YouSaid · the spoken record

Evstigneeva

lines on the record: 1,001
first: 2020-08-10
most recent: 2023-12-29
sittings or episodes: 153
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

“We have said on many occasions at the Security Council and in other forums that the media focusing exclusively on the humanitarian situation in Tigray leads to the politicization of this issue and creates further divides within Ethiopian society. We cannot diminish the hardships of people living in the Afar and Amhara regions who are affected by conflict and have not been suffering any less than those in Tigray, and neither can we ignore problems in other regions of the country. Russia has always supported United Nations humanitarian efforts. We express our gratitude to humanitarian and medical workers who, in difficult and often dangerous conditions, provide urgent humanitarian assistance to all those who need it, in the most remote corners of the planet, including in Ethiopia.”
2021-10-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8875 (2021) · source
“With regard to the humanitarian situation in the north of Ethiopia, we fully share the concerns relating to the growing humanitarian needs there. The region, which was food insecure even before the crisis, is currently in particularly dire straits. The ongoing violence in Tigray and in the neighbouring regions of Amhara and Afar are seriously compounding the broader situation and provoking new flows of internally displaced persons and refugees. There are also specific problems that require an urgent response and which, as we believe, can and must be resolved immediately. First and foremost, we refer to the situation surrounding the World Food Programme trucks stranded in Tigray. We believe it is unacceptable to block transport vehicles from United Nations humanitarian organizations, let alone use them for other purposes.”
2021-10-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8875 (2021) · source
“At the same time, we believe that deliberately ratcheting up international rhetoric as regards a situation in the north of the country and spiralling politicization of the humanitarian file only hinder pan-African organizations’ mediation efforts. Bearing in mind the seriousness of the dispute and the complex historical context, this will not be a speedy process. Indeed, only coordinated efforts and diligent diplomatic work, including through bilateral channels, can bear fruit. We are certain that pressure involving the Security Council, threats regarding the adoption of resolutions, the imposition of unlawful unilateral sanctions and the creation of a toxic atmosphere in the media is counterproductive.”
2021-10-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8875 (2021) · source
“We continue to follow very closely the development of the military and political situation in the north of the country. We still believe that the Tigray dossier is an internal Ethiopian affair and that the national capacity for reconciliation has not been exhausted. We also believe that it is within the power of Addis Ababa to solve its own problems with the support of international community, first and foremost, representatives of the region. In this regard, we support efforts by the recently appointed African Union High Representative for the Horn of Africa, Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo, to find a resolution. We know that he has already assumed his duties and has established initial contacts with the Ethiopian capital. We are looking forward to concrete results from this work.”
2021-10-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8875 (2021) · source
“Ms. Evstigneeva (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We are grateful to Secretary-General António Guterres for the information he has provided on developments in Ethiopia. We also welcome the participation in today’s meeting of the Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the United Nations, Mr. Taye Atskeselassie Amde. First and foremost, we would like to congratulate all Ethiopians on forming a new Government on 4 October. The conclusion of the electoral process is confirmation that the Ethiopian political forces are ready for dialogue with a view to finding solutions to problems that the whole population of the country is facing, developing the State and promoting peace and well-being. The Russian Federation will continue to support the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of friendly Ethiopia.”
2021-10-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8875 (2021) · source
“Russia, inter alia, as a member of the Group of friends of the Great Lakes Region, intends to continue to actively promote the peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the region as a whole.”
2021-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8873 (2021) · source
“It is important to continue efforts to fully implement the foundational Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region in eastern provinces and the Great Lakes region itself. One of its key areas is to expand cooperation between countries of the region in the area of security. We welcome the resolve of regional players to develop cooperation to normalize the situation in the Great Lakes region. We note the recent meeting between the heads of the intelligence and security services of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania, as well as the recent Congolese-Burundian and Congolese-Rwandan summits.”
