YouSaid · the spoken record

Safronkov

lines on the record: 808
first: 2008-04-30
most recent: 2020-03-12
sittings or episodes: 103
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“In conclusion, we urge all the parties involved in the conflict in Yemen to take advantage of the opportunity offered by Mr. Griffiths's proposal to organize negotiations in Geneva in early September, the success of which will be facilitated by a rejection of military action and a willingness to work for a political settlement. And the only priority should be a concern for the interests of the people of Yemen.”
2018-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8323 (2018) · source
“This type of structure, in which every key country of the region should participate - including the Gulf States and Iran - could not only help to strengthen universal, comprehensive and undivided security in that part of the world but also resolve long-standing and new crisis situations, including the conflict in Yemen. Threats and clashes must give way to dialogue and cooperation. We must get to work right away on joint efforts to restore a healthier atmosphere, which incidentally would make a tremendous contribution to helping Mr. Griffiths succeed. Russia will continue to consult with all interested parties with the aim of implementing our concept of security and cooperation in the Persian Gulf, which we believe is urgent and essential.”
2018-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8323 (2018) · source
“The potential for collective international assistance to the Special Envoy's efforts is far from being fully utilized, in our opinion, and we still need to come up with a capable, balanced and focused format for supporting efforts through the United Nations, which - and this is crucial - will act on a consolidated basis. We would like to emphasize that establishing a political process in Yemen would be an important contribution to stabilizing the situation throughout the subregion. We would like to recall our proposal for launching a process for developing a package of security and confidence-building measures in the Persian Gulf and eventually the entire Middle East.”
2018-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8323 (2018) · source
“Russia has also been providing assistance to the people of Yemen through both Sana'a and Aden. But it is obvious to all of us that humanitarian efforts are not enough to bring the conflict to an end, and neither is military action. We all agree that there can be no military solution to the crisis in Yemen. It is essential that we shift the focus on the current situation to a political dialogue. The Special Envoy has a key role to play in this, and we support his efforts, including through practical efforts with the parties aimed at getting them to cooperate closely with the United Nations. It is important that he work in Yemen in person, maintaining a direct dialogue with all the main Yemeni and regional players.”
2018-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8323 (2018) · source
“We should point out that from the very beginning of the military operation we have emphasized that Al-Hudaydah port, and Yemen's other ports, must be able to function reliably, since there are no alternative routes into the country for a steady and uninterrupted flow of humanitarian and commercial cargoes. Restraint is all the more essential in view of the fact that two thirds of the people of Yemen are in need of help. The civilian infrastructure lies in ruins and the country is facing a new cholera epidemic. In that regard, it will be vital to continue the humanitarian efforts. We have noted the courageous work being done by United Nations humanitarian personnel, as well as the independent contributions of a number of Member States, including Yemen's nearest neighbours.”
2018-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8323 (2018) · source
“We fully support the Special Envoy's initiative to launch intra-Yemeni consultations in Geneva in September. In our View it is desperately needed and represents a unique chance to end this bloody war. However, it will be important to ensure that as we get closer to the negotiations, every key stakeholder is available to help the parties find common denominators. In our view, maintaining a calm atmosphere around Al-Hudaydah and refraining from offensive action would facilitate the implementation of this initiative. Everyone must show restraint and reject any resort to force. We agree with the Special Envoy that what is needed is de-escalation and measures to build trust, including freeing prisoners and detainees. We would add that we need to unite the efforts of every Yemen in combating terrorism on the Arabian Peninsula.”
2018-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8323 (2018) · source
“Mr. Safronkov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We would like to thank you personally, Madam President, and the United Kingdom delegation for convening today's meeting. We are grateful to Mr. Griffiths, the Special Envoy of the Secretary- General, for his comprehensive report on the efforts to bring the positions ofthe parties to the conflict in Yemen closer and work for a resumption of the negotiation process. We have great hopes for Mr. Griffiths's ability to help the parties realize the futility and unviability of a military solution. We thank Mr. Ging, Director of the Coordination and Response Division of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for his briefing, which shows clearly that Yemen and its people are enduring a massive humanitarian disaster.”
