YouSaid · the spoken record

Vassily Nebenzia

lines on the record: 656
first: 2020-04-16
most recent: 2021-05-26
sittings or episodes: 80
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

“Since 18 July 2018, the Centre has repaired a total of 984 educational and 254 medical institutions, 4,947 residential buildings, 6 road bridges and almost 2,000 kilometres of roads in Syria; it has laid 1,459 kilometres of power transmission lines; 266 water supply facilities and over 14,000 industrial enterprises have been commissioned. Comparable work is currently under way in 345 locations in the governorates of Aleppo, Damascus, Dayr al-Zawr, Ladhiqiyah, Hama, Homs, Dar’a, Suwayda’, Qunaitirah and Raqqah. We urge everyone to follow our example and help ordinary Syrians to return as soon as possible to a decent life in their great country, which, despite the illegitimate sanctions, has been able to stand its ground against international terrorism.”
2021-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/506 (2021) · source
“The cross-border mechanism is touted as the only possible solution to the humanitarian problems in Idlib. We cannot agree with this hypocritical formulation of the issue. This is of course something that we will need to take into account when deciding on the extension of the mechanism. In conclusion, we would like to reiterate our commitment to providing comprehensive assistance to Syria. A total of 2,874 humanitarian operations have been carried out by the Centre for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides and Refugee Migration Monitoring, and a total of more than 5,000 tons of humanitarian supplies have been delivered.”
2021-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/506 (2021) · source
“We support the assessment by ICRC that the failure to resolve that problem threatens to extend the humanitarian disaster not only within Syria itself but also into the neighbouring countries. We are dismayed by the indifference of our colleagues regarding the dispatch to Idlib from Damascus of the United Nations/ICRC/Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) humanitarian convoy. Against this backdrop, we continue to be pressured for an extension or even expansion of the cross-border mechanism. Our Western colleagues also persist in avoiding any judgment of the actions of the terrorists holding the population of this Syrian region hostage, thereby making it clear that they will not take any steps that might create problems for the militants entrenched in Idlib.”
2021-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/506 (2021) · source
“It would be good to receive more information on a regular basis, with specific statistics about where things are improving and what stumbling blocks remain. We expect that subject to be broadly reflected in the Secr etary- General’s next report on the humanitarian situation in Syria. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer, for his informal briefing yesterday and we welcome the assessments of infrastructure, in the same vein, given by Mr. Lowcock today. In the context of the Syrian issue, we support in particular the view put forward by ICRC that it is extremely important to restore the critical infrastructure in the country. We regret that, for political reasons, these appeals continue to be ignored by certain donor countries.”
2021-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/506 (2021) · source
“This jeopardizes not only the supply of drinking water to communities in Aleppo, Idlib and Hasakah, but also the operation of local irrigation systems that support over 400,000 hectares of crops. The importance of access to sanitation in a pandemic goes without saying. Against the background of recurrent outages at the Uluk water pumping station, the continuing problems besetting water supplies to Syria along the Euphrates River pose the threat of a humanitarian disaster for a population of over 5 million people. At our last meeting, Mr. Lowcock spoke for the first time about the problems faced by humanitarian non-governmental organizations working in Syria when trying to conduct bank settlements. As we understand it, the problems persist because they are multifaceted in nature.”
2021-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/506 (2021) · source
“We look forward to providing appropriate services at the earliest possible juncture to residents of internally displaced persons camps in the trans-Euphrates area. We trust that the worsening security situation in Hulah will not undermine the efforts of humanitarian workers, and that the most vulnerable will be vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). At the same time, in view of the country’s fuel crisis, we remain concerned about the viability of United Nations logistics on the ground. We request the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to keep this issue under close review. The reports of serious problems in the operation of the Euphrates hydroelectric power stations are very worrying.”
2021-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/506 (2021) · source
“Against this backdrop, the decision of the self-proclaimed administration of north-eastern Syria to withhold assistance to Damascus in running elections in territories under its control is cause for concern. Let me stress once again that the presidential elections in Syria are being held in full accordance with the country’s current Constitution and domestic law. They are in no way at variance with the provisions of Security Council resolution 2254 (2015) and other international decisions, which are based on respect for the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic. We welcome the launch of a vaccination campaign within Syria. We understand that more than 17,000 vaccine doses have been delivered to the north-east, more than sufficient to cover the medical staff working in that region.”
