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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“For example, in considering the draft of resolution 2410 (2018) on extending the mandate of the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti, the United States delegation refused to establish the importance of ensuring that all accusations of sexual violence by representatives of non-governmental organizations accredited with the United Nations are reported. In conclusion, I would like to note that we have not lost the hope that measures taken in the United Nations, including through today's discussions, will contribute to the goal of eliminating sexual and all other forms of violence against civilians in armed conflict and ultimately to resolving those conflicts to the benefit of international peace and security.”
2018-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8234 (2018) · source
“We would also like to emphasize separately that the zero-tolerance policy that the report welcomes should not operate on the principle of us versus them. Any efforts to exempt national peacekeeping contingents acting under Security Council mandates, or representatives of non-governmental organizations working in countries, from responsibility for committing such acts are unacceptable. In that regard, we want to point out that Paris has tried to sweep under the rug the examination of cases of sexual violence, including against children, by French soldiers during Operation Sangaris in the Central African Republic. Despite the fact that the investigation was supposedly carried out, no one was punished, as far as one can tell. That is outrageous. There are also other cases where a double standard is clearly applied.”
2018-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8234 (2018) · source
“At the same time, there is not a word about the substantive change in the security situation in Syria, of the fact that a greater part of its territory has been cleansed of terrorists, or that thanks to difficult, painstaking efforts, large numbers of civilians, a significant percentage of whom are women and children, some of them victims of sexual violence and abuse, have been liberated from the militias. For example, during a period of active fighting, some 165,000 people were evacuated from eastern Ghouta alone. We believe that a one-sided approach, a lack of full disclosure or a failure to mention objective realities can only harm the Special Representative's mandate and the effectiveness of her efforts to combat sexual violence in conflict.”
2018-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8234 (2018) · source
“Lastly and most importantly, this year we have seen ill-advised attempts to use the issue of sexual violence in conflict to resolve narrow political issues, something that is reflected in the country section of the report. In the section on Syria, in particular, the problem of atrocities against women and girls perpetrated by fighters from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and other terrorist organizations committing outrageous acts in Syria is very much glossed over. The evaluations and figures are presented in such a way that one must extrapolate to get the full picture. How should we interpret that? How will the militias and terrorists react to that timidity? Probably with the thought that their crimes are escaping the international community's attention and that they can continue them.”
2018-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8234 (2018) · source
“As we see it, what may at first seem to be mere technical differences actually run the risk of going beyond the Security Council's remit and infringing on the mandates of other United Nations bodies. It is essential for these purposes to differentiate between acts of sexual Violence as war crimes or similar criminal acts. Another trend we would also like to comment on is the growing emphasis in the report on human rights issues. We recall that sexual violence in conflict is first and foremost a violation of international humanitarian law. That is why both Government entities and non-Government participants in an armed conflict are obliged to ensure compliance with norms aimed at combating sexual violence, and this is something that should be monitored systematically.”
2018-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8234 (2018) · source
“First, as a general observation, if Special Representative Patten is to effectively carry out the tasks she has been set, she should make sure that she continues to stick strictly to her mandate. She should not divert her efforts and resources to the issues of gender equality overall, migration or violence against women generally. That does not mean that those problems are not important. They are, but they are not part of her mandate. Her focus should be on situations of armed conflict, and particularly those where sexual violence is occurring on a large scale. For several years now, we have been seriously concerned about attempts to broaden the interpretation of the scope of the Security Council's mandate on combating sexual violence in conflict by using a different term ~ "conflict-related sexual violence".”
2018-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8234 (2018) · source
“The statistics relating to the increase in sex crimes by members of terrorist groups is particularly disturbing. We urge States to cooperate more actively in dismantling the so-called shadow economy of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, which profits from trafficking in persons and sexual slavery, for instance. We hope that such crimes will be effectively documented and investigated, for which primary responsibility lies with the relevant authorities of the States on whose territory they are committed. We would also like to take a separate look at a number of positions presented in today's report (S/2OI8/250). Although we share most of its conclusions and recommendations, I feel it is important to draw attention to a number of worrying aspects.”
2018-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8234 (2018) · source
“There can also be no doubt that sexual violence is a consequence of conflict, including as a result of impunity for those who commit such crimes. In our View, therefore, eliminating sexual violence, as well as other forms of violence directed at civilians, can be achieved only by resolving armed conflicts by peaceful means and eradicating their root causes. We have traditionally supported the work of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict. In particular, we greatly appreciate her work on strengthening national capacity- building and developing dialogue with religious and other traditional leaders in addressing problems related to the stigmatization of victims of sexual violence and their rehabilitation. So far, unfortunately, we have failed to defeat the evil of violence.”
