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

“In the circumstances, yesterday afternoon we took the unusual step of drafting a resolution intended to demonstrate that a reasonable course of collective action does exist whereby we can build on all the positive things that we previously worked out so painstakingly. Our draft includes a provision relating to the still-relevant parameters of the Russian-American agreement of9 September, emphasizing the importance of ensuring immediate and unhindered humanitarian access, specifically via weekly 48-hour humanitarian pauses. The text of the document is annexed to the draft resolution. The draft resolution includes a provision on the importance of ensuring that the ceasefire is adhered to by every side in Aleppo and affirms the existing monitoring arrangement involving the ISSG ceasefire task force.”
2016-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7785 (2016) · source
“I do not think we will see any such cases in future - unless France, having renounced the right of veto, is then controlled by a majority of Security Council members. Whatever the restrictions, they can be considered only in the context of compliance with the ceasefire, which terrorists and other illegal armed groups are routinely violating. Another basic flaw in the French-Spanish draft resolution is that instead of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) monitoring mechanism provided for in resolution 2268 (2016), it proposes a duplicative plan pulled out of thin air. We regard this as an attempt to do away with the existing collaborative architecture.”
2016-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7785 (2016) · source
“In September alone, according to United Nations data, more than 80 civilians were killed and 170 wounded. Moreover, the concept of banning all military flights has not been thought through at all. To the question of whether that also meant a ban on the reconnaissance drones tracking fighters" movements, there was no answer. To the question of why it also applies to the western part of the city, which the Government controls, the anwer was that it was more convenient. Is that what you call a serious discussion? Another main point is that there has never been an instance in the entire history of the Security Council when a permanent member was allowed to adopt a resolution that directly or indirectly predetermined its course of action without prior discussion of the matter.”
2016-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7785 (2016) · source
“On 6 October, those assurances about the desire to avoid a Russian veto were confirmed at a higher level. But 24 hours later, after only one round of serious consultations, a draft resolution, doomed to receive the Russian veto that we had repeatedly and justifiably discussed, was put in blue and submitted for a vote. We should point out that Spain - which was specifically invited to be a member of the International Syria Support Group by Russia - has continually reminded us of its co-authorship of the draft resolution. The Spanish diplomatic efforts are disappointing. In particular, the French-Spanish draft resolution features a ban on all military flights over Aleppo, and not only over the eastern part of the city but also the west, which has been continually under fire from fighters from the eastern side.”
2016-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7785 (2016) · source
“And this time, most unfortunately, Paris - which in 2003 joined with Moscow and other clear-thinking capitals in an effort to deter the United States and United Kingdom from an opportunistic invasion of Iraq - has become one of the loudest promoters of an ill-conceived policy of regime change in Damascus. It grieves us to point out that in all the years of the Syrian crisis, the French delegation in the Security Council has never once made any constructive proposals, with its rare initiatives clearly calculated for propaganda effect and doomed to failure. And that is what happened this time. Our French colleagues approached us about a week ago, informing us that they wanted us to support a draft resolution on Syria, and emphasizing that Paris did not want a Russian veto.”
2016-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7785 (2016) · source
“I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of the Russian Federation. Today we are participants in one of the strangest scenarios in the history of the Security Council. We are about to vote on two draft resolutions (S/2016/846 and S/2016/847), and we are all perfectly aware that neither of them will be adopted. Considering that the crisis in Syria is going through an agonizing stage that demands the greatest possible political cooperation on the part of the international community, such a waste of time is unacceptable. We all know the background to the Syrian crisis. After destroying Libya and considering that a great success, the troika of the three Western permanent members of the Security Council turned on Syria.”
2016-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7785 (2016) · source
“In accordance with rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, the Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. Members of the Council have before them documents S/2016/846 and S/20l6/847, which contain the texts of two draft resolutions, respectively.”
2016-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7785 (2016) · source
“I now invite Council members to informal consultations to continue our discussion on the subject. The meeting rose at 10.40 am.”
