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

“We should not be stopping the refugees but the terrorists and conflicts and war they engender. The Russian assessment of the situation was clearly spelled out in the statement made by President Putin at the general debate of the General Assembly on 28 September (see A/70/PV.13). We do not seek to drive the discussion in the fruitless direction of saying who is right and who is guilty, but unless we learn the lessons to be drawn from the reckless, mistaken adventures undertaken over the past 10 or 12 years, we will not be successful. The main lesson is that any unilateral actions are dangerous. What we need are collective, agreed approaches that are backed by Security Council decisions. We believe that has to begin with a clear and unambiguous determination of priorities.”
2015-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7527 (2015) · source
“These terrorists carry out mass killings and public executions, and threaten the very existence of various ethno-religious groups, including Christians, Kurds and Alawites. ISIL has a professional propaganda machine active in dozens of languages. Today, as the merciless expansion of terrorists leads to an uncontrolled wave of population movements to Europe, we recognize the damage that has been done and that there is a need for joint action. We note that, at the recent informal summit of the European Council in Luxembourg and the Prague summit of the Visegrad Group, it was clearly recognized that the migration crisis cannot be resolved until its root causes are addressed - in other words, until a solid bulwark is erected to block ISIL and its desire to subjugate the region with laws dating back to the Middle Ages.”
2015-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7527 (2015) · source
“The heinous activities of the Al-Nusra Front, Al-Qaida in Iraq, Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, the Yemeni branch of Al-Qaida, Al-Shabaab in Somalia, Boko Haram and other groups have faded in the light of the expansion of the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Across the territories of Iraq and Syria, ISIL has created an extremist quasi-State on the ground that possesses a vast repressive aparatus, stable sources of income, a well-equipped army and elements of weapons of mass destruction. ISIL cells are flourishing in Libya, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Its announced plans include the capture of Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem and the spread of its evil activities to Europe, Central and South-East Asia, and Russia.”
2015-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7527 (2015) · source
“We addressed the situations in Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Lebanon and Syria in that way in their time, seeking each time to convince one another that if only we resolved that specific problem everything would be fine. In most cases, solutions were often sought in a change of that particular regime or others at any price, with no regard for the consequences and without a comprehensive strategy or even a short-term vision of the following two or three steps. The euphoria that engulfed many following the Arab Spring Changed to horror with the spread of chaos, the escalation of violence, the shadow of religious warfare looming over the region and, of course, the unprecedented terrorist threat.”
2015-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7527 (2015) · source
“I thank the Secretary-General for his briefing. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. A year ago, the Russian Federation raised the question of undertaking, under the auspices of the Security Council, a comprehensive analysis of problems related to the suddent outbreak of terrorism and extremism in the Middle East and North Africa. Since then, the situation there has deteriorated further. The growing potential of the crisis has reached the point where it is possible to speak of the destruction of the political map of the region as it stood back then. Today, we can clearly claim that attempts to address the situation in isolation, without linking it to the overall regional and historical context of individual conflicts, are futile.”
2015-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7527 (2015) · source
“It is so decided. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2015/678, which contains a letter dated 1 September 2015 from the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting a concept paper on the item under consideration. I now give the floor to the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon.”
2015-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7527 (2015) · source
“In accordance with rule 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following to participate in this meeting: Her Excellency Ms. Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; His Excellency Mr. Nabil Elaraby, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States; His Excellency Mr. Iyad Ameen Madani, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation; and His Excellency Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Ammar, Permanent Observer of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf to the United Nations. I propose that the Council invite His Grace Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See, to participate in this meeting, in accordance with the provisional rules of procedure and previous practice in this regard.”
2015-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7527 (2015) · source
“In accordance with rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Algeria, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Morocco, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, the Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, the Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay to participate in this meeting.”
2015-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7527 (2015) · source
“I would like to warmly welcome the Secretary-General, Ministers and other distinguished representatives participating in today's Security Council meeting. Their presence today underscores the importance of the subject under discussion.”
2015-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7527 (2015) · source
“We are against attempts to move the counter-terrorist fight out of the intergovernmental arena and to enforce plans of action that have been elaborated in limited formats upon the international community. I hope that today's debate will serve as a serious discussion on the future of our universal Organization as the most important mechanism for governing international relations today.”
