YouSaid · the spoken record

Kozyrev

THE RECORD WRITES THIS SPEAKER AS KOZYREV

lines on the record: 54
first: 1992-09-24
most recent: 1995-09-24
sittings or episodes: 3
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“The explosions in Oklahoma and Paris, the taking of hostages in Budennovsk and chemical terrorist attacks in Tokyo — these are bells tolling for us all. Whatever agenda item we consider, we are convinced time and again that the answers are to be found only on the basis of a single standard: respect for the United Nations Charter and for the purposes and principles of the United Nations that have withstood the severe tests of the past five decades and are lighting the way into the twenty-first century.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“The principal criteria in this regard are: distinct objectives underlying sanctions, advanced coordination of conditions, and mechanisms for lifting them once the objectives are attained. As a newly elected member of the Executive Council of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Russia intends to make an essential contribution to overcoming a new global crisis, namely the tragedy of millions of refugees. To this end, we intend to seek practical results from the international conference on refugees and migrants within the post-Soviet space. At this session the General Assembly should give new impetus to collective efforts by the international community in combating crime, illicit drug-trafficking and terrorism.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Peace-making activities undertaken by Russia and its Commonwealth partners contribute to a considerable extent to ensuring regional and international stability. We appreciate fruitful cooperation with the United Nations in Tajikistan and Georgia. However, the United Nations 8 support of our collective efforts sometimes unfortunately reminds us of a saying: “Too little, too late”. Russia, together with its CIS partners, expects the United Nations to make a radical change in its attitude towards peace- making problems in our part of the world. During the 50 years of the existence of the United Nations, sanctions have been an instrument that the Organization has used to deal with the instigators of conflicts. Now, the time has come to give this instrument a more selective and precise nature.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“In general, it is necessary radically to improve United Nations peace-keeping through precision of the criteria and terms of the United Nations involvement in areas of tension; a close linkage between peace-keeping operations and efforts to achieve the peaceful settlement of conflicts; the efficient operation of the whole functional chain — peace-keeping planning, command and control. We are for the earliest possible implementation of the Secretary-General’s proposal on the establishment of United Nations reserve forces. We welcome the conclusion of the Convention on the protection of United Nations personnel, which I signed today on behalf of Russia. This instrument will help to save lives of hundreds of peace-keepers in hot spots of the world.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Without the Blue Helmets, the world would be much more dangerous and dozens of conflicts would have been much more bloody. We are proud that approximately 20,000 Russian servicemen are serving as peace-keepers in United Nations and CIS operations. However, if we want force always to go hand-in- hand with justice in the activities of the United Nations and those who cooperate in them, strict observance of Security Council decisions must be ensured. Here, the Secretary-General and his staff can always count on the support of Russia and, I am confident, of all other Members of the United Nations. The United Nations should be protected from setbacks like that which has occurred in Bosnia.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Russia is interested in the adoption at this session of decisions on such issues as the struggle against racism, all forms of xenophobia and aggressive nationalism, ensuring the rights of minorities and the promotion of democracy and the rule of law in countries in transition. The United Nations should further pursue its policy of qualitative improvement of the international human rights protection machinery, primarily by strengthening its control and preventive functions and enhancing its focus on specific action. The policy of single standards must become an incontestable rule in the sphere of peace-keeping as well. Justice without force is powerless, while force without justice is tyrannical. There have been many achievements in United Nations peace-keeping efforts.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Alas, the answer is far from reassuring. That is why the international community has no right to abandon its efforts in this direction and must not tolerate the emergence of double standards. The signing of the CIS conventions on human rights and fundamental freedoms and on the rights of national and language minorities was the response of the CIS States to the United Nations recommendations on the creation of a single humanitarian sphere in this part of the world. However, much has yet to be done before a unitary approach to human rights can become a norm of life for, among others, 25 million of our compatriots in some countries of the Commonwealth and the Baltic States. A double standard here is unacceptable.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Russia, approaching free, multipartite parliamentary and presidential elections, is making its own contribution to the establishment of these very standards. We invite observers from foreign States and international organizations to attend the forthcoming elections. It was not so long ago that dozens of agenda items of the General Assembly were devoted to the struggle against apartheid. Now it seems unbelievable that this problem has been solved, owing to a large extent, to the efforts of the United Nations. I sincerely welcome the accomplishments of the people and the Government of South Africa, headed by Nelson Mandela, in the democratization and creation of a free, multiracial society. But did we manage to overcome the danger of violence arising through fascism, racism, and political and religious extremism?”