YouSaid · the spoken record

Polyanskiy

lines on the record: 2,335
first: 2018-01-31
most recent: 2023-12-22
sittings or episodes: 300
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

“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We would like to thank you, Mr. President, for taking the initiative to observe a minute of silence before our meeting in memory of the victims of the earthquake in Haiti and the recent terrorist attack in Niger. We grieve together with our colleagues. We extend our condolences to our Nigerien friends. We welcome the participation of Ms. Claudia Blum de Barberi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Colombia. I take this opportunity to congratulate her on her appointment to that important position and express our hope that the topic of Colombia will be discussed in the Security Council only in a positive manner. We also thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Carlos Ruiz Massieu Aguirre for his presentation of the report of the Secretary-General (S/2019/988).”
2020-01-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8702 (2020) · source
“We welcome the successful conclusion of the second round of presidential elections in Guinea- Bissau. We hope that they will turn a new page in the history of the country, thereby making instability and political turbulence a thing of the past. In conclusion, we once again assure Mr. Chambas of Russia’s continued support for his personal efforts and the activities of his Office in addressing regional crises and issues involving political mediation, helping to improve State institutions and finding ways to foster economic development and counter extremism and terrorism. The scope and results of his work deserve the highest praise.”
2020-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8698 (2020) · source
“For our part, we are providing assistance to African States through bilateral channels. At the same time, it is clear that terrorism cannot be eradicated by military means alone. It is necessary to effectively counter the expansion of extremist ideology, begin addressing acute socioeconomic problems and strengthen State institutions and foster a culture of respect for human rights. In that regard, we attach great importance to the implementation of the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel, as well as the activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel. We hope that the parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled for 2020 in many countries of the region will take place in an environment of law and order.”
2020-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8698 (2020) · source
“As many stakeholders of the region have pointed out, it will hardly be possible to achieve peace and stability in the Sahel without stabilizing the situation in that country. Eradicating terrorism is one of the top priorities for African countries. In that regard, the efforts of States of the region to counter increasing threats are extremely timely. They are particularly important at a time when terrorist groups are, increasingly, actively coordinating their actions. We support the pledges made by the States members of the Economic Community of West African States at the recent summits in Niamey and Abuja to raise funds to combat jihadists. We share the view that the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel and the Multinational Joint Task Force established to counter Boko Haram require additional international support.”
2020-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8698 (2020) · source
“Who is to blame for these unfortunate developments? As we can see from today’s discussion, opinions differ with regard to that question. Naturally, we do not dispute the fact that the region faces fundamental problems, such as weak State governance, intercommunal and interethnic tensions, inadequate protection of human rights and climate change. They all need to be addressed. However, were we to look back not just one or two years, but over recent decades, it is clear that those phenomena are hardly new and that, overall, the local authorities have been able to mitigate them. We are convinced that the real trigger that set off the current unprecedented crisis was the reckless actions of those who unleashed chaos in Libya through the use of military force to overthrow the legitimate authorities there.”
2020-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8698 (2020) · source
“We are especially concerned that, in the Sahel, the geographical area of terrorist activity, drug trafficking and organized crime is expanding. Extremist ideology is, regrettably, winning over an increasing number of adherents. Almost weekly, we receive tragic reports about the deaths of dozens of military personnel and civilians at the hands of criminal gangs in various countries of the region. During the latest reporting period, Mali, Burkina Faso and the Niger were especially negatively affected. We reaffirm our full support for those countries in the fight against terrorism and express our condolences with regard to the latest terrorist attacks, in particular in the Niger. At the same time, it is important to remember that the States of the Gulf of Guinea are also at risk of destabilization.”
2020-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8698 (2020) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We are pleased to see you in the President’s seat, Sir, and we wish your country a successful presidency of the Security Council for the month of January. We also welcome all the colleagues who have joined us in the new year. We welcome their participation and stand ready to cooperate closely and constructively with them. We also thank our American colleagues, whose presidency in December was very successful and effective. I also would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, for his briefing. We share the concerns voiced by Mr. Chambas with regard to the further deterioration of the security situation in that part of the continent.”
2020-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8698 (2020) · source
“We believe that once the people of South Sudan have been able to reach agreement on the whole gamut of issues, we will need to review the sanctions regime with the aim of adapting it to the realities on the ground.”
