We welcome and support these critical efforts. But we, as Member States, also must not abdicate our responsibility to take action on decisions that have been pending for several years, and strengthen – when appropriate – policies that underpin our joint reform efforts. While my delegation will address these issues in more detail throughout the …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 1 March, 2021 | Topics: Remarks and Highlights
In President Biden’s inaugural address, he declared America would engage with the world, we would repair our alliances, and be a strong and trusted partner for peace, progress, and security. He pledged that he would be, that we would be a nation that leads, in his words, not only “by the example of our power, …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 1 March, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield participated in a series of bilateral meetings today with UN Security Council counterparts. Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield has now held meetings with all 14 of the Permanent Representatives to the UN on the Security Council in advance of the U.S. assuming the Security Council presidency in March.
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 27 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
For the first time addressing the General Assembly as the Representative of the United States to the United Nations, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield delivered remarks to the UN General Assembly on the situation in Burma. The Ambassador strongly condemned the military coup and the security forces’ brutal killing of unarmed people and urged the world to speak …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 27 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Representative to the United Nations, will hold a press conference at the UN Monday, March 1 at 12:30 p.m. EST. Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield will outline the March program of work for the UN Security Council and highlight U.S. priorities for the month. A livestream of the press conference will be available here: …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 26 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
As I said the last time we met on the Palestinian question in the Middle East, the United States remains committed to working towards a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous future for the people of the Middle East. For both Israelis and Palestinians, this means focusing our efforts on advancing their freedom, security, and prosperity …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 26 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
Let me be clear from the outset: The United States continues to strongly condemn the military coup in Myanmar. And we condemn the security forces’ brutal killing of unarmed people. And I would – like others – like to welcome and commend the courageous and brave statement made by the Myanmar Perm. Rep. here this …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 26 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
Yesterday, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield presented her credentials to UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Following the ceremony, the two met to discuss the important leadership role the United States plays in the UN system, the global pandemic, climate change, humanitarian issues, and human rights. She then made a brief statement to the UN press corps.
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 26 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
The United States remains clear-eyed about the Houthis’ malign actions, and their aggression, particularly in their current military offensive against Marib. Likewise, we hold them responsible for attacks and threats against civilian and commercial shipping, which must cease.
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 25 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
The United Nations is the world’s most important forum for bringing people and countries together, and I take that seriously as a U.S. diplomat. As I made clear in my testimony to the U.S. Senate, this administration knows that when America is at the table and acting in accordance with our values, the United States* …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 25 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
We believe that the role and authority of the General Assembly is best enhanced through improvements to the body’s efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency. Resolution 74/303, the General Assembly’s most recent revitalization resolution, provides a valuable roadmap for this work.
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 25 February, 2021 | Topics: Remarks and Highlights
As Secretary Blinken underscored earlier this month, the United States remains committed to the international community’s long-standing, comprehensive, and sustained efforts to bring a political solution to the conflict in Syria.
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 25 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
The inherent right to use force in the exercise of individual or collective self-defense against non-state actors is well-established. For centuries, States have invoked the right of self-defense to justify taking action on the territory of another State against non-State actors. Since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, 19 different States have identified or …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 24 February, 2021 | Topics: Remarks and Highlights
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Representative to the United Nations, will deliver brief remarks Thursday, February 25, at approximately 3:00 p.m. EST at the UN Security Council stakeout following her presentation of credentials to the UN Secretary-General. Her remarks will be livestreamed on UN Web TV: http://webtv.un.org/.
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 24 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
Stepping into this role is a deeply meaningful coda to my 35-year career in the Foreign Service. When I first joined the service, I was, as a Black woman from Louisiana, an outsider. I was warned it would be harder for someone with my background to succeed. And it was. But over the years, I …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 24 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
We seek greater transparency, predictability, and inclusivity for NGOs and civil society. And we welcome your efforts to ensure broad and meaningful civil society representation at the UN and in UN processes.
