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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“In that connection, we note the key role that the United Nations integrated strategy for the Sahel will play in tackling those tasks. Russia is considering the possibility of establishing effective cooperation with the G-5 Sahel States in addressing their core regional problems. We are already providing military and technical assistance to a number of States in the region and helping to train military and police personnel. We will continue to contribute to strengthening the military potential of the G-5 Sahel military forces so that their Joint Force can become an effective instrument for restoring and maintaining peace in West Africa.”
2018-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8266 (2018) · source
“In that regard, we call on the external donors that have made respective pledges, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, in the framework of its mandate, and the G-5 Sahel countries to resolve these issues as quickly as possible. We believe firmly in the importance of further coordinated steps on the part of both African States and the international community for combating extremism in the Sahel-Sahara region. Clearly this evil cannot be eradicated through purely military means. It will be important to work effectively to counter the expansion of extremist ideology, deal effectively with the acute socioeconomic problems of the countries of the region and strengthen their State institutions.”
2018-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8266 (2018) · source
“The completion of staffing capacity at headquarters is in its final stages and mechanisms for financing it are in place. We expect concrete plans for continuing joint operations against the militias to be announced very soon. At the same time, we were disturbed to hear that the process of forming the G-5 Sahel units has slowed down recently. Progress has not been made in setting up military bases and providing them with adequate quantities ofweapons, which will have a serious impact on the forces' readiness to counter the current threats. Those issues will not be resolved without ensuring stable and predictable funding for the Sahel States' joint military structures that are being put in place in the region.”
2018-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8266 (2018) · source
“The forces of international terrorism in the Sahel are stronger, unfortunately. They have ramped up their activity and are seeking to expand geographically. New radical groups and leaders are appearing. We know the reasons for this. One of the most important is the collapse of Libya as a State, which came about as a result of foreign interference in its internal affairs. We believe that if the situation there is not normalized, it will be difficult to stabilize the Sahel sustainably. We welcome the 2017 initiative of the States of the G-5 for the Sahel to create the Joint Force to combat terrorism and organized crime. A lot has been achieved during the past year on the practical front. Two successful military operations have been conducted.”
2018-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8266 (2018) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank Ms. Bintou Keita, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, for her very informative briefing. We listened to the statement delivered by the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, Mr. Joao Vale de Almeida, with interest. The African view of the problems of the region set out by Mr. Maman Sidikou, Permanent Secretary of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel), and Ms. Fatima Kyari Mohammed, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations, deserves extremely serious attention from the member States of the Security Council. We agree with their alarming assessments that the level of the threats to security and stability in that part of Africa is unprecedentedly high.”
2018-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8266 (2018) · source
“In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that we are determined to strengthen our cooperation with all responsible members of the international community in order to maintain and enhance the role of international law and to establish of a just and equitable order based on international law.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“In addition to the principles of non-interference, the sovereign equality of States, the non-use of force, the inadmissibility of unilateral measures and the extraterritorial application of national law by States in violation of international law, it gives considerable attention to the principle of the peaceful settlement of disputes. The declaration affirms our firm commitment to that principle and our beliefthat States are obliged to settle disputes with the help of means and mechanisms for resolving disputes agreed on between them. In order to maintain the world order, it is crucial to ensure that all such means and mechanisms are used in good faith and that their aims are not undermined by abuses.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“Washington's gross violations of the conventions on diplomatic and consular relations and the United Nations Headquarters Agreement have become commonplace. This is a serious problem that is hanging over the entire Organization and each of its members. I want to stress that this is not a matter of our bilateral relations with the United States, it is a violation of international law. Russia has always believed in the importance of strengthening the rule of law at the international level. In 2016, together with China, we developed a joint declaration on enhancing the role of international law.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“The issue of the United States authorities' abuse of the benefits of the existence on its territory of the Headquarters of our global Organization has now also appeared on the agenda. This is about the undisguised imposition of sanctions on delegations. The recent large-scale expulsion of Russian diplomats, including those working for the United Nations, is a blatant case of that, but not the only one, unfortunately. This is about the seizure ofRussian real estate on United States territory, including parts of the Permanent Mission to the United Nations, restrictions on the freedom of movement for diplomats from a number of missions to a 25-mile-radius zone and numerous delays in issuing and extending visas.