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

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

“"1 have already appealed to the President of the United States, Bill Clinton, and to the leaders of other NATO member countries to put an immediate end to this military adventure, which threatens the lives of peaceful people and could lead to an explosion of the situation in the Balkans. "A settlement of the situation in Kosovo, as the settlement of other similar problems, is only possible through negotiations. The quicker they are resumed, the greater the possibility for the international community to find a political settlement to the situation. Russia is prepared to interact with other members of the Contact Group in order to reach that goal. "Those who decided upon military adventure bear the full responsibility to their peoples and to the world community for the dire consequences of this for international stability.”
1999-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3988 (1999) · source
“"As President and Supreme Commander, I have already given the following instructions: to cut short the visit to the United States of the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation, Yevgeny Primakov; to demand an urgent convening of a meeting of the Security Council of the United Nations and to seek an immediate cessation of NATO's military action; to recall to Moscow the chief military representative of the Russian Federation to NATO; to suspend our participation in the Partnership for Peace programme and to end the carrying out of the programme on Russia-NATO partnership; and to postpone talks for the opening of a NATO liaison mission in Moscow.”
1999-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3988 (1999) · source
“Not only the Charter of the United Nations has been violated; the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security Between NATO and The Russian Federation has been violated as well. A dangerous precedent has been created regarding the policy of diktat and force, and the whole of the international rule of law has been threatened. "We are basically talking about an attempt by NATO to enter the twenty-first century in the uniform of the world's policeman. Russia will never agree to that. "The Security Council must discuss the situation that has emerged and demand the immediate cessation of NATO's use of force. "For its part, the leadership of the Russian Federation will review its relationship with NATO as an organization, which has shown disrespect for the fundamental basis of the system of international relations.”
1999-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3988 (1999) · source
“We reserve the right to raise in the Security Council the question of the adoption by the Council, under the United Nations Charter, of appropriate measures with respect to this situation, which has arisen as a result of NATO's illegal actions and which poses a clear threat to international peace and security. Today, the President of the Russian Federation, Boris N. Yeltsin, issued the following statement: "Russia is profoundly outraged by NATO's military action against sovereign Yugoslavia, which is nothing less than an act of open aggression. "Only the Security Council can decide on what measures, including the use of force, should be taken to maintain or restore international peace and security. The Security Council did not take such decisions with regard to Yugoslavia.”
1999-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3988 (1999) · source
“In the light of this turn of events, we shall draw the appropriate conclusions in our relations and contacts with that organization. NATO's decision to use military force is particularly unacceptable from any point of View because the potential of political and diplomatic methods to yield a settlement in Kosovo has certainly not been exhausted. The enormous quantity of complicated work done by the international community has now been dealt a very powerful, a very grave and probably an irrevocable blow. The Russian Federation vehemently demands the immediate cessation of this illegal military action against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.”
1999-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3988 (1999) · source
“Attempts to apply a different standard to international law and to disregard its basic norms and principles create a dangerous precedent that could cause acute destabilization and chaos on the regional and global level. If we do not put an end to this very dangerous trend, the virus of illegal unilateral approaches could spread not merely to other geographical regions but to spheres of international relations other than questions of peace and security. The fact that NATO has opted to use force in Kosovo raises very serious questions about the sincerity of the repeated assurances that that alliance was not claiming the role of the world's policeman and was prepared to cooperate in the interests of common European security.”
1999-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3988 (1999) · source
“Moreover, by the terms of the definition of aggression adopted by the General Assembly in 1974, "No consideration of whatever nature, whether political, economic, military or otherwise, may serve as a justification for aggression". (General Assembly resolution 3314 (XXIX), annex, article 5, para. 1) We certainly do not seek to defend Violations of international humanitarian law by any party. But it is possible to combat Violations of the law only with clean hands and only on the solid basis of the law. Otherwise lawlessness would spawn lawlessness. It would be unthinkable for a national court in a civilized democratic country to uphold illegal methods to combat crime.”
1999-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3988 (1999) · source
“They must not forget that they are not only members of their alliance, but also Members of the United Nations, and that it is their obligation to be guided by the United Nations Charter, in particular its Article 103, which clearly establishes the absolute priority for Members of the Organization of Charter obligations over any other international obligations. Attempts to justify the NATO strikes with arguments about preventing a humanitarian catastrophe in Kosovo are completely untenable. Not only are these attempts in no way based on the Charter or other generally recognized rules of international law, but the unilateral use of force will lead precisely to a situation with truly devastating humanitarian consequences.”