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“It 7 is these “light” firearms that have led to enormous human losses in Rwanda and Angola, Liberia and Bosnia, Tajikistan and Abkhazia. Russia has already introduced a moratorium on the export of the most dangerous types of anti-personnel mines. We urge other States to follow our example. This issue should be seriously considered in the United Nations Disarmament Commission. While supporting the activities of the Commission, we believe that it should adopt a new agenda corresponding to the current scale of cooperation in the area of security and to new threats and challenges in this field. The problem of global adherence to a single standard in the area of human rights and basic democratic institutions is very acute.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Our common task is to create the necessary political conditions for those States that have not already done so to accede to it as non-nuclear States. We consider it necessary, as a matter of priority, to conclude as soon as possible, but not later than 1996, work on the comprehensive test-ban treaty. From this rostrum, Russia calls for a universal and permanent moratorium on nuclear tests. The summit of the “Political Eight” on nuclear safety, which is to be held next spring in Moscow at the initiative of the President of Russia and which was approved in Halifax, will make a major contribution to global stability. We would like the United Nations to take urgent measures on the prevention of illicit trafficking in light firearms and the proliferation of anti-personnel mines.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“I believe that the active involvement of the United Nations and its specialized agencies is necessary to the efforts aimed at the development of this model. Incidentally, the General Assembly was born in the Old World. A new approach is required to disarmament issues in Europe. On the basis of the implementation of the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty (certainly taking into account new realities) as early as next spring we should arrive at new major agreements based on the unity of the vital security interests of the peoples of the continent instead of the bloc logic of the past. Our proposal to all nuclear-weapon States to elaborate a treaty on nuclear safety and strategic stability has become even more timely. The indefinite extension of the Non-Proliferation Treaty establishes favourable conditions for this.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“The international community should make equally great efforts to achieve progress in all aspects of the peace process in the Middle East and the post-conflict rehabilitation of all States of that region. We congratulate Israel and the Palestinians on the occasion of their reaching an agreement in Taba, whose official signing ceremony will take place on 28 September next in Washington under the chairmanship of President Clinton. We intend to continue our joint efforts with the United States and to make our contribution to the coming Amman summit conference. Europe needs a new model of general and comprehensive security, without double standards or dividing lines. International dialogue on this issue is already under way.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“In particular, Russia, which is successfully implementing unparalleled reforms, should be recognized as an equal trade and economic partner with an economy in transition. Such a strategy should also provide for the promotion of the economic rehabilitation of countries and regions affected by armed conflicts. The United Nations, its specialized agencies and Member States should immediately begin to address directly the problem of the economic rehabilitation of Bosnia and the former Yugoslavia as a whole, whose peoples have suffered from war and economic sanctions that have been in effect for too long. Russia is ready to take an active part in these efforts, and we do and will continue to contribute substantially to a political settlement. The real chances for such a settlement should not be sacrificed to power or unilateral approaches.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“This question becomes more and more acute against the background of humanitarian disasters in Africa and other regions of the “third world”, and the social price of the initial stage of reforms in the post-socialist countries. No one will be able to hide from global problems behind dividing lines of national egotism and economic discrimination, or even expanding military alliances. Such things will not rein in, but rather spur on the spread of international terrorism and drugs, and whip up the flames of local conflicts and the arms race. One of the principles of the “Agenda for Development” which is being formulated now should be the early elimination of the remaining discriminatory restrictions in the world economy, trade and technology transfer.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“This is the essence of the United Nations Charter, which identifies both common ideals and goals and equal rights and obligations for all States without “double standards”. They say that generals always prepare for the last war. Politicians and diplomats have no right to prepare for the last peace. On the contrary, it is necessary to avoid slipping back into a bloc mentality and dividing countries into “friends and foes”, whether in politics or in economics. We can indeed make the next 50 years an era of the United Nations if we accept as its basis the indivisibility of international security and sustainable social and economic development for all.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Russia’s views on the prospects and difficulties of establishing partnership in a multi-polar and interdependent world — and it is with equal partnership that we link our national and state interests — will be stated by the Head of the Russian State, President Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin. If half a century of experience of the United Nations teaches us anything, it teaches us first of all that only the equality of States and respect for the diversity of cultures, religions and national traditions can serve as the basis for security and prosperity in the modern world. But the formula “unity in diversity” also presupposes everyone’s compliance with fundamental principles of international law and order, respect for human rights and the 6 promotion of economic progress.