Remarks to the press by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia on the treatment of Russian journalists at the UN and other matters on international agenda
Dear Colleagues,
Thank you very much for coming. I wanted to inform you about one outrageous incident that happened during the High-Level week.
Your colleague, Valentin Bogdanov, the correspondent of the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, was going to the press conference of Annalena Baerbock, the German Foreign Minister, and on the way, he asked her a question on something about peace prospects for Ukraine.
She preferred not to answer. He continued to follow her without harassing or whatever. Suddenly, a German, either press officer or a security guard, came out and started to assault Mr.Bogdanov with his hands. Valentin asked to leave him alone, but that continued, while he was proceeding to the press conference by the German Foreign Minister.
Later, we learned that Valentin was stripped of his UN pass. I wrote a letter yesterday to the Secretary-General and sent him a personal message, saying that this is absolutely unacceptable and we demand that this decision be revoked immediately. Secretary General promised that he will attend to the matter.
That's the main reason why I asked you to come here, because we believe that this is an outrageous incident. If the one that deserves to be stripped of the access to the UN was the German guy assaulting your colleague.
Question: Was there any justification for what happened?
Nebenzia: I have no idea. There is a viral video on the Internet. You can watch yourself and then decide for yourself, whether that was deserving of the measures that were taken immediately. We don't know even by whom they were taken. But again, I addressed the Secretary-General immediately, and we want this to be rectified in the near future.
Question: Ambassador, in that meeting you warned of an unimaginable escalation if things continue the direction they're going in the Middle East. What is your message to your allies in Tehran?
Nebenzia: Iran is a sovereign country. It takes decisions by itself. I said in my statement that Iran demonstrated incredible restraint for over two months. As the Iranian Ambassador just said, they’ve been asked, I believe indirectly, by the US, not to retaliate or whatever while they were conducting the so-called peace talks on a ceasefire, which never happened.
But then, again, as I said in my statement, we have an impression from the statements by our Western colleagues as if the Iranian attack were the beginning of the whole thing. It didn't happen in a vacuum. It was preceded by a number of events which still continue, including the recent events in Lebanon, and before that and now in Gaza. To be puzzled by what has happened is at least not becoming of serious people who are following the political and military events in the Middle East.
We've been warning long time, not just us, but many of my colleagues, that what's happening in the Middle East with the conduct of the Israeli military operation may lead to the wider conflict, to its expansion over the whole Middle East with the potential spillover even further.
Question: Did Iran alert Russia before launching its missile attack?
Nebenzia: Iran is a sovereign country. It takes decisions by itself.
Question: Every Western country talk about the right of Israel to self-defense, but they deny that right to Iran and Syria. What do you think?
Nebenzia: We see double standards everywhere, and that is one of the examples.
Question: Speaking about sovereign countries and member states, what is your take on the decision by the Israeli government to consider the UN Secretary-General a persona non grata? Do the norms of diplomacy and the UN Charter allow them to take such action?
Nebenzia: I refer to this in my statement today. I think, again, I will use the word for the second time today, outrageous and arrogant, unbecoming for the UN country member that came into existence because of the UN, in fact. I think that the Council should address the issue and call on Israel to revoke it.
Question: The Secretary-General told today that he wonders what is left of Resolution 1701. So, do you think that the Security Council needs a new document on the escalation between Lebanon and Israel?
Nebenzia: We will have informal consultations right after the meeting, and we will see what products may be proposed by Council members. But unfortunately, whatever considers the Middle East, whatever considers addressing Israel, even indirectly, is being blocked all the time by one country, the name of which you perfectly know.
Question: Do you think Israel's actions are trying to influence the US election?
Nebenzia: That is a question that my intellect cannot conquer. Thank you very much. Thank you so much.
