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

“The report and the resolution adopted today rightly underline the potential proliferation risks posed by rapid advances in science, technology and international commerce and the threat posed by non-State actors in accessing weapons of mass destruction. It was therefore disappointing, indeed difficult to comprehend, that the recent Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) failed to agree an intersessional programme, which would have included the review of new developments in science and technology and their potential dual-use applications. Progress in such fields will not wait for the decision-making processes of Member States parties and the threat of use of biological weapons is a reality that we all face.”
2016-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7837 (2016) · source
“Australia welcomes the opportunity to participate in today's high-level open debate on stopping the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by non-State actors. From the outset, we would like to thank Spain for its leadership and the inclusive approach it has taken to the comprehensive review of resolution 1540 (2004). We congratulate Spain on compiling a thorough report and were pleased to co-sponsor resolution 2325 (2016) adopted today. Our initial assessment ofthe report is that it makes a number of important conclusions and recommendations. We support the Committee's continued efforts to ensure the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), including by working with international, regional and subregional organizations. We agree that the Committee should also work closely with civil society, industry and academia.”
2016-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7837 (2016) · source
“That is why Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is an active member of the High-Level Panel on Water, and it is why Australia will continue to work with countries in our region and beyond to protect precious water resources - in peace and in conflict.”
2016-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7818 (2016) · source
“It is a practical way to improve water resources management in partnership with countries and the United Nations system. Australia also believes that the effective implementation of SDG 6 requires explicit attention to gender equality and social inclusion. Women and vulnerable populations face an increased risk of violence where water and sanitation services are only available outside the home, often in unsafe locations. Furthermore, we need to deliberately and proactively engage women and marginalized people and encourage their participation in strengthening water governance. Australia is committed to encouraging and supporting sound water governance at the highest levels.”
2016-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7818 (2016) · source
“It has allowed us to make the most efficient use of our scarce water resources and to enable investment to meet the growing needs of agriculture, industry and urban communities, while ensuring there is water for the environment. Through the High-Level Panel on Water, Australia has committed to a number of practical initiatives aimed at strengthening the capacity of countries facing water crises. We are preparing a guide to improved water management, drawing on experience from within Australia and in our region, to help other countries effectively allocate water among competing users. That will have flow-on effects for food production, health outcomes and economic development. We have also established the Australian Water Partnership to assist countries to improve their water governance.”
2016-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7818 (2016) · source
“Good water governance is also essential to achieving many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - most directly SDG 6, on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The 21 September joint statement of the High-Level Panel on Water called for a fundamental shift in the way the world looks at water. The Panel presented a transformative agenda to deliver change in water management and to increase investment on a global scale to build more resilient economies and societies. For Australia - a dry continent prone to highly variable rainfall - effective water management is critical to our economy.”
2016-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7818 (2016) · source
“Water gives life, supports human development and enables sustainable economic growth. Yet water crises are ranked by the World Economic Forum as one of the top 10 global risks. Climate change has the potential to exacerbate water crises, which could in turn lead to or intensify conflicts and fuel forced migration. Australia is concerned about the increasing risks to peace and security created by extreme weather events, including water scarcity. Cities, towns and peri-urban areas require functional water supply and sanitation systems. Failure to provide such services often leads to community tension and instability and can easily result in conflict. We see improved water governance as a key component in adapting to climate change, while planning for a growing population and ensuring economic development.”
2016-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7818 (2016) · source
“The continued use of chemicals as weapons is in clear contravention of international norms and laws and in clear violation of numerous resolutions of the Council. If their use does not constitute a threat to international peace and security I do not really know what does. We therefore have to act. Today we have taken a valuable first step. We have shown welcome unity. We have shown that we can find common purpose on this matter. Let us use this momentum in the coming weeks and months to ensure that those responsible for the use of these weapons finally face justice.”
