Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Russian MFA Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s reply to a media question regarding extension of the grain deal
❓ Question: Ukraine has resumed talks with partners regarding the grain deal. Reuters reported, with a reference to a top official in the Ukrainian authorities, that Ukraine commenced talks to extend the grain deal. According to the report, the Russian side did not take part in the talks. What can you say about these reports?
💬 Answer: We are well aware of the statements by various sides, including the Kiev regime, on the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, whose second term (120 days) expires on March 18. There were no talks conducted in this regard, especially with participation of the Russian representatives.
Our general position regarding the package proposal of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, which comprises the Russia-UN Memorandum to normalise national agricultural exports, as well as the aforementioned Black Sea Grain Initiative, is well-known and remains intact.
We proceed from the fact that the agreements entered into in Istanbul on July 22, 2022, need to be fulfilled in conjunction with one another in order to resolve the specified humanitarian tasks to overcome the food crisis and help the countries in need in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
❗️ We have to state that so far only the Ukrainian part has been effectively implemented, Russian agricultural exports continue to be blocked by western unilateral sanctions.
Another round of consultations of a Russian interdepartmental delegation with UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan and head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths, who supervise the Russia-UN Memorandum and the Black Sea Grain Initiative, respectively, will take place in Geneva on March 13.
❓ Question: Ukraine has resumed talks with partners regarding the grain deal. Reuters reported, with a reference to a top official in the Ukrainian authorities, that Ukraine commenced talks to extend the grain deal. According to the report, the Russian side did not take part in the talks. What can you say about these reports?
💬 Answer: We are well aware of the statements by various sides, including the Kiev regime, on the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, whose second term (120 days) expires on March 18. There were no talks conducted in this regard, especially with participation of the Russian representatives.
Our general position regarding the package proposal of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, which comprises the Russia-UN Memorandum to normalise national agricultural exports, as well as the aforementioned Black Sea Grain Initiative, is well-known and remains intact.
We proceed from the fact that the agreements entered into in Istanbul on July 22, 2022, need to be fulfilled in conjunction with one another in order to resolve the specified humanitarian tasks to overcome the food crisis and help the countries in need in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
❗️ We have to state that so far only the Ukrainian part has been effectively implemented, Russian agricultural exports continue to be blocked by western unilateral sanctions.
Another round of consultations of a Russian interdepartmental delegation with UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan and head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths, who supervise the Russia-UN Memorandum and the Black Sea Grain Initiative, respectively, will take place in Geneva on March 13.
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🎙 Комментарий заместителя Министра иностранных дел Российской Федерации С.В.Вершинина:
❌ Если коммерческий вывоз украинской продукции осуществляется устойчивыми темпами, принося немалую прибыль Киеву, то на пути российских сельхозэкспортёров по-прежнему сохраняются барьеры. Заявленные Вашингтоном, Брюсселем и Лондоном санкционные изъятия для продовольствия и удобрений на деле не работают.
❗️ В этой связи российская сторона, отмечая «пакетный» характер предложенных Генсекретарем ООН А.Гутеррешем Стамбульских договоренностей, не возражает против очередного продления «черноморской инициативы» после истечения второго срока 18 марта, но только на 60 дней.
👉🏻 Наша дальнейшая позиция будет определяться в зависимости от реального, не на словах, а на деле, прогресса по нормализации нашего сельхозэкспорта, включая банковские платежи, транспортную логистику, страховки, «размораживание» финансовой деятельности и поставки аммиака по трубопроводу «Тольятти-Одесса».
📑 Читать полностью
❌ Если коммерческий вывоз украинской продукции осуществляется устойчивыми темпами, принося немалую прибыль Киеву, то на пути российских сельхозэкспортёров по-прежнему сохраняются барьеры. Заявленные Вашингтоном, Брюсселем и Лондоном санкционные изъятия для продовольствия и удобрений на деле не работают.
❗️ В этой связи российская сторона, отмечая «пакетный» характер предложенных Генсекретарем ООН А.Гутеррешем Стамбульских договоренностей, не возражает против очередного продления «черноморской инициативы» после истечения второго срока 18 марта, но только на 60 дней.