2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source
“We expect that useful recommendations on how to render the United Nations peacekeeping operations more effective will result from the Secretary-General's special high-level group. On the whole, it would be useful to list the global challenges and threats that can only be effectively countered jointly. Among the main priorities on that list is an issue that has become a huge threat, namely, terrorism, especially in the Middle East and North Africa and spreading in the direction ofSouthern Africa, Asia and Europe. Unilateral actions in that respect are without any great prospect. That much is clear. The problem must be resolved within the framework of the United Nations and on the basis of its Charter.”
2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source
“Positive results will be achieved only when members of the Security Council pool their efforts to find consensus positions. It is on that basis that we were able to resolve the main issues surrounding the elimination of chemical weapons in Syria and to elaborate measures to counter the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters. A few days ago, upon Russia's initiative, the Council adopted resolution 2199 (2015), which is aimed at suppressing the financing of terrorist groups through the proceeds of the illegal oil trade. Recent examples in this regard include the deployment of new peacekeeping presences in Mali and the Central African Republic. We are now closely tackling another hotspot issue in Africa: suppressing the terrorist threat posed by Boko Haram.”
2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source
“In that respect, I propose that we think about strengthening and adopting relevant provisions set out in what was adopted in 1970, namely, the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. In doing so, we should focus in particular on the fact that support for unconstitutional coups is unacceptable. We must reach agreement on how we are going to achieve, on the basis ofthe Charter, ajoint management of risks in the context of an increasingly complex system of international relations. At the beginning of the 19905, the Secretariat prepared a guide on the peaceful settlement of disputes between States. Perhaps the time has now come to update that publication to take into account the experience that has been gained since then.”
2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source
“That will have a negative impact on other international regional platforms and will further weaken our prospects for resolving current problems. We believe there is a need to immediately take decisive measures to eliminate double standards from global policy and allow the Security Council to resume its role as a leading body in the search for collective solutions based on respect for the cultures and civilizations of today's world and for democracy in international relations. We must all recognize that people have the right to independently decide on their future without external interference.”
2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source
“An element that is seriously poisoning international relations is the unfolding war for the use ofinternational media, the Internet and social networks. I am convinced that the freedom of expression and thought is not something that should justify the manipulation of information, brainwashing and efforts to undermine States and their policies, or that should be used to fan the flames of religious enmity. The time has come to respond to a simple question: do we want to see the Security Council as an effective, influential instrument for the maintenance of international peace and security, or are we prepared to allow it to become a forum for propagandistic confrontation. In the latter case, the Council will be excluded from the search for international solutions.”
2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source
“In doing so, the lessons of the unilateral use of force from the very recent past are being ignored. Those actions have plunged the Middle East and North Africa into instability and chaos and, to a large extent, created a breeding ground in which extremists thrive. The sanctions mechanisms established pursuant to the Charter are the exclusive purview of the Security Council. Unilateral restrictive measures and attempts at the extraterritorial use of national legislation are nothing more than the manifestation of an archaic way of thinking. They have led to an increase in confrontations and tensions in international affairs and complicated the joint quest for solutions to emerging problems.”
2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source
“In the search for an illusory global dominance, unsavory methods are employed, including mass pressure on sovereign States and attempts to impose one's own decisions and political, economic and ideological standards on them. For those not wishing to play ball, various methods are employed, including regime change, as was the case with the open support for the unconstitutional State coup in Ukraine a year ago. Persistent efforts have been undertaken to turn the Security Council into a body that would rubberstamp the decisions of the leader, and as that is simply not working, they are attempting to move the Security Council away from elaborating policies on major issues within its competence, namely, the maintenance of international peace and security.”
2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source
“Suffice it to recall the bombing in Syria, the occupation of Iraq under obviously false pretences - the consequences of which continue to take a heavy toll on the population of that country - and the brazen manipulation of the Security Council's mandate that led to the destruction and ongoing chaos in Libya. All of those were the result of attempts to dominate global affairs, to rule over everyone everywhere, to use military force unilaterally and to push and advance singular interests. Such approaches are in no way in keeping with the principles on which the United Nations is based, and ignore the clear and increasing threat of the spread of hegemonic economic and political might.”
2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source
“At the same time, after the end of the Cold War, no objective reasons remained to prevent the Security Council from becoming the effective platform for elaborating and crafting the collective will of the international community. Unfortunately, the path to implementing that objective has turned out to be a great deal more complex and tortuous than it seemed it would be a quarter of a century ago. We have before our eyes many examples of violations of the fundamental principles of the United Nations, such as the independence and sovereign equality of States, non-interference in their internal affairs and the peaceful settlement of disputes.”