2018-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8323 (2018) · source
“Russia and Libya are linked by a historically rich and friendly relationship. We will do everything we can, in our national capacity and in cooperation with Libya's political forces and regional and international partners, to restore Libya and its unity and return it to a future of steady development.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“With regard to the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya, while we greatly value the efforts of the Ambassador of Sweden and his team, we would like to point out that on 3 April, at our initiative, the Committee held a meeting specifically to discuss a leak to the press of the interim report of the Panel of Experts. In general, the issue of leaks about the work of the Council and its subsidiary bodies is extremely relevant and can hardly be explained only by computer network glitches. We were also extremely disappointed that the Committee could not agree on the Chair's proposed compromise variations of a decision on investigating what occurred. The demands for greater transparency in the work of the Council's Sanctions Committees should be accompanied by a high degree of responsibility.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“For our part, we will continue to support the Special Representative's efforts to reach out to all Libyans and to cooperate with all involved partners. In working to resolve the situation in Libya, we must remember that the current problems are the result of the violent overthrow of the Libyan regime, which destroyed its sovereignty and ignored the African Union's vital initiatives. Those mistakes should teach some serious political lessons about the stability of Libya, its neighbours and other countries that have been subjected to foreign intervention.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“We note that the crisis is a long way from being settled, and significant efforts will be needed to reach a durable agreement on the parameters for national reconciliation. We support the initiatives undertaken by the international and regional sponsors of the settlement in Libya, particularly its neighbours Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria. We note the work being done by the African Union in the context of its Ad Hoc High- Level Committee on Libya and by the League of Arab States. The efforts of foreign mediators and external actors should be consolidated and as coordinated as possible, but it is Libyans themselves who must decide their future. The United Nations should continue to play a leading role in the political process.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“The future development of the situation will depend on the success of efforts to restore security, without which it will continue to be a fertile breeding ground for terrorists and armed groups using the institutional vacuum for their criminal activity. The issue of unity on many levels is also crucially important to the joint efforts to combat terrorism. The situation of migrants and refugees in detention centres remains difficult, and they continue to encounter various forms of ill-treatment. There has to be full commitment to tackling that issue. The problem cannot be solved with half measures. Above all, the root causes that resulted in people's migration have to be dealt with, at which point they will voluntarily return to their homes.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“If the parties cannot agree on their modalities in advance, the newly established Government system in Libya may not be viable. The situation is complicated not only by a lack of compromise among the parties but also by security problems. The terrorist attack of 2 May on the High Commission for National Elections in Tripoli was a sad affirmation of that fact. We also have to understand that a great deal will depend on resolving the issue of the forces that ended up being sidelined in the country's post-revolutionary transformation. There can be no alternative to a negotiated solution to the crisis. The Libyans themselves must decide their country's future, through a dialogue and in a spirit of openness and compromise, based on the Skhirat agreement reached in Morocco as the only viable foundation for achieving a long-term settlement.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“Salame' will personally deserve credit. The forthcoming elections clearly represent an important step in resolving the crisis. However, there are still many issues related to holding them. For example, there is so far no understanding on the electoral law. In other words, we urge continued vigilance and holding to the principle of "first do no harm". Any decisions and steps taken should be subordinated to the task of uniting the country, its State institutions, political forces and security structures. We want to emphasize Mr. Salame's view that the right conditions must be established for the elections. In that regard, one of the main challenges continues to be the establishment of the legal basis for the work of the national authorities' institutions following the elections.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“We do have to conclude, however, that in spite of all the efforts to establish an intra-Libyan dialogue, the prospects for settling the crisis any time soon are bleak. This is no accident. The situation is very complex, and one of the reasons for that is the continuing distrust among the key players in the Libyan political landscape. They continue to be suspicious of one another, which presents an obstacle to reaching compromise solutions to their disagreements. The meeting on 23 April between Mr. Khalid Al-Mishri, the newly chosen leader of the High Council of State, and Mr. Aqilah Saleh, Speaker of the House of Representatives, gives us a certain degree of optimism. It is very important that the parties agreed to continue their consultations. We hope that the negotiation process will overcome the current impasse, for which Mr.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“Mr. Safronkov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank Special Representative Ghassan Salame for his objective briefing. We also thank Mr. Olof Skoog, Permanent Representative of Sweden, for his report on the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya and, more generally, for his responsible leadership of the Committee. Russia supports the steps undertaken under the auspices of the United Nations to assist in stabilizing Libya. We note Mr. Salame's courage and personal efforts and appreciate his commitment to getting results in the work of unifying Libya and stabilizing the internal situation, which is crucial to improving the situation in the region as a whole.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“As in many other parts of the world, what we need there is collective work on the basis of mutual respect. The Russian Federation stands ready for that.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“Given those and other current circumstances, we consider the calls to reduce the frequency of reviewing the situation in Kosovo at the Secutiry Council to be completely inappropriate. Allow me to remind those who ignore this fact that UNMIK was created by the Security Council, and only the Security Council has the authority to make relevant decisions in that regard. Unilateral statements are null and void. In conclusion, I would like to point out that the Western Balkans, with its rich history and potential, can, and should, become a region for cooperation and interaction, rather than tension and hostility. However, in order to achieve that, we must abandon the logic of confrontation and the practice of presenting countries in the region with the false choice of: Are you with or against us?”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“We must pay particular attention to ensuring proper protection for the Orthodox sites in Kosovo - churches and monasteries. We must also put an end to the destructive practice of denigrating sensibilities and humiliating Serbs and other minorities in Kosovo. We should not turn a blind eye to acute issues and problems, such as in the area of counter-terrorism and combating corruption and crime, but we must actually address them. The situation with regard to those issues is very worrisome. In the current situation, the international community, with the leading role played by the United Nations and represented by the Security Council and the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, should pay more attention to the situation in Kosovo and actively contribute to the maintenance stability and security in the region.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“All those who committed terrible crimes, including trafficking in human organs, must face justice and be justly punished, regardless of their current positions. To replace Mr. Shwendiman, who retired on 7 May, American lawyer, Mr. Smith, has been appointed to the position of Prosecutor. We hope that he will quickly assume his post and finally produce tangible results in the form of specific indictments. The rate of refugees and internally displaced persons to the region is also unsatisfactory. As indicated in the report ofthe Secretary-General (S/2018/407), only three people returned to Kosovo during the reporting period. For some that truth is unpleasant, but it is still the truth. Attacks on homes and property of Kosovo Serbs, arson, physical trespass and acts ofvandalism continue.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“First, we must fully implement earlier agreements, without which the already weak trust among the members of the negotiating process could disappear altogether. The implementation of the agreement concerning the establishment of the community of Serb-majority municipalities is at the centre of our attention. We must note that no practical moves have been made with regard to Specialist Chambers in The Hague to investigate crimes committed by the Kosovo Liberation Army. Eight years have passed since the publication of the Marty report on the issue. That is another serious problem. We believe that it is not constructive to delay the start of the work of that body under artificial pretexts. We expect that the Specialist Chambers will start its work in the very near future and be as transparent as possible.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“In contrast, we witness a constructive approach by Belgrade to tackle the Kosovo issue in the statement made by President Vucie citing his readiness to reach a compromise. At the same time, we are therefore concerned about increased pressure on the Serbian leadership and attempts to compel Belgrade to acknowledge the de facto independence of Kosovo. We hope that a Brussels dialogue will be spared such pressure and ultimatums. Failing that, we cannot expect to have success in the form of a long-term solution acceptable to all. We believe it is untimely to push forward and link the so-called full and comprehensive normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina to an artificial timeline.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“Regrettably, we must acknowledge that dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina has been discredited. More than five years have elapsed since the Brussels Agreement was signed but the key obligation contained therein, which was reached under the auspices of the European Union, namely, the establishment of the community of Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo, has still not been implemented. We bear witness to laxity on the part of the European Union, the international mediator. It did not compel the Kosovo Albanians to implement agreements achieved under their own auspices. As a result, Pristina openly undermines the implementation of its own commitments and refuses to abandon its own unrealistic demands.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“We are also concerned about the information we received some time ago from NATO with regard to the fact that the KFOR command will halt contact with Russian representatives. What is being hidden from a permanent member of the Security Council by an international entity that is in Kosovo on the basis of the United Nations mandate? We hope that reason will prevail and that that erroneous decision will be reviewed. The Russian position on Kosovo remains unchanged and is based on the international legal frameworks that are reflected in resolution 1244 (1999), which remains the cornerstone of the Kosovo settlement. We are of the view that the Kosovo issue can be settled only through politics, on the basis of negotiations between parties in the spirit of goodwill and international law.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“We would like to warn the Council that, in the interest of peace and security in the Balkans, it is important to halt the creation of a force that hot-headed entities will employ against Serbs in the province. We also have questions about the complete closure ofthe Bondsteel base. Its establishment was based on the importance of ensuring an international presence under the United Nations mandate, within the framework of resolution 1244 (1999). The international community has the right to information about the kind of military activity conducted at the base. Who is being trained there and for what purposes? What kind of exercises are being conducted? We believe it would be logical to include that kind of information in the quarterly reports about the United Nations Mission in Kosovo.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“The line chosen by Pristina serves only to inflame the situation and undermines the long-lasting efforts of the international community in the area of post-conflict settlement. We would like to address and call upon those with influence over Pristina to put pressure on those they support to de-escalate tensions. Regrettably, we are witnessing exactly the opposite. Pristina believes it can act with impunity, with full permission to do so. Contrary to resolution 1244 (1999), it continues to prepare for the transformation of Kosovo's current security forces into a full-fledged army. It is being assisted by certain NATO contingents in KFOR, which by doing so go beyong the United Nations mandate. The closed Bondsteel base is being used for those purposes in particular. Kosovo-Albanian fighters are being prepared for active combat.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“Such lawlessness against Serbs in Kosovo illustrates a deplorable situation with respect to law enforcement and human rights. It is drastically different from the rosy, but virtual, picture painted by those advocating the independence of the province. In that regard, we are puzzled about the blatant permissiveness on the part of the international presence - the Kosovo Force (KFOR) and the EULEX. They stood idly by, observed from the sidelines and refused to act to ensure to public order and safety. We believe that that kind of intimidation against Serbs in Kosovo and the suppression of their determination to protect their legitimate interests is very dangerous and can lead to the resurgence of armed clashes in Kosovo. It could also destabilize the Balkans as a whole.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“We are therefore left with the impression that the authorities in Pristina, after they tried and failed to put the blame on Serbia, decided to simply forget about the investigation. But the truth must be determined as soon as possible, and the Security Council must be apprised of it. In addition to that tragedy, on 26 March there was another egregious incident in Kosovo and Metohija - the brutal, humiliating and violent arrest of the Director of the Serbian Government's Kosovo office, Mr. Marko Durie. As a result of that staged and cruel provocative act, scores of people were beaten. That kind of unprovoked violence on the part of the Pristina's special forces calls into question the already fragile peace in the province. Bloodshed was prevented only because the Serbs behaved responsibly.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“According to our assessment, the situation in Kosovo is not only not stabilizing; on the contrary, it is deteriorating. Negative factors continue to accumulate. The situation requires constructive diplomatic efforts and strict international control, primarily through the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), in particular since we understand that the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) has plans to leave the province. No progress has been made to date in the investigation into the murder of a well-known Kosovo- Serb politician, Oliver Ivanovie. Much time has elapsed since 16 January, the date on which the crime was committed. However, thus far we have heard no credible information about the results of the investigation.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“Mr. Safronkov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank the representative of the Secretary- General and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, Mr. Zahir Tanin, and his team for their work and objective assessment of the situation in Kosovo. The Mission continues to play an important role in the province. We also acknowledge Mr. Tanin's personal efforts. We also welcome the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Mr. Ivica Daeic', to today's meeting. We agree with the Minister as he expressed serious concerns about the situation in the province. We also support the determination of Serbia's leaders to resolve all issues through civilized dialogue. We listened very carefully to Ms. Citaku's statement.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“In conclusion, I underscore that the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara plays an exclusively stabilizing role in establishing conditions on the ground conducive to the resumption of dialogue between Morocco and the Polisario Front. We need to encourage joint efforts to launch the negotiating process. Let us not decide the outcome in place of the parties. We are concerned about the vacuum in the process, and the failure to settle the situation in Western Sahara can be exploited by various extremist forces, which would have a negative impact the military and political situation in the entire region.”
2018-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8246 (2018) · source
“We are convinced that overcoming the differences and achieving a just and lasting settlement will be possible only by political means on the basis of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council. The ultimate formula must be acceptable both to Morocco and to the Polisario Front, and provide for the self- determination of the people of Western Sahara in the framework of procedures in line with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. That is the key concept underpinning a settlement in Western Sahara. It is unacceptable to try and replace it with other formula.”
2018-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8246 (2018) · source
“For example, the work on establishing benchmarks for the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations - which, incidentally, should apply not only to the military and the police but also to the civilian components of a mission, as well as the units at Headquarters that oversee them - has not been completed. Why are we trying to prejudge events? With regard to the initiatives of the Secretary- General to standardize the culture of performance, neither we nor the troop-contributing countries fully understand what that entails. What is it, and how can we welcome it at this stage? The text also contains a series of provisions that undermine the impartial and balanced approach of the Security Council to the issue of Western Sahara, which we do not support.”
2018-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8246 (2018) · source
“We must warn, however, that the document that was adopted today, contrary to the expectations of its sponsors, could end up having a negative effect on the efforts of the new Personal Envoy of the Secretary- General for Western Sahara, Mr. Horst Kohler, to revive the political process. Attempts to accelerate the process could lead to an outcome that is opposite to what is sought. In that regard, we believe that a review of the mandate ofthe United Nations Mission is unacceptable, and we do not support efforts to mandate the Mission with the authority to monitor the human rights situation. In addition, we absolutely do not understand why the resolution includes passages concerning generic aspects of peacekeeping, despite the fact that that is the prerogative of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations of the General Assembly.”
2018-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8246 (2018) · source
“We decided not to block the resolution because we accept the value of continuing the work undertaken by the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara. However, had we voted in favour of we would have abandoned our principled position in support of the existing foundations of a settlement, which, pursuant to the resolutions of the Security Council, is based on the fundamental principle that any model of settlement must be mutually acceptable. Instead, the main emphasis of the resolution is placed on such shaky and contradictory categories as practicability and realism, which could open the way for all kinds of equivocal interpretations. We will remain an impartial and balanced player that maintains contacts with all the regional parties with which we maintain historical and friendly relations.”
2018-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8246 (2018) · source
“Mr. Safronkov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): The Russian Federation could not support resolution 2414 (2018). The main problem was that the process ofdrafting and agreeing the decision was neither transparent nor consultative. We note, unfortunately, that none of the principled and properly justified comments that we repeatedly directed to the authors - including those of a compromise nature - was taken into account. A series of useful proposals put forward by the other members of the Council were also met with no response. As a result, the text remains unbalanced and the entire situation strengthens our doubts about the issue of informal country-specific penholderships in the Security Council.”
