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

“In that regard, we welcome the steps taken based on the approach of the country configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission to support the implementation of Bujumbura's 2018-2027 national development plan. In our view, further progress in that direction could help to restore economic assistance to Burundi in full accord with the calls made at the African Union Summits in Nouakchott in July 2018 and in Addis Ababa in February of this year, especially given that our African colleagues consider the measures taken to exert economic influence on Bujumbura to be equivalent to sanctions. In general, we continue to believe that the Security Council's continued intense focus on Burundi is counterproductive and that it is high time it was taken off the Council's already overburdened agenda.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8652 (2019) · source
“We are pleased that the Burundian Government has taken steps to establish a dialogue with the opposition, and in that regard we welcome the meetings held in Nairobi and Bujumbura with representatives of the exiled opposition platform, the Conseil national pour le respect de l'Accord d'Arusha pour la paix et la reconciliation au Burundi et la restauration de l'etat de droit. We once again call for respect for Burundi's sovereignty. The Russian Federation is categorically opposed to interference in its domestic affairs and especially in the context of elections. It is our belief that what the Government of Burundi needs most right now is support for its efforts on the socioeconomic front.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8652 (2019) · source
“With respect to the incidents of violence detailed in the report, I would like to point out that in the interests of a more object portrayal of the situation, it would be appropriate to cite and consider the relevant statistics in the context of the situation rather than describing individual violations of human rights, an approach that would make the current trends seem less gloomy. The primary reason for the dispute between Burundi's political forces long ago ceased to be an issue with President Nkurunziza's repeated announcements that he will not stand as a candidate in the forthcoming elections, while the ruling party, the Conseil national pour la defense de la democratie-Forces pour la defense de la democratie, intends to announce its candidate early in 2020.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8652 (2019) · source
“The electoral timetable has been agreed on and is being respected, funds for the elections have been allocated from the national budget and the list of political parties registered to participate is growing. We welcomed the August and September meetings held by Burundi's First Vice-President and Minister of the Interior with political-party and regional leaders on the preparation for the elections. We were especially pleased with the participation in the meetings of representatives of opposition parties, including the Congres national pour la liberte'. We also think that the public awareness campaign being conducted by the Chair of the Independent National Electoral Commission is helpful, and we urge Burundi's leadership to continue such efforts.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8652 (2019) · source
“In future we urge the Secretariat to adhere firmly to the Council's resolutions and not to permit this type of extravagance. Turning to the substance of the report, we were pleased that the security situation in Burundi has essentially remained unchanged since the holding of the informal interactive dialogue on Burundi at the end of August. The situation has continued relatively calm and is showing signs of stabilizing. The voluntary return of refugees continues. In that regard, we welcomed the signing in August of an intergovernmental agreement with Tanzania on repatriating Burundian citizens from there. We note that the Burundian authorities are continuing to take steps to prepare for the country's central political event, the forthcoming presidential, parliamentary and regional elections to be held in May 2020.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8652 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (The Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We would like to thank Mr. Michel Kafando, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, and Mr. Jiirg Lauber, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations and Chair of the Burundi configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission, for their detailed briefings. I want to begin with a few words about the report of the Secretary-General (S/2019/837) presented to the meeting today. I have to admit that we were stunned at the conspicuous speed with which it was prepared. The Secretariat's willingness to incur extra costs is particularly striking in the light of the current financial difficulties of the United Nations, which the Secretary- General has been anxiously pointing out to us.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8652 (2019) · source
“We hope that the discussions that took place will help all the parties implement the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan. In conclusion, I would like to stress that one of the priorities of Russia's foreign policy is developing relations with African countries and their regional organizations. Our positions on many regional and global issues are close or fully coincide. This was convincingly demonstrated during last week's first- ever Russia-Africa Summit, held in Sochi. We are firmly focused on implementing the outcomes of the summit, including with regard to creating a permanent mechanism for partnership through dialogue and partnership and the intensification of mutually beneficial cooperation with African States and regional organizations, for which we hope to have their support.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8650 (2019) · source
“We have noted the significant focus in the Secretary-General's report on the Silencing the Guns by 2020 initiative, which we fully support, and we welcome the decision of the African Union Assembly to proclaim 2020 the year of that African initiative. We see serious potential in expanding the cooperation between the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council. The annual meeting of the two Councils, the most recent of which was held in Addis Ababa last week, represents a good opportunity for them to synchronize watches, so to speak, and harmonize their agendas. I want to take this opportunity to thank the African Union for its warm hospitality. We also appreciated the value of the visit to Juba organized on the eve of the meeting in the Ethiopian capital.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8650 (2019) · source
