YouSaid · the spoken record

Ziade

lines on the record

250

first

2006-03-30

most recent

2017-07-25

sittings or episodes

40

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un-security-council

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1. “Our meeting today coincides with the visit of the President of the Council of Ministers to Washington, DC, which was preceded by visits to the European Union and other friendly countries, with the sole objective of emphasizing the economic, social and security challenges facing my country and, most important, to reiterate our calls to assist Lebanon in its efforts to address the situation ofrefugees and their host communities and to strengthen the LAF capabilities in its commendable fight against terrorism. All of those efforts are deeply rooted in the importance of protecting and preserving Lebanon as a model for the region: promising democracy, a liberal system, leadership in combating terrorism and a beacon of diversity and coexistence in a region raging with fear and exclusion. Let right prevail in the Middle East and for its peoples.”

   2017-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8011 (2017) · source

2. “Furthermore, my Government will also submit a request to renew the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for one year without any changes. Only a capable and efficient UNIFIL can maintain stability and security in the south of Lebanon, in particular in the light of the volatile situation in region. As for the partnership between the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and UNIFIL, my delegation would like to take this opportunity to express its deep appreciation to all troop-contributing countries - a good number of them are around the table today or otherwise present in the Chamber - for their sacrifices and noble determination to protect civilians and to ensure full respect for Lebanon's sovereignty.”

   2017-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8011 (2017) · source

3. “Despite all such flagrant violations, multiple smear campaigns, false allegations and threats by Israel to send my country back to the dark ages, the Government of Lebanon remains firm in its commitment to the full implementation of resolution 1701 (2006), not only to preserve the gains of our collective investment in security and stability, but rather to multiply them. It is in that context that my Government yet again encourages the Secretary-General to expedite his good-offices efforts and looks forward to receiving the results of the efforts of the Special Coordinator on the delineation of the disputed maritime border and exclusive economic zone between Lebanon and Israel, while emphasizing that the non-resolution of this issue shall remain a source of conflict that threatens peace and security in our region.”

   2017-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8011 (2017) · source

4. “Today the international community should be biased to upholding the principles of international law. It is high time to turn our commitment to the principle of land for peace into reality by ending the Israeli occupation and heeding the calls for peace and implementing the Arab Peace Initiative, which was adopted in my country, Lebanon, in 2002, and reiterated by several summits and meetings, the latest being the Arab Summit hosted by Jordan in March. Turning to my country, since the adoption of resolution 1701 (2006), there has not been a single day during which Israel has not continued to breach Lebanon's sovereignty by land and sea, in total disrespect ofits obligation under resolution 1701 (2006). Let me mention only the daily violations of Lebanese airspace by Israeli fighterjets.”

   2017-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8011 (2017) · source

5. “Those practices are not only blatant violations of the Charter of the United Nations, principles of international law and resolutions adopted by the Security Council - and in particular of article 4 of The Hague Convention, article 39 of the Geneva Convention and article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - to respect peoples' rights to observe and practice their own religion. Suffice it to say, these are deliberate attempts to create new realities on the ground that make the two- State solution an objective that is practically impossible to achieve. It is time to hold Israel accountable and to compel it to cease and rescind all measures to tamper with the historic status quo at the Al-Aqsa mosque and its Esplanade.”

   2017-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8011 (2017) · source

6. “Allow me to start by thanking Mr. Mladenov for his thorough briefing. The difficult realities in the State of Palestine have been somberly summarized in a report by Human Rights Watch issued on the occasion of 50 years of Israeli occupation: "At least five categories of major violations of international human rights law and humanitarian law characterize the [Israeli] occupation: unlawful killings; forced displacement; abusive detention; the closure of the Gaza Strip and other unjustified restrictions on movement; and the development of settlements, along with the accompanying discriminatory policies that disadvantage Palestinians." Lately, we were also reminded of the extent of the shocking Israeli practices in Jerusalem and at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound: killings, closure and the disproportionate use of force against worshipers and civilians, which constituted a clear attempt to escalate an occupation into a war ofreligions.”

