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

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“That led to the adoption in 1977 of Protocols I and II Additional to the Geneva Conventions. Allow me to quote resolution 8 of the 1949 Diplomatic Conference and remind the States that participated in the drafting of the Geneva Conventions of the following: "The Conference wishes to affirm before all nations: that, its work having been inspired solely by humanitarian aims, its earnest hope is that, in the future, Governments may never have to apply the Geneva Conventions for the Protection of War Victims; that its strongest desire is that the Powers, great and small, may always reach a friendly settlement of their differences through cooperation and understanding between nations, so that peace shall reign on earth for ever". Those words remain relevant today.”
2019-08-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8596 (2019) · source
“Moreover, defendants actively referred to the absence of specific prohibitions with regard to the treatment of civilians. Although those justifications did not allow them to evade responsibility, they raised the issue of strengthening the international legal protection of victims of armed conflicts. It was in that context that the Diplomatic Conference was convened, culminating in the adoption of the 1949 Geneva Conventions. At the same time, following the adoption of the Geneva Conventions, it became clear that the evolution of the means and methods of warfare, the emergence of new types of conflicts, such as national liberation wars, and the heightened attention of the international community to upholding human rights in any situation dictated the need for the further codification, confirmation and development of humanitarian law.”
2019-08-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8596 (2019) · source
“Moreover, collective punishment, as modern research shows, has served, among other things, to reduce the total number of people living in occupied territories, thereby freeing up resources that were useful to the occupying Power. Starvation was also widely used as a weapon of war. The abuse of prisoners of war was particularly cynical. It took place in spite of the fact that the parties to the conflict had international obligations that were applicable at the time. Germany's mass and gross violations of its international obligations were the subject of the sentencing at the Nuremberg Tribunal. At the same time, the judicial protection of war criminals actively advanced the idea that The Hague rules for the waging of war, which were based on the experience of nineteenth-century wars, were outdated.”
2019-08-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8596 (2019) · source
“I believe that it would be no exaggeration to say that the Geneva Conventions embody the lessons that humankind learned from the bitter experience of the Second World War. That war, which was unprecedented in its scale and brutality, was an immense tragedy for the peoples ofEurope, Asia and the entire world. A threat to the fundamental principles of civilization was prevented through colossal joint efforts and heavy losses. As we know, Germany essentially refused to comply with the norms of international law that existed at that time. Peaceful cities and civilians were bombed. Hitler's air and ground forces were guided by a scorched-earth policy. Mass deportations of civilians and the alleged collective punishment of civilians for supporting partisans were widespread.”
2019-08-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8596 (2019) · source
“In November last year, in Saint Petersburg, the Interparliamentary Assembly of Member Nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the International Committee of the Red Cross organized a conference devoted to the 150th anniversary of the adoption, upon Russia's initiative, of the 1868 Saint Petersburg Declaration Renouncing the Use, in Time of War, of Explosive Projectiles Under 400 Grammes Weight. That document established the idea not only of banning inhumane forms of weaponry, but also of excluding civilians and civilian objects from what are considered to be legitimate targets of war. When we speak of the relevance of the Geneva Conventions, we also need to recall the history that led to their creation.”
2019-08-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8596 (2019) · source
“Unfortunately, humankind required several centuries and two of the most terrible armed conflicts in its history, which took place in the twentieth century, to realize the need to humanize wars and form a set of rules for its conduct so as to ensure, among other things, that those not directly participating in armed conflict are kept as safe as possible. Today we gather to mark the seventieth anniversary of the Geneva Conventions. These documents form the foundation of the contemporary law of armed conflict. Our country made a substantial contribution to the development of these Conventions, which substantially expanded the legal regulation of States' conduct in armed conflicts and, above all, with respect to the protection of civilians. I take this opportunity to recall another anniversary related to international humanitarian law.”
2019-08-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8596 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I welcome you to New York, Sir. We are pleased to see you once again in the Security Council President's Chair. I would also like to thank the Under-Secretary- General for Legal Affairs, Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares; the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Mr. Peter Maurer; and Ms. Bellal for their briefings. History has seen various different approaches to the problems of the law of armed conflict. It is no secret that war was once thought to be contrary to law and therefore not subject to any regulation. This was expressed in the well-known Roman maxim: "In times of war, the law falls silent".”
2019-08-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8596 (2019) · source
“In conclusion, we remain convinced that ascribing guilt to members of the warring Libyan parties is counterproductive. Attempts to selectively attribute responsibility will only fuel passions and make it difficult to resume the political process in Libya.”
2019-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8595 (2019) · source
“In that regard, we learned with optimism about the ceasefire agreement reached among the opposing Libyan parties thanks to the mediation efforts of Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ghassan Salame. We hope that the ceasefire will last, and we express our support for the efforts of the Special Representative. The problem of the illicit proliferation of weapons in Libya, the flow of which is destabilizing the security situation both in the country and in the Sahara-Sahel region, remains pressing. In that regard, we believe that it is important to refrain from taking steps, including with regard to the arms embargo on Libya, that could hinder the process of establishing dialogue and cooperation among key Libyan political forces.”
2019-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8595 (2019) · source
“There are simply no alternatives to a political and diplomatic solution to the issue ofnational reconciliation and the re-establishment of unified and effective State institutions. We regret to note that trust has eroded among the warring parties. We draw the attention of all the Libyan parties to our principled position based on support for political outcomes and United Nations mediation efforts. As we have repeatedly stressed, the United Nations must play a central role in such efforts. We support the immediate cessation of military operations and the rejection by all parties of aggressive statements. It is important that the Libyan parties demonstrate calm and restraint. Calls to that end should be made in a balanced manner on all parties to the conflict.”
2019-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8595 (2019) · source
“What is happening there is a direct consequence of the destruction of Libyan statehood during the well-known events of 2011, as a result of which the country has found itself in a catastrophic situation. We would like to believe that those who were behind that risky geopolitical adventure fully understand their responsibility for the collapse of this State and the terrorist chaos that African countries neighbouring Libya continue to experience to this day. It is also clear to us that the continued fighting in Libya is only exacerbating the situation. The number of people killed, injured and internally displaced is increasing, and urban infrastructure is being destroyed. Humanitarian organizations are sounding the alarm.”
2019-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8595 (2019) · source
“All of that only further reaffirms the urgency of our calls to join efforts in the uncompromising fight against this universal evil. At the same time, it is imperative to set aside double standards and avoid fraternizing with radicals in order to use them to opportunistic ends. We are also concerned about the situation concerning illegal migration, but the solution to that problem hardly resides in imposing sanctions. The true causes underpinning the mass movement of people lie primarily in socioeconomic distress and conflict situations. However, it is not the migrants that must be dealt with, but rather the root causes of the problem. All of the tragic events that I just mentioned only underscore the instability of the internal situation in Libya.”
2019-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8595 (2019) · source
“Furthermore, I must note that, over the past two to three weeks, several hundred migrants travelling to Europe from Libya and other countries have drowned after their boats capsized in the Mediterranean Sea. Those arejust some ofthe most recent among a multitude of catastrophes that have befallen Libyans and other Africans who have abandoned all hope for stability and peace in their countries. During the minute of silence that you declared, Madam President, our thoughts were also with them. After all, all lives matter. It is clear that the worst-case predictions that we have made on many occasions are becoming a reality; as a result of the strife, terrorist groups are becoming increasingly active, in part, owing to the fact that jihadists from other Arab States, especially Syria and Iraq, are infiltrating Libya.”
2019-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8595 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We are grateful to Assistant Secretary- General for Africa Bintou Keita for her briefing on the current situation in Libya. The reason for our meeting today is very sad. We listened with deep regret to the information that we received from Libya pertaining to the terrorist attack in Benghazi, which according to reports led to the deaths of two staff members of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya. We offer our condolences to the United Nations and the families and friends of the victims. We condemn this and other terrorist attacks that have resulted in the deaths of Libyan civilians.”
2019-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8595 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): Frankly, I did not want to take the floor once again, but after listening to the two statements made by my United Kingdom colleague, I cannot help thinking that she wants to demonstrate that there is unity within the Council on the issues that she just brought up, whereas her communication with the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic was more akin to what a prosecutor says to an accused person. We believe that to be unacceptable. In our own statement, we raised a number of questions that she and her Western colleagues have yet to answer. If we are to turn this meeting into a court proceeding, as she is attempting to do, then the ones who should be on trial are those who caused the country to end up in its current state through their external interference.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“However, continued American presence leads us to believe that there are other goals that are not in line with the principles of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic, For its part, Russia will continue providing the necessary assistance to help the Syrians overcome their difficulties and reach political agreements regarding a political settlement, the humanitarian situation and post-conflict recovery. We will do that both nationally and in multilateral formats in cooperation with the interested parties. We call on all forces of good to join those efforts.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“In conclusion, I would like to pause to underscore that, although we listenedto our United States colleagues regarding the humanitarian and human rights aspects of the situation in Syria, that does not mean that the ongoing illegal American military presence in that country is legitimate in the eyes of Syrians or the entire international community. Based on the conflicting statements of American leadership, it would appear that the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has been defeated in Syria and Iraq, whereas combating ISIL was the initial goal announced for the American presence in the area.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“If preserving the status quo in the camp and spreading jihadist ideology are not goals in and of themselves, then it is high time to consider transferring that territory to Syrian control in order to address the IDP issue. However, for the time being, we are under the impression that the Al-Hol camp, where 11,000 of the 73,000 residents are foreign citizens, and thejails in the north-west that are not under the control of Damascus are just one big concentration camp. We are also concerned about the situation in the Al-Tanf area. With regard to the territories that have been listed, we recall once again that the occupying Power bears responsibility for the people in the occupied territories, in accordance with the Geneva Conventions.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“According to Western non-governmental organizations, more than 1,200 people - most of them civilians - died as a result of mass coalition air strikes in Deir ez-Zor province just in the first quarter of 2019 alone. The situation in the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Rukban remains complex. However, thanks to the efforts of the Russian Centre for the Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in the Syrian Arab Republic and of the Government of Syria, more than 17,000 people have been able to leave Rukban. We will continue to work with the United Nations to address the issue of returning refugees and ensure they have all they need. The situation in the Al-Hol camp is truly catastrophic. Half of the camp's residents are women and children.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“It is obvious that those questions should not be posed to Damascus. All those present here, as well as the representatives of interested organizations, have had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the most recent report of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on the humanitarian situation in Syria. The maps show locations where humanitarian activity is being conducted at both the domestic and international levels. The area beyond the Euphrates river is a blank spot on the map and not because the situation is fine there. On the contrary, the north-east is in ruins. According to information from our military, more than 300 terrorist acts took place in June and July alone.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“At the same time, we must recall that such issues are extremely sensitive. We count on our Security Council partners to understand that it is a humanitarian issue that should not be publicized, much less politicized. We have serious concerns about the fact that addressing the issue in the Security Council could have the opposite effect and disrupt the very complex process of establishing trust among the parties to the conflict. We would hope that no one is interested in such a negative development. We would also like to ask our Western colleagues who support the armed Syrian opposition to help the international community determine what happened to the thousands of people who were forcibly held by militants in eastern Ghouta, Homs and south-western Syria and are currently reported to be missing.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“Last week, on 31 July, the fourth operation to liberate detainees took place and an exchange of prisoners was conducted on a l4-for-15 basis. In this way, the total number of persons released thanks to the Astana working group is in excess of 110 people. Similar operations took place in November 2018 and in February and April this year. In addition, it is important to recall the common practice of the local exchange of prisoners in Syria, which occurs almost daily. The group is also focused on the issue of missing persons. Together with experts of the United Nations and the ICRC, we are in the process of developing procedures and modalities for compiling databases of people who are considered by the Syrian Government and the opposition to be missing, as well as for further action in that area.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“Nonetheless, action should not fan the flames of scandal but consistently strengthen Government bodies and the justice system, assist economic recovery and repair broken connections among the people of the country. Allow me to inform the Council that the thirteenth international meeting on Syria in the Astana format was held in Nur-Sultan on 1 and 2 August. As the Council knows, as part of the process, we have a successfully functioning working group on detentions, abductions and missing persons, which is comprised of representatives of Russia, Iran, Turkey and experts from the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). That unique mechanism has demonstrated its effectiveness in restoring trust among the Syrian parties.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“We have repeatedly stated that politicizing humanitarian and human rights issues is unacceptable. However, we have again heard accusations being levelled against only one of the parties - the official authorities in Damascus - while outright terrorists, who, let me remind the Council, have introduced the practice of public executions and torture in that country, are being presented as innocent victims. We are convinced that the international community should instead, not only in word but in deed, help Syria recover after the very serious crisis, which, incidentally, was fuelled and exacerbated by outside forces, including by some of those who now express concern about the humanitarian situation in the country.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“We were very disappointed about the statements made by our Western colleagues, in particular that of our American colleague. Since the United States and States that support it have initiated today's meeting on the topic, we expected them to finally provide us with information on the situation in the territory of Syria that they de facto occupy. What are the laws governing the lives of its people? How is justice being administered? That is the big question. In whose interests are large armed groups and law enforcement bodies a if they can even be called that - being prepared? How many people are detained or missing? Regrettably, we have not received any answers to those questions today. The information we receive from human rights organizations is, frankly, horrifying.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for her briefing on developments in the Syrian Arab Republic. We listened carefully to the briefings made by Dr. Hala, head of Syria Bright Future, and Ms. Amina Khoulani of Families for Freedom. We were perplexed by the initiative taken by our Western colleagues to call for today's meeting. The thoughts it evokes are not the most positive. Instead of reliable information, we have once again heard speculation based on unverified and extremely biased information regarding the situation in Syria. The sources of such information have lied time and again. We view steps to exacerbate and distort the situation in and around Syria as part of an attempt to continue to hinder the political settlement process in the country. I will be frank.”
2019-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8593 (2019) · source
“We also commend her impartial and objective approach in identifying and gathering reliable information on violations against children, as reflected in the report of the Secretary-General. We always carefully examine this information and take account of it in our work. We call upon all members of the Security Council to continue to constructively cooperate with a view to effectively protecting children from the consequences of armed conflict.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“In recent years, there have been increased calls to join various declarations, guidelines or principles that have been developed outside the framework of the United Nations and that address separate humanitarian aspects. We believe that the participation of States in these documents is a matter of their good will. However, we would like to emphasize that such declarations, guidelines and principles cannot substitute for, amend or elaborate upon universally recognized norms of international humanitarian law. Russia supports the work of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. Her active and unwavering stance on the protection of children and her efforts to maintain a constructive dialogue with the States concerned make possible the achievement of notable progress.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“All those responsible for such crimes must be duly prosecuted and held accountable. International humanitarian law comprises a broad set of norms aimed at protecting children and civilian infrastructure during armed conflict. The efforts of the international community should be focused on adhering to those norms. The primary responsibility in that area lies with States. We note with regret attempts to use children propaganda tools by involving them in plots and staged videos of all kinds. Apart from being extremely immoral, such actions undermine the efforts of the international community to protect children in armed conflict.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“In addition, resolution 1612 (2005) outlines the role of national Governments in interaction between the United Nations and armed groups with regard to children. Underestimating that requirement could lead to regrettable results as the leaders of armed groups may attempt to use their contact with United Nations agencies to make themselves appear legitimate in the eyes of the global community rather than to protect children. The Russian Federation strongly condemns the violations of the provisions of international law, international humanitarian law, human rights and rights of refugees as they pertain to children. Indiscriminate attacks, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, the use of civilians, children, schools and hospitals as shields by terrorists and other violations of international humanitarian law are unacceptable.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“Preventing crimes against children is an important aspect of the package of measures on conflict resolution and post-conflict reconstruction. We highly appreciate and support the efforts aimed at reintegrating children liberated from armed groups. We highlight the fact that the majority of States affected by armed conflict do a great deal to improve the plight of children. They often need international assistance. However, national Governments should play the primary role in protecting children in armed conflict. The role of the United Nations is first and foremost to complement and support those efforts. In that regard, we believe that Security Council mechanisms can be efficient only when they cooperate constructively with the country affected by armed conflict.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“Such violations include the recruitment and use of children as combatants, killing and maiming, abduction, sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals and the denial of humanitarian access. We should strive to counter those violations in the course of our work. In that regard, we believe that attempts to dilute the mandate of the Security Council in that area, by forcing it to consider other issues related to rights of children in a context outside the maintenance of international peace and security, are a step in the wrong direction. Such issues are part of mandates of other United Nations entities, whose work the Security Council should not duplicate. Only by adhering to the principle of the division of labour will we be most effective in solving all issues pertaining to the plight of children.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“Their remarks were deeply disturbing. Such acts should not be occurring in today's world. The Russian Federation expresses its concern about the plight of children in many parts of the world that are engulfed in armed conflict. The report of the Secretary-General (S/2019/509) clearly illustrates that fact. Based on the report, the most worrisome situations can be seen in Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria and several other countries. The Security Council takes consistent measures to protect children and prevent acts of violence against them. In accordance with resolution 1612 (2005) and subsequent documents, greater attention should be paid to the six categories of the most serious violations against children, within the framework of both the monitoring and reporting mechanism and the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I would ask you, Madam President, to convey our gratitude to Minister Czaputowicz for attending our meeting today. I would like to thank you, Madam President, for convening today's meeting on such an important topic. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome our new Chinese colleague, Ambassador Zhang Jun, who is taking part for the first time in a meeting of the Security Council and in an open debate. We thank Virginia Gamba, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, for participating in today's debate and for sharing her views on the protection of children in various countries. We thank UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore for her briefing. We listened with great interest to Ms. Kamara and Mr. Awan.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“That tactic is fraught with the risk of a dangerous escalation of tensions in that very sensitive region and will certainly do nothing to advance a Cypriot settlement. The meeting rose at 3.15 pm.”
2019-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8586 (2019) · source
“Clearly, the current system of guarantees, with the participation of three foreign States, objectively does not help the Cypriots to arrive at an independent settlement for themselves. I will be frank - the existing Cypriot system of external security guarantees has become largely anachronistic. The most effective way to ensure the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of a united Cyprus would be guarantees from the Security Council. Ultimately, it is the Council that will have to approve the final agreement reached by the parties. In conclusion, I urge those who may be tempted to draw Cyprus into geopolitical games in an attempt to push out traditional players from the eastern Mediterranean to refrain from doing so.”
2019-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8586 (2019) · source
“With respect to the political settlement, as is known, only the Cypriot communities themselves, through direct dialogue, can reach an agreement on a unified State - a bicommunal, bizonal federation. Given that sensitive matter, external interference, the imposition of any concepts or pressure and the establishment of artificial timelines are absolutely unacceptable. Such an approach in no way helps the painstaking search for compromise solutions. We believe that strengthening the role of the Security Council with regard to international assistance for this process is long overdue. As is well known, one of the most important aspects ofa settlement is effective security guarantees for both communities.”
2019-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8586 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): The Russian Federation supported the adoption of resolution 2483 (2019), on the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), in unchanged form. We are convinced that the mission plays a key role in strengthening stability, which is a prerequisite for direct dialogue among the Cypriot communities. We cannot but be concerned that, following the Conference on Cyprus, held in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, there was a "period of reflection", as noted by the Secretary-General in one of his reports (S/2018/25). However, the United Nations mission should not be used as an instrument to exert political pressure on Cypriots; its purpose is to ensure security and monitor compliance with the buffer zone.”
2019-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8586 (2019) · source
“On a bilateral basis, we continue to provide assistance to strengthen the combat-readiness of the armies and security structures of States in the region. In particular, military personnel and police officers from Mali, the Niger and Burkina Faso continue to receive training at specialized Russian facilities. We intend to continue to provide such assistance to our West African friends.”
2019-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8585 (2019) · source
“Their effectiveness depends, inter alia, on whether the structures present there - first and foremost those within the United Nations system - are acting within their sphere of responsibility and taking into account the principle of the division of labour. It is only through collective focused actions, carried out in relevant formats that do not create conflicting mandates, that will we be able to achieve the desired results. Russia continues to play an active role in resolving the problems in West Africa and the Sahel. We are taking steps to establish effective cooperation with the G-5 Sahel. In April, the Permanent Secretary of that entity, Mr. Maman Sidikou, and his team, visited Moscow for the first time. During the visit, agreements were reached on strengthening full-fledged practical cooperation.”
2019-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8585 (2019) · source
“We greatly appreciate the activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel and specialized agencies of the United Nations in providing a broad range of assistance to West African countries. It is crucial that such efforts be undertaken in close coordination with the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States and other organizations. We believe that it is important to improve the effectiveness of UNISS and the related United Nations Support Plan for the Sahel. In implementing these instruments, the views of the countries for which they have been developed are of the primary importance. We believe that it will be impossible to get anything done without the proper coordination of the numerous assistance programmes for the region.”
2019-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8585 (2019) · source
“An important element of the work in this area is the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS), which aims to improve the effectiveness of State governance, strengthen the capacities of national and regional security mechanisms and carry out development activities in the countries of the region. Financial, military and humanitarian assistance continues to be provided through various international programmes, United Nations missions and on a bilateral basis. The Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel) is pursuing its efforts to ensure the full-fledged deployment of the G-5 Sahel Joint Force in order to combat terrorism, organized crime and drug trafficking. The Joint Force has already carried out several operations on the ground to date.”
2019-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8585 (2019) · source
“Disquieting assessments in the report of the Secretary-General (S/2019/549) and the conclusions drawn from the Security Council's visit to the region in March are testament to the infeasibility of drawing down the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali at this stage. In Nigeria, the Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso, the terrorist activities of Boko Haram are expanding, and Burkina Faso has also seen the appearance of the Ansar Al-Islam group, which is affiliated with the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. The international and African communities are keeping a constant focus on the situation in the Sahara-Sahel region.”
2019-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8585 (2019) · source
“The acute domestic political and socioeconomic problems that persist in countries of the Sahel, as well as inter-ethnic and interreligious confrontations, are fuelling the activities of an extensive network of j ihadist structures. Collective steps taken by States in the region and external partners to counter these challenges have not yet led to a breakthrough in the fight against extremists. In Mali, a protracted conflict remains ongoing, aggravated by the intervention of various terrorist groups in the region and a power vacuum in the north and the centre of the country. The firmly embedded international extremists are expanding their activities into neighbouring countries, such as the Niger, Burkina Faso and C6te d'Ivoire. The number of victims from jihadist attacks is on the rise.”
2019-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8585 (2019) · source
“In the first half of this year, elections were held in many countries of the region - Nigeria, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau and Benin 4 without serious problems. We trust that the electoral cycles that are in progress in other West African countries will also take place under conditions of law and order. However, the security situation in the Sahara- Sahel region and in several West African countries remains complicated. The international terrorists who have gained a foothold there are increasing the scale of their activities and attempting to expand their areas of operation, and new radical groups and leaders are emerging. This situation is rooted in the external intervention and subsequent collapse of statehood in Libya in 2011.”
2019-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8585 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, for his briefing. We would like once again to assure him that Russia supports his personal efforts, as well as those of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), in resolving regional crises, addressing issues related to political mediation and providing assistance to improving State institutions, as well as supporting the search for ways to pursue economic development and the fight against terrorism. The scale and results of his work deserve the highest praise. It is encouraging that the political situation in the region as a whole has remained stable.”
2019-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8585 (2019) · source
“With regard to the work of our sanctions Committee, we believe that it is important to maintain the practice of considering different aspects of the Congolese sanctions regime in the meetings and to invite the representatives of Kinshasa to participate in the discussion. We welcome the visit of the Chair ofthe Committee to the region in late April and early May. We support the continuation of such contacts with regional actors in the future. It is necessary in this work to base ourselves on the recommendations of the final report of the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (see S/2019/469), as endorsed by the Committee. In general, we call for a very careful approach to the sanctions regime. We should not forget that the main purpose of our work is to help the Congolese restore order and security in their country.”
2019-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8584 (2019) · source
“We believe that the Mission should continue to support Kinshasa's efforts to normalize the situation in the post-electoral period. We believe it important to make the most of the constructive approach taken by the new President of the country, Felix Tshisekedi. At the same time, we would like to stress once again that the United Nations interference in the internal affairs of the Democratic Republic of the Congo would be unacceptable. Russia, including as a member of the Group of Friends of the Great Lakes Region, intends to continue to support the peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the stabilization of the region as a whole.”
2019-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8584 (2019) · source
“We call on the Congolese to continue to work for peace and to take measures to prevent all forms of violence. We remain seriously concerned about the situation in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the political and military situation remains complex and incursions by illegal armed groups and intercommunal clashes continue unabated. In addition to this is the outbreak of Ebola, which the World Health Organization has classified as a public health emergency of international concern. We have carefully read the Secretary-General's latest report on the work of United Nations peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (S/2019/575). In general, we share the assessments and recommendations contained in that document.”
2019-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8584 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ms. Leila Zerrougui, and the Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1533 (2004) concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Permanent Representative of Kuwait, Mr. Mansour Alotaibi, for their briefings. Today, we are witnessing important changes in the largest State in Central Africa. We welcome the efforts of the new leadership of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to promote political stabilization, including through dialogue with the opposition and the establishment of constructive relations with regional neighbours and international partners.”
2019-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8584 (2019) · source