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

“I would note that our Western colleagues are demanding that cross-border humanitarian deliveries to Syria be conducted through border crossings controlled by the Front. At the same time, they have long blocked any condemnation by the Security Council of the numerous terrorist attacks committed in Syria. Pursuing regime change by force in Syria at all costs will prolong the crisis and undermine the Geneva negotiations. It is telling that Ahmad Jarba, the leader of the National Coalition, made no effort to show up to the Geneva negotiations, and is instead travelling the world in search of weapons. Moaz al-Khatib, one of his predecessors, was removed from office just for attempting to launch talks with Damascus to stop the bloodshed.”
2014-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7180 (2014) · source
“That is exactly what the draft resolution presented by Russia is aimed at: fostering the process oflocal truces. That draft resolution is not to the liking of our Western colleagues. They claim that the settlements already achieved cannot be used as standards. One cannot help recalling the Russian saying that a bad peace is better than a good quarrel. What are our Western colleagues proposing instead? They are offering talk, which is good for naive people, and assering that they will supply new types of weapons to good opposition groups only. Their list of good guys now includes the Al-Nusra Front, which has openly confessed to a series of brutal terrorist attacks, including the recent one in Aleppo that claimed the lives of dozens of civilians.”
2014-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7180 (2014) · source
“We must not overlook the fact that the head of French diplomacy saw fit to take advantage of his recent visit to Washington, D.C., to publicly criticize the United States for refusing to shower missiles and bombs on Syria last fall. It should be pointed out that this damage to P5 unity is being inflicted at a critical point in the efforts to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis. The involuntary hiatus created by the resignation of Lakhdar Brahimi should be used for an in-depth, fair and collective analysis of the situation and to seek out any possible resource to break the vicious cycle of violence. In that respect, there is food for thought contained in the political testament left behind by Lakhdar Brahimi for the Security Council on 13 May.”
2014-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7180 (2014) · source
“Among such results, undoubtedly, was the adoption of resolution 2118 (2013) on the destruction of the Syrian chemical stockpile. That programme is about to be successfully completed. Another important benchmark was resolution 2139 (2014), on humanitarian issues. P5 unity is important. After all, it is the reason for which France has been pushing for P5 engagement in the political settlement of the crisis. It has failed, however, to advance any positive substantive ideas. Why deal such a blow to P5 unity at this stage? Is it just to try once again to create a pretext for armed intervention in the Syrian conflict?”
2014-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7180 (2014) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We understand the motives of many delegations that supported or co-sponsored draft resolution S/2014/348, referring the case of Syria to the International Criminal Court (ICC). We share the emotions elicited in them by the crisis in Syria, which has dragged on for far too long. It is hard to witness the destruction, loss of life and suffering of the people. It is more difficult to discern the motives that led France to initiate the draft and put it to a vote, fully aware in advance of the fate it would meet. There has been no dearth of complaints about the lack of unity concerning Syria among the five permanent members (P5) of the Security Council. Indeed, when that unity is present, we manage to achieve concrete positive results.”
2014-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7180 (2014) · source
“We hope that the High Representative, our partners in the Security Council and the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council together will uphold the need for dialogue between the Bosnian parties in the run-up to the October elections. The way forward for the peace process should continue to be the transfer of responsibility to Bosnians themselves.”
2014-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7176 (2014) · source
“Unfortunately, the High Representative was again silent concerning the alarming fact that members of the military opposition in Syria are being helped by mercenaries who are citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which potentially threatens stability in that country and region. Here we welcome the efforts of Sarajevo to strengthen criminal accountability for fighters and illegal armed groups outside the country and their accomplices. Overall, since the devastating armed conflict ended in 1995, Bosnia and Herzegovina has achieved concrete results. I do not agree with Mr. Inzko's conclusions in the report that the February protests demonstrated the fragility of the security situation. Quite to the contrary, the vast majority of the population, authorities and law enforcement have demonstrated their ability to act in a legitimate manner.”