   2017-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8011 (2017) · source

7. “All of that is part of a clear and undeniable endeavour to render the two-State solution an unattainable objective. The unravelling of this tragedy in the occupied State of Palestine requires immediate action by the international community to provide international protection to the Palestinian people. This tragedy should arouse within the Council the political will to establish a new, credible and comprehensive framework for negotiations, which should be conducted within a defined time frame and based on the well-known parameters set by the relevant United Nations resolutions, in particular all Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions 181 (II) and 194 (III), the Madrid principles and the Arab Peace Initiative. Let us make 2016 the year of achievements and of the fulfilment of hopes and aspirations.”

   2016-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7610 (2016) · source

8. “That means that at least two generations of Palestinian youth do not know anything other than administrative detention and Israeli might. They deserve better choices. How many Palestinian generations must suffer from illegal Israeli practices - which in many cases result in extrajudicial execution - for the Security Council to act? For how long will this organ remain silent while the so-called self-proclaimed "only democracy" in the Middle East continues the demolition of houses, the seizure of Palestinian land - the latest being 370 acres in the West Bank - the intensification of settlement activities and the isolation measures that segregate people in East Jerusalem, denying them the exercise of their fundamental and inalienable rights?”

   2016-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7610 (2016) · source

9. “In that regard, Lebanon acknowledges the adoption of resolution 2254 (2015) and looks forward to the upcoming Syria donors conference in London next month. That meeting should be an opportunity to reinvigorate international efforts to share responsibilities with regard to the refugees and to alleviate their suffering and the burden on their host communities. What can be said about the situation in the occupied territories of the State of Palestine in 2015? The Israeli reign of terror continues unabated. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs recorded the highest number of casualties in October, with 51 killed and 7,027 injured Palestinians. Israeli authorities have been detaining more than 8,000 children since 2000, and prosecuting more than 700 children per year.”

   2016-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7610 (2016) · source

10. “It is alarming that Israel not only refuses to abide by its obligations under resolution 1701 (2006), but that it continues to take unilateral and provocative actions in a show of blatant disrespect for the tripartite mechanism established by UNIFIL. Despite the complex political situation in my country, my Government has reaffirmed time and again its unwavering support for the implementation of resolution 1701 (2006) in its entirety. It also renewed its determination to continue combating terrorism and to address the social, economic and security impacts of the continuing flux of refugees from Syria. We clearly stated that the exodus of despair of the Syrian refugees should summon in all of us our shared values of humanity and the will to put on track a serious political process to end this protracted conflict.”

    2016-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7610 (2016) · source

11. “A simple calculation proves that Israel commits an average of 3.2 violations against my country per day. All those violations have been communicated to the Council and circulated as official documents of the United Nations. They illustrate the systematic disregard by Israel of our collective will to advance the implementation of resolution 1701 (2006). On 28 January 2015, the escalation along the Blue Line resulted in the killing of a Spanish soldier by Israel, and on 4 January 2016 Israel bombarded six Lebanese Villages for one hour. These are just a few examples of unilateral actions taken by Israel, which undermine the work of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Lebanese Armed Forces, threaten their security and jeopardize efforts to maintain stability in the region.”

    2016-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7610 (2016) · source

12. “At the end of 2015, while the world celebrated milestones that resulted in the culmination of certain efforts of international political will, from Sendai to New York and from Addis Ababa to Paris, the Middle East continued to struggle with yet another sombre and traumatizing year haunted by Israeli occupation, terrorism, conflicts, violence and violations of human rights. Indeed, the absence of collective political will is turning the land of faith and hope into the land of hatred and sorrow. The year 2015 came to an end in my country with 1,168 Israeli violations of Lebanon's sovereignty by land, air and sea. These are facts. No unfounded accusations or attempts to blame Lebanese parties will change them. Hard facts remain hard facts.”

    2016-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7610 (2016) · source

13. “Ms. Ziade (Lebanon) (spoke in Spanish): Allow me to thank you, Mr. President, for having organized this meeting. (spoke in English) Allow me to start by congratulating the delegations of Uruguay, Egypt, Japan, Senegal and Ukraine for the beginning of their tenure as elected members of the Security Council. I would also like to commend your leadership, Sir, during your presidency of the Council, as well as the five outgoing delegations - Chad, Chile, Jordan, Lithuania and Nigeria - for the excellent job done. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his briefing.”

