🎙 Statement by the Representative of the Delegation of the Russian Federation Roman Kolesnikov at the Thematic Discussion on "Regional Disarmament and Security" in the First Committee of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly (New York, October 28, 2024)

💬 Regional security in various parts of the world has been put to most serious tests over recent years. Tensions are increasing, bellicose rhetoric is growing, current long-standing regional conflicts renew more intensively, new hotbeds of tension are emerging, and the "collective West" has finally chosen the path of forceful dominance in the world. <...>

These global military security trends continue to gain momentum in Europe as well. The reason is the course set by the US and its NATO allies for open confrontation with Russia, undermining the foundations of European security and breaking the comprehensive system of arms control and confidence-building measures. <...>

Russia has always believed the system of international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation agreements to be the cornerstone of international security. However, this system has noticeably deteriorated recently at the whim of Western countries.

For several decades, the United States and its NATO allies have continued the process initiated to break key agreements in the field of arms control and confidence-building:

🔻 in 2002, Washington unilaterally terminated the Soviet‑US Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty,
🔻 in 2019, Washington withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty,
🔻 In 2020, Washington withdrew from the Open Skies Treaty, which forced us to cease participation in it.

🔻 In response to the decision of Sweden and Finland to join NATO, which finally and irrevocably destroyed the CFE Treaty system of restrictions, we decided to withdraw from this Treaty in 2023.

Even a brief list of facts makes it clear who is responsible for the present very deplorable security situation and further deterioration of the military-political environment in the world.

It is possible to return the situation under control and normalize it only on the basis of compliance with the generally recognized norms of international law, the UN principles of activities, its Charter, goals and objectives.

👉 Attempts to resume any dialogue are doomed to failure until the North Atlantic Alliance actually abandons its current anti-Russian policy. Given the current lack of trust and open hostility on the part of Washington and collective Brussels, it is unfounded and naive to expect progress from us in matters of conventional arms control in Europe.

Shaping such a regime in the future, if and when it becomes possible, will definitely require fundamentally new approaches and inevitable consideration of Russia's national interests.

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✉️ Excerpt from the President of Russia Vladimir Putin's greetings to participants and guests at the 8th World Congress of Compatriots Living Abroad (October 30, 2024)

✍️ Russia is steadfastly intensifying its endeavours to support foreign compatriots.

✅ Most recently, the opportunities for restoring and acquiring Russian citizenship have been significantly expanded.

✅ The mechanisms of the State Voluntary Resettlement Programme, under which more than 1.2 million individuals have already entered our country, are being continuously enhanced.

✅ The Foundation for Supporting and Protecting the Rights of Compatriots Living Abroad allocates additional resources to those in need of legal assistance.

I am pleased to acknowledge that, despite the formidable challenges and harassment faced today in the West by citizens who uphold spiritual ties with Russia and share our moral values, over 400 representatives of Russian communities from more than a hundred states have assembled at this Congress.

🤝 Naturally, for delegates residing in unfriendly countries, travelling to Moscow to participate in this event demanded personal courage. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to those who, even under the most challenging circumstances, persist in actively defending the international standing of Russian culture and the Russian language.

I am confident that during the Congress, you will not only deliberate on the issues confronting Russian communities abroad today, but also propose new ideas and initiatives that will serve to consolidate the vast Russian world and realise its immense creative potential

🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks at the 8th World Congress of Compatriots

📍Moscow, October 30, 2024

💬 Sergey Lavrov: The situation on the international stage has not improved over the past three years since the previous congress held in October 2021.

The US-led collective West has actually redoubled its systemic efforts at containing Russia, launching a full-scale hybrid war against our country with the aim of inflicting a “strategic defeat” on it.

Washington and its NATO vassals are openly speaking about pushing Russia to the margins of global development.

But all efforts by those who wish evil to Russia are in vain, and are doomed to fail.

In fact, Russia has been carrying out the special military operation with great resolve and confidence in an effort to ensure its legitimate security interests and prevent Ukraine from turning into a hostile entity under NATO’s control. <...>

Make no mistake, Russia will achieve all the goals of the special military operation as defined by President Vladimir Putin. We will secure and reliably ensure Russia’s security, and enable our citizens and compatriots to live in honour and dignity, to live where their forefathers used to live, and to speak their mother tongue, preserve their history and their spiritual and moral values.

Attempts to isolate Russia on the international stage also failed miserably.