1999-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3988 (1999) · source
“Those who are involved in this unilateral use of force against the sovereign Federal Republic of Yugoslavia - carried out in violation of the Charter of the United Nations and without the authorization of the Security Council - must realize the heavy responsibility they bear for subverting the Charter and other norms of international law and for attempting to establish in the world, de facto, the primacy of force and unilateral diktat. The members of NATO are not entitled to decide the fate of other sovereign and independent States.”
1999-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3988 (1999) · source
“In recent weeks, when we were constantly hearing threats - detrimental to the negotiating process - that there would be missile strikes against Serbian positions in Kosovo and other parts of Serbia, the Russian Government strongly proclaimed its categorical rejection of the use of force in contravention of decisions of the Security Council and issued repeated warnings about the long-term harmful consequences of this action not only for the prospects of a settlement of the Kosovo situation and for safeguarding security in the Balkans, but also for the stability of the entire modern multi-polar system of international relations.”
1999-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3988 (1999) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): The Russian Federation is profoundly outraged at the use by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) of military force against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.”
1999-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3988 (1999) · source
“The Russian delegation supports the idea of holding, in due course and under the auspices of the United Nations and the OAU, an international conference on peace and security in the Great Lakes region. We are convinced that this will be possible only if consensus is achieved among the participating States regarding the purposes of such a forum. Russia will continue to help to promote the peacekeeping process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the spirit of the recommendations of the Security Council, making use of its contacts with the OAU, the SADC, the States of the region and other interested countries.”
1999-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3987 (1999) · source
“The Russian delegation actively supports the policy of strengthening the coordination of the activities of the United Nations, the OAU and SADC in order to reach a political settlement of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We believe that the initiative of the Secretary-General to send a special envoy to the region is a timely one. The possibility of the future deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping operation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as well as the desirability and modalities of such an operation can be determined only after a stable cease-fire has been achieved. The Security Council's decision on this matter should necessarily be preceded by a very careful and thorough analysis of the situation, both in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in the region.”
1999-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3987 (1999) · source
“Continuing the stalemate in the negotiating process and opting for a military resolution of the conflict would be likely to worsen the situation and lead to a large-scale humanitarian catastrophe and further destabilize the situation throughout the region, and we cannot rule out the possibility that the Democratic Republic of the Congo will disintegrate. Our delegation cannot fail to be concerned at news of the mass atrocities perpetrated against the civilian population throughout Congolese territory and of human rights violations and persecution on ethnic grounds. We support the need for a careful and speedy investigation of these communications.”
1999-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3987 (1999) · source
“In this context, we believe that the desirability and the modalities of involving the rebels in the regional negotiating process should be determined by the regional mediators, together with the legitimate Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As a matter of principle, however, it is quite obvious that lasting peace and security in the Democratic Republic of the Congo cannot be achieved unless the Congolese themselves organize a nationwide dialogue with the participation of all segments of Congolese society, as contemplated in the regional settlement scheme. We are convinced that at this stage efforts should be focused first and foremost on speedily achieving a ceasefire agreement. Otherwise, it will be impossible to set in motion the machinery for a peace settlement.”
1999-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3987 (1999) · source
“We believe that it is important to emphasize once again the need for all States to abide by the principles of non-intervention in the internal affairs of other countries and the non-use of force, in accordance with the Charter and the aims of the United Nations. We believe that the basis for regulating the protracted conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo should be the approach suggested by the countries of the subregion, based on a ceasefire agreement, the withdrawal of foreign troops from the territory and guarantees of peace and security along its borders with contiguous States. One of the key provisions of such a settlement should be ensuring the territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
1999-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3987 (1999) · source
“The Russian delegation shares the serious concern expressed at the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which represents a serious threat to regional peace and security. Russia has constantly advocated achieving a peaceful political settlement of the crisis while preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We are certain that acts of violence will not make it possible to achieve a long-term resolution of the conflict. We have consistently supported the efforts of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and individual regional leaders to explore ways of finding a peaceful way out of the conflict.”