2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7815 (2016) · source
“At least four cases are currently being investigated by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), so today's renewal is sadly necessary, and it will allow the Joint Investigative Mechanism to continue its vital work attributing responsibilities for these latest attacks. It is not enough to know, however, that chemical attacks have occurred, nor is it enough to know who carried them out. What we need now is justice - for the people of Marea, for the people of Talmenes, Sarmin and Qmenas - and with thatjustice, an end to the impunity that surrounds the perpetrators of those horrific attacks. The OPCW and the Joint Investigative Mechanism have been clear. It is now time for the Security Council to step up and do its part.”
2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7815 (2016) · source
“Because ofthe Joint Investigative Mechanism, we know that barrel bombs loaded with chlorine were dropped by the regime on unsuspecting men and women and children in Talmenes, Sarmin and Qmenas, that sulfur mustard was used by Da'esh against innocent people of Marea in August last year, and that those responsible for war crimes remain free and unpunished to this day. Tragically, there is even more work ahead for the Joint Investigative Mechanism. Despite all our efforts and despite the pledges made by the Syrian regime to destroy all of its stockpiles, these barbaric acts involving chemicals continue.”
2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7815 (2016) · source
“The United Kingdom welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 2319 (2016) today, which renews the Joint Investigative Mechanism for another year. I pay tribute to Ms. Power for all her efforts and those of her team to bring the Security Council together on such a vital issue. I would also like to thank the members of the Joint Investigative Mechanism for their tireless work, which has so often been undertaken in very difficult circumstances. We know without a doubt that the Al-Assad regime and Da'esh used toxic chemicals as weapons against civilians in Syria.”
2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7815 (2016) · source
“Peter Burian, in taking that forward. I would like to conclude by thanking you, Mr. President, for holding this debate. It is well timed, just two and a half months ahead of Kazakhstanjoining the Council. The Council will be richer for Kazakhstan's regional insight. We look forward to working closely together on this issue and many others next year.”
2016-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7796 (2016) · source
“The Council of Europe's neighbourhood policy programme with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan was designed to facilitate the political transition to democracy, help promote good governance and reinforce the regional work of the Council of Europe in combating cross-border and global threats. My final example is the European Union (EU). The EU remains committed to a strong and durable relationship with the five Central Asian States and to reinforcing cooperation on security and stability, including the sustainable management of natural resources. The EU's approach emphasizes the fundamental importance of democratization, respect for human rights and the rule of law and socioeconomic development. The United Kingdom strongly supports the work of the EU, including that of its Special Representative for Central Asia, Mr.”
2016-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7796 (2016) · source
“First, as mentioned by Vice-Chair Ivanov, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) works on a wide range ofsecurity-related issues, including arms control, confidence- and security- building measures, human rights and democratization and economic and environmental issues. The OSCE's capacity-building activities on preventing and countering radicalization and terrorism are particularly welcome, and they are delivered in a manner consistent with international and OSCE commitments on human rights. We also welcome the OSCE's work on women's empowerment, judicial and legislative reform, media development and conflict prevention, including in relation to the issue of water management, which I mentioned earlier. As a second example, the Council of Europe is working positively with the region.”
2016-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7796 (2016) · source
“To help realize that potential, the region can look to regional organizations and to the United Nations. Therefore, we strongly support cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations on the challenges facing Central Asia. For the United Kingdom, such cooperation must be consistent with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations and all applicable conventions, covenants and treaties. And it must uphold United Nations principles, particularly respect for human rights and universal freedoms. There are a number of regional and subregional organizations that are already doing valuable work in Central Asia to help address those shared challenges. Let me share three examples.”
2016-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7796 (2016) · source
“And climate change is emerging as a major new risk factor. As a result, the region needs international support to improve its resource management, especially of water, and to adapt to the damage that has already been done. We are pleased to be participating in that. In parts of the reion those challenges include strengthening respect for human rights and the rule of law, promoting sustainable development, tackling corruption and removing restrictive State controls on economic and political life. There have been some improvements on those issues, and that is welcome, but the speed and extent of progress is not what the people in the region would expect - or, indeed, deserve. The c hallenges are clear, and so too are the regional opportunities and potential.”