2021-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/506 (2021) · source
“In doing so, our Western colleagues are demonstrating their indifference to the will of the Syrians who have gone to the polls. The long queues at polling stations set up at Syrian missions in a number of foreign capitals are testimony to the people’s keen desire to vote. This picture clearly does not please those who have already fashioned their own vision of the future of the Syrians. The Federal Republic of Germany has even totally prohibited the conduct of the elections on its territory. I would like to emphasize that this step violates the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and flouts the rights and freedoms of Syrians living abroad. Despite all the obstacles, voting took place at 46 polling stations abroad. Judging by the information coming in, there have been no serious problems within Syria itself either.”
2021-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/506 (2021) · source
“In that context, it is regrettable that, in their statements, the Secretariat and our colleagues, who are constantly carping on that topic, have ignored the general amnesty announced by the Syrian authorities on 2 May. This concerns the total abolition or reduction of penalties for a wide range of persons, including those evading military service. That is an important step on the part of Damascus towards the rebuilding of State structures, the importance of which is repeatedly stressed by United Nations experts. I am certain that, during this meeting, we will hear numerous unflattering assessments from our Western colleagues of the presidential elections that are taking place in Syria today. The tone for that has already been set by our American partners.”
2021-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/506 (2021) · source
“Statement by the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia We express our thanks to Geir Pedersen and Mark Lowcock for their briefings. For Russia, it remains a priority to push forward the work of the Constitutional Committee. We believe that the Committee’s drafting team in Geneva should resume its work as soon as possible. We would like to stress that, in its work, the Committee should be guided by a spirit of compromise and constructive engagement without foreign interference and externally imposed timelines; We agree that the fragile intra-Syrian dialogue needs to be supported, in particular by strengthening mutual trust among the Syrian parties with regard to the issue of the release of detainees.”
2021-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/506 (2021) · source
“All necessary contact is maintained with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic and other bilateral partners, first and foremost with the leadership of the Central African Republic. We believe that the question of improving coordination should be solved on the ground by strengthening the relevant mechanisms. We are convinced that the restoration of peace and security in the Central African Republic, through the joint efforts of all stakeholders, is the most important task. Once that is achieved, it can both ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers and the civilian population and allow for the timely withdrawal of the peacekeeping mission from the country.”
2021-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/501 (2021) · source
“Goma-based Blue Helmets from India and other States, as well as other specialists present in the region on a contractual basis, including Russian pilots, continue to provide assistance to civilians in those extremely precarious conditions Statement by Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation, Anna Evstigneeva [Original: Russian] I thank you, Sir, for giving us the floor again. I had to request to take the floor in order to respond to the statement by the representative of the United States regarding the situation in the Central African Republic. Russian instructors are present in the Central African Republic because the Government of the country invited them to train and support the national army, police and gendarmerie.”
2021-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/501 (2021) · source
“We are convinced that the discussions of that informal Group will enrich and add value to the experience and expertise already accumulated in that area. In conclusion, let me express our sincere appreciation to those who are deployed on the front lines of peacekeeping efforts, namely the Blue Helmets and all United Nations peacekeeping personnel, who implement the noblest of all mandates: to maintain peace. The recent volcano eruption in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, is one example of the unexpected challenges that populations and peacekeepers may be faced with.”
2021-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/501 (2021) · source
“Of course, those issues are absolute priorities for troop- and police-contributing countries. Thanks to coordinated efforts and consultations in those formats, as well as the close interaction between Member States and the United Nations Secretariat, the number of injures and casualties among the Blue Helmets has dropped significantly in recent years. Russia is represented in all the formats I mentioned above. We consistently contribute to promoting the safety and security of peacekeepers. We will continue training peacekeepers from different countries in specialized Russian facilities. It was therefore only natural for us to support the presidential statement (S/PRST/2021/11) drafted by the Chinese delegation and join the newly created Group of Friends on the Safety and Security of United Nations Peacekeepers.”