2016-10-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7781 (2016) · source
“I thank Mr. Ladsous for his briefing. I shall now give the floor to the member of the Council who wishes to make a statement.”
2016-10-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7781 (2016) · source
“Reports of the Secretary-General on the Sudan and South Sudan Report of the Secretary-General on the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (S/2016/812) The President (spoke in Russian): In accordance with rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of the Sudan to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite Mr. Herve Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2016/812, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur. I now give the floor to Mr. Ladsous.”
2016-10-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7781 (2016) · source
“As this is the first public meeting of the Council for the month of October, I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute, on behalf of the Council, to His Excellency Ambassador Gerard Van Bohemen, Permanent Representative of New Zealand, for his service as President ofthe Council for the month of September. I am sure I speak for all members of the Council in expressing deep appreciation to Ambassador Van Bohemen and his delegation for the great diplomatic skill with which they conducted the Council's business last month. Adoption of the agenda The agenda was adopted.”
2016-10-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7781 (2016) · source
“If they fail to convince us, that will only increase our suspicions that all this was done to take the heat off Jabhat Al-Nusra. The only way out, therefore, is through honest, joint work to enable every side to implement the ceasefire agreements rather than pushing unilateral demands about whom to offer gestures of goodwill in the hope of profiting from it down the road.”
2016-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7777 (2016) · source
“If they do not want to conduct negotiations, let them go back to the foreign capitals where they have found a haven. We should bring forward those representatives of the Syrian opposition who really want to lead their country out of the crisis, and we know they exist. And of course there is the ceasefire. We would like it to remain our goal, along with the resumption of negotiations. I want to stress once again that we can talk about restoring the ceasefire only on the basis of a collective approach, one in which it is not we who have to unilaterally prove anything to anyone but rather up to others to convince us of their sincere desire to dissociate the opposition cooperating with the American-led coalition from Jabhat Al-Nusra. After that, Jabhat Al-Nusra must be beaten and the opposition made part of the political process.”
2016-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7777 (2016) · source
“In that regard, I would like to recall that paragraph 9 of the first statement of the International Syria Support Group provided that "[t]he participants together with the United Nations will explore modalities for, and implementation of, a nationwide ceasefire to be initiated on a date certain and in parallel with this renewed political process." What that means is that continuing the political process is a fundamental condition that would have helped to ensure that the ceasefire was established and complied with. I would like to ask Mr. De Mistura who it is who has been refusing to engage in direct talks all this time? We know the answer, but I would like to hear it from his lips. Perhaps it is time to stop dancing around the irresponsible politicians who pretend to represent the interests of the Syrian people.”
2016-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7777 (2016) · source
“We are seeing attempts to launch a media campaign to discredit the measures the Government is taking to force out terrorists, using faked or old video, some of it made in western Aleppo. The scale of the operations is exaggerated and the shelling is filmed in the city's abandoned south-western districts, where hostilities have been fierce for more than a month, and made out to be indiscriminate strikes against peaceful parts of eastern Aleppo. I will now turn to the political process and address myself to Mr. Staffan de Mistura as well as, obviously, to Council members. The political process must be resumed. Frankly, we do not understand why there has been no decisive action in that regard since May.”
2016-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7777 (2016) · source
“The militants are being offered negotiations, and a special northern corridor to the Castello Road has been set up for those exiting with arms. The Russian- American agreements of 9 September provide for a mechanism guaranteeing safe exit for combatants monitored by the United Nations. All those who want amnesty are offered a simplified process for regulation of their status. There are officials from the Russian reconciliation centre in the humanitarian corridor areas whose job it is to monitor the situation and prevent inhumane treatment of militants. Civilians are offered all possible means for leaving the city and getting away from the armed groups, but the terrorists obstruct this.”
