YouSaid · the spoken record

Nebenzia

lines on the record: 5,044
first: 2017-08-02
most recent: 2023-12-30
sittings or episodes: 461
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

“Failure to grant visas to representatives of individual States is contrary to the principle of sovereign equality and hinders their effective participation in the work of the Organization.”
2022-09-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9123 (2022) · source
“In conclusion, I would like to note that our efforts in support of United Nations peacekeeping have been met with blatant opposition from the United States. Just last week, the third United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit took place, and a delegation from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, headed by Internal Affairs Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, was invited to attend. However, as a result of United States actions, the Russian delegation was not able to participate in the summit — the representatives were simply not issued visas. That is yet another blatant violation by the United States of its obligations under the United Nations Headquarters Agreement. In that regard, we would like to stress once again that granting visas to members of delegations is an international legal obligation for the United States, not a privilege.”
2022-09-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9123 (2022) · source
“Only unconditional respect in practice for the agreements and obligations reached in an intergovernmental format can ensure the necessary level of trust among all parties concerned and thereby contribute to the effectiveness of peacekeeping missions and their ultimate success. We believe that solidarity among States with regard to the principles of the functioning of peacekeeping operations will make it easier to resolve other related issues as well. We would like to take this opportunity to commend the military, police and civilian personnel of United Nations peacekeeping missions for their unwavering commitment to their noble duty in extremely difficult and dangerous circumstances and at a daily risk to their lives.”
2022-09-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9123 (2022) · source
“For example, in October 2021, the United Nations Secretariat certified the training programmes for the United Nations military observer course at the Military Training Centre of the Ground Forces of the Russian Federation in Naro-Fominsk. We believe that the main thrusts of United Nations peacekeeping activities should be determined in an intergovernmental format. In that regard, the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations of the General Assembly is a unique platform in which a majority of the Member States of the Organization, including troop-contributing countries and host States, have an opportunity to develop common approaches to the parameters for peacekeeping activities that should guide the Secretariat and missions on the ground.”
2022-09-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9123 (2022) · source
“Obsessing over force mandates and involving peacekeepers in offensive and counter-terrorist operations could undermine Blue Helmets’ neutral status, turning them into active participants in conflicts with a concomitant increase in threats to their life and health. We fully share the view that the security of peacekeepers should be improved. We believe that this can be achieved by improving their material and technical equipping and professional training. In Russia, the training centres of the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Internal Affairs provide high-quality training for both Russian and foreign peacekeepers.”
2022-09-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9123 (2022) · source
“However, the imperative must remain unconditional respect for the sovereignty of host States, strict compliance with the purposes and principles of the Charter and the basic principles of peacekeeping — the consent of the parties, impartiality and refraining from the use of force except in self-defence and to protect the mandate. We cannot accept flexible interpretations of those principles even on the noblest of pretexts. Those basic principles, including the protection of civilians where mandated, must govern every aspect of the work of missions. Peacekeepers must not rattle their sabres and become a party to the conflict.”
2022-09-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9123 (2022) · source
“Clear and realistic mission mandates that take into account the views of host States, the specific causes of each conflict and the current situation on the ground help to improve the effectiveness of peacekeeping activities. We believe it is essential to reduce peacekeepers’ secondary and non-core tasks, especially those on the human rights, social and gender fronts, which distract peacekeepers from their primary functions and require considerable funding. The Blue Helmets’ efforts should focus on high-quality, painstaking assistance aimed at reaching a political settlement and the achievement of national reconciliation, which would address the root causes of conflicts as well as the symptoms.”
2022-09-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9123 (2022) · source
“Triangular cooperation between the Security Council, troop-contributing countries and the Secretariat is also just as important in strengthening a spirit of partnership, collaboration and mutual trust. Ensuring effective interaction between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations, based on Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, clearly adds value in enhancing the effectiveness of United Nations peacekeeping, as demonstrated by the productive cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union. We see good potential for developing partnerships between the United Nations, the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which are expanding their political authority and contributing to strengthening regional and international security.”