2019-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8689 (2019) · source
“We were pleased with the news that the South Sudanese authorities have earmarked $40 million for the continued implementation of projects under the Revitalized Agreement, in particular for the establishment of a united armed force, which again emphasizes that the parties want to reach an agreement. In the context of advancing a settlement in South Sudan, we urge against going overboard on pressuring the country with sanctions, and especially unilateral restrictions. The encouraging indicators we are seeing now have been made possible largely thanks to the contribution of regional mediators. Not to mention that at one stage it was arms-embargo activity that was preventing regional security initiatives in support of the settlement process from being implemented.”
2019-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8689 (2019) · source
“We hope that the South Sudanese parties will take the necessary steps to resolve the outstanding issues on the agenda. As far as the non-signatories to the Revitalized Agreement are concerned, we urge them to join the concerted process of building the State without delay. We believe it is important that regional players take the lead in supporting the South Sudanese peace process, and in that connection we welcome the efforts of the African Union, IGAD, the Sudan, South Africa and Uganda. They must maintain a united approach that will enable them to act in the spirit of the principle of African solutions to African problems. In our view, only the full and comprehensive compliance of all the parties with the obligations they have undertaken can improve their mutual trust and ensure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated.”
2019-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8689 (2019) · source
“All of that is creating a positive trend in the return of South Sudanese refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes, which we believe is linked to the implementation of confidence-building measures and to contacts among the warring parties on the ground. But of course the main achievement - and here we concur with the Secretary-General's opinion - is that the parties are complying with the provisions of the ceasefire. We call on the South Sudanese to adhere strictly to those agreements. We understand that the decision to extend the pre-transition period is through force of circumstance and certainly not a reflection of the aspirations of the South Sudanese and their neighbours. We have taken note of the position of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which welcomed the measure.”
2019-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8689 (2019) · source
“We would especially like to draw attention to the fact that just a few hours ago President Kiir announced that an agreement in principle had been reached on forming the Cabinet. We await further details and hope the agreement will be implemented as soon as possible. We feel compelled to point to a number of things that give us grounds for a certain degree of optimism. The Secretary-General's report (S/2019/936) notes a drop in the level of armed violence and in the number of intercommunal clashes. In tandem with the improved security situation, humanitarian access has improved as well, and the number of human rights violations has noticeably decreased.”
2019-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8689 (2019) · source
“However, we urge against overdramatizing the situation or writing off the efforts that have been made in that regard. We have observed some progress in the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, and it is important that the parties demonstrate their willingness to engage in dialogue and overcome differences by seeking compromise solutions. In that connection, we have noted the meetings between Salva Kiir and Rick Machar, which we have consistently called for and which have now become regular. We are sure that such contact is indispensable and can help generate the necessary momentum for South Sudan's reconciliation process.”
2019-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8689 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank today's briefers, Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mr. David Shearer and the Ambassador of Poland, Ms. Wronecka, for theirinformation. I also want to thank the Ambassador for her confident and professional stewardship of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2206 (2015) concerning South Sudan for the past two years. The people ofSouth Sudan are indeed living through a watershed moment in their history, and our task is to help them deal with the challenges facing their young nation. Like all ofour colleagues, we are unquestionably disappointed that it has not been possible to form the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity by the previously agreed deadline of 12 November.”
2019-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8689 (2019) · source
“The destabilization ofthe situation in one country can bring down its neighbours' security too, and it is therefore extremely important not to cross the line between prevention and interference in internal affairs.”
2019-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8679 (2019) · source
“The issue of the country's English-speaking provinces has deep historical roots, and the only way to reach a solution to such accumulated problems is at the negotiating table, while respecting human rights and ensuring the rule of law. We urge all the parties in Cameroon to show maximum restraint and refrain from the use of any form of violence. In that connection, we welcome the national dialogue that took place from 30 September to 4 October and hope that the recommendations based on its outcome will be put into practice as soon as possible. In conclusion, we would like to remind the Council that the challenges and threats facing Central Africa are inextricably linked to one another and the States of the region themselves are interdependent.”
2019-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8679 (2019) · source
“Russia has had a positive experience of participating in the international efforts to combat piracy in the north-western Indian Ocean in the framework ofthe Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia. We hope it can be useful for resolving similar issues in the Gulf of Guinea. We are concerned about the ongoing activities of the Lord's Resistance Army, which is still engaging in illicit looting and robbery in various parts of the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan, and combating it should remain a priority for the States of the Central African region. We hope that the concept developed under the auspices of the African Union and ECCAS for eliminating this threat will get results. We are also closely following the development of the situation in Cameroon.”
2019-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8679 (2019) · source
“We support President Touadera's efforts to reform the security sector and enhance the capacity of the armed forces as soon as possible. The Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic, signed on 6 February, is an important foundation for the continuing resolution of the situation in the country. Russia will continue its full support to the national reconciliation process by coordinating efforts with all involved in the quest for ways to normalize the situation. One of the other factors in the instability in the Central African region is piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. Unfortunately, the criminal raids on foreign vessels, including hostage-taking, continue.”
2019-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8679 (2019) · source
“The significant influx of foreign terrorists into Boko Haram, including militants from the Islamic State, is seriously worrying. We believe that regional efforts to develop coordinated approaches to the fight against any manifestations of terrorism are extremely important, and the activities of the Multinational Joint Task Force are a good example of that. It is crucial to ensure its adequate financing. For our part, we are ready to continue working in various formats in the interests of eliminating the terrorist threat on the African continent. We are focusing in particular on identifying sources of financing for local terrorists and their contacts with other international radical groups. We are closely monitoring the developing situation in the Central African Republic.”
2019-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8679 (2019) · source
“We welcome the focus of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) on achieving the institutional reform that it needs to strengthen the capacity of an organization that is so important to the subregion. Central Africa plays a key role in countering the spread of terrorism on the African continent. The penetration by radical and terrorist elements of the subregion has been accompanied by illegal trafficking in weapons, drugs and mineral and other natural resources. We were troubled by the information that Boko Haram still has military capacities and is capable of conducting major attacks, and that its activity in Chad and Cameroon is not decreasing. Extremists are attacking civilians, United Nations and non-governmental organization personnel, and military checkpoints.”
2019-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8679 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I would like to thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Francois Lounceny Fall for his briefing on the situation in the Central African region. We also listened carefully to Mr. Sasha Lezhnev's briefing. Russia has consistently supported the activities of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa as an important tool for implementing preventive diplomacy. The challenges facing the countries of the subregion are unquestionably complex, and in that regard it is crucial for regional actors to be at the forefront in matters of crisis prevention and conflict resolution.”
2019-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8679 (2019) · source
“That is of course his choice, and apparently a conscious one, but I ask him to keep in mind that every reckless statement like this merely prolongs the suffering of the residents of Idlib and other areas. It represents yet another missed opportunity for ensuring a fair trial for the people who do not want peace in Syria, and it makes ordinary Syrians' lives a living hell. His rhetoric helps to legitimize them and protect them from the punishment they deserve, the necessity for which he theoretically - I repeat, theoretically - never ceases to insist on.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8674 (2019) · source
“I would nevertheless recommend that he familiarize himself with the bulletins that Russia's Ministry of Defence puts out regularly, from which he would see how we deliver and ensure access to humanitarian aid for those in need. And I can assure him that we do a great deal of that. On top of that, I conclude that despite my warning about the need for a cautious attitude to information sources on what is going on in Syria, our colleague the representative of Germany has apparently signed on as a volunteer in the army of people spreading unverified information about the actions of Russia and the legitimate Government of Syria, while forgetting to find out if that information has been refuted. And, apparently, he is not planning to resign his commission.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8674 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I have asked for the floor to respond to the remarks made by our German colleague. It seems that he did not listen very carefully to my statement, because I did mention international humanitarian law, for example. Besides that, his attention to the topic of the statement was also lacking, because the fact is that we are discussing the political settlement of the situation in Syria, not the humanitarian situation there, which is a separate subject. If it had been, I would of course have paid greater attention to the humanitarian situation, which was what he wanted to talk about, as I understand it.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8674 (2019) · source
“And we will not cease pointing to the dire situation in the Al-Hol camp. We urge all who care about Syria's humanitarian welfare to join the efforts in that regard and to provide all Syrians with humanitarian assistance without discrimination, politicization or preconditions. That includes not only post-conflict reconstruction projects but also lifting unilateral sanctions in the interests of normalizing the life of the Syrian people.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8674 (2019) · source
“Unfortunately, the sources for the latest of these reports are regularly manipulating the information in them, and we therefore have no confidence in them, especially since there have been no active military hostilities or large-scale operations in Idlib recently, and there are none right now. We urge all of our colleagues to be very cautious before presenting such information as the truth. Otherwise they will essentially become participants in an information war fighting on the side of the terrorists. With the assistance of the Russian Centre for the Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in the Syrian Arab Republic, together with the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic and the United Nations, efforts continue to resettle Rukban camp. We hope that the problem of refugees and internally displaced persons there will be resolved soon.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8674 (2019) · source