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 24 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
As the Secretary-General noted in his report, “the crisis in the country is inextricably linked to the dynamics in the Central African region.” The United States welcomes the decision of the Economic Community of Central African States to appoint a mediator for the Central African Republic and looks forward to the naming of this mediator …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 24 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
We are here today because in 2014, Russia occupied Crimea and instigated a conflict in the Donbas region. We are here today because Russia’s actions in eastern Ukraine have led to the deaths of more than 13,000 people, displaced millions of Ukrainians, and left an additional 3.4 million in need of humanitarian assistance. And we …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 23 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
I think it’s particularly important we are before the Security Council because the climate crisis is indisputably a Security Council issue. Our Pentagon has for years described the impact of climate as a threat multiplier. In fact, it is among the most complex and compelling security issues that I think we have ever faced. We’re …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 23 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
Let me begin with something we all know: legislative elections were due in Haiti in October 2019. Both before and after that date, members of this Council repeatedly called on Haiti’s political stakeholders to come together, to set aside their differences, and to find a way forward to address Haiti’s most pressing challenges. They chose …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 22 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
Our remarks on Somalia over the past several months in this Council have focused on the need for Somalia’s leadership to seize the opportunity before them and make concerted efforts to advance peace and security for Somalia’s people.
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 22 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
As the briefers noted this morning, the United States is preparing to reinvigorate diplomatic efforts, alongside the United Nations and others, to achieve a ceasefire and end the war in Yemen. As we do so, I want to be clear that we will fully support the Special Envoy’s efforts to bring all parties to consensus …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 18 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
Here’s how else we plan to contribute to ending this pandemic. As some of you will have seen, President Biden’s first National Security Memorandum made clear that the United States will once again serve as a global health leader. The United States believes that multilateralism, the United Nations, the World Health Organization are essential – not just as an …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 17 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
The Biden Administration supports a strategic partnership with a stable, democratic Iraq. The Administration will be a steady, reliable partner that supports Iraq’s anti-corruption and economic reform efforts, strengthens regional relationships, holds accountable human rights violators and those who abuse human rights, provides humanitarian assistance, backs efforts to control militias and to control Iran’s destabilizing …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 16 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
In this collective effort, UN Women’s global leadership is more critical than ever. We face unprecedented challenges around the globe, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the areas of combating violence against women and seeking to fully protect the rights of women and girls belonging to multiple marginalized groups.
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 15 February, 2021 | Topics: Remarks and Highlights
UN peacekeeping remains among the most effective mechanisms to address the global challenges to international peace and security. Yet more progress and reform is required. The United States is committed to strengthening and reforming peacekeeping operations so that they can deliver on their vital global mission.
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 15 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
We stand with the people of Burma and will continue to use our renewed engagement in the international community to commit to human rights in Burma and press for an immediate return to democracy.
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 12 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
First, the United States welcomes the reduction of duplicative resolutions and agenda items across six UNGA committees. Moving away from annual reporting and negotiation can often streamline our processes with little cost to outcomes. We have seen this with our biennial resolutions across several committees, including the Third Committee resolution on elections and democratization. We …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 11 February, 2021 | Topics: Remarks and Highlights
The United States reaffirms its unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We will never recognize Russia’s attempted annexation of Crimea. As a result, U.S. sanctions on Russia in response to its aggression in eastern Ukraine and occupation of Crimea will remain in place unless – and until – Russia reverses course.
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 11 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
We thank UNICEF for their engagement in addressing Member States’ concerns regarding the CPDs, and look forward to early, proactive engagement in the future. We also thank program countries for their constructive efforts to address Member States’ concerns which demonstrate a collective commitment to Board oversight, the objectives of the CPD instrument, and consensus-based adoption …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 11 February, 2021 | Topics: Remarks and Highlights
The United States welcomes UNICEF’s detailed report and commends UNICEF for its expanded, prompt, and partnership-focused response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We urge UNICEF to fully leverage the investments and lessons learned from its ongoing response to continue equitable access to life-saving health, nutrition, education, WASH, and child protection services. We know UNICEF, in light …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 10 February, 2021 | Topics: Remarks and Highlights
Under President Biden, the United States is committed to working with the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS to ensure this terrorist group is defeated on a lasting and comprehensive basis.
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 10 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
As a member of the Executive Board, the United States takes seriously our responsibility to ensure that policies and programs uphold integrity of the United Nations by ensuring that they are consistent with the UN Charter and Universal Declaration on Human Rights.
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 9 February, 2021 | Topics: Remarks and Highlights
As several of my colleagues have mentioned, on his very first day in office, President Biden signed the instrument to rejoin the Paris Agreement. Other steps have been taken as well by the Administration; important steps related to climate change.
