YouSaid · the spoken record

Churkin

lines on the record: 3,923
first: 2006-05-16
most recent: 2017-02-02
sittings or episodes: 536
sources: un-security-council

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

“For the duration of the crisis in Ukraine, the Security Council has unfortunately been used as a platform for propaganda. The single, although very significant, achievement within the walls of this Chamber was the adoption of resolution 2202 (2015), which approved the package of measures agreed to on 12 February 2015. In adopting that resolution, the Council took on the political responsibility for ensuring the implementation of the package. That is what we must focus on. In our conversations, some of our Western colleagues have admitted that Kyiv is not implementing it. But they also say that, while President Poroshenko personally agreed to the document in Minsk, he does not have sufficient political clout to implement its provisions. We do not accept such explanations.”
2016-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7683 (2016) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I would first like to warmly welcome our former colleagues, Mr. Ertugrul Apakan and Mr. Martin Sajdik, who have undertaken a very difficult task and for whose efforts we are very grateful. And of course I would like to thank Mr. Zerihoun for his briefing. The extremely grave crisis in Ukraine sparked by a coup d'etat actively supported from outside the country has now lasted two and a half years. Today, astonishingly, the Permanent Representatives of the United States and the United Kingdom have attempted to tie the start of the crisis to the unification of Crimea with Russia. There is no need to distort the facts. They will not succeed in covering up their blame for the crisis. At the moment Crimea is an island of stability by comparison with Donbas in former Ukraine.”
2016-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7683 (2016) · source
“However, some information suggests that certain international partners might have a hidden agenda in Libya. There is a need to help, but only within the framework of international law, so that in the years to come we do not have to regret the mistakes made. The difficult situation in the Middle East and North Africa, political and military turbulence, deep social and economic strains, as well as the widening sphere of influence of terrorist groups and worsening standards of living for the masses, require calibrated collective work to be carried out in order to stabilize the region. The Security Council should play the most important role in those efforts.”
2016-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7673 (2016) · source
“Meanwhile, terrorists are expanding into strategically important regions of the country, and the socioeconomic and humanitarian problems are becoming worse. Nonetheless, the solution can only be Libyan-led. That requires the continuation of the patient work carried out under the auspices of the United Nations to garner the participation in the dialogue of all influential forces from all regions of the country. That is why we were puzzled by the recent decision of the European Union to include on its sanctions list some key participants in the political process. That approach could further entrench inter-Libyan antagonisms. In order to effectively assist Libyans, including in countering the burgeoning threat of terrorism, there is a need for due coordination of initiatives with the full participation of regional players.”
2016-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7673 (2016) · source
“That is the only way they can be solved in an effective and lasting manner. We call for the establishment of a comprehensive ceasefire in Yemen among all the parties to the conflict. We think that the new round of negotiations should begin without unjustified delays. We consider it important to ensure unhindered humanitarian access and to lift embargoes of any type. The swift normalization of the situation with regard to entry points for commercial cargo, first and foremost carrying food, water and medicine, will significantly alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people. The situation in Libya remains complex and uncertain. Efforts to restore unity, based on the Skhirat political agreement, are moving too slowly. That is no surprise, recalling that foreign intervention clearly dealt a hard blow to Libya's statehood.”
2016-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7673 (2016) · source
“We believe the statement delivered today on this matter by the representative of the United States was unbalanced, unobjective and counterproductive. We believe that success can be achieved through an ongoing and productive inter-Syrian dialogue, in accordance with the provisions of the Geneva communique of2012 (S/2012/522, annex), the decisions of the ISSG and resolution 2254 (2015). All sectors of Syrian society who have not dirtied their hands with terrorist activities, including Kurds, should participate in the dialogue. We once again underscore the need for the delegation of the opposition in Geneva to be truly representative and not to base its participation in the negotiations on preconditions. We believe that there should be a comprehensive, objective and de-politicized approach to humanitarian issues.”