1999-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3987 (1999) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (interpretation from Russian): First of all, I should like to thank you, Mr. President, for the condolences you expressed to the Government and the people of the Russian Federation in connection with the death of Russian citizens as a result of the tragic incident involving a helicopter of the United Nations Mission in Haiti. I should also like to join you in expressing condolences to the Governments and the people of the United States of America and of Argentina. Moving on to the subject of today's discussion, I should firstly like to welcome the Minister for Human Rights of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mr. She Okitundu, to our meeting today.”
1999-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3987 (1999) · source
“Guided by this approach, the Russian delegation proposed corresponding amendments to the draft resolution on the extension of UNPREDEP's mandate, which is under consideration today. Unfortunately, these amendments were not duly reflected in the final text of the draft resolution, which does not fully take account of the importance of principle in reorienting UNPREDEP to monitor compliance with the arms embargo. Under these circumstances, the Russian delegation will not be able to support the draft resolution.”
1999-02-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3982 (1999) · source
“In monitoring the observance of the arms embargo and other injunctions established by resolution 1160 (1998), this Force is making an important contribution to stabilizing the situation in Kosovo and to the success of international efforts to achieve a peaceful political settlement of the crisis, as well as to guarantee the security and stability of the entire Balkan region. Our position is that the functions of the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP) involved in monitoring compliance with the arms embargo and with the injunctions established by resolution 1160 (1998) should become the main component of UNPREDEP's activities, and this should be more clearly highlighted in the mandate of this operation.”
1999-02-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3982 (1999) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (interpretation from Russian): The principled approach of the Russian Federation to assessing the priorities of the activities of the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force at this stage is well known and has repeatedly been described by the Russian delegation in the Security Council. We View this United Nations operation as an important element of the system to monitor compliance with the arms embargo and with the ban on external assistance to terrorist activities in Kosovo and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in accordance with Council resolution 1160 (1998). The period since the adoption of Security Council resolution 1186 (1998), which made the relevant monitoring tasks part of the Force's mandate, has given ample evidence of the growing urgency of this work.”
1999-02-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3982 (1999) · source
“I want to mention separately the International Committee of the Red Cross, a universally respected organization whose work we actively support.”
1999-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3977 (1999) · source
“Eldon regarding the need for the report of the Secretary-General to be as broad as possible in nature, drawing from a wealth of sources and containing recommendations which would be addressed not only to the Security Council but also to all the other participants in efforts to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law. And perhaps this report should become a catalyst for that comprehensive approach of which we are speaking and assist in moving this thesis into the language of practical activity. Naturally, we cannot forget either the General Assembly or the Economic and Social Council, because they too have a mandate in the area of humanitarian questions. Nor can we forget the regional organizations which in one way or another also deal with humanitarian questions, nor the non-governmental organizations.”
1999-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3977 (1999) · source
“It has already been stated by previous speakers that the problem of the protection of the civilian population in armed conflicts is complex and far-ranging in nature and therefore requires a complex approach on the part of the international community. Many examples which have been cited today, for example by Ms. Bellamy, who spoke of the need to protect the rights of children in armed conflicts, including the minimum age for involvement in armed forces. These and other questions are also considered by the Security Council, as are those addressed by Mr. Olara Otunnu, namely the need, for example, to draw up a code for conducting business. Without question, that too is extremely important, but it falls outside the competence of the Security Council. I would therefore like to support the statement made by Mr.”
1999-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3977 (1999) · source
“It is clear that this runs counter to the Charter and that such an approach is unacceptable and can only destroy the present system of international relations, which is based on the principles of the Charter. The destruction of that international system is thus is too high a price to pay to resolve humanitarian problems, regardless of how important those problems may be, because the consequences will be devastating and global. International humanitarian law must be complied with. It is my feeling that no one will contest the need to comply with the Charter, and we cannot allow opposing the need to implement international humanitarian law with the need to implement the Charter.”
1999-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3977 (1999) · source
“Experience, in particular the experience of Somalia, has demonstrated that sometimes the decision to use force, if not fully thought through and calculated in terms of its consequences, may lead to a situation in which such unsuccessful humanitarian interference only exacerbates the conflict and, inter alia, aggravates the situation for the civilian population - the very population which we wanted to protect. This concerns the use of force on the basis of decisions of the Security Council itself, as provided for by the Charter. It is no secret that recently attempts have been made to use humanitarian concerns to justify unilateral use of force - that is, by bypassing the Security Council and without obtaining its authorization.”
