YouSaid · the spoken record

Lavrov

lines on the record: 2,533
first: 1994-09-23
most recent: 2023-09-20
sittings or episodes: 322
sources: un-security-council

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“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): Like representatives of other delegations, I, too, would first of all like to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council. I would also like to extend thanks to your predecessor, Ambassador Ouane, for the work that he and his delegation did in September. The Russian Federation is deeply disturbed by the sharp deterioration of the situation in the Palestinian territories, Israel and East Jerusalem. We deeply regret that the new outbreak of violence has led to the deaths of dozens of people, including children. In this connection, we extend condolences to the families of those who have died. These tragic events were the result of provocative acts committed in the Muslim holy places on 28 September.”
2000-10-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4204 (2000) · source
“That responsibility will have to be shared by the members of the Security Council which, in considering the problems of Kosovo, have found it possible to speak solely and exclusively about the sins of Belgrade and to be entirely silent about the flagrant breaches of resolution 1244 (1999).”
2000-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4200 (2000) · source
“I hope, however, that his colleagues will transmit our request - which we are making in this Chamber for the fourth time 4 to him. It is our conviction that it is high time that the traditional accolades that are heaped upon the UNMIK leadership were replaced by a serious discussion of the situation in Kosovo, and of the Mission itself and of ways to remedy the present crisis situation. Holding such a discussion is a matter of urgency before there is a new wave of political violence, the full responsibility for which would fall on the leadership of the international presences.”
2000-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4200 (2000) · source
“Three times, we have officially requested that members of the Security Council should be acquainted with the report of the Finnish forensic experts who investigated the tragedy that took place at Racak in March 1999. Information from that report was published in the German press last spring. To date, we have had no response to our requests. The wall of silence onto which our requests fall obliges us to think seriously about what it is that underlies the Kosovo cr1s1s. I had expected to take advantage ofthe Secretary- General's presence in the Chamber today to ask him personally to take the necessary steps to make it possible to acquaint members of the Council with that report, but, unfortunately, he is no longer here with us.”
2000-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4200 (2000) · source
“In the view of experts, there were errors or distortions with respect to some 350,000 inhabitants of Kosovo. To correct those errors, it would for all intents and purposes be necessary to repeat the registration process. Given that situation, we consider it essential that independent experts carry out an unbiased review ofthe results ofthe registration. In view of all those facts, the municipal elections that Mr. Kouchner has been urging for October cannot at this stage be democratic, free and fair. They risk strengthening the position of the Albanian extremists and the proponents of a mono-ethnic Kosovo. We are obliged once again to draw the Secretariat's attention to its disregard of our repeated requests for specific information. Let me cite just one example.”
2000-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4200 (2000) · source
“Kosovar Serbs and members of other ethnic minorities confront terrorism and are forced not to participate in the elections at all. When it comes to organizational preparations for the elections, the situation is no better. As reported in the Kosovo newspaper Koha Ditore on 21 September 2000, UNMIK officials have acknowledged that from the very outset there were significant logistical and organizational difficulties with the voter registration process. Lists of voters were lost, and voter information even contained distortions. Consequently, the newspaper concluded, only 900,000 of the more than one million registered inhabitants of Kosovo had actually participated in the registration, and by no means all of those had succeeded in being properly registered.”
2000-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4200 (2000) · source
“We continue to view as erroneous the concept developed by UNMIK of total privatization of locally situated State property of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The destruction of economic ties in the region only strengthens the drive to separate Kosovo from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Our position is well known: at present, the requisite conditions for holding municipal elections are lacking. For such elections to mark an important step towards democracy in accordance with resolution 1244 (1999), they must be thoroughly prepared and must be democratic. In practice, violence reigns in Kosovo. Even Albanian political parties are subjected to a coordinated campaign of intimidation and blackmail by the former KLA.”