    2016-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7610 (2016) · source

14. “Time and again, we have reiterated that it is imperative to counter the refugees' despair by widening the humanitarian space, based on the principle of shared responsibility, and by intensifying resettlement programmes. Those refugees and their host communities should not be forgotten or ignored. This month coincides with the commemoration of many atrocities around the world: the twentieth anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, the ninth anniversary of the Israeli war on Lebanon, which ended with the adoption of resolution 1701 (2006), and the first anniversary of the most recent Israeli war on Gaza. For all the victims 4 women, children and the elderly - our message and actions today should be: "Never again".”

    2015-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7490 (2015) · source

15. “During this month, the total number of Syrian refugees has exceeded 4 million 4 the biggest refugee population from a single conflict in a generation, according to High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres. More than 1.2 million of those refugees fled to my country and are registered with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The situation of those refugees and their host community remains extremely challenging. My Government continues to work relentlessly with the international community. The latest endeavour in this regard was the adoption of the Lebanese crisis response plan. Yet it is alarming that only 21 per cent of the plan has been funded.”

    2015-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7490 (2015) · source

16. “That is a typical approach by Israel: not to miss an opportunity to negate the two- State solution by stalling the process and seizing land. In the midst ofthis desolation, the historic agreement between the Vatican and the State of Palestine is a ray of hope. It should summon the moral audacity of the international community to finally break the political stalemate and to translate the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people into realities. Indeed, the Security Council should do much more to establish a new, credible and comprehensive framework for negotiations to be concluded in a defined time frame and based on the well-known parameters set by the relevant United Nations resolutions 4 in particular General Assembly resolution 194 (III) - the Madrid principles and the Arab Peace Initiative.”

    2015-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7490 (2015) · source

17. “Makarim Wibisono, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, captured the essence of Israeli practices in the West Bank and East Jerusalem when he said that occupation policies constrain Palestinian life and push Palestinians to leave their land and homes, especially in Area C of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Suffice it to mention that in 2014 the Government of Israel demolished 493 Palestinian structures in Area C, and today it threatens to demolish the village of Susiya village, near Hebron. In the first quarter of 2015, the same Government authorized the continued construction of settlements in the West Bank, with a 219 per cent spike in completed housing and a 93 per cent rise in starts.”

    2015-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7490 (2015) · source

18. “The words of an Israeli soldier from the report entitled This Is How We Fought in Gaza say it all: "By the time we got out of there, it was all like a sandbox". That is what they did to the people, while also maintaining their blockade on Gaza. Today the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. The Office for the Coordination ofHumanitarian Affairs reports that not one of the 12,620 totally destroyed units has been rebuilt, while the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East states that 880,000 Palestine refugees rely on quarterly food assistance. The International Monetary Fund sounded the alarm when it declared that the unemployment rate had reached 46 per cent.”

    2015-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7490 (2015) · source

19. “Allow me to begin, Mr. President, by commending the excellent work done by your delegation during your presidency of the Security Council for this month. Through you, I would like to extend our deepest appreciation for the job well done by Malaysia during its presidency of the Council for the previous month. I would also like to extend our deep appreciation to Mr. Mladenov for his sobering briefing. We meet today while the Middle East faces new challenges, but the Middle East is still tormented by the Israeli occupation. One year ago, Israel unleashed its military operation against Palestinian civilians in Gaza 4 51 days of continuous Israeli raids, killings, massive destruction and disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force.”

    2015-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7490 (2015) · source

20. “Suffice to mention the Common Space Initiative, whose objective is to build youth capacity in debate and solution formulation in the context of national and regional programmes; and the Adyan workshops, during which young people such as Sara, a young Lebanese woman, state that they are determined to break stereotypes and draw a different picture of Islam than the one promoted by terrorism and extremism. This journey, at the national, regional and international levels, will not be successful if our youth are not our partners in elaborating a plan of action to fight terrorism. They are not only the future generation; we need to involve them now in today's affairs to secure a better future for all of us.”