2016-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7673 (2016) · source
“With regard to Syria, we believe it is necessary to use the cessation of hostilities in the country and the inter-Syrian dialogue in Geneva under United Nations auspices to reach a lasting political settlement. In that context, we are pleased with the launching of a second round of talks, mediated by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, Mr. Staffan de Mistura. We will continue to provide assistance to the Syrian armed forces in countering international armed terrorist groups, such as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and the Al-Nusra Front. We attach great importance to the activities of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) task forces on the ceasefire and humanitarian access.”
2016-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7673 (2016) · source
“In 2011, there was a veto by the United States on the draft resolution contained in document S/2011/24, on the issue of settlements, and, in 2014, there was an abstention - or hidden veto - on the draft resolution contained in document S/2014/916. On the latter occasion, there were two votes against and five abstentions, but essentially what happened was that everything was done to block the draft resolution and to not allow the Security Council's view on that topic to be heard. In each ofthose cases, the Russian Federation voted in favour. Of course, that is not a very impressive result in the Council's work. The Council must do more, including to implement Russia's initiative on the organization of a Security Council visit to the Middle East.”
2016-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7673 (2016) · source
“We appreciate the efforts of all members of the international community aimed at achieving a comprehensive, fair and lasting solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. However, such steps and initiatives must be clearly calibrated and aimed at specific results. The primary criterion for assessing the usefulness of such efforts to restart the negotiations is a clear understanding of their added value. We share the deep discomfort of most members of the Security Council with regard to the Council's inaction in our efforts to settle the crisis between Israel and Palestine. Indeed, the most recent Security Council document on that issue was presidential statement S/PRST/2009/14, adopted upon Russia's initiative in 2009.”
2016-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7673 (2016) · source
“If progress cannot be achieved in resolving the problems in the Gaza Strip, overcoming the embargo and rebuilding the infrastructure destroyed by Israel in the summer of 2014, repeat clashes cannot be ruled out. The issue of achieving Palestinian unity is particularly important in reviving the peace process. We welcome the meetings among representatives of Fatah and Hamas held in Doha and Cairo in February and March to discuss the formation of a Government of national unity and the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections. Despite the difficulties in the negotiations between Fatah and Hamas, we continue to lend our assistance in overcoming the inter-Palestinian split.”
2016-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7673 (2016) · source
“The ministerial meetings of the Quartet held in Vienna in October 2015 and in Munich in February 2016, which were convened upon Russia's initiative, were aimed at bringing the parties back to constructive actions so as to normalize the situation and make progress in the achievement of sustainable and mutually acceptable agreements based on well-known international law. We hope that the upcoming report of the Quartet will provide an objective analysis of the situation on the ground and recommendations to the parties. We also hope that it will help to defuse tensions and provide a political horizon for a settlement. Neither can we forget about Gaza. The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip remains exceedingly difficult, and at any time it could slide into another dangerous crisis.”
2016-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7673 (2016) · source
“Against that worrisome backdrop, the Israeli Government has continued its policy of faits accomplis, building settlements, confiscating land, demolishing Palestinian homes and jeopardizing the two-State solution. In that context, it is more important than ever that the international community send a clear message to prevent the unleashing of new spirals of violence and to underscore the need for a swift resumption of the negotiations. The leading role in guiding the situation back to the political-diplomatic front should be played by the international mediators of the Middle East Quartet.”
2016-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7673 (2016) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): Sometimes we hear that, given the numerous other crises, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has lost its significance in the context of efforts to maintain international peace and security. We categorically disagree with that point of view. Efforts aimed at solving the Palestinian-Israeli issue should be bolstered. We believe that the primary task today is to create conditions conducive to the revival of the negotiations. The situation on the ground remains tense and fraught with new spates of violence. Since October 2015, there have been more than 200 Palestinian victims and more than 30 Israeli victims of the confrontations.”
2016-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7673 (2016) · source
“The full-scale hostilities were begun in 2014 against the civilians in the eastern part of the country by the Kyiv politicians who came to power after a bloody coup d'etat, and they continue to try to justify their actions unsuccessfully.”