2018-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8234 (2018) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for organizing today's meeting, and to express our gratitude to the briefers for their interesting and useful information. I would particularly like to thank Ms. Razia Sultana for her interesting briefing, and I hope that during Council members' upcoming visit to Myanmar, in which we will be participating, we will learn more about the issue. Since the Security Council began to deal with the problem of sexual violence in conflict, almost 10 years ago, much has been achieved. First, it is now generally understood that sexual violence is a serious challenge rather than a collateral or secondary manifestation of individuals' baser instincts, exacerbated by situations involving armed conflict.”
2018-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8234 (2018) · source
“Much has been said about the reasons for the ongoing deplorable situation in the region, but one is truly worthy of special mention - the current state of affairs in Libya, the result of the overthrow of the Government in 2011. Because of it, a virtually unchecked flood of terrorism and weapons has been pouring out from there into West Africa. In that regard, we stand in solidarity with the opinions repeatedly expressed at the international conference on the Sahel, which concluded its work in Nouakchott on 29 March, that the Libyan crisis was not just the main trigger destabilizing the situation in the region but has continued to be a persistent negative factor in it. It is crucial that Member States remember that lesson for the future.”
2018-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8229 (2018) · source
“In that connection, we support the concrete steps taken by the Group of Five for the Sahel in establishing its Joint Force to combat terrorist groups and conducting their first successful operation on the ground. As I said, we have perused Mr. Skoog's report on the work of the 2374 Committee with interest. I would like to point out that in September of last year, Russia responded to Bamako's appeal by supporting the adoption of resolution 2374 (2017), establishing that subsidiary body of the Council. We believe that the direct use of sanctions should be a measure of last resort and that rushing to impose restrictions will hinder the entire settlement process. I would like to touch on one other issue.”
2018-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8229 (2018) · source
“We believe the work of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali is very important. We firmly condemn last week's attacks on its peacekeepers, which unfortunately claimed several lives. Such tragic events should mobilize us to finally bring the Mission up to full operational readiness. We realize that MINUSMA's successful implementation of its mandate depends in part on its Blue Helmets being provided with essential equipment. We urge the troop-contributing countries not to delay honouring the commitments that they have made not only regarding their deployment of contingents, but also in providing all the necessary equipment. It will be difficult to achieve domestic political stability without normalizing the situation in the region as a whole.”
2018-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8229 (2018) · source
“It will be particularly important to complete as soon as possible the process of re-establishing the civilian authorities and to use Government armed forces and local volunteers to establish joint patrols and military bases in the North, without which it will be impossible to combat terrorist activity. At the same time, of course, we must not lose sight of the country's central areas, where extremists have once again reared their heads. The problem of ensuring security is also a major issue with regard to the presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections to be held this year. It is in the interests of all those in the military and political forces working within the legal framework to ensure that the elections will run smoothly and be seen to be legitimate.”
2018-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8229 (2018) · source
“What can be done to counter it? First and foremost, all Malian stakeholders should acknowledge the fact that the speedy and comprehensive implementation of the 2015 Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali is in both their individual and national interests. In that regard, we welcome the promulgation of the updated road map for its implementation agreed to on 22 March between the Platform coalition of armed groups and the Coordination des mouvements de l'Azawad. We hope it will give new impetus to completing the process of distributing authority between the country's centre and its regions and to the successful and much-needed security-sector reform.”
2018-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8229 (2018) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I would first like to welcome Mr. Tieman Hubert Coulibaly, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Mali, and to thank him for finding the time to join our meeting. I also thank Mr. Mahamat Saleh Annadif, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), for his informative briefing on the situation in Mali, and our Swedish colleague, Mr. Olof Skoog, for his thorough report (S/2017/1126). On the whole, we share their concerns about the troubling developments in Mali and believe that the dangerous potential for conflict there remains. Unfortunately, the geographic extent of terrorist and extremist operations has been expanding, particularly recently.”
2018-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8229 (2018) · source
“In our view, the imposition of solutions, much less attempts to subjectively interpret agreements reached, are unacceptable. We believe that the responsibility for the normalization of the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is borne by the Congolese people themselves. In that regard, constructive external assistance can play a positive role. Above all, what is necessary is the energetic and robust mediation efforts, coordinated with the united nations of such regional organizations as the African Union, the Southern African Development Community and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region.”
2018-04-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8227 (2018) · source
“Djinnit, in cooperation with Special Representative Leila Zerrougui to do everything they can to make sure that the relevant provisions of resolution 2348 (2017) are implemented. We note the role of the Special Envoy in support of engagement in the region, in particular with private investors, with a view to generating momentum for economic cooperation among the countries of the region and building peace and trust among them. Many countries of the region are at the stage of actively building or reforming their democratic institutions. Some have entered the crucial pre-elections period. We believe that any domestic political solution in those countries should lead to long-term stability if it is arrived at and accepted by the participants in the political process themselves.”
2018-04-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8227 (2018) · source
“In that regard, we cannot help being concerned about the continuing mutual accusations, including about with regard to support for combatants and their recruitment of refugees into their ranks. We think that the countries involved should show maximum restraint and take steps to avoid any escalation, including by using the expanded Joint Verification Mechanism, as provided for in the Framework Agreement. Another challenge for the Framework Agreement is the issue of the presence of allies of Rick Machar, former Vice-President of South Sudan, on the territory of Democratic Republic of the Congo. We note the progress that has been made in addressing that situation, and we call on Mr.”
2018-04-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8227 (2018) · source
“Comprehensive measures are needed to address its root causes, including the strengthening of State authority and the restoration of social institutions in territories liberated by the rebels. We are concerned about the situation with respect to the repatriation of several hundred ex-combatants from the Mouvement du 23 mars (M-23) from Uganda and Rwanda to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Of course, the ongoing contacts between the Congolese authorities with the leadership of the M-23 are welcome news, but the lack of progress in this area has already led to recidivism on the part of ex-M-23 combatants WHO have infiltrated the Democratic Republic of the Congo from Uganda.”
2018-04-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8227 (2018) · source
“We should note that, five full years after its signing, the Framework Agreement's military provisions are still far from being implemented. We commend the efforts of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which remains committed to combating gangs and stabilizing the situation. We support full cooperation between Kinshasa and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in that area. However, the armed groups continue to be active in the country and in the region as a whole. Their activities prolong inter-ethnic conflicts, fuel illegal trafficking in weapons and worsen the humanitarian situation. It is clear that a military solution alone cannot resolve the conflict.”
2018-04-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8227 (2018) · source
“We advocate full compliance with all obligations by all the signatories of this still relevant document, including respect for sovereignty, non-interference in other countries' internal affairs and the strengthening of confidence-building measures among the countries of the subregion. In that regard, we support an early start to the operations of the Joint Follow-up Mechanism established by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to counter the Allied Democratic Forces. The fact that the Regional Oversight Mechanism among the countries of the region is holding regular meetings is a positive development and a testament to the fact that the structure is robust and can act independently and without external guidance.”
2018-04-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8227 (2018) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank Mr. Said Djinnit, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region of Africa, for his detailed briefing. We have also noted the statement of Mr. Raymond Bale, Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Congo and Chair of the Regional Oversight Mechanism. We concur with the views of colleagues that the Framework Agreement on Peace, Security and Cooperation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region is the cornerstone for ensuring stability in the Great Lakes region.”
2018-04-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8227 (2018) · source
“But regardless ofthat, we want to express our support to Port-au-Prince and affirm that Russia will continue to work to ensure that the results of the Security Council's efforts will help to truly normalize the situation in Haiti and strengthen its sovereignty and self-sufficiency.”
2018-04-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8226 (2018) · source
“In conclusion, I would like to point out that we are unfortunately witnesses to the fact that in their attempts to put pressure on everyone involved for no reason, some well-known Council members have once again ruined another consensus vote, despite the fact that there are already too few topics on which the Council has a united position. This time, colleagues decided to toughen their position on a country where the situation is evolving more or less positively, the United Nations Mission is functioning and there are hopes that it can be gradually drawn down. There is no way we can agree with that approach. As a result, the significance of today's decision is seriously undermined. Was it worth it? It might have been better to agree on a consensus- based resolution rather than moving it up by a week.”
2018-04-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8226 (2018) · source
“In this regard, we appeal to the Mission leadership and the Secretariat to inform the Council of known flagrant cases, for which the necessary tools exist. Since we believe that international support is critical to Haiti at this very important stage, we did not decide to block the resolution in its current form. The Mission will continue, in strict accordance with its mandate, to provide assistance to the host country in upholding the rule of law and strengthening the capacity of its law-enforcement bodies. However, for the reasons I have stated, we cannot support the resolution as it is written. We insist that invoking Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, if it is even applicable to the situation in Haiti, should be contemplated only as a last resort for issues of physical safety.”
2018-04-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8226 (2018) · source
“It is good that Under-Secretary-General Lacroix knows about the misunderstandings between the Head of the Mission and the host country, as he alluded to in his statement. There is one other worrying issue. A number of delegations that regularly and publicly express their full support for the United Nations zero-tolerance policy for sexual crimes have refused to help to implement it. The result is that the resolution overlooks crimes in which representatives of non-governmental organizations accredited to the United Nations are involved, despite the fact that Haitian society has desperately urged the international community to focus on the problem. We have heard no intelligible explanations for such double standards.”
2018-04-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8226 (2018) · source
“I would like to remind the Council that a week ago, most of those States advocated strengthening Haitians' sense of national responsibility and the importance of the Mission's cooperation with the Government. But in fact the resolution ignores the position of Port- au-Prince on this crucial issue, which is well known, since the Security Council visited Haiti very recently. We also cannot help noticing the increasingly critical attitude to the United Nations Mission on the part of the people of Haiti. That is an extremely worrying fact that should be attended to as a matter of priority. We believe that such approaches will not contribute to the effectiveness of the Mission's work. We are already seeing corresponding signs that are cause for concern.”
2018-04-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8226 (2018) · source
“I would like to ask those who supported this approach what has changed in the human rights situation, in a country where for a long time there has been no armed conflict, so that it has suddenly become a threat to international peace and security. Or is this another attempt to use the Security Council to put pressure on a sovereign State? It looks very like yet another effort to speculate on the subject of human rights in one of the world's most important international forums, established exclusively to discuss the most dangerous threats to international peace. There can be no question that the situation in Haiti bears no relation to that.”
2018-04-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8226 (2018) · source
“It has been done that way in other cases as well, for example in resolution 2386 (2017), on Abyei, which, by the way, was also initiated by our American colleagues. The new Mission in Haiti is focused on helping the Government to strengthen its own capacity and to monitor human rights. This year, despite all the discussions about the speedy transfer of the Mission's functions to the host Government, several Council members decided to up the pressure and did so in an inexplicable hurry, presenting the draft in blue more than a week before the expiry of the Mission's mandate. Why did the authors not use that time to hold a thorough discussion and find an acceptable consensus?”
2018-04-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8226 (2018) · source
“Jean-Pierre Lacroix, after his visit to Haiti. Nevertheless, during the work on the draft of resolution 2410 (2018) extending the mandate of the Mission, we were surprised to find that the authors had decided to toughen a key provision of the document that had remained unchanged since the peacekeeping presence in Haiti began in 2004, which is the reference to the procedure for the application of Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, which provides for the use of sanctions and military force. For the past 14 years, the peacekeeping presence in the country operated under Chapter VII year after year, but its application was carefully limited to the specific tasks of ensuring the physical security of the civilian population and the peacekeepers themselves.”
2018-04-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8226 (2018) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I would like to begin my statement in explanation of vote with words of support for Haiti and our hopes that we will see it sustainably stabilized as soon as possible. I am not going to repeat what I said a week ago on the subject (see S/PV.8220), but will recall only that almost all the speakers on 3 April noted the encouraging developments in the situation in Haiti and mentioned the possibility of the peacekeeping mission's gradual withdrawal and transfer of authority to the Government of Haiti. The latest report (S/2018/241) of the Secretary-General on the activities of the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH) contained similar sentiments that were affirmed by the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Mr.”
2018-04-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8226 (2018) · source
“In conclusion, I would like to affirm our support to the Government and the people of Haiti, who have to overcome the destructive legacies of natural disasters as well as their domestic problems on their road to stability and prosperity. In order to ensure that they can recover more quickly, they need a strong State and a cohesive society through whose joint efforts they can build and strengthen Haiti's potential.”
2018-04-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8220 (2018) · source
“Any such reports should be investigated and those found to be responsible should not escape the punishment they deserve. The Council will soon have to agree on the draft resolution that will extend the Mission's mandate for a year. In accordance with its mandate, the Mission will continue to assist the host country in ensuring the rule of law and strengthening the capacity of its law-enforcement bodies. The Council must be certain that adequate account is taken of the realities of the country's situation, including with regard to the Mission's structure, something that the Secretary- General also brings up in his report.”
2018-04-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8220 (2018) · source
“We are pleased with the Secretary-General's information on the gradual improvement in the security situation and the falling crime statistics, including for sexual offences. We hope that the strengthening of the National Haitian Police's numbers to reach a total of 15,300 personnel, 9 per cent of whom are women, will help to achieve even greater progress. Against that background, the reports by representatives of Haitian civil society of sexual crimes committed by representatives of foreign non-governmental organizations are extremely worrying, and in the context of the ongoing efforts within the United Nations to combat such shocking offences, we urge the Mission not to ignore such scandalous examples. These are very grave crimes that tarnish the image of international support generally.”
2018-04-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8220 (2018) · source
“That thorough, painstaking support is vital to the Government, which, taking the Haitian people's views into consideration, must strive to identify its priorities and tasks on the security, politics, development and peacebuilding fronts. We should add that it is just as important to ensure that all national stakeholders understand the concept of shared responsibility for sustaining peace. The ongoing serious humanitarian situation is still very worrying, since Haiti is still grappling with the effects of Hurricane Matthew. Also, despite the fact that people who were obliged to move to neighbouring States are now returning to Haiti is a very good sign, their growing numbers represent a special responsibility for the leadership of a country where 1 million people still need humanitarian aid.”
2018-04-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8220 (2018) · source
“The gradual, step-by-step progress has enabled the Council to begin to carefully consider the Secretary-General's preliminary proposal for establishing benchmarks for the Mission's exit preparedness and handing over its functions directly to the Government and the United Nations country team. In that regard, as with any other peacekeeping operation, it is important at every stage to take into account not only the views of the host Government but also the principle of national ownership. However, there is still a great deal of work to do, both for the country's authorities, which are being called on to become more self-reliant and independent of international support every day, as well as for the United Nations staff whose job is to provide them with the maximum support.”
2018-04-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8220 (2018) · source
“In that regard, we are closely monitoring the implementation of President Jovenel Moise's Caravan of Change initiative. Coordinated and collaborative work on the part of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of power will be crucial to overcoming the country's internal problems and laying a firm foundation for sustainable economic development. We note Haiti's increased participation in the work of international and regional organizations. In January it took on the rotating chairship of the Caribbean Community and joined the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Quartet.”
2018-04-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8220 (2018) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We would like to thank Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, for presenting the report of the Secretary- General after the transformation of the Organization's presence in Haiti into the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti. We consider the assessments made following his own recent visit to Haiti, from 14 to 15 March, especially useful. Since the middle of October of last year, when the Mission began its work in its new format, we have seen some unquestionably encouraging progress. We welcome the efforts of Haiti's leadership to ensure stability and establish effective Government administration systems that rely on its own strengths.”
2018-04-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8220 (2018) · source
“During the critical pre-election period we call on MONUSCO's leadership to keep strictly to the mandate set forth in the resolution adopted today. We would like to recall that pursuant to resolution 2409 (2018), the protection of civilians during the electoral process must be carried out with full respect for the core principles of peacekeeping and without interfering in Kinshasa's domestic affairs. It will be crucial to avoid any possibility of a situation in which MONUSCO will be supporting one of the Congolese parties, especially especially under the pretext of combatting violence surrounding the elections.”
2018-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8216 (2018) · source
“We welcome the measures that the authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have undertaken in preparation for the December elections, including the passing ofa new electoral law, finalization ofthe revised electoral lists, Parliament's approval of an electoral budget and publication of the election timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission. In the light of comments that have already made today on the subject of elections, we would like to note that one of the core principles of resolution 2409 (2018) is respect for the sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In that regard, there should be no attempts to impose solutions to electoral issues on Kinshasa. That also applies to discussions on the issue of using voting machines.”
2018-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8216 (2018) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): The Russian Federation supported the adoption of resolution 2409 (2018), which renews the mandate of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) for one year. When drafting the resolution, we took into account the overall situation in the country, the assessments by regional Powers and the views of the leaders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We hope that holding the elections on 23 December, as scheduled, will help to reduce tensions in the country.”
2018-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8216 (2018) · source
“We understand that security efforts should go hand in hand with advancing policies aimed at strengthening the institutions of State power and socioeconomic development. We note the efforts in that regard of the countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and the holding ofa first conference on stabilizing the situation in the countries of the region. Efforts to find answers to the current problems based on the notion of African solutions to African problems can only be welcomed. In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that Russia, as before, will continue to provide assistance to the States of the region both through international institutions and bilateral channels, without making our help conditional on any politically loaded demands.”