    2015-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7432 (2015) · source

21. “Aware that the youth are our ray of hope in the midst of all these challenges, my Government adopted in 2012 a youth policy in Lebanon, drafted by young people and capturing their priorities in five areas, namely, demography and economic participation; education and culture; health; social integration; and political participation. Moreover, Lebanon's vibrant civil society has always offered platforms for inclusive dialogue between its young people, with full respect for their intellectual diversity.”

    2015-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7432 (2015) · source

22. “All of the organs and specialized agencies of the United Nations should continue to work relentlessly to address the root causes of terrorism, to fully implement strategies highlighting the interlinkages between peace and development, with a strong emphasis on the needs of youth, and, most importantly, putting an end to impunity and double standards in the implementation of law and ensuring justice. The Middle East and the Arab world are informed by the Israeli occupation, protracted conflicts, Violations of human rights, shattered dreams, an unprecedented surge in terrorism and radicalization whose main focus is on youth, who represent one third of our Arab population.”

    2015-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7432 (2015) · source

23. “Education should also be oriented to the needs of the labour market and ensure a dignified livelihood, social inclusion and a wider participation in the public political sphere. The fight for the minds of young people should continue through standing up to the attractiveness of extremist and intolerant religious figures. Modern and attractive social organizations for youth should constitute a better alternative in order to educate and prepare those youth for leadership posts and to be positive role models.”

    2015-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7432 (2015) · source

24. “They are targeted in their schools, universities and homes, in Palestine, Libya, Yemen, Pakistan, Central Africa and Kenya, and youth are targeting journalists and tourists in Paris, Tunisia, Sweden and Brussels, among other places. This alarming phenomenon emphasizes that terrorist attacks transcend borders and are not limited to one country, religion or ethnicity and represent a serious threat to international peace and security around the world. Prevention starts on benches in schools and continues throughout the social mobility chain. Education is pivotal in building up the resilience of future generations. It should engrave in them knowledge, human rights, understanding of the other, openness, dialogue, tolerance and the rule of law. It should promote critical thinking that will help fight bigotry, stereotyping and essentialism.”

    2015-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7432 (2015) · source

25. “I would like to begin by thanking the Jordanian presidency for organizing this important meeting and circulating the concept paper on the role of youth in countering Violent extremism and promoting peace (S/2015/231, annex). I would also like to commend His Royal Highness for presiding over this meeting and for his commitment to youth issues. And I would like to express our deep appreciation to the Secretary-General and all the briefers. Today there are more than 1 billion youth around the world, a young population characterized by its unprecedented access to information technology. At the same time, this population faces many challenges that exacerbate its vulnerability, with more than 6 million youth living in fragile and conflict regions, and about 75 million unemployed. Youth are to be found on both sides of terrorist activities.”

    2015-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7432 (2015) · source

26. “Maybe during that mission, the members of this body will meet Ahmad, a 10-year-old boy who fled Syria to Lebanon in 2013. Ahmad dreams of building a time machine that would take him to a time when there will be a solution to the conflict and peace in his country - a time that will allow him and many other Syrian children to go back to their homes and schools and regain their lost childhood. It is time to heed the call of Ahmad and millions of Syrian people.”

    2014-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7222 (2014) · source

27. “In this context, my Government will remain engaged with the international community to ensure a well- calibrated approach to the issue of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon, based on the principles ofinternational law and the need to maintain stability in the country. We commend the Security Council for adopting resolution 2165 (2014) and welcome the Secretary- General's appointment of Mr. Staffan de Mistura. We hope that similar consensus will emerge around a much-needed mission of the Security Council to the neighbouring countries hosting refugees from Syria. Said mission would allow a first-hand account of the dire situation of those refugees and their host community, and highlight the urgent need to find a political solution to the conflict in Syria.”

    2014-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7222 (2014) · source

28. “The international community should do more through the provision of direct assistance to the Government agencies and by fulfilling the pledges made at the donors conference. It is alarming that only 29 per cent of the response plan for Syrian refugees living in Lebanon has been funded. Furthermore, burden-sharing is a principle that we collectively need to uphold, and we reiterate our call for the intensification of efforts to increase the number of refugees included in resettlement programmes. Most importantly, serious efforts should be made to widen the humanitarian space to accommodate Syrian refugees in safe zones in Syria or in camps along the border.”

