Remarks to the Press by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia before UNSC meeting on Ukraine
Vassily Nebenzia: It’s not the first time that we hear allegations about us “using Iranian drones” in Ukraine. We categorically reject it. These are baseless allegations and blatant attempts to deliberately mislead the international community. The arguments that our colleagues are providing do not withstand any scrutiny and simply lack any legal or technical grounds. Their assumptions are limited to some kind of “open-source” information and vague “assessments”. They provide incoherent photos of hardly identifiable debris of alleged UAVs. It looks like they are not even sure themselves about the evidence they are providing. It is not about facts as you see, it is all about fake political narrative.
Today we have witnessed yet another attempt by the group of countries whom you know. They are trying to give instructions to the Secretariat of the United Nations to conduct so-called “investigations”. Such actions represent a blatant and explicit violation of paragraph 2 of Article 100 of the Charter of the United Nations and contradict the note by the President of the Security Council that clearly stipulates the mandate of the Secretariat in the context of implementation of resolution 2231.
I heard the question that you asked the US Ambassador, whether 2231 provides for such type of investigations. It does not because the cell that supports 2231 is not a group of experts. These people do not possess necessary expertise to conduct such kind of investigations and are not even equipped for that.
We expect the Secretariat to strictly abide by its mandate and not to yield to the pressure exerted by some States. Our country would regard any non-mandated activities by the Secretariat as deliberate provocations that undermine implementation of resolution 2231.
Perhaps you know that there was a round of consultations between Ukraine and Iran. When Iran requested a second round and [requested] to provide material evidence, nothing was provided. That speaks for itself.
Q: Why not let the SG do an investigation? If you got nothing to hide, you have done nothing wrong, you are not using Iranian drones, why not have an investigation to clear Russia?
A: Because there is a mandate of the group [Team 2231], and the group does not consist of experts to conduct such an investigation.
Q: But the Secretary-General can constitute experts, he can find experts.
A: That should be done in the context of bilateral relations with Ukraine, not through the Security Council.
Q: So you want to block an investigation.
A: We say that the Secretariat cannot do it within the mandate of [Team] 2231. That’s it.