👉🏻 Наша дальнейшая позиция будет определяться в зависимости от реального, не на словах, а на деле, прогресса по нормализации нашего сельхозэкспорта, включая банковские платежи, транспортную логистику, страховки, «размораживание» финансовой деятельности и поставки аммиака по трубопроводу «Тольятти-Одесса».
📑 Читать полностью
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🎙 Statement by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin:
❗️ While the commercial export of Ukrainian products is carried out at a steady pace, bringing considerable profits to Kiev, restrictions on the Russian agricultural exporters are still in place. The sanctions exemptions for food and fertilizers announced by Washington, Brussels and London are essentially inactive.
❗️ In this regard, the Russian Side, noting the "package" nature of the “Istanbul Agreements” proposed by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, does not object to another extension of the "Black Sea Initiative" after its second term expiration on March 18, but only for 60 days.
👉🏻 Our further stance will be determined upon the tangible progress on normalization of our agricultural exports, not it words, but in deeds. It includes bank payments, transport logistics, insurance, "unfreezing" of financial activities and ammonia supplies via the “Tolyatti-Odessa” pipeline.
📑 Full statement
❗️ While the commercial export of Ukrainian products is carried out at a steady pace, bringing considerable profits to Kiev, restrictions on the Russian agricultural exporters are still in place. The sanctions exemptions for food and fertilizers announced by Washington, Brussels and London are essentially inactive.
❗️ In this regard, the Russian Side, noting the "package" nature of the “Istanbul Agreements” proposed by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, does not object to another extension of the "Black Sea Initiative" after its second term expiration on March 18, but only for 60 days.
👉🏻 Our further stance will be determined upon the tangible progress on normalization of our agricultural exports, not it words, but in deeds. It includes bank payments, transport logistics, insurance, "unfreezing" of financial activities and ammonia supplies via the “Tolyatti-Odessa” pipeline.
📑 Full statement
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🎙 Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin in an interview with “TASS” and “Ria Novosti” on the “Grain Deal”:
🔹 There is much hypocrisy in the allegations that sanctions do not apply to Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports, or when Russia is accused of creating difficulties on the global food.
🔹 60 days (instead of 120) is enough to achieve tangible progress in implementing the provisions set forth in the Russia-UN Memorandum on the normalization of domestic agricultural exports.
🔹 60 days is not an ultimatum, it is a clear, principled and open stance of the Russian Side.
🔹 60 days is an important and serious signal that we need real results. Assurances are not enough.
🔹 Our response to Ukrainian wishes to expand the “Black Sea Initiative” is negative. We expect the UN and its Secretariat to maintain a neutral, objective stance and not to play up to any side.
🔹 There is much hypocrisy in the allegations that sanctions do not apply to Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports, or when Russia is accused of creating difficulties on the global food.
🔹 60 days (instead of 120) is enough to achieve tangible progress in implementing the provisions set forth in the Russia-UN Memorandum on the normalization of domestic agricultural exports.
🔹 60 days is not an ultimatum, it is a clear, principled and open stance of the Russian Side.
🔹 60 days is an important and serious signal that we need real results. Assurances are not enough.
🔹 Our response to Ukrainian wishes to expand the “Black Sea Initiative” is negative. We expect the UN and its Secretariat to maintain a neutral, objective stance and not to play up to any side.
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Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s answer to a media question on the grain deal extension
❓ Question: What can you say about statements by State Department Press Secretary Ned Price, the EU delegation in Moscow and other officials about the grain deal extension?
💬 The first comments, including those made by Washington and the EU delegation in Moscow in connection with the announcement of the Russian position on the Black Sea Initiative regarding Ukrainian food exports are stunningly hypocritical and unprofessional. They completely distort the facts.
We understand that Moscow’s decision was a kind of a cold shower for the American and EU officials.
We realise that there was confidence in Western capitals that everything would continue to follow a scenario in which they benefit. According to this scenario, Russian agricultural exports would be blocked whereas grain exports from Ukraine would continue growing unimpeded, bringing huge profits to the Kiev regime that it needs, in part, to pay for the never-ending flow of Western weapons and ammunition.