2000-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4200 (2000) · source
“To that end, it would be appropriate to actively use the mechanism of the UNMIK-Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Joint Committee. In the context of that Committee it will be possible to resolve the question of beginning negotiations with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to define the status of the international presence in the region. We are concerned that the UNMIK command is ignoring this important provision of resolution 1244 (1999). It is also high time for a return to the region of the agreed number of Yugoslav military personnel. At the first stage, it should be possible to reach agreement on a limited contingent of Yugoslav border guards coming to the Kosovo part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia border.”
2000-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4200 (2000) · source
“As before, nothing is being done to create safe conditions for a return to the region of non-Albanian refugees. There continues to be a danger of the spread of inter- ethnic conflict to communities in the south of Serbia. It is essential to do everything possible to prevent the emergence of a new threat to regional peace and security. As we have done before, we insist on an early commencement ofthe negotiating process on the status of Kosovo. An excellent basis for the work to define the parameters for substantial autonomy for Kosovo could be found in the principle on interim self- government for Kosovo adopted in May at the Tokyo meeting of the G-8 working group. Clearly, work in this area should involve official representatives of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.”
2000-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4200 (2000) · source
“KFOR and UNMIK themselves recognize the unsatisfactory security situation with regard to the non- Albanian population, the removal of illegally held stocks of weapons and the inadequate control of the activities of former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), who are now incorporated in the Kosovo Protection Corps. In this context, a recent decision of the Belgian division of the influential organization Doctors Without Borders is telling. It decided to cease its activities in Kosovo due to the inability of KFOR and UNMIK to stop the "ethnic cleansing", terrorism and violence against the non-Albanian population of the region. As a result of the campaign of violence unleashed by Kosovo Albanian extremists, members of the non- Albanian communities continue to leave the area.”
2000-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4200 (2000) · source
“However, the leadership of KFOR and UNMIK have not only failed to take adequate measures to put an end to the illegal practice of searching foreign diplomats, but have also involved UNMIK's international police and the Albanian police in those searches. There is thus a deliberate policy to impede the work of diplomatic personnel accredited to Belgrade, a policy aimed at cutting off the Belgrade diplomatic corps from Kosovo, illustrating the customary attempt to tear Kosovo away from Yugoslavia. The 14 September statement of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Contact Group stressed that the security situation in Kosovo continued to be tense.”
2000-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4200 (2000) · source
“KFOR personnel demanded that the head of the Belgrade office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Barbara Davis, undergo a search of her person. All this can be viewed only as attempts to impede diplomatic representatives from working on part of the territory of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia where they are accredited. We find absolutely unacceptable the requirement to have any additional authorization beyond the normal diplomatic accreditation to Belgrade in order to perform diplomatic functions in Kosovo. Russia has made a very strong protest against these incidents.”
2000-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4200 (2000) · source
“We also find inappropriate his references to alleged ambiguities in resolution 1244 (1999). The provisions of that resolution that are being disregarded today were formulated very, very clearly. The responsibility for their non-implementation rests squarely shoulders of the leadership of UNMIK and KFOR. We View the recent incident in which the Russian Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was detained at Kosovo's administrative border by KFOR soldiers who attempted to search him as a flagrant violation of the provisions of resolution 1244 (1999), of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. There were similar acts by KFOR with respect to diplomats from Spain, Japan and other countries.”
2000-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4200 (2000) · source
“Despite isolated positive developments and the selfless efforts of the personnel of the international presence under the most dire conditions, the leadership of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the Kosovo Force (KFOR) continue to act in contravention of the Security Council and in violation of resolution 1244 (1999) on many questions of principle. It is true that Bernard Kouchner has been endowed with great powers, but they are not unlimited. He is compelled to act strictly within the framework of his mandate. We consider absolutely inadmissible the statements by Mr. Kouchner in the interview in The Financial Times of 16 September, where he openly preached his own views and actually called for independence for Kosovo.”
