YouSaid · the spoken record

Safronkov

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808

first

2008-04-30

most recent

2020-03-12

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103

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un-security-council

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1. “For example, an interesting instance of such underrepresentation is from the bulletin for 20 April, which stated the number of people in Deir ez- Zor - which is besieged by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant - to be 200,000. On 3 May, the number was 110,000. We follow what is happening there very closely because, unlike what has been hypocritically described by some as an operation of support, we are conducting a counter-terrorism operation in the country. Yes, we are supporting the legitimate Government. The most recent information about attacks against civilian infrastructure is pure propaganda. It is not objectively verified. According to that information, the only thing that Syrians do is bomb health facilities and increase the intensiveness of such attacks right before Security Council meetings.”

   2016-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7817 (2016) · source

2. “We have also noticed that every month we find out through United Nations reports about an increasing number of people in besieged areas. Invariably that is due to the population centres that are under the control of armed groups. If the purpose of such mathematical distortions is to present the Syrian Government as the main party responsible for suffering, then it is an unacceptable approach. It is not clear how such calculations are carried out, because United Nations evaluation missions are not allowed access to besieged territories. Nonetheless, those missions regularly provide statistics based on nothing. At the same time, the number of people who are in need of humanitarian assistance in territories under the control of the Government is constantly underestimated.”

   2016-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7817 (2016) · source

3. “That is what they should be talking about - about their own efforts, not about what they want from Russia, what Russia should do, what Russia can do. They should be talking about their own efforts. We are States, after all. What can be asked of Russia? What should Russia do? After all, we have found out that there are two such councils, existing through infusions from abroad. One of them is functioning in Gazientep. The other is in Syria, outside of Aleppo. Neither one of them is responsible for law and order. It is hardly possible to consider the councils representative bodies of local Governments in eastern Aleppo. They are not even in Aleppo. Formally speaking, their mandates have ended. Let us not forget that.”

   2016-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7817 (2016) · source

4. “We cannot permit any repeat of that kind of scenario. From now on, let us see the insurgents, including those of Ahrar al-Sham and Nour al-Din al-Zenki, publicly affirm - and their sponsors guarantee - their willingness to cooperate with the United Nations agencies and enable humanitarian operations to be conducted without obstacles or artificial constraints. There can be no bartering of the sick and injured for food and medicines for the insurgents. We also expect to see similar efforts on the part of the local council in eastern Aleppo. We have a right to hope in particular that our English colleagues, or the French - who have received these people in Paris at the highest level - will help in that department.”

   2016-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7817 (2016) · source

5. “The desire to preserve a major centre of terrorist-led anti-Government resistance at any cost? There are extremely disturbing reports of the brutal suppression of demonstrations by peaceful residents demanding that the radicals leave the city. Our professional bilateral contacts with the American side are currently continuing, and we hope they will enable us to come up with an appropriate solution. At a Security Council meeting in October (see S/PV.7785) we had a detailed discussion of the reasons for the disruption of the humanitarian operation, owing to sabotage by illegal armed groups and the so-called local council against a backdrop of - and this is putting it mildly - inadequate action on the part of certain United Nations staff, of which they are well aware and, as I understand it, which they now regret.”

   2016-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7817 (2016) · source

6. “Russia continues to provide the people of the Syrian Arab Republic with substantive humanitarian assistance. We continue our persistent quest to find ways to improve the situation in Aleppo. As we all know, the eastern districts of that strategically important city are held by armed groups led by the terrorist organization Jabhat Al-Nusra. The long-promised separation of the moderate opposition from adherents of Al-Nusra has yet to happen. We continue to be showered with data showing shrinking numbers for Al-Nusra, based on information from the press and even from opposition social networks. What kind of sources are those? That helps to maintain an intolerable situation in which thousands of peaceful residents are held hostage. What does that represent?”

