Remarks to the Press by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia following the UNSC meeting on the 5th anniversary of the UNSC resolution 2202
Q: After today’s debate do you expect the second Normandie talks to take place between your president and president Zelensky in April?
A: We’ve said that the condition of the next meeting in Normandy will be implementation of the first Normandy that took place in December, it is not the first one, I mean the recent one. And that should be conditioned on the implementation of the Complex of measures which are in the Minsk Agreement. If we see progress than we see the need for the summit. If we do not see any progress in implementation of various measures prescribed in the Minsk Agreement, than what is the point of meeting? Just for the sake of meeting?
Q: Mr. Ambassador. Some critics, some Ukrainians and others said that you called this SC meeting to basically take the attention away from the appearance on Thursday in the General Assembly by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister. Can you respond to that?
A: I would be speaking at the General Assembly meeting of February 20th, but that’s on another agenda item of the General Assembly. Whilst Security Council has an agenda item which belongs to the Security Council. And besides today, I wouldn’t call it celebrate, but we mark the 5th anniversary of the Minsk Agreements, which are in the resolution 2202, and we do it basically annually. We called the same meeting last year, if you remember. We thought it was appropriate time, timing and date to take stock of what happens with Minsk. And unfortunately not much is happening to our great regret.
Q: There has been talks certainly in the region about why this incident, that fighting, that happened this morning took place. Particularly the Ukrainians are blaming the Russians, you are blaming them on a day that this anniversary was being marked here.
A: I don’t know why they are blaming the Russians or whoever is on the other side. They may be Russians, but they are not the Russian citizens. These are citizens and inhabitants of Donbass who may be very well Ukrainian. And most of them, the majority of them is Ukrainian. I wouldn’t time it to the day, just so happened that the provocation took place and they responded and that happens from time to time. It’s very regrettable, we want the disengagement throughout the whole line where forces stand across each other. But unfortunately we don’t find much willingness or answers. Thank you.
Q: The German Ambassador responded to you by saying that the separatists of Donbass are puppets of Russia.
A: That is his opinion, I’m not able to change it. He is a man of conviction.
Q: Question regarding Lybia. The Government of the National Accord has announced that they are suspending their participation in the 5+5 talks in Geneva.
A: Ok. I didn’t hear it.
Q: They’ve just announced it.
A: Where did it come from?
Q: They posted a statement on Twitter. They’ve said that it is because of the latest escalation and they want the international community to be clear on who is violating the need for common ground.
A: Too sad. The parties have just started to engage including within the intermediary committee, which is the most important thing for the ceasefire. And there are some prospects for the political track to start sometime in the near future. Too sad that they withdrew and I hope they will return to the table.
Q: Do you think it is important to call out General Haftar for violations of the peace in Tripoli?
A: I don’t what happened I have to look it up. Of course, if parties agree to the ceasefire, it should be maintained.