2018-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8212 (2018) · source
“Unfortunately, we will be forced to wrestle with the consequences ofthe externally inflicted crisis in Libya, which include uncontrolled and illegal flows of arms and migrants and the spread of radical ideologies, for a long time to come. In that regard, we consider it important to continue to provide all possible assistance to countries that are fighting terrorists in strengthening their own national potential and encouraging the development of solid regional cooperation. In this area, what is needed is cohesion, not competition, and a good example of that is the activities of the Multinational Joint Task Force of the States of the Lake Chad basin, which are doing a great deal to curtail Boko Haram's activities.”
2018-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8212 (2018) · source
“In this regard, I cannot help recalling the disastrous extent of the destabilization in the region after the collapse of the Libyan State. Far from normalizing things in Libya, which we were discussing only yesterday (see S/PV.8211), it has continued to have a negative impact on the regional situation. I am not saying that in order to irritate anyone on the Council. It is a warning against undertaking such destructive regional ventures in future. After 2011, terrorism spread across the Sahel-Sahara region and West and Central Africa like a cancer and, despite every effort, it has continued to threaten the stability of countries in that part of Africa and even beyond its borders.”
2018-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8212 (2018) · source
“Thank heaven that today we were informed that a large number of them have been released. Yet we were also shocked by the news of the possible tragic fate of the rest. We are grateful to the Nigerian authorities for their counter-terrorism efforts in this regard. Boko Haram's terrorist activity is a real threat to the States of the region. It undermines people's settled lives, forces them to move to less dangerous areas and interferes with normal commercial and economic activity. Only when this challenge to an entire region is eliminated will it be possible to make significant progress in resolving other pressing problems and to undertake thorough efforts to prevent natural disasters and do away with their consequences.”
2018-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8212 (2018) · source
“We were not listened to at the time and, unfortunately, the resolution did not include the elements that would have helped to make it an effective tool for international efforts to assist the countries of the Lake Chad basin, particularly in the area of counter-terrorism. I would like to stress that what we are talking about is fighting terrorism, not some conflict or other. In the relevant Security Council resolution, Boko Haram is classified as a terrorist organization. So where are we today, a year after the adoption of resolution 2349 (2017)? So far, Boko Haram still seems to feel entirely untrammelled. It has continued to commit terrorist acts and kidnap schoolgirls in the region, with regard to which the Council very recently issued another presidential statement (S/PRST/2018/3).”
2018-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8212 (2018) · source
“The climate and habitat naturally have a serious impact on people's lives. However, there are other, more suitable, forums for discussing these issues - the Second Committee of the General Assembly, and the Economic and Social Council. There is no need to disrupt the existing division of responsibilities and overload the Security Council's agenda. Any erosion of its mandate, and the consequent diminution of its effectiveness, must be guarded against. By the way, we warned that this was potentially an issue when we voted on resolution 2349 (2017) last year, and we were not the only ones.”
2018-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8212 (2018) · source
“Mr. Polyanskiy (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed for her informative briefing on the situation in the region of the Lake Chad basin. We also listened to the other briefers" reports on the subject with interest. For our part, we want to emphasize that the topic of today's meeting appears to be "Peace and security in Africa". It would therefore be logical to assume that we in the Security Council, in accordance with our mandate under the Charter of the United Nations and in the context of our consideration of the situation in the Lake Chad Basin region, will focus directly on the deplorable security situation. We are not arguing with the fact that there is a whole range of diverse problems that are undoubtedly exacerbating the overall situation in the region.”
2018-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8212 (2018) · source
“As the discussion has shown, it is hardly worthwhile to discuss the humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo separately from the military and political context. We would draw the attention of the Council to the fact that many of the ideas proposed by participants at today's meeting were also heard at the meeting on 7 March (see S/PV.8198). In that regard, we believe that it is important to prevent briefings that largely overlap in order not to reduce the effectiveness of the Council's work.”
2018-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8207 (2018) · source
“We see no justification for the proposals in the Secretary-General's report on the results of the strategic review (S/2017/826) for reducing MONUSCO's implementation of its stabilization efforts and its cooperation with Kinshasa in support of the camps for ex-combatants. It will be impossible to ensure long-term solutions to the problem of armed groups without restoring State authority in the eastern part of the country and resolving the issue of the repatriation of former combatants. The implementation of the protection through projection concept endorsed by the Secretariat will hardly help to strengthen the security of civilians or ensure humanitarian access. At this meeting, we would also like to take the opportunity to raise the issue of the working methods ofthe Council.”
2018-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8207 (2018) · source