2022-09-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9123 (2022) · source
“That is why Member States and the Secretariat are focused on optimizing peacekeeping missions and improving their effectiveness, as well as ensuring the security of Blue Helmets and civilian personnel. One of the key prerequisites for peacekeeping operations’ effective implementation of their tasks is constructive interaction with host States, which have the primary responsibility for protecting their civilian populations, addressing the root causes of conflict and dealing with post-conflict reconstruction. The role of ensuring cooperation between the mission, the Secretariat and the host country authorities is a top priority that neither civil society nor non-governmental organizations can replace.”
2022-09-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9123 (2022) · source
“Mr. Nebenzia (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank Under-Secretary-General Lacroix for his informative briefing. For decades, peacekeeping has been the backbone of the work of the United Nations in maintaining peace and security and has had a direct impact on the lives of millions of people. There are intense hopes placed on peacekeeping operations, as they are expected both to address urgent challenges and contribute to the long- term resolution of crises. The changing nature and specifics of conflicts and the dangerous conditions in which missions operate, often compounded by dire humanitarian and socioeconomic situations, dictate the necessity of adapting peacekeeping mechanisms.”
2022-09-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9123 (2022) · source
“That individual will undoubtedly be able to help break the current deadlock in the political process and bring together and use the existing initiatives and ideas in the right way. It is important that the appointee enjoy the support of the key players in Libya and the region, as well as the approval of the members of the Security Council.”
2022-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9120 (2022) · source
“We are convinced that the central role in promoting the Libyan settlement should be played by the United Nations, whose most important instrument remains the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). Unfortunately, the Mission continues to operate today without a Security Council-mandated leader, which is fatal to its effectiveness. Against the backdrop of the de facto dual Governments and the aggravated threat of a full-scale armed conflict, it is unacceptable to leave the United Nations presence in Libya without an intermediary with the appropriate status and authority. We hope that a new Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNSMIL will be appointed as soon as possible. We have agreed to the candidate proposed by the Secretariat.”
2022-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9120 (2022) · source
“It will be impossible to achieve balanced solutions without inclusiveness, and that same principle is key to the success of the national reconciliation process, which presupposes the involvement of all leading political forces in the country, including representatives of the former regime. In that connection, we welcome the efforts of the African Union to organize an all-Libyan conference on national reconciliation. We will try to provide whatever assistance we can in implementing that step. Regarding the issue of eliminating the foreign military presence, we have always advocated for a synchronized, balanced, gradual and phased withdrawal of all non-Libyan armed groups and military units without exception, so as not to undermine the balance of forces.”
2022-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9120 (2022) · source
“The way out of the current complicated situation should take the form of duly prepared national elections held on an inclusive basis, but Libyan politicians still have not reached a common position on the procedural aspects of the elections. Establishing artificial deadlines, as experience has repeatedly shown, does not produce the desired results. We firmly believe that, in the current critical situation, all States capable of influencing the warring parties should do everything in their power to restore order in Libya. It is no secret that a number of influential countries have competing interests that clash in Libya, which hinders efforts to achieve stability there. For its part, Russia welcomes any negotiation format that genuinely represents a road to peace, as opposed to fruitless geopolitical projects with a hidden agenda.”
2022-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9120 (2022) · source
“We wish to draw attention to the passivity of the representatives of the United Kingdom, in its role of informal sponsor, who did not even try to convene the Council in the light of the bloody events in Tripoli — just as is currently happening in Baghdad. It seems that our Western colleagues are far more concerned about other topics, including ensuring the continuation of oil production, rather than about the welfare and security of ordinary Libyans and Iraqis. We once again reaffirm our consistent approach to a peaceful settlement in Libya. The central role in coordinating the parameters of the political process should belong to the Libyans themselves, without the imposition of any external ready-made recipes.”
2022-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9120 (2022) · source
“Heated exchanges of accusatory rhetoric and attempts to punish opponents after the fact will hardly help the cause. We would like to point out that the root causes of Libya’s current plight are well known, although our partners prefer not to mention them. The current chaos is a direct result of the NATO military intervention in 2011, when the provisions of the pertinent Security Council resolution were grossly perverted. There was nothing left of Libya. The country went through a de facto dismantling of its statehood, the State administrative system was destroyed and interregional and intertribal relations were upended. Eleven years later, we are still trying to overcome the disastrous effects of that period, so any declarations calling for peace are dubious at the very least.”
2022-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9120 (2022) · source
“Now the armed clashes in Tripoli over the past weekend — which included the use of heavy weapons, among other things — are the sad culmination of that process. The city has repeatedly been used as an arena for armed groups to settle their differences, but the scale of the current tragedy is unprecedented in the past two years. As a result of the fighting, dozens of people have been killed and hundreds injured. While the situation has stabilized slightly, there could be another spiral of violence at any moment. Any steps leading to further escalation in the former Jamahiriya are categorically unacceptable. We call on the Libyan leaders to return to dialogue and warn them against using violence to achieve their goals, which will lead nowhere and contribute only to deepening the country’s divisions.”
2022-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9120 (2022) · source
“Mr. Nebenzia (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo and Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011), concerning Libya, for their briefings. We are extremely concerned about the latest developments in Libya. The protracted tangle of disagreements between the opposing sides, which developed as a result of the internal political stalemate, has brought the country to a new era of dual competing authorities and a disastrous destabilization of the situation. Libya was first rocked by a wave of popular protests in which the people demanded that the Government resolve the urgent tasks of unifying State structures, ensuring security and improving the socioeconomic situation.”
2022-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9120 (2022) · source
“I say to our former Western partners — no, they are the ones who need to pay for their mistakes. But first they must return to the Afghan people the money stolen from them. We have been helping — and will continue to help — Afghanistan, and we recommend that our Western colleagues focus on compensating the Afghans for the 20 years of senseless occupation that destroyed Afghanistan and left its people on the brink of survival. And not everything is measured in monetary terms. The lives of those killed in the attempt to plant democracy in Afghanistan and of those maimed as a result of fighting in that military campaign cannot be measured in monetary terms, and neither can the United States buy the loyalty of the Afghan people, which the United States seems to have lost once and for all.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9118 (2022) · source
“Mr. Nebenzia (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): Somewhere in the lengthy arguments of our United States colleagues, we heard a call for Russia and China to reach for their wallets and pay for the reconstruction of Afghanistan. They say that the United States and its allies alone are paying for everything, while Russia and China are only whipping up hot air. The cynicism of such statements is stunning — we are being asked to chip in for the reconstruction of a country whose economy was essentially destroyed by 20 years of United States and NATO occupation. That is to say that, instead of admitting their mistakes and trying to remedy them, they are now reprimanding us for not wanting to settle other people’s bills. That is a very original proposal. However, for quite some time now we have ceased to be surprised by anything.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9118 (2022) · source
“We believe that it is through such dialogue that we will be able to effectively meet the challenges of political inclusiveness, counter-terrorism and counter-narcotics and to uphold human rights, including those of women and girls. However, we are not willing to accept the attempts of our Western colleagues to simply turn the page of history in Afghanistan, shifting all the blame onto the Taliban and starting with a clean slate, as though the past 20 years had never occurred.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9118 (2022) · source
“Our efforts are aimed at achieving all those objectives, both through bilateral contacts with the de facto authorities and with other Afghans, as well as through the Moscow format, meetings of regional neighbours and the regional organizations — the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. We are also providing active humanitarian assistance to the brotherly Afghan people. We are fully aware of the new realities that have emerged in Afghanistan. We wish to stress that we continue to advocate the need for the international community to engage constructively with the Taliban.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9118 (2022) · source
“I would like to ask my colleagues — is it not a human rights violation that women and children are dying because of the situation resulting from their inaction? We have repeatedly said that stability in Afghanistan is key to peace and stability in the region and beyond. Russia has consistently pursued a swift political settlement and national reconciliation in the country. We continue to believe that the Afghans themselves must resolve those issues. For us, what is essential is the restoration, development and prosperity of an independent Afghanistan that is free from the threats of terrorism and drugs. We pay particular attention to the issue of political inclusivity and respect for human rights, including those of women and girls.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9118 (2022) · source
“Against that backdrop, it is hypocritical for our Western colleagues to try to continue to conduct dialogue with the de facto authorities using the language of ultimatums and the sanctions mallet and threatening to use various other means of pressure, including limiting opportunities to effectively address pressing issues of peace and stability with the participation of those in the region. We also see attempts to manipulate humanitarian assistance and support by demanding that the new Afghan authorities first rectify the internal political situation and address the challenges. Fiery statements about the importance of resolving the question of human rights as a precondition for everything else do not hold water.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9118 (2022) · source
“Despite appeals from United Nations humanitarian agencies, human rights organizations and Afghans themselves, the United States continues to illegally retain the country’s foreign assets under various pretexts of human rights violations and the need to pay for the 9/11 attacks, which the Afghan people had nothing to do with. That irresponsible behaviour by the Western coalition and its attitude towards what is happening in Afghanistan are not surprising, considering how the former NATO military mission, the International Security Assistance Force, was formally reported to the Security Council and later replaced by the Resolute Support Mission.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9118 (2022) · source
“Many experts estimate that the current humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan might result in more deaths than resulted in 20 years of war. However, instead of acknowledging their mistakes, supporting the reconstruction of the country and paying reparations, the United States and its allies plan to solve the Afghan problem in the usual way. Using politically correct language, they simply blocked Afghan national financial resources and disconnected the banking system from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, pushing poor Afghans to the brink of survival and forcing many of them to sell their organs and their children to somehow make ends meet.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9118 (2022) · source
“Incidentally, no one was surprised by that level of cynicism because our American colleagues acted in the same way when it came to war crimes committed by the United States in Iraq. While sponsoring the corrupt Ghani regime, the United States held separate negotiations with the Taliban behind the back of the Afghan people. That led to the signing of a deal for the withdrawal of forces from the country. Ultimately, the people of Afghanistan, who our American colleagues have repeatedly told us they were there to protect, were abandoned to their fate and left alone to face devastation, poverty, terrorism, hunger and other challenges. The widespread humanitarian and economic crisis in the country is one of the most horrendous consequences of that military intervention.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9118 (2022) · source
“To our Western colleagues, who prefer, of late, to reduce any discussion about Afghanistan to the subject of human rights violations, we would like to recall the irresponsible actions of the American and NATO forces, which regularly carried out indiscriminate air strikes against ordinary Afghans — not to mention the night raids and extrajudicial killings of civilians, including women and children. Unfortunately, despite the reports of various independent non-governmental organizations about those monstrous military crimes to try to achieve justice and to hold accountable the guilty parties, investigations were never carried out due to the gross blackmail by Washington. Any efforts to that end by the International Criminal Court were roundly quashed by the United States under threat of sanctions.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9118 (2022) · source
“Against that backdrop, the country’s socioeconomic situation has remained dire. Incidentally, during the Soviet years more than 140 enterprises were built in the country, including industrial ones. They became the backbone of the economy and laid a solid foundation for the independent sustainable development of the country. In addition, schools were built, student exchanges were carried out and refresher courses were held. How many enterprises were built or restored during the 20 years of NATO’s presence in country? The answer is zero. On the contrary, billions in investments have lined the pockets of corrupt American puppets. Ultimately, the country has become dependent on external assistance without any prospects for independent development. Particular attention should be given to the protection of the civilian population.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9118 (2022) · source