   2016-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7817 (2016) · source

7. “Mr. Safronkov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): To begin with, I would like to say that we greatly appreciate the work of the United Nations humanitarian personnel in Syria, and we actively support them. There is no need to convince us of the importance of assisting the United Nations, and Ambassador Rycroft's suggestion to that effect is dishonest. What is he talking about? First of all, we should look at what is really going on in a professional manner. Thanks to the continued efforts of Russian experts, the number of residential areas in Syria covered by the truce has risen to 961. Seventy armed opposition groups have officially joined the ceasefire regime. Talks with armed-group commanders are going on in a number ofprovinces.”

   2016-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7817 (2016) · source

8. “The terrorist threat has already acquired global proportions. We once again call on Council members to set aside our political differences and join forces as part of a broad counter-terrorist coalition in order to eradicate this devastating phenomenon.”

   2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7815 (2016) · source

9. “Such facts are even confirmed by the United States intelligence community. The Mechanism needs to focus fully on the chemical activities of non-State actors, in particular the Islamic State, J abhat Al-Nusra, the Harakat Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement, Jaysh Al-Islam, Jaysh Al-Fatah and other armed opposition groups operating in Syria and adjacent countries - which has been highlighted by Damascus in its statements to the Security Council and the OPCW. Today's resolution gives the necessary mandate to investigate those crimes. What we have on our hands is international terrorism that has already acquired a taste for using nuclear weapons, often with the clearly provocative goal of politically discrediting the Syrian Government. Sadly, once again today we have heard anti-regime statements.”

   2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7815 (2016) · source

10. “We have urged our colleagues in the Council to respond appropriately to the resurgence of chemical terrorism in the Middle East. Sadly, all of our initiatives in that respect, including our corresponding draft resolution with our Chinese partners, have been repeatedly blocked. We see the result. Everyone, even the Mechanism, recognizes that terrorists and militants from the armed opposition in that conflict- torn region of the world are making active use of toxic chemicals against Syrian and Iraqi Government troops and peaceful civilians. The terrorists have developed genuine military chemical capabilities, to the extent that they have the technology to synthesize military- grade poisonous substances such as sarin and mustard gas. Former military chemists and foreign specialists are involved in that work.”

    2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7815 (2016) · source

11. “We call on the leadership and personnel of the Joint Investigative Mechanism to not bend to what we expect will be vast amounts of pressure from States guided purely by their own geopolitical interests in the Middle East. Our support of the Council's decision to extend the Mechanism's mandate is dictated by the recognition of the acuteness of those increasing challenges, threats and manifestations of chemical terrorism in Syria and neighbouring Iraq, which, if not today or tomorrow, could soon spill over into and beyond the Middle East. Over the past two years, the Russian Federation has repeatedly drawn the attention of the international community to the abundant evidence of the use of chemical weapons by terrorists and extremist organizations.”

    2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7815 (2016) · source

12. “The document, in view of our priorities of giving the Mechanism mandate broader geographical scope and a clear counter-terrorist direction, was far from self- evident, yet we agreed to adopt it because we also see its strengths. Russia's sceptical position on the conclusions presented in the Joint InvestigationMechanism's reports, particularly regarding the modalities of its work, is well known. We intend to continue flagging the technical, logistical, legal and procedural aspects of the Mechanism's activities. Without calling into question the professionalism of the members of Ms. Gamba's team, we trust that they will continue to remember their own responsibility and ensure impartial, objective work.”

    2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7815 (2016) · source

13. “All of that took place prior to substantive consideration of the outcomes of the work in the last year of the Joint Investigation Mechanism looking into cases of the use of chemical weapons in Syria. The Council, which of course created the Mechanism, is accountable to it. It is hard to call that circumstance anything but disrespect for the competencies of the Security Council. The decision we have just adopted to extend the mandate of the Joint Investigation Mechanism for a year was the outcome of difficult, complex work with the United States on the content of the resolution, and the result of an extensive negotiating marathon between the representatives of the United States and Russia.”

    2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7815 (2016) · source

14. “Mr. Safronkov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): 1 must touch upon events that preceded today's adoption of resolution 2319 (2016). I stress that we are very concerned by the actions of a number of States, seeking to shift consideration of the issue of the competence of the Security Council to the forum of a purely technical international mechanism in the sphere of armaments and non-proliferation, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). I am referring to the anti-Syrian decision of 11 November, pushed through the back door of the OPCW Executive Council of the anti-Syrian decision of 11 November, which will inevitably have a negative impact, both on the integrity of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the prospects for its universalization, as well as on the authority of OPCW.”

    2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7815 (2016) · source

15. “Our country, which is home to more than 20 million Muslim citizens, is an observer in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and committed to the progressive development of cooperation with the Organization's member States with the goal of achieving security and stability in the world.”

    2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7813 (2016) · source

16. “Only a broad national dialogue with the participation of every ethnic, religious and political group and their unity in combating terrorism can produce the agreement, stability and conditions that are critical to the successful socioeconomic development of the countries in areas of conflict. We should particularly emphasize that the crises that have flared more recently should not push the task of settling the Palestinian-Israeli conflict into the background. That should be based on the relevant Security Council resolutions, the Arab Peace Initiative and, of course, the concept of two States, Palestine and Israel, living side by side in peace. The relationship between Russia and the Organization ofIslamic Cooperation is built on dialogue and mutual respect.”

    2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7813 (2016) · source

17. “That requires comprehensive analysis, in which it is essential to consider the interrelationships between all the most acute problems, old and new, afflicting the region. We would like to recall that Mr. Sergey Lavrov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, speaking in a Security Council meeting on the Middle East (see S/PV.7774), called for the convening of a comprehensive review of the situation in the Middle East. We proceed from the assumption that no conflict, whether in Syria, Libya, Iraq, Yemen, the Sahara and Sahel regions or other long-suffering parts of the world, can be resolved through a military solution.”

    2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7813 (2016) · source

18. “We firmly believe that the fight against terrorism and the violent extremism that leads to it should be built on a solid foundation of international law under United Nations auspices. We have been providing constant support to the Governments of Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and other countries of the region in their opposition to terrorists. In order to succeed in the fight against terrorism, it is essential that we prioritize attention not only to the military threat posed byjihadist groups, but also to the root causes that have given rise to it. The only way we can deal with the accumulated contradictions is through the united efforts of the entire international community, by deepening our dialogue and our partnerships, while respecting people's right to preserve their cultural, religious and civilizational identity.”

    2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7813 (2016) · source

19. “Russia has submitted a draft resolution to the Security Council on countering terrorist ideology, with the goal of achieving real and effective opposition to the promotion of terrorist ideas, including through the Internet. The pseudo-ideological content under the cover of Islam spread by terrorists is dangerous for Muslim countries first and foremost. We hope that the Islamic world shares the View of Russia on the urgent need to implement and strengthen the approach of the Security Council, and the United Nations as a whole, to curbing terrorism, the spread of its ideologies and its radicalization of populations, especially young people. We hope that our partners will ponder our proposed draft resolution and adopt Russia's initiative. Russia supports consolidating international efforts to combat the threat that is common to all of us.”

    2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7813 (2016) · source

20. “It is part of the counter-terrorism prevention efforts - that is, the prevention radical and terrorist phenomena. Misconception is unacceptable, as we could end up disorienting the international community and steering it away from its main task of eliminating terrorism. It is now important to recognize the vital role of States and their competent authorities in countering terrorism in their own territories and as part of international cooperation efforts. In that regard, I should remind the Council that we have made important comments regarding the Secretary-General's Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism. Removing international terrorism from the international legal framework is unacceptable. That undermines the global counter-terrorism architecture and sometimes leads to interference in States' internal affairs.”

    2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7813 (2016) · source

21. “We should not try to distinguish between good terrorists and bad terrorists - between one country's terrorists and another country's terrorists. The growing threat from extremist and terrorist groups like the Islamic State poses a direct challenge to the entire international community, above all our partners in OIC. Recently, the counter-terrorism context has changed considerably. On one hand, there is continued growth in the global terrorist threat. Therefore, now more than ever, we need to clearly and unambiguously define this threat in important United Nations documents, such as Security Council and General Assembly resolutions. On the other hand, the term "violent extremism" - which we see as an integral focus of international counter- terrorist cooperation - has been introduced.”