“We therefore warn against attempts to pass off these jihadists as the so-called moderate opposition or local administration. I want to point out that some of our colleagues are still relying on unverified or extremely dubious information sources in analyzing reports claiming attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. We join others in urging for compliance with international humanitarian law. We and our Syrian partners are doing all we can to protect the civilian population, whom the terrorists are using as human shields. However, we have often felt certain that a great many reports of these sorts of strikes are in fact fake.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8674 (2019) · source
“Militants are terrorizing the local population, using civilian infrastructure for military purposes and sheltering behind civilians, preventing them from leaving Idlib. Terrorists from Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham regularly fire on neighbouring settlements using modern weapons. About 600 such attacks were recorded in October, and there have been more than 28 such incidents in just the past 24 hours. There are reports of executions, detentions and violent dispersals of demonstrations by ordinary people against the terrorist authorities in Idlib. Under-Secretary-General Mark Lowcock spoke about the situation in the besieged town of Kafr Takharim at a recent Security Council meeting (see S/PV.8664). I will say it once again. While the opposition is conducting negotiations in Geneva, terrorists are fighting in Syria.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8674 (2019) · source
“Except that now they are accompanied by open declarations about the existence of their real motive, which is the desire to cash in on the illegal extraction and smuggling of Syrian oil. We would like to point out that the participants in the work of the Constitutional Committee include representatives of the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic, civil society and the Syrian opposition, including those that control armed groups. In this way everyone with a genuine interest in the process of determining Syria's political future has come together in this peace process. And yet outright bandits and terrorists continue to threaten Syrian society. Most of Idlib is therefore controlled by militants from Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, a group that the Security Council has designated as a terrorist organization.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8674 (2019) · source
“The efforts undertaken have enabled the prevention of a large-scale armed confrontation and civilian casualties. We have long emphasized that resolving the issue of the aspirations of the Kurds, who are an integral part of Syria's multi-ethnic society, will be impossible as long as the Syrian Government cannot regain control of its entire national territory and borders. We are ready to continue to assist the Syrian authorities and the Kurds in establishing a broad dialogue on their most pressing issues. At the same time, we are trying to correct the harm done throughout Syrian society by those who at one time or another have attempted to take advantage of the Arab-Kurdish disputes beyond the Euphrates. Unfortunately, those attempts are still continuing.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8674 (2019) · source
“Today's positive turn for the better in the work of reaching a political settlement creates the conditions necessary for concrete steps to be taken towards the provision of comprehensive humanitarian assistance in Syria's post-conflict reconstruction. It is a pity that as we just heard, our colleagues from the United States are still unwilling to abandon their stereotypes andjoin that process. The most worrisome humanitarian and military situation is still in areas that the Syrian Government does not control east of the Euphrates River, in the Idlib de-escalation zone and in the area occupied by the United States around Al-Tanf. Thanks to Russia and Turkey's signing on 22 October in Sochi of a memorandum of understanding, the situation in north- eastern Syria has been brought under control.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8674 (2019) · source
“We believe it is also important to remember the key principle of the work in the Constitutional Committee, enshrined in resolution 2254 (2015), which stipulates that it should promote the advancement of the political process, led and implemented by the Syrians themselves. We urge all our colleagues to adhere to that principle. As the guarantor nations of the Astana process, Russia, Turkey and Iran are ready to continue to assist the Syrian parties and the Special Envoy in the quest for a political solution to the Syrian conflict. At the same time, all of the Astana countries' actions will be based on strict respect for the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8674 (2019) · source
“We are pleased by the initial outcomes of this process, which is aimed at shaping Syria's future. We hope that the next stage of negotiations, which begins next week, will be held in a constructive atmosphere, and we wish the Syrians and Mr. Pedersen every success. We agree with the Special Envoy that this is only the beginning of a long and difficult journey. We therefore believe it is essential to approach the intra-Syrian dialogue cautiously. Any attempts to interfere with its work and impose decisions on the Syrians that are incompatible with their national interests are unacceptable, as is the imposition of artificial time frames or demands for concessions that apply to only one of the parties involved.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8674 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank Mr. Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, for his briefing, as well as his dedicated efforts to establish an intra-Syrian dialogue. We also listened with interest to Ms. Sabah Al Hallak. As Mr. Pedersen hasjust informed us, the first round of intra-Syrian negotiations within the framework of the Constitutional Committee took place on 30 October in Geneva. Its establishment and the start of its work, with the decisive assistance of the Astana format, was unquestionably an achievement for the Syrian people. I recall the Council that the idea of establishing a Constitutional Committee was adopted in 2018 in Sochi by representatives from every stratum of Syrian society participating in the Syrian National Dialogue Congress.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8674 (2019) · source
