YouSaid · the spoken record

Gennady Kuzmin

lines on the record: 84
first: 2020-05-05
most recent: 2021-05-25
sittings or episodes: 16
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

“Unfortunately, the topic of human rights has been extremely politicized, which is detrimental to the international community’s trust in the United Nations human rights machinery and in human rights as a whole. In such a situation, the credibility and recognition of peacekeeping missions and their human rights component are directly dependent on the decency of individual employees and their ability and desire to rely on objective information. The Security Council is not a human rights body. Any attempt to somehow squeeze the topic of human rights into its agenda encroaches upon the prerogatives and mandates of the Human Rights Council, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other relevant institutions. However, splitting mandates is only half the trouble.”
2020-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/674 (2020) · source
“No matter how peacekeeping reform proceeds in future, what should stand at the core of that process is respect for the sovereignty of host countries, compliance with the Charter of the United Nations and adherence to the basic principles of peacekeeping — the consent of the parties, impartiality and the non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate. Neutrality and a mandate-oriented standard of conduct as well as respect for local customs, practices, culture, religion and traditions are all well-known postulates that can prevent peacekeepers from risking becoming involved in conflict. We fully understand the importance of the human rights component in peacekeeping.”
2020-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/674 (2020) · source
“I welcome you, Madam President, in presiding over this important video- teleconference. My thanks also go to Ms. Bachelet, Mr. Shearer and Mr. Kitenge for their participation. Peacekeeping and peace operations are of the utmost importance today in an ongoing challenging environment. These operations have always been seen as a pivotal activity of the United Nations in the area of maintaining peace and security. We pay tribute to the courage of the more than 100,000 United Nations civilian, military and police personnel who are currently serving worldwide on behalf of the international community to protect peace and international law. We appreciate the personal efforts of Secretary-General António Guterres to ensure the effective functioning of peacekeeping operations.”
2020-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/674 (2020) · source
“Since 2018, the Russian Federation has ensured the return of Russian children from battlegrounds in Iraq and Syria, and their ongoing rehabilitation. More than 150 Russian children have already successfully been evacuated from Iraq and Syria. Although the current pandemic has slowed down this work, it will be continued. Our hope is that there will be more examples of the successful reintegration of child combatants, addressing the plight of children in conflict and better protecting their lives. Our overall efforts in the Security Council should foster progress to that end and develop strategies to prevent grave violations for the benefit of children and our future.”
2020-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/594 (2020) · source
“Terrorists present a major threat to children in armed conflict. They do not shy away from using even small children and bringing them into their ranks. No child caught in such a devastating maelstrom should be marginalized by society. Children have the right to, and should, become full members of society once again. Their rehabilitation and reintegration are a crucial aspect of the children and armed conflict agenda today. The Russian Federation fully supports and concurs with the Secretary- General’s call on all Member States concerned not yet having done so to take steps for the voluntary repatriation of children stranded in conflict zones, including children actually or allegedly associated with the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. We understand the importance of reintegrating children affected by conflict.”
2020-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/594 (2020) · source
“And now their plight has become even harder due to the unprecedented global health crisis posed by the coronavirus disease. Unfortunately, even this crisis has not led to the rejection of unilateral coercive measures, which affect essential health care services, social infrastructure, food security and other aspects of life. These affect ordinary people, especially children, directly, despite all the reassurances about so called “humanitarian exemptions” that we have heard so many times in the Council. We regret that the Secretary- General has not mentioned this key issue in his report. We call on the Secretary- General and Special Representative Gamba de Potgieter to pay special attention to the detrimental effect of illegal political sanctions on children in armed conflict and include a relevant section in future reports.”
