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

“The Israeli settlement activities in the Palestinian territories, which are contrary to international law, along with provocative rhetoric and Violence, are not conducive in any way to creating the conditions for starting direct talks. It is crucial that we continue to ensure that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) can do its work effectively. We welcome the outcome of the conference held in Rome on 15 March in support of UNRWA, whose budget Russia contributes to regularly. Right now what is especially needed is a well-coordinated effort, every day, on the part of the entire international community. It is important to take action together and at the regional level. In that regard, we note the forthcoming summit of the League of Arab States in Riyadh in April.”
2018-03-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8219 (2018) · source
“The path to that goal is through convening direct negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis on all final-status issues, including Jerusalem. Any settlement should be based on the generally recognized international legal framework, including the relevant Security Council resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. We affirm our readiness to provide a Russian platform for a meeting between Palestinian and Israeli leaders. The tragic history of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has shown once again that the longer the political process is postponed, the more often unilateral steps are taken that make relaunching it even harder.”
2018-03-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8219 (2018) · source
“We should all understand that it is impossible to resolve the situation by putting out the fires that periodically flare up in the Palestinian territories. The relapses are inevitable and what is needed is a strategy for a settlement. The tragic events going on now make the task of achieving inter-Palestinian reconciliation as soon as possible even more urgent. In cooperation with our regional partners, especially Egypt, we are determined to continue our efforts to unite Palestinians around the political platform of the Palestine Liberation Organization, which we see as essential both for the economic revival of the Gaza Strip and for a practical way to realize the aspirations of the Palestinian people to establish their own independent State, coexisting in peace and security with Israel within internationally recognized borders.”
2018-03-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8219 (2018) · source
“Mr. Safronkov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I would like to thank Assistant Secretary- General Zerihoun for his briefing. We in the Russian Federation are deeply concerned about the tragic events in the Gaza Strip. We are alarmed about the reports of an increase in the number of victims and casualties resulting from the Israeli army's efforts to restrain Palestinian protest actions, which began on 30 March as part of the so-called March of Return in a campaign lasting several days. We call on the Palestinian and Israeli sides to show restraint and to refrain from actions that could result in the deaths of innocent civilians. What is on the agenda is the urgent need to mobilize diplomatic mediation efforts aimed at de-escalating the situation around the Gaza Strip.”
2018-03-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8219 (2018) · source
“Russia cares deeply about the restoration of peace and stability in Libya, which we envisage as a united, independent State, playing a significant role in international and regional policy. We are ready to cooperate further in promoting the political process in Libya, and to assist Mr. Salame' by supporting trustworthy contacts with all Libyan stakeholders. That is our principal doctrine.”
2018-01-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8159 (2018) · source
“Instead, in violation of a resolution of the Security Council, a military aggression was launched that led ultimately to the destruction of the Libyan State, which the United Nations is currently attempting to restore. On behalfofthe Chair ofthe Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya, Ms. Schoulgin Nyoni informed us about that sanctions entity's work in the past few months. We appreciate the Swedish delegation's efforts, led by Ambassador Skoog. The problem ofthe illicit proliferation of arms in Libya remains acute, affecting security in the country itself and in the Sahara-Sahel region and demanding the most stringent possible control over shipments of military equipment to Libya conducted under the current exemptions.”
2018-01-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8159 (2018) · source
“We hope that Libyans, with the support of the United Nations action plan, will be able to restore unity in their country, taking the interests of every region into account. We have consistently emphasized the importance of consolidating international efforts to assist Libya. Each mediating mission should function on the basis of the same rules, aimed at uniting the country. We welcome constructive initiatives, undertaken in an understanding of the importance of strengthening the central coordinating role of the United Nations. We urge all the parties involved to give due and careful attention to the ideas proposed by the African Union. We must not forget that in 2011 a disregard for the regional dynamics expressed by that important continental organization resulted in the wasting of a genuine chance for a political settlement for Libya.”