2018-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8246 (2018) · source
“Recent events within and around the Middle East confirm the importance ofRussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's proposal to convene a comprehensive review of the situation in the Middle East in the Security Council. It is also of critical importance to rebuild trust between the Arab world and Iran, to which end it is important to launch a process aimed at building a regional architecture for security that is comprehensive and indivisible. A key factor in that context is safeguarding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear programme. On all of these and other issues, Russia stands ready to work together with interested partners in a transparent and impartial manner, without threats or undue pressure. Dialogue remains a key mechanism for resolving the issues at hand.”
2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source
“It is not acceptable to divert attention away from the humanitarian needs of the Palestinians or to cut financing for the relevant programmes, including throughthe United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, which could lead to radicalization within the Palestinian ranks. To summarize, we wish to stress that the Russian Federation advocates crafting a positive and unifying agenda for the international community as a whole to work on the Middle East, including the question of Palestine. We deem it necessary to conduct a joint analysis of the genesis of the conflicts plaguing the region and to seek alternative means for their settlement. In that context, we believe that the initiatives advanced in the past by Russia have not lost their relevance; on the contrary, they are all the more relevant now.”
2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source
“We believe that one of the obstacles to the resumption of the peace process is the schism within Palestinian ranks. We continue to deliver assistance to the Palestinians in their efforts to restore their national unity on the basis of the Palestinian Liberation Organization's political platform and the Arab Peace Initiative. It is important for all Palestinian stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment to implementing the agreements reached in Cairo in October 2017 and to focus their efforts on the establishment of the legitimate Palestinian National Authority in the Gaza Strip. We support the relevant efforts undertaken by the leadership of the Arab Republic of Egypt. We support the delivery of international assistance to Palestinians.”
2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source
“Given the current situation, it is necessary for the international community to urgently step up its efforts for the resumption of the political process between the Palestinians and Israelis based on the principles of international law and aimed at the implementation of a two-State solution. Unilateral approaches will not lead to a fair and lasting peace, aimed at fulfilling the national aspirations of Palestinians or strengthen Israel's security. To that end, we are keeping on the table our proposal to convene a summit between the leaders of Palestine and Israel in the Russian Federation. We advocate the resumption of active efforts on the part of the Middle East Quartet of international mediators, which remains, regardless of what some may say, the sole mediation format approved by Security Council resolutions.”
2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source
“We support the right to peaceful protest and strongly condemn terrorist acts in any form and the indiscriminate use of force against civilians. We call on the parties to refrain from measures that are likely to further exacerbate the situation. It is not necessary to be an experienced analyst to understand that it is highly likely that the situation will further deteriorate. The plan announced by the United States to hold a ceremony in Jerusalem on 14 May to mark the beginning of the transfer of the United States Embassy from Tel Aviv has a strong destabilizing potential, the negative repercussions of which will be seen not only in Palestinian-Israeli relations but also throughout the region and the entire Muslim world. That is not the only high-profile event related to the Middle East that will take place in the coming months.”
2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source
“The developments in the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, where destructive trends are increasingly evident, are of grave concern. Owing to the lack of progress in the political process, a vacuum has been created that is being filled by unilateral measures and provocative rhetoric. The abyss of misunderstanding and mistrust is widening, undermining prospects for the resumption of talks. It is clear that all long-standing issues, including settlement activities, are far from being resolved. We are concerned about the escalating tensions around Gaza associated with the Palestinian protests in the sector against the Israeli occupation since 30 March. There were dozens of victims on the Palestinian side and hundreds injured.”
2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source
“Mr. Safronkov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank Mr. Mladenov, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, for his comprehensive and objective briefing. The Middle East is going through a difficult period in its history, marked by many old and new crises. The conflicts in Syria and Yemen still need to be resolved. Political and diplomatic solutions are needed. Further international efforts need to focus on resolving the situation in Libya, helping to rebuild Iraq and supporting stability in Lebanon. Palestine remains at the centre of the chaos that plagues the region and is the consequence of geopolitical experiments directed from abroad. That is a commonly agreed fact, despite the fact that some actors seek to relegate the issue of a settlement in the Middle East to the background.”