“We believe that in most instances it is regional actors that are best informed about situations in their areas ofresponsibility. At the same time, in the light of the role played by the Security Council in the maintenance of international peace and security, we do not think that the Council can remove itself from the work of resolving problems in that area on the African continent. We understand our African partners' concerns about the provision of resources for African peace-support operations. It will be important to further enhance predictability, reliability and flexibility in financing African operations and joint missions. We are ready to continue to engage in constructive dialogue in drafting Security Council resolutions on African peacekeeping.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8650 (2019) · source
“There is no question that the challenges facing Africa and the international community as a whole require that we pool our efforts and harness the comparative advantages of regional organizations. We welcome the visible intensification of the African stakeholders' initiatives in this area, including through the creation of the African Peace and Security Architecture. We believe that an approach that emphasizes African solutions to African problems is an effective way to overcome security challenges. We believe that cooperation between the United Nations and African regional organizations should be based on the provisions of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. It is important to ensure that for each concrete case we develop a solution for settling the crisis that is tailored to local specifics.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8650 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank Ms. Hanna Tetteh, Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union, and Ms. Fatima Mohammed, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations, for their detailed briefings. We have thoroughly studied the latest report of the Secretary-General, issued in September, on cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union and the activities of the United Nations Office to the African Union (S/2019/759). We fully support the report's declared intention to further strengthen the organizations' strategic partnership on questions of peace and security in Africa.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8650 (2019) · source
“We believe that lasting solutions to these problems can only be found independently, with the support of the ICGLR and other regional mechanisms, in accordance with the maxim "African solutions to African problems".”
2019-10-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8630 (2019) · source
“We welcome the measures taken in the framework of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) to harmonize national strategies for repatriating and integrating refugees and address the root causes of the issue. Such efforts show that the regional players are part of the collective quest for responses to the challenges facing the Great Lakes region. We hope that the remaining disagreements between the leaders of individual countries in the region will not affect their commitment to the principles enshrined in the Framework. We call on the relevant States to resolve their differences and continue to cooperate on key issues that affect the stability and security of the entire region.”
2019-10-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8630 (2019) · source
“We call for taking advantage of the positive changes in the region to further expand the efforts to eliminate militants and encourage the processes for their disarmament, demobilization and reintegration into peaceful life. It will be particularly important to resolve the problem of the Allied Democratic Forces. We share the Secretary-General's concern about the difficult humanitarian situation in the Great Lakes region. At the same time, we note some positive developments in resolving the refugee problem. We particularly want to highlight the ongoing repatriation of Burundian refugees from neighbouring countries in connection with the stabilization of the situation in their homeland.”
2019-10-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8630 (2019) · source
“We noted the important memorandum of understanding between the Presidents of Rwanda and Uganda signed in Luanda in August, and the first meeting of representatives of the security services of States in the region, held in Kinshasa in June with the participation of the Office of the Special Envoy. We remain seriously concerned about the situation in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where a difficult political and military situation persists and attacks by illegal armed groups, intercommunal clashes and the Ebola epidemic continue. Against that backdrop, we welcome the results achieved by the Congolese armed forces, together with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the fight against several groups.”
2019-10-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8630 (2019) · source
“We are confident that the full implementation of the Framework's provisions will have a positive impact on the overall security situation in the Great Lakes region. The situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains a crucial factor in ensuring security in the region. We are currently witnessing important changes in the life of this major Central African State that have already had an impact on the region as a whole. We welcome President Felix Tshisekedi's efforts to achieve political stability, including by establishing constructive relations with his neighbours. We were pleased to note the summits held in May and August in Kinshasa and Luanda with leaders of States in the region, as well as the decisions taken there on strengthening security in the Great Lakes region.”
2019-10-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8630 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I would first like to thank the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region, Mr. Huang Xia, for his comprehensive briefing and for his presentation of the report of the Secretary-General (S/2019/783) for the first time. It is our view that the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region continues to serve as a cornerstone of regional stability. We support the unconditional implementation by all signatories of their commitments, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in internal affairs, the strengthening of confidence-building measures and the development of regional cooperation and economic integration.”
