🌏 On September 5-10, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Indonesia, Bangladesh and India.

🇮🇩 In Indonesia the Minister took part in the 18th East Asia Summit. On the event's sidelines Sergey Lavrov met with the Foreign Ministers of India Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Indonesia Retno Marsudi, as well as Secretary General of the Indian Ocean Rim Association Salman Al Farisi.

🇧🇩 During the working visit to Bangladesh, Russia's top diplomat held talks with his counterpart A.K.Abdul Momen and was received by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The Parties discussed the state of bilateral relations and their development prospects.

Sergey Lavrov also visited the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum, made an entry in the book of honored guests.

🇮🇳 In India the Minister led the Russian delegation at the G20 Summit, took part in its plenary sessions. During the meeting the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration was adopted.

💬 Sergey Lavrov: The G20 Summit was an unqualified success. The G20 is undergoing an internal reform. One aspect of this reform is that the member countries representing the Global South have become more proactiv. They have been clear and persistent in ensuring that their interests are included in the agreements negotiated by the G20.

⚡️ Russia's position at the seventy-eighth session of the UN General Assembly:

Rights of the child

👶 We advocate strengthening international cooperation in the promotion and protection of the rights of the child, taking into account the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the outcome document of the 27th special session of the UNGA entitled "A World Fit for Children", which proclaimed, in particular, the need for a family environment for the full and harmonious development of a child's personality.

❗️ We note the importance of the right of parents and/or legal guardians to provide, in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child, appropriate direction and guidance in the exercise by the child of his/her rights.

We pay close attention to the problem of children in armed conflict, including within the framework of the UNSC.

We strongly condemn the UN Secretary-General's biased decision to include the Russian Armed Forces in the list of parties responsible for violations against children in Ukraine in his relevant annual report for 2022.

We believe that the list of violators should include the Ukrainian armed forces, which have committed numerous crimes against minors.

📃 We support the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and look forward to further cooperation with her. We encourage the Special Representative to use only verified facts when it comes to the situation of children in Ukraine, avoiding politicization of the issue.

⚡️ Russia's position at the seventy-eighth session of the UN General Assembly:

International information security

📃 We advocate for maintaining the central role of the UN, in particular the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG), in the global negotiation process on international information security (IIS). It is important to prevent the Western countries from replacing the OEWG with non-transparent mechanisms under their control and defend the strictly interstate character of the adoption procedure for universal decisions on IIS.

❗️ The Group should focus its work on giving binding legal effect to the rules, norms and principles of responsible behaviour in the information space. We call for the development and adoption of a universal international legal instrument aimed primarily at strengthening cooperation in preventing conflicts in the use of ICTs.

👉 Together with a group of supporters, we have drafted and presented an outline of a UN convention on IIS to provide a model for such document.

We intend to submit to the First Committee of the 78th UNGA session an anniversary (25 years) Russian draft of the annual resolution "Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security". It will reflect the outcomes of the OEWG's work in 2023, including the creation of a global intergovernmental registry of points of contact for the exchange of information on computer attacks/incidents. We urge all countries to support our draft.

Similarly, we view the formation of an international legal regime for the fight against information crime as a priority within the Third Committee of the UNGA. We believe it is necessary to conclude a universal treaty aimed at countering the use of ICTs for extremist, terrorist and other criminal purposes and building mutually beneficial international cooperation among law enforcement agencies in this area.

#UNGA78

⚡️ Russia's position at the seventy-eighth session of the UN General Assembly:

DPRK

📃 We are seriously concerned about the destructive consequences of attempts by the US and its allies to increase pressure on the DPRK 🇰🇵, including by conducting large-scale military exercises. We oppose all efforts to further tighten the UN SC sanctions regime. We consider this idea both wrong and inhumane in terms of negative humanitarian consequences for ordinary North Koreans.

☝️ While condemning the provocative military activity in the region, to which Pyongyang is forced to respond, we call for breaking the vicious circle of escalating tensions.

The only effective means of breaking the deadlock is to resume political and diplomatic dialogue to reduce the level of confrontation and achieve a lasting settlement on the Korean Peninsula, as well as establish a resilient security system in Northeast Asia, taking into account the legitimate interests of all states in the region, including the DPRK.

🇷🇺🇨🇳 Jointly with China, we have consistently promoted relevant initiatives.

#UNGA78

🗓 On September 12, at Russia’s request, the UN Security Council held a meeting on arms supplies to Kiev.

The Russian side invited Hungarian journalist George Szamuely, as a reporter from civil society. He made a detailed analysis of the causes that generated the crisis in and around Ukraine, with a focus on the role of the United States and the EU in organising and supporting the anti-constitutional coup in 2014.

Based on facts and remarks by members of the Western elites, he exposed their hypocrisy with regard to the Minsk agreements, which were used as a smokescreen to hide Kiev’s preparations for the conflict. He came to the conclusion that continued military operations benefitted the West, which sought to weaken the Russian Federation.