2020-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/594 (2020) · source
“We would like once again to express our sincere appreciation to Special Representative Gamba de Potgieter for her hard daily work in pursuing her mandate and making a tangible difference for children in situations of armed conflict. We are open to further cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Office of the Special Representative in the field of the protection of children in armed conflict. Russia continues to support her important initiatives — raising awareness of the problems of child victims of armed conflict, information campaigns on the reintegration of children, and preventing their recruitment, among others. In various countries around the world engulfed in hostilities, children continue to endure brutal violence and hardship.”
2020-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/594 (2020) · source
“Almost 15 years ago, the Security Council adopted the milestone resolution 1612 (2005), with a noble aim: to protect those most vulnerable in armed conflict — children. The Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, created by that historic decision, is a unique mechanism, which has facilitated more effective protection for children in conflict. We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work for the sake of children trapped in various conflicts all over the world. Efforts by the Group would be incomplete without the crucial work done by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General.”
2020-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/594 (2020) · source
“We thank France for convening today’s meeting. We further thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and other briefers for their contributions to today’s discussion. The topic of child protection is of paramount importance to the Russian Federation. The Secretary-General’s report (S/2020/525) confirms that children in different countries around the world involved in armed confrontations continue to encounter brutal violence. One of the main reasons for their plight is that parties to armed conflicts ignore the rules of international humanitarian law and armed groups make open use of barbaric methods of warfare. The Security Council cannot remain indifferent and should make unfailing efforts to protect children in armed conflicts.”
2020-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/594 (2020) · source
“Now we have the reverse flow — thousands who left the country are now rapidly coming back.S/2020/560 The main reason for that is xenophobia in host countries, triggered by the pandemic. As it turns out, now they are indeed refugees in a real sense. Moreover, around 90 per cent of all COVID-19 cases in Venezuela are found among the returnees, who evidently were denied health care and exposed to the virus in host countries. In conclusion, I would like to once again underscore that Russia will continue to strengthen the international refugee protection regime and comprehensively support UNHCR’s activities, which are vital for the millions who have been forced to leave their homes.”
2020-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/560 (2020) · source
“Russia supports the Syrian Government in its efforts to restore basic infrastructure, such as water and electricity supplies, schools, hospitals and housing. Today a special focus of our actions is the implementation of a set of measures to fight COVID-19. Overall, the country is becoming increasingly safe for people. Unfortunately, there is an unresolved humanitarian situation in Rukban camp, where thousands of people are forcibly being held in unacceptable conditions. The lack of qualified medical care and personal protective equipment in wholly unsanitary conditions could lead to a sharp outbreak of COVID-19. From time to time in the Council, we hear stories about the mass exodus of people from the tyranny of Government. For example, some colleagues love dearly to refer to the economic migration from Venezuela in the refugee context.”
2020-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/560 (2020) · source
“The provision of humanitarian assistance to refugees, IDPs and their host countries should not be subject to politicization. The High Commissioner stated that very clearly. We call yet again for an immediate and complete lifting of unilateral sanctions and other restrictive measures that undermine the capacities of States to effectively combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite barefaced efforts to block the return of refugees to the Syrian Arab Republic, we see positive momentum. The initiative to facilitate Syrian refugees’ voluntary return home, launched by Russia in 2018, shows significant progress. The number of Syrians refugees and IDPs returning to their homes continues to grow, and today exceeds 2 million. UNHCR plays a major role in that regard, and we hope that the Office will continue to assist Syrians refugees and IDPs.”
2020-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/560 (2020) · source
“In that regard, we welcome UNHCR’s focus on close cooperation with States, with a view to including refugees in national programmes to combat COVID-19 and conducting information campaigns among the population. Its efforts to alleviate the effects of infection by increasing the supply of humanitarian goods, water and sanitation in camps, hospitals and other institutions deserve wide support. We share concerns regarding the current situation in a number of Middle East and African countries. Refugee camps and reception centres suffer an acute shortage of personal protective equipment and medicine. The health-care system in most host countries is weak and overloaded. In many instances, those countries’ capacity to respond to the pandemic is impeded by illegal unilateral sanctions.”
