S/PV.8439 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of Yemen to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. Members of the Council have before them document S/2018/1147, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now.

The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted as resolution 2451 (2018). I now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements after the vote.

I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for scheduling the vote on resolution 2451 (2018) at this time. I also thank my colleagues, members of the Security Council, for their collegiality and cooperation, allowing us to adopt a unanimous resolution — the first resolution on this kind of subject  — a political settlement and humanitarian issue — in more than two years. The resolution we have just passed will hopefully give the maximum possible backing to the outcomes of the Stockholm meeting and the Stockholm agreement. Once again, I would like to thank our friends in Sweden for everything that they have done to help bring that moment about. We also salute the United Nations for the work of the Special Envoy, the Secretary-General and Mark Lowcock, who have been instrumental in trying to bring about progress, including on the ground. As we get to the end of 2018 in the Council under your presidency, Mr. President, it is good that the Council was able to show unanimity on this very important issue that has affected so many millions of citizens in Yemen today. Resolution 2451 (2018) endorses all the agreements reached by the parties at Stockholm, which critically include a ceasefire and a mutual redeployment of forces from Hudaydah city and port, which came into force on 18 December. It authorizes the United Nations to deploy support for implementation of those agreements, including monitors. As we heard from the Secretary- General the other day, he is working on an advance team that will go to Yemen in the next few days. The resolution also sets out the Council’s support for the remaining urgent steps needed to address the humanitarian situation. We have heard from Mark Lowcock and David Beasley in this Chamber that despite the progress made at Stockholm the situation remains precarious, and work is urgently needed to mitigate the risk of famine (see S/PV.8404). The resolution sets out the Council’s clear expectations with respect to the need for the parties to comply with international humanitarian law. The United Kingdom attaches great importance to international humanitarian law, accountability and the need to investigate alleged violations of international humanitarian law and hold those responsible accountable. Finally, resolution 2451 (2018) obviously reiterates our full support for the United Nations Special Envoy and the political process that he is driving, and it looks ahead to the next steps in that process. I am sure the Council will want to join me in looking forward to further progress in January. The most important matter now is that we turn to urgent implementation. It is vital that the parties follow through on their commitments to pave the way for a formal relaunch of negotiations and, at the same time, deliver real improvements on the ground that make a tangible difference to ordinary Yemenis. We have asked the United Nations to update the Council on a weekly basis for the foreseeable future, and I look forward to further action and unity from the Council on one of the most important dossiers we have.

We voted in favour of today’s resolution on Yemen (resolution 2451 (2018)), and we strongly welcome its adoption for all the reasons that my colleague from the United Kingdom just mentioned. I want to thank her and her team and all other Council members for having worked hard in favour of this resolution. As stated by Foreign Minister Margot Wallström, the Stockholm agreement can be the breakthrough for peace and a turning point for the crisis in Yemen. Today’s resolution endorses the agreement, calls on the parties to implement it, authorizes the United Nations to support its implementation and sets out next steps in the process. The resolution does not address all the issues of the multifaceted crisis that Yemen faces, but the implementation of the concrete measures in the Stockroom agreement will provide much-needed steps in that direction, with a direct and positive humanitarian impact for the people of Yemen. We commend the Yemeni parties for engaging constructively at the United Nations-led consultations. We welcome the tireless efforts of Special Envoy Griffiths, and we also reiterate our deep appreciation for the personal engagement of Secretary-General António Guterres. Implementation of the key provisions of the resolution is urgently needed and must be our primary focus. The ceasefire announced in Hudaydah as from 18 December is the most pressing of several important steps. As tensions remain on the ground, following years of conflict and lack of trust between the parties, it is important that the Security Council insists on the full respect of the ceasefire by all parties and that the United Nations is authorized to monitor it. We now look forward to the swift establishment and deployment of the advanced team to begin the monitoring and facilitation of the implementation of the Stockholm agreement, and we appreciate that the Secretary-General has moved very swiftly to ensure that the United Nations fulfils its part in this implementation. The United Nations does have a key role in working with the parties to ensure that the ceasefire is upheld and that ports and roads can remain open so that provisions can enter the country. We stand ready to participate in the United Nations presence that will be established in Hudaydah. We remain deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis and the looming threat of famine. The measures in the Stockholm agreement will serve to alleviate humanitarian suffering, but further measures are urgently needed, as outlined several times to the Security Council by Under-Secretary-General Mark Lowcock. Looking ahead, we welcome the Special Envoy’s intention to convene the two sides again in January for continued discussions on the many issues at hand, including further confidence-building measures and the framework for a forward-looking political process. The parties should show the same level of commitment as there was in Stockholm to move forward on those issues. Swedish engagement on Yemen will continue beyond our tenure on the Council. During our term, we have made continued efforts to keep Yemen high on the Council’s agenda, including addressing the humanitarian disaster. We will, for the third time, co-host, together with Switzerland, the pledging event for the United Nations humanitarian response plan for Yemen, on 26 February 2019, as a further response to the humanitarian disaster. We have also continuously emphasized the importance of an inclusive political process with the meaningful participation of women and young people. As we stated in this Chamber last Friday, the breakthrough made by the parties in Sweden is truly significant and it brings hope but it will be meaningful only once it produces results for the Yemeni people (see S/PV.8424). Today’s resolution is a strong manifestation of the international community’s unity and commitment to fully back it up.