2000-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4200 (2000) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Bernard Kouchner, for his briefing. Unfortunately, his statement has not given cause for either optimism or a change in our well- known assessment of the persistent crisis situation in Kosovo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Resolution 1244 (1999) is being implemented partially and in an unsatisfactory manner. As in the past, the principles agreed in the framework of that resolution for the settlement of the Kosovo crisis continue to be disregarded.”
2000-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4200 (2000) · source
“We consider that the document on the status of UNMIK and KFOR signed by Mr. Kouchner has no legal force. UNMIK and KFOR must begin negotiations with the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and sign an agreement with them regarding their own status. We have said many times that a settlement of the situation in Kosovo will be possible only if we have full and complete implementation of resolution 1244 (1999) and it must be implemented not only by those political and ethnic groups that are active in Kosovo but also by the international presence and, naturally, by the Security Council itself. For the moment, unfortunately, neither the international presence nor the Security Council is fulfilling its part of the agreement that was enshrined in the consensus resolution 1244 (1999).”
2000-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4190 (2000) · source
“They had been talking about this for a long time, and throughout that process we had warned that deciding the status of the international presence in Kosovo could be done only on the basis of existing United Nations rules and the norms and standards of international law. In other words, it was to be done through negotiations with the host country and through the signing of an agreement on the status of forces between the international presence, on the one hand, and the Yugoslav authorities, on the other. I would also like to remind the Council that in the Kumanov agreement KFOR committed itself to signing with the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia a document on its own status and its presence in Kosovo. KFOR has therefore already violated its own commitment, apart from any other violations.”
2000-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4190 (2000) · source
“In this context, we would like to draw attention to the fact that UNMIK is not doing anything about the many economic facilities in different parts of Kosovo that have also been illegally seized by the former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army and that are now businesses operating within the criminal economy. For instance, there is a whole network of gasoline stations that were seized illegally and are now part of the criminal underground economy. In conclusion, I would like to mention another step that Mr. Kouchner has undertaken on his own initiative. I refer to orders he signed on the status of UNMIK and KFOR within Kosovo. This was done on the basis of a joint declaration by UNMIK and KFOR.”
2000-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4190 (2000) · source
“We know that this plant, which was seized by force, is intended by UNMIK to be handed over to the administrative department for trade and industry, which is working under the United Nations Interim Administration and contains not a single Serb. So we can see very clearly why the Kosovo Serbs are concerned that Mitrovica, where the plant is located, will suffer the same fate as other parts of Kosovo and become yet another district that is ethnically cleansed and Albanian. We therefore View that episode as the seizure and alienation of Serb property. That plant was simply taken from its Serbian owners.”
2000-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4190 (2000) · source
“In fact, we also asked why the members of the Security Council have still not received the report of the Finnish forensic pathologists on the results of the tragedy at Racak last year. So I would like to ask a second time, officially, that the Secretariat take measures to ensure that the Security Council can familiarize itself with the report of the forensic pathologists on the tragedy that took place in Racak. Mr. Annabi also told us that the Zvecan plant had been taken over by KFOR. The explanation given was that there were environmental reasons why that was necessary. We cannot accept that explanation. We view the seizure of that plant as the de facto beginning of plans to seize Serbian property in Kosovo.”
2000-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4190 (2000) · source
“As a result of that policy of UNMIK's leadership - whether it is deliberate or not - they are in fact preparing the ground for Kosovo to separate from Yugoslavia. Speaking in New York in the last few days, Mr. Hashim Thaci called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia "a neighbouring country". That was said in a public announcement at a press conference. I did not hear the leadership of UNMIK or that of the United Nations responding or reacting in any way to such a statement by a leader whom they consider to be the hope for a democratic Kosovo in the context of implementing resolution 1244 (1999). We have asked many questions about Mr. Kouchner's activities and have not had a single answer to any of those questions.”
