Statement by Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations Mr. Petr Iliichev on the vote on Somalia and Eritrea resolution
The Russian Federation voted in favour of the United Kingdom’s resolution 2244 (2015), on Somalia and Eritrea, as for us and other members of the Security Council the imperative is to swiftly achieve peace and stability in the countries of the Horn of Africa. However, we continue to have concerns about the intrusive nature of a number of provisions of the resolution that effectively undermine the principle of State sovereignty.I should also point out that, as was the case last year, certain provisions of this resolution are based on conclusions in the final report of the Monitoring Group Committee pursuant to resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009) that have not been substantiated by facts. Let me reiterate that experts should not go beyond the purview of their mandate during the preparation of their documents. They must be guided solely by verified facts, and not build their conclusions on the basis of conjectures and unfounded accusations.We are forced to reiterate that the use of sanctions is an exceptional and rarely effective method. Resolving conflicts must take place exclusively through political and diplomatic means, on the basis of mutual respect and multifaceted dialogue among all the States in the region.