2016-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7670 (2016) · source
“That is necessary and should be done by dispensing with double standards, with the United Nations playing a central coordinating role and on the sound footing of international law. I necessarily have to comment on the statement made by the representative of Ukraine. Unfortunately, the Ukrainian delegation is once again using the Council to diffuse its anti-Russian propaganda. I believe that several of the statements made are absolutely scandalous. The Security Council does not benefit from that, and neither does the image of Ukrainian diplomacy. There is a need to stick to the agenda, which today does not contain an item on the settlement of the situation in Ukraine.”
2016-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7670 (2016) · source
“As of now, the main phase of the operations of Russian air forces against ISIL and other terrorist groups in Syrian territory has been completed. The objectives of the mission set out for the forces have been carried out successfully. The terrorists have suffered considerable damage and have been removed from a number of areas in the country. A striking symbol of ISIL's retreat was the liberation of the ancient city of Palmyra by Syrian forces, with Russian support. However, to fully defeat the terrorists, much remains to be done. We once again call for strengthening of coordination and cooperation among States to defeat ISIL, Jabhat Al-Nusra and affiliated groups.”
2016-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7670 (2016) · source
“Russia has long expressed concern that terrorist groups, which are rampant in the Middle East, have obtained a formidable capacity to wage war using toxic substances. We believe that the Council has yet to exhaust all of its options to combat that threat. Yesterday, with our Chinese partners, we circulated a draft resolution to the Security Council, clarifying the counter-terrorism portion of the mandate of the joint investigative mechanism of the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for incidents involving the use of chemical weapons in Syria, pursuant to resolution 2235 (2015). We hope that there will be a speedy adoption of the draft resolution by the Council.”
2016-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7670 (2016) · source
“We call on the Turkish Government to invite international observers to the Syrian border and the Ceyhan port, on a voluntary basis, for that purpose. To date, we have not seen any explanation for the bad-faith implementation by Turkey of its obligations under Security Council resolutions, other than Ankara's desire to carry out its own agenda in Syria and Iraq. In future joint work, we need to take into account the specifics ofterrorist threats, especially as they have taken shape in recent years. In that regard, we would necessarily underscore the threat of chemical terrorism. Fighters from various radical groups, as recently as this year, have used toxic chemical agents on several occasions. There is a known case of ISIL having used mustard gas in Deir ez-Zor.”
2016-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7670 (2016) · source
“The largest portion of oil products, artefacts and other items exported by ISIL from the territories it controls continues to be sold through Turkey, owing to its complacency or inaction. Turkey's borders with Iraq and especially with Syria are the main transit routes for foreign terrorists fighters and weapons, most of which fall into the hands of the terrorists. In that regard, we believe it is relevant, in the name of counter-terrorism, to consider closing the Turkish-Syrian border. We might also want to consider levying a comprehensive economic and trade embargo against ISIL. If Turkey believes that it is doing everything necessary to curtail the flows of supplies to terrorists, that could be corroborated by independent monitors.”
2016-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7670 (2016) · source
“In that region, carrying out external geopolitical schemes, accompanied by gross interference in the internal affairs of its States, led to an erosion of Government institutions and pumping resources into opposition forces and the uncontrolled spread of weapons and ammunition. It was triggered by an unprecedented surge in radicalization of local populations. Several countries are ready to use terrorists and extremists as a means of pressuring legitimate Governments, and double standards in appraising the activities of radicals have in the last analysis led to an outburst of groups such as ISIL and Jabhat Al-Nusra. These double standards are, unfortunately, obvious in the implementation of counter-terrorism decisions taken by the Security Council.”
2016-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7670 (2016) · source
“Resolutions 2178 (2014), 2199 (2015) and 2253 (2015) adapted United Nations mechanisms to the most recent threats from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Jabhat Al-Nusra, Al-Qaida and affiliated groups. The obligation of Governments in the implementation of sanctions regimes and in the suppression of illicit flows of financing and human resources to terrorists was stressed. At the same time, despite the declared convergence of positions and the existence of necessary tools for the Security Council, in practice, combatting international terrorism is far from ideal. The reasons lie largely in the unprecedented spread of that scourge in the Middle East and North Africa.”