2000-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4190 (2000) · source
“Kouchner has gone beyond his authority in deciding on the date of elections on his own. He has taken upon himself enormous responsibility for the consequences of this action for the future of the region as a whole. We have said many times that in violating resolution 1244 (1999), Mr. Kouchner has de facto arrogated to himself the exclusive right to run Kosovo without consulting the Security Council and without any cooperation with the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. We noted that in Mr. Annabi's briefing there was no mention at all of the idea of cooperation or contact between the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.”
2000-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4190 (2000) · source
“Gorani leaders in the Dragas municipality were also attacked. We know that the perpetrators of those actions were members of the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) who joined the Corps from the former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). In this very chamber a week ago we distributed a document that proves that the Kosovo Protection Corps is indeed recruiting not only soldiers from the KLA, but also individuals whose criminal pasts are well known to the Kosovo Force (KFOR). We have had no reaction at all to that document. We consider that holding elections in Kosovo may provoke a new crisis that would be a threat to regional stability and security. We are convinced that taking the decision to hold elections should have happened only after holding consultations with the Security Council. Mr.”
2000-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4190 (2000) · source
“They have a constant feeling that their lives are threatened; they have no freedom of movement; and they see extremist Albanian elements carrying out activities against minorities in Kosovo with impunity. Would not members agree that, when we are talking about the reasons why members of minorities are not registering to vote, we should look at the entire picture, not merely cast a critical eye on those referred to by Mr. Annabi as "hard-line Serb elements". As indicated by Mr. Annabi, we are also hearing of increasing political Violence, not only against ethnic minorities, but also against representatives of the moderate, liberal Kosovo Albanian parties. He gave us an example of scores being settled by physical violence against the representative of the Democratic League of Kosovo, Mr. Rugova's party.”
2000-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4190 (2000) · source
“We know that the conditions that would enable the approximately 250,000 refugees and displaced persons and the approximately 100,000 Serbs in the region to participate in the elections are absent. Mr. Annabi said that one reason why the Serbs, for instance, are not registering to vote is that radical Serb elements are intimidating the Serb population in Kosovo. I am certain that this happens, and even though Mr. Annabi did not give chapter and verse I cannot disbelieve him. Yet I know too that if this is indeed taking place, it is probably the least significant reason why Serbs are not registering. The principal reason why minorities do not wish to register is that they continue to feel far from secure.”
2000-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4190 (2000) · source
“Kouchner has decided to hold municipal elections on 28 October, even though many international experts, including experts from the Council of Europe and from the United Nations mission to assess preparations for the Kosovo elections, have expressed grave doubts about the wisdom of holding elections without the participation of the majority of the Serb or Turkish ethnic minorities in Kosovo. We are seriously concerned that the notion of holding elections on 28 October at all costs could undermine all efforts to establish a truly democratic multi-ethnic society in the region. It could result only in legalizing the erstwhile Kosovo Liberation Army units and structures that continue to sow lawlessness under the smokescreen of the so-called Kosovo Protection Corps.”
2000-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4190 (2000) · source
“Nor has the international presence been able to put an end to armed provocation organized by Albanian extremists in the Presevo valley, something to which Mr. Annabi also referred this morning. In that light, we consider that the policy of heedlessly forging ahead with respect to municipal elections could entail further potential problems in an already difficult situation in Kosovo. We have repeatedly appealed to the leadership of the United Nations and of UNMIK to affirm that this is not the time for holding such elections. But despite this, Mr.”
2000-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4190 (2000) · source
“Looking at the overall security situation, we note with alarm that terrorist activities continue against non- Albanian ethnic groups. Only a few days ago, on 17 August, a bomb exploded in an Orthodox church at Velika Reka in the Vucitrn area, and hand grenades exploded on a basketball court in Obilic, in the Pristina region, as mentioned today by Mr. Annabi. Then, on 18 August grenades were launched at a Pristina building housing the Political Parties Services Centre of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) as well as the Yugoslav committee for cooperation with the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). As usual, those responsible could not be identified. I recall no one ever being punished for a crime of this kind in Kosovo.”
