Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations

Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations

Explanation of vote by Deputy Permanent Representative Anna Evstigneeva at the UNSC vote on renewal of MINUSCA mandate

Mme. President,

The Russian delegation voted in support of a draft resolution on renewal of the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic for one year. Russia unfailingly supports the activity of the Blue Helmets who take an important place in the security architecture of the country. We hope that MINUSCA will give the required technical and logistical support to Bangui in convening the general elections.

We note the constructive approach of the penholders of this file, who managed to come up with a consensus, having preserved a number of principal elements in the text of the draft, including a reference to the guiding UN principles of providing humanitarian assistance enshrined in UNGA resolution 46/182. We would like to point out that the principle of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, which is anchored in the mentioned document, remains imperative for international humanitarian assistance. Same as the assumption that “the affected State has the primary role in the initiation, organization, coordination, and implementation of humanitarian assistance within its territory”.

We strongly reject any intentions to argue these principles or erode the definition of parameters of humanitarian assistance on whatever pretext. We view it as attempts of interference in internal affairs of sovereign states.

We reconfirm Russia’s commitment to the established “rules of the game” at the humanitarian track. We call upon our colleagues to follow this lead.

Thank you.