2019-10-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8630 (2019) · source
“By that time, the United Nations country team will have all the tools it needs not only to promote development in Guinea-Bissau, but also to help the country address challenges, such as drug trafficking, corruption and ensuring the proper functioning of State institutions. In conclusion, let me welcome the newly appointed Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Guinea-Bissau, Ms. Sori-Coulibaly, and assure her that we stand ready to work constructively with the entire United Nations team to resolve the outstanding issues in this West African State. I now resume my functions as President of the Security Council. I give the floor to the representative of Guinea- Bissau.”
2019-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8614 (2019) · source
“At this pivotal moment, we call on all public and political forces to behave responsibly, uphold national interests and seek to settle their disputes as soon as possible. We are convinced that, at some stage, the issue of lifting Guinea-Bissau sanctions should come up for discussion in the Security Council, as they have been obsolete for some time now. The current situation bears no resemblance to the events of 2012. We respect the decision of the military to stay out of politics. We continue to believe that the issue of restructuring the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau should be addressed in as judicious a manner as possible. We support the gradual drawdown of its work, but not before the end of 2020, in line with resolution 2458 (2019).”
2019-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8614 (2019) · source
“The portfolio distribution process took a long time. However, we believe that there is nothing surprising or extraordinary about that, as it is part of the normal democratic process we have seen in many other countries. Furthermore, all those problems have now been resolved. As has been noted today, the country is approaching a new important milestone. Presidential elections are scheduled to take place on 24 November. As we see it, if the elections are successful, it could be a turning point in the history of modern Guinea-Bissau. The country will finally turn the page of lasting political turbulence and create the conditions for making steady progress towards socioeconomic development.”
2019-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8614 (2019) · source
“I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of the Russian Federation. We thank Assistant Secretary-General Bintou Keita and the Chair of the Guinea-Bissau configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission, Mauro Vieira, for the information they shared. We welcome the positive dynamic of developments in Guinea-Bissau. We are pleased to see that, early this year, the authorities and main political forces of the country were able to overcome their differences and successfully hold parliamentary elections in March. We also note the role played by the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau in preparing for the elections. It is no secret that the post-election period, when the new Parliament and Government were being formed, was marked by several challenges.”
2019-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8614 (2019) · source
“I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2019/664, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on developments in Guinea-Bissau and the activities of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau, and document S/2019/696, which contains the report of the Secretary- General on the progress made with regard to the stabilization and restoration of constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau. I now give the floor to Ms. Keita.”
2019-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8614 (2019) · source
“In accordance with rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of Guinea-Bissau to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Ms. Bintou Keita, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and the Department of Peace Operations, and His Excellency Mr. Mauro Vieira, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations, in his capacity as Chair of the Guinea- Bissau configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda.”
2019-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8614 (2019) · source
“There is already an agreed consensus in support of a new peaceful Syria that is owned by the Syrian people and not by Western puppets and mercenaries. Terrorists and those who support them no longer have the advantage. It is not possible to save them. The sooner that is understood, the quicker we will achieve peace in Syria and the more lives we will be able to save. The Council should not forget this enormous responsibility to history and future generations that rests with it today.”
2019-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8609 (2019) · source
“As soon as the Syrian forces gain some advantage on the ground and begin to force terrorists out, our Western colleagues increase their cries and calls for an end to military activity. It seems they have forgotten our common decision to uncompromisingly fight terrorists. As we have heard today, those terrorists become "innocent babies" and there appear schools and hospitals that have supposedly been bombed by Russia but in fact either did not exist or were not targeted. We refute all that, but nobody listens to us. It seems that the objective is not to establish the truth but rather to reverse any move by Syria towards peace under its elected President and legitimate Government. I wish to disappoint some members. That process is irreversible.”
2019-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8609 (2019) · source
“We continue to believe that humanitarian assistance should be provided to all Syrians throughout the Syrian territory without preconditions. We believe that it is important to promote the reconstruction of Syria, which should be carried out in strict accordance with the norms of international humanitarian law and the principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence. We must work to create the conditions for and promote the safe and voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their places of residence in Syria and to ensure their right to return and to support. In conclusion, let me share an observation about a trend that we see recurring.”
2019-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8609 (2019) · source
“Russia, together with the Syrian Government and in coordination with specialized international humanitarian agencies, continues its work to dismantel the Rukban camp, which is in the zone of illegal American occupation, and help people resettle. In the second half of August, an assessment mission of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent carried out a survey the civilian population in the camp who wished to leave. Within a month from now, we plan to organize the departure of a total of approximately 16,000 people. Overall, since March, some 18,000 refugees have already left Rukban. Following their departure, almost all of them were able to return to their places ofpermanent residence in areas controlled by Damascus.”
2019-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8609 (2019) · source
“Why is it that they focus their attention almost exclusively on Idlib province? Are they indifferent to the fate of Syrians living in the north-east? Is it not true that civilians are dying there as a result of the activity of fighters and that infrastructure has been destroyed? We have information suggesting that it is true, and we have shared it with members. Do members not have that information, or are they simply not interested in what is happening there? We are also worried by the situation in the Al-Tanf area. We wish to recall once again that, under the Geneva Convention, an occupying Power is responsible for the population in the territory it is occupying. That holds true of all the areas I have listed.”
2019-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8609 (2019) · source
“The Russian position on this remains unchanged: we advocate re-establishing territorial integrity and sovereignty in Syria as a guarantee of national security for neighbouring countries and to achieve regional stability. The overall humanitarian situation in north-east Syria also remains dire. A clear example of this is the situation in the Al-Hol camp for internally displaced persons, which is in territory outside the control of the Syrian authorities. We have been asking for a long time that the forces controlling this territory share with all of us what is actually happening there. However, there is still a complete void with regard to information about what is actually happening beyond the Euphrates. Accordingly, we have a logical question for those who claim to care so much about humanitarian stability in Syria.”
2019-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8609 (2019) · source
“We had hoped to hear about that from our Western colleagues - although, of course, we did not hear anything, even though journalists from these Western countries were courageous enough to go out there and find out for themselves the truth about the situation in terrorist-controlled areas. As for other regions in Syria, we are concerned about the continued instability in the north-east of the country. Despite the alleged end of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, terrorists are continuing their underground activity and are activating their so- called sleeper cells. This also complicates matters in terms of the fighting between Kurdish formations and Sunni Arabs who have historically lived in the area.”
2019-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8609 (2019) · source
“On 26 August, representatives of more than 20 Russian and European media outlets visited the area around Khan Shaykhun, in south-east Idlib province, which was liberated by Syrian Government forces. Yes, this is the very same Khan Shaykhun where, some time ago, White Helmets staged a blatant provocation, alleging that the Syrian forces had used chemical weapons. We debunked those claims loud and clear a long time ago. Journalists have been able to see with their own eyes how the terrorists are using civilian infrastructure for military ends, as well as inspect their extended network of fortifications.”
2019-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8609 (2019) · source
“The possibility of a reconciliation has been mentioned in this Chamber, but nobody has mentioned that the Syrian Government agreed to the ceasefire in Idlib brokered in Nur- Sultan on 2 August on the condition that all parties adhered to the Sochi memorandum, which would entail the withdrawal of heavy weapons. However, the Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham terrorists refused to comply with the ceasefire and to withdraw fighters beyond the de-escalation line. Therefore, the ceasefire did not hold, and the fault for that does not lie with Damascus but with the terrorists who are continuing to bombard Idlib. Russian and Syrian military forces are striving to ensure that the actual situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone is reported as widely as possible in the press.”
2019-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8609 (2019) · source
“If one were to believe our British colleagues" assertions that there are more infants than terrorists in Idlib, then it would seem that many of those infants have grown beards and know how to use the latest weapons. Do you not think this is rather bizarre? We certainly do. In answer to the constant provocation from the terrorists and to reduce the threat against civilians, the Syrian army, with the support of Russian aviation, has been compelled to take action. However, we must emphasize that all the measures have been taken strictly inside the demilitarized zone, which should have been established a year ago pursuant to the Sochi memorandum.”
2019-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8609 (2019) · source
“Idlib remains the main theatre of tensions. Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham has effectively turned the region into a bridgehead for attacks on the positions of Syrian Government forces and against civilians in nearby towns and cities. During this month alone, fighters have been able to carry out more than 20 attacks on the positions of Syrian forces, resulting in more than 140 killed and approximately 230 Syrian personnel injured; dozens of civilians were also injured. Attacks are also continuing on Russian military facilities in Syria. For instance, the Khmeimim airbase was attacked by the terrorists using missiles four times in August alone.”
2019-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8609 (2019) · source
“The joint statement issued by Russia, Turkey and Iran on 2 August emphasized the need to establish calm on the ground by fully implementing all of the agreements with regard to Idlib, especially the Sochi memorandum of 18 September 2018. It also expressed serious concern at the increasing prevalence of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham in the de-escalation zone and confirmed the commitment of the parties to further cooperate on finally eliminating the terrorists. All of this, of course, while respecting the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria. The situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, in particular in Idlib, was discussed during negotiations between the Presidents of Russia and Turkey on 27 August, where they reaffirmed the Russian-Turkish understanding on this and other issues.”
