#UNCharterIsOurRules

🇷🇺🇧🇭 On July 16, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Kingdom of Bahrain Abdullatif Al Zayani in New York on the sidelines of the UN Security Council's open debate on multilateral cooperation for a more just, democratic and sustainable world order.

In exchanging views on the key topics on the regional agenda the Foreign Ministers focused on the settlement of crisis situations, including the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and reaffirmed their mutual interest in continuing close foreign policy coordination both in the bilateral format and at various international platforms.

The Ministers also discussed further development of traditionally friendly Russia-Bahrain relations with an emphasis on the need for implementing the agreements achieved following the official visit by His Majesty King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to Moscow on May 22-23.

#RussiaBahrain

#UNCharterIsOurRules

🇷🇺🇰🇼 On July 16, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Foreign Minister of the State of Kuwait Abdullah Ali al-Yahya in New York City on the sidelines of the open UN Security Council debates on multilateral cooperation in the interests of forging a more just, democratic and sustainable world order.

During their conversation, the Ministers coordinated their positions on issues of the international and Middle East agenda in great detail. They focused on developments in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone and noted the importance of closely coordinating the approaches of Moscow and El Kuwait in order to facilitate a political and diplomatic settlement of regional conflicts.

🤝 The Ministers also reaffirmed their mutual commitment to expanding political dialogue, the traditionally friendly Russia-Kuwait trade and economic, cultural and humanitarian relations, as well as those in other spheres, still further. They emphasised the fact that agreements, reached during top-level contacts, remained the basic reference point in this connection.

#RussiaKuwait

🇷🇺🇱🇧 Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lebanon Abdallah Bou Habib held talks

📍 New York, July 17, 2024

#RussiaLebanon

🎙 Statement by FM Sergey Lavrov during the UNSC meeting on multilateral cooperation in the interest of a more just, democratic and sustainable world order

📍 New York, July 16, 2024

💬 Today, the very foundations of the international legal order - strategic stability and the UN-centric system of international politics - are put to the test. We won’t be able to resolve the mounting conflicts unless we understand their root causes and restore faith in our ability to join forces for the common good and justice for all.

Let’s face it: not all countries represented in this chamber recognise the key principle of the UN Charter which is the sovereign equality of all states. Speaking through its presidents, the US has long declared its exceptionalism. This applies to Washington’s attitude towards its allies, whom it demands to be unquestioningly obedient even to the detriment of their national interests.

👉 Rule, America! This is the thrust of the notorious “rules-based order” which presents a direct threat to multilateralism and international peace.

The most important components of international law - the UN Charter and the resolutions of our Council - are interpreted by the collective West in a perverse and selective manner, depending on the instructions coming from the White House.

Key talking points:

• Washington’s hegemonistic policy has been the same for decades. Absolutely all schemes of Euro-Atlantic security were based on America’s domination, including the subjugation of Europe and the “containment” of Russia. The main role in this was assigned to NATO, which has ultimately tramped down the European Union that had been created to serve Europeans. The alliance has unceremoniously privatised OSCE bodies in brazen violation of the Helsinki Final Act.

• The unrestrained enlargement of NATO, which went on for years contrary to Moscow’s warnings, has also provoked the Ukraine crisis that began with the state coup organised by Washington in February 2014 to seize full control of Ukraine and use the neo-Nazi regime they brought to power to prepare an attack on Russia.

• NATO’s military infrastructure is moving into the Pacific with the obvious aim of undermining the ASEAN-centric architecture, which has for many decades been built on the principles of equality, mutual interests and consensus.

• Where are the free market attributes that the US and its allies have been telling everyone to follow for so many years? Market economy, fair competition, inviolability of private property, presumption of innocence, freedom of movement of people, goods, capital and services - all of these have been scrapped.

• The pivotal element of the reform of the UN should be the reshuffle of the UN Security Council, <...> which clearly has too many representatives of the collective West. A badly needed step is to reach the broadest accord possible on the concrete parameters of the reform, which should increase the representation of Asia, Africa and Latin America.

• The personnel policy of the UN Secretariat should be changed as well to eliminate the domination of Western citizens and subjects in the administrative UN bodies. The UN Secretary-General and his staff must faithfully and with no exceptions comply with the principles of impartiality and neutrality.

• #BRICS and the #SCO are playing an increasing role in the development of a just multilateral world based on the principles of the UN Charter. Their member states represent different regions and civilisations whose interaction is based on equality, mutual respect, consensus and mutually accepted compromises, which is the golden standard of multilateral cooperation involving great powers.