    2014-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7222 (2014) · source

29. “Indeed, Israel should immediately end its occupation of the northern part of Al-Ghajar, the Sheba'a Farms and the Kfar Shouba hills. Israel should end its almost daily violation of Lebanon's airspace, and Israel should refrain from any unilateral action that could lead to escalation. Ross Mountain, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon, has said: "When you have 50,000 or 100,000 refugees in the country, it is a refugee emergency. When you have a quarter of the population of the country now arising and one-third estimated by the end of this year it is a national calamity." Moreover, my country cannot cope alone with this situation, particularly since the host communities have reached their breaking point.”

    2014-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7222 (2014) · source

30. “Need I recall that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) arrested their perpetrators? Need I also recall that the LAF and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) continue to work relentlessly to maintain stability? Notwithstanding these endeavours, Israel launched more than 100 shells into the south of Lebanon, undermining the joint efforts of the LAF and UNIFIL and endangering their safety. We therefore lodged a complaint, asking the Security Council to condemn in the strongest term the Israeli bombardments, which constitute a blatant breach of resolution 1701 (2006) and a clear violation of the sovereignty of my country. Furthermore, more needs to be done to ensure the full implementation of resolution 1701 (2006).”

    2014-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7222 (2014) · source

31. “We agree with the Secretary-General on the need to address the root causes of the conflict. In that regard, we think that the international community should finally translate its commitment to the peace process into action, in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions, the Madrid terms of reference and the integral provisions of the Arab Peace Initiative. Since the adoption of resolution 1701 (2006), my Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the full implementation of said resolution. Today, and in light of the latest developments in the south of Lebanon, my Government stands firm against any attempt to destabilize the situation. Need I recall that the Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs clearly rejected the rockets launched by outlaw individuals and marginal groups?”

    2014-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7222 (2014) · source

32. “How much longer should the Gaza Strip and its civilian population be punished by the imposed blockade, the rainfall of shelling and the repetitive punitive Israeli military strikes in order for the Council to condemn and put an end to those barbaric actions? The atrocities on the ground should serve to summon the political will in all Council members to adopt a draft resolution to immediately end the Violence against civilians. In that context, Lebanon hopes that the efforts led by Egypt and supported by the Secretary- General and other officials in the region or visiting the region will yield the much needed ceasefire that ends the suffering of thousands of civilians. We also support the call by President Mahmoud Abbas to ensure international protection for the people and territory of the State of Palestine.”

    2014-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7222 (2014) · source

33. “Time and again, we have heard about the so-called right to self-defence. Based on the figures I have just mentioned, it looks like self-help. Some might ask: Who will defend the helpless in Gaza? The territory of the State of Palestine is being devastated by the continuing occupation and, more particularly, by the growing illegal settlement activity. Jerusalem is being deprived of its inclusiveness and diversity. The civilians in the West Bank are being subjected to systematic security searches, massive arrest, the illegal demolition of homes and collective punishment, in blatant violation of Israel's obligations under international law, human rights law and international humanitarian law. How many mothers should be bereaved and how many more youngsters should be assassinated?”

    2014-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7222 (2014) · source

34. “Allow me, Mr. President, to congratulate you and your team, for your leadership of the Security Council this month. I would also like to commend the members of the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation for a job well done during their presidency last month. We would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his briefing. While the sun was setting and many Palestinians were readying themselves for prayers and breaking their fast, Israeli jetfighters and frigates and tanks broke the peacefulness and pounded the Gaza Strip. Over the past 15 days, more than 600 Palestinians have been killed, more than 3,600 injured and more than 100,000 displaced. Sixty-four mosques, eight medical centres and hundreds of houses have been destroyed. Apparently, that is how Israel chooses life for the Palestinian civilians in Gaza.”

    2014-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7222 (2014) · source

35. “Today, more than ever, the international community should overcome its inability to put an end to this raging conflict and to offer to the Syrian people their basic right to choose and live in dignity and peace by paving the way to a political process that will fulfil their aspirations.”