We gather to vote on resolution 2451 (2018) today in order to address the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Yemen and to endorse the Stockholm agreements. The United States remains deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and maintains the firm conviction that the best hope of resolving the conflict and addressing the humanitarian crisis is a political solution, taking the Stockholm agreements as an important first step. The resolution empowers the United Nations and its Member States to start the vital work of implementing those agreements. We continue to call on all involved in the conflict to allow unfettered access and safe passage for humanitarian workers and to facilitate the entry into and movement through Yemen of fuel, food, medicine and other supplies needed to save lives. The resolution also makes a clear demand on all parties for unhindered humanitarian access and adherence to international law. It calls for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure. These demands are important, and we urge the parties to adhere to them. We also hope for rapid progress on stabilizing the economy and removing any bureaucratic impediments to the delivery of vital humanitarian and commercial goods. Like the Stockholm agreements, this resolution is an important step, but it is only an initial one. Our overriding priority remains implementing the agreements to enforce the ceasefire and oversee a redeployment of forces in Hudaydah. We will be watching closely. Success depends on the parties living up to the obligations agreed to in Sweden. This text places a tremendous obligation on the Government of Yemen and the Houthis to act in good faith, engage and compromise, and give the Yemeni people a lasting peace. We are grateful to Martin Griffiths and his team and to Sweden for doing the hard work and providing the support that resulted in this much-needed pause. We all have hard work to do in the coming weeks, and we will embark on this endeavour with a newfound determination. The United States fully supports the Sweden outcomes and their implementation by the parties, and we look forward to the Secretary-General’s forthcoming proposals on how the United Nations will play its role to support the commitments the parties made in Sweden. We call upon all parties to give priority to the rapid, safe and comprehensive delivery of humanitarian assistance to millions of suffering Yemenis. But just as the parties have responsibilities, so too does the Security Council. When the Council speaks, we must do so clearly and credibly, accurately reflecting the facts on the ground and with the courage to address those who choose to fan the flames of conflict. We had hoped therefore to include a clear condemnation of the Iranian regime for its role in prolonging this war. The Council must not allow Iran’s nefarious activities in the region to disturb this welcome yet fragile agreement, which so many have worked so hard to achieve. Iran violates international law with impunity, sending weapons and associated material to the Houthi in contravention of the arms embargo provisions set out in resolution 2216 (2015) and a violation of resolution 2231 (2015). These weapons pose a grave threat not only to peace and security, but also to the innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. With a view to seeking clear accountability, the United States has spoken out in this Chamber against Iran’s malign activities. It is long past time for every other member of the Council to do the same. While we voted for the draft resolution put forward by our friends the United Kingdom, we regret that it does not call Iran to account for its destructive agenda in Yemen. We hope that in the days to come, Iranian missiles or misdeeds do not shatter the promise of peace and bring us back to where we were before. But if that does happen, the Council may come to regret that omission.