👆 We would advise the sources of such statements to read again the Istanbul agreements and statements made by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other UN top officials to the effect that the Black Sea Initiative and the Russia-UN memorandum on bringing Russian fertiliser and food to world markets are an interconnected, package deal. Had they done so, their words about the absence of a link between the two agreements would not have sounded so absurd and humiliating for any professional diplomat, including from the EU delegation.
Read in full
❓ Question: What can you say about statements by State Department Press Secretary Ned Price, the EU delegation in Moscow and other officials about the grain deal extension?
💬 The first comments, including those made by Washington and the EU delegation in Moscow in connection with the announcement of the Russian position on the Black Sea Initiative regarding Ukrainian food exports are stunningly hypocritical and unprofessional. They completely distort the facts.
We understand that Moscow’s decision was a kind of a cold shower for the American and EU officials.
We realise that there was confidence in Western capitals that everything would continue to follow a scenario in which they benefit. According to this scenario, Russian agricultural exports would be blocked whereas grain exports from Ukraine would continue growing unimpeded, bringing huge profits to the Kiev regime that it needs, in part, to pay for the never-ending flow of Western weapons and ammunition.
👆 We would advise the sources of such statements to read again the Istanbul agreements and statements made by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other UN top officials to the effect that the Black Sea Initiative and the Russia-UN memorandum on bringing Russian fertiliser and food to world markets are an interconnected, package deal. Had they done so, their words about the absence of a link between the two agreements would not have sounded so absurd and humiliating for any professional diplomat, including from the EU delegation.
Read in full
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Russian Mission Geneva
⚠️SAVE THE DATE⚠️ 🌐 Virtual roundtable on the margins of the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council: “Violations of the norms and principles of warfare by the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Ukrainian military groups”. 🗓 Date: Wednesday, March 15, 2023…
⚠️REMINDER⚠️
📺 The event starts today at 2:30 p.m. (Geneva time).
🔗 LINK to join.
Conference ID: 839 4566 3326
Passcode: 309968
🇷🇺/🇬🇧 The event will be available in Russian or with English simultaneous interpretation.
📺 The event starts today at 2:30 p.m. (Geneva time).
🔗 LINK to join.
Conference ID: 839 4566 3326
Passcode: 309968
🇷🇺/🇬🇧 The event will be available in Russian or with English simultaneous interpretation.
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Media is too big
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
🎙 Ambassador Gennady Gatilov:
❌ You will not hear about AFU crimes from the statements of the EU, the US and its satellites, as well as from the UNHRC, the OHCHR and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine.
❗️ All of them prefer to ignore the barbaric cruelty and disregard for any principles by the Ukrainian authorities and military, who see nothing wrong with inhumane reprisals against defenseless civilians, as well as unarmed and wounded POWs, the use of prohibited methods of warfare.
💥 Ukrainian armed groups continue to conduct massive shellings of Donbass cities and settlements using multiple launch rocket systems, as well as artillery systems supplied by the West. A favorite tactic among the Kiev military is to place military equipment and its fighters in schools, hospitals, and other civilian infrastructure.
🤐 It goes without saying, that it is not in the interests of Kiev's patrons to shed light and comment on such Ukrainian war crimes.
❌ You will not hear about AFU crimes from the statements of the EU, the US and its satellites, as well as from the UNHRC, the OHCHR and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine.
❗️ All of them prefer to ignore the barbaric cruelty and disregard for any principles by the Ukrainian authorities and military, who see nothing wrong with inhumane reprisals against defenseless civilians, as well as unarmed and wounded POWs, the use of prohibited methods of warfare.
💥 Ukrainian armed groups continue to conduct massive shellings of Donbass cities and settlements using multiple launch rocket systems, as well as artillery systems supplied by the West. A favorite tactic among the Kiev military is to place military equipment and its fighters in schools, hospitals, and other civilian infrastructure.
🤐 It goes without saying, that it is not in the interests of Kiev's patrons to shed light and comment on such Ukrainian war crimes.
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Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🗓 Today is the 9th anniversary of the Crimean status referendum.
On March 16, 2014, Crimeans made their historic choice on the basis of universal suffrage.
✅ The absolute majority of the peninsula’s residents, or 96.77 % with a turnout of 83 %, voted FOR the reunification with the Russian Federation.