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“First of all, allow me to congratulate my colleague, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Portugal, Professor Diogo Freitas Do Amaral, on the occasion of his election to the high post of the President of the General Assembly. Each of the 50 sessions of the General Assembly has been a step for the international community on a difficult road in search of peace within itself, for the strengthening of the indispensable role of the United Nations. The current session will be marked as the anniversary session by the addresses to be made by the Heads of State and Government in late October.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Half a century later, the success of democracy in Russia and many other countries has made it possible for the first time to realize fully the lofty destiny of the United Nations and to help it become a truly efficient peacemaking Organization. We should not allow political short-sightedness, current economic difficulties, egoism and conceit to make us lose the chance to transform the still fragile post-communist world into a democratic one. I hope that this session will move us closer to an understanding of this goal and of the ways of reaching it in the interests of all States and nations.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“We invite international observers to monitor the elections to the Parliament. In building a new democratic Russia, we of course must first of all rely on our own potential. Yet we very much appreciate the solidarity the democratic community has shown us. Such solidarity is neither an act of interference in our domestic affairs nor the whimsical gesture of romanticists in international politics. It is simply an expression of the human duty to protect the rights of individuals in other countries. Next month will mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Moscow Conference when, in the turbulent year of 1943, the foundation was laid for the establishment of the United Nations, which was conceived as an organization of democratic countries having triumphed over Nazi totalitarianism.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Peoples who have risen up against totalitarianism are threatened by the risk of political violence and ultra-nationalism. We categorically reject such an alternative. Russia is peacefully transforming itself in accordance with the fundamental principle of democracy: free elections. In 1991, the people of Russia elected their country’s first democratic President, and they confirmed their confidence in his policies at the April referendum this year. On the basis of this twofold mandate, the President has taken decisive measures to ensure democratic elections to the Parliament in December of this year. Thus, the old totalitarian system of power will be definitively dismantled and replaced by a new system of power elected by the people and responsible only to the people.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Easier access to world markets for countries with transitional economies, including Russia, and the lifting of all discriminatory restrictions is becoming an issue of the highest priority. We Forty-eighth session - 28 September l993 17 believe that the General Assembly should express its support for efforts in this direction. We also propose the establishment of a mechanism to coordinate programmes carried out by the institutions of the United Nations system in support of economic reforms in countries in transition. The strengthening of democracy is the principal guarantee of security and socio-economic development in the world today. This has been true in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, although the process is not proceeding easily and automatically everywhere.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Russia reiterates, from this rostrum of the General Assembly, its intention to adhere to the international regime of non-proliferation of missile technology. In the very near future, we intend to take concrete steps to strengthen our relevant domestic legislation, going so far as to envisage criminal prosecution for violations of the rules governing the export of missile equipment and technology. We call on all States that possess such technology to join the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). It is also necessary to provide for equality of rights and obligations of the participants, so as to enable them freely to export peaceful space technology. Successful economic reform is one of the guarantees of peace. This is of particular relevance to the many developing countries and to the post-communist States.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction would directly contradict the peacemaking efforts of the United Nations. This poses an ever growing threat not only in the future but even at the present. We are ready to cooperate with the United States and other countries in solving the problems connected with cutting off fissionable material production and banning the construction of facilities for such production, particularly in conflict areas. We are in favour of transforming the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty into a universal agreement of unlimited duration. The United Nations should also work to ensure the universality of and strict compliance with the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“It has become crucially important to address comprehensively the problem of refugees and to specify the relevant principles of international law at a special conference. Peacemaking cannot be separated from the protection of human rights. The international community is duty-bound to condemn strongly "double" or lower standards of human rights protection, the theory and practice of the superiority of rights of an "indigenous" nation and the creation of mono- ethnic States. The time has come to establish a United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Following the example of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, it is time for the United Nations also to have a Special Rapporteur on National Minorities. We support the proposals of the Secretary-General in the field of human rights protection.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The settlement of conflicts should go hand in hand with the international protection of their victims. As a follow-up to the Geneva International Conference on the Protection of Victims of War, we propose that international legal restrictions be imposed on the use in internal conflicts of the most destructive and indiscriminate types of weapons, primarily military aircraft and artillery-rocket systems. We should also eliminate or call a halt to the use of mercenaries and volunteers both in domestic and international conflicts. We propose the establishment of a permanent international tribunal to deal with crimes against humanity. The inevitability of punishment will help to prevent the recurrence of such atrocities.