UN PRESS RELEASE: Security Council Presidential Statement Strongly Condemns Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Ballistic Missile Launch over Japan
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 29/ 17 (link source)
The Security Council this evening strongly condemned as “outrageous” the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 28 August launch of a ballistic missile that flew over Japan, as well as multiple launches conducted on 25 August, expressing grave concern that the North-East Asian nation was deliberately undermining regional peace and stability and causing security concerns around the world.
Issuing presidential statement S/PRST/2017/16, read out by Amr Abdellatif Aboulatta (Egypt), Council President for August, members demanded that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea immediately cease such actions and comply with all relevant Council resolutions. Among other things, it must suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile programme, re-establish its pre-existing commitments to a moratorium on missile launches, abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes in a “complete, verifiable and irreversible manner”, refrain from conducting any further nuclear tests or provocations, and abandon any other existing weapons of mass destruction.
Stressing that such actions constituted a threat not only to the region but to all United Nations Member States, the Council further emphasized the vital importance of immediate, concrete actions to reduce tensions in the Korean Peninsula and beyond, and called on all States to strictly, fully and expeditiously implement all resolutions related to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Nikki Haley (United States), noting that her delegation had called the meeting “knowing we had to come away unified”, emphasized that all 15 Council members had indeed spoken in unison in denouncing the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s outrageous act against Japan and demanding an end to any future missile launches. Pyongyang had violated international law, as well as every single relevant Council resolution, and now all States must fully and strictly enforce all resolutions, including sanctions imposed against the country. “The United States will not allow its [the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s] lawlessness to continue, and the rest of the world is with us,” she said.
Koro Bessho (Japan) stressed that the presidential statement had sent a clear message to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea that the international community would not accept its reckless behaviour. Calling on Pyongyang to abide by all relevant Council resolutions, he vowed to continue to work with Council members and other Member States to reach a solution to the matter.
Liu Jieyi (China) called on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to comply with relevant Council resolutions and on all parties to refrain from any actions that might exacerbate the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Resolution 2371 (2017) called for the resumption of the Six-Party Talks, pledging to seek a political and peaceful solution. The dual-track approach proposed by China was a relevant option for such a solution, he added, reiterating his country’s support for the Peninsula’s denuclearization as well as its opposition to “any chaos or war” there. Indeed, any military escalation — including the deployment of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems — would increase tensions and undermine the security of the region, including China.
Vassily A. Nebenzia (Russian Federation) said the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s testing jeopardized the lives of civilians, most currently, the citizens of Japan. Pyongyang must cease its programme and put its facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) review. Objecting to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s missile launches, he said addressing the issue through sanctions alone was not productive. Calling instead for constructive negotiations, he cited an urgent need to create trust among States in the region. Political tools must be leveraged, as mentioned in the presidential statement.
UN PRESS RELEASE: Pyongyang’s Actions Show Even Strongest Norm No Substitute for Binding Prohibition, Secretary-General Says, in Message for International Day Against Nuclear Tests
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 28/ 17 (link source)
Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message on the International Day against Nuclear Tests, to be observed on 29 August:
Each year, on 29 August, we observe the International Day against Nuclear Tests to respect the victims of the past and to remind the world of the persisting threat these tests pose to the environment and international stability.
More than 2,000 nuclear tests have been conducted over the past seven decades — from the South Pacific to North America, from Central Asia to North Africa. They have harmed some of the world’s most vulnerable peoples and pristine ecosystems.
To ensure that no States can conduct another test, it is essential that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) finally enter into force. Just eight more Annex 2 States need to ratify to accomplish this.
I urge all countries yet to join the CTBT to do so as soon as possible. For almost 20 years, a global norm has existed against nuclear testing based on voluntarily unilateral moratoriums. I applaud this restraint, but it is not enough. Continued nuclear tests by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea demonstrate that even the strongest norm is no substitute for a legally-binding prohibition.