    2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7813 (2016) · source

22. “Helping the people of the region emerge from this dark period is not only the responsibility of the Security Council but a general duty in which OIC, along with other regional and subregional organizations, is called upon to play a unique role. Our common goal, both in the Council and in OIC, should be to pool our efforts to counteract terrorism. In his statement at the seventieth anniversary session of the General Assembly, the President of the Russian Federation, Mr. Putin, called for establishing a broad counter-terrorism coalition (see A/70/PV.13). It is an urgent task to be addressed. We are convinced that violence cannot be justified by any religious pretext and that the actions of terrorists, wherever or by whomever, should be condemned. Any form of support for terrorist activity should be strongly counteracted.”

    2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7813 (2016) · source

23. “Mr. Safronkov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank the delegation of Senegal for convening today's very important meeting. Russia strongly advocates building and deepening cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the basis of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. OIC members are countries whose people profess common spiritual and moral values. Such a uniting factor should play a fundamentally important role in resolving the many complex tasks the international community faces. First and foremost are conflict prevention, mediation and political diplomatic settlement, where the Organization's potential is absolutely needed. Today, the Islamic and Arab worlds are traversing a period of major upheaval, often accompanied by bloody conflict.”

    2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7813 (2016) · source

24. “In particular, we would like to underscore the fact that no one has the right to call into question, much less revoke, resolutions and make irresponsible statements in the Chamber. Resolution 1244 (1999) remains fully applicable and is still the obligatory international legal basis for the settlement of the situation in Kosovo.”

    2016-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7811 (2016) · source

25. “No tangible progress has been made in carrying out key agreements on the creation of the association/ community of Serb municipalities in Kosovo, since April 2013, but that is the key to guaranteeing the rights and freedoms of Serbians. We think that further delays in the process with invented pretexts can only further degrade the situation in Kosovo and around it. In the current circumstances, keeping a watchful international eye on processes in Kosovo is of particular importance. In that connection, it is important to ensure stable staffing and budget parameters for UNMIK. We see no reason to review the practice of quarterly reporting on the Mission's activities. For now, the situation in Kosovo does not require that.”

    2016-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7811 (2016) · source

26. “I would also like to touch on the issue of the Kosovo Force (KFOR). We regret that there has been an attempt by KFOR, with thought of pretext to avoid contact with Russian representatives. It seems that our partners do not wish to discuss those issues, which does not serve to resolve them. We hope that today's meeting will send a message. We see violations of resolution 1244 (1999), as well as of the United Nations mandate, when attempts are made to transform KFOR into a full- fledged armed forced. We take note of information with regard to an agreement reached on telecommunications between Belgrade and Pristina. Its implementation will be of key importance. That is the very weak link in the dialogue.”

    2016-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7811 (2016) · source

27. “Furthermore, we know that the prosecution of the Kosovars guilty of crimes has been entrusted to a most dubious body, the Specialist Court, which is being created by the unrecognized authorities of Kosovo, whose legal system can hardly be considered mature enough for the conduct of such serious legal proceedings. The system of appointing judges and the role of EULEX in it is far from transparent. For that matter, we ask to be informed about developments. We welcome the inclusion in the report of information, which we had called for time and again, regarding the investigation of the tragic cases in Kumanovo, Macedonia, in May 2015. We think that the matter should continue to be monitored until those responsible for that criminal terrorist act are identified and brought to justice.”

    2016-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7811 (2016) · source

28. “With regard to the work presently being undertaken to launch the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor's Office to investigate war crimes by the KLA, we have questions about the status of the regular reporting of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) regarding the formation and functioning of the Specialist Chambers and its bodies, including the Office of the Specialist Prosecutor. Let us not forget that EULEX was approved by the Security Council in this very Chamber. I hope that my colleagues in the European Union will take this opportunity to talk to us about current developments.”