2021-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8873 (2021) · source
“We trust that the Government will be able to restore control in the area of security and focus efforts on improving the humanitarian situation. We trust that the Government will foster socioeconomic development and resolve border disputes with its neighbours, address intercommunal conflicts and implement the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration strategy for former combatants. We have taken note of the transition plan drafted by the United Nations, in coordination with the Congolese authorities, for a gradual withdrawal of peacekeepers from the country. We will study it carefully. It is our principled position that it will be impossible to bring about long-term normalization in the Democratic Republic of Congo through military means alone.”
2021-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8873 (2021) · source
“We support the Mission’s plans to set up a joint centre with the Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo, as well as to strengthen the Force Intervention Brigade. We also commend Ms. Keita’s efforts to establish contacts among peacekeepers, the authorities and local populations on the ground, as it creates the much-needed positive environment. Furthermore, we note that the situation in the Kasai region and Tanganyika province is gradually improving. The humanitarian situation is very complex. We are concerned about the low level of funding for the United Nations humanitarian appeal, in particular given the increase in the number of internally displaced persons. There is clearly a need for additional efforts to respond to the common challenge — the coronavirus disease pandemic.”
2021-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8873 (2021) · source
“Regrettably, Congolese armed forces and MONUSCO peacekeepers have not yet managed to curb the activities of the numerous illegal armed groups in the area, in particular the Allied Democratic Forces. A source of concern is the ongoing increase in violence and the number of civilian victims. According to the tragic statistics of the United Nations from June to September, fighters killed more than 600 civilians in the Ituri and North Kivu provinces. We also note the ongoing problem of the illicit exploitation by armed groups of natural resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We believe that, in order to successfully combat those fighters, there is a need for further coordination between peacekeepers and Congolese security forces to help bolster their capacity.”
2021-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8873 (2021) · source
“Ms. Evstigneeva (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), Ms. Bintou Keita, for her substantive briefing. We would like to thank the Permanent Representative of the Niger, Mr. Abarry, for his briefing on the work of Committee established pursuant to resolution 1533 (2004), concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We listened carefully to the remarks by Ms. Nelly Mbangu. We are following with concern the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular the situation in the eastern provinces of the country.”
2021-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8873 (2021) · source
“We expect the Secretary-General, the African Union (AU) and Somalia to articulate proposals as to parameters for the continued presence of AU peacekeeping Mission in the country, as required by resolution 2568 (2021). The humanitarian situation in Somalia also remains difficult. According to the latest data, the number of people in need of food and social assistance has reached almost 6 million. In addition, approximately 4 million people are exposed to extreme risk. The number of refugees and internally displaced persons is growing. Since the Deputy Secretary-General’s remit includes providing development assistance to States, we trust that efforts in Somalia to that end will continue and intensify.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8867 (2021) · source
“Unfortunately, due to the destabilization of the domestic political situation, the federal authorities were forced to once again postpone the scheduled elections. Now the elections can be expected to conclude no sooner that the end of November. It is extremely important to prevent further degradation of the already critical security situation. Despite the additional measures taken by the Federal Government to prevent terrorist attacks, the Al-Shabaab terrorist groups continues to carry out skilfully planned attacks that use asymmetrical methods to fight Government forces and the contingent from the African Union Mission in Somalia. A good example is the car bomb explosion near the presidential palace in Mogadishu on 25 September, which claimed the lives of at least 10 people.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8867 (2021) · source
“We also had an opportunity to learn more about this thanks to a very detailed press release about her trip that was issued by the Secretariat last week. We believe that the obligation related to the 30 per cent quota is national in scope and character. These obligations were undertaken by the Somali people and we trust they will be able to fulfil them by themselves if given the time and favourable political, socioeconomic and security conditions to do so. Here in the Security Council, we must be guided by the political reality in the country and should set the right priorities. We believe that the Council already sent all the necessary signals in its press statement dated 18 September (SC/14641). The main task of the Somali people in the short term is to complete their national elections.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8867 (2021) · source
“Ms. Evstigneeva (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We listened carefully to the briefing of Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed on the outcomes of her trip to the region, as well as the briefing by the representative of Somali civil society, Ms. Shukria Dini. We appreciate the very important political signal that the Deputy Secretary-General’s visit sent to the political forces of Somalia regarding the need to overcome existing conflicts and to expeditiously complete the protracted electoral process. We welcome her focus on enhancing the role of women in Somali political life, particularly with regard to fulfilling the obligation to ensure a 30 per cent quota of women in the future composition of the Federal Parliament.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8867 (2021) · source
“We expect that those issues will be objectively reflected in the Secretary-General’s report to be presented to the Security Council in January next year in accordance with today’s resolution.”