2018-01-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8159 (2018) · source
“We impatiently await the day when Libyans are launched on the road to sustainable development and can independently dispose of their country's rich resources, which no one else has the right to infringe on. We are concerned about the recent clashes around the Tripoli airport. Such events are not uncommon in Libya, unfortunately. Among other things, they are a sign of inadequate control over the situation and a reminder of how vital the task of establishing a unified system for the State administration and security apparatus is. A broadly representative inter-Libyan dialogue is still the only effective way to deal with the protracted crisis and achieve national reconciliation. There should be no attempts to unfairly exclude patriotically minded political forces from discussing the parameters of national reconstruction.”
2018-01-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8159 (2018) · source
“Once the amendments to the Skhirat agreement agreed on by the Libyans have been incorporated into it, its implementation should help to resolve the whole complex of urgent tasks on Libya's agenda, including restoring order on the security front, seriously combating terrorism, reviving the economic and social sectors, rectifying the humanitarian situation and addressing the escalating problem of illegal migration. At the same time, we believe that it will be crucial to have the international cooperation of the appropriate specialized bodies in order to counter the criminal business networks associated with human trafficking. That challenge cannot be left up to Libya alone.”
2018-01-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8159 (2018) · source
“Mr. Safronkov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We thank Mr. Salame for his briefing. We very much appreciate his professionalism and diligent efforts in the work of restoring the Libyan State. We support the steps taken by the United Nations to help to end the conflict in Libya on the basis of the Special Representative's action plan. In that regard, we are pleased to see the ongoing contacts between Libyan parties, including the representatives of Tripoli and Tobruk. We see progress in the discussion of issues related to amending the Libyan Political Agreement, which still represents the basis for a peaceful settlement. However, it is clear that this is only the first phase of the major job that lies ahead. We hope that the negotiations will continue and will start to resemble reliable agreements as soon as possible.”
2018-01-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8159 (2018) · source
“In that context, we are open to cooperating actively with the United States and other international and regional parties. Russia has contributed significantly to Afghanistan's development on every front as a major donor and a consistent supporter of the Afghan people's efforts to find lasting peace. We have a deep-rooted interest in ensuring that Afghanistan becomes a source of stability, prosperity and sustainable development, which accords with our national interests and with regional stability.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8147 (2017) · source
“Afghanistan is at the threshold of a new electoral cycle. We sincerely hope that the elections will take place in a secure, united atmosphere. Afghan society cannot be allowed to become polarized. The elections should lead to consolidation and enable the country to close this bloody chapter in its history. To sum up, we want to note that Russia and Afghanistan are historically linked through friendship. President Putin has emphasized clearly that the central Government in Kabul needs the support of the international community, and we are ready to provide that support, including by helping to train national personnel in law enforcement and the armed forces and in establishing essential arms and military technical systems.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8147 (2017) · source
“We support the efforts of all initiatives to renew peace negotiations between the Government of Afghanistan and the Taliban leaders and to achieve national reconciliation in the country, led by the Afghans themselves. But the evolution of the political and military situations means that with the surge in terrorist threats emanating from Afghan territory, it will be esesntial to include the country's neighbours, including the Central Asian States, in the reconciliation mechanisms. In our view, the Moscow format has in fact achieved that in practice, along with the revived mechanism of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization-Afghanistan Contact Group in its new format. The principle of an honest, equal partnership, based on the efforts of such forums, can help to achieve the desired goals.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8147 (2017) · source
“The entire system of international efforts there should be rebuilt, based on the principles of cooperation and good-neighbourliness. Counter- terrorism efforts should be supplemented by robust steps aimed at national reconciliation. We wholeheartedly support the view of the Secretary-General that there can be no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan. The emphasis must be on negotiations to pave the way for rapid national reconciliation. However, that will be possible only through collective, mutually respectful efforts. There is no place here for competition, hidden agendas or mutual reproaches. We must refrain from unilateral projects, or the situation will deteriorate into a vicious circle.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8147 (2017) · source
