Statement by Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations Mr. Evgeniy Zagaynov at the UN Security Council meeting on maintenance of international peace and security
We supported resolution 2240 (2015) on combatting illegal migration in the Mediterranean, aware of the scale of the tragedy and the need for measures to be taken to save human lives. Furthermore, our delegation would like to point out that headway in truly resolving the current crisis is unlikely without addressing the root causes of migration through tackling the crises in the Middle East and North Africa, working closely with countries of origin and transit and undertaking collective efforts at the international level to establish an effective mechanism of response to the problems of refugees and migrants. We expect those who will be putting this resolution into practice to strictly comply with the relevant norms of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and, as a priority, ensuring the security of migrants. Any expansive interpretation of the resolution is unacceptable. The resolution is eminently straightforward and provides for a number of absolutely clear requirements. Measures on the high seas off the coast of Libya that are sanctioned by the resolution, as the text clearly states, should be consistent with the specific situation and carried out with the goal of saving the lives of migrants or the victims of human trafficking and only as part of dealing with entities involved in the smuggling of migrants and human trafficking on the high seas off the coast of Libya. Moreover, a top priority is ensuring the safety of people on board. The resolution also notes the need for the humane treatment of migrants, including asylum-seekers, respecting their dignity and fully upholding their rights. We welcome the resolution’s provision of a monitoring mechanism for the measures implemented, including in the form of reports of the Secretary-General. We intend to closely monitor all actions to be taken with regard to vessels in that region.