🇷🇺 Based on that free expression of will by the regions' population, Crimea and Sevastopol were acceded to the Russian Federation as its integral parts.
🗳 The referendum was held according to international law and became the ultimate triumph of democracy.
As many as 135 international observers from 23 countries as well as 1,240 representatives of local organisations were present during the vote and praised the preparations for and the implementation of the Crimean referendum.
On March 16, 2014, Crimeans made their historic choice on the basis of universal suffrage.
✅ The absolute majority of the peninsula’s residents, or 96.77 % with a turnout of 83 %, voted FOR the reunification with the Russian Federation.
🇷🇺 Based on that free expression of will by the regions' population, Crimea and Sevastopol were acceded to the Russian Federation as its integral parts.
🗳 The referendum was held according to international law and became the ultimate triumph of democracy.
As many as 135 international observers from 23 countries as well as 1,240 representatives of local organisations were present during the vote and praised the preparations for and the implementation of the Crimean referendum.
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Russian Mission Geneva
⚠️SAVE THE DATE⚠️ 🌐 Virtual roundtable on the margins of the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council: "Erasing cultural identity. National minorities assimilation policies in Eastern European countries". 🗓 Date: Thursday, March 16, 2023 🕝 Time: 2:30…
⚠️REMINDER⚠️
📺 The event starts today at 2:30 p.m. (Geneva time).
🔗 LINK to join.
Conference ID: 830 7887 9238
Passcode: 650327
🇷🇺/🇬🇧 The event will be available in Russian or with English simultaneous interpretation.
📺 The event starts today at 2:30 p.m. (Geneva time).
🔗 LINK to join.
Conference ID: 830 7887 9238
Passcode: 650327
🇷🇺/🇬🇧 The event will be available in Russian or with English simultaneous interpretation.
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💬 Ambassador Gennady Gatilov:
▪️ It is with a heavy heart that I have learned about the passing of Ambassador Valery Loshchinin. An esteemed career diplomat with over 45 years of public service, Ambassador Loshchinin exemplified genuine professionalism, devotion to his country, great intuition and wisdom.
🇨🇭 His heart always had a soft spot for Geneva, as he had spent a lot of time here serving as Deputy Permanent Representative of the USSR/Russia to the UN Office and Other International Organizations, as well as the Head of our Mission in 2005-2011.
🕯 Ambassador Loshchinin was a true patriot, a loving father and a good friend. He will be greatly missed in our vast, yet closely intertwined diplomatic community. On behalf of my colleagues at the Russian Mission and myself, I extend my most heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Ambassador Loshchinin, to everyone who had the honor to know this remarkable man both professionally and personally.
▪️ It is with a heavy heart that I have learned about the passing of Ambassador Valery Loshchinin. An esteemed career diplomat with over 45 years of public service, Ambassador Loshchinin exemplified genuine professionalism, devotion to his country, great intuition and wisdom.
🇨🇭 His heart always had a soft spot for Geneva, as he had spent a lot of time here serving as Deputy Permanent Representative of the USSR/Russia to the UN Office and Other International Organizations, as well as the Head of our Mission in 2005-2011.
🕯 Ambassador Loshchinin was a true patriot, a loving father and a good friend. He will be greatly missed in our vast, yet closely intertwined diplomatic community. On behalf of my colleagues at the Russian Mission and myself, I extend my most heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Ambassador Loshchinin, to everyone who had the honor to know this remarkable man both professionally and personally.
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Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s answers to questions from the Moscow.Kremlin.Putin TV show (March 15, 2023)
❓ Question: Could you comment on the recent US drone incident?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: Our military have given their assessment which was related by our ambassador in Washington Anatoly Antonov. He explained to journalists and others how we see it from a global security standpoint. He was summoned to the US State Department, where he was presented with totally unfounded claims about violations of the freedom of air.
You have heard the Pentagon, the Joint Chiefs of Staff saying that the United States will continue to fly wherever it pleases “in accordance with international law.”
☝️ But if we follow this logic, the space around the US has the same status as the space over the Black Sea.
In doing so, they completely ignore the fact that after the start of the special military operation our military declared the relevant areas of the Black Sea adjacent to the shore in certain places to have a restricted status for the use of any aircraft.