1999-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3977 (1999) · source
“At the same time we are convinced that such support from the Security Council must be implemented in strict compliance with the United Nations Charter and must, first and foremost, take the form of political support. Only when all political and diplomatic methods have been exhausted can consideration be given to the question of using force to protect the civilian population and the personnel of the humanitarian organizations, and then only on the sound basis of the Charter. Incidentally, when the Security Council takes decisions to use force for the protection of the civilian population, there is a need to give careful thought to how effective it will be and whether it may not have negative consequences.”
1999-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3977 (1999) · source
“Today's briefing, which is being held here at an open meeting, reaffirms that members of the Security Council are convinced of the need to strengthen international humanitarian law, to ensure its application and to make use of the potential of the Security Council for those purposes. It is clear that the Security Council is obliged to take measures to support the activities of international humanitarian organizations, inter alia, in questions of ensuring the protection of the civilian population during the course of armed conflicts, and also for the purpose of protecting the personnel of those humanitarian organizations who are more and more themselves becoming the objects of aggressive actions.”
1999-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3977 (1999) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (interpretation from Russian): Like my colleagues, we are glad to see you, Mr. President, presiding at this meeting and we are grateful to the delegation of Canada for taking this initiative. I should also like to thank Mr. Sommaruga, Ms. Bellamy and Mr. Otunnu for their participation in our meeting and for their briefings. From these briefings and from the statements of my colleagues, it is clear that the task of providing for strict compliance with international humanitarian law is one of the most important tasks today, primarily in connection with a great number of conflicts of very different natures. I will not dwell in detail on those factors which already have been cited here.”
1999-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3977 (1999) · source
“It is hardly possible to provide humanitarian assistance while violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States or, for the sake of humanitarian work, to violate the fundamental principles of international law as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. In conclusion, I would like to ask Mr. Vieira de Mello to convey to all of his colleagues our appreciation for their efforts to carry out the humanitarian work of the Organization. We stress our personal appreciation for Under-Secretary-General Vieira de Mello's efforts to improve the coordination and effectiveness of the United Nations humanitarian programmes.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“It runs counter to all of the very foundations of the existing system of international relations and the Charter of the United Nations. Only the Security Council can determine whether a given situation, including one involving a humanitarian crisis, is a threat to peace and security, and only the Security Council can take a decision, if one is necessary, to authorize the use of force in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. Perhaps at some point international law will be different from what it is now and will rely on unilateral regional positions, but for now international law is enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, by which all of us must be guided, inter alia, in making decisions about humanitarian-assistance questions.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“However, various concepts currently under discussion, such as humanitarian intervention, raise a number of questions of principle and a number of quite practical questions. We believe that the Charter of the United Nations establishes the functions and prerogatives of the Security Council, and these functions and prerogatives are sacrosanct, and any coercive operations require the authorization of the Council. This includes coercive operations relating to humanitarian assistance. We are very concerned about the attempts that some are making to promote an approach by which the existence of a humanitarian crisis in any particular country would be in itself sufficient grounds for unilateral armed intervention without any decision by the Security Council whatsoever. This approach is absolutely unacceptable.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“The Security Council has never in any of its resolutions taken a decision regarding a no-flight zone, security zone or anything similar to that in the northern or southern part of Iraq. The attempt by certain parties, who invoke resolution 688 (1991), to unilaterally declare or create a no- flight zone is illegal, as can be confirmed simply by reading the resolution, which does not make the least mention of no-flight zones and was not even adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. My last comment concerns how to take up questions involving the use of force or coercion exclusively on the solid foundation of the Charter of the United Nations. We cannot fully exclude the possible effectiveness of coercion to ensure the security of humanitarian personnel and the delivery of humanitarian assistance.