2014-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7176 (2014) · source
“While the unrest was due to the worsening socioeconomic situation, the main reason goes far deeper: the absence ofa balanced multi-ethnic policy at the federal level, ignoring the legitimate rights of Croatians and the failure to resolve ongoing tensions among the main Bosnian parties. All of that has an adverse impact not just on the Federation, but also the whole country. We are convinced that the usefulness of external supervision of the situation, along the lines of the Office of the High Representative, has run its course. The crisis in the Federation is just an additional argument for the need to draw down the personnel and for an inclusive internal dialogue to resolve the country's problems. There is no need to create artificial reasons to retain the apparatus.”
2014-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7176 (2014) · source
“Moreover, when protests arose in February 2014 in Bosnian-populated areas of the country - some of which resulted in violence, including the seizing and burning of administrative buildings and the forced resignation of cantonal authorities - the High Representative shifted the blame to the Republika Srpska and Croatians. It has to be acknowledged that Serbian entities are essentially free of social unrest. That is due to the active cooperation between the Government, unions and employers, as well as the timely, successful measures taken to resolve business issues and encourage the private sector. The mass protests that took place in February were a manifestation of the far-reaching crisis in the Muslim Croatian entities.”
2014-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7176 (2014) · source
“We note that, in contrast with the well-articulated position of the Republika Srpska on the issue, to date representatives of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina have been unable to agree on a single approach - mainly owing to the unwillingness to take into account the legitimate interests of Bosnian Croats. We are closely following developments in the domestic political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is of course being impacted increasingly by the general elections scheduled for October. At the same time, see no reason for dramatizing the situation, as the report of the High Representative does. There are concerns about the situation in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the High Representative for some reason does not dwell on that and instead focuses his main criticism on Banja Luka.”
2014-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7176 (2014) · source
“The task of the High Representative is to promote those efforts and find common denominators, not focus on a Euro-Atlantic agenda, domestic affairs or the country's decisions on international affairs. We agree with the appropriateness of improving the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina in accordance with the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights in the Sejdie-Finzi case. A compromise decision on that issue is possible if it is arrived at in an inclusively manner. However, we cannot agree with the broad interpretation of the Court's ruling in an attempt to use it as a pretext to reopen the question of the entire Dayton structure.”
2014-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7176 (2014) · source
“In order to have an objective picture of what is taking place in the country, we would recommend that Council members also read the eleventh report of the Republic of Serbia to the Secretary-General and the Security Council, in which the commitment of Bosnian Serbs to international law and the letter of Dayton is clear. We call on the High Representative to act consistent with the "5+2" programme agreed in 2008 by the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board, which sets out conditions for drawing down the protectorate in Bosnia an Herzegovina. Unresolved problems in that regard, as well as other fundamental questions for the future of the country, should be resolved by Bosnians themselves through inclusive dialogue and on the basis of the consent of all constituent peoples.”
2014-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7176 (2014) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I would like to welcome Mr. Inzko, High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, once again, we must note that his report (S/2014/3l4, annex), which we have studied carefully, reveals a trend with regard to Bosnian Serbs, that is, they are blamed for all the political ills in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a downplaying of the adverse impact of the Muslim Croatian clashes in the country and an ongoing denial of the legitimate rights of Bosnian Croatians under the Dayton Agreement. We reject that unilateral and harsh approach.”
2014-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7176 (2014) · source
“In order to do that, we believe it should focus its main efforts on countries that have not yet submitted their first national reports. Another important area of focus is the preparation for the holding in 2016 of the comprehensive review of the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). We believe that further practical steps for its implementation will be defined following the review. We look forward to a constructive and fruitful cooperation with all partners in the interest of a more effective implementation the provisions of the resolution.”
2014-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7169 (2014) · source
“Planned and systematic work by the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) is often reduced to activity in such secondary directions as developing voluntary action plans and industrial and academic contacts, and in participating in various outreach measures. We see the basic work of the resolution being done at the level of regional and subregional organizations without adequate non-proliferation expertise. In our opinion, those trends could eventually weaken the 1540 Committee's influence on processes linked to the resolution. In that connection, it is vital that the Committee effectively carry out its functions as the central coordinator of global efforts to implement the resolution and in defining the goals and priorities for those efforts.”