☝️ Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzya pointed to the desperate steps taken by the Kiev regime and its allies against the background of their clearly failed counteroffensive. He mentioned the Ukrainian provocation involving a missile attack on the marketplace in Konstantinovka, which was soon exposed based on surveillance camera footage confirming that the missiles had arrived from where Ukrainian army units were deployed. He described US and UK supplies of cluster bomb units and depleted-uranium shells to the Zelensky regime as a gesture of desperation in disregard of the fact that these munitions posed a threat to civilians and the environment for decades to come.

“Black transplantology,” which has become widespread in Ukraine thanks, among other things, to the local legislature passing relevant laws, was yet another topic discussed at the meeting. An outrageous situation was cited as an example, where a charity employee, caught red-handed while selling Ukrainian children, among other things for organ transplants abroad, was released from custody and jumped bail.

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❗️ Russia will continue to draw the international community’s attention to these important topics, including at the UN Security Council.

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🇷🇺🇺🇳 Russia's position at the seventy-eighth session of the UN General Assembly:

Drug problem

The world drug problem has exacerbated during the COVID‑19 pandemic and remains a serious threat to the security and well-being of populations.

We call for equal attention to its three interrelated components:

• reducing drug demand
• reducing drug supply
• strengthening the international anti-drug cooperation based on the principle of common and shared responsibility

Strict compliance with the three relevant UN conventions of 1961, 1971 and 1988 by all states is essential for the effective functioning of the global drug control system.

❗️ We consider all attempts to destabilize it, including the legalization of drugs for recreational use, to be a threat to the national security of our country. The principle of limiting the use of drugs to medical and scientific purposes only, as enshrined in the conventions, represents the best way to implement the human rights to life and health.

☝️ We advocate for building a society free of drug abuse by promoting healthy lifestyles and keeping children and youth away from illicit drugs.

Countering the illicit drug use should not limit the availability and accessibility of narcotic drugs in medicine when they are proven effective for the treatment of specific diseases.

#UNGA78

⚡️ Russia's position at the seventy-eighth session of the UN General Assembly:

Sport

📃 We are convinced that sport is a unique tool for developing and strengthening social ties, building mutually respectful communication, and should bring closer together and unite peoples.

We are unwaveringly committed to the development of equal international sports cooperation that fully complies with the spirit and principles of Olympism, which precludes politicization and biased approach.

We find it unacceptable when certain Western countries use sport for their self-serving purposes. Persistent attempts to politicize sports cooperation, put pressure on the relevant multilateral organizations, including the International Olympic Committee, and cause division in the international Olympic movement are at odds with the Olympic goals and ideals.

🏆 We insist on holding fair and just competitions, and ensuring that all countries without exception have equal access to full participation in the Olympic and Paralympic movements.

⚡️ Russia's position at the seventy-eighth session of the UN General Assembly:

Fight against terrorism

📃 We call for the consolidation of international efforts in the fight against terrorism, with the UN's central coordinating role, without politicization, double standards, or hidden agendas and based on the UN Charter, relevant universal conventions and protocols, UNSC thematic resolutions, as well as the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

We believe it is important to make extensive use of the tools of the UNSC subsidiary counter-terrorism bodies, particularly its Counter-Terrorism Committee, ISIL (Da'esh) and Al‑Qaida, and the Taliban Movement sanctions committees.

👉 We stand for intensifying the work to cut off ideological, material, financial and human resources support for terrorists, as well as for strengthening cooperation among countries in countering foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) and bringing them to justice on the basis of the "extradite or prosecute" principle.

❗️ We oppose the course pursued by the West towards eroding the international legal counter-terrorism framework – whether through over-emphasizing human rights and gender issues that are secondary in the context of counter-terrorism or by promoting the controversial concepts of "countering violent extremism" and countering "racially and ethnically motivated violent extremism/terrorism".

We draw the attention of the international community to the dangerous rise in right-wing extremist threats, especially manifestations of aggressive nationalism and neo-Nazism.

#UNGA78

Emergency workers and rescuers of Russia's #EMERCOM aka the Ministry of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief (MChS) are busy doing all they can to assist on-site the people of Libya, stricken by natural disaster.

The EMERCOM personnel managed the following in Derna:

• deployed an airmobile hospital of the Tsentrospas State Central Airmobile Rescue Unit;
• arranged an autonomous field camp;
• more than 50 rescuers of the Leader centre, including dog handlers, operate in most affected areas.

Members of the MChS emergency response team will inspect the most precarious sites...

Also, the EMERCOM transport aircraft delivers humanitarian aid for all those afflicted by the calamity:

✅ survival packs;
✅ illumination systems;
✅ tents;
✅ blankets;
✅ portable power stations.