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“The way it became part ofRussia was in full compliance with international law and specifically the right to self- determination. That issue is settled. In anticipation of the Ukrainian delegation's statement, which will certainly not be distinguished by having anything new to say, I will just state in advance that we will not react to such insinuations. Today I am obliged to touch on another topic, directly related to the work of the diplomatic corps accredited to the United Nations. The United States authorities, in their belief in their own impunity, recently took their unilateral actions so far as to rewrite even the rules of diplomatic and consular relations.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“Today in this Chamber our Polish Presidents spoke about Ukraine and were embarrassed to talk about the fact that in Kyiv today they glorify those fighting on Hitler's side who took part in the murders of hundreds of thousands of Poles, Jews and Russians during the Second World War. Are they not therefore tacitly agreeing with the propaganda about the gravest crimes and at the same time denying the decisions of Nuremberg? If for political or any other reasons they can allow themselves not to notice this, we have no such inhibitions. Of course, it is much easier to blame everything on Russia than to get Kyiv to launch a dialogue with its own citizens in eastern Ukraine. We have no intention of listening to lectures about Crimea.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“What is astonishing is that those same actors take it on themselves to lecture States on the rules of conduct in the international arena. They long ago lost the moral right to tell others what to do. The internal crisis inUkraine is another consequence of external players' gross violation of international law, in this case the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of States. It is well known that the opposition movement, which took the form of an unconstitutional coup and the Kyiv regime's war on its own people, was inspired from outside. The result has been general chaos and lawlessness, economic collapse and rampant nationalism and extremism that threaten even Ukraine's neighbours. And, shamefully, everyone turns a blind eye to it.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“Ultimately, what we have is three permanent members of the Security Council - founders of the United Nations and nuclear Powers, in theory obliged to uphold the provisions of the Charter on the non-use of force - committing an act of aggression against a sovereign State. And many more in the Council went along with it and shielded them. Is it really not clear that if such antics are left unanswered, similar lawless actions could be taken tomorrow against those who stayed silent today? And it is in circumstances such as these and with this kind of behaviour by external actors that the United Nations and its Security Council are compelled to work on a political settlement in the Middle East generally and in Syria in particular.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“Their illegality from the point of view of international law is so obvious that the people in those countries' capitals are themselves clearly aware of it all. It seems that was exactly what the President of Poland was talking about today when he urged us not to be shy about calling acts of aggression by their names. And that is what I am doing now. The only country that has attempted to explain anything is the Government of Great Britain. London could not come up with anything better than a reference to the concept of humanitarian intervention as essential to preventing the suffering of the Syrian people. But we all know that the world community has rejected that even as an abstract theory. Attempting to present it as some kind of rule that can permit an armed attack on a sovereign State is all the more absurd.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“Even if we imagine that a country may have theoretically committed some violation, we all know that armed reprisals are prohibited in international law. We would like to point out that the use of military force against a State is permitted only when sanctioned by the Security Council or for self-defence, as paragraph 4 of Article 2 and Article 51 of the Charter clearly state in one of its best known and most widely cited provisions. Today we will be circulating the statement that our President made on 14 April on the matter as a Security Council document. In the circumstances, it is not surprising that we have not seen the United States, Britain and France make any special efforts to come up with some sort of justification for their actions on 14 April.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“First, let us ask ourselves what was and still is the reason for the military presence of the United States and the coalition it leads in Syria. As we all know, they were not invited by the country's legitimate authorities, which with the help of friendly States are themselves fighting terrorism quite effectively. In the early stages, the coalition partners made awkward references to self-defence against terrorism. Now, however, they increasingly justify being uninvited guests with references to the aims of so-called geopolitical stabilization. And as for international law, the West long ago came up with a formula for that - "illegal but legitimate". This international legal nihilism culminated in the aggression against Syria on 14 April. It is not just the fact that the pretext was cooked up beforehand and was a crude fake.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“It appears as if that these States have continued to cling to a colonial attitude that divides countries into two categories - those that possess every right and those to which the standards for such rights do not apply. That is why we see blackmail, threats and provocations - all the way to the unlawful use offorce against sovereign States - raised to the level of Government policy. Our partners from Equatorial Guinea spoke of that blackmail today, and we share their concerns. Such things are unacceptable. They do serious damage to regional and global stability and lead to the spread of extremist and terrorist ideology. All of that keeps the world in a state of permanent tension and makes it less and less predictable. An analysis of recent events in Syria is extremely revealing in that regard.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“The principles of good faith and cooperation among States are being increasingly replaced by military, sanctions-based or political pressure, taking the world back to an era before the Charter, when all disputes between States were resolved by force. Some States still believe that the whole world should live according to their model, their domestic laws and principles, their national interests. The old notions of exceptionalism and domination remain unchanged at the heart of their approach to international affairs. Their reckless, opportunistic attempts to impose their will on the other participants in intergovernmental relations never cease even for a moment.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“These and other rules were designed to rid the world of the terrible legacy of the Second World War and the errors of the past. The Charter of the United Nations and the developing international law based on it created a firm foundation for intergovernmental relations. It all seemed so simple. Live and let live, and help those who ask for help. But in spite of that, as the Polish presidency rightly noted in the concept note for today's meeting (S/2018/417, annex), violations of international law continue in many parts of the world. I would add that to this day it is not just specific norms and rules that are violated but rather the founding principles of international law.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“It also enshrines the founding principles and norms of international relations, from the sovereign equality of States and prohibition of interference in their domestic affairs to the ban on the use of force in international relations without permission from the Security Council or beyond the purposes of self-defence. In Russia we have always considered international legitimacy as a fundamental aspect of stable peace and security. As far back as 1899, Emperor Nicholas II initiated the first Peace Conference at The Hague, which not only instituted the codification of the rules for the conduct of war but also the procedures for the pacific settlement of international disputes. Our country also made a significant contribution to the Nuremberg principles, which became a milestone civilizational standard.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): The Russian delegation would like to welcome today's discussion and thank our Polish colleagues for this initiative. We are also grateful to today's briefers, Ms. Viotti and Judges Owada and Meron, for their opinions. There is no question that the topic of today's meeting is important and timely. It harks back to the origins ofthe United Nations and the League ofNations, to their forefathers and the foundations they created for international relations, now enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. The Preamble to the Charter proclaims that the peoples of the United Nations are determined "to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained".”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“We note with satisfaction UNIOGBIS'S efforts supporting the authorities in preparing the assembly. We would like to draw special attention to the importance of combating transnational crime and drug trafficking in the region. The efforts that Mr. Fedotov spoke about deserve our full support. We would like to thank the Economic Community of West African States for promoting a political settlement of the political crisis in Guinea-Bissau. At the same time, we believe that any agreements concerning the country's future and its arrangements should be based on the aspirations of its citizens themselves, without any pressure or the imposition of ready-made solutions from the outside. Responding to truly national interests is the only way that they can play a positive role in the country's ability to emerge from a prolonged crisis.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8261 (2018) · source
“We welcome the formation of a consensus Government, whose members, we understand, are acceptable to all the main political forces in Guinea-Bissau. We support the work of the country's leadership in preparing for the parliamentary elections scheduled for November. We expect the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) to provide effective support for the electoral processes, in line with its mandate established pursuant to resolution 2404 (2018). We have taken note ofthe plans to convene a national assembly on issues related to a review of the Constitution in the near future. We believe that will be extremely important from the point of View of formulating proposals for reforming the country's founding laws and avoid any future repetition of the current political turbulence.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8261 (2018) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Taye-Brook Zerihoun; Mr. Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; and 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, for their informative briefings. We also welcome the appointment of Mr. Jose Viegas Filho as Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Guinea- Bissau and wish him success in his work. We note the significant progress that has been made in resolving the political crisis in Guinea-Bissau since the appointment of Prime Minister Aristides Gomes by President Jose' Mario Vaz in early April.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8261 (2018) · source
“In conclusion, I would like to once again assure the Council of Russia's willingness to support any diplomatic efforts that can bring an end to the miseries of the Syrian people and peace to that long-suffering land.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“Before they blame Russia or Iran, I would like to ask what the reason is for the presence of United States forces in Syria and what their real objective is. The territories under their control have become grey areas where extremists of various stripes and real terrorists roam freely. In particular, what is going on with the several hundred ISIL followers who are being held by forces loyal to the United States under United States oversight in the region beyond the Euphrates? They are not being investigated, and nor are they being returned to their countries of origin. We are worried that ISIL will re-emerge in those areas when the United States withdraws from them, which it must do sooner or later.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“For example, how can we be sure that reckless and illegal actions similar to those that occurred a month ago will not be repeated on some other trumped-up pretext? The reckless conduct of a number of international and regional players who claim to have common sense has considerably slowed progress regarding a settlement of the situation in Syria. If they cannot or will not help us with that, they should at least not interfere. In conclusion, I would like to touch briefly on the remarks by my American colleague. Basically, more than half of her statement was about Iran, not Syria, and Syria is the item on our agenda today, after all. I would also like to ask the Americans some questions we have about that.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“A large-scale operation to eliminate ISIL is being conducted in the eastern part of Syria with the aim of completely defeating the terrorists based in hard-to-reach desert areas, who have been increasing their attacks on Government forces in the Euphrates region and Homs province. We will continue the difficult work of restoring peace in Syria. Frankly, we are disturbed by some international and regional actors" disrespectful attitude to the issue of Syrian sovereignty, of which we have recently seen alarming manifestations. It is important to understand that this will not help to normalize the situation in Syria or the region as a whole. It fuels the conflict and reduces the prospects for a political settlement.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“Government forces and Palestinian volunteers, with aerial and artillery support, have continued to combat fierce resistance from terrorist detachments in the Palestinian refugee camp in Yarmouk. The militias wounded several dozen civilians in mortar strikes on residential areas in the north-east area of the camp. In the past week, the territory held by the illegal armed groups in Yarmouk has been significantly reduced. The Syrian army's assault on ISIL positions in Deir ez-Zor province has also been ramped up. ISIL's adherents have incurred considerable losses in manpower and equipment and have been driven out of an area of about 1,500 square kilometres.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“Russian specialists are helping the Syrian authorities to restore civilian infrastructure. Mines are being cleared, socially significant facilities are being rebuilt and electricity and water services are being restored. In eastern Ghouta, some 65,000 residents previously evacuated from the area have returned to their homes. However, in some other regions where the Syrian Government lacks access, the situation has continued to deteriorate. That is especially true of the Rukban and Al-Tuwaihina refugee camps, as well as the former ISIL capital, Raqqa, where the humanitarian situation is disastrous. Measures must be taken to rectify it without delay. The solution is simple - restore Damascus's sovereignty over those territories as soon as possible.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“Concerted efforts by the guarantor countries are bringing us steadily closer to eliminating the presence of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Jabhat Al-Nusra and other terrorist groups altogether. The recent situation in Syria has continued to be difficult. The guarantor countries' efforts are certainly not being helped by provocative initiatives from external actors, which merely strengthen radical sentiments among groups opposing the legitimate Government and fuel their reluctance to work for negotiated solutions. In Damascus, the operation to liberate the southern regions and suburbs of the capital from ISIL-affiliated groups continues, but Yalda, Babila and Bayt Saham are now fully under the Syrian authorities' control and civilian life there is returning.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“The consultations with the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General and the Syrian parties will continue, with a View to establishing the conditions conducive to starting the work of a constitutional committee in Geneva as soon as possible, whose parameters will have to be agreed on by the Syrians themselves. We will get nowhere without their consensus, so there is no point in proposing artificial frameworks for the process, especially ifthey are based on provisional plans of some kind. Thanks to the Astana process, we have succeeded in generating momentum for a political process based on intra-Syrian talks under the auspices of the United Nations, although, as we have noted, the triple alliance's aggression against the Syrian Arab Republic has significantly limited the room for manoeuvre in that regard.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“A second meeting was held ofthe working group on the liberation of detainees and hostages to discuss the handover of the bodies of the dead and the search for missing persons, with the participation of experts from the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The importance of continuing joint efforts with the aim of building trust among the conflicting parties in Syria was emphasized. The Syrian Government declared its willingness to engage with the working group and decided to appoint a special representative on issues related to its work. In line with the provisions ofresolution 2254 (2015), the meeting affirmed its determination to continuing to promote a political settlement by helping to implement the recommendations of the Syrian National Dialogue Congress held in Sochi.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“The meeting in Astana considered concrete measures for resolving a number of political and humanitarian issues and analysed the situation in the de-escalation zones, which play a key role in maintaining the ceasefire regime, reducing the level of violence and generally stabilizing the situation in Syria. The importance was noted of increasing efforts to help all Syrians and restore normal civilian life and, to that end, of providing fast, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and essential humanitarian and medical assistance, and creating the conditions needed to enable the safe and voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes, as well as people's freedom of movement.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“Furthermore, her statement had an odd, confrontational tone that I felt certainly did not correspond to the message that Mr. De Mistura wanted to convey to all of us today, which is that it will be important for diplomacy to function if the peace that the Syrians have awaited for so long is to finally be established on the ground. Unlike some Security Council member States, which prefer taking unilateral measures to finding ways to solve problems, Russia is focusing on steps to genuinely improve the situation on the ground and advance the prospects for a political settlement. As Mr. De Mistura already noted, the ninth meeting of the participants in the Astana process concluded yesterday in the capital of Kazakhstan, and the guarantors adopted a joint statement. We are grateful to the leadership of Kazakhstan for its steadfast support.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank Mr. De Mistura for his briefing. We can see that his personal participation in the meeting on Syria in Astana enabled him to make it a substantive one. We appreciated his call for active diplomacy, which Russia has advocated for from the very beginning. We continue to make significant efforts to facilitate a political settlement in Syria despite the undermining effects ofthe aggressive action by the United States, the United Kingdom and France in April against a number of civilian structures in Syria. I discerned no sympathy about what happened there in the statement by my United States colleague, despite the fact that it was a blatant breach of international law and did absolutely nothing to advance any kind of a settlement.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“The support provided to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East continues to be indispensable. To sum up, we would like to note the following. Despite some international actors' ambitious plans and grandiose projects, neither the world generally nor the Middle East in particular has become any safer in recent years. There have been many unilateral actions that have flown in the face of international law and have only worsened the trends towards destabilization. The current situation in the Palestinian territories is a clear example of the fact that the situation is going in the wrong direction. In the past few days, unfortunately, our feeling that those who are taking these steps have no intention of changing their direction has strengthened.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“Russia has proposed its services as a mediator several times and has offered to host a summit between the leaders of Palestine and Israel in order to start a direct dialogue. The offer still stands. As recent events have shown, a vacuum in constructive international efforts is extremely dangerous. In particular, we think it is the right time to reactivate the engagement of the Middle East Quartet of international mediators, which, whatever anyone may say, remains a unique universal mediation format supported by Security Council resolutions. We welcome and support the inclusion in a Middle East settlement of constructively minded regional players, especially Egypt. We underscore the importance of the work being done by the United Nations and its specialized agencies in the occupied Palestinian territories and refugee camps.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“However, that does not stop the irresponsible politicians. The result is a Vicious cycle of Violence that begets Violence. In these explosive circumstances, we see the urgency of mobilizing the efforts of the international community to relaunch the political process between Palestinians and Israelis on the international legal basis that we are all familiar with, including the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the principles of the Arab Peace Initiative, which should enable the establishment of a two-State formula and the creation of an independent and a sovereign Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital. For our part, we will continue to consistently work to promote an Israeli- Palestinian settlement based on a two-State format approved by the international community.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“Unfortunately, those who undertake such actions are not only demonstrating that they are unwilling to see reason and stop, they are actively trying to provoke yet more States, increasing the risk of involving them in the destructive conflict in the Middle East. We reaffirm the right to peaceful protest and firmly condemn the indiscriminate use of force against civilians. We urge the parties to refrain from steps that could make the situation worse. The current events have once again shown that in the continuing political vacuum of the past four years or so, the calls for violent solutions and the revision of previously reached agreements are reverberating with an ever- more destructive resonance. They are exacting a real price, expressed in human lives, tears, ruined lives and dashed hopes.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“Security Council resolutions state unambiguously that all issues related to a definitive settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian situation can be resolved only through a direct dialogue between the leadership of Israel and Palestine. We believe that this also applies to Jerusalem, a city that should remain open to all representatives of the three monotheistic religions. Unilateral actions revising agreements affirmed decisions of the international community have become alarmingly frequent. It is obvious to us that they cannot contribute to achieving a just and lasting peace or, where a settlement in the Middle East is concerned, to realizing the national aspirations of the Palestinians and ensuring Israel's security.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I would like to begin by expressing my condolences to the families of the Palestinians who were killed in the Gaza Strip and wishing a speedy recovery to the wounded. We mourn together with the Palestinian people. We are grateful to Special Coordinator Nickolay Mladenov for his substantive briefing. Moscow is deeply concerned about the escalation of tension in the occupied Palestinian territories, which reached a dangerous level against the background of the ceremony marking the beginning of the transfer of the American Embassy from Tel Aviv, which coincided with Palestinians' commemoration of their day of catastrophe or Nakba. The number of victims is seriously worrying and we share the feelings expressed by our Security Council colleagues about it.”