2021-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/501 (2021) · source
“By all means, the host State that receives the mission on its territory bears key responsibility in that regard. It depends on the host country authorities as to whether all necessary measures are taken in order to hold to account those who commit acts of violence against United Nations personnel. Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it is even more important to maintain the proper level of medical aid delivery in the field. All of those issues require unwavering attention, constant improvement and, wherever necessary, changes of approach. That is why the question of the safety and security of peacekeepers always remains a focus of the Security Council, its Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations, the General Assembly’s Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations and field missions.”
2021-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/501 (2021) · source
“It is not seldom that the Blue Helmets are subject to asymmetric threats. The coronavirus pandemic posed another unexpected yet very serious challenge. The pandemic negatively impacted both the effectiveness of peacekeeping efforts and the safety of peacekeepers. Against that backdrop, proper planning and organization of the work of peacekeeping missions, awareness of the surrounding situations and possible threats are factors of paramount importance for the safety and security of peacekeepers. Therefore, measures related to peacekeeping intelligence must be carried out in strict compliance with the parameters agreed upon by Member States. Another pivotal factor is quality training for Blue Helmets prior to their deployment, as well as adequate material and technical support.”
2021-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/501 (2021) · source
“At the outset, let me stress again that, with the General Assembly convening in-person meetings and coronavirus disease-related restrictive measures in New York being gradually lifted, our return to the Security Council chamber becomes imperative. We call upon the Chinese presidency to take all necessary steps to that end. We thank you, Sir, for convening a discussion on such an important and relevant issue as the safety and security of the Blue Helmets. We also thank Under- Secretaries-General Lacroix, Khare and Michaud for their briefings and welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Brazil. Nowadays, peacekeeping operations are deployed in complicated conditions, which are often very dangerous and aggravated by a dire humanitarian and socioeconomic environment.”
2021-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/501 (2021) · source
“Political settlement in Libya must not be an arena for international competition. We believe that it is essential to take on board the opinion and interests of Libya’s neighbouring countries, because they endure the direct consequences of the ongoing crisis and can play a positive constructive role in promoting peaceful settlement. On 16 April 2021, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2570 (2021), which expands — as requested by the Libyan sides — the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya. We proceed from the assumption that United Nations personnel must strictly follow its mandate to monitor the ceasefire. All parameters of such monitoring must be acceptable for Libyans and negotiated with them.”
2021-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/498 (2021) · source
“We remind our colleagues of this ordeal, for which Libyans continue to pay the price to this very day, and we call on them to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of independent States, including Libya. Russia has contributed to the establishment of the ceasefire regime in Libya. We were among the first to welcome the establishment of transitional authorities, with our Foreign Ministry issuing a special statement on that matter. We will continue to maintain close contacts with the leading political forces of various Libyan regions. The recent progress of the political process can lead to success only when it becomes truly inclusive. The representatives of the former regime and of Libya’s eastern regions have an important role to play in this regard. Post-conflict State-building must not leave them behind.”
2021-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/498 (2021) · source
“We hope that the Presidential Council and the Government of National Unity will be able to promptly establish the top-down executive structure and unify State bodies and financial and economic institutions, as well as the armed forces. Once successfully resolved, these tasks will ensure the conditions necessary for the constitutional referendum and general elections, scheduled for 24 December this year. However, achieving these goals will not be easy. The odds are that, given the heavy burden of Libya’s political and socioeconomic problems, the transitional period may take longer than expected. The most important thing Libyans must do now is overcome the mutual distrust caused by many years of conflict, which was to a large extent provoked from the outside back in 2011.”
2021-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/498 (2021) · source
“All questions pertaining to control of the oil infrastructure and export operations must be handled by the Libyans themselves. We are cautiously optimistic about prospective developments in Libya. There has been considerable progress on the political track of the settlement. New authorities have been formed for the transitional period: the Presidency Council and the Government of National Unity. In general, they could assume responsibilities from the former western Libya administration and the interim Government based in the east of the country. This was a landmark step towards resolving the prolonged acute crisis on the basis of a constitutional compromise between the opposing sides.”