2016-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7670 (2016) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We welcome the initiative of the Chinese delegation to lead discussions on the most topical aspect of fighting terrorism in the framework of an open debate. We believe that it is very timely. Right now, with the fight against terrorism in Syria and Iraq in full swing, there is a clearer picture of the whole range of issues facing international counter-terrorism cooperation. We call for a frank and open discussion of those issues and a determination of where the capacities for their resolution lie. The steadily increasing activities of terrorist organizations is at the centre Council's attention.”
2016-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7670 (2016) · source
“We believe that efforts to assist Afghanistan should chiefly consist of promoting the work of established structures, primarily the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), whose members, observers and dialogue partners include almost all the countries in the region, including Afghanistan. We welcome Afghanistan's official application for membership status in the SCO, submitted by President Ghani during his meeting with President Putin on the margins of the SCO summit in Ufa. We see excellent potential in strengthening counter-terrorist and anti-drug interaction between Afghanistan, the SCO and the Collective Security Treaty Organization.”
2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source
“We have no illusions about the data published in 2015 showing a significant drop in opium production in Afghanistan, and we attribute those numbers to a change in the methodology for assessing the level of drug production. We note the growing awareness around the world of the importance of the regional context to reaching a settlement in Afghanistan, and of increasing the number of regional forums focused on the issue ofAfghanistan. We also believe it is important to ensure that regional actors play a decisive role in such activities. In that context, we have some doubts about the Istanbul Process, also known as the Heart of Asia. We believe that it is merely a platform for dialogue aimed at generating new ideas that should not be duplicating the work of existing regional organizations.”
2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source
“We are compelled to conclude that so far the new NATO mission has not achieved its stated goals either. Units of the Afghan national security forces have sustained significant losses in fighting the opposition and have shown an inability to effectively repel their onslaught. The drugs being produced in large quantities in Afghanistan pose a serious threat to its own stability and to that of the surrounding region and the world in general. Besides the direct harm it inflicts, the production of drugs provides terrorism with significant financial fuel. In that regard, we believe it is essential to intensify the international community's efforts to combat drug-trafficking in Afghanistan.”
2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source
“Nonetheless, we supported the Security Council's adoption, in December 2014, of resolution 2189 (2014), on the launch of the Resolute Support Mission, on the assumption that the NATO leaders would continue to report to the Security Council on their Mission's activities regarding the situation in Afghanistan. In view of the results of the NATO Summit in Wales and Kabul's signing of agreements on security with Washington, DC, and with NATO on the status of forces, the Alliance and the United States, as the main supplier of troops to NATO's Afghan mission, now bears greater responsibility for training the Afghan national security forces and for the development of the security situation in Afghanistan. It is also crucial that no security threats to third countries emanate from Afghanistan.”
2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source
“In February, we shipped supplies of weapons and munitions - 10,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles and more than 2 million cartridges - to Afghanistan free of charge. We will continue to help Kabul to prepare and train Afghan security personnel in cooperation with the relevant Russian authorities, both on a bilateral basis and by cooperating with our international partners, regardless of the change in position on the part of the United States, NATO and a number ofWestern countries regarding their implementation of joint projects with Russia aimed at assisting Afghanistan. We consider NATO's ongoing Resolute Support Mission to be a direct successor to the International Security Assistance Force, which was unable to complete the tasks it had been set over a 12-year period from 2002 to 2014.”
2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source
“For our part, we support the Afghan Government's policy regarding the achievement of national reconciliation. We are ready to help to advance the negotiation process, including by demonstrating a flexible approach to the issues related to the functioning of the sanctions regime on the Taliban of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011). We are ready to build a constructive partnership with the Afghan leadership in the interests of maintaining the country's stability and independent path, free of terrorism and drug trafficking. In our view, a key to stability in Afghanistan is the combat-ready national security forces, which must be able to independently ensure peace and stability in their country.”