❌ The defiant disregard for this objective fact suggests that the United States is constantly trying to create some kind of provocation to fuel confrontational thinking. This is not good.
They constantly say that they are a responsible power interested in strategic stability. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told me this at the meeting in India. But their words are at odds with their deeds.
❓ Question: What does it imply for global security?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: As far as global security is concerned, any incident that triggers a clash between two of the great, major nuclear powers carries very serious risks. They surely realise this.
❓ Question: Could you comment on the recent US drone incident?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: Our military have given their assessment which was related by our ambassador in Washington Anatoly Antonov. He explained to journalists and others how we see it from a global security standpoint. He was summoned to the US State Department, where he was presented with totally unfounded claims about violations of the freedom of air.
You have heard the Pentagon, the Joint Chiefs of Staff saying that the United States will continue to fly wherever it pleases “in accordance with international law.”
☝️ But if we follow this logic, the space around the US has the same status as the space over the Black Sea.
In doing so, they completely ignore the fact that after the start of the special military operation our military declared the relevant areas of the Black Sea adjacent to the shore in certain places to have a restricted status for the use of any aircraft.
❌ The defiant disregard for this objective fact suggests that the United States is constantly trying to create some kind of provocation to fuel confrontational thinking. This is not good.
They constantly say that they are a responsible power interested in strategic stability. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told me this at the meeting in India. But their words are at odds with their deeds.
❓ Question: What does it imply for global security?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: As far as global security is concerned, any incident that triggers a clash between two of the great, major nuclear powers carries very serious risks. They surely realise this.
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Media is too big
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
🎙 Ambassador Gennady Gatilov:
❌ Not every European country adheres to the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. Especially the Baltic States, Poland and Ukraine, where governments prioritize assimilation of minorities.
🔥 In recent years, intolerance towards Russians – what we call “Russophobia”- has become especially glaring in these countries. They forcefully shut down Russian schools, Russian mass media, even the media outlets simply broadcasting in Russian.
❗️Under absolutely far-fetched pretexts of "fighting the Soviet legacy", local nationalists intensified demolitions of monuments to the soldiers who liberated their countries from Nazism, among whom were representatives of various nationalities of the Soviet Union.
‼️ Thus, they are trying to erase our common history in an attempt to assemble countries with no place for minority groups.
❌ Not every European country adheres to the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. Especially the Baltic States, Poland and Ukraine, where governments prioritize assimilation of minorities.
🔥 In recent years, intolerance towards Russians – what we call “Russophobia”- has become especially glaring in these countries. They forcefully shut down Russian schools, Russian mass media, even the media outlets simply broadcasting in Russian.
❗️Under absolutely far-fetched pretexts of "fighting the Soviet legacy", local nationalists intensified demolitions of monuments to the soldiers who liberated their countries from Nazism, among whom were representatives of various nationalities of the Soviet Union.
‼️ Thus, they are trying to erase our common history in an attempt to assemble countries with no place for minority groups.
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🎙 Joint Statement on religious intolerance in Europe delivered by a Russian representative at the 52nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council:
(🇷🇺Russia, 🇨🇳China, 🇳🇮Nicaragua, 🇲🇲Myanmar, 🇧🇾Belarus, 🇸🇾Syria, 🇰🇵DPRK, 🇮🇷Iran)
❗️ We condemn and reject acts of religious intolerance and emphasize once again our principled position that actions aimed at offending the feelings of believers and inciting inter-religious hatred are unacceptable.
❗️ We would like to reiterate our strong stance on the critical importance for social cohesion and sustainable development of mutual understanding and tolerance in regard to religion, beliefs, culture, ethnicity and language.
❗️ We call upon all States to further promote joint efforts in order to achieve the goal of building a world where individuals of diverse faiths, religions, beliefs, languages and cultures would co-exist in harmony and enjoy equal rights and mutual respect.
📄 Full statement
(🇷🇺Russia, 🇨🇳China, 🇳🇮Nicaragua, 🇲🇲Myanmar, 🇧🇾Belarus, 🇸🇾Syria, 🇰🇵DPRK, 🇮🇷Iran)
❗️ We condemn and reject acts of religious intolerance and emphasize once again our principled position that actions aimed at offending the feelings of believers and inciting inter-religious hatred are unacceptable.