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The second is to establish under Article 29 of the United Nations Charter a special Security Council committee on improving peace-keeping operation practices. This could include those States which have already gained considerable experience in this area of United Nations activity. Our third proposal is to set up United Nations stand-by forces which would be at the disposal of Member States and used in peacemaking operations with the consent of their Governments on a case-by-case basis at the request of the Secretary-General. All these questions directly relate to the process of renewal of the United Nations. The reform of United Nations bodies, including the Security Council, will make sense and be effective if it allows for a more adequate response to new challenges in the field of peacemaking.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“16 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session By and large, taking into consideration the wide experience gained throughout the world, it is time to think of a modern overall strategy of peacemaking which would be integrated with "An Agenda for Peace" proposed by the Secretary-General. The Russian Federation, as an initiator of the statement of the President of the Security Council on peacemaking and peace-keeping issues, made on 28 May 1993, makes the following proposals. The first is to define a clear-cut concept of political leadership by the Security Council, create an effective military command under the supervision of the Secretary- General and establish a procedure for involving, on that basis, regional organizations.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The collective peacemaking forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States could also interact with the United Nations itself. It is in any case time to establish closer relations between the two organizations. In material and financial terms the burden of peacemaking borne by Russia alone today in the territory of the former USSR must be lightened. This could mean establishing a voluntary fund for this purpose. Of course, Russia realizes that no international organization or group of States can replace our peacemaking efforts in this specific post-Soviet area.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“We want to see much more active assistance for our peacemaking efforts, not in words, but in deeds. In most cases this means that the United Nations should give a mandate for operations conducted at the request of conflicting parties on the basis of appropriate agreements. For this, close interaction with the United Nations and the CSCE missions is essential. Also, our minds should be open to non-traditional methods, such as the participation of contingents of the conflicting parties themselves and those of a neighbouring mediating State. The pragmatic nature of such a model was shown in particular in the Transdniester region and in South Ossetia. This model should be used, and not disregarded, in other regions, in the interests of the United Nations, which is facing an overload of peace- keeping operations.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Our peacemaking efforts are already yielding their first results. For more than a year now there have been no hostilities in the Transdniester region and South Ossetia. With our participation, the process of normalization of the situation and national dialogue has started in Tajikistan. Russia is making active efforts to put an end to the Abkhazian and Karabakh conflicts and to render humanitarian assistance to their victims. All these problems are too serious and too tragic for speculation about neo-imperial plans of Russia, diplomatic rivalry, or the search for new spheres of influence by neighbouring and distant Powers. The United Nations, the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), and all States truly interested in peace, along with Russia, will have enough work to do together.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“We must learn the lessons of the United Nations operation in Somalia and considerably improve its effectiveness. Conscious of its special responsibility for maintaining peace, Russia has made peacemaking and the protection of human rights, particularly those of national minorities, the priority of its foreign policy, first and foremost in the territory of the former USSR. We will spare no effort to strengthen the Commonwealth of Independent States and make it a positive factor, not only regionally, but globally. I call upon Members of the United Nations to support proposals submitted jointly by the members of the Commonwealth of Independent States to the present session, relating in particular to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the struggle against international terrorism and the protection of the environment.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The city should become a symbol for the whole world, a reminder that political violence and intolerance under the banner of religion are the worst possible crimes against religion itself and the human spirit. In any case, it is surely time to think of establishing closer contacts between the United Nations and the world’s leading religions. The international community seems to have turned a blind eye to Afghanistan and Angola as soon as they ceased to be pawns in the cold war. The United Nations has no right to leave millions of people who live there in the grip of an epidemic of ethnic, clan and religious extremism and to forget their economic and humanitarian problems, including that of the liberation of former Soviet prisoners of war.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Russia, as a co-sponsor of the Conference on the Middle East, will spare no effort to advance the peace process in all other areas. However, the key to the settlement of many conflicts has not yet been found. Russia will continue to encourage the parties to the Bosnian conflict not to lose the chance of a peaceful settlement and will contribute to the operation for its implementation under United Nations command. Twice during wartime I have had occasion to visit Sarajevo. I propose that the United Nations should place the city under its moral and political protection and that it should be declared a centre of coexistence and a meeting point for Islam, the Orthodox Church, Catholicism and other religions.