Statement by Deputy Permanent Representative Dmitry Chumakov at Arria-Formula meeting "Protection of the Environment during armed conflict"
Mr. President,
Protection of environment is one of the key tasks in the interests of sustainable development. Armed conflicts do not only lead to deaths of civilians, but often provoke major environmental disasters and emergencies. Though primary goal of the international humanitarian law is protection of civilians, warfare methods that aim at negative impact on the environment are inacceptable.
A solid legal basis has evolved in order to protect the environment against the background of an armed conflict. There are special provisions on environmental protection during armed conflict stipulated by the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions on Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts.
We see no need to elaborate extra documents in this area. We believe issues of galvanizing cooperation in this field should not become part of the UNSC agenda which is already pretty packed. This is competence of other specialized platforms, e.g. UN Environmental Assembly. Securitization of these questions is counter-productive.
Mr. President,
Another aspect of this problem is impact of military action and unilateral sanctions on the state of environment. Here are some vivid examples: recent acts of Western states in Yugoslavia, Libya, Syria.
NATO countries bombed former Yugoslavia with ordinance that contained radioactive additives, mainly – depleted uranium that pollutes the environment. This provoked an outbreak of oncological deceases, affected health, reproductive functions of people residing in the exposed territories. These regions still need decontamination and corresponding rehabilitation.
Missile and bomb strikes that NATO launched against oil infrastructure in Libya, and activity of West-backed military units of the opposition in the vicinity of oil facilities led to full or partial destruction, massive fires and air pollution by combustion residue of oil and petroleum products.
Let me also highlight the situation with unilateral anti-Syrian sanctions that deprived the country of an opportunity to import equipment and materials that ensure environmental safety of industrial production.
Initiators of such acts prefer to pay no attention to their effects and do not hurry to help clean up the past environmental damage.
Mr. President,
We emphasize that amidst armed conflict, protection of civilians should be the number-one priority. Therefore, we would like to avail of this opportunity and call on all sides to armed conflicts to fully observe their obligations regarding preclusion and prevention of acts of violence of assaults against the civil population.
Thank you.