2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source
“Its list of purposes and principles and the rules internationalt contains represent a substantial source of international law, the basis for the code of conduct of States on the world stafe and the foundation for the ever-growing system of international agreements and treaties. Of course the United Nations is not perfect, but as Dag Hammarskjold said, it was not created to take humankind to heaven, but to save it from hell. The Charter of the United Nations set out for the first time the principles for an operationally viable mechanism for global governance on the basis of agreement among the positions ofleading States. In other words, it enshrined key elements for a polycentric world order. For the first four decades, the United Nations operated under difficult conditions of bipolar confrontation.”
2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I would like to start by conveying my gratitude to Mr. Wang Yi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of China, for having organized today's debate. The theme proposed for discussion today is a very timely one on the eve of the seventieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, and it allows us to critically assess the state of international relations and discuss ways of overcoming its accumulated systemic problems. The Charter of the United Nations is the fruit of the great victory over Nazism and remains the cornerstone of the entire international system.”
2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source
“We stand ready to cooperate on an equitable basis, beginning with an honest joint analysis of how this problem developed and how we can work our way out of this chaos.”
2014-09-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7272 (2014) · source
“We propose the convening, under the auspices of the United Nations, a forum of representatives of countries of the region, the African Union, the League of Arab States, the five permanent members of the Security Council and other stakeholders. The forum's agenda should also address long-standing conflicts, the most important of which is the Arab-Israeli conflict. It is specifically the failure to resolve the Palestinian issue for many decades, that is, according to a widely-held viewpoint, one of the primary reasons terrorists receive moral support and are able to continuously recruit new members into their ranks. We call for an analysis of the deep-rooted causes of the region's problems and for avoiding responding solely to their symptoms.”
2014-09-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7272 (2014) · source
“In that regard, we need a comprehensive approach that would encompass the financial, administrative, social and ideological components of the issue and that would ensure respect for the sovereignty of all States. We support the initiative of the United States presidency of the Security Council in sponsoring resolution 2178 (2014) aimed at stamping out foreign terrorist fighter activity. At the same time, we would like to caution against the temptation to narrow our perception of the problem, because the Islamic State, with its inhuman ideology and revolting executions of journalists, is not by any means the only threat to the region. There is a need to comprehensively consider the problem of terrorism in all its dimensions, in the Middle East and North Africa.”
2014-09-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7272 (2014) · source
“We supported resolution 2170 (2014) aimed at ratcheting up the sanctions pressure on terrorists operating in Syria and Iraq. Those examples reaffirm the Council's ability to agree on fundamentally important issues and to take decisions on the basis of the Charter of the United Nations. After the intervention in Iraq, the bombing of Libya and the providing of foreign support to extremists opposed to Al-Assad in Syria, the problem of foreign terrorist fighters has been seriously exacerbated. They are also fighting in the ranks of terrorist organizations of many countries in the Middle East, Africa and the Afghanistan/ Pakistan boundary area.”
2014-09-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7272 (2014) · source
“With their increased power, extremist groups jeopardize the future of entire States, as is clearly seen in the examples of Iraq, Syria and Libya, which are under attack, as well as Lebanon, Yemen, Mali and the Central African Republic. Russia has consistently advocated the expansion of international cooperation to curb terrorism in all its forms and abandoning double standards and the dividing of terrorists into good and bad terrorists. It is essential that all States faithfully implement the Security Council resolutions and decisions that call for ending the incitement to terrorism, cutting off all channels of illegal oil trafficking, adopting sanctions against the Taliban and Al-Qaida and preventing the transfer of weapons from Libya.”
2014-09-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7272 (2014) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): Terrorism, which has been strengthened ideologically and logistically and through its ties to transnational organized crime, is fuelled by drug trafficking, seized oil fields and extremist ideas, including those based on religion and ethnicity. Terrorism penetrates the fabric of regional conflicts. The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, the Al-Nusra Front and other terrorist groups have long existed in the Middle East. They have acquired additional capacity for their criminal activities in the context of weakening of State institutions owing to foreign support.”
2014-09-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7272 (2014) · source
“We call upon the sponsors of the opposition to bring the necessary pressure to bear on them to do so. The Russian Federation will actively and directly participate in the implementation of the chemical-weapons disarmament process and in preparations for Geneva II.”
