On this last working day of the first month of the year, it is a good time to take stock and look ahead to the issues that we will need to focus on in February and beyond. I would like to take this opportunity to talk about three top priorities, Syria, Burundi and North Korea, and also to say a few …
The United States fully supports the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. We commend both Cypriot leaders for their determination to make substantial progress towards a comprehensive settlement to end the long-standing division of the island and reunify Cyprus a…
I thank you, Foreign Minister Nin Novoa, for presiding over this meeting and for your wise leadership in your delegation’s first presidency of the Security Council. I also thank the Secretary-General for his briefing to the Council today and for his being here, which is testament to the serious chal…
I thank you, Foreign Minister Nin Novoa, for convening this important meeting. I also thank Foreign Minister Holguín Cuéllar for joining us to mark this very special occasion. It is a pleasure to have her here as a representative of her Government, as a former Ambassador to the United Nations and as…
I thank the President and Uruguay for its leadership on the issue of the protection of civilians, both here in the Security Council by convening this debate and also in peacekeeping, where Uruguay has played such a strong regional and international role. I thank the Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Bee…
I would like to thank Assistant Secretary-General Kang for the very sobering briefing. I would also like to thank my fellow Security Council members for organizing the meeting on short notice.
At the outset, I want to commend the brave United Nations and humanitarian workers who are carrying out li…
The United States would like to add its thanks to the Ambassadors of Zambia and Switzerland for their efforts in facilitating the discussions on the modalities for the 2016 high-level meeting on HIV/AIDS. We also
thank the President of the General Assembly, his Chef de Cabinet and staff and the man…
I would like to start by acknowledging the leadership of the President of the General Assembly and of the Permanent Representatives of the United Arab Emirates and Latvia, who served as co-facilitators of this important review. I thank them for devoting so much time to making this high-level meeting…
The United States joined the consensus today on resolution 70/109, entitled “A world against violence and violent extremism”, because we continue to support initiatives at the United Nations to advance the international community’s efforts to counter violent extremism. The United States sees prevent…
The United States wishes to reaffirm its strong support for the United Nations-led international humanitarian system. The year 2016 will be important, as it will provide us with an opportunity to make measurable progress on the humanitarian agenda broadly, and on the protracted crises that underpin …
The United States is pleased to co-sponsor the draft resolutions (A/70/L.19 and A/70/L.22) on oceans and law of the sea and on sustainable fisheries. This debate provides an opportunity for the global community to further commit to the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean and its resources,…
The United States firmly supports efforts to promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue and cooperation. We are pleased to have joined consensus on resolution 70/19. The United States strongly believes in encouraging a culture of peace through the promotion of freedom, justice, democracy and …
I thank colleagues for their united support for Afghanistan. Today I would like to emphasize the importance of the progress made by the Government of Afghanistan and the commitment of the international community to the Afghan people. The road to peace and stability for Afghanistan remains challengin…
I thank the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Sahel, Ms. Sellassie, for her briefing. The United States welcomes her close engagement with regional leaders and the broader international community to assist the countries and the people of the Sahel region on their path towards achieving …
We recognize the huge challenges that Europe is facing with the current influx of refugees and migrants, many of whom are fleeing violence and war. We welcome continuing efforts to find a comprehensive, coordinated response. Any solution to the crisis should
focus on saving and protecting lives, en…
This morning many of us in New York woke up to the news of yet another terrorist attack, in yet another city, targeting yet another group of innocents. On behalf of the United States, I extend our condolences for those whose lives have been taken and offer our prayers for those whose lives still han…
In recent weeks, barbaric terrorist attacks have startled the world’s conscience. From Europe to Africa to the Middle East, innocent men and women have been slaughtered. Families have been destroyed in Beirut, concert-goers slain in Paris, air passengers bombed in the sky and tourists killed on the…
I would like to welcome Special Representative Tanin back to
New York and to the Security Council in his new role as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). I congratulate him again on his appointment and t…
I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his reports. Madam President, you are voting with your feet by being here and presiding over today’s meeting. The United Kingdom’s leadership on this issue and continued emphasis on the link between security and development is extremely important. I wo…
The United States fully supports the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the great breadth of work reflected in the IAEA’s 2014 annual report (see A/70/219). We would also like to thank Director General Amano for his leadership.
For many years we have joined the consensus in this forum on…