At the outset, we welcome the unanimous adoption of resolution 2451 (2018) by the Security Council and thank the permanent delegation of the United Kingdom for its tireless efforts as penholder on the issue of Yemen. We also commend the flexibility shown by the delegation during the negotiations on the resolution. We voted in favour of the resolution despite the fact that it does not cover some of the concerns that we expressed during the negotiations. There are several reasons for that, most notably the need to preserve the unity of the Security Council on the issue of Yemen. We hope that such unity will be preserved and applied also to other agenda items of the Council. We also voted in favour as a response to the sensitive and important nature of this articulated stage, when there is a ray of hope and a real possibility of reaching a peaceful solution to the crisis, which has brought terrible destruction to that dear Arab country with its deep-rooted civilization, threatening its unity and stability as well as the security and stability of the region. Our support for resolution 2451 (2018) reflects our support for the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Special Envoy and for the Stockholm agreement reached by the Yemeni parties during the most recent cycle of consultations, hosted by the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden, concerning the city of Al-Hudaydah, its ports and prisoner exchange. We also support the declaration of understanding on Taiz. We hope that all parties will fully implement the agreement with a view to supporting the efforts of the Special Envoy, Mr. Martin Griffiths, leading to the upcoming round of negotiations on a political settlement based on the three agreed terms of reference, namely, the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative and its implementation mechanism, the outcome of the National Dialogue Conference, and the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, especially resolution 2216 (2015). That would result in ending the crisis in brotherly Yemen, maintain its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and ensure non-interference in its internal affairs. We also welcome the Secretary-General’s intention to convene in Geneva on 26 February an international pledging conference in support of the 2019 humanitarian response plan. The State of Kuwait is eager to participate in the conference so as to continue to ease the humanitarian situation in Yemen and alleviate the suffering of its brotherly people.

The Kingdom of the Netherlands is pleased that the Council has ultimately been able to adopt unanimously a text that will increase the chances for peace in Yemen. In line with resolution 2417 (2018), on the link between conflict and hunger, resolution 2451 (2018) calls on the parties to allow and facilitate the safe, rapid and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel to all those in need. In the context of the tremendous humanitarian challenges in Yemen, with millions of Yemenis on the brink of a massive, conflict- induced famine, the text will help to alleviate the humanitarian situation. The resolution welcomes the consultations held in Sweden, noting the vital importance of making progress towards a political agreement to end the conflict. Such an agreement is to be attained through an inclusive political process; this also implies that the parties themselves should include women in their delegations. With this resolution, Special Envoy Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General Mark Lowcock and retired Major General Patrick Cammaert, as Chair of the Redeployment Coordination Committee, will be able to operate for the benefit of the people of Yemen. In the presidential statement on Yemen of 15 March (S/PRST/2018/5), the Council stressed the importance of accountability and respect for the principles of proportionality, precaution and distinction. The Kingdom of the Netherlands believes that accountability is key to preventing further indiscriminate attacks and the targeting of civilians and civilian objects, wherever they occur. We strongly reaffirm the need for all parties to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law. The need for transparent, credible and independent investigations into alleged violations of international humanitarian law is clear. Without it, the violence and instability in Yemen is likely to continue. Those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law need to be held to account. We thank the United Kingdom, as penholder, for the wise manner in which it steered the process as well as its tireless efforts, and we thank all Council members for putting the interests of the Yemeni people at the centre of their decision-making.

Bolivia voted in favour of resolution 2451 (2018) because it is urgent, it is necessary and it is absolutely essential in order to support the burgeoning dialogue, which is the only hope for peace for the Yemeni people today. We supported the resolution, and we strongly support the efforts being carried out by the Secretary- General, the Special Envoy and the United Nations team to establish a space for negotiations and to provide Yemen the humanitarian aid that it so desperately needs. However, we deplore the fact that in the past 24 hours, once again we have witnessed a lack of transparency and, frankly, a lack of respect, something that we often see in the Council. Elected members are the main actors in the issues that are discussed; we demand to be taken into account. Bolivia has said this repeatedly during the past few years as a Council member, and we will continue to say it when our term is over. We believe that transparency and full equality among all members of the Council is a goal that remains to be achieved.