2021-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/498 (2021) · source
“We thank Special Envoy of the Secretary-General Kubiš for his briefing on the situation in Libya. We welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Libya, Ambassador Elsonni, at this briefing. We thank the Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya, Ambassador Tirumurti, for providing a review of the work of that subsidiary body. In this regard, we would like to express concern over illegal arms trafficking in Libya, a factor that is destabilizing the security situation both inside the country and in the Sahara-Sahel region. We underscore the importance of safeguarding Libya’s frozen assets. This issue has become even more urgent in light of third-party attempts to profiteer from Libya’s resources.”
2021-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/498 (2021) · source
“I cannot but express our regret over the continuing practice of virtual meetings that the Security Council holds to discuss matters regarding the maintenance of international peace and security. We all know that, as recently as yesterday, the General Assembly stepped up its openness by convening an in-person debate on the Middle East, with the participation of delegations that had arrived from abroad. The city of New York also has lifted some restrictions to fully open on 1 July. However, the Council keeps ignoring those trends, as if trying to hide from the international community. We call on the Council presidency to take exhaustive measures in order to resume in-person meetings in the Security Council Chamber that meet all relevant safety requirements.”
2021-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/498 (2021) · source
“We must not turn a blind eye to the fact that the terrorists in Idlib, resourced from the cross-border mechanism, are using the civilian population of the enclave as human shields and do not let people exit this area and head for the Government-controlled areas via the recently opened checkpoints.”
2021-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/418 (2021) · source
“We consider this to be sabotage plain and simple, and we will take that into account when developing our position on the pending extension of the cross-border mechanism in July this year. If for political reasons our colleagues are unwilling to open a crossline humanitarian channel and are ready to proceed solely via the cross-border mechanism, what commitment from the Security Council to the territorial integrity of Syria are we talking about? To be a party to such hypocrisy is to damage the image of the international humanitarian- response system, which is intended to coordinate efforts to save people’s lives.”
2021-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/418 (2021) · source
“Perhaps his statement is not posted because it does not fit into the paradigm of the tired headlines boasting about the generosity of Western donors. Recently, Russia’s Defence Ministry rescued 44 Russian children by air from the Al-Hol and Roj camps for internally displaced persons. Work is now under way to repatriate another 120 children. In the light of the deteriorating security situation in these camps, the responsibility of States for repatriation of their nationals is growing. We call on colleagues to boost efforts on this track, ensuring appropriate conditions for their citizens, first and foremost women and children. For an entire year we have seen no progress in the launching of a single humanitarian convoy from Damascus to Idlib.”
2021-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/418 (2021) · source
“But from the previous four donor conferences, we have seen that contributions are not the main index for assessing the value of these conferences. It could hardly be otherwise, since these conferences completely overlook the Syrian authorities, which is why the Syrian people receive so little of the funds raised. Indeed, these conferences pay no attention to the enormous serious problems that the country is facing in its recovery after 10 years of direct foreign interference. It is a pity that the statement section of the conference’s official website does not feature the address of the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr. Peter Maurer, who speaks about the devastated infrastructure of Aleppo and Raqqa and the sanctions that cause suffering for all Syrians and deprive them of access to basic services and food.”
2021-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/418 (2021) · source
“Syria, the United Nations and its partner non-governmental organizations may end up in a conundrum — the incoming humanitarian aid risks being stuck in warehouses because there may be no fuel to deliver it to end-users. Ironically, the fuel in question is that which the United States occupation authorities are extracting from the Syrian subsoils in the north-east of the country to their own advantage. This threatens to undermine the work of mobile medical stations, about which Secretary-General Guterres speaks unambiguously in his report. Are we to blame the Syrians for that as well? Or will our Western colleagues have the courage to call a spade a spade? With respect to the fifth donor conference in Brussels, which we will certainly hear praised today, its organizers vaunt the substantial donor contributions.”