2014-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7169 (2014) · source
“The Russian Federation has been a responsible party to the founding international legal instruments in the area of non-proliferation, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Biological Weapons Convention, the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism and other international treaties and multilateral mechanisms. We are constantly improving our own activities for implementing resolution 1540 (2004). and we plan to submit an updated national report soon. We are also playing an active role in the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons. A number of bottlenecks have appeared recently.”
2014-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7169 (2014) · source
“The work to ensure international cooperation in providing effective national export control systems to countries that do not possess those essential resources continues, and Russia has been actively involved in it. In particular, in January 2013 we organized a regional seminar in Minsk on resolution 1540 (2004) for the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). In Kazan, in June of that year, we held the fifth meeting of security chiefs on the problem of terrorism and on preventing WMD from falling into the hands of non-State subjects. In December 2013, the CIS countries held consultations in Moscow on export controls, and this April we conducted a special seminar on export control for the relevant CIS agencies.”
2014-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7169 (2014) · source
“All of us, as responsible members of the international community, have a shared long-term interest in non-proliferation. And one of the most important tasks is achieving the full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) in every country. In that contex, we note that the resolution considers all three WMD types - nuclear, chemical and biological - as a single issue, emphasizing that the danger of any of them falling into terrorists' hands is equal. Over the past 10 years, much has been done to implement this legally binding international instrument, and 172 United Nations States Members have submitted their first reports on its implementation.”
2014-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7169 (2014) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We are pleased to welcome you, Minister Yun Byung-se, as you preside over the Security Council. We are grateful for your convening of this meeting commemorating the tenth anniversary of the adoption ofresolution 1540 (2004), which laid the foundations for the international community's collective efforts aimed at preventing weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their means of delivery from falling into the hands of non-State actors, especially terrorists. Russia was a sponsor of the resolution, which underlines the indisputable fact that the solution to the problem of the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery continues to be controlled by the leadership of the Russian Federation.”
2014-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7169 (2014) · source
“including the use of military force in the cast of the country, and for seriously taking up the full implementation of the Geneva document.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7167 (2014) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I did not want to say that a lie cannot only be a distortion of facts, but also a selective interpretation of one's own position. That is what we have just heard from my American colleague. What we have heard from Washington, DC, and the way it was heard clearly demonstrated to all - including to those in Kyiv, which is most important - that the United States looked favourably on the forceful change of power, which did not ultimately serve the interests of the Ukrainian people. Regarding my proposal. 1 do think it would be good to conclude this meeting with such a statement, not asking every delegation what it is going to declare but rather make ajoint statement calling for a swift halt to all violence.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7167 (2014) · source
“If we are truly intent on finding a political solution to the crisis in spite of the dramatic events of recent days, then perhaps we might ask the President, the Permanent Representative of Korea, to make a statement following this meeting, stating that the Security Council, in keeping with the 17 April Geneva statement, calls for a swift halt to the violence, including, of course, the use of force in eastern Ukraine, and appeals for the swift and comprehensive implementation of the Geneva statement. If other members would be ready to support such action, then we would too.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7167 (2014) · source
“Regarding what one colleague said, that Russia is refusing to implement the 17 April Geneva statement, I would repeat that Russia would never refuse to implement any useful document agreed upon during the crisis, including the 21 February agreement. Actually listening to my statement today, one would notice that the political components were quotations from the 17 April document.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7167 (2014) · source
“Throughout the crisis, Russia several times has suggested different formats for the organization of such dialogue between the Government and opposition forces and regions. The Government did not want to or could not do it themselves. We suggested a constitutional assembly be convened. They said they were not ready to do so. When the meeting of 17 April was organized, we suggested that representatives of the regions should be included, and that the four parties - the European Union, the United States and Russia and the acting Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine - could start those talks. But that proposal was rejected. The OSCE was then given the mandate, which it tried to carry out only then to be told it should not. Instead, tanks were brought out to Sloviansk and other cities in the east of the country.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7167 (2014) · source