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 8 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
We recognize the UN Human Rights Council has its flaws, but we also believe it can help promote fundamental freedoms around the world. The only way we can ensure the Human Rights Council fulfills this important mandate is by being at the table as an observer and working with our partners and allies in a …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 8 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
The United States is pleased to join the Board in adopting all Country Program Documents presented for approval at this session. We thank UNFPA for their proactive, productive, and effective engagement in addressing Member States’ concerns regarding the CPDs. We also thank program countries for their constructive efforts to address Member States’ concerns which demonstrate …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 3 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
The High Representative reiterated an important message from the Secretary-General in her remarks just now, so I’d like to reiterate a key message from the United States on this issue: the Assad regime has repeatedly used chemical weapons against the Syrian people, and then subsequently sought to avoid accountability by obstructing independent investigations and undermining …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 3 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
Madam President, we commend UNFPA’s advocacy on protecting access to sexual and reproductive health services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in ongoing humanitarian crises; on sounding the alarm on the pandemic-related spike in gender-based violence; and on stressing the critical role of gender-disaggregated data collection for understanding the full scope of the problem and effectively …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 3 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
As UNDP develops its 2022-25 Strategic Plan, I would like to highlight U.S. priorities. We believe it is important for UNDP to continue to focus on its core mandate of helping countries strengthen institutions and good governance, eradicate poverty, foster conflict prevention and recovery, and promote environmental sustainability. It should also continue to improve management …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 2 February, 2021 | Topics: Remarks and Highlights
We will continue to encourage discussions to further align and improve the effectiveness and transparency of the development of Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks and CPDs. This is an important year for implementation of the QCPR and review of the Resident Coordinator system. Board discussions will continue to provide an effective platform to further these efforts.
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 1 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
We thank the Board of Auditors for these reports and the management of UNDP, UNFPA, and UNOPS for managements’ responses. We commend UNDP for a fifteenth consecutive clean audit. We strongly support the Board’s recommendation for swift implementation of all BoA recommendations, especially outstanding Board recommendations.
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 1 February, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
The current situation we face – with more than 8,000 children of foreign terrorist fighters residing in camps in Syria and Iraq – is not tenable. The international community can and we must do more. We cannot continue to let these children languish in overcrowded environments where they suffer from inadequate shelter, food, sanitation, educational …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 29 January, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
The United States believes, as we’ve just heard in SRSG Williams briefing, that Libya faces a critical turning point. A viable path to a unified government, national elections, and an end to the conflict lies ahead of us. The Libyan parties themselves must now seize the opportunity before them to select an interim national executive …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 28 January, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
The United States will never shrink from its commitment to combat anti-Semitism. We honor the sacred memory of those murdered in the Holocaust when together we act to prevent future atrocities and uphold the rights and the dignity of all.
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 27 January, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
Under the new administration, the policy of the United States will be to support a mutually agreed two-state solution, one in which Israel lives in peace and security alongside a viable Palestinian state. This vision, as I know we have just heard, though under serious stress, remains the best way to ensure Israel’s future as …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 26 January, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
The United States is committed to advancing Holocaust education and working with the international community to increase Holocaust awareness. We are also committed to combating anti-Semitism and other forms of hatred, to preventing atrocities worldwide, and to bringing those responsible for atrocities to justice. By so doing, we hope to honor the memory of the …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 25 January, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
The United States is committed to working together with other countries to combat this deadly virus. As a first sign of our renewed commitment to supporting multilateral efforts to fight the pandemic, on January 20, President Biden signed a letter to the Secretary-General retracting the previous administration’s notification of the United States’ intent to withdraw …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 25 January, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
The Government of Belarus is reverting to such oppressive, drastic means to hide the truth to avoid its own accountability for human rights violations. But what’s inspiring, what’s inspired me listening today, is hearing how, that even in the face of this, brave journalists continue to play an essential role in covering, uncovering the facts …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 22 January, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
The Verification Mission has played a vital role in supporting Colombia’s peace and reconciliation efforts and the Mission should be proud of its contributions. The United States also wants to acknowledge here the government of Colombia’s commitment to Peace Accord implementation, particularly in the face of the daunting public health challenges posed by COVID-19, and …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 21 January, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights
The United States is a strong proponent of the protection of religious sites and was a co-sponsor of UN General Assembly resolution 55/254 on this subject. We continue to support the underlying premise of this resolution but are concerned about its many references to limits on or condemning speech and at times equating speech to …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 21 January, 2021 | Topics: Remarks and Highlights
Mr. President, the United States extends our deepest condolences to the families of the two Burundian peacekeepers killed on December 25, the Rwandan peacekeeper killed on January 13, the Burundian peacekeeper killed on January 15, and the Gabonese and Moroccan peacekeepers killed in an ambush on January 18. We also express our deep condolences to …
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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 21 January, 2021 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights