Russia, 2005

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East and West has been replaced by numerous crises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.

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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

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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.