2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source
“We have noted with concern the cases of assaults and terrorist attacks on diplomatic missions of foreign Governments in Afghanistan, which recently have become more frequent. We are compelled to conclude that the activities of the four-nation contact group created a few months ago to establish direct talks between Kabul and the Taliban unfortunately has not produced visible results. A clear indication of this was the Taliban's statement about its refusal to resume peace negotiations until the Afghan Government meets its previously announced preconditions, and in that case there can be no possibility of starting a successful peace process. But without full-fledged peace talks and an end to military action, the suffering of the Afghan people will continue.”
2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We are grateful to Special Representative of the Secretary-General Haysom for his briefing on the situation in Afghanistan. We listened with interest to the substantive statement made by the Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Mr. Mahmoud Saikal. The developments in the military and political situation in Afghanistan are a matter of serious concern. There has recently been a significant increase in militant activity by the Taliban, as well as other terrorist groups. One very worrying subject is the increase in the numbers and influence of Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan and the latter's efforts to subsume other opposition armed groups, primarily in the north of the country.”
2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source
“The events of the past year show that even the most complex international crisis situations can be resolved through cooperation and dialogue and when there is political will by all parties to find mutually acceptable solutions. We call on all participants of the Six-Party Talks to resume the talks as soon as possible. Russia is ready to engage in this kind of cooperation.”
2016-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7638 (2016) · source
“We are concerned about attempts to use the actions of Pyongyang as a justification for military build-up in the region, including of offensive weapons and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence anti-missile system. The resolution we have adopted today should not be used to choke off the North Korean economy. In that regard, we are concerned about the hasty introduction, even before today's resolution was adopted, ofunilateral sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which could have very negative humanitarian consequences for the many millions of inhabitants of the country, especially those who are most vulnerable. The international community, and first and foremost those humanitarian organizations that are providing assistance and technical support to Pyongyang, should pay special attention to this aspect.”
2016-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7638 (2016) · source
“However, the document does leave open the possibility for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to return to the Six-Party process, which should be urgently resumed. Sanctions in this case are not an end in themselves, but rather a means. By shutting down the financing of nuclear and ballistic- missile programmes as much as possible, we intend to ensure a return to the negotiating table to take up all issues of concern to all the interested parties. The Russian Federation remains convinced that there is no alternative to a political and diplomatic solution to the issue of the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. Russia is very seriously worried about the negative trends and the way the situation in North-East Asia has been developing.”
2016-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7638 (2016) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): The Security Council has just unanimously adopted a new resolution that tightens the international sanctions regime against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (resolution 2270 (2016)). This resolution resulted from the fact that over the past two months the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's has undertaken banned military activity in the form of conducting a nuclear-weapons test and launching a ballistic missile, thereby raising tensions on the Korean peninsula and in the region as a whole. The Russian Federation strongly condemns the violation by Pyongyang of resolutions of the Security Council. Today it is important to focus on what happens after the adoption of the resolution. The set of sanctions envisioned is quite harsh.”