“Maybe they had a part in drawing up those plans, and that was why they talked about what was going on so calmly. Perhaps that should not be so surprising after all, because, as we know, every visit to Kyiv by senior American officials has resulted in events reaching new levels of confrontation, and a more violent turn of events. In that regard, it is not surprising that the United States, as I said in my statement, did not want the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to do as it was supposed to under the Vienna Document, that is, to bring about dialogue and organize a round table with representative of different regions and the Kyiv Government. Why did the United States not want the OSCE to do that?”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7167 (2014) · source
“Today some of our colleagues spoke approvingly of the most recent - today or yesterday - pronouncement of Mr. Yatsenyuk, in which he talked about 25 May, for which presidential elections are scheduled, and that there will be some kind of poll on decentralization of the country. A poll. The people have been fighting on the barricades for weeks, and they think they have to conduct a poll in order to figure out people's opinion about what they want. What bothered me more than anything today was how calmly and approvingly our Western colleagues spoke about the search operations that the Kyiv authorities are now carrying out in eastern Ukraine. They gave the impression that they know what the Kyiv authorities are thinking, what their plans are.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7167 (2014) · source
“The one thing that is essential is that the agreement be fulfilled. But the most striking and infuriating thing is that the demands of the people of eastern Ukraine are basically fairly simple. Finding themselves in a situation in which the nation's capital was occupied by an illegitimate authority, to a large degree consisting of hostile nationalist radical elements, the people asked that their rights be guaranteed. They demanded federalization. It was noticeable that for a long period - almost two months after the overthrow of the lawful Government - no one there took up arms for at least a couple of months. They were all waiting for some constructive reaction from Kyiv to their demands for protecting their own interests. Not once did any kind of reasonable reaction or serious initiative emanate from Kyiv.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7167 (2014) · source
“During this entire crisis, Russia has wanted only one thing, which is to avoid destabilization in Ukraine and settle everything through negotiations. We proposed tripartite talks among Ukraine, the European Union and Russia at the start ofthe crisis on the political confrontation that focused on whether Ukraine should sign an association agreement with the European Union. For some reason, the European Union, with the support of the United States, rejected our proposal. When the 25 February agreement was reached, we supported it. We still believe that many of the 25 February positions are right, and that they must be kept to if we hope to bring Ukraine out of political crisis. We helped to conclude the 17 April Geneva agreement. It is a simple agreement, but it points to a way out of the crisis in the country.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7167 (2014) · source
“But, having taken that first step, the people who made those attempts have nonetheless been unable to stop and have gone on with them. This time that has led to serious destabilization in Ukraine. I would like to remind the Council that, during the several months of crises preceding the overthrow of the lawful administration between 21 and 25 February, our Western colleagues never once called for a halt to the violence perpetrated in Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine against the lawful authorities. There were no calls to President Yanukovych to use every possible means at his disposal as lawful President, including that of force, in order to impose order in the country. But now, for some reason, those calls are coming loud and clear.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7167 (2014) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): Our encyclopedically educated and eloquent French colleague inserted an interesting quotation in his statement, to the effect that when we sin, it is only the first step that carries a cost, and the subsequent ones are easier. Indeed, we can find affirmations of his words of wisdom in the history of the still young twenty-first century. Among other things, the twenty-first century has presented humankind and international relations with the gift of practices such as enforced regime change, done in an attempt to impose someone's geopolitical vision on other countries of the world. It is very clear that every such attempt launched early in the twenty-first century has resulted in terrible destabilization.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7167 (2014) · source
