Statement by Vassily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN, at the VTC of UNSC members on the political and humanitarian situation in Syria
We thank G.Pedersen and M.Lowcock for their briefings. We believe that combining UN Security Council meetings on political and humanitarian situation in Syria serves not only the goal to optimize the Council's program of work, but also the need to comprehensively assess the situation in the country, where, with the help of a number of our colleagues these two tracks have long been intertwined due to the politicization of humanitarian issues.
We thank the Special Envoy for information on the results of his visit to Damascus and discussions he had there, including those related to the work of the Constitutional Committee. It is a Syrian-owned and Syrian-led process. It is important to give the Syrians the opportunity to negotiate without interference from the outside. The work of the Constitutional Committee should not be subject to any deadlines. We hope that through the mediation of the Special Envoy the work of this body will continue in line with the agenda agreed by the Syrians.
For quite some time the situation has been more stable in those areas of Syria under the control of the legitimate government. This is happening despite measures of political and economic pressure on the Syrian people from certain Western states. Idlib, controlled by the Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham terrorists, and territories in the northeast, illegally occupied by the United States, remain a zone of instability. In the Idlib de-escalation zone the implementation of the Russian-Turkish agreements continues although terrorists constantly organize provocations. It is obvious that achieving lasting stabilization in Idlib and other Syrian provinces is only possible if the terrorists of ISIS, Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham and their accomplices are neutralized.
I listened very carefully to the statement made by Christoph [Heusgen] today, which I always do. I could have commented on every sentence he made, but I will not be doing it, or I will use too much time for my own statement. But I would like to refer to just one thing. There is a classical Russian fiction book, by a classic of Russian literature Mikhail Bulgakov, who wrote a book called “Heart of a Dog”. It is about a dog that was turned human by a genius medic Professor Preobrazhenskiy. It is set in times following the Russian revolution, with Bolsheviks already in power. Professor Preobrazhenskiy (who is an old-style, old-regime personality) and his assistant sit at a lunch table, and Professor says: “I implore you not to read Soviet newspapers before lunch, because they lead to indigestion”. So I implore Christoph not to read the New York Times before Security Council meetings on Syria. We already had chances to comment on certain articles in NYT. We read so many fakes on Russia in NYT that we are not surprised you used that source of information for today. We strongly discourage you from doing so in the future.
Taking into account the fact that there are no other hostilities besides counter-terrorism in the country, we have more and more questions to those Western colleagues who call for a nationwide ceasefire in Syria. We have a question: whom are you trying to protect? With whom do you propose we conclude such an agreement?
There is an increase in terrorist activities in other parts of Syria, including in the northeast. The recent release of 600 ISIS members from custody by the Kurdish administration is worrying. Dangerous consequences of such a step are obvious. We already receive information about rise of terrorist acts on behalf of radicals who infiltrate areas controlled by Damascus and fight the Syrian army.
Foreign occupation and attempts to tear the Kurds away from the multi-confessional Syrian state are fueling separatist sentiments, negatively contribute to the radicalization of the population and the growth of tribal conflicts in this region. On our part, we consistently advocate the unity of Syria, respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
We note the efforts of the Syrian government to rebuild the country after the conflict and create normal living conditions for its citizens, including refugees. No matter how hard the opponents of Damascus try to prevent it, people want to return and they do return home. Nobody talks of forced return. People do it voluntarily. It is a fact that cannot be denied. In this regard, it is necessary to intensify efforts of the international community to provide comprehensive assistance to all Syrians wishing to return to their homeland, create appropriate conditions for them: restore basic infrastructure, communications, build housing, and continue humanitarian demining. This is a laborious process requiring considerable financial resources. But such work needs to be started. This would be an excellent example of the approach promoted by a number of states to better integrate humanitarian work with development assistance.
An International Conference on the return of refugees and IDPs and the restoration of peaceful life will be held in Damascus on November 11-12 in order to form a holistic picture of the situation with Syrian refugees in the region and parameters of their return to their places of permanent residence. Invitations were sent to a wide range of states and international organizations. The forum will provide a platform for substantive dialogue with all stakeholders on all issues related to providing assistance to Syrians returning to their homes.
Unfortunately, we are forced to say that due to the anti-Syrian bias a number of colleagues had immediately started to discredit this humanitarian initiative. We are receiving clear signals about the refusal of a number of Western states to even discuss this topic. And we hear this despite the fact that the task of creating conditions for the safe and voluntary return of refugees and the rehabilitation of the affected areas is inscribed in Security Council resolution 2254. However, even with this issue our colleagues seek a selective approach. As well as with the Secretary-General's appeal to lift unilateral coercive measures.
The search for mutually acceptable solutions is an imperative, but, unfortunately, we do not see it. We see only increasing pressure on Damascus, introduction of more sanctions, illegal occupation of territories, profiting on and pillaging of sovereign natural resources in the northeast. The needy population of Syria most of whom live in government-controlled territories is deprived of this income. Against the backdrop of illegal unilateral sanctions the country is completely deprived of not only the opportunity, but also the right to sustainable development. And “double standards” in the application of sanctions and irresponsible pollution of the environment in the northeast with far-reaching consequences for the health of a huge number of Syrians living in these territories look all the more cynical. We are disappointed that the UN continues to ignore this issue.
We note with satisfaction the progress in UN humanitarian deliveries from inside Syria including through cross-line routes. This proves that the government of Syria is fulfilling its responsibilities for non-discriminatory and non-politicized provision of humanitarian assistance to the population of the country including in the areas out of its control. This happens despite numerously repeated accusations as well as statements that there is no alternative to the cross-border mechanism. It was never a surprise to us, we always knew that all this was a political game around this cross-border issue. By the way, we would like to inquire with Mark Lowcock, where is the cross-line convoy to Idlib that awaits to be sent since April.
In conclusion, we would like to inform you that on October 16, 27 Russian children aged 2 to 13 were returned to Russia from the Al-Hol camp. After the easing of quarantine measures caused by the pandemic, this was the third flight of such kind. In total, 102 Russian minors have been brought back from Syria since 2017. Taking into account plans of the administration of the northeast to disband the Al-Hol camp, we draw the attention of our colleagues to the growing need for them to repatriate their citizens.