Remarks to the press by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia following UNSC vote on a draft resolution regarding the acts of sabotage at the Nord Stream pipeline
Q: Are you surprised with the voting on your resolution?
A: I'm not.
Q: Why?
A: We knew the result, but the negative result is also a result. We expected something like that because it betrays and reveals a few things. As I said, uneasy conscience betrays itself. You heard my dialogue with the representative of the United States who simply couldn't answer a simple question which I asked. He was accusing us of propaganda and what not, like they always do, they try to shift focus on Ukraine. We were talking about a particular subject - an independent investigation. Our resolution doesn't contain a single reference to a single country. It just called for an independent investigation because investigations that are being conducted nationally by Sweden, Denmark and Germany do not meet the requirements of an objective one since they simply exclude one of the countries that suffered most from the process, which is namely Russia.
Q: So will Russia try to push the draft a resolution again for a vote?
A: I think that was enough. What has happened today, has revealed their real attitude towards the issue.
Q: Ambassador, the US representative did say it's great that Russia is concerned about international infrastructure. And he did say, what about the infrastructure in Ukraine? What's your response to that?
A: When they have nothing to answer, they always shift the focus on another issue. That's their tactics. We learned it long time ago.
Q: Ambassador, do you expect the meeting on Belarus to be coming up in the next few days?
A: The meeting was requested. We are always ready for whatever meetings, if they are scheduled. Of course, we have a few things to say.
Q: Any special guests during Russian UNSC Presidency next month?
A: We are expecting Minister Lavrov to come for a few meetings.
Q: Which ones?
A: That is being decided, but I mean signature events of our Presidency, which are scheduled closer to the end of the month.
Q: Does he have permission to travel and everything. I mean, because of all of the problems that your delegation had in the past with getting speakers here.
A: You saw him here at the UNGA high level week. It will be fun if he is not allowed to come here for the UNSC Presidency.
Q: What are those signature events?
A: One of our signature events will be dedicated to the multipolarity in the emerging world (that's not the exact title, but that's the topic). The other will be an open debate on the Middle East. There is one more event, which is scheduled earlier in April, before the Minister comes, regarding the uncontrolled arms export, proliferation of uncontrolled arms supplies around the world. We are not focusing on any particular country. Of course, certain countries will be focusing on certain areas, but that's a generic problem, not just the problem of the conflict that you are referring to.
Q: On Minister Lavrov's visit, when was the last time he was here?
A: High level week, last September.
Q: And does he have to apply for special permission since he's been named.
A: Look, he's coming for the UN events. They are obliged to issue visas for such visitors.
Q: Is he looking forward to it?
A: I hope so.
Q: Has the visa been granted yet by the US?
A: You're asking a wrong person. That's their obligation. They should grant a visa to the delegation.
Q: How big is his delegation? That's always the question. Will he do a press conference, hopefully?
A: I think yes. As usual.