“We call on Kyiv, its enablers and the signers of the Geneva declaration, the United States and the European Union, not to commit a fatal error and to make a sober assessment at all possible consequences of their actions. We call firmly on the West to end its destructive policy concerning Ukraine, and on the self-proclaimed authorities in Kyiv to swiftly halt all punitive operations and other measures against the people, free political prisoners and guarantee full freedom for journalists. That would represent a genuine process of de-escalation. There is a need for the urgent organization of authentic and equitable political dialogue, with the participation of all regions, to reach mutual agreement on the future of the country, rather than pretend to draft reforms within the small circle of self-styled Government of winners.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7167 (2014) · source
“It would seem that not only did the High Representative not participate in signing the Geneva declaration, but that she did not read it. In helping those who organized the coup d'etat in Kyiv to crush the protesters, the United States and the European Union bear great responsibility for effectively destroying the path to a peaceful solution to the crisis. Against that backdrop, the categorical refusal of Washington, DC, to support the continuation of dialogue between the representatives of Kyiv and of south-eastern Ukraine, under the auspices ofthe OSCE, would hardly seem coincidental in its contravention of the Geneva declaration fo 17 April. What could be a more striking example than the fact that the United States is bent on the use of force?”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7167 (2014) · source
“Following the numerous attempts of Washington, DC, to tell Russia where and how its military should be properly deployed in its own territory, the White House has now been offended by our appeal to the Kyiv Government to withdraw its forces from eastern Ukraine. I recall that Washington, DC, used frequently to ask former President Yanukovich of Ukraine not to use force against his people, and threatened him with all sorts of consequences. Now, however, in a strange twist of logic, force may and must be used against civilians by a Government that enjoys no legitimacy. The High Representative of the European Union is not far behind her United States colleagues, philosophizing about the State's monopoly on the use of force. In the current context in Ukraine, her statement can only be characterized as provocative and inflammatory.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7167 (2014) · source
“We are particularly concerned about information that, in the course of the punitive operations undertaken by the Ukrainian armed forces and illegal ultranationalist groups, English has been heard being spoken on the radio and English-speaking foreigners have been identified among those attacking in Sloviansk. We insist that all outside interference in the events in Ukraine is unacceptable. It is time for our Western colleagues to think twice, reason with their mentees in Ukraine, and stop toying with the destiny of the Ukrainian people to determine their own geopolitical goals. How else can we interpret yet another blatant example of the double standards wielded by the United States?”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7167 (2014) · source
“In essence, at a time when Russia is striving to de-escalate and settle the crisis and - at the request of our Western partners and in cooperation with the leadership of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) - recently sent a representative of the President of the Russian Federation to Donetsk oblast in order to find a solution to the situation of the military specialists from several European countries, the Kyiv regime, with the support of its Western sponsors, has launched the full-scale use of military force, effectively annihilating any prospects for the implementation of the Geneva agreement.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7167 (2014) · source
“Punitive measures against its own people bear witness to the current Kyiv Government's inability or unwillingness to fulfil its obligations under the Geneva declaration of 17 April to ensure a speedy end to all violence and the launch of broad national dialogue, with the participation of all regions and political forces. If anyone entertained any doubts, it is now clear that the many statements of the so-called Government of Ukraine regarding its intention to begin nationwide dialogue in the search of settlement to the far-reaching crisis are nothing but hypocrisy. The regime in Kyiv, having abrogated the agreement of 21 February, is now openly violating its commitments under the Geneva declaration of 17 April, which require an urgent measures to end to all violence.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7167 (2014) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): The Russian delegation called for today's emergency meeting of the Security Council with a view to considering the resumed punitive military operations undertaken by the authorities of the Kyiv regime, involving terrorists, the pro-fascist Right Sector and other ultranationalist organizations against their own people in south-eastern Ukraine. A sub-unit of the Ukrainian army is using tanks, other heavy artillery and military helicopters to launch rocket striles against protesters and land troops. The first blood has already been spilled and reports are coming in about the killed and wounded. If the criminal misadventures of the Kyiv clique are not swiftly stopped, a catastrophic outcome for Ukraine cannot be averted. We have warned of this on many occasions.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7167 (2014) · source
“There is nothing to be done but to implement it. Let us do so. Russia helped to draw it up. But the actions backing it up need to be taken, first and foremost, by the authorities in Kyiv, if that is what they are. Unfortunately, their lack of action is reflected in the statement I made here earlier today.”