2016-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7638 (2016) · source
“We consider Pristina's ongoing attempts to infiltrate international organizations to be unacceptable, especially in the light of how the modalities of Kosovo's participation in supranational structures are defined in the First Agreement on Principles Governing the Normalization of Relations of 2013 between Belgrade and Pristina.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7637 (2016) · source
“It is still incomprehensible why the international institutions lack any information concerning the circumstances surrounding the Kumanovo incident, involving incursions by a group of militants from Kosovo in Macedonia in May 2015. In conclusion, we wish to confirm that the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo remains a key element of the international presence and control over the situation, making it possible to maintain relative stability in the province. In such conditions, we believe it extremely important to ensure that the Mission's human and financial resources remain unchanged. Resolution 1244 (1999) remains fully in force as the international legal basis for a settlement in Kosovo.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7637 (2016) · source
“On more than one occasion, we have drawn attention to the danger of disregarding the fact that the lack of proper law and order in Kosovo leads to the use of territory by Islamic terrorist groups for recruiting and training of militants. A recent and alarming indication of that was the arrest of an armed group of Islamists near the monastery of Visoki Deeani in late January. According to several reports, the members of that group were carrying the insignia of the Islamic State. We hope that that case will be thoroughly investigated and that the channels used by the extremists to penetrate Kosovo and acquire supplies will be shut down.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7637 (2016) · source
“We hope that this year there will be progress on the matter. Crimes need to be investigated, and criminals, no matter what position they currently occupy, need to be punished. At the same time, against the backdrop of the ongoing lack ofjustice in relation to the fighters of the Kosovo Liberation Army, we are puzzled by the guilty verdict handed down by the Court of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo against the Kosovo Serb leader Oliver Ivanovie, who received the severe punishment of nine years of prison. Ivanovie was found guilty of killing Albanians, based on flimsy arguments and without concrete testimony that he personally took part or ordered those killings. We hope that within the framework of the upcoming appeals process, the international judges will rectify what has emerged as a politicized verdict.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7637 (2016) · source
“Steady progress in repairing the legacy of the conflict, including investigating the crimes of the Kosovo Liberation Army, without which it will be impossible to achieve inter-ethnic reconciliation. The readiness of the Netherlands to host the main infrastructure of the specialist court is a step forward. At the same time, more than five years have passed since Dick Marty, Deputy of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, submitted a report that launched real work in that area. The time for the international community to at least partially atone for its moral responsibility to the victims it was unable to protect is slowly passing. Unfortunately, we see that the launching of the tribunal mechanism is being delayed due to the domestic situation in Kosovo, where the idea is causing acute protest, especially from the opposition.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7637 (2016) · source
“It is difficult not to shake the impression that the majority of the EU, which has been seeking to legitimize Kosovo statehood, is trying to push Belgrade to surrender its positions one step at a time and to blackmail it with the suspension of its membership in the European Union. How else can we interpret the demand to stop Belgrade's financing of Serbian municipalities or the forcing of Serbs to adopt Kosovar insignia? How can we interpret the sending of statements concerning pension payments by Serbia to Kosovar agencies, or the right for citizens of third countries to enter Serbia? On what basis are these demands being made? Resolution 1244 (1999), which remains the framework for the peace settlement, does not mention any of that. The EU approach to mediation raises, at the very least, serious questions about its impartiality.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7637 (2016) · source
“European Union mediators remain silent and appear to lack the strength - or possibly the will - to force Pristina to play by the rules. Nor has their been much headway after the latest round of high-level dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina on 26 January. It appears that the meeting was a simple observation of formalities. There is a major situation around which dialogue has been taking place. As we know, in December 2015 membership discussions were launched between Serbia and the European Union under chapter 35, "Other matters", in which the issues of Kosovo are to be addressed. The Brussels negotiating platform has a number of provisions that are cause for serious concern for the Serbian side.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7637 (2016) · source
“Despite the important agreements reached in August 2015, there has been little real progress in that area. First of all, for the time being the key idea of creating an association of Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo exists only on paper. That project was intended to contribute to the improvement of inter-ethnic relations in the province by granting genuine rights to the Serbian community. The parties agreed to that in April 2013 - almost three years ago. The situation is hardly satisfactory, and the reason for that is simple. It is due to the continuing neglect by the Kosovar side of its commitments, and to attempts to unilaterally revise its commitments under the pretext of the rulings of the so-called Constitutional Court of Kosovo.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7637 (2016) · source