2019-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8609 (2019) · source
“We hope that, despite the increasingly blatant efforts of our Western colleagues to impede the process, we will soon be able to launch the constitutional committee. We, like Mr. Pedersen, are optimistic that the preparatory work on this aspect will soon be completed. Nonetheless, we emphatically encourage - and I would like to emphasize this insistence - all parties genuinely interested in the success of the political process who want to work towards a stable settlement in Syria not to throw a spanner in the works of these efforts. A lot has already been done. Any confrontational or imbalanced actions or discussions, including within the United Nations, will not help efforts towards a political settlement in Syria. I will be quite honest: such discussions or actions would directly impede Mr. Pedersen's efforts, which is not what we want.”
2019-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8609 (2019) · source
“As has already been noted, intensive work is being done in the Astana process, together with Iran and Turkey and in cooperation with the Special Envoy, the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic and the opposition. I would like to emphasize that the Astana process is the only forum contributing to political reconciliation in Syria. The most recent meeting under the Astana format took place on 1 and 2 August. A noteworthy feature was the participation of Beirut and Baghdad as new observers. The fifth summit of the guarantor countries is planned for mid-September in Turkey. The meeting in Nur-Sultan took place in a constructive atmosphere, with all the participants, first and foremost the guarantor countries, seeking compromise and more effective cooperation.”
2019-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8609 (2019) · source
“History, as my British colleague said, will judge those who claim to stand for Western values but, because of their geopolitical ambitions, have almost destroyed an entire country and condemned it to unprecedented suffereing, as well as those who sang the same tune in the Security Council spreading mendacious and unverified information in order to impede the political process and national reconciliation. Even if members do not have test tubes in their hands today like their predecessors who lied about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, they are still doing the same thing. Russia without doubt supports the efforts of Special Envoy Pedersen and is taking active measures to promote the political process and to restore trust between the parties to the Syrian conflict.”
2019-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8609 (2019) · source
“None of us must forget the fact that this situation is not due to the activities of the regime and its allies, as our Western colleagues repeat over and over again, but rather the activities of terrorists working in the area - who, by the way, cannot complain about insufficient material or military support. We must not forget that, if it were not for the terrorists who went to Syria and tried, with the support of some of our Western colleagues, to overthrow the Syrian authorities, Syria would not be facing these terrible problems, which have caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and affect the lives of many millions of others who had to flee from their homes or live in poverty. Neither the Syrian people nor the peoples of other countries will ever forget this.”
2019-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8609 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We would like to thank the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, Mr. Geir Pederson, and the Under-Secretary-General, Mr. Mark Lowcock, for their briefings. Unfortunately, today's meeting is a textbook example of the how the Syrian issue is often discussed in the Security Council. The humanitarian problems - which certainly do exist - are being distorted and blown out of proportion. We are also very concerned by what is happening, however we are very conscious of the primary reason they exist.”
2019-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8609 (2019) · source
“In that connection, we wish to note that we are open to cooperation on that basis with all interested regional and international partners through our blueprint for collective security in the Persian Gulf. At the same time, we are of the view that our efforts are aligned with the mandate of the Secretary-General to design confidence-building measures in the region in keeping with resolution 598 (1987).”
2019-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8606 (2019) · source
“At the same time, we cannot but be troubled by the negative impact of escalations in the Persian Gulf region on the process of achieving an intra-Iraqi agreement. Attempts to drag the country into a contrived confrontation over the Islamic Republic of Iran are counterproductive and further destabilize the already tenuous situation in the country. The international community would be well advised to avert such a scenario. We cannot allow another geopolitical experiment, regardless of its origin, to undermine the hard-won success that has been achieved in counter-terrorism. During a meeting in Moscow in July between the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Mr. Lavrov, of and Ms. Hennis-Plasschaert, confirmation was voiced of the need to address all crises through dialogue and collective efforts.”
2019-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8606 (2019) · source
“At the same time, we believe that it is necessary to engage all stakeholders involved in a combating terrorism in Iraq, that there be respect for the sovereignty of the Iraqi Government and that their actions be coordinated with Baghdad. That needs to align with the stated aim of combating terrorism and assisting the Iraqi Government in stabilizing the situation. We are closely following the process of strengthening the Iraqi armed forces, including the integration of the popular mobilization forces to deliver on security in the country. The Russian Federation will continue to do everything possible to support the Iraqi Government's efforts to restore control over all territories seized by ISIL as well as to ensure the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq.”