2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7165 (2014) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I certainly do not want to prolong our meeting here this evening. The simplest of answers would be to again read the statement I made earlier, which refletcts our vision and position. However, allow me a very brief comment. A great deal has been said here about some sort of wrong interpretation of our positions and statements in various forums and situations. Our Ukrainian colleague even began to depict some fantastic scenario of how he views the further developments unfolding in Ukraine. The only scenario that I would want to hear - but do not - is one that includes genuine efforts by the authorities in Kyiv to implement the Geneva document. Mr.Feltman began by saying that there were various interpretation of that document. The document is so simple, there is nothing to interpret.”
2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7165 (2014) · source
“That was either a provocation by the Kyiv Government or just simple stupidity. We are doing everything we can for the freeing of those prisoners, and one has already been released due to health reasons. With regard to armed forces, our armed forces are on Russian territory. American forces are hardly at home. They are in Australia, Lithuania, Poland and on the Black Sea, where an American vessel has remained longer than it was invited to do. Yes, our troops do conduct training exercises. But they do so in atransparent manner and while upholding all existing international agreements. We do not have any aggressive intentions towards Ukraine. They Kyiv Government should keep a cool head and not engage in reckless activities with respect to the people in the south-east of the country, where there are many Russian citizens as well.”
2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7165 (2014) · source
“A full constitutional process must take place, including representatives from all regions. We hope that the OSCE mission, headed by Mr. Apakan, which plays a particular role in the implementation of the Geneva agreement, will provide the Kyiv Government with assistance in establishing national dialogue and seeking understanding with the people in the south- east. However, the most important work to de-escalate should be done by the Kyiv Government - as they call themselves. I should now like to say a few words with regard to the issues touched on by colleagues. On the OSCE monitors in Sloviansk, they were requested by the Kyiv Government, and as such were responsible for their security. How can people be sent on a bus to an area controlled by self-defence forces, without even providing documents that would confirm their status?”
2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7165 (2014) · source
“They must clearly understand the scope of their responsibility if the situation in Ukraine continues to deteriorate. It is very difficult for us in Russia to see the chaos in such a close, fraternal country. But we understand the reason that brought about the protests in the east and south. People do not want a repeat of the Kyiv scenario. They do not recognize the legitimacy of the Kyiv Government, which is made up of oligarchs. They have decided to create their own governing bodies. In response, they have been accused of terrorism and punished by military operations. We call upon the Kyiv regime and its Western sponsors to think twice. There is a need to lift the order on using arms against civilians, as well as to free the political prisoners and disarm the Right Sector.”
2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7165 (2014) · source
“Instead of genuine collective work to bring Ukraine out of the crisis, which was brought about by political misadventurism, our colleagues from the United States and the European Union have preferred to make strong insinuations against Russia and thinking up some sort of sanctions that are pointless and counterproductive. Perhaps they are satisfactory to some one, but the responsibility for the future of Ukraine, Europe and the world is not being considered - at least not by these people. The result is that the Government in Kyiv has done nothing to implement the Geneva document. Our Western colleagues, first and foremost our American colleagues, which have an unprecedented impact on the situation in Kyiv, do not want, or have not been able, to convince the Government to uphold its obligations under the document.”
2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7165 (2014) · source
“In fact, the Party of Regions, which represents the rest of the east of the country, was excluded from the process. It is no surprise that the draft was immediately criticized in the Rada by all sides. We did not hear any reasonable answers to key questions, such as how the federalization or decentralization of the country would take place. It seems such things are to be substituted by some type of broadening of municipalities. How is the issue of the status of the Russian language to be resolved? Can anyone seriously assert that all those activities by Kyiv are a solution to the political crisis aimed at stabilizing Ukraine?”