2016-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7777 (2016) · source
“Government forces are protecting the Castello and Ramousa Roads, and those surrounding them, which are strategically important to the city as supply routes. They fire only in response to terrorist attacks and at known and verified targets. They are also combating Al-Nusra's intense efforts to penetrate the city from the south-west and north. In order to try to break through, the terrorists have made active use of suicide bombers in mined cars and armoured troop carriers. More than 40 such attacks have been recorded in Aleppo since 1 August. Aircraft have been used against militant targets and groups only with the use of air gunners and target illumination. The main objective is to force the terrorists out of the city with a minimum of civilian casualties.”
2016-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7777 (2016) · source
“The illegal Fateh Haleb armed group coalition, the local Aleppo council and the provisional opposition Government have all declared that they would not let aid into the city via the Castello Road, and militants have threatened to attack the convoys. As a result, the humanitarian operation in Aleppo that Russia and the United Nations prepared at the end of August has been wrecked. The militants confiscate food, water and medicines from civilians and force them to work on building defences. There have been riots in the neighbourhoods of Avvad, Al-Ansari and Sahur, and protests have been brutally suppressed by terrorists using arms. Similarly, more than 200,000 Aleppo residents have been taken hostage by terrorists from Jabhat Al-Nusra and groups affiliated with it, in attempts to use women and children as human shields.”
2016-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7777 (2016) · source
“More than 4,000 civilians and about 300 fighters have left Aleppo's eastern districts along the corridors since the operation began. The armed groups have blocked humanitarian access to the city. Since 12 September, Russia, Syria and the United Nations have been trying to ensure the passage of humanitarian convoys to the eastern part of Aleppo using the Castello Road, and measures have been taken to demilitarize it in order to achieve that. The forces along it have been withdrawn twice, on 14 and 16 September. On 17 September, Syrian Red Crescent personnel installed a checkpoint on its western side. The opposition has refused to take the same measures on their side, as stipulated in the Russian- American agreements of9 September.”
2016-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7777 (2016) · source
“Some of the volunteer opposition militias in Aleppo have been trying to find an opportunity to negotiate with the Government, but Jabhat Al-Nusra has been firmly suppressing such sentiments. Since 1 September, seven mass executions have been recorded of those who supported negotiations or tried to leave the city. On 19 September, 26 men and teenagers who had refused to take up arms in support of Al-Nusra were shot dead in front of residents of the Sheikh Hader neighbourhood. We have seen mass exoduses along the seven humanitarian corridors created by Russia and the Syrian Government, which speak to the savage reprisals that have been made against civilians. As they leave, the civilians receive humanitarian aid.”
2016-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7777 (2016) · source
“Jabhat Al-Nusra's primary attacks take place to the north, across the Castello Road, and the south-west, through the Ramousa district, with the aim of breaching the Government's defences and creating a corridor for the passage of reserves, weapons and ammunition, often in the guise of humanitarian aid. By the way, our American colleagues told us long ago that Al-Nusra was not present in Aleppo but only somewhere in the South. Eventually they admitted that it also had a presence in the North, but that they were going to let us know what the situation was there. Al-Nusra is in fact the main military force there. According to the information we have, more than 80 per cent of the population in the city's eastern districts supports lifting the siege through peaceful negotiations and is asking the terrorists to leave the city.”
2016-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7777 (2016) · source
“I suggest that the scope of military support to the motley crew in Syria is significantly bigger than it was in Libya. The Government forces' positions and the city's residential areas are being shelled daily and indiscriminately from the eastern districts of Aleppo, with no adjustments or aiming and with a view to inflicting maximum damage. Since 1 September, the shelling from the eastern part of the city has resulted in the deaths of more than 50 troops and 120 civilians. Jabhat Al-Nusra specializes in situating weapon positions in areas where there is significant social infrastructure - pumping stations, power substations, hospitals, schools, mosques - and in densely populated urban areas, thereby turning civilians into human shields for terrorists.”