2021-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8862 (2021) · source
“That collaborative effort resulted in the renewal of UNAMA’s mandate, which will enable the mission to carry out its activities on the ground in a timely manner. At the same time, we regret that, due to the positions taken by some members of the Security Council, the final version of this resolution does not take into account an objective assessment of the threats in Afghanistan from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham or the long- standing drug problem, which continue to be lingering challenges not only for the country but for the region as a whole and beyond. We emphasize that neutralizing those threats is key to maintaining stability and security in the region; ignoring or downplaying them is unacceptable.”
2021-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8862 (2021) · source
“Ms. Evstigneeva (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): The Russian Federation voted in support of this technical resolution 2596 (2021) extending the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for six months, until 17 March 2022. We support the activities of UNAMA to coordinate international assistance in Afghanistan. We expect that the evacuated Mission staff will be able to return to Kabul in the near future. We view positively the signals from the Afghan authorities about their readiness to continue to interact with the United Nations and ensure the safety of United Nations and the inviolability of its premises. We note the work carried out by the co-penholders on the Afghanistan file, which they conducted is a very short time, as well as their desire to seek compromise in order to achieve consensus.”
2021-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8862 (2021) · source
“According to United Nations statistics, from April to June, more than 7 million people found themselves in a situation of food insecurity, while nearly 1.5 million children are undernourished. We firmly condemn any breaches of the ceasefire agreement or acts of violence against the civilian population, including against humanitarian personnel operating in South Sudan. We are convinced that, as the situation in South Sudan returns to normal, there will need to be a review of the sanctions regime that exists with respect to the country. We trust that, with a view to easing the arms embargo, the South Sudanese authorities will manage to make significant progress in meeting the benchmarks established in resolution 2577 (2021).”
2021-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8859 (2021) · source
“We pay tribute to the mediation efforts of the African Union and the States members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to provide support in the implementation of specific provisions of the peace agreement. In particular, thanks to mediation by IGAD representatives, a truce was established between the factions of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition, led by the First Vice-President of South Sudan, Riek Machar, and General Simon Gatwech. We are of course concerned by the sporadic intercommunal armed clashes in several areas of the country, as well as the socioeconomic and humanitarian situations. Humanitarian assistance needs to reach those who are in acute need of it.”
2021-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8859 (2021) · source
“In that connection, we note the political will of the South Sudanese side, and we hope for work to continue on implementing the remaining provisions of the peace agreement. We also trust that work will continue on the establishment of the unified forces of South Sudan, which is complicated by an acute lack of the necessary material and technical resources and financing. We call on those that have not yet signed the revitalized agreement to join the State-building process. In that connection, we note the initiative of the Community of Sant’Egidio, and we trust that talks will continue between Government representatives and the non-signatories.”
2021-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8859 (2021) · source
“We believe that the formation of the South Sudanese Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity and the conclusion of the pre-transitional period creates the necessary conditions for moving the country towards political stability and reconciliation. We welcome the beginning of the work of the Revitalized Transitional National Legislative Assembly and the Council of States. Concluding the formation of the Parliament constitutes one of the most important political provisions of the transitional period, as stipulated in the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. The successful implementation of that task will mean the conclusion of the implementation of the political part of the peace agreement.”