“We hope that the international presence will manage to keep the situation under control. The situation of the Kosovar Serbs remains very serious. The report of the Secretary-General (S/2016/99) notes instances of physical violence used against them, including the stoning of a bus with internally displaced persons and gunfire against Serbian homes. After UNESCO rejected Kosovo's application for membership, further flagrant evidence was received of threats against Orthodox holy sites in Kosovo. In January, participants in anti-Government demonstrations in Pristina desecrated the unfinished basilica of the Church of Christ the Saviour in that city without intervention by the Kosovar police. The main channel for communication between Belgrade and Pristina is the dialogue mediated by the European Union (EU).”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7637 (2016) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We welcome the participation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Mr. Ivica Daeic', in this meeting, and we share the assessments he has made here today. We thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo, Mr. Zahir Tanin, for his briefing on the situation of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), which paints a worrisome picture of the situation in the province. That is no surprise. No matter how convincing Ms. Vlora Citaku's interesting interpretation of history and contemporary realities may be, the situation in Kosovo is characterized by ongoing crisis and disorder. Clashes with the opposition regularly spill out into the street and mass confrontations erupt against the police.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7637 (2016) · source
“We would certainly not like to see the Mechanism inherit the problems of the ICTY, which unfortunately has not proven itself to be an impartial body of international justice. Based on everything I have just said, we abstained in the voting on today's resolution because we would not like to bear responsibility for the consequences of the proposed appointments.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7636 (2016) · source
“We are very concerned by reports of the death in February of Zdravko Tolimir in a prison in The Hague. According to his defence lawyers, in 2015 he applied to travel to Serbia for medical care; however, his request was refused. This is not the first such death. For obvious reasons, such events cause serious concerns about due process for respondents and those convicted by the ICTY, and with regard to such fundamental rights as the right to life and the right to health. Measures to improve this situation are necessary. It is important that the Office of Internal Oversight Services investigate the work of the ICTY medical unit. We expect corresponding proposals or instructions from the Secretary-General. It is important to separate the failures of the ICTY from the work of its leadership.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7636 (2016) · source
“The Tribunal, however, has managed to avoid following the instructions of the Security Council, and has shown impressive creativity in finding pretexts to justify the delays. The conclusion strategy for its work within the framework, established by the Council at the proposal of the ICTY itself, was constantly sabotaged. One example is resolution 1966 (2010), according to which the closing of the ICTY should have occurred by 31 December 2014. The Tribunal did not meet that deadline either. Furthermore, the delays in administering justice were not reduced in spite of the appeal contained in resolution 2193 (2014); the delays in fact increased. We hope that the new President of the ICTY, Judge Carmel Agius, will take the necessary steps to improve the current situation.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7636 (2016) · source
“One of the most important reasons for concern is the issue of the administration of justice, which has become a daily issue for the ICTY. The length of proceedings in certain trials was extended on various pretexts, often going beyond What could be considered reasonable. An example is the case of Vojislav Seselj, who spent more than 10 years in detention awaiting his sentence. It is incomprehensible how such galling excess can go hand in hand with the presumption of innocence or the basic guarantees of the rights of respondents, which the ICTY has always proclaimed. The attempts of the Security Council to influence the situation have not been successful. In particular, the Council has called on the Tribunal more than once to reduce the length of time for the completion of cases.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7636 (2016) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): The Russian delegation abstained in the voting on resolution 2269 (2016). While we did not block the proposal of the Secretary-General with regard to the appointments to the post of President and Prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, our delegation does not support that proposal and would like to express its very serious concerns about the chosen candidates. As we see it, given the positions occupied by the proposed candidates in recent years in the International Criminal Tribunal on Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), these appointments could lead to the reproduction and continuation in the Mechanism of the significant flaws that were characteristic of the ICTY. As is well known, we have had many issues with the ICTY in its over 20 years of existence.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7636 (2016) · source
“A special status must be established and other things must be done, which Kyiv simply does not want to do. Unfortunately, some States that have a strong influence on Kyiv - not in the Normandy format, but delegations around the table today - say "What do you want? Ukraine just cannot do it. We know it is written there, but Ukraine cannot do it." So, the representative of Ukraine cannot raise that question. If he is really talking about a political settlement, there is a need to demand and ensure that Ukraine adopt the laws that were supposed to be adopted under the package. Russia cannot do it for Ukraine. Rhetorically, the representative of Ukraine can say whatever he wants, but unfortunately the situation in Ukraine will only deteriorate in that context and nobody will win.”
2016-02-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7635 (2016) · source