2016-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7796 (2016) · source
“I thank the Secretary-General and all our briefers for their remarks today. We welcome this chance to discuss the Central Asian region. It is a part of the world that we hear too rarely about in the Chamber, although the region faces many unique challenges that directly affect our core business, namely, international peace and security. They are challenges that represent the complex history and geography of the region. Unresolved border disputes and tension over access to water and other resources are having an impact on the security and prosperity of local communities. We therefore welcome the recent opportunities for discussions to improve relations between a number of countries in the region on those important issues. Environmental issues are also a major regional challenge, many of them legacies of the region's history.”
2016-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7796 (2016) · source
“We therefore support the Secretary-General's recommendation that where domestic accountability mechanisms are insufficient or inadequate, international accountability mechanisms should be sought, including the International Criminal Court. I want to conclude by once again stressing the importance of international humanitarian law. Where there is armed conflict, civilians and those who provide medical assistance must be protected. I am proud to reaffirm the United Kingdom's commitment to upholding these laws. I urge all Council members to follow suit.”
2016-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7779 (2016) · source
“We owe it to the people of Aleppo and to countless more around the world. To do so, it is clear that we need to gather the evidence and collect the data to bring this about. We welcome the Secretary-General's drawing attention to this in his recommendations. Groups like Da'esh, which conduct sickening attacks on medical workers and facilities are no exception. That is why our Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, announced last week that the United Kingdom, alongside Iraq, will bring a proposal to the United Nations calling on the Organization to gather and preserve evidence of Da'esh's crimes in Iraq. We did so because there can be no impunity.”
2016-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7779 (2016) · source
“Together with the forced removal of medical supplies from convoys, such actions amount to amount to a calculated dismantling of Syria's health-care system. Our concern also extends to Yemen, 40 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. Improving access to them is a top priority for the United Kingdom. We call on all sides to improve the flow of essential medical and humanitarian supplies to alleviate the suffering. We also take very seriously reports of violations of international humanitarian law in Yemen, including attacks on medical facilities. All sides must conduct thorough and conclusive investigations into all incidents where it is alleged that international humanitarian law has been breached. Wherever in the world international humanitarian law is breached and whomever by, we must ensure accountability.”
2016-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7779 (2016) · source
“And yet this is just the tip of the iceberg. While 400,000 people have died as a direct result of the conflict, the secondary death toll, as a result of the destruction of the health-care system, will be much higher. Access to vaccinations, neonatal care, maternal health care, women's health care - all these things have all but disappeared. Once extinct diseases like polio have returned and measles, typhoid, hepatitis and tuberculosis are now reaching dangerous levels. In cities like Madaya, we hear heartbreaking stories like that of Ghina Ahmad Wadi, who was shot by a regime sniper last month. For over two weeks the regime denied her medical evacuation before she eventually received the attention she needed. Why?”
2016-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7779 (2016) · source
“We have just heard today about air strikes against the two largest remaining hospitals in rebel- held eastern Aleppo. That is a fact. We, the Council, cannot hide behind the passive voice. We need to be clear. The only air forces caring out strikes in eastern Aleppo are the Syrian and Russian air forces. That is also a fact. As the Secretary-General said just now, those using ever more destructive weapons know that they are committing war crimes. Aleppo is now a city that is synonymous with suffering. It is a city synonymous with medics working by the lights of their phones with only the most basic supplies. It is a city synonymous with rubble, dust and unrelenting bombardment - a sickening test bed for even crueller, even more barbaric weapons. Syria and Russia bear full responsibility for these atrocities.”