The nations of the Global Majority refused to toe the Western line and opted for forging closer ties with Russia in various settings and sectors. The outcomes of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, held as part of Russia’s chairmanship, prove this point. The people of the Global South and East understand that a sovereign and assertive Russia presents a major force in terms of shaping a multipolar world order with greater justice for all in keeping with the principles of the UN Charter not in word, but in deed. Instead of handpicking these principles at its discretion, Russia adheres to all of them considering their interconnected and holistic nature. This world order will reflect the interests and aspirations of the entire humankind, rather than just a few countries belonging to the so-called Golden Billion.

We do understand that the developments around the world have affected the way we operate. This is what President Vladimir Putin said in his message. The coordination councils for the organisations of compatriots and other associations of compatriots have come under serious pressure in unfriendly countries, including manifestations of a Russia-hating attitude, and other forms of discrimination, as well as attempts to cancel Russian culture and eliminate the Russian language from the public space and even from everyday life. There is also an effort to sow division within the global Orthodoxy.

Faced with this unprecedented pressure, you have preserved your spiritual, cultural and linguistic bond with your historical Motherland, and have been contributing to reinforcing our international standing. The fact that this congress brought together so many high-profile participants demonstrates that all attempts to alienate the members of the Russian world from one another will fail, no matter who tries to achieve this goal.

The theme of the Congress, Together with Russia, is more pertinent than ever. The current global situation necessitates additional exertion and synergy of efforts.

<...>

❗️ The Russian government will continue to support your aspirations to benefit your historical Motherland, promote its economic growth and social progress, and strengthen its international role. There is no doubt that our joint efforts will help preserve and increase the creative potential of the Russian world as our legacy for future generations.

🎙 Statement by the Representative of the Delegation of the Russian Federation at the thematic discussion on "Disarmament machinery" in the First Committee of the 79th Session of the UNGA (New York, October 29, 2024)

Key points

• We ascribe the key (central) role in addressing issues of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation (ACDN), as well as international peace and global security, to the UN, in full accordance with its Charter.

• The ongoing unlawful practice of visa refusals by the US authorities in regard to the leading experts of the Russian delegation are a significant counterproductive factor in the work of the UNGA First Committee.

• It is necessary to intensify the progressive and constructive work of all elements of the unique disarmament "triad" – the UNGA First Committee, the UN Disarmament Commission (UNDC), and the Conference on Disarmament (CD).

• The ongoing attempts by Western States to undermine multilateral disarmament fora and use the United Nations to serve their own vested ambitions without taking into account the interests of other Member States, primarily developing countries, require special attention of the international community.

• We note that meaningful results in the field of the ACDN could be achieved only should the necessary political will be demonstrated by Member States.

• We are convinced of the need to consolidate the international community around a creative and constructive agenda in order to maintain and enhance the existing system of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation agreements.

• Russia, for its part, will continue its efforts towards improving the effectiveness and coherence of the disarmament triad. It is important to oppose any attempts to revise the UN disarmament machinery.

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🎙 Statement by the Representative of the Delegation of the Russian Federation at the Thematic Discussion on "Outer Space (Disarmament Aspects)" in the First Committee of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly (New York, October 29, 2024)

⚠️ The course pursued by the United States and a number of Western countries towards placing weapons in outer space, building up the capabilities for the use of force against space objects (primarily through the development of weapon systems intended for the treat or use of force in, from or against outer space) and using outer space for combat operations continues to undermine international peace and security. <...>

We would like to once again highlight in particular the extremely dangerous trend going beyond the harmless use of space technologies, which became evident during the events in Ukraine. We are talking about the components of civilian, including commercial, infrastructure in outer space engaged by the United States and its allies for military purposes. These States do not realize that such activities actually constitute indirect participation in armed conflicts. <...>

We are convinced that it is still possible at the current stage to prevent a full‑scale arms race in outer space; the point of no return has not yet been passed. To these ends, we renew our call on UN Member States to reaffirm their commitment to existing international legally binding agreements governing outer space activities.

At the national and international levels obligations should be undertaken not to place weapons of any kind in outer space (including in the Earth orbit and on celestial bodies) and the use or threat of force against and by means of outer space objects should be prohibited as well; it is important to establish a comprehensive ban on space strike weapons designed to destroy outer space objects.

We would like to recall our specific proposals:

❌ not to use outer space objects as a means of destroying any targets on Earth, in the atmosphere or outer space;

❌ not to create, test or deploy weapons in outer space, not to use space weapons for missile defence, as anti-satellite means, not to attack targets on Earth or in the atmosphere, as well as to eliminate such systems already possessed by States;

❌ not to destroy, damage, disrupt the normal functioning or change the flight trajectory of other States’ outer space objects without their consent;

❌ not to assist or incite other States, groups of States, international, intergovernmental, as well as any non-governmental organizations, including non-governmental legal entities established, registered or located on the territory under their jurisdiction and/or control, to participate in the above-mentioned activities.