“We would like to believe that in practice all States parties to the Convention, without exception, will be able to confirm their desire to support the integrity of the Convention, improve the overall situation in the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and restore its true purpose as a strictly specialized and depoliticized international entity.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8673 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): The Russian Federation joined the consensus on presidential statement S/PRST/2019/14 primarily because of our serious concerns about the numerous incidents involving terrorist and extremist groups' use of chemical weapons in the Middle East, including for the purposes of provocation. We urge Council members to view this consensus as an invitation to solve problems in a non-confrontational manner and in strict compliance with the international legal provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8673 (2019) · source
“There is an urgent need for joint efforts to improve the atmosphere, which will enable the Special Envoy to focus on the work of settling conflicts.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8672 (2019) · source
“The sooner all the parties in Yemen unite their efforts to counter the threat of terrorism, the less likely it is that the radicals will be able to maintain their positions. In conclusion, I would like to remind the Council of resolution 598 (1987), which directed the Secretary- General, in concert with the States of the region, to develop an architecture for security and trust in the region. In that context, Russia's well-known concept of collective security in the Gulf region, which is specifically aimed at resolving conflict situations and developing control and confidence-building measures, is becoming increasingly relevant. We once again call on all interested parties to study that document and join the collective quest for mutually acceptable solutions to the problems in the region.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8672 (2019) · source
“The provision of humanitarian assistance to Yemen should be one of our priorities. I want to stress that humanitarian assistance to Yemen from abroad must be distributed on a non-discriminatory basis among the entire population throughout the country, regardless of who controls which territory. We stand behind unconditional compliance with the provisions of international humanitarian law and ensuring unimpeded access for humanitarian aid to all parts of the country. We have been compelled to conclude that the armed confrontation in Yemen contributes to further strengthening the positions of terrorist groups there. Based on our experience in Syria, we know that the fight against militants has to happen now. It cannot be put off till later.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8672 (2019) · source
“We are continuing our assistance, including through our contacts with all of the country's political stakeholders and interested parties, encouraging them to adopt a constructive approach and reject military solutions. It is still possible to make progress in Al-Hudaydah and with the comprehensive Yemeni settlement that the Special Envoy has been working on. The international community must continue its collective efforts to shift the conflict onto a political track and provide the necessary aid to the millions of Yemenis in dire need of various kinds of assistance, who are starving or unable to access essential health services and medicines. We urge all the parties to work for a comprehensive de-escalation, which will make it possible to address Yemen's humanitarian catastrophe, whose scale Ms. Mueller talked about today, in earnest.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8672 (2019) · source
“We hope that the Yemeni parties' ability to reach agreement and find common denominators will help them to reach a political settlement to this protracted political and military conflict as soon as possible. In that regard, we support Mr. Griffiths in his mediation efforts to convince the parties to the conflict of the futility of any military solution and of the importance of achieving a comprehensive ceasefire and developing confidence-building measures. Since the very beginning of the conflict Russia has advocated solely for a political and diplomatic solution through inclusive dialogue among all Yemeni forces, without exception.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8672 (2019) · source
“In the light of that, we view the signing in Riyadh on 5 November of an agreement between the internationally recognized Yemeni Government and the Southern Transitional Council as an important step towards uniting Yemeni society and a positive example of how to arrive at desperately needed mutually acceptable solutions and compromises, given the current realities on the ground. We would particularly like to highlight the mediation role played by Saudi Arabia, which has contributed significantly to the achievement of these agreements, and which also took on the role of monitoring their practical implementation. We also note the United Arab Emirates' constructive approach to the process.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8672 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank Mr. Martin Griffiths, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, and Ms. Ursula Mueller, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, for their comprehensive overview of the political and humanitarian situation in Yemen. As we have heard from today's briefers, the situation in Yemen is extremely worrying, especially on the humanitarian front. Despite the efforts both through the United Nations and bilaterally by Member States, the implementation of the Stockholm Agreement has stalled.”