❗️ The UN will be able to overcome current disagreements and to reach consensus on most issues if everyone, without exception, honours its letter and spirit. “The end of history” has failed to materialise. Let us work together in the interests of launching the history of genuine multilateralism that reflects the entire wealth of cultural and civilisational diversity of the world’s nations.

🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks and answers to media questions following his visit to the United States within the framework of Russia’s UN Security Council Presidency

📍 New York, July 17, 2024

💬 I came to New York for two key events – open debates – that were held yesterday and today within the framework of Russia’s UN Security Council Presidency. Not only members of the Security Council but all other delegations could attend them. You saw how many of them did so.

The first issue we proposed for discussion yesterday concerned the conceptual framework of international relations, multilateralism and multipolarity. We pointed out the gradual erosion of system that was created after the Second World War on the basis of the central role of the UN.

I hope that you listened to my statement and to the statements made by other participants. We did not expect to come to agreement on the majority of issues, considering the current tensions on the international stage and the state of relations between the collective West and the Global Majority.

☝️ Although we had no big illusions, I believe that it was a useful discussion. At the very least, the overwhelming majority of participants agreed that we have problems. Many of them expressed opinions that coincide with our vision of the objective development of a multipolar world order, which I presented in my statement.

Another conclusion is that this discussion will most certainly be continued. There is an apparent interest for this, and it is growing. We will actively keep it up, and we will organise additional discussions on this issue not only at the UN but also at other multilateral platforms, including at the Group of Twenty, at associations such as #BRICS and the #SCO, as well as in the framework of our contacts with the regional organisations of Asia, Africa and Latin America.

The restoration of trust is the top priority now, as the representative of Guyana pointed out yesterday. So far, there was no hint of dialogue. Another important statement he made was that trust could only be rebuilt if all parties without exception comply with the agreements reached. This is not the case so far. Examples of that were provided yesterday in my statement and in the statements of other participants.

Overwhelming evidence of that was also provided during today’s open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. The overwhelming majority of the UN resolutions on Palestine have not been implemented. The second debate I have mentioned is not over yet. Many speakers have called for taking resolute steps. We hold a similar view. The first steps must include the termination of hostilities, a permanent ceasefire, the settlement of critical humanitarian problems and, of course, the termination of Israel’s actions to create illegal settlements. We hope that if or when this is done, this will create conditions for resuming negotiations on the implementation of UN decisions on the establishment of the Palestinian state that would live in peace and security with Israel.

<...>

🤝 I have held a series of bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of Arab countries, with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Peter Szijjarto, and with Head of the Federal Department (Minister) of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis.

📄 Read in full

🎙 Statement by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a UN Security Council Open Debate on the Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question (New York, July 17, 2024)

💬 The Middle East is facing unprecedented risks for the security, well-being and peaceful life of its peoples. The waves of violence surge far beyond the area of the Arab-Israeli conflict destabilising the situation in the Persian Gulf, Red and Mediterranean Seas, and in North Africa.

We need a frank and honest conversation about how to stop the bloodshed and sufferings of the civilians without delay and move towards a long-term solution to both long-standing and relatively new conflicts.

Our country has been historically maintaining good relations with all the countries in the region. The USSR was the first state to recognise Israel de facto and de jure, having established diplomatic relations shortly after it declared independence in May 1948. Meanwhile, Moscow invariably advocated the creation of an independent and viable Palestinian state and the realisation of the Palestinians’ legitimate and fundamental right to self-determination. In 1949, we supported Israel's application for UN membership, subject (I emphasise this) to the implementation of General Assembly Resolutions 181 and 194 on the Palestine Partition Plan and the right of return of Palestinian refugees. This was clearly stated when we voted in favour of Israel's admission to the United Nations. Likewise, today we support Palestine's admission to our Organisation. Its sovereignty as a state has already been recognised by nearly 150 countries that are UN members. <...>

Key talking points:

• Russia has consistently denounced all manifestations of terrorism. We implicitly condemned the terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. However, we regard the current developments in Gaza as unacceptable collective punishment of the civilian population.

• Gaza is in ruins today. Residential buildings, schools and hospitals have been turned into rubble, and the critical civilian infrastructure facilities have been knocked out of service. There is an epidemic of infectious diseases and mass hunger there. It is a real humanitarian disaster.

• The history of the colonial and mandated territories of the Middle East and North Africa has been and remains a heavy burden for the regional countries. The Sykes-Picot Agreement, the Balfour Declaration and the White Paper have planted the time bombs that have been exploding since then. The situation has been further complicated by new Western geopolitical experiments.

• It is the fourth time in the past 10 months that the UN Security Council is holding a ministerial meeting. It has adopted four resolutions, but the continuing bloodshed in the occupied Palestinian territories shows that all these decisions remained on paper.