“The foreign military contingents that were in the country, however, hypocritically continued to pretend that the drug problem did not exist, even though the flow of Afghan heroin at that time had already reached many Western European countries. Over these years, there has been no answer to the repeated questions in the Chamber about unidentified helicopters transporting ISIS fighters and their weapons to various parts of the country, including the north, under conditions of full control over the situation by coalition forces, as we were assured. On the contrary, during all these years we have constantly heard from Western colleagues about efforts to strengthen the combat-ready capacity of the Afghan National Security Forces, the effectiveness of their training and control over the security situation.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9118 (2022) · source
“The country literally turned into a breeding ground for terrorism and drugs before our very eyes, and the effective fight against those threats — as our Western colleagues claimed — is the reason that the United States and NATO retained their presence there for many years. All our calls to highlight the growing threat from ISIS and Afghanistan came up against the clear desire of Western colleagues to downplay its scope, or even sweep the topic under the rug. At the same time, the United States had many opportunities and time, including the material, military and technical means, to eliminate terrorists in Afghanistan.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9118 (2022) · source
“Together with the presence of Al-Qaida and its affiliated groups, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham (ISIS) emerged and firmly strengthened its influence in Afghanistan, which for all practical purposes was controlled by Americans and Western allies. We have been talking about this since 2017, but our Western partners have acknowledged it only recently. And yet the potential of ISIS fighters has been steadily increasing all this time, including thanks to financial support from abroad and the flow of foreign terrorist fighters with combat experience from fighting in other crises around the world. The increase in drug production over these years has also reached an unprecedented level.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9118 (2022) · source
“Over the past 12 months, we have all seen Washington hypocritically try to shift the responsibility for the failure of its 20-year war and the current deteriorating situation onto the current authorities. At the same time, as we recall, in trying to cast the United States in a positive light, President Joe Biden announced that it had achieved all its goals in Afghanistan. I should remind the Council that the Americans went into Afghanistan on a specific mission, to counter terrorism. In fact, their arrival only strengthened its status as a centre of terrorism and drug production and distribution.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9118 (2022) · source
“After 20 years of bloody war, the former President Ashraf Ghani shamefully fled Kabul, followed by many other Afghan actors. The Taliban’s return to power in the country was totally unexpected, including by those who had recently been talking up the level of combat effectiveness of the highly trained Afghan forces. Today’s meeting could provide a good opportunity to discuss the outcome and consequences of the ignominious 20-year campaign in Afghanistan, which cost the lives of the many thousands of ordinary Afghans and American soldiers, resulted in hundreds of thousands of injuries and cost $2 trillion that could have been spent on good causes. However, we harbour no illusions in that regard.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9118 (2022) · source
“Mr. Nebenzia (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank Mr. Martin Griffiths, Under- Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, for his assessment of the situation in Afghanistan. We listened closely to Deputy Special Representative Markus Potzel and Ms. Morgan Edwards, who worked in the country for many years in various areas and saw first-hand the years of intervention by the United States and NATO. Tomorrow will mark exactly one year since the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan. On 30 August 2021, the whole world saw the images of a United States Boeing aircraft leaving Kabul with panicked ordinary Afghans clinging to its landing gear. We all remember well that that was preceded by a major internal political change that ushered in a new phase.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9118 (2022) · source
“As compared to the previous reporting period, the number of donor- funded early-recovery projects has increased from 133 to 288. We would like to discuss that issue in detail in September. We also believe that it is important to have a substantive discussion on the situation of Syrian refugees. They have become a heavy burden for host countries, which are forced, among other things, to tolerate the presence on their territory of former White Helmets, who have been recognized as radicals even in the West and whose Western patrons in the United States and Canada, despite earlier assurances, have in the end refused to take them in because their involvement in terrorism is too obvious.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9117 (2022) · source
“We call on all sides to do their part to ensure that the efforts of the United Nations to establish stable humanitarian deliveries to Sarmada are not undermined. The United States representative today frightened us with the prospect of ending cross- border aid. I would like to say to him that, if our Western colleagues faithfully implement the agreements of the resolution on the extension of cross-border assistance, they need not worry about extending it. We have high hopes for the first round of informal interactive dialogue, to be held in September, and look forward to a frank and non-politicized discussion and substantive input from the United Nations. We noted with interest the update on early-recovery projects in the Secretary-General’s report.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9117 (2022) · source