☝️ It is important to understand that without reliable guarantees on keeping outer space free of weapons, enshrined in an international legally binding instrument on PAROS, it is pointless to address issues related to the peaceful use of outer space and ensuring safety of outer space activities.

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⚡️ О ситуации вокруг БАПОР

28 октября израильский Кнессет утвердил пакет из двух законопроектов с запретом деятельности Ближневосточного агентства помощи палестинским беженцам и организации работ (БАПОР) и с отзывом иммунитетов и привилегий у этой структуры ООН.

После вступления данных законопроектов в силу в течение 90 дней работа Агентства на оккупированной палестинской территории – сектор Газа, Западный берег р.Иордан, включая Восточный Иерусалим – будет остановлена.

❌ В практическом плане это станет ещё одной формой коллективного наказания миллионов палестинцев, для которых #БАПОР был и остается, по сути, единственным и безальтернативным источником комплексной поддержки в сферах гуманитарного содействия, образования, здравоохранения и социальных услуг. Показательный пример – более 650 000 палестинских детей будут лишены возможности учиться.

Данные решения были приняты на фоне беспрецедентного кровопролития в зоне арабо-израильского конфликта. В результате израильской военной операции сектор Газа за последний год превратился в сплошную зону боевых действий с самыми интенсивными бомбардировками гражданского населения со времен Второй мировой войны и по факту отсутствующим гуманитарным доступом.

В этих условиях БАПОР был последней «дорогой жизни» для палестинцев в Газе ценой собственных жертв. 237 сотрудников были убиты (многие целыми семьями), около 200 объектов разрушены, десятки человек произвольно задержаны.

Это стало крупнейшей единовременной потерей ООН с момента ее основания.

Представители израильского руководства объясняют свои решения, обвиняя сотрудников БАПОР в причастности к атаке ХАМАС 7 октября 2023 года. Под этим же предлогом США ранее отозвали донорское финансирование Агентства, а Израиль запустил процесс его демонтажа.

Однако до сих пор, несмотря на целый ряд ооновских запросов, доказательства в подтверждение своих обвинений израильская сторона так и не предоставила. Проведенные независимый обзор и внутренняя проверка деятельности Агентства не выявили нарушений и подтвердили соблюдение принципа нейтральности.

Мандат БАПОР определен резолюцией 302 (IV) ГА ООН и действует до 30 июня 2026 года. В 1949 году Израиль был принят в ООН при условии соблюдения и выполнения двух краеугольных резолюций ГА ООН – 181 с Планом раздела Палестины на два государства (еврейское и арабское) и 194 о палестинских беженцах, находящихся на попечении БАПОР. Международный суд ООН в своем втором консультативном заключении от 19 июля о последствиях израильской оккупации констатировал, что Израиль не имеет права на суверенитет над какой-либо частью оккупированной палестинской территории или осуществление суверенных полномочий на ней.

Таким образом, принятие данных законопроектов не только нарушает нормы международного права, включая решения ГА ООН и Устав ООН, но и противоречит условиям приёма Израиля в ООН. Одновременно возникает угроза прекращения оказания жизненно необходимой помощи миллионам палестинцев на оккупированной территории, лишения их последних средств к выживанию на фоне беспрецедентной эскалации насилия.

Россия поддерживает призывы Генсекретаря ООН, в том числе в его письме на имя Председателя Генассамблеи ООН от 28 октября, и Генерального комиссара БАПОР к Израилю соблюдать свои международно-правовые обязательства, отменить или не вводить в силу указанные законопроекты.

❗️ Российская сторона будет и впредь предпринимать усилия на площадках СБ и ГА ООН в защиту мандата Агентства в интересах продолжения его уникальной работы по оказанию помощи палестинцам как на ОПТ, так и в соседних арабских странах.

🎙Read excerpts from the statement by Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the OSCE M.Buyakevich «On increasing military involvement of certain NATO and EU member States in yet more confrontation in and around Ukraine» (meeting of the OSCE PC, 31.10.2024)

💬 Western sponsors of the Kiev regime continue to undertake and encourage actions aimed at escalating the Ukrainian conflict.
🗓 On 27 October Russian military and security forces prevented an attempt of violating the State Border of the Russian Federation in the Klimovsky District of the Bryansk Region by a sabotage and reconnaissance group consisting of English-speaking foreigners.