• The situation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem is also dramatic, with military raids by the Israeli military and the settlers’ aggression, which leads to casualties on both sides. Contrary to UN Security Council Resolution 2334, Israel has not slowed but is accelerating the construction of illegal settlements.

• Our proposal regarding a meeting of all external players who have influence on various groups in Gaza and the West Bank, and who can help overcome the split in the Palestinian ranks provided they speak with one voice, remains on the table.

• Progress on the Palestinian track in full compliance with the UN resolutions, in the normalisation of relations between the Gulf countries, could be an important contribution to the ongoing process of forming a common Eurasian architecture based on the principles of indivisible security, equal collective responsibility, mutual respect and a balance of interests.

❗️ We advocate a permanent and all-encompassing ceasefire. This will make it possible to release 120 Israeli hostages and about 9,500 Palestinians who were arbitrarily arrested since October 7, 2023. We call for providing safe and adequate humanitarian access to all affected and needy people.

Read in full

🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at a ceremony for opening an exhibition dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Russia-Syria diplomatic relations (Moscow, July 19, 2024)

💬 Russian-Syrian diplomatic relations were established on July 21, 1944 at the height of WWII. You don’t need me to tell you what a difficult time it was for our respective countries and the world at large.

☝️ Today, we are once again living through hard times. The "collective West" led by the US has challenged the natural course of history and the processes leading to a more sustainable and just world order without hegemons, or colonial and neo-colonial practices, where countries will be able to cooperate on the basis of equality and balance of interests. Russia and Syria are at the leading edge of the pursuit of truth and justice worldwide.

We appreciate Damascus providing principled support for the special military operation in defence of Russian people, the Russian language and culture. <...>

I am convinced that no one will succeed in preventing our Syrian friends or us from upholding our vital interests, sovereignty, and political independence. We will continue to pursue an independent foreign policy and to strengthen ties with the countries that are willing to abide by the principles of equality and mutual respect.

🇷🇺🇸🇾 Syria is our reliable and time-tested ally and an important partner in the international arena. Our joint efforts made it possible for us to put out the hotbed of international terrorism in Syria. A stable ceasefire regime is maintained in the country. Not without difficulty, peaceful life is gradually returning to Syria. <...>

🤝 I’m convinced that relations between Russia and Syria will continue to make steady progress based on the countries’ extensive historical experience and in the spirit of long-standing friendship between our countries and peoples.

Read in full

#RussiaSyria

⚡️ 18 июля в Нью-Йорке заместитель Министра иностранных дел России С.В.Вершинин провёл ряд двусторонних встреч.

🇵🇸 Заммининдел России встретился с гуманитарным координатором ООН по ситуации на оккупированной палестинской территории М.Хади.

Собеседники подробно обсудили текущее положение в зоне палестино-израильского конфликта с упором на обстановку в секторе Газа в условиях продолжения израильской военной операции. Было подтверждено, что задачи налаживания устойчивого и безопасного гуманитарного доступа, оказания комплексного содействия всем пострадавшим и нуждающимся далеки от своего решения и остаются краеугольными условиями стабилизации ситуации и выхода из кризиса.

Кроме того, было рассмотрено развитие событий на Западном берегу р.Иордан и в Восточном Иерусалиме, а также в Ливане и Сирии. Отмечалось, что непрекращающееся кровопролитие в секторе Газа провоцирует там рост напряжённости и создаёт угрозу дальнейшего расширения конфронтации в региональном масштабе.

***

🌐 С.В.Вершинин провёл встречу с председателем Рабочей группы ООН открытого состава по международной информационной безопасности, постоянным представителем Сингапура при ООН в Нью-Йорке Б.Гафуром.

Состоялся обмен мнениями о деятельности РГОС с акцентом на итоги её восьмой сессии, на которой был принят третий ежегодный доклад Группы. Подчёркнута важность сближения позиций государств-членов ООН в целях выхода на приемлемый для всех текст документа. В качестве ключевого достижения отмечено закрепление в докладе решения о создании единого универсального переговорного механизма по вопросам #МИБ под эгидой ООН по окончании деятельности нынешней РГОС в 2025 году, а также согласование его основных параметров, включая принятие решений консенсусом и возможность выработки юридически обязывающих норм в этой сфере.

Проведена «сверка часов» относительно дальнейших практических шагов в рамках обсуждения проблематики МИБ на площадке ООН. С российской стороны подчёркнута необходимость поступательного движения в сторону формирования международно-правового режима регулирования данной области и продолжения дискуссии на этот счёт как в рамках действующей РГОС, так и в будущем переговорном формате.

#РоссияООН

الرئيس الروسي فلاديمير بوتين يجتمع مع نظيره السوري بشار الأسد في موسكو.