China has consistently advocated a political solution to the issue of Yemen to support the political process there, with consideration for the long-term interests of the Yemeni people. China voted in favour of resolution 2451 (2018), on Yemen. The adoption of the resolution safeguards the unity of the Council and has provided new momentum for the solution of the Yemeni issue. Recently the Yemeni parties fully demonstrated their political will and accomplished a breakthrough in the peace talks in Sweden. China welcomes this and commends and supports the Secretary-General and Special Envoy Griffiths for their tremendous efforts. The international community should doubly cherish the outcome of the Sweden peace talks and effectively facilitate its implementation. The Yemeni political process is entering a crucial stage. The Council should fully consider and respect the views of the countries concerned and of those of the region, and support the Yemen political process and the good offices of the United Nations. The international community should increase its humanitarian relief measures for Yemen and support the country in efforts to continue to improve the humanitarian conditions there and meet the basic needs of its population. We have taken only the first step in a 10,000-mile journey. The Stockholm agreement and resolution 2451 (2018) are just the beginning but not the end. In the next stage, the parties should focus on implementing the outcome of the Sweden peace talks and, on that basis, promote a sustainable and effective process of dialogue and negotiations. The political route is the only way to resolve the Yemeni issue. The international community should safeguard the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Yemen, and support efforts to reach an inclusive political solution through dialogue and negotiations on the basis of resolution 2216 (2015), the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative and its implementation mechanism, and the outcome of the Yemeni National Dialogue Conference. To that end, China stands ready to continue to play its constructed role.

Peru voted in favour of resolution 2451 (2018), sponsored by the United Kingdom, because we believe it is necessary for the Council to support the important agreements reached in Sweden by the parties to the Yemeni conflict and to help facilitate the implementation and monitoring of the agreement, in close coordination with the Secretary-General and his Special Envoy. We thank the United Kingdom for its efforts to achieve consensus. At the same time, we believe that the Council has a clear responsibility to meet the urgent needs of a population facing the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today, in particular in the light of the fact that the looming threat of famine is a result of the conflict. We note that the resolution contains specific reference to the need to investigate and ensure access to justice and accountability for the atrocity crimes that have been committed in the conflict in Yemen. We also express our gratitude to and support for the work of Secretary- General António Guterres, his Special Envoy Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock and all humanitarian workers deployed in Yemen. Furthermore, we highlight the role played by Sweden and all countries that have made it possible for the parties to arrive at a ceasefire, pursuant to the Stockholm agreement. We believe that, following the Stockholm meeting, we are taking a step forward today towards ending the conflict and alleviating the suffering in Yemen. However, we must recognize that we have a long way to go to achieve sustainable peace, which will need the support of the international community and the Council.

I would like to start with a friendly but important remark concerning procedure. Multilingualism is a fundamental value of the Organization. The adoption of resolution 2451 (2018) in a single language is linked to exceptional circumstances and should not constitute a precedent. That being said, France welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 2451 (2018) on Yemen. The resolution is a strong signal of the unity and commitment of the Security Council, which, as we had hoped, is putting its full weight beyond the efforts of the United Nations on Yemen. I pay particular tribute to the work and commitment of the British penholder, which brought the members of the Council together after difficult negotiations. The resolution marks the unity of the Council and the international community in support of launching a political process to end the crisis, as well as the humanitarian and political action of the United Nations. Three points emerge from the resolution. First, it allows us to endorse the outcome of the Stockholm negotiations, for which we again thank Sweden, and the agreement on three main points: prisoner exchange; the withdrawal of the armed forces from the port and city of Al-Hudaydah and a ceasefire throughout the province; and the establishment of a mechanism for de-escalation in Taiz. Secondly, the resolution provides the necessary basis for the United Nations to act quickly to assist in the implementation of the agreements on Al-Hudaydah by allowing the rapid deployment of a United Nations monitoring and control team. Finally, the resolution cites the essential points of Mark Lowcock’s humanitarian requests, which the Council was called on to address by maintaining the political course so as to ensure that the parties remain involved with Martin Griffiths during the next phase. The swift adoption of the resolution, on which the penholders worked tirelessly in recent days with our full support, was essential to preserving and maintaining the positive momentum of Stockholm and to enabling the immediate implementation of the arrangements reached. We remain clear that much remains to be done. There humanitarian situation remains a disaster and the Council will have to maintain its mobilization to respond more fully and to help the Yemeni population to recover from the tragic conflict. In that context, those responsible for the most serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law must be held accountable. The Council will also have to remain mobilized in support of the mediation of the Special Representative, whose efforts and initial results I commend once again. Maintaining our commitment and unity will be crucial to the discussions scheduled for January on the political framework and solution. France is determined to do so.