Every bit counts. Our hearts and minds are with the people of Libya.

#RussiaHelps

⚡️ Russia's position at the seventy-eighth session of the UN General Assembly:

International cooperation in the peaceful exploration and use of outer space

📃 As regards the international cooperation in the peaceful exploration and use of outer space, we are convinced of the indisputable nature of the central and coordinating role of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).

We view as counterproductive the attempts to erode the COPUOS mandate by artificially transferring the issues of space debris and orbital traffic management from its agenda to parallel and purely disarmament-related UN platforms in line with the concept of the so‑called responsible behaviour in outer space.

❗️ We believe it is important to adopt, by consensus, the resolution entitled "International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space", which approves the report of the 66th session of COPUOS. We view as dangerous potential attempts to open the draft resolution traditionally adopted without a vote for revision, yielding to political considerations.

We continue to advocate for legal certainty in the matters of delimitation of outer space and airspace, including in the context of establishing the spatial limits to states' sovereignty over their territory and ensuring their national security, and for creating the environment enabling long-term sustainability of aviation activities and safety.

☝️ We call for creation of an effective orbital traffic management system on the basis of regulation and monitoring through a legally binding code of conduct to be developed by the international community.

Заявление МИД Российской Федерации о выходе России из Совета Баренцева/Евроарктического региона

На протяжении тридцати лет Совет Баренцева/Евроарктического региона (СБЕР) являлся полезным и эффективным форматом трансграничного взаимодействия, способствовавшим поддержанию мира и стабильности на Севере, его устойчивому социально-экономическому развитию, защите окружающей среды, укреплению культурно-гуманитарных связей и контактов между людьми, включая представителей коренных народов.

По вине западных участников совета (Дания, Исландия, Норвегия, Финляндия, Швеция, ЕС) его деятельность с марта 2022 г. фактически парализована. Финляндское председательство не подтвердило готовность передать России руководство в СБЕР в октябре 2023 г. в нарушение принципа ротации, сорвав проведение необходимых подготовительных мероприятий.

В сложившихся условиях вынуждены объявить о выходе Российской Федерации из СБЕР. Соответствующее послание Министра иностранных дел России С.В.Лаврова 18 сентября 2023 г. направлено мининдел стран-членов организации, Высокому представителю ЕС по иностранным делам и политике безопасности, а также в Международный Баренцев секретариат в г.Киркенес (Норвегия).

Убеждены, что сиюминутная политическая конъюнктура, которой руководствуются наши североевропейские соседи, не соответствует долгосрочным интересам жителей Заполярья. Ответственность за развал архитектуры Баренцева сотрудничества целиком и полностью лежит на наших «партнерах».

Россия продолжит реализовывать свои национальные задачи на Севере. Остаемся открытыми для взаимодействия со всеми, кто настроен конструктивно, готов к равноправному диалогу и взаимовыгодной совместной работе.

https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1904899/

Uttalelse fra Den Russiske Føderasjons Utenriksministerium om at Russland melder seg ut av Barentsrådet

I løpet av 30 år var Barentsrådet et nyttig og effektivt format for grenseoverskridende samspill som bidro til opprettholdelse av fred og stabilitet i nord, dets bærekraftige sosial-økonomiske utvikling, miljøvern, styrking av kulturelle og humanitære forbindelser og folk-til-folk-kontakter, inkludert urfolkene.

Det at Barentsrådets virksomhet er faktisk paralysert fra mars 2022 skyldes av vestlige deltakere (Danmark, Island, Norge, Finnland, Sverige, EU). Finnlands formannskap har ikke bekreftet at de er parate til å videreføre ledelsen i Barentsrådet til Russland i oktober 2023 noe som strider med rotasjonsprinsippet, og undergraver nødvendige forberedningstiltak.

Under disse forholdene er vi nødt til å erklære at Den Russiske Føderasjon melder seg ut av Barentsrådet. Respektive brev fra Russlands Utenriksminister Sergey Lavrov er formidlet til utenriksministre i medlemsland, EUs høye representant for utenriks- og sikkerhetspolitikk, samt til Det internasjonale Barents sekretariatet i Kirkenes (Norge).

Vi er overbevisst om at den kortsiktige konjunkturen som styrer våre nordiske naboer tilsvarer ikke langsiktige interesse av folk nord for Polarsirkelen. Ansvaret for ødeleggelse av Barentssamarbeidet ligger fullstendig på våre «partnere».

Russland vil fortsette å gjennomføre sine nasjonale mål i nord. Vi forblir åpne for samspill med alle som er innstilt for likeverdig dialog og samarbeid til gjensidig nytte.