2016-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7777 (2016) · source
“Needless to say, such hardware is anything but homemade; I believe it continues to be supplied by generous Western patrons with the connivance of the United States leadership of the coalition. That reminds me of an episode to do with Libya, when a question was posed at the congressional hearings held at the end of 2013, at which the United States Secretary of State was present, asking for information about the fact that it was known that some countries had supplied 20,000 tons of arms to Libya, while the United States looked the other way. No doubt the State Department was forced to give Congress that information. We asked for it to be shared with us as well, but we have received nothing, despite the fact that the United States is obliged to do so in order to comply with Security Council resolutions on Libya.”
2016-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7777 (2016) · source
“The Government withdrew its forces to the agreed- on distances and the authorities set up one of the checkpoints stipulated in the 9 September agreement, with the participation of Syrian Arab Red Crescent personnel, and gave permission for the humanitarian convoy to go through. And once again there ensued militant provocations. I would just like to explain the situation in eastern Aleppo in a bit more detail. The area is under the control of more than 20 armed groups totalling about 3,500 combatants. The main force consists of about 2,000 units of Jabhat Al-Nusra. They are armed with tanks, armoured vehicles, field artillery and rocket launcher systems, not to mention the homemade so- called hell cannons used to shoot gas cylinders, as well as dozens and dozens of other pieces of military hardware, including heavy weaponry.”
2016-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7777 (2016) · source
“By the way, our Western counterparts promised to inform us two months ago about their investigation of the bombardment of the Syrian city of Manbij, in which it was reported that more than 100 civilians had been killed, apparently by French aircraft. But neither our French colleagues nor the American coalition leaders have been in a hurry to tell us about the conclusions of that investigation, which they promised to conduct two months ago. I now return to Aleppo. The humanitarian situation there could have been normalized as long ago as August. But we were prevented in this by the armed groups, which, with the implicit sanction of their outside sponsors, continued to dictate the operational conditions and fire on the humanitarian corridors. We were close to a breakthrough even in September.”
2016-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7777 (2016) · source
“As usual, however, there were leaks from various Washington agencies a few minutes later, and the following day the Secretary of State made the tragedy a centrepiece of his dramatic statement in the Security Council (see S/PV.7774). That is the kind of way we have to work with our American colleagues. Secondly, we said from the very beginning that everything should be investigated. This was because at first there were reports of artillery shelling, but after that there was talk of helicopters and, later, aircraft. I am not a military expert, but today I read somewhere that the bombing allegedly lasted seven hours. But if the Russian planes were somewhere in the area for a few minutes, could bombs have been falling on the convoy for seven hours? I do not think so. We should therefore investigate that.”
2016-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7777 (2016) · source
“Since my colleagues - understandably - have talked about the situation in which a humanitarian convoy was shelled, I naturally have something to say about it, too. There are two aspects to this. First, I would like to note that here in New York we first heard about it from the United States Secretary of State, who said, in a private conversation, that they had received intelligence that, for a few minutes, two Russian aircraft had been somewhere not far from the area where the humanitarian convoy had been travelling and where it was attacked. But he said that we should not worry and that they were not going to make the information public, since it had to be further investigated.”
2016-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7777 (2016) · source
“Such tactical tricks cannot go on forever. We are not going to agree to any unilateral steps any more. The bombardment by the so-called coalition forces, reported in this case to be British aircraft, of the Syrian army positions defending the Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor from the terrorists of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, was a serious blow to the agreements. There was a real danger that the terrorists would capture the city, leading inevitably to the slaughter of civilians. Fortunately, the Syrian armed forces, assisted by the Russian air force, succeeding in averting that potential tragedy. Needless to say, that also created a threat to the ceasefire, but Damascus displayed enviable restraint in that regard.”
2016-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7777 (2016) · source
“Unscrupulous methods and exceedingly dubious allies have been useful in that regard. New conditions and ultimatums that change with dizzying speed are constantly being issued. Requests for a ceasefire, sometimes for 48 hours, sometimes for 72, are constant. We have always met them halfway, or at least tried to, and reached agreement with the Syrian Government. But in the end what has happened is that the militants have regrouped, received reinforcements and launched new offensives. After that came the demand that a precondition was that the Syrian Government should unilaterally halt its air-force flights. First they said it would be for three days, and we agreed to that. Then they said no, that the President of the United States had changed his mind and it had to be seven days, although it was not clear why.”