We welcome the unanimous adoption of resolution 2451 (2018), which we believe could contribute to maintaining the positive momentum created by the successful intra-Yemeni political consultations held in Stockholm under the auspices of the United Nations. We thank the United Kingdom for its role in facilitating the negotiations. After welcoming the Stockholm consultations and endorsing its agreements, the resolution rightly emphasizes the importance of implementing the outcomes that have brought a sense of hope to the Yemenis, who seek and deserve peace and stability. We also stress that the parties should fully honour the agreements reached in Stockholm. In that regard, the United Nations should support the parties, and the resolution that we have adopted today authorizes the United Nations to play a key role. While Stockholm has brought concrete results, it is a positive beginning to the long journey. The parties should therefore also continue to constructively engage with the Special Envoy in the upcoming January talks in the ultimate objective of arriving at a comprehensive political solution that meets the aspirations of the people of Yemen and addresses the legitimate security concerns of the countries of the region. As Yemenis continue to endure the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, it is also vital to support the United Nations and its humanitarian partners in delivering aid to all Yemenis. Maintaining the ceasefire in Al-Hudaydah; protecting humanitarian supplies; ensuring safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access; stabilizing the economy; and enhancing funding for humanitarian response remains essential. The implementation of the resolution could also help in that regard. Preserving the current momentum is indispensable at both the political and humanitarian levels. We continue to support the efforts of Special Envoy Martin Griffiths and the humanitarian work of the United Nations and its partners. In that regard, the unity of the Council remains critical to ending the unspeakable tragedy in Yemen. As we leave the Council, we hope that the positive impetus generated by the Stockholm meeting will be maintained and that the Yemeni parties, with the support of the international community, will sustain their engagement in search of peace and stability in Yemen.

Poland welcomes the adoption of the important and timely resolution 2451 (2018). We thank the United Kingdom for its efforts to have this text adopted today. The resolution reflects the significant achievements of the recent consultations in Sweden and reiterates the call upon the parties to ensure their swift and full implementation. It also addresses the five points on which Under-Secretary-General Mark Lowcock requested the Council’s urgent support. We are pleased by the fact that the Security Council managed to maintain its unity and was able to undertake this much-needed step to address the humanitarian crisis in the country. I would like to take this opportunity to once again express our full support for the five asks of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. We reiterate our call on the parties to implement the agreement on the cessation of hostilities across Al-Hudaydah governorate and in the ports of Al-Hudaydah, Saleef and Ras Isa, which will make it possible to reopen the humanitarian corridors and facilitate the delivery of life-saving assistance. We urge all parties to guarantee the unimpeded flow and movement of vital imports, humanitarian supplies and personnel into and across the whole country, including by removing any bureaucratic impediments that could restrict such flows, and to ensure the full and sustained functioning of all Yemeni ports and the Sana’a airport. Poland also underscores the obligation of all parties to the conflict in Yemen to respect the principles of international humanitarian law and to ensure the protection of civilians. We urge them to cease all indiscriminate use of weapons in populated areas and attacks against the civilian population, including air strikes and ballistic missile attacks, and to end the use of civilian infrastructure for military purposes. The parties must at all times respect the principles of proportionality and distinction, taking all feasible precautions to avoid harm to civilians, civilian facilities and critical infrastructure. We also underscore the need for independent, credible and timely investigations into alleged violations of international humanitarian law and for those found responsible to be held accountable. Finally, we would like to highlight the need to continue political dialogue through constructive engagement with the Special Envoy and the next round of consultations, which are due to take place in January, as well as the importance of ensuring the meaningful participation in the peace processes of all the relevant groups of Yemeni society, including women and youth.