“It means that, where there is good faith among the parties, supplying all regions of Syria through intra-Syrian routes is possible. That became fully evident after the closure of the Al-Yarubiyah border crossing, despite the tales we heard from our Western colleagues about the supposedly tragic consequences of such a step. Experience shows the opposite. We continue to look forward to tangible progress here in the coming six months. However, the information we are receiving that Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham fighters are once again threatening to not allow Syrian students to leave the Idlib de-escalation zone to continue their studies at universities in Government-controlled territory raises fears that the terrorists will obstruct humanitarian workers as well.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9117 (2022) · source
“It is clear that, without a radical solution to the urgent issue of sanctions against Damascus, we risk seeing, in the near future, the tragic consequences of the ill-conceived steps taken by Western States supposedly defending so-called liberal values. Against that background, the demonstrative humanitarian concessions for areas outside the control of Damascus and the ongoing looting by the United States of Syria’s agricultural and oil resources are even more shocking. We see that as an attempt to maintain the fragmentation of the country. As for cross-line humanitarian deliveries, we must agree with the Secretary-General on the importance of stepping up such efforts in the context of Idlib. After all, as stated in his report (S/2022/635), similar deliveries to Deir ez-Zor have continued over the past two years.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9117 (2022) · source
“There is no need to explain the importance of bread products in the diet of Arab countries. In that context, we would also like to draw attention to the report entitled Syrian Arab Republic: Access to Electricity and Humanitarian Needs, which also lists sanctions among the factors preventing the restoration of electricity in Syria. Given that resolution 2642 (2022) expanded the scope of recovery projects to include the provision of sustainable electricity to critical infrastructure, maintaining sanctions would undermine the Organization’s efforts to fulfil its humanitarian mandate. We believe that no one wants that.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9117 (2022) · source
“In that context, we would like to note the importance of the Astana format, which has proved its role as the most effective international mechanism for assisting in achieving long-term normalization in Syria. We expect to hold another meeting of the format in Nur-Sultan before the end of the year. As for the humanitarian dimension, we note that the United Nations is beginning to recognize the destructive effects of illegal Western sanctions on the development of the Syrian economy and stress the rapidly deteriorating food security of the country. I am referring to the latest joint report of the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme, entitled Hunger Hotspots. The United Nations information about this year’s record-low wheat harvest in Syria is alarming.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9117 (2022) · source
“Pedersen, during which we confirmed the need for continuing direct intra-Syrian dialogue, with the support of the United Nations and within the framework of resolution 2254 (2015). We are interested in progress on the Syrian peace process on the basis of the relevant Security Council resolutions and the decisions adopted at the 2018 Syrian National Dialogue Congress, held in Sochi. It is critical that the Constitutional Committee meet regularly and, most important, in optimal conditions. That is not a bilateral issue, as our American colleague suggested. We will continue to facilitate the work of the Constitutional Committee so that the Syrians themselves, without external interference, can reach agreement on constitutional reform.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9117 (2022) · source
“The most recent egregious incidents took place last week. The United States openly acknowledged that by issuing a letter to the Security Council to that effect. Such wrongful and irresponsible actions are a gross violation of the fundamental norms of international law and must be stopped. In addition, the threats to security in Syria and the entire region are related to the persistence of large pockets of terrorists that have taken refuge in territories outside the control of Damascus — in Idlib, Deir ez-Zor and Al-Tanf. Against that background, progress on the Syrian political track is especially needed now. In that context, we held extensive consultations in Moscow with Mr.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9117 (2022) · source
“Mr. Nebenzia (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank Mr. Geir Pedersen and Ms. Joyce Msuya for their overview of the political and humanitarian situation in Syria. We are convinced that long-term stability and security on Syrian soil can be established only through the full restoration of the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic and an end to the illegal foreign military presence. In that regard, we strongly condemn the ongoing air strikes carried out by the Israeli Air Force against various targets in Syria. This month alone, the Syrian port of Tartus has been subject to numerous Israeli strikes, which have resulted in the deaths of Syrian soldiers. The occupation of parts of Syria and United States strikes on its territory are other such violations.”
