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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“The added value and relevance of the PBC's recommendations are crucial for their possible inclusion in the work of the Security Council, the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. It should also be recalled that Council members are invariably represented in and actively engaged in discussions of the PBC, its Organizational Committee and country configurations. In order to improve the quality of interaction between the Council and the Commission, it is important to make effective use of the ample opportunities already available, as outlined in resolutions 1645 (2005) and 2282 (2016), which, in our view, are sufficient.”
2019-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8579 (2019) · source
“The Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) plays an important role in the United Nations system by providing peacebuilding assistance to States, serving as both an intergovernmental advisory body and a platform linking a wide spectrum of stakeholders. We believe that the PBC has the potential to improve the quality of recommendations provided to the Security Council on country-specific issues on the agendas of both bodies. They can be provided to the Council upon request. We believe that the value of the Commission is that it can convey to the Council the peacebuilding priorities of the host country. That is particularly relevant in the final transition phase of a peacekeeping operation's efforts and can help to contribute meaningfully to the relevant reports of the Secretary-General.”
2019-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8579 (2019) · source
“In the concept note for today's meeting (S/2019/540, annex), you, Mr. President, quite rightly emphasize the leading role of States themselves in transitions, in line with the principle of national ownership. Indeed, it is the host State that has the primary responsibility for the development and implementation of peacebuilding strategies and programmes, while taking into account the needs of its society. In that regard, it is important that enhanced cooperation between the United Nations, regional and subregional organizations, as well as international financial institutions, in the area of peacebuilding be accompanied by improved relations with host States. Cooperation with local population groups and non-governmental organizations can be complementary and should be coordinated by the authorities.”
2019-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8579 (2019) · source
“The inclusion in mandates of generic tasks, such as human rights monitoring, sexual and gender issues, environmental protection, development and other issues, may well prove to be an unreasonable waste of resources. Specialized United Nations bodies and international mechanisms already exist to meet those objectives. When addressing the theoretical nexus among human rights, development and peace and security, we must acknowledge the fact that development alone cannot guarantee peace and that peaceful conditions do not necessarily guarantee development. Therefore, it is important not only to take into account the nexus but also to clearly and fully understand the difference in those processes, as well as which specific United Nations body or structure is responsible for promoting each of those areas.”
2019-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8579 (2019) · source
“At the same time, it is also important to have a holistic view of the political settlement being promoted by the mission, since it is not possible to build and maintain peace without national reconciliation. Therefore, when considering the mandates of missions, including existing peacebuilding objectives, the views of the host State must be taken fully into account. Where necessary, the Security Council may mandate a mission to assist the host State in addressing peacebuilding issues, such as disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, as well as security sector reform. At the same time, the provision of assistance to States in the area of peacebuilding and peacekeeping in the United Nations system requires both proper coordination of efforts and an appropriate division of labour that does not create a conflict of authority.”
2019-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8579 (2019) · source
“Indeed, maintaining and, in particular, improving results is at times far more difficult than the initial attainment of those results. In order to ensure lasting peace in countries from which peacekeeping operations are being withdrawn, it is important that the post- conflict reconstruction phase be duly prepared. In some instances, it is wise to launch peacebuilding efforts before the peacekeeping presence is withdrawn. Otherwise, there is the risk that the decline in the level of international attention to a particular situation may be interpreted by some players as a green light to resume their destructive activities. A mission's withdrawal and the transfer of its residual functions to other United Nations entities should be borne in mind both initially and at all stages of the lifespan of a peacekeeping mission.”
2019-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8579 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We are pleased to welcome you, Mr. Minister, as President ofthe Security Council. We thank Secretary- General Antonio Guterres and Mr. Carlos Trujillo Garcia, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Colombia, in his capacity as Chair ofthe Peacebuilding Commission, for their briefings. We thank Mr. Bousquet of the World Bank and Mr. Baldeh of the African Development Bank for their detailed briefings, which served as a good basis for today's discussion. The issue before us today, ensuring the continuity of international assistance in the event of the drawdown or closure of United Nations peacekeeping missions, is clearly important in order to prevent the recurrence of conflicts in the transition period, when the long-term success of collective efforts is not yet guaranteed.”
2019-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8579 (2019) · source
“As was quite rightly pointed out by Mr. Heusgen, those who are more advanced in age will always find a way to discuss the problems of young people, and for that they do not need the Security Council.”
2019-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8577 (2019) · source
“We are convinced of the value of in-depth discussions on youth-related issues in the specialized forums of the United Nations system designed to address issues of education, employment, sustainable development and other important subjects. The most comprehensive road map in the area of youth policy is the World Programme of Action for Youth, the separate aspects of which are considered within the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council and their relevant subsidiary bodies. We believe that the decision whether or not to raise a subject in the Security Council is not a reflection of its relevance to the international community. It is far more important, however, to strictly uphold the existing division of labour within the United Nations system, which benefits both the Security Council and young people.”
2019-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8577 (2019) · source
“We note the fruitful work being done in this area by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Special attention should be paid to the phenomenon of using radicalized young people to achieve domestic political goals, in particular externally orchestrated processes that aim to overthrow legitimate authorities under the guise of democracy and human rights. It is important that the proclaimed support for young leaders not result in external players organizing anti-Government movements in States that they disfavour. Unfortunately, such situations are far too frequent. In conclusion, let me once again highlight that we are by no means seeking to diminish the relevance of youth issues.”
2019-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8577 (2019) · source
“That factor, alongside young people's lack of life experience, education and other prospects for self-fulfilment in countries with unfavourable socioeconomic environments or in conflict situations, is adeptly exploited by extremist groups to involve young people in unlawful activity. As part of their attempts to attract young people, extremists increasingly use information and communication technologies, which requires us to bolster our collective efforts in the sphere of international information security. Regional organizations with the necessary country-specific expertise play an important role in countering the radicalization of young people.”
2019-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8577 (2019) · source
“As an example, let us look at the situation in Palestine, in particular the Gaza Strip, where the unemployment rate among young people is approaching 50 per cent. Against that backdrop, and given the stagnation of the Middle East peace process, a breeding ground is forming for the spread of extremist ideas and the radicalization of society. If we consider the subject of young people in the context of the Security Council agenda, while taking its mandate into account, work should focus on combating the challenges of extremism and terrorism. All ages are undoubtedly exposed to those phenomena. However, young people, with their nascent world view and search for self-identification, are more vulnerable to radical ideology.”
2019-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8577 (2019) · source
“The important role that young people need to play in modern society, including through constructive participation in building and sustaining peace, is also reflected in resolutions 2250 (2015) and 2419 (2018). The independent study prepared by Mr. Graeme Simpson (see S/2018/86) gave us additional food for thought about the role of young people in efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts, and emphasized the importance of advancing their positive image. At the same time, practically speaking and aside from those conclusions, we believe that there is a need for States in conflict to pay due attention to fighting poverty, illiteracy and unemployment, which are the fundamental barriers to young people realizing their potential.”
2019-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8577 (2019) · source
“A key part of the strategy involves the State creating basic conditions for the full self-fulfilment and integration of young people into the social and political spheres and improving their socioeconomic situation. We fully support the development of youth civil society, and we attach great importance to holding seminars and forums at the national and international levels, which helps to strengthen the peaceful and constructive potential of young people. In particular, in October 2017 we were pleased to host the nineteenth World Youth Festival in Sochi, which brought together over 20,000 people from more than 180 countries. We also advocate peaceful youth organizations and the development of intercultural and interreligious dialogue among the youth population.”
2019-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8577 (2019) · source
“However, discussing such issues in isolation of their context can only distract the Council from resolving the urgent problems it is supposed to address. It seems particularly strange that a choice has been made to discuss such general matters against the backdrop of blocking subjects that are of immediate concern to the Security Council, as occurs periodically. It is probable that, following this statement, some will try to suggest that youth issues are not a priority for Russia, but that is not the case. We are taking active measures at the national level to interact with young people. In 2014, the Government of the Russian Federation adopted the basis for the State youth policy to 2025, which is being implemented at the federal, regional and municipal levels.”
2019-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8577 (2019) · source
“The Security Council's consideration of issues that are not related to that task can hardly improve the effectiveness of its activities or have any added value for resolving pressing issues for young people. At the same time, we understand and recognize the importance of including youth-related issues in the discussions of country-specific topics on the Security Council agenda, in particular taking into account the specific situations of African States, in which young people constitute a substantial proportion of the population. The famous German poet and thinker Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said, "The fate of any nation at any time depends on the opinions of its young people under the age of 25".”
2019-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8577 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank the Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth, Ms. Wickramanayake, and the other briefers for their views. We fully share the opinions that have been presented today about the need to pay due attention to the topic of youth in the United Nations system and to resolve acute problems related to their socialization, which is what Ms. Wickramanayake is successfully doing. We must all help her. However, the following question arises: Are we indeed helping Ms. Wickramanayake by discussing today's topic in the Security Council for a third time? In accordance with its mandate, the Security Council is supposed to deal with matters related to the maintenance of international peace and security.”
2019-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8577 (2019) · source
“A useful element is the practice of conducting country visits to United Nations missions, following up with a report with recommendations for the Security Council and inviting military representatives of the elected members of the Council to take part in the meetings of the Military Staff Committee. We also believe it important that the authority of the Military Staff Committee be reconfirmed and that the Secretariat provide it with all the necessary assistance in its activities involving the maintenance of international peace and security.”
2019-07-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8570 (2019) · source
“The experience garnered also enhances the institutional memory of the United Nations system and provides lessons for the future. We therefore reiterate the value of the meetings held among the Security Council, TCCs and PCCs before the mandate of a peacekeeping mission is extended. We also note that the potential of the Military Staff Committee remains underestimated. Pursuant to Article 47 of the Charter, the Committee shall be called upon to advise and assist the Security Council on all questions relating to the Security Council's military requirements. We believe that it would be logical to consider more closely ways of utilizing the analytical capacities and practical assistance that the Military Staff Committee can provide.”
2019-07-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8570 (2019) · source
“In that context, we note the opportunity to increase the effectiveness of triangular cooperation by involving the host countries, which bear the main responsibility for protecting civilians, guaranteeing the political process, removing reasons for crisis and engaging in post- conflict reconstruction. As practice has shown, in countries where there is active cooperation based on mutual respect between missions and the State, there is a precondition for the effective achievement of objectives. TCCs and PCCs also play a defining role in guaranteeing effective United Nations peacekeeping operations as it is the Blue Helmets they send who are called on to fulfil the objectives set by the Security Council. Their opinion and the timely information they can provide from the area of operations are indeed very important.”
2019-07-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8570 (2019) · source
“To that end, the Security Council, as the organ endowed by the Charter of the United Nations with responsibility for preventing threats to international peace and security certainly plays the primary role in designing the mandates for United Nations peacekeeping operations in each specific country. We advocate putting into practice the proposals for promoting triangular cooperation outlined in the reports of the C-34. We believe that peacekeeping mandates and the conceptual know-how of the Secretariat should correlate with the opinions of troop-contributing countries (TCCs), police-contributing countries (PCCs) and host countries. That, in turn, will allow us to have an accurate interpretation of the objectives set to avoid the possible overburdening of mandates and, in so doing, increase the effectiveness of their implementation.”
2019-07-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8570 (2019) · source
“A sine qua non for reaching the necessary level of trust among all interested parties is ensuring transparency and observing in practice the consensus agreements reached in intergovernmental formats. For example, it is the recommendations and decisions adopted by the C-34 that should guide the Secretariat and missions on the ground in discharging their executive functions. That covers the textbooks, concepts, guidelines and other documents developed by the Secretariat. With those objectives, it is also important to observe the division of labour within the United Nations system among the structures that define the functional modalities of peacekeeping operations to ensure that we do not impede the Special Committee in its mandate of considering common issues in the area ofpeacekeeping.”
2019-07-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8570 (2019) · source
“It plays a significant and defining role in the practical effectiveness of United Nations peacekeeping as it brings together the key players involved in setting tasks, planning, managing and carrying out United Nations peacekeeping operations. The key platform of the United Nations system for implementing such cooperation is the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (C-34). It is unique in its representativeness. It is within the Special Committee that members of the Security Council and troop- and police-contributing countries develop common approaches to the parameters of peacekeeping activities and engage in interactive dialogue with the Secretariat on current issues.”
2019-07-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8570 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank you, Mr. President, for convening today's meeting on the important subject of strengthening triangular cooperation among the Security Council, troop- and police-contributing countries and the Secretariat on issues related to peacekeeping activities. We thank Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Force Commander Lieutenant General Gyllensporre of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and Ms. Novosseloff, independent consultant from the Brian Urquhart Center for Peace Operations of the International Peace Institute, for their briefings and views. It is indeed difficult to overstate the importance of triangular cooperation.”
2019-07-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8570 (2019) · source
“In conclusion, I would like to ask Under-Secretary- General Lacroix two questions. Besides decree 102 of the Transitional Military Council, which he mentioned, are there any other technical obstacles to UNAMID's drawdown? Also, in the Secretariat's view, what is the time frame needed for UNAMID's withdrawal and complete closure? I would be grateful for his answers.”
2019-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8549 (2019) · source
“It seems it is just those sections of the communique that our Western colleagues have decided to ignore. I would like to emphasize that we believe that the resolution of the internal crisis in their country is a matter for the Sudanese people themselves. Outside pressure, ultimatums and open support for one of the parties in the negotiations, let alone blatant interference in a sovereign State's internal affairs, are absolutely unacceptable and will only exacerbate the disagreements. However, we were pleased to see a positive trend on the ground in the context of Ethiopia's mediation initiative. We should support African efforts rather than telling the Sudanese people what to do and how to do it when they are in a difficult situation. Believe me, they will reach an agreement much more quickly without lectures from outside.”
2019-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8549 (2019) · source
“UNAMID was first deployed 12 years ago and has helped to deal with the acute phase of the crisis. An analysis of its activities will be extremely important for future peacekeeping operations. But the time has come to concentrate on the restoration and economic development of the region. That should be the international community's priority now. We are once again astonished to see a number of our colleagues around this table using this agenda item not to discuss the parameters for withdrawing a peacekeeping operation but to voice their opinions of the domestic political situation in the Sudan, despite the fact that only a few days ago there was a clear appeal for refraining from any external interference in the agreed Security Council press statement (SC/13836) as well as the African Union communique.”
2019-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8549 (2019) · source
“The Secretary-General is openly sounding the alarm, calling for us to work together to deal with it. The budget deficits for peacekeeping operations are growing steadily. And what do we see? Despite all of that, some of our colleagues are calling insistently for putting the drawdown of an operation that costs more than half a billion dollars on hold. As a comparison, the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, whose closure our Western colleagues have been calling so loudly for despite the continuing tensions there, costs less than $40 million. What kind of savings is that? We are realists, of course. We understand that Darfur is facing many complex challenges. There are questions and problems that must be resolved. However, that is a job for peacebuilding, not peacekeeping.”
2019-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8549 (2019) · source
“I ask our colleagues to follow the spirit and letter of Security Council resolution 2429 (2018) and discuss the parameters for the peacekeepers' withdrawal. Nor can I ignore the fact that the discussion of their proposal for a technical rollover has only just begun at the expert level. We have not yet been able to engage in support of their text. Why should they fly in the face of Security Council practice by announcing this in an open meeting and anticipating the experts' work? It does them no credit and makes our work considerably harder. Moves like these display all the signs of megaphone diplomacy, which we thought we had all decided to do away with. I would also like to focus on another aspect. The ongoing discussions in the United Nations about the Organization's difficult financial situation are constant.”
2019-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8549 (2019) · source
“The overall trend in the situation in the regions that the Blue Helmets have already left has not changed. We believe that all of those arguments confirm that the Security Council was right in its decision to reduce the military component of UNAMID with the aim of fully drawing down the mission by the end of 2020. In proposing a technical rollover for UNAMID, the representatives of the United Kingdom and Germany even referred to the African Union Peace and Security Council's communique, but for some reason quoted it selectively. I would like to point out that in paragraph 10 of the communique, the Peace and Security Council approves the strategic assessment and the mission's future drawdown. I see no reason why we should call for any other course of action.”
2019-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8549 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank Under-Secretary-General Jean- Pierre Lacroix for his briefing on the state of affairs in Darfur and on the main conclusions of the strategic assessment of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). We also listened carefully to Assistant Secretary-General Andrew Gilmour's report on the human rights situation in the region. We share the conclusions in the joint strategic assessment of the Secretariat and the African Union Commission regarding the fact that there is a noticeable improvement in the security situation in Darfur. The various clashes with the Sudan Liberation Army/Abdul Wahid in Jebel Marra do not change that. We are also seeing a degree of normalization on the humanitarian front.”
2019-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8549 (2019) · source
“The links between the terrorists operating in Mali and in the region as a whole are becoming increasingly clear. In that regard, we support the concrete steps that the countries of the Group of Five for the Sahel have been taking to form a joint force to combat terrorism and organized crime, and we hope that their role in ensuring regional security will increase.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8547 (2019) · source
“We believe that Mali's law-enforcement agencies will be working more actively to suppress the illegal activities of sanctioned individuals, as well as others sabotaging the political process. We support the activities of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, which is playing an important role in stabilizing the country. We believe that it is important not to undermine its effectiveness. We call on our colleagues to take a balanced approach to deciding on its future. The situation in Mali is an important factor in African security as a whole. However, it is very unlikely that peace can be achieved there without normalizing the situation in the region. The issue of Libya continues to play a negative role in this.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8547 (2019) · source
“We welcome the efforts of Bamako, Mali's political stakeholders and the Platform coalition and Coordination des mouvements de l'Azawad signatory groups to implement the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali. We hope they will strictly respect the timeline for implementing its key provisions with regard to the reconstitution of Mali's security forces, administrative and territorial reforms and the preparations for a constitutional referendum. Any delay in that regard will only exacerbate the existing threats and the country's vulnerability in the face of the destabilizing forces represented by terrorists, organized criminals and ideological extremists. At the same time, we call on our colleagues not to impose additional restrictive measures. It is important to allow the existing sanctions regime to prove its effectiveness.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8547 (2019) · source
“Militants are intentionally trying to gain the support of local residents by skilfully playing on existing disputes. It will be crucial to restore the Government presence there if those challenges are to be dealt with. The worsening humanitarian situation is extremely worrying, and the number ofpeople in need ofassistance is increasing. We urge all external donors to fund the humanitarian appeal as quickly as possible. We should point out that when the situation seems hopeless, Mali's young people have no option but to join the ranks of terrorist, extremist or criminal groups. In that regard, it will be crucial to ensure that the efforts in the country's central and northern areas to stimulate economic and investment activity and restore social services do not let up.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8547 (2019) · source
“That tragic event, like the equally tragic attack on the village of Ogossagou in March, demonstrated once again the magnitude and gravity of the threats facing the country and the region, as well as their vulnerability to the destabilizing forces represented by terrorists, organized criminals and ideological extremists. The developments in the situation in Mali in general are very worrying. We have seen that the number of terrorist attacks on both military personnel and civilians has increased in the past few months. Human rights violations are rampant. In central Mali, inter-ethnic and intercommunal conflicts continue to simmer and sometimes flare up. It appears that the issue here is not merely the centuries-old differences between the nomadic and settled populations.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8547 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We welcome Mr. Tiebile Drame, Minister for Foreign Affairs ofMali, to today's meeting, and we thank Mr. Mahamat Saleh Annadif, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for his briefing. At the outset, we would like to express our condolences to the Government and the people of Mali regarding the terrible tragedy in the village of Sobame- Da, where approximately 100 innocent civilians were killed as a result of an inter-ethnic clash on 10 June. We hope that those responsible for it will be found and duly punished.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8547 (2019) · source
“In conclusion, I would like to underscore that many of the world's problems today could be avoided if some of our colleagues on the Security Council genuinely made the interests of the States they say they want to help their top priority rather than lecturing them and inflicting sanctions and coercive unilateral economic measures on them. Such unilateral approaches, founded on blind faith in one's own exceptional status and righteousness and on an unwillingness to listen to the views of others, not only prevent the Security Council from reaching agreement on collective approaches but also undermine the authority of the United Nations. If we can deal with this kind of erroneous and short- sighted behaviour, our Organization's potential with regard to issues of conflict prevention and mediation would increase significantly.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“We see excellent possibilities for developing partnerships between the United Nations and these organizations, which are expanding their political authority and their contribution to strengthening regional and international security. While we too are ready to work together with others to develop preventive diplomacy, we believe that prevention should not be seen as a panacea for all ills, and it cannot become a pretext for interfering in the internal affairs of sovereign States. Their consent to this kind of United Nations involvement is a key criterion for us.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“That is something that the leadership of the African Union (AU) should truly be proud of. In that context, I want to single out the AU's efforts with regard to the Central African Republic and South Sudan, although there is still much work to be done, needless to say. We value the work of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, which is founded on the principles of neutrality, objectivity and cooperation with the Governments of the States of Central Asia and focused on cooperation with regional integration organizations such as the Eurasian Economic Community, the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“The good-offices missions of the Secretary-General and his Special Envoys and Representatives continue to prove that they are needed. However, we believe it is important to ensure that United Nations mediators are chosen based on objective criteria and with respect for regional balance. It is also important to take advantage of the potential of regional and subregional organizations, in line with Chapter VIII of the Charter. Regional mediators' thorough knowledge of the nuances of local conflicts enables a more accurate understanding of a situation and therefore makes it possible to put forward objective, realistic proposals for bringing the parties' positions closer together. We are particularly pleased about the fact that African countries are actively taking the initiative to address the continent's problems.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“Today the same approach is being applied to Venezuela, where the acute phase of the crisis began as a result of external pressure through sanctions and direct foreign interference. Not surprisingly, the most successful mediation efforts there are being conducted by States that have been smart enough not to take sides in Venezuela's internal confrontation. Success in crisis prevention and resolution can be achieved only through a painstaking collective quest for political and diplomatic solutions, based on a direct, inclusive dialogue between the parties involved. As the most authoritative and representative organization in the world, the United Nations is perfectly situated to play a central role in international mediation efforts.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“Each situation requires a delicate, balanced and impartial approach and a patient search for a solution, and that is why one-size-fits-all solutions are not useful in this area. We firmly believe that international assistance can be provided only with the consent of the parties to the dispute. It must be impartial and free of preconditions. Double standards and veiled political games designed to overthrow legitimate authorities are also unacceptable. Unfortunately, such situations are not uncommon today, which understandably compels States to be suspicious about mediation. We need only cite the examples of Iraq, Libya and Syria. The international community is still dealing with the consequences of the crises in those countries, the result of shameless foreign invasions. But some learn nothing from history.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“They reside first and foremost in Chapters I and VI of the Charter and in the resolutions of Member States, particularly resolution 2171 (2014), which enshrines the fundamental principles of international assistance in this area. In the past few years the Secretariat, the Security Council and some regional and subregional organizations have made considerable efforts to analyse the causes of crises and ways to prevent them. Despite that, there is no universal or exhaustive list of conflict indicators. That is not surprising, because the Council's practical experience has shown that every situation has its own unique set of factors influencing its development, which means that there is no universal formula for solving problems.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We welcome you, Sir, as President of the Security Council and thank you for organizing today's meeting. Mediating and preventing the conflicts that threaten international peace and security is indeed one of the most pressing tasks of the United Nations and of global politics as a whole. We are grateful to Secretary- General Antonio Guterres and to the Chair and Deputy Chair of The Elders, Ms. Mary Robinson and Mr. Ban Ki-moon, for their statements. There can be no doubt about the importance of strengthening the capacity of the United Nations for preventing conflicts. The Charter ofthe United Nations and the resolutions of the States Members of the United Nations provide all the necessary tools in that regard.”
2019-06-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8546 (2019) · source
“It is also clear to us after today's meeting that those who fly in the face of common sense and the deteriorating situation on the ground by insisting on reducing the time allocated to discussion of the Kosovo issue in the Security Council have been utterly shamed. Our discussion has once again affirmed that without the Security Council's close attention, the Kosovo Albanian authorities will end up having total faith in their impunity and ability to do as they please, which risks driving the region into a new bloody clash, something that neither Council members nor the leadership of Serbia and its neighbours want.”
2019-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8541 (2019) · source
“In that connection, we would like to remind the Council of a key agreement reached within that framework on the formation of a community of Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo, which the Kosovo Albanian authorities have been sabotaging for the past six years. Implementing that key element of the First Agreement of Principles Governing the Normalization of Relations between Kosovo and Serbia, signed in Brussels on 19 April 2013, is a crucial indicator for the possibility of any future substantive discussions. We want to draw the Secretariat's attention to the importance of carefully monitoring developments in the situation, which, as the facts I have stated show, requires a Close watch on the part of the international community.”
2019-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8541 (2019) · source
“What is the true reason for that base's existence? Could it be a stealthy way to pull Kosovo into NATO? Russia's position on the Kosovo settlement is well known. We support Belgrade and Pristina in arriving at a viable and mutually acceptable solution on the basis of resolution 1244 (1999). In our view, forcing a so-called final normalization between Belgrade and Pristina and tying it to any artificial deadlines is destructive. A sustainable solution to the Kosovo problem is not possible without the endorsement not only of the parties concerned but also of the Security Council, as this is a matter related to the maintenance of international peace and security. There is no alternative to dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.”
2019-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8541 (2019) · source
“This entire flurry of anti-Serb actions is designed to overcome Kosovo's permanent internal political impasse in Kosovo and is a reflection of the fractured relations between clans in Pristina, which the representatives of various Kosovo Albanian political forces have themselves spoken about frankly. We continue to insist that the decision made on 14 December 2018 by the so-called Parliament to transform the Kosovo Security Force into a fully fledged army is a flagrant violation of resolution 1244 (1999), which includes a totally clear requirement that any armed Kosovo Albanian groups must be demilitarized and permits only international forces to have a presence on Kosovan territory. We would like to point to the lack of transparency in the activities of the NATO Bondsteel military facility in Kosovo.”
2019-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8541 (2019) · source
“The so-calledKosovo Albanian Government, led by Ramush Haradinaj, is keeping to its course of exacerbating the crisis and is clearly unwilling to hold a substantive dialogue. The calls from Brussels for normalizing relations, which for some reason are addressed to both parties, only strengthen one party's feeling that everything is permitted, pushing it to take maximalist approaches with no room for compromise outcomes. The 100 per cent tariffs on goods from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina that Kosovo imposed in November are still in force, and we view the so-called Kosovo Assembly's resolution on Serbian genocide, adopted on 16 May, in the same context, something that serves only to incite hatred between the two peoples.”
2019-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8541 (2019) · source