2021-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/418 (2021) · source
“The recent report of the Secretary-General on humanitarian developments in Syria in March and April this year (S/2021/390) clearly indicates that the number of permits to perform humanitarian activities issued to the United Nations personnel is rapidly growing. These permits enable the personnel to carry out humanitarian operations in Government-controlled areas, including through the World Health Organization operations in the trans-Euphrates region. Much-needed medical assistance is reaching Syria’s north-east. But now an expanding fuel crisis is impeding the work of humanitarian staff on the ground — and this in a country rich with oilfields.”
2021-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/418 (2021) · source
“I believe that that says it all; these revelations are in fact a return to the logic of “good terrorists” and “bad terrorists”. It also shows how, when retired, politicians can disclose the true rationale of actions of some of our partners in Syria. As for the humanitarian situation in the country, we welcome the delivery of the first imported batches of anti-COVID-19 vaccine in Syria last week. In this context, it is vital to ensure that the vaccine is fairly distributed among all those who need it. We trust that the Syrian Government will approach this matter responsibly. Damascus has many times demonstrated its readiness to openly cooperate with the United Nations.”
2021-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/418 (2021) · source
“We call for the cessation of creating a negative-information atmosphere around the upcoming vote, which has nothing to do with the work of the Constitutional Committee. Interference in Syria’s internal affairs is unacceptable. It runs counter to the effective norms of international law, as Special Envoy Pedersen confirmed today. We take note of the comment made by the former United States Special Representative for Syria Engagement, James Jeffrey, who held the post in the Trump Administration, which appeared in the media earlier in April. Mr. Jeffrey admitted that Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, which is listed as a terrorist organization by the Security Council, was an important United States asset in Syrian affairs and was the least bad option on Idlib. That is why Mr. Jeffrey thought this jihadist group was worth supporting.”
2021-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/418 (2021) · source
“We hope the Special Envoy will soon be able to bring the Syrians together at a negotiations table in Geneva within the framework of the sixth session of the small body of the Syrian Constitutional Committee. We would recall that the process must be a Syrian-owned process; any interference or imposition of conditions is unacceptable and can only be detrimental. Syria will hold presidential elections in less than a month. Despite all the difficulties, the Syrian authorities are making efforts to ensure that the State system functions well. It is disconcerting that some countries are opposed to the very idea of the imminent elections and have already labelled them illegitimate.”
2021-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/418 (2021) · source
“The direst of situations has come to pass in the north-west, north and north-east of the country— the territory that is outside the control of the Syrian Government. These areas are the responsibility of the de facto occupying Powers and local authorities. We are concerned at the continuing inter-ethnic clashes in the trans-Euphrates region. Conflicts between Kurds and local Arab communities have escalated because of the foreign occupation of these areas. Israel’s failure to stop air strikes on Syrian territory are a further destabilizing factor. On the political track, we have not slackened in our efforts aimed at helping a successful inter-Syrian dialogue. We remain in close contact with Special Envoy Pedersen and the Syrian sides and encourage them to act constructively and look for mutually acceptable solutions.”
2021-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/418 (2021) · source
“Excessive precautions by some of our colleagues may cast an unflattering light upon us as compared to our colleagues in the General Assembly, who have been convened regularly — and in person — in the General Assembly Hall. Nothing prevents us from doing the same. With that in mind, we call upon the ongoing Vietnamese presidency, as well as the incoming Chinese presidency, to take practical steps to transfer our work to an in-person mode in the Security Council Chamber. We thank Geir Pedersen and Mark Lowcock for their briefings. The state of affairs in Syria remains complicated. Even though there is some relative stability holding on the ground, the country has seen a deterioration of its socioeconomic and humanitarian situation, prompted by the unyielding sanctions pressure imposed by the collective West.”
2021-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/418 (2021) · source
“Before addressing the agenda of today’s meeting via video-teleconference, I would like to express our concern over the fact that the Security Council is again using the online format to host a discussion of important issues related to the maintenance of international peace and security, which we believe is unjustified. It is well known that the Security Council Chamber at United Nations Headquarters is a safe environment. The Council held more than 10 in-person meetings there during the Russian presidency of the Council in October 2020. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation in New York today is far better than it was back then.”