2016-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7779 (2016) · source
“He and his colleagues are carrying out vital work, so often in the most harrowing of conditions and so often at great risk to themselves. Sadly, five months since the adoption of resolution 2286 (2016), the overwhelming dangers facing Medecins Sans Frontieres, the International Committee of the Red Cross and others operating in conflict zones are still painfully apparent. Despite resolution 2286 (2016) and despite the clear protections provided under international humanitarian law, medical workers continue to be injured and killed as they work to save the lives of others in Syria, in Yemen in South Sudan, in all the countries Mr. Mauer listed and in so many places around the world. But let us be honest here - the most starkly this is on display is in Aleppo. This is not a propaganda point; it is a fact.”
2016-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7779 (2016) · source
“I would like to thank the Secretary-General for the clarity of his briefing and for sharing his recommendations with us today. These ideas will help us protect and prevent attacks on medical personnel and their places of work. The United Kingdom welcomes this important contribution. At the outset, I want to pay tribute to Ms. Joanne Liu and Mr. Peter Mauer from Medecins Sans frontieres and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), respectively. I want to highlight one thing each of them said to us. Ms. Liu told us that throwing medical impartiality to the wind is becoming a new norm of warfare. Mr. Mauer said that we must show that international humanitarian law remains relevant for people bearing the brunt of war. That is a wake up call for the Council.”
2016-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7779 (2016) · source
“In conclusion, weapons of mass destruction and their potential to fall into the wrong hands threaten global peace and security. Malaysia's initiative today in convening this open debate and the determination of Spain to re-energize the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) are very timely and welcome indeed. Australia, too, will continue to play an active role in support of our collective interests to halt the potential for WMD proliferation and use.”
2016-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7758 (2016) · source
“Australia supports the training as a practical mechanism for coordinating counter- proliferation and counter-terrorism efforts. The International Atomic Energy Agency must be supported in its central role in the global nuclear security architecture to coordinate nuclear security activities among international organizations and other initiatives. We should all access and utilize existing mechanisms, such as the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism. The focus of the Global Initiative on achieving operational and practical outcomes is its core strength. Its guidance documents have been pivotal in informing Australia's national approaches in the area of nuclear security, such as nuclear detection capability and radiation monitoring at the border.”
2016-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7758 (2016) · source
“We look forward to continued cooperation with the Chair of the 1540 Committee in finalizing the comprehensive review of the status of implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) at the end of this year. During the June open consultations, we also drew the attention of Member States to our hosting, in partnership with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, of the first Asia-Pacific regional training session on the Secretary-General's mechanism for investigation of alleged use of chemical and biological weapons. We can confirm that the training will be held in Canberra from 17 to 28 October. Member States from the region will bejoined by INTERPOL, the World Health Organization and the World Organization for Animal Health.”
2016-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7758 (2016) · source
“We need to strive for the universal implementation of the resolution in order to maximize the impact of our collective endeavours. During the 1540 Committee's open consultations convened by Spain last June, Australia offered three main thoughts on how the resolution could be strengthened. We supported, first, extending the mandate of resolution 1540 (2004), given that the fight against proliferation is an ongoing one; secondly, better leveraging of linkages with other United Nations instruments and multilateral non-proliferation and export regimes, including the Australia Group; and, thirdly, practical measures identified in the United States non-paper for the 1540 Committee to monitor, coordinate and share experience in assistance provision.”
2016-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7758 (2016) · source
“We need to work together to bolster non-proliferation norms, strengthen export controls, continue to share information and support developing countries' non-proliferation efforts. Export control regimes and multilateral counter-proliferation efforts must adapt and remain relevant, capable and equipped to succeed. Resolution 1540 (2004) remains a centrepiece of the international non-proliferation regime. It has established and reinforced the strong international norm that proliferation involving non-State actors is unacceptable. Australia welcomes the attention that Spain, as Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), has given to revitalizing the implementation of the resolution, including by helping to mobilize resources and expertise to assist States in strengthening their national practices.”