    2016-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7811 (2016) · source

29. “Attempts to invalidate the verdicts, including through the use of threats, demonstrate the context in which the work of the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor's Office for the investigation into war crimes by the KLA is being conducted. Regrettably, preparation for the beginning of the court's work is marked by a lack of transparency. International bodies and countries participating in the drafting and implementation of that project are accountable to the Security Council in providing full, timely updates on the implementation of the project. The priority is to ensure the thorough investigation of crimes by the KLA and the punishment of perpetrators.”

    2016-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7811 (2016) · source

30. “Attempts are made to divert attention from the true cause of the state of affairs - the sabotaging of the agreement by Pristina by fomenting inter-Kosovar disputes on the legality of the delineation of the border with Montenegro, which supposedly is hampering the so-called Kosovo Government in its actions. We think that matters concerning the property of the Serbian State bodies, companies and private individuals in the province account for a large part of the problem and require greater attention from the Mission. The Mission should manage that matter more actively. The Kosovar authorities have had a symptomatic and almost allergic reaction to the recent court ruling with respect to former members of the Kosovar Liberation Army (KLA).”

    2016-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7811 (2016) · source

31. “Indeed, in adopting that law, the leading Kosovar party did not bother to consult with its nominal partners in the coalition of the Assembly of Kosovo, the Serbian List. As a sign of protest, the Serbian List boycotted the activities of that body. Again, such methods do not contribute to national reconciliation. As Mr. Dacic' rightly said, the attack was not on the complex, but rather on Serbians. It is time for serious work with Pristina. Despite every effort, the mediators in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina have failed to break the stalemate. There is an increasing number of issues surrounding the dialogue. For the fourth year in a row, practically nothing has been done to implement the key agreement on the creation of the association/community of Serb municipalities in Kosovo.”

    2016-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7811 (2016) · source

32. “There are ongoing cases of interference by local authorities in the matter of the property of the Serbian Orthodox Church and of attempts to expropriate its property or complicate the use of sites belonging to it. The Church of Christ the Saviour in Pristina is systematically subject to vandalism. Obstacles are levied when addressing the consequences of such desecration and the rebuilding process. We are extremely concerned about the campaign to seize economic assets belonging to Serbian State companies and bodies. A striking example is the recently adopted law on the nationalization of the mining complex, Trepca. The very sustenance of a significant portion of Serbians, those living in the north of the province, depends on that mining company. Such decisions do not help to resolve the situation.”

    2016-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7811 (2016) · source

33. “In the report ofthe Secretary-General (S/2016/901), references are made to the serious incident in the town of Musutiste on 28 August, in which Serbian pilgrims were subject to attack by nationalists. The rise in animosity against minorities bears witness to ongoing threats. Such threats are also posed to the physical safety of Kosovar Serbs. First and foremost, it is absolutely clear that that is the reason for the lack of significant progress in the return of refugees to Kosovo. Where are the security and prosperity we were promised when Kosovo was unilaterally declared independent? Regrettably, no response to that question exists. The utmost attention must be paid to the matter of the protection of Serbian religious and cultural heritage.”

    2016-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7811 (2016) · source

34. “Mr. Safronkov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We welcome the participation in today's meeting of the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia and share the very serious concerns he has expressed with regard to the state of affairs in Kosovo. We thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Zahir Tanin, and his team for their work, and we thank him for his briefing on the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), which demonstrates that there are ongoing serious issues in the province. We must note that the situation in Kosovo remains extremely unstable. There are a growing number of new cases of violence against Serbians. In order to resolve such cases, they must not be swept under the rug, but rather addressed directly.”

    2016-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7811 (2016) · source

35. “Mr. Safronkov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): My apologies for interrupting. I wanted to ask my colleague and friend from Japan to take his bottle of wine off the Security Council table, if he would. I would again like to remind everyone that this table is a sacred piece of furniture that should be treated with respect. As a matter of principle, we should not place glasses and bottles of wine on it.”