📌 The facts demonstrate that where proxy missions of the Ukrainian armed formations in the interests of the Western sponsors of the Kiev regime are impossible due to objective reasons (including the unwillingness of the Ukrainians themselves to participate in a fratricidal conflict), NATO mercenaries “tear off their masks”, revealing their military presence in Ukraine

⚡️Last week alone, at least 95 civilians suffered from targeted and indiscriminate attacks by Zelensky’s armed formations on the civilian population in Russian regions: 14 people were killed and 81 were wounded, including six children

❗️Flagrant violations of international humanitarian law by the Kiev regime's armed formations and foreign mercenaries continue to be hushed up by the OSCE leadership for political reasons. Instead of taking a sober look at things, the Maltese Chairmanship-in-Office shamelessly violates its mandate, including in the Permanent Council, by reproducing unsubstantiated accusations and politicized propaganda aimed against one OSCE participating State

👉 We draw special attention to the Kazan Declaration of the XVI BRICS Summit ennoscriptd “Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security”. In particular, it contains a clear message about the unacceptability of double standards, as well as a call for all states to act in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter in their entirety and interrelatedness

⚡️ Statement by the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo on Cuba imposed by the United States

✍️ The Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation notes that the economic, commercial and financial embargo on the Republic of Cuba imposed by the United States (US) constitutes a clear violation of the generally recognised principles and norms of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations (UN).

The Senators of the Russian Federation emphasise that an overwhelming majority of UN member states have been supporting the legitimate demands by the people of Cuba to end the anti-Cuban sanctions policy by the United States. For more than 30 years now, they have been voting for adopting UN General Assembly resolutions on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba.

The Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation calls for revoking the so-called Helms-Burton Act. Adopted by the United States on March 12, 1996, it violates the sovereign right of the people of Cuba and their foreign partners to freely promote mutually beneficial trade, economic and financial ties.

The Senators of the Russian Federation plead for immediately taking the Republic of Cuba off the list of states sponsoring terrorism after the US Department of State designated Cuba on this list in an illegal and arbitrary manner.

The Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation stands for further strengthening and expanding bilateral ties with the National Assembly of People’s Power of the Republic of Cuba.

🤝 The Senators of the Russian Federation emphasise that Russia and Cuba have a tradition of proceeding in their relations from the principles of friendship, trust and mutual respect. In this context, they intend to keep supporting the people of Cuba and their legitimate demands to end the restrictions which were imposed by the United States against the Republic of Cuba in violation of international law.

❗️The Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation proclaims the necessity of putting an unconditional end to the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States against the Republic of Cuba, and calls on the Inter-Parliamentary Union, other international parliamentary organisations and foreign parliaments to advocate efforts aimed at fulfilling the corresponding UN General Assembly resolutions as quickly as possible.

🗓 November 1 marks the conclusion of a major #WWII battle — #OnThisDay 8️⃣0️⃣ years ago, the Red Army crushed the Nazis in the #BattleForTheArctic.

The Petsamo–Kirkenes offensive operation (carried out from October 7 to 29, 1944) resulted in the total defeat of the Nazi troops in the Northern regions of the #USSR and Norway. The Petsamo (now Pechenga in Russia) and the north-eastern regions of Norway were liberated from the Nazi occupation. The German Command’s plans of seizing the Kola Peninsula and the ice-free marine base of the Northern Fleet of the USSR in Murmansk were foiled.

By the autumn of 1944, a drastic change in the strategic situation in the northern area of the Soviet-German front created favourable conditions for the Red Army to launch an offensive to liberate the Arctic from the Nazis.

☝️ The defeat of the German-Finnish units in Karelia in the summer of 1944, followed by Finland’s withdrawal from #WWII (Finland fought on the side of the Third Reich and was Hitler’s main ally in the North), undermined the German armies’ positions in the Arctic, forcing the Nazi military command to move troops from Finland towards Petsamo and northern Norway — strategically important areas where the Germans controlled the production of copper, nickel ore and molybdenum. These vital resources for the German war machine were transported directly to the Reich.

The Nazis did everything in their power to maintain control of the occupied Soviet territories in the Arctic. That did not stop and could not have stopped the Red Army from liberating occupied territories.

They installed a number of fortified lines and reinforced concrete strongholds along a 150-kilometre-deep (!) defence line in an almost impassable forest and mountain area — the so-called Lapland granite bulwark. Deep within the Nazi defence there were the Luostari stronghold, Petsamo (Pechenga) and Kirkenes, which also served as naval bases and ports.