2016-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7777 (2016) · source
“Our agreements had a lot of opponents and, sadly, we have begun to feel that their unconstructive position has outweighed the desire for peace and common sense. The United States has in fact admitted its inability to exert any influence over the groups under its patronage, and thus to genuinely fulfil our agreements, which above all entail distinguishing the moderate groups from the terrorists and truly effect such a separation on the ground. That was written down in black and white in all the documents. But nothing has been done. Even the issue of defining terrorist groups has produced nothing but wondering, suggesting that the main aim continues to be protecting the military capacity of the opponents of the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic, whoever they may be.”
2016-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7777 (2016) · source
“The result is that hundreds of armed groups are active in Syria, the country is being bombed by anyone who feels like it and restoring peace has become almost impossible. Months of work by Russian and United States experts under the direction of Russia's Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of State of the United States, along with the involvement of the Presidents of both countries, resulted in a detailed plan, set out in documents finalized on 9 September, which if carried out in good faith could have enabled us to calm the situation on the ground, significantly improve the humanitarian situation and kick-start a resumption of intra-Syrian negotiations under United Nations auspices. Thanks to sabotage on the part of an intractable opposition, the plan's implementation was endlessly delayed.”
2016-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7777 (2016) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): This is the sixth year that the Syrian people have endured a terrible tragedy. In 2011, in Washington, DC, and various other Western capitals, the decision was made to continue reshaping the geopolitics of the Middle East and North Africa, a process that had started with the criminal invasion of Iraq in 2003 by the United States and the United Kingdom. They continued to swing an axe in both Libya and Syria and did not shrink from accepting support from terrorist groups. The inevitable consequences - the disintegration of both countries and the creation of millions of refugees - were written off as an unforeseen nuisance.”
2016-09-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7777 (2016) · source
“The fact that the delegation of Ukraine always seems to step outside the parameters of our discussion at the Security Council has become an unfortunate tradition, and we do not intend to yield to such provocations.”
2016-09-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7776 (2016) · source
“Unfortunately, the pen that signed the Treaty, President Bill Clinton's - which Secretary of State Kerry mentioned this morning - was not that of President Barack Obama, and the United States has found itself unable to ratify the CTBT. We hope that the next President of the United States will be more zealous in his desire to see the Treaty ratified. We would not want the adoption of this resolution to serve as an unwelcome precedent for the Security Council's interference in the remit of other international structures, or the creation of obligations under an international treaty for those States that have not joined that treaty. In this case, we feel we were able to avoid such a risk. Today, the Council adopted a balanced resolution that does not clash with the provisions of the CTBT. It is for that reason that we voted in favour of it.”
2016-09-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7776 (2016) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): The Russian Federation is committed to the implementation of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which, as is well-known, our country ratified as early as 2001. We hope that resolution 2310 (2016), adopted today, will help a maximum number of States, especially those listed in annex 2 to the CTBT, sign and ratify the Treaty. We believe that the moratoriums on nuclear testing, as important as they are, cannot serve as a full-fledged replacement for legally binding international norms. The Treaty, rather than national moratoriums, should be the benchmark for States' responsible behaviour.”
2016-09-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7776 (2016) · source
“In the course ofthe work on resolution 2309 (2016), which we just adopted, the Ukrainian delegation unilaterally attempted to water down proposals that would confirm the responsibility of States for the security of civil aviation within their air space. I think everyone understands why they did so. Turning to the issue with regard to air traffic control over Crimea and the Black Sea, Ukraine was also unable to refrain from politicizing that topic, including within ICAO, which would have entailed additional costs for carriers and inconvenienced passengers. Above all, it would have created flight safety risks. Russia is able to provide the necessary information in connection with air security in its airspace above Crimea and the Black Sea.”