2013-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7038 (2013) · source
“What is of particular importance here is the fact that the resolution sets out a framework for a political and diplomatic settlement ofthe Syrian crisis. It adopts, without any reservations, the Geneva communique dated 30 June 2012 (S/2012/523, annex) as a platform for a settlement. It also backs the rapid convening on this basis of an international conference. In our assessment, one that is shared by the other permanent members of the Security Council as well as by the Secretary-General, that could take place as early as the middle of November. We expect that the increasingly diverse Syrian opposition forces will in the end be able to state their readiness to participate in the conference without any preconditions, as the Government of Syria has done.”
2013-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7038 (2013) · source
“We draw attention to the fact that the resolution contains requirements set by the Security Council that apply to all countries, especially Syria's neighbours. They must report to the Council any attempts by non-State actors to obtain chemical weapons. It would be even more unacceptable for them to support such attempts. All similar cases will be immediately considered by the Security Council with the objective of taking the necessary measures. We believe that the resolution will not only make it possible to solve the problem of Syrian chemical weapons but also will give us impetus in connection with a decision on the creation in the Middle East of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, in accordance with the decisions taken by the international community.”
2013-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7038 (2013) · source
“The resolution does not fall under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations and does not allow for any automatic use of coercive measures of enforcement. It reaffirms the agreement that was reached at the Russian-American meeting held in Geneva to the effect that any violations of those requirements as well as the use of chemical weapons by any party will be carefully investigated by the Security Council, which will stand ready to take action under Chapter VII of the Charter. The actions taken will be commensurate with any violations, which will have to be 100 per cent proved. Particular responsibility lies with those who back and sponsor the opposition; they have to ensure that chemical weapons do not fall into the hands of extremists.”
2013-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7038 (2013) · source
“Syria has already begun implementation of its commitments by providing the OPCW with a detailed list of its chemical-arsenal holdings. We believe that Damascus will continue to cooperate constructively and in good faith with the international inspectors. The responsibility for the implementation of that resolution does not lie only with the Government of Syria. Pursuant to the demands of the Security Council, the international experts will also require cooperation on the part of the Syrian opposition. In that respect, the reports to be submitted for consideration by the Security Council regarding the implementation of the OPCW decision and resolution 2118 (2013) will have to be objective and address the situation with respect to all parties to the Syrian conflict.”
2013-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7038 (2013) · source
“Everything possible must be done to ensure that the Syrian chemical arsenals are taken under control, pursuant to the decision of the Executive Council of the OPCW, in a timely and effective way that respects all safety norms. We expect that the Secretary-General and the Director-General of the OPCW will cooperate closely and ensure due coordination pursuant to resolution 2118 (2013), just adopted. We look forward to the recommendations of the Secretary-General regarding the organization of this work, including issues related to ensuring the safety of international personnel. Russia stands ready to participate in the forthcoming operation in Syria in all its aspects. An important precondition for the success of the upcoming work is the readiness for real cooperation Damascus has shown byjoining the Chemical Weapons Convention.”
2013-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7038 (2013) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): Resolution 2118 (2013), just adopted, is fully in keeping with the Russian-American agreements achieved in Geneva on 14 September. That was the result of coordinated efforts by the Russian Federation and the United States of America, backed by all the members of the Security Council and the majority of other States. Pursuant to the resolution, the leading role in the upcoming work will be played by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), and the United Nations will provide it with assistance. We believe that the OPCW and United Nations experts will act in a professional and impartial way in Syria, with full respect for the sovereignty of that country.”
2013-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7038 (2013) · source
“The most important task is to prevent the proliferation of new threats from emerging in the shadow of today's transformation processes: radicalization ofthe public mood, instigation of inter-religious and intra-religious clashes, and growth in the uncontrolled traffic of drugs, weapons and militants. A significant added value could be created by the establishment of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery in the Middle East. That issue was raised by the Secretary General of the League of Arab States, Mr. Nabil Elaraby. Russia will continue to promote the earliest implementation of that important initiative and support the efforts of countries of the region and the League of Arab States, which should naturally play a leading role in convening a conference on the issue.”