2000-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4190 (2000) · source
“Thus, if we look at the tasks set by resolution 1244 (1999), which aim at establishing a free, multi-ethnic, safe society for all those who had previously lived in Kosovo, it is clear that we are as far from achieving them as we were a year ago. We note that, as in the past, the main provisions of resolution 1244 (1999) continue to be violated. The tasks involved in ensuring the safety and security of the people of Kosovo - all the people of Kosovo - are not being tackled successfully. These include the launching of a political process to determine the future status of the region within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Nor is respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia being ensured.”
2000-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4190 (2000) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We are most grateful to Mr. Annabi for his briefing on the situation in the Yugoslav province of Kosovo. We can see how much is being done, thanks to the international presence, in the attempt to create a more or less normal life for the people of Kosovo. From that standpoint, it is perfectly clear that a certain amount of progress has been made. Unfortunately, only some of those actually in Kosovo are aware of that progress: people who are now able to live there calmly, without fearing for their lives. Sadly, that does not apply to all those who live in Kosovo, least of all to those in Kosovo who have not yet been able to return to their own homes.”
2000-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4190 (2000) · source
“Russia will continue to seek the remedy of this situation so that the Kosovo settlement plan, which was unanimously approved by the Security Council, will be fully and comprehensively implemented.”
2000-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4171 (2000) · source
“However, no response has been received in connection with these facts. Recently, we learned through non-governmental organizations that Kosovo has turned into a major staging point for drug smuggling into Europe. However, we have seen nothing in the Secretariat reports on this topic. We request the Secretariat to inform the Security Council whether or not it knows anything about drug trafficking through Kosovo. In conclusion, Kosovo is, of course, big politics. But this should not be big politics for just one person, but the general policy for all members of the Security Council and of the United Nations. We have a consensus resolution, resolution 1244 (1999), which incorporates this policy on the behalf of the international community, but it is not being implemented and is even being violated in many key aspects.”
2000-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4171 (2000) · source
“No one has explained to us yet why the provisions of resolution 1244 (1999) have not been fulfilled, regarding the return of agreed-upon contingents of Yugoslav servicemen and policemen, why an agreement has not been reached with Belgrade on the status of foreign missions in Kosovo and why proper cooperation has not been arranged with the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. We believe that a rather belated step to correct this situation might be to start work in the joint consultative committee, which was referred to today by Mr. Annabi. In this room one month ago, our delegation drew attention to a specific document which confirms that among the leaders of the Kosovo Protection Corps there are people with a criminal past, who have been involved in murder and provocation, of whom UNMIK and KFOR are aware.”
2000-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4171 (2000) · source
“The questions relate to the identity cards published by UNMIK, where it said "Kosovo" under "citizenship"; to the fact that diplomatic offices are being opened in Kosovo and are being visited by representatives of other countries without notice being given to the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; and to many other facts. UNMIK continues to attempt to amend the status of the Slatin airport in Pristina. The UNMIK leadership is trying to unilaterally amend the text of the military- technical agreement of 3 June 1999, in violation of the Helsinki Agreement. We have mentioned this frequently, but the attempts continue.”
2000-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4171 (2000) · source
“Kouchner an ultimatum in the form of a statement consisting of 10 paragraphs setting out conditions for his return to the Interim Administrative Council. Such conditions include revising the agreements between the Serbs and UNMIK and more active involvement of KLA ex-combatants in local police forces, among others. We would be interested to know how Mr. Kouchner responded to that ultimatum. We wish to recall that we still have not received any appropriate replies to the concerns we expressed previously in connection with violations of resolution 1244 (1999). We know well what the questions were, but no replies have been received so far.”