2018-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8256 (2018) · source
“Bearing all of that in mind, I believe that in the course of the visit we were able to lay a pretty good foundation for the Bangladesh and Myanmar authorities to start actively resolving their problems with the concerned and constructive cooperation of the international community as a whole and the Security Council in particular. I would like to underscore that to do that it will be important to cherish and strengthen the unity of the Security Council, which enabled us to agree on a press statement fairly quickly. I hope that all Council members understand that and will not be tempted to use the situation to pursue their own domestic political aims. That would definitely not help to resolve the refugee crisis.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8255 (2018) · source
“We hope that all concerned will act responsibly and prudently in order to ensure that the crisis does not escalate once again. We are all well aware that the situation in the region is extremely precarious and that monsoon season is right around the corner, which could complicate things even further. However, we believe firmly that the ground has been prepared for a successful solution to the crisis. We have Ms. Christine Schraner Burgener, recently appointed as Special Envoy by Secretary- General Guterres, who must be given time to get things done. We have the understanding that Naypyidaw and Dhaka have expressed of the importance ofjoint efforts. Lastly, we have a unified Council, as expressed in our press statement.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8255 (2018) · source
“Politicizing the refugee crisis should be avoided. Any attempts by external actors to exploit it in order to achieve unrelated political aims are unacceptable. It is important to help Naypyidaw and Dhaka to reach a settlement that takes their concerns into account, including with regard to fighting extremism and terrorism, and that was our mission's main task. It will be crucial to create conditions that will enable the safe and dignified repatriation of refugees to their homes, and we believe that will be possible only through the constructive involvement of the authorities of both States in the process. In our View, it is essential to offer assistance to the Governments of Myanmar and Bangladesh in dealing with the Rakhine state crisis in a spirit of equality and mutual respect.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8255 (2018) · source
“It will be very important to ensure that Myanmar and Bangladesh consider accusations of sexual violence and abuses of human rights in the legal arena, based not on statements in the media or on social media but on evidence that both countries must come up with. More than once during the Security Council's visit, the Myanmar authorities stated that they had no intention of ignoring such issues or protecting the guilty. In order to expedite the related legal proceedings, Naypyidaw has proposed that refugees submit their claims to the courts in Myanmar, and they are ready to closely coordinate efforts with Dhaka to do that. We believe that is a step in the right direction and would be a concrete, practical measure towards combating impunity that will need the international community's support.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8255 (2018) · source
“We believe that humanitarian assistance to forced refugees should not be provided by imposing political conditions but rather should in strict accordance with United Nations principles, as defined by General Assembly resolution 46/182. First and foremost, we believe that this crisis must be resolved through bilateral negotiations between Myanmar and Bangladesh. Considering its scale, a rapid solution is unlikely. There are many sides to the complex and deep-seated problems in Rakhine state, which can be resolved only through exclusively peaceful political and diplomatic means, by establishing a dialogue between the Naypyidaw and Dhaka authorities and involving representatives of every faith and nationality. The international community should focus on helping the Governments of Myanmar and Bangladesh to find practical solutions.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8255 (2018) · source
“We would also like to commend the Myanmar authorities' systematic efforts to deal with the area's socioeconomic problems. As I have already said, we greatly appreciate the efforts of the Government of Bangladesh in taking on a very heavy burden and hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees from Myanmar in an extremely timely demonstration of solidarity. In that connection, the international community must provide appropriate support to the Dhaka authorities so that they can contain the acute humanitarian consequences of the crisis. Nor should we forget that Myanmar will also require similar support as refugees return. For its part, in 2018 and 2019 the Russian Federation will allocate resources to both countries through the World Food Programme.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8255 (2018) · source
“The Council was able to visit the most problematic areas and to talk openly with all parties, as I hope all my Security Council colleagues will confirm. The repeatedly expressed commitment of Myanmar officials to fully implementing the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission led by Kofi Annan and the provisions of the bilateral agreement with Bangladesh on the return of refugees is also grounds for some optimism. Separately, we should also to underscore the readiness of Naypyidaw to cooperate with United Nations humanitarian agencies and its partners, and the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Development Programme testifies to that. Another positive fact is the expansion of access to Rakhine state to foreign observers.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8255 (2018) · source
“We note that while the situation in the region remains difficult, in general it is under control. However, I would like to note the constructive attitude that Naypyidaw and Dhaka have shown in addressing this difficult situation, as well as their openness to dialogue and cooperation with the international community. All of us, without exception, have expressed our wholehearted solidarity with the Government and the people of Bangladesh, who have been dealing with unprecedented humanitarian crises and challenges, and yet who have opened their doors and hearts to hundreds of thousands of people in dire straits. Iwould also like to note that the Myanmar authorities did not try to conceal anything or avoid uncomfortable discussions. On the contrary, they demonstrated exceptional transparency.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8255 (2018) · source