“It is important that Kazakhstan, as a member of the Security Council, is drawing general attention to the developing situation on the ground. We are also very concerned about the deteriorating drug situation in Afghanistan. As Mr. Fedotov rightly noted, the figures in UNODC's most recent report are confirm that unfortunate trend. We are seeing an increase in drug crime and terrorist activities. The situation requires an immediate ramping up of efforts on the part of the international community. We urge everyone to consider the robust efforts of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in that regard. The efforts to counter terrorism in Afghanistan have been going on for 16 years, but the situation remains difficult and military personnel and civilians are still dying. The task of ensuring sustainable development has become harder.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8147 (2017) · source
“Having suffered a crushing defeat in the Middle East, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is moving to other regions. The main centre where the terrorists are concentrated is now Afghanistan. There are clear signs that ISIL is putting down roots in the country. A recent result of ISIL's strengthened presence was the seizure by militants of new areas in the north of the country. Additional ISIL groups are moving into the area. The secret to the jihadists' successful infiltration is material and military support coming from outside sponsors. We call on the Afghan authorities and the leaders of foreign presences in the area to take determined steps to rid the country's northern regions of terrorist elements, which represent a serious threat to the security of our partners the Central Asian States. This cannot be tolerated.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8147 (2017) · source
“Mr. Safronkov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We are very grateful to the briefers, Mr. Yamamoto, Special Representative ofthe Secretary- General, Mr. Fedotov, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and Mr. Umarov, Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan, for their thorough analysis of the evolving situation in Afghanistan. Their briefings constitute a good basis for today's discussion. We note the selfless work being done by the entire United Nations team in Afghanistan. For our part, we would like to make the following comments. The Government, the armed forces and the people of Afghanistan continue their courageous efforts to overcome the challenges to their security, both old and new.”
2017-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8147 (2017) · source
“We have the power to ensure its successful implementation, but we must first refrain from the language of threats and sanctions, instead using instruments of dialogue and concentrating on broadening cooperation and mutual trust. In that regard, we note that during the Joint Commission's most recent meeting, on 13 December in Vienna, all the participants - I repeat, all the participants - affirmed their commitment to implementing their obligations under the JCPOA. That creates a solid foundation for the future, and we hope that our countries will continue sticking to this line in strict accord with the letter and spirit of this historic agreement.”
2017-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8143 (2017) · source
“Two years of the J CPOA in action have demonstrated its effectiveness and that it is fully capable of carrying out its tasks. We believe firmly that there can be no alternative to the Plan of Action nor any justification for revising it. The Russian Federation is committed to the unconditional and comprehensive implementation of the provisions ofresolution 2231 (2015) and the JCPOA, which represents an outstanding accomplishment for global diplomacy and has enabled us to resolve a crucial regional issue. The importance of the nuclear deal is recognized by an overwhelming majority of the members of the international community. We can use it as a model for dealing with other current problems and serious regional crises.”
2017-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8143 (2017) · source
“Discussions on those topics should be held in other formats and should be conducted on a basis of mutual respect with the aim of eliminating existing differences and suspicions exclusively through direct, political dialogue. A few years ago, the Russian Federation developed an initiative aimed at establishing a collective security system and confidence-building measures in the region that is still relevant. We should also be implementing resolution 598 (1987), which asked the Secretary-General to present to the Security Council measures to enhance the security and stability of the region. That request was not implemented and the time has come to do so, since this type of methodology would be more effective than the recent, punitive decisions.”
2017-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8143 (2017) · source
“Similarly, without the Council's unanimous agreement it is impermissible to hold 2231 format meetings jointly with subsidiary bodies of the Security Council and expert groups. We would also like to recall paragraph 3 of annex B to resolution 2231 (2015), which states in black and white that Iran is called upon not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons. We would like to draw the attention of Council members to the fact that regional issues and the situation in the Middle and Near East do not generally have to be discussed in the context of the JCPOA and resolution 2231 (2015).”
2017-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8143 (2017) · source
“Information based on such visits should not be considered equivalent to normal consultations conducted with Member States. Since we are worrying about budgets, I would like to point out that such trips are paid for with budget resources allocated under resolution 2231 (2015) exclusively for the implementation of its mandate. We continue to believe that the report should not include information obtained from open sources or references to information provided by individual countries that is unverified or clearly unverifiable. Such information must first be submitted to the Security Council, which has the authority to take decisions on further steps, including on conducting investigations. Independent action in that regard cannot be considered legitimate.”
2017-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8143 (2017) · source
“The best guarantee of that is every State party's good-faith fulfilment of its voluntary commitments. We support the Secretary-General's call to the JCPOA participants to comply fully with its provisions, including the importance of ensuring that Iran's compliance with the agreement brings it concrete dividends, as well as the appeal to all countries and organizations to act in full accord with the JCPOA and to support its implementation in every possible way. We feel once again compelled to draw attention to the Secretariat's continued practice of conducting investigations for which it has neither the authority nor the expertise. Such actions, undertaken without the Security Council's prior consent, are not legitimate, and any information obtained through them cannot be considered reliable and should not be included in the report.”
2017-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8143 (2017) · source
“That has been consistently confirmed by both the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Secretariat of the United Nations, which, as the report indicates, has no reason to believe that Iran has made transfers either of goods or technology, whether nuclear or dual-use, which would be in violation of paragraph 2 of annex B of resolution 2231 (2015). Unfortunately, despite this positive evidence for the implementation of the JCPOA, we are obliged to note that some countries are attempting to torpedo this breakthrough collective agreement. We hope that reason will nonetheless ultimately prevail, that issues of international security and stability will cease to be held hostage to domestic political processes and that JCPOA will finally be allowed to function at full force and demonstrate its unique potential.”
2017-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8143 (2017) · source
“In our view, preserving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) for regulating the Iranian nuclear programme is one of the international community's major tasks. The Plan of Action is a foundational achievement of the work of the past few years in nuclear non-proliferation and diplomatic efforts for regional and international peace and security. It was the outcome of a joint and collective effort. The Secretary-General's report is a clear testament to Iran's unconditional compliance with its commitments under the JCPOA.”
2017-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8143 (2017) · source
“Mr. Safronkov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We are grateful to the Secretary-General for preparing the new semi-annual report (S/2017/1030) on the implementation of resolution 2231 (2015), and we would like to thank Mr. Feltman for his briefing. We note the effective work done by Ambassador Cardi, the Permanent Representative of Italy, the Council's facilitator for the implementation of the resolution, and since he is speaking before the Council in that capacity for the last time, we would like to thank him and the Italian delegation for their effective efforts in this important area of the Council's work. He and the Italian team have made a constructive contribution to our work.”
2017-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8143 (2017) · source
“The result is that the people and the sovereignty of Syria suffer, despite the fact that in every resolution we adopt we reaffirm our commitment to those fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The situation in the country is radically different now, and the mechanism for cross-border supplies is a remnant ofwhat is past. In our view, it will be important to work to gradually end this rudimentary plan, based on a divided Syria. The United Nations humanitarian agencies should begin to reorient themselves to traditional ways of working in the country in cooperation with its official authorities and in accordance with the universal principles of humanitarian assistance. We hope that the Secretariat will start making plans for the gradual abandonment of the cross-border shipments.”
2017-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8141 (2017) · source
“Unfortunately, thanks to the position taken by various Council members that attempts to present the transboundary mechanism as an ideal plan that needs no improvement, and to freeze it as it is indefinitely, some important amendments that we proposed were not included in the final draft. Within the framework of the planned review, we would like to hear from the Secretary-General as to how the effectiveness and transparency of the mechanism could be improved, as well as some details on the partners of the United Nations in this area. Having given permission for these cross-border shipments, the Security Council has the right to know these things. But it would seem that there is some mystery here involving some kind of carefully guarded extraneous interests.”
2017-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8141 (2017) · source
“We could have continued the discussions for the sake of reaching a consensus. We expect the Secretary-General to review the transboundary mechanism within the established time frame with the aim of bringing its activities to their inevitable end. We hope to see recommendations on how to improve its monitoring during the current transitional stage, while the Syrian Government's opinion must be taken into account without fail. The Secretary-General must also give the Security Council detailed information every month about where the aid is being sent, what it consists of and in what quantities. We hope the reports will not be a formality. We will double-check all the information that the Council receives. We are grateful to the delegations of Egypt and Sweden for their careful, honest and constructive work.”
2017-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8141 (2017) · source
“The United Nations has not exercised due control in this area, including of the distribution of humanitarian assistance in Syria. In fact the United Nations agencies do not play the leading role in this plan, which essentially belongs to non-governmental organizations. How and what they are supplying, and to whom, continues to be a mystery wrapped in an enigma. The authorities in Damascus are essentially dealing with a chaotic situation that they are powerless to introduce some order into. At this point, since our guiding light is first and foremost the interests of the Syrians in need of aid, we have not blocked the latest extension of the transboundary regime. But the proposed text did not take all our priorities into account, so we could not support it. We deplore the unnecessary haste with which resolution 2393 (2017) was adopted.”