2016-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7775 (2016) · source
“We insisted on the inclusion of a provision in the text of resolution 2166 (2014) for an immediate cessation of all military activities in the area immediately bordering the crash site. Kyiv violated that provision in August 2014, when the Ukrainian authorities unilaterally declared that they would disengage from the ceasefire, as a result of which the investigation mission was forced to cease its work for a lengthy period. A great deal of time has passed, but the criminal investigation has not yet been concluded. And it has been carried out in a closed format. Can one consider it to be an independent, impartial and unbiased investigation? That is questionable. Only the future will tell. It is nevertheless getting harder for us to accept that after the statements that we have heard here today.”
2016-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7775 (2016) · source
“Our delegation called for the active use of the provisions of resolution 2166 (2014), which provides for comprehensive assistance by the United Nations in the investigation. Unfortunately, the Secretary-General has not submitted a range of proposals for United Nations assistance to the Security Council. It would be beneficial, in our view, for ICAO also to join the investigation. We call for the rapid adoption of yet another resolution that would ensure access to the crash site for the investigation mission. Unfortunately, interested parties preferred bilateral agreements with Ukraine, which, regrettably, were overly protracted and did not allow for the immediate launch of an investigation.”
2016-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7775 (2016) · source
“We will limit ourselves to noting that, since the Ukrainian side decided to raise the subject ofthe disaster concerning Flight MH-17, it would be good to recognize the guilt of Kyiv in that matter and its responsibility for the fact that the Ukrainian authorities did not close the airspace over the eastern part of the country in which Kyiv had deployed major military operations. We have again heard no recognition or acknowledgement of that responsibility. As far as Russia is concerned, we insisted that resolution 2166 (2014) adopted by the Council on the downing of the Malaysia Airlines plane include provisions on the need to carry out an independent international investigation in accordance with the governing principles of international civil aviation and with ICAO playing a leading role.”
2016-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7775 (2016) · source
“We are convinced that the fight against any form of terrorism will require the further consolidation of efforts with the good-faith implementation of States' international commitments. I am forced now to say a few words with regard to the statement just made by the Ukrainian delegation. The Ukrainian delegation did not limit itself to the topic that was planned for our discussion. It attempted to hold this meeting hostage so that it could advance unacceptable provocations. We are not going to yield to such provocations.”
2016-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7775 (2016) · source
“We note the regular flow of information from ICAO to the United Nations on efforts to combat terrorism, included in the relevant reports ofthe Secretary- General. Today's resolution is aimed at strengthening cooperation between the Security Council and ICAO, primarily through the CTC, in order to identify gaps in States' aviation security. We urge both the Committee and the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force to use that analysis to improve programmes for technical assistance to States. We look forward to a planned special meeting of the CTC in 2017 on the terrorist threats to civil aviation. Our country will continue to undertake decisive steps to counter terrorist threats. That applies fully to the threat to civil aviation. However, that evil will only be defeated by closing ranks.”
2016-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7775 (2016) · source
“One of the key objectives of today's decision is to urge States to join in increasing the widespread and effective adoption of existing aviation security standards and recommendations. Ultimately, it is our job to combine our efforts to achieve an integrated and sustainable system for protecting international civil aviation against illegal interference. We welcome the productive cooperation between the Security Council's counter-terrorism entities and ICAO, such as when Ms. Fang Liu briefed the Counter- Terrorism Committee (CTC) in June. ICAO has also begun cooperating with the Monitoring Group of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da'esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities.”
2016-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7775 (2016) · source
“We are pleased that the drafters of the resolution took into account our proposals designed to ensure that, without undermining the ICAO mandate, the Security Council's new initiative is clearly incorporated into its efforts, decisions and plans for the direction its activities should take in the future. Terrorist threats against civil aviation are evolving. Criminals are constantly taking advantage of new technologies to seek new ways to circumvent security systems, including in airports. It is therefore important to continue to strengthen our capacity to react rapidly to new challenges as they appear, particularly those related to cybersecurity, landside security, remotely piloted aircraft systems and improvised explosive devices.”