2021-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8859 (2021) · source
“Ms. Evstigneeva (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We are grateful to Special Representative Haysom and Ms. Ghelani for the information they provided on the developments in the situation in South Sudan. We also listened closely to Ms. Nanjia’s remarks and welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of South Sudan at this meeting. We would like to congratulate him and the South Sudanese people on the tenth anniversary of the country’s independence on 9 July. Russia stands ready, as a permanent member of the Security Council, to support Juba’s efforts on the path towards peace and stability.”
2021-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8859 (2021) · source
“The coordinated response of the authorities to the incidents reaffirms Khartoum’s commitment to promoting stabilization in a comprehensive manner. We are satisfied with the Secretary-General’s assessment that the drawdown of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, which successfully carried out its tasks, is proceeding as planned and that there is close cooperation among representative of the United Nations, the African Union and the Sudan. We commend the efforts made by the leadership of the Secretariat in that regard.”
2021-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8857 (2021) · source
“We look forward to the resumption of talks between the authorities and the Abdelaziz Al-Hilu faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North on the basis of the declaration of principles signed by the parties. We trust that UNITAMS will provide the necessary support for this process. We welcome Khartoum’s willingness to comprehensively address the root causes of conflicts and intercommunal disputes in various regions of the Sudan. The prompt implementation of the National Plan for the Protection of Civilians will certainly be an important step in that direction. Peace is gradually being restored in Darfur. Sporadic intercommunal clashes in some states do not change the overall landscape.”
2021-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8857 (2021) · source
“We note the commitment of the Sudanese leadership to further normalizing the situation in Darfur. The signing in October 2020 of the Juba Peace Agreement between the transitional Government of the Sudan and the Sudanese Revolutionary Front was a meaningful step towards achieving lasting stabilization in the country and solving many of its urgent problems. We note the measures taken by Khartoum to improve the situation and to implement the provisions of the agreement, including through the establishment of the relevant military committees. We urgently call upon all armed groups that have not yet joined the peace process to do so now. It is regrettable that Abdul Wahid Al-Nur still refuses to engage in dialogue with Khartoum.”
2021-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8857 (2021) · source
“We note the efforts of the Sudanese authorities to remedy the situation, including through the implementation of some difficult decisions. It is critical to duly consider popular sentiment, as the population is the first to suffer from economic hardships. In that regard, we trust that the activities of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) will help to build Khartoum’s capacity in such important areas as peacebuilding, socioeconomic reforms and the maintenance of domestic peace and law and order. In these circumstances, we attach great importance to maintaining balanced contacts with all Sudanese authorities and supporting their efforts to implement the 17 August 2019 Constitutional Declaration, aimed at ensuring domestic stabilization.”
2021-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8857 (2021) · source
“Ms. Evstigneeva (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank Mr. Volker Perthes, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Sudan, for briefing us on developments in the Sudan. We listened carefully to the statement delivered by Ms. Hala Alkarib and welcome the Permanent Representative of the Sudan to this meeting. The internal political situation in the Sudan remains complicated. It continues to be adversely affected by developments in Libya, the growing number of internally displaced persons and refugees from neighbouring African States and the spread of the coronavirus disease. The country is experiencing grave socioeconomic difficulties, which have been compounded by growing inflation and a decline in the national currency.”