❗️ We would like to reiterate our strong stance on the critical importance for social cohesion and sustainable development of mutual understanding and tolerance in regard to religion, beliefs, culture, ethnicity and language.
❗️ We call upon all States to further promote joint efforts in order to achieve the goal of building a world where individuals of diverse faiths, religions, beliefs, languages and cultures would co-exist in harmony and enjoy equal rights and mutual respect.
📄 Full statement
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🇺🇳 The Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter - Geneva Chapter - gathered on March 17, 2023, for its inaugural meeting.
🎙 Ambassador Gennady Gatilov:
🤝 Our nations share a strong commitment to the universal norms of international law enshrined in the UN Charter, including the principles of sovereign equality of States and non-interference in their domestic affairs.
❗️ At the same time, it is clear that the members of the “collective West” are casting these principles aside. They promote the notorious “rules-based world order”. This concept rests on arbitrary interpretation of the norms of inter-government interaction and seeks to undermine the central coordinating role of the UN in international affairs.
👉 The West also attempts to impose its own vision of the “perfect world development” by imposing unilateral sanctions. It destructively attempts to turn the UN into a tool to artificially inflate anti-Russian hysteria and reinforce hostile sentiments towards the countries in our Group.
🎙 Ambassador Gennady Gatilov:
🤝 Our nations share a strong commitment to the universal norms of international law enshrined in the UN Charter, including the principles of sovereign equality of States and non-interference in their domestic affairs.
❗️ At the same time, it is clear that the members of the “collective West” are casting these principles aside. They promote the notorious “rules-based world order”. This concept rests on arbitrary interpretation of the norms of inter-government interaction and seeks to undermine the central coordinating role of the UN in international affairs.
👉 The West also attempts to impose its own vision of the “perfect world development” by imposing unilateral sanctions. It destructively attempts to turn the UN into a tool to artificially inflate anti-Russian hysteria and reinforce hostile sentiments towards the countries in our Group.
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❗️ The Russian Side has agreed to extend the Black Sea Initiative just for 60 days (instead of 120), until May 18, 2023, to achieve progress on the Russia-UN Memorandum on promoting Russian food products and fertilizers to the world markets.
🤷🏻 Any rumors about “120 days” spread by the Ukrainian Side is either incompetence or deliberate disinformation.
🤷🏻 Any rumors about “120 days” spread by the Ukrainian Side is either incompetence or deliberate disinformation.
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Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🗓 Acting in violation of international law and supported by its allies, the United States launched the Iraq invasion on March 20, 2003. This reckless undertaking wiped out Iraq’s statehood and military, throwing its economy and social sector into complete disarray, and plunging the country into many years of internal military and political strife, from which it has yet to recover.
The invasion also resulted in the overthrow and execution of the legitimate President of Iraq Saddam Hussein, the destruction of the country's basic infrastructure, a severe deterioration of the health system, and rise in crime.
❗️ It is worth mentioning that weapons of mass destruction have never been found in Iraq. Leaders of the countries which invaded Iraq justified their criminal actions by citing faulty intelligence.
According to various estimates compiled by the academic community and NGOs, from 100,000 to 205,000 civilians met a violent death, and the invasion indirectly caused about 650,000 civilian casualties (independent reports & surveys give a wide range of estimates up to 1,2 mln casualties). The number of Iraqi refugees reached 1.5 million, and there were 2 million internally displaced persons. Today, over 12 million Iraqis, or about 30 percent of the country’s population, live below the poverty line.
A substantial body of evidence has been collected on the war crimes committed in Iraq by the US Army and its allies, but despite that most of the perpetrators have yet to be held accountable.
❌ Most episodes have not even been investigated, while criminal charges have been rare.
☝️ The reckless military undertaking led by the United States prompted the emergence of new threats to regional security and stability, creating a hospitable environment for spreading terrorist and extremist ideas, which in turn exposed the whole world to atrocities committed by ISIS.
