Russia

In no way can today’s discussion be called routine. We are faced with summing up the preliminary results of the large-scale United Nations reforms that have been launched and designating the main thrust for the work of the entire system of United Nations institutions in implementing the outcome document of the 2005 world summit. We propose to structure the work of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly in such a manner as to facilitate the broadest possible agreement on a number of conceptual issues related to strengthening the United Nations that will, to a large degree, determine our ability to enhance the manageability of international trends in an era of globalization, and better respond to its new accompanying threats and challenges. An analysis of the experience of the United Nations over the sixty years of its existence, with all the vagaries of the post-war, cold war and post-cold war world order, gives us much food for thought and many conclusions. I would like to share some of that with you from the viewpoint of the Russian Federation. As the most representative international institution with a universal mandate, the United Nations has been and remains a major integration factor in global politics. The success of the United Nations is our success and its failures are our failures. But ultimately the balance of its work is, we believe, definitely positive. It is primarily due to this Organization that we have managed to avoid a new threat of world war and a nuclear disaster and have been able to prevent and settle dozens of military conflicts. At present, the United Nations mechanisms continue to be a means of constructive cooperation touching upon all spheres of human activity. The greater interdependence of the modern world has not made it more secure. The standoff between East and West has been replaced by numerous crises and conflicts that until recently had remained latent, left on the periphery of the interests of the two super- Powers. Some of those conflicts are becoming real or potential sources of international terrorism, feeding transborder crime and drug trafficking, which are closely related to it. Humanity faces the threat of the uncontrolled spread of weapons of mass destruction and the possibility of their falling into the hands of terrorists. Again the world is witnessing genocide and humanitarian disasters. All of this presents immediate danger to each and every one of us. 11 In that context, the enormous potential of the United Nations is in greater demand, primarily in ensuring peace and security on a collective and, more importantly, on a legitimate legal basis. The Organization has at its disposal an entire arsenal of resources enabling it to coordinate the actions of the international community, to combine political efforts with those in the social, economic and humanitarian areas, as well as in the field of protection of human rights and the environment and other spheres. We should develop these assets through the concerted efforts of all States. Russia considers this task to be a strategic core element of its foreign policy. The events of the first years of the new millennium reaffirm the validity of the conclusions drawn by the High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change and the Secretary-General, that is, that a stronger United Nations and a better use of its multilateral advantages are an essential instrument to build a balanced, safe international system, based on respect for the unique features of every country, their sovereign equality and collective responsibility. There is no reasonable alternative to this. Multilateral mechanisms should also play a key role in resolving the issues of disarmament and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, based on strict compliance with the relevant international agreements. United Nations achievements include Security Council resolution 1540 (2004), initiated by Russia, and the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, which establishes the legal basis for preventing weapons of mass destruction from falling into the hands of terrorists. It is now crucial to prevent an arms race in outer space. I remind the Assembly that Russia has assumed the obligation not to be the first to launch any type of new weapon into space and has called upon other countries possessing space capabilities to join in this measure to keep outer space peaceful. It is time to take steps to enhance transparency and build confidence in this area. The legal basis for countering new threats, primarily terrorism, is being reinforced. The adoption at the recent Security Council summit of resolution 1624 (2005), initiated by the United Kingdom, is a new, important step forward. It places outside the law not only the terrorists, their accomplices and those who finance them, but also the individuals inciting terrorist acts. This Security Council decision should put an end to attempts to engage the mass media to propagandize and justify terrorism. We anticipate that the General Assembly will also contribute to the fight against terrorism and will promote completion of the negotiations on a comprehensive convention on international terrorism as soon as possible. The fight against terrorism must be continued most decisively. Each of us should critically assess his or her efforts in this area. The realities are that while the sanctions against the Taliban, Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities are still in force, the supplying of arms and material and other kinds of assistance to the fighters continues. The geographical scope of their activities is expanding. For many countries, including Russia, this is tangible on their own soil. Extremists who are not directly linked to Al-Qaida are also stepping up their activities in various parts of the world. This requires strengthening of cooperation between States and the 1267 sanctions Committee, the 1540 Committee and, of course, the Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee. Furthermore, we believe that the compilation of a consolidated list of all terrorists and terrorist organizations, whether they are associated in any way with Al-Qaida or not, cannot be postponed. The development of criteria for the use of force in accordance with the United Nations Charter is another pressing issue. Such criteria, when agreed upon, could be useful if they become a kind of benchmark for consideration by the Security Council of various crisis situations. At the same time, it is clear that these criteria cannot be applied automatically. The Security Council would authorize the use of force on a case-by-case basis, as called for in the Charter. Another equally important topic is that of States, in exercising their Charter right to individual and collective self-defense, to include self-defense in case of an external terrorist attack or the imminent threat of such attack. Russia, like other States that have become targets of terrorist attacks originating beyond their borders, has no right to err in the eyes of its citizens, who have entrusted their security to us. We anticipate that those critical issues will be given due attention at this session of the General Assembly. Above all, force should not be used to oppose law. It can be an effective tool to ensure the rule of law 12 in crisis situations. It is a tool to be used in extraordinary cases in which vital, legally protected values and interests of the entire international community, or certain of its members, are in jeopardy. Unfortunately, in the preparations for the 2005 world summit, insufficient attention was given to seeking solutions to those and other important issues and to finding a way to common understanding. Thus, that task must remain a top priority of our agenda. Much remains to be done in terms of development and the eradication of poverty, epidemics, famine and illiteracy. Such action would be the strongest way to ensure global stability and eliminate the breeding grounds of extremism of all kinds. Russia endorses all initiatives aimed at attaining the Millennium Goals and will enhance its contribution to resolving those urgent issues. The success of our concerted efforts to support development greatly depends on the efficacy of the Peacebuilding Commission to be established. The Commission will achieve the required results if it is more than just another debating society and if it can be a mechanism facilitating the greater coordination of the programmes and the projects of all the participants in development assistance, including the World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund, regional development banks, other multilateral and bilateral donors and, of course, recipient countries. The dramatic events of the last six months have revealed the sensitivity of the issue of Security Council reform for the majority of Member States. Guided above all by its interest in ensuring the Security Council’s effectiveness, Russia continues to support possible modifications of that key organ on the basis of well-conceived and mutually acceptable decisions. United Nations Members have made the wise decision to continue negotiations, rather than pushing for a vote that might split the Organization. I recall the striking words: the United Nations was created not to make heaven on Earth but to save the Earth from hell. Indeed, the United Nations is not an ideal body, but the best that humanity was able to create on the ashes of two world wars. With the help of the United Nations, we are able to effectively counter threats to peace and security in the context of evolving geopolitical realities. Today, mankind is facing the challenges of globalization. It is not a question of whether we should accept those challenges or not, but of how we should respond to them, and on the basis of what principles. The 2005 world summit decisions outline the general direction for our efforts. As a permanent member of the Security Council and the next President of the Group of Eight, Russia, together with other States, will continue to strive to strengthen the collective underpinnings of global politics and to enhance mechanisms for multilateral cooperation.