Statement by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia at a UNSC Briefing on Yemen
Point of order:
Mr. President,
We are once again compelled to take the floor regarding the point of order in order to object to yet another unilateral decision of the French presidency to change the established practice governing the order of speakers at a meeting of the Security Council. This decision was yet again taken unilaterally, despite objections and without any consultations with the Council members.
We would like to underline that the issue is not the particular delegation that the presidency has put at the top of the list ahead of Council members but rather the selective approach of the Security Council presidency that has decided it has some kind of special rights to break with long-established practice.
We recall that a similar situation already arose in September when the Council discussed Syria’s chemical file. By the way, we never heard any kind of clear or convincing arguments from our French colleagues, then or now. Instead, we were simply told of a certain interpretation of Presidential Note 507. However, that note in fact states that “those who have a direct interest in the outcome of the matter under consideration may speak prior to Council members, if appropriate.” However, nowhere does it indicate that such a decision can be made by the presidency unilaterally. Our French colleagues who pay such close attention to the Security Council’s working methods should be well aware of the fact that the President of the Council has no special rights, only duties. The President of the Council is only a supervisor who is required to strictly discharge their duties in accordance with the Provisional Rules of Procedure and the established practice of this body. In addition, as one of the permanent members of the Security Council, France bears additional responsibility to safeguard the Council’s traditions and to contribute to its smooth functioning. It is weird that, after its 69 presidencies, France suddenly forgot about this when presiding over the Security Council for the seventieth time. If the new French team does not know about this, or – I fear to think so – the President of the Council himself does not know this, we are prepared to give a seminar for you, our French colleagues, on this topic. You won’t even have to go to Manhattan, we can do it here and for free as well.
We’d like to note that we fully welcome the presence of our Yemeni colleagues at this meeting and are willing to listen to their reamrks. In line with established practice, they will be given the floor under Rule 37 of the Provisional Rules of Procedure of the Security Council. However, we do not see how changing the speaking order will make their voice carry more weight. In addition, as shown by discussion of the situation in Yemen last week, the position of the Yemeni colleagues who spoke after Council members was very clearly conveyed. Equally unconvincing are our French colleagues’ arguments that such an approach will help streamline the Council’s discussions. Colleagues, the speaking order has long been established for specific agenda items and agreed upon by all members of the Council. Any possible changes to it are not something for the President of the Council to decide unilaterally, but ought to be the outcome of discussion with all Council members.
These kinds of actions simply set a dangerous precedent under which certain delegations are granted the preferential right to speak at the top of the list of speakers, while others are denied that same right.
We call on the French presidency to at last think better of their actions and not to test our patience and that of other delegations with this unilateral and disrespectful attitude toward other Council members.
Thank you.
Main statement:
Mr. President,
Please convey to your Permanent Representative that we were surprised by his reaction to our statement and that of China. It seemed as if he had not heard what we were saying. I would like to warn the French presidency that we would not let such arbitrary conduct simply slide.
Madam President,
We thank Khaled Khiari for his briefing.
The current military and political situation in and around Yemen is excessively alarming: the country is going through one of the most dramatic periods of escalation in recent years. We discussed what is unfolding in this Chamber less than a week ago. Regrettably, the situation has deteriorated since then, with hostilities between the opposing sides intensifying. The advance of Houthi forces along the country’s Red Sea coast is facing fierce resistance from forces affiliated with the official Yemeni authorities. Unfortunately, there are so far no signs of the situation calming down.
Another problem, however, is that this essentially internal conflict is gradually spilling beyond Yemen’s national borders, entailing repercussions for the entire Middle East. We are deeply concerned about the ensuing destabilization of maritime navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The trade routes through these waters serve as a vital artery for international trade and global supply chains. Free and safe navigation in this part of the world is essential to ensuring uninterrupted delivery of both commercial and humanitarian cargo. The latter, in turn, is critically important for providing assistance to many countries facing difficult socio-economic conditions, including Yemen itself, where the majority of the population has for years been living under severe constraints.
Russia condemns attacks on civilian vessels wherever they may occur, as they jeopardize the freedom, safety and security of navigation, the lives and health of seafarers, and the integrity of cargo. Such actions generate additional risks in an already destabilized region. We reiterate our call on the leadership of Ansar Allah to refrain from any actions that could pose a threat to commercial vessels and their crews in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. We expect them to exercise restraint, demonstrate responsible conduct and seek to resolve the accumulated disputes with their neighbors through negotiations rather than threats.
Yet, we are convinced that, in the current difficult circumstances, Security Council members should also keep a cool head. The response of this body, which is entrusted with the responsibility of preventing threats to international peace and security, is to be rational, carefully weighed and, most importantly, commensurate with what is happening on the ground. The unfortunate experience with Security Council resolution 2722, whose provisions were subsequently misconstrued by a number of Council members, cautions us against hasty and ill-considered steps. We find such an approach detrimental to any prospects for a settlement that remain so far.
Madam President,
The issue of navigation through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait cannot be considered in isolation from developments within Yemen itself. We would like to recall that the root cause of all the problems in the waters adjacent to Yemen is precisely the simmering armed conflict with its periodic outbreaks of violence. Attempts to resolve this conflict have thus far failed to produce tangible results, with temporary lulls in hostilities on the ground being time and again followed by new and more dangerous spates of violence.
In this regard, Russia calls for the most rapid de-escalation in and around Yemen through stepping up efforts to resume an inclusive political and diplomatic dialogue under the auspices of the United Nations. All major political forces in the country, including the Ansar Allah movement, should participate in such a dialogue. Moreover, what is now needed more than ever is active support for this process from regional actors that have leverage over the Yemeni parties. Without coordinated efforts on their part, the process may well be stalling. We assume that this logic is to be followed by all Yemeni parties, including Ansar Allah, as well as by the regional actors involved. For its part, Russia will continue to provide all possible support in this endeavor.
In conclusion, we would like to reaffirm our commitment to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of friendly Yemen.
Thank you.