    2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7164 (2014) · source

36. “In addition, Lebanon has proposed measures to curb this existential threat through the provision of direct assistance to Government institutions, to honour the commitments made during the pledging conferences, to increase the number of refugees included in resettlement programmes based on the principle of burden-sharing, and, most importantly, to focus serious efforts on widening the humanitarian space to accommodate the Syrian refugees in safe camps inside Syria or in safe zones along the border. More than three years into the conflict, Syria is now, in the words of the Secretary-General, the "biggest humanitarian and peace and security crisis facing the world" (S/2014/208, para. 49). These words translate the sufferings of the Syrian people - millions of internally displaced people and millions upon millions of refugees.”

    2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7164 (2014) · source

37. “Lebanon also looks forward to the Rome Conference on building up the capacities of the Lebanese Army, and considers the generous contribution of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to be the cornerstone in this endeavour. Furthermore, my country highly values the contributions made to the multi-donor trust fund. These are but the first seeds of financial assistance to respond to the dire need for greater aid to help the country cope with more than 1 million Syrian refugees. Lebanon calls for more generous contributions in this regard.”

    2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7164 (2014) · source

38. “Antonio Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, "if the flow of people seeking safety in Lebanon continues, there could be over 1.6 million refugees in the country by the end of this year. But even now, Lebanon already has the highest per-capita concentration of refugees of any country in recent history, with nearly 230 registered Syrian refugees for every 1,000 Lebanese." That is more than 140 times as many refugees per inhabitants as in your esteemed country, Madam President. Every effort must be pursued to support my country facing such challenges. In this regard, Lebanon expresses its deep appreciation to the Government of France for hosting the International Support Group for Lebanon on 5 March, and commends the members ofthe Group for their unwavering commitment.”

    2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7164 (2014) · source

39. “Furthermore, the Government of Lebanon is determined to expedite the implementation of the road map established to mitigate the socioeconomic impact of the Syrian crisis in the country, based on the assessment study prepared jointly with the World Bank. In the said report, the figures speak for themselves. Lebanon's gross domestic product shrank by $7.5 billion, while the cost to the Treasury was estimated at $5.1 billion, including $3.6 billion in expenses directly used to provide services for the Syrian refugees, and Treasury revenues dropped by $1.5 billion due to the decline in economic growth. Today, the number of refugees fleeing Syria into Lebanon and registered with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has exceeded 1,034,000. As has been stated by Mr.”

    2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7164 (2014) · source

40. “Almost daily overflights and unilateral aggressive actions, such as Israel's bombing of the houses of civilians in the south of Lebanon, not only exacerbate tensions but also undermine joint efforts of the Lebanese Armed Forces and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon to fulfil their mandate under the said resolution. My Government has also highlighted the following priorities: preserving the sovereignty of the State, ensuring the stability of the country, and guaranteeing its security. In this regard, I am proud to announce that the Lebanese Armed Forces have begun the successful implementation of security plans in Tripoli and the Bekaa, and to undertake measures to curb the threat of terrorist attacks.”

    2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7164 (2014) · source

41. “Our challenge today remains to strengthen the resilience ofthe peace process and press for a just and comprehensive solution to all aspects of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in a rejection of partial solutions and in accordance with United Nations relevant resolutions, the Madrid terms of reference and the integral provisions of the Arab Peace Initiative. Turning to my country, Lebanon, the Government of national interest has reiterated its respect for all United Nations resolutions and reaffirmed its commitment to the implementation of resolution 1701 (2006) and its call on the international community to help us to put an end to the Israeli violation of our sovereignty.”

    2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7164 (2014) · source

42. “As Council members know, Israel did not live up to its commitments to release the fourth batch of Palestinian prisoners. Moreover, nine months ago, while commending Mr. Kerry's efforts to relaunch the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis, we cautioned that Israeli persistence in its illegal settlements activities would hinder these efforts and jeopardize the negotiations. Today, the reaction of the Arab and Muslim world, the European Union and many other countries to these illegal settlement activities and policies is unanimous, and has culminated in a collective condemnation through the adoption of four resolutions by the Human Rights Council.”