2019-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8606 (2019) · source
“We note that the importance of consistent efforts in settling differences among the various ethnic and faith- based groups in Iraq and the importance of bolstering the unity of the Iraqi people and the integrity of the State. In that connection, we welcome the ongoing dialogue to establish a mutual understanding between Baghdad and Irbil. We believe that further improving those relations will help Iraq strengthen security, which is all the more important given the persistent security challenges. We are keen to see the elimination of the threats posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and terrorism in general. The way to effectively tackle this challenge is through the broadest possible coordination on counter-terrorism efforts.”
2019-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8606 (2019) · source
“We note the focus of the Iraqi authorities on modernizing the country's financial sector and improving its investment climate. We believe that strengthening stability in Iraq is of major significance for the entire region of the Middle East. We therefore believe that it is important that the international community support the authorities' focus on rebuilding the economy and developing the social sector and agriculture. We note the role of UNAMI in helping national authorities take a focused approach to national reconciliation and rebuilding the country's economy. We welcome and applaud Baghdad's consistent policy in maintaining good neighbourly relations with regional partners. We note in particular the focus and efforts of Iraqis and Kuwaitis in restoring historical justice with regard to what we refer to as the Iraq- Kuwait dossier.”
2019-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8606 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We wish to thank Ms. Jeanine Hennis- Plasschaert for her useful briefing. The Russian Federation consistently advocates strengthening stability and security in the Republic of Iraq. The principal role in that process must be played by the Government and the people of Iraq. The new Iraqi authorities still have a great deal to do in order to secure the positive momentum building within the country's political situation. In that connection, we welcome the steps taken in the formation of the Iraqi Government, including recent appointments to key ministerial positions. We hope that process will be concluded in the very near future, as we believe that it will contribute to overcoming all domestic political differences.”
2019-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8606 (2019) · source
“For our part, we have repeatedly pointed out the danger of such activities in a tense regional atmosphere, and we warned that they could lead to a large-scale armed conflict with unpredictable consequences. We again call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and strictly comply with international law, including the relevant Security Council resolutions. In that context, we reiterate our commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and stability of Lebanon. At the same time, we reaffirm the importance of the role of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, whose mandate we are soon to extend. The activities ofpeacekeepers have a stabilizing impact not only on the Blue Line but also within Lebanon and the Middle East as a whole. Russia will actively contribute to stabilizing the situation in the Middle East.”
2019-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8604 (2019) · source
“We call on all forces of good to engage in collective efforts in that regard, while ensuring respect for the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant decisions of the Security Council, as well as the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, and rejecting double standards. We urge that those principles be respected in all countries facing such a threat: Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen. I must also note that we are extremely concerned about the information regarding the incident on 25 August involving two unmanned aerial vehicles over the Lebanese capital. According to some reports, they were Israeli reconnaissance drones. The situation is exacerbated by Israel's simultaneous arbitrary missile strikes on targets in neighbouring Syria, the most recent of which was on a military facility near Damascus last weekend.”
2019-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8604 (2019) · source
“We consistently call on all interested parties to take steps to de-escalate and settle the problems in the Persian Gulf through political and diplomatic means. Enhancing the military presence, including of States outside the region, creates the risk of armed clashes. That crisis endangers peace and security in the Middle East as a whole, as well as international efforts to resolve regional conflicts. It is increasingly relevant to look at the need to develop a lasting mechanism for collective security in the region, based on equitable dialogue and cooperation. The relevant Russian initiative focuses on addressing the deadlock in conflict situations and developing confidence-building and security measures. We should also continue our efforts to eradicate the terrorist presence in the countries of the region.”
2019-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8604 (2019) · source
“No unilateral steps can replace the key tenets of the two-State solution, the Madrid principles, the Arab Peace Initiative and the status of the occupied territories, including the Syrian Golan. We will continue to provide assistance to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Its activities are not only humanitarian but also political and provide an important stabilizing effect in the Palestinian territories and the Middle East region. All final-status issues, including Jerusalem, basic security issues and refugees, should be the result of direct negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis. Seeking consensus on those sensitive issues during direct negotiations is essential to their future sustainability.”
2019-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8604 (2019) · source