2021-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8857 (2021) · source
“The PBC has also demonstrated its potential to draw the attention of the international community to national priorities in the areas of peacebuilding and development in Liberia, which was in need of international assistance, and it provided a platform for moving from theory to practical work in the spheres of peacebuilding and sustaining peace.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8851 (2021) · source
“Of course, there is a certain connection between peace and security, development and human rights, as enshrined in the resolutions on peacebuilding. However, that cannot serve as a pretext for mixing the mandates of United Nations organs and offices of the Secretariat. In that context, we emphasize the unique role of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), which coordinates and consolidates the efforts of national and international actors to achieve long-term peace and development. We support its work and call for the strengthening of that important organ of the Organization. Liberia, as the former Liberian leader noted earlier, is a unique example of a productive partnership between the United Nations and national participants in peacebuilding.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8851 (2021) · source
“It is important to build the country’s economic potential to resolve those key tasks. Supporting the mobilization of resources is also an important part of the mandate. We have consistently advocated that international support for building and sustaining peace, if needed, should be provided only at the request or with the consent of the Government, in accordance with its priorities, without dictates and with unconditional respect for State sovereignty. We do not believe that one-size-fits-all or automatic approaches are suitable. We do not consider it necessary to overburden the Secretariat and host countries with a predetermined set of goals and general parameters, which are often not directly related to the resolution of the crisis situation in a particular country.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8851 (2021) · source
“At the same time, as missions are downsized or closed, their continuity must be ensured in order to prevent relapses into conflict during the transition period. In any case, the opinion of the host country should be key in considering the withdrawal of peacekeepers. In that context, we note the close work undertaken with the Sudanese authorities to draw down the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur and to determine the mandate of its successor, the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS). We trust that the activities of UNITAMS will build Khartoum’s capacity in key areas, in particular peacebuilding, and will support the conduct of economic reforms, sustainable security sector reform and the maintenance of domestic peace and the rule of law.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8851 (2021) · source
“An important part of peacekeeping mandates is assisting the Government in establishing control of the territory of an entire country, protecting civilians, strengthening State institutions, implementing disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes, and reforming the security sector. While in recent years peacekeeping mandates have become excessively complex and include many non-peacekeeping tasks, we are convinced that providing States with long-term assistance in the areas of development and human rights through peacekeeping organizations is not appropriate. As peacekeeping missions fulfil their core functions and stabilize the situation on the ground, they should be drawn down in a timely manner and transformed into other formats of international assistance.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8851 (2021) · source
“In that regard, we believe that the best transformation of the mandate of any United Nations mission is the complete transfer of responsibility to the State itself, both to prevent and address the consequences of conflicts, and to sustain peace and move towards recovery and development, while taking into account the interests and rights of the country’s entire population. Unfortunately, such a result can rarely be achieved, especially in a short period of time. In today’s world, peacekeeping operations remain among the most important tools for ending armed confrontation in order to create conditions in which the parties can achieve a definitive reconciliation. The Blue Helmets help the host country to take the first step on the path from conflict to sustainable peace and play a key role in the early stages of peacebuilding.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8851 (2021) · source
“We welcome the participation of the Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture of India, Ms. Meenakashi Lekhi, in today’s exercise. Every conflict has its own unique set of causes and, therefore, every individual case requires a delicate and impartial approach, a patient analysis and a search for a unique solution, above all at the national level. We are convinced that high-quality, meticulous political and mediation efforts play a key role in advancing international peace and security. Regardless of the form of international support for a country in conflict — be it a peacekeeping operation, a political mission or the good offices of the Secretary-General — such efforts will be limited in their effectiveness without a political agreement.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8851 (2021) · source
“Ms. Evstigneeva (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank Ireland, which this year has the honour of hosting the annual debate on peacekeeping reform, for drawing attention to the important topic of transition in peacekeeping operations. We thank the Secretary-General for his informative briefing and for the special focus he placed on the key role of national leadership and national responsibility in peacebuilding. It is difficult to overestimate the contribution to the discussion of former President of Liberia Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, whose country overcame a very difficult period of conflict and post- conflict reconstruction with the active assistance of the international community. We are also grateful to Ms. Safaa Elagib Adam for her assessment of the situation in the Sudan.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8851 (2021) · source
“In conclusion, we urge our fellow Council members to always strive to reach solutions that strike a mutually acceptable balance, while considering one another’s interests. That is simply imperative if we are to overcome the crisis of confidence that is apparent to everyone. For our part, we affirm that Russia is committed to open, honest and equitable dialogue and readiness to seek common ground.”