2021-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/418 (2021) · source
“The Centre has its affiliated branches in Syria and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and it stands ready to exchange professional expertise with any interested parties. These systematic efforts constitute Russia’s practical contribution to the implementation of resolution 2365 (2017). We will take further action to step up these efforts.”
2021-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/346 (2021) · source
“We are sharing best practices with military sappers, initially from Indonesia, Iran, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. We also maintain close contacts with the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining. From 25 to 28 May 2021, Moscow will host the fourth international conference devoted to the issues of humanitarian demining and countering the use of IEDs. We invite all Member States to participate in it. Since 2014, the International Mine Action Centre of the Russian Armed Forces has been training specialists in landmine clearance and detecting and defusing various types of mines and IEDs, operators of mobile robotic units, and employees of the mine-detection service.”
2021-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/346 (2021) · source
“Taking into account the scale of the mine action that needs to be carried out in Syria, we are also working to boost international efforts. In particular, we are closely engaged with UNMAS on this front. Russia’s contribution to UNMAS made S/2021/346 it possible for the Service to carry out a pilot project on humanitarian demining in Syria. We call on other international donors to join that initiative. Since October 2018, Russian engineering troops have been conducting mine clearance on the territory of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Since the beginning of this year, the consolidated team of experts from Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations has been working on humanitarian demining in Nagorno-Karabakh. We are paying increased attention to developing international cooperation in this area.”
2021-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/346 (2021) · source
“Furthermore, we help our partners enhance their technical and operational capacities, because it is States that bear the primary responsibility for ensuring the safety and security of their people. Mine action in Syria is among our priorities. Syria needs it in order to restore its infrastructure and ensure the return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes. Let me recall that, in 2016 and 2017, Russian engineering troops carried out mine clearance in Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor and, twice, in Palmyra. We continue to assist Syrians in mine and explosive clearance in the areas liberated from terrorists and extremists. In total, Russian military experts demined over 6,500 hectares of Syrian land and over 17,000 facilities, defusing over 105, 000 explosive objects.”
2021-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/346 (2021) · source
“Russian experts took part in the development of international standards for countering the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), conducted under the auspices of UNMAS. We provide all sorts of support, including financial, to the activities of the Service. Russia is implementing robust measures aimed at achieving a world free of mines. As for countering the mine threat, we successfully implement our approach to this issue within the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices as amended on 3 May 1996. The results of our work on this track are presented in our annual national reviews under the CCW.”
2021-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/346 (2021) · source
“We thank the Secretary-General and the other speakers for their meaningful briefings. Historically, Russia has paid great attention to the issue of demining, which is especially relevant in the context of resolving regional crises and overcoming their after-effects, as well as countering terrorism. Many conflict-affected countries have significant demand for professional assistance in the area of mine action. They need it in order to make a full-fledged transition to peaceful life and restore their economy and infrastructure. The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) plays an important role in global demining efforts. UNMAS is active in the framework of the existing United Nations peacekeeping and special political missions. It also provides capacity-building assistance to States at their request.”
2021-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/346 (2021) · source
“Let me start by congratulating His Excellency Mr. Bui Thanh Son on his appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam and wishing to him every success in this new capacity. Let me assure you, Sir, that you can count on the full support of the Russian Federation. We appreciate the efforts of the Vietnamese presidency in promoting such a crucial topic as mine action. We commend the highly professional efforts of Viet Nam’s negotiating team and its transparent approach, which aimed to take into account the opinions of all Security Council members. Thanks to this approach, we were able to agree on a draft presidential statement for adoption today (S/ PRST/2021/8). This is a major achievement by Vietnamese diplomacy and makes a significant contribution to the maintenance of international peace and security.”
2021-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/346 (2021) · source
“However, we feel compelled to respond to the allegations that we heard and clarify that the report failed to be endorsed owing to disagreements about the legality of the activities of the European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation IRINI. We believe that things must be called by their real names and that the opinions of the Committee members must be taken into consideration, despite how uncomfortable they might appear to some of our colleagues.”