2020-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/560 (2020) · source
“We welcome the High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Filippo Grandi, and thank him for his briefing. Assistance to refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons today is an essential component of the intensive efforts aimed at maintaining international peace, security and stability. We deeply appreciate the effective work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in major humanitarian crisis situations that lead to mass flows of refugees. We support UNHCR’s commitment to expanding its efforts on the basis of the Global Compact on Refugees. The work of UNHCR has never been easy, but 2020 has brought an unprecedented level of difficulty. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has left no safe place on the planet, and refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) are now the most at risk.”
2020-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/560 (2020) · source
“We believe that these recent decisions of the Council will support Khartoum precisely as the Sudanese themselves need and expect. The above applies equally to the process of bringing to justice those who are guilty of crimes in that country.”
2020-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/538 (2020) · source
“UNITAMS is called upon to strengthen the Sudan’s national capacity in a number of important areas, including national reconciliation in Darfur, as well as to mobilize economic support for the upcoming reforms. The Mission’s good offices are also pivotal in the context of the ongoing peace talks in Juba, during which specific modalities for stabilizing the country will be determined. Responding to the request of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, the Security Council simultaneously, in resolution 2525 (2020), extended the mandate of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur until 31 December 2020 so that the drawdown of the joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping operation may proceed in a calm and responsible manner.”
2020-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/538 (2020) · source
“We note that security dynamics in Darfur have remained mostly unchanged. Isolated incidents, as well as sporadic but small-scale clashes in Jebel Marra between the Sudanese armed forces and the Sudan Liberation Army of Abdul Wahid Al-Nur, who actually remains the main spoiler of the peace process, do not change the picture. Just recently, on 3 June, the Security Council decided on a future international presence in the Sudan by adopting resolution 2524 (2020), on the deployment of a new special mission, the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in the Sudan (UNITAMS). In its decision, the Security Council was guided, first of all, by the request of the Sudanese themselves for assistance during this important period for the country, transitioning from peacekeeping to peacebuilding.”
2020-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/538 (2020) · source
“We therefore call on the Mechanism to pay special attention to the state of health of the detained, provide them with appropriate medical assistance and consider favourably the offers of respective assistance from Member States. In conclusion, I would like to acknowledge the work of the Prosecutor of the Mechanism in ascertaining the fate of the two persons accused by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the apprehension of one of them, Mr. Kabuga, in France. In that respect, we would encourage the Mechanism, and also the Council, to look into options for delivering justice without overburdening the Mechanism and indefinitely prolonging its functions.”
2020-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/527 (2020) · source
“We understand that the current circumstances are extremely unusual. Nevertheless, we urge the management of the Mechanism to rectify the situation and reduce the projected deadlines for completing the trials. We look forward to the results during this year. Another point of particular importance for our delegation is the protection of rights of persons detained on the authority of the Mechanism, especially with respect to access to timely and qualified medical assistance. We are all aware of the sad record of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in that regard. Today, in the time of COVID-19, this issue has become even more relevant. In particular, the poor state of health of Ratko Mladić is very well known.”
2020-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/527 (2020) · source
“They confirm what our delegation has referred to on numerous occasions — the criminal tribunals set up by the Security Council do not have a judicial planning system as such, and all the forecasts were made at random. Thus, the conclusion of the inspectors that “[t]he Mechanism was not systematic in presenting focused projections, insofar as they declined to methodically predict the future progress of a trial or estimate a completion date at the start of proceedings” (S/2020/236, para. 26) is of particular relevance. We fully support the OIOS recommendation that the Mechanism provide and adhere to clear and focused projections of completion timelines at the earliest stage possible in its reports. The recommendation must be duly reflected in a resolution of the Security Council on the review of the Mechanism.”