2017-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8141 (2017) · source
“Mr. Safronkov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): When the Security Council established a regime for cross-border supplies of humanitarian aid through the United Nations, we all assumed that it was a temporary emergency measure that perforce infringed on Syria's sovereignty. It was introduced in 2014 when the armed conflict was in an acute phase during which at times there was no other way to provide the civilian population with the necessary assistance. It was intended, and as such written into resolution 2165 (2014), that humanitarian supplies transported through specific border crossings would go to residents throughout Syria, a provision that has never been met. The mechanism mainly serves areas controlled by illegal armed groups that dispose of incoming aid at their discretion.”
2017-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8141 (2017) · source
“Russia supports trust-based and friendly relations with all the peoples in the Middle East without exception 4 Israelis, Palestinians and Arabs. Our relationships are not burdened by the negative heritage of the past. Russia's policy has never included colonialism or interference in the internal affairs, which, let us be honest, became the reason of the lamentable situation that we have in the region today. But we cannot give up. Let us look to the future. The priority tasks remain the same - pooling our efforts, fighting terrorism and settling the regional crisis. Implementing the proposal of Foreign Minister Lavrov to conduct a comprehensive review in the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East would help to resolve this task. We are ready for such cooperation.”
2017-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8139 (2017) · source
“At the same time, we need to ensure a fully functional United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. That is the main mechanism for alleviating the burden of the Palestinian refugees in the Middle East and, ultimately, it is extending assistance to those Arabs States where the refugees find themselves. We believe that, in the current conditions, including those throughout the whole region, the issue of moving as quickly as possible to revive direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations is becoming increasingly topical. We therefore reiterate the relevance of our proposal to convene a summit in Russia between the leaders of Palestine and Israel. We are ready to be honest mediators.”
2017-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8139 (2017) · source
“For our part, we will continue encouraging all Palestinian parties to overcome their internal divisions as quickly as possible. A just and comprehensive settlement in the Middle East is something that can be achieved only if there is a firm international legal basis, which includes the Security Council's relevant resolutions, the Madrid principles and the Arab Peace Initiative. Russia will continue acting both on a bilateral basis and through the Middle Eastern Quartet of international mediators to help to intensify international efforts in the quest to find a way out of the current impasse in a resolution to the Middle East question. We think that the energetic role played by the regional players, in part by Egypt and Jordan, is important.”
2017-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8139 (2017) · source
“Against the background of the settlement activity by Israel, the provocative rhetoric on both sides, the outbursts of violence and the difficult humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, we continue to hear about the erosion of a possible realization of the two-State solution to the Palestinian problem. At the same time, we remain committed to a resolution that provides for an independent State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side in peace and security with Israel. And West Jerusalem will be the capital of the State of Israel. We welcome the further consolidation of the unity of the Palestinian people with the assistance of the Egyptian leadership. We consider it a step in the right direction.”
2017-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8139 (2017) · source
“Washington's recent decisions on Jerusalem were met with serious criticism, which turned into mass protests. That is understandable given that Jerusalem is the cradle of the three monotheistic religions and is the most sensitive issue in the peace process architecture - as well as the fact that the question of the status of the city needs to be considered on the basis of well-known internationally recognized parameters, within the framework of a bilateral dialogue between the Palestinians and Israelis. We call upon all parties to show restraint and to refrain from any actions that could be fraught with dangerous consequences. We must not forget that precisely such a method of settlement was approved in many Security Council resolutions adopted in recent decades. They remain fully in force today.”
2017-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8139 (2017) · source
“Mr. Safronkov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I thank the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Mr. Nickolay Mladenov, for his substantive briefing. We fully support the work of Mr. Mladenov as an objective broker. We in Moscow we are very carefully following the development of the situation on the Israeli-Palestinian track. We are convinced that resolving the Palestinian question is of fundamental importance for the long- standing normalization of the situation in the Middle East. No other regional challenges can obscure that fact. The ongoing stalemate in the political process is of deep concern to us. Under those conditions, any kind of unilateral act increases the risk of unleashing a spiral of conflict and makes it more difficult to relaunch direct Palestinian-Israeli negotiations.”