The Soviet forces during the offensive in the Arctic had to fight vs. a powerful and heavily-equipped German unit — the 19th Mountain Corps (formerly the German-Finnish Mountain Corps "Norway") of the 20th Wehrmacht Mountain Army manned with 53,000 soldiers and officers. This unit was reinforced with up to 160 aircraft of Luftflotte and the naval forces, which covered the main troops from the Barents Sea.

⚔️ In the morning of October 7, 1944, according to the order by the Soviet Supreme High Command, the Karelian Front forces (commander: Army General Kirill Meretskov) and the Northern Fleet (commander: Admiral Arseny Golovko), following a massive artillery preparation, launched an offensive along the entire frontline in the Arctic.

As soon as on October 15, the Red Army liberated Petsamo and Luostari. By October 22, the Karelian Front forces reached the border of northern Norway. By October 24, the Soviet soldiers were in vicinity of Kirkenes: the next day the city was liberated from the Nazi invaders.

The advance of the Red Army to Nazi-occupied Norway encouraged the local anti-fashist resistance movement, which with the assistance from the Soviet forces liberated East Finnmark and subsequently the entire north-eastern Norway up to the Tana River. By November 1, the Nazi invaders, sustaining about 30,000 casualties, started retreating to the west.

🎖During the Petsamo-Kirkenes offensive operation, Soviet soldiers and officers showed courage and self-sacrifice. A medal "For the Defence of the Soviet Arctic" was established in December 1944, and awarded to over 350,000 participants of the Battle for the Arctic. The honorary noscripts of "Pechenga" and "Kirkenes" were given to the names of 51 units of the Red Army for their heroism in the operation.

💬 Russian MFA Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova:

We regret to witness the way the Norwegian authorities and experts have been seeking to discredit our shared historical past by blatantly distorting the events involving the liberation from the Nazis of Norway’s north-eastern regions by the Red Army in October and November 1944.

#Victory79 #WeRemember

📺 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's full remarks at the XVI Assembly of the Russian World (dubbed in English)

🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at the 16th Assembly of the Russian World (Moscow, November 2, 2024)

💬 It is profoundly symbolic that your forum traditionally convenes on the eve of National Unity Day, a day on which we commemorate our people's victory in the struggle against foreign invaders.

On January 1, 2024, the Foreign Ministry assumed the sole founding role of the Russkiy Mir Foundation. This represents a significant honour and responsibility for us. I wish to assure you of our continued dedication to enhancing the Foundation's potential and influence.

Over the years, your gatherings have distinguished themselves as a unique platform that brings together all those engaged in the multinational and multi-faith Russkiy Mir: prominent public and political figures, academics, Russian language scholars and compatriots. We highly value your contribution to the promotion of our Motherland's rich cultural and historical heritage and the advancement of international humanitarian cooperation. <...>

We shall preserve our traditional values and safeguard the cultural and historical heritage of the diverse peoples of the Russian Federation. This goal is unequivocally reaffirmed in the new Foreign Policy Concept, which Russian President Vladimir Putin endorsed in March 2023. It characterises Russia as a unique country-civilisation with over a thousand years of history.

⚠️ The situation in Ukraine illustrates the potential consequences of willingly forsaking the spiritual and cultural roots bequeathed by our forebears. Following the bloody state coup in 2014, the neo-Nazi regime in Kiev embarked on a systematic campaign to eradicate all that is associated with the Russian World. Russians, Russian speakers, and individuals simply affiliated with Russian culture came under assault. <...>

In Ukraine, the use of the Russian language is legally prohibited across various areas, from education and media to daily life. In late September, yet another law banning the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church was passed. The West is not just keeping silent, but is vocally proclaiming its support for Ukraine which allegedly "upholds European values".

Notably, protecting the rights and freedoms, as well as the legal interests of the Russian people and Russian speakers should be an integral part of a political settlement in Ukraine, alongside ensuring Ukraine’s non-aligned, neutral, and non-nuclear status, and eliminating any and all threats to Russia’s security that may come from within its borders. <...>

🌐 We will continue working alongside our like-minded partners to shape a fairer multipolar world order that relies on civilisational diversity of the modern-day world. We will keep pursuing our independent foreign policy and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation with every country that is willing to cooperate on the basis of equality, trust, and an honest balance of interests, thus contributing to an atmosphere of mutual understanding among nations. Without a doubt, each one of you has a part to play in this.

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