2020-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/527 (2020) · source
“Unfortunately, that stage has yet to be reach, in part because of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and its consequences. The Mechanism’s current two-year mandate ends on 30 June. By the end of June, the terms of office of the judges from the roster, the President and the Prosecutor will expire as well. This month, the Security Council is engaged in reviewing the Mechanism’s activities and will reflect the results of the review in a resolution, the adoption of which is sine qua non for extending the mandate of the Mechanism for another two years. We have carefully studied the conclusions and recommendations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) in respect of the Mechanism.”
2020-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/527 (2020) · source
“Let me first of all welcome President Agius and Prosecutor Brammertz to this video teleconference of the Security Council. We have carefully studied their report (S/2020/309, annex). The Mechanism was created in 2010 to be a “small, temporary and efficient structure”. I would emphasize the word “temporary” in that definition. It began its operations in 2012; therefore, it has been active for eight years and has undergone two reviews of its work, with the third being under way. In that regard, we expected that the year 2020 would, as indicated by the principals of the Mechanism, be a milestone for the body. All cases would be completed according to the stated timelines and the Council would finally be able to deal with the legal closure of the Mechanism.”
2020-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/527 (2020) · source
“I would like to end by recalling the words of the Secretary-General whereby the COVID-19 pandemic is the greatest test the world has faced since the formation of the United Nations and severely impacts the protection of civilians. In order to pass that test we all, namely, Security Council members, should put aside fleeting differences, egoism, messianism and the temptation to pursue their interests to the detriment of others and should work together to ensure peace and security for all.”
2020-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/465 (2020) · source
“Numerous international investigation mechanisms work under the very same principle, sometimes without even entering the country where the crime was committed. It makes a mockery of justice when such information-gathering structures are imposed, against the will of the State concerned. By establishing them through an illegitimate decision, they are themselves illegitimate. I am talking, first and foremost, about the so-called International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011 and similar initiatives.”
2020-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/465 (2020) · source
“Nobody argues the importance of taking measures to bring to justice those responsible for the most heinous crimes. However, we can neither share the positive assessments of the work of the International Criminal Court nor support the call for increased cooperation with it. We have expressed in detail our position on the activities of the Court on many occasions. Since then, unfortunately, nothing has changed. The Court has proven to be the wrong instrument to fight the most severe crimes under international humanitarian law. We have repeatedly said that, for a civilized level of criminal prosecution, reports by non-governmental organizations alone and information from other so- called reliable but never disclosed sources are not enough.”
2020-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/465 (2020) · source
“The answer to the problem is full respect for international law, and first and foremost, international humanitarian law. We concur with the Secretary-General on the importance of safeguarding the authority of international humanitarian law. The norms of international humanitarian law should not be used for political manipulation. There is no need to develop new international legal concepts that allegedly fill so-called gaps in the protection regime. In practice, such ideas can only weaken the protection we give civilians. We are convinced that implementation problems lie not in the weakness of international humanitarian law, but in the disinclination or reluctance to implement its principles and norms in practice. I would like to also touch upon the issue of accountability.”
2020-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/465 (2020) · source
“Coercive measures can be even more shameful when they are used by a Government against its own people. And now I am referring to Ukraine. Kyiv continues to pursue its brutally repressive policy towards Donetsk and Lugansk, which has already negatively affected more than five million civilian residents of the conflict area, has deprived hundreds of thousands of pensioners of access to their pensions and has prevented access to education and health services. Again, our Western colleagues prefer to not pay attention and shift responsibility. Armed conflicts in various parts of the world remain a reality, though their nature has been changed by new threats and potential dangers, such as increased activity by terrorist groups, which use modern communication technologies, and the spreading practice of using combat drones.”
2020-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/465 (2020) · source
“But the fight will not be effective if there is no access to essential health-care services or to good quality, safe, effective and affordable essential medicines, vaccines, personal protective equipment and food. International cooperation and solidarity might not be inclusive or exhaustive while unilateral sanctions remain in effect. Let me refer to the situation in Syria, where suffocating sanctions afflict ordinary Syrians, including by preventing the authorities from purchasing necessary medical equipment and by intimidating international humanitarian non-governmental organizations, which fear penalties. Yes, I refer to civilians — women and children — about whom many of my colleagues like to speak so much in the Council and who suffer the most from the coercive measures imposed by their countries.”
