Explanation of vote by Vassily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN, after the UNSC vote on the draft resolution on extending CAR sanctions regime
Mr. President,
The Russian delegation supported the adoption of UN Security Council resolution on extending sanctions regime for the Central African Republic. We were guided by the importance of continuing coordinated international efforts to facilitate peaceful settlement of the armed conflict in the CAR.
We commend the work of the French authors of the draft who managed to gain support of all members of the Council. This was achieved not least due to the decision to respond to the legitimate demands of Bangui to further alleviate the sanctions burden.
The adopted resolution envisages a simplified procedure for grenade gun deliveries to cover the needs of the CAR – this is another small step in support of Central Africans. Thereby we would like to remind that the CAR authorities call upon the UNSC to lift the embargo in full. By all means, they have every reason to do so. That is why we are firmly committed to the further review of UNSC restrictions.
The arms embargo may have played a positive role at the initial stage of the conflict, but now it obviously impedes the rearmament of CAR’s national army and security forces – the institutions that bear the main responsibility for ensuring safety of the population. Whereas those who sabotage the peace process continue to replenish their arms stocks from smuggling.
We call upon the authorities of the Central African Republic to continue meeting the target benchmarks of arms embargo review, so that in a year the Security Council has all the reasons to lift it.
We assure that Russia will set forth its support for the CAR both in the process of its national reconciliation and in the context of strengthening its enforcement bodies with a view to normalizing the situation in the country and ensuring lasting settlement of the armed conflict.
Thank you.