2019-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8672 (2019) · source
“It is essential to work to effectively counter the expansion of extremist ideology, solve acute socioeconomic problems, strengthen State institutions and foster a culture of respect for human rights. In that regard, we support the decision adopted in Niamey at the Extraordinary Summit of the Economic Community ofWest African States to allocate $1 billion towards those goals. In conclusion, I would like to stress that Russia is closely following the development of the situation in the region. We are already providing a number of countries with relevant military and technical assistance and training for military and police personnel. In general, we hope that the armed forces of the States of the Group of Five for the Sahel will become an effective tool for restoring and maintaining peace in West Africa in the near future.”
2019-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8670 (2019) · source
“Of course, the full operationalization of the Joint Force depends on ensuring that it receives stable and predictable funding. We have seen that the funds pledged by foreign donors are gradually reaching the region. However, far from all of the commitments in that regard have been fulfilled. We support the help that the Joint Force is getting from the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali and through the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. We believe firmly in the importance of further coordinated steps on the part both of Africans and the international community to combat terrorism in the Sahel-Saharan region. It is clear that military measures alone cannot eradicate this evil.”
2019-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8670 (2019) · source
“We are pleased with the information on the four Joint Force operations carried out in all its areas of responsibility during the reporting period. We are receiving reports on the success of the Sahel units' latest counter-terrorism operation, which ended on 17 November. We welcome the agreement on the legal status of the presence of the Joint Forces on the territory of member States of the Group of Five and the protocol on cooperation in the area of intelligence. Needless to say, there is still a great deal to be done. It is particularly worrying that the issue of selecting a permanent location for the Joint Force's headquarters has not yet been resolved. It will be vital to ramp up the provision of technical and other equipment for its units and the level of training of its military personnel as quickly as possible.”
2019-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8670 (2019) · source
“As the report of the Secretary- General notes (S/2019/868), the threat is now looming over the States along the Gulf of Guinea as well. The roots of these problems are well known. In the Sahel, we are reaping the fruit of the collapse of statehood in Libya that resulted from a violent foreign intervention. We believe that if the situation in that country is not normalized - and many of our interlocutors talked to us about this during the recent Council mission to Mali and Burkina Faso - it will be virtually impossible to stabilize the region sustainably. We support the efforts of the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5) to combat terrorism and organized crime. It appears that they have already become an important part of achieving regional stability in a relatively short period of time.”
2019-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8670 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We welcome the presence at today's meeting of Mr. Alpha Barry, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Burkina Faso, and we thank Ms. Bintou Keita, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, and the other briefers for their reports. We concur with today's alarming assessments of the situation in the Sahel. The security threats in that part of Africa have reached an unprecedented level. The geographic area for terrorist activity, drug trafficking and organized crime is expanding, and extremist ideology continues to win over new recruits. Sadly, there are tragic reports almost every week of the deaths of dozens of servicemen or civilians in one country or another in the region at the hands of underground groups.”
2019-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8670 (2019) · source
“The situation demands concerted efforts on the part of responsible members of the international community. The Secretary-General was instructed to work on that issue under resolution 598 (1987). The need to develop a sustainable mechanism for collective security in the region through dialogue on an equal footing is becoming ever more urgent. Russia's initiative in that regard is aimed both at unblocking conflict situations and developing measures for confidence and control.”
2019-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8669 (2019) · source
“We also believe that the support that has been shown to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is extremely important. UNRWA's activity has a political dimension as well as a humanitarian one, and an important stabilizing effect in the Palestinian territories and the countries of the Middle East. Israel and Palestine have major religious significance for hundreds of thousands of adherents of the monotheistic religions, and the swift establishment of a lasting peace in those lands is in the interests of every Christian, Muslim and Jew. In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that the unresolved problem of Palestine, together with the years ofinstability in the region as a whole, is building up the potential there for protests and radicalism in general.”
2019-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8669 (2019) · source