Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations

Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations

Statement by Acting Permanent Representative Dmitry Polyanskiy after the Security Council vote on draft resolution on extending the mandate of UNISFA

Mr. President,

Russia has voted in support of resolution 2469 of the Security Council on extending the mandate of the Interim Security Force for Abyei.

We take notice of stabilization in Abyei, where inter-communal dialogue has been established. We believe peacekeepers’ presence in the region should continue as it is part of a task to maintain security at the border between Sudan and South Sudan. We commend the efforts of Blue Helmets from Ethiopia.

Mr. President,

We have to state that the text of the resolution does not account for all principal concerns of Khartoum and Juba. The informal facilitators of the dossier are aware of this.

We have supported the adoption of the document, mindful of the fact that UNISFA is one of few peacekeeping operations working with countries that are sides to a conflict.

Russia hopes that the designated shortcomings would not affect the effectiveness of Blue Helmets’ implementing their mandate. We proceed from the assumption that as this mandate is being fulfilled, the Secretariat will be guided by basic peacekeeping principles that require consent of the sides.

We hope that the activity of UNISFA will further add to confidence building between Khartoum and Juba in the interests of final settlement of Abyei’s status that should be achieved as soon as possible.

Thank you.