2021-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8850 (2021) · source
“We are convinced that, despite the breadth of its agenda, issues related to conflict resolution should always remain at the core of the Council’s deliberations. It is well known that we are cautious about bringing items before the Council that are only indirectly related to its core mandate and could be addressed more appropriately within other United Nations forums. We believe that Council decisions must always take into account the principles of non-intervention and the sovereign equality of States enshrined in the Charter. Using the Council against legitimate Governments that have found disfavour with others is unacceptable. The experience of recent decades has repeatedly demonstrated that such steps have never brought about peace or prosperity to people.”
2021-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8850 (2021) · source
“We should simply acknowledge the existence of other values, accept them for what they are and take them into account. Decisions will be more robust and viable if they are developed by everyone on whom their implementation depends. In that regard, we must strive to pool our efforts and achieve the broadest possible agreement. The United Nations, the General Assembly and the Security Council are universal platforms that are genuinely multilateral. Their authority is recognized by all. We believe that the solution to many of today’s problems lies in strengthening their central role in international affairs, rather than seeking alternatives. In taking into account the division of labour enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, the Security Council plays a singular role in dealing with matters of international peace and security.”
2021-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8850 (2021) · source
“Those that do not agree face sanctions or even the use of force. This sort of patronizing approach serves only to further divide the international community. Moreover, as practice has shown, it leads neither to resolving urgent issues that affect all States without exception nor to settling conflicts, many of which have lasted for decades and resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives. We firmly believe that genuine multilateralism is based on mutually respectful and equal cooperation among all States, built upon a de-politicized foundation free of ideology. That is the only way to strengthen mutual trust, improve the international relations environment and ensure the predictability of humankind’s development in the face of global challenges. In our opinion, focusing on judging whose values are better or worse is unproductive.”
2021-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8850 (2021) · source
“At the same time, the advocates of the so-called rules-based order often fail to explain what specifically these rules are and why they are necessary, given that we already have instruments of international law, including, first and foremost, the United Nations Charter, which sets forth clear obligations for States. w We see in such actions an effort to monopolize the formulation of important decisions for the international community and a desire to impose on everyone else their vision of the further development of international relations. Even more regrettable are the attempts to present the ideology developed by a group of specific States as a guiding compass for all humankind. These values are then promoted as a counterweight to any other ideas about the world order or the make-up of other sovereign States.”
2021-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8850 (2021) · source
“Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders, is a recognized guide in the promotion of human rights in her homeland and around the world. We note her principled stand on many issues. We also welcome the presence in the Chamber today of the other representatives of The Elders, Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and President Ernesto Zedillo. The present system of international relations is going through a period of deep-rooted transformation. A multipolar world order is being established. In global and regional affairs, new centres of economic development are raising their profile. This is an objective trend. At the same time, we have to note that, of late, instead of establishing equal cooperation, we have seen attempts to artificially divide countries by rank into those that are allegedly behaving correctly and those that are breaking the rules.”
2021-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8850 (2021) · source
“Ms. Evstigneeva (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We welcome the briefings by the representatives of The Elders at today’s Security Council meeting. No one can doubt the need to strengthen the multilateral foundations of international relations or the importance of protecting and developing them at the world’s central global negotiating platform, namely, the United Nations, and particularly its Security Council. We listened very closely to their assessments. They are interesting because, in their time, the briefers also had the opportunity to work on the tasks facing the United Nations. Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi, Elder Emeritus, made a contribution to resolving complex crises in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, and to developing new approaches in the sphere of United Nations peacekeeping. Mrs.”