2017-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8139 (2017) · source
“(spoke in Russian) In other words, it stated in its report that the responsibility of the Syrian Arab Republic had not been determined, within either the Government or its various institutionss, and that the character and the logistics of the operation might have involved a whole range of players from various areas. What kind of evidence is this? And then it wrote that the Syrian Arab Republic - the entire State - was responsible. We need to draw lessons from history. In its current form, the Mechanism represents a serious step backward, even compared to the efforts of the United Nations Special Commission on Iraq, because in that case Mr. Blix and Mr. ElBaradei clearly based their work on verifiable facts. They would not have dared to base it on assumptions such as those that I have just quoted from Mr. Mulet's own statement.”
2017-11-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8090 (2017) · source
“In conclusion, I want to say that when, together with our American colleagues, we created the Joint Investigative Mechanism, we had in mind the goal of closing a large gap in international tools used to address such issues as investigating cases of chemical terrorism, and we considered the Mechanism as a preventive mechanism aimed at deterrence. Unfortunately, we have not been able to achieve that. I think that what Mr. Mulet said today would strike even people with the wildest imaginations: (spoke in English) "With respect to the responsibility of the Syrian Arab Republic, the Mechanism did not identify specific actors within the Government and institutions of the Syrian Arab Republic. The nature and logistics of the operation would involve a range of actors from different areas".”
2017-11-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8090 (2017) · source
“Owing to the not very constructive position taken certain countries, it has been difficult to develop an appropriate response, despite the draft resolution that we put forward, together with China. The JIM. has not done anything about this, even though anti-terrorist efforts are one of its main tasks under the mandate given it by the Security Council last year. The issue of chemicals continues to be used to increase tensions around Syria; ultimately, chemical terrorism could lead to a real conflagration that would have repercussions even beyond the Middle East.”
2017-11-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8090 (2017) · source
“If comprehensive changes are not made, it will remain a tool used solely to settle accounts with the authorities of the Syrian Arab Republic. That is the impression that is being given, and that is unacceptable. In extending the mandate of the JIM, we want to enhance its effectiveness and bring it in line with the high standards of the Chemical Weapons Convention. That is what our draft resolution aims to do, and we hope that our colleagues in the Security Council will approach that draft from a constructive, non-politicized perspective. Even as some continue to try to find these imaginary chemical weapons in Damascus, the region is seeing an increasing threat of chemical terrorism.”
2017-11-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8090 (2017) · source
“The report also notes that in 57 of 247 cases, the victims had arrived at hospitals before the incident actually occurred. That is one in four of the supposed patients, which excludes the possibility of carelessness in filling out the documents in the ensuing commotion. The Mechanism, however, decided to ignore that glaring discrepancy, forcing the available evidence into the Procrustean bed of the single, untenable aerial-bomb version. I would like to ask Mr. Mulet if 57 people is not rather too many to write off as poor record-keeping. We are not undermining the authority of the JIM, simply proceeding according to facts and logic based on our thorough scientific and technical analysis of the report. We firmly believe that the Mechanism, vested with such a major responsibility, cannot continue to work in this way.”
2017-11-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8090 (2017) · source
“And yet the White Helmets announced the possible use of chemical weapons even before the Syrian planes took off from Shayrat airbase. I would like to ask Mr. Mulet if the JIM. verified the information that the White Helmets had. Why was almost no attention paid to that fact during the preparation of the Mechanism's report? The report also passes over one very important circumstance. In April, in the Security Council, the United States Permanent Representative showed photographs of Syrian children who had supposedly died from sarin poisoning. The pupils of the children in the pictures are significantly dilated, whereas if they had been suffering from the effects of sarin, their pupils would have shrunk to the size ofa pinhead. We asked the fact-finding mission and the JIM. to explain that inconsistency, but they avoided the issue.”
