Explanation of vote by Deputy Permanent Representative Anna Evstigneeva after the UNSC vote on a draft resolution on UNSOM mandate renewal
Mr.President,
The Russian Federation has supported the draft resolution on renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia put forward by the delegation of the UK.
However, we would like to echo our Chinese colleagues in expressing regret over sustained effort that the British side made this year to incorporate some additional climate-related language in the resolution. We understand that the droughts, floods, locust swarms and other natural disasters that befell Somalia were extra factors that exacerbated the situation in the country. At the same time, we see no reason to utilize a resolution on Somalia to enshrine a UNSC mandate on climate change agenda as such.
We believe it erroneous to focus the work of a special political mission on such issues, because it would blur its most pressing task – support for the Federal Government in convening the crucially important elections, and also during the ongoing process of transferring responsibility for security in Somalia from AMISOM to national security forces.
We are convinced that climate change issues must be the responsibility of specialized bodies of the United Nations. Involving the Security Council in this agenda is impractical and counter-productive.
We are also worried by the unstopping attempts of the sponsors to cram the document with human rights language. Somali colleagues do not need the Security Council to mentor them as to how to protect and promote human rights. They are capable of drafting and implementing such legislation themselves. It is essential that specifics of the Somali society be accounted for. Imposed recipes have no big chances to catch on in Somalia.
Thank you.