2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7165 (2014) · source
“Tsarev was stripped of his right to participate in the televised debates. In that context, can we speak about the peaceful nature of the electoral campaign in Ukraine and of freedom of expression for its civilians? The key point of the Geneva agreement was broad national dialogue, which was to take into account the interests of all regions and political formations. The Kyiv Government made certain promises with regard to constitutional reforms and upholding the rights of minorities. But what about national dialogue and reform? According to meadia reports, today Mr. Yatsenyuk submitted to the Rada some sort of draft constitution. It is not really clear how it was prepared. What is certain is that it was not an open and inclusive process.”
2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7165 (2014) · source
“On 28 April, there was an attack on the life of the popular mayor of Kharkiv, Hennadiy Kernes. My colleague from the United Kingdom rushed to say that the protesters in the south-east participated in that crime. That demands a careful investigation of the case. Let us not try to prejudge the outcome. It is true that Mr. Kernes had indeed spoken out about the chaos in other regions of Ukraine, and there were serious political battles between him and one of the heads of the defence and law-enforcement agencies. On the same day - 28 April - at the Kherson airport, the presidential candidate's plane was blocked. He had been travelling as part ofthe presidential campaign. He was attacked. In early April another candidate, Oleh Tsarev, was severely beaten. He was the only candidate for the presidential election without State protection. Mr.”
2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7165 (2014) · source
“However, instead of that, the People's Governor of Donetsk, Pavel Gubarev, who never had weapons in his hand, remains in prison. He is a political prisoner, arrested just because he called for a referendum on the federalization of Ukraine. The monitors of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) confirm that he was tortured and that he is now engaged in an indefinite hunger strike. Mr. Gubarev is far from being the only political prisoner of the Kyiv regime. One can speak of widespread witch hunts for those who have dared to express their disagreement with the Government in the Maidan. According to our sources, in the Donetsk region there are already about 10 cases of politically motivated kidnappings of people who were later transported to Kyiv by the special services.”
2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7165 (2014) · source
“How could the militias in the east be convinced to disarm or vacate buildings if they have been surrounded, as has happened in Sloviansk, by subdivisions of the Ukrainian armed forces and the so-called National Guard, comprised of fighters from the Right Sector. In Geneva, there was agreement that there had to be a single approach to all illicit activities in Ukraine from whichever side they might emanate - that is, from Kyiv, the west, the east or the south. However, the Maidan remains occupied - cement blockades are still in place - as are several buildings in Kyiv. No one has liberated anything in Kyiv. In Washington, DC, they are saying, uncritically, that the buildings have been legally rented. But by whom? They have been rented by armed fighters. In Geneva, there was agreement that there should be amnesty for protestors.”
2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7165 (2014) · source
“Pursuant to those declarations, real Ukrainians should have collaborated with Hitler to establish a new order in Europe. I would recall that the collaborators and the followers of Bandera killed not only Jews, Poles and Soviet soldiers but also Ukrainians who refused to subscribe to their sloganeering. In Geneva, there was agreement on the need for a full rejection of extremism. However, the Right Sector Banderists, instead of laying down their weapons, headed to the east of Ukraine. As was declared, the Banderist army crossed the Dnepr. Neither the Right Sector with its Nazi slogans nor any other radical organizations have laid down their arms. On the contrary, those groups have become legal. They are forming military battalions with names like Dnepr and Donbass in their ranks.”
2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7165 (2014) · source
“In Geneva, it seemed that there was a window of opportunity for a significant de-escalation of the situation in Ukraine at the beginning of broad national dialogue. However, almost immediately following the declarations and actions of the Kyiv Government authorities, it became clear that they had no intention of implementing the agreement, just as they did not intend to implement the agreement of 21 February. In both cases, that treachery led to bloodshed. Unfortunately, it is difficulty to speak of confidence in the current coalition in Kyiv when the defence and law-enforcement agencies are essentially controlled by the Svoboda Party, whose political platform is based on declarations issued by Nazi collaborators in June 1941.”
2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7165 (2014) · source