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The successful United Nations operation in Cambodia was one of the largest in the history of the Organization. Life is returning to normal in a country so long torn by civil war. We stand ready, together with other members of the international community, to help the people of Cambodia to rebuild their country. Forty-eighth session - 28 September l993 15 We have seen a political and psychological breakthrough in the solution of the key problem of the Middle East settlement, which is the problem of Palestine. We pay tribute to the courageous leaders of Israel and the PLO who have taken the first and most difficult step towards mutual recognition and reconciliation. We are ready to participate in an international conference on the economic development of self-governing Palestinian territories.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Outbursts of violence caused by xenophobia, even in traditionally prosperous countries, have shown that no one is safe from this danger. It is no less serious a threat to peace today than nuclear war was yesterday. The world community mustered the strength to stave off the nuclear danger. An important guarantee against this was the Russian-American START II Treaty. Nowadays we all confront the equally formidable challenge of a new generation of conflicts and wars triggered by nationalist, political and religious intolerance. That is why democracy and peacemaking must be the key terms defining the strategy of the world community as it moves into the twenty-first century. The United Nations is now turning to face this new challenge.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“First of all, I should like to congratulate you, Mr. President, on your election to your important post. I see it as a manifestation of respect for the peace-loving policy of Guyana, and as a tribute to the growing role of Latin American and Caribbean countries in international affairs. Last year demonstrated the great potential for drama inherent in the post-confrontational and post-communist world. We have seen that the very highest levels of cooperation are achievable. We see truly exciting prospects in yesterday’s address by President Bill Clinton of the United States and in other statements already delivered from this rostrum. At the same time, developments in the former Yugoslavia, Abkhazia and Karabakh have also revealed the true depths of barbarism and the significant new threat of aggressive nationalism.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Despite its economic difficulties, in the period from September of this year to March 1993 Russia will pay $130 million as partial payment of our arrears to the United Nations and an additional $30 million to other agencies. Your recent statements in Moscow, Mr. Secretary-General, have confirmed the similarity of our vision of the great future of the United Nations.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“The Charter provides ample scope for this. In particular, the Charter permits the Security Council to establish auxiliary bodies in which many States would participate. We are convinced that the United Nations and other international organizations will play a growing role in regulating international relations. In conclusion, I should like to address you, Mr. Secretary-General. Russia supports your efforts to bring about the settlement of international crises, to improve the efficiency of the United Nations Secretariat and the coordination of the activities of all international agencies. Support of the United Nations presupposes the fulfilment of financial obligations to the Organization.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“For a successful solution of the problems of development, it is extremely important to strengthen the interaction between the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions. Herein lies the key to the harmonization of the world community's efforts in such areas as support of macroeconomic reforms and technical assistance and the provision of help in resolving social problems. Both developing and developed countries will benefit from this. The United Nations Conference at Rio de Janeiro reinforced the consensus on the need to integrate development policies and environmental protection. The task of renewing international relations calls for the rationalization of the United Nations itself and of the United Nations system. The desire of some States to play a more active role in the United Nations is quite natural.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“The approach taken with respect to regimes that disregard the standards of international law should be particularly strict. There is an obvious need for the development of concrete military-industry conversion programmes, not only through the efforts of individual countries but also through the combined action of the international community. The United Nations and its specialized agencies could play a pioneering role in this endeavour. In the long run, real disarmament and the conversion of military industries to peaceful production will make it possible to release additional resources for the needs of development. But development cannot be achieved without ensuring full political and economic rights and freedoms, without releasing human creative potential in a market environment. Russia has learned this from its own experience.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“Reaffirming its commitments under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Russian Federation invites all countries that have not yet done so to join the Treaty as non-nuclear-weapon States. It is our belief that all the former Republics of the USSR, including Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan, will do so. This step should be taken as soon as possible, since the entry into force of the treaty on strategic offensive arms depends on it. We expect that a sense of high responsibility and a readiness to reach compromise solutions will prevail in the decisive phase of the approval of the Convention on the banning of chemical weapons. Russia is in favour of control, including control through the United Nations, over international arms transfers, especially over offensive and highly destructive weapons.