2016-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7758 (2016) · source
“As others have noted, a range of events over the past year remind us of the ongoing threat to peace and security posed by the use of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). Non-State actors are becoming increasingly sophisticated and creative in their ability to source sensitive information and materials relevant to the delivery and design of WMDs. Today, we are all faced with the global mobility and connectivity of terrorist groups. We know that those seeking WMDs will exploit the weakest link to pursue their goals. That has been demonstrated not only by non-State actors but also by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, whose proliferation activities we strongly condemn. In the face of those threats, the Council's leadership and global cooperation are essential.”
2016-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7758 (2016) · source
“Many outside the Chamber today will ask whether we have done enough, when hundreds of people have been killed in Juba in the past month, when hundreds of women and girls have been raped or gang-raped, when tens of thousands have been forced to flee their homes. Behind each and every one of these unspeakable acts lies unspeakable violence, violence perpetrated by those with guns against those without. Therefore, yes, today we have agreed to strengthen the United Nations Mission, which should save lives if the text is implemented fully. But today we also had a chance to stop the violence by implementing an immediate arms embargo on South Sudan. On that, we failed. We must and we will return to this issue.”
2016-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7754 (2016) · source
“All those things can happen only if the Government of South Sudan makes good on its promises. The Government bears the primary responsibility to help its people. That means the Government supporting, not obstructing, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the United Nations troops. It means the Government engaging quickly in addressing the practicalities of a protection force. And it means the Government holding to account anyone responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights abuses, including rape. We welcome the continued support of IGAD and the AU to help the Government fulfil those important commitments.”
2016-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7754 (2016) · source
“The United Kingdom welcomes the adoption of resolution 2304 (2016) today. It is a vitally important decision that needed to be taken now. Through this resolution, we have created a protection force under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), a protection force called for by both the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the African Union (AU), a protection force that the Government of South Sudan agreed to in principle. This resolution should strengthen the United Nations ability to protect people and to save lives. It should mean a safer and more secure Juba. It should mean that food, supplies and support can reach people who are so desperately in need. It should mean the road back to the political process. But the key word is "should".”
2016-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7754 (2016) · source
“This was a vital step in bringing a decades-long conflict to an overdue conclusion. These are historic commitments, perhaps unthinkable 20 years ago, when the Graca Machel report (see A/51/306) was released. Such commitments would not have been possible without the mandate of the Special Representative, and they will have a huge impact on children's lives across the world when they are implemented. So yes, there is much more to do. We can make a difference; let us all work together to do so.”
2016-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7753 (2016) · source
“That must apply to Russia's actions as much as to everyone else's. Let me close with this final point. As we reflect today on how much we have to do, it would be remiss not to acknowledge how far we have come in this past year. Last year, more than 8,000 children were released from the hell that is life as a Child soldier. That is 8,000 children putting down their guns and picking up their lives, 8,000 children now looking to the future and hope, not inferior. In March, the Sudan signed an action plan with the United Nations on ending the recruitment and use of child soldiers. It was the last Government with underage soldiers in its forces to do so. And in May, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia signed an agreement with the Government of Colombia to release all remaining child soldiers.”
2016-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7753 (2016) · source
“Given the clear need for a greater focus on child protection in United Nations peace operations, we are also concerned by the potential consequences of consolidating this work into the human rights component of such missions, so we believe that this change needs to be kept under review. The key here is for the United Nations to preserve the specialized role of child protection advisers and their direct, not mediated, access to senior leadership. They must be allowed to continue their important work in advocacy with Government and dialogue with parties to conflict. One other quick point before I conclude. It will come as no surprise that we do not agree with Russia's characterization just now of what is going on in Ukraine. Abiding by international law has been a key element of this debate.”
2016-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7753 (2016) · source
“So we now need to see implementation ofthe commitments we made in the resolution. Troop-contributing countries as well as non-United Nations forces must swiftly, thoroughly andtransparently investigate all allegations of violations against children committed by peacekeepers. Perpetrators must be held to account and receive the harshest of sanctions for child sex offences. If perpetrators are not held to account by their own systems, we fully support the Secretary-General's ability to repatriate military and police peacekeepers, and we fully endorse his decision to prohibit the States listed in the annexes to the report on children and armed conflict from contributing troops to United Nations peacekeeping.”