Last year, the Security Council adopted its first resolution focused solely on nuclear testing. I hope that represents a new momentum towards taking the essential next step in ridding the world of the menace of nuclear weapons.
WH: Statement by President Donald J. Trump on North Korea
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 29/ 17 (link source)
The world has received North Korea’s latest message loud and clear: this regime has signaled its contempt for its neighbors, for all members of the United Nations, and for minimum standards of acceptable international behavior.
Threatening and destabilizing actions only increase the North Korean regime’s isolation in the region and among all nations of the world. All options are on the table.
IN OTHER WORLD NEWS...
UN PRESS RELEASE: Security, Economic, Governance Woes Fuel Deepening Humanitarian Crisis in Libya, Special Representative Tells Security CouncilPRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 28/ 17 (link source)
Amid a host of security, economic and governance challenges, a “window of opportunity” had emerged in Libya — home to the United Nations largest diplomatic mission — and it was up to its people to seize it, stressed the Organization’s top official in the country as he briefed the Security Council today.
Ghassan Salamé, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), outlined his initial visits with stakeholders across Libya since his appointment on 22 June. Among those, he had met with Prime Minister Fayez Mustafa al-Sarraj, Chairman of the High Council of State Al-Sweihli and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as well as military leaders, security officials, women, youth and activists. He had also met with leaders in neighbouring States, including Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria and Italy, but had not been able to visit the south of Libya due to external restrictions.
Throughout those meetings, he said, “a clear picture is emerging — people are frustrated with their deteriorating living conditions.” It was unnatural that in a country as wealthy as Libya, university departments were closing because the outrageous gap in the exchange rate had led the foreign faculty to quit en masse. People were tired of the endless cuts in electricity and water, which in turn took down the telephone system and the Internet. Indeed, Libya was an oil-producing country where people must queue, sometimes for an entire day, for 20 litres of petrol.
“There is obviously a serious problem of governance that can hardly wait to be addressed,” he stressed, noting that Libya was “fuelling its own crisis with its own resources to benefit the few and the frustration of many.” Underlining his intention to work closely with partners to help realize a macroeconomic vision for the country while assisting its authorities in providing basic services, he said that unless those economic challenges were addressed the country’s humanitarian crisis would also deepen.
Also describing a number of security sector challenges, he said there was fear about criminality and kidnapping while civilians were killed or injured across the country as a result of sporadic armed clashes and explosive remnants of war. Thousands were also detained for prolonged periods, many with no prospects of a fair trial. He also listed a number of critical issues to be addressed, including the need to build consensus among Libyans on the legal and political significance of the upcoming two-year anniversary of the Libyan Political Agreement and the prospect of adopting a constitution.
Pointing to growing and widespread calls for fresh elections, and underlining the need to ensure the political and technical preconditions for their success, he said a political package was needed to bring all those elements together into a single package that most, if not all, players considered acceptable. Also emphasizing the threats posed by the presence of Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh), Al-Qaida-affiliated terrorist groups, foreign fighters and mercenaries — as well as the trafficking of arms and the cross-border black market economy — he said Libya’s problems also impacted its neighbours and the wider international community.
Nevertheless, he said, “we are not starting from zero”, as the Libyan Political Agreement already provided a working political framework. There was a need to support the Agreement, as well as the ceasefire and the commitments made in the Paris Communiqué, with concrete action. To deliver on its mandate, the United Nations continued to ramp up its presence in Tripoli and across the country. Recalling that a convoy of UNSMIL personnel had been attacked with gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades on 28 June, resulting in one injury, he underscored the need to remain aware of the “real risks in operating in Libya” and to mitigate them as effectively as possible.
Underlining his belief that a peaceful and positive end to the crisis was possible, he said it was in that context that Secretary-General António Guterres had decided to convene a high-level meeting during the upcoming meeting of the General Assembly, with the aim to present an action plan for Libya.
