Statement by President of the Government following speech at United Nations Security Council

New York

Ladies and gentlemen, a very good afternoon and thank you very much for attending this press briefing, which takes place, as you are aware, after chairing the Security Council in the debate on trafficking in persons in armed conflict.

Today I have once again had the honour of chairing a meeting of the Security Council, specifically, as I have just mentioned, an open debate on people trafficking in conflict situations, particularly those carried out by terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and DAESH. It was a great source of satisfaction for me to count on the presence here of the Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, who, just a few minutes prior to the debate, I had the honour to present an award to, together with his wife, the Deputy Secretary-General and his Chief of Staff. By doing so, the Government of Spain sought to acknowledge the role played by Ban Ki-Moon during his two mandates at the head of the United Nations Secretariat, his efforts and those of his team to foster international peace and development, and the exemplary collaboration of all of them with Spain.

Today's debate had a tangible result: a resolution, the first ever of its type, which represents a fundamental step in the efforts by the international community to bring an end to these inhumane practices.

As you are aware, on 31 December, we will conclude our mandate as a non-permanent member of the Security Council. I would like to take brief stock of our actions.

Over these two years, we have chaired three SC committees related to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; we have promoted, with the maximum rigour and transparency, a new SC resolution aimed at avoiding non-State players, particularly terrorist groups, gaining access to these.

Spain has called on its extensive experience in the fight against terrorism at the service of the Security Council. In July 2015, we organised a meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee in Madrid, at which certain guiding principles on foreign terrorist fighters were published. We also took the voice of the victims to the Security Council which led to the adoption of a resolution on judicial cooperation on this matter on 12 December within the framework of an open debate chaired by the Minister for Justice, Rafael Catalá.

Questions relating to women, peace and security were another of our priorities. In October 2015, I chaired an open debate that led to the adoption of Resolution 2242, which renewed the gender perspective in the handling of armed conflicts.

At a time of crisis such as the present, humanitarian affairs have been one of the main areas of attention. As the co-penholder of the Syria humanitarian dossier, Spain has worked to try and ensure the protection of civilians and to improve the humanitarian conditions of the population. We also employed our efforts in trying to stop attacks on hospitals and ambulances. These efforts led to the adoption of Resolution 2286, promoted by Spain, in March 2016.

Aside from the traditional threats, ever stronger new challenges are increasingly emerging. During our two presidencies, we have promoted and organised special meetings to tackle such issues as climate change and cyber-security under a format open to all of the members of the United Nations. I believe that our work has contributed to strengthening the credibility of the Security Council and also to improving the international situation against an extremely complex geopolitical backdrop.

Yesterday, under the Spanish Presidency, a resolution was approved on Aleppo. This represents a first important step in alleviating the dramatic, intolerable and oppressive situation being suffered by thousands upon thousands of innocent civilians.

We depart satisfied at our constructive, trustworthy and responsible work. Henceforth, we will help both the new Secretary-General, António Guterres, who Spain backed, and to whom we wish every success in his term of office, and the United Nations Organization itself.

And I don't want to close off this speech without thanking the Ambassador of Spain to the United Nations, Román Oyarzun - I believe he has played a very important role for the United Nations, but also a very important role for Spain - and the large group of Spanish collaborators who have worked under his direction with whom I will now meet.

Lastly, I would like to read out a press statement that the members of the Security Council have approved on the terrorist attack committed in Berlin (Germany). It reads as follows:

"The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the barbaric and cowardly terrorist attack which took place in Berlin, Germany, on the evening of 19 December 2016 and during which at least 12 people were killed and dozens injured.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the Government of Germany.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.

The members of the Security Council reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed. They reaffirmed the need for all States to combat each threat to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts by all available means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law.

The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring the perpetrators of these terrorist acts to justice."

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for your attention and I will see those of you who so wish a little later. Thank you.