2017-11-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8090 (2017) · source
“What has been noticeable is the visual materials produced immediately after the chemical incident, in which people are seen milling around the crater without special protective equipment. There are representatives of the White Helmets using respirators and cotton gloves, which provide no protection from the effects of sarin, and they seem to be feeling fine. That is proof that there was no sarin in the crater, since if a chemical bomb had gone off it would have produced a lethal concentration of the poison around the crater. There is reason to believe that there was a munitions explosion on the ground, after which the White Helmets shot the well-known video and only after that was the sarin released into the crater.”
2017-11-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8090 (2017) · source
“Nor has the possibility that homemade sarin was used in Khan Shaykhun been explored, although there could be evidence of that in substance samples. Does Mr. Mulet really believe that no one besides the Syrians is capable ofproducing sarin based on a specific known formula established through analysis? And if he does, why? I would like to ask Mr. Mulet if the JIM. conducted a chemical analysis of the samples taken from the crater with a View to detecting and identifying traces of the explosive that released the sarin. If not, why? After all, that would be the most logical way to determine the type of munitions and explosion and the method used to disperse the sarin.”
2017-11-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8090 (2017) · source
“We would like to ask Mr. Mulet what this component's concentration was and at what stages, and whether there was any verification of the likelihood of this micro-impurity's being present in DF in any other processes where DF is used as a basic component for producing sarin. We believe that the impurities found in the samples should not be considered as unique markers solely for Syrian binary technology for producing sarin. It is also possible that the DF and sarin were deliberately synthesized following the known Syrian recipe. The chemicals could have been produced anywhere in order to deliberately compromise the Syrian authorities, and as far as we know that version of events was never considered.”
2017-11-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8090 (2017) · source
“How can one conclude that there was an aerial bomb when the crater's shape is rectangular rather than elliptical? Every textbook on explosions says that a crater like that is characteristic of an explosion from a horizontal, ground-based position. That also corresponds to the distribution of the burn marks on the surface of the asphalt. The edges of the crater were not turned outwards and there were no traces of displaced soil, which shows that the munition was sitting on the asphalt at the moment it exploded. Incidentally, the crater was paved over soon after the incident, which looks very like destruction of evidence. As part ofits work, the JIM. commissioned a special laboratory analysis, which detected an impurity that is left behind after the formation of Syrian binary sarin from the precursor methylphosphonyl difluoride (DF).”
2017-11-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8090 (2017) · source
“It is well known that carbon steel is used everywhere to make these kinds of munitions. If that was the case, why is the data not in the report? And if not, how can it be unequivocally concluded that there was a chemical bomb? There is a crumpled piece of pipe in the crater visible in the photographs. What, in the JIM's opinion, is it made of and what does it have to do with an aerial bomb? Let us consider the crater. If a chemical bomb with binary sarin had been dropped, there would unquestionably have to have been found, in or near it, the mixer that synthesizes the two components that produce sarin, as well as pieces ofthe tail unit. Nothing like that was found. I would like to ask Mr. Mulet why the crater has no signs of the entry channel that the impact of an aerial bomb always produces.”
2017-11-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8090 (2017) · source
“leadership has looked at the aerial bomb version of the Khan Shaykhun events as the basic account, if not the only one. Anything that did not fit into it has been discarded, and the Mechanism has ignored the version about how the incident might have been staged, saying that nobody saw anyone preparing a ground-level detonation of munitions. How can one take that kind of reasoning seriously within the framework of such a serious investigative process? Who on earth would put together such a thing in front of anyone? Based on information from social networks, the fact-finding mission received munition fragments supposedly found in the crater. I would like to ask Mr. Mulet if the JIM. has analysed the metal fragments to determine the type of steel and whether it could be used to manufacture warheads.”
2017-11-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8090 (2017) · source
“Mulet why the Mechanism concluded that this was technically possible. If it was in fact carried out - although nothing was observed on the radar - then, going on the radius of the turn and the approach to the target, the Su-22 would have inevitably had to fly over the residential area, with an increased thrust and significant noise. But according to the JIM. report, not one of the witnesses saw a military aircraft directly over the town. Our Russian experts have shown, using calculations and graphs, that an air strike on Khan Shaykhun was not technically possible. Why did the JIM. not consult Russia, given that the aircraft is manufactured in our country? Then all these fantasies about the Su-22's flight path would have vanished on their own. The problem is that from the very beginning, the JIM.”
2017-11-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8090 (2017) · source