Read in full
The invasion also resulted in the overthrow and execution of the legitimate President of Iraq Saddam Hussein, the destruction of the country's basic infrastructure, a severe deterioration of the health system, and rise in crime.
❗️ It is worth mentioning that weapons of mass destruction have never been found in Iraq. Leaders of the countries which invaded Iraq justified their criminal actions by citing faulty intelligence.
According to various estimates compiled by the academic community and NGOs, from 100,000 to 205,000 civilians met a violent death, and the invasion indirectly caused about 650,000 civilian casualties (independent reports & surveys give a wide range of estimates up to 1,2 mln casualties). The number of Iraqi refugees reached 1.5 million, and there were 2 million internally displaced persons. Today, over 12 million Iraqis, or about 30 percent of the country’s population, live below the poverty line.
A substantial body of evidence has been collected on the war crimes committed in Iraq by the US Army and its allies, but despite that most of the perpetrators have yet to be held accountable.
❌ Most episodes have not even been investigated, while criminal charges have been rare.
☝️ The reckless military undertaking led by the United States prompted the emergence of new threats to regional security and stability, creating a hospitable environment for spreading terrorist and extremist ideas, which in turn exposed the whole world to atrocities committed by ISIS.
Read in full
Telegraph
The US-led coalition's invasion of Iraq
For 12 years, the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM), and later the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) searched for biological, chemical and other weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) in Iraq, while Baghdad consistently…
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Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
⚡️ The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation: Russia files criminal charges against ICC prosecutor and judges
The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has initiated criminal charges against Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Ahmad Khan, as well as judges of the International Criminal Court Tomoko Akane, Rosario Salvatore Aitala and Sergio Gerardo Ugalde Godinez.
On February 22, 2023, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Ahmad Khan, acting as part of a criminal investigation, submitted applications to Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court for warrants of arrest in relation to citizens of the Russian Federation.
Based on this application, the above-named judges of the International Criminal Court issued illegal arrest warrants in relation to the President of the Russian Federation and the Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights.
This criminal prosecution is illegal by definition because there are no grounds for bringing criminal charges.
According to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons of December 14, 1973, heads of state enjoy total immunity and cannot be subjected to the jurisdiction of a foreign state.
Actions by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court contain elements of offences as per Part 2, Article 299, Part 1, Article 30, and Part 2, Article 360 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, including knowingly ascribing criminal responsibility to an innocent person, combined with unlawfully accusing a person of committing a grave or especially grave crime, as well as preparing an assault against a representative of a foreign state benefitting from international protection with a view to complicating international relations.
Actions by the judges of the International Criminal Court contain elements of offences as per Part 2, Article 301, Part 1, Article 30, and Part 2, Article 360 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, including knowingly illegal detention, as well as preparing an assault against a representative of a foreign state benefitting from international protection with a view to complicating international relations.
The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has initiated criminal charges against Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Ahmad Khan, as well as judges of the International Criminal Court Tomoko Akane, Rosario Salvatore Aitala and Sergio Gerardo Ugalde Godinez.
On February 22, 2023, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Ahmad Khan, acting as part of a criminal investigation, submitted applications to Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court for warrants of arrest in relation to citizens of the Russian Federation.
Based on this application, the above-named judges of the International Criminal Court issued illegal arrest warrants in relation to the President of the Russian Federation and the Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights.
This criminal prosecution is illegal by definition because there are no grounds for bringing criminal charges.
According to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons of December 14, 1973, heads of state enjoy total immunity and cannot be subjected to the jurisdiction of a foreign state.
Actions by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court contain elements of offences as per Part 2, Article 299, Part 1, Article 30, and Part 2, Article 360 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, including knowingly ascribing criminal responsibility to an innocent person, combined with unlawfully accusing a person of committing a grave or especially grave crime, as well as preparing an assault against a representative of a foreign state benefitting from international protection with a view to complicating international relations.
Actions by the judges of the International Criminal Court contain elements of offences as per Part 2, Article 301, Part 1, Article 30, and Part 2, Article 360 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, including knowingly illegal detention, as well as preparing an assault against a representative of a foreign state benefitting from international protection with a view to complicating international relations.
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🎙 Statement by a Russian representative during the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Iran at the UNHRC 52-nd Session:
🇷🇺 Russia consistently rejects the attempts to politicize human rights issues.