    2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7164 (2014) · source

43. “The Israeli practices in Jerusalem are only part of a wider scheme to create new realities on the ground, making the two-State solution a more difficult objective to attain. Indeed, people are being segregated based on their national and religious identities and isolated in very restricted areas in an alarming reminder of apartheid. Demolition, the confiscation of land, forced displacement and the authorization ofillegal settlements are just a few examples of these Israeli practices. Indeed, on 28 March Israel demolished a two-storey building, followed by the demolition of European Union-funded humanitarian shelters in Jabal Al-Baba on 8 April to make room for new settlements. As if this were not enough, the decision authorizing settlers to move in to Al-Rajabi House in Hebron illustrates yet another expansion of this settlement policy.”

    2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7164 (2014) · source

44. “Yes, it has obligations under the customs and rules of international law, under the Charter of the United Nations and under resolutions adopted by this body; obligations under article 4 of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, to refrain from any act of hostility directed against this holy site; obligations under article 38 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, to respect people's religious convictions; its obligations under article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to respect a people's right to observe and practice their own religion. How many of these provisions, treaties and norms should Israel be allowed to disregard before the Council reacts?”

    2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7164 (2014) · source

45. “The sounds are those of crashing rubble from houses in East Jerusalem being demolished by Israeli authorities; the voices are those of shouting soldiers and settlers, and the hurried steps are those of scared Palestinian children running away. Jerusalem, the holy city of the three monolithic religions, is becoming a city of one voice. Jerusalem is being denied its inclusive tradition by the inadmissible and illegal behaviour of settlers protected by Israeli forces, in particular in the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque, where those shielded settlers are spreading fear and intimidation and Israeli forces are closing the gates and refusing access to worshippers. How many letters of complaint must the Council receive for it to condemn these illegal activities and to compel Israel to abide by its obligations?”

    2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7164 (2014) · source

46. “Allow me to start by congratulating you, Madam President, and your team on the excellent work done during your presidency of the Council this month. I should also like to commend the members of the Permanent Mission of Luxembourg for their professionalism in steering the work of the Council during the exceedingly busy month of March. Imagine an early morning of a spring day in Jerusalem - the soft breeze carrying the smell of thyme; the first sunshine thread bringing warmth; the knell ofa church bell sounding in the distance, echoing the muezzin calling for prayer; quick steps on gravel of an early riser going to the temple; a city on the verge of resuming its bustling activities. That is what Jerusalem should sound like. But today, the story is completely different there.”

    2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7164 (2014) · source

47. “1 take this opportunity to express my gratitude to friendly Portugal, which has provided training to those elements to undertake their tasks.”

    2011-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6664 (2011) · source

48. “Fourthly, we congratulate the authorities and people of Timor-Leste on the approval of the Strategic Development Plan for 2011-2030, aimed at the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and at raising the country to the rank of middle-income State. We call on the younger generation of Timor- Leste, which represents the overwhelming majority of society, to participate actively in the process of rebuilding and developing its country. We welcome the effective and outstanding participation of women in the political life and State institution-building of Timor- Leste. In conclusion, I thank the authorities of Timor- Leste for the participation of their citizens in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.”

    2011-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6664 (2011) · source

49. “In that context, we commend the role of UNMIT police in training and supporting the Policia Nacional de Timor-Leste (PNTL) to assume its security responsibilities throughout the country. We also stress the importance of building and consolidating judicial authority and institutions in order to ensure accountability and prevent impunity. Thirdly, we believe that the presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for 2012 will be milestones in the democratic progress of the Government of Timor-Leste. We urge all political parties to contribute constructively to the preparations for the elections, and stress the importance that the PNTL be prepared to maintain security and stability during and after the electoral process.”

    2011-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6664 (2011) · source

50. “UNMIT has undoubtedly proved to be a success story for the international community, having contributed alongside other United Nations agencies to the consolidation of stability, the exercise of democracy and the building of State institutions. In that regard, I wish to make the following four observations. First, Lebanon reaffirms its full support for UNMIT as it strives to complete its work before its mandate ends in late 2012. We welcome the joint transition plan signed by the President of Timor-Leste and the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, which will guarantee the Mission's smooth exit. Secondly, building security institutions will be key to consolidating sustainable security and the rule of law.”

    2011-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6664 (2011) · source