2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source
“The experts from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons are investigating the allegations, and we hope that they will be permitted to do that.”
2018-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8230 (2018) · source
“But it is important to work in concert while realizing that as the situation in Syria evolves, terrorists, including those who have had practical experience in the area of chemical weapons, will try to go into hiding in third countries. For our part, we are eager to strengthen the WMD non-proliferation regime, including through the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). We stand ready to engage constructively with the Chair of the Committee and our partners. With regard to the references made today to the Salisbury incident, I will be brief. We are waiting for information from the investigation and answers to the questions that we have asked. I am not wrong in emphasizing that we are all pretty tired of unproven statements. The same applies to eastern Ghouta, where we hope peaceful civilian life will soon be restored.”
2018-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8230 (2018) · source
“We believe that our approach to the assessment of the operations of this Security Council subsidiary body and its Group of Experts should be a realistic one. Creating additional bureaucratic structures around 1540 Committee issues, limiting experts' contracts and advocating artificially for radical and unconsidered proposals can create additional obstacles rather than increasing the effectiveness of the Committee's work. We should therefore be guided by the principle of "first do no harm". In the light ofthe ongoing activity of the Islamic State and other terrorist groups in Syria that have mastered chemical-weapon technology and are making active use of it, the significance ofa collective effort to suppress the heinous problem of chemical terrorism is only increasing.”
2018-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8230 (2018) · source
“The newer resolution, 2325 (2016), adopted as an outcome of the review process for resolution 1540 (2004), strengthens its non-proliferation potential, facilitates the exchange of best practices for its implementation and increases the effectiveness of the assistance provided to countries that need it while taking due account of their specific requirements. We believe that it is States that have the responsibility for implementing resolution 1540 (2004). International and regional organizations, industry, business, academia and scientific circles, as well as other sectors of civil society, play an important supporting role by assisting States in implementing specific provisions of this important Security Council resolution. The resolution's institutional framework corresponds to its mandated tasks.”
2018-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8230 (2018) · source
“We are eager to find common ground with our partners so as to promote the non-proliferation agenda as quickly as possible, especially since the problems in this area continue to worsen. Resolution 1540 (2004), which Russia and the United States were instrumental in bringing about, rightly occupies a special place in the global non-proliferation architecture. It was designed to establish a robust legal and law-enforcement bulwark for preventing WMDs from falling into the hands of non-State actors, including terrorists. The value of resolution 1540 (2004) also lies in the fact that it is a tool for cooperation rather than coercion or the extraction of services.”
2018-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8230 (2018) · source
“Mr. Safronkov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank Mr. Llorentty Soliz, Permanent Representative of Bolivia, in his capacity as Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), for his briefing on the Committee's work. We thank the Ambassador of Bolivia and his delegation for their stewardship ofthis subsidiary body ofthe Security Council and for their flexibility and ability to include differing points of View in their summary documents. We also thank the entire team of the Committee's Group of Experts for its professionalism. Combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) is among the Russian Federation's military and political priorities. As with all other serious issues, it requires the concerted and coordinated efforts of all States, without exception.”
2018-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8230 (2018) · source
“We hope that its agenda will be genuinely unifying and constructive, designed to overcome the obstacles to political and socioeconomic restoration in the Middle East and North Africa and to develop confidence- and security-building measures for the entire region. For its part, Russia will continue its efforts to find a way out of the impasse in the long-standing Arab- Israeli conflict and to help to stabilize the situation in the region as a whole. In that regard, the proposal of Russia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Lavrov to conduct a comprehensive Security Council review of the situation in the Middle East, with the aim of identifying areas for joint efforts to stabilize the situation in the region and settle its many crises, old and new, is very relevant.”
2018-03-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8219 (2018) · source