2016-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7753 (2016) · source
“The United Kingdom has committed $40 million to Education Cannot Wait over the next two years, which will help reach more than 4.5 million children and young people by 2018. I call on all Member States to support this initiative today. My second point concerns the sexual exploitation and abuse of children by United Nations peacekeepers and personnel. Children expect and trust peacekeepers to protect them. Every time a peacekeeper fails to so, that trust is undermined and, with it, the integrity of the United Nations. It is absolutely crucial that respect for children's rights within United Nations peacekeeping operations be strengthened. The adoption of Security Council resolution 2272 (2016) was a step in the right direction. Zero tolerance must mean zero tolerance.”
2016-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7753 (2016) · source
“That is why the United Kingdom is championing the essential role that education can play for children affected by this conflict. Education can restore hope; it can create prospects. We are building on the success of the "No Lost Generation" initiative, which has helped more than a quarter of a million children access schooling in Syria and the region, to develop "Education Cannot Wait", a fund for education in emergencies that was launched at the World Humanitarian Summit. That fund aims to address chronic underfunding by raising $1.5 billion to reach more than 13 million children. It aims to significantly improve how that money is spent through supporting better ways of working together.”
2016-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7753 (2016) · source
“Sadly, as we have heard today, the evidence shows that children continue to be targeted, maimed and killed in conflicts across the world, so I should like to focus my remarks today on two issues in particular. First, as we heard so clearly during last week's meeting on Aleppo (see S/PV.7744), the continuing violence in Syria is putting the lives of hundreds of thousands of children at risk. Continuing attacks on populated areas, hospitals and maternity and paediatric words, in particular by the Syrian regime and its allies, all are having a devastating impact on children's welfare, their physical and mental health and, ultimately, their future. The children of Syria risk becoming a lost generation, one without hope or prospects. Tony Lake rightly pointed out the importance of education just now.”
2016-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7753 (2016) · source
“I join others in welcoming the briefings from the Secretary-General, Special Representative Zerrougui and UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. Their specific examples and the scale of the numbers that they just gave underline how important this is. At the outset, I should like to express my gratitude for the latest annual report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict (S/2016/360). I also recognize the hard work that goes into this, and I really want to thank the United Nations country task forces for all that they do, often in very difficult circumstances, to provide reliable evidence-based information on violations against children. As the Secretary-General said, they are courageous.”
2016-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7753 (2016) · source
“Progress in Somalia is about partnership, and in that partnership we need every organization and stakeholder - the international community, the United Nations, donors, the African Union and the Federal Government of Somalia itself - to play its part. That cooperation will enable AMISOM. to leave Somalia in a stronger and more secure place than when it first deployed, and it will provide long-term regional security. We will therefore continue to support AMISOM. and the essential work that the force is doing, as the Council has just shown by its unanimous vote today.”
2016-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7731 (2016) · source
“troop contributors, but also to ensure that peace and security in Somalia are secured for the long term. Without that, all our efforts on elections and the Somali political process will have been wasted. We are grateful for all of the engagement and support of partners in preparing a draft text and in working on its details. We will work hard to provide clear direction and prioritization to AMISOM's tasks in this critical year. That means liberating the Somali people from the threat of Al-Shabaab through deliberate operations, enabling the security environment needed for the electoral process to take place, as the representative of Egypt rightly emphasized, and supporting the gradual hand-over of security responsibilities to the Somali security forces, which must be the overarching objective of us all.”