Following that briefing, Carl Skau (Sweden), Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya, updated the 15-nation body on the impact of resolution 2362 (2017), which had in June added refined petroleum products to a list of banned exports. The Committee had, as a result, identified two vessels carrying illegal gasoil sailing under the flags of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and of the United Republic of Tanzania. The Committee had written to the flag States and other Member States of concern seeking further relevant information. Turning to the Panel of Experts’ programme of work, he said the Committee had agreed to take action on five recommendations, one of which had already been discussed at an informal meeting on 21 August.
The Committee, he said, had, among other things, addressed arms embargo queries, reports and requests for exemptions. On assets freezes, it had received a notification from Greece and considered an exemption request from Canada. On the travel bans, the Committee approved an advancement of the return travel of Safia Farkash Al-Barassi and approved the extension of an exemption request for Sayyid Mohammed Qadhaf Al-Dam, both individuals being authorized to travel on the grounds of humanitarian need. With regard to the related work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), the Committee had received one implementation report from a Member State.
Elmahdi S. Elmajerbi (Libya) said the Government of National Accord aimed at taking the necessary steps needed to address the current situation in his country. The current political scene remained ambiguous, with ongoing efforts led by neighbouring countries to bring actors together to achieve agreement. The concerned parties needed to move forward on an agreement signed in Morocco in 2015. Terrorism, illicit migration and natural resources smuggling were among the pernicious scourges Libya faced.
Proposed efforts for dialogue and reconciliation were welcomed, he said, stressing that there was no military solution to the crisis. Despite a lack of capacity to deal with those and other challenges, the Government had managed to hamper local militias and had chased them out of Tripoli. The Government supported UNSMIL and its mandate and appreciated the Sanctions Committee’s role, including its recent expansion of banned illicit exports to now include gasoil. However, frozen assets were posing a continuing problem, with a loss of assets negatively affecting the Libyan people. Not asking for the freeze to be lifted, the Government was requesting new efforts that would protect those assets.
Council members encouraged recent positive steps and raised concerns about persistent challenges. Elbio Rosselli (Uruguay) said the current situation, with frequent, bloody armed conflicts and the presence of terrorism groups, had darkened the horizon of hope. Mistakes must not be repeated, he said, urging Member States to give Mr. Salamé the required support to explore alternative options and new avenues. The Council could choose to ignore reality, but it could not avoid seeing the consequences of that choice.
Sacha Sergio Llorentty Solíz (Bolivia) said the Council must consider the impact of the Libyan conflict on the region, particularly in Mali, where outbreaks of chaos and terrorism had been seen. Indeed, reports had shown, in 2015, that terrorist groups were using Libyan arms to wreak havoc on the ground and further destabilize the region’s security landscape. Also concerning were reported sporadic confrontations between parties that were causing civilian deaths and instability and the lingering issue of unexploded ordnance, threatening returnees and humanitarian staff. Calling on parties to the conflict to observe humanitarian law, he reiterated that the only solution to the conflict was along a political path. Progress towards a draft constitution should be maintained to ensure a successful referendum that would permit Libyans to determine their future.
UN MISSION TO THE UN: Remarks at a UN Security Council Open Debate on Peacekeeping Operations: Sustaining Peace
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 29/ 17 (link source)
Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Madam Deputy Secretary-General, as well as the briefers that we’ve had today on this very important topic.
My time as U.S. Ambassador to the UN coincided by just a matter of weeks with the Secretary-General’s leadership of this institution. This was a nice coincidence. I share the Secretary-General’s vision of reform for the work of the UN, particularly in peacekeeping.
At the heart of this vision for reform are the civilians we are meant to serve. Our near-term goal must be their security and their safety. But our long-term goal must be their independence. In peacekeeping, the UN must strive to ensure the ability of people to live in peace and security without a UN presence.
The idea of sustaining peace tracks very closely with the goal of lifting up civilians. It recognizes that peacekeeping missions alone cannot produce lasting peace. They can help create space for peace to take hold, but they must be a part of a larger strategy of coordinating the resources of the UN to prevent conflict to begin with and to address its causes. And, critically, sustainable peace recognizes that governments must also hold up their end of the deal. There can be no sustained, long-term peace without political solutions on the ground.