2000-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4171 (2000) · source
“We know about that. It is revealing that, after the discovery of such weapons - which, as Mr. Annabi said, show every sign of being KLA weapons - the leaders of the Albanian separatists organized demonstrations and meetings to protest their confiscation. At those meetings they even demanded that the weapons be returned to the Albanians and that KFOR end its search for weapons. We would like to know exactly what the leaders of UNMIK and KFOR said in response to these demonstrations. In any case, we can confirm that there has been no real disarmament of the KLA. Previous speakers have already mentioned that the actions of Hashim Thaci, who started the boycott of the Interim Administrative Council when the Kosovo Serbs were returning to it, did not serve the cause of reaching a settlement. We know that Hashim Thaci also gave Mr.”
2000-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4171 (2000) · source
“The policy being pursued to hold elections at all costs may simply lead to the legalization of the structures of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), which, under the cover of the Kosovo Protection Corps, continues to indulge in lawlessness. I would also like to state that, in View of the possible consequences, the possible destabilization of the situation in the region that might result from the holding of the elections, we believe that the matter cannot be resolved by the leaders of UNMIK alone. UNMIK is directly linked to peace and security in the region and, therefore, the matter should be given serious consideration by the Security Council. We are greatly concerned about the new facts that are being revealed about the violations of resolution 1244 (1999). Mr. Annabi told us that huge stocks of weapons are still being discovered.”
2000-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4171 (2000) · source
“A similar conclusion was reached recently by Human Rights Watch. There is no machinery to date which can guarantee that the voices of the non-Albanian inhabitants of Kosovo will be heard, or ensure that they will be represented in the local organs of power. Not only would the non-participation of hundreds of thousands of such people in the elections distort both the ethnic and political picture in Kosovo, but this in turn would have a destabilizing effect on the situation in the region, including outside Kosovo. We are convinced that under current conditions we cannot force through the holding of elections, because we would thereby block all the efforts being made to create a generally democratic and multi-ethnic society in Kosovo.”
2000-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4171 (2000) · source
“A detailed list of the universal criteria for conditions for the holding of elections - any elections - is to be found in the document of the second Meeting of the Conference on the Human Dimension of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which was held in Copenhagen 10 years ago. It is very likely that such criteria are well known to all those who are preparing for the elections in Kosovo. Furthermore, paragraphs 7 and 8 of that OSCE document were included as an annex forming an integral part of the Rambouillet documents that refer to elections in Kosovo. We note, therefore, that the pre-electoral situation in that region is not in conformity with all of these requirements, first and foremost from the point of view of genuine safety and security for the non-Albanian population.”
2000-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4171 (2000) · source
“We are not opposed to the holding of such elections in principle, but we cannot close our eyes to the fact that thus far not even the minimum necessary conditions have been created to enable them to be truly free, fair and democratic and thereby to serve as a basis for further progress in the peace process in accordance with resolution 1244 (1999). Such conditions can be created only if security and safety is assured for all the inhabitants of Kosovo and if there is freedom of movement for all, an open and free political environment and the safe return of refugees and displaced persons, and if guarantees for freedom of assembly, freedom of association and freedom of speech are provided. These are obvious facts.”
2000-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4171 (2000) · source
“From the outset of UNMIK's activities, no action was taken to put an end to what has now turned into a culture of impunity, so that ethnically based crimes go unpunished under the auspices of international presences. Mr. McNamara's analysis corresponds with the assessment in the report of Amnesty International published last month, and notes the passivity of certain divisions of the Kosovo Force (KFOR) in the face of ethnic violence. This evaluation concurs to a large extent with our analysis of the situation in Kosovo, and given these conditions, Russia has clearly stated that it cannot support the holding of municipal elections in Kosovo this year.”
2000-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4171 (2000) · source
“We were interested to read an article in The New York Times on 3 July that referred to a comment by the former deputy head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Mr. McNamara, to the effect that from the very outset the leadership of that United Nations Mission did not make any effective efforts to put and end to the violence and that it tolerated intolerant and vengeful behaviour. All the warnings to the extremist leaders have remained merely words; they have not been followed up with any specific actions. Mr. McNamara correctly pointed out that the scale of the violence against the minorities shows how systematic it is.”
