Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations

Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations

Explanation of vote by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia after the UNSC vote on a draft resolution on Afghanistan

Mme.President,

Russia had to vote in abstention on a draft UNSC resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

We did it for the following reasons. Ever since we started discussing this draft, we have tried to convey to our colleagues in the Council the importance of host country consent to have UN presence. This is an imperative, which was taken into account every time the resolution was renewed in the course of many years. But when mentioned this time, it was opposed by those who implemented irresponsible policies in Afghanistan all those years while not helping the country resolve its pressing issues, and ultimately left the people of Afghanistan behind.

To our deepest regret, one persistently ignores the new reality that has evolved in Afghanistan and promotes irrelevant approaches. As a result, all responsibility for settling the situation and addressing related risks falls on the shoulders of UNAMA.

UNAMA, as any other UN Mission, must have realistic tasks. We wish every success to the Mission, but we do not want to be responsible, if it fails to meet all its tasks. We would not want for it to turn into a “United Nations Mission Impossible in Afghanistan”.

Support of de facto authorities would let UNAMA act more effectively when implementing its mandate and pursuing its aims. Besides, this condition is a prerequisite for safety and security of UN personnel, their ability to access the areas that were closed to them as recently as 7 months ago. After all, it is essential for a more targeted interaction of the Mission with the Talib authorities – the aspect that is regularly raised at the Security Council discussions of Afghanistan. The fact that the draft resolution gives no mention of that can jeopardize UNAMA’s efficiency when upholding its mandate and undermine the international efforts that seek to stabilize the situation in the country.

As Head of UNAMA, Ms,Deborah Lyons, repeatedly underscored in her briefings, the Mission could play a positive role in enhancing capacities of new authorities to provide for a more effective resolution of political and human rights problems while taking into account the regional and cultural specifics and proceeding from best practices adopted from regional neighbors, including the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Steps at these tracks, multiplied by cooperation with the Talib leadership, could lay down solid groundwork for national reconciliation in Afghanistan.

Mme.President,

When working on the text, we were guided by the interests of Afghans in the first place. We assumed that humanitarian assistance and prevention of an economic collapse were the primary tasks. Against the backdrop of a paralyzed banking system, a liquidity crisis and remaining restrictions, it is crucially important that these issues must be resolved promptly, without preconditions and reservations. We believe that among its other tasks, UNAMA should contribute to solving issues of releasing the Afghan assets and building efforts for lasting post-conflict recovery. We trust that UNAMA’s contacts with the donors will help it make progress towards ensuring Afghanistan’s self-reliant development and economic independence from international funding. This is key to stability that everyone will benefit from – the people of Afghanistan, the region, and the whole world.

We appreciate the efforts of Norwegian penholders of the Afghan file, aimed at harmonizing positions of UNSC members on the issue, and we commend their sensible approach to the pressing issues that were outlined. We also welcome that the text of the resolution addressed terrorist and drug threats.

Thank you.