2022-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9117 (2022) · source
“For our part, we advocate for a just solution to the Palestinian question on the basis of a two-State solution and the universally recognized international legal framework providing for the creation of an independent Palestinian State along the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital. During direct negotiations between the parties, other final-status issues should also be settled, including on borders, refugees and water resources. In doing so, concerns about Israel’s security must be taken into account. We are taking consistent steps to support collective efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East and will continue to work with all interested parties in the region and in the Security Council.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“It has recently become clear that one of the factors hindering the achievement of a just peace for Palestinians is the actions of the United States, which seeks to monopolize the peace process and reformat it according to its desired mould. There have been obvious attempts to impose economic peace on the Palestinian people instead of meeting their legitimate aspirations to create their own independent State. Washington effectively blocked the activities of the Middle East Quartet of international mediators, whose most recent ministerial-level meeting level took place in 2016.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“Over the past month, the Israeli authorities have provisionally approved a plan to build 1,446 housing units in the settlement of Sur Baher in the southern part of the Jerusalem municipality. A decision was also made to expand the settlement of Mevo Horon in Ramallah governorate by 251 housing units. The annual report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict (S/2022/493) also expresses concern about the number of Palestinian children killed by the Israeli army. In 2021 alone, 78 minors were killed, 982 were injured and 637 were arrested. Western countries have turned a blind eye to the systematic violations of Palestinians’ rights over the course of the longest occupation in post-World War history, while giving excessive attention to individual regions and conflict situations — a clear indication of their double standards.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“It is becoming ever clearer that, in the context of the Palestinian question, which has gone unresolved for so long, and a lack of due attention from the international community, any provocation could lead to a new large-scale regional confrontation. A trigger for the resumption of violence could be the ongoing unilateral steps, taken primarily by Israel, to create an irreversible situation on the ground, such as the construction of settlements in the occupied territories; the eviction of Palestinians and the destruction of their homes; the expropriation of property; arbitrary arrests; a de facto carte blanche for the Israeli military to use force; and systematic violations of the status of the Holy Places of Jerusalem.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“In that regard, we welcomed the ceasefire agreement and call on all the parties concerned to exercise restraint and avoid taking unilateral steps or engaging in inflammatory rhetoric. They should also comply with international humanitarian law and not allow another escalation of hostilities. We note in particular the mediation efforts by Egypt and Qatar that ultimately led to the ceasefire. However, we are concerned about the possibility that if a scenario of this kind recurs, it could cause a full-scale military clash and further deterioration in the already dire situation in the Gaza Strip, whose residents need immediate humanitarian assistance, including with regard to rebuilding ruined infrastructure.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“Mr. Nebenzia (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank Special Coordinator Tor Wennesland and Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, for their briefings. We also listened with interest to the briefing by Mr. Levy. Today’s discussion of the situation in the Middle East comes three weeks after the escalation in Palestinian and Israeli clashes, which became an armed confrontation with casualties. Another uptick in tensions was provoked by Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip, in response to which firing began onto Israeli territory. It is very disheartening that these are far from being the first such outbreaks of violence.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source