2021-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8850 (2021) · source
“The stance of the current leadership of the Technical Secretariat is a serious threat to the authority of the OPCW, as it casts a shadow on its status as one of the pillars of the non-proliferation regime on weapons of mass destruction. It also calls into question the effectiveness of the organization’s implementation of its mandate. As a responsible State present at the organization’s inception, we are extremely worried about the situation. Unfortunately, we see no signs of it improving.”
2021-09-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8849 (2021) · source
“Damascus, which joined the Convention in very difficult and unusual circumstances, amid political and military instability and a terrorist threat fuelled from without — and in spite of that implemented all its commitments in good faith — is subjected to unreasonably strict requirements. And a great deal of commotion is being generated around this issue. At the same time, the OPCW Technical Secretariat soft-pedalled the situation with Libya, where in 2012 about 500 undeclared munitions were found. The same is true with Iraq, whose initial declaration was not confirmed by any third party, but rather made solely on the basis of existing United Nations documents.”
2021-09-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8849 (2021) · source
“It was crudely rammed through by Western delegations, in violation of the norms of the Convention, because it was introduced directly at the Conference without first being considered by the Executive Council and in violation of the principle of consensus. In fact, fewer than half of the OPCW member States and only six Western States from the current membership of the Security Council supported it. The rest of the members were either against it or abstained. This was also the position taken by a number of former members of the Security Council. The policy of double standards by the Technical Secretariat is also evident in the outstanding issues on Syria’s initial declaration.”
2021-09-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8849 (2021) · source
“The goal of the IIT is not to recreate a real picture of events, but rather to fit their narrative to the conclusion that Damascus is at fault — in other words, to execute a political directive. We therefore reject the conclusions in the reports issued by the Team on Ltamenah and Saraqib, as well as its future reports. It is the biased conclusions by the IIT that were at the basis of the punitive decision to incapacitate Syria — the first such step taken against a sovereign State that has scrupulously abided by the Convention. I would like to underscore that the April decision reached by the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention is not an expression of the collective will of the States parties to the Convention, as our Western colleagues claim.”
2021-09-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8849 (2021) · source
“Despite the urging of Member States and the international community, correcting them is not something that the leadership of the Technical Secretariat is going to do, as far as we can see. The activities of the illegitimate Investigation and Identification Team (IIT), whose creation was crudely pushed through the OPCW’s Executive Council, in violation of the principle of consensus and article XV of the Convention, run in the same vein. Its outcomes cannot withstand scrutiny because they are politically biased, factually inaccurate and technically incomprehensible, and the methodology used there and by the Fact-Finding Mission is in violation of the Convention as it relates to the principles for conducting an investigation, particularly with regard to issues of collection of evidence and chain of custody.”
2021-09-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8849 (2021) · source
“It is therefore pointless to try to find in it anything connected to the use or non-use of chemical weapons in Syria, or to the issues of chemical weapons proliferation. Unfortunately, the OPCW Technical Secretariat has become the conduit for that unscrupulous policy and has turned the organization from the independent and impartial guardian of the Convention into a tool to punish those who are not to the liking of individual States or who do not let them pursue their geopolitical goals. This is a dangerous trend towards politicizing the OPCW, and it is becoming increasingly obvious with each passing month. There is more evidence of egregious and intentional violations of the Convention by the Technical Secretariat. The best example of that are the instances of manipulation during the preparation of the notorious 2018 Douma report.”
2021-09-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8849 (2021) · source
“We have drawn the Council’s attention several times to the many inconsistencies and direct distortions, including through the dissemination of documents S/2021/641 and S/2021/588 to the Council in that regard. We call upon the Council to study those documents carefully. We also expect that the leadership of the OPCW will provide us with detailed explanations in the course of its next briefing to the Security Council, which we hope will take place soon. We believe that the root of all of the current problems regarding the Syrian chemical dossier is that our Western colleagues have long turned into an instrument to punish the authorities in Damascus, which they find undesirable.”
2021-09-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8849 (2021) · source