2016-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7731 (2016) · source
“I congratulate Japan on its assumption of the Council presidency, and thank France for its very efficient running of the Council's business last month. I should like to take this opportunity tojoin Egypt in paying tribute to the role of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). As we review the AMISOM mandate, we should remember that without the bravery and sacrifice of its troops, Somalia would not have seen the progress which it has made. It is essential that we ensure that AMISOM. troop contributors commit for at least the next two years, because that progress can easily be undone. It is equally important that the Federal Government of Somalia deliver on its commitment to building credible security forces, not only to address the legitimate concerns of AMISOM.”
2016-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7731 (2016) · source
“Through the summits in Brussels and Warsaw and through the Council, we have a real chance to show the National Unity Government and the people of Afghanistan that they do not face those challenges alone. We need to keep bolstering the military, keep supporting the economy and keep building international and regional support. In doing that, we can help ensure that 2016 really does turn - to use the words of the Ambassador of Afghanistan - from the year of survival to the year of consolidation.”
2016-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7722 (2016) · source
“We strongly believe that the best chance for reaching a negotiated peace starts with the stability of the National Unity Government, the effectiveness of the national forces and the support of Afghanistan's neighbours. It is therefore especially important that the Governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan work towards a stronger relationship. That is not only to stop the escalation of incidents like the one last week at the Torkham border crossing, but also to tackle the larger common threat of violent extremism. It is my firm View that the long-term interests of both Afghanistan and Pakistan are aligned. Their success is dependent, in part, on how much both countries recognize that. Let me conclude with this final thought: Afghanistan still faces grave security, development and political challenges.”
2016-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7722 (2016) · source
“It is therefore equally critical that we do not see a drop-off in assistance this year, particularly given the fragility of the Afghan economy. We look forward to the international community going to Brussels this year ready to make long-term financial commitment to Afghanistan. We also look forward to the Government of Afghanistan setting out the progress it has delivered so far and its priorities for the coming years, including on economic reform, job creation and tackling corruption. My third and last point is that, if we want security and development to take hold in Afghanistan, then there needs to be political stability. That is why the United Kingdom supports the National Unity Government as it tackles Afghanistan's challenges head-on.”
2016-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7722 (2016) · source
“That includes helping the Afghan national army officer academy, where 1,300 officer graduates have been trained, with more female officers than ever. In that regard, allow me to add my voice to that of Spain in saying that I am very pleased that we are including Afghanistan together on our joint work programme on women and peace and security. I call on other members of the international community to show their support, not just through their words inside the Chamber but through their actions and financial commitments outside of it. My second point concerns development. Development and security are mutually reinforcing. Together we need not only to build an Afghanistan that is stable and resilient, but also self-reliant and prosperous. Continued development assistance will be critical to the future Afghanistan.”
2016-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7722 (2016) · source
“First, on the matter of security, the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces are admirably holding their own this year. They are repelling the Taliban's spring offensive and forcing back Da'esh as it tries to expand. But their task is formidable, and the longer-term stability of Afghanistan is dependent on their success. We therefore cannot just speak about our commitments to supporting Afghan security, we have to demonstrate it, too. The NATO Warsaw Summit in July will be an opportunity for States to show that resolve. The United Kingdom intends to provide $100 million each year to the Afghan national forces from 2017 to 2020. Meanwhile, 450 United Kingdom troops continue to provide military support and training as part of NATO's Resolute Support Mission.”
2016-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7722 (2016) · source
“The vast majority were at the hands of anti-Government groups. Fifty-nine thousand is an extraordinary price to pay. It is a price being paid in Badakhshan and in Kabul, following attacks just yesterday. I offer my Government's condolences for all those who lost their lives or who were injured in those shameful attacks, including those working at the Canadian Embassy. I hope the Canadian Ambassador will convey that to his Government on our behalf. It is clear that our job is far from done. And it is clear that the support of the Security Council and the international community remains vital to Afghanistan. Our collective action can have a direct positive impact on the lives of the Afghan people. We need to show that we are standing by Afghanistan in the months and years ahead. I see three areas where we can do so.”
2016-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7722 (2016) · source