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“It concerns the work of two non- governmental organizations in northern Iraq. They operate there not only without the consent of the Government of Iraq but also despite that Government's protests. These two non-governmental organizations in northern Iraq have no visas whatsoever; for all intents and purposes they have crossed the border illegally and established themselves in northern Iraq illegally. This directly undermines our efforts to uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq, a goal that the Security Council has mentioned on several occasions. Incidentally, this is all happening in northern Iraq, where a so-called no-flight zone was unilaterally declared.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“Of course, one of the most important means of resolving the problem of security is the deployment of military contingents to safeguard humanitarian deliveries. Nonetheless, as regards such provisions of assistance, the importance of basing humanitarian work on the principle of impartiality should not be forgotten. Humanitarian assistance cannot be used as an instrument for bringing political pressure to bear on any party to a conflict or for supporting just one side to the detriment of the other. This principle fully applies both to the activities of international humanitarian organizations and to the work of non-governmental organizations. Perhaps I might give one example that illustrates clearly the situation. This is something the Security Council has already discussed during its consultations.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“I would like to highlight the task of curbing arms flows into conflict areas, because this relates directly to better enabling humanitarian agencies to do their work, inter alia, to help refugees. We should not take lightly any violations of arms embargoes imposed by the Security Council, because if an arms embargo is declared and then not respected, this simply exacerbates the confrontation between the warring parties and makes it more difficult to carry out humanitarian tasks - not to mention the fact that it also undermines the authority of the Security Council. Much has been said here about the need to ensure the safety and security of United Nations personnel, including humanitarian personnel. We agree that this is one of the most important tasks at this time.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“Here I am thinking of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations Children's Fund and other organizations. Moreover, we think it is important to develop this cooperation even at the stage of planning and preparing peacekeeping operations that will involve humanitarian tasks. I will not revisit all of the aspects of humanitarian activities. Mr. Vieira de Mello and my colleagues who have spoken before me have shed sufficient light on all of these matters. I would just like to comment on a few additional points.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“One of the methods of establishing such cooperation is, in fact, applied in practice and has to do with ensuring the actual separation of duties - distinguishing the duties of the special representatives of the Secretary-General from those of the humanitarian coordinators. When a peacekeeping operation has a humanitarian element - something that is happening with increasing frequency - the humanitarian tasks must be clearly defined in the mandates. Those tasks must be feasible and supported by the appropriate human and financial resources. The broadening of consultations and cooperation between the Security Council and humanitarian agencies and organizations is playing a useful role in efforts to find the optimal means of coordination.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“At the same time, however, we are not equating the functions of the Security Council with those of a humanitarian agency. Each of them has its own responsibilities. The Security Council is responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security, while humanitarian agencies have their own mandates and must deal with specific tasks that are different from the functions of peacekeeping contingents - although, in fact, the tasks are very closely related in practice. Coordinating the work of humanitarian agencies and peacekeeping contingents is therefore essential. In doing so it is necessary to maintain functional separation. But, as I said, coordination is extremely important, primarily between the military/political components of peacekeeping operations and humanitarian operations.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (interpretation from Russian): I am grateful to Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello for his very comprehensive briefing to us. We would like to confirm our support for the humanitarian activities of the United Nations, including the work of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Russia provides political and practical support in this sphere and participates in many humanitarian operations coordinated by the United Nations in various countries. We also believe that the Security Council is today being increasingly asked for active political support for the work of humanitarian organizations and that humanitarian work as a whole should not only be strengthened, but should also be protected by the authority of the Security Council.”