⚖️ On September 18, oral hearings began at the International Court of Justice in The Hague as part of the preliminary stage of the Russian-Ukrainian dispute under the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

At this point, Russia is challenging the Court’s jurisdiction to consider the claim filed by Kiev in late February 2022. By distorting the facts, Ukraine seeks a Court ruling asserting that it did not commit genocide in Donbass. According to Kiev's plan, this should allow them to argue that Russia acted unlawfully in using military force by initiating the special military operation and in recognising the independence of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR).

Addressing the court, Russia's representative Gennady Kuzmin highlighted the absurdity of Kiev's claims; the Convention has no relevance to the legitimacy of recognising the DPR and the LPR. Likewise, it has no bearing on the conduct of the special military operation in accordance with the UN Charter, specifically Article 51 on the right to self-defence, and general international law.

☝️ By attempting to reference the Convention, which provides for dispute resolution through the International Court of Justice, the Ukrainian side is simply abusing its procedural right to appeal to the Court.

A detailed legal argument to back up Russia's position was presented by a multinational team of legal counsels.

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⚡️ Foreign Ministry statement on the situation in and around Nagorno-Karabakh

Considering the drastic escalation in the armed confrontation in Nagorno-Karabakh, we urge the parties to the conflict to immediately stop bloodshed, cease hostilities, and do all they can to avoid civilian casualties.

A move that had a dramatic impact on the prospects for Nagorno-Karabakh settlement was Yerevan’s recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh as part of the territory of Azerbaijan at the summits in October 2022 and May 2023, held under the EU aegis. This changed the fundamental conditions under which the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed their Statement of November 9, 2020, as well as the status of the Russian Peacekeeping Contingent (RPC).

☝️ As of the moment of its deployment in the region, the RPC has performed in good faith its mission to maintain the ceasefire and support contacts between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The Russian peacekeepers coordinated the effort to improve the humanitarian situation on the ground and facilitated the launch of a direct dialogue between Baku and Stepanakert. Even during these hours, the RPC is helping civilians, including by providing medical assistance. They are also evacuating local residents.

❗️The most important thing right now is to return without delay to implementing the package of trilateral agreements reached at the highest level in 2020-2022, which map out the steps needed to find a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, stop the armed confrontation, and do whatever is possible to ensure the rights and safety of the population in Nagorno-Karabakh.

#ICYMI

⚡️ We've been sharing Russia's comprehensive position at the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly

A refresher 👇

• Regarding situation around Ukraine
• Middle East settlement
• Africa
• Situation in Kosovo
• Situation in Yemen
• Iraq
• Libya
• Afghanistan
• Settlement in Colombia
• DPRK
• Myanmar
• Cyprus issue
• Bosnia and Herzegovina

***

• Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
• Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
• START Treaty
• Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention and the Chemical Weapons Convention
• Arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation
• Development of important multilateral arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation arrangements

***

• Climate Change
• International anti-corruption cooperation
• Rights of the child
• International information security
• Combating maritime crime
• Drug problem
• Sport
• Fight against terrorism
• Law of the sea

#UNGA78

🇧🇷🇷🇺🇮🇳🇨🇳🇿🇦 Media Statement following the Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/International Relations on the margins of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (20 September 2023)

Key points:

📄 The BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/International Relations held their annual meeting on the margins of the #UNGA78 on 20 September 2023, chaired by the Russian Federation in its capacity as the incoming BRICS Chair for 2024.

• The Ministers exchanged views on major global and regional issues on the United Nations agenda in the political, security, economic, financial, and sustainable development spheres, as well as on intra-BRICS activities.

• The Ministers reiterated their commitment to strengthening multilateralism and upholding international law, including the Purposes and Principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations as its indispensable cornerstone, and the central role of the UN in an international system.

• The Ministers supported a comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including its Security Council, with a view to making it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient, and to increase the representation of developing countries in the Council’s memberships.

• The Ministers underscored the importance of sustained efforts aimed at making the United Nations more effective and efficient in implementing its mandates.

• The Ministers were briefed on the preparations for Russia's upcoming BRICS Chairship in 2024. Brazil, India, China and South Africa extended their full support to Russia for its BRICS Chairship in 2024 under the theme “Strengthening of multilateralism for the purposes of just global development and security” and the holding of the XVI BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. The Ministers also look forward to the Standalone Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/International Relations in Russia in 2024.

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Off we go! 🇺🇳

Day 1 📹 #UNGA78

🇷🇺🇺🇳 On September 20, the Russian delegation led by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived at the UN Headquarters in New York to participate in the High-Level week of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.

The first working day was a success 👇

• Meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan Ayman Safadi.
• Meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Honduras Eduardo Enrique Reina.
• Conversation with Foreign Minister of Venezuela Yvan Gil.
• Working meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the CSTO member countries.
• Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/International Relations.
• FM Lavrov's remarks at the UN Security Council meeting.
• Ad hoc meeting of the SCO Foreign Ministers Council.
• Meeting with Director General of IAEA Rafael Grossi.
• Meeting with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

#ICYMI