2020-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/465 (2020) · source
“It is high time to unite our efforts to achieve the noble goals of protecting people and minimizing their suffering. In that regard, we find the Secretary-General’s appeal for a global ceasefire of 23 March highly relevant. But his call would be incomplete without reference to his appeal to waive sanctions, which can undermine countries’ capacity to respond to the pandemic. The same appeal was made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who stressed that, in the context of a global pandemic, the policy of impeding medical efforts in one country heightens the risk for all of us. We agree that protecting health-care workers and facilitating access for humanitarian assistance are important in the fight against COVID-19.”
2020-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/465 (2020) · source
“I thank the Secretary-General, Mr. Peter Maurer and Ms. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for their contributions to today’s meeting. Indeed, the work of the Security Council over the years has helped to strengthen the protection of civilians, thereby saving lives. Unfortunately, despite all our efforts, thousands of civilians, especially women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities, continue to suffer. To our great regret, the unprecedented politicization of the humanitarian issues in international relations still dominates. Now, the plight of civilians is becoming even harsher, the threats and challenges they are facing are multiplied owing to the unprecedented global health crisis, coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which indeed leaves no one behind.”
2020-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/465 (2020) · source
“If one starts to evaluate the situation in Libya on the basis of the ICC Prosecutor’s reports, one may discover that a number of parties to the armed conflict go unnoticed and apparently excused. The coalition’s bombing and destruction are still invisible to the Prosecutor. Even Da’esh fighters, whose destructive role in Libya was recognized by the Council, somehow fall outside the ICC scope of engagement. The activities of the ICC in Libya become increasingly irrelevant. We are convinced that the international community and the Security Council should concentrate their efforts on helping restore peace in Libya. When peace is firmly established, Libyans can decide for themselves how to address the issue of justice.”
2020-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/371 (2020) · source
“We would also like to take this opportunity to call on all parties to the conflict in Libya for a cessation of hostilities in order to enable joint approaches to the coronavirus disease pandemic and respect for international humanitarian law. Turning back to the Prosecutor’s report, a major question remains: what is the role of the ICC in helping restore peace in Libya and bringing perpetrators of crimes to justice? The ICC has been handling the situation for nine years. We recall that the activity of the Prosecutor was once very vigorous, during the short period of time in 2011 before the foreign invasion of Libya. Once Mr. Al-Qadhafi was ousted, the ICC identified a couple of fugitives and mostly lost interest in the situation.”
2020-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/371 (2020) · source
“In this regard, we would like to recall that it must be a Libyan-owned dialogue, and no decisions should be imposed from outside. In our work, we should be guided by the principles of respect for Libya’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. It is up to the Libyans to determine the future of their country. At the same time, it is impossible to overestimate the importance of the United Nations central role in the settlement in this country. We pay tribute to Ghassan Salamé and call on the Secretary-General to appoint his new Special Representative as soon as possible for the sake of the Libyan peace process.”
2020-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/371 (2020) · source
“We took note of the briefing by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Ms. Bensouda, as well as her nineteenth report on the progress in the investigation into the situation in Libya. We are concerned that the situation in Libya remains tense and efforts to stabilize it have stalled. We are convinced that a military solution is not an option for Libya. But there is no easy way to settle the conflict, which has already gone on for nine years. It is rooted in the events of 2011, when the Security Council resolution was grossly distorted and violated, leading to the destruction of Libyan statehood and the continued suffering of civilian population. It is our firm conviction that the way forward is returning to impartial diplomatic work, cooperation and mutual support to help parties engage in negotiations.”
2020-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/371 (2020) · source