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“Today national minorities desperately need the trusteeship of the world community. The fate of former Soviet servicemen taken prisoner in Afghanistan remains one of the gravest humanitarian problems. We call upon the General Assembly to proclaim its support for the urgent resolution of this problem. The rejection of the game of "nuclear roulette" in favour of cooperation in the interests of strategic stability for all and with the participation of all States concerned is reflected in the agreements on further drastic cuts in strategic offensive arms and on a global defense system reached in Washington by the Presidents of Russia and the United States of America.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“The practices I have referred to can in no way be justified by invoking the problem, inherited from the USSR, of the withdrawal of armed forces from the Baltic States. We are already working together to resolve that problem, and we intend to resolve it as soon as possible; however, due regard must also be given to the rights of those who are in military uniform. It would be appropriate to give thought to a joint interpretation of the international trusteeship system set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, particularly since one of its basic objectives is and I quote the Charter - "To encourage respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion". That system has brought many nations to independence.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“Democratic Russia categorically rejects any form of chauvinism, be it Russophobia or anti-Semitism. We feel special concern at the growing discriminatory practices against Russians, Ukrainians, Jews and all other non-indigenous nationalities in some of the new States that have emerged in the territory of the former USSR, particularly in Estonia and Latvia. A situation in which 42 per cent of the population of the Estonian Republic are disenfranchised is totally inconsistent with international law. We have raised and will continue to raise these issues in the United Nations and other forums. We have the right to do so, among other reasons, because the countries in question won their independence, to a substantial extent, through the triumph of the democrats in Russia.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“This includes the establishment of hot lines to United Nations Headquarters, the submission of intelligence information to the Secretary-General and the further development of fact-finding. Enhanced United Nations efforts to safeguard human rights and the rights of national minorities are also a priority. In the past it was chiefly the victims of totalitarian regimes and ideologies who needed protection. What is increasingly needed now is to combat the aggressive nationalism that is emerging as the new global threat. The replacement of ideological intolerance with national and religious intolerance would threaten the world which is increasingly becoming one world - with rifts just as serious and with national, regional and global catastrophes.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“Russia will continue to cooperate actively with the other permanent members of the Security Council and with all the parties concerned in order to seize the opportunity for a peaceful settlement in the Middle East, Cambodia, Angola and other areas of conflict. We have no doubt that it is the task of the United Nations to combat violence with force based on law, with its potential for enforcing peace. The Blue Helmets should take action in response even when they are fired upon. It is time to strengthen the capacity of the Security Council to take swift and decisive action in humanitarian emergency situations arising from mass violations of human rights and inter-ethnic clashes, including those within national borders. It is important to strengthen the preventive component of United Nations activities.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“We support efforts aimed at forcing Iraq to implement the decisions of the United Nations and ensuring at the same time the territorial integrity and the peaceful nature of that State. For that purpose, Russia has sent two naval vessels to the Persian Gulf. We also must ensure that the demands of the Security Council are complied with by all the Yugoslav sides and must enable them to maintain contact with the United Nations. A Russian infantry battalion is serving honourably with the United Nations forces in Yugoslavia. I agree with the preceding speaker concerning the need to support the efforts of Mr. Panic for the practical implementation of the intentions he has declared.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“Should political means fail, force can and should be used to separate the warring sides, to protect human rights and humanitarian missions and to restore peace in strict conformity with the Charter of the United Nations. Agreements for cease-fires and for the establishment of peace-keeping forces, concluded with Russian participation, are already in effect in Ossetia, the Dniester region and Abkhazia, where Russian soldiers are carrying out their peace-keeping duties. Together with CSCE, we will strive to end the war and bring peace to Karabakh and to secure the integrity of Tajikistan and bring national reconciliation to that country. In all those efforts we count on continued active cooperation with the United Nations.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“The Russian Federation will increase its efforts to eliminate conflicts inherited from the past in the territory of the former USSR, bearing in mind the special interest and responsibility of Russia in strengthening the civilized principles of the United Nations and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) in this part of the world. Russia supports the participation of the new independent States in these two organizations and other international forums. We welcome their representatives in this Hall. We categorically reject imperialistic ambitions, diktat and violence, both in the area of the former USSR and in other parts of the world.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“Russia intends to act in support of United Nations efforts to address the twofold task of the democratization of societies and the renewal of international relations. This is consonant with the concluding statement of the summit meeting of the Security Council, with Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali's report "An Agenda for Peace" and with the first statements already made from this rostrum. Russia is ready to give practical support to the proposals made yesterday by George Bush, President of the United States. First of all, it is necessary to extinguish armed conflicts.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)