2021-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/292 (2021) · source
“All those findings are readily available on the Internet. I would recommend to our colleagues that they address the conclusions of the Panel of Experts regarding citizens of their countries actively operating in Libya. It is clear that some of those operations cannot be carried out without the support of Governments. Instead of making such allegations, one should instead look in the mirror. We would like to react to a comment regarding the interim report of the Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya. Since the final version of the document was not agreed within the Committee, we do not wish to raise the sensitive issues pertaining to its endorsement in the public sphere.”
2021-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/292 (2021) · source
“In that regard, we are concerned by the fact that the relevant Security Council subsidiary bodies are receiving an increasing number of requests to use some part of Libya’s frozen assets to cover their servicing. We recall that Western companies were instructed to safeguard the assets rather than profit off the Libyan people. We have frequently heard about actions of the Russian military in Libya and have said on many occasions that there are no Russian military in that country. If any our citizens are present in Libya, they do not represent the Russian State. Incidentally, we have repeatedly spoken of the inaccuracy of the data at the disposal of the Panel of Experts on Libya, which does not even bother to verify the information “leaked” to them from open sources. Such information can easily be refuted, and Russian journalists did that.”
2021-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/292 (2021) · source
“We also call for compliance with the arms embargo imposed on Libya. We welcome the steps taken to enable communication between the various parts of the country, which will help to normalize the lives of ordinary citizens and facilitate humanitarian assistance. In addressing the situation in Libya, the international community should be guided by solutions that have been developed, agreed and endorsed by the Libyans themselves. In that regard, we have noted the report of the United Nations advance team for the ceasefire monitoring, which continues its work in Libya. Dialogue aimed at ensuring the stability of the oil sector constitutes an important element of stabilization given the understanding that Libya’s natural resources belong to all citizens of the country. The financial and economic areas also need regulation.”
2021-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/292 (2021) · source
“We are convinced that inclusiveness, taking into account the interests of representatives of all regions and major political forces, including supporters of the former Jamahiriya and the Libyan National Army, can resolve all the above- mentioned tasks and lay a solid foundation for national dialogue in Libya. For our part, we are ready to provide all possible support to stabilize the situation in Libya as soon as possible, including through contacts with all Libyan representatives, whereby we will encourage them to take a constructive approach, and we will continue to support the efforts of Special Envoy Kubiš. The 5+5 Libyan Joint Military Commission plays an important role in maintaining the ceasefire. We call on all Libyan sides to show restraint and adhere to their commitments under the ceasefire agreement.”
2021-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/292 (2021) · source
“We welcome the incoming reports about the ceremony held in Benghazi, where the authorities of the eastern part of the country handed over their powers to the Government of National Unity. We welcome the formation of Libya’s new civilian authorities, which have the task of preparing the country for the general elections to be held at the end of this year. That is not an easy task. A great deal needs to be done to ensure the prompt normalization of the situation in Libya, build unified governance, merge State structures and financial and economic institutions and establish unified armed forces. The most important thing that Libyans must do is to overcome the burden of mutual distrust caused by the long-standing conflict.”
2021-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/292 (2021) · source
“We call on our Western colleagues not to forget that dreadful lesson, for which Libyans are still paying the price, and to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of independent States, including Libya. Incidentally, today is another sad date. It is 22 years since NATO started bombing Yugoslavia. Over the past two weeks, Libyans have made an important step towards peace in their country. Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah formed the new interim Government of National Unity, which received a vote of confidence from Parliament, and members of the Presidency Council, headed by Mohammad Menfi, were sworn in. It is symbolic that those events took place in Tripoli, Sirte and Tobruk as a sign of the unity of Libyan society.”
2021-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/292 (2021) · source
“Ten years ago, in gross distortion of resolution 1973 (2011), NATO started bombing Libya, which led to the collapse of Libya’s statehood, plunged the country into a fratricidal war and contributed to the growth of extremism, the emergence of terrorists, destabilization in Mali and the Sahara- Sahel region in general and uncontrolled migration in the Mediterranean. From the very beginning, there were violations of resolution 1970 (2011), when arms deliveries started to arrive in support of the NATO operation in Libya and with foreign trainers and special forces units working there. The Libyan people have suffered a great deal over this decade on the path to restoring peace. We hope that such suffering was not for nothing.”
2021-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/292 (2021) · source