2012-09-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6841 (2012) · source
“We believe that it is a serious mistake that the Quartet was unable to hold a ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the general debate of the current General Assembly session. The recent outbreak of tension in the region, the attacks against foreign embassies in a number of countries and the death of American diplomats in Libya have again affirmed the need for an uncompromising fight against terrorism. It is essential that terrorists who are attempting to benefit from the transformation process be unanimously banished by the international community everywhere, be they in Libya, Iraq, Yemen or Syria. There should be no double standards. All States without exception should ensure the careful and respectful treatment of the historical, cultural and religious values of all peoples and should refrain from insulting the feelings of believers.”
2012-09-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6841 (2012) · source
“We share a common position with members of the League of Arab States, namely, that despite the dramatic nature of the Arab Spring, such processes should not preclude the pursuit of ways to settle long- standing problems in the Middle East. First of all, that means achieving a just settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict on the existing international legal basis, which, as we know, includes the Arab Peace Initiative, adopted at the League ofArab States summit in Beirut in March 2002 and supported by the Security Council. Russia resolutely calls for intensified efforts by the Middle East Quartet mediators, in close cooperation with the League of Arab States, for an early resumption of the Palestinian-Israeli talks.”
2012-09-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6841 (2012) · source
“The Russian- Arab Cooperation Forum has been established as a framework for implementing trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian projects. The Russian-Arab Business Council has also been launched. We believe that the League of Arab States should play a concrete role in overcoming the challenges facing the Middle East and North Africa. It has in its arsenal a thorough knowledge of national psychology, traditions and historical experience and the capacity to formulate common goals for the region. The League's effectiveness will significantly increase as it builds its anti-crisis measures on the basis of giving priority to dialogue, mediation and peacekeeping, as provided for under the United Nations Charter. In general, we believe that it is essential to strengthen the overall coordination of the efforts of League and the United Nations.”
2012-09-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6841 (2012) · source
“Interaction with members of the League of Arab States is among the strategic priorities of Russia's foreign policy. Our country has never had any colonial interests in the Middle East or North Africa and has never unleashed wars for resources in those areas or imposed its configuration of the political map of the region. From the beginning our presence there has been aimed at promoting communication among nations and the coexistence of the various cultures and religions - what is commonly now called the dialogue of civilizations. Based on many years of friendship and partnership between Russia and countries ofthe Arab world, we are today promoting reasonable and mutually respectful dialogue on the whole range of regional issues and are negotiating new forms of interaction.”
2012-09-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6841 (2012) · source
“There is no doubt that the political transformations that have been launched must be carried out to their logical end, taking into account the views of all groups of society in order to prevent the recurrence of turmoil. It is also clear that without modernization in the economic and the social spheres, it is hardly possible to make the Arab peoples feel that change is for the better and become immune to extremist attitudes. One resource to explore in that regard is the responsible and targeted cooperation of the international community. It is essential that all outside players provide help to strengthen positive processes in the Arab world, including through mechanisms such as the Deauville Partnership with Arab Countries in Transition.”
2012-09-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6841 (2012) · source
“The Geneva communique is objective and is the most realistic basis for such a consensus, in particular since all five permanent members signed it. We hope that the Geneva consensus will also help Lakhdar Brahimi and his team to explore ways to overcome the crisis. We welcome any other constructive proposals on coordinating the international community's actions that could compel all Syrian parties to put an end to the violence and come to the negotiating table. In that context, we see some potential in the initiative of the President of Egypt, Mohamed Morsy. Today as never before, many problems have accumulated on the political map of the Middle East. To date, no significant progress has been made in addressing them.”
2012-09-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6841 (2012) · source
“That communique reflects a consensus among all Security Council permanent members, members of the League of Arab States, Turkey, the European Union and the United Nations Secretary-General. We strongly believe that the Geneva communique is still appropriate and relevant. In that connection, I wish to call attention to the adoption today by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - the BRICS group - of a joint statement that objectively assesses the way out of the Syrian crisis and supports the Geneva communique as a basis for such actions. It is the basis for achieving consensus in the Security Council, the lack of which has been noted by some of our colleagues.”
2012-09-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6841 (2012) · source
“The refusal by some members of the Security Council to condemn those terrorist acts is of deep concern and calls into question the fundamental role of the Security Council in countering terrorism in all of its manifestations. There can be no doubt that military methods, and especially outside military interference, pose serious threats to regional security, with unpredictable consequences. A sustainable settlement can be achieved only through negotiations and a quest for compromises that take into account the interests of all religious and ethnic groups of Syrian society. There is a basis for achieving that goal: the communique of the action group, endorsed in Geneva on 30 June as follow-up to resolutions 2042 (2012) and 2043 (2012) and the Kofi Annan plan.”