The Russian delegation voted in favour of resolution 2451 (2018) on Yemen, which was submitted by the United Kingdom, based on the fact that it seeks to strengthen the agreements reached in Sweden through the mediation work of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, Mr. Martin Griffiths. It is most important that the document was supported by the Yemenis themselves and regional players, whose opinion is crucial to ensuring the resolution’s effectiveness. We trust that by continuing to work together in the future, we will be able to achieve a comprehensive ceasefire in the country and help the millions of Yemeni residents who are in dire need of some kind of assistance. There is a need to support the implementation of the agreements reached in the first round of intra-Yemeni consultations and to provide further assistance to the mediation work of Mr. Martin Griffiths, including in the context of organizing a new round of negotiations early next year.

I now give the floor to the representative of Yemen.

At the outset, I thank the President of the Security Council for allowing us to take the floor in the Council for the second time this month, and the delegation of the United Kingdom, penholder on the Yemeni dossier, for its efforts. We also thank the delegation of the United States of America for its support to and interest in Yemen. On my own behalf and that of the people and Government of Yemen, I thank and commend the delegation of the State of Kuwait, which is an authentic Arab voice in the Council. I also thank the States of the coalition for their firm and principled position for Yemen, its territory and its people. The Government of my country commends the unified position that the members of the Security Council have taken since the start of the Yemeni crisis. We hope that this position will endure until we have achieved lasting peace, put an end to the coup d’état and implemented all Security Council resolutions. This will ensure that the Yemeni people can finally see the resolutions implemented on the ground. The Republic of Yemen welcomes the Security Council’s adoption today of resolution 2451 (2018), which reaffirms the international community’s position with regard to Yemen’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity and stresses the importance of achieving a comprehensive political solution based on the three agreed terms of reference, namely, the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative and its implementation mechanism; the outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference; and relevant Security Council resolutions, especially resolution 2216 (2015). The Republic of Yemen also welcomes the call on the parties to implement the Stockholm agreement pursuant to the timelines determined therein, including the withdrawal of Houthi militias from the city of Al-Hudaydah and the ports of Al-Hudaydah, Saleef and Ras Isa ports, while implementing the exchange of prisoners and detainees and the declaration of understanding on the city of Taiz. In that regard, the Yemeni Government reaffirms that, from the outset and based on the guidelines of the President of the Republic, His Excellency Mr. Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi Mansour, it presented numerous proposals during the Stockholm consultations with a view to alleviating the suffering of the Yemeni people. Those proposals included the reopening of Sana’a airport for domestic flights through Aden International Airport, as well as proposals pertaining to the support of its financial institutions and the Central Bank of Yemen in Aden in order to enable it to pay the salaries of all civil servants in accordance with the December 2014 payrolls. Nonetheless, the stubbornness of the Houthi militias prevented that from happening. The international community should have condemned the Houthis who carried out the coup d’état supported by Iran. The Government of Yemen reaffirms its full commitment to implementing the Stockholm agreement. It calls on the international community to monitor the violations by the coup party, seeking to impede the agreement. The Government of Yemen is also ready to work constructively, alongside the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, to implement all points of the Stockholm agreement. The Government of Yemen sees no point in holding new rounds of consultations until the Houthi militias withdraw from the city and port of Al-Hudaydah, the legitimate authority of the Government is restored and its hierarchy is respected, in accordance with Yemeni law, as stipulated in Stockholm agreement on Al-Hudaydah.

Before adjourning the meeting, as this is the last scheduled meeting of the Council for the month of December, I would like to express the sincere appreciation of the delegation of Côte d’Ivoire to the members of the Council, especially the Permanent Representatives and their respective staff, and to the Secretariat for all the support they have given us. As we conclude a busy month, we can congratulate ourselves on having reached consensus on several important issues within our purview. We could not have done it alone or without the hard work, support and positive contributions of every delegation and the representatives of the Secretariat, as well as of all relevant conference service officers, interpreters, translators, Verbatim Reporters and security staff. Throughout its entire presidency, my country has stayed true to its philosophy of dialogue and peace. It has worked hard in consistently seeking the consensus of all Member States in order to maintain the unity and effectiveness of the Council. We pray that this unity and effectiveness will endure. As we end our presidency, I know that I speak on behalf of the Council in wishing the delegation of the Dominican Republic good luck in its presidency for the month of January. On behalf of the Council, I should like to express my sincere appreciation to the five outgoing members, namely, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands and Sweden. I commend the work they have done and the contributions they have made during their terms on the Security Council.