    2016-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7811 (2016) · source

36. “The Russian Federation, as a guarantor of the 1995 the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, will continue to help its steadfast implementation, including by guaranteeing genuine equality for all three constituent peoples and the defence of broad authorities of the entities, as outlined in the Dayton Peace Agreement. We will continue to consolidate a beneficial partnership with Bosnia and Herzegovina at all levels of authority.”

    2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source

37. “The Western community should think about removing him." (spoke in Russian) But can an international official of such rank, whose gold standard should be objectivity, neutrality and impartiality, make such a comment? We do not believe the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina to be as bleak as it is being depicted. In that vein, we would note the municipal elections held on 2 October, which were by and large held normally, as an example; and we wish every success to those representatives who will be taking office at the local level.”

    2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source

38. “We note that after a series of persistent reminders, the High Representative's reports have begun to touch on the counter-terrorism situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, we hope that future reports will reflect the subject appropriately because Islamic terrorism poses a real threat to the security of Bosnia and Herzegovina and neighbouring countries, unlike something that is occupying much of Mr. Inzko's attention - the anti-Serbian demagoguery. Mr. Inzko has said that this demagoguery has reached its apogee. Furthermore, in an interview on 1 November with a correspondent of the Wall Street Journal he suggested that the Western community needed to rethink the current President. He said: (spoke in English) "He was the hope of the West... Dodik is building his own empire...”

    2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source

39. “Inzko gives too little space to the implementation of the 5+2 plan, adopted almost 10 years ago as one ofthe conditions for closing the Office of the High Representative. We believe that he should turn his attention back to implementing that programme. And the subject of Bosnia and Herzegovina's relations with the European Union and NATO, which has nothing to do with the High Representative's Dayton mandate and diverts his Office's limited resources, should on the contrary be immediately dispensed with. We are fundamentally opposed to any attempts to use external channels to influence the sovereign choice of the independent State that Bosnia and Herzegovina unquestionably is.”

    2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source

40. “We should recall that in his recent reports the High Representative pays lip service to caring about the importance of respecting the decisions of the Bosnian State structures, but he was not always so scrupulous. In 2011, for the sake of short-term ambitions, he suspended the implementation of the decision of the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in a significant blow to its positions as a crucial body for the functioning of democracy in the country. And we are all familiar with the lamentable consequences of that step. That voluntarism vis-a-vis the law proved to be ineffective five years ago and would be all the more inappropriate in the future. We would once again like to draw attention to the fact that both in his reports and in practice, Mr.”

    2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source

41. “We believe that the principle of transferring responsibility for all the country's processes to the Bosnian authorities should define the international community's approach to the other issues that Bosnia and Herzegovina is currently dealing with, whether they concern the publication of the census results, the implementation of the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights on the well-known Sejdic' and Finci case or the holding of municipal elections in Mostar. That is why we have consistently advocated for shutting down as soon as possible the remaining elements of the international presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as represented by the High Representative and the Bonn powers, which have outlived their usefulness.”

    2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source

42. “The credibility of the Bosnian State-level justice authorities should be built solely on improving their professionalism, impartiality and effectiveness and ending the process of withdrawing foreign specialists from the staff of the higher judicial authorities, which by definition should be national and independent. The key to that is carrying out thorough reform of the judicial and prosecutorial system on the best possible foundations, which should be developed collectively by Bosnians themselves without any pressure, imposition of ready-made schemes or interference from outside.”

    2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source

43. “Moreover, the steps taken on 25 October by the Republika Srpska authorities, following up on the expression ofthe electorate's opinion by enacting a new law on Republika Srpska Day, testify unambiguously to Banja Luka's readiness to affirm the holiday's secular and non-discriminatory nature. Security Council members can acquaint themselves with those and other useful facts in the substantive report of the Republika Srpska Government, which, by tradition, we recommend that our colleagues read and note as a helpful guide to a more objective understanding of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly since for some reason the High Representative's reports purposely do not touch on those Republika Srpska actions. And the abuses of the independent Government's central judicial organs are simply way out of line.”