🇮🇷 Iran's example shows how the Western countries continue to use pseudo-humanistic pretexts to follow their usual path of destabilizing domestic situations in the countries they do not like, i.a. by encouraging riots and violence.
❗️ We are revolted by the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on Iran regarding the need to impose targeted sanctions against individuals and organizations. Instead of assisting Iran in solving the existing problems, the expert merely hypes up and inflames anti-Iranian sentiments. Not to mention the fact that the issues of imposing sanctions do not fall within the competence of both the HRC and the expert mechanisms it creates.
📄 Full statement (🇷🇺/🇬🇧)
🇷🇺 Russia consistently rejects the attempts to politicize human rights issues.
🇮🇷 Iran's example shows how the Western countries continue to use pseudo-humanistic pretexts to follow their usual path of destabilizing domestic situations in the countries they do not like, i.a. by encouraging riots and violence.
❗️ We are revolted by the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on Iran regarding the need to impose targeted sanctions against individuals and organizations. Instead of assisting Iran in solving the existing problems, the expert merely hypes up and inflames anti-Iranian sentiments. Not to mention the fact that the issues of imposing sanctions do not fall within the competence of both the HRC and the expert mechanisms it creates.
📄 Full statement (🇷🇺/🇬🇧)
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🎙 Statement by a Russian Representative during the interactive dialogue with the Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia at the UNHRC 52nd Session:
🇪🇹 We closely monitor the recent developments in Ethiopia, including the military-political and humanitarian situation in the Tigray region.
👏 We welcome the signing of the ceasefire agreement between the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People's Liberation Front in Pretoria last November in accordance with the "African problems – African solutions" principle.
🤝 We positively assess the steps of the Ethiopian Government promoting an inclusive national dialogue to address key domestic policy issues. We welcome the resumption of humanitarian supplies to Tigray and its gradual return to normal life.
🇷🇺 For its part, Russia will continue to provide political and diplomatic assistance to Ethiopia to further stabilize the situation in the country.
📄 Full statement (🇷🇺/🇬🇧)
🇪🇹 We closely monitor the recent developments in Ethiopia, including the military-political and humanitarian situation in the Tigray region.
👏 We welcome the signing of the ceasefire agreement between the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People's Liberation Front in Pretoria last November in accordance with the "African problems – African solutions" principle.
🤝 We positively assess the steps of the Ethiopian Government promoting an inclusive national dialogue to address key domestic policy issues. We welcome the resumption of humanitarian supplies to Tigray and its gradual return to normal life.
🇷🇺 For its part, Russia will continue to provide political and diplomatic assistance to Ethiopia to further stabilize the situation in the country.
📄 Full statement (🇷🇺/🇬🇧)
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🎙 Statement by a Russian representative during the interactive dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on Syria at the UNHRC 52nd Session:
🇸🇾 The situation in Syria remains difficult. Thousands of people died in a powerful earthquake, housing and critical infrastructure facilities sustained serious damage.
💥 Residents in Northern Syria live under the threat of another military escalation. Foreign powers still occupy significant territories. Regular Israeli strikes lead to the destruction of civilian infrastructure and civilian casualties.
❗️ We reiterate categorical inadmissibility of unilateral sanctions against Syria, which hit the most vulnerable segments of its population. Stabilization in the country is possible only through restoration of its sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity as prescribed in all relevant international decisions, including UN Security Council and UN General Assembly resolutions.
📄 Full statement (🇷🇺/🇬🇧)
🇸🇾 The situation in Syria remains difficult. Thousands of people died in a powerful earthquake, housing and critical infrastructure facilities sustained serious damage.
💥 Residents in Northern Syria live under the threat of another military escalation. Foreign powers still occupy significant territories. Regular Israeli strikes lead to the destruction of civilian infrastructure and civilian casualties.
❗️ We reiterate categorical inadmissibility of unilateral sanctions against Syria, which hit the most vulnerable segments of its population. Stabilization in the country is possible only through restoration of its sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity as prescribed in all relevant international decisions, including UN Security Council and UN General Assembly resolutions.
📄 Full statement (🇷🇺/🇬🇧)
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