Statement and right of reply by Vassily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN, at the VTC of UNSC members on cooperation between the UN and regional and sub-regional organizations (European Union)
Mr. President,
We welcome the participation in the discussion with the Security Council of High-Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Mr. Josep Borrell and took note of his remarks.
We totally share the task of strengthening multilateralism in international affairs promoted by our EU partners. We are convinced that a true multilateralism can succeed only with the central role for the United Nations and through a clear support of its Charter and international law. We believe that there should be no ambiguity about this, and therefore we make a clear distinction between international law and the so called “rules – based order” (that many of EU countries are promoting) – which can be easily “tweaked” or even “hijacked” by a closed circle of likeminded states to serve their collective interests and not those of the international community as a whole. We hope that we are on the same page with our EU partners when we discuss multilateralism.
The EU continues to be an important international actor which is very visible both through political and economic perspectives. This implies huge responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. Even after Brexit the EU is well represented in the Security Council and has all the necessary tools and means to influence international agenda. We continue to count on our European colleagues in addressing together the challenges of our times, starting from COVID-19 pandemic and up to peaceful resolution of various conflict situations in the world.
We all expect the EU to be an unbiased player ready to help and facilitate, and not to impose its agenda or conditions on those countries and regions that need such help. We hope that our European partners will stick to such an approach which will permit us to work together in different country situations.
The Russian Federation has always advocated for developing and improving cooperation between the UN and regional and sub-regional organizations in line with Chapter VIII of the UN Charter. During our presidency in UNSC in September 2019 we initiated a discussion on cooperation between the UN, CSTO, CIS and SCO. Cooperation with them, as well as with the European Union and other regional organizations should be balanced and be based upon the UN Charter. One of the main priorities for such cooperation in particular is collective response to trans-border crimes, first and foremost, in the sphere of counter-terrorism. Russia is ready to promote such cooperation.
I would specifically stress the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, which we wage together, individually and in coordination with the UN partners and structures, first and foremost – the WHO. This being said, we regret to see that EU still applies multiple restrictive and coercive mechanisms. We repeatedly heard the assurances from Brussels and other European capitals that these mechanisms are “targeted” and carefully-calibrated. But the reality proves the opposite: application of such measures in reality considerably undermines socio-economic situations in the affected developing countries, thus seriously reducing living standards of innocent people. The relevant appeal of the UN Secretary General, issued at the beginning of the pandemic, is a good signal to this end. We call on the EU to reverse its policies on sanctions and reach out towards the population of the countries in question and refrain from punitive and coercive measures adopted beyond and outside the scope of the UN Security Council.
The EU is expected to play a stabilizing role in “wider Europe”, from the Balkans and Mediterranean to its Eastern periphery. To live up to such expectations the EU should stick to the principles of international law, abstain from interference into internal affairs of its neighbors. We regret to remind that it was the EU “Eastern Partnership” program that led to widening dividing lines in Europe, triggered and detonated the so-called “Maidan Revolution” in Kiev and led to still ravaging civil conflict in Ukraine.
We expect Brussels not to devalue European values and principles while dealing with flagrant violations of the rights of Russian-speaking population in Ukraine and some Member States, namely the Baltic states, which continue to face discrimination and abuses. We also urge the EU not to close eyes on the rise of nationalism, far-right and neo-Nazi movements in Ukraine, rising xenophobia and anti-Semitism.
Today we heard appeals to dialogue from some EU members. But when it comes to frank dialogue, and to taking our concerns onboard, somehow it does not materialize.
Mr. President,
We took note of the EU decision to launch naval operation IRINI in the Mediterranean with declared aim to support the UN arms embargo on Libya. We expect this operation to fully comply with international law, Security Council Resolution 2292 and its operational zone to cover the whole length of the Libyan coast. Any imbalance in such a delicate issue may undermine international efforts to establish dialogue between the opposing Libyan parties. Brussels should not be avoiding contacts with all parties to the conflict either. We will have to take all these factors into account in June, when time to make decision on the extension of inspections regime on the high seas near Libya would come.
In conclusion, Mr. President, I want to reiterate that we value positive examples of cooperation between Russia and the European Union in the United Nations. I am referring to the situation with Iranian nuclear program, Middle East settlement, fighting piracy off the coast of Somalia, as well as in training of national security forces in Central African Republic to name a few. I would specifically highlight JCPOA which faces tremendous challenges now as a result of a totally irresponsible behavior of certain actors. We need to be firm in defending what we have achieved.
I want to stress once again that the Russian Federation stands ready for and would prefer to see full-fledged cooperation with the European Union. And that is only possible on equitable basis when all interests and concerns are mutually taken into account. We are ready for this and believe that the whole world would benefit from such cooperation.
I thank you.
In response to the briefer:
Mr. President,
I would like to make a couple of brief comments. I was listening to the High Representative of the European Union. When he referred to the issue of EU sanctions, he presented a strong advocacy of them. I had a feeling that those sanctions indeed were very humanitarian, and after hearing this advocacy the developing countries that are not yet under sanctions should be queuing up to receive them, so humanitarian portrayed the sanctions were.
Secondly, I think this is unfair to turn our meeting on a dialogue with a regional organization which is the European Union, to discussions of an issue which definitely lies not only outside the UNSC mandate, but outside our today’s agenda. I mean the issue of Hong Kong, which some of the Member-States chose to bring to the Council’s attention. I think it is unfair to the purpose of the meeting and also to the essence of the problem itself. I think we should refrain from artificially bringing to this discussion issues that have nothing to do with the agenda of the UNSC.