2016-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7775 (2016) · source
“The Russian delegation took an active part in developing resolution 2309 (2016), which the Council adopted today, aimed at adding impetus to States' efforts to implement ICAO standards and the provisions of the counter-terrorism conventions, as well as the relevant Security Council resolutions. In considering the specifics of aviation security, the international community should be guided primarily by the work of ICAO, as the specialized international organization in the field. The ICAO Assembly will meet in Montreal in a few days' time and is expected to take a number of important decisions related to aviation security and terrorist threats. It will present a report on progress in implementing the ICAO Comprehensive Aviation Security Strategy, and will address the issue of developing a global aviation security plan by 2018.”
2016-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7775 (2016) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): There can be no doubt as to the urgency of today's topic. Civil aviation has been and will remain a highly attractive target for terrorists. At the outset, we would like to once again express our condolences to the families and friends of all those who have lost their lives as a result of air transport tragedies. We would also like to thank Ms. Liu Fang, Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), for her detailed briefing on ICAO's role and efforts in the field of aviation security.”
2016-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7775 (2016) · source
“Our activity is based on the international efforts to arrive at a reliable negotiating process between the Palestinian and Israeli sides. Needless to say, those efforts will be conducted further in close coordination with the Quartet partners and key international and regional actors. In conclusion, I would like to affirm our support for the work of Mr. Nickolay Mladenov, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process.”
2016-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7772 (2016) · source
“We believe that a durable peace, based on a two-State solution, can meet the aspirations of the Palestinians to an independent sovereign State as well as Israelis' desire for security. And it will help to normalize conditions in the region as a whole. For our part, we pursue our efforts to overcome the negative trends in the Palestinian-Israeli situation and to channel it towards a political and diplomatic solution. We are working actively and directly with the parties to the conflict and the concerned States in the region. In our contacts in the past few weeks with President Abbas of Palestine and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel, they underlined their interest in meeting in Moscow in order to discuss the best ways to unblock the peace process without preconditions.”
2016-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7772 (2016) · source
“In that context, we would like to emphasize the crucial significance of the Arab Peace Initiative. The lack of unity among Palestinians is another obstacle to reviving the political process. All those who wield influence on the Palestinian side should urge them to unite without delay on the basis of the Palestinian Liberation Organization's platform and the principles of the Quartet. The humanitarian and economic situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, especially the Gaza Strip, continues to be a serious concern. It exacerbates dissatisfaction among the population, helps to radicalize social attitudes and makes it harder to reach a negotiated solution. The violence, and the incitements to violence, must be stopped and the settlement activity must end.”
2016-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7772 (2016) · source
“Attempts to shift focus to other forums will merely divert the international community's attention from the Palestinian question. We concur with those calling for a more active involvement in the issue on the part of the Security Council, and maybe they should take a more vigorous approach to promote that idea. On 22 September, on the margins of the general debate in the General Assembly at its seventy-first session, we will hold a ministerial meeting of the Quartet. I would once again like to draw attention to the recommendations in the report (S/2016/595, annex) of the Quartet published on 1 June. We firmly believe that if we can move forward on them we could create the conditions for reviving Palestinian-Israeli relations and a relaunch of the political process on the basis of internationally recognized agreements.”
2016-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7772 (2016) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank the Secretary-General for his substantive statement. Despite some reduction in tensions on the ground, the Palestinian-Israeli situation remains problematic. Various incidents in the West Bank and Jerusalem, as well as the sporadic aggravation of tensions around the Gaza Strip show that the risk of an escalation in the conflict is as high as ever. Against the background of a stalemated settlement, new initiatives aimed at finding ways to reignite the peace process are appearing. Those ideas seem reasonable and are at least aimed at achieving some genuinely essential goals. Nonetheless, in our View they should only complement the efforts being made within the framework of the established mechanism of the Middle East Quartet.”
2016-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7772 (2016) · source