2012-09-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6841 (2012) · source
“The path to a lasting solution to problems in that respect is through extensive dialogue and the achievement of national reconciliation. Today the strife that has engulfed the Arab world is concentrated in the situation in Syria. We condemn all acts of violence and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, whoever the perpetrator may be - the Government of Syria or the armed opposition. However, a significant share of responsibility for the continuing bloodshed rests upon those States that are instigating Bashar Al-Assad's opponents to reject the ceasefire and dialogue and at the same time demanding the unconditional capitulation of the regime. Such an approach is unrealistic and, in fact, encourages the use of terrorist tactics, to which the armed opposition is resorting to more and more often.”
2012-09-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6841 (2012) · source
“The process of change is caused by the aspirations of people to a better life and justice and to realize their political rights and freedoms. We share and understand those feelings. They are in line with the philosophy underlying Russian foreign policy, which is based on the assumption that all peoples should determine their own destiny independently. The developments in the Middle East and North Africa confirm once again the need to respect the key principles of the Charter of the United Nations, above all the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, non-interference in their domestic affairs and the non-use or threat of force. Speaking today at the Kremlin, President Vladimir Putin emphasized that the primacy of international law must be ensured in the international arena and within States.”
2012-09-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6841 (2012) · source
“Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (Spoke in Russian): I join other speakers in expressing my appreciation to you, Mr. President, for having convened this meeting, which deals with a very important issue. The Arab world is living through radical and painful transformations. Their impact is already being felt and will be felt for quite a long time, both in the region and globally. Of particular concern are the attempts to instigate inter-ethnic and interreligious discord on a global scale. It is necessary to stand in the way of those whose actions insult the feelings of believers and set people of different religions against one another. It is equally unacceptable to respond to provocations with acts of terror, which can have no justification, especially when diplomats and United Nations personnel are the targets thereof.”
2012-09-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6841 (2012) · source
“Russia also confirms our proposal for closer cooperation between the Quartet and the relevant structures of the League of Arab States. We are confident that the Arab Peace Initiative remains relevant and that its comprehensive implementation will ensure the creation of a Palestinian State, guarantee the security of Israel and establish peace and stability throughout the Middle East. Russia is prepared to engage in close cooperation with all responsible members of the international community in order to attain those goals.”
2012-03-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6734 (2012) · source
“A particular concern is the violation of the ceasefire following the resurgence in strikes between Israel and the Gaza Strip, in which civilians are suffering on both sides. Under those circumstances, the international community must step up its efforts. That applies above all to the Quartet, which, as we discussed with our colleagues before the start of today's meeting, should start working in a focused manner and on a regular basis to create an environment conducive to continuing direct Israeli-Palestinian contacts aimed at full-fledged negotiations. We all welcome the initiative of Jordan, which held a series of very useful meetings between the Israelis and the Palestinians in Amman this January, and we want that initiative to be continued.”
2012-03-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6734 (2012) · source
“The Arab Spring should in no way be used as a pretext to diminish attention to the Palestinian issue. We are convinced that the potential for conflict in the Middle East and North Africa will remain high until a comprehensive settlement is achieved in the Middle East within the existing international legal framework. This is a truly historic obligation for the international community and the Security Council. Unfortunately, the trends we have been witnessing lately delay rather than hasten this prospect, both in political terms - when the settlement parameters that have been repeatedly endorsed by the Security Council, the Quartet and the parties themselves are called into question - and in practical terms too, when the settlement activity of Israel in the West Bank is literally shrinking the area available for the necessary agreements.”
2012-03-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6734 (2012) · source
“The following five principles of settlement that Russia and the League of Arab States agreed upon on 10 March are based on that same spirit: first, the end of violence on the part of all sides; secondly, an impartial monitoring mechanism; thirdly, no outside interference; fourthly, unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance to all Syrians; and, fifthly, strong support for Kofi Annan's mission aimed at launching political dialogue between the Government and all opposition groups, as mandated by the terms of reference endorsed by the Secretary-General and the Arab League. On that basis, we are prepared to agree to a Security Council resolution, as we were ready to do last autumn when our draft resolution was put forth. Sadly, it was not supported by all Security Council members.”
2012-03-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6734 (2012) · source