Statement by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia at UNSC open debate
Mr.President,
We thank Khaled Khiari, former presidents of Chile and the Republic of South Africa, Michelle Bachelet and Thabo Mbeki, as well as Ms. Josefina Echavarría Alvarez for the briefings.
We thank Brazil for an initiative to discuss such a crucial issue as contribution of regional arrangements to prevention and peaceful resolution of disputes.
As we know, Chapter 6 of the UN Charter gives member states an opportunity to avoid using force and ensure reliable and lasting solutions to conflicts based on mutual understanding and cooperation. In this context, the role of regional and sub-regional organizations is not to be doubted.
Regional and sub-regional organizations often have a good understanding of the on-the-ground situation, cultural, economic, and social peculiarities. These organizations can become “bridges” between national and international initiatives while ensuring a more focused and effective settlement of conflicts.
This being said, respectful and equal cooperation of states is crucial both within those structures and in relations with other members of the global community.
In this context, Collective Security Treaty Organization gives us a good example. For more than 20 years, CSTO has been contributing meaningfully to regional stability. CSTO is working steadily to counter common threats and challenges, including those coming from the territory of Afghanistan.
We will further contribute to strengthening CSTO and enhancing its potential and reputation on the international arena. We support further development of CSTO-UN co-operation, i.a. in peacekeeping, in accordance with Chapter 8 of the Charter of the United Nations and on the basis of the 2010 Joint Declaration.
Cooperation in maintaining international peace and security is also a priority for a broader association, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). This imperative was once again confirmed in the "Statement of the Heads of CIS Member States on International Relations in a Multipolar World" signed at the summit in Bishkek on October 13, 2023. We also fully support the contribution of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to conflict prevention. Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) also gives significant opportunities for the development of international mutually beneficial cooperation.
Speaking of Latin America, we can highlight the rich potential of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA). CELAC, bringing together 33 countries from across the continent, aims to strengthen the political and socio-economic unity of the region and allows States with different interests and approaches to find common ground and joint solutions. ALBA is inspired by the Bolivarian principles of solidarity, justice and cooperation. The organization actively promotes integration of the peoples of the region, based on respect for the national sovereignty and independence of each country.
We have very high regard for the experience of the Treaty of Tlatelolco which has been functioning effectively for more than 50 years and was the first international legal instrument to stipulate a nuclear-weapon-free status of the vast and densely populated Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region. We are ready for fruitful cooperation with states of the region on strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime.
Despite the suspension of Russia’s observer status with the Organization of American States, where we have had productive cooperation, especially through the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE) and the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), we are ready to continue our specialized cooperation with partners in the LAC who continue to be interested in it.
We welcome the strengthening of the authority of the African Union as the leading continental organization in international affairs, reflecting Africa's growing global role and influence as one of the most important pillars of a multipolar world. We commend the effective work of the African Union in countering threats posed by terrorist organizations, including ISIL and Al-Qaida, Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab.
We advocate for elaborating effective measures to increase the predictability, reliability, sustainability and flexibility of financing African peace operations under UNSC auspices, in particular at the cost of assessed contributions to the UN budget.
Other regional organizations, such as the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and ASEAN, also retain a high potential for strengthening regional stability. This becomes all the more relevant against the backdrop of efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the national reconciliation process in Myanmar.
Mr.President,
Speaking of the European Union, we believe its contribution to international peace and security is extremely doubtful. We must say that in recent years this association has come up with rather destructive initiatives imbued with the logic of a "zero-sum game", which only pursue narrow self-interests. For years, the EU had been consistently preparing Ukraine for a confrontation with Russia, turning a blind eye to such developments in that country which would be unthinkable in EU member states. In defiance of its own values, the EU supplies offensive weapons and military equipment to Ukraine, in spite of this being a violation of EU’s norms that prohibit such deliveries to conflict zones. The European Union brings no good to the Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization process either, but only deepens the contradictions between the two neighboring states. In the course of Belgrade – Pristina negotiations under the auspices of the EU, the latter went from neutral "brokerage" to open support of Kosovo Albanians. As a result, rounds of talks keep failing time and again, triggering further and escalation in the Province. The list remains open.
Clearly, Brussels is driven solely by geopolitical ambitions, the desire to develop new spheres of influence, "colonize" vulnerable states anew, both politically and economically. Therefore, EU's involvement in international efforts aimed at maintaining peace and security leads to nothing but violence, chaos and unrest.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, an obvious remnant of the Cold War, adheres to similar neo-colonial approaches. NATO operations have resulted in numerous civilian casualties, destruction of infrastructure and significant economic damage, and collapse of states – de jure or de facto. For many years now, NATO’s activities have been reduced to pursuing a "strategic defeat" on Russia. This task is explicitly stated in NATO's current doctrinal documents. Like the European Union, NATO today pays special attention to Ukraine, which has become the main springboard for countering Russia. Besides, the Alliance's desire to expand its activities to Asia-Pacific has recently become noticeable. The goal is to deter China – another country that Washington and Brussels designated their strategic adversary.
Colleagues,
Against the backdrop of West-promoted confrontation, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which originally had unique tools for conflict prevention and peaceful settlement of disputes, has naturally degenerated. Unfortunately, being largely composed of members of the European Union and NATO, the OSCE has strayed off its course. Through the efforts of last year's (Poland) and the current (North Macedonia) Chairs-in-Office, the OSCE's fundamental rule of consensus and the principle of the sovereign equality of states are being flagrantly flouted in order to serve the Western agenda. Besides, "Ukrainization" of the entire OSCE agenda is being imposed. As a result, OSCE has been paralyzed and risks losing its fundamental role in the pan-European area for good. To remedy this dysfunction, it will take serious efforts and a return to the roots of this structure. So far, we have not seen any such willingness on the part of our opponents.
Mr.President,
In general, regional organizations are able to contribute greatly to maintenance of international peace and security. What’s key is their desire to resolve emerging problems by political and diplomatic methods in compliance with the norms of international law, with the United Nations playing a predominant role, on the basis of the principles of indivisibility of security and mutual respect, as well as non-interference in the internal affairs of states. We are ready for constructive cooperation with all regional organizations and members of the international community who are interested in working in this frame of reference.
Thank you.
