Explanation of vote by Deputy Permanent Representative Anna Evstignneva after the UNSC Vote on a Draft Resolution on South Sudan
Mr. President,
Since this is, we hope, the last open meeting of the Security Council this month under your presidency, I would like to thank the Chinese delegation for their professional work and their successful presidency in the month of May. Let me also wish Colombia every success next month.
Mr. President,
The Russian Federation abstained during the vote on the US-drafted Security Council resolution renewing the South Sudan sanctions regime for an additional 12-month period.
We note that this year the sponsors chose to limit themselves to such a text that essentially implies a technical rollover of the restrictions; they did not follow the lead of certain delegations that proposed imbuing the document with new language in an unjustified attempt to strengthen pressure on South Sudan.
At the same time, Russia could not support the draft, as it was replete with criticism vis-à-vis the government of South Sudan. The document remains overloaded with assessments of the political situation. In particular, we are uncomfortable with the fact that the arms embargo is linked to processes within the country through the prism of political violence, as well as with the refusal to name correctly the legitimate government in Juba. We are convinced that the people of South Sudan are capable of independently finding solutions to the current internal instability and defining the path forward for implementing the Revitalized Peace Agreement.
At this critical juncture for the country – which involves the elections scheduled for December—the issue of stabilization and maintaining public order is particularly pressing. To this end, the government and its security forces need to have the full set of required tools, including technical capabilities and a sufficient number of trained personnel. Since there is still a long way to go until the formation of a unified army, both the government armed forces and the national police will have to perform this function. However, the Security Council sanctions currently in effect against South Sudan represent a major obstacle in this regard. Because of these sanctions, Juba is unable to procure even such basic supplies as military uniforms. We must also not forget that the sanctions are hindering the country’s economic development and dissuade foreign investors from engaging with South Sudan. The targeted exemptions contained in the adopted resolution are insufficient, in our view. Of course, the time is not ripe for an immediate lifting of the regime established pursuant to UNSC resolution 2206; however, it is high time for a more substantial easing of restrictions.
Russia has always advocated, and will continue to advocate for easing restrictions against South Sudan. This is fully in line with the pan-African policy towards gradually dismantling the UNSC sanctions across the continent, which is something that our Western partners cynically ignore year after year. Indeed, the sanctions essentially hamper the successful progress of the political process in South Sudan as well as the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement.
We call for further engagement with Juba to be based on respect for its interests and consideration of its national, historical, ethnic, and cultural specificities.
Thank you.