    2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source

44. “From now on, we repeat that what we want to see in his reports is not a flood of emotion dictated by the current environment, but at least an attempt at impartial analysis of the situation, something that we are firmly believe would be very useful to every member of the Security Council. With regard to the documents Mr. Inzko presented to the Council, we cannot agree with the tendentious interpretations, taken out of context, of the Republika Srpska referendum held on 25 September on the entity's main holiday, Republika Srpska Day. We believe that a plebiscite held on an issue within the Republika Srpska's constitutional remit in no way threatens the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina. There is no need to create artificial problems.”

    2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source

45. “We regret the fact that despite our frequent appeals and warnings, the High Representative, in his actions and public comments, is clearly not giving enough attention to the basic tasks of encouraging intra-Bosnian dialogue and strengthening inter-ethnic trust. We are getting the distinct impression that Mr. Inzko's guiding principle has become an anti-Serbian credo, thereby creating artificial ruptures between the peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina, when his main objective should be to unite them. Instead of pursuing these seemingly obvious priorities, the High Representative is increasingly sliding into politicized polemic, with the focus on personal sympathies and antipathies.”

    2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source

46. “Mr. Safronkov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): First of all, we are grateful to our United Kingdom colleagues for their constructive approach during the consultations and willingness to take our chiefconcerns into consideration, enabling us to support today's Security Council resolution 2015 (2016) on extending Operation Althea of the European Union-led peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina. After thoroughly studying the reports of Mr. Valentin Inzko, High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, we are compelled to conclude that, like similar previous reports, they do not attempt to assess what is happening in the country objectively.”

    2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source

47. “Mr. Safronkov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): The Russian Federation's firm stance is that international and regional efforts with regard to Burundi will be successful only if they are taken in strict respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. Resolution 2303 (2016) must be implemented in cooperation, coordination and consultation with the legitimate Government of Burundi, within frameworks agreed with it, and fostering a mutually beneficial dialogue. The activities of the United Nations should be based on these fundamental criteria. We are convinced that our position will be fully taken into account by Mr. Benomar, the Special Envoy of the Secretary- General, whom we fully endorse.”

    2016-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7752 (2016) · source

48. “We are convinced that collective action alone can defeat the terrorist hydra in Africa and elsewhere in the world. We also welcome the positive decision taken at the recent African Union Summit in Kigali to establish an anti-terrorist fund to meet the needs of the continent, which will play an important role in the elimination of terrorism throughout Africa. We also highly commend the measures taken by the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel and the United Nations specialized agencies that provide multifaceted assistance to the Lake Chad Basin countries. The most important decisions have been taken and must now be implemented. Russia will maintain its active multilateral and bilateral cooperation with the States of Africa.”

    2016-07-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7748 (2016) · source

49. “That linkage makes it even more urgent than ever to find an urgent, cohesive and robust response to the terrorist threat in Africa. We are also concerned about the new and innovative tactics used by Boko Haram, which avoids direct confrontations with Government armed forces and prefers attackingpeaceful civilians and civilian infrastructure through suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices. It will be impossible to improve the humanitarian situation, resolve the issue of refugees and many problems linked to the terrorist threat in the region without eliminating the threat posed by Boko Haram. That is evident to us all today and is our highest priority. We note the efforts of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, their Multinational Joint Task Force and Benin, and welcome the results they have achieved.”

    2016-07-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7748 (2016) · source

50. “Mr. Safronkov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman and Under-Secretary- General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O'Brien for their detailed briefings on the military-political and humanitarian situations in the Lake Chad Basin region. Of particular concern are the ongoing activities of Boko Haram, which continues to undermine stability in Cameroon, the Niger, Nigeria and Chad and threatens many other countries of the continent. We recall that Boko Haram has declared its allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham, which has become entrenched in Libya, where chaos and a de facto power vacuum have prevailed for the past five years.”

    2016-07-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7748 (2016) · source