2000-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4171 (2000) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We are grateful to the Assistant Secretary- General, Mr. Annabi, for his briefing. The development of the situation in Kosovo during the month that has elapsed since our most recent discussion of the subject here has unfortunately emphasized that key provisions of resolution 1244 (1999) remain unfulfilled. The security situation for the non-Albanian population is continuing to deteriorate. Neither military nor civilian international presences have been able to do anything about that. The problem of returning hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced persons to the region has not been resolved.”
2000-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4171 (2000) · source
“In this way, with the adoption of this resolution, a further step will be taken towards making the mechanism of the imposition of sanctions more effective and equitable, including a further confirmation in practice of the principle of time limitations on the imposition of sanctions. On this basis, Russia will vote for this draft resolution.”
2000-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4168 (2000) · source
“The resolution also provides for tightening control over the observation of the embargo on military supplies to Sierra Leone imposed earlier. We hope that the tightening of this control will play an important role in stabilizing the situation in that country. It is of fundamental importance that the duration of the sanctions regime, in relation to the illegitimate export of diamonds from Sierra Leone, is limited to 18 months from the time of adoption of the draft resolution. After that time, the Council will once again review the situation in Sierra Leone and, if necessary, will take decisions as to whether the sanctions should be extended, whether they should be adjusted or whether supplementary measures should be taken.”
2000-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4168 (2000) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): Russia attaches great importance to the draft resolution that we are about to adopt today. It is likely to become an important element in international efforts to settle the conflict in Sierra Leone. This document puts barriers in the way of the criminal diamond trade of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), which is fuelling a continuation of the conflict. The resolution sends a clear and unambiguous signal to the participants in this business from other countries on the unacceptability of the situation that has arisen for the international community. We believe it is extremely important that the measures provided for in the draft resolution in this area should not be detrimental to the interests of legitimate participants in the international diamond market.”
2000-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4168 (2000) · source
“As a member of the Security Council and an old friend of the Somali people, Russia will continue to support the cause of restoring statehood to Somalia based on conditions that are in the interests of Somali society and of stability in the region as a whole.”
2000-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4166 (2000) · source
“Like other members of the Security Council, we are deeply concerned about the constant attacks on humanitarian personnel in various parts of Somalia, which impede their work and also make it difficult to implement plans for a gradual transfer to the country of the offices of United Nations programmes and specialized agencies. Russia's participation as an observer in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Partners Forum is proof of our desire to contribute to the settlement of conflict situations in the vast region of Eastern Africa and to ensure peace and stability there. Russia is involved on a regular basis in the work of the IGAD Partners Forum, within both the Committee on Somalia and the Committee on the Sudan.”
2000-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4166 (2000) · source
“It is also important that, at the international level, interested States continue to ensure favourable, non-confrontational conditions for a pan- Somali reconciliation based on principles that do not run counter to the territorial integrity and unity of Somalia. We share the concern of the international community regarding the dire humanitarian situation in Somalia. Russia believes that the active work of the humanitarian organizations in the country should continue, given their key role in providing assistance to the population.”
2000-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4166 (2000) · source
“In this context, as always, the main issue is whether or not it will be possible to include as broad a spectrum of Somali society and political forces as possible in the talks on the future of Somalia. Furthermore, the success of the peace process will continue to depend on the involvement of the leaders of the clan-based armed groups, who really control the situation in most regions of Somalia. It is also in this context that we View the negotiating process that is taking place within the Somalia National Peace Conference being held in Djibouti, and we hope that it will achieve positive results. Comparing Djibouti's initiative to a ship over which the Somalis themselves should assume control is a very accurate way of describing the essence of what remains to be attained.”
2000-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4166 (2000) · source