1999-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3968 (1999) · source
“We are convinced that the resolution of the Iraqi problem is possible only through political and diplomatic methods on the basis of compliance with the resolutions of the Security Council and the norms of international law. We are grateful to the Secretary-General for his statement today in which he, inter alia, confirmed his readiness to promote a peaceful settlement of the problem in the region of the Persian Gulf. We believe that the Security Council has its part to play in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, including giving an assessment, in principle, of the current unilateral military action. In this context, today's meeting is of particular significance.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3955 (1998) · source
“It is symbolic that precisely at the time when Richard Butler, during today's consultative Council meeting, was attempting to defend the conclusions reached in his report, we were informed about the strike against Iraq, and the justification for that unilateral act was precisely the report which had been presented by the Executive Chairman of the Special Commission. In the light of this new situation in Iraq, the Russian Federation cannot remain unconcerned. We appeal for an immediate end to these acts of military force, that restraint and prudence be demonstrated and that no further escalation of the conflict be allowed, a conflict which is fraught with completely predictable consequences, dangerous not only for the Iraqi settlement but also for international stability as a whole.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3955 (1998) · source
“On the night of 15 December this year, he presented a report that gave a distorted picture of the real state of affairs and concluded that there was a lack of full cooperation on the part of Iraq. That conclusion was not borne out by the facts. Without any consultations with the Security Council, Richard Butler then evacuated the entire Special Commission staff from Iraq. At the same time, there was an absolutely unacceptable leak of the report to the communications media, which received the text before the members of the Security Council themselves. Richard Butler thus grossly abused his authority. His acts have led to a sharp deterioration of the situation regarding Iraq.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3955 (1998) · source
“Russia has consistently made intensive diplomatic efforts to promote a swift settlement of the situation around Iraq. The potential for a political and diplomatic resolution of the Iraqi crisis has by no means been exhausted, as is made particularly clear by the basically normal course of cooperation between Iraq and the United Nations recently. The Iraqi leadership even now confirms its readiness to continue on that course. We believe that although there are certain problems regarding the cooperation between Iraq and the United Nations Special Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency, the current crisis was created artificially, partly as a result of the irresponsible acts of the Executive Chairman of the Special Commission, Richard Butler.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3955 (1998) · source
“I should like to recall that paragraph 6 of the most recent resolution of the Security Council on Iraq, resolution 1205 (1998), clearly states that the Security Council "Decides, in accordance with its primary responsibility under the Charter for the maintenance of international peace and security, to remain actively seized of the matter." Clearly, therefore, those actions have been undertaken in violation of Security Council resolutions. The entire responsibility for the consequences of those actions must be borne by those States that have chosen a unilateral act of force in order to resolve their problems with Iraq. No one is entitled to act independently on behalf of the United Nations, still less assume the functions of a world policeman.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3955 (1998) · source
“Essentially, a threat has been made to the entire system of international security, in which the United Nations and the Security Council act as a central link. The Security Council alone has the right to determine what steps should be taken in order to maintain or restore international peace and security. We reject outright the attempts made in the letters from the United States and the United Kingdom to justify the use of force on the basis of a mandate that was previously issued by the Security Council. The resolutions of the Council provide no grounds whatsoever for such actions.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3955 (1998) · source
“Grave harm has been done to the tremendous amount of work done in recent years to effect a post-crisis settlement in the Persian Gulf region and to dismantle the capability of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. The very existence of the system that was so carefully set up over a long period of time to monitor the prohibited programmes of Iraq has been called into question. Such a turn of events, to which Russia decidedly objects, has caused very serious concern and deep alarm. In carrying out this unprovoked act of force, the United States and the United Kingdom have grossly violated the Charter of the United Nations, the principles of international law and the generally recognized norms and rules of responsible behaviour on the part of States in the international arena.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3955 (1998) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (interpretation from Russian): Today's meeting is taking place at a time when Iraq is being subjected to massive missile and bomb strikes by the armed forces of the United States and the United Kingdom. There have been casualties, valuable material goods have been destroyed and a threat has been created to peace and security not only in the region but beyond it. I should like to recall that there are Russian citizens in Baghdad. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Mr. Ivanov, stated today that if their lives should prove to be imperilled, that will have extremely serious consequences.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3955 (1998) · source
“The indispensable political role in the sphere of post- conflict peace-building must be carried out by the General Assembly by, inter alia, defining the basic framework and criteria for activity in that area, including abidance by the fundamental principle of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States. Such interaction of the Security Council with other major United Nations organs is fully in keeping with the Charter and with the task of strengthening and improving coordination within the framework of the United Nations system. We are ready for constructive work in this area so that the relevant provisions of the United Nations Charter can be activated.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3954 (1998) · source
“In this context, we attach great significance to the reactivation of Article 65 of the Charter with regard to the Economic and Social Council's provision of information and assistance to the Security Council. This chapter of the Charter is also fully applicable on the preventive level, insofar as the Security Council can and must draw the attention of the Economic and Social Council to the relevant problems of various regions, as the Security Council, within the framework of its competence, closely follows destabilizing trends in the social, economic and humanitarian fields that which can lead to the emergence or escalation of conflicts.”
1998-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3954 (1998) · source