So I welcome this opportunity to consider our peacekeeping operations in the larger context of sustaining peace. I’m a former accountant. Alarms go off when I hear ambiguous terms like “synergize” or “holistic.” We need to see things we can measure. We need to see accountability. We all need to make it a priority to find value in what the UN does – not simply financial value, but value for the people the UN serves and value for the people who pay the bills.
That means true reform must be more than the reshuffling of entities and departments. It must be more than generating jargon-filled reports. It must be about solving the problems that prevent the UN from achieving sustainable political solutions. The United Nations has many tools with which to maintain peace and security. Are we using these tools cooperatively and cohesively? Are all of them necessary to achieve a political solution? Are we creating independence, or dependence?
When we fail to use all the tools in the UN toolbox – or fail to use them correctly – we risk creating UN missions like the one in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The DRC mission has existed for years, with no end in sight. One of the reasons is that the mission has lost its way. The Security Council has piled on new responsibilities over the years, diverting resources and attention from its core mission of civilian protection and stabilization.
To make matters worse, this mission must work with an uncooperative and sometimes hostile DRC government. Further complicating matters is the fact that it is clear that credible elections will not be possible in the DRC without this mission’s logistical and technical support.
To help clarify the mission’s role, earlier this year the Security Council made some changes to its mandate. First, we established clear metrics for mission effectiveness. And second, we specifically outlined, “support for the political process,” as a strategic priority. These were good, positive changes – changes that bring us closer to the goal of a sustainable peace in the DRC.
In that same spirit, I welcome Egypt’s focus for this session on making sure there is a clear exit strategy for our peacekeeping missions. This is one of the United States’ principles for reform. Security Council mandates must include plans for a viable transition from peacekeeping to peacebuilding.
The Security Council did this when it mandated that the UN devise a peacebuilding plan in Liberia in preparation for the withdrawal of that mission early next year. The UN devised that plan in close coordination with the government and with the participation of civil society. The result was something that all of the different parties could buy into. The Liberian government has committed to work with the peacekeeping mission, the UN country team, local stakeholders, and international partners to implement the steps laid out in this first-of-its-kind plan to sustain peace in years to come. This is the model for plans in similar transition situations in the future.
Every situation is different. But just as Liberia represents a potential peacebuilding success, South Sudan represents a significant peacebuilding challenge.
When South Sudan started as a country, we sent them a mission to help build peace. But when conflict started a few years later, the peacekeeping mission, justifiably, needed to change its focus. The UN has many necessary components there to get the country back on its feet – a UN Special Envoy helping mediate a solution to the conflict, a peacekeeping mission mandated to protect civilians, a UN country team, and various NGOs all working on different parts of the puzzle.
One challenge is to put together the pieces of the puzzle to make sure they all fit. The goal is the integration of UN resources into a plan focused on supporting a political solution. The second, and bigger challenge, is that UN efforts will only be successful if South Sudanese parties have the political will to engage in regional processes and end the violence.
The Secretary-General’s reform agenda gives us a historic opportunity to institute long overdue changes at the UN. The United States shares his commitment to using the UN’s considerable resources to achieve lasting, sustainable peace. Thank you.
US DEFENSE DEPT: Strikes Continue Against ISIS in Syria, Iraq
SOUTHWEST ASIA, Aug. 29, 2017 — U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting 19 strikes consisting of 59 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
U.S. Central Command continues to work with partner nations to conduct targeted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria as part of the comprehensive strategy to degrade and defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS.
Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.
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THE GUARDIAN: Trump's proposed corporate tax plan will add trillions to US debt – report
Donald Trump’s plans to reduce the corporate tax rate from 35% to 20% will result in a revenue loss of $3tn to $7tn for the federal government over a decade and are unlikely to create the promised boom in jobs, according to a new report from the non-partisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
Daily Bible Verse: [ Christ Our Cornerstone ] Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
Ephesians 2:19 NKJV
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