Switzerland

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As you know I just concluded my briefing to the Security Council, and this of course, is for all of us, a very special day – it is ten years since the beginning of the Syrian tragedy.  And as I told the Council, the Syrian tragedy will go down in history as one of the darkest chapters and I also said that the Syrian people are among the greatest victims of this century.

As you know the conflict has now lasted for the same period as the First World War and the Second World War and I said that the Syrian people must feel that they are really trapped in an endless conflict.

Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,

I welcome your focus and discussion on the fight against racism and discrimination two decades after the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Plan of Action. 

As I said in my address to the Human Rights Council this morning, the rot of racism is corroding institutions, social structures and everyday life.

We must do far more to address this scourge.  I welcome the efforts of the Human Rights Council to do just that.

Racism and discrimination are the rejection of all that we stand for. 

Thank you, Jenifer. As you may know, this was a briefing I gave in so-called close consultations after the decision by the Security Council itself. As always, I was heartened by the fact that all members of the Council gave what I would call a strong support to the work of me and my team when it comes to trying to find a solution to the Syrian crisis.  
 

Thank you very much Alessandra, and it’s wonderful to see everyone here tonight. And I’m pleased to come to you right after the conclusion of the voting process for the new unified, temporary executive authority in Libya.  
 

The Libyan Political Dialogue Forum members cast their votes this morning for the four lists of candidates for the three-member Presidency Council and Prime Minister positions, which were submitted yesterday and met the required endorsements stipulated in the selection mechanism. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, members of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum

Good morning, Sabah Al-Kheir wa Assalam alaykum, 

It is a great pleasure to be able to meet with all of you again in person. Please join me in expressing our deepest appreciation to the Government of Switzerland for the extraordinary effort in making this meeting possible in the midst of a global pandemic, and for their generous hospitality.

Thank you so much Jenifer and good to see you all. And also good afternoon or good morning to all of those of you I cannot see.
 
We have just concluded the fifth session of the drafting body of the Syrian Constitutional Committee and I gave a statement to all 45 Committee members. I think it is fair to say that it was an open, frank and direct assessment of where we are.
 

Good afternoon, good to see you, I hope you are doing well. As Jenifer just said, we have concluded the fourth session of the drafting body of the Constitutional Committee. During the week, we have, or they have rather more precisely, discussed a wide range of topics. There was as always, many clear statements of positions, there were submissions of specific positions, and of formulae and of language on several aspects. Of course, there were many differences and let me emphasise that the reason why we are here, of course, is to listen to the differences.

[Watch the video on webtv.un.org]

Your Excellency President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, Your Excellency Minister Pekka Haavisto, Excellencies, Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,