire of States parties to strengthen the Convention, but we need to carefully consider its implications and ensure that the BWC continues to be the key multilateral reference point for combating the real and growing risk of the use of biological weapons. We equally need to note the findings of the comprehensive review report on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) and measures relating to biological weapons. We have been similarly hard pressed in addressing the threat posed by the use of chemical weapons, including by non- State actors. Prevarication and lack of consensus on issues can only send the wrong message to potential proliferators.”
2016-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7837 (2016) · source
“Recalling the advice of the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs to us during the June consultations on resolution 1540 (2004), BWC States parties did however step up their thinking on preparedness and response. Australia's skills training course held in October under the auspices of the Secretary-General's mechanism was timely, strengthening regional capacity to respond to potential use of a biological weapon. Such mechanisms are useful in meeting the objectives of resolution 1540 (